Mycotoxicity and mold exposure is common among MCAS/high histamine people. If you have these symptoms and live in old, damp house in rainy weather like in UK, you might consider a mold exposure might be the issue. Those (most common ) symptoms are:

Neurological & Cognitive Symptoms

• Difficulty concentrating and “brain fog, memory issues​
• Headaches (often severe, described as “ice pick” or “lightning bolt” pains)​
• ​Anxiety, panic attacks, and agoraphobia ​
• Depression and mood swings​
• ​Insomnia and non-restorative sleep (mold causes sinus issues that disrupt breathing)​
• ​Tremors and coordination problems​
• Numbness and tingling​
• Dizziness and vertigo ​
• Vision disturbances (blurry vision, light sensitivity)​

Respiratory & Sinus Symptoms

• Chronic sinusitis ​
• Stuffy nose and nasal congestion​
• Shortness of breath ​
• Chest tightness ​
• Persistent coughs​
• Asthma exacerbation or worsening​

Gastrointestinal & Digestive

• SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) – extremely common with mold exposure​
• Severe digestive distress and malabsorption of nutrients​
• Acid reflux​
• Nausea and vomiting​
• Diarrhea ​
• Abdominal pain and cramping​
• Loss of appetite​

Skin & Allergic Symptoms

• Hives and urticaria ​
• Intense itching (on feet, scalp, and full body)​
• Flushing and skin redness​
• Rashes (sometimes worse in sunlight or heat)​
• Burning or tingling sensations on skin​
• Swelling (face, hands, tongue, throat)​
• Eczema and dermatitis exacerbation
• ​POTS worsening

Musculoskeletal & Pain

• Joint pain (often the first symptom reported)​
• Muscle pain and myalgia​
• Muscle cramps (especially from electrolyte disturbances)​
• ​Fibromyalgia-like symptoms​

Fatigue & Energy

• Profound fatigue and exhaustion ​
• Low energy and weakness​

Temperature Regulation & Other

• Inability to regulate body temperature ​
• Cold intolerance​
• Heat intolerance​
• Dry eyes and eye burning​
• Bladder irritation/interstitial cystitis symptoms​
• Hair loss (though recovery can take 6+ months after exposure removed)​

new Food Sensitivities

• Reactions to new supplements ​
• Oxalate intolerance (newly developed or worsening)​
• Salicylate intolerance​
• Worsening of histamine intolerance

For anyone with MCAS or high histamine issues, mold and mycotoxins deserve serious investigation. 

• Urine testing on all housemates showing symptoms is considered the gold standard for detecting mold toxicity because mycotoxins are fat-soluble and store in tissues rather than circulating in blood.

Detox Steps:

Step 1: Remove Exposure .​ Cooling down a constant flare is extremely difficult, even with the best supplements. So it’s important to improve or change the environment. This is Step 1 of the Shoemaker Protocol. When you’re in acute mold toxicity, every object that came from that environment is a potential re-exposure trigger.

Step 2: Immediate Dietary Intervention (Stabilize First)
When you first leave mold exposure or are in acute detox, your mast cells are in overdrive. The goal isn’t to heal yet—it’s to stabilize and reduce constant flaring.
The “Safe Foods Only” Approach such as low histamine, anti-inflammatory diet.
DAO Enzyme , H1 + H2 Blockers (Prescription antihistamines)​
Hydration Protocol: Dehydration causes flares, so constant water and electrolytes are essential.​
​Add electrolytes – coconut water, electrolyte powder​
Target sodium intake: 3,000-10,000mg daily ​
​
​Step 3: Introduce Binders (The Shoemaker Protocol – Step 2)
Once you’re stable on antihistamines and your symptoms are improving , add a binder to pull mycotoxins out of your body.​ Cholestyramine (CSM) – The Gold Standard Binder. Cholestyramine is the most researched and recommended binder for mold detox according to the Shoemaker Protocol.​
How it works: CSM is a bile acid sequestrant that binds biotoxins in your gut and prevents them from being reabsorbed (enterohepatic recirculation). This allows your body to excrete them through bowel movements instead of recycling them.​
Dosing:​
Start: 4 grams, ½ hour before eating, 4 times daily
Take on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before food
Typical duration: 3-6 months

​Step 4: Antioxidant & Detox Support (Supplement Protocol)
Once you’re 1-2 weeks in and stabilized, add targeted supplements to support your body’s detoxification pathways.
Glutathione (The Master Antioxidant)
Liposomal glutathione ​
Why liposomal? Traditional glutathione has only about 10% bioavailability. Liposomal formulations achieve a 28% increase in intracellular glutathione levels in just 2 weeks.​
Dosing:​
Start: ½ teaspoon (2.5ml), 2x daily
Increase to 1 teaspoon (5ml), 2x daily based on tolerance
Take on an empty stomach for best absorption
​Vitamin C (High Dose)
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress from mycotoxins.​
Dosing:​
1,000-2,000mg daily (split into 2-3 doses)
​Quercetin (The Mast Cell Stabilizer)
Quercetin 500mg+ ​
Magnesium Glycinate (taking together with vit C doubles the effect)
L-Theanine is an amino acid that calms the nervous system and reduces stress-induced mast cell activation.​
Dosing:
100-200mg daily
Often combined with magnesium for best effect
Can take 1-2 hours before bed
Methyl B12 + Methyl Folate
These methylated B vitamins support detoxification pathways and cellular energy production, which is critical because mycotoxins damage mitochondria.​
Methyl forms are preferred over cyano- or folic acid forms, especially if you have MTHFR gene mutations or methylation issues (common in MCAS).
Dosing:
Methyl B12: 1,000mcg daily (sublingual or injection)
Methyl Folate: 500-1,000mcg daily
Take in the morning

Step 5: Physical Detoxification Methods
Infrared Sauna Therapy (The Game-Changer)
​Research findings:
Dr. Stephen Genuis’s sweat studies found mycotoxins, heavy metals, and BPA all excreted through sweat in infrared sauna​
A 2013 study showed infrared sauna benefits for allergic rhinitis (mast cell condition)​
A 2014 case study showed sauna resolved severe chronic itching associated with MCAS​
How to use:​
Frequency: 1-3 sessions per week
Duration: 30-45 minutes per session
Temperature: 120-140°F (lower end for MCAS)
Timing: Right after light exercise is ideal (you’re already sweating, maximizes detox)
Hydration: Drink electrolytes while sweating to replenish minerals lost​
Start low: Give your body time to adjust before increasing frequency
Critical caveat: Some people with severe MCAS or heat sensitivity cannot tolerate sauna. Start very gradually and stop if symptoms worsen.
Exercise (If You Can Tolerate It)
Sweating through exercise is another powerful detoxification pathway.​
Walking in fresh air is often better than intense exercise during acute recovery
Follow with sauna for optimal detox effect​
The key is moving your body enough to sweat without triggering a major mast cell flare.
Epsom Salt Baths
Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) baths provide transdermal magnesium absorption and support detoxification.​
1-2 cups Epsom salt in warm (not hot) bath, Avoid if you have sulfur sensitivity

Step 6: Fresh Air & Environment Optimization
​Air Purifiers (Temporary but Critical)
During recovery, air purifiers are a serious life saver and serious helper to reduce continuous exposure and flaring.​
What to look for:
HEPA filter (captures mold spores and fragments)
Activated charcoal filter (absorbs volatile organic compounds and some mycotoxins)​
MERV 13+ rating minimum
Avoid ozone generators – ozone is a mast cell trigger​
​

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My Recovery Summary:
In my detox journey, these made the biggest difference:
✅ Leaving the moldy environment 
✅ Cholestyramine for 3-6 months (pulled toxins out)
✅ Glutathione liposomal (reduced inflammation dramatically)
✅ Quercetin 500mg+ 
✅ Infrared sauna 2x weekly 
✅ High-dose vitamin C mixed with Magnesium powder
✅ POTS protocol (electrolytes + hydration) 
✅ Epsom salt baths 
✅ Air purifier