Biotoxicity

Biotoxicity is the accumulation of toxins in the body as the result of exposure to certain biological sources. These sources may include an insect or snake bite, the sap of a poisonous plant, and most commonly, some molds, fungi, and bacteria. Biotoxins can impair the functioning of the human musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. When biotoxins affect the nervous system, the disorder is called “neurotoxicity.”

Risk Factors

Environmental toxins can be found virtually everywhere – in your own home, work, school, etc. – and they can enter the body via ingestion, inhalation, or direct contact.

Once you are exposed, the liver is responsible for breaking down the toxins for elimination through the urinary system. However, it is estimated that approximately 20 percent of the general population lacks the enzymes needed to do so. For those individuals, instead of being excreted, the toxins are reabsorbed through the lining of the intestines back into the body. The body then sequesters them wherever it can, damaging the muscle tissue, nerves, and nervous tissues in those “holding areas.”

Symptoms of Biotoxicity

The following is a list of symptoms that may indicate the presence of biotoxins in your body:

If biotoxicity is causing or contributing to your symptoms it is unlikely that your body will fully heal unless your medical treatment addresses the biotoxicity disorder. The problem is that the symptoms of biotoxicity are similar to the symptoms of a variety of other medical conditions, such as fibromyalgia, migraines or chronic headaches, depression, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic Lyme disease, recurrent or chronic sinusitis, or asthma that is unresponsive to conventional therapy. The symptoms of biotoxicity can also mimic those of some autoimmune diseases, including psoriatic arthritis, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. For this reason, it is often misdiagnosed.

Diagnosis & Treatment

At the Kaplan Center, our physicians have years of experience identifying the symptoms of biotoxicity. If we suspect it is the source of your symptoms we’ll do a thorough assessment of your possible exposure and specialized testing will be ordered.

Click here to learn more about our biotoxicity screening process.

Patients will also undergo a comprehensive medical history and a number of functional medicine diagnostic tests to look for deficiencies and imbalances in other areas of health. Together we’ll devise a treatment plan that takes into account your unique biochemistry in order to offer the best remedies that will enable your body to recover and regulate and stop imbalances before they become chronic. This “whole body” approach ensures that all areas of your health (hormones, immune system, digestive system, heart health) are optimized for the best possible outcome.

Biotoxicity Protocol

If biotoxicity is found to be the source of your illness or a contributor, you’ll begin a detoxification regime. This process involves taking medications that “draw out” stored biotoxins and “bind” them at the molecular level so they can finally be eliminated from the body. Certain nutritional supplements may also be recommended.

Click here to read more about our Biotoxicity Protocol.

Additional integrative therapies may be recommended to any patient undergoing a detoxification regime to help improve symptoms or side effects from treatment. These include:

• Acupuncture to reduce inflammation and pain symptoms related to toxicity
• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
• Craniosacral Therapy
• Nutritional Counseling to create a personalized detoxification food plan, rebuild gut integrity and improve nutritional deficiencies
• Chinese & American herbal remedies
• Vitamin & Magnesium Intravenous Supplementation
• Sleep Evaluation & Management to improve deficient sleep

Related:

Article: Mycotoxin Illness: Could the air you breathe be making you sick? by Dr. Lisa Lilienfield

Video: “Solutions for a Healthy Home Environment” with David Young, MPH