The Detox While You Sleep When You Can’t Restoratively Sleep Paradox.
The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
We all know sleep is essential for good health and healing, but when you’re dealing with toxic mold illness, getting quality sleep is even more imperative. During sleep, especially deep sleep, the brain repairs itself to some extent. The liver and kidneys are actively processing so that detoxification can continue unopposed by usual daytime activities, and the musculoskeletal system has a chance to repair and strengthen connective tissues. In addition, hormone levels have the opportunity to normalize and “rest”.
Understanding how mold-related illness impacts sleep can be complicated, because mold impacts so many different systems in the body. Some mold symptoms have an obvious connection to sleep and may be obvious, while others are not as quite. But, it is my belief that understanding and taking steps to address each can help improve sleep quality and duration, thus helping your body to heal.
Common Impacts:
Respiratory Issues: Breathing issues relating to nasal and sinus congestion. If fungal sinusitis is present and you have swollen airways, then breathing is more difficult when reclining; sleep apnea and snoring commonly occur and cause sleep patterns to be interrupted and non-restorative.
Pituitary Issues: Toxins can affect nearly any aspect of your body as the pituitary is the control centre for eight of the body’s most important hormonal systems. When your hormones are affected, keeping a proper circadian rhythm can be extremely difficult. Whether it is mold, mycotoxins, or even candida, the sinus walls adjacent to the brain and pituitary glands can provide direct access to the brain causing toxicity.
Adrenal Issues: Your adrenals have control over the “fight or flight” mechanism (parasympathetic state). Chronic physical (mycotoxins) and emotional (chronic illness) stressors wear out this process and proper signalling does not take place. Excessive adrenal function at the wrong time is a huge sleep disruptor.
So how in the heck am I supposed to get restorative sleep then? There are some bedtime habits you can adopt to clean-up your sleep hygiene and get the rest you need!
The absolute critical thing that needs to happen is to get out and stay out of the moldy environment! Not always easy I know, especially if it’s your home or work but you will not heal if you are continually exposed.
Keep the air in your bedroom and entire home clean. Use a HEPA-filter, dust everywhere once a week, diffuse essential oils, avoid synthetic fragrances.
Remove all devices from the bedroom (T.V.’s too, sorry not sorry). Not only do they disturb sleep in a “healthy” person, mold colonizes faster around EMF’s because it “stresses” them out.
Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to help set your circadian rhythm. Avoid blue lights 1-2 hours before going to bed, if that is not possible invest in blue blocking glasses. “blue light” signals the brain to wake. Read a book or do a relaxing meditation to calm your mind.
Keep the temperature in your bedroom below 21 degrees celsius as your natural circadian rhythm wants to cool down at night.
Have a calming tea or hot cacao half hour before bed. Also, there and many helpful herbs and supplement that can help. Always speak with you practitioner and do your own research before taking and new supplements.
Avoid eating late meals or big snacks, at minimum finish your last meal 3 hours before sleep. You won’t sleep well if your digestive system is at work!
And always, follow your intuition of what works best for you. You are the only one who knows what will ultimately help best!
To get well, you must have restorative sleep. Work with your health care practitioner about any of the above issues you may be having and get a safe and proper detox protocol in place to help facilitate your healing.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me. Especially if you’d like to learn more about the kind of sleep hygiene practices I have incorporated into my life.
As always, take care of yourself and talk to you soon!
With love,
Melissa