Common complaints of countless people include having things like constant fatigue, belly aches, constipation, diarrhea, brain fog or the inability to concentrate. If visits to doctor after doctor never result in any concrete diagnosis or treatment for these disabling problems, there’s a chance the real culprit could actually be mold exposure.

Dr. Lance Morris, in clinical practice in Tucson since 1985, has seen numerous patients with these problems and perfect laboratory tests, such as complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, thyroid panel, lipid panel, X-ray or CT scan. But Morris doesn’t tell these patients to “just schedule their next annual physical and have a nice day,” as, he says, a typical doctor might. According to him, the reason these patients are deemed perfectly healthy is that these are the wrong tests to evaluate their problem. All these symptoms and more may be from mold toxin, Lyme disease or excess histamine.

According to Morris, the single most common presenting complaint in medical visits is fatigue. “Do you have any difficulty remembering things or are you so tired that sometimes you feel like you can barely do anything? If you’re not anemic and your blood thyroid levels are normal, you may be diagnosed as being depressed or needing a psychiatric referral. However, mold exposure is one of the primary factors influencing energy, memory and cognitive function,” he says.

Because of his belief that mold and environmental factors inside buildings can be a major cause of illness, Morris has just moved his office, Wholistic Family Medicine, to 2310 North Wyatt Drive, across from TMC. This new office has been designed to be environmentally friendly, fragrance-free and mold-free.

How frequent or common are mold-related illnesses? “The truth is all of us have been or are being exposed to mold or mycotoxins daily, in our homes, work places and schools. Studies have demonstrated that mold is either causing or contributing to a lot of illnesses. Some mold experts have even speculated that mold may be a major factor in almost all disease,” cautions Morris.

There are many mold-related symptoms, because the illness affects multiple systems in the body. Those experiencing several of these symptoms could be suffering from mold illness. According to Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of mold-related illness, some of these symptoms include: fatigue, weakness, aches, muscle cramps, unusual pain, headache, light sensitivity, red eyes, blurred vision, sinus problems, cough, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, diarrhea, joint pain, morning stiffness, memory issues, focus/concentration issues, word recollection issues, confusion, disorientation, skin sensitivity, mood swings, appetite swings, sweats (especially night sweats), temperature regulation problems, excessive thirst, increased urination, static shocks, numbness, tingling, vertigo, metallic taste or tremors.

At the new Wholistic Family Medicine office, patients are requested to come to the office with no strong smelling synthetic perfume, cologne, hair sprays, shampoo, lotions or deodorants. These chemicals do not wash off, Morris says. They have been linked to cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions, and an overwhelming 72 percent of asthmatic patients have adverse reactions to scented products.

Morris has used Shoemaker’s recommended testing procedures to confirm a safe and mold-free clinic. Additionally, he has used certified organic paint. This paint is significantly better than no or low VOC (volatile organic chemical) paints, which mislead the consumer as being safe and harmless though they are not.

Interestingly, Morris has also used effective microorganisms (EM1) in the office, adding the material to all paint, tile mortar and grout. Other than baking soda and vinegar, it is the only product Morris allows or approves for cleaning any surface in the new clinic. Developed by Dr. Teruo Higa in 1982, EM1 is a combination of beneficial microorganisms that exist in nature: lactic acid bacteria, yeast and phototropic bacteria. EM1 activates local and native microorganisms that live in soil and water to maximize their natural power.

Think of EM1 the same way we think of probiotics. Probiotics are naturally occurring microorganisms that live in the intestinal tract of humans. These beneficial organisms are an important part of the human microbiome and exert a crucial role in absorption, metabolism and detoxification. They also help modulate or balance immune function. Health is not possible without their influence. Probiotics are to the human body as EM1 is to the Earth.

Most of the health problems associated with mold are not merely from the living spores, but the mycotoxins that the spores produce. Wiping a moldy surface with bleach will kill the surface spores, but external application of bleach is not effective against any permeable material exposed to mold. The health damage caused by mold spores is only the tip of the iceberg compared to the health damage caused by mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are dead byproducts of mold; they are resistant to chemicals, heat, UV light, ozone and are virtually impossible to destroy.

So where does that leave us? The good news is that EM1, as an organic living complex of beneficial microbes, is capable of decomposing the mycotoxins. This makes the mycotoxin harmless. In fact, EM1 has been documented to decompose radioactive isotopes, at a vastly accelerated rate. Given our ambient exposure to radioactive waste, EM1 holds a significant role for both our personal and planetary health.

Merely taking either drugs or natural substances that kill mold in our bodies will not repair the damage to our immune and neurological systems. Morris uses a vast array of natural therapies to help his patients. Besides the foundational therapies of clinical nutrition, botanical, homeopathy and acupuncture, he specializes in IV therapies using essential oils, ozone and UVB, as well as other powerful and innovative natural substances. He has also developed a life- and health-changing bio-energetic therapy he calls Resonant Sound Therapy. Effectively treating the whole body is crucial when it comes to mold-related illnesses. This can be a complex issue and process, for which Morris is uniquely qualified.

Contact Dr. Lance Morris for more information or to make an appointment at 520-322-8122. Refer to this article and get a 10 percent discount for services and medicine through the first quarter of 2019. See ad, page 24.