🌫️ Mold & MARCoNS: A Hidden Obstacle in Lyme Recovery
Posted by the Nurse Practitioners at Lowcountry Wellness Center | Whole You: The HO Member Blog
If you’ve made progress with Lyme treatment but hit a wall — or suddenly feel worse with detox or antimicrobial protocols — mold and MARCoNS may be the missing link.
These two stealthy disruptors can suppress the immune system, drive inflammation, and block your body’s ability to fully heal. In fact, many of our most complex patients have underlying mold toxicity or colonization that was never addressed.
🦠 What Is MARCoNS?
MARCoNS stands for Multiple Antibiotic-Resistant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus — a resistant strain of staph bacteria that lives in the nasal passages and forms biofilms.
While it’s not typically life-threatening, MARCoNS can produce biotoxins and inflammatory compounds that impair immune regulation and contribute to chronic symptoms.
Common symptoms linked to MARCoNS:
- Sinus congestion or post-nasal drip
- Head pressure or fogginess
- Persistent fatigue despite adequate sleep
- Heightened sensitivity to smells, light, or sound
- Detox intolerance or poor response to treatment
- Mood fluctuations, anxiety, or brain fog
🏚️ Mold Exposure: Not Just About the Home
Mold exposure can come from visible sources (like basement leaks or flood damage) — but also from hidden water damage in walls, crawl spaces, schools, or workplaces.
Certain species of indoor mold release mycotoxins, which are potent immune disruptors. These toxins can accumulate in the body, especially in individuals with poor detox capacity (such as those with HLA-DR genetic patterns).
Clues that mold may be affecting your health:
- Worsening symptoms after moving or remodeling
- History of living or working in water-damaged buildings
- Itchy skin, burning eyes, or chronic sinus issues
- Increased food sensitivities or chemical intolerance
- Feeling "wired but tired," especially after sauna or treatment
🔬 How We Test for MARCoNS and Mold Toxicity
- MARCoNS: A nasal swab culture is sent to a specialty lab to check for resistant strains and biofilm presence.
- Mold/Mycotoxins: We use advanced urine testing to assess for mold species and toxin burden (e.g. ochratoxin A, gliotoxin, trichothecenes).
In some cases, visual contrast sensitivity testing and symptom questionnaires help guide our evaluation.
🛠️ What We Do About It
Treatment is highly individualized, but some foundational steps include:
- Addressing environmental exposure – identifying and remediating mold sources is essential
- Nasal sprays – such as those containing EDTA, xylitol, or essential oils to break biofilms and clear MARCoNS colonization
- Binders – like GI Detox, BioToxin Binder, or activated charcoal (if tolerated) to support toxin removal
- Lymphatic and mitochondrial support – to ease detox symptoms and restore energy
- Glutathione and antioxidant therapy – for cellular repair and immune support
- Vagus nerve and nervous system regulation – because mold stress is not just physical, it's emotional too
Many patients improve when mold and MARCoNS are addressed before returning to more aggressive Lyme treatment.
💬 Final Thoughts from Your Provider Team
If you feel like you’ve plateaued in your healing — or have strong Herxheimer reactions despite "doing everything right" — it may be time to consider the impact of mold and MARCoNS.
These hidden disruptors don’t always cause classic sinus or allergy symptoms. In fact, they often show up as nervous system dysregulation, persistent fatigue, or detox intolerance.
Our team at Lowcountry Wellness Center specializes in identifying root causes and helping you peel back the layers of complex illness. Let’s get you back to clarity, energy, and trust in your body again.
With you on the healing path,
Your Lowcountry Wellness Team
*This blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Please consult your healthcare provider before beginning any new health protocol, supplement, or therapy.
