Toxicity and the challenges it presents: the International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness (ISEAI) conference

Environmental toxicity creates a very complicated patient presentation that affects multiple systems and a variety of seemingly unconnected symptoms, making diagnosis and treatment very challenging.

It is now recognised that Lyme disease, toxic mould, heavy metals and pollution are some of the contributors to our type 3 patients. With so many environmental toxins and toxicants being identified as neurotoxic, we have to be able to correctly diagnose and effectively treat.

CogMission’s challenge is to identify which of our cognitive patients have an element of type 3, to prevent further exposure to the toxic elements, and to safely remove toxins from the body before repair of the nervous system can take place.

Some of the statistics are alarming. A 2005 study of cord blood from newborns found that on average, a child enters this world exposed to over 287 toxins, including pesticides, consumer product ingredients, and wastes from burning coal, gasoline, and garbage. Out of those, 217 have documented effects on brain and nervous system function.¹ It would appear that the next generation will be severely impacted unless our environmental laws change.

So, now armed with more tools and ideas, we are looking forward to seeing how we can incorporate this knowledge for our patients. Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing some of the pearls that we plucked from the event. We’ve also come back realising that it will be essential to start preventative neuroprotection work with future generations.