Integrative You original framework · no member data
Suspect Mold? The Building-First Decision Framework
Four decisions, in order, before you buy a test, start a binder, or move out. Most people start at step four. Start at step one.
The framework
1
Find the water first
Mold follows moisture. Look for leaks, past flooding, condensation, musty odors and visible growth. If there is no moisture story, a mold explanation is less likely.
2
Get the building assessed
Use a qualified inspector who checks moisture sources, not just a spore count. ERMI is a research tool and is not an EPA-recommended consumer decision test.
3
Fix the source before the body
Remediation and removal of the moisture source come before any detox plan. Treating the body while exposure continues rarely holds.
4
Then evaluate the person
A clinician works from symptoms, exposure history and established testing for the conditions being considered. No single urine mycotoxin result proves a building caused symptoms.
Methodology
A decision framework written by Dr. Nicole Rivera, DC, IFMC from Integrative You's published mold guidance and public sources, including EPA guidance on moisture control and its statement that ERMI was developed as a research tool. No member, survey, or assessment data was used, so this page reports no statistics.
Questions to ask
- Has this building had a leak, flood, or ongoing condensation in the last few years?
- Do symptoms ease when you are away from the building for several days?
- Has a qualified inspector found and fixed the moisture source?
- Which established tests fit the symptoms I actually have?
Checklist before you act
- Moisture history documented before any lab is ordered
- Inspection report reviewed for the moisture source, not only spore counts
- Remediation confirmed before a detox or binder plan starts
- Symptoms mapped against other root causes (gut, hormones, infections, nervous system)
- Medication and binder changes routed through the prescriber
Limitations
- Educational framework only; it does not diagnose mold illness or any condition.
- Built from published guidance, not from Integrative You patient or survey data.
- Building-inspection standards vary by state; use a qualified local professional.
- Do not start, stop or change medication or binders without your prescriber.
This framework is educational and does not diagnose any individual.
Read the connected evidence
One honest next step