Rachael Finch has raised eyebrows after revealing she has put her 11-year-old daughter Violet through a rigorous ‘detox’ program for a mould-induced sickness.
The wellness influencer, 37, shared the news via Instagram on Tuesday as she filmed herself and Violet applying makeup together.
In the clip, the mother-of-two explained that Violet had developed a persistent cough shortly after their family had moved into a property in the beachside Sydney suburb of Coogee.
‘When we lived in Coogee I was coughing non-stop. It started randomly when we moved to Coogee a couple of weeks in,’ Violet said.
Rachael added: ‘We couldn’t, for the life of us, work out what it was. When she was playing tennis, she would be coughing. When she woke up, she’d cough. During the day, she’d cough. She’d cough in the shower.’
Eventually, Rachael realised that Violet’s condition could have been caused by the prevalence of mould growing in her home.
Rachael Finch, 37, (left) has raised eyebrows after revealing she has put her 11-year-old daughter Violet (right) through a rigorous ‘detox’ program for a mould-induced sickness
Mould can cause coughing because it releases tiny airborne spores that irritate the respiratory system when inhaled.
‘We noticed it growing through the garage. What the people before us must have done is just painted over the walls to make it nice and fresh, and we started smelling and seeing mould through the walls,’ Rachael explained.
Violet noted that the fan in her bedroom was ‘starting to turn black and green’ due to the growth, while Rachael added: ‘My dresses in my wardrobe when you opened it had mold on them. It was disgusting.’
Rachael took Violet to a clinical nutritionist, who gave her a mycotoxin test.
These controversial tests measure the amount of toxins produced by mould in the body, however it is not considered medically reliable in Australia.
This is because mycotoxins can come from everyday foods, not just mould exposure, and there are no standardised safe or harmful levels.
Results also vary widely between labs, so doctors rely on symptoms and environmental checks rather than these tests to assess mould-related illness.
Violet tested positive for gliotoxin – a mycotoxin produced by certain moulds that can suppress the immune system.
Violet had a persistent cough while the family were living in Coogee. She later tested positive for gliotoxin – a mycotoxin produced by certain moulds that can suppress the immune system
Rachael then put Violet on a 12-week treatment plan to address mycotoxin exposure, which included consuming antioxidant-rich supplements, bentonite clay and oregano oil
Rachael then put Violet on a 12-week treatment plan to address mycotoxin exposure.
For the first three weeks, the pre-teen took a variety of antioxidant-rich supplements to ‘open up the detoxification pathways of her body’.
In weeks four to six, Violet started eating a ‘pinch’ of bentonite clay every day, which she ate to ‘help remove toxins from her system’.
Bentonite clay is derived from volcanic ash, and is notable for its high mineral content and a negative electrical charge.
Most doctors do not recommend bentonite clay for mycotoxin removal, and evidence of benefit in humans is limited.
In the final three weeks, Violet started taking oregano oil – an alternative medicine remedy known for its antifungal properties.
Oregano oil is not a medically approved treatment for mould exposure or mycotoxin removal.
By the end of the 12 weeks, Violet’s retest showed that toxin levels had reduced and her symptoms had improved significantly, Rachael said.
‘It was pretty torturous because Violet hated taking these supplements and every night, every day it was an absolute mission,’ Rachael lamented.
Daily Mail approached the Therapeutic Goods Administration in relation to this story.
A spokesperson said: ‘Anyone experiencing symptoms they believe may be related to mould exposure is encouraged to seek medical advice from their local GP or pharmacist.’
By the end of the 12 weeks, Violet’s retest showed that toxin levels had reduced and her symptoms had improved significantly, Rachael said. Rachael is pictured with her dancer husband Michael Miziner, daughter Violet and son Dominic
