What is Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome?

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a complex multisystem illness that is environmentally acquired, in which a person's body is unable to properly eliminate toxins from the body -- resulting in widespread inflammation and dysregulation.

CIRS is often called "The Great Masquerader" due to mimicking various chronic conditions.

Misdiagnoses and co-occurring disorders include:

• Fibromyalgia

• Asthma

• Alzheimer’s Disease

• Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

• Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

• Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome/Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANS/PANDAS)

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

• Post-Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Various Psychiatric Conditions like Depression, Schizophrenic Disorders, Anxiety, etc.

CIRS is first identified using a Biotoxin Questionnaire, where symptom clusters indicate the presence of biotoxins in the body.

Biotoxins include: mold (mycotoxins), tick-borne diseases (lyme and co-infections), harmful algal blooms (red tide, etc), and more.

Once a person is suspected of having biotoxin exposure, CIRS labwork is prepared by the treating physician to determine the condition of the person. This can include labs like TGF-b1, MMP-9, HLA-DR/DQ, and hormone panels.

Oftentimes, individuals with autoimmune conditions have been exposed to an environmental toxin that acted as one of the triggering events for the disease. The human body is resilient to physiological and psychological stress, but given the right circumstances, it can result in chronic illness.

The common experience of a CIRS patient

1. Physical illness

2. Home remediation

3. Trauma - medical, past, mold, emotional turmoil

4. Grief and loss - relationships, dreams, lifestyle, belongings

5. Financial hardship

6. Navigating CIRS care and learning the systems

7. Legal battles

8. Isolation & loneliness

Currently, there are several leaders and advancements in the CIRS community, tackling various approaches to healing and addressing preventative measures.

On the medical side, doctors like Ritchie Shoemaker and Jill Crista take different evidence-based approaches to healing the body. No two people will heal from biotoxin exposure the same way, whether it is heavily pharmaceutical or natural, and the varying approaches provide more opportunities for healing.

Environmentally, indoor environmental professionals (IEPs) educate the public on the importance of home maintenance and proper remediation surrounding a water-damage event.

Nationwide, there are various advocates for mold laws to reduce barriers that CIRS patients experience and correct environmental injustices faced in different populations.

While CIRS is not only a mold-related illness, due to the prevalence of toxic mold exposure, it is a significant consideration for individuals with CIRS. For those who developed CIRS from tick-borne disease, harmful algal blooms (HABs), sewer gas, pesticide exposure, etc, the research founded on mold-related CIRS provides a foundation on how to approach treatment due to its focus on the inflammatory response within the body. The Biotoxin Pathway is the evidence-based model that physicians use to inform treatment for CIRS patients.

Image from Surviving Mold

At Emuna Healing, we are approaching CIRS care through root-cause healing in counseling and CIRS Coaching. In counseling, we address the soul (mind, will, & emotions), which allows for deeper healing as a person manages a CIRS diagnosis. The experience of chronic illness and one's past can influence a person's resilience to stress and the body's natural healing process. Relatively, CIRS Coaching provides guidance and support as individuals navigate the complexities of CIRS.

If you are experiencing a chronic illness and would like to learn more, contact us.