Support for Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)
Our approach is personalised and systems-based, focusing on restoring balance and resilience.
Understanding Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) From A Functional Medicine Perspective
Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a multi-system condition driven by an ongoing immune reaction to biotoxins. These are often from mould exposure, but also from sources like Lyme disease or chronic infections. It’s not simply about sensitivity; it’s about the body remaining in a prolonged state of immune activation, unable to reset after the initial trigger. 1,2
CIRS can present with a wide array of symptoms that often defy conventional diagnostic frameworks—fatigue, cognitive changes, digestive discomfort, mood shifts, and more. Many people spend years seeking answers, only to be told their tests are normal. If you’ve experienced persistent symptoms that seem disconnected or resistant to treatment, CIRS may be an important piece of the puzzle.
At Embracing Nutrition, we use a functional medicine lens to explore the underlying mechanisms of CIRS, helping you restore equilibrium and support long-term recovery.
What Is CIRS?
CIRS arises when the body’s immune system fails to eliminate biotoxins effectively. Instead of resolving the threat, the immune response becomes chronic, leading to widespread inflammation and cellular dysfunction.
Significantly, this chronic immune activation can extend to the brain, contributing to neuroinflammation, reduced blood flow, and measurable changes in brain volume. Studies have shown that individuals with CIRS often exhibit reduced volume in key brain regions involved in memory, focus, and emotional regulation. These structural changes may help explain the cognitive symptoms commonly seen in CIRS and suggest a potential link to neurodegenerative processes, including early-onset dementia. 1,2,3,4
Symptoms can vary widely but often include:
- Mental fatigue, poor memory, and difficulty focusing
- Unrelenting tiredness, even after rest
- Gastrointestinal issues such as bloating or irregular bowel movements
- Emotional instability, including anxiety or low mood
- Musculoskeletal discomfort
- Head pressure or recurring headaches
- Sensory sensitivities (light, sound, temperature)
- Respiratory or sinus congestion
- Frequent urination or electrolyte imbalances
- Disrupted sleep and hormonal irregularities
Because CIRS affects multiple systems, symptoms may appear unrelated, making diagnosis challenging.
What Contributes to CIRS?
While biotoxin exposure is the primary trigger, several factors can influence susceptibility and symptom severity:
- Living or working in damp environments with mould contamination. 2
- Tick-borne illnesses such as Borrelia.5
- Persistent viral infections like Epstein Barr or Herpes.
- Genetic variations—especially those that impair toxin clearance. 6
- Compromised gut integrity and detox pathways.
- Exposure to environmental pollutants.
- Chronic psychological stress and autonomic dysregulation.
- Hormonal imbalances, particularly adrenal and thyroid dysfunction.
- Micronutrient insufficiencies affecting mitochondrial and immune resilience.
Functional medicine also considers the downstream neurological impact of these factors, especially when chronic inflammation disrupts the blood-brain barrier and impairs brain detoxification. This can lead to accumulation of inflammatory mediators, further driving cognitive decline and emotional dysregulation. 7
Functional medicine seeks to uncover and address these contributing factors to support deeper healing.
Conventional Approaches to CIRS
The Shoemaker Protocol is a structured medical framework for managing CIRS 1,2. It includes:
- Toxin-binding agents
- Nasal sprays to reduce neuroinflammation 3
- Hormonal and metabolic support
- Sequential lab monitoring
One notable intervention is the use of intranasal VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide), which has been shown to restore volume in affected brain regions and improve cognitive symptoms in CIRS patients. This highlights the importance of addressing both systemic and neurological dimensions of the condition.
While this protocol can be effective, many individuals benefit from a more integrative approach that includes nutrition, lifestyle, and emotional support tailored to their unique needs.
How Functional Medicine Can Support CIRS Recovery
Our approach is personalised and systems-based, focusing on restoring balance and resilience.
Investigative Testing
We may recommend advanced assessments to explore:
- Mycotoxin load and environmental exposures
- Gut microbiome and digestive function
- Genetic markers related to detoxification and immune regulation
- Hormonal and adrenal status
- Inflammatory and immune biomarkers
- Mitochondrial function and nutrient levels
Nutrition for Repair and Regulation
Dietary strategies are central to calming inflammation and supporting detox:
- Emphasis on whole, nutrient-dense foods
- Avoidance of inflammatory or reactive ingredients
- Blood sugar stability and mitochondrial nourishment
- Individualised plans based on sensitivities and tolerance
Nervous System and Lifestyle Support
We help you build a foundation for healing through:
- Techniques to regulate the autonomic nervous system
- Sleep optimisation and circadian rhythm alignment
- Gentle movement and energy pacing
- Emotional resilience and trauma-informed strategies
Natural Therapeutics
We may suggest:
- Binders to assist toxin elimination
- Nutrients that support mitochondrial repair and immune modulation
- Botanicals with anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic properties
- Gut-healing compounds and nervous system support
- Specific neuroprotective compounds may be considered to support cognitive function and counteract brain volume loss.
All recommendations are tailored to your biochemistry, history, and healing capacity.
Reclaiming Wellness
Navigating CIRS can be challenging, especially when symptoms are complex and misunderstood, but with the right tools and guidance, recovery is possible. Functional medicine offers a path to clarity, connection, and empowerment.
At Embracing Nutrition, we’re here to help you make sense of your symptoms, uncover root causes, and move forward with confidence. If you suspect CIRS may be impacting your health, we’re ready to support your next steps.
Tests we may recommend
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Digestive Function and Microbiome Test – GI Effects
£395.00 Add to basket -
Detoxification Genetic Test – Lifecode
£379.00 Add to basket -
DUTCH Complete Hormone Test – Regenerus
£284.00 Select options -
Personalised Nutrition Assessment – Genova Metabolomix+
£375.00 Add to basket -
Mycotoxin profile
£426.00 Add to basket
References
- Dooley M, Vukelic A, Jim L. Chronic inflammatory response syndrome: a review of the evidence of clinical efficacy of treatment. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2024 Nov 8;86(12):7248-7254. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000002718. PMID: 39649915; PMCID: PMC11623837.
- Shoemaker R, Johnson K, Jim L, Berry Y, Dooley M, Ryan J, McMahon S. Diagnostic Process for Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS): A Consensus Statement. Surviving Mold. 2018 May 1. PDF publication
- Shoemaker R. Intranasal VIP safely restores volume to multiple grey matter nuclei in patients with CIRS. Intern Med Rev. 2017;3(4):412. doi: 10.18103/imr.v3i4.412.
- Hamilton D. Understanding Mycotoxin-induced Illness: Part 1. Altern Ther Health Med. 2022 Jul;28(5):8-11. PMID: 36069791.
- Heyman A. Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and the Lyme Patient. Altern Ther Health Med. 2018 Jun;24(S1):20-21. PMID: 30982011.
- Gunn SR, Gunn GG, Mueller FW. Reversal of Refractory Ulcerative Colitis and Severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms Arising from Immune Disturbance in an HLA-DR/DQ Genetically Susceptible Individual with Multiple Biotoxin Exposures. Am J Case Rep. 2016 May 11;17:320-5. doi: 10.12659/ajcr.896949. PMID: 27165859; PMCID: PMC4913732.
- Bredesen DE. Inhalational Alzheimer’s disease: an unrecognized – and treatable – epidemic. Aging (Albany NY). 2016 Feb;8(2):304-13. doi: 10.18632/aging.100896. PMID: 26870879; PMCID: PMC4789584.