Back to Conditions
Mold Toxicity / CIRS
Mold Toxicity, often presenting as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), occurs when susceptible individuals are exposed to biotoxins from water-damaged buildings. Their immune systems fail to clear these mycotoxins, leading to a state of chronic, systemic inflammation.
Common Symptoms
Profound fatigue and weakness
Brain fog, memory issues, and difficulty finding words
Ice-pick pains, muscle aches, and joint pain
Static shocks, numbness, and tingling
Light sensitivity and blurred vision
Causes & Triggers
- Exposure to water-damaged buildings (WDB)
- Inhalation of mycotoxins, actinomycetes, and endotoxins
- Genetic susceptibility (specific HLA-DR haplotypes)
- Tick-borne infections (can trigger similar CIRS pathways)
Diagnosis
Diagnosis often involves a combination of clinical symptom clusters, Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS) testing, genetic testing (HLA-DR), and specific lab markers for inflammation (e.g., TGF-beta 1, C4a, MMP-9, MSH, VIP). Urine mycotoxin testing is also frequently used by functional practitioners.
Treatment Approaches
Removal from the toxic environment (remediation or moving)
Binders to remove toxins from the GI tract (e.g., Cholestyramine, Welchol, bentonite clay, charcoal)
Treating colonizing fungal or bacterial infections (MARCoNS)
Reducing inflammation and supporting detox pathways (glutathione)
Limbic system retraining
Research & Sources
Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)
Surviving Mold (Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker)View Source
Mycotoxins and human disease: a largely ignored global health issue
CarcinogenesisView Source