Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome - CIRS

What is Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome?

CIRS is a chronic, multi-system illness caused by an immune system that’s stuck in overdrive after exposure to certain environmental toxins—especially mold and other contaminants found in water-damaged buildings.

In individuals with a certain genetic susceptibility (about 24% of the population), the immune system can’t shut off the alarm bells. Instead of clearing the threat and returning to balance, the body continues producing inflammatory signals. Over time, this leads to widespread symptoms that can affect nearly every system in the body.

It’s not an allergy. It’s not an infection. It’s an immune regulation problem. And it won’t go away without addressing the underlying mechanisms.

Common Triggers

The most common trigger of CIRS is exposure to water-damaged buildings—and unfortunately, this is far more common than most people realize. Up to 50% of North American homes have experienced some form of water intrusion or mold overgrowth.

Other known triggers include:

• Lyme disease and co-infections
• Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms
• Ciguatera fish poisoning (from reef fish like barracuda or grouper)
• Certain spider bites (like the brown recluse)

You don’t need to recall a dramatic exposure. Even low-level, chronic exposure—like musty smells in your home or working in an old office building—can be enough to trigger CIRS in a genetically susceptible person.

Symptoms of CIRS: Why It’s Often Misdiagnosed

CIRS doesn’t look like a single disease. It’s a constellation of symptoms across multiple systems. That’s part of what makes it so frustrating for patients—and easy to miss for practitioners unfamiliar with it.

Patients with CIRS may experience:

• Cognitive issues: memory loss, poor concentration, word-finding difficulty, brain fog
• Fatigue and malaise: unrelenting exhaustion, poor recovery after exertion
• Muscle and joint pain: morning stiffness, cramping, body aches
• Sinus and respiratory symptoms: chronic congestion, shortness of breath, cough
• Digestive issues: abdominal pain, diarrhea
• Temperature and sensory changes: dizziness, tingling, light sensitivity
• Mood changes: anxiety, panic, mood swings

It’s not uncommon for these patients to receive multiple diagnoses over time—chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, anxiety, even ADHD or early dementia. But when standard treatments don’t work, it’s time to dig deeper.

How We Test for CIRS at Neurvana

Unlike many other conditions, CIRS can’t be diagnosed through conventional lab panels. Instead, we rely on a combination of advanced testing and clinical pattern recognition:

• Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS) Testing
  A simple, non-invasive test that assesses neurological function through contrast perception—often impaired in CIRS.
• HLA Genetic Testing
  Identifies whether you carry the genes that impair your immune system’s ability to recognize and clear biotoxins.
• Transcriptomic Testing
  
  • A gene expression test looking at 188 genes that are involved in the inflammatory and immune pathways.
  • This test assesses hypometabolism, insulin signalling, cytokine and coagulation abnormalities, infections (ie, Lyme), and T cell and B cell activity.
• Lab Markers of Inflammation and Hormone Disruption
  
  • TGF Beta-1 (a key immune regulator)
  • MMP-9 (inflammatory enzyme)
  • ADH and osmolality (fluid balance)
  • VIP and MSH (neuropeptides often suppressed in CIRS)
  • Cortisol and ACTH (stress hormones)
  • VEGF, C3a, C4a (markers of immune activation and poor oxygen delivery)
• Environmental Testing
  If mold or a water-damaged building is suspected, we may recommend Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) or Health Effects Roster of Type-Specific Formers of Mycotoxins and Inflammagens - Version 2 (HERTSMI-2) testing to assess your home or workplace for hidden mold exposures.

Integrative Strategy: Root-Cause Focus (with a Functional Medicine Lens)

Effective CIRS management requires identifying and treating the root cause, rather than merely easing symptoms. This involves personalized investigations into genetic, environmental, and inflammatory factors. The use of holistic protocols involving biotoxin removal, infection elimination, immune balancing, and lifestyle support. And consistent monitoring and adjustment as required as patients navigate through the step-by-step protocol.

The Treatment Approach

Treating CIRS isn’t about throwing supplements at symptoms—it’s about working through a stepwise protocol designed to calm the immune system, remove lingering toxins, and support recovery at the cellular level.

Here’s how we approach CIRS at Neurvana:

1. Find and remove the source : Mold remediation or elimination of infection.
2. Bind and clear toxins
3. Treat nasal colonization (like MARCoNS): This infection may be suppressing immune-regulating hormones.
4. Support immune balance and hormone regulation: With personalized protocols targeting your specific lab results.
5. Restore vitality: Through mitochondrial support, brain-focused therapies, and lifestyle coaching.

We walk with our patients every step of the way—because recovery from CIRS is possible, but it takes consistency and commitment.

Working with a Naturopathic Doctor

One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is helping patients who’ve been dismissed or misdiagnosed for years finally get answers—and begin to heal.

If you’ve been told that nothing is wrong, it’s “all in your head,” or you’ve tried everything and still feel unwell, CIRS may be worth exploring.

We take your symptoms seriously. We believe your experience, and we have the tools to help uncover what’s going on beneath the surface.

If you suspect CIRS might be playing a role in your health, I invite you to book a Discovery Call with our team. Together, we’ll explore whether this approach is the right next step in your healing journey.

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About the Author

Advanced Care Naturopathic Doctor at Neurvana Health

Learn more about Dr. Morrison