You have a friend or loved one who has CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome).
Let’s get this out of the way first. CIRS is very real.
Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker has spent his career first identifying, and then coming up with a treatment for CIRS. Because of his commitment we are now able to diagnose and treat this mysterious illness.
What is CIRS?
CIRS, or chronic inflammatory response syndrome, is a complex medical condition. It’s an illness with a wide variety of symptoms that is triggered by exposure to biotoxins.
The strength of the immune system plays a key role in developing CIRS. Everyone’s immune system is their front line defence against illness. However, your loved one’s immune system is not working properly.
Our immune system has two different subdivisions:
- The innate or nonspecific immune system
- This immune system is the first responder to any intruders (viruses, bacteria, flus etc). It usually uses inflammation as a defence.
- The adaptive or specific immune system
- The adaptive immune system analyzes the intruder and creates a specific defence. Once it has created this defence these specific intruders will not make you sick again. It’s why once you get chicken pox you will never get it again – your immune system recognizes the virus and can immediately respond to it.
When mold enters your body your innate immune system will respond. It will then call your adaptive immune system into action to expel the toxins from your body.
However, because of their genes, your loved one’s body doesn’t call their adaptive immune system into action. This leaves their innate immune system stuck fighting mold and mycotoxins on its own. The innate immune system uses inflammation to fight intruders. It is this inflammation, that never turns off, that causes all of the seemingly unrelated syndromes and illnesses that your loved one suffers from.
What causes CIRS?
The primary cause of CIRS is exposure to biotoxins. These toxins are found in a variety of environments, including water-damaged buildings, tick bites, and blue-green algae blooms. Some of the most common biotoxins associated with CIRS include:
- Mold toxins: Various types of mold produce mycotoxins. Mold can be inhaled, ingested, or touched. Exposure to mold is a common trigger for CIRS, and can occur in water-damaged buildings, homes, and workplaces.
- Bacterial toxins: Certain types of bacteria, such as Borrelia burgdorferi (the bacteria that causes Lyme disease) can produce toxins that trigger CIRS.
- Algal toxins: Blue-green algae blooms can produce toxins that can cause CIRS symptoms in humans and animals.
Who can develop chronic inflammatory response syndrome?
It is easy to discount the complaints of someone with CIRS because the environments that cause their severe symptoms have little to no effect on those who can’t develop CIRS.
However, in addition to biotoxin exposure, there are several factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing chronic inflammatory response syndrome. These include:
- Genetics: About 24% of the population has a genetic variation that makes them more susceptible to biotoxin exposure and CIRS.
- Chronic stress: Chronic stress can weaken the immune system and make the body more susceptible to inflammation and infection.
- Poor nutrition: A diet that is low in nutrients and high in processed foods can also weaken the immune system and increase the risk of inflammation.
The so-called CIRS gene must be activated for the immune system to be triggered. The gene can be activated by infection, allergic reaction, pregnancy, surgery, severe physical or emotional trauma, or any event that results in acute inflammation. Once the gene turns on, every exposure to a water-damaged building will make your loved one sicker and sicker.
Mold does not even need to be visible to make your loved one sick. They may be inhaling microscopic particles of mold toxins from heating or air conditioning ducts, carpets, upholstered furniture, and air drawn from within wall spaces in tightly sealed buildings.
Only 48 hours of dampness from a minor leak or water intrusion is enough to make carpet, drywall, furniture, and other porous surfaces a reservoir of mold, mold fragments, bacteria, and mold/bacterial toxins.
Your loved one must avoid exposure to water-damaged buildings. Failure to follow this advice will make recovery impossible. Please understand if a friend or family member tells you they can’t visit your home, workplace, or favorite restaurant. Their health depends on it!
How is CIRS treated?
Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker has developed a 12 step program called The Shoemaker Protocol. The protocol usually takes between 12 and 18 months.
The first few steps focus on remediating your loved one’s environment, and helping their body expel the biotoxins. Once that’s complete, the remaining steps correct all of the hormonal changes CIRS caused within their body.
Your loved one must complete the protocol in order. They also need to complete it under the care of a certified Shoemaker practitioner. The protocol can cause side effects and reactions that the trained practitioner will be able to treat.
The Shoemaker Protocol is the only scientifically studied and peer reviewed method of treating CIRS. It has a success rate of 88%. However, the patient needs to take an active role in the protocol to ensure success. There is no magic pill that cures CIRS.
