CIRS and Heavy Metals

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a complicated and often misunderstood condition that affects many individuals worldwide. This syndrome, triggered by exposure to biotoxins such as mold, can lead to a cascade of symptoms that severely impact daily life.

 

However, for many CIRS patients, the challenges don’t stop at biotoxins. Detoxification becomes a significant hurdle, as the body’s natural ability to expel various toxins is compromised. One of the more concerning of these toxins is heavy metals. These metals, prevalent in our environment, can accumulate in the body in a subset of this population and exacerbate the symptoms of CIRS.

 

Understanding the interplay between CIRS and heavy metals is crucial for effective management and recovery. We will explore the connection between CIRS and heavy metal toxicity, taking a closer look into why individuals with CIRS often face difficulties in detoxifying these harmful substances.

 

We will also discuss strategies for identifying and addressing heavy metal exposure to support overall health and well-being. Gaining insight into these interconnected issues helps those affected by CIRS to take proactive steps toward a more comprehensive approach to healing and detoxification.

 

What Is CIRS?

 

 

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a multifaceted condition that affects various systems in the body, manifesting in a wide range of symptoms. This disorder is caused by significant inflammation due to an excessively active immune response. Within the medical field, diagnosing CIRS necessitates extensive lab testing and a detailed examination of the patient’s medical history.

 

The diverse symptoms associated with CIRS frequently lead to misdiagnosis or suboptimal treatment. Unlike common immune disorders that are identified through abnormal adaptive immune responses, CIRS is not detectable via standard autoimmune blood tests. Consequently, a specialized and thorough diagnostic approach is essential for the accurate identification and effective management of CIRS.

 

 

What triggers the intense immune response and widespread inflammation that defines CIRS? The main culprits are biotoxins, naturally occurring toxic substances that initiate and worsen CIRS. These biotoxins come from several sources:

 

• Water-Damaged Buildings: Around 80% of CIRS cases are associated with exposure to water-damaged environments. These places are hotbeds for mold mycotoxins, bacteria, and chemical irritants, which provoke inflammatory responses in vulnerable individuals. Both live and dead mold components significantly contribute to inflammation in the body and brain.

 

• Insect Bites: Certain insect bites, such as those from ticks and spiders, can lead to chronic conditions such as Lyme disease. Pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti, along with venom from recluse spider bites, can cause long-term health issues.

 

• Seafood Consumption: Eating tropical reef fish contaminated with ciguatera toxin, often linked to Pfiesteria and harmful algae blooms like cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), can cause biotoxin-related illnesses. This toxin accumulates in larger reef fish that consume smaller fish, which have ingested dinoflagellates.

 

• Contaminated Water Contact: Exposure to or inhalation of water contaminated with toxic algae blooms, including Pfiesteria and cyanobacteria, can trigger inflammatory responses associated with CIRS.

 

• Other Biotoxin Sources: Additional CIRS triggers include certain vaccines, viruses, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), endotoxins, and actinomycetes. These elements can contribute to the onset and progression of the syndrome.

 

 

Biotoxins are minute molecules capable of infiltrating cell membranes, making them challenging to detect with standard blood tests. These toxins typically enter the body through inhalation but can also be introduced via ingestion, insect bites, and contact with contaminated water.

 

Not everyone exposed to biotoxins, such as mold, will develop Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). Susceptibility to biotoxin-related conditions is significantly influenced by genetic predispositions and life stressors. Factors such as severe illnesses, surgeries, high fevers, pregnancies, substantial biotoxin exposure, and other traumatic events can trigger a cytokine storm. This activation may initiate the CIRS gene in genetically predisposed individuals, especially those with HLA-DR genes, indicating that CIRS can manifest at any stage of life. It’s crucial to understand that a lack of symptoms does not imply immunity, and genetic testing can offer valuable insights for prevention.

 

While biotoxins can cause immediate illness, most people’s immune systems can identify and eliminate these toxins effectively. However, individuals genetically predisposed to CIRS have immune systems that fail to recognize and clear these toxins, allowing them to persist in the body. This persistence results in a chronic, severe immune reaction and widespread inflammation, leading to a variety of symptoms and long-term health issues.

 

For a more detailed understanding of CIRS, click here.

 

Pro-Tip: If you think you’re suffering from CIRS, start with our White Glove Service for comprehensive care.

 

What Is the Shoemaker Protocol?

 

 

The Shoemaker Protocol is a comprehensive, step-by-step treatment plan designed to address CIRS caused by biotoxin exposure. Developed by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, this protocol systematically tackles the complex and multifaceted effects of biotoxin illness by targeting the underlying inflammatory pathways. It is the only peer-reviewed, clinically backed approach currently available for biotoxin illness, including mold illness. Each step of the Shoemaker Protocol is meticulously ordered to address the various downstream effects of the biotoxin pathway, ensuring a thorough and effective treatment process.

 

The initial steps of the Shoemaker Protocol focus on removing the source of biotoxin exposure, whether it be mold or other biotoxins. This involves environmental interventions, such as mold remediation or avoiding contaminated water. Once exposure is minimized, the next step involves binding the biotoxins in the body using specific medications such as Cholestyramine (CSM) or Welchol.

 

Subsequent steps address the inflammatory response and hormonal imbalances caused by biotoxins. This includes correcting dysregulated cytokine levels, treating hormonal deficiencies, and addressing various downstream issues. Each step is designed to restore normal function to the body’s immune and endocrine systems, ultimately leading to improved health and symptom relief.

 

While co-infections and comorbidities are common in CIRS patients, the Shoemaker Protocol does not include a specific step for heavy metal detoxification. This omission is because heavy metal toxicity is not a universal issue for all CIRS patients. However, heavy metal toxicity can impact a subset of the CIRS population due to the body’s poor detox capabilities. Therefore, it is essential to discuss heavy metal detoxification protocols within the context of the Shoemaker Protocol to tailor the treatment to individual needs.

 

In later sections, we will look into the nuances of heavy metal detox and how it can be integrated into the Shoemaker Protocol for those patients who require it.

 

Heavy Metals

Several heavy metals, when present in excess, can lead to adverse health effects in humans. The most common of these include:

 

Lead

Historically used in paint, gasoline, and plumbing pipes, lead exposure can be particularly harmful to children, causing developmental delays, lower IQ, and behavioral issues. In adults, high lead levels can damage the brain and nervous system, kidneys, and other organs. Lead is most commonly found in old paint, contaminated soil, tap water, imported products, occupational exposure, food, and certain cosmetics.

 

Reducing lead exposure is particularly important for children and pregnant women as it can have serious developmental and health effects. Drinking safe filtered water and ensuring proper nutrition and safe environments can help mitigate the risk of lead exposure.

 

Mercury

 

 

Mercury can harm the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as the lungs and kidneys. Methylmercury, a type of organic mercury found in certain fish, is particularly toxic to the developing brains of fetuses and young children.

 

The most common sources of mercury are vaccines, larger fish varieties, dental amalgams, industrial emissions, household items, occupational exposure, as well as cosmetics and personal care products.

 

Arsenic

Commonly found in groundwater, arsenic can cause skin lesions, cardiovascular diseases, and various cancers. Long-term exposure can lead to significant health problems, including neurological effects.

 

The most common sources of arsenic are drinking water, plant-based foods, contaminated soil and dust, occupational exposure, arsenic-treated wood, as well as pesticides and herbicides.

 

Cadmium

 

 

This metal is often found in industrial workplaces, particularly where ore is processed or metal coatings are made. Cadmium exposure can lead to kidney disease, lung damage, and fragile bones.

 

Cadmium is most commonly found in tobacco smoke, occupational exposure, certain foods, environmental pollution, contaminated water, and particular consumer products.

 

Aluminum

Excessive aluminum exposure has been studied for its potential links to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.

 

It is commonly found in food, tap water, certain cookware and utensils, vaccines, allergy shots, medications, cosmetics, personal products, dust, and occupational exposure.

 

These metals can accumulate in the body over time, leading to chronic toxicity. Symptoms and health impacts vary based on the type of metal, exposure level, and individual susceptibility. Reducing exposure and chelation therapy for certain types of metal toxicity are common approaches to managing heavy metal toxicity.

 

How Do You Test for Heavy Metals?

Testing for heavy metals is crucial for identifying toxic exposures that can impact health. Since heavy metal toxicity can be one of the common co-infections with CIRS, we generally recommend doing heavy metal testing during the protocol to see if you need any additional detox support.

 

Here are some different heavy metal testing options to explore:

 

• Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) Testing: The hair test offers a detailed analysis of your nutritional metabolic activity, showing three months of intracellular mineral balance and heavy metals.
• Quicksilver Tri Testing: With urine, hair, and blood testing, this comprehensive option includes both long-term mineral analysis in addition to acute testing via urine and blood.
• LabCorp and Quest Heavy Metal Testing: These blood test options only show acute heavy metal poisoning.

 

How Do You Address Heavy Metal Toxicity?

Addressing heavy metal toxicity within the context of CIRS requires a strategic and carefully timed approach. The intake of certain nutrients, particularly minerals, can play a crucial role in dislodging heavy metals from the body. Supporting drainage pathways, including the liver and kidneys, is essential to ensure that these dislodged metals are effectively removed from the body.

 

Natural binders, such as activated charcoal, zeolite, and bentonite clay, can help detoxify accumulated heavy metals by binding to them and facilitating their excretion. While pharmaceutical binders such as Cholestyramine (CSM) and Welchol may bind some heavy metals, they are often insufficient on their own, and additional natural binders are typically recommended.

 

A key aspect of managing heavy metal toxicity is reducing exposure, staying hydrated, and supporting overall gut health. This, combined with a focus on liver and kidney support, enhances the body’s natural detoxification processes.

 

However, it is critical to emphasize that heavy metal detoxification protocols should only be implemented after completing treatments for CIRS and Lyme disease. This is because dislodging heavy metals without proper detoxification can lead to the redistribution of these metals to areas where they can cause harm.

 

The timing of heavy metal protocols is therefore vital, and it is important to work closely with a trusted CIRS practitioner for proper testing and guidance. Additionally, while Fiji water, rich in natural silica, and natural binders can help bind heavy metals, and may be used during CIRS and Lyme treatment, more intensive heavy metal protocols should be approached cautiously.

 

Further treatment methods and detailed protocols are available for members of our CIRS Support Group, providing a comprehensive approach to managing heavy metal toxicity.

 

Closing Thoughts on Heavy Metals and CIRS

Heavy metal toxicity can be a common concern among individuals with CIRS due to the body’s compromised detoxification capabilities. The ongoing inflammatory response associated with CIRS often disrupts the body’s natural ability to eliminate toxins, allowing heavy metals to accumulate over time. This can create additional challenges in the healing process, exacerbating symptoms and potentially hindering recovery.

 

Fortunately, there are relatively simple and actionable protocols for addressing heavy metal toxicity, providing additional pathways for those who encounter roadblocks in their treatment journey. Incorporating natural binders, supporting drainage pathways, and ensuring adequate hydration and mineral intake allows individuals to effectively assist their bodies in removing accumulated heavy metals.

 

However, the timing of these protocols is critical. Implementing heavy metal detoxification too early, particularly before addressing underlying CIRS and Lyme disease, can risk redistributing metals to areas where they can cause further harm. This illuminates the importance of working closely with a trusted CIRS practitioner who can guide the timing and implementation of these protocols. With the right support and a strategic approach, heavy metal toxicity can be effectively managed, providing additional levers to explore for a successful recovery from CIRS.

 

 

 

Pro-Tip: Are you looking for more in-depth practitioner resources and a like-minded community to support you through your CIRS journey? Join our exclusive CIRS Support Group for the latest research, step-by-step protocol tools, and support to successfully achieve root-cause healing.

 

Work With Our Trusted CIRS Practitioners

The Nutrition with Judy practice is honored to be a trusted CIRS practitioner support serving clients from around the globe. We’re passionate about helping our clients achieve root-cause healing in order to lead the best quality of life possible that’s nearly symptom-free. Our team is dedicated to finding the answers our patients need. We welcome you to explore our free resources and are always available to support you through personalized protocols. If you’re interested in working one-on-one with our CIRS nutritional therapy team to support you through your journey, our CIRS Support Package delivers the support and accountability for achieving root-cause healing.