CIRS and VOCs

For individuals suffering from Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), a commonly overlooked factor can be volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs, which are emitted by household products, building materials, and even certain foods, can trigger a range of symptoms, especially in those with CIRS. Sensitivity to VOCs is particularly common among patients who have lived with the illness for a longer period, as their bodies struggle to detoxify and manage environmental toxins.

 

VOCs contribute to the “toxin bucket” that CIRS patients are already dealing with, adding another layer of stress on the immune system and exacerbating a wide range of symptoms. As VOCs accumulate, they can overwhelm the body’s natural detoxification processes, leading to increased inflammation and worsening overall health.

 

Managing VOC exposure, whether through improving indoor air quality or using safer products, is a crucial step in reducing symptoms for VOC-sensitive individuals. Proper management also offers additional support during active treatment and post-remission. Let’s take a closer look at how creating a lower-toxicity environment with VOC management helps CIRS patients alleviate their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.

 

What Is CIRS?

 

 

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a complex condition that impacts multiple bodily systems and presents a variety of symptoms. At its foundation, CIRS results from an overactive immune response that triggers excessive inflammation. Diagnosing CIRS requires a comprehensive approach, which typically includes advanced laboratory tests and a thorough evaluation of the patient’s medical history to identify symptoms and potential triggers.

 

Due to its complexity, CIRS is often misdiagnosed or treated ineffectively. Unlike other immune-related disorders, CIRS does not appear on conventional autoimmune tests, making it difficult to detect through standard medical procedures. A successful diagnosis of CIRS requires specialized testing and a detailed assessment to identify the root causes of the condition. This precise diagnostic process is crucial for formulating an effective treatment plan that addresses the underlying issues, providing patients with the best chance for long-term healing and improved well-being.

 

 

What causes the immune system to react so intensely in CIRS? The primary culprits are biotoxins—harmful substances that can trigger or worsen CIRS symptoms. These toxins can originate from a variety of sources, including:

 

• Water-Damaged Buildings: Around 80% of CIRS cases are linked to exposure to water-damaged environments, where mold, bacteria, and other harmful organisms thrive. Even particles from dead mold can cause significant inflammation in susceptible individuals, affecting both mental and physical health.

 

• Insect Bites: Bites from certain insects, particularly ticks and spiders, can introduce pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) and Babesia microti. Additionally, venom from recluse spider bites may cause long-term health issues and potentially trigger CIRS in individuals who are already predisposed.

 

• Contaminated Seafood: Consuming reef fish contaminated with ciguatera toxin, which results from algal blooms, poses a biotoxin exposure risk. These toxins accumulate in larger fish that consume smaller contaminated ones, leading to potential harm for consumers.

 

• Toxic Water Exposure: Contact with water contaminated by harmful algae, such as cyanobacteria or Pfiesteria, whether through inhalation or skin exposure, can activate the immune response associated with CIRS.

 

• Other Biotoxin Triggers: Other sources of biotoxins include certain vaccines, viral infections, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), endotoxins, and actinomycetes, all of which may contribute to the development and worsening of CIRS.

 

 

Biotoxins are microscopic particles that can penetrate cell membranes, making them difficult to detect through standard blood tests. These toxic substances typically enter the body through inhalation but can also be absorbed through contaminated food, insect bites, or exposure to polluted water sources.

 

However, not everyone exposed to biotoxins, such as mold, will develop CIRS. Genetic factors and life experiences play a significant role in determining the likelihood of developing biotoxin-related illnesses. Specific triggers, such as serious illness, surgeries, high fevers, pregnancy, heavy exposure to toxins, or traumatic events, can initiate a strong immune response known as a “cytokine storm.” This response may activate CIRS in individuals who are genetically susceptible, particularly those with certain HLA-DR genes. As a result, CIRS can develop unexpectedly at any stage in life. Even in the absence of active symptoms, genetic testing can help assess an individual’s risk for CIRS.

 

While most people’s bodies can naturally detoxify biotoxins, those genetically predisposed to CIRS may have immune systems that struggle to effectively detect and eliminate these toxins. This inability to clear biotoxins from the body can lead to their accumulation, resulting in persistent inflammation 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, developed by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, provides a detailed, step-by-step approach to treating CIRS and other biotoxin-related illnesses. Recognized as the only peer-reviewed, clinically validated protocol for managing biotoxin conditions, including those triggered by mold, it systematically targets the inflammatory processes driving CIRS symptoms. The protocol is designed to address the multiple effects of biotoxin exposure, offering a structured path toward symptom relief and long-term recovery.

 

A critical first step in the protocol involves eliminating ongoing exposure to biotoxins. This includes mold remediation, avoiding contaminated environments, and implementing environmental controls such as air filtration and proper ventilation. Another key factor in this phase is managing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are often present in indoor environments and can contribute to the toxin load. Reducing VOC exposure is essential for creating a safer, lower-toxicity environment, particularly during active treatment. Managing VOC levels helps alleviate the environmental strain on the immune system, which is crucial for the body’s ability to heal.

 

Once exposure is minimized, the protocol focuses on removing biotoxins from the body using binders such as Cholestyramine (CSM) or Welchol, which capture and eliminate residual toxins. Later stages of the protocol aim to restore immune function, balance inflammatory markers, stabilize cytokine levels, and address hormone imbalances. This methodical approach helps reset the immune system, reduce symptoms, and support lasting remission.

 

What Are VOCs?

VOCs are emitted as gases or vapor from various materials such as paints, varnishes, wax, fuel, and cosmetic products. There can be as many as ten times the concentration of VOCs inside a home compared to outside. The VOC gases or vapors will off-gas over time but until this happens, the toxicity can contribute to the toxin load in the body and intensify symptoms.

 

Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs) are products of microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, and are only one of the many components of the biochemical stew created in a water-damaged building. These microbes off-gas, releasing certain chemicals into the air. These chemicals can cause severe symptoms in susceptible individuals. Proper remediation and small particle clean should theoretically mitigate any MVOC concerns in a property.

 

VOCs are chemicals that easily vaporize into the air, often found in everyday products and materials. VOCs can come from a wide variety of sources, both natural and synthetic. Common VOC sources include:

 

• Cleaning Products: Household cleaners, disinfectants, and air fresheners
• Building Materials: Paints, varnishes, adhesives, carpets, and flooring materials
• Furniture and Upholstery: Newly purchased furniture, mattresses, and curtains treated with chemical finishes
• Personal Care Products: Fragrances, deodorants, hair sprays, and nail polishes
• Office Supplies: Printers, photocopiers, ink, and toners
• Automobile Emissions: Exhaust from vehicles, as well as the chemicals used in vehicle interiors
• Food Packaging: Certain plastic containers, food wraps, and canned goods
• Mold and Mildew: Fungal growth can release mycotoxins and VOCs into the air
• Pesticides and Herbicides: Chemicals used in gardens, lawns, and indoor plant care
• Cigarette Smoke: Both active and passive exposure to tobacco smoke
• Radon Gas: Naturally occurring gas that can seep into buildings from the soil
• Solvents: Found in paints, lacquers, and cleaning agents used for household or industrial purposes
• Certain Foods: Processed foods, especially those with artificial additives, preservatives, and flavorings (e.g., packaged snacks and ready-to-eat meals)
• Cooking Fumes: VOCs can be released during cooking, especially when frying, grilling, or roasting. Fumes from oils, fats, and charred foods can contain VOCs such as acrolein and formaldehyde

 

Being able to identify and minimize exposure to these common sources of VOCs helps individuals reduce their toxin load, creating a cleaner, healthier environment that supports healing and overall well-being.

 

Important Note: We don’t believe that VOCs alone can act as a priming agent for CIRS. MVOCs produced in water-damaged buildings may act in tandem with all the other components of the biochemical stew as a priming agent but it’s safer to say that water-damaged buildings as a whole are likely the problem vs. specific components alone.

 

How Do VOCs Affect CIRS?

 

 

VOCs can complicate the health of the individual as the toxicity from the VOCs can add to the toxin burden. While mold toxins are often the primary offender, many individuals with CIRS become increasingly sensitive to VOCs over the course of the illness. Being aware of other forms of toxins that may be impacting your health is important.

 

Managing VOCs is particularly important for those with sensitivities, but it plays a significant role for all individuals with CIRS and anyone seeking to optimize their overall health. The concept of the toxin bucket is crucial in understanding how environmental toxins, including VOCs, affect the body’s ability to heal.

 

Imagine the body’s toxin load as a bucket. When the bucket fills up with various toxins—whether from mold, pollutants, inflammatory foods, chemicals, or VOCs—the body becomes overwhelmed, and its detoxification systems struggle to keep up. This overload can trigger or exacerbate the inflammatory response central to CIRS, making it more difficult for the body to recover.

 

When these compounds are inhaled or absorbed, they add to the toxin load, further stressing the body’s immune and detoxification systems. For those with CIRS, the accumulation of these toxins can amplify existing symptoms or cause new symptoms. This is why reducing VOC exposure is so vital—not just for individuals with sensitivities but for anyone dealing with a compromised immune system or striving to improve overall wellness.

 

VOC exposure may cause the following symptoms:

 

• Headache
• Coughing
• Dizziness
• Eye, nose, and throat irritation
• Insomnia
• Neurological concerns such as anxiety and confusion
• Skin reactions
• Nosebleeds
• Loss of coordination
• Vision changes
• Fatigue
• Muscle cramps
• Cognitive impairment and difficulty remembering things

 

Anecdotally, VOC exposure symptoms may feel mold-adjacent, have a quicker onset time, and have a shorter symptom duration compared to mold exposure. However, this experience differs from person to person.

 

Best Practices for Limiting VOCs

 

 

For individuals with known VOC sensitivities, limiting exposure can be essential for minimizing symptoms and health setbacks. For those without VOC sensitivities, you probably won’t need the same level of mitigation support but it’s still important to manage the VOCs in your home as they contribute to your overall toxin load and can exacerbate CIRS.

 

• Charcoal Air Filters: Activated charcoal is a common, effective way to remove VOCs from the air. High-quality air purifiers such as Air Oasis IAdapt and Air Doctor have charcoal components for trapping VOCs. If you need additional VOC support, activated charcoal bags, charcoal ceiling fan filters, and portable range hoods with charcoal filters are also available for use throughout your home.

 

• Charcoal Masks: Many commercial buildings, particularly stores, can have higher levels of VOCs than other indoor spaces. Using personal protection equipment (PPE) with a charcoal component can help mitigate VOC concerns. There are many mask options available such as 3M R95 Respirators and Aus Air Airflex.

 

• Opting for Low-VOC Alternatives: Whether you’re in the build-back process, remodeling your home, or considering custom building in the future, there are many low-VOC alternatives for paints, caulking, finishes, and other building materials. AFM Safecoat is a low-VOC option to explore.

 

• Off-Gassing Furniture: New furniture often requires off-gassing VOCs. Consider reading through product reviews for any customer-reported smells, keeping new furniture in safe outdoor spaces such as the garage or patio for off-gassing (outdoor environment permitting only), and using additional charcoal supports and air filters to speed up off-gassing.

 

• Personal Care and Household Products: Opt for natural, non-toxic, fragrance-free personal care and household products when possible. Even natural cleaning products such as alcohol can have a high VOC load—many sensitive CIRS individuals aren’t able to use diluted alcohol in their environment. If you need to deep clean an item with alcohol or anything with higher VOCs, consider doing it outdoors, underneath your range vent at full speed, or with a charcoal mask and air filter.

 

• New Construction Buildings: Any new construction building including homes, hotels, and commercial buildings contain significantly high levels of VOCs. It’s recommended to purchase homes and stay in new hotels that are at least 2-3 years old to provide adequate time for off-gassing when possible.

 

• Monitoring VOCs: There are many indoor air quality monitors with VOC detection available on Amazon. This can help troubleshoot if VOCs are a potential problem in your environment if you’ve crossed mold off the list and believe you still have environment-related concerns.

 

Finding the right combination for you is essential for symptom management and supporting overall recovery.

 

Additional VOC Support

VOCs typically do not stay in the body for long periods, as the body’s natural detoxification processes work to eliminate them (although CIRS can impact this process). However, repeated exposure can lead to an accumulation of these compounds, which can overwhelm the body’s ability to detoxify effectively. Fortunately, there are additional VOC support strategies available to help both with the acute effects of exposure and to manage the long-term impact of repeated toxin load. These supports can help the body process and eliminate VOCs more efficiently, reducing their harmful effects.

 

For additional VOC support and the remainder of this content, please join our CIRS Support Group.

 

Closing Thoughts on CIRS and VOCs

Living with CIRS can often feel overwhelming, especially when it seems like there’s an endless list of things to manage in your environment. However, the good news is that many of these strategies can become passive over time. Once you’ve identified the right household products, personal care items, and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), the effort involved in managing VOCs and other environmental factors becomes much more streamlined.

 

The key is finding the products and protocols that work for you and your unique sensitivities. As you become more familiar with which adjustments make the biggest difference, these actions will start to feel like second nature. Creating the right off-gassing protocols and setting up your environment to support your healing will ultimately provide a more stable, lower-toxicity space, reducing the need for constant active management.

 

While it can feel like a lot in the beginning, remember that every step you take toward reducing VOC exposure and optimizing your environment is a step toward feeling better. Healing is a journey, and with time, these changes will become part of your routine, helping to create a safer, more comfortable space for your body to recover and thrive.

 

 

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.