“Brain on Fire”
Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a complex, multi-system, multi-symptom disease resulting from a deficient immune response to biotoxin exposure While CIRS affects multiple body systems, it is often felt acutely in mental faculties. Common symptoms include fatigue, headache, light sensitivity, blurred vision, memory issues, confusion, brain fog, vertigo, and mood swings.
Biotoxins are microscopic particles, gasses, and chemicals released from living organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. Biotoxin exposure could include brown recluse spider bite, Pfiesteria, Ciguatera, blue-green algae, and tick-born infections, including Lyme Disease.
However, 80% of CIRS patients are linked to biotoxin exposure in Water Damaged Buildings (WDBs).
Which is why CIRS is most commonly associated with mold. But as you’ll discover, that association is nuanced. There is still a lot of misinformation that needs be be untangled surrounding mold & CIRS.
Infographic
While CIRS is complex, we’ve distilled many of Dr. Hartman’s insights into a single infographic. Explore the Biotoxin Pathway to better understand the labs necessary for diagnosing CIRS, and the protocol prescribed for treating it. (Click the image to expand.)
Primer Series
If you haven’t yet read Dr. Hartman’s first series on CIRS, this is the place to begin:
CIRS: A New Paradigm for Chronic Disease | Part 1:
Understanding Our Mold Problem
Part 1 of a series on Mold-Related Biotoxin Illness (or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), Dr. Hartman looks at the history, health problems and illnesses posed by mold toxicity in Water Damaged Buildings (our homes).
CIRS: A New Paradigm for Chronic Disease | Part 2:
Diagnosing CIRS
In part 2 of a series on Mold-Related Biotoxin Illness (or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), Dr. Hartman reviews the systematic criteria used to diagnose CIRS.
CIRS: A New Paradigm for Chronic Disease | Part 3:
Understanding the Biotoxin Pathway & Lab Tests for Diagnosis
In part 3 of a series on Mold-Related Biotoxin Illness (or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), Dr. Hartman unpacks the biotoxin pathway and reviews laboratory tests necessary to diagnose CIRS.
CIRS: A New Paradigm for Chronic Disease | Part 4:
CIRS Treatment Protocol
In Part Four, Dr. Aaron Hartman takes us step-by-step through CIRS treatment protocol, the process for biotoxin-related illnesses.
CIRS: A New Paradigm for Chronic Disease | Part 5:
Appendix
In part 5 of a series on Mold-Related Biotoxin Illness (or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), Dr. Hartman provides and appendix of resources referred to throughout the series.
Additional Articles on Mold & CIRS
Medical Misinformation | Part 2:
Top 10 Myths About Mold
Because I see so many patients affected by mold toxicity, and I hear so much confusion, I’d like to clear the air (literally and metaphorically) by dispelling the top 10 myths I hear surrounding mold-related illness.
Mold Wars | Part :
Five Battlegrounds in the ‘Mold Wars’ Debate
There’s a lot of debate, even in the functional medicine world, about chronic illness related to mold toxicity. Let’s look at five specific battlegrounds in the debate.
Unveiling the Mystery of POTS | Part 3:
Understanding the Connection Between POTS & Other Illnesses
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a condition that affects the autonomic nervous system and can cause…
Crawlspace Encapsulation to Reduce Mold… Worth it? Effective?
Did you know that 30% of the air in your home comes through the crawl space? Airstacking…
Free Resource from Harvard School of Public Health
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