Unmasking CIRS: Recognizing, Recovering, and Reclaiming Your Health A 5-Part Series Deep Diving into Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)
3: Your Path to Recovery – A Step-by-Step Guide to Healing from CIRS
What am I doing to heal?
Well, let’s just say I’ve crafted quite the wellness plan—and it all starts with maximizing my laziness, if you will. First up, I’m diving into sauna blanket treatments at home. Since exercise currently makes my symptoms go haywire, the sauna blanket is my new BFF. I get my sweat on while literally lying there doing absolutely nothing. Bonus? I can catch up on Real Housewives or Snapped. Health + Reality TV? Yes, please.
Then, there’s my red-light therapy—yep, all over my body, and when I say all over, I truly mean all over...yes, even down to those nether regions. Why not? Red light has a ton of benefits, so if I’m going to heal my entire body, might as well give my lady parts some love too!
Diet-wise, I’m going full paleo. For my dairy fix, I go for goat's milk and goat cheese (plant milks don’t cut it for me; they’re just weird oil and water blends). With all the deficiencies these toxins caused, I’m on a strict supplement routine: three types of magnesium (for brain, bowel, and sleep support), adrenal adaptogens (to finally let my cortisol chill out), DIM for estrogen balance (because my hormones were partying like it was 1999), and a good pre/probiotic to keep my gut from leaking its issues all over my bloodstream.
Lastly, we’ve gone all-in on air quality. We have purifiers all over the house: one in our bedroom, one in the main upstairs area, and another on the lower level. When looking for an air purifier, get one that has a HEPA filter, a pre-filter, and a carbon filter—these three layers capture odors, dust, lint, pet hair, and those tiny particles we don’t see, like mold spores and pollen.
Challenges?
Oh, you mean aside from convincing teenagers that "clean your room" isn’t just a suggestion but a critical step in keeping us all alive? If you’ve got teenagers, you know the struggle of their stuff being scattered everywhere. We’re talking about frequent deep cleans, and they’re finally getting it: the less clutter and grime, the better for all our health. My husband also took out the ceiling in our problem bathroom, and we’re working on adding better ventilation to prevent future mold drama.
Following a Healing Protocol: What the Steps Look Like
If you're wondering about the full rundown, here’s the comprehensive protocol I’m following—trust me, it covers it all from biotoxin removal to immune support:
1. Step 1: Remove the Source of Exposure
- First and foremost, it’s crucial to identify and, if possible, eliminate the source of biotoxins. For me, this meant serious mold remediation. For others, it might even mean moving to a biotoxin-free environment if the contamination is widespread.
2. Step 2: Start a Biotoxin Removal Protocol
- This part involves taking binders—things like activated charcoal and chlorella—to help pull toxins out of your system. Dosage depends on the binder, and a healthcare provider can help tailor this to you. Alongside binders, I’ve added infrared sauna, dry brushing, and hydration to ramp up the detox.
3. Step 3: Address Inflammation and Support Immune Health
- Reducing inflammation is key. My approach includes anti-inflammatory foods and omega-3 supplements. Plus, I’m really focusing on reducing stress (easier said than done, but worth it!).
4. Step 4: Repair the Gut
- Many of us with CIRS also struggle with gut issues. Healing the gut means prioritizing probiotics, fermented foods, and steering clear of sugar and processed foods.
5. Step 5: Rebalance Hormones and Mental Health
- With CIRS, hormones can get out of whack, so I’m supporting adrenal health, keeping my stress levels as low as possible, and even leaning on mental health support to keep my spirits strong.
Following this protocol has been a journey on its own, but having a step-by-step plan brings structure and hope to the process. And the best part? It's actionable—you can take it one step at a time and adapt as you go.
I love hearing from you! Your stories and experiences truly inspire me. Feel free to connect by leaving a comment, joining my Holistic Hive community for real, raw discussions, or finding me on Instagram for wellness tips and inspiration. You can also shoot me an email if you'd like to share your journey directly. We're in this together, and I’m here to support you as we continue to grow, thrive, and embrace a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle. Let’s keep empowering each other!
Chat soon,
~ Tina