For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

In this week's episode, Barbara and Jacie explain why people with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) or mold illness should test their home (and workplaces) and when. They'll dig into why multiple tests are better to understand the full picture rather than relying on a single score, and recommend working with an IEP (Indoor Environmental Professional) for interpretation and creating an action plan. They cover MSQPCR dust testing (ERMI/HERTSMI-2), best sampling practices, testing per room/floor, separate testing for basements/crawl spaces/attics, and using an outdoor control sample as well. They discuss why the mold species matter, where to get tests (LisBiotech), and some other methods your IEP may use to test your home: spore traps/air sampling, tape lifts, swabs, bulk sampling, and cultures. For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

Timestamps 00:00 Intro and disclaimer 01:43 Why should you test your home? 02:20 When should you test your home? 04:09 Side note about testing for mold, actinos and endotoxins 05:19 MSQPCR Dust Testing: ERMI, HERTSMI-2 08:26 How to interpret your ERMI or HERTSMI-2 results 11:06 Where to get MSQPCR dust tests 13:15 When should you hire an Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) 14:36 Other methods of testing: Air Sampling 16:52 Tape Lift testing 18:34 Swab testing 19:09 Bulk Sampling 21:31 Culturable testing 23:21 Next Steps: vetting professional help 25:48 Retest during and after remediation

For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

HELPFUL LINKS: Order your dust testing: https://lisbiotech.com/ Our interview with Bill Weber: https://youtu.be/RlKjTqVAeNU?si=9VZ4RnafI6Gx2QRp Our interview with Michael Schrantz: https://youtu.be/_BEwFVdpRcY?si=kmMrR9lPBgffrFND The CIRSx course for Medically Important Remediation: https://institute.cirsx.com/course/mir101

Order Jacie's book! The 30 Day Carnivore Bootcamp: https://a.co/d/7MgHrRs

The CIRS Group: Support Community: https://thecirsgroup.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecirsgroup/

Find Jacie for carnivore, lifestyle and limbic resources: Jacie’s book on the Carnivore diet! https://a.co/d/8ZKCqz0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladycarnivory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LadyCarnivory Blog: https://www.ladycarnivory.com/

Find Barbara for business/finance tips and coaching: Website: https://www.actlikebarbara.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actlikebarbara/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@actlikebarbara

Jacie is a Shoemaker certified Proficiency Partner, NASM certified nutrition coach, author, and carnivore recipe developer determined to share the life changing information of carnivore and CIRS to anyone who will listen. Barbara is a business and fitness coach, CIRS and ADHD advocate, writer, speaker, and a big fan of health and freedom. Together, they co-founded The CIRS Group, an online support community to help people that are struggling with their CIRS diagnosis and treatment.

For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

Jacie and Barbara discuss how CIRS commonly affects body weight: often causing weight gain and resistance to fat loss, though some people experience extreme weight loss. They'll dig into why weight changes are driven by chronic, multi-system inflammation from biotoxin exposure (such as mold or Lyme), impacting hormones, metabolism, detox pathways, the brain, and the nervous system. It’s not simply “calories in, calories out,” and listeners are encouraged to stop blaming themselves. Key contributors to weight gain include elevated cortisol, hormone disruption (leptin resistance, insulin resistance, altered thyroid signaling even with normal labs, and sex hormone imbalance), nervous system stuck in survival mode, why calorie restriction can reinforce danger signals, and how toxin storage in fat tissue can slow fat loss during detox. They emphasize supportive strategies aligned with the Shoemaker protocol: reduce exposure, calm inflammation, use binders and support detox (including daily bowel movements, sleep, gentle movement, sweating, and lymphatic support), prioritize blood sugar stability, eat adequate protein, sleep, and nervous system regulation. They caution that trying harder through calorie restriction, excessive cardio, and weight cycling can worsen stress signals, and raise concerns about GLP-1s. Focus on healing first: weight often shifts as a side effect of recovery. For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Why weight changes are so common with CIRS 01:00 Medical Disclaimer 01:13 Body image issues and bloating: Be comfy and buy clothes that fit 02:12 Inflammation, genetics, leptin, and why it’s not just about calories 05:38 How CIRS causes weight gain: Cortisol, Hormones, and Survival Mode 10:45 Detox, fat storage & the unsexy truth: You’ve gotta poop! 12:11 Sleep, NEAT/BMR, and Exercise: Finding the Right Dose While Healing 15:02 Why “Trying Harder” Backfires: Dieting, Cardio, Weight Cycling & GLP-1s 17:32 Step-by-Step: Heal First to Lose Weight (Reduce Exposure, Detox, Protein, Sleep) 21:21 Real-Life Results, Encouragement, and Where to Get Support

For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

HELPFUL LINKS Hashimoto's episode: https://youtu.be/EpmdvcBbsi4?si=Yxq0_lCaW-bXy2Dx Workout episode: https://youtu.be/69Weo6s1FAQ?si=IqJbBdo_upKtTxOJ

Order Jacie's book! The 30 Day Carnivore Bootcamp: https://a.co/d/7MgHrRs

The CIRS Group: Support Community: https://thecirsgroup.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecirsgroup/

Find Jacie for carnivore, lifestyle and limbic resources: Jacie’s book on the Carnivore diet! https://a.co/d/8ZKCqz0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladycarnivory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LadyCarnivory Blog: https://www.ladycarnivory.com/

Find Barbara for business/finance tips and coaching: Website: https://www.actlikebarbara.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actlikebarbara/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@actlikebarbara

Jacie is a Shoemaker certified Proficiency Partner, NASM certified nutrition coach, author, and carnivore recipe developer determined to share the life changing information of carnivore and CIRS to anyone who will listen. Barbara is a business and fitness coach, CIRS and ADHD advocate, writer, speaker, and a big fan of health and freedom. Together, they co-founded The CIRS Group, an online support community to help people that are struggling with their CIRS diagnosis and treatment.

For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

In this week's episode, Barbara and Jacie discuss how anxiety and depression commonly show up in CIRS, and why these symptoms are often driven by biology and NOT personal weakness. Brain and body inflammation can disrupt neurotransmitters, increase inflammatory cytokines, affect mood regulation, and contribute to blood-brain barrier dysfunction and limbic system hypervigilance, leading to depression, anxiety, cognitive issues, and difficulty word-finding. They share personal experiences with OCD, suicidal ideation, and severe anxiety. They emphasize a “bottom-up” approach (reducing inflammation, treating CIRS/co-infections, addressing environment and exposures like mold) alongside “top-down” supports (therapy, limbic retraining, and community), noting therapy may be less effective without addressing root inflammation. They also highlight how mood improves with treatment, and suggest support options including The CIRS Group community and small group coaching through Untamed Iona (Dr. Lauren Sparks and Dr. Brenda Stewart). Check out our helpful links below the time stamps.

For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Anxiety & Depression in CIRS: Intro + Disclaimer 01:48 What is CIRS? and why mental health symptoms aren’t your fault 02:49 Top-Down vs Bottom-Up Healing (Therapy vs Treating Inflammation) 05:07 Let's talk biology: brain inflammation, neurotransmitters & mood 06:24 Our stories: suicidal ideation, hypervigilance & tick-borne triggers 10:23 Blood-Brain barrier + limbic system: why you feel stuck in "threat mode" 12:42 The Moldy Doc: snowball effect + hope through treatment 14:38 Support Options: therapy, support groups, limbic retraining + resources 16:48 Wrap-Up: Calming the alarm + Finding the right order of healing for YOU 18:54 Join us at TheCIRSGroup.com

HELPFUL LINKS: For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com Moldy Doc: https://moldymovie.com/ Untamed Iona's support groups: https://www.untamediona.com/therapy

Order Jacie's book! The 30 Day Carnivore Bootcamp: https://a.co/d/7MgHrRs

The CIRS Group: Support Community: https://thecirsgroup.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecirsgroup/

Find Jacie for carnivore, lifestyle and limbic resources: Jacie’s book on the Carnivore diet! https://a.co/d/8ZKCqz0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladycarnivory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LadyCarnivory Blog: https://www.ladycarnivory.com/

Find Barbara for business/finance tips and coaching: Website: https://www.actlikebarbara.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actlikebarbara/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@actlikebarbara

Jacie is a Shoemaker certified Proficiency Partner, NASM certified nutrition coach, author, and carnivore recipe developer determined to share the life changing information of carnivore and CIRS to anyone who will listen. Barbara is a business and fitness coach, CIRS and ADHD advocate, writer, speaker, and a big fan of health and freedom. Together, they co-founded The CIRS Group, an online support community to help people that are struggling with their CIRS diagnosis and treatment.