CIRS, Mold Exposure & CBD: Lauren’s Recovery Story

From Bodybuilding to Bed Bound

In 2023, Lauren Loewenstein was preparing to compete in bodybuilding when something frightening happened: the left side of her body could no longer lift what the right side could.

It was the beginning of a health journey that would eventually lead Lauren to Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), the discovery of mold in her home and a years-long process of rebuilding her health.

Lauren had been experiencing weakness, insomnia, pain and other unexplained symptoms. Doctors considered serious neurological illnesses, including multiple sclerosis and ALS. Before long, she had gone from training for a bodybuilding competition to spending much of her time in bed.

“I went from bodybuilding to bed bound.”

And Lauren wasn't the only one struggling.

Her children were experiencing health problems, too.

The Clue Lauren Didn't Expect: Her Home

Lauren and her family had moved into their home in 2019. It wasn't particularly old, and there was no obvious reason to suspect it could be connected to what they were experiencing.

But over the following years, Lauren watched the health of multiple family members decline. Her children experienced persistent gastrointestinal issues and other symptoms.

Lauren had heard mold mentioned before, but she'd dismissed the possibility. She expected a serious mold problem would be obvious—visible damage, flooding or another unmistakable sign.

Then she noticed an area of grout in the primary bathroom that repeatedly darkened after being cleaned.

She investigated.

According to Lauren, testing revealed elevated levels of mold in the home. Her family also discovered a plumbing trap in the laundry room had been dry for years, allowing sewer gas into the house.

The family left the home and eventually undertook an extensive remediation.

What Is CIRS?

Lauren eventually came to understand her illness through the framework of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, or CIRS.

She describes CIRS as a multisystem illness associated with exposure to biotoxins, most commonly in water-damaged buildings.

For Lauren, finally having an explanation after years of symptoms brought an unexpected feeling: relief.

But a diagnosis wasn't an instant solution.

Lauren and her husband immersed themselves in research. She began working with clinicians familiar with CIRS and the Shoemaker Protocol while the family worked through the remediation of their home.

Progress was slow.

“I had hope for the first time. I doubted the process, no doubt, because it was slow. But I didn't give up.”

Recovering From CIRS Wasn't One Thing

There wasn't a single treatment or product Lauren credits with her recovery.

There was addressing her environment. There were physicians and practitioners. There was home remediation. There were protocols and therapies.

And later, there was CBD.

That's an important distinction.

CBD didn't diagnose Lauren's condition or replace medical treatment, remediation or the larger protocol she was following. She describes it as one of the tools she eventually incorporated to help make certain symptoms more manageable during a much more complicated recovery process.

Why Lauren Tried CBD Again

Lauren wasn't new to CBD—and she wasn't particularly impressed by it.

“I've tried many CBD products in the past and nothing worked.”

She'd previously tried inexpensive CBD oils purchased online and from less specialized retailers. When a doctor later recommended Blue Sky CBD, Lauren initially ignored the suggestion.

Eventually, one persistent problem made her reconsider:

Sleep.

Lauren had struggled to fall asleep even before becoming sick. During the worst periods of her illness, sleep became another challenge layered onto everything else.

She decided to try Blue Sky CBD Sleep Gels.

From Sleep Scores in the 50s to the 90s

Lauren was already tracking her sleep, which gave her something concrete to watch.

After she began using Blue Sky CBD Sleep Gels, Lauren says her sleep scores—which had frequently been in the low 50s—began reaching the 90s.

“That was a game changer.”

Her experience with the Sleep Gels changed the way she thought about CBD.

Over time, she incorporated additional Blue Sky CBD products into her routine, including Max Relief. She says she tends to reach for the Sleep formulations when sleep is her primary concern and Max Relief during periods of discomfort or when she feels physically run down.

Why the CBD Formulation Mattered to Her

After previously being disappointed by CBD, Lauren started paying closer attention to something beyond the number of milligrams on the label:

What was actually in the product.

She says Blue Sky CBD's use of isolated cannabinoids and THC-free formulations appealed to her.

“What I love about Blue Sky is the isolate.”

CBD products can differ considerably in cannabinoid profile, THC content and additional ingredients. Lauren had once thought of CBD primarily as a single product category. Her experience led her to pay more attention to individual formulations.

Can CBD Help With CIRS?

There isn't sufficient clinical evidence to establish CBD as a treatment for CIRS, and Blue Sky CBD does not position its products that way.

Lauren's experience is more nuanced.

CBD was something she incorporated later in her recovery, alongside professional medical care, environmental remediation and other therapies.

Today, Lauren sometimes recommends Blue Sky CBD to people she works with as an option for symptom support while they pursue care from qualified medical professionals. For Lauren personally, CBD has become one tool that she says helps make difficult days and nights more manageable.

Life After CIRS: There Isn't Always a Clean Before and After

Lauren eventually returned to weight training. She became more protective of her time and more deliberate about the people and environments she allowed into her life.

Her recovery wasn't perfectly linear.

After nearly a year of remediation and renovation, her family moved back into their home. A month later, Lauren broke her back.

She recovered from that, too.

Today, Lauren works with people navigating CIRS and related health concerns, using her own experience to help others understand a path that was once difficult for her family to find.

Her advice isn't a promise of a quick fix.

Find practitioners who listen. Build a team. Pay attention to your environment. Protect your peace. Make your health a priority.

And remember that where you are today doesn't necessarily determine where you'll be tomorrow.

“Healing is so possible.”

Frequently Asked Questions About CIRS and CBD

What is CIRS?

CIRS stands for Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. Lauren describes it as a multisystem illness associated with exposure to biotoxins, most commonly in water-damaged buildings.

Is CIRS caused by mold?

Lauren's experience involved elevated mold levels discovered in her home, and she associates her CIRS with environmental exposure. CIRS and the role of environmental exposures are complex medical topics that should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.

Can CBD treat CIRS?

CBD has not been established as a treatment for CIRS. In Lauren's case, CBD was one tool she incorporated later in a broader recovery process that also included medical care, environmental remediation, protocols and other therapies.

Why did Lauren choose Blue Sky CBD?

Lauren says she had previously tried other CBD products without success. After trying Blue Sky CBD Sleep Gels, she reported a significant change in her personal sleep-tracking scores. She also says Blue Sky's isolated cannabinoids and THC-free formulations became important factors for her.

What Blue Sky CBD products does Lauren use?

Lauren says she uses Blue Sky CBD Sleep formulations as part of her nighttime routine and Max Relief at other times depending on her needs.

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