CIRS, Mold & Lyme: What’s Really Keeping You Sick with Dr. Nick Schmidlkofer of the Neurologic Wellness Institute
(and a special offer)
If you’ve had chronic Lyme for a while, you’ve probably hit a season where it feels like you’re suddenly allergic to everything. On this episode of the Lyme Time Podcast, Dr. Nick Schmidlkofer, clinic manager of the Neurologic Wellness Institute in Waukesha, Wisconsin, joins me to break down CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) – what it is, how it overlaps with Lyme, and how to actually treat it.
Here’s what we covered:
- CIRS is a whole-body inflammatory response to mold, toxins, or infections like Lyme – and it often overlaps with both (CIRS-WDB Water Damaged Building vs. CIRS-Lyme).
- No single test confirms it – diagnosis relies on symptom clusters, the Visual Contrast Sensitivity test, hormone markers, and urine mycotoxin testing.
- About 25% of people are genetically worse at clearing mold toxins, so the toxins recirculate instead of clearing out.
- Treat the mold before the Lyme – the immune system can’t fight both at once.
- Core approach is “bind and drain”: binders (cholestyramine or gentler options) pull toxins out; antifungals help when mold itself is actively growing.
- The Perrin Technique – a 15-minute nightly self-massage – supports lymphatic drainage and can dramatically improve deep sleep.
- You don’t need intense workouts to aid drainage – gentle isometrics, rebounding, or infrared sauna can be enough.
- Even new or renovated homes can hide mold – patient history and past living spaces matter as much as testing.
- Patients have seen fewer tics/Tourette’s symptoms, better misophonia, and fewer functional seizures once mycotoxin levels drop.
- Keep digging – illness often comes in layers, and limbic system retraining (DNRS, Primal Trust) can help once the physical piece is treated.
- Holiday tips: keep expectations low and loop in family on food needs ahead of time – stress is a major flare trigger.
Dr. Nick offers a free 15-minute phone consult if you mention the podcast – reach him on Instagram or through the Neurologic Wellness Institute in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Tune in to the full conversation with Dr. Nick Schmidlkofer on Lyme Time – available on Apple, Spotify and YouTube!
In good health,
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