Phases of Healing from Lyme, Mold & CIRS
The Phases and Process of Healing from Lyme, Mold, and CIRS by Heather Sunderland
(How the Body Unwinds Layers of Toxicity and Moves Toward Wholeness)
For years, I was caught in the exhausting cycle of killing Lyme, addressing symptoms, but never finding lasting relief. I saw the same frustration in my clients. Many were killing pathogens and binding toxins, yet still feeling stuck and reactive and not fully well.
Over time, I realized: healing from mold and CIRS isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing things in the right order. The body heals in layers. When we work with its design, not against it, recovery becomes gentler and more sustainable.
Below are the core phases of healing I’ve seen time and again in my own recovery and in the journeys of those I coach.
Phase 1: Rule out Water damage in your home and work environment
Individuals are often unknowingly exposed to water damage, never seeing or smelling a leak or mold. If you are dealing with a chronic illness, like Lyme disease, an autoimmune condition, Mold toxicity or Chronic inflammatory response syndrome, exposure to mold and mycotoxins and other aspects of water damage will keep you sick. This is a critical first step to restoring health. Make sure your current environment is a safe place to heal.
There is no perfect test for mold exposure. Different tests tell us different things.
My favorite 3 tests as a starting place to evaluate your environment:
ERMI- Measures 36 molds, 29 of which are toxic
https://www.envirobiomics.com/product/ermi/
EMMA- Detects 10 molds & 50 mycotoxins
https://www.envirobiomics.com/product/emma/
Respireare Mycotoxin Air Test- Evaluates mycotoxins in the air
Code: Heather
Client gets 15% off
Phase 2: Nervous System and Limbic Healing
Chronic illness often traps the nervous system in a constant state of survival. Toxins and pathogens inflame the brain and dysregulate the nervous system as well. Calming the limbic system and vagus nerve is essential for sustained healing and to make progress on your journey.
This may include:
Brain Retraining Program
Neurofeedback of the brain
Brain Spotting
Somatic exercises
Breathwork, prayer, or gentle movement
When the nervous system feels safe, the body can finally rest, repair, detox, and regenerate.
Phase 3: Nourish the body
This is a piece of the equation that is often missed. What we eat plays a huge role in our over health, and our immune system. Nutrition is often not discussed much in the world of Lyme and Mold. Or clients are told eat Paleo, eat Carnivore, eat Keto. Most importantly, listen to your body.
Eat to nourish the body. Eat whole, unprocessed food. Increase alkaline foods in the diet ( fruits and vegetables) because they support detoxification and your drainage pathways, while starving pathogens. Illness cannot survive or thrive in an alkaline environment. Listen to your body. If it is craving something healthy, eat it.
Phase 4: Open the Drainage Pathways
Before you can detox or kill pathogens, your body needs to get the channels of elimination flowing. This means supporting:
Liver and gallbladder flow- use of bitters, tudca, castor oil packs, and specific liver support that is right for you
Lymphatic - movement, dry brushing, rebounding, and hydration, lymph massage, or herbs
Bowel regularity- ensure daily elimination
Kidney function- herbs to support kidney filtration
Skin and lungs- sweating, hydration, and clean air
When these systems are sluggish, toxins recirculate, and symptoms flare. Think of this as unclogging the pipes before turning on the faucet.
Once the drainage pathways are open, the body is ready to begin gentle detoxification, mobilizing and removing stored toxins and pathogens at a pace it can handle.
Phase 5: Support Gentle Detoxification
Once drainage is open, gentle detox can begin.
This may include:
Learning to eat to detox and nourish the body
Sweat therapy (infrared sauna, Epsom salt baths)
The use of appropriate binders for your situation
The keyword is gentle. Over-detoxing too soon can overwhelm your body and nervous system.
1️⃣ Water-soluble toxins – cleared first through the kidneys, lymph, bowels, liver, and skin. Open drainage, stabilize inflammation, and support elimination are keys in this phase.
Timeframe: 🕐 3–6 months (sometimes longer for highly reactive clients). Very dependent on the level of toxic exposures and for how long someone has been sick.
2️⃣ Cellular waste & Metabolic repair– next, as cells repair and release metabolic debris. Detox works more efficiently.
Timeframe: 🕐 4–8 months
3️⃣ Fat-soluble toxins – last, once drainage and cellular detox are working well. Safely mobilize and remove stored toxins (mycotoxins, pesticides, metals) from fat, brain, and connective tissue.
Timeframe: 🕐 6–18 months (can extend to 2–3 years for severe mold/CIRS cases)
Phase 6: Address Infections and Biotoxin Load
For many, mold or Lyme is only part of the story. You have to address these other stealth pathogens to restore health truly.
These may include:
Tick-borne infections: Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella
Viral burdens: Epstein-Barr, herpes viruses
Parasites and bacterial overgrowth
These hidden pathogens often keep the immune system stuck in overdrive.
This phase involves identifying and addressing these microbial burdens while maintaining drainage and detox support.
All of us with chronic illnesses have higher levels of parasites, viruses, bacteria, and mold in our bodies. These need to be addressed to feel our best.
As the body clears infections and reduces the biotoxin burden, the focus naturally shifts to restoring the gut, the foundation of all health.
Phase 7: Restore the Gut and Microbiome
The gut is the cornerstone of detox, immunity, and brain health. After mold or chronic infections, the gut lining is often damaged and the microbiome depleted.
This is where we focus on:
Healing the gut lining
Restoring beneficial bacteria with probiotics and prebiotics
Supporting digestion and nutrient absorption
When the gut heals, the whole system begins to stabilize.
Phase 8: Mitochondrial and Cellular Repair
Once toxins are moving out and inflammation is lowered, the body can finally shift into repair mode.
Once inflammation lowers and detox pathways are flowing, it’s time to rebuild. The mitochondria, the body’s energy factories, often take a major hit from mold, Lyme, and chronic stress.
Here, we use nutrients like phosphatidylcholine (PC), essential fatty acids, and antioxidants to rebuild cell membranes, restore energy, and improve cellular communication.
This is a deep rebuilding stage where energy, focus, and vitality begin to return.
Note: Many of these phases can be done together. It is very dependent on the individual. Are they still in mold/mycotoxins? How sensitive are they? How do they feel with the process? It is very important to listen to the body and not overburden it. Healing is a process.
Phase 9: Long-Term Restoration and Resilience
This final phase is about integration, maintaining a low-toxic environment, nourishing the body with whole foods, honoring your rhythms, and rebuilding trust in your body.
Healing isn’t just about detoxing; it’s about becoming resilient.
Reclaim Health, Gently and Powerfully
If you’re navigating mold toxicity, Lyme, CIRS, or other complex illnesses and feel stuck or overwhelmed, know that you don’t have to do it alone. My approach focuses on gentle, sustainable healing, supporting the body in the right order so true restoration can unfold. I have personally walked through this journey, and restored my health after 22 years of undiagnosed Lyme and Bartonella and a lifetime of unknown mold exposure.
👉 Learn more about my coaching and courses here
https://healthcoachingbyheather.com/
