Dust Testing Showdown: EnviroBiomics vs Liz Biotech vs Mycometrics (ERMI/HERTSMI-2 Experiment)

In this CIRS Group Podcast episode, Barbara describes a controlled dust-test experiment comparing MSQ PCR/ERMI results across three CIRS-relevant labs—EnviroBiomics, Liz Biotech, and Mycometrics—using dust collected the same day from the same home and surfaces, divided into left/middle/right sections to reduce sampling bias. The labs returned very different ERMI/HERTSMI-2 scores (Mycometrics 7.4/12, Liz Biotech 13.4/18, EnviroBiomics 18.8/20), while showing broadly similar mold “fingerprints,” suggesting major differences in reported concentrations rather than species detected. They emphasize the test does not prove which lab is correct, recommend using the same lab for pre/post remediation comparisons, and focusing more on individual species profiles than top-line scores. Because all tests detected Stachybotrys and Chaetomium, Barbara suggests repeated deep cleaning, room-by-room retesting with one lab, and involving a CIRS-literate IEP if results remain concerning, while also sharing pricing, feature differences, and a prior EnviroBiomics reporting/customer-service issue.

TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Welcome and Setup 01:17 Why Compare Labs 03:33 Experiment Design 04:39 Sampling Strategy 07:22 Undercover Customer Mode 08:48 Results Big Score Gaps 11:44 What It Means 14:18 Practical Takeaways 15:26 Reading Species Profiles 21:58 Advice for This Home 25:45 Lab Pros Cons and Costs 35:53 Final Wrap Up

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

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.

Barbara and Jacie discuss what to do when the Shoemaker CIRS protocol feels intolerable, emphasizing the “big three” in order: get out of exposure, use binders, then correct blood markers. They stress testing the home (ERMI 2 minimum, ideally actinos and endotoxins) and choosing to leave, remediate, or use temporary “Band-Aids” like a safe room with an Air Oasis, frequent cleaning, or even sleeping outside in a low-VOC tent. They cover cautious binder use (especially if still in exposure), avoiding risky “crazy supports” like neuro plasmalogens too early, and using “stable supports” such as morning sunlight, sleep, omega-3s, and ensuring daily bowel movements. They compare binders from gentlest to strongest (chitosan, MycoBind, Welchol, compounded CSM) and suggest re-checking other exposures (Lyme/tick-borne, spike protein, dental issues, implants) if binders aren’t tolerated.

TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:39 When Protocol Feels Impossible 02:30 Exposure Comes First 04:10 Leave Or Remediate 06:05 Safe Room And Camping Hacks 09:29 Low Dose Binders In Exposure 12:06 Avoid Risky Supplements 15:31 Stable Supports And Mindset 17:39 Prep For Binders Omega 3 And Poop 22:27 Binder Options Ranked 25:38 If Binders Still Fail 29:46 Detox Self Care And Wrap Up

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

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.

On today's episode of The CIRS Group Podcast, Barbara shares a health update. She reports a smoother-than-expected recovery from an August 2025 L5-S1 PLIF spinal fusion, major symptom improvements after going gluten- and dairy-free, adding gut supplements, and tracking with stool testing. She began tick-borne treatment with a specialist using pulsed antibiotics plus biofilm support and albendazole, noting microbiome changes and a post-treatment drop in MSH while continuing low-dose binders and passing the VCS.

Ongoing issues include stubborn MARCoNS and sinus imbalance (multiple rinses/sprays, EDTA+silver side effects, considering ENT evaluation, sleep study, and possibly nebulized treatment). She discusses hormone testing (DUTCH/bloodwork), fibroids/adenomyosis management with oral progesterone, low-dose morning hydrocortisone, and starting testosterone cream. Barbara also covers difficult EMDR therapy attempts, learning shutdown vs fight/flight in Jacie’s nervous system cohort, and supportive care like acupuncture and NUCCA chiropractic. In the next update, she'll cover upcoming labs, retesting results, actino cleaning, and possible iron infusions. She also adds a couple exciting personal life updates: getting married and adopting a puppy!

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

TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro and medical disclaimer 01:11 Spinal fusion recovery 02:02 Gut changes and diet 04:09 Tick Borne treatment 06:34 Why the Shoemaker Protocol didn't work on it's own 08:59 Grief and autoimmune flare 10:20 Upcoming labwork 11:19 MARCoNS sinus battle 13:25 Sleep Study and ENT appointment 15:43 Hormone testing 17:57 Fibroids, progesterone, and cortisol support 21:39 Testosterone treatment and cautions 23:18 Therapy: EMDR fails and incorporation of nicotine 26:13 Shutdown: nervous system regulation tools 31:30 Acupuncture and NUCCA chiropractic adjustments 33:19 TLDR - What's working and what's not 36:15 Happy life updates! 37:40 Future podcast guests and group events

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

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

HELPFUL LINKS: Jacie's recent health update: https://youtu.be/pGBCx3fwxMk?si=3e8YQzhZdG3bMv43 Barbara's last health update: https://youtu.be/IkcKvfcIIdA?si=1QdRUeqBYIAWI0JS Our hormone episode: https://youtu.be/OStNHRNffqw?si=9cLRWroxRmiwfacQ Learn more about Jacie's nervous system resources: https://builttoregulate.com/

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.