VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
Endogenous 28-amino-acid neuropeptide. Modulates immune function and inflammation. Used in CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) protocols and biotoxin exposure recovery, popularized by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker.
VIP is a 28-amino-acid neuropeptide your body already makes. Modulates inflammation and immune function. The well-known use is in Dr. Shoemaker's CIRS protocol for mold/biotoxin illness recovery — used intranasally, multi-month courses, only after upstream prep work.
Endogenous neuropeptide used clinically in CIRS protocols. Federations don't typically address it.
Not FDA approved as a drug. Used in compounded form in CIRS clinical protocols (Shoemaker).
Not formally categorized in the FDA bulks lists.
Yes by some functional-medicine and CIRS-literate providers, via compounding pharmacies.
Who it's for
- →Users with CIRS or mold-illness contexts under medical guidance
- →Chronic inflammatory conditions
- →Post-biotoxin-exposure recovery (well-defined Shoemaker protocol)
What to expect
- Week 1
Some users notice neurological symptom shift early.
- Week 4
Cumulative inflammation markers decline in CIRS context.
- Week 8
Long courses are the norm in CIRS — months to years.
How it works (mechanism)
Endogenous 28-amino-acid neuropeptide. Binds VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors expressed on immune cells, modulating both Th1/Th2 balance and inflammation. Used clinically (off-label US, on-label some EU contexts) for chronic inflammatory conditions.
Dosing protocol
Shoemaker CIRS protocol: 50 mcg per nostril, 4x daily, intranasal. Different uses have different dose patterns.
Stacks well with
Side effects
When NOT to use
- ⚠Hypotension or unstable cardiovascular status
- ⚠Pregnancy / nursing
- ⚠CIRS protocol specifically requires baseline biotoxin clearance first
Bloodwork to monitor
- • MMP-9, C4a, TGF-β1 in CIRS context (Shoemaker panel)
Common mistakes
- • Running VIP for CIRS without doing the upstream Shoemaker prep first
- • Stopping too early (CIRS courses run months)
- • Treating it as a general anti-inflammatory rather than a specific protocol piece
Drug & supplement interactions
- ⚠Vasodilators: additive hypotensive effect
- ⚠Shoemaker CIRS protocol: requires upstream binders and biofilm clearance first — VIP is the last step, not the first
Educational only. User-specific dosing is between you and a qualified provider.
Frequently asked
What is VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)?+
Is VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) FDA approved?+
Is VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) banned by WADA?+
Are you still natty after taking VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)?+
Do doctors prescribe VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)?+
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