Dr. Alan Gruning - The International Center for Health & Wellness
The International Center for Health & Wellness is a functional medicine practice in Fort Myers, Florida, led by founder and Medical Director Alan Gruning, DO. The practice’s primary emphasis is on Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), also known as Biotoxin Illness or Mold Illness, and also treats fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune disorders, Lyme disease and co-infections, Post-Covid Syndrome, hormone imbalance, and other forms of environmental toxicity. The practice takes a root-cause, functional medicine approach, with particular attention to the role of water-damaged buildings, biotoxins, and environmental exposures as underlying drivers of complex chronic illness.
Dr. Gruning is a strong fit for a non-toxic living directory. After 17 years as an emergency medicine specialist, he developed chronic fatigue himself, which led him to study natural therapies and eventually to the work of Ritchie Shoemaker, MD on CIRS. He has since concentrated on using Shoemaker’s protocols as a Proficiency Partner, along with other functional medicine treatments, for over 17 years. The practice addresses a broad range of environmental toxins including plastics, pesticides, heavy metals, and biotoxins such as indoor molds, bacteria, mycotoxins, and the many other inflammagens found in water-damaged buildings. Diagnostic tools include hair, blood, urine, and stool analysis, as well as the Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS) test for biotoxin illness screening. Dr. Gruning is also the author of Prescription for Health, described on the site as a guide to living a balanced life in a toxic world.
The care team includes Dr. Gruning, a specialty-trained nurse practitioner (Sara Doyon, APRN), and an RN patient educator and certified CIRS coach. Services include in-person and telehealth visits, comprehensive CIRS lab testing (including HLA genetics, cytokines, brain hormones, and NeuroQuant brain MRI), environmental testing guidance, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy available through the affiliated Christian Medical Ministries nonprofit. Supplements are recommended through Fullscript; the practice does not sell supplements directly.
Telehealth is available for patients in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Kansas, with annual in-person visit requirements for patients in Ohio, Illinois, Alabama, and Minnesota. The practice does not accept health insurance for office visits, but patients may submit for out-of-network reimbursement where applicable. Supplements and binders used in the Shoemaker protocol may be eligible for HSA or FSA coverage. A free 10-minute new patient consultation with Dr. Gruning is offered for prospective patients to determine whether CIRS treatment is appropriate for them. Note: as of late 2025, the practice was not accepting new patients; prospective patients are encouraged to contact the office to inquire about the waiting list.