@DXB the beauty of homeopathy is that it works on an energetic level, so the dosage isn’t based on body size or weight. That’s why the same dose can be used for both children and adults, and it can be very effective for kids as well.

Hi @ivona_n – as an animal lover, I understand the struggle. I’m glad you’re not letting them into the bedroom anymore – that will definitely help.

-For rapid relief, homeopathy can be amazing if you find the right remedy. For the symptoms you shared, consider the homeopathic remedy called Kali Bichromicum 30C. This is best used for the following symptoms:

• Headaches centered between the eyebrows and behind the eyes

• Sinus pressure and pain (especially over the cheekbones)

• Thick post-nasal drip or stuffy nose, worse in the morning

• Headaches relieved by cold applications

During flare-ups, this can be taken once or twice per day (30c potency). And stop when symptoms improve. Repeat only when needed.

I also like to dilute my homeopathic pellets in water but it’s not necessary. So I’ll add 1 pellet to about 150mL of room temperature water. Stir and allow it to melt (~1 minute), then I take 1 Tbsp of that water as often as needed. I let it sit in my mouth for5-10 secs before swallowing.

-You can also take a look at our allergy relief protocol if you haven’t yet seen it. I share my stinging nettle tea & onion peel tea infusion recipe, and other supplement considerations that are natural anti-histamines.

-Also consider an Ultra HEPA air filter in your bedroom and opening your windows frequently (weather permitting). This can make a huge difference with cat allergens. I share my favorite options HERE in the Beginner’s Health Roadmap. Ultra HEPA also captures mycotoxins.

-Finally, make sure to wash sheets and pillowcases frequently in hot water as well.

Hope these help.

@jschwartz1 I’m so happy to hear that following a low-histamine diet has not only helped reduce, but also eliminate your symptoms. But yes, I agree with you, it’s not sustainable. It is a tool, and also a helpful way to determine if the body is in fact dealing with histamine overload without having to do any expensive tests.

What I’d like to add to Daniel’s already comprehensive reply is the following. Anytime we seek testing, the goal should be to provide a direction. Not to confirm an assumption. So in your case, what would change if you were able to get a MCAS diagnosis? In reality, not much. You would still need to figure out why the mast cells are overreacting. And the key reasons as Daniel shared above as well are:

• Infections (e.g., Lyme, EBV, mold, parasites)

• Toxins (e.g., mold/mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides)

• Gut issues (e.g., leaky gut, SIBO, histamine intolerance, dysbiosis)

• Chronic stress & trauma (nervous system dysregulation, trauma history)

• Hormonal imbalances (estrogen dominance, thyroid dysfunction)

• Nutrient deficiencies (zinc, quercetin, B6, DAO enzyme, magnesium)

• Genetics (e.g., MTHFR, HNMT, DAO, MCAS predispositions)

• Environmental exposures (EMFs, VOCs, synthetic fragrances)

So if I was in your shoes, I would actually put my money and effort towards trying to figure out the root cause(s). All of the above can be tested, but that would also be very costly. So to help, I’m going to share a few symptom questionnaires & the test I would prioritize if I was in your shoes, keeping budget in mind:

-Fill out these Mold Symptom questionnaires, and let us know your scores to help determine if mycotoxin testing is warranted.

-Fill out this heavy metal questionnaire, this one (mercury & lead), and this one for environmental exposures. Let us know your scores.

-Take our Gut Health quiz, and let us know your results. Also list your top 3-5 digestive/gut related symptoms you experience (if any) like gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, acid reflux, indigestion, etc. This will help determine if GI testing like a GI map is warranted.

-Test in blood some vitamins like vitamin B6, RBC B12 and folate/B9. B6 is critical for producing DAO enzyme needed to breakdown histamine. If low, B complex supplementation may be warranted. This could be due to dietary reasons, absorption issues, and/or genetic SNPs that affect methylation and detoxification. Note, B6 an B12 (and other B vitamins) are tested in the Organic Acids test, which I will touch on below.

-Ask your doc to test tick-borne illnesses and viral panels. You’ll need to find a Lyme literate doc for this. Learn more in this protocol where I share some resources. Check if your insurance would cover this instead.

-Since estrogen dominance can contribute to histamine overload, and given your plans to try and conceive, hormone testing might be warranted. Please read this guide on estrogen dominance, to see if the symptoms match your current experience. Let us know if they do so we can guide you further.

-If there is 1 functional test that I would recommend getting that gives you a good overview, it would be the Organic Acids Test (urine). It can tell us if there are any bacterial or fungal overgrowths, as well as give clues about whether or not mold might be at play. It also provides detoxification status and whether the body might be burdened (it won’t tell us which toxin though). And as I mentioned, it also provides some B vitamin status, as well as other markers like neurotransmitters and the energy cycle. But again, if you can start with the questionnaires and listing your other symptoms related to GI and hormones, this would help us help you be a bit more specific with which tests to spend money on.

Hope this helps!

This looks like a good stack of supplements. In addition to the supplements, what lifestyle therapies are you implementing from my list of suggestions for each detox pathway? These can be very powerful when combined with supplements. (Ex. Grounding, daily sun exposure, red light therapy, facial maneuvers/stress reduction, lymph drainage, sauna, etc)

In terms of controlling the inflammation, if methotrexate is not working, doctors will recommend biologics as an alternative option.

Have you discussed LDN with Dr Skorski yet? This would be my recommendation – I know a few people with autoimmunity who have had great success with it.

@DXB the good news is the water looks very clean and safe from a contamination perspective, which is great. But yes, since the TDS is quite low, it means most of the minerals have been stripped out by the RO system, which is very common with RO. This only becomes a concern if it’s being used for drinking water. If your system isn’t remineralizing (adding back things like magnesium, calcium, and potassium), I’d suggest reaching out to the company that installed it to see what options they have. Personally, I use a carbon-based filter directly at the sink for this reason. I’m not a big fan of RO unless the source water is problematic (like contaminated well water).

Hi @sheetalramchandani1 – if you haven’t already, I would recommend working with a chiropractor. I can highly recommend Dr. Benjamin Tinker at Heal Hub. He is a body wizard!

Also, how is your stress level? I know it seems odd to be asking, but HPA axis (brain-adrenal) dysfunction is something to keep in mind as well. Here are some questions to help assess adrenal support:

Are you a “night owl”? Difficulty falling or staying asleep? Slow starter in the morning? Aches and pains upon rising? Get dizzy when standing up suddenly? Crave salt? Headache after exercise? Tendency to need sunglasses?

Not only do our hormones get affected, but so do the nerves that innervate the adrenal glands as well as the surrounding muscles (hamstrings, gracilis, and sartorius specifically) that provide support to the pelvis and lower back. When the adrenal glands are under chronic stress, these muscles become imbalanced and cause instability to the pelvis which makes one more prone to lower back injuries and pain.

As a self-help tool, I can also recommend Fascial Maneuvers by Human Garage. It’s a great way to work on the nervous system daily as it involves a combination of deep breathing, movement and fascia work. You can watch our session in B Better to learn more. Doing their 1-Day “full body stress reset” might help unlock any tightness in your fascia and lower back in the meantime if you’re travelling tomorrow. Hope it helps – please report back if it does!

Hi @Inga-55 – unfortunately none of those are considered “clean”. They all contain “fragrance” and other questionable ingredients.

Is there a particular product that you’re looking for? Perhaps we can share healthier brands.

@DXB please take a look at our Preparing for Surgery protocol for ways to support the body before and after surgery.

I would be careful giving him B vitamins at this stage because it might push liver detox which currently is compromised due to state of his gallbladder. It could make him feel worse.

@Inga-55 please watch this lesson for more information on opening up the different elimination pathways.

And if needed, water or coffee enemas can also help remove impaction if you don’t feel like you’re achieving full evacuation.

Hi @DXB can you clarify what type of treatment he’ll be getting please in a month. Will there be any form of surgery or simply more imaging?

@sheetalramchandani1 everything seems to be well, but most importantly, how are you feeling?

What are your concerns about bHRT? I would highly recommend reading more about it. Knowledge removes fear of the unknown. I can recommend Dr. Mary Claire Haver’s book called “The New Menopause” and also Dr. Lisa Mosconi’s booked “The Menopause Brain”.

Hi @LAK – yes, it could just be hormonal fluctuations and/or a result of Vitex. Even if estrogen is normal or slightly low, if progesterone is too low to stabilize the lining, then spotting and prolonged bleeding can happen.

The pill can help stop the persistent bleeding if it doesn’t stop soon (a thin lining is a good sign), but it doesn’t address the cause. I’m not sure which doctor you’re working with, but I would also recommend a 2nd opinion from a functional gynecologist. Dr. Liliana Skorski works at Women’s Health Bay.

Please do keep us posted!

@Hasnaa glad you’re starting to feel better. As I mentioned to you before, root cause natural solutions take 1-3 months to start feeling their effects. It’s a slow process, and I hope it continues to progress for you.

In addition to what you’re already doing, here are the other suggested ways to support the body’s natural detox processes:

a. Bowels: the goal is to aim for 2-3 well formed, easy to pass stools per day (later on a parasite cleanse can be considered)

• Constipation can be addressed with magnesium citrate 400mg up to 1200mg/ day to bowel tolerance. I like the Pure Encapsulations brand of magnesium citrate.
• Enemas at home 2-3 x per week (starting with water/herbal and then gradually introducing coffee) can help remove compacted stool & strengthen motility if needed (see handout)

-> have you started enemas or taking magnesium citrate to help with bowel movements?

b. Liver:

• Castor oil packs before bed at least 5 days per week over the liver & abdomen can help support liver
• Consuming 1 cup cruciferous veggies per day (see handout) can help with liver detox
• Consider B complex to support detoxification. Those with a strong need for B vitamins need to go very low and slow, even opening up a capsule and sprinkling it over food day by day until they can work up to 1 full capsule, and then increase again to 3 per day (1-1-1 with meals)

-> have you started the castor oil packs and consuming more cruciferous veggies?

c. Bile:

• D-limonene from supplement (1000mg 1-2 x per day 3/4 way through a meal) or from the inside peel of 1 large orange per day (eat the white part) can help “decongest” the biliary tract
• Consuming bitter foods before meals or Digestive bitters tincture 10 mins before meals can help support bile flow. I like Quicksilver’s Bitters No. 9 (this helps with overall digestion too)

-> have you introduced D-limonene as a supplement or food therapy? How about digestive bitters to support overall digestion and bile flow?

d. Lymph:

• Weekly lymph massage
• Perform Big 6 points (work up to daily). Please watch Dr. Perry’s session to learn technique: https://bbettermembership.com/resource-library/guest-expert-recordings/lymphatic-revelations-for-pain-with-dr-perry-nickelston-february-23-2024/
• Dry brushing before shower
• Consider compression therapy: https://ballancerpro.com/
• Acupuncture – I can recommend Dr. Hu at Shanghai Medical in Dubai

-> Did you start the Fascial Maneuvers which can help move lymph while working on the fascia as well? Have you introduced any of these other modalities to support lymphatic drainage?

e. Lungs:

• Daily breathwork (download Balance app (first year free) or The Breathing App – free)
• Exercise/daily walking if there’s energy to do so

-> If you haven’t started with the Fascial Maneuvers from Human Garage, have you tried other deep breathing exercises like the breathing app?

f. Kidneys:

• Increase water intake. Make sure it’s filtered water and not from plastic bottles/jugs.
• Consuming lemon water twice daily can help prevent oxalate stone formation in the kidneys.

-> Adding lemon to your water? Drinking filtered water?

g. Skin:

• Consider sauna therapy to sweat if there’s no energy to exercise. I love my Therasage portable sauna. Use code BERN for 10% off.
• Dry brushing before shower

-> Are you having energy to exercise and sweat? Otherwise, have you found a gym or clinic offering sauna sessions? Or are you considering purchasing your own portable sauna? Sweating is a powerful way to detox from mold, so I would emphasize this step.

@LAK thanks for sharing the additional info. You didn’t mention the dose of vitex you’re taking. But I’m going to assume it’s 500mg per capsule, so you’re taking 1000mg per day, correct? And are you still taking it while you’re on your period?

Given the timing of when you started Vitex on May 2nd and your period beginning on May 8th, the off-and-on extended bleeding is likely linked to it. And the best way to know for sure, is to stop it for now if you’re still taking it, and monitor the next cycle to see if things normalize again.

Keep in mind that Vitex works on the H-P-O axis (brain-ovary axis) to enhance ovulation, which helps progesterone production. So it’s best to take it a few days before ovulation during the 2nd half of the cycle and then stop once the period starts.

Although you didn’t provide the reference ranges for your hormone levels, FSH should typically be slightly higher or equal to LH. However, in your case, LH is a bit higher, which can happen in PCOS-like patterns especially if other symptoms are present like irregular cycles, acne, or elevated androgens. But you’re 44, so it could also be due to temporary perimenopausal hormone fluctuations as well.

And yes, day 3 progesterone is not useful. Progesterone needs to be tested between day 19 to 21.

So next steps:

1. Stop Vitex for now if you’re still taking it, and monitor your next cycle without it to see if things normalize.

2. Investigate the possibility of PCOS and test sex hormones (with gynecologist):

• Progesterone (day 19 to 21 if that makes sense)
• Estradiol
• Testosterone (total and free)
• DHEA-s
• Fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HbA1c (to assess insulin resistance)
• AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone – often elevated in PCOS)
• Abdominal ultrasound

3. Track ovulation with LH strips or basal body temp to see if you’re ovulation. Vitex is helpful when ovulation is happening or needs support. Otherwise, it might not be the right herb for your body.

@yasminatassi the OAT test is great, but it will not tell you if there’s a heavy metal burden. It will however tell you if your body is struggling with detoxification and glutathione production.

To better understand the different ways to test heavy metals in urine, blood, and hair, please watch this lesson from our Heavy Metal Detox Program. Hair testing can show longer-term exposure but doesn’t show what’s stored in the body, so this can be a helpful test to see if you’re exposed to heavy metals over the past few months.

As requested, I’ve compiled my previous suggestions from my previous threads below so it’s easier for you.

From a root cause perspective, below are markers to start investigating which can help with trying to conceive again.

• Full thyroid panel: TSH, Total T4, Total T3, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, Anti-TPO, Anti-TG (even mild hypothyroidism can increase risk of miscarriage)

• Progesterone levels: Low progesterone is a common contributor to early pregnancy loss (should be tested between day 19-21 once you get a cycle again)

• Blood sugar panel: Fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HbA1C. Insulin resistance and PCOS can affect ovulation and implantation

• Important Nutrients: Vitamin D, RBC magnesium, RBC B12, RBC folate, RBC zinc, vitamin A

• Inflammation markers: hs-CRP or ANA if there are any autoimmune concerns

Additional functional tests to consider that may be helpful but not necessary:

• Hormones: DUTCH Plus (or simply DUTCH Adrenal test to look at cortisol the stress hormone) can help give a snapshot of your overall sex hormone status including cortisol pattern. If cortisol is high or low, this can impact progesterone because the body prioritizes survival over reproduction. Is stress something that might be at play for you?
• A full methylation panel would be recommended. Here’s a sample report of such a panel. Poor methylation can lead to miscarriage or implantation failure, as well as detoxification issues, including hormone & toxin detox.
• Given the toxic world we live in, I always have to ask about heavy metals and mold. You can always fill out our heavy metal assessment questionnaires from our heavy metal detox program to get a general subjective assessment, and/or consider getting a hair analysis to see if there is heavy metal accumulation. Same with mold, you can fill out these forms or get a MyctoTox test.

In terms of brands of antioxidants, I can suggest the following options:

Astaxanthin, glutathione, melatonin and PQQ

Hope this helps.