Hi @Annie – have you seen our Varicose Veins handout in the Symptom Dictionary? It provides some initial dietary and lifestyle steps, and supplements to consider.

It also lists possible contributing factors to help get to the root cause(s):

• Portal vein/liver congestion – Do you have a recent liver panel you can share? I remember you saying that you’re working on lymph drainage. There could be a connection here.
• Standing or sitting for long periods – is this relevant, including sitting with crossed legs)?
• Increased blood viscosity – are you well hydrated, did you take the mRNA vaccine? what’s your blood sugar status? do you have a diagnosis that has inflammation at its root – anything ending with ‘itis’?
• Anemia – have you checked your iron levels including ferritin?
• Hormonal imbalance – does this resonate with you?
• Vitamin C/bioflavonoid deficiency – do you consume enough vitamin C rich foods like red bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, oranges, Brussel sprouts, etc?
• Spleen dysfunction
• Low cortisol

If I recall from previous discussions, chronic stress is something you’ve mentioned correct? Have you ever checked your cortisol status to know if there’s HPA axis dysfunction? Here’s a video from our Adrenal Balance course on how to test for adrenal dysfunction in urine. The DUTCH test can check all hormones including cortisol.

Hi @Annie – in addition to Daniel’s suggestion, my clients have also had success using Apex Energetics ClearVite CLA or ChC (vanilla or chocolate) for therapeutic short-term use (few months) as another option. Keep in mind, chocolate in general is high in cadmium (even if organic), so if it’s to be used longer term, best to look at no flavors than you can flavor yourself with vanilla extract or fruits as Daniel suggested.

And for vegan options, here are cleaner options than many others:

–Nuzest
–Ora Organics

All of these are dairy/gluten free options.

Hi @Bahareh – best to source your honey from a local farm directly.

The 2 that I know of are:

• iFarm: Mahmood 055-885-1025 – don’t think they are ESMA certified though (but many smaller farmers don’t bother because of the cost involved)
• Hatta Honey: https://www.hattahoney.ae/ – they are ESMA certified

They both offer raw, organic honey and welcome farm visits. Hatta Honey has a cool activity where you can wear the bee suit and learn all about the process. 50 dhs per person. Can make a family day trip out of it (which I’ve wanted to do for a while).

I’m also waiting on a contact to get me a few other local farmers’ numbers. I’ll let you know if I have any other contacts.

Attached is iFarm’s product list.

iFarms-Product-List.jpg 195 KB Image File - Click to view

• Copy Download Link

Hi @Annie –

When it comes to skin conditions, it’s difficult to determine the exact cause without a proper diagnosis from a doctor. My initial suggestion would be to see a general practitioner (GP) or dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis. Once we have that, we can better identify the root cause and work on addressing it effectively.

White patches on the skin can be due to various reasons, such as fungal infections, eczema (atopic dermatitis), vitiligo, or nutritional deficiencies. This is why a doctor’s evaluation is crucial as the first step.

Hi @sara_alm369 – it’s important to remember that fevers are a natural immune response and are not always something that needs to be treated unless they become very uncomfortable and dangerously high. As long as the fever is below 40.5°C/105°F and my kids are alert,
playing, eating, and living normally, I don’t suppress a fever with
medication which I find delays recovery.

A natural approach however is the “magic socks” protocol which you can find HERE in Protocols.

As for supporting immunity, you can find the protocol I use for my kids HERE (also in Protocols>Getting Sick)

Hi @yasminatassi – so I recently learned that only a few companies dominate the water filter industry, even though there are so many different brands and companies selling water filters. These large manufacturers often produce filters for multiple brands, which then rebrand and market them under their own names. In the U.S., for example, companies like 3M, Pentair, and Culligan are some of the major producers in this space. So while it seems like there are so many water filtration companies available, there are really only several companies supplying filters worldwide.

What’s important however and an easy way to narrow down your search is to make sure they are NSF certified. These products usually display the NSF mark on the product or packaging. Look for specific standards like NSF/ANSI 42 (for aesthetic effects like chlorine reduction), NSF/ANSI 53 (for health effects like lead and VOC removal), NSF/ANSI 58 (for reverse osmosis systems if that’s what you’re looking for), etc.

You can also search for NSF certified water filters using their database to double check or search for companies using NSF certified filters: https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/?_gl=1*cy3wom*_gcl_au*MTcwNjcyNzU4NS4xNzI3MzM1NjEw*_ga*MTg1MTA1NzQ0MS4xNzI3MzM1NjEw*_ga_B3R74P2MZC*MTcyNzMzNTYxMC4xLjEuMTcyNzMzNTY4MC41OS4wLjA.*_ga_P2KS3C05YD*MTcyNzMzNTYxMC4xLjEuMTcyNzMzNTY4MC42MC4wLjA.

Here are a few companies that offer whole house filtration systems in Dubai (carbon and/or Reverse Osmosis) and are NSF-certified to help narrow your search:

1. Culligan Middle East (from the US): +971 4 803 9900

2. Bluewater UAE (from Sweden): +971 55 371 1673 / 058 826 791

3. Ultra Tech Water Treatment (from Italy, Germany & Taiwan): +971 50 849 5110 – they claim to be NSF certified but I couldn’t find them in the NSF database (so maybe it’s a different manufacturer name).

Hope that helps!

Hi @sara_alm369 – teething is tough on babies. Luckily there are a few safe and natural options to try.

-Washing your hands and gently massing the gums with coconut oil or gently rubbing a cooled, brewed chamomile tea bag may also help relieve pain.

-Another option is homeopathy. Chamomilla is well suited for a child who cries inconsolably from pain, feels better from hard bouncing and rocking, and tends to have green poop. The potency can be 30c or 200c (I generally like 200c). It’s safe for all ages.

Pellets go directly inside child’s mouth or mixed inside milk or formula. Can be given as needed. You can’t overdose!

Hope one of these solutions help!

@Annie – I believe you’re referring to the TRS Spray that’s being promoted online correct? TRS is an activated colloidal zeolite spray which forms nanoparticles in the body. It’s basically a binder. We are unsure of how well these are eliminated from the body. Testimonials are impressive, and with very ill children, some believe the benefits outweigh the risks.

However with children, a food first approach is always safer. Here is a passage from Dr. Jill’s book about binders:

“Environmental medicine guru, Dr. Walter Crinnion has been treating environmental illnesses of all kinds for decades (including mold). He uses fiber that have been shown to bind bile and reduce toxin burden. In his book, Clean, Green and Lean, Dr. Crinnion recommends rice bran fiber. Rice bran fiber and other similar fibers work very effectively at grabbing toxin-laden bile from the intestines so they’re pooped out and not reabsorbed.”

Here’s a list of insoluble fibers in order of least constipating to most constipating:

Flaxseed
Chia seed
Rice bran
Oat bran
Psyllium husk

I always prefer to use a food first approach with children. And lots of sweaty, outdoor play!! If he doesn’t sweat easily, draw up a hot bath for him and add 2 Tbsp ginger powder to the water to help him sweat.

Bitter foods and bitter supplements like QuickSilver’s Bitters No. 9, can also help stimulate production and flow of bile – all in the name of supporting our body’s natural detox process.

Hi @Annie – if you haven’t had any testing done in a while, a combination of blood and functional tests can help provide some helpful insights. If your doctor is not functionally trained however, they may not be open to recommending these tests for you. However, in B Better we provide access to tests through Rupa Health or True Health Labs in the USA if you’re willing to pay out of pocket.

Based on what you’ve described, here’s a good starting point for some blood tests, which are best done fasting (12 hours) first thing in the morning, when you have time to spare and aren’t in a rush:

• CBC with differentials – to check infections, anemia, and immune status
• Liver panel (ALT, AST, GGT, Total Bilirubin, Direct Bilirubin, Total Protein, Albumin, Globulin) – (make sure it includes direct bilirubin) – <i style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>poor liver detox can affect histamine clearance
• Blood sugar (fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HbA1c) – metabolic health can impact hormones
• Full Thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4, anti-TPO, anti-TG, Reverse T3) – impacts energy & metabolic health
• Inflammation (hs-CRP) – check general inflammation in the body
• Iron panel (iron, ferritin, % saturation, TIBC) – impacts energy, immune health & thyroid function
• Homocysteine – to check methylation status which is needed to break down histamine
• Key nutrients:
• • RBC Magnesium
  • RBC B12 or methylmalonic acid (MMA)
  • Vitamin D
  • RBC zinc – needed for liver enzymes, immune function and metabolizes testosterone (if low can lead to androgen dominance – see comment about pumpkin seed oil below)
• Sex hormones: (test on Day 19-21 of your cycle)
• • Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
  • Testosterone (Total and Free)
  • Estradiol (E2)
  • Progesterone
  • DHEA-S
  • Cortisol (AM and PM)

The clue about pumpkin seed oil was interesting. Sounds like it may have helped modulate androgen dominance. If low in zinc for example, the body will produce more DHT – a stronger form of testosterone that can lead to those symptoms you described. And androgen dominance can lead to estrogen dominance since it leads to anovulation, and therefore lower progesterone relative to estrogen.

Since hormones are affected by so many upstream causes, I would not spend money on a DUTCH test at this stage. Instead, I would start with the blood tests above to determine what other functional test(s) might be helpful if needed.

If histamine intolerance is in fact at play, consider following a histamine elimination diet for 2 weeks to see if your symptoms improve, and then please report back so we can guide you on the next steps.

@Annie I know how frustrating that can be. Conventional healthcare is reactive, and not at all preventative. The best example is diabetes. People can show signs of insulin resistance 10 years prior to a diagnosis, and believe that they suddenly wake up with a diagnosis overnight for that exact reason; they are told “everything is normal” until it’s not.

Unfortunately, they aren’t taught to look at the body as a whole system, nor are they taught to look at the root causes. And they typically only receive 24 hours of formal education on nutrition. I’m not bashing conventional medicine – we need them for acute situations and I’m grateful for them – but we cannot deny the huge gap and need for more integrative care.

Your son’s situation is the perfect example. We cannot provide you with a diagnosis. Only a dermatologist can. However, in functional medicine a diagnosis is meaningless since we look at the body as a whole, and try to figure out what it needs, doesn’t need, or needs to be prioritized.

However, a diagnosis or lack thereof, can help us zoom in and search for the root cause. If your husband doesn’t suspect it’s fungal or a type of dermatitis, then perhaps exploring possible nutritional deficiencies is a good starting point. In children, a hair elements test can provide some clues about mineral insufficiencies and possible toxicities.

I also want to validate your concerns. As a mother, your instincts are strong and usually on point. If you suspect something is not right about your child, always trust your gut, even if doctors may tell you otherwise.

Symptoms are our body’s way of talking to us, and there’s always a reason why.

Hi @Nadine,

Keep in mind that you’ve run many conventional tests, MRIs and luckily doctors have nothing to diagnose. This is a good sign!

You also just mentioned that Ciella isn’t feeling well. Depending on when this last test was done, acute viral infections can lead to increased TK levels, because of how viruses interact with the body’s cells. Viruses do not have the machinery to replicate on their own, so they invade host cells and take over the cell’s replication system. This “hijacking” process forces the infected cells to produce more viral particles, which in turn involves rapid DNA and RNA production.

Thymidine kinase is an enzyme that plays a key role in DNA production. When viruses force the host cells to replicate rapidly, it can lead to increased production of TK as part of that process. So this is why TK levels may be elevated during active viral infections.

As for discounts with Valentina, she’s offered B Better members 5% discount on one of her home services HERE.

I’ve asked Hamid for discount codes in the past. They’re not regularly given out though. They sometimes offer 5% off, which covers VAT. You can ask him about it.

As for the organic mattress, I have already reached out to them. Hoping to have good news for you soon!

What is your intention with the aloe vera and grapefruit seed capsules? As I had mentioned before, grapefruit seed has antifungal properties which should not be done before addressing Step 1 to 4 first. Here’s the overview again if you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet: https://bbettermembership.com/courses/intro-to-mold-mycotoxin-illness/lessons/5-step-strategy-overview-for-tackling-mold-illness-detoxing-from-mold/

The kefir looks like a great find! Hope she likes it.

Hi @Nadine the first OAT test did also point to some environmental toxicity even though the fungal markers were not clinically high. That’s why repeating the OAT test again knowing her history with mold exposure was suggested. I did also recommend a hair mineral test to see longer term exposure to heavy metals because while the OAT test can indicate the likelihood of environmental toxicity, it unfortunately does not specify what that toxicity is exactly.

However, given the MycoTox result and elevated levels of fungal markers on the most recent OAT test, it’s reasonable to assume the exposure is coming from mold. If Omar is too busy, you can also reach out to Valentina (she was also a guest expert in B Better if you want to watch her session HERE). She’s not a mold inspector, but she’s a building biologist who will look at the health of your home; from EMFs to toxic materials to mold, etc. +971-55-284-2881.

Hi @Nadine – the MycoTox does not tell you the source of exposure. It merely tells you whether the body is or isn’t excreting mycotoxins. The biggest source of exposure to mold however is through inhalation from water damaged buildings. It is possible that it is also coming from food, but for levels that high on her OAT test, I doubt it’s from a food source.

I’m glad you’re going to consult with Dr. Roze. Dr. Agnes Roze is an amazing pediatric dentist. Did you book your appointment with her? If this is Ciel’s first visit, maybe practice a few scenarios of what they will ask her to do so that she feels more comfortable. For example, explain that they’ll ask her to open her mouth and that they have cool tools to be able to look at her teeth with a long mirror, etc. Give her reassurance if you feel she might get nervous. But Agnes is really good with kids. And definitely let them know about the OAT & MycoTox results. The mouth and gut are deeply interconnected!

Yes correct about proteolytic enzymes. These help break up inflammation and biofilm when taken away from food. Using them is all about timing, and should only be incorporated once the body is ready for the “killing” part, which is the last part of my 5-part strategy.

Who is recommending these tests for you? Can they not provide the requisition for them?

Regarding the IQ Air, I shared Hamid’s number with you previously, but I guess you missed it. IQ Air has a distributor in Abu Dhabi. 050-319-7530

Hi @kritissoni – the Hot 7 works amazingly well as rapid relief because of its homeopathic ability to get into cells quickly, and magnesium generally helps ease tension, tightness, constriction, spasms, etc. So in theory, magnesium phosphoricum is a helpful mineral (in homoeopathic form) that should “relax” muscles, airways, etc.

I searched up “cell salts” on Amazon and came up with these options:

A bundle of all 12 cell salts and the Hyland brand of Mag Phos only.

But ultimately, long Covid should be addressed by supporting the body’s basic foundations like addressing nutrient deficiencies, optimizing immune/gut health, blood sugar regulation, hydration, and thyroid/adrenal health.