@Annie if you download my Medicine Cabinet Must-Haves Guide, I share many protocols that I use for common illnesses. You can find that guide HERE in Protocols.

For brewing ear infections specifically, here’s what I wrote on p.6 of the guide:

Ear pain:

• If there’s a possible ear infection brewing, I use silver hydrosol
and systemic immune support*. Using the dropper, I tilt their head
sideways and squirt the silver hydrosol directly into my child’s
ear(s) several times per day.

• Garlic & Mullein oil is also very effective for earaches/infections.

On p. 3, I share the brands I use.

And you can find the systemic immune support protocol I use for my kids also in Protocols HERE.

Hope he feels better soon!

Hi @Inga-55 – is this for an adult or child?

In general, those with sickle cell disease should consume a well-balanced diet rich in hydration, essential vitamins (like folate, iron (unless getting regular blood transfusions), and vitamin D), healthy fats (like omega-3s), and antioxidants to help manage symptoms and support overall health. Avoiding processed foods, sugary drinks, and alcohol is important to reduce inflammation.

1. Keeping well hydrated helps keep blood cells flexible which reduces the risk of sickle cell crises.

->Drink enough filtered water AWAY from meals so that urine is light/pale colored yellow

2. If they don’t get blood transfusions, then consume enough iron-rich foods (with vitamin C for absorption). This also helps bring on board protein which helps with tissue repair & recovery.

-> Heme iron sources come from animal products like red meat, poultry, fish and organ meats. Vitamin C rich foods include bell peppers, broccoli, oranges, strawberries, etc.

3. Include folate-rich foods and/or supplement because folate helps create new red blood cells

->Here’s a post I did on sources of folate: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdWJ0wtrpB0/

4. There have been several studies on the reduction of inflammation and improved blood flow, which can help lower pain crises.

->Consume fatty fish like salmon, flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts and/or consider supplementing with a high Omega-3 supplement.

5. Antioxidants!! These help protect against oxidative stress which damages cells. That’s why eating a variety of colorful fruits and veggies are so important. Sticking to berries can help keep the fructose level low as well. For example, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc. Here’s an interesting study you might like to read: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36069788/

6. There seems to be a risk of vitamin D and therefore calcium deficiency in those with sickle cell disease, so getting daily sunshine and/or supplementing with vitamin D3+K2 might be a good idea. Also, consuming calcium-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, leafy greens (kale, spinach, collard greens), and fish with bones in (ex. sardines and other smaller fish) can help ensure enough calcium in the diet.

In terms of pain management, this older study done on mice suggests acupuncture may be helpful – in my personal experience with acupuncture, if it doesn’t help, it certainly won’t hurt!

Hope the above is helpful.

Hi @naslam1603 – we checked the backend to see if there’s an issue with your subscription level, but it all seems to be setup correctly.

Can you please let us know which course(s) you’re unable to access so we can look into it further for you.

@Nadine reach out to Valeo Health to see if they can run these markers for you. When you click on “Succeed > Testing”, we’ve made several labs available to B Better members to be able to order tests directly. Valeo Health also offers our members discounts: https://bbettermembership.com/resource-library/testing/valeo-health/

Let me know if it works out.

@Nadine they are all good – my preference is IQ Air when mold is involved. Make sure to speak to the reps about the right model that will fit your room size.

Hi @Nadine – no, blood transfusions does not lead to DNA changes or increased risk of cancer.

As for pickling with salt and without vinegar, this produces a fermented product instead of a pickled product. The difference is in the probiotics the fermented pickle will have. Next week we have the founder of Fermenting Fairy (Lauren Mones) coming to speak to us about fermentation and these exact differences. She used to have Chron’s Disease and fermented foods played a huge role in her healing journey, hence why she turned it into a business. I recommend you join us! https://bbettermembership.com/events

As for Ciel’s MycoTox results, as you can see, there is in fact high level of Ochratoxin A mycotoxin, and elevated levels of MPA, which can indicate active/recent exposure to mold. Has Omar reached out to you for an inspection yet? Both Omar and his technician Shahzad said they would.

Given her high fungal overgrowth as seen on the OAT and high Ochratoxin A on the MycoTox test results, mold illness seems to be the likely culprit. Please make time to watch the Mold & Mycotoxin Illness course. It will give you the knowledge to begin to take action more confidently.

Hi @Nadine – I’ll reply below one by one:

1. Binders should not be introduced if a person is constipated. It’s also step 5 in the 5-step strategy that I discuss HERE in terms of doing things in the right order.

2. Castor oil packs over her liver and gallbladder nightly is a great way to support these organs. You can find how to do it in this handout HERE.

3. Not sure where you heard this information, but as far as I’m aware, no melatonin does not pull out fungal growth. It’s a fantastic antioxidant however, and is mostly known for supporting sleep.

4. As long as she’s not dairy intolerant or sensitive, yogurt is fine. Flaxseeds as well.

5. I would be cautious using apricot seeds in children as there is no studies done, and it can have therapeutic effects.

6. Homemade cucumber pickles fermented with salt, and not vinegar is a great way to introduce beneficial probiotics into her diet. However, introduce them slowly and in small amounts at a time since these are generally higher in histamine, and usually not well tolerated by those with struggling with yeast overgrowth.

7. In general, yes if there are no known medical conditions, children can also use the sauna as long as the duration and temperature are not too high. I like the Therasage because it also prevents the head from heating up. Again, going low and slow and letting her guide the process is always better. But this is definitely a great addition if she doesn’t regularly sweat through play.

8. Regarding BlueAir… is it Ultra Hepa or only Hepa certified? Hepa certified unfortunately doesn’t catch mycotoxins which are tiny. If budget allows, my preference for suspected mold is IQ Air. There is a distributor in Abu Dhabi. You can call Hamid 050-319-7530

9. If you’re interested in investing in an organic mattress, expect to pay somewhere close to 20K Dhs. I’ve been keeping an eye on the market for over a decade and I finally found an organic mattress supplier in Dubai. Check out Heveya.ae – I plan on reaching out to see if I can get B Better members a discount.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1988264/A food-first approach is always recommended with children because they simply don’t do studies on kids for ethical reasons, so it’s important to exercise caution with herbal supplements.

However, dandelion root is generally considered safe for children in moderate amounts, such as when used in herbal teas. Dandelion root is both a choleretic, meaning it stimulates the liver to produce bile, and a cholagogue, which helps with bile flow from the liver and gallbladder into the small intestine.

Similarly, milk thistle is typically used for liver protection, and while there isn’t much research specifically on its use in children, it is usually considered safe in lower doses.

But remember how I mentioned that it’s important to do things in the right order? Well given her higher Direct Bilirubin, I wouldn’t want to necessarily give too many cholagogues before addressing the likely biliary tract congestion first. Imagine having a clogged toilet. You wouldn’t want to flush, before clearing out the clog, right? D-limonene is something that can “decongest” the biliary tract, and many younger clients of mine have successfully taken it as well. The typical adult dose is 1000mg, 1-2 x per day, for 30-60 days (or more) depending on the severity. It’s best taken 3/4 way through a meal. It also comes in liquid form, which is convenient for children.

Regarding dosage for kids, here is Clark’s Rule: for children aged 2-17. Take the child’s weight in pounds and divide by 150 pounds. Multiply the fractional result by the adult dose to find the equivalent child dosage. For example, if an adult dose of tincture calls for 30 drops and the child weighs 30 pounds, divide the child’s weight by 150 (30/150) to get 1/5. Multiply 1/5 times 30 drops to get 6 drops.

Hope this helps answer your question.

Good luck with your talk!

@Nadine I reached out to Omar. He’s asking for your number… he gets a lot of requests, so he’ll search for your message. Feel free to send me a DM (you’ll have to connect with me first) in the community.

@Nadine I understand how overwhelming this must all feel. And I understand how you want to protect your daughter from unnecessary tests, however if there are still conventional tests that need to be done, definitely pursue those. You want to rule out pathology and any medical treatments that may be necessary. Speak with her and assure her that it’s just to be sure that everything is ok. Your choice of words and body language can be very comforting to her.

At the same time, please make the time to watch the videos from the mold & mycotoxin illness course above (or ideally, the entire course if you can). You will feel much more in control with this knowledge.

As for Omar, yes, he is difficult to reach because he’s very busy. Did you try reaching out to his technician Shahzad?

@sara_alm369 I use the one by Earthing. https://www.earthing.com/

@Nadine I also wanted to bring to your attention a study that is currently being conducted by 2 pioneers in the mold illness space; Dr. Jill Crista (author of Break the Mold) and Dr. Neil Nathan (author of Toxic).

Their goal is to collect valuable data on mold-related illnesses so they can share their findings in medical journals, which could lead to future studies on how indoor mold affects people and guide the development of effective treatments in the conventional medical world. This is a big deal because currently, the medical world only recognizes “aspergillosis” and not mycotoxin illness. If you wish to participate, here is the link to the study.

Hi @naslam1603 – I’m not sure why you can’t access the courses. I’ve passed your message along to our technical team. Will hopefully be fixed soon!

Hi @Nadine – as I had listed out for you in our initial messages, general infections and inflammation can be one of the contributing factors that can increase CA 19-9, including biliary tract obstruction.

Her most recent OAT test clearly shows a strong fungal infection in the digestive tract. Given that I’m suspicious of ongoing mold exposure, it is not advised to be giving her any anti-fungal supplements/medications at the moment (even if it’s natural) before ensuring she is away from mold, and her elimination pathways are well supported first. Mold does not like to be threatened, and even natural antifungals can threaten them which can lead to worse symptoms and inflammation. It’s important to do things in the correct order, which I share in the Mold & Mycotoxin Illness course. The “killing” is last. Start HERE to better understand the 5-step strategy for tackling mold illness and to detox from mold.

In the meantime, knowing that she has a strong fungal infection, you can introduce antifungal foods into her diet (i.e. “Stinky foods” and spices), which can provide anti-fungal action but in a much more gentle way that won’t provoke colonized mold. You can see a list of those in THIS video.

And her recent blood test also shows high direct bilirubin, which can indicate biliary tract congestion. Please watch THIS video in our Interpreting Blood Chem course, to learn what that means from a functional perspective. This is one of the elimination routes, so ensuring that the biliary tract is free flowing will be important in her ability to properly detox. You never want to “kill” before ensuring elimination pathways are open. Things like d-limonene and bitter foods can help with decongestion and bile flow. Here’s a video from the Gut Health Masterclass to learn more about supporting the liver/ gallbladder.

Let me know if you have any questions.