Hi @naslam1603 – so I recall we had a discussion about the difference between A.R.T. and Dr. Geoffrey Smith’s methods. You can find that thread here as a refresher.

And to answer your question more directly… it’s a bit difficult to answer because I personally haven’t used ART or come across success stories myself. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth exploring if it’s calling you. From what I’ve read, it’s essentially an advanced form of muscle testing or applied kinesiology. There isn’t much solid scientific evidence backing it yet, but science is often late to catch up with emerging approaches, especially in the integrative space.

If you’re curious, I’d suggest reaching out to a few ART practitioners and asking if they can put you in touch with past clients. Hearing directly from people who’ve gone through it will give you a much clearer sense of what to expect and whether it resonates with you.

Here is their contact page to help find an A.R.T. practitioner near you: https://klinghardtinstitute.com/art-practitioners/

Hope this helps!

Hi @naslam1603 – great questions.

If they’ve already ordered total and free testosterone, then yes, it’s smart to add SHBG (to better interpret free versus bound levels) and also Estradiol (to see how much testosterone converts to estrogen). You could also consider albumin, LH, and FSH for a more comprehensive picture.

When it comes to blood vs urine testing for testosterone, blood (serum) tests are the gold standard. They are standardized and give a clear snapshot of circulating testosterone at the time of the draw. This makes blood testing more reliable for diagnosing and monitoring levels over time.

Urine tests on the other hand measure testosterone and its metabolites excreted over time so it’s helpful to look at hormone metabolism and function. But results can vary depending on hydration level, kidney function and how accurately the sample is collected. So because of these variables, urinary testing can be less precise for determining actual circulating testosterone levels and is used more for looking at hormone metabolism than for diagnosis. Serum is usually the way to go for actual levels.

And timing is key. First morning is always best to reduce variables when tracking levels over time.

@naslam1603 – I’m glad you were able to reduce your homocysteine levels. If it was high and then became low after supplementing with B vitamins, this usually means there is an overactivation of the methylation pathways. So this could be a sign to scale back on the B vitamins by either stopping them for a while or reducing the dose to see if levels return to normal.

This is the perfect example of why supplements should always be “pulsed” on and off. Use when needed, and stop when sufficient.

Please watch this video from the Blood Chemistry course to better understand how homocysteine is produced and the vitamins involved, as well as other reasons why it can be low.

@naslam1603 as Daniel suggested, definitely investigate further with your doctor. However, microscopic hematuria is unlikely to cause big drops in ferritin. Something else is usually also at play. And knowing your history with acid blockers, this is definitely one of the major contributors. We need good strong stomach acid to absorb iron (and many other minerals and also B12!), therefore without sufficient stomach acid due to these meds, there will be challenges with nutrient absorption across the board, including iron.

Have you been able to transition off of them with a practitioner’s support?

@Kkol – can you please share this contradictory study. I have never come across such information, unless they’re referring to rancid omega-3 supplements?

Hi @R-S – I’m glad to hear that you’re starting to feel some relief, and that osteopathy is helping.

The decision to pursue additional medical testing is something only you can decide, but I’ll lay out a few things to consider to hopefully help you decide what the next step should be:

1. Ask yourself what’s the goal of this test? If having definitive answers and ruling out serious medical conditions would bring you peace of mind and help guide the next steps, that’s an argument in favor of doing the procedure.

2. Does that goal warrant the risks? These procedures are routinely done but there are always risks. Short-term risks include sedation effects (grogginess, nausea), some mild abdominal bloating, or very rarely bleeding/perforation. Most people recover quickly and resume normal activities within a day. I suggest you speak with your gastro doc to explain how exactly they minimize risks (type of sedation, prep, recovery, their complication rates, etc). This will help you assess the risks vs benefits.

3. Given that you’re starting to feel better with osteopathy treatments and dietary changes, you could also continue with your current approach for a set time (say, another 4 to 6 weeks) and only proceed with the procedures if your symptoms plateau or worsen. Alternatively, you could also do the procedures now to rule things out while symptoms are active, which will sometimes give clearer findings. What does your gut feeling say?

4. When I’m trying to make a tough decision, I always write down pros and cons on a piece of paper including my fears/concerns. I then sit with it for a few days, until I’m comfortable with my decision.

5. I would also ask your osteopath and homeopath for their opinions and perspectives since they are both treating you and know your health history.

I hope this provides you with some direction to help you come to a comfortable decision. We’re here to support you either way.

Hi @Bahareh – I personally haven’t done much research on vibration plates to be able to guide you but I asked a biohacking group that I’m in for some tips.

They said that a vibration plate that moves in a figure eight pattern is better for the lymphatic system and joints vs. jerking movements from left to right. A majority of the vibration plates, especially the cheaper versions, are shaking a person vs. actually providing vibration. So definitely look at the mechanism when doing your research.

In Dubai, the Power Plate was the recommended brand for that reason (it offers a figure eight movement).

Hope this helps.

Glad to hear it! Curious to know what he says if you feel called to sharing…

@R-S glad to hear that major issues have been ruled out!

Since H Pylori, gastritis and ulcers have been ruled out, then in general HCL betaine can be safely used and can be very supportive for overall digestion.

To answer your question of which to begin first – HCL, bitters or thyroid support, I’d say there’s a tie between HCL and thyroid support because both fuel each other. We need good strong stomach acid to absorb the nutrients needed for thyroid conversion, and we need optimal thyroid function to support overall digestion. So it’s absolutely OK to start both at the same time but just spaced out to give the body a chance to adjust.

And the decision to start thyroid medication vs. supplement vs. food support is one to be discussed with the doctor. Medication will obviously provide the quickest stability, while food and supplements will require more time.

And yes, given your very sensitive nature right now, using 1 bitter instead of a combo formula would be a wise approach as well.

@R-S – ok, we’re starting to get some answers. What stood out from the lab results you just shared is the clinically low Free T3. Your TSH and Free T4 are optimal, but the conversion to free T3 is sluggish. We have a saying in Functional Medicine… “sluggish thyroid, sluggish everything”, and in your case, this will definitely contribute to sluggish stomach acid, sluggish digestive system, sluggish motility, etc.

Therefore, addressing poor thyroid conversion will help address one of the likely root cause(s) for sluggish stomach acid production, and the downstream consequences.

I’m not sure if you’ve explored our Thyroid Balance course yet, but I encourage you to watch these lessons to understand what can cause low T3 levels and how to correct it:

• Reasons for Low T3
• Reasons for Low Free T4/T3
• Foods for a Healthy Thyroid
• Supplements for a Healthy Thyroid

You could also speak to an endocrinologist about starting T3 medication temporarily to help stabilize overall metabolic function. Most will want to prescribe T4, but with poor conversion to T3, that might not be sufficient to bring free T3 levels up to optimal levels. This is something to discuss with your doc, but I’m mentioning it so you can advocate for yourself.

In terms of addressing N to S dysfunctions, yes beginning North and the moving down is a wise strategy. So brain work is #1. Stomach acid support would be next given that the symptom questionnaires pointed to this being a need. If H Pylori overgrowth has been ruled out and there is no ulcer or gastritis, then HCL Betaine can be taken mid-meal. The dose is usually determined with this challenge.

Supporting the nervous system, T4 to T3 conversion and stomach acid is a strong gameplan to hopefully stop the revolving door of SIBO challenges.

With good signals from the brain to produce digestive juices, and good thyroid function to support metabolism & digestion, and good strong stomach acid to trigger the release of bile & enzymes, there should be a positive momentum forward. Remember, bile is antimicrobial and can help cleanse the gut bugs that don’t belong in the small intestine. And if that’s not enough, then digestive bitters or bile, and/or digestive enzymes can also be added in as additional support to the 3 main digestive players “GPS” (stomach, gallballder/bile, pancreas). But one step at a time, and one new addition at a time always!

Hope that makes sense?

@Kkol can you please link the study directly? I’d really like to read it fully

Hi @naslam1603 – glad to hear that your mom has been discharged and is doing better 🙏

@R-S I’m really impressed with your level of knowledge and the connections you’re making. They’re spot on.

As I’ve discussed in the Gut Health Masterclass, since you are struggling with digestive-related issues, it’s important to remember the North to South function, beginning in the brain.

This is why, in my very first reply to your very first post, I shared what the priorities need to be: 1) nervous system regulation and 2) gut healing because of the acute state you were in.

It seems that things have settled a bit for you, so you can proceed “South” while continuing your nervous system/vagal tone work and layer in support for the 3 major digestive players; stomach acid, bile & enzymes.

How far along did you get in the SIBO/IBS Relief program?

Hi @R-S – yes, it can cause discomfort in sensitive individuals. In your previous message you mentioned that you burped at ~ 3 minutes each time you did it. This can point to low-normal stomach acid, and could warrant support.

Please watch this video from the Gut Health Masterclass where I discuss the most common root cause reasons for low stomach acid to help determine which tests to pursue. If you are to consider taking HCL Betaine for example, it’s important to first rule out H Pylori. In the meantime, gentler support such as digestive bitters and lemon juice/ACV before meals can help stimulate digestive secretions while figuring out the root cause(s).

Here is a handout that explains how to do the dosage challenge if considering HCL betaine support.

@R-S you’re doing it correctly – it’s 1/4 tsp in 1 cup of water which is 230mL. Thanks for pointing out the discrepancy. Both are correct but diluting it in more water will be gentler on the stomach for sensitive individuals. As long as you stick to the same method each time, that’s what matters most to remove as many variables.