[Bernadette]

@Naveed Aslam it’s always a good habit to read and follow the test’s instructions for better accuracy of results because doctors/practitioners don’t always provide the full instructions.

I was asking about those foods to see if that was the reason for the elevated serotonin marker 5-OH-indoleacetic Acid. Here’s an explanation of what else can contribute to higher levels in urine if those foods or medications were not taken before the test (ex. tryptophan or acetaminophen/tylenol) . https://healthmatters.io/understand-blood-test-results/5-oh-indoleacetic-acid

I couldn’t find the interpretive guide you are referring to, but found this video explanation of the test instead: https://www.gdx.net/education/2021/08/interpreting-the-metabolomix-profile

Can you share the link to the guide and I can email them to see what I can do.

The next live call is tomorrow, July 11th at 9am EST/ 5pm Dubai time.

[Bernadette]

@Naveed Aslam believe it or not, everything you need to help your body heal is within you already. Please make time to read “Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself” and then “Becoming Supernatural” by Dr. Joe Dispenza. If you prefer to watch videos, make time to watch The Source documentary which is based on his life’s work. The testimonials and health recoveries are unbelievable.

I went to his retreat in Spain in May, and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The quantum / interdimensional field holds infinite possibilities, and Dr. Joe enables people by teaching them how to tap into that quantum space and transform themselves.

Definitely explore this.

[Bernadette]

@Naveed Aslam please see my comment on your GI Map post about dealing with sugar cravings.

Did you just start supplementing with B12 and B9 after seeing the results of this test. If not, how long before the test were you supplementing with these, because there’s a very strong need so either you just started supplementing or the dose is too low for your unique needs.

The markers that made me suspect ketogenic type of diet are the elevated adipic acid and β-OH-Butyric Acid on p.7 of the citric acid cycle. These can be high if one is following a high fat/low carb diet.

I explain the different types of fatty acids in this video in the Fatty Acid Balance course if you’d like to learn more. And this video shares how we can get fatty acid imbalances.

Did you make sure to avoid bananas, avocados, walnuts, tomatoes, eggplants, and pineapples before taking this test? Please confirm.

[Bernadette]

@Naveed Aslam did you end up working with Dr. Geoffrey Smith? I’m asking because the type of remedies that can benefit you at this stage when so much hurts you is in the energetic realm. The remedies he provides by Physica Energetics are energetic/homeopathic remedies that can really be useful for you.

In the protocol I shared for H Pylori, there was silver hydrosol and also Matula tea as alternative options. Have you considered those?

Gluten increases zonulin, that’s why I asked if you’re 100% gluten free or not. If you’re not, strongly consider a 100% removal of gluten for at least a month to see how it makes you feel. Here’s a handout on hidden sources.

If you’re looking for something sweet and cold at night, why don’t you consider making an acai bowl for example (use the unsweetened acai variety – I like Sambazon brand)? You can top it with unsweetened coconut shreds, chia seeds, fruits, etc. Or make coconut/mango sorbet – simply freeze and blend frozen mango with coconut milk. Super easy, quick and delicious.

If you’re going to have something sweet, commit to having whole foods instead of food products. It’s an opportunity to nourish yourself with phytonutrients and antioxidants from fruits, instead of void refined sugar that will not benefit you in any way.

Another option is to consider a medical food (powder) which is sweetened with monk fruit so it is low glycemic. Simply blend it with cold water to satisfy the need for something cold and sweet. For example, Metagenics UltraGI Replenish. This can provide additional gut soothing support, vitamins, minerals, and calories since you’re only having 2 meals opportunities per day.

Since H Pylori is not clinically high, it’s ok to continue with low-dose HCL while still working to bring down the numbers further. This will actually help prevent a reinfection.

Also continue with the gut soothing nutrients and compounds like bone broth, collagen, cabbage juice, okra, aloe, zinc carnosine, etc. A combo formula my clients have had great success with is Designs For Health’s GI Revive.

If you can’t tolerate sauerkraut, consider other fermented food options like beet kvass and kefir. We have recipes for both here. Akkermansia like other beneficial bacteria need to be fed – that’s where eating prebiotics can help like fiber, polyphenols, and healthy fats. And also, minimizing processed foods and sugars can reduce inflammation and promote a healthy gut environment.

[Bernadette]

@Maryam Al I’m so sorry you’ve not been feeling well. Please make an appointment to see Dr. Lilya Chub at Hope Health & Healing Center. She’s an integrative doc who can prescribe when needed, but also understands functional medicine and the root cause approach.

[Bernadette]

Hi @Naveed Aslam – the great thing about this test is how easy they make it for interpretation and taking action since they also provide recommended doses.

The most pressing need is for methylation support, specifically B9 and B12. You can consider a B complex and also more targeted B vitamins layered on top for the more deficient ones like B9 and B12. But I recall in a previous thread you were looking at Seeking Health’s products. What did you decide on? Methylation also needs magnesium and selenium so you can choose to supplement or include more foods rich in selenium such as Brazil nuts and sardines.

You can also consider optimizing all of the nutrients in yellow, and increase antioxidant-rich foods in your diet to help mitigate the effects of oxidative stress in the body (likely from living in mold).

Are you following a ketogenic type of diet (high-fat, moderate-protein, and very low-carbohydrate)?

Did you make sure to avoid bananas, avocados, walnuts, tomatoes, eggplants, and pineapples before taking this test?

In terms of inflammation control, fatty acid balance is a major player. Your results show a need for more Omega-3 fatty acids, as well as GLA. I explain the different types of fatty acids in this video in the Fatty Acid Balance course if you’d like to learn more. And this video shares how we can get fatty acid imbalances.

Can you also please share your current list of symptoms with us again. This will help us put these results into better context to be able to offer more targeted suggestions.

[Bernadette]

@Naveed Aslam Good to see H Pylori coming down. What have you been taking? We have a few different options that can help in the H Pylori protocol here.

Based on your latest GI Map results, commensal species need some support. This can be done with a combination of consuming a variety of fermented foods and broad spectrum probiotics such as Metagenics Ultra Flora Biome Pro.

In addition, Akkermansia is non detected, which is important for gut health and also glucose control. Consider something more targeted like Pendulum Akkermansia.

“Killing” isn’t always necessary. My approach is often to support digestion and gut immunity first (which I can see that your sIgA has improved – great job!) and bring better balance to the microbiome. This usually helps resolve opportunistic species. If after doing so, there is still overgrowths along with associated symptoms, then antimicrobials can be helpful.

Speaking of digestion… how’s it going with HCL supplementation and slowly weaning off acid suppressors?

Here’s a video on how to support gut immunity further from the Gut Health Masterclass.

Calprotectin has reduced slightly (134 to 121) which does show progress and a reduction in inflammation, but you’re right, it’s still more elevated than it should.

There are many gut healing therapies other than glutamine. You can find those HERE from the Gut Health Masterclass.

Zonulin is also suboptimally elevated. Are you strictly 100% gluten-free?

[Bernadette]

@Nathalie Khoury best prevention is to support immunity. So making sure everyone’s vitamin D, zinc and A levels are optimal is the best prevention. For kids, consider cod liver oil as it’s a great source of vitamin A and vitamin D. Also support a healthy microbiome with a variety of fermented foods and/or probiotics.

And when we don’t know what it might be, I also support overall immunity and follow my general “when getting sick” protocol HERE for kids.

And I support the symptoms accordingly. So for nausea, check these tips in the Symptom Dictionary handout (I’ll create a nausea protocol for next month). Ginger & peppermint teas can be helpful. Nox vomica homeopathy may be helpful. Applying pressure on the inner wrists too. Activated charcoal may have some use here too.

For diarrhea, I allow it to happen as it’s the body’s way of flushing out whatever it’s trying to get rid of. But it’s important to be hydrating to replenish lost fluids; coconut water is great. Electrolytes and filtered water is another option. If it persists for a few days however, I would also take activated charcoal in between meals and increase soluble sources of fiber to help bind up the stool (i.e. chia seeds, psyllium husk, rice bran, etc).

Hope this helps.

[Bernadette]

@Nathalie Khoury the bottle directions says 5 pellets directly under the tongue, 3 x per day. It’s the same for adults and children.

But my homeopath said it’s not necessary to take more than 1 pellet at a time. She’s also a fan of dilutions, so I dilute it in 50ml warm water and drink it.

[Bernadette]

@Nathalie Khoury

Activated charcoal has many uses; it’s a binder that works by adsorbing toxins in the gut, which prevents them from getting absorbed into the bloodstream. I mainly use it for food poisoning relief and always have this on hand. Some like to use it as part of their skincare or teeth whitening.

Belladona relieves high fever (up to 102°F) of sudden onset with perspiration.

Aconitum napellus is also another fever reducer and useful for panic attacks

Thuja occidentalis relieves warts

I was told by my homeopath that if they are stored well, they don’t expire so if you have the space to keep them, I wouldn’t throw them away.

[Bernadette]

@Nathalie Khoury can you provide more details please. Is the source known (i.e. viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc)?

What are the symptoms you’re all experiencing? Hope you guys are doing ok…

[Bernadette]

@Annie Sye since B vitamins are water soluble, they are generally considered safe even at high doses since we can pee out the excess.

For B5 specifically, there’s no established tolerable upper intake level (UL) due to its low toxicity. High doses of B5 (like 10g+ per day) can cause GI symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, and heartburn. It might also lead to an imbalance in electrolytes due to its diuretic effect, which can cause dehydration and affect kidney function.

If there’s no PANK2, then there are B complex formulas that support methylation specifically (B12, B9, B6, B2) that exclude B5, such as Xymogen’s Methyl Protect or Seeking Health’s Homocysteine Nutrients (but these are lower in B6).

[Bernadette]

@Annie Sye I will reply one by one:

As I mentioned in previous replies, one of the recommended treatments for PANK2 is actually high dose B5. Please see the OAT test result section for B5, and also my previous replies for the other suggested treatments.

I would avoid any supplemental form of antifungals at this stage, including grapefruit seed extract because he needs to support the basic foundations first (supporting detox pathways, digestion, microbiome health, antioxidants, nutrient deficiencies, etc). Bringing on board any strong antifungals at this stage can “poke the bear” and potentially level him. Fungus does not like to be threatened, and if you start to “kill” with strong antifungals, 1) his body & immune system are likely not ready for the fight and 2) can lead to more mycotoxins being released since we know there has been colonization in the gut (that’s what they do if they feel threatened – they protect themselves by emitting gases such as mycotoxins and VOCs). It’s best to wait to be out of mold to start with stronger antifungals (whether it be medication or supplements). For now however, using food therapy can provide gentle antifungal action without causing 1) and 2) to happen. Please make the time to watch my Mold & Mycotoxin Illness course. It will help you all so much to better understand its nature.

Magnesium citrate is stimulating to the bowels, so the best recommendation is to take it to bowel tolerance or up to 600mg per day. If he takes too much, he’ll get loose stools. But please make sure you check renal function because magnesium is contraindicated with kidney dysfunction.

There are many ways to support the liver/gallbladder and bile production and flow. If you end up running a CMP including liver/kidney profiles, please share the results so I can better guide you. Please make sure they measure direct bilirubin to help see if there is any biliary tract congestion. This can block bile flow and would need something like d-limonene to help “de-grease” the congestion. In the meantime, digestive bitters (through food) or supplement like Quicksilver’s Dr Shade’s Bitters No. 9 for example taken 10-15 mins before meals can help stimulate digestive secretions including bile.

As I mentioned in my previous reply, if he’s still living in mold, hold off on taking glutathione. NAC, selenium, B6 and magnesium can help his body produce it instead.

Vitamin C like magnesium can be increased to bowel tolerance. Typically that’s between 2 to 3Kmg per day. If he gets loose stool from the combo of magnesium and increase in Vitamin C, just let him know to cut back on the magnesium citrate.

Given his very low level of NAC on the OAT, supplementation is warranted but it’s up to you of course. Orally, NAC is most often given in the dosage range of 600–1,800 mg daily (often divided into two or three daily doses).

How much melatonin is he currently taking?

Medications like Nystatin can be very effective when there’s an entrenched case of fungal overgrowth, but as I explained above, since he’s still living in mold, and has a lot to do first to strengthen his body, I would hold off on any antifungal meds/supplements at this time. No need to go see an infectious disease specialist unless they are mold-literate. Here’s a video in the mold course to help you find a mold-literate practitioner (I’m one of them ) if you’d like to work with someone privately.

Yes! Red Light Therapy can absolutely help with mitochondrial function and is a welcomed addition to his daily routine/protocol. You can get larger panels to do the whole body but since you have the Loom, he can place it on different places of his body for a few minutes at a time.

Regarding your husband’s question about why it affects some while it doesn’t affect others living in the same home is a very valid and frequently asked question. The main answer is GENES! Approximately 25% of the population have specific HLA-DR gene variants that may make them more susceptible to mold-related illness. These individuals may have a reduced ability to effectively recognize and clear certain mold toxins from their bodies, leading to a buildup of these toxins and subsequent health issues. Also, there are many “mis-diagnoses” where mold is actually at the root of their diagnosis. Please watch THIS video from the mold course where I explain why it’s so often missed. And then THIS video where I go over the most common questions/myths.

Hope this helps! Happy to review the protocol you end up putting together for your brother. Please please please take the time to review all of the videos and documents I’ve linked/shared here and in my previous reply, as it will give you a much more solid understanding and confidence in your decisions.

[Bernadette]

@Nathalie Khoury magnesium sprays are usually made from magnesium chloride, and used topically. I usually recommend this type of topical magnesium to help ease cramps/spasms, not so much for sleep. I prefer the oral magnesium glycinate form for that.

However if you want to stick to the topical route, consider magnesium sulfate in the form of Epsom salt in their nightly bath routine. This can really help bring on board more magnesium and help with overall relaxation in the evening.

[Bernadette]

@Annie Sye replied below in a new comment thread