[Bernadette]

 sounds good – I’m here to support when you need it.

[Bernadette]

 Bingo – glad to see you’re on the right track. Let me know if you need help getting access to a functional stool test or H Pylori only stool test. I was hoping to have the web shop setup by now, but the lab is still working on things. I want you all to be able to access and order your own functional tests. It’s in the works… for now, let me know if I can assist.

And when you order the thyroid panel, make sure it’s complete:
TSH, Total T4, Total T3, Free T4, Free T3, reverse T3, anti-TPO, anti-TG

[Bernadette]

Hi Jenna – irregular periods are normal in the first year or two once a young woman starts her cycle as it can take some time for the communication between the ovaries and the brain to mature. 

These are the signs of hormonal imbalances to watch out for if her period doesn’t regulate in a year or two:
• Periods that last longer than a week
• Cycles longer than 45 days or shorter than 21 days (however, irregular periods are expected during the first few years once a young woman starts her cycle)
• Bleeding that is so heavy, it requires a pad or tampon change every couple of hours
• Severe cramping 
• Unexplained weight gain
• Hair growth on the chin or abdomen
• Hair loss (on the head)
• Extreme fatigue
• Acne
• Extreme mood swings

These symptoms can be signs of estrogen excess, endometriosis, thyroid dysfunction, cortisol imbalance, and PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). 

In the meantime, you can support her the same way we support ourselves as adults; seed cycling, a nutrient-dense diet with cruciferous veggies to help with hormone detox, 1-3 daily bowel movements (type 3-4), and sleep hygiene (critical for hormone balance!).

Hope this helps!

[Bernadette]

Hi Lana – I’m not sure if you’ve had time to watch the Gut Health Masterclass yet, but I teach a North to South approach when addressing digestive health & dysfunctions. So before jumping into probiotics, start North with the brain first.

So first make sure she’s actually seated, eating slowing, mindfully (not in front of TV or iPad, etc) and chewing her food well. Very important and very powerful. Also, no liquids with meals (or minimum 1 cup of water).

If eating hygiene is proper, then consider supporting her with digestive bitters (I like Quicksilver’s Dr. Shade’s Bitters No. 9) or bitter greens with meals, which can signal the brain to release digestive juices.

I would also do a food elimination challenge followed by a reintroduction, as food sensitivities can also contribute to gas. Dairy and gluten are often the culprits so I would start there.

In terms of probiotics, I always recommend a food-first approach unless there’s histamine intolerance (allergies, itchy skin, watery eyes/nose, etc). Start slow and increase the amount over time. For kids, kefir is the easiest to introduce as it can be added in smoothies instead of regular milk. Coconut milk can be used instead if she’s dairy sensitive. I also share many other fermented food recipes in the resources section of your library. 

If you still prefer a supplement, then I would go with a broad-spectrum probiotic like Klaire Labs Therbiotic Complete in the evenings for example.

If none of the above suggestions help, then it might be worth investing in a comprehensive stool test like the GI Map (I also discuss this in the Gut Health Masterclass) to get a better picture of what specific support she might need.

Gas can also be a sign of gut dysbiosis or overgrowths, so a cleanse might be warranted, but I always like to address all of the above first, as the body/immune system can “auto-correct” when given the right support from a North to South approach. 

Hope this helps.

[Bernadette]

 don’t feel shy to ask your questions. Happy to help!

[Bernadette]

Hi  – as mentioned in the Gut Health Masterclass, iron is absorbed thanks to having good strong stomach acid in the stomach, which allows it to be better absorbed in the duodenum (first part of the small intestine). Given that your daughter has IBD, this will further compromise absorption (iron is already difficult to absorb), therefore your focus should be on supporting absorption with sufficient gut healing therapies (and removing any offenders contributing to inflammation like food sensitivities, gut overgrowths, etc), in addition to ensuring she has optimal stomach acid production. I share all of these in detail in the Gut Health Masterclass if you haven’t already watched it.

As for iron-rich foods, I would highly recommend you try introducing organic liver into their diets. You can make a buttery liver pate (I will make a note to add the recipe in Resources for you), hide it in beef/hamburgers in a ratio of 3:1 ground beef to liver, or dice them small and freeze them so they can swallow them like supplements with meals.

Also, have you read the book “Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet” by Elaine Gottschall? It’s a great starting point for dietary guidance for those with Chrohn’s, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, and chronic diarrhea. 

Hope this helps give you some better guidance and direction on how to handle the low iron levels.

[Bernadette]

Hi – so glad you’re here with us too! Ok, there’s a lot to unpack here as there can be many possible contributing factors, but I will do my best to offer some guidance and clarifying questions to hopefully give you some direction.

Dark circles under the eyes could point to food sensitivities/allergies (here is the handout in Resources, especially since you’ve struggle with that symptom since childhood. Have you tried an elimination diet before? Dairy and gluten are very often culprit foods so you can look at the dairy and gluten elimination handouts for more details on all the types to remove initially.

Dark circles could also point to issues with liver detoxification or kidney dysfunction. Have you seen a doctor to run some tests?

There is a possibility that your thyroid medication may be contributing to your loose stools. TSH alone is not enough to indicate whether or not there is optimal thyroid function. If your stools are more loose, your medication may need to be adjusted. Loose stool however, could also be due to dysbiosis or some form of gut overgrowth. The Gut Health Masterclass will help troubleshoot with this, if that’s a contributing factor.

You mention not feeling good. What symptoms are you referring to exactly?

[Bernadette]

 I have not seen a direct connection between mold and amenorrhea, however that’s not to say that there isn’t a secondary link. Mold can disrupt our gut microbiome balance which can impair serotonin synthesis. Serotonin, as you may be aware, is a neurotransmitter that can affect the brain and hormone cascade. And we know that serotonin plays a stimulatory role in the brain for the synthesis of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH), which makes our sex hormones.

From a nutrient perspective, serotonin is also made from a series of conversions beginning with tryptophan, an amino acid protein. You did not mention your type of diet, but does it include enough animal protein? Are you digesting and absorbing your protein with enough stomach acid? Gut health masterclass will help you troubleshoot this.

The conversion from tryptophan to serotonin also needs nutrients: iron, B vitamins (especially B6), copper, magnesium. Again, are you eating a diet that provides these nutrients? Are they optimal?

So to summarize, dysbiosis (from mold or other causes) & nutrient deficiencies can impair serotonin production, which can affect the brain-hormone cascade. Also, you mentioned that your face gets red and itchy at times. This sounds like a histamine reaction and gut dysbiosis can affect the DAO enzyme needed to break down extracellular histamine. Again, we need a good amount of B vitamins to break down histamine. 

A trial with 50mg of 5-HTP (with B6) support twice daily to begin (morning and afternoon) would be an interesting test to see if it helps. Of course, please speak with your practitioner as 5-HTP is contraindicated in those who are taking antidepressants or other medications that might directly affect serotonin synthesis or uptake.

Hope this helps!

[Bernadette]

Great tip Mishaa. It’s absolutely fine to do this if there’s no kidney disease.

[Bernadette]

Hi Dara, can you please provide a little more history so I can better guide you as fatigue can have many possible root causes. 

When did your symptom start? 
Do you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet? 
Are you taking an acid suppressing medication or diabetes medication like Metformin? 
What are your stress levels like (rate them 0-10)? 
When did you start the injections? What’s the dosage being given? 
Did you develop anxiety since taking them? 
Do you have any amalgam fillings in your mouth? 
If you have any labs, what is your MCV and MCH level on a CBC (complete blood count).
Did anyone measure MMA (methylmalonic acid) level for you along with B12? What was your serum B12 level, along with iron and ferritin?

Let’s start with these…

[Bernadette]

Hi  – yes, indeed ashwagandha is best known for its anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and stress-relieving effects thanks to its effect on the HPA axis and ability to reduce cortisol and improve sleep. 

Studies on ashwagandha have used dosages of 250–600 mg/day of a root extract. The most common dosing protocol is 600 mg/day divided into two doses, with one taken in the morning with breakfast and the other in the evening.

Regarding its use with autoimmunity, ashwagandha has been found to have both immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory action, so it really depends on the individual and the state of their autoimmune dynamic. If there is concern over immunostimulatory effects, then L-Theanine, taurine, and other calming compounds and herbs like valerian, passionflower, lavender are other options to consider to help reduce anxiety.

Hope this helps.

References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32021735/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34858513/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31517876/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27055824/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23439798/

[Bernadette]

Hi Claire – I actually have a handout about varicose veins in the Symptom Dictionary. You can take a look at it here. Hope it helps guide you better.

And you’re correct, liver congestion can be at play as a possible contributing factor.

[Bernadette]

Hi Patti – so fibroids (either uterine or breast) are usually due to estrogen dominance, which is a result of 1 or all 3 of these scenarios:
1.  Exposure to xenoestrogens – outside sources of estrogen from environmental chemicals like phthalates, glyphosate, triclosan, parabens, etc which have estrogenic effect in the body. You can share this post of mine on social media. You can also share this handout on toxin avoidance in the Resources.
2. Lower progesterone to estrogen ratio. Is she peri-menopausal? Is there a PCOS dynamic that can lead to anovulation and therefore no progesterone production? Possible insulin resistance?
3. Lack of hormone clearance. Once we make and use hormones, we need to clear them from the body. Being on birth control depletes B vitamins which are needed for phase 1 detox. Is she constipated and not flushing toxins and spent hormones in stool? Is there gut microbial overgrowths perhaps causing a re-circulation of spent hormones? Is there liver-biliary tract congestion? She’d likely benefit from the Gut Health Masterclass if you’d like to recommend she joins.

For rapid relief, black cohosh is usually helpful for uterine fibroids. If she has fibrocystic breasts, literature has shown that 3mg iodine/day can reverse the condition but keep in mind that it’s contraindicated for Hashimotos or thyroid disease. 

Hope this helps give her some direction and better guidance.

[Bernadette]

 any amount of grounding is beneficial. Our ancestors used to ground all day so the more the merrier. If you can get in an hour per day, that would be ideal. It’s ok to split it up into shorter bouts throughout the day. But even getting in a few minutes if that’s all the time you have, is still worth it. Any amount of grounding is better than none at all.

[Bernadette]

 – yes, there are many different grounding products available (https://www.earthing.com/) BUT… make an effort to remove as much dirty electricity and EMF exposures around you when using them. I have in mind to bring in Bryan Hoyer as one of the guest experts to speak more to us about this topic. He’s a fellow nutritionist and geo-biologist / EMF expert. I took his course (hosted with Nick Pineault known as the “EMF Guy”) and it was so eye opening.

You may also be interested in this article/post I wrote about grounding surfaces in case you don’t have access to grass or sand: http://bernadetteabrahamblog.com/are-you-vitamin-g-deficient/