[Bernadette]

@Annie Sye there are many herbs and compounds that can help calm the body before sleep but many of them potentiate the action of those neurotransmitters which you can find listed on the last page of our Adaptogens: Adrenal Rescue handout HERE.

I did some further research on herbs/compounds that could be helpful in those with schizophrenia-like symptoms and as usual, went down a rabbit hole. So allow me to share some interesting research that I came across which you can discuss with your husband:

FOR SLEEP:

First about Xanax use. According to this study, the use of benzodiazepine (especially without antipsychotic meds) is associated with increased mortality risk. It also cautions physicians from prescribing benzodiazepines to schizophrenic patients. It is addictive, and given the high risks, your concerns are spot on.

L-theanine may be a calming compound to consider to help him relax, which has been researched in schizophrenia as a positive adjunct to antipsychotic drug use HERE. It’s naturally found in green tea (hence why green tea isn’t as stimulating despite having caffeine). L-theanine is available as a supplement.

Another sleep aid that has some positive research in those with schizophrenia is melatonin! You can read THIS study (mice) and THIS one (humans) which shows a pro-neurogenic effect. Melatonin is mostly known as our “sleep” hormone, but it’s also a major antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. High doses are successfully being used in those undergoing cancer treatments as well. So something to consider and discuss with his physician.

FOR COGNITION:

You initially asked about something to help with cognitive function. I came across a few interesting studies of things you can consider as well:

Huperzine A is something I usually recommend to my mold afflicted clients, so it was interesting to see it studied in those with schizophrenia HERE. In fact, I’ve had a client once tell me that she feels her brain suddenly “wakes up” upon taking it.

Berberine is another anti-inflammatory compound (which is also antimicrobial) that was studied to have positive effects on cognition HERE. I did come across many studies looking at the Gut-Brain axis, so given berberine’s antimicrobial nature, I’m sure there’s more than one mechanism of action at play in its positive effects on the brain. Berberine can safely be taken for up to a year without negatively affecting the gut microbiome as well. My only worry is that with any antimicrobial, if the body’s elimination pathways aren’t fully open, they might experience a Herx reaction. So it’s a matter of doing things in the right order. For example, if there’s constipation, address that first before doing any kind of cleanse or “killing”.

As discussed previously, removing gluten (and dairy if possible) is an easy way to help reduce inflammation. THIS systematic review discusses several studies which all show improvement by removing gluten from their diets. Definitely worth trying it!!

Finally, THIS STUDY discusses the relationship between inflammation and schizophrenia from various causes such as infections/parasites, toxins/mold, elevated blood sugar, etc. Therefore, anything that can help reduce inflammation should be part of his protocol, including an anti-inflammatory diet that excludes dairy, gluten, and grains for starters. Dr. Amen’s wife, Tana Amen has a great cookbook HERE if your mom needs recipe inspiration. I believe her book is available on Amazon as well.

I also saw several studies on the potential benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids (high in EPA and DHA), as well as optimal vitamin D levels. All foundational health pillars I share about here in B Better. In fact, when I was learning about mold illness, my mentor Dr. Jill Crista always repeats the phrase “the solution to pollution is dilution”. Since mold is lipophilic, drowning the effects out with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is key. Usually anywhere from 3-5g per day for several months!

And a final note about blood testing. If he’s ok with needles but just doesn’t want to leave the house, have you considered looking for a mobile phlebotomist to come to the house under the guise of “just a general check-up”? If you and your mom also get blood drawn (can check your vitamin D for example), would he be more open to it?

Hope the above helps you make more informed choices for your brother.

[Bernadette]

@Annie Sye

If you don’t want to get the brain scan done at this point, then yes, getting the MycoTox, OAT, HTMA/heavy metal tests would provide insights about current toxicity levels and his detoxification ability as a baseline measure. It will not tell us where the source is coming from unfortunately, but can give us clues to help remove potential sources.

We already know mold is present, so if the urine MycoTox test comes back negative but it shows probable on the OAT, that tells us his elimination pathways are blocked and he can’t excrete mycotoxins in urine. But if HTMA metals are high for instance, we can look at diet, lifestyle and environmental sources to try and figure out where he’s being exposed and remove those potential sources. These tests do provide more information that just this, but I wanted to highlight that they do not help identify the sources.

Some people prefer to skip testing altogether and spend their money on taking action. If you already know mold is at play, the results won’t change the course of action, which is to avoid the exposure, support digestion, mitochondrial and antioxidant function and open up his elimination pathways to help his body get rid of toxins (regardless of what they are!). And we have resources to help with that inside the Mold & Mycotoxin Illness course.

But some people have the budget to test, want a baseline measure for re-evaluations, and confirmation they’re on the right track. There’s no right or wrong choice.

If your brother doesn’t mind needles, getting some basic blood chemistry can be helpful too.

Here’s a suggested list (if also getting the OAT) if he’s never had any done:

CBC with differentials

CMP (liver, kidney & electrolytes)

hs-CRP

Iron panel

Blood sugar panel (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c)

Full thyroid panel

Vitamin D

You can find the expanded list of these panels including thyroid as requested, on the last page HERE. For autoimmunity, you can also request the ANA marker – which is just a general marker that indicates whether there is some autoimmune activation going on. You can learn more about that marker HERE.

Your husband may be able to request these markers as a physician, or you can pay out of pocket through a 3rd party lab. Check THIS VIDEO for resources in the US from our Understanding Basic Blood Chemistry course. And here’s a video on best practices to prep for a successful blood draw. As a general rule of thumb and to help remove variables, testing in a 12-hour fasting state, first thing in the morning is generally recommended. Only water is allowed. Don’t be rushed or stressed when going for blood draw as it will impact some values.

I’m happy to hear that your parents will be moving out of the house while renovations are underway. Avoidance is THE most critical step in detoxification. Very happy about that! Please see if you notice signs of improvement after your brother is out of that environment for some time.

Regarding mold inspector/remediators, please watch THIS VIDEO from the Mold & Mycotoxin Illness course for resources on where to find a qualified professional. You can also watch THIS VIDEO for a recommendation on mold consultants who work virtually if none are available locally.

Regarding sleep support, there are so many possible root cause reasons (watch this) that can affect sleep that I created an entire step-by-step Sleep Optimization Program HERE. We always want to start by addressing the basics first like sleep hygiene (read this handout for a short overview). And when those don’t seem to help, I share some rapid relief solutions depending on the circumstances. But the goal of the program is to help identify the root cause and address them, so that sleep support is no longer needed.

In your brother’s case, I would assume (best educated guess) there’s an issue with neurotransmitter balance, so if he’s not on antidepressant/SSRI/SNRI medications, something like 5-HTP, GABA, taurine, and melatonin (separate or a combo of all) might be helpful. I discuss these in more detail inside the program, along with brand recommendations and direct links.

Regarding the Chic-fil-a spicy grilled sandwich, how is your brother’s diet in general? Does he eat a lot of fast food? Or does he eat mostly home cooked food? If you can share a little bit more about his diet, we can provide better guidance. In fact, can you please create a new post about his diet? We can then start a new thread discussing diet and nutrition specifically.

I know I’m throwing a lot of info at you, but please make the time to go through all of these resources I’m sharing. Understanding the why will really help you get others on board if there’s any resistance, and 2) be able to help your brother with more confidence.

I’m deeply touched and impressed by your proactive approach to your brother’s care. We’re here to support you for as long as you need us! ❤️

[Bernadette]

@Yasmin atassi there is a chance that it’s structural/muscular from what you’ve explained about breastfeeding.

Did you deliver naturally or by c-section? If you have any scars, seeing a myofascial release specialist can help.

Have you been to see an osteopath by any chance? They manipulate both the muscle and adjust bones as necessary, unlike physio which only focuses on muscles.

If you live in Dubai, I can make a few recommendations who to go see.

Regarding the points in your reply:

#3. which test are you referring to? Can you please share the results? As you know, “normal” does not always mean optimal from a functional lens.

#6. The words in bold are hyperlinked. Click that to see the symptoms.

#9. You can watch my VPF principle HERE on how to make balanced meals, along with examples of different proteins. I would then encourage you to watch THIS VIDEO for more examples.

Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Bernadette]

@Annie Sye thanks for the additional information. Regarding point #2 – I’m assuming your parents are using a general contractor to rebuild the house while everyone is still living at home? If so, I would strongly recommend they find an alternative house to move into temporarily while finishing the renovations if possible. I know this is hard to hear and may sound extreme, but you absolutely should not be around when mold is exposed as it will travel everywhere if the areas are not properly sealed off and contained. Proper mold remediators will know this and notify families to vacate while they’re remediating, and they’ll come in wearing hazmat suits to protect themselves as well. Is that what’s happening at your parents house at the moment?

You can reach out to Donna Lalwani at Amen Clinic if you need a contact (dlalwani@amenclinic.com). She’s the East coast client outreach manager but she’s very helpful if you need assistance. You can mention my name or B Better, as I’ve personally been there with my son, and have recommended Amen clinics to many clients as well. If you want to see what the process looks like – you can watch my son’s visit HERE.

If your mom can help your brother remove dairy and gluten as a minimum from his diet by removing them from the house, and bringing in alternatives, this in itself may help lift brain fog and inflammation. It did for my son within 2 months of removing them. He mentioned being able to think clearer when I asked him if he feels any difference. I can help offer substitutes if there are certain foods he really loves which contain dairy and gluten to make that transition an easier one.

Regarding your question about insurance companies. The majority do not cover functional tests, however there are a few that do but come with a higher premium which may or may not be worth it. When we first moved to Dubai, we had Cigna International as expats and it covered absolutely everything under the sun. It was fantastic. Bupa international is another one my private clients use and they seem to be able to get reimbursed for functional tests and holistic services. Worth checking with both insurance companies on their different policies and coverage.

Let me know if you have any other questions. And please let me know about the renovations.

[Bernadette]

Hi @Annie Sye thanks for sharing a brief history of your brother’s symptoms. Mentioning mold is not random at all! Mold exposure is not to be taken lightly, and may be a major source of your brother’s psychotic/neurological symptoms, as mold and mycotoxins are lipophilic (meaning they get absorbed in fat), therefore they have an affinity for the brain.

When did your brother’s symptoms begin? As Daniel mentioned, did his symptoms improve if he left the house for an extended period of time? The white scaly spots on his head is a big clue of possible fungal infection, which is also linked to schizophrenia.

If mold was found in the house, has any action been taken to remediate the problem? Please share more about this.

Have you done any conventional blood testing or functional testing you can share with us? A heavy metal test would also be a good idea. Both hair and urine heavy metal tests are available HERE.

You asked about MycoTox urine testing. You can find more info about that test HERE, and the links to order are below the video if you live in the US. And HERE’s the video on OAT urine testing. The links to order are also below the video.

Your profile shows you’re in California. But if you live outside the US, you can email us and we’ll give you access to order these functional tests (support@bbettermembership.com).

In addition, if he was my brother, I would absolutely want to get a SPECT scan of his brain to know exactly what’s at play in his unique case. If you are in fact living in California, I would highly recommend making an appointment at the Amen Clinic to get a thorough assessment and proper diagnosis. That’s really the starting point, otherwise it can be a wild goose chase. Once you know what’s a play, it becomes much easier to put together a plan of action, and zoom in on other tests to get done.

Take a look at their page on schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders: https://www.amenclinics.com/conditions/schizophrenia-and-schizoaffective-disorders/

You’ll notice that they mention leaky gut, infections, environmental toxicities, poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, stress, food sensitivities, poor sleep, too much or too little exercise, etc as contributing factors to autoimmune disease. We have plenty of resources to help you address these diet and lifestyle factors.

What I would recommend is starting with the low hanging fruit that doesn’t cost anything, but can have a big impact.

For example, removing gluten and dairy 100% from his diet for at least 4-6 months, if he’s not already avoiding these already. Gluten increases zonulin which increases the permeability of the gut lining (aka leaky gut). Leaky gut is the first of three 3 main factors in ALL autoimmune diseases. Food sensitivity testing is also available.

Watch THIS video on autoimmune disease. Although this video was focusing on thyroid autoimmunity in our Thyroid Balance course, it is still relevant for all types. We also have this handout written by Dr. Mark Hyman if you prefer to read.

Since autoimmunity is a dysfunction of the immune system, it’s also wise to check your brother’s vitamin D, A, zinc and copper levels (as RBC zinc and copper, not serum) and optimize these if they are suboptimal or deficient (you can share your results here and we’ll guide you).

I’ll leave it here for now, and wait to hear back from you on my questions above. Please take the time to watch/read the links I’ve shared, and let me know if you need any clarification.

[Bernadette]

@Yasmin atassi I have several questions please.

Did the shoulder pain occur randomly without cause, or did you injure it by any chance, or was it overused (e.g. doing overhead weighted exercises that can pinch the shoulder?).

Have you seen a doctor or physical therapist for an assessment? If so, what was there diagnosis?

In addition to structural issues, there can be several other different root cause reasons for joint pain, as listed in this handout in the Symptom Dictionary. To help you figure that out, I’ll need more information from you, so please also answer the following questions about each possible factor:

Gut dysbiosis (imbalance in the normal gut microbes and/or overgrowths). 3) Do you experience any GI symptoms like gas, bloating, loose stools, constipation, irritable bowel, belching, heartburn, indigestion, etc?

Persistent viral infection 4) Do you have recent or previous blood work – a CBC specifically that shows your red and white blood cells (RBC and WBC with differentials – neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils)? If so, please share it.

Food sensitivities, especially dairy, gluten & nightshade vegetables 5) Have you ever tried an elimination diet? If so, which foods did you eliminate and for how long?

Histamine overload due to low DAO enzyme synthesis (B6 is important for this). 6) Do you experience any other symptoms of histamine intolerance?

Low cortisol from chronic stress 7) Would you say chronic stress may be a factor in your case?

Toxicity (heavy metals, mold & mycotoxins, pesticides, etc) 8) Do you believe you’ve been exposed to toxins from the environment? For example, amalgam fillings in the mouth. High fish consumption. Exposure to lead paint, cigarette smoke, mold, non-organic diet. Read this handout and this handout for more common toxic exposures.

Insufficient protein intake and/or low stomach acid (poor digestion & absorption) 9) do you consume enough protein, and specifically animal protein sources? If so, consider doing the baking soda challenge test (as shown at the 3-minute mark HERE). Let us know your results.

Nutrient insufficiencies: B6, B12, vitamin C, omega-3, 6, 9, magnesium 10) Do you consume enough red and orange colored fruits/veggies daily or take vitamin C? Do you consume fish or take Omega supplements? Do you have these signs of magnesium insufficiency or supplement with magnesium?

I’ve numbered my questions to make it easier for you to reply to each one separately. I’ll wait to hear from you.

[Bernadette]

Hi @Ivona nagorzanski – have you seen my Medicine Cabinet Must-Haves guide in Protocols? I share a link to my favorite substitute for antibiotic cream called Active Skin Repair along with my discount code. I purchase the gel and spray. Both come in handy depending on the injury.

It contains HOCL which is made by our white blood cells to promote healing. HOCL is also anti-microbial so it can easily replace antibiotic creams without the consequence of antibiotic resistance.

As for styes, you can take a look at Similasan’s line of homeopathic products for eyes and ears. They have this one for styes in case you ever need it.

[Bernadette]

Hi @Naveed Aslam – have you seen their folate comparison table HERE to help you understand the differences between them? The main difference being that folinic acid is not methylated and better for those who are sensitive to methylated products.

In terms of what dosage to take, that’s something your practitioner should advise you on. If you’re not working with one, I suggest you chat with Seeking Health directly to better understand the benefits of each dosage and their best use instructions.

[Bernadette]

Hi @Ivona nagorzanski yes, unfortunately, transplanted hair may also be susceptible to the effects of stress, illnesses, or nutritional deficiencies, and may fall out again in those types of situations. That’s why if hair transplantation is being considered, it’s essential to manage any underlying factors contributing to hair loss.

[Bernadette]

@Sheetal Ramchandani tagging you in this post thread

[Bernadette]

Hi @Yasmin atassi I can recommend Dr Lilya Chub at Hope Health & Healing. She’s not a pediatrician but she is integrative and does work with a lot of children on the spectrum.

[Bernadette]

@Yasmin atassi I work with clients who are affected by mold and IQ Air has the ability to not only capture spores but also mycotoxins.

I’ve heard of Austin Air but haven’t looked it up to be able to make any recommendations.

[Bernadette]

@Rhondine sorrell OMG you brought me to tears too! How beautiful for you to already see that your darkest struggles and pain will become your beautiful story to inspire others! You’re also so lucky to still have your grand-mother – God bless her!

When is your surgery date? I’ll make sure to create a post and ask for collective prayers from our community.

[Bernadette]

@Lana Zambarakji I would first ask why. Why does this person have a bacterial and yeast overgrowth.

Antibiotics? Environment (i.e. heavy metals, mold exposure, contaminated food/water)? Poor eating hygiene? High stress? Compromised immunity (i.e. low vitamin A, D, zinc levels)? Diet high in sugar/refined carbs? Poor digestive function? Hormonal changes? Lack of beneficial bacteria and yeast / microbiome diversity?

If you can share a little more about this person’s health history and diet, we can guide you a bit better.

Killing bacteria and yeast is easy. Many great herbal options to do that. But if the source isn’t identified and addressed, there’s a chance of recurrence.

You can find “killing” solutions for bacteria HERE and for yeast HERE from the Gut Health Masterclass course.

[Bernadette]

What’s your budget? I usually recommend the IQ Air but it’s very expensive. They have a distributor in Abu Dhabi (contact Hamid 050-319-7530).

You can also checkout Amazing Air which I suspect is the UK version of the Air Doctor.