8-year-old Emma was struggling with debilitating eczema, disrupted sleep and extremely poor focus and concentration when her family first started working with Kirsty. She was stuck in a vicious circle of poor sleep, leading to fatigue, and then even less capacity to focus at school. Her parents were unsure how to break this cycle, but Kirsty quickly helped them discover the root causes of her symptoms, and expertly guided them through a protocol that brought Emma back into balance and completely resolved her skin issues, without the need for medication.
Hi Kirsty, tell me a bit about your patient and the symptoms they first came to you with
Emma was coming up to eight years old at her first consultation. She had diagnoses of ADHD and dyslexia and was in the process of an autism assessment. The symptoms that her parents were most anxious to address were a lack of focus and concentration, poor sleep, severe eczema and undiagnosed symptoms of Reynaud’s syndrome (poor circulation, numbness and cold in the body’s extremities).
How were these symptoms impacting Emma’s life?
Emma would get hyper-focussed on tasks or subjects that interested her, but struggled to focus on other things and would regularly move away from less interesting tasks. She was often anxious, irritable, and could anger easily.
Her sleep was progressively getting worse; she often took many hours to fall asleep and would say, "I can't turn my brain off". The lack of sleep further impacted her ability to focus and engage at school.
Her eczema had got to the worst it had been since she started school. The pain and discomfort that this caused also impacted her mood and focus, and she was having to use increasingly stronger prescribed steroid creams which weren’t working. Emma had little appetite which was impacting her energy levels and her appearance - she often looked pale and unwell.
What were your initial steps in helping Emma?
We introduced some dietary changes - removing dairy and high-glutamate foods initially. Dairy is a common inflammatory trigger and often a major driver of eczema. I also recommended Epsom salts baths to support relaxation and detoxification.
We also supported Emma with multiple forms of magnesium - an oral supplement, as well as Sweet Sleep Magnesium Butter by Sweet Bee Organics which is massaged into the skin, and Megamag for Kids and Teens by Nutri Advanced. Finally I added an omega-3 supplement to help calm inflammation and support cognitive function.
What lab tests did you do? What did the tests reveal?
Emma’s stool test revealed evidence of low digestive function, and inflammation in the bowel with raised levels of secretory IgA, which is indicative of an upregulated immune response in the gastrointestinal tract. There was also evidence of compromised intestinal barrier function and imbalance in the gut microbiome with overgrowth of some bacterial species.
A urine organic acid test revealed some increased nutrient needs, further evidence of intestinal malabsorption and dysbiosis, an indication of candida overgrowth, some markers of high toxicity and poor detoxification, and significant oxidative stress.
A hair mineral analysis showed us that Emma has elevated levels of some heavy metals, and indicated a likelihood of sugar sensitivity and blood sugar imbalance, potential thyroid issues and low adrenal function.
Emma’s food sensitivity test revealed elevated antibodies to casein (a protein found in milk and other dairy products) - further evidence that dairy products were driving that inflammatory response in the gut.
We also ran a couple of Nutrigenomics reports. These highlighted genetic variations implicated in sleep quality, hormone metabolism, cardiovascular health (a contributory factor in the Reynaud’s presentation) and neurotransmitter metabolism which can impact mood regulation and cognitive function.
How long did it take before seeing positive changes to symptoms?
Our first follow-up appointment was delayed due to the summer holidays, the family moving house and Emma starting a new school. However, with all these big changes, Emma coped very well and the improvements were very encouraging. Her sleep was still erratic but very much improved. Her skin had completely cleared up (see before and after photos above).
How long have you been working together now?
Eight months.
What has been the biggest ‘breakthrough’ moment on Emma’s journey?
Dietary change and Epsom salts baths have made the biggest difference to Emma's skin.
How Is Emma doing now? What will you focus on next if you continue working together?
Emma is doing very well and still seeing positive changes. She is now falling asleep within about 15 minutes of going to bed instead of several hours. Her extended family and her teachers have noticed the difference in her. Her class teacher recently commented that she had been “really sparky” (in a good way!) in class. Emma's parents are now keen to explore how nutritional therapy can support them as well!
Always consult a qualified practitioner before introducing new supplements. Book your free discovery call today to discuss how we can help your child achieve optimal health.
Please note that we do not diagnose or treat illnesses
at Brainstorm Health, but we can help you advocate for the right medical
diagnosis from qualified doctors if necessary.
|