Brainstorm Health practitioner Coriander has been working with Samuel’s* family for 18 months. Little Samuel was non-verbal, hyperactive and disengaged at the beginning of their journey. Coriander and Samuel’s Mum have turned him around, helping him to develop into a calm, happy, healthy little boy who can engage in work and play with joy and patience.
Hi Coriander. Tell me a bit about your patient and the symptoms they first came to you with
Samuel is now six years old. I started working with him when he was four-and-a-half. He had an ASD diagnosis. He was completely non-verbal with developmental delays and his understanding was very poor. He was hyperactive, flapped his hands a lot and had no focus at all with toys or books, and he did not interact with other children. Samuel had poor gross and fine motor skills and was quite clumsy. He had dark circles under his eyes and ground his teeth. His parents had already tried a lot. He was taking 15+ supplements when he first came to see me. He had a good, traditional, homecooked diet with no junk food and had already been casein-, gluten- and sugar-free for several months.
How were Samuel’s symptoms impacting his life?
His parents were struggling and were very worried about Samuel. Doctors that they had consulted with could offer little to support him. Engaging him or getting him to focus on anything was almost impossible.
What were your initial steps in helping him?
We started with Brainstorm Health’s ‘30-day Body Reset’ and added organ meats into his diet. I recommended regular castor oil packs and Epsom salts baths to support detoxification and liver and digestive function. We swapped some supplements he was already taking. For example, we replaced a fish-based omega supplement with an algae-based one, as I suspected histamine intolerance issues. We also included some homoeopathic remedies for drainage and neurological pathways, essential minerals and a binder to mop toxins.
What lab tests did you do? What did the tests reveal, and how did that shape your therapeutic approach?
We carried out a stool test, urine organic acid test, hair mineral analysis, food intolerance test and a stool histamine test. We also tested for folate receptor antibodies (FRAT), as I suspected folate metabolism issues, and later we carried out a mycotoxin test to measure mould toxicity. The FRAT test was positive, detecting antibodies that block cellular folate-binding receptors. Because of this finding, I referred Samuel to a neurologist we work closely with. The other tests revealed a microbial imbalance in the gut, poor digestive function, parasites, poor cellular energy production, a high toxic load, including heavy metals, poor adrenal function, and intolerances to dairy and eggs.
We removed eggs from Samuel’s diet and added digestive enzymes and herbal supplements to support the detoxification pathways. I also recommended that the family use essential oil burners around the house to reduce exposure to mould toxins.
How long did it take before seeing positive changes in symptoms?
Samuel’s focus improved a little after the first month, and we continued to see good improvements at each follow-up. Every other symptom resolved completely, except speech, which we are still working hard on. There have been huge improvements in his focus and understanding. He now helps Mum around the house and with the grocery shopping. He is really engaged and aware of his surroundings, and the flapping has gone completely.
How long have you been working together now?
Since November 2021.
What has been the biggest ‘breakthrough’ moment on Samuel’s journey?
Samuel’s Mum has been amazing. She has continued to make improvements to his diet to ensure that his meals are as nutrient-rich as possible, including adding raw liver to smoothies daily. Thanks to her commitment, they have had some amazing breakthroughs. Samuel’s anxiety about everyday things has gone away. Now he can walk along busy streets and get on trains with no trouble. He plays really well with lots of focus and engagement and will sit down to eat at the table at mealtimes. He is also really happy and excited to go to school now in the mornings, and when Mum takes him trampolining and swimming, he pays attention to the teacher and happily takes turns, which is massive progress.
How is Samuel doing now? What will you focus on next if you continue working together?
Samuel continues to do extremely well. We are aiming for some speech development now. We are trialling some Microimmunotherapy formulations to help support speech and cognitive function. We are also adding even more nutrient-rich foods to Samuel’s diet, like bone marrow and kidneys, as well as food-derived supplements like bee pollen and wild-caught fish eggs that support brain and nervous system function and overall well-being.
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*Names have been changed to protect the patient's identity
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