Brainstorm Health founder Stella has worked with three-and-a-half-year-old Ibrahim for over a year. As a toddler, Ibrahim was non-verbal and had debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms. He also struggled with poor focus and concentration and was frequently ill. Under Stella's care, his gut symptoms improved greatly, and his language and engagement came on leaps and bounds.
Here, Stella shares with us the steps in Ibrahim's inspirational journey.
Hi Stella. Tell me a bit about your patient and the symptoms they first came to you with
Ibrahim* came to us when he was two-and-a-half years old. At that time, he did not have an official autism diagnosis, but he was non-verbal and had a lot of gut issues with alternating constipation and diarrhoea.
Although he had started babbling at around seven months, his speech had not developed any further. Around 12 months of age, he developed persistent diarrhoea, which did not resolve fully.
Ibrahim found it difficult to focus. He seemed easily bored and distracted. He would stare into space a lot, chewed on non-food items and ground his teeth.
How were these symptoms impacting his life?
Ibrahim had difficulty concentrating on activities, and occasionally, he would run around in circles. He found it hard to relax. His digestive issues, fussy eating, and very low protein intake meant he was depleted of many nutrients. He was susceptible to illness and regularly suffered from congestion, a runny nose and chest infections.
What were your initial steps in helping him?
The first step was to increase his protein intake. Initially, we focussed on breakfast only so as not to overwhelm him with drastic dietary changes. We also started him on Epsom salts baths which are wonderful for relaxation and supporting the body’s detoxification pathways. I gave him Colibiogen, a supplement that supports the gut lining to help with what seemed like gut inflammation and IBS-type symptoms. I also started him on a course of Micro-immunotherapy aimed at calming the inflammatory response.
What lab tests did you do? What did the tests reveal, and how did that shape your therapeutic approach?
I ordered a stool analysis to examine digestive health and function, a urine organic acid test to identify metabolic and nutritional imbalances, and a food sensitivity test. I did a hair mineral analysis a bit later on to look at levels of toxicity as well as essential minerals.
The stool test confirmed gut inflammation, as I already suspected from his presenting symptoms. It also showed poor fat absorption and overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria and parasites.
The urine test revealed markers of gut microbiome imbalance, backing up the stool test findings. It also flagged folate absorption and/or metabolism issues, depleted levels of several B vitamins and amino acids, evidence of significant oxidative stress, and potential gut permeability.
The food sensitivity test did not reveal an elevated immune response to any foods, but Ibrahim was already following a dairy-free diet at the time of taking the test, so it is possible that antibodies to dairy were not detected for this reason.
Despite the food sensitivity test results, I advised Ibrahim to continue to follow a dairy-free diet. I suspected cerebral folate deficiency (CFD) from Ibrahim’s organic acid test results. I recommended a folate receptor antibody test to investigate this further. Children who have this disorder should avoid consuming dairy products.
We continued with Colibiogen and Micro-immunotherapy. We also layered in gut support: ‘gut butter’ (our recipe that helps build an optimal environment for beneficial gut bacteria to thrive), herbal antimicrobials to target pathogenic organisms, and digestive enzymes to improve the breakdown and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins. Finally, we put in a liver-supporting herbal formula by Beyond Balance and gave a multi-mineral supplement to boost levels of depleted micro-nutrients.
How long did it take before seeing positive changes in symptoms?
Ibrahim’s next follow-up consultation was three months later. His Mum reported that his speech was improving. He had 100 words now and was consistently using them. His pace of learning had increased, and his Speech and Language Therapist was very happy with his progress. He was engaging more and wanted to play with other children at home and the nursery. His concentration had improved. He was seeking communication and trying to make people laugh. All of this was wonderful to see.
In terms of gut health, from only passing a stool once every few days, he had a bowel movement five days a week, although his stools were sometimes loose.
Ibrahim was still following a dairy-free diet, but his Mum struggled to cut gluten from his diet completely.
How long have you been working together now?
We have been working together for just over a year.
What has been the biggest ‘breakthrough’ moment on Ibrahim’s journey?
Within three months of working together, after introducing the Colibiogen and Micro-immunotherapy, Ibrahim’s receptive language greatly improved, as had his focus and sense of presence. After those first steps, his language took off, and he now speaks in complete sentences. We have added more Micro-immunotherapy formulations and Bacopa to his protocol, which have helped greatly.
What will you focus on next if you continue working together?
We are now trialling some different Microimmunotherapy formulations with Ibrahim to see how he responds. We have also introduced a phospholipid supplement which is targeted towards supporting cell membrane function and can benefit cognitive function. The plan is to work on using peptide bioregulators, a therapy which stimulates protein synthesis, enhancing the activity and function of certain glands and organs. It is early days, but we are getting excellent results with this therapy in all areas, including anxiety, speech, bowel function, focus and more. Watch this space!
*The patient's name has been changed in this report to protect their privacy.
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.
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