When your child is struggling with their health, everything changes. The simplest routines turn into uphill battles, mealtimes become stressful, and as a parent, you’re left searching for answers that always seem just out of reach. It’s exhausting, and it can feel incredibly lonely.

This was the reality for Rohaan’s family. At just 11 years old, Rohaan was facing a storm of challenges: severe digestive issues, relentless fatigue, emotional outbursts, and anxiety around food. His energy was gone, his speech was delayed, and his behaviour left both his family and teachers feeling overwhelmed. Every day was a fight to get through the most basic tasks.

But there is a way forward.

When Rohaan’s family reached out, we built a plan that focused on what he needed most. We worked on supporting his gut, restoring his energy, and helping him feel calm and balanced again. It wasn’t an overnight fix, but step by step, things began to shift. His family started to see small but powerful changes: calmer moods, better focus, and mealtimes that no longer felt like battlegrounds.

Today, Rohaan is thriving. His energy is back, his confidence has grown, and life at home feels lighter and more hopeful.

If your days feel like an uphill climb right now, just know that change is possible. With the right support, your child can find their way back to better health and you don’t have to do it alone.

If your child has been struggling and you are desperate to help them thrive once more, we would love to help you. Book your free 15-minute Discovery Call with one of our practitioners today.

Stella Chadwick, BSc (Hons) mBANT CNHC

Founder, Functional Medicine Practitioner & Registered Nutritional Therapist

When Rohaan’s family began working with Stella, the 11-year old’s poor gut health and limited diet were fuelling a vicious circle of physical and behavioural symptoms, including anxiety, emotional outbursts and fatigue.

Over time, Stella guided Rohaan’s family through a programme that transformed Rohaan’s gut health, stabilised adrenal output and bolstered energy production. Today, Rohaan is calmer, more focused, and able to enjoy family activities once again. Read on for the full story of Rohaan's remarkable recovery. 

Hi Stella. Tell me a bit about your patient and the symptoms they first came to you wit.

Rohaan, an 11-year-old boy, came to us with a complex set of challenges. His parents described severe digestive problems, behavioural outbursts, low energy, and OCD tendencies that disrupted family life and school routines. Rohaan also struggled with a significant speech delay, which added to his parents’ concerns. Despite his good appetite, he showed signs of nutrient deficiencies, including food-related anxieties and intense cravings for salty and high-carb snacks. His parents were at their wits’ end, struggling to find answers that would ease his distress and improve his quality of life.

How were these symptoms impacting their lives?

For Rohaan’s family, every day felt like an uphill battle. Mealtimes were fraught with tension due to his cravings and anxieties, and his persistent fatigue meant he couldn’t fully participate in activities or enjoy life. Behavioural outbursts and escalating aggression created ongoing struggles with his school, which resorted to using a ‘safe room’ to manage his meltdowns. The lack of progress in his speech development further compounded their stress.

What were your initial steps in helping them?

The first priority was stabilising Rohaan’s adrenal system, as his chronic stress was draining his energy and compounding his symptoms. We introduced Adrenal Cocktail and Adrenal Cortex supplements to improve his resilience and help regulate his mood and energy levels.

At the same time, we refined Rohaan’s diet to be gluten- and casein-free, low in oxalates, and rich in nutrient-dense foods to reduce inflammation and support his overall health. These initial steps created a noticeable shift within weeks - Rohaan’s energy levels stabilised, his behaviour became calmer, and his parents felt they had a foundation to build upon.

However, further testing revealed that despite the dietary improvements, Rohaan wasn’t properly absorbing nutrients. His amino acid levels were strikingly low, and his digestive system wasn’t functioning optimally. We introduced Betaine HCL to support protein digestion and nutrient absorption, addressing this critical gap.

What lab tests did you do? What did the tests reveal and how did that shape your therapeutic approach?

Several tests provided key insights into Rohaan’s underlying issues:

• GI Effects stool test: Revealed significant gut dysbiosis, including inflammatory bacteria and poor digestive health.

• Organic acid (OAT) test: Highlighted low amino acids and glutathione, indicating poor nutrient absorption and detoxification.

• Hair mineral analysis: Showed imbalances in sodium, potassium, and copper, pointing to adrenal stress and inadequate nutrient utilisation.

• Blood work: Confirmed low iron, low transferrin saturation, and elevated copper levels, which contributed to his fatigue and emotional volatility.

These findings guided a comprehensive plan to address Rohaan’s digestion, reduce inflammation, and restore balance to his body.

What has been the biggest ‘breakthrough’ moment on Rohaan’s journey?

The first breakthrough occurred early in the process. Stabilising Rohaan’s adrenal system brought immediate improvements in his energy levels and emotional regulation. His parents noticed he was calmer and more focused, which reduced stress for the entire family.

The second breakthrough came after addressing his digestive health. Introducing Betaine HCL and Micro-immunotherapy transformed Rohaan’s ability to absorb nutrients and significantly reduced systemic inflammation. His cravings disappeared, his behaviour stabilised, and his overall well-being improved dramatically.

How is Rohaan doing now? What will you focus on next?

Rohaan is now thriving. His energy levels are steady, his OCD tendencies are far less noticeable, and behavioural outbursts are rare. Mealtimes are calm, and he’s able to engage in activities with more focus and enthusiasm.

With the foundations now in place, the next focus will be to further support his microbiome and gut integrity through our highly effective Weed and Feed Protocol. This involves carefully addressing imbalances in the gut by reducing harmful bacteria and supporting the growth of beneficial microbes, which can have a powerful impact on the nervous system and cognition. We anticipate this will significantly support Rohaan’s speech development. Alongside this, we’ll increase his speech-supportive supplements and provide targeted mitochondrial support to sustain his energy and cognitive function.

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.

Adrenal Cocktail by Jigsaw Health

Energy crashes, mood swings and salt cravings may all be signs of a body crying out for adrenal support. Adrenal Cocktail by Jigsaw Health may be just the ticket. This supplement combines sodium and potassium in a carefully balanced ratio with whole-food vitamin C to help restore and maintain adrenal function.

Health benefits of Adrenal Cocktail

⚡ Supports adrenal function: Electrolytes sodium and potassium work together to regulate adrenal activity, helping the body manage stress more effectively.

💧 Replenishes essential minerals: Adrenal depletion can lead to imbalances in key electrolytes. This supplement helps restore optimal levels for sustained energy.

🩸 Balances hormone levels: Helps to maintain a healthy balance of critical hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands.

🛡️ Supports immune health: Healthy adrenal function plays a key role in immune resilience. Adrenal Cocktail provides essential nutrients to keep your child’s immune system strong.

Key Features

✔️ Comprehensive adrenal support: Carefully formulated to nourish and replenish stressed adrenals.

✔️ Easy on the stomach: Designed to be gentle on the digestive system, meaning it is well-tolerated even by sensitive individuals.

✔️ Refreshing taste: A naturally pleasant flavour and it mixes well with water, making it simple to take.

Enjoy a 10% discount on Adrenal Cocktail  using the code Brainstorm10

Please consult your practitioner or medical professional before adding any new supplement to your plan

Food of the week: Root vegetables

Root vegetables are nature’s powerhouse - packed with essential nutrients, comforting flavours, and hearty textures that make them a staple in nourishing winter meals. Whether roasted, mashed, or blended into soups, these earthy gems bring warmth, depth and versatility to your cooking.

From carrots and parsnips to sweet potatoes and beetroot, root vegetables are loaded with fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants. As an alternative to white carbs like potatoes and pasta, they provide a slow-release source of energy, helping to keep blood sugar levels stable while supporting digestion and gut health. Their natural sweetness makes them ideal nutrient-dense foods for picky eaters, and they are a budget-friendly choice for bulking out family meals.

Why root vegetables?

🥕 High in fibre, promoting gut health and bowel motility 💩

🥔 Rich in complex carbohydrates, providing steady, long-lasting energy ⚡

🧄 Packed with antioxidants, supporting immune health and reducing inflammation 🛡️

🌰 Versatile and budget-friendly, perfect for soups, stews, roasts, and more 🍲

With their delicious flavours, impressive nutrient profile and endless versatility, root vegetables are a go-to in any kitchen -bringing satisfying nourishment to any meal.

Please only introduce new foods or supplements under the guidance of your healthcare practitioner and remember dose is important! We always recommend that people start with a very small dose and work up. Supplements are not meant to be used long term. These are general recommendations only and not intended to diagnose or treat any health issues. If you are already a patient of ours, feel free to ask your practitioner if these are suitable and don’t forget to use the discount codes listed below.

Meet our practitioners
We are a unique clinic in that each of our practitioners is a parent. Many of us have a child with special needs, and we all have different passions and expertise. Please head to our website to meet Jo, Sarah, Haley, Mémé, Emma and Carolyn, and get in touch if you'd like to know how to work with us. 

Appointments
If you’d like to become a new patient, please follow this link to our New Patient enquiry page and follow the directions.

Existing patients can book follow-up appointments with their practitioners using this link. Please note Discovery Calls on this page are only for people we have not seen yet and not for existing patients.

Buying supplements from our trusted suppliers

We recommend our patients buy supplements from the below suppliers. Note any supplement mentioned in the above article is for educational purposes only. You should only try new supplements with your child with the approval of your healthcare practitioner. If you have already gotten approval, please feel free to make use of the exclusive Brainstorm Health® discount codes we have negotiated with our suppliers. Some suppliers support Brainstorm Health® with a small commission which we reinvest into creating quality content like this newsletter to give as much free support to our community as possible.

The Natural Dispensary
Discount Code: SMC010

Amrita
Discount Code: L8FQQL

Your Health Basket
Discount Code: Brainstorm10