“My brain used to be shut off and now it's working. 

I can think better.”

When a five-year-old says these magical words, it’s a moment that stays with you.

These words came from Ziggy, a remarkable little boy who, just eight months ago, was facing surgery after years of recurring infections. His parents had also watched him struggle with developmental delays, anxiety, and difficulty focusing. Today, Ziggy is a different child. He’s been named 'Star of the Week' three times for his phonics progress, and his school no longer believes he needs an EHCP.

In this week’s newsletter, we’re sharing Ziggy’s story—a powerful example of resilience, the fierce love of his incredible mum, and the dedicated support of our practitioner, Jo. The journey wasn’t easy, but with patience, love, and the right guidance, a transformation like this is possible.

“We've had many hurdles but we carry on, and the progress we continue to see makes us so happy. I can't thank you enough for all of your support and motivation to help Ziggy.” - Ziggy’s Mum

If your child is at the beginning of their journey back to health, please don’t struggle alone. Book your free 15-minute Discovery Call with one of our practitioners today to discuss how our approach could help your family.

Stella Chadwick, BSc (Hons) mBANT CNHC

Founder, Functional Medicine Practitioner & Registered Nutritional Therapist

At just five years old, Ziggy had been battling with recurrent infections from early infancy. Multiple rounds of antibiotics had taken a toll on his gut and immune health and he was facing surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids. In addition, Ziggy had developmental and neurological challenges, with diagnoses of global developmental delay (GDD), autism and ADHD, as well as hypermobility and dyspraxia.

After working with Brainstorm Health practitioner Jo for the past eight months, Ziggy’s progress has been nothing short of remarkable. He is in robust physical health and has made huge cognitive gains as well.

Read on for Ziggy’s amazing story of recovery.

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

Ziggy is five years old. He has a diagnosis of autism and global development delay (GDD), along with suspected dyspraxia and ADHD. He faced challenges including delayed speech development and difficulty focusing, as well as joint hypermobility and fatigue.

He had several signs of immune dysregulation, including constant colds, recurrent ear infections since infancy, and a lingering cough after contracting Covid. He also had a visible white coating on his tongue and under-eye circles. Ziggy was under the care of an ENT specialist and had had multiple rounds of antibiotics throughout his life.

He also had a history of eczema, atopy and bloating, all of which had improved after switching to a gluten and dairy-free diet.

Ziggy’s play was very abstract, and he had no interest in creative activities or holding a pencil, although he was coping well socially at school.

How were these symptoms impacting Ziggy’s life?

The frequent infections that Ziggy was battling often interrupted his schooling, and he had to cope with a lot of medical appointments and interventions from a very young age.

School could be a challenge for him as he struggled with concentration, attention and following instructions. Transitions between classes and understanding routines were also difficult for him.

What were your initial steps in helping Ziggy?

Ziggy’s Mum had already worked hard to improve his diet, and he was strictly gluten- and dairy-free. We focussed on balancing blood sugar by incorporating protein and healthy fats into meals and snacks. I also recommended that Ziggy follow a low-histamine diet as he showed many signs of poor histamine metabolism.

We added in foods to support bowel motility, as although Ziggy was passing stools daily, they were often dry and cracked. Supplements we added initially included magnesium and a Micro-immunotherapy formulation to support adrenal function, as well as PEA (a natural anti-inflammatory) and a food-state vitamin C supplement to support immune function.

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

Because of Ziggy’s health challenges, it wasn’t easy to complete all the recommended lab tests. But his hair mineral analysis did show depleted nutrients, pointing to issues with methylation, adrenal stress, and poor blood sugar regulation.

Progress didn’t come overnight. Ziggy’s story is a perfect reminder that healing takes time and patience. Our first follow-up was delayed because Ziggy had a few setbacks—rashes, joint pain (transient synovitis), and infections. He’d been on more antibiotics for a tonsil infection and was struggling with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and suspected reflux. His medical team also found a tongue tie, Grade 3 enlarged tonsils, moderate adenoid enlargement, and glue ear.

On top of that, he was losing weight, feeling dizzy, having headaches, and his anxiety at school had increased.

Changing his diet was tricky because of his swallowing issues, but we managed to introduce anti-inflammatory foods, like Siberian pine nut oil and meat broths, to help heal his mucous membranes. I also added a digestive support blend to ease the reflux and swallowing problems.

Blood tests showed his iron metabolism wasn’t great, so we brought in a multi-mineral and a beef-organ-derived blood vitality supplement, which often works better for kids than synthetic iron supplements.

How long did it take before seeing positive changes to symptoms?

By the next follow up, Ziggy had made remarkable progress both in his physical health and cognitive function.

Tonsil swelling had reduced, and ear pain was resolved.

Dysphagia had reduced but was still triggered by high-histamine foods. He was eating better and was more focused at meal times.

Under-eye circles and tongue coating were less apparent, dizziness and headaches had resolved, and his joints only hurt after exercise.

Ziggy’s Mum reported improvements in clarity and complexity of speech, memory, focus, mood, energy, and imaginative, creative play. Ziggy was spending extended periods drawing and playing with Pay Doh, which he had never done before; he was making new friends and playing with other children. He was more affectionate with his family, and his emotional outbursts had reduced.

In Ziggy’s own words, “My brain used to be shut off, and now it's working. I can think better.”

This was just so wonderful to hear!

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

The introduction of Microimmunotherapy was a game changer for Ziggy. The work we had done leading up to that point was vitally important too, but he responded so well and so quickly to the initial MIT. Later on, severity of infections lessened and recovery from illness was faster after MIT.

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

He’s really thriving now, and his latest school assessment showed that he no longer needs an EHCP! His mum recently shared some photos of his handwriting, which is coming along beautifully. He’s also making great strides in swimming and martial arts.

At his last medical review, his paediatrician was thrilled to report that his ears, nose, and throat are healing beautifully—almost perfect, which is pretty amazing considering surgery was on the table just a few months ago.

Most of his physical symptoms have either completely resolved or improved significantly.

Now, we’re focusing on optimizing his gut health based on his recent lab results.

I absolutely love working with Ziggy and his family, and it’s been such a joy to see these fantastic results for them all.

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.

Food of the week: Corn on the Cob

Freshly picked corn-on-the-cob, simply cooked and slathered in butter, has to be the taste of late summer! And even though we’re clinging onto those last sunny days as autumn rolls in, sweetcorn still feels like the perfect treat.

While processed corn products (like oils and cereals) can be pro-inflammatory, fresh sweetcorn is a whole different story. It’s a naturally low-histamine, nutritious option, especially for those dealing with inflammatory conditions or allergies.

Plus, those bright yellow kernels are a big hit with children, who love the fun of eating them straight from the cob

Fresh corn on the cob packs a nutritional punch as well!

🌽High in fibre for a healthy gut and to help prevent constipation 💩

🌽Rich in antioxidants, especially lutein and zeaxanthin which benefit eye health 👁️

🌽A source of Vitamin C for healthy immune function 🛡️

🌽A source of B Vitamins: Especially B1 and B9 (folate), which support energy production and are essential for brain and cellular health 🧠

But hurry! Fresh sweetcorn is only in season and at it’s delicious and nutrient-packed best for a few short weeks. Get it while you can!

Blood Vitality by Ancestral Supplements

Blood Vitality is derived from carefully selected, nutrient-dense organs and blood from grass-fed cows, rich in iron, B vitamins, and essential minerals. These nutrients work together to support optimal energy levels, red blood cell formation, and overall vitality.

Health Benefits of Blood Vitality

• Boosts energy levels and combats fatigue ⚡

• Supports red blood cell production and oxygen transport 🩸

• Promotes a healthy immune system 🛡️

• Maintains cognitive function and focus 🧠

• Enhances metabolic and circulatory health 💪

• Supports overall vitality and well-being 🌱

More Reasons Why We Love Ancestral Supplements Blood Vitality

• Grass-fed and grass-finished ingredients sourced from New Zealand for optimal purity and quality

• Nutrient-dense formulation featuring liver, spleen, and blood for holistic health support

• Capsule form that can be opened and blended with savoury foods for children

• No fillers, additives, or artificial ingredients, ensuring a clean and natural supplement

• Supports ancestral nutrition principles by utilizing whole-food sources that our bodies are naturally adapted to

Enjoy a 10% discount on Blood Vitality by Ancestral Supplements using the code Brainstorm10

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

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 and Emma, 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 appointment 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