I know how exhausting it is when your child is struggling. You try everything, yet nothing seems to stick. Progress is slow. Hope flickers in and out. It is a relentless, all-consuming worry. Priya’s parents knew that feeling all too well.

Their bright, sensitive nine-year-old was overwhelmed by the world around her. Digestive issues. Sensory sensitivities. Struggles with speech and coordination. Even mealtimes had become a battleground. Her diet was so limited that her parents worried about how she would ever get the nutrition she needed. They felt stuck.

That is when Sarah, one of our brilliant practitioners, stepped in. She worked closely with Priya’s family to focus on the foundations. No quick fixes. Just real, practical steps to support her nervous system, gut, and overall well-being. Simple but powerful interventions like Epsom salt baths, castor oil massage, and small nutritional shifts helped lay the groundwork for change.

And then, things started shifting. Priya became calmer. Her sensory sensitivities eased. Her speech and understanding improved. And most remarkably, she started eating. The little girl who once gagged at certain textures was now exploring new foods, even trying things on holiday.

Life is different now. Easier. Happier. Not just for Priya, but for her whole family.

If you are feeling stuck, wondering if things will ever change, please know that they can. Read on to see what made the difference for Priya and what might just help your child too.

If you would like to learn more about how our approach can help your child thrive, we would love to talk to 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

Nine-year-old Priya was living with digestive complaints, including constipation, sensory sensitivities, poor sleep and physical difficulties including dyspraxia. Her family also struggled to feed her due to textural sensitivities to food and difficulty chewing.

A few months into her Brainstorm Health journey with practitioner Sarah, Priya’s sensory sensitivities have reduced, her speech and understanding have improved, and she is a calmer, happier child. Her parents are also delighted that she is eating a wider variety of foods. Read on for the full story of Priya’s amazing progress.

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

Priya, a 9-year-old girl, was originally diagnosed with autism at 2.5 years old. However, six months later, she was reassessed as non-autistic for three years before receiving a renewed autism diagnosis in 2023. More recently, she has displayed mild dyspraxia and difficulties with body posture.

Sara has a history of frequent infections, an adenoidectomy, and grommets. Her family sought my support due to a noticeable regression in speech and social skills following a COVID-19 infection at age six. Her challenges included:

• Speech delay/regression and limited understanding

• Sensory sensitivities and frequent removal of clothing

• Social difficulties and poor eye contact, with a squint and a tendency to look from the corner of her eye

• Feeding issues, including low appetite, difficulty chewing, and sensitivity to textures

• Digestive concerns, such as a tendency to constipation

• Sleep disturbances and fear of the dark

How were these symptoms impacting their lives?

Priya struggled to engage and follow instructions at school, often becoming frustrated and upset. Her fear of the dark made certain areas of the home distressing for her. Sensory sensitivities and discomfort in crowded environments limited the family's ability to travel or spend time outside. Additionally, her restricted diet made it challenging for her parents to ensure she was receiving proper nutrition.

What were your initial steps in helping them?

Around the time of beginning our work together, Priya had been prescribed Fluoxetine, so we opted for gentle interventions whilst the medications were being monitored, to support her nervous system, liver, and bowel movements, including: Epsom salt baths, castor oil massage, and magnesium foot lotion to aid relaxation and gentle detoxification and elimination; nutrient-dense smoothies to improve nutrition due to her restricted diet and aversion to solid foods, and dietary tweaks to help stabilise blood glucose levels. We also eliminated gluten as she had responded well to this in the past. I also recommended measures to reduce environmental toxin exposure.

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

I recommended a comprehensive set of tests, helping to pinpoint key areas of concern:

• Stool test: Significant maldigestion, gut dysbiosis, parasitic infection, potential yeast overgrowth, and low short chain fatty acids (protective bacterial metabolites)

• Hair, blood, and urine tests: Significantly high toxin levels, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and methylation issues, high need for B vitamins and antioxidants

• Hair mineral analysis: Patterns suggesting adrenal depletion, and increased need for certain minerals

• Blood markers: High IgE response (usually indicates either allergies or parasitic infection), low vitamin D and borderline iron markers

• Viral history: A recent Coxsackie virus infection, potentially contributing to her more recent severe food restrictions, mouth sensitivity, and skin rash

• Genomics: Moderately compromised MTHFR methylation genes (important for many processes including detoxification) and a ‘fast COMT’ gene (potentially affecting dopamine metabolism and motivation)

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

As Priya stopped taking Fluoxetine, we were able to add in more supplement support, and by our second follow-up, her parents reported improvements including: Better eye contact and reduced sensory sensitivities; improved speech, understanding, and overall calmness. The eating difficulties persisted but I’m pleased to hear there had been notable improvements at our most recent check-in.

From this point, we focused on supporting digestive function with supplementary enzymes and bile flow support alongside pectin-rich and fibre-rich foods that support gut health and act as natural food-based binders for toxins. I also added an oral probiotic and mineral and antioxidant support. For nervous system and adrenal health, vitamin C and an ashwagandha tincture were also added.

We considered techniques like breathing exercises to support Priya’s sleep as well. Because of her high toxic load, a bit later on, we added herbal preparations to support liver function as well as a binder, and when constipation re-emerged as an issue, we addressed that with OxyPowder (magnesium oxide) and a single-strain probiotic.

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

I was so pleased with the latest feedback that Priya has been happier, calmer, and more cooperative. She no longer fears the dark, is more able to handle crowded places, and was happy and smiling on a recent excursion. Her eating has become less restrictive, and she is eating a wider variety of solid foods. She coped well with a family holiday abroad and tried the new foods there. There has been a drastic improvement in her understanding, and she is able to engage more at home and school. Her speech is also coming along with new words and attempts at conversation.

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

Priya is doing really well, and we aim to build on this progress by increasing her dietary intake of nutrient-rich foods. We’ll also layer in more targeted supplement support to underpin methylation and detox pathways. I also want to work more on balancing her gut microbiome, supporting cellular energy metabolism. In the future, more detailed genomic testing could provide deeper insights into her methylation, neurotransmitter metabolism, and detox pathways.

It has been a pleasure working with Priya’s family, who have followed every recommendation with commitment. Their hard work, combined with support from Priya’s team of occupational therapists, teachers, and speech and language therapists, has undoubtedly contributed to the progress she has made. I’m excited to continue supporting her journey!

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.

Liver GB+™ Siliphos® Milk Thistle & TUDCA  by Biocidin Botanicals

Digestive discomfort, mood swings, low energy and skin complaints may all be signs that your body’s detox systems need extra support. Liver GB by Biocidin Botanicals is a supplement that ticks many boxes, combining Siliphos® milk thistle, TUDCA, and other essential nutrients to promote optimal liver and gallbladder function, supporting detoxification and digestive health.

Health Benefits of Liver GB

🍃 Supports liver detoxification: Milk thistle and TUDCA help to protect and enhance liver function, supporting the body’s natural detox pathways.

✨ Promotes bile flow: Helps maintain healthy bile production and flow, crucial for digestion and fat metabolism.

🛡️ Protects against oxidative stress: Antioxidant-rich ingredients support liver cells against damage from toxins and free radicals.

💪 Aids digestion and nutrient absorption: Healthy bile flow contributes to better digestion and absorption of essential nutrients.

Key Features

✔️ Comprehensive liver and gallbladder support: A synergistic blend of botanicals and nutrients to promote optimal function.

✔️ Highly bioavailable formula: Siliphos® milk thistle is optimised for absorption, ensuring maximum effectiveness.

✔️ Gentle yet effective: Designed to support detoxification without overwhelming the system, making it suitable for sensitive individuals.

Enjoy a 10% discount using the code 

Brainstorm10

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

Food of the week: Anti-inflammatory mango smoothie

Smoothies are a brilliant option for children who struggle to chew or swallow solid foods. They are a great way to pack in antioxidant-rich fruits, fibre, healthy fats and protein in a tasty format that lots of kids enjoy. They can even be frozen and offered as a healthy sweet treat. Bursting with vibrant flavours and powerful nutrients, our anti-inflammatory mango smoothie is a delicious way to nourish your child. Enhanced with turmeric, ginger, and healthy fats, it’s designed to support digestion, immunity, and overall well-being—perfect for a breakfast or a satisfying after-school snack.

Health benefits

🥭 Rich in antioxidants, thanks to mango and turmeric, which help combat oxidative stress and inflammation 🛡️

🌿 Supports digestion with ginger and coconut milk, aiding gut health and soothing digestive discomfort 💛

💪 Supports immune function with vitamin C-rich ingredients that help keep colds and infections at bay 🤧

⚡ Provides sustained energy with healthy fats from coconut milk and flaxseed, keeping kids fuller for longer 🚀

🥤 Delicious and easy to prepare, blending together tropical flavours with nourishing goodness for the whole family 🍹

With its creamy texture, natural sweetness, and powerhouse ingredients, this smoothie is a simple and delicious way to fuel your kids while fighting inflammation.

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