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Little Amira and her family first came to Sarah at Brainstorm Health when Amira was suffering with severe constipation. Amira’s parents were also concerned about her delayed speech. Under Sarah’s guidance, they made some changes to Amira’s diet and introduced some targeted supplements, which led to a significant improvement in Amira’s constipation. As her gut health improved, behaviours like tiptoe walking and hand flapping reduced, and she flourished into a happy, vibrant little girl.
Hi Sarah - tell me a bit about your patient and the symptoms they first came to you with
Amira is a three-year-old girl. Her family reached out to Brainstorm Health as she was struggling with constipation and her speech was delayed. Additionally, Amira was displaying some behavioural traits like frequently looking out of the corner of her eyes, hand flapping, and walking on tiptoes. Amira has a history of frequent infections and had taken multiple courses of antibiotics since infancy.
How were these symptoms impacting her life?
Amira was only passing a bowel movement every 3-7 days. Her parents had already made some dietary changes after reading Brainstorm Health blog posts. Her constipation had improved slightly, along with her general responsiveness. But she would still often have a bloated tummy when constipated and her tiptoe walking seemed to be more prominent when she was having infrequent bowel movements. Amira would often get frustrated and cry, and her parents reported that she was a picky eater with a poor appetite.
What were your initial steps in helping Amira?
Our initial priority was to ease constipation and encourage regular, daily bowel movements. We did this by introducing a gluten and dairy-free diet, supplements including a probiotic, and gentle naturopathic techniques such as castor oil massages. We also ensured adequate hydration and fibre in the diet to support bowel motility. We introduced Epsom salt baths to aid relaxation and to support gentle detoxification.
What lab tests did you do? What did the tests reveal and how did that shape your therapeutic approach?
We undertook a comprehensive stool analysis, an IAG and dietary-derived peptide urine test, and a hair tissue mineral analysis. Amira also had a blood test completed via her GP.
The key findings from the stool test were a high score for infections, which included parasites and additional opportunistic/pathogenic bacteria at elevated levels. There was also evidence of imbalance in Amira’s gut microbiome with a trend towards more inflammatory species and low levels of some of the key bacterial species. Faecal secretory IgA was moderately elevated, a marker of an inflammatory immune response.
The hair test revealed higher than normal levels of arsenic, antimony and lead, as well as mineral patterns which suggested adrenal support may be beneficial.
Elevated IAG levels were found in Amira’s urine, which may indicate some level of intestinal permeability.
The blood test results revealed ferritin (iron marker) that was low but within the normal range. This may require further investigation and support in the future.
Informed by the test results, we decided to continue with the gluten and dairy-free diet for the time being whilst we do the background work to repair and rebalance the gut, and to reduce foods known to be high in arsenic. We also started to consider measures to reduce environmental toxic load, like filtering drinking water. We continued to support Amira's bowel and liver function. Additionally, we began to focus on gently rebalancing the gut microbiome: encouraging the growth of beneficial species and crowding out opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria.
How long did it take before seeing positive changes to symptoms?
I have been so impressed with Amira’s family and their commitment to the process so far. Even though they have recently welcomed a new baby, they have followed my instructions diligently. Amira’s constipation improved markedly within a couple of months and the last time we spoke, it had completely resolved. The tiptoe walking has stopped, the hand flapping has almost disappeared, and Amira does not look out of the corners of her eyes so much any more. Her speech does seem to have improved slightly, but this is still a work in progress.
How long have you been working together now?
Just over 4 months.
What has been the biggest ‘breakthrough’ moment on Amira’s journey?
So far, relieving her constipation has had a profound knock-on effect on her general well-being. Amira has also begun to try new foods and started to increase the variety in her diet.
How is Amira doing now? What will you focus on next if you continue working together?
Amira is doing well and seems to be much happier in herself. Her parents report that her personality is starting to shine through more. We will continue to support her gut health and detoxification pathways. We will also start to increase nutrient-dense, unprocessed, and anti-inflammatory foods to further support her cognitive development.
It has been a pleasure working with Amira’s family and I look forward to supporting them on their continuing 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.
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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