@Annie Sye thanks for the additional info. I’ll touch on the most important ones to address:
Is your family now beginning to see the connection between his diet and his condition? We MUST find a way to get your brother to agree to a strict gluten-free diet. Does he like to read? Would sharing the studies on the connection between gluten and schizophrenia help? Third party credibility is very powerful with family members… is there perhaps a friend or someone he looks up to that can convince him? You know him best… what would be the best angle to help him realize that gluten, at this stage in his life, is hurting him?
I like the idea of making his favorite foods at home. And I agree that finding tasty alternatives will make or break your efforts. Here’s an article I found on a celiac website that shares the best gluten-free bun brands you can try.
If your mom thinks he likes to eat out for the experience, I would also suggest looking for gluten-free/dairy-free restaurants and cafés in your area and encourage him to try those instead. As a rule of thumb, avoid chains & franchises for better health when dining out. I know you know this, but again, it’s a matter of getting him to realize that he can still enjoy going out but choosing places and foods that will help him, not hurt him.
If it’s going to be a while before your brother can move out of the moldy home, I strongly recommend buying him an ultra HEPA air purifier for his bedroom (and wherever else he spends the most time in the house). I can’t remember if we already spoke about this in previous threads. If not, let me know and I can share more. You can also watch THIS video from the Beginner’s Health Roadmap which discusses different air filter brand options.
Dr. Jill also has a very practical and affordable course HERE on what to do if still living in mold. Use code BBETTER for 10% off.
Just confirming that the melatonin is being given before bed correct?
You’re correct about the dosage range of l-theanine. Split the dose if you’re going to increase it. So morning and evening for example.
I wouldn’t be surprised if methylation is compromised. That’s a big part of detoxification and what helps us produce glutathione, our most potent antioxidant and detoxifier. And that’s why it’s so important for him to be living away from the moldy home as soon as possible. Avoidance is the #1 rule for mold detox.
Question about his bowel movements. I like the fact that he’s not constipated and is having regular bowel movements, but I question whether or not he’s fully emptying his bowels each time. But since he isn’t constipated, supporting methylation with a low dose methylated B complex might be something worth considering, or a detox formula that has a little bit of B’s and amino acids to support both phase 1 and phase 2 detox. For example, something like Integrated Therapeutics Detoxification Factors. But low and slow is the name of the game anytime detoxification is involved. I briefly touch on methylation and how important B vitamins are to the process in THIS VIDEO if you care to understand it better.
Sweating is also very important for both heavy metal and mold detoxification. Does he exercise by any chance? If not, a portable low-EMF sauna like this one where his head is not being heated, might also be something to consider to help with detoxification. Here’s some literature showing how it can be beneficial. Just keep in mind that he’ll need to hydrate before and especially after, along with electrolytes to remain well hydrated.
Finally, I would also encourage you to look into neurofeedback sessions. If the SPECT scan is out of budget at the moment, as an alternative you can look for a clinic that offers a qEEG scan and neurofeedback.
Let me know if you have any questions.