[bernadette]

 I’ll also add that it depends on your preference (liquid vs capsules). Capsules are definitely more convenient. 

Liquid Biocidin actually tastes OK, and most children don’t seem to mind it (as a reference). Liquid form however is better for those with absorption issues since capsules do have to get broken down as Daniel mentioned. 

And if digestion/absorption is really compromised in a person, I often recommend the Liposomal LSF form to clients.

And no worries/concerns about shipping liquid or capsules or LSF form.

Hope that helps you decide.

[bernadette]

 quercetin is a natural anti-histamine. This one has maltodextrin in the ingredients which I think is unnecessary. In the protocol I shared, I recommend Thorne Quercetin Phytosome.

[bernadette]

 the tick test doesn’t check for all co-infections, so just to be safe, I also usually advise to test for lyme & coinfections in the person with the tick bite 4-6 weeks after the bite when the body develops antibodies.

[bernadette]

if you have an hour to sit down and watch a case study recording, I would encourage you to watch this one. It’s another member’s case, and she struggled with histamine intolerance so I dove deep into causes and solutions which will help you better understand how it all works.

If you want a basic summary, take a look at this post on Instagram and read my caption. I break it down into things that increase histamine and things that block histamine breakdown. There are many possible causes, but mold, estrogen dominance, low B6 from birth control, and gut overgrowths that interfere with the breakdown of histamine, tend to be the most common ones. When these are present, eating histamine-rich foods and leftovers can just make the bucket overflow.

And yes, fermented foods are rich in histamine. We have this handout that lists foods high and low in histamine to help you navigate your diet if histamine is a problem.

Supplementing with DAO enzyme which breaks down histamine can be supportive for rapid relief. My favorite one is by Dr. Ben Lynch called Histamine Digest. DAO is derived from pork.

You can also take a look at our protocol for allergies/congestion which shares a few different anti-histamine solutions.

Hope this helps point you in the right direction.

[bernadette]

 because of it’s impact on reducing blood sugar levels

[bernadette]

Great critical thinking. Yes, due to its acidic nature, it can leach minerals but it’s dose dependent.

According to one study, hypokalemia (potassium deficiency) was observed in a 28-year-old woman who had reportedly consumed approximately 250 mL of apple cider vinegar daily for 6 years. That’s about 6 to 7 Tbsp per day.

So context is everything. In most cases, ACV in low dose is relatively harmless, but there are some risks to be aware of. Consuming more than 1-2 tablespoons per day can cause irritation of the esophagus, erode tooth enamel and yes, potentially decrease potassium levels. Those taking diuretics and/or insulin should be careful and consult their doctor first.

[bernadette]

 I generally recommend a minimum of 3 consecutive days but it can also be done daily if a person feels better that way.

[bernadette]



Thank you for the additional info. Toxicity and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure is seeming to be more and more apparent in your case now.

Antibiotics lead to leaky gut, the development of food sensitivities and LPS overload which are bacterial body parts/debris that the immune system has a very strong reaction to. It’s seen very often in fibromyalgia and other pain syndromes. LPS generates inflammatory molecules (cytokines and interleukins) and builds up and causes mitochondrial dysfunction (impacting energy) which also impairs serotonin synthesis which impacts pain perception and mood.

Your history of birth control ties into this picture as well by depleting your B vitamins early on in life, especially vitamin B6. Low B6 is linked to eating disorders like anorexia/bulimia challenges & self-harm or other addictive behaviors like gambling, alcoholism, etc.

B6 is a cofactor for making serotonin – our “feel good” neurotransmitter, needed for bile production and cleansing which without can lead to SIBO. SIBO is often seen in those diagnosed with fibro!!  The fact that you’re supplementing with vitamin D but can’t get your levels up likely indicates sluggish bile production and flow since we need bile to absorb our fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Hence why Daniel suggested ox bile. Do you still have your gallbladder? I really like a product called Digestion GB by Pure Encapsulations which has a mix of bile, some liver supportive nutrients, but also digestive enzymes to support the breakdown of food.

B6 is also needed for methylation and detoxification so all of these pathways (and more) can become compromised as a result of low B vitamins. I see it a lot in my practice with women who were on oral birth control. Supplementing with a methylated B complex often helps my clients but they need to introduce it VERY slowly when there’s a need for it or else it will push detox too fast/too hard. My clients who show a strong need for B6 usually start with Thorne Basic B Complex and build-up to 3 caps per day (1-1-1) with food for 2-3 months before switching to Thorne’s B Complex #6 for another 2-3 monthswhich has a much higher dose of B6.

I checked the IAOMT.org website for you and found 40 biological dentists in Washington. Hopefully one of them is nearby. https://iaomt.org/search-by-region/region/washington/

Removing the root canaled teeth and amalgam filling with a biological dentist should be a top priority, and since it’s very expensive to work with one, that’s where I would prioritize my money or save up for it. Some offer financing options.

In terms of AIP diet, you can take a look at this e-book by Meal Plan Club which shares a 4-week AIP friendly meal plan with recipes. AIP means gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, nightshade- and legume-free, soy-free, nut- and seed-free. So yes, it is quite restrictive, but it’s very effective at reducing inflammation and calming autoimmune reactivity while working to address root causes. If you feel this will trigger disordered eating again, then try removing eggs, dairy, and gluten if you feel that’s possible for you. Start with gluten (hardest one), then dairy, then eggs.

I’m glad to hear that you’ll be removing yourself from a toxic relationship. The body cannot heal when it’s stressed. 

I look forward to continue guiding you on your journey the best I can.

[bernadette]

can you please share more about your dental history. Any amalgam fillings or root canals done? I have seen OLP improve after root canaled teeth are extracted. Also, do you remember having to take courses of antibiotics in your childhood/teenage years before your fibro diagnosis in your 20’s?

High levels of arsenic is associated with low WBC (especially neutrophils) and Raynaud’s. But also hyperkeratosis (thickening of skin – heels/palms), warts on heels/palms (plantar warts), skin pigmentation changes, Mees line formation on nails, garlic/metallic taste in mouth,  hypertension, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, “milk and roses” complexion – arsenic hinders consistent circulation in the skin. Do you struggle with any of these other symptoms as well by any chance?

Up until Oct 2013, arsenic was used in poultry production for growth. It’s also found in turkey and shellfish/shrimps, but most common exposure is contaminated water! Do you have a water filter at home? Including shower and ice machines? You can search the EWG tap water database by entering your zip code to see what contaminants are in your municipal water. https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/ – Please let me know about this!

As I had detailed for you in a previous thread about oral lichen planus. It’s an autoimmune disease that often begins with gut dysfunction/leaky gut, and therefore I STRONGLY encourage you to be following an AIP diet to help control inflammation and calm the immune system while working to address the root causes. Search online for “AIP Diet for Beginners”. There are plenty of blogs, books, and support groups following AIP diets. Let me know if you need help finding a good one. Following an AIP diet will naturally help control your blood sugar levels, which are clearly showing signs of progressed insulin resistance as Daniel had mentioned. The strong cravings for sugar I’m suspecting may also be coming from a yeast/fungal/bacterial overgrowth which is common in fibromyalgia and OLP.

In autoimmune cases, you can expect to have to change your diet for a minimum of 1 year. Both dairy and gluten HAVE to go as a starting point! Here is a handout to help you navigate gluten removal as it’s hidden in a lot of unsuspecting foods. And this one is for dairy removal. It has to be 100% removal of food sensitivities to help calm the immune system.

Do you have a budget to spend on functional testing? If so, the following tests can help you figure out the root cause of autoimmunity like:

• Hair mineral test to see if heavy metals are at play
• OAT + Mycotox to see if overall toxicity is at play, if fungal or bacterial overgrowth have colonized the gut (oxalate build-up from yeast overgrowth is commonly seen in fibromyalgia and ~75% of those with chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia test positive for SIBO), and if you’re exposed to mold & mycotoxins which is common with strong sugar cravings, fatigue and autoimmunity.
• DUTCH hormone test since hormone imbalances are suspected with oral lichen planus, as well as low cortisol in autoimmune activation. And since you rated stress as 8-9/10, I suspect cortisol imbalance is part of your picture as well.

Given the complexity of autoimmune cases, it’s unfortunately never a 1-recommendation solution, but instead a holistic multi-faceted approach tackling a fire from all different angles so to speak.

So to help you tackle this step-by-step without overwhelm, please let me know if:

1) you’re able to pursue additional functional tests to help you figure out the root causes (it’s ok if you can’t, we can use symptom forms and best assumptions instead).

2) you’re willing to change your diet to AIP as a good starting point which will have a positive impact on immunity and blood sugar levels which is foundational!

3) you’re willing to prioritize an environment that will reduce your perceived stress.

I’ll guide you further, but need to know if you’re first willing to make these changes. That’s half the win!

[bernadette]

 before replying in detail, can you please let us know if you’re taking any prescription medication including a history of birth control, over-the-counter drugs (tylenol, advil, etc.) or nutritional supplements, and for how long. Any children? Are you still menstruating? What’s your level of perceived stress out of 10? Can you also give us a timeline of when you were diagnosed with each of these labels please. Thank you

[bernadette]

 those links are for members living in North America. I will add a note to clarify that. Thanks for pointing this out.

If you’d like to order functional tests in the UAE, please email support@bernadetteabraham.com with your full name, email, date of birth, gender, shipping & billing address (if different). Include the name of the tests you’d like to pursue and we’ll help you get access to them.

[bernadette]

 even with 1 meal per day, you should be passing a well-formed stool minimum once per day.

[bernadette]

Hi  yes, the lower right side can be the ileocecal valve. There could also be some inflammation in the colon area around that spot. Your gastro will likely want to run a stool test to measure calprotectin. Ultrasound can be done, but they typically prefer to do an MRI scan for a better view.

In these acute situations, I often resort to homeopathy. I know an excellent homeopath in London if you’d like to get in touch with him. His name is Dr. Ramnik. You can email him and let him know I gave you his details: info@sublimehealing.com

Have you gone through the constipation relief program yet? Are you still struggling with that? Massaging the colon using the I-L-U method which I share in the program may help if constipation is at play. 

And what about ANF Therapy – did you pursue treatment with your practitioner? ANF can also be amazing for rapid relief in these types of acute situations.

[bernadette]

Hi  – although the baking soda challenge test is not diagnostic, it can give us an indication of the level of stomach acid. When baking soda mixes with stomach acid, it will create carbon dioxide, and should therefore make us burp. No burping can therefore indicate the possibility of insufficient stomach acid or hypochlorhydria. Flatulence is a consequence as well.

I would encourage you to watch this video on the possible causes of low stomach acid inside the Gut Health Masterclass. The most common being H. Pylori overgrowth, hypothyroid function, chronic stress/sympathetic dominance, zinc/B1 deficiency and low salt diet. Food sensitivities can also be a contributing factor. 

All of these can be tested but let’s take it one step at a time. To help you narrow it down, can you please share a little bit more about your symptom. What is your diet like? What is your level of perceived stress? Do you take any prescription medications (like birth control) or supplements (like minerals) or over-the-counter medicines (like tylenol, advil, etc)? What have you tried any treatment in the past and what has/hasn’t helped.

Also, have you been to see a gastroenterologist to rule out hiatal hernia, ulcer, etc? If so, what did they say?

[bernadette]

after it cools. Please read through this coffee enema handout. It shares all the steps in detail.