When a child reacts intensely to everyday sensations, like the seams on a sock or the hum of a light, it is not simply “picky” behaviour. These reactions often stem from an overwhelmed and inflamed nervous system. What’s particularly striking is that these sensory symptoms can fluctuate — one day a child might tolerate their…
Rebuilding the Microbiome: Where to Start and What Actually Works
Nearly every child we test has a gut microbiome that’s barely functional. Lactobacillus? Gone.Bifidobacteria? Gone.Inflammation? High.Pathogens? Thriving.Resilience? Non-existent. The good news? You can rebuild it. But you have to start at the beginning – and that doesn’t mean throwing probiotics at the problem. Step One: Fix the Environment You can’t grow a healthy garden in…
The Vitamin D Trap: What Blood Tests Don’t Tell You
Have you ever wondered why your child reacts so strongly to certain foods, environmental triggers, or even absolutely nothing at all? Did you know that mast cells, the immune cells responsible for allergic reactions, can spontaneously release histamine without an allergen, infection, or any clear trigger? And what if that was happening because their vitamin…
Beat Mycoplasma: Winter Tips for PANDAS and PANS
If you’re living with PANDAS or PANS in your household, you already know that infections can bring much more than just coughs and sniffles. Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is currently spreading through schools, can be particularly tricky. While it’s known as “walking pneumonia” because of its mild respiratory symptoms, for children with PANDAS or PANS, it…
The Collagen Conundrum
If you’re the parent of a child on the autism spectrum or managing conditions like PANDAS or PANS, you’ve probably tried various approaches to support their health—special diets, supplements, and everything in between. One supplement that’s been gaining attention is collagen. Now, you may have heard that collagen is great for joints, skin, and…
Glucose and Autism: Discovering the Link to Speech Seizures Sleep and More
Recently Thinking Autism shared an excellent blog about the link between brain glucose levels and speech delays, seizures, and other challenging symptoms seen in some children on the autism spectrum. I want to ensure this message reaches all our followers, simplifying the concepts and exploring actionable steps to support our children effectively. You can read…
Puberty Survival Guide: Navigating the Maze with PANS, PANDAS, and Autism
Understanding the Impact of Hormones on Symptoms in Children on the Autism Spectrum and those with PANDAS and PANS Navigating the complexities of raising a child on the autism spectrum, or affected by PANDAS (Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections), or PANS (Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) can often feel overwhelming. I understand…
Extreme Picky Eating or Eosinophilic Oesophagitis?
Embarking on the journey of understanding extreme picky eating in children, it is crucial to acknowledge the complexity often hidden beneath seemingly typical behaviours. It is easy to dismiss picky eating as a mere behavioural issue or attribute it solely to sensory challenges. Among some practitioners, the go-to explanation might be deficiencies in zinc or…
Nourish to Flourish: Unlocking the Power of Diet
At Brainstorm Health, we equip ourselves with a diverse arsenal of tools to support the individuals we work with on their path to better health. From targeted nutritional supplements and micro-immunotherapy to probiotics and therapeutic treatments like Epsom salt baths and castor oil packs, we explore a broad spectrum of approaches. However, before delving into…
