Thyroid Mystery Solved: Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism Revealed

At the time of recording this podcast, we are in lockdown as we try to flatten the curve on Covid19. Last week I talked about ways to reframe being stuck at home and things we can all do to improve our health and our lives during this time. This week, we focus on one of those - strengthening your relationships. How often do we wish we had more time with our loved ones? Now we do, and it’s time to make sure that we use it to make our relationships even better.  To help us out, I’ve invited Alicia Munoz to share some of her creative ideas on how to connect (or reconnect) on a deeper level. She’s a couple’s therapist, the author of  No More Fighting and A Year of Us.     Schedule Time to Talk Alicia says that right now, we need to be even more dedicated to keeping the lines of communication open as each of us processes this crisis differently. So, while we press on with our day to day, her first tip is to carve out some time to have a discussion about feelings. She says that scheduling this time will ensure that both of you are prepared and present for the discussion. These conversations can happen spontaneously if they are approached the right way and in this episode, Alicia shares some great language we can use.    Check-in Habitually Alicia says it’s good to get in the habit of checking in on your partner’s feelings intentionally. This might be part of your morning routine or your bedtime routine, or any time that works for both of you. She also shared a great way to check-in spontaneously by asking ‘past, present, or future?’ instead of asking something open ended like ‘what are you thinking about?’   Breathe Together Another practice Alicia suggests is to spend a few breaths inhaling and exhaling together with your partner. This involves synching your breath while maintaining a physical connection. This can be very soothing and can help reduce anxiety.  It’s a simple way to take a moment to connect and feel each other’s presence.    Explore the Power of Touch The above exercise creates an opportunity to increase human touch. Right now, touch feels like an prohibited behaviour but it’s really important to be reminded that the touch of our partner is not only safe, it’s needed. Alicia suggests exchanging a massage.   Appreciate with Intention Alicia shared some interesting research that shows we need 5 positive gestures to counterbalance each negative gesture. One way to accomplish this is to share appreciations more often. There are several ways to make this a relationship habit. She shares several including appreciation journals, nightly exchanges, seated celebrations, and an appreciation jar. Accepting appreciation can be very powerful when you allow yourself to fully feel it in your body.    Create Structure Structure creates a sense of comfort and right now, many people are finding that their changed routine is throwing them off. Alicia says that it’s important to create a new structure so that everyone in the family can feel that sense of comfort.  The ideas that Alicia shares in this episode are proven ways to connect on a deeper level but also to cope with shifts in the relationship dynamic that may be at play right now as we hunker down at home.  I appreciate Alicia for sharing them and I hope they inspire you to take this time to create space and opportunity to deepen your connection and communication so that you can come out of this crisis with a stronger relationship.   Links: Thanks to my guest Alicia Monus. You can connect with her on her website https://aliciamunoz.com/ or on Instagram and Facebook. And, check out her books No More Fighting and A Year of Us.     Related Podcast Episodes: EPISODE #052 6 Ways to Improve Your Life When Self-Isolating EPISODE #15 The Case of Relationships in Danger w/ Alicia Munoz   Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.   Never miss an episode -  Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com     PLEASE NOTE All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

As I record on March 23 2020, I’m on lockdown.  With so many of us struggling with being homebound right now, I wanted to give you a different perspective on the situation.  We are all in this together and we have to remember that there is nothing we can do about the actual situation at the present moment. I’m not minimizing the difficulty of this situation but we can be mindful of what we can and cannot control and what we use our energy for when a situation can’t be changed. So, I’d like to share that we can choose to see a few silver linings. More Time With no commute, not having to drive your kids to activities and social engagements, we actually do have more time now than ever. I mean just commuting alone may be an hour or 2  saved a day. Let’s use this time to help ourselves and don’t let it go to waste. If your health is not where you want it to be, now you have the time to focus on improving it. If your relationships with your loved ones have become stagnant or strained, let's use this time to reconnect. Focus on Health Health is on our minds but we can do more than just worry about being infected. Here are some ways you can do that from home.    Move your Body   I know this can be tricky with your gyms closed but we have so many other options. If you are allowed to leave the house, go for a walk or jog. There are also countless websites and youtube channels offering online workouts. I like P90x3 (a 30 minute workout). If you are a member of a gym, check to see if they are offering their programs online. If you have kids at home, why not engage in some active play or yoga.    Eat Healthy   Many of us are eating more home cooked meals. This may not be by choice but it is a good thing. What better time to try out new recipes and prepare meals using whole foods? I have been doing more marinating and healthy baking as those typically take more time that I didn’t have before. I am not sure how it is by you, but around here in NJ, our stores have been out of chicken but fully stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables. I’ve been making lots of salads with as many veggies as I can find and playing around with homemade dressings.    Prioritize Your Emotional Health   These are difficult emotional times so it’s important to take care of your mind. We know the negative effects of stress but often don’t have time to down regulate our nervous system the way we should. If you have been curious about meditation but could not commit, now is the perfect time to give it a try. My personal favorite is the Ziva Method taught Emily Fletcher. If you’ve ever felt like meditation is not for you because you could never ‘clear your mind’, this method is for you.    Build Better Relationships   With our busy schedules we often complain that we don’t have enough time with our significant others and loved ones. Now you do. The trick is that you have to take that time and use it to connect because it's very easy to sit side by side watching mindless TV while zoning out. Plan some time to actually have a conversation. You can make time to play a board game or if it's nice out, play a game in the backyard. Whatever you choose, make a point of actually connecting not just passing time together.    Connect with Nature   If it’s possible to access nature while adhering to social distancing, it can be very calming as well as powerful for health and healing. Even if it’s just your own backyard.  If you’re somewhere where it's warm enough, stick your feet in the dirt for some grounding.    Practice Gratitude   Even in the most difficult times, there is always something you can be grateful for. If you can’t think of anything at all, it can just be really simple things like the sound of songbirds or sunshine on your face. For me, I think about having my husband home, being able to provide health and support for all my listeners and patients (and the emails you send me), and the warming weather that lets me get outside for walks. The more I focus on gratitude, the more I realize I have to be grateful for. Gratitude has a VERY powerful effect on your health and overall immune system.  Happy Ending We will get through this and we will become more resilient as a result. In every crisis lies opportunity. That might seem like a mystery to you right now but you CAN choose to see the silver linings and make the best of this difficult situation. Regardless of what's happening around you, there is a part of you that’s strong. Call on that part right now. You can do this!   Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode -  Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com   Related Podcast Episodes: https://healthmysteriessolved.com/insomnia-meditation-emily-fletcher/ https://healthmysteriessolved.com/boost-immunity-fight-coronavirus-fears-mario-martinez/ https://healthmysteriessolved.com/demystifying-coronavirus-inna-topiler/   PLEASE NOTE All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price of the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses. 

The Case:  At the time of recording this (March 17, 2020), the Novel Coronavirus is a global pandemic. Entire countries are now on lockdown, store shelves are empty, children are not in school and the news cycle is non-stop COVID-19 updates. The cause and the result of this is escalating fear. But, fear is an emotion and it's something we can each individually control. And, controlling that fear, could play an important role in keeping us healthy.  To explain how, I’ve invited Dr. Mario Martinez back to the show.  Dr. Mario is a psycho immunologist and the best-selling author of The Mind Body Code: How to Change the Beliefs that Limit Your health, Longevity, and Success as well as the learning series How the Mind Wounds and Heals and How Longevity is Culturally Learned and the Causes of Health Are Inherited.  He has published numerous articles in professional journals and lectures worldwide on his research and theory of biocognition.   Reducing Risk Before we talk about ways to improve the immune system, it’s important to note that these ideas are in conjunction with recommendations for reducing risk (like washing your hands properly and often as well as practicing social distancing).    Fear and Panic and the Immune System We talked about ways to boost the immune system through health practices and supplements in Episode 49 - Demystifying the Coronavirus. However, Dr. Mario says there is another layer to boosting our immune that has to do with its response to stress. When we experience stress, the body releases adrenaline and cortisol which suppress immune function. He explains that the best friend of Coronavirus is the panic and fear it causes because these actually help it spread.    The Challenge of Reducing Fear and Panic About COVID-19 It’s not easy to simply ‘not panic’ because our brain is trained to take signals from our ‘cultural editors’. These include authority figures like parents, teachers, doctors and newscasters. These people may have vital information but they may also provide us with so much information that it creates a fear or stress response that suppresses the immune system.    Improving Immune Function To fight a virus like Novel Coronavirus, the body needs to produce an antibody called Immunoglobulin Type A (IGA). There are ways to help the body increase the production of IGA. Studies show that emotions like fear, shame, chronic anger and an inability to forgive can actually decrease IGA production. So, being aware of these emotions and working to reduce them is important. Conversely, the research also found that being a loving person who cares for yourself and others increases IGA production.    Social Connections and the Immune System Having a connection with people increases your oxytocin and other kinds of hormones and peptides that help support the immune system. While you should still head the advice of experts to practice social distancing, it’s important to maintain social connections. This might be regular phone calls or video chats. Self isolating doesn’t have to be social isolation.    Positive Mindset during a Pandemic Despite the evidence that a positive mindset is beneficial to the immune system during a pandemic, it can be difficult to do. Here are some top tips from Dr. Mario for staying positive and supporting your immune system internally.  1. Create Rituals.  Our routines are good for our health and right now many of us are out of our routines so Dr. Mario says it’s important to create new rituals like dining by candlelight or playing board games as a family.  2. Be Self-Aware of your Interpretations.  We choose how we interpret situations and scenarios and we can choose to interpret them positively which ultimately decreases fear and panic and increases production of IGAs. 3. Practice Heart-Breathing and Generate Feelings of Compassion.  Dr. Mario shares a breathing technique that helps the parasympathetic nervous system and triggers the production of oxytocin.  4. Care for Yourself and Others.  Caring for others has a positive effect on our mindset but we have to be careful not to forget caring for ourselves or the benefits are negated.   5. Avoid Emotional Vampires Some people are so caught up in their negative loop that they steal from our emotional well. It’s best to avoid these people if possible or limit the time and emotional energy we give them.  6. Adjust your Emotional Default Mode to Positive We have an emotional default mode that we may not be aware of. It is possible to adjust this default to be more positive.  7. Maintain Perspective It’s easy to lose perspective with all of the dire news, but putting things into perspective can help us from falling into fear and panic, which is hard on our immune system.  8. Decrease Unnecessary Exposure to the News It’s important to stay informed, but Dr. Mario says we can over do it. He suggests getting your news only once a day.    We’re in this Together While there are things we can’t control, you do have control over what you focus on and think about. Instead of focusing on fear,  let's choose to focus on what we CAN do right now. We’re all in this together and, as we learned in this episode, helping others and being compassionate helps the immune system! Let’s work together, support each other with positivity and hope, and help each other get through this!   Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Mario Martinez. You can connect with him on his website. You may also enjoy reading more about this in one of his recent articles about the Coronavirus and Panic:  https://medium.com/@themindbodycode/panic-is-the-corona-viruss-best-friend-a49587956a79   Here are some links to his books: The MindBody Self: How Longevity Is Culturally Learned and the Causes of Health Are Inherited The Mindbody Code: How to Change the Beliefs That Limit Your Health, Longevity, and Success   Suggested Products I hope these tools inspire you to do what you can within yourself. If you want to support your immune system from the outside, here are my supplement recommendations: Sambucus Formosana Nakai has shown positive effects against other coronaviruses (which doesn’t mean it's specifically effective against the Novel Coronavirus but it does have antiviral properties). Other natural antivirals include Vitamin C, Oil of Oregano, Silvercillin, Lomatium and Monolaurin. High doses of Vitamin C and Vita...

The Case:  Mary 38 and has been dealing with vertigo, light sensitivity and low energy. She was also experiencing gastro-intestinal issues She saw a neurologist who provided no answers and a gastroenterologist who prescribed Proton Pump Inhibitor medications The Investigation I often meet people with a bunch of symptoms that seem unrelated. That was the case with Mary. In our conversation she also mentioned that she often felt like something was crawling under her skin. When I probed her more she also recalled that she would get headaches here and there. My sense was that it had to do with how her nervous system was responding to something, which is where I started my investigation. My first suspicion was migraine syndrome. It’s estimated that over 33 million Americans suffer with some form of migraines. About 11% of the world’s population has migraines. What most people don’t know is that migraine syndrome isn’t just about bad headaches. There are a lot more symptoms to consider.  To help me unravel Mary’s mysterious symptoms, I asked Dr. Rudrani Banik.  Dr. Banik is a board-certified and fellowship-trained Neuro-Ophthalmologist with over 20 years of medical experience. She is the Founder of Envision Health NYC in New York City. She shares my root-cause approach to solving problems and specializes in integrative eye and brain health so I knew she was the right expert to discuss Mary’s case with.  What is Migraine Syndrome Migraine Syndrome is a neurologic disease that can manifest in several aspects of bodily function. There are very specific criteria that the International Headache Society have proposed for making a diagnosis. Firstly, there have to be at least five attacks of symptoms which may or may not include a headache. Headaches, when they do occur, last from 4 - 72 hours (longer than a typical headache) and usually also have a pulsating quality.  Additional symptoms include nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity and sound sensitivity. Additionally, some experience dizziness, vertigo, gastrointestinal issues which can include cramps, bloating, and diarrhea. Frequent urination and sweating may also be present. Dr. Banik says that she sees patients with a variety of different symptoms.  Who is at Risk of Having Migraine Syndrome Migraine Syndrome is very common. According to Dr. Banik,  one in ten people have migraines and women are 3 times more likely to suffer from it.  If someone in your family has Migraine Syndrome, you are more likely to be affected. Children of migraine sufferers are 50% more likely to also suffer from migraines. Keep in mind that Migraine Syndrome often goes undiagnosed so you may be predisposed to it and not know it because family members are unaware that their symptoms are related to migraines.  The Migraine Gut Connection A lot of people don’t realize the connection between gastrointestinal issues and migraines - in fact many doctors are unaware of it too. There are many connections between the brain and the gut. The primary connection is through a nerve called the vagus nerve which carries parasympathetic information from the brain to the gut. It helps control digestion and other GI functions.  Plus, there's actually a nervous system in the gut called the interior nervous system. So, the gut releases neurotransmitters that send signals back to the brain. These two systems represent a dual neural-pathway between the brain and the gut.  Common Migraine Triggers Migraine triggers are unique to the individual but there are some more common triggers to be aware of. Food sensitivities can trigger migraines. These foods may be foods you love (like red wine, beer, chocolate, and cheese) that do not trigger any other symptoms. Fermented foods or foods that are high in histamines or sulfites are common culprits. Caffeine can cause migraines, but it can also help some people. In order to track down what foods may trigger a migraine for you, Dr. Banik suggests keeping a food diary or using a free app like MigraineBuddy. This app will also help you track stress as this is a very common trigger.  Additional triggers include toxins (especially inhaled toxins) as well as certain mold. Determining the Root Cause of Migraine Syndrome Because of the close connection between the gut and the brain, Dr. Banik usually starts by testing for the root cause of migraines in the gut. She will help heal the gut by bringing the gut microbiome back into balance and see if that alleviates the migraines. It’s also important to test for deficiencies because these can play a role in migraines, especially magnesium. Genetic testing that can identify the MTHFR gene which is common in migraine cases. In this case, a methylated vitamin B may be helpful.  There are some tests that can help identify possible causes include an MRI, a food sensitivity panel (the IgG Panel), or a stool sample.  Conventional Treatment of Migraines Conventional doctors are most likely to treat migraine syndrome with a prescription and not bother looking for the cause of the migraines. They're relatively safe, but they can have side effects. Many migraine treatments are in the class of either blood pressure medication. Some of them are anti-seizure medications, some of them are antidepressants. There are some newer classes of treatments called CGRP (Calcitonin gene-related peptide) which is thought to play a major role in migraine. These are biologic agents that need to be injected.   Treating Migraines Naturally In addition to treating any root cause (like a deficiency or the MTHFR gene), Dr. Banik always focuses on the diet first. She starts with an elimination diet to help determine triggers and will sometimes recommend the mitochondria diet. She also encourages patients to avoid night shades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants) because they tend to release histamine and can be pro-inflammatory, especially in patients with an autoimmune predisposition. As for supplements, Dr. Banik often suggests melatonin because it helps stabilize sleep patterns which can be interrupted by migraines and also cause migraines.  And finally, stress-management is key to treating migraines. This can be accomplished by reducing stressful situations, meditation, doing something you enjoy, using relaxing essential oils (such as peppermint, lavender, and frankincense)  as well as getting exercise. Another technique to try is EFT (emotional freedom technique - also known as tapping). The key is to prioritize self-care to ensure stress does not trigger migraines.  Mystery Solved For Mary,  we started by running a food sensitivity test (the Alcat test because it can test for as many as 200 foods). We discovered that Mary had a bunch of food sensitivities. She removed them all out of her diet. Additionally, we cut out some of the very high histamine foods like kombucha and spinach.  We also ran a stool test and found she had some bacterial and fungal overgrowth (not picked up on the doctor’s stool test when they tested her for parasites). We used rotated Allicillin, Oil of Oregano and Tricycline (a synergistic antimicrob...

The Investigation Misty has a long history of mysterious sleep issues. Just when she would solve one sleep mystery, another would pop up. It turned out, each of them was caused by something different. Luckily, Misty Williams became her own health advocate and was able to get to the various root causes and correct them. Now she runs Healing Rosie, an organization that provides high performing women in their 20s and 30s with the resources and community to successfully confront the unexpected in their own wellness journey. Misty joins me on the show today to share the different suspects you should be considering if you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting enough quality sleep.    Suspect #1 - High Cortisol Most people know that stress can play a big role in our ability to sleep well. The cortisol that our body releases in times of stress is what keeps us awake. For Misty, she experienced a significantly elevated level of cortisol during an illness and once it was rectified, her body struggled to get rid of it. You won’t believe how long she was awake (we’re talking days, not hours!). Some people don’t realize that stress isn’t the only way that cortisol can be elevated. Misty explains that X-rays, infections and other illnesses can also spike cortisol. Stress reduction protocols are key for combating this cause of sleep issues.    Suspect #2 - Busy-ness Our lives are extremely full - too full, in some cases and all of that busy-ness can impact our ability to sleep. Being busy all the time with a million things on our mind, might be lumped into the stress category but it can be more than that. The mind might be racing making falling asleep incredibly hard and then when you do get to sleep, suddenly you’re awake a few hours later. Even waking up too early (and unable to get back to sleep) can be a symptom of being too busy. Lifestyle changes are the only way to alleviate this.    Suspect #3 - Toxic Metals Misty experienced sleep issues after she had her mercury fillings removed by her dentist who inadvertently released some of the toxins into her body. Toxic metals, like mercury, can cause serious sleep disturbances. And, it can take the body up to 5 years to be fully rid of these toxic metals. A heavy metal detox may help.   Suspect #4 - Hormones This is a very common cause of sleep issues for women as they approach perimenopause and menopause. The response to low estrogen (and even low progesterone) can be sleep problems. Low estrogen can also cause night sweats and hot flashes. Low progesterone can be caused by excess cortisol (caused by stress or metal toxicity) and also causes sleep issues.       Suspect #5 - Epstein-Barr Virus We’ve talked in previous podcasts about Epstein-Barr and how pervasive (and undiagnosed) it is. Misty raises an interesting point that EPV can cause sleep issues. When the body is dealing with a really heavy viral load, it can affect our sleep. This suspect can be hard to catch because many doctors won’t test for this and the virus can sit dormant for a long time and then have a flare up. There are good homeopathic treatments for EPV.    Suspect #6 - Parasites This may surprise some people but parasites are nocturnal so if you have them, they can keep you up at night. Many people don’t consider parasites because they think only people who travel to third-world countries get them. That’s not true! People can get parasites in many developed countries - including the United States! Luckily, most parasites can be evicted with a special cleansing protocol.    Suspect #7 - Circadian Disruption Our modern lives don’t follow our natural circadian rhythm (except, maybe some farmers). We stay up too late using artificial light and we stare at blue screens all day and night that confuse the parasympathetic nervous system. Then, after hours of tricking our body into thinking it’s daytime, we suddenly expect it to accept that it’s not. The way to counter this is to live by circadian biology (and rise and sleep according to the sun). Since this is pretty much impossible for most people, there are ways to decrease exposure to blue light. Start by using amber glasses, limit screen time close to bed, and set screens to amber mode in the evening. Misty also has amber light in her house and uses blackout curtains to make sure her room is pitch black at night.    Suspect #8 - Heat Misty says that a good night’s sleep requires a cold room.  She likes to keep the room very cold (as cold as you can stand it).  She also uses a ChiliPad on her mattress that helps to keep her body temperature low at night. Another way that Misty suggests lowering the body temperature at night is by having a cold bath (or shower) before bed.    Eliminating Health Mysteries Sleep is absolutely crucial to our health. It’s important to determine what is interrupting your sleep (and it may be more than one of these suspects) and correcting it with the tips and tricks Misty shares in this episode. To truly demystify your sleep issues, check out the Best Sleep Summit which launches on March 16th 2020. Hear from 40 experts on how you can get your best sleep ever. Register here for FREE.    Links: Thanks to my guest Misty Williams! I’m so excited for her upcoming summit and I hope you’ll take advantage of this free access to many amazing experts (and unlock the secrets to your best sleep).    Other than through the summit, you can connect with her on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.    Suggested Products Pregnenolone Liquid   Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode -  Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com   Related Podcast Episodes:   EPISODE #013 The Case of Becoming a Health Self-Advocate with Misty Williams EPISODE #004 The Case of Exercise Zapping Energy w/ Dr. Kasia Kines EPISODE #044 The Truth about Insomnia (and What to do About It) EPISODE #043

The Case:  Lindsay is 38 and constantly feels overwhelmed by her job, health, and life. She swings from depression to anxiety and can’t get a handle on things. She tried different diets, supplements and saw several experts including an integrative psychologist.   The Investigation When I met with Lindsay, she had already tried and eliminated several of the root causes I would have investigated including removing gluten from her diet and supplementing with probiotics and specific amino acids (which may remind you of Episode 35, The Case of Unpredictable Anxiety w/ Trudy Scott). But, like I always say, every case is unique.  With the usual suspects out of the way, I had to look deeper. I noticed that Lindsay seemed ‘in her head’ a lot. It reminded me of the old me and I knew this would be where the investigation would begin.  Joining me on the show is Christy Whitman. She’s transformational leader, celebrity coach and the New York Times Bestselling Author of The Art of Having It All. Christy is also the CEO and founder of the Quantum Success Learning Academy & Quantum Success Coaching Academy.  The connection between Christy and Lindsay’s case may not be immediately obvious. To see the connection, you have to understand a little bit about quantum physics. Luckily, Christy is happy to explain.    Quantum Physics and Our Health Everything is energy including a chair, a tree, or a human body. Everything in the universe is made up of atoms and molecules which are energy. And all energy carries a vibration. That vibration is communication that goes out into the universe and then attracts other like energies. We are sending out vibrations and we are also receiving them. This happens spontaneously at a cellular level. This could be in a blood cell, a liver cell or a brain cell. Often, the body doesn’t know how to receive energy.    Conditioned Not to Feel Christy explains that part of the problem people have with this flow of energy is when they don’t know how to feel this energy or they reject it - especially when it relates to childhood conditioning. Many kids are told not to cry, to bottle up anger, or not to be sad. Even telling someone not to be afraid is a suppression of emotional energy. Over time, this treatment of energy becomes so habitual that it becomes a state of being. Christy says this can lead to depression, anxiety or a diseased state of the body.    Feel the Feels Instead of suppressing feelings and emotions, Christy says it is much healthier to feel those emotions and process them completely. It takes only 90 seconds for the body to feel the woosh of a feeling, sit with it, experience it and then release it fully. However, most people either suppress it or allow it to compound by adding on to it. This can amplify emotions and create a spiraling effect. This then becomes very unpleasant and so we distract ourselves from those feelings by eating, drinking, shopping, etc.    Feel it in the Body, Not the Head We may think that emotions and feelings are something we process with our thoughts but they are actually processed in the body. We have to feel them. If we try to process them with our minds, they get stuck and can easily be reactivated. The more this happens, the more it compounds and overwhelms us. As a result, we close down to emotions because we don’t want them piling on. But, just because we’re shut down, that doesn’t mean the energy goes away. Instead, explains Christy, it spirals and creates an energetic vortex that attracts similar emotions to it.    Emotional Energy Impacts Organs Unprocessed energy or emotions can impact the health of your organs. Different emotions impact different organs. Anger gets contained in the liver and gallbladder. This can show up physically as headaches, skin issues, sluggishness, and high blood pressure and emotionally as resentment, frustration, irritability, and rage. Grief sits in the lungs. Unprocessed grief can feel like a tightness in our chest, or we might become prone to bronchitis, pneumonia, or asthma. It can also show up as shoulder pain, back pain, hoarseness of the throat, or constant cough.  Fear resides in our kidneys and our bladder and it's like adrenal fatigue. But when we're constantly in a space of worry, that's now a habitual way of being. In that state, we can see issues with digestion and stomach pain.   Master Your Own Energy Getting your energy cleared out can be done by an energy healer but it is possible to manage your own energy. As an energy master, you will be able to pay attention to your thoughts and pivot them to serve the flow of your energy. There is no need to be a victim of consciousness because it’s possible to be a deliberate creator of our lives and choose how we want to feel.  To clear your own energy, start by dropping your consciousness from your head and putting it into your belly.  Then, just sit there and feel for a pulsation, like a heartbeat. Once you feel it, focus on it and allow it to get bigger and bigger. Then, just like a wave on the ocean that you are surfing, you let it crest and ride it through. As the wave subsides, you will have released some of that old, stuck energy.  Clearing old emotions is important because feelings like pain, grief, sorrow, and disappointment can imprint on us over time and change our state of being so that we are much more likely to be activated and feel sad, depressed, anxious or hopeless.     The Seven Essential Laws There are seven essential laws that govern energy. Christy and I discuss a few of them in this episode, but here are all seven: The Law of Attraction Law of Deliberate Creation The Law of Allowing The Law of Sufficiency and Abundance Law of Pure Potentiality Law of Detachment The Law of Polarity Mystery Solved With every case, we have to look at every possible root cause. With Lindsay, we were able to track her concerns back to the disconnect between her head and body. We started with breathing exercises that helped her focus on the feelings in her body. Then we used a body scan meditation to reconnect her to her body. If you want to try this, check out my guided meditation in episode 39.  We also fixed a few things in her diet and she was feeling more balanced, most of the time. But, when life got extra challenging, she was still having extreme emotional reactions. Further testing revealed that she was also an over methylator (you can learn more about this in episode 34). So, we used niacin and folinic acid to help support her pathways from a biochemical end. In addition, Lindsay decided to see an energy healer to help her clear out past emotions.   Happy Ending Lindsay started feeling more balanced with her mood in about a month and after 3 months, she really felt stable. But even more importantly, she felt like now she had the tools to not only maintain that emotional stability but to deal with any unexpected emotional issues that arise....

The Case:  Sydney is 41 and struggles with fatigue and fluctuating energy levels. She wakes up tired after a full night’s sleep and can barely make it through her day.  She saw an endocrinologist and the 3 GPs who had no explanation for her condition. She tried several different supplements, but nothing helped. Feeling tired seems like such a common problem that so many people don’t even complain about it anymore - it’s just the accepted human condition. But, Sydney knew that how she was feeling wasn’t normal and she certainly couldn’t accept it. She had her thyroid tested so when her numbers came back in the normal range, she knew she had to dig even deeper.    The Investigation When I first met Sydney, I noticed that she had a lot on her plate. By exploring vitamin deficiencies and thyroid issues, she’d already eliminated some of the usual suspects of fatigue issues. I took a look at her diet and saw that she was already eating pretty clean so that wasn’t the culprit either.  My sense was that we need to have an indepth look at how her adrenal glands were functioning in order to solve this health mystery. Joining me on the show today to talk more about it is Dr. Deborah Matthew.  Dr. Matthew is the Founder and Medical Director of Signature Wellness in Charlotte. She’s a Diplomat of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine, the President of The North Carolina Integrative Medicine Society, a member of the Institute of Functional Medicine, and is Board Certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics. What are the Adrenal Glands We each have two adrenal glands and they are responsible for making stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. They're about the size of a walnut and they sit right on top of our kidneys. When the body perceives a threat, adrenaline gets released instantly and only lasts for a few minutes. If the perceived threat continues, then the adrenal glands begin to produce cortisol, which the body can convert into energy over a longer period of time. The adrenal glands also make a hormone called DHEA, which is an anti-aging hormone that protects our cells, bones, and brain. Symptoms of Adrenal Gland Imbalance When the adrenal glands are overstimulated and over producing hormones, we call this an imbalance. The most common symptom is fatigue. Oftentimes there's a pattern to the fatigue, which is that it is hard to wake up in the morning and your brain feels groggy. Often, caffeine is needed to boost the cortisol and bring you up to a functioning level. The pattern continues with a slump late in the afternoon (usually  when you reach for more caffeine or some sugar) and then the energy may return briefly around dinner but after dinner, the fatigue sets back in and you feel like you’re ready for bed. If you do stay up though, you may experience a second wind around 10 pm (just when you should be getting to bed) making it hard to get to sleep.  What Causes Adrenal Gland Issues The job of adrenal glands is to respond to stress. This includes emotional stress (like our job, relationships, or general busyness) as well as physiological stresses that may come from chronic pain, injury, infections, exposure to toxins, or allergies.  (including physiological and emotional stresses).  The adrenal glands pump out cortisol to deal with each of these stresses. Over time, and as stresses start to add up, your cortisol levels can become chronically elevated. Chronically elevated cortisol can affect your blood sugar (and push you toward diabetes), it can push your blood pressure up, it can prematurely age your body by thinning the skin and hair, and by increasing the rate of bone depletion. It can even shrink your brain and bring on dementia.  If chronically elevated cortisol levels continue for too long, the system can actually burn out and suddenly your body can’t make cortisol leaving you feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, and exhausted.  Why Conventional Doctors Don’t Diagnose Adrenal Issues It can be very frustrating to work with conventional doctors who dismiss the possibility that an adrenal imbalance could be the cause of ongoing symptoms. However, doctors are trained in medical school to look for either tumors (which would be the cause of too much cortisol production) or other life threatening diseases. If they do not find evidence of these very rare health conditions, they have no more tools to help them since adrenal imbalance is not a disease and it is not taught in medical school.  Testing for Adrenal Issues There are several lab tests that you can do to identify issues with your adrenal glands including a saliva test and a urine test. It’s important that these tests are done throughout the day to identify fluctuating levels. A single blood test will not paint a complete picture of what’s going on. Testing urine or saliva throughout the day however provides the best information about cortisol levels as well as DHEA levels and their relationship to each other.    Treatment for Adrenal Issues Stress is the biggest cause of adrenal issues so the first step in treating adrenal issues is to find ways to minimize stress. This can be very difficult for people, but it’s essential. Start with mindset work by shifting to a more optimistic outlook. Incorporate stress management techniques like meditation, light exercise, prayer, or getting out into nature.   Diet is also important for getting the adrenal glands back in order. Eat whole foods (including lots of veggies and fruits), avoid sugar and processed foods. And, limit caffeine as well as alcohol.    Dr. Deb also suggests that adaptogenic herbs can be helpful including holy basil, ashwagandha ginseng, and rhodiola. Vitamin C plays a role in supporting healthy adrenal gland function, so supplementing with vitamin C is also often recommended. Some find that glandular supplements (either bovine or porcine desiccated adrenal) can be helpful.  Treating adrenal issues can be complex. It’s important to test your levels before settling on a treatment plan because you could potentially be exacerbating the problem. For example, if the cortisol levels are high, supplementing with phosphatidylserine might help but it would not be the right choice if cortisol levels are actually low. The same can be said about supplementing with DHEA without having tested the levels.  The Thyroid-Adrenal Connection Symptoms of an adrenal issue can be very similar to an underactive thyroid gland - thin skin, thinning hair, weight gain, and low lobido. Poor functioning adrenal glands can challenge the thyroid or increase symptoms of hypothyroidism. This is because cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands, is required to convert T4 (produced by the thyroid gland) into T3 to make it useful to our cells. If the adrenal gland is not producing enough cortisol, then T4 does not get converted and we can feel like the thyroid is not functioning properly. If the thyroid is already underperforming, then the situation is worse. Those who are taking thyroid medication like Synthroid, may feel like it’s not working because their symptoms persists. However, the low cortisol levels from the adrenals may actually be to blame.    What to Do if You Think You Have an Adrenal Issue Dr. Deb offered up three pieces of advice for people dealing with adrenal issues.  1. Get Stress in Check.  Think about the sources of stress in your life and identify what you can avoid, alter or balance out. 2. See a Functional Medicine Practitioner.  A conventional doctor is unlikely to identify the problem and a...

The Case:  Molly is 37 and over the past few decades she’s become less and less comfortable in her body. She’s experiencing anxiety, uneasiness, restless leg syndrome, headaches, eye sensitivity, difficulty concentrating, and trouble falling (and staying) asleep.  She often had to leave work early and was growing frustrated with her body.  The Investigation I could see how difficult life had become for Molly. She told me that she’d often felt overly-sensitive growing up but these latest developments were unbearable.  The more we talked about her lifestyle, the more I noticed that she was extremely connected in a digital sense. She constantly wore a bluetooth earpiece, she had many devices that she used frequently and she boasted about her super-high powered router.  I became suspicious that all of these technological conveniences might be an important part of solving this health mystery.  The potential health threats from exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (also referred to as Electromagnetic Frequencies or EMF) has been in serious question since the 90’s when studies were done about possible links between power lines and childhood cancer. Over the decades, our exposure has significantly increased. The volume of electronic devices in homes and public spaces has increased and the generation of wifi is also significantly grown. Wifi is all around us and the signals are getting stronger and stronger (from 2G to 5G) with technological development and increased consumer demand .     Dr. Catherine Clinton is a licensed naturopathic physician and the founder of the website WellFuture. She is also an author, speaker, pediatric health advocate, and is in the process of completing a book about the impact of EMF on human health. She joins me in this episode to discuss Molly’s case.    Human Bodies Generate Electromagnetic Fields  When we think about EMFs, most of us think about wifi and electronic devices, but our bodies also generate EMFs. Dr. Clinton explains that EMFs in the body are small electrical signals between the cells in our body. We witness these if we get an EKG (which measures the currents of the heart) or an EEG (measuring the currents in the brain). But, these are just the most common. Every cell in our body, and especially in our organs, communicate using electrical signals or frequencies. This is important to understand when we look at how outside EMFs might disrupt or interfere with our internal EMFs.  And, that’s not all. Plants and the earth also have a natural EMF that our bodies are conditioned to interact with.    Potential Symptoms of EMF Disruption If our body’s EMF frequencies have been disrupted, the body can respond in a variety of ways. This makes it difficult to diagnose the problem because the symptoms could be caused by a myriad of other things. Potential symptoms caused by over exposure to external EMFs include:  Fatigue Headaches Lack of energy Low immune system Irritation Anxiety Depression Autoimmune issues   This list is by no means complete.  For kids, symptoms might include:  Difficulty sleeping Attention and focus issues Behavioral problems Mood problems EMF and Autoimmune Disease EMF disturbances tend to cause issues wherever the body is weakest, so if you already have a propensity for gut issues, then this is how it might present. Autoimmune patients are more susceptible, too. In fact, Dr. Clinton shared a study that looked at patients with autoimmune disease. The study found that 90% of autoimmune patients felt better with the removal of some of the EMFs in their environment.    Sources of EMFs Cell Phones might be the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about EMFs - everyone seems to know that these devices generate electromagnetic fields. However, Dr. Clinton revealed that there are many other sources. Here are a few common examples: Electric blankets Wifi routers (in your house and surrounding houses) Smart meters Computers Video gaming systems Cell towers Refrigerators Electric devices (can openers, shavers, hair dryers, etc) If you are uncertain about the volume of EMFs in your home environment, there are companies that can test it for you with an EMF meter.    It’s Science. Not Woo. While there is always a need for more research, currently research is proving that this topic is not “woo” but based in real science. Dr. Clinton explains how, on a quantum physics level, these EMF frequencies can affect the cells in our body. This research is proving that there is electric communication between cells, within cells, in the proteins on the outside of the cellular membrane - they're all set up to work in a certain electrical electromagnetic frequency. And when you start changing that, even the smallest changes have big effects cellularly.When we start to look at that on a very small level, what's happening with the electrons, what's happening with the molecules, we start to see how the body is really made up of these phospholipid bilayers. And they have this communication that's dependent on water and electricity and the proteins being in the right configuration. When we have the water in the right amount and we have the electron conduction from whatever kind of source, we're talking about an electromagnetic frequency that is actually driving energy into the cell.   How do you Reduce EMF Exposure?  After realizing how significantly EMFs from our environment can impact our body and our well-being the next question is what can we do about it? These EMFs are everywhere! Here are a few ways to decrease exposure: Hardwire your computers to eliminate the need for wifi in the house Turn off routers at night Put your phone in ‘airplane mode’ when not in use Say no to 5G Don’t use your cell phone in the car (or charge it) Don’t leave electronics plugged in where they’re not in use   Reverse Effects of EMF Exposure It is possible to reverse the effects of EMF exposure by reconnecting with electromagnetic frequencies in nature. This might include spending some time with your hands in the dirt, walking barefoot on the ground, and just get some safe UV exposure by being outside. Sitting by a fire can also help your natural EMFs restore.    Our EMFs are closely connected to mitochondria function (which is critical to our health as it controls the production of free radicals). So, one additional way to reverse the effects of electromagnetic fields is to increase our intake of antioxidants. This can be done through a diet with whole food (grown in the earth and under the sun) and supplements. Additional supplements for countering the effects of EMFs include milk thistle, curcumin, resveratrol, phosphatid...

The Investigation It’s estimated that more than a quarter of Americans are suffering with insomnia. Are you? Did you know that all troubled sleeping is considered insomnia?  In this episode, we’re going to solve the mystery of sleep troubles and share valuable information about natural supplements that can help get you back to healthy sleep patterns.    Two Types of Insomnia Many people are surprised to learn that there are two types of insomnia. Type 1 is when you have trouble falling asleep. Type 2 is when you can fall asleep but you struggle to stay asleep through the night. Specifically, if you wake up and struggle (for 20 minutes or more) or are unable to get back to sleep.  Causes of Insomnia When You Can’t Fall Asleep There are many reasons someone may struggle with falling asleep. Common reasons are stress that has caused a high cortisol level. Low melatonin (which may be a result of low serotonin related to gut issues like dysbiosis) is a common factor in difficulties falling asleep. Did you know that bright lights used too close to bedtime (yes, that includes your TV, laptop, smart phone) can destroy melatonin? Mineral deficiencies, especially calcium and magnesium are also potential contributors to the problem.   Causes of Insomnia When You Can’t Stay Asleep If you fall asleep but then wake up in the middle of the night (especially from 2 - 4 am) then the biggest suspect causes are high cortisol and liver issues.  Cortisol is our stress hormone, and while we hear about it a lot, it’s a little more complex than just having too much. Our hormones need to be in balance throughout the day in order for us to function optimally - and that includes being able to stay asleep.  The liver also plays a key role in a good night’s rest. If the liver is sluggish (overburdened) or toxic it can turn into physical stress that will wake us up.    Natural Treatment Options for Insomnia The first part of determining how to treat your sleep issues is to determine what might be causing them. If stress is part of the problem (as it is for most people) you want to look into ways to down regulate your sympathetic nervous system. I recommend a dual pronged approach - mind & body and food & nutrition.    Meditation for Sleeplessness Meditation is one of my favourite ways to address sleep issues.  I encourage you to listen to episode 5 which dives deeper into meditation for insomnia featuring my meditation teacher, Emily Fletcher.  Even if you are resistant to meditation or you think it’s too hard, this method of meditation can help you break through and really implement meditation as a treatment for sleep issues. Other things that can help with sleep issues are journaling and doing visualizations. Supplements for Troubles Sleeping From a supplement perspective, one of my favorites for lowering cortisol levels at night is phosphatidylserine. I use a product called PS150. It lowers cortisol and helps balance the adrenal gland. Typically, a 130 pound person can take 300 mg of phosphatidylserine. If cortisol is part of the issue, results can be expected in 1-2 weeks. I mentioned that a magnesium deficiency is a common cause for insomnia, so taking a supplement can often help. Magnesium helps with stress as it calms and relaxes the body. My favorite form of magnesium supplement for sleep is the glycinate form because it gets into the tissues much better than magnesium citrate. We all have different magnesium levels in our bodies and some people may need more than others, but for most of the clients that I see, a 300 mg dose can be a great start. There is another form of magnesium called Magnesium threonate and that is magnesium bound to the amino acid threonate. This form of magnesium is great for the brain and can also be helpful for sleep when there is an overactive mind.   Liver Detox for Better Sleep First, you will want to determine if the liver is a potential cause for your insomnia. You can test this with an organic acid test which will look at certain liver pathways. However, if you have a history of consuming alcohol 3 or more times per week there is a good chance your liver detox pathways may be sluggish. Other causes of liver sluggishness are certain medications (even NSAIDS or birth control pills), eating out at restaurants several times per week or if you have not cleansed your liver in the last year. Herbs such as milk thistle and dandelion are wonderful to support the liver. I typically like going with synergistic formulas because all the ingredients work together. Some of my favorite combinations are the Push Catch Detox from Quicksilver Scientific, LV GB from Designs for Health and Livton Complex from Standard Process.   Additional Supplements to Support Good Sleep  If lowering cortisol (through meditation or other exercises) and liver supporting supplements don’t work, there are many other options. Valerian root and lemon balm are two herbs well-known for their nerve calming properties. Many people have found success with a synergistic formula called Myosedate which includes those from Designs for Health. Another good option is GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA is the brain's major inhibitory neurotransmitter which prevents overstimulation and therefore promotes  calm. GABA works best sublingually (hold it in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing). I have great results with a liquid and chewable form of it. The liquid is the Liposomal GABA from Quicksilver Scientific and the chewable is the Pharmagaba from Designs for Health.  If you have tested low for melatonin (a urine test can determine this) you can also try taking Melatonin. If you’re under the age of 50 I don’t suggest melatonin unless you know for sure your levels are low. Taking melatonin when you are not deficient can reduce your body’s ability to naturally produce the hormone. Melatonin only helps you fall asleep, so if your struggle with waking up in the middle of the night, this likely won’t help.   CBD for Improved Sleep Another supplement that might be helpful is CBD. CBD oil comes from the hemp plant and is extracted in a way that removes the THC. This means that you don’t have to worry about ‘getting high’.  CBD doesn’t just help with sleep, it also reduces inflammation. There are a lot of options in the marketplace but look for a brand that’s organic otherwise, you might be ingesting pesticides and toxins.    Can Food Give You...

The Case:  Emily has 2 autoimmune diseases  She decided to get tested for EBV (Epstein Barr Virus) which her doctor reluctantly did. Her doctor didn’t know how to interpret her results and dismissed her concerns.    What Emily experienced is very common. Conventional doctors often are hesitant to test for EBV and don’t truly know how to read the results. In some cases, they don’t even order the right lab tests.    Emily knew that there was more to the story than her doctor understood. She’d educated herself about EBV and knew that there could be a connection to her 2 autoimmune diseases. And, that her health could be on the line.    The Investigation   I was happy to help Emily better interpret her lab results. As we learned in the first case of suspected EBV, this can be a very complicated, confusing, and time-sensitive diagnosis. There are few people who understand it better than Dr. Kasia Kines, so I brought her back to discuss Emily’s case.    Dr. Kasia, she is a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition and the CEO of EBV Educational Institute and Holistic Nutrition Naturally. She is also the author of the Amazon Bestseller: The Epstein-Barr Virus Solution.    Four Markers to Test for EBV Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is complicated. In order to get a full picture of what’s going on with the virus (and determine if it’s latent or new), there are four markers that should be tested. These are tested through blood tests that many labs offer.    The four tests are:  EA IgG (Early Antigen) - this is the most important test and it’s often missed. If your doctor skips this one you won’t know your true EBV status.    EBNA IgG (Epstein Barr Nuclear Antigen) - Indicates a history of infection in non-acute cases. This tells the story of the long term status of the virus.    VCA IgG (Viral capsid antigen) - Indicates an acute infection and will remain perpetually present after initial infection.   VCA IgM (Viral capsid antigen) - Is present in the early phase of an infection and usually disappears.    For what the results mean, see the chart in this week's show notes here: Health Mysteries Solved Podcast - Episode 43   [chart courtesy of Dr. Kines’ website]   The Often Missed EBV Test The EA IgG early antigen test is the most important in getting a big picture of what’s going on right now with the virus. Unfortunately, it is often skipped by doctors. When you have EBV, the virus stays in the body (and we may not be able to ever kill it off entirely). Dr. Kines says that 90 - 95% of the population carries the virus and for many, it doesn’t impact their day-to-day health. Despite this, someone may wake up and feel like they’ve been run over by a truck. Could it be the latent EBV reactivating? The early antigen test is key in determining this - and it must be tested early on (within the first few weeks of the ‘flare-up’ or reactivation). If this test is not done, you could have active EBV and not know it which can be dangerous.    Symptoms of Active EBV A reactivation of EBV can present in a variety of ways. I could seem like the flu with severe fatigue and feeling like you’ve been ‘run over by a truck’. It can also present with cold-like symptoms (sore throat, swollen lymph nodes), or skin rashes, and even gut or digestive issues. Digestive issues could present as constipation, pain, or symptoms related to leaky gut. If you have an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s, it might present as a flare-up of the autoimmune disease. The real challenge with symptoms of EBV is that there are so many potential symptoms that could easily be something else. This is why EBV is often not considered or caught.    How to Decrease Elevated EBV Markers  When there is a flare up, the results on the lab can be very confusing - especially when the level is shown simply as above the maximum lab result. Dr. Kines has a protocol she recommends (and I use it with my patients too). This recommends a restricted diet and a lot of rest. It is all outlined in her book.  It is also important to continue to monitor the markers. However, Dr. Kines points out that everyone’s levels are going to be different. Some will decrease significantly with lifestyle changes while others may take longer. However, how you feel is more important than what the labs say. If you feel good, and your labs are elevated, then consider that a win. She says that it’s easy for people to get demoralized but it’s not all about the numbers.    Other Factors in EBV If someone is following the protocol and not getting results (either in how they feel or their lab results), then there may be something else at play. Two of the most common culprits are heavy metals and molds. For more on heavy metals, listen to episode 024 and for more on mold listen to episode 006. Mold can really block any efforts to decrease EBV marker levels because it devastates the immune cells and system. In cases where mold or heavy metals are an issue on top of elevated EBV markers, the mold and heavy metals must be addressed first.    Negative Reaction to the EBV Protocol Introducing a new protocol of supplements and dietary restrictions can trigger reactions. However, Dr. Hines recommends starting slow with the protocol. If there is a reaction, then you can stop the protocol and add in the different pieces one by one to determine if there is one thing that is causing an issue.  She also recommends, as do I, that you always opt for top-quality supplements to minimize the chance that you’ll have a negative reaction.    EBV Triggers to Avoid One surprising trigger the Dr. Kines mentioned comes from forest fires. This should be on your radar if you live near an area (like California) where there are a lot of forest fires. When fires burn, they give off a toxin called dioxin which has been shown to reactivate EBV. You can also be exposed to this toxin through cigarette smoke (even second-hand), campfires, fireworks, or the burning of debris. She also mentioned that wifi exposure should be closely monitored. This includes your own router but also the wifi used for smart meters that could be penetrating your walls. Additionally, she cautions against blue light exposure (commonly from TV, computer screens, and smartphones). Even your next vacation could expose you to EBV triggers (listen to the episode to find out how). All of these triggers can also reactivate the Epstein-barr virus.    Mystery Solved Let’s take a look at Emily’s labs. Her VCA IgM was negative which made her doctor think the infection was not current, but she had an elevated early antigen. Her doctor completely missed that. While her symptoms weren’t dramatic, she knew something was wrong and the tests proved it.  Because of her sensitive stomach, we opted for the protocol that included the amino acids and antioxidants Dr. Kasia talks about in this episode (Lysine, NAC, Selenium and Zinc). She tired Monolaurin but experienced die-off symptoms so we stuck with the original protocol.    Happy Ending Emily’s digestive issues subsided in about 3 weeks and her energy started to slowly come back...