Hello, Heidi! I had an idea for Debs if she has difficult locating the purified/distilled water. I take Heallix straight up, without the distilled water. I find the taste doesn't bother me as much when it's over in one or two "gulps." Perhaps you can advise whether that's as effective as with the distilled water?

I also wanted to let you know that I had my first appointment yesterday with Dr. Joan Brower (listed in this site's database of practioners), and she had a number of suggestions for me and we did some accupuncture (my first time!) Thank you for your recommendation that I seek professional assistance and advice from a doctor who supports the Blood Type philosophy; I am feeling a lot more hope regarding resolving these infections! Warmly, Paulita O-nonnie

Hallo, Paulita! You're quite right, Heallix works fine taken straight as well. It does work best when diluted with distilled water, but full-strength works, too.

I am JUST pleased as all get-out that you found a good BTD doc! Thanks for keeping me informed there. Do send those updates when you can ~~ bless ya, dear! :-D

Heidi, I've done a search for bipolar disorder and have also read everything Dr. D'Adamo has written about depression in his books. (I can't get the "O and Depression" on his list of topics to open. When clicked, it opens whatever the topic of the day is).

Anyway, my question centers on my 13 year old Type O daughter who may have early on-set bipolar disorder. My husband's father had it. Dr. D specifically addressed ADD/ADHD in his books, which apparently is closely related to bipolar disorder, so much so that differentiating between the two can be difficult. So I'm thinking that protocols which are good for ADD/ADHD may also be beneficial for possible bipolar disorder. Would I be correct in assuming this?

Also, in addition to trying to limit wheat, dairy and, in her case soy because she's allergic to it, what other dietary supports can you suggest? I'm giving her a daily multivitamin as well as an oral B-12 supplement. She's getting aerobic exercise almost daily. Do you think trying a supplement of 5-HTP might help? Also, even though we eat salmon at least once a week, I'm thinking an omega-3 supplement might be in order.

Thank you for any help you can give us. I'm trying to take a natural approach to this because she's so young and it seems likely that it will be another 5 years or so before we can really know if this is actually bipolar disorder or simply a propensity to be volatile and difficult that she'll outgrow. Blessings, K



Hello, K ~ I'm sorry to hear your daughter's having trouble!

In the case of both ADD and bipolar, it's important to completely eliminate wheat & dairy rather than just to limit it. When dealing with brain chemistry issues, we so often find that minute amounts of these substances have effects far out of proportion to the quantity. This magnified effect may be due to that ol' gut brain (ganglia)'s proximity to the offenders. :->

I do urge you to get her secretor status established, so the specific recommendations in Live Right 4 Your Type can be put to work for her.

Other suggestions: FOLATES (best food sources are dark leafy greens - kale, collards, chard, etc.; supplement as folic acid); EFAs (fish several times weekly (3-4); soaked ground flaxseed; supplement with a mixed-omegas formulation); ACTIVE B12 (methylcobalamin); and a daily calcium supp (best bet is Phytocal-O). Very important: make sure she is getting grass fed meat at least once daily. It's becoming clearer to me every day that the conjugated linoleic acid ("CLA") in grass fed red meats should be labeled ESSENTIAL TO TYPE O HEALTH. ;-) The perceived difference between corn fed and grassfed meats seems minuscule, but I have seen over and over again how astonishing is the difference in the body's response to it -- notably in the skin and the nervous system. Lamb is a fine choice in terms of price (ground lamb burgers with cumin, garlic & onion are but one easy and delicious possibility).

The Ask Dr. D'Adamo article you wanted can be found here: O and Depression. Also, the Encyclopedia section I believe you're looking for is on page 246: "Depression, Bipolar." Note in particular the advice to avoid MAO inhibitors (such as St. John's Wort) and kava-kava, and the remarks concerning catecholemines. In that regard, the supplement Catechol sold in the Store here is tailor-made for your daughter. Pantethine (not pantothenic acid) is another supp which has an especially good record with Os' neurochemical imbalances.

I do agree with you that she may find her way just fine as time goes on, but I am sure she will certainly benefit from following the diet according to her secretor status and implementing the suggestions above. I am wishing you both the very best, and hope you'll keep me apprised of her progress! :-D

Hi Heidi hope you had a relaxing break : ) I read Suzanna's message today regarding her elevated TSH and thought i could tell her a little about my TSH experience in the hope it helps her to decide upon a course of action.

I too had my TSH tested about a year ago and it came back at about 4.5. I had it retested a few months later and it had increased to 5.5. Like Suzanna, all other indicators were normal ie T3 and T4. I was also more or less symptomless (aside from period pain which is why my doctor decided to test). At that point i decided i had to do something.

My holistic doctor suggested that as all other indicators were normal, it could be dietry (I had been vegan for 8 years or so)so after much deliberation started eating fish regularly. That was about 5 months ago. I had my TSH hormone tested about 2 months into the new diet - and guess what? It had dropped to under 3.5!

I am going to have it retested again early next year, but i suspect that with continued adherance to the diet, it will have dropped further (i am an O, secretor status unknown). I think that the combined effect of increased iodine and protien probably helped to balance my thyroid function - and hopefully the same will happen for you. Good luck Emma

ps Heidi - i wrote in about a month ago about persistent white, odourless discharge with no itch whatsoever. You wrote back with suggestions - all of which i have been adhering to for many years (ie no wheat, dairy etc) so i was wondering if you have any otehr ideas up your sleeve. Just to remind you, I have been tested for candida and pathogens that could result in these symptoms and all the tests were negative. Cheers and many thanks emma



Hey Emma, thank you for posting your experience with TSH! As a type O vegan, you'd certainly racked up a significant protein/animal-fat deficiency by the time your TSH rose out of the norm. I'm glad that fish was most of what you needed to meet that challenge! :-D

About the continuing discharge, and assuming it's not your "normal" state so to speak, I would expect it to begin to clear due to avoiding the grain and dairy no-nos. It's been happening for about 1 1/4 years, right? so it began while you were a vegan?

Help me out by giving me a sample week's menus. Include what kind of oil you're using and what supps are in the schedule.

Another thought is that contact with latex (gloves, condoms or diaphragm) can produce this kind of steady discharge -- as can a reaction over time to the chemicals in most tampons & menstrual pads. Tick those things over in your mind and see if anything rings a bell.

be back at me, OK, dear? and very best wishes to you!! :-D