And how calming their fire can bring peace to your whole home.

If your child is struggling with focus, meltdowns, sleep troubles, tummy aches, or just never seems to feel quite right—there’s a good chance that chronic inflammation is playing a role.

In fact, many of the kids I work with in my virtual practice—whether they’ve been labeled with ADHD, autism, anxiety, PANS/PANDAS, or sensory issues—are dealing with a hidden fire in their body and brain.

And here’s the part that’s often missed:
🌿 When we calm the inflammation in your child’s body, their behavior, mood, sleep, and learning often improve... and so does life for everyone in the family.

🔍 What is Chronic Inflammation (in Kids)?

Inflammation is the body’s natural way of protecting itself when there’s injury or infection. That’s a good thing! But when the body gets stuck in “alert mode” from hidden triggers—like certain foods, toxins, infections, or stress—it can lead to chronic, low-grade inflammation.

In kids, this can show up as:

• Mood swings, irritability, or anger outbursts

• Brain fog or difficulty focusing

• Sleep struggles (hard time falling or staying asleep)

• Belly pain, constipation, or food sensitivities

• Anxiety, OCD, or motor tics

• Skin rashes, asthma, or allergies

Sound familiar? You’re not imagining things—and your child is not broken.

🚨 What’s Triggering the Fire?

Here are the top sources of inflammation I see in kids with brain and immune challenges:

1. 🧃 Ultra-Processed Foods

Sugar, artificial dyes, gluten, dairy, and seed oils (like canola or soybean) can poke the immune system over and over—especially in sensitive kids. Even so-called “healthy” snacks can trigger inflammation when your child’s gut is already inflamed.

2. 🧠 Gut Imbalances

A leaky gut, constipation, yeast overgrowth, or harmful bacteria can lead to an immune system that’s on high alert. And because the gut and brain are so connected, this often shows up as behavior or mood issues—not just belly aches.

3. 😴 Poor Sleep

When kids don’t sleep deeply or enough (often because their nervous system is inflamed), their body misses out on essential repair time. This adds fuel to the fire.

4. 💥 Hidden Infections or Mold Exposure

Chronic strep, Epstein-Barr, Lyme, or mold in the home can overstimulate the immune system. Kids with PANS/PANDAS are especially vulnerable here. These kids are not just difficult—their immune system is attacking their brain.

5. 🧼 Sluggish Detox

When the liver, lymph, or gut can’t keep up with daily toxins—from plastics, pesticides, or even poor water quality—the buildup creates more inflammation. Sensitive kids often need extra detox support to clear the junk.

💡 So Why Is Inflammation So Common in Neurodivergent Kids?

Kids with ADHD, autism, anxiety, OCD, or PANS often have:

• Genetic differences in detox, like MTHFR

• More sensitive immune systems

• Gut microbiome imbalances from antibiotics or C-sections

• Nutrient deficiencies like zinc, magnesium, or omega-3s

• A body that’s stuck in fight-or-flight mode
  All of these things can make their immune system overreact, creating a chronic cycle of inflammation that affects their brain and behavior.

🧪 How We Identify Inflammation (Without Guessing)

In my practice, I use gentle, kid-friendly functional medicine testing to uncover what’s really going on under the surface:

• Stool tests: to check gut bugs, digestion, inflammation, and more

• OAT (Organic Acids Test): to peek at yeast, mitochondria, detox, and brain chemistry

• Food sensitivity or histamine testing: to identify immune triggers

• Mold, strep, or Lyme testing: especially for kids with rage, regression, or OCD

• Bloodwork: when appropriate, to check vitamin D, CRP, ferritin, and more

🌿 How to Cool the Inflammation (and Calm the Chaos)

We don’t “treat” ADHD or autism—we support the root causes that create inflammation, and that’s where healing begins.

Here’s what I help families with every day:

🥗 Food First

• Removing common triggers like gluten, dairy, food dyes, and refined sugar

• Adding in gut-healing and anti-inflammatory foods (think: berries, wild salmon, bone broth, and veggies)

• A kid-friendly meal plan that even picky eaters can manage

💊 Targeted Supplements

(Not a one-size-fits-all list—always based on testing!)
Common support includes:

• Curcumin (natural anti-inflammatory from turmeric)

• Omega-3s (for calming brain inflammation)

• Magnesium (helps sleep, focus, and constipation)

• Probiotics (to support gut-brain balance)

• Vitamin D (modulates the immune system)

😌 Lifestyle Changes That Stick

• Simple sleep strategies (even for restless kids)

• Safe detox tips: like Epsom salt baths or castor oil packs

• Emotional regulation tools (for both parent and child!)

• Identifying mold triggers at home or school (you’d be surprised)

💖 Why Helping Your Child Helps the Whole Family

When your child feels better, everything shifts:

• Fewer meltdowns at bedtime

• Mornings feel less like a battlefield

• Siblings relax (because everyone’s nervous system calms down)

• You sleep better. You breathe deeper. You hope again.

This is the power of healing the root cause—not just managing symptoms.

✨ Ready to Start Calming the Fire?

I work with families across the country who are tired of patching up symptoms and want real answers.

If you’re ready to uncover the root causes behind your child’s struggles and get a personalized plan based on labs—not guesswork—I invite you to schedule a no-charge Brain Challenge Breakthrough Consultation.

🎁 When you book and attend your consultation, you’ll also receive a BONUS 7-Day Anti-Inflammatory Kid-Friendly Meal Plan to get started right away.

👉 Book Your Session Now

Let’s get your child—and your family—on the path to calm, connection, and vibrant health.

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Peng Y, Ao M, Dong B, Jiang Y, Yu L, Chen Z, Hu C, Xu R. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin in the Inflammatory Diseases: Status, Limitations and Countermeasures. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2021 Nov 2;15:4503-4525. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S327378. PMID: 34754179; PMCID: PMC8572027.

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