This person, a friend, is extremely sensitive and undergoes routine NATE treatments for sensitivities and allergies. She experiences fatigue, headaches and chronic pain, especially in the neck. I had thought of her during the recent blood chemistry lecture where the symptoms of molybdenum deficiency were discussed, and I had passed along that information to her, since she is also very sensitive to fragrances and chemicals. She mentioned that she has tried many different adaptogen herbs over the years and always has a bad reaction to them. I asked her what symptoms she experienced when taking adaptogens and she reported increased frequency and intensity of headaches, pain, and "air hunger." The pain is most prominent in her neck. The air hunger is described as a feeling of needing to breathe but unable to take a fulfilling deep breath. When asked what adaptogens she has tried, she said Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, American Ginseng, Holy Basil, and a mushroom, either Reishi or Cordyceps. Each herb was taken by itself. She has been experimenting with natural treatment over the last 20-odd years and always starts things slowly and one at a time. She noticed this pattern each time she tried an adaptogenic herb. I'm suspecting a Chinese kidney issue. When I mentioned it, she said that her NATE treatments often show blockages in her kidneys. Interested to hear your thoughts on this one. Thank you!

I am not sure what to say, while the herbs are all adaptogens or probable adaptogens, they have very different chemistry and ultimately many different activities. So it is very odd that she has this response to this category of herbs. As for NAET (not NATE) I am not sure how much stock to put in it as a therapy. I have tried it and it did nothing for me. I do know other people it seems to have helped and others it also did nothing for. Some adaptogens strengthen the Chinese Kidney yang, as well as the lung, spleen and heart. So the idea that it has something to do with the Chinese Kidney does not seem to make sense to me. Herbs like Rhodiola, Cordyceps and American Ginseng should help breathing, not make it worse. So it is unusual and I cannot see an easily discernible pattern among adaptogens to explain her reaction.

I appreciate your insight on this. This person is sensitive not just to adaptogens, but she generally has an unusual or idiosyncratic reaction to anything she takes. I recall her having to stop taking a women's multivitamin a few years back because they put Red Clover in it. She can't tolerate alcohol tinctures, so she mainly tries new herbs in tea or capsule. In a recent NAET treatment, they treated her against tap water and she was instructed not to touch tap water for 24 hours afterwards. She had to bring a gallon of distilled water to work to wash her hands... She has been doing the NAET treatments for over a decade and says it's the only thing that has consistently helped her. She's been struggling with this issue her entire life, and her mother is similar in constitution and sensitivities. This person has two daughters who also have lots of allergies and health issues, especially digestive and mental health. She is not under my care currently; she's just a close friend whose struggles I'm aware of. If you had a client who was this sensitive, where would you consider starting?

Honestly, people like your friend are incredibly difficult to treat. It is in cases like this that I use single herbs in drop doses. In her case single herb teas in very small doses until you know what she will or will not react to. People who are highly sensitive to perfumes, chemicals, foods, herbs etc. sometimes have a Molybdenum deficiency, or an impaired ability to effectively methylate (phase 2 liver detox) metabolic wastes. Alteratives can be useful, as well as methylated B vitamins (if she has an MTHFR gene snip), and saunas. Since her mother has this as well, it is likely there is a genetic component (MTHFR), but you cannot rule out the possibility that it has an emotional component as well. I am not saying “it is all in her head”, but the mind and body are one, so it may play some role.