Awaken Integrative Wellness Clinic

07/07/2026

Research published in 2024.

Emerging research suggests a notable association between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), mast cell dysfunction, and broader immune dysregulation. Some clinical studies of children with mastocytosis—a rare disorder involving abnormal mast cell accumulation or activation—have reported higher rates of ASD than those seen in the general population.

In addition, food allergies and immune-related problems appear to be more common in some autistic children. Mast cells are immune cells concentrated in the gut, skin, and near the blood-brain barrier, where they release substances such as histamine and inflammatory cytokines.

Researchers are investigating whether excessive or poorly regulated mast cell activation, triggered by factors such as stress, infection, or environmental exposures, could contribute to inflammation and influence neurological symptoms in susceptible individuals. However, these findings show an association and do not establish mast cell activation as a cause of autism.

Mast cell activation may also overlap with or worsen challenges experienced by some autistic individuals. Excessive mediator release can be associated with gastrointestinal pain, bloating, food intolerance, flushing, hives, headaches, sleep disturbance, brain fog, anxiety, irritability, and changes in attention or activity levels.

PMCID: PMC10932299 PMID: 38473898

07/02/2026

Demodex Overgrowth. It is the cause of everything from folliculitis to rosacea, recurring styes and dry eyes. I have come to recently suspect a strong correlation with eczema and alopecia as well. It is very common specifically in immunocompromised individuals - due to MCAS, autoimmunity, mold exposure, antibiotic usage/medications, COVID/viruses and vaccine injury. The older the patient, the more likely they have the overgrowth. I have had patients in their 30s with demodex overgrowth as well.

Demodex mites are among the most prevalent human parasites. While commonly found on healthy individuals, an overpopulation of this arachnid resident of human skin triggers demodicosis, a neglected yet widely prevalent disease with considerable skin ...

06/20/2026

Mold illness. Those who get sick from it are more sensitive than others in the population, even others in the same house, because of inhibited detox pathways/MCAS. It happens mostly to females/women.
I lived the mold nightmare - a moldy house I lived in from 2000-2002 triggered MCAS and made me sick for 22 years. I had other moldy home experiences in there that exacerbated my illness worse than it already was each time. I found SAAT in 2021, treated myself and finally healed.

06/20/2026

Great advice on perimenopause/menopause hormonal digestive issues/weight gain. I used the word “gastropause” with a patient yesterday and she had no idea it was part of the menopausal transition. It very much is! How do I know? As with nearly everything I treat, I have experienced it myself. The advice in the video is based on Eastern medicine; the OG medicine that I love so dearly because it heals. Enjoy!

06/07/2026

Alpha-gal and MCAS - The majority of my Alpha-gal patients also have MCAS and I treat symptoms of both.

One of the most common questions we see from people living with Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) is:"If I'm avoiding mammalian products, why am I still sick?"It's a fair question.For many individuals, identifying and avoiding triggers leads to significant improvement. Symptoms become less frequent, reaction...

06/04/2026

Anxiety in MCAS is due to blood deficiency and heart heat. According to TCM the liver makes the blood. There is a specific liver dysfunction in MCAS patients. The blood markers of blood deficiency (b vitamins, ferritin, etc) are only what the body is making available in the blood, pulling it from all over to make it available in the blood- it is not measuring what is stored in the body. There are better blood markers to show blood deficiency like homocysteine but I digress. It is a blood deficiency problem. It can also be a heart heat problem. Heart heat in MCAS is essentially a histamine reaction to anything you’re ingesting causing heat to rise up the esophagus which is where the heart is located. Yes, it really is that simple.

05/29/2026

There is a better way. Ask your acupuncturist/herbalist. Weight loss requires individualized care. There are thousands of ways to support GLP-1. Digestive bitters and so much more. Supporting the digestion also directly supports blood sugar and weight loss. There are basic principles we are not taught in our culture. The body is always speaking to us and always wants to heal itself. Supporting and healing the body will enable it to function properly.

An animal study found semaglutide reduced lean mass by about 10%, with the liver shrinking nearly in half and skeletal muscles losing 6% of their size. In a clinical trial of 140 adults, semaglutide users lost about 15 pounds of lean muscle over 68 weeks.

05/27/2026

MCAS now featured in the CA / NY Post!! It takes approximately 4-5 SAAT treatments for the body to resolve the symptoms. That’s it.

The condition is elusive and shifts without warning. Patients eat normally one day, then go into anaphylaxis the next. Reactions can be triggered by stress, environment or even sunlight.

05/25/2026

I keep saying it!