A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. [ Proverbs 18:24 ]   In a world so rough and fractured as this we poor sons of Adam create, it is easy to despair of finding true relationship, to despise all search for it, to expect treachery and therefore eschew covenant. I cannot be betrayed when I require no loyalty, and he who makes no relationship need never worry about false friends. ‘Me and my God,’ I might say, content with the one relationship in which I am the only traitor. Long cavalcades of abuse, a culture inimical to Biblical love, and the resulting despondency, these seem strong reasons to cease seeking any relationship deeper than acquaintance, whether friendship or kinship or marriage. Against this understandable impulse, God sends a message of hope and of duty. Relationship may be hard, and it may be dangerous, but it can be true . When we read of David and Jonathan, when we read of Sam and Frodo, we need not relegate the possibility, in a form particular to us, into history (for the first) and fiction (for the second). Our relationships will certainly hurt, but they can be the solid, unyielding oak which makes all that pain entirely worth it. Now, if anyone here denies that our culture has messed up relationships is advised to take a second look. The fracturing of our social fabric on a grand scale is fundamentally a shattering of our skill in the foundational social relationships: marriage, parenthood, friendship, partnership, and acquaintanceship, not to mention participation in the church body and the civil government. As a rule, being men taught wrongly by our world, our culture doesn’t know how to establish lasting bonds which survive mutual wrongs and differences of opinion. We swing wildly towards atomization and then back to making the relationship an idol, as if there are no limits. Thus, many despair of true friendship. Friendliness, of course, is quite plausible. We can shake hands with some people, talk piffle and politics, share a meal on occasion. These little indicators of relationship, however, seem to sit by themselves, the surface ripples of a puddle, not a pond or an ocean. These things are good, but they are not enough. We have in them only the aesthetics of the reality they should signify. Stories open to us vision of this deeper reality. Some of those stories are from people around us, their experience recapitulated in our ears, whether ongoing friendships or the legacy of their age. Our parents and grandparents have their own relationships (or had them, when they lived), and imperfect as they were, often they had something desirable in them, parts at least which were substantial as modernity’s superficial friendliness is not and only apes. We see, too, those around us who have marriages not perfect but real, an idea which seems too often absurd. Some of those stories are from fiction and from history. We read of Sam and Frodo, and we recognize a bedrock loyalty and groundedness. We discover the relationships, substantial even if not so deep, which characterize the social fabric of our forefathers, their mutual trust of their neighbors which went farther than merely lacking apprehension of malice. Each of these has different parts, and each of us knows some part of relationship which he has longed for, seeing it somewhere else. The temptation, again, is to despair. Perhaps most stridently is this expressed in the field of marriage. Young Christian men aver that they’ve no women to speak to and trust till death; young Christian women say the same, in different places. Too many have seen Christian marriages crash and judder on the rocks, either to apostasy or to mere sordid sin, and too often they’ve seen the church body jam its toes resolutely in its own mouth before addressing the problem substantially. The temptation is powerful to say: ‘I cannot have; it is not available to me.’ At the base, very often, the true statement is this: ‘The possibility is too small to be worth the risk.’ God does not think so. He calls for wisdom, certainly, in seeking relationship. We shouldn’t simply throw ourselves against the first human-shaped object and lavish it with loyalty and affection. No. The steps of relationship are giving and taking in escalation, each learning the other’s measure, pressing against his fiber to see if it will hold. The first part of relationship, therefore, is establishing a pattern of strong moral fiber (of wisdom) which will grow stronger in response to the strain of loving another flawed human and of learning to love, to be loved, rather than fraying and weakening. Prudence moderates entrance into relationship, but wisdom and duty and their master, God, demand that we seek relationship. “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother,” today’s verse assures us, and if we refuse the call, we’ll never find him. And of course, at the end, we have that one friend assured to us, by His grace, that friend of Whom it is said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:31). “What a friend we have in Jesus,” we may sing truly, “all our sins and griefs to bear!” (J.M. Scriven, What A Friend We Have In Jesus ). God bless. Written by Colson Potter

Living with chronic Lyme disease can feel like navigating a maze with no clear exit. The fatigue, joint pain, and brain fog often linger long after the initial infection, making everyday life a challenge. I want to share with you some of the most effective chronic Lyme therapies that have helped many find relief and regain their vitality. Together, we’ll explore practical, compassionate approaches that honor your unique journey toward wellness. Understanding Chronic Lyme Therapies: A Path to Wellness When Lyme disease persists beyond the early stages, it becomes what many call chronic Lyme disease. This condition requires a thoughtful, personalized approach to treatment. Chronic Lyme therapies focus not only on eradicating the infection but also on restoring balance to your immune system and overall health. Some of the most promising therapies include: Targeted Antibiotic Therapy : While antibiotics are the frontline treatment for Lyme disease, chronic cases often need longer or repeated courses tailored to your symptoms and test results. Herbal Protocols : Certain herbs like Japanese knotweed, cat’s claw, and andrographis have shown potential in fighting Lyme bacteria and supporting immune function. Immune System Support : Supplements such as vitamin D, probiotics, and omega-3 fatty acids can help strengthen your body’s defenses. Detoxification : Gentle detox methods, including sauna therapy and lymphatic drainage, assist in removing toxins that may accumulate during infection. Lifestyle Adjustments : Stress management, balanced nutrition, and regular, gentle exercise are vital components of healing. Each of these therapies can be combined and customized to fit your needs. The goal is to create a comprehensive plan that addresses both the infection and the symptoms that affect your quality of life. Why is Chronic Lyme So Hard to Treat? One of the most frustrating aspects of chronic Lyme disease is how stubborn it can be. The bacteria responsible, Borrelia burgdorferi , is a master of disguise and survival. It can hide in biofilms, evade the immune system, and even enter a dormant state that makes it less susceptible to antibiotics. Additionally, Lyme disease often triggers a cascade of immune dysfunction and inflammation. This means that even after the bacteria are reduced, symptoms may persist due to ongoing immune responses or damage to tissues. Other factors that complicate treatment include: Co-infections : Ticks can carry multiple pathogens, each requiring different treatments. Delayed Diagnosis : Many people don’t realize they have Lyme disease until it has progressed. Individual Variability : Genetics, overall health, and environmental exposures all influence how the disease manifests and responds to treatment. Understanding these challenges helps us approach chronic Lyme with patience and persistence. It’s not about quick fixes but steady progress toward healing. Exploring Effective Chronic Lyme Disease Treatment Options If you or someone you love is struggling with chronic Lyme, it’s important to know there are options. I encourage you to explore chronic lyme disease treatment options that focus on your whole health, not just the infection. Here are some practical steps to consider: Work with a Knowledgeable Practitioner Find a healthcare provider experienced in Lyme disease and functional medicine. They can help you navigate testing, interpret results, and design a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Comprehensive Testing Beyond standard Lyme tests, ask about co-infections and immune markers. This information guides more precise treatment. Personalized Treatment Plans Your treatment might include a combination of antibiotics, herbal therapies, supplements, and lifestyle changes. Regular follow-ups ensure adjustments as you progress. Supportive Therapies Physical therapy, acupuncture, and counseling can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Self-Care and Education Learning about your condition empowers you to make informed decisions and advocate for your health. Remember, healing is a journey. Celebrate small victories and be gentle with yourself along the way. The Role of Functional Medicine in Chronic Lyme Care Functional medicine offers a holistic framework that aligns beautifully with the needs of those facing chronic Lyme disease. Instead of focusing solely on symptoms, it seeks to uncover the root causes of illness and restore balance. At Sanctuary Functional Medicine, the approach includes: Detailed Health History and Lifestyle Assessment Understanding your unique story helps identify triggers and barriers to healing. Advanced Laboratory Testing This may include tests for infections, inflammation, gut health, and nutrient status. Customized Treatment Protocols Combining conventional and natural therapies to support your body’s healing capacity. Ongoing Support and Education Empowering you with tools and knowledge to maintain wellness long-term. This personalized care model is especially important in Middle Tennessee, where environmental factors and lifestyle can influence chronic illness patterns. By addressing the whole person, functional medicine helps you reclaim your health and vitality. Embracing Hope and Healing Every Day Living with chronic Lyme disease is undeniably challenging, but it’s important to remember that you are not alone. Many have walked this path and found ways to thrive despite the obstacles. Here are some gentle reminders to carry with you: Listen to Your Body Rest when you need it and honor your limits. Seek Connection Support from friends, family, or support groups can provide comfort and encouragement. Celebrate Progress Healing is rarely linear. Every step forward, no matter how small, is meaningful. Stay Curious and Open New research and therapies continue to emerge. Keep exploring what might work best for you. Your journey toward wellness is deeply personal, and with the right support and treatments, brighter days are ahead. If you want to learn more about personalized care and chronic Lyme therapies, consider reaching out to a functional medicine clinic near you. Together, you can create a plan that honors your unique needs and helps you move toward lasting health.

The Unseen Consequences of COVID While few of us want to think about COVID again, recent research suggests it may be stealing more from us than just energy and daily function. Long COVID might be weakening our immune defenses, creating openings for new infections or reactivating latent infections. Many of us have wondered why we seem to be getting sick more often than before having COVID. This concern is shared by those who had COVID and those who received the preventive mRNA injection. The research supports what we have seen in our patients over the past few years, along with some additional findings. The Immune System: A Unified Defense First, we should recognize that our immune system is called a system for a reason. We don’t have a thousand different immune departments, each responsible for individual infections, whether viral, bacterial, or parasitic. Instead, we have an integrated system where different branches work together to combat any invading infection. This possible effect of COVID shouldn’t be a surprise. When we look at years of past discoveries, we often see one infection affecting immune responses to others. HIV’s ability to shut down the entire system is the most striking example, but it’s not the only one. With the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has caused turmoil since 2020, several downstream effects on the immune system may open the door for other viruses and some bacteria to gain the upper hand. Many suspect that this coronavirus has contributed to the tenfold increase in infections reported by 44 countries. While various explanations, such as an overwhelmed public health system or societal changes, have been proposed, some element of immune dysfunction caused by the virus is evident. How Infections Interact How can one infection make us more susceptible to another? Most of us think that after an infection, we kill it off completely, leaving no residual microbes. In reality, many bacteria, viruses, and parasites can go dormant in our bodies after the initial infection. The herpes family of viruses are well-known examples. Fever blisters can recur for a lifetime, shingles can wake up decades after childhood chickenpox, and CMV (cytomegalovirus) can reactivate after organ transplants. This article mentions the reactivation of EBV and many others. In this research, several bacteria are noted to be more prevalent after a COVID infection. This includes Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Klebsiella, Hemophilus, Moraxella, tuberculosis, and others. These are mostly found in the respiratory tract and can include both reactivations and enhanced susceptibility to new exposures. The Murky Waters of Causation The article notes that direct causation and mechanisms linking the SARS-CoV-2 virus are still murky at best, but the associations are undeniable. Some associations even go both ways; chronic conditions like Lyme disease may be a risk factor for more severe COVID, as referenced in the linked article. Many mechanisms have been proposed in the paper, including altered immune function, latent virus reactivation, autoimmune pathways, immunosuppression, disruption of mucosal barrier function, and ongoing inflammation. As we care for patients complaining of increased rates and severities of infections after the virus or its mRNA therapy, we look for these infections if the symptoms fit. To help these patients restore a healthier, more abundant life, we must not only help the immune system return to normal function but also enable the body to fight back against these other infections. We appreciate the researchers behind this article for bringing this issue to light and hopefully spurring more research into this post-COVID state of heightened infection risk. Taking Action for Better Health Understanding the implications of Long COVID is crucial for our health. We must remain vigilant and proactive in caring for our immune systems. This means adopting healthy habits, seeking medical advice, and staying informed about our health. Get started with Sanctuary today! Click below to schedule your first conversation with our Patient Support Team. Conclusion: A Path Forward In conclusion, the impact of COVID on our immune system is profound and far-reaching. By understanding these effects, we can take steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Let’s work together to navigate this challenging landscape and prioritize our health and well-being.

The Importance of Thyroid Health During Pregnancy In functional medicine, we often describe our bodies as interconnected systems, much like a web. This interconnectedness becomes even more significant during pregnancy. The health of a mother directly influences her developing baby. Whether through natural hormones or harmful toxins, a mother’s health can leave lasting effects on her child, extending into adulthood. Recent research highlights a concerning link between uncontrolled thyroid disease and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A study revealed that when a mother’s thyroid condition is not managed properly, the risk of autism in her child increases. However, when thyroid disease is well-controlled, the risk appears to diminish significantly. Acknowledging Neurodiversity I want to take a moment to address the neurodivergent community. Many individuals with autism thrive and lead fulfilling lives. However, some face more severe challenges, impacting both them and their families. My intention in discussing the factors contributing to autism diagnoses is to enhance our understanding, not to label anyone. By gaining insight into these conditions, we can pave the way for healthier, more abundant lives for everyone involved. Maternal-Fetal Research: The Role of Thyroid Hormones Maternal-fetal research has long underscored the critical role of a mother’s thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy. Babies depend on their mothers for thyroid hormones, especially in the first trimester when they cannot produce these hormones on their own. Numerous studies have shown that low thyroid hormone levels can lead to lower IQ scores, language delays, and cognitive challenges. Beyond these established connections, some research has suggested a potential link between low thyroid hormone levels and autism spectrum disorder. This connection is worth exploring further. The Study: Insights from Israeli Research In a significant study involving over 50,000 Israeli women who gave birth over a six-year period, researchers identified around 4,400 women with “abnormal thyroid function.” They categorized these women into groups based on their thyroid conditions: chronic hypothyroidism, gestational hypothyroidism, both chronic and gestational, or hyperthyroidism. The findings were striking. For pregnant women whose thyroid disease was well-controlled, whether chronic or gestational, the rates of autism in their children did not increase. However, for those who experienced both conditions and were inadequately treated during pregnancy, the autism rates rose significantly. The estimated risk ranged from 28% to 39%, particularly for those with longer durations of hypothyroidism and uncontrolled levels during the first trimester. The Importance of Monitoring Thyroid Levels This study reinforces the importance of closely monitoring and adjusting thyroid therapy for pregnant women at Sanctuary. We understand that thyroid levels can fluctuate throughout pregnancy. Therefore, we check these levels more frequently and make necessary adjustments to medication dosages. Our commitment to helping mothers and their babies achieve healthier, more abundant lives requires diligence and care. The extra effort we put into managing thyroid health is essential, as healthy babies are truly worth it. Taking the First Step Towards Better Health If you’re ready to take charge of your health and that of your baby, I encourage you to reach out. At Sanctuary Functional Medicine, we are dedicated to providing personalized care that addresses the root causes of chronic illnesses. Get started with Sanctuary today! Click below to schedule your first conversation with our Patient Support Team. Conclusion: A Path to Healthier Futures Understanding the connection between maternal thyroid health and autism risk is crucial. By prioritizing thyroid health during pregnancy, we can help ensure healthier outcomes for both mothers and their children. Together, we can navigate this journey toward wellness, armed with knowledge and compassion. References Original Article: Leena Elbedour, May Weinberg, Gal Meiri, Analya Michaelovski, Idan Menashe. Maternal Thyroid Hormone Imbalance and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, 2025; DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaf596 Thanks to Science Daily: The Endocrine Society. "Simple thyroid check in pregnancy may lower autism risk." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 29 November 2025. < www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251129053353.htm >.

Mold toxicity receives little attention from conventional medicine, whether you’re going through medical school, visiting a primary care provider, or running to a specialist. As a result, not only is this common condition ignored, but many myths have grown up around it.  Such myths are propagated because no one takes the time to read the actual studies from clinical medicine or the agricultural world.  Taking time to read this blog or the article it is based on will dispel many myths if you read it with an open mind. Myth #1 Mold is everywhere so it cannot be so toxic (a.k.a. my clinical experience) Like many myths, this one begins with a grain of truth.  Yes, we are surrounded by mold from the dirt between our bare feet in the yard to the spores flying off our mulch beds, not to mention the fuzz on some overripe fruit on the counter, we encounter mold on a daily basis.  However, any and all toxins depend on the amount of toxin to which we are exposed.  For example, the seeds on strawberries are technically toxic, but we would have to eat a truckload at once to experience toxic symptoms.  The toxins produced by outdoor molds may never affect someone walking through their yard given the wind constantly diluting any toxins.  On the other hand, if sufficient toxin is growing on your food or in your home, you may get a high enough exposure to develop symptoms.  Myth #2 Cooking foods in high heat destroys the toxins Most mycotoxins can withstand a lot of heat.  Food science and agricultural research confirms that temperatures used in normal cooking do not lower the content of mycotoxins in human or animal foods.  In fact, molds and mycotoxins can persist for long periods of time. Indeed, some were found in ancient Egyptian tombs, millennia after their production.  (Some suspect mold toxins contributed to the deadly ‘curse’ on those who discovered certain tombs). Myth #3 We clear these toxins out of our bodies rather quickly Agricultural research indicates that many of these mycotoxins can accumulate in animal tissues and organs.  One mycotoxin, Aflatoxin, is transported by blood cells and albumin in the blood to the liver.  Another mycotoxin, ochratoxin has an 840-hour blood half-life (meaning that 25% of the initial amount is present in the blood 70 days later) and also binds to albumin in the blood so that it is transported to kidneys, liver, muscle, brain, and fat.  The very toxic T-2 mycotoxin is known to enter the brain given its lipophilic (fat-loving) traits.  Patulin, a mycotoxin often found in juices, can form covalent bonds with various amino acids, prolonging its stay in one’s body. Myth #4 Mold toxins do not leave behind any permanent damage This can be believed for aflatoxins only if one does not consider liver cancer as a permanent problem given that aflatoxin B1 may cause up to 28% of liver cancer cases worldwide.  This comes through its ability to cause DNA mutations.  Then one considers the effects of ochratoxin that include increases in lipid peroxides (oxidized and damaged fatty acids), apoptosis (programmed cell death), and DNA damage.  If that were not enough to be concerned about, T-2 toxin is known to cross into the brain and cause oxidative brain damage through lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation.   This toxin also increases liver damage in mouse models.  To add insult to injury, T-2 toxin even damages skin in ways similar to radiation injury.  The paper mentions other long-term effects of patulin, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone.  With a few mold myths dispelled, we should be able to agree with some conclusions from the paper below about the potential effects of mold toxicity on humans.  There is little comfort in the conventional myth that mold only affects other animals and no peace from knowing that mold is everywhere.  Instead, we should take this threat seriously and realize that a large number of our patients may be adversely affected by mold toxin exposure.  This is especially true for the chronically ill in our clinic who have been suffering for years without answers from conventional medicine.  Helping them to restore healthier, more abundant lives requires recognizing the root causes of their chronic illnesses.  Have mold toxin concerns? Let's talk.   Original article:  Janik, E., Niemcewicz, M., Ceremuga, M., Stela, M., Saluk-Bijak, J., Siadkowski, A., & Bijak, M. (2020). Molecular Aspects of Mycotoxins-A Serious Problem for Human Health. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(21), 8187. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21218187

The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly. [ Proverbs 18:23 ]   Above all else, men desire to be rulers of themselves. This statement holds for the righteous and the wicked- except that these two understand rulership in very different ways. The righteous man would rule himself in stewardship, honoring and following God with all at his disposal, not abdicating himself or his gifts to any. The wicked man, meanwhile, would rule himself absolutely,  1  without reference to God or need to rely on Him, in inveterate denial of His relevance (Ps. 53:1). Sometimes, paradoxically, this total self-possession is achieved by submitting oneself to another outside God, in defiance of proper authority. These two visions of completeness make all the difference. The tool by which a man makes himself into a pretense of autonomy is power. This proverb addresses the use of that power over other men. The poor man has little direct power; he must resort to pulling on pity, on manipulation. (Not that the entreaties here mentioned are necessarily wrong; this proverb does not condemn entreaties. No, it shows a difference between men, enlightening us to man’s basic nature by showing how change in circumstance elicits a change in action.) The rich man, whether by virtue of his wealth or by the method of accumulating it, has greater power; he can induce men by fear or greed to do much. So he speaks roughly, even to the poor man’s entreaties, because he need not hide his disdain and discomfiture. His power makes him independent of other authority, he thinks, and so he displays the ‘authority’ his power gives him, declaring himself against God. ‘Declaration’ is the nature of such vice. No man is ever truly independent of God; none escape His decree (Is. 10:22-23) or His wrath (13:9) (except from wrath by mercy (Is. 11:11)). The wicked man, therefore, displays independence precisely because he has it not and knows he has it not (Rom 1:18-20). He proclaims loudly, as if to make real, and though he succeeds not a whit, he makes a great racket, making a mockery of himself in his attempt to spurn God (Ps. 14:1-3; Ps. 2). Then, knowing his own inability to escape God, he finds himself under the influence, chosen or unchosen, of another man, another philosophy, another circumstance, under the power and the false authority of the creature. The wicked man, therefore, pretends himself independent of God’s sovereignty; he pretends that he can impose his own order, moral and practical, upon the world. This new order, local to him or (more commonly) spread around him or (in the ambitious) imposed on the world, this new order is invariably vicious and mutable, tending ever more towards its tyrant’s peculiar vices, in proportion to his opportunity and propensity for those vices. We see this most clearly on a civilizational scale, in the slide from one vice to another and deeper sin, but we all know from experience that small sins are the seeds of larger transgressions, in ourselves and in others (Luk. 16:10). The righteous man rules in another way and for another purpose. The righteous man, one who trusts God and hates evil (Job 1:1), is of a “royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:9). As such, as part of his dominion by nature (Gen. 1:28, 9:1, 9:7), as part of his duty as an imitator of Christ (Col. 1:16; Eph. 5:1), the son of God rules as a servant of God. He stewards God’s creation  not in order to wrest it from God’s hands and dominion but to use it according to His command, His decree, His glory. The fruit of these two shares hardly even superficial sameness. The wicked man’s work fruits into tyranny, misuse, abuse, into waste and cruelty, into malfunction and viciousness. The righteous man, meanwhile, insofar as he is righteous and insofar as God preserves him from the workers of iniquity (for on this earth, God sometimes wills to have righteousness come to what is apparently ruin, though far from it in the eternal view), thus far the righteous man produces beauty and prosperity, brings forth that which raises men higher in joy and in Him (which are two parts of the same blessing). God bless.   1 – This reference is definitely necessary.

As anyone caring for children with autism would tell you, there are many forms and triggers for this distressingly common condition. Today’s focus article used computer modeling creatively in order to tease out four main subtypes of autism which might allow researchers to better identify both predisposing factors (like genetics) and external contributors to the condition. Without a relevant organization of the problem, pinpointing the genetics that predispose these children to the condition are hard to identify. One of the lead co-authors described the situation as trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle without knowing that 3 or 4 different similar puzzles were mixed in together. While a few voices still deny the growing rates of autism in our up-and-coming generations, the majority recognize the growing epidemic. Once they see the growing numbers, most want an answer to why it is happening. The age-old debate between nature and nature then arises, with different sides trying to blame either our genes or our environment for the increasing numbers. Those of us keeping our minds open to any possible explanation, have to remind everyone that our genes have not changed that much in the past few decades. While genes do explain some of the cases (especially more severe cases as this study indicated), we have to acknowledge that environmental factors are interacting with these genes and playing a role as well. As we try to drill down into the “why’s”, the broad variety of autism symptoms has led to the term autism spectrum disorder, as it really is a spectrum of symptoms and severity. Studying the condition then becomes challenging as researchers must decide whether to lump or to split groups. Some autism-diagnosed individuals go about most of life quite functional, even exhibiting impressive intellectual skills and talents, sometimes to the point of considering their autism a gift. Yet, others on a different segment of the spectrum go through life with severe limitations, often requiring significant support from others for daily living. Meanwhile, many go about life with or without a formal diagnosis dealing with varying degrees of life obstacles depending on how much help they get and whether or not they are dealing with other co-morbid mental health diagnoses like ADHD. These researchers aimed to split the spectrum into a few subgroups that might allow more focused, more effective research into the underlying causes of each subtype. Their computer modeling did draw out 4 main subtypes that I believe we can all acknowledge as ones that we commonly encounter in caring for these individuals. They separated the spectrum into 1) Social and behavioral challenges; 2) Mixed ASD with Developmental Delay; 3) Moderate Challenges; and 4) Broadly affected. These four classes were separable by not only severity of the symptoms and type of autism spectrum symptoms, but also by the further co-morbid diagnoses which more commonly accompanied some of the subgroups. The first group of social and behavioral challenges included those with the known core autism characteristics who met developmental milestones at a generally normal rate. This group often had the other psychiatric diagnoses and comprised about 37% of the total. The second group included those with some of the typical autism traits but not as consistent a rate as the first group who tended to reach developmental milestones later than non-affected children. They comprised about 19% of the total. The third group demonstrated the core autism traits at milder severities and reached developmental milestones on time generally. They, however, did not have as many co-morbid psychiatric diagnoses as the group 1. They were another large group at about 34% of the total. The fourth and final groups were the more severe cases of autism including more severe developmental delays and social dysfunction. Thankfully these severely affected individuals, who we work with often at the clinic, made up a lower percentage at around 10%. This new categorization is already helping research as the last group is known to have more ‘de novo’ genetic mutations, meaning a mutation arising the child brand new and not from either parent. These are the more severe cases of autism, which decreases the chance that the genetic mutation will be passed down to another generation. As these subtypes are better understood and taken into consideration, there is also the hope that subtype differentiation early in life will allow therapies to be targeted for the expected needs of each child rather than treating them all as one autism spectrum group. As research continues, other subtypes are likely to be distinguished from this starting point that further guides etiologic research and therapy research. From a functional medicine standpoint, we can appreciate this approach to understanding this spectrum as we have been advocating for a variety of forms and causes for autism for decades. We have been treating each child as an “n” of 1 meaning we personalize each child in searching for the triggers underlying their symptoms as well as individualizing their therapies. Still, having categories like this focus article lays out is very helpful, as it means we don’t have to start each patient from scratch in understanding their specific issues. The better we understand broad patterns of autism causes, the better we can identify and care for the individual in our office. Restoring healthier more abundant lives for children with autism spectrum disorder requires us to view them at both the big picture and the minute detail levels.   Get started with Sanctuary today! Click below to schedule your first conversation with our Patient Support Team. Original Article: Aviya Litman, Natalie Sauerwald, LeeAnne Green Snyder, Jennifer Foss-Feig, Christopher Y. Park, Yun Hao, Ilan Dinstein, Chandra L. Theesfeld, Olga G. Troyanskaya. Decomposition of phenotypic heterogeneity in autism reveals underlying genetic programs. Nature Genetics, 2025; 57 (7): 1611 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-025-02224-z   Thanks to Science Daily: Princeton University, Engineering School. "Four hidden types of autism revealed — and each tells a different genetic story." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 24 July 2025. < www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250724040455.htm >

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. [ Proverbs 18:22 ]   The two great passions of mankind are marriage and death. In ‘marriage’ is gathered not merely itself but family, sex, and all relationship with our fellow man, all authority and cooperation, the smallest thing which society is an outworking of; in ‘death’ is gathered not only itself but sin, violence, and all relationship with God, in relationship to whom all righteousness and unrighteousness exist . Stories attach to us, as a rule, through these two passions, and this verse in proverbs addresses both forthrightly. God instituted marriage and thus family at the first, in the Garden (Gen. 2). Long before Aaron or the apostles led the church, long before Noah received the commission of the civil government (Gen. 9:5-6), mankind was given the family for his governance and ordering, for the fundament of man’s relationship with his fellow man. Proverbs 18:22 declares to us this truth: “He who finds a wife finds a good thing.” The corollary, that she who finds a good husband finds also “a good thing,” is clear. (No shrift may be given to the monstrosity which melds the sexes, oppressing the difference between them which is foundational to marriage.) Marriage and family, its fruit, are triply the centerpoint of vocation, of God’s calling to men. First, in marriage we have an image of Christ’s salvific work for His church (Eph. 5:22-33; Ez. 23). The marriage covenant is an image of the covenant of grace, of the unity by which we as a body die in Him and live also in Him (Rom. 6:4-5). The salvation covenant excels the other, of course, in that as per Genesis 15:12-17 God alone has the capacity to break or to work it, not we ourselves (who can break the marriage covenant by our imperfection (Matt. 5:32)). Second, in marriage’s fruit, in procreation by natural means of by adoption we have a symbol and imitation (a ‘secondary creation’) of His creating work, who made man and the angels, even (in a more remote but still, as assured by the language of Scripture, accurate sense) of the begetting of the Son by the Father. Third, marriage and family form the highest and most enduring fruit a man can work. By marriage (or its parody), man creates new life, a prerogative given to men which should fill us with wonder always, which every new parent must find himself or herself impressed with, even overcome, though it may be on the periphery of their joy. The greatness of this gift and this potential, this capacity to start what will last eternally, must not be denigrated or forgotten. Because of these surpassing excellencies, because of the intimacy of these connections- father and child, wife and husband, kin with kin, we find that breaking in these relationships is more painful than in any save our relationship with God, the most central of all relationships and the foundation for them all. Divorce, estrangement from children, enmity between siblings, it breeds a depth of suffering and hatred and fear and trauma (trauma engraved in both soul and body, for even the peripheral participants) which, save for God’s grace, can shatter a man. But what about 1 Corinthians 7:38? “So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better,” Paul says, a verse I wot to be popular with the monastic orders. The answer may be found in the earlier part of the chapter: “Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that…. For the present form of this world is passing away” (v28,31). Paul warns the Corinthians to abstain from unnecessary (v2) marriages not because of a problem with marriage but as a prudential matter: if they get married, they will deal with Extraordinary Issues. What issues? The passing of the “present form of this world,” meaning the destruction of Jerusalem and its Jewish order of religion, the Old Covenant which defined the ancient world falling before the New Covenant which would redefine it, creating this the New Testament era, an era then, in 1 Corinthians 7, already inaugurated and accomplished but not yet unfurled completely to the world. We who now live in that new order following Christ’s death and the revelation of that death, in the church after the destruction of Jerusalem, we should of course take thought to marriage’s prudential aspects; at some times, marriage in itself is a foolish decision, except by personal need or calling. Yet the rule is that marriage and family, the fruit of marriage (but far from its sum) are a summit to man-on-earth, a high and noble part of man’s work in joy for His glory. Better, I say, a good father than a good king- but let’s not start into another topic. God bless.

While the conventional world of medicine continue to deny the effects of mold toxins on our human health, articles like today’s remind us that conventional medicine is not always reading the research. Obafemi et al lays out the details of what we know about fumonisin B1 neurotoxicity with references to multiple studies and explanations of mechanisms. Despite such solid proof, your average medical provider in the system will dismiss many patients’ symptoms and look for any explanation besides mold toxin exposure. I can agree with those uninformed medical colleagues that we are surrounded by mold in both our environments and our food supply. Where I don’t agree is about the common use of this fact as an excuse, arguing that because others similarly exposed aren’t sick, that mold can’t be the reason. They ignore two critical points. First, not all mold makes toxins. Many molds just sit around decomposing organic material in your yards. Second, sensitivity varies: 20 to 25% of the population are far more sensitive to the toxic effects, leaving most relatively unaffected. Just like not everyone who smokes gets lung cancer, not everyone who is around the mold in a given home or workplace will have effects from the exposure. Beyond these commonsense principles of why some are sick from mold and some are not, we have basic science to support the adverse effects of mold toxins on human health. For instance, this article provides evidence to help force the toxin deniers to rethink their opinions. Its authors focus on what they consider the most toxic fumonisins, the subtype labeled B1. Fumonisins are a group of chemicals produced by a particular genus of mold called Fusarium. Out of the 28 forms isolated so far, this B1 form is both more common and more toxic that the others. This multibranched chemical made from carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen can wreak havoc in multiple body systems. The authors focus on its effects in the nervous system but pause to mention its other adverse effects. Citations of other research indicting liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, and immune toxicity can be found in the reference section. Before looking at their research, they review prior studies linking the mycotoxin with neural tube defects, nerve degeneration, adverse neurodevelopment outcomes, astrocytes dysfunction, and other problems. The authors mention several mechanisms of fumonisin toxicity such as reactive oxygen species, direct DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased apoptosis (programmed cell death), but focus on fumonisin B1’s disruption of ceramide production in the brain. These ceramide fats are critical for brain health and function. The disruption likely depends on the fact that fumonisin B1 resembles the substrates that the ceramide producing enzyme uses as building blocks. The downstream effects of decreased ceramide likely contribute to clinical effects. The article goes into more details on these clinical effects towards the end. In helping our mold toxic patients overcome their symptoms, we first acknowledge the cause of their condition. Denying that fumonisins or other mold toxins are causing their disease keeps them from escaping mold’s grip. We want them to live healthier, more abundant lives without the limitations of mold toxicity through avoidance and detoxification so their brains and other body systems can function how God designed them to. Get started with Sanctuary today! Click below to schedule your first conversation with our Patient Support Team. Original Article: Obafemi BA, Adedara IA, Delgado CP, Obafemi OT, Aschner M, Rocha JBT. Fumonisin B1 neurotoxicity: Preclinical evidence, biochemical mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Toxicol Rep. 2025;14:101931. Published 2025 Jan 27. doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2025.101931 Accessed April 16, 2025.

For many years now, both medical professionals and parents of children diagnosed with ADHD have assumed that the primary mechanism of action for most ADHD medications are its effects in the brain areas responsible for attention.  Now a study suggests that the medications work in other parts of the brain, those involved with reward and wakefulness.  This new information not only proves that science is rarely settled, but that we need to reexamine how we treat ADHD. Researchers from Washington University used functional MRI’s (MRI’s that can measure brain activity in real-time) to determine which areas of the brain are changed by the administration of ADHD medications.  Rather than stimulating attention areas of the brain, the medicines stimulation areas for alertness, wakefulness, and reward.  When retested in healthy adults without ADHD, the same areas were stimulated.  This suggests that the medications make the activities feel more rewarding. While previous understanding of the mechanism was somewhat paradoxical, this understanding seems to make more sense.  The children on these meds find previously uninteresting activities to be more rewarding, and thus they will engage in them.                    While the study showed that many children performed better in testing, not all children saw benefits.  For instance, benefits appeared in children who did not get the recommended 8-9 hours of nightly sleep.  Apparently, sleep and ADHD symptoms were related; the medication seemed to be reversing the effects of insufficient sleep.   Helping our patients restore healthier, more abundant life requires that functional medicine providers like us not only understand natural but also conventional therapies.  We look forward to more research like this.   Get started with Sanctuary today! Click below to schedule your first conversation with our Patient Support Team. Original Article:  Benjamin P. Kay, Muriah D. Wheelock, Joshua S. Siegel, Ryan V. Raut, Roselyne J. Chauvin, Athanasia Metoki, Aishwarya Rajesh, Andrew Eck, Jim Pollaro, Anxu Wang, Vahdeta Suljic, Babatunde Adeyemo, Noah J. Baden, Kristen M. Scheidter, Julia S. Monk, Forrest I. Whiting, Nadeshka Ramirez-Perez, Samuel R. Krimmel, Russell T. Shinohara, Brenden Tervo-Clemmens, Robert J.M. Hermosillo, Steven M. Nelson, Timothy J. Hendrickson, Thomas Madison, Lucille A. Moore, Óscar Miranda-Domínguez, Anita Randolph, Eric Feczko, Jarod L. Roland, Ginger E. Nicol, Timothy O. Laumann, Scott Marek, Evan M. Gordon, Marcus E. Raichle, Deanna M. Barch, Damien A. Fair, Nico U.F. Dosenbach. Stimulant medications affect arousal and reward, not attention networks. Cell, 2025; 188 (26): 7529 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.11.039   Thanks to Science Daily: Washington University in St. Louis. "ADHD drugs don’t work the way we thought." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 29 December 2025. < www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225235942.htm >.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. [ Proverbs 18:21 ]   James 2 is the standard passage for pressing home the power and danger of the tongue, but God didn’t wait till the New Testament’s latter half to give us that knowledge. In the Garden, God’s tongue brought life and the potential of death (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23, 7:7-10). In the Garden, Adam ordered the world with his tongue (Gen. 2:19). Then, in the Garden Adam and Eve waged war of the tongue with the serpent and became traitors to God (Gen. 3). Proverbs continues reminding us that in our tongues and in the tongues of those around us is life and death, in the physical and spiritual sense, and that we should take what we love, remembering that fact. The tongue’s mundane power should be clear to us, when we consider our lives. We live and breathe in context of relationships. The tongue, our capacity to communicate, is formative to those relationships. By my tongue, I can form the relationships which get me food and rest and clothing and companionship. By my tongue, alternately, I can find the nearest unstable fellow and persuade him to shank me. I could also play the long game, building a relationship and betraying it, forming a long marriage and then talking my way into an affair. Thus, I’d kill the relationship and, with certain temperaments, get myself killed physically to boot. In a very blunt and physical senses, my tongue can decide whether I live or die, short term or long term, intentionally or unintentionally. But there’s more. Those who love life will eat its fruit; those who love death, they too will eat its fruit (Is. 3:10-11). We enter the image and participation of that which we love. If we love death, we participate in it; if we love life, we participate in it. Moreover, as per Romans 13:8-10, because Biblical love is a course of life, not merely an emotion, these relationships serve as a definition of what it means to love life or death. He who loves life does the deeds of life and bears its fruit; he who loves death does the deeds of death and bears death’s fruit, even eternal damnation. (He who loves the tongue for itself is an idolater and therein a lover of death; he who loves the tongue as a means for God is being sanctified and therefore ever more a lover of life.) What, then, does it look like to love death? What does it look like to love death with the tongue ? Our starting point is simple: he who hates God “loves death” (Prov. 8:36). Loving death is hating God. When I disobey Him, I write a love sonnet to death, a declaration that I want that wage of sin which is death (Rom. 6:23). Loving death with my tongue, then, means misusing my speech. It is silence when I should speak the truth or should comfort. It is gossip; it is slander; it is petty argument. My tongue is a powerful tool to build relationship, and therefore it is also a powerful tool to break those relationships, to declare hatred of my fellow man (made in His image). At its summit, my tongue, whether literally or metaphorically as referencing my capacity to witness, is an integral part of blasphemy, which at its worst is that sin Christ calls ‘unforgiveable’ (Matt. 12:31). The other course which lies before us is to love life, with heart, body, soul, and strength, even with our tongues. Death and life are in the tongue’s power, we are told, and here that power is to love God, who gives us life (Gen. 2:7). By the tongue, by communicating in word and action with others, we can praise and rejoice in Him, can build lasting relationships of mutual growth. We can live according to His law, live to the life which His law brings. The Lord’s promise is this: “Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out” (John 6:37b). He gives His people a love of life (Ps. 119:149,159), and gives us that life, eternal life. He gives us life more full in this world, the foretaste of the eternity He has worked for us. The tongue, then, is the means by which we declare His good gospel to the nations (Matt. 28:18-20). We declare it in our actions, first, by our relationship with each other (John 13:34-35) and with the rest of Creation (Gen. 9:1-7). We declare it, second and integral to all salvation, with our words, communicating the fundamental knowledge which He turns to saving faith, to the faith which is reliance upon and love for Him above all else. In this way too the tongue has the power of life within it. God bless.

Mold detox advocates have entrenched themselves around their particular ways to treat those who have been exposed to these natural toxins. Who, though, is right? One researcher looks solely to a pharmaceutical called cholestyramine. Another tries to a variety of binding agents.  A third eschews any binder and just advocates anti-fungals.  The outcome can be as confusing any political struggle, and it’s your health on the line.  This article offers 1 piece of evidence why we at Sanctuary use a mix of binders, including, but not limited to, cholestyramine.  Several practical problems make choosing a binder a little more challenging.  First, there are dozens of mycotoxins which affect humans, with different ones having different molecular structures that bind better with different therapeutics.  Second, many patients have exposures to more than one mold toxin, meaning they may need more than one binder or a binder that absorbs all toxins present.  Third, much of our research looks to animal studies in the agricultural industry, data we have to extrapolate to humans.  This is not unusual in medicine, as scientists often test animals before humans, but the proportion is particularly heavy with mycotoxins because we have a multi-billion dollar industry trying to keep animals healthy and heavy to sell at market.  We take studies from their industry and do our best to apply the information to humans.  Once we recognize these obstacles and do our best to apply reasonable inferences to humans, we watch how patients respond.  Thankfully, it appears that there is more than one way to skin a cat and more than one way to detox a human.  (No offense to cat lovers.) With mold, once we’ve identified the specific toxin, we have some flexibility to find which binder therapy is tolerated and effective for the person sitting in front of us. Back to the study in the spotlight.  Researchers wanted to find a mix of binders, knowing that one single binder would not cover every toxin. Therefore they wanted a binder combination which could remove as much of the common animal feed toxins as possible.  Testing what came out of an animal eating pounds of grain with varying amounts of mycotoxin contamination was not feasible, so they did their testing in test tubes with similar conditions to that of a farm animal stomach.  By simulating stomach acid in the test tube, they combined different binder mixes with a measured amount of mold toxins.  They looked at different aflatoxins, including Aspergillus, ochratoxin A from aspergillus, zearalenone from fusarium, and deoxynivalenol (also from fusarium mold species). They looked at clays which are known for binding mycotoxins, choosing bentonite as the one with best profile for binding due to its molecular structure.  They looked at cell wall products of Saccharomyces yeast including glucans and mannans which are known to bind mycotoxins.  They looked at humic acids, a decomposition product of organic material with complex structures.  Their best performing mix of binders contained a mixture of 70% modified bentonite, 20% yeast cell wall, and 10% humic acid.  It removed 97 to 98% of each aflatoxin, 94% of the ochratoxin, 97% of the zearalenone, and 97% of the deoxynivalenol, starting with a slightly larger amount of each toxin than they expected to be in the animals’ actual feed. This success rate was comparable to other commercial toxin binders on the agricultural market, though they do not name these commercial binders.  One other comparison with these commercial binders that needs to be further explored is whether this natural binder also absorbs nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.  The paper notes that many commercial binders are know to bind nutrients as well. The paper further references a separate systematic review of 68 publications, looking at different binding agents.  The findings of that review indicated that activated carbon (charcoal) had the highest absorption capacity, followed by clays. This paper does not provide a definitive answer for which binder is best for your specific mycotoxin, but it does suggest that a mix of binders has a higher potential of working than any single binder.  In helping our patients restore a healthier more abundant life, we think this multi-binder approach has been very successful and makes sense with studies like these.  Not everyone gets better on a single prescription binder, and not everyone needs antifungals, but an experienced mold detox provider can help pick out the best detox agent for the individual and guide them through using it.  That’s our daily method.   Original Article: Feizy, J., Rahimi, A., Tabari, D. G., Zarghami, M. R., Jahani, M., & Moradi, E. (2025). Optimization of modified bentonite mycotoxin binders for enhanced adsorption efficiency under simulated gastric and intestinal conditions. Scientific reports, 15(1), 27513. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13249-z