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Case Study

Marcus

Detox Bottleneck
Chapter Chapter 16
Duration 10 months
Status Resolved
Before Three years of unresolved SIBO.
After Ten months to a fully restored.
The Story

SIBO and Food Sensitivity Recovery

Marcus was a 45-year-old software engineer who had spent three years chasing gut symptoms that would not resolve. His diet had shrunk to fewer than 12 safe foods. He had completed multiple rounds of gut protocols, all of which failed. His stool test was largely unremarkable.

The breakthrough came when we stopped looking at the gut as the primary driver and tested upstream. His organic acids test revealed severe Clostridia overgrowth that the stool test had missed, critically depleted glutathione, and a SIBO breath test confirmed methane-dominant overgrowth. Genetic testing showed impaired sulfation, slow phase I detox, and reduced glutathione conjugation. His body could not process what it was being given, and every protocol had added more load to a system that was already overwhelmed.

The full clinical story Chapter 16 of The Healing Hierarchy Get the Book →
Diagnostics

What we tested. And what we found.

Every protocol in The Healing Hierarchy starts with comprehensive testing. The right tests reveal the actual drivers. Without them, you're treating symptoms.

Tests Used Key Findings
Methane SIBO
28 ppm
> 10
Positive
HPHPA (Clostridia)
18.5
Normal : ≤ 4.5
Neurotoxin-producing bacteria
Pyroglutamic acid
48.5
Normal : ≤ 28
Critically depleted glutathione
SULT1A1
Homozygous
impaired sulfation
COMT
Slow variant
Slow catecholamine clearance
CYP1A2
Slow variant
Slow phase I detox
GSTM1
Deletion
Reduced glutathione conjugation
Plasma Histamine
18.5
Normal : < 10
GI-MAP
Largely unremarkable
The gut was not the primary driver
The Protocol

Sequenced,  not stacked.

The phases are deliberate. Each one prepares the system for the next. Doing them out of order, or all at once, is where most protocols fail.

Phase 1
Eradicate SIBO and Microbial Overgrowth
Weeks 1-12

Allicin (garlic extract)

Berberine & Antimicrobial blend

Prebiotic fibre

Spore-based probiotics

Phase 2
Temporarily Reduce Detox Load
Weeks 1-16

Low-histamine diet: avoided aged cheese, fermented foods, leftovers, alcohol

Low-sulfur diet Avoided eggs, cruciferous vegetables, garlic, onions initially

Low-phenol diet Avoided berries, coffee, dark chocolate

Focus Fresh proteins (cooked same day), low-histamine vegetables, rice, quinoa

Phase 3
Support Detox Pathways
Weeks 1-20

NAC: 300 mg daily (Week 9), titrated to 600 mg by Month 4

Vitamin B6 (P-5-P) and magnesium

Molybdenum, zinc, selenium, and silica

DAO enzyme before meals

Phase 4
Gentle Methylation Support
Avoiding Over-Methylation

Folinic acid and active B vitamins

Hydroxocobalamin B12

Higher dose riboflavin if needed

Phase 5
Gradual Food Reintroduction
Starting Month 7

Sulfur foods first: eggs, garlic, onions, cruciferous vegetables (one at a time)

Histamine foods second: fermented foods, aged cheese, wine, leftovers

Phenol foods third: berries, coffee, dark chocolate, spices

By Month 10: tolerating normal, varied diet

Duration 10 months

Markers  back to baseline.

The biomarkers tell the story. Every value moved from "abnormal" to "optimal" within six months of the protocol going live.

Methane SIBO
28 Negative Normal ✓
HPHPA
18.5 2.8 Normal ✓
Pyroglutamic acid
48.5 22.5 Healthy ✓
Plasma Histamine
18.5 6.8 Normal ✓

Diet from 12 safe foods back to normal varied diet. Bloating, brain fog, anxiety after meals all resolved.

Read the full clinical story

Marcus' case is  Chapter  16.

The reasoning behind every decision, the sequencing logic, the diagnostic interpretation, and the framework these protocols sit inside, all of it is in the book.

Important. This protocol was designed for a specific individual based on their unique test results, medical history, genetics, and clinical context. It is presented here for educational purposes only and should not be replicated without professional guidance.

Every person requires an individualised approach. Work with a qualified practitioner who can assess your situation, interpret your test results, and design a protocol tailored to your needs. Supplement links are provided for reference to the practitioner-grade products used in this case. This information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.