In this week’s Q&A, I focused on the questions that matter most to my practice members and premium subscribers. These conversations always reveal the same thing. People are overwhelmed, confused by the noise of modern medicine, and hungry for a path that actually works. My goal is to pull back the curtain and show you what I see every day in clinical practice.
As always, this is for education only. It is not medical advice.
Potassium and Kidney Function
Tom asked about potassium intake for people with reduced kidney function. The standard nephrology guidelines tend to be overly conservative in the early stages of dysfunction. In my practice, I have never seen a stage one patient develop high potassium while aiming for the recommended 4.7 grams a day. That number is based on national nephrology guidance and matches exactly what I tell my own patients.
Potassium is essential for cellular energy and autonomic balance. The real problem is that most modern people are profoundly deficient. Hunter gatherers easily consumed several grams a day. Our indoor lifestyles and processed foods have erased this from the modern diet.
Melatonin and the Heart Failure Hype
Catherine asked about a recent study claiming melatonin use is associated with heart failure. I have zero patience for this kind of low value academic publishing. As I explained in the Q&A, people with worse sleep are more likely to take melatonin. Worse sleep is strongly associated with worse health overall. This tells us nothing about melatonin causing harm. It is the same logic as saying ambulance rides cause death.
What I see in practice is simple. Improve underlying health and sleep improves. Reduce the toxic burden from metals and chemical pollutants and sleep improves even more. My average patient reports nearly seven out of ten improvement in sleep with our system.
People forget how thoroughly modern life destroys melatonin. Artificial lighting, wireless devices, oxidized fats, heavy metals, poor nutrition. All of these chip away at the body’s most important nocturnal repair molecule. This is why high dose melatonin has such profound clinical value for many people. It supports detoxification, endocrine health, and recovery.
The Real Secret Behind Better Sleep
Sleep is not a standalone problem. It reflects the total state of the body. When someone cannot sleep, I assume some combination of excess toxins, nutrient deficiencies, poor light environment, and autonomic imbalance.
My methods always begin with improving underlying health. Then I layer in targeted support. This can include magnesium, amino acid blends, herbal sleep formulas, and when appropriate, progesterone for women or high dose melatonin for either sex. I build the protocol step by step until we find the dose and combination that restores restorative sleep.
Post Viral Fatigue and Chronic Exhaustion
Noel asked about chronic fatigue and post viral illness. Every month I review our outcomes and I am amazed by how many people improve once we follow our playbook. A huge proportion meet the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome. Almost all of them share a similar profile. Heavy metal exposure, sympathetic dominance on hair testing, and a long history of mold or environmental insults.
I did a podcast with Meredith Oke on chronic fatigue. You can listen to her story of healing in part I and II on my podcast.
My approach always begins with the basics.
X39 light therapy patches.
A high quality multivitamin and multimineral.
Personalized minerals through HTMA.
Digestive support like enzymes and bile acids.
Vitamin C, MSM, and iodine as needed. You can read my post on iodine if you’d like to read more on that.
These foundational steps consistently move the needle.
Patients report fewer bad days and more good days.
Energy rises.
Brain fog clears.
Sleep stabilizes.
None of this is magic. It is physiology. Minerals are the spark plugs of life.
Mold and Detoxification
Mold often plays a role in chronic fatigue and post viral syndromes. I rely on bile acids for their ability to bind and eliminate mold toxins. They are non negotiable in many of my protocols because I see what happens when we add them. People start to recover.
My detox powder also helps bind and eliminate toxins, and I have seen it accelerate progress in difficult cases.
Minerals Remain the Foundation
Pierre asked about new mineral blends on the market. I always encourage curiosity, but I rarely rush to adopt new products. The reason is simple. My own mineral system already works extremely well. I have seen zinc, magnesium, potassium, copper, and trace minerals transform energy, mood, cognition, and immune function in thousands of cases.
Minerals drive enzyme systems. Heavy metals displace minerals. As we restore minerals through hair analysis and personalized supplementation, the body mobilizes and excretes metals. This is how we see three to forty-fold increases in metal elimination on repeat tests. The body finally has the tools to detox.
Sauna, Detox, and Light
Many of you ask about sauna blankets versus traditional saunas. My view is pragmatic. If you sweat, you detox. If the light environment is healthy, even better. A well designed sauna blanket can offer meaningful benefits at a lower price point, but quality always matters. Cheap devices often cut corners, and poor materials can expose you to more toxins, not fewer.
Sauna works because it moves lymph, mobilizes toxins, and strengthens resilience. People who live far from the equator especially benefit. Modern homes lack the light and heat variation our bodies evolved to expect. Sweating helps restore that missing stimulus.
Statins, Cholesterol, and All Cause Mortality
Becca asked about statins. My position is consistent. If an intervention does not reliably reduce all cause mortality, I am skeptical. Statin trials typically show tiny absolute differences in cardiac events. Meanwhile, lowering cholesterol below 200 is associated with higher cancer risk. Pharmaceuticals do not exist in a vacuum. They shift physiology in ways that create tradeoffs.
The deeper problem is the incentive structure in pharma. Companies are financially rewarded for withholding negative data and exaggerating benefits. When lying remains profitable, the system will keep producing misleading science. That is why meaningful progress in cardiovascular health will come from optimizing minerals, hormones, nutrition, and environmental stressors. Not from chasing drug targets.
Nicotine as a Cognitive Tool
Nicotine came up as well. Smoking is harmful. Nicotine itself is not the same thing. I know many people who find nicotine helpful for cognition, focus, or mood. The biggest risk is appetite suppression and unintended weight loss. For patients needing to gain weight, nicotine is counterproductive. Used sparingly, it can be a helpful tool.
Final Thoughts
Every question in this Q&A reflects the same core truth. Modern health problems are born from excess toxins, poor nutrition, weak light exposure, and chronic stress. The solutions are not complicated, but they require consistency. Mineral balancing, light therapy, detoxification, hydration, and restoring natural rhythms.
When you focus on the fundamentals, the body begins to heal.
If you want a deeper understanding of these protocols and how to pinpoint your own triggers, you can join me for my Autoimmunity Masterclass.
Thank you, as always, for your questions and your support. Your memberships and supplement purchases make this work possible and allow me to keep sharing what actually helps rather than adding to the noise in the wellness world.
If you are ready to work with me, apply to join my practice.
Submit Your Questions
If you’re a free subscriber, you can submit your questions using this form. I do my best to answer as time permits.
You can find the supplements mentioned in this week’s Q&A in my supplement store.
I’d appreciate hearing how these lifestyle strategies and product recommendations have worked for you. You can share that feedback with my team here in our testimonial form.
For premium subscribers, you can now get 25% off high-quality supplements. Your coupon code and the link to submit your questions are available in the Premium Subscribers post below.
Until next time, be well,
Dr. Stillman
Executive Summary
Responses are for educational purposes only, not medical advice.
Potassium intake should be monitored based on kidney function stages.
Improving underlying health is key to better sleep.
Statins may not reduce all-cause mortality despite lowering cholesterol.
Sauna use can provide detoxification benefits.
PSA levels can indicate prostate health but require careful interpretation.
Bilirubin levels can have contradictory implications for health.
Minerals are crucial for recovery from post-viral symptoms.
Chronic fatigue syndrome may respond well to specific treatment protocols.
Probiotics are not universally necessary for everyone.
Nicotine may have benefits but should be used cautiously.
