Is Your Brain Starving for Oxygen?Up to 1 in 4 people suffer hidden disability

🏝️ Author’s Note & Content Disclaimer

Written by Bridie Brock Lindsay — Dip HypnoCBT, Meditation Tutor, and Trainee Therapeutic Counsellor.

I am not a medical professional. This blog is based on lived experience, wellness research, and holistic wellbeing practices drawn from my own health journey with CFS/ME, ADHD, PFO, and nervous system dysregulation. (That’s Attending Distraction in Higher Dimensions, for those who know 😉).

My aim is to offer inspiration and awareness — especially for those navigating hidden or misunderstood health conditions.

This content is for informational and supportive purposes only and should not replace personalised medical advice....I hope you find it helpful or interesting. B x

Is Your Brain Starving for Oxygen?

Up to 1 in 4 people suffer hidden disability caused by PFO and other oxygen-depleting conditions.

Why fatigue, fog, and forgetfulness might be warning signs your nervous system is under siege — and how high-dose Biotin100 helps rebuild resilience from the inside out.

And how a once-simple supplement I created for a family member pre-Covid became a daily protocol for me — and might just help you too.

From Research to Real Life: Why I Created Biotin100

Biotin100 began as a personal project — not a business plan — following a family members MS wellbeing needs. Then after that I was diagnosed with CFS/ME in 2020, following years of unexplained fatigue and post-exertional crashes. In 2024, I was also diagnosed with a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) — a small hole in the heart that allows unfiltered blood to bypass the lungs. Suddenly, my oxygen crashes, cold extremities, migraines, and deep fatigue made more sense and so did Biotin100.

Despite affecting up to 1 in 4 people, PFO often goes undiagnosed unless you’ve had a cryptogenic stroke — a stroke with no known cause. But I believe many of us are suffering the effects long before any dramatic event. We’re dismissed, told it’s psychological, or handed a vague label like “chronic fatigue.”

PFO may also carry a genetic component, possibly more maternally inherited (though this is still being explored). For many, it only becomes symptomatic when layered with stress, trauma, hormonal change, illness, or age-related decline in adaptive capacity. Essentially: the body copes — until it can’t.

When the system tips into survival mode, compensating becomes exhausting. That’s when the symptoms really show: fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, migraines, cold extremities, and post-exertional malaise. You’re not just tired — your brain and body may be struggling for oxygen, every single day.

🧠 Living in the MindBodySpirit System

At the most fundamental level, we are a system of trillions of cells — living, pulsing, responding — all woven into a grid of energy and consciousness. I believe the body lives in the mind, not the other way around. We are not broken machines, but intelligent beings in a dynamic field of healing, regulation, and possibility.

That’s why healing isn’t linear. It’s relational — to your environment, your history, your biology, your spirit. And why your body might feel “off” long before tests show anything. If you’re living in a low-oxygen state, your body will prioritise survival over thriving.

🧘🏼‍♀️ What It’s Like Trying to Live a ‘Normal Life’ With a Hidden Oxygen Deficit

Parenting. Chores. Work. Study. Appointments. Bills. And somehow still being expected to smile, be grateful, and perform. Now layer in complex trauma, systemic inequality, or neurodivergence — and a body that’s operating on 30% less cellular oxygen.

No, you're not lazy. You're not weak. You're a miracle walking — and the system was never built with you in mind.

Here’s what I want you to hear: there is nothing wrong with you for struggling. Many of us are quietly navigating unseen disabilities and outdated health models that miss the big picture. At Nuutree, we honour your lived experience and are here to support gentle, holistic restoration.

🔍 Important Note for Readers

Many people with PFO go undiagnosed for years. If you resonate with the following symptoms — especially if you’ve been told “your tests are normal” — it might be worth exploring further:

• Migraines (with or without aura)

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Fatigue that worsens after activity (PEM)

• Cold hands, feet, lips, or nose

• Low oxygen readings with no lung condition

• Brain fog, forgetfulness, word loss

• Feeling better at sea level or after rest

• Trouble recovering from illness, trauma, or exertion

Diagnosis is usually via a bubble contrast echocardiogram. If you've had dizzy spells, a stroke, unexplained fatigue, or suspect PFO, speak with your medical team to explore options. Knowledge is power not to stick a limiting 'label' on ourselves but perhaps just to find our own understanding and acceptance. Which are both healing states in and of themselves and a pathway into higher energy.

The Science-y Bit — Why Biotin100 Works

D-Biotin (vitamin B7) is a vital coenzyme for breaking down fats, carbs, and protein into energy (ATP), and for maintaining healthy metabolism, nervous system function, and cellular repair.

At Biotin100’s therapeutic protocol level (100mg/day — over 2000% of the Nutrient Reference Value), it offers targeted support to systems under pressure — particularly for those navigating chronic fatigue, neurological stress, or repair states.

✔️ Supports cellular energy production via the Krebs cycle✔️ Contributes to normal nervous system and psychological function✔️ Helps maintain skin, mucous membranes, and hair health✔️ Supports metabolism of macronutrients✔️ Plays a role in myelin sheath maintenance — the protective coating around nerves

There is no known upper limit or toxicity risk from biotin in healthy individuals, as confirmed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). It is water-soluble and excreted if not needed — however, adequate water intake is essential, as biotin increases cellular demand for hydration during energy metabolism.

Why So Many of Us Are Low in Biotin

Even though our bodies can make biotin via the gut microbiome, modern life often disrupts this delicate process. Biotin production relies on healthy gut flora — especially beneficial bacteria like Bacteroides species — but this ecosystem is easily disrupted by:

• Stress and cortisol dysregulation• Antibiotics or long-term medication use• Poor diet or ultra-processed food• Hormonal changes (e.g., perimenopause, birth control)• Autoimmune conditions or chronic inflammation• Gut health issues (IBS, leaky gut, SIBO)• Post-viral illness or long COVID• Long-term trauma or nervous system survival states

Over time, these disruptions can reduce biotin availability — especially in bodies that are already working hard to compensate, whether due to chronic fatigue, PFO, ADHD, or energetic burnout.

Biotin100 gives your cells a clean, potent dose of what they’re often silently starving for. It also builds keratine which is a key beauty building block so it's nicely holistic for multiplier benefits.

SHOP Biotin100 NOW

Updated News Image from March 2025 Source: https://businessbhutan.bt/freedom-house-rates-bhutan-as-south-asias-only-free-nation/

🌍 Lessons from Bhutan and the Blue Zones

When a whole country chooses Gross National Happiness over Gross Domestic Product — the world should pause and take note.

Bhutan is not perfect, but it’s powerfully symbolic: a nation that measures wellbeing through spiritual, ecological, and communal indicators rather than just money or output. The result? A more content, connected population. Bhutan’s model includes:

• Free healthcare and education• Environmental protection embedded in policy• Spiritual and cultural values interwoven into daily life

Meanwhile, in the Blue Zones — five regions where people regularly live past 100 in good health — we see similar themes:

• Strong community and family bonds• Simple, mostly plant-based diets• Natural movement integrated into daily life• Low chronic stress and high life purpose (ikigai)

• Rest and spiritual practice prioritised

What if you began to design your life around these principles — even in small ways? And for truly beautiful images of Bhutan please google, watch some inspirational videos or indeed add it to your S.E Asian travel itinerary if or when you are lucky enough to visit in person. It's a beautiful and mystical place and culture and we are fortunate if we can follow similar ancient wisdoms moving forward beyond those that no longer serve humanity or our planets wellbeing.

✨ The Nuutree P.E.A.C.E. Philosophy (Sharing again!)

At Nuutree, healing isn’t forced — it’s invited.

Our P.E.A.C.E. philosophy is a reminder that true wellness begins by listening inward and acting with compassion — and by remembering that we are energetically connected to the greater field of life:

P – Pace instead of push

E – Embrace your rhythm (honour your own pace and pattern instead of trying to fit someone else’s)

A – Align with nature and spirit (walk gently with the Earth, science, energy, and the Universal Field)

C – Choose body–mind–spirit nourishment over numbing

E – Expand your healing with intention (as you go inward, the Universe responds — as within, so without)

This journey is about remembering who you are, one gentle shift at a time — and trusting that every step creates ripples through your body, your life, and the world around you.

🌀 Why the System is Burnt Out — and What We Can Do Differently

Whether you're navigating chronic illness, recovering from trauma, or high-achieving your way to exhaustion, all human systems are overproducing right now. You can see it in leaders, influencers, exhausted parents, and students alike: we’re running on overdrive.

But what happens when we don’t push through? When we apply less grease to the wheel and listen for something deeper?

Maybe the truest success lies in reattaching the stabilisers, getting curious, and living from our centre again — not the hustle. Maybe the next global innovation won’t come from more productivity... but from slowing down enough to receive the insight.

Can we invite just a little bit of Bhutanese simplicity into our everyday lives — wherever we are? That’s the invitation.

💫 My Brain Health Reset: A Personal Note

For me, this journey has included…

• Dizziness and migraines that disrupted my day• Low oxygen symptoms worsened by PFO and trauma recovery• Trying to play a VR game with my son and realising my brain couldn’t keep up• Deep inner rewiring from years of surviving coercive control and CPTSD• Learning how to be again — not just function

And also: joy, play, and finding new rhythms for differing levels of energy days.

Yes, I take Biotin100 daily (except around blood tests). Yes, I meditate in nature, journal, cry, wobble, laugh, and listen to singing bowls while folding the washing. Yes, I co-regulate with birdsong. Yes, I sometimes lose faith — and then remember, I am truly connected to source - we all are when we enquire within.

Gratitude and forgiveness are also part of the mix for me. In fact, studies show these practices reduce inflammatory cytokines, shift the brain toward higher-functioning alpha/theta states, and reset the stress response. They’re not fluffy — they’re frequency medicine and tap into our organic human energetics long forgotten in many Western cultures sytems but not by us as humans when we tap back in!

🌬️ Oxygen, Neurodivergence & Hope...final whisper

ADHD, CFS, fibromyalgia, PFO… it’s all connected in ways we’re only beginning to map. Some research suggests the ADHD brain uses more oxygen for executive functions, which might explain the increased exhaustion, head aches, overwhelm or migraines, or burnout seen in overstimulating environments. This would make sense to a lot of individuals on various neurodivergence and learning disabilites spectrums not just ADHD?

I've felt and seen how decades of compensating, masking, and surviving can leave us depleted — especially when trauma and health inequity are layered on top. We don’t just need rest. We need recognition, repair, and radical redesign of how we view human energy.

Let this be the start.

💚 Your not invisible, the world just hasn't caught up

Let’s make invisible conditions more visible. Let’s create language and community for those who fall between the cracks. And let’s make space for a new way of healing that’s grounded, spiritual, silly, scientific — and whole.

As Vandana Shiva once said:“The highest karma is the action that nurtures life in all its forms.”

And to that I’d add… even when life has knocked us flat, we’re still breathing. Still healing. Still tuning our own instruments back to harmony.

Welcome to Nuutree. There’s a whole field of possibility waiting.

💊 FYI: Why Biotin100 is a Therapeutic Reset Dose — and Why That Matters

Most high street supplements offer just 100 micrograms of biotin — the bare minimum for deficiency prevention. But Nuutree Biotin100 delivers 100 milligrams — that’s 2000%+ of the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) — designed for therapeutic support, not just maintenance. Also you can't absorb Biotin through beauty creams or applications - it must be ingested. Biotin100 gives you the inside out reset level dose.

This reset-level dose is used in clinical research exploring support for neurological, metabolic, and energy-related conditions. It is not just a “beauty vitamin” — it plays a core role in supporting ATP production, cellular repair, and nervous system health under stress. But it also supports Beauty so whats not to like? In addition:

💧 Because it’s water-soluble, Biotin100 must be taken with plenty of water — it increases your cells’ energy turnover and hydration needs.

🌿 Biotin is produced in the gut microbiome, but modern life (antibiotics, stress, diet, hormonal shifts, etc.) often depletes our ability to make and absorb enough — especially when we need it most.

🧪 There is no official upper toxicity level for biotin in healthy individuals. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has found no risk even at very high doses, which is why Nuutree’s dose is both potent and safe for long-term use under guidance.

Nuutree Biotin100 offers a clean, vegan, lab-tested formulation — a simple yet powerful way to give your cells the cofactor they may be quietly starving for.

SHOP Biotin100 NOW

🔍 UK Regulations Note & Supplement Safety

Biotin100 is formulated to support daily wellness at a special protocol dose of 100mg D-Biotin, using only high-purity fermented ingredients. There is no established upper intake limit for biotin in the EU or UK. Biotin is water-soluble and excreted if unused — but it increases cellular water demand, so hydration is essential when taking high doses. Biotin levels can interfere with blood tests, especially thyroid, hormone, and cardiac assays. We advise a 72-hour pause before any bloodwork, and recommend notifying your health professional that you take high-dose biotin.

Thank you for supporting a small UK wellbeing start up. I'm grateful, B x