Unlock the Key to Neurological Health

Folate plays a crucial role in brain development, nervous system function, and overall mental well-being—but not all folate is created equal. Understanding how different forms of folate impact neurological health can be life-changing, especially when it comes to conditions like Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD), ASD, PANS/PANDAS, and more.

That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive educational series—a deep dive into the Brain-Folate Connection, designed for parents, providers, and anyone looking to optimize brain health.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Why folate is essential for brain function (and the key differences between folinic acid, MTHF, and folic acid)
  • What Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD) is and why it’s often overlooked
  • The connection between CFD, ASD, PANS/PANDAS, and mental health conditions
  • CFD vs. MTHFR mutations—understanding the critical differences
  • How to test for CFD and explore treatment options

A word from my partner, Dr. Lindsey Wells

Is Folate the Missing Link in Your Child’s Neurological Health?

Have you heard about the recent case where a child with autism began speaking just three days after taking folinic acid? This astonishing breakthrough is linked to Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD), a condition that often goes undiagnosed but has profound implications for brain health.

Understanding how folate impacts the nervous system is essential for parents, healthcare providers, and practitioners alike. That’s why we’ve created this 10-part educational series—a deep dive into folate, CFD, and its connections to neurological conditions like ASD, PANS/PANDAS, and mental health disorders.

Explore the topics below to learn more:

Folic Acid vs. Folinic Acid vs. MTHF— Here’s What You Need to Know

Let's first dive into a critical but often misunderstood topic—the different forms of folate and why the one you choose matters for your brain, nervous system, and overall health.

💡 Why Is Folate So Important?

Folate is an essential B vitamin (B9) that plays a crucial role in:
✅ Brain development & function (especially in-utero, infants & children)
✅ DNA & RNA production (needed for growth & repair)
✅ Neurotransmitter production (affecting mood, memory, & cognition)
✅ Methylation & detoxification (critical for overall health)

But not all folate is the same—and many people are taking the wrong form without realizing it.

🔎 Breaking Down the Different Forms of Folate

1. Natural Folate (Found in Foods)

  • The form of folate found in leafy greens, legumes, and liver.
  • Easily absorbed by most people but needs to be converted into its active forms to be useful.

2. Folinic Acid (Calcium Folinate) – The Preferred Form for CFD & Neurological Health

  • A biologically active form of folate that does not require MTHFR conversion.
  • Readily converted to L-5-MTHF without relying on dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), making it more efficient for those with enzyme-related folate metabolism issues.
  • Crosses the blood-brain barrier, making it essential for neurological function.
  • Used to support cerebral folate deficiency (CFD), neurological conditions, and immune function.
  • Ideal for individuals who are sensitive to or do not tolerate L-5-MTHF.
  • Superior to folic acid and often prescribed in high doses for neurological support.
  • Leucovorin is the prescription form of folinic acid, primarily used to reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapy drugs that interfere with folate metabolism, but it is also used in neurological conditions like CFD and ASD.

3. L-Methylfolate (5-MTHF or L-5-MTHF) – The Active Form for Methylation & Detoxification

  • The most active form of folate in circulation, ready to be used by the body.
  • Essential for methylation, which impacts mental health, detoxification, and energy production.
  • Ideal for those with MTHFR mutations who have difficulty converting folic acid.

4. Folic Acid – The Synthetic Form (and Why to Avoid It!)

  • Found in most fortified foods & cheap supplements.
  • Synthetic & requires multiple conversion steps before the body can use it.
  • Up to 40% of people (especially those with MTHFR mutations) cannot properly convert folic acid into active folate, leading to buildup and potential toxicity.
  • Can block natural folate receptors and interfere with folate metabolism.

⚡ Why Folinic Acid & L-Methylfolate Are Superior

If you or your child have neurological conditions, speech delays, or immune dysfunction, using the right form of folate is crucial.

Folinic acid (Calcium Folinate) is ideal for neurological function & cerebral folate deficiency because it can bypass MTHFR mutations and cross the blood-brain barrier.

L-Methylfolate (5-MTHF) is best for supporting methylation and detox pathways.

The takeaway? Ditch synthetic folic acid and choose bioavailable forms that actually work.

Cerebral Folate Deficiency: The Hidden Condition Affecting Brain Health

Several factors can impair folate transport into the brain, but the most common cause is:

Folate Transport Autoantibodies (FRAAs)

Some individuals develop autoantibodies that block folate receptors (FRα) in the brain, preventing folate from entering.

These folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAAs) have been detected in children with autism, PANS/PANDAS, and other neurological disorders.

There are two types of folate receptor autoantibodies that can interfere with folate transport:

  • Blocking Antibodies – Bind to the folate receptor’s folate-binding site, preventing folate from attaching.
  • Binding Antibodies – Attach to other regions of the folate receptor, disrupting its function.

Both types can significantly reduce folate availability in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), leading to the symptoms seen in CFD.

Why Is CFD a Big Deal?

Since folate is critical for brain function, low levels can contribute to:

🚨 Speech & language delays
🚨 Motor coordination issues
🚨 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like symptoms
🚨 Depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges
🚨 Neuroinflammation & immune dysfunction

CFD often goes undiagnosed because standard blood folate tests do not reflect brain folate levels.

How Is CFD Diagnosed?

📌 The gold standard test for CFD is measuring folate levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, this requires a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), which is invasive and not commonly performed.

📌 Many providers rely on a clinical diagnosis, considering:✔️ Symptoms✔️ Folate receptor autoantibody (FRAA) testing (more on this soon!)✔️ Response to folinic acid treatment

CFD Has Been Linked to These Conditions—Here’s What You Need to Know

The real-world impact of CFD—the neurological and psychiatric conditions that have been linked to low folate levels in the brain.

Folate is essential for neurotransmitter production, neurodevelopment, and immune function. When folate transport into the brain is impaired, it can contribute to a wide range of neurological and mental health disorders.

Let’s take a look at the key conditions that have been associated with CFD.

🧠 1. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

  • Studies have found high rates of folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAAs) in children with ASD.
  • CFD in ASD is linked to speech and language delays, motor dysfunction, and cognitive impairment.
  • Many children with ASD show clinical improvement with folinic acid supplementation, particularly in areas of speech, attention, and social engagement.

In some cases, parents have reported significant changes—like children who were previously nonverbal beginning to speak—after starting folinic acid therapy.

⚡ 2. PANS/PANDAS (Neuroimmune Disorders)

  • PANS/PANDAS are immune-related neuropsychiatric conditions that cause sudden onset OCD, anxiety, and mood changes in children.
  • Some PANS/PANDAS patients test positive for folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAAs), suggesting that CFD could be contributing to their symptoms.
  • Folinic acid can help modulate immune function and act as symptom support in these patients.

😰 3. Anxiety Disorders

  • Folate is essential for producing serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine—neurotransmitters that regulate mood and stress response.
  • Low brain folate levels have been linked to increased anxiety, panic attacks, and intrusive thoughts.
  • Some individuals with anxiety fail to respond to standard treatments but improve with folinic acid supplementation, likely due to improved neurotransmitter synthesis.

🌀 4. Depression (Especially Treatment-Resistant Depression)

  • CFD has been found in individuals with major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression.
  • Folate is required for methylation, which influences mood regulation and neurotransmitter balance.
  • Some studies have shown that L-methylfolate or folinic acid supplementation enhances the effectiveness of antidepressants.

If a patient has not responded to traditional antidepressant therapies, CFD may be playing a role.

🧩 5. Schizophrenia & Psychosis

  • Folate metabolism abnormalities have been linked to schizophrenia, particularly in individuals with genetic mutations affecting folate transport.
  • CFD can lead to disruptions in dopamine regulation, which is a key factor in schizophrenia.
  • Some research suggests that folinic acid supplementation may help improve cognitive function in individuals with schizophrenia.

⚡ 6. Seizures & Epilepsy

  • CFD is strongly associated with seizures, particularly in children with unexplained epilepsy.
  • Folate is needed for neuronal stability and proper brain signaling, and low brain folate levels can contribute to increased seizure activity.
  • Some children with CFD-related epilepsy show dramatic improvement when treated with folinic acid.

In some cases, patients with drug-resistant seizures have responded well to folinic acid therapy.

🧠 7. Memory Loss & Cognitive Decline

  • Low folate levels in the brain have been linked to cognitive decline, memory impairment, and early-onset dementia.
  • Folate is essential for DNA repair, mitochondrial function, and neuron protection.
  • Individuals with CFD and MTHFR mutations may be at a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline.
  • Folinic acid supplementation has been shown to improve cognitive function and memory in some cases.

Could CFD Be A Missing Piece in Autism? Here’s What the Research Says

The connection between Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):

Many parents of children with ASD struggle to find effective treatments, often relying on behavioral therapies, dietary changes, and various biomedical approaches. But what if an underlying folate transport issue is playing a role in ASD symptoms?

💡 Recent research suggests that many children with autism may have an impaired ability to transport folate into the brain—leading to neurological dysfunction and developmental delays.

Let’s explore what the science says.

🔬 The Link Between CFD and Autism

A growing body of research has found a strong association between ASD and folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAAs), which block folate from crossing the blood-brain barrier and may contribute to neurodevelopmental challenges.

📌 A 2021 meta-analysis estimated that 71% of children with ASD test positive for FRAAs (Rossignol & Frye, J Per Med, 2021).

📌 Children with ASD were found to be 19 times more likely to test positive for FRAAs compared to typically developing children who did not have a sibling with ASD.

📌 Parental FRAAs may also play a role—one study found that FRα autoantibodies were present in either the mother, father, or both parents of children with low-IQ autism and features of CFD (Ramaekers et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 2005).

📌 Preventative Potential: Research suggests that when mothers with FRAAs supplemented with folinic acid during subsequent pregnancies, their children were born without neurodevelopmental disorders (Ramaekers & Quadros, Nutrients, 2022).

This highlights not only the role of folate transport issues in ASD but also the potential for early intervention through folinic acid supplementation.

🧠 How CFD Contributes to ASD Symptoms

Since folate is essential for brain development, neurotransmitter production, and mitochondrial function, low levels in the brain can contribute to several key ASD-related symptoms, including:

❗ Speech & language delays
❗ Irritability & emotional dysregulation
❗ Motor coordination issues (ataxia, pyramidal signs, movement disorders)
❗ Increased risk of epilepsy & seizures

CFD does not cause autism, but for many children, it may be an underlying factor exacerbating symptoms.

⚡ The Power of Folinic Acid (Leucovorin) for ASD

The good news? Research suggests that supplementing with high-dose folinic acid (a bioavailable form of folate) can lead to significant improvements in children with ASD.

📊 Key Findings from Clinical Trials:

📌 A 2018 study found that treatment with leucovorin resulted in improvements in:

  • Overall ASD symptoms (67%)
  • Irritability (58%)
  • Ataxia (88%)
  • Pyramidal signs (76%)
  • Movement disorders (47%)
  • Epilepsy (75%)

📌 In another double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 48 children with ASD and language impairment, researchers found:

  • Children receiving 12 weeks of high-dose folinic acid (2 mg/kg per day, up to 50 mg/day) had significantly greater improvements in verbal communication compared to placebo.
  • In FRAA-positive participants, the improvement in verbal communication was even more significant.
  • Improvements were also observed in:
    ✔️ Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale
    ✔️ Aberrant Behavior Checklist
    ✔️ Autism Symptom Questionnaire
    ✔️ Behavioral Assessment System for Children

What does this mean?
For some children, CFD may be an underlying contributor to their autism symptoms—and folinic acid could be a key intervention to help support communication, behavior, and motor function.

New Research: Folate Deficiency in the Brain May Play a Role in PANS/PANDAS

I’m excited to share a groundbreaking study that I led—the first and only research to date examining the connection between Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD) and PANS/PANDAS.

As you may already know, PANS/PANDAS is characterized by sudden-onset OCD, tics, anxiety, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms, often triggered by infections or noninfectious factors, including metabolic imbalances and environmental exposures.

But what if folate metabolism abnormalities were also influencing the severity of symptoms in PANS/PANDAS patients? That’s exactly what my research set out to explore.

🔬 Key Findings from My Study

📌 63.8% of PANS/PANDAS patients tested positive for folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAAs), suggesting that folate transport across the blood-brain barrier may be compromised in this population.

📌 Breaking Down the FRAA Positivity in PANS/PANDAS Patients:

  • 83.3% were positive for binding FRAAs
  • 10% were positive for both blocking & binding FRAAs
  • 6.7% were positive for blocking FRAAs

This is significant because these autoantibodies can impair folate uptake into the brain, potentially exacerbating neurological and psychiatric symptoms seen in PANS/PANDAS.

🧠 Tics & Folate Autoantibodies – A Significant Relationship

My research also found a strong link between tics and binding FRAAs:

  • Patients with tics were more likely to have a high FRAA binding titer.
  • Those with severe tics had a binding FRAA titer that was 0.90 OD higher than those without severe tics.

This suggests that folate metabolism abnormalities could be playing a direct role in tic severity among PANS/PANDAS patients.

⚡ Other Key Findings – ADHD, Allergies, and ASD

📌 Patients who tested positive for both binding & blocking FRAAs:

  • Were more likely to be prescribed ADHD medications
  • Had a higher rate of allergies

📌 FRAAs and ASD in PANS/PANDAS Patients:

  • The presence of ASD was found to be significantly related to binding FRAAs,
  • Children with ASD were more likely to have a lower binding FRAA titer.

This indicates that folate receptor autoantibody profiles may differ in children with PANS/PANDAS depending on their coexisting conditions.

🔍 What Does This Mean for PANS/PANDAS Treatment?

These findings suggest that CFD may be a contributing factor to PANS/PANDAS symptomatology.

📌 If folate transport into the brain is impaired due to FRAAs, it could worsen psychiatric symptoms, immune dysfunction, and neuroinflammation.

📌 This raises the question—could folinic acid supplementation (high-dose folate) improve symptoms in PANS/PANDAS patients, just as it has in ASD?

This is an exciting area for future research, but it also presents an opportunity for parents and providers to consider testing for FRAAs and exploring folinic acid as a potential intervention.

Recent Research: Folinic Acid Shows Promise for Treatment-Resistant Depression

We’ve discussed how Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD) is linked to neurological disorders like Autism and PANS/PANDAS—but what about mental health disorders?

Recent research suggests that CFD may play a role in treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and even schizophrenia.

For many patients, traditional treatments don’t work, leaving them searching for answers. But what if low folate levels in the brain were a missing piece of the puzzle?

Let’s look at what the science says.

🔬 CFD & Treatment-Resistant Depression

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is defined as depression that does not improve after trying at least two different antidepressants at maximum dosage for an adequate duration.

📌 A 2017 study found that 36% of patients with treatment-resistant depression tested positive for CFD (Mathew & Lijffijt, Am J Psychiatry, 2017).

📌 When these patients supplemented their antidepressant medication with leucovorin (folinic acid) for at least six weeks, they experienced marginal to substantial improvement.

📌 Another study found that 56% of patients with treatment-resistant depression tested positive for FRα autoantibodies. Researchers concluded that folinic acid therapy was effective in these cases (Ramaekers et al., Biochimie, 2016).

This suggests that in some cases, cerebral folate deficiency may be contributing to persistent depressive symptoms—and folinic acid could be a game-changer for these individuals.

🧠 CFD & Anxiety Disorders

Folate plays a key role in neurotransmitter production, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which regulate mood and stress response.

📌 Animal studies show that folate deficiency leads to increased anxiety-like behaviors.

📌 A 2016 study found that rats exposed to FRAAs during gestation and early development displayed significant anxiety behaviors as adults (Sequeira et al., PLoS One, 2016).

These findings suggest that folate metabolism abnormalities may contribute to heightened anxiety and emotional dysregulation throughout life—further supporting the role of folate in mental health.

🌀 CFD & Schizophrenia

Emerging research also suggests that CFD and FRα autoimmunity may play a role in schizophrenia, particularly in treatment-resistant cases.

📌 FRα autoimmunity has been linked to refractory schizophrenia, with studies showing that patients with schizophrenia can experience fluctuations in FRα antibody titers.

📌 The first reported case of CFD-related schizophrenia involved a child diagnosed with catatonic schizophrenia who tested positive for FRα autoantibodies (Ho et al., J. Child Neurol., 2010).

📌 A 2014 study reported that among 20 patients with refractory schizophrenia, up to 85% tested positive for FRα autoantibodies (Ramaekers et al., 2014).

This research suggests that folate metabolism dysfunction—particularly related to FRα autoantibodies—may contribute to schizophrenia, and that folinic acid therapy could be a potential avenue for treatment.

🔍 What Does This Mean for Mental Health Treatment?

Traditional psychiatric treatments focus on neurotransmitter imbalances, but these findings suggest that CFD and folate transport issues may be an underlying factor in certain mental health conditions.

📌 If folate isn’t reaching the brain due to FRα autoantibodies, neurotransmitter synthesis may be impaired, leading to treatment-resistant symptoms.

📌 Folinic acid therapy has shown promise in improving symptoms in treatment resistant depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia—especially in individuals with FRα autoantibodies.

This is an exciting area of research that could open new possibilities for treatment approaches in mental health.

CFD vs. MTHFR: What’s the Difference & Why It Matters

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about whether Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD) and MTHFR mutations are the same thing—so today, we’re going to clear up the confusion.

While both conditions involve folate metabolism, they are NOT the same—and they require different treatment approaches.

Let’s break it down.

🔬 What Is MTHFR?

The MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) gene provides instructions for making an enzyme that helps convert dietary folate into its active form, L-methylfolate (5-MTHF).

📌 Some individuals inherit MTHFR gene mutations (like C677T or A1298C), which can reduce their ability to convert folic acid into 5-MTHF.

📌 MTHFR mutations are common—about 40% of the population has at least one copy of a mutation. However, having an MTHFR mutation does not automatically mean you have folate deficiency or neurological symptoms.

📌 People with MTHFR mutations often do well with L-methylfolate (5-MTHF) supplementation because it bypasses the enzymatic conversion step they struggle with.

Key takeaway: MTHFR mutations affect how the body metabolizes folate but do NOT impact folate transport into the brain.

🧠 What Is Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD)?

CFD is a completely separate condition from MTHFR mutations. It is caused by a problem with folate transport into the brain, not with folate metabolism.

📌 In CFD, folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAAs) block folate transport across the blood-brain barrier, leading to low brain folate levels—even if blood folate levels are normal.

📌 Unlike MTHFR mutations, CFD is not genetic

📌 CFD is strongly associated with autism, PANS/PANDAS, epilepsy, mental health disorders, and neuroinflammation.

Key takeaway: CFD affects folate availability in the brain and is driven by autoantibodies, not enzyme mutations.

🔍 Can You Have One Without the Other?

✅ Yes! You can have an MTHFR mutation without CFD, and you can have CFD without an MTHFR mutation.

✅ Having an MTHFR mutation does NOT mean you have CFD, and vice versa.

✅ FRAAs (not MTHFR mutations) are the main cause of CFD—so if you suspect CFD, testing for folate receptor autoantibodies is more relevant than MTHFR testing.

⚡ Why Treatment Is Different for CFD vs. MTHFR Mutations

Since these are two distinct conditions, they require different treatment approaches:

Condition > Best Folates Form > Why?

MTHFR Mutation > L-methylfolate (5-MTHF)
Bypasses the conversion step that is impaired due to the mutation.

Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD) > Folinic acid (calcium folinate)
Crosses the blood-brain barrier and is effective even in the presence of FRAAs.

Both CFD & MTHFR Mutation > Folinic acid (not 5-MTHF)
Folinic acid is the preferred form for CFD, even if an MTHFR mutation is present, as it uses alternative transport mechanisms to reach the brain.

📌 Why Not Use L-Methylfolate (5-MTHF) for CFD?

📌 L-methylfolate (5-MTHF) is beneficial for MTHFR mutations but is NOT the preferred form for CFD.

Here’s why:

  • In CFD, folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAAs) block the receptors on the blood-brain barrier, preventing L-methylfolate from effectively entering the brain.
  • Folinic acid (not 5-MTHF) is the recommended treatment for CFD because it can be shuttled into the brain using an alternative carrier transport system, bypassing the blocked folate receptors and increasing brain folate levels more effectively.

If a patient has both CFD and an MTHFR mutation, folinic acid remains the better choice because it ensures folate reaches the brain where it is needed most.

The Best Way to Detect Cerebral Folate Deficiency (Without a Spinal Tap)

So far, we’ve explored how CFD impacts the brain, its links to neurological and mental health conditions, and why folinic acid is the preferred treatment.

But how do you test for CFD and determine if folate transport issues are affecting the brain?

The gold standard for diagnosing CFD is measuring 5-MTHF (active folate) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through a lumbar puncture—but this procedure is invasive, requires general anesthesia, and is rarely performed in clinical settings.

💡 Fortunately, there’s a much less invasive way to screen for CFD: testing for folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAAs) in the blood, which can be performed with a simple blood draw.

🔬 The Best Test for CFD: Folate Receptor Autoantibody Testing (FRAT)

📌 The Folate Receptor Autoantibody Test (FRAT) is a blood test that measures binding and blocking FRAAs, which can interfere with folate transport into the brain.

📌 Studies have shown that serum titers of FRAAs in patients with CFD and Autism correlate with 5-MTHF levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), validating FRAAs as a reliable marker of folate abnormalities in the brain.

📌 The Folate Receptor Autoantibody Test is available at fratnow.com, where your practitioner can order the test.

📌 Important note: FRAA levels may fluctuate over time, so if symptoms persist despite a negative test result, retesting at a later date may be warranted.

📌 For most accurate results, avoid taking any supplements containing folate for at least three days before testing.

🔍 What If FRAA Testing Is Negative?

If your FRAA test comes back negative, but CFD is still suspected, further investigations may include:

✅ Mitochondrial function testing (as mitochondrial dysfunction can contribute to CFD-like symptoms).
✅ FOLR1 gene mutation testing (to check for genetic causes of impaired folate transport).
✅ MTHFR gene mutation testing (to assess folate metabolism, though this differs from CFD).
✅ Mineral status testing (Iron, copper, zinc, selenium, and manganese—all play a role in folate metabolism and brain function).

Getting the Right Treatment for CFD Just Got Easier

Over the past nine topics, we’ve explored how Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD) impacts brain health, how to test for it, and what it means for conditions like Autism, PANS/PANDAS, and mental health disorders.

Now, let’s talk about treatment—what actually works to restore folate levels in the brain and improve neurological function.

Many families struggle to access proper CFD treatment, but today, I have an exciting announcement about a solution designed specifically to help.

But first, let’s break down the best treatment options for CFD.

1️⃣ A Dairy-Free Diet – Why It’s Critical for CFD

Did you know that cow’s milk contains a protein that closely resembles the folate receptor (FRα) in the brain?

📌 The human FRα protein shares about 90% amino acid sequence similarity with FRα found in all animal-derived milk and dairy products.

📌 When a child ingests cow’s milk, their immune system may produce antibodies against the soluble FRα protein found in dairy, which can then cross-react with FRα in the brain, thyroid, and gonads.

📌 Removing dairy from the diet can significantly reduce the production of these cross-reacting folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAAs) over a period of three months.

📌 However, reintroducing dairy later can cause a sharp rise in FRAAs—often higher than initial levels. (Raemakers et al., Dev Med Child Neurol., 2008).

This suggests that a dairy-free diet may be necessary as a long-term intervention for individuals with CFD.

2️⃣ Folinic Acid – The Gold Standard for CFD Treatment

Folinic acid (calcium folinate) is the recommended treatment for CFD.

📌 It bypasses blocked folate receptors and directly increases folate levels in the brain.

📌 Recommended Dosage:

  • 2 mg/kg per day, up to 50 mg per day
  • Start low and go slow! Some individuals may be sensitive to an abrupt increase in folate levels.

📌 Clinical response can be dramatic—especially if folinic acid treatment is started early in life.

⚠️ Possible Side Effects (Typically Mild & Temporary)

While folinic acid is generally well-tolerated, some individuals experience temporary side effects, including:

❗ Irritability & agitation – Due to increased neurotransmitter activity (dopamine & serotonin).
❗ Insomnia & restlessness – May occur in the first few weeks of treatment.
❗ Increased tantrums or emotional sensitivity – Often temporary while the brain adjusts.
❗ Headaches – Linked to increased tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) production.

These effects usually stabilize within six weeks as neurotransmitter systems reach a new equilibrium.

3️⃣ The Challenge with Accessing Folinic Acid Treatment

In clinical research, the prescription medication Leucovorin (prescription folinic acid) has been widely studied as a treatment for CFD, Autism, PANS/PANDAS, and mental health disorders.

However, there are several challenges with getting Leucovorin:

📌 Leucovorin is NOT FDA-approved for neurological conditions (its primary approval is for chemotherapy support), making it an off-label treatment for CFD.

📌 Many mainstream practitioners are unfamiliar with CFD and may hesitate to prescribe Leucovorin.

📌 Leucovorin contains lactose, making it incompatible with a completely dairy-free approach to CFD treatment.

📌 Cost can be prohibitive—some families pay up to $450 per month, and supply chain issues have made it difficult to access.

These barriers have left many families frustrated, unable to access the high-dose folinic acid their children desperately need.

🚀 A Better Solution: Introducing Hi-Folinic

Out of frustration from families struggling to access this game-changing nutrient, I set out to create a better option—one that provides high-dose folinic acid in the proper form, at an affordable price, and without dairy additives.

Introducing Hi-Folinic:

✔️ 15 mg per capsule – A high-dose, clinical-grade folinic acid supplement.
✔️ Dairy-free, lactose-free – Designed to be fully compatible with a dairy-free CFD protocol.
✔️ Affordable – A cost-effective alternative to prescription folinic acid 
✔️ Available NOW!

This is the solution you’ve been looking for. You can finally access the right form of folinic acid in the proper dosage—without barriers, high costs, or unnecessary additives.

About

Dr. Myriah Hinchey

  • Dr. Myriah Hinchey, ND, FMAPS

    Dr. Myriah Hinchey is a Connecticut-licensed naturopathic physician and medical director of TAO Vitality. After overcoming her own struggle with Lyme disease, she has dedicated more than a decade to specializing in naturopathic care for tick-borne illnesses. Dr. Hinchey has trained under renowned Lyme experts, including Dr. Tom Moorcroft, Dr. Richard Horowitz, Dr. Neil Nathan, and Master Herbalist Stephen Buhner, with whom she developed unique treatment protocols. She is a frequent speaker at medical conferences and has been an active member of ILADS for over a decade, contributing to the advancement of Lyme treatment and education. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Hinchey is the founder and owner of LymeCore Botanicals, a company focused on herbal remedies for Lyme disease. She also established LymeBytes! Symposium where she organizes an annual two-day event offering continuing education and community-building for those affected by Lyme disease.

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