When people hear the word ammonia, they often think of cleaning products or the “cat pee” smell. But ammonia is also a natural byproduct created inside the body during normal metabolism, particularly during the breakdown of proteins and by certain gut bacteria. Under healthy/ideal conditions, the body will convert ammonia into urea in the liver so it can be safely eliminated. When this process is impaired, clients show up at my doorstep.

Problems begin when ammonia production exceeds the body’s ability to process and clear it quickly enough. In my clients’ complex and chronic illness cases, factors such as gut imbalance, liver stress, high protein intake, impaired detoxification pathways, infections, or metabolic dysfunction are often what is contributing to an increased ammonia burden.

Ammonia can negatively impair the nervous system, and finding out how elevated levels may be can be difficult for a patient to puzzle out. My clients will report an anxiety that feels like they are “crawling out of their skin” or that “doesn’t make sense.” Other symptoms include brain fog, fatigue, headaches, irritability, sleep issues- often in falling asleep, difficulty concentrating or finding words, dizziness, mood swings, or feeling mentally “wired but tired.” Some also experience worsening symptoms after certain foods or supplements that may be contributing to stress on that urea cycle or liver methylation pathways.

Please don’t fear ammonia—our bodies naturally produce and handle it every day. But it is often the biggest roadblock and first one that needs to be addressed when clients want to being their work together.

Is ammonia build up a part of your chronic illness picture day to day? Let’s get it fixed— and all of your other symptoms, for good!