
As a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner® I specialize in working with those who have Complex Chronic Illness including: Viral Long Haul, Lyme Disease, CIRS/Mold Biotoxin Illness, MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), Autism Spectrum Disorders, extreme food sensitivities, autoimmune illnesses, hormonal imbalances, and gut microbiome imbalances. I also work with people who are experiencing weight loss resistance, or an inability to lose weight despite sticking to a strict diet and a strenuous, exercise routine.
I strongly believe that every individual has a unique biochemistry and do not subscribe to a one-size fits all diet or functional wellness protocol. Instead, I use special functional nutrition lab tests to investigate and identify hidden malfunctions and imbalances that are at the root cause of your chronic health symptoms and design custom protocols for each person.
I've been trained in over 100 different dietary theories and am an expert in many specialty, Anti-Inflammatory Diets including: Paleo, Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), Low-FODMAP, Low Oxalate, Keto Diet, Anti-Candida Diet, and the Low-Histamine Diet.
Education and support are the cornerstones of my functional medicine approach; I believe in empowering you with the information you need to make healthy choices, heal yourself naturally, and lead a balanced and fulfilling life!
My clients will tell you I'm as invested in your health and wellness as you are and will be here to support you every step of the way. But don't take my word for it, check out what my clients are saying about working with me: Testimonials
I want you to know that HEALING IS POSSIBLE...but believe me when I say that I lost hope myself several times in my own journey...
My Healing Journey:
My passion for helping others overcome chronic illness comes from privately battling decades of my own health problems including: hormone and metabolic issues, chronic pain, debilitating fatigue, anxiety, depression, severe food sensitivities, parasites, SIBO, and leaky gut. After being treated for several different autoimmune conditions in my early 30's with immune suppressants I just kept getting worse. My debilitating symptoms got so bad in 2011, I couldn't work, drive, read, or doing anything outside of my house.
When western medicine doctors wanted to continue to throw more pharmaceutical medications at me to "ease my symptoms", I became passionate about investigating the real root causes of my symptoms and using a functional medicine approach to heal. My dedicated research, training, and health detective work finally paid off in 2013 when I was correctly diagnosed with Chronic Late Stage Lyme Disease, mold toxicity/CIRS, and MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome).
Once I began focusing on stabilizing my mast cells in comprehensive and detailed way, my baseline symptoms improved, my sensitivities went down and that allowed me to treat my infections, support deeper detoxification, and balance my gut and digestive system. I made significant progress and found my true purpose was to help share my approach and my story with others who were also suffering.
Then in 2022, my life and health shifted drastically again after experiencing back to back, soul-crushing losses and traumas in my personal life. It was at this time that I also got bit by a mosquito and got West Nile Virus and that triggered viral meningitis and many extreme viral and neurological symptoms that turned into viral long haul illness. Between back to back traumas and losses and the virulent viral illness, my brain inflammation and loss of function were severe and I found myself at the most challenging place in my health that I had ever been.
It was at this time I knew I had to focus on healing my emotional, energetic, and spiritual body and heal from the extreme losses and traumas I had experienced in order to heal my physical body and regain function and health again. I made it my job everyday to focus on mental, emotional, energetic health and retrain my nervous system to be a in a state of calm, peace, and safety. I used many different modalities as well as professional support and in this process, I was also diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which helped me understand myself and my illness even more and brought deeper levels of healing.
This deep level nervous system and trauma work allowed me to tolerate treatments for viral long haul and other chronic infections much easier and in the last few years, I've once again got my life and health back and feel more vibrant than ever!
My daily focus on functional medicine, energetic and emotional health practices, intense and extensive work on emotional trauma, and an anti-inflammatory eating and lifestyle plan have been essential in my ongoing recovery. I "practice what I preach" each and every day, always putting self-care first!
I've been where you are and now I'm making it my mission to help others suffering on this level
to find peace and healing because HEALING IS POSSIBLE!
- GET STARTED HERE - LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO WORK WITH MY TEAM -
I strongly believe that every individual has a unique biochemistry and do not subscribe to a one-size fits all diet or functional wellness protocol. Instead, I use special functional nutrition lab tests to investigate and identify hidden malfunctions and imbalances that are at the root cause of your chronic health symptoms and design custom protocols for each person.
I've been trained in over 100 different dietary theories and am an expert in many specialty, Anti-Inflammatory Diets including: Paleo, Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), Low-FODMAP, Low Oxalate, Keto Diet, Anti-Candida Diet, and the Low-Histamine Diet.
Education and support are the cornerstones of my functional medicine approach; I believe in empowering you with the information you need to make healthy choices, heal yourself naturally, and lead a balanced and fulfilling life!
My clients will tell you I'm as invested in your health and wellness as you are and will be here to support you every step of the way. But don't take my word for it, check out what my clients are saying about working with me: Testimonials
I want you to know that HEALING IS POSSIBLE...but believe me when I say that I lost hope myself several times in my own journey...
My Healing Journey:
My passion for helping others overcome chronic illness comes from privately battling decades of my own health problems including: hormone and metabolic issues, chronic pain, debilitating fatigue, anxiety, depression, severe food sensitivities, parasites, SIBO, and leaky gut. After being treated for several different autoimmune conditions in my early 30's with immune suppressants I just kept getting worse. My debilitating symptoms got so bad in 2011, I couldn't work, drive, read, or doing anything outside of my house.
When western medicine doctors wanted to continue to throw more pharmaceutical medications at me to "ease my symptoms", I became passionate about investigating the real root causes of my symptoms and using a functional medicine approach to heal. My dedicated research, training, and health detective work finally paid off in 2013 when I was correctly diagnosed with Chronic Late Stage Lyme Disease, mold toxicity/CIRS, and MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome).
Once I began focusing on stabilizing my mast cells in comprehensive and detailed way, my baseline symptoms improved, my sensitivities went down and that allowed me to treat my infections, support deeper detoxification, and balance my gut and digestive system. I made significant progress and found my true purpose was to help share my approach and my story with others who were also suffering.
Then in 2022, my life and health shifted drastically again after experiencing back to back, soul-crushing losses and traumas in my personal life. It was at this time that I also got bit by a mosquito and got West Nile Virus and that triggered viral meningitis and many extreme viral and neurological symptoms that turned into viral long haul illness. Between back to back traumas and losses and the virulent viral illness, my brain inflammation and loss of function were severe and I found myself at the most challenging place in my health that I had ever been.
It was at this time I knew I had to focus on healing my emotional, energetic, and spiritual body and heal from the extreme losses and traumas I had experienced in order to heal my physical body and regain function and health again. I made it my job everyday to focus on mental, emotional, energetic health and retrain my nervous system to be a in a state of calm, peace, and safety. I used many different modalities as well as professional support and in this process, I was also diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which helped me understand myself and my illness even more and brought deeper levels of healing.
This deep level nervous system and trauma work allowed me to tolerate treatments for viral long haul and other chronic infections much easier and in the last few years, I've once again got my life and health back and feel more vibrant than ever!
My daily focus on functional medicine, energetic and emotional health practices, intense and extensive work on emotional trauma, and an anti-inflammatory eating and lifestyle plan have been essential in my ongoing recovery. I "practice what I preach" each and every day, always putting self-care first!
I've been where you are and now I'm making it my mission to help others suffering on this level
to find peace and healing because HEALING IS POSSIBLE!
- GET STARTED HERE - LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO WORK WITH MY TEAM -
My Training/Education:
B.S. in Business Administration & Biology from University of Nevada, Reno, 2001
Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Certified Holistic Health Coach, Board Certified HHC, 2012
Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Institute, Board Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, FDN-P, 2015
Association of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioners, AFDNP, Current Member
Advanced Training In:
SIBO, Leaky Gut, Parasites, HPA-Axis Dysfunction, Oxalates, Nutrigenomics, & Blood Chemistry (2015-2018)
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome & Histamine Intolerance
ART (Muscle Testing) Basic, 2020
ART (Muscle Testing) Advanced 2022
Vagal Toning Practitioner (Certification in Progress)
Replenish Digestive Intensive, Andrea Nakayama, FNLP, CHHC, 2014
Mold Illness Made Simple & Mold Masters, Dr. Sandeep Gupta, 2016
Methylation & Biochemistry Masters Course
B.S. in Business Administration & Biology from University of Nevada, Reno, 2001
Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Certified Holistic Health Coach, Board Certified HHC, 2012
Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Institute, Board Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, FDN-P, 2015
Association of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioners, AFDNP, Current Member
Advanced Training In:
SIBO, Leaky Gut, Parasites, HPA-Axis Dysfunction, Oxalates, Nutrigenomics, & Blood Chemistry (2015-2018)
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome & Histamine Intolerance
ART (Muscle Testing) Basic, 2020
ART (Muscle Testing) Advanced 2022
Vagal Toning Practitioner (Certification in Progress)
Replenish Digestive Intensive, Andrea Nakayama, FNLP, CHHC, 2014
Mold Illness Made Simple & Mold Masters, Dr. Sandeep Gupta, 2016
Methylation & Biochemistry Masters Course
Client Testimonials...
I feel so grateful to be working with Billie Shellist from Functional Diagnostic Healing! I am a difficult client for a number of reasons including the fact that I have mast cell activation syndrome which means I'm highly sensitive and reactive to foods, supplements and my environment. But Billie has been amazingly gracious and helpful with me these last few years.
Billie is smart, intuitive, professional and caring...she understands very complicated health issues that other practitioners do not understand at all and is forthcoming in sharing her own personal experiences (“the good, the bad and the ugly”) which I find uniquely authentic and very comforting. As far as I’m concerned there is nothing an MD can do that Billie can’t do [much] better with the exception of writing prescriptions...Her ability to decipher lab results is exceptional and she seems easily and accurately able to correlate lab work with my symptoms.
Billie creates action plans and custom protocols for me that are intelligent and comprehensive without being overwhelming. The best part about working with Billie is that she is totally on my side and as excited for my recovery as I am…after our appointments (via Zoom) I always feel positive and hopeful. The email support she provides between appointments keeps me going during some of the more difficult times. As a person and as a practitioner Billie has greatly impressed me…she rocks! " - Karen Rich, Carlsbad, CA
I have been working with Ayla MacLeod for several months, and within that time frame, not only has my physical body improved, but so has my mental and emotional body. Ayla looks at the body as a whole and incorporates energetic healing, to better improve the stages of healing. I trust and feel so safe with her to aid me in my healing process."
-Ali, Kentucky