Mental health is becoming the most important topic in medicine right now. More and more people are suffering from anxiety, depression, ADHA and many more disorders of brain. In 2019 I when to Chicago to study Dr W.Walsh protocol to help me understand how biochemistry can help. Few years on and I know that biochemistry is not enough. for healthy brain you need also proper nutrition, you can not have proper nutrition without proper digestion and absorption and so one. Patients often ask me about medications versus natural solutions for psychiatric issues. I believe that pharmaceutical medication should never be the first or only thing to help minds. prescription medications are link to many side effects and are addictive.I am very open in my approach and can work with patients on medications with a goal to make them better and then worn them of meds.
We are speaking more and more about nutrition and supplementation. Today I would like to focus on something less known- plants for mental Health, both used in herbal medicine and aromatherapy. For thousands of years people have turned to plants as a medicine, western medicine is only about 300 years old. You be the judge which have more to offer.
DEPRESSION is one of the most common mental health disorders. It is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed.
I usually start with blood tests to check thyroid function- TSH, T4, T3 and antibodies, full blood works with minerals and levels of vit D3 and B12. this tests are not very expensive and can usually be done by the GP. This is a first step to diagnose. Sometimes with not clear picture you need to test further: methylation panel, metal toxicity, parasites etc.
Once the picture is clear on top of supplements I like to add some herbs. Evening primrose is one of my favourites. not only is reach with Omega 6 but also helps anxiety and balancing hormones. Black cohosh is good for depression that is link to hormones disorder. Recently Bacopa is becoming more researched and popular. Another my favourite is RHODIOLA- I used it myself for grief and found this working very well for me. It can be useful mood regulation and energy increase.
ADD and ADHD are real psychiatric problems with huge impact on the person and their family. Because there is a constellation of symptoms, it is very difficult to diagnose. For me the first port of call is addressing the gut health and nutrition. Once again I find Bacopa and Rhodiola very helpful. Cowhage (Dopa Macuna) increases dopamine in brain and supports nervous system.
Helping herb are huge subject and can not be cover in a blog. Please do not experiment yourself with herbs as a medicine but find a qualify practitioner.
Look for aromatherapy tips on my .
