Have you taking anti-anxiety, anti-depression prescriptions and you have tried to taper down but having difficulty in the process? It is nothing to do with your will power but that’s the way the drug was made – easily addictive. But I can help you with the proper sequences of carefully selected pharmaceutical grade botanical supplements (you can not purchase online) and/or gentle Japanese style acupuncture treatment. Especially if you are on Benzodiazepine or SSRI medication, please read this article first (09/2018) & this article “Letter to the New York Times“.

Anxiety

Anxiety occurs when these neurotransmitters get out of balance. If you are suffering from palpitations (fast heartbeats), feeling agitated, small things start bothering you a lot lately, and most importantly, the chances are brain chemicals not balanced.  You start to question if your Anti-Anxiety drugs are working….., take a look at this questionnaire and score yourself to see which category you score highest. I use Amino Acid therapy called Organic Acid Test as well as other modalities (supplements, Chinese herbs, homeopathy, aromatherapy etc…) conjunction with Tamie style gently “hormone and digestive system balancing” acupuncture along with Adrenal imbalance treatment. Please see this chart. Your intestine and your brain are “connected” with “Vagus Nerve”. There is another nerve called the “enteric nervous system” which is very long nerve wrap around your colon and reaches your brain. You can NOT disconnect the Brain and Digestive System. Did you get a nervous stomach before the big exam? Everybody has a few episodes. I had a major one before my first out of 3 days long state board exam. I was not sure I can sit straight 4 hours exam which made me more concern than the actual exam because I had to raise a hand and escorted into the bathroom if I need to go to the bathroom. It will be so embarrassing if I had to go over and over again. The current conventional medicine is not looking at the way Functional Medicine practitioners do.

Low GABA Symptoms: Trouble relaxing or loosening up, Easily agitated and frustrated, Sleep difficulties with occasional nightmares, Hyperactivity, Racing thoughts that keep you up at night, Sensitive to bright lights, chemicals or loud noises, Crave carbs, alcohol or drugs for relaxation and calming, Panic disorders, Still or tense muscles, Palpitations and shortness of breath, Cold hands and feet, Fibromyalgia, Irritable bowel syndrome, Feeling overwhelmed.

Molecular Mimicry: Are you lactose intolerance but still eating gluten and dairy using lactose capsules? Think again. U.S. Casein (protein of dairy) is notoriously problematic. U.S. cows are holstein cows mostly fed corns, soy, grains and get series of antibiotics vs European cows as well as in Japan are Jersey cows graze the pastures, eat less grains and given less antibiotics. The end product – milk – is totally different. This is the “Molecular Mimicry” comes in. This is the true hidden cause of many health issues includes Anxiety, Depression and Autoimmune Disease. I see a lot of cases this is the root of the problem. The solution is simple but hard. Avoid gluten and U.S. Dairy. (the chart : courtesy of AmyMyersMD.com)

Oxalate Toxicity w/ Thiamine (vitamin B-1) deficiency: Definitely cause the anxiety. I use the TrueReport by Metabolic Healing to determine which genes are turned on and off. Extremely helpful tool to find the root cause of the it seems unrelated health issues.

  • img_2103How leaky gut can lead to depression, anxiety, and migraine by Doni Wilson
  • Low Zinc and GABA contributing to anxiety in children and women by Trudy Scott
  • Antibiotic (Fluoroquinolone) induced anxiety by Trudy Scott with Lisa Blomquist
  • Natural and Alternative Treatment to ADD & ADHD with Dr. Phil Carson
Hormone Imbalances
courtesy of  “Genova Diagnostics: Organix Urine Organic Acids Interpretive Guide”

Managing Mood Disorder

Depression

It often one of the brain chemical called “Serotonin” is at least one of the root cause. There are a few remedies for balancing this neurochemical. If you were taking one or a few SSRI in the past or currently taking depression drug, it might take a few months to gradually taper off from meds. I had helped a quite few patients in the past. Adrenal & Thyroid balancing acupuncture treatment helps tremendously in conjunction with supplement intake at the beginning “taper off” phase. A few botanicals I use, either capsules, tables or liquid form, works very well. How does mistreatment acupuncture treatment work for your depression or addiction to depression drugs? Release Hormone called Endorphins. Try making this oat straw infusion drink. I am sure you will uplift your mood. Mountain Rose Herbs is the best online store to order single herbs. If you are local (Boston area), Cambridge Natural at Porter Sq. always has oat straw you can buy at a bulk rate. The following is the chemical transformation of the very important neurotransmitter called Serotonin. Do you know more than 85% of serotonin is made in the gut, not the brain? Poking around the scalp with a bunch of acupuncture needles has less effect to boost mood. I found much more success by stimulating bile production, improving digestion, opening the detox pathway and of course, my signature treatment – treat adrenal dysfunction. If you are taking the anti-depression drug, think twice and try acupuncture treatment. You may follow Kelly Brogan MD (functional medicine doctor)’s Blog. She once said, “Depression is not Prozac deficiency“. You may have Low Catecholamines (Low Dopamine and Low Norepinephrine), not serotoin itself. Catecholamines get weakens by chronic stress caused by too high or too low cortisol (stress hormone) level and your body has a hard time producing this particular neurotransmitter. Thyroid, Adrenal gland are two of the key endocrine system in our body. When these two gland get weakened by on-going stress, your body start not making Catecholamines and start showing the following symptoms and very often people are getting depression prescription drugs.

Low Catecholamines (Dopamine & Norepinephrine) Symptoms: Depression and apathy, Easily bored, Inability to think clealy, Lack of energy, Lack of focus, Lack of thrive, Low motivation, ADD/ADHD, Procrastination and Indecisiveness, Craving carbs, alcohol, caffeine, and drugs for energy, Low libido, High Rish Behavior and Impulsivity. My first go to supplement is L-Tyrosine 500mg x 3 / day along with B6 (P-5-P) 50 mg x 2 / day. Eat foods rich in tyrosine like turky, walnuts, yogurt, and a piece of dark chocolate

Managing Mood Disorder
courtesy of “Genova Diagnostics: Organix Urine Organic Acids Interpretive Guide”

Click HERE to read more about articles related to Mood Disorder

Read Tamie’s favorite articles here!