Mirror Pond Natural Medicine

05/02/2022

𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑎 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ?

There are many genetic variations that can affect your mental health. Genetic differences in methylation, nutrient conversion or absorption, mitochondrial function, and neurotransmitter metabolism are just a few that play a role in mood. If you have a family history of mental illness, a genetic test can be very helpful in identifying areas to focus on for support.

𝐼𝑓 𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝐼 𝑑𝑜 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑡?

If you have an underlying genetic tendency that could impact your mental health, it is possible to supplement specific nutrients in order to help your system function optimally. Although no genetic test can diagnose a specific mental health condition, the combination of a complete symptom review and a genetic test can provide valuable information that helps direct your treatment.

04/20/2022

Our bodies are the product of billions of chemical reactions every second and minerals are often what makes them possible. For example, we have one primary way to make all the energy we need to live and this process is broken into steps. Minerals often act as helper molecules to make the steps “go.”

They are so important that without them, it’s like a lane closure on the freeway. Some traffic may still get through in the one lane that’s open, but it’s going to be a heck of a lot slower. In the same way, when we are deficient in minerals our energy-making machine can get bogged down, with the result of feeling tired and “blah.”

Minerals are important not just for energy but for almost every process in the body, including detoxification, digestion, nerve conduction, immune function, and thyroid health. Zinc and magnesium are especially important for mental health!

04/18/2022

How does your brain drive? Are you able to smoothly shift from one task to another?

Although we're much more complicated than a machine, a car is a good analogy for regulation. Regulation means that our brain can choose the right activity level for a task. In other words, our brain needs to know what gear to be in.

Another part of good regulation is that we need to able to shift gears when we need to transition from one activity to the next. A well-regulated brain can do this smoothly without "lurching" or "grinding."

Neurofeedback is a great way to teach your brain how to be better at self-regulation so you can have better focus, feel less stress, and be more effective at whatever you do.

Naturopathic Medicine and Neurofeedback

01/13/2022

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻
What do Sardinia, Okinawa, and a Seventh Day Adventist community in Loma Linda, California have in common? These areas have all been dubbed “blue zones” because researchers drew blue circles around regions in which people were living the longest and then tried to figure out what they had in common. They found four things that these people do to live healthier, longer lives. No big surprises here....
1. Move regularly
2. Have a purpose – a reason to get up every day
3. Have social support from family and friends, and
4. Live in a culture where a plant-heavy diet isn’t a choice, but the norm

Their success lies in incorporating these activities into their daily lives through routines of work, rest, and socializing that are part a shared community culture. Everyone does it! But we don’t live in Sardinia, so what can we do?

Try to find small opportunities for healthy choices to be "baked in" to your daily life. Can you get a dog so you will need to walk it? Or volunteer to find others who share the same passion? How about forming a lunch group with co-workers who would like to take turns bringing in a healthy meal to share? The trick is to join with other people making the same choice.

Start small and think long-term. Rome wasn’t built in a day!

https://www.bluezones.com/2018/01/20-habits-healthier-happier-life/

12/02/2021

Kids can have a harder time with ADHD when their nervous systems are “spun up" from changes in routine that come with the holidays. An increase in activities, new people, and less downtime can all contribute to overstimulation. This may lead to more symptoms such as inattention, impulsivity, restlessness, and emotional regulation.

Neurofeedback is a great tool for the treatment of ADHD. It not only calms the brain, but also targets the areas of the brain needed for self-regulation and attention. It can also treat co-occurring anxiety or aggression, if needed.

In a small randomized controlled trial, neurofeedback therapy resulted in symptom improvement that was comparable to methylphenidate. Not only that, but neurofeedback therapy is gentle with few side effects and the improvements last even after the treatment has ended.

Meisel V, Servera M, Garcia-Banda G, Cardo E, Moreno I. Neurofeedback and standard pharmacological intervention in ADHD: A randomized controlled trial with six-month follow-up. Biological Psychology. 2013;94(1):12-21.

Naturopathic Medicine and Neurofeedback

11/30/2021

These little fingers are called microvilli, and they line your small intestine. The tall ones are healthy, while the short ones have been beaten down by inflammation, infection, or certain medications.

Our digestive enzymes live along the surface of our microvilli. Lactase, the enzyme that digests dairy, is found at the very tip. So when conditions in your GI tract are hostile and the microvilli take a hit, lactase is the first enzyme to go.

If this is the cause of your lactose intolerance, it can be reversed. Heal your gut, and your microvilli will grow back!

Naturopathic Medicine and Neurofeedback

11/25/2021

Walking even 30 minutes a day 3-5 times per week can significantly improve depression or anxiety symptoms.

Being outdoors provides an even greater benefit. A Stanford study found that walking in nature for 90 minutes reduced brain activity in areas associated with depression and rumination, while walking in a high traffic urban area did not.

Every natural environment increases self-esteem and mood. Young people and those with mental illness receive the biggest boost in self-esteem when they get outdoors. And of all natural areas, those with water generate the greatest improvements in mood.

Even as the weather turns cold, find some time to get outside and keep your body moving. It doesn’t have to be a lot!

Naturopathic Medicine and Neurofeedback

11/22/2021

This is a great recipe for people who say they don't like cranberry sauce. It's not too sweet, not too tart, and has some unexpected twists (a bay leaf!) to ground the fruit in a little bit of earthiness.

8 oz bag whole cranberries
1 1/4 c apple juice or apple cider
1/2 c honey
1/2 teas vanilla*
1/4 teas cinnamon
1/8 teas nutmeg
1 fat pinch of ground cloves
1/4 teas lemon zest
1 bay leaf

Combine all ingredients into saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for about an hour or until cranberries become soft and fall apart and liquid is reduced to form a sauce. Remove bay leaf and chill in refrigerator. Can be made 1-2 days ahead.

*For GAPS-friendly vanilla, make an extract using vodka and vanilla beans

Naturopathic Medicine and Neurofeedback

11/18/2021

A person may “Freeze” when there is no option to fight or run. One aspect of this adaptive response is dissociation, where our conscious mind temporarily disengages from reality. Dissociation is a type of "circuit breaker" that prevents our systems from being overloaded until we are equipped to deal with a trauma.

Dissociation can be severe, such as when an individual has a feeling of watching themselves from the outside. People may also experience their world as surreal or feel in a haze. On the other end of the continuum, dissociation can be very mild. We have all experienced “going on auto-pilot” or “spacing out” at times.

Dissociation can become a conditioned response. In other words, once the brain uses dissociation as a coping mechanism it is much more likely to do it again. Even mild dissociation can be problematic when a person has difficulty staying present enough to fully function at home, work, school, and in relationships.

An event doesn't have to be severe to have an effect. The experience of trauma depends on how vulnerable a person is, including their coping skills, the health of their nervous system, and their past history of trauma.

Dissociation and other effects of trauma can be treated safely and effectively using natural therapies. Please schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more!

Naturopathic Medicine and Neurofeedback

11/16/2021

PTSD is treatable!

Traumatic events cause complex changes in the brain. One of the areas most affected is the “fight or flight” center, called the amygdala. Normally, this alarm system keeps us safe by preparing us to handle threats in our environment. With trauma, however, the amygdala becomes overactive and easily triggered, resulting in responses to stress that can be disabling.

Another brain function that is altered in PTSD is that of the prefrontal cortex. This brain area normally puts the “brakes” on the “fight-or-flight” response and keeps the amygdala’s activity from spiraling out of control. When the prefrontal cortex is under-active (as it is in PTSD) it is much less able to perform this role.

Is there a way to “reset” the PTSD brain?

Yes!

Neurofeedback normalizes the stress response so that the brain reacts appropriately to stressors and threats. It also improves the function of the prefrontal cortex so it can better regulate emotional responses.

Neurofeedback is a safe, effective, and drug-free therapy with an added benefit for those with PTSD… it doesn’t require discussion of painful events from the past.

Naturopathic Medicine and Neurofeedback

11/11/2021

How common is PTSD among our military?

Rates of this disorder vary from 11-20% for soldiers who served in the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf. Initial estimates for the Vietnam War put the number at 15%, but a later study showed that over time this figure has doubled. These studies suggest that the number of veterans who will have PTSD from recent conflicts may be much higher than the cases we see now.

Many veterans suffer for years without knowing they have a diagnosable condition that can be treated. Neurofeedback and other natural therapies are highly effective in resolving the symptoms of PTSD. Please schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more!

Naturopathic Medicine and Neurofeedback

11/04/2021

Here are a few of my favorite herbs to help situational anxiety that arises from time to time. For generalized anxiety, social anxiety, or panic attacks, I invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation to learn about natural treatment options that can provide lasting symptom relief!