Naturopathic Medicine & Mental Health
Naturopathic doctors deal with many physical complaints, but did you know we can also support mental health?
Mental health can be considered anything from anxiety and depression, to mood & personality disorders, to stress & burnout. As a naturopathic doctor, I don’t formally diagnose mental health conditions- if a diagnosis is needed, I will refer to MDs for assessment. However, there is a multitude of ways naturopathic medicine can impact mental health- here’s a breakdown of some of the things I look at when assessing and treating mental health.
As with anything I treat, I start with the foundations of health- the basics. I ask about hydration, diet/nutrition, sleep and activity level. While these may seem simple, they are vital to mood and overall health. Exercise has been shown to be among the most impactful treatments for mental health. I work with my patients to address all of these factors and make recommendations that work for them.
Next is lab testing- I run bloodwork on most of my patients. Things like hypo- or hyper-thyroidism, iron deficiency, Vitamin D deficiency, B12 deficiency can all have an effect on mood. Beyond simple blood tests, I also may look at further testing such as digestive investigations, hormone panels and even potentially neurotransmitter testing. I use all the information gathered to guide my treatments, as well as rule out other conditions or diagnosis.
In terms of supplements and botanicals, there is a huge range of nutrients, vitamins and herbs that treat various aspects of mood and mental health. I spend a significant amount of time learning about each patient’s experience of mental health in order to choose the treatments that are most suited to them. When recommending supplements, botanicals, and other nutrients, I always cross-check with any medications the patient might be on to ensure there’s no interactions between the two.
Many of my patients are on medications to treat their mental health. Medications are often integral to treatment and I am fully supportive of the use of medications in mental health (and other conditions, as well). I can also prescribe medications if needed.
Creating a team is something I insist on for all of my patients dealing with mental health. While naturopathic medicine can address many facets of mental health, it does not make up for a lack of counselling or professional support. I ensure all of my patients have the team they need in place- including but not limited to: MD/GP, psychiatrist, counsellor or psychologist, support groups and more. I cannot directly refer to psychiatrists, but can make recommendations for counsellors and psychologists. Other practitioners such as massage therapists and acupuncturists can also be great additions.
Beyond the treatments mentioned above, I also offer IV therapy as an adjunct treatment for mental health. It provides a vitamin boost, and I can add in mood-specific nutrients such as GABA, L- tyrosine, L-theanine and L-glycine to further support mental function. Again, all of my treatments for mental health are cross-checked with medications to ensure there’s no interactions.
Mental health is comprised of many factors, and these are just a few of the treatments and investigations that I use in my practice. Interested in learning more, or have questions about naturopathic medicine’s role with mental health? Book in for a complementary 15 minute consult below.
Mikkelsen, K., Stojanovska, L., Polenakovic, M., Bosevski, M., & Apostolopoulos, V. (2017). Exercise and mental health. Maturitas, 106, 48-56.
Stathopoulou, G., Powers, M. B., Berry, A. C., Smits, J. A., & Otto, M. W. (2006). Exercise interventions for mental health: a quantitative and qualitative review. Clinical psychology: Science and practice, 13(2), 179.
Altamura, C., Maes, M., Dai, J., & Meltzer, H. Y. (1995). Plasma concentrations of excitatory amino acids, serine, glycine, taurine and histidine in major depression. European Neuropsychopharma
Kalueff, A. V., & Nutt, D. J. (2007). Role of GABA in anxiety and depression. Depression and anxiety, 24(7), 495-517.
Parker, G., & Brotchie, H. (2011). Mood effects of the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine: ‘Food for Thought’III. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 124(6), 417-426.
Sakamoto, F. L., Ribeiro, R. M. P., Bueno, A. A., & Santos, H. O. (2019). Psychotropic effects of L-theanine and its clinical properties: From the management of anxiety and stress to a potential use in schizophrenia. Pharmacological Research, 147, 104395.
Merhej, R. (2018). Dehydration and cognition: an understated relation. International Journal of Health Governance.
Freeman, D., Sheaves, B., Goodwin, G. M., Yu, L. M., Nickless, A., Harrison, P. J., ... & Espie, C. A. (2017). The effects of improving sleep on mental health (OASIS): a randomised controlled trial with mediation analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 4(10), 749-758.