A Naturopathic Approach to Treating Anxiety and Mood Issues
A look at Naturopathic treatment before choosing to go down the medication route.
A Guest Blog from Naturopath Belinda Byrnes of
Ritual Herb Bar.
In naturopathy, we're always trying to treat the cause of the disease, and not just mask the symptoms. With this in mind, there are certain things I like to look out for when my clients present with anxiety or depression, or have been prescribed anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication that in my opinion, should always be ruled out alongside any other possible contributing factors.
What Nutrient Deficiencies can lead to symptoms such as anxiety and Depression?
There are some specific nutrients that really need to be considered when we're having trouble regulating our emotions or there’s a reduced ability to cope with stress.
Iron is one of those nutrients. Low levels of iron can lead to very poor ability to cope with daily stressors. I cannot stress this enough, if you've been told by your GP or specialist that your iron levels ‘look fine’, it’s always a good idea to get a copy of your results and have someone look at them in more detail.
Interpreting pathology results effectively is a skill that involves a lot more than just making sure everything is ‘within range’. One of the first things to look at and that you can check for yourself, is that the ferritin level is above 50 umol/L. If not, more investigation is required.
B Vitamins, especially B12 is the most likely B-vitamin to be checked in a blood test. Ideally, you’re looking for a serum B12 of above 600 pmol/L. Anything below that and there’s a good chance you’ll be experiencing impaired sleep, lower levels of energy and an increased likelihood of having symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, amongst many other things.
Magnesium is an important nutrient for optimal mental health, sleep, energy, mood and reducing PMS, just to mention a few things. In this case, a blood test is a very ineffective way to get an accurate indicator of a deficiency. 98% of the magnesium in the body is contained within the cells and levels are very tightly regulated in the blood, so a blood test doesn’t tell you much at all.
A practitioner that has a deeper understanding of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency, will be able to ascertain whether you have a magnesium deficiency or insufficiency and whether taking a magnesium supplement would be beneficial for you.
The next thing to consider if you have nutrient deficiencies, is WHY?? Is dietary intake inadequate, is there heavy menstrual bleeding that needs to be addressed, some medications can deplete certain nutrients, as can high levels of stress, and poor absorption in the digestive tract will lead to low nutrient levels, so are there any gut issues that need working on?
Water
A water deficit of only 2% in the tissues can dramatically impair your mood, energy levels, sleep, lead to poor concentration, headaches and so on. Being properly hydrated is essential to good mental health. Drinking 1L of water per 25 kg of body weight is a pretty good guide as to how much water you should be consuming each day.
Gut Bacteria
There is a lot of research available now to show just how much influence your gut bacteria have on low mood, stress and anxiety. When the microbiome is out of balance, meaning there is more ‘bad bacteria’ than there is ‘good bacteria’, the flow on effect to your mental health is significant.
Certain strains of bacteria like Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum are just a couple of the specific strains that have been shown to reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety. By replenishing these bacteria and by making changes to the diet and lifestyle, we’re able to ‘feed’ them, promote their growth and as a result, have a very positive impact on our mental health.
Conclusion
My last point and something that I wish more people were aware of, is that there are alternative options to medications available and that they can be used alongside more conventional medications if necessary.
Herb and nutrients like St John's Wort, Saffron, Withania, Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and Omega-3 fatty acids are just a few natural alternatives that have been shown in many studies to perform equally well to medications in some cases, but with little to no side effects.
Please speak to your practitioner to ascertain the most safe and effective treatment options for you, because that will differ from person to person. Being aware that there are alternatives available can be very empowering, especially when we’re often led to believe that long term medication is our only option.
If you’d like to learn more you can find Belinda at www.ritualherbbar.com or on Instagram @ritual_herbbar
Belinda’s Bio
Belinda has been working in private practice as a qualified Naturopath and Nutritionist since 2014 and in the health industry for almost 20 years.
Belinda opened her Brisbane clinic in 2020 after relocating from regional NSW and has a special interest in treating eczema, dermatitis and digestive health.
Having experienced her own issues with digestive and skin health in the past, finally getting relief after seeing a naturopath herself was what inspired her to study Naturopathy and Nutritional Medicine in 2009.
She is passionate about empowering women and their families to have more control over their own health journey and implementing positive changes in a balanced and manageable way. Having two young boys herself, she knows how challenging that can be and that everyone is on their own path, so treatment needs to reflect that individuality.
Support for Anxiety
If you’ve noticed that stress or anxiety is starting to affect your day-to-day life, talking with a mental health professional can help you to identify the source of your worry, and create a holistic support plan to lessen its impact on you.
At Savasana Collective, we take a holistic approach to supporting our clients, understanding the role that other experiences in our lives (such as trauma, neurodiversity, and the capitalist structures we live in that prioritise hustle culture) play in contributing to our experiences of anxiety.
If you’re reading this post because you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety, please know that you’re not alone, and support is available.
If you enjoyed this post and want more, get your free anxiety resources check out our quiz, our podcast and social accounts or book into our services. And if you’re a health professional come connect with us over at Therapist VA.
