Heart rate variability: an objective measure of health Heart rate variability (HRV) is the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats. Each time our heart beats, there is a variation in time between each beat. It does not (or should not) beat in a consistent rhythm. In fact, research shows that a higher HRV is associated […]
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Probiotics as a treatment for post-natal depression Research is continuing to confirm the important bi-directional relationship between the gut and the brain. In fact, treating the gut is proving to be an effective way to reduce depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders in adults. In a recent review paper, it was concluded that probiotics may […]
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Reducing inflammation and treating depression and other mood disorders with SPMs Inflammation is an essential biological process that helps protect us against foreign organisms, tissue injury, or other insults. While inflammation is often considered a bad thing, the reality is that it is an essential process. When inflammation occurs, chemicals from our blood cells are […]
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Anti-inflammatory treatments for psychiatric disorders: Are medications the only answer? I have just read an article written by Professor Norbert Müller and published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, titled ‘COX-2 Inhibitors, Aspirin, and Other Potential Anti-Inflammatory Treatments for Psychiatric Disorders’ [1]. In the article, research on the anti-inflammatory drugs, celecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor) […]
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Are probiotics and prebiotics effective for depression and anxiety? A summary of the largest review so far…. There is strong interest in the potential of probiotics and prebiotics as a treatment for anxiety and depression. The results so far have been mixed, comprising both positive and negative findings. It has been difficult to form any […]
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Antibiotics during infancy and its effect on later mental and cognitive health There is increasing concern about the over-use of antibiotics. It is associated with antibiotic resistance and can significantly affect the composition of our gut microbiome. When given to infants and children, concerns are expressed about their long-term effects In a recent study, the […]
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Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and its Effect on the Gut Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) involves applying a small electrical current through the brain. ECT is often used as a last-resort treatment for adults with treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Despite ECT continuing to be a controversial treatment, for people who have not experienced improvement from psychological […]
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Integrative Treatments for Depression: A Review of the Evidence The most popular treatments for depression include psychological and pharmacological treatments. In terms of psychological therapies, the most commonly-used form is cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) while the most popular antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac® (fluoxetine), Zoloft® (sertraline) and Lexapro® (escitalopram). While […]
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10 Ways to Naturally Boost Serotonin Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) that is associated with mood. In fact, most pharmaceutical antidepressants are designed to increase the availability of serotonin in the brain. It is believed that by increasing serotonin, mood will improve and therefore depression will be treated. Antidepressant drugs are not the only […]
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Stomach acid-reducing drugs linked to depression Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a group of drugs designed to reduce stomach acid production. They are commonly prescribed for the prevention and treatment of acid-related conditions such as oesophageal duodenal and stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-associated ulcers. In Australia, there were over 19 million prescriptions […]
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