In this video I discuss 8 areas that can contribute to brain related symptoms (genetics/epigenetics, the microbiome, immune system, environment, attachment, autonomic nervous system, structure and inner life/our thoughts) and how problems in any of these areas can impact our mental health and wellbeing.

Here, I discuss my holistic psychiatry evaluation (for children or adults) as a way to introduce the types of root cause issues (nutrient imbalances, sources of toxicity, sources of inflammation, structural issues of head and neck, trauma, disrupted attachment, chronic stress, etc.) that I consider when meeting with someone with depression, anxiety, inattention, mood swings or other brain related symptom.

The proper functioning of the vagus nerve is what allows us to feel calm and relaxed and thus is one of the most important determinants of our physical and emotional wellbeing. In this podcast, I’ll discuss the many roles of the vagus - from peacemaker, overseer of many bodily functions, activist against inflammation, filter of sensory input to influencer of social communication (all the subtleties of communication beyond the words we say).  While learning how to access calm from the body is useful for everyone, understanding the vagus nerve can help connect a lot of physical and brain related symptoms for those with psychiatric conditions and provide endless opportunities for healing. ​​

In this episode, I'll be discussing what I would say is the root cause to suicide.  When someone dies by suicide, the cultural story focuses on an emotionally stressful event.   I'm going to be telling another story one that involves inflammation of the brain,  Just as the joints and other parts of the body can be inflamed, so can the brain.   It is likely when someone takes their life they've already had a degree of chronic brain inflammation before the emotional trigger takes it to another level.  Here, I'll discuss the evolving research into brain inflammation and suicide separately.  I'll be discussing how from a functional medicine standpoint I address inflammation and how I address and treat what is causing it in the first place.  Though my focus will not be on psychiatric medicationsI do recommend medications when they can save someone's life alleviate significant suffering, or even help someone get to a level of functioning so that they can address the deeper root causes. 
To read more about brain inflammation, see my blog post "Mast Cell Activation, Brain Disorder, How to Calm Things Down"

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
1-800-273-8255
​
To read more on the research into suicide and brain inflammation.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27377015/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2019.00031/full

In this episode, I explain through my personal story, how and why I moved into this type of psychiatry.  I explain the less know root causes of symptoms that I evaluate and address as a holistic psychiatrist, including nutrient imbalances, inflammation, the health of the microbiome, toxicity including biotoxins such as mold toxins, structural issues involving the head and neck impacting the cranial nerves including the vagus nerve, attachment history, trauma, chronic and persistent stress and how these impacts stress hormones which can trigger brain inflammation.  I also address how a spiritual perspective (ie. learning to roll with uncertainty, finding purpose, finding peace in one's body, and recognizing that we are part of something larger than ourselves) impacts our physiology and brain health. ​

In this conversation, Dr. Judy Tsafrir and I discuss:
how we test for mold toxicity,
how one can test their home or have it tested,
remediation of an environment with toxic mold, and
treatment for mold toxicity
We look forward to our next conversation which will be live and where we can respond directly to any specific questions about mold toxicity or other topics of interest.

Mold toxicity is a surprising common root cause of brain related symptoms. 
In this conversation, Dr. Judy Tsafrir and I discuss:
- Water damaged buildings and how someone might unknowingly be exposed to toxic mold.
- How mold toxins get into and impact the body (and brain)
- Symptoms and associated diagnoses
In our next episode, we will discuss testing (for people and for physical spaces) followed by an episode on treatment. 
Lastly, we hope to then have a recap on facebook live which would allow for questions and answers.

Undermethylation has been associated with depression, ADHD, delusional psychosis, autism, dementia, eating disorders, and a number of other brain related symptoms. 
In this conversation Dr. Judy Tsafrir and I discuss:
the important role of methylation
the consequences of undermethylation
personality traits and symptoms
associated diagnoses
evaluation and testing
treatment and dietary recommendations
controversies related  to undermethylation.

In this conversation Dr. Judy Tsafrir and I discuss how we evaluate and treat some of the more common root causes of depressed mood that we see in our daily work -

Nutrient imbalances, inflammation and toxicity, but more specifically:

Under and Overmethylation
Pyrrole Disorder
Copper Toxicity/Overload
Mast Cell Activation
Mold toxicity
Food Sensitivity
Candida/Yeast Overgrowth
(with brief mention of Lyme, Bartonella, EMF sensitivity, head and neck trauma and instability of the upper cervical spine)
​
We also discuss the challenges people can experience as they discontinue psychiatric medication, when these underlying issues haven't been addressed.