One of the little known fields that addresses nutrition and the treatment of diseases and disorders like addiction treatment is orthomolecular psychiatry. The theory behind orthomolecular psychiatry is that disorders, like addiction, are due to brain chemical deficiencies. There are even addiction treatment centers that base their programs on this premise. One such center, the […]
Passion Flower For Anxiety, Insomnia, and Withdrawal
Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) was used traditionally in the Americas and later in Europe as a calming herb for anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and hysteria. It is still used today to treat anxiety and insomnia. Scientists believe passionflower works by increasing levels of a chemical called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA lowers the […]
Acupuncture for Depression
Modern medicine typically treats depression with a form of psychotherapy and/or anti-depressant drugs regardless of the specific symptoms presented. In the United States, the DSM-IV, a diagnostic tool for appropriately categorizing psychological disorders, is widely used in the diagnosis as well as the treatment for depression. In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) does not recognize […]
How Medications Affect Your Mood
Sometimes, symptoms of depression or mania are a side effect of certain drugs, such as steroids or blood pressure medication. If you’re taking antidepressants, tranquilizers, or stimulants such as the amphetamines or Ritalin, it’s fairly obvious that they are going to affect your mood. But what about less obvious medication such as the hundreds of […]