Night eating syndrome (NES), also known as “midnight hunger”, is an unusual type of eating disorder characterized by an ongoing, persistent pattern of late-night binge eating. NES, which has not been formally defined as an eating disorder, was originally described by Dr Albert Stunkard in 1955. The underlying causes are currently being identified and treatment […]
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 […]
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 […]
Ayurvedic Herbalism and Mental Health
Ayurveda is a comprehensive natural health care system that originated in India more than 5,000 years ago. The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India (mid-second millennium BCE). Over the following centuries, ayurvedic practitioners developed a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for the treatment of various ailments, […]