Since 1952, psychiatrists have used the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is currently in its fifth edition, as the gold standard for diagnosing psychiatric (mental) disorders. For many years, it's been considered to basically be the "bible" that all psychiatrists use to diagnose and categorize patient symptoms. Despite this, I have [...]
Matcha is a finely ground green powder that comes from green tea leaves. It has been used for more than 800 years in Japanese tea ceremonies and is also used to flavor many different foods including mochi and lattes. Matcha is packed with antioxidants and has been found to have many health benefits, including: Boosting [...]
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring compound found in cannabis. It has gained a lot of popularity recently as it's been reported to be a safe, non-addictive substance that could potentially treat a wide range of illnesses, including pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia, cancer, glaucoma, acne, epilepsy, MS, ALS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, blood pressure, [...]
According to the CDC, 11% of all children in the U.S. aged 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD or ADD. In addition, 4.4% of U.S. adults are reported to have ADHD. One of the primary treatments for ADHD and ADD has been Ritalin (methylphenidate), which is a powerful stimulant that can cause many side effects, [...]
Around 1 in 6 adults in the U.S. report taking a psychiatric medication according to data from 2013. That translates into roughly 40 million Americans who have taken at least one psychiatric medication. Those numbers are likely currently even higher given the increases in reported psychiatric disorders in the U.S. While psychiatric medications may be [...]
The link between sleep apnea and depression has been well established for years. A study published in 2017 demonstrated a significant overlap between the two. Despite this connection, many patients with depression are never tested and the sleep apnea can go untreated for many years. I have witnessed a signficant reversal of depressive symptoms once [...]
I am a believer in the use of psychedelics for both mental health, as well as physical and spiritual health. I am looking forward to being able to utilize psychedelics in my practice some day. MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) is an amazing organization and published this great Podcast with Dr. Andrew Weil. This [...]
I have found that, despite what many folks believe, antidepressants are one of the most difficult medications to wean off with patients. However, I have been successful getting patients off of antidepressants by going very slowly and using a variety of other holistic interventions. Thousands, perhaps millions, of people who try to quit antidepressant drugs [...]
For the first time, a population-based study has shown a link between gut bacteria and mental health, providing the strongest support to date that microbiota can influence mood, investigators note. "The notion that microbial metabolites can interact with our brain — and thus behavior and feelings — is intriguing, but gut microbiome-brain communication has mostly [...]
Behind the Elation, the Same Old Story A highly touted recent meta-analysis has been greeted with screams of elation: "Antidepressants work!" Even Medscape has shared in these shouts of joy. Why is the medical community and psychiatric profession so primed to convince itself, once and for all, that its favorite drugs work? Maybe because, deep down, [...]
