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Archives for August 2017

Pain Treatments That Work: My experience with GABA for anxiety and pain

By Trudy Scott 14 Comments

My friend and colleague, occupational therapist Phaedra Antioco, is a pain expert, has been in pain herself, and she’s on a mission to help you heal. She is host of the Pain Treatments That Work 2.0 online summit that runs Sept 2 – 9, 2017.

She’s bringing together more than 25 experts, including me, to share unique and innovative approaches to pain healing—approaches that work when nothing else has. You’ll learn:

  • Healthy ways to move your body, without pain, so you can get the exercise your body needs, and enjoy the myriad benefits including decreased anxiety, better health, and more fun.
  • Tips for managing stress so you can find more joy in each day.
  • How to find deeper meaning and more fulfillment in your life.
  • How to let go of physical and emotional pain and get through your day happy and pain-free (Really! It is possible).
  • Effective treatments that work … including some you may not have heard of.

I share more about my recent back injury and how I used GABA – sometimes in pretty high doses – to ease this recent pain and how I’ve used it and other approaches for the pain I’ve experienced in the past. Wow I hadn’t realized how much pain I’ve experienced in my life until I prepared for this interview (climbing injuries, car accidents, neck injury from poor posture at the computer, shingles, a tick bite and more!)

We also talk about the anxiety connection to pain and how fear can make us clench up and make the pain worse. And the role of GABA and tryptophan in this instance. Phaedra shares how much GABA helps her and her clients too!

I also asked Phaedra to share her expertise on pelvic floor adjustments:

Pelvic floor dysfunction commonly occurs from scars from abdominal/pelvic surgeries, childbirth, traumatic falls and injuries, and even too much sitting. Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Disorder in both men and women can cause chronic pelvic pain, inability to sit for long periods of time, urinary or rectal incontinence, painful intercourse, painful menstrual cycles in women and erectile dysfunction in men, to name a few. 

Manual internal treatment of the pelvic floor, using a myofascial release and craniosacral therapy approach, makes an excellent treatment choice for pelvic floor dysfunction due to the gentle-nature of treatment techniques. 

Pelvic floor treatment begins externally with releases of the abdomen and pelvis. Once a therapeutic relationship is established, internal treatment may be recommended.  Results often include relief from pain, improved sitting, walking and sleeping, and better elimination!

I also share my concerns with using collagen and gelatin for healing and how they may actually be lowering serotonin levels and contributing to anxiety and depression in susceptible individuals

I see everyone raving about gelatin and collagen (and rightly so – they are amazing) and yet no-one is addressing that fact that gelatin is actually used in tryptophan-depletion studies to lower serotonin. And it really concerns me that this aspect is ignored

You can register here.

I do hope you can join us!

Tryptophan for the worry-in-your-head and ruminating type of anxiety

By Trudy Scott 193 Comments

Today I’m going to review some tryptophan products for the worry-in-your-head and ruminating type of anxiety, and share some additional resources for you.

The other symptoms we see with low serotonin are: panic attacks and phobias, lack of confidence, depression, negativity, imposter syndrome, PMS, irritability, anger issues, insomnia and afternoon/evening cravings.

Lidtke is the top brand of tryptophan that I recommend simply because I see it work so well and because of quality issues with tryptophan in the past. Here are the Lidtke tryptophan products I recommend:

  • Lidtke Tryptophan 500mg (this is ideal for doing a targeted trial, opened; it doesn’t taste very good and if a client needs to continue taking it this way we have them mix it with inositol or even glutamine powder)
  • Lidtke Tryptophan Complete (see below for when this one may work well)
  • Lidtke Chewable Tryptophan (this is also good for doing a trial and if lower doses are better; it’s also wonderful for children; there is some hesitation with the taste of the new 2025 formulation – more on this below)

This blog covers how to do an amino acid trial and has the low serotonin questionnaire, the precautions and what I mean by targeted individual amino acids.

When to use GABA vs tryptophan, PMS and when to use Tryptophan Complete

Anxiety: when to use GABA and tryptophan and how much to use

When you have anxiety it can be confusing trying to figure out the root cause. I like to start by assessing for low GABA and low serotonin because when you address these with targeted individual amino acids you typically see results right away and feel hopeful (and now have time to look for other root causes like gluten issues, high cortisol, gut issues, dietary changes etc).

But there may still be some confusion about when to use GABA and when to use tryptophan and how much of each of these amino acids to use. Read more here.

Tryptophan for PMS: premenstrual dysphoria, mood swings, tension, and irritability

In a study published in 1999, A placebo-controlled clinical trial of L-tryptophan in premenstrual dysphoria, tryptophan was found to reduce symptoms of PMS when used in the luteal phase or second half of the cycle (i.e. after ovulation)

This is very typical when I’m working with someone with PMS and anxiety and other mood symptoms. It typically takes 2 to 3 cycles for an amino acid like tryptophan to have an impact on PMS itself. But it does typically start to work right away on the less severe anxiety and mood symptoms that may also be a factor during the rest of the month. Read more here.

Tryptophan 500mg or Tryptophan Complete (by Lidtke)?

I like to have my clients do a trial of the amino acids so they can find the ideal dose for their needs and right now I still feel this would still be the best approach to take – using 500mg tryptophan. Once you have figured out you do well with tryptophan-only product and have your dose, then consider reducing it slightly after about 2-3 weeks and adding in additional Tryptophan Complete. Read more here.

Using chewable tryptophan for kids and pixie dust adults (and a potential taste issue)

Update Jan 2025: 

Lidtke tryptophan 100mg chewable is back! It’s great for anxious, worried, raging kids and pixie dust adults who have trouble sleeping too

The Lidtke tryptophan 100mg chewable product was out of stock for close to a year and was reformulated last year. This product has been a firm favorite of mine for many years and I’ve used it successfully with children and adults with signs of low serotonin.

I’ve used this product in the past with children who are anxious, worried, raging, having problems sleeping and craving sugar and carbs. I’ve also used it with “pixie dust” clients who do well with a small dose and prefer a chewable form of tryptophan. And I often recommend clients use it to do the initial one-off trial to figure out if low serotonin is the issue (and before moving on to a typical starting dose of 500mg tryptophan twice a day).

In this blog you’ll see the label of the newly formulated tryptophan 100mg chewable and some of the many advantages of tryptophan as a low-dose chewable. You’ll also see some feedback on the previous formulation, a success story with a young girl, my personal experience and some of the negative feedback on the taste. Read more here.

This blog post is part of a series of amino acid product reviews

You can read about GABA, glutamine, DPA (D-phenylalanine) and tyrosine on the following blog posts:

Additional resources when you are new to using amino acids as supplements

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or low GABA or low endorphins or low dopamine or low blood sugar may be an issue for you.

If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs. You can find them all in my online store.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to start if you also need serotonin support, is the Serotonin QuickStart Program. This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance on using tryptophan and 5-HTP safely, and community support during 5 LIVE Q&A calls. You can sign up to be notified when the next live launch of this program is happening. We take a deep dive into product options including the Lidtke products and others if you’re not able to access Lidtke.

If you also have low GABA symptoms, the next step to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program. This is also a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support. Another option is the budget-friendly GABA QuickStart Homestudy program.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Now I’d like to hear from you

The blog has many other posts on tryptophan and serotonin and simply use the “search” function to find them.

Have you had success with any of these tryptophan products? Or another brand?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

 

Benzodiazepine horror story on The Mental Wellness Summit 2

By Trudy Scott 28 Comments

The Mental Wellness Summit 2 aired online September 25 – October 2, 2017

Whether challenged by depression, anxiety, stress, addiction or another mental health challenge, every single person is impacted and affected – you, your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers -either directly or indirectly every single day.

This Mental Wellness Summit 2 will provided the information you need to:

  • Overcome the silence, isolation and fear of your struggle
  • Transcend outdated, prescription-based healthcare systems
  • Find holistic practitioners and natural solutions for your pain
  • Implement expert practices, tools and tips into your daily routine

My interview covered the dangers of benzodiazepines and why GABA is a more effective option for anxiety.

Here are some snippets from my interview where I discuss benzodiazepines which are

  • a class of psychoactive drugs / tranquillizers with sedative, sleep-inducing, anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties
  • they target the GABAA receptor and enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA
  • the common Brand name/drug name are: Xanax/ Alprazolam, Klonopin/Clonazepam, Valium/ Diazepam, Ativan/ Lorazapam

These medications are commonly prescribed for:

  • Anxiety, social anxiety, panic, pain/dental pain, insomnia, fear of flying, Lyme disease, ER visits for back/neck spasms
  • Children with autism
  • IBS
  • pre-surgery anxiety
  • ICU patients needing ventilation
  • during chemotherapy for cancer treatments – for anxiety, nausea and anticipatory nausea

I share this true benzodiazepine horror story:

Been totally disabled by benzos for over 3 years. I have been off meds for 17.5 months and the impact of these meds makes any anxiety I ever felt a cake walk. Please run from the poison.

When I turned 21 I went to the doctor for dizziness and they put me on xanax. I started to feel anxious and they then added Zoloft. That was the start of a long journey. I was shifted from one anti-depressant to another. At 34 I was told I was treatment resistant and they added lamotrigine. Then my world crashed at age 37. I have been on xanax, then klonopin, then Ativan, then back to xanax, then valium to taper. I had also been given ambien to sleep in early 30s.

I tapered off meds over a period of a year. I was on 1.5 mg xanax and tapered off valium as prescribed. I have tried many supplements but I react poorly to all of them. I get very agitated and revved up.

I have locked shoulder muscles, neck, jaw; I have internal vibrations, I get bad headaches, jelly legs, distorted vision like floaters and squiggles and fireworks, my teeth all feel like they will fall out but they are not loose, it feels like adrenaline or cortisol rushes through the body. Sometimes my arms go numb. I am pretty tortured every day. These meds are truly causing chemical warfare on some of us. 

This is one of the many reasons I do this work – so more people don’t end up in this situation and so everyone knows about the dangers of benzodiazepines and that there are nutritional solutions for anxiety. One of them is the amino acid GABA and I discuss this in the latter half of the interview.

GABA and tryptophan for pain and anxiety in Parkinson’s disease?

By Trudy Scott 12 Comments

Last week I blogged about my recent back injury and how acupuncture boosts GABA to reduce back pain and how oral GABA further reduces the pain. Both these interventions have helped me so much and I’m doing so much better.

I love the feedback I receive in the blog comments and the great questions – which get to help the person asking the question and everyone else reading the blog and comments. So thank you if you comment!

I received this lovely feedback about GABA and anxiety, and a question about Parkinson’s disease (on the above blog) and want to share it and my response here so you and families with a loved one with Parkinson’s disease will also have access to this information:

I have loved reading your articles for a long time and listen to you whenever you are on a summit. I have learned a lot. GABA definitely helps me to relax, reduce my monkey mind and sleep better.

My mom has Parkinson’s disease and is very stiff and tight. She hurts often, especially her back. She also has afternoon anxiety, some call it “sundowners”. Can she take GABA with carbidopa-levidopa and blood pressure meds? She needs some kind of help!

Thank you in advance for any suggestions you might have to give her any quality of life as right now it is not good and the doctors offer no suggestions beyond possibly more prescriptions.

I responded saying how glad I was to hear GABA helps her to relax, reduces her monkey mind and also helps her to sleep better and how sorry I was to hear about her mom’s stiffness, pain and anxiety.

I posted this regarding the stiffness and back pain: share this paper with your doctor and get his/her approval to do a trial of GABA – Parkinson’s Disease and Neurodegeneration: GABA-Collapse Hypothesis:

the original description of Parkinson’s disease (PD) as due to the selective damage of dopaminergic neurons in the mesencephalon should be updated into the concept of a severe multisystemic neurodegenerative disorder of the nervous system, whose clinical symptoms reflect the localization and progression of the most advanced GABA pathology. A future and more complete therapeutic approach to PD should be aimed first at slowing (or stopping) the progression of Ca(2+)/GABA functional decline.

I have worked with a few people with Parkinson’s disease and GABA has been very helpful for the stiffness and pain, the physical anxiety, easing some of their tremors and helping with insomnia. I always do a trial so we know how much the individual will need.

For someone on blood pressure medication I’d start with a GABA-only product or GABA-theanine product rather than GABA Calm which does contain tyrosine.

I posted this regarding the “sundowners” question: I’d share this with your doctor and get the approval to do a trial of tryptophan – Sundown Syndrome in Persons with Dementia: An Update

sundown syndrome is characterized by the emergence or increment of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as agitation, confusion, anxiety, and aggressiveness in late afternoon, in the evening, or at night.

Although this paper refers to dementia, these symptoms also happen to be classic low serotonin symptoms that typically respond really well to tryptophan. The paper mentions melatonin as an intervention but since tryptophan converts to melatonin I’d start with tryptophan (based on doing a trial) and then consider adding melatonin too if needed.

I shared a few more resources on Parkinson’s disease:

I also shared this amazing and inspiring video created by physical therapist Anicea Gunlock, on how using music while gait training can be beneficial for those suffering from Parkinsons’s disease

You read more about this music approach Anicea Gunlock used with her patient here.

The amino acids GABA and tryptophan can often be used in conjunction with all of the above approaches and often provide immediate relief for anxiety, pain, agitation and insomnia while some of the other root causes are being addressed.

I’ve recently updated the Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements blog with some of my favorite GABA and tryptophan products mentioned above. You’ll also see the amino acid questionnaire and amino acid precautions on this blog.

Instead of only considering the amino acids for someone whose primary issue is anxiety, I’d like you to start thinking about using the amino acids for anyone who has a medical diagnosis – such as autism, cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, MS, Alzheimer’s disease or anything else – and who also happens to suffer from anxiety.

Have you used GABA or tryptophan to ease stiff and tense muscles and pain in your Parksinson’s disease, for a family member or for a patient/client?

And have you used tryptophan for the low serotonin worry-type of anxiety, agitation and insomnia?

Acupuncture boosts GABA to reduce back pain and oral GABA further reduces the pain

By Trudy Scott 13 Comments

I fell and injured my back last week but I am doing much better already. I’m going to be sharing a series of articles on post what I’m doing to ease the pain and heal – acupuncture and cupping being two of the approaches. As well as heat (with a hot water bottle), I’m also using a long list of nutrients such as:

  • high-dose fish oil and curcumin (as anti-inflammatories)
  • relaxing magnesium
  • arnica for bruising
  • GABA for relaxing my muscles and helping with the acute pain, and for easing the fear and anxiety (initially I was very fearful I had a serious back injury) and
  • DPA (d-phenylalanine) for the endorphin-boosting pain-relief

Today I’m going to share some research on GABA and how it helps with pain reduction and muscle tension, and how the acupuncture actually boosts GABA (as well as endorphins) to reduce pain.

Based on the examination I have soft tissue bruising around the lumbar area (L3 to L5). Sitting had been impossible until 2 days ago and even now I have to alternate between sitting and standing. I also twisted my ankle in the fall so initially standing was even challenging!  

I had one acupuncture and cupping session last Saturday and will be having another one this coming Saturday. I felt some immediate relief after this session and my back has been getting better and better each day.

Oral sublingual GABA for the acute pain and muscle relaxation

In the interim, between acupuncture/cupping sessions I felt I needed relaxing support for my stiff and spasming back muscles so I immediately started using high doses of GABA for the acute pain. And it’s been working amazingly well.

Right after the fall I was taking 1g of GABA powder every few hours (held in my mouth for 1-2 minutes) and now I only need to take it 2 or 3 times a day as needed. This is the dose I started with only because I know this dose works for me for the rectal spasms I sometimes experience. I always have clients do a trial and start low and increase slowly based on need and response. The starting dose is typically 125mg as found in GABA Calm but I suspect this is likely too low if you are someone needing pain relief.

With the oral sublingual GABA I feel relief from the pain within 5 minutes and it lasts a few hours.

My pain level was 10/10 and is now down to 2/10 most of the time with a few times during the day when it is 4/10. I’m walking, standing, able to turn over in bed and sleep through the night, and able to get off the bed without assistance. I can now also put on my yoga pants, socks and shoes myself – these were impossible tasks in the first 5 days after my fall!

Acupuncture boosts GABA and downregulates substance P and CGRP

I have not been able to find research on oral GABA for easing pain but do have some research to share. In this first paper, Effect of electroacupuncture on thermal pain threshold and expression of calcitonin-gene related peptide, substance P and γ-aminobutyric acid in the cervical dorsal root ganglion of rats with incisional neck pain the authors state that it is known that acupuncture therapy effectively reduces post-surgical pain, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate:

whether expression of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the neuropeptides substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the primary sensory neurons of cervical dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are involved in electroacupuncture (EA)-induced analgesia [pain reduction]in a rat model of incisional neck pain.

The conclusion is as follows: acupuncture increases the pain threshold i.e. it reduces pain and the mechanism is likely related to

downregulation of pronociceptive mediators SP/CGRP and upregulation of the inhibitory transmitter GABA in the primary sensory neurons of cervical DRGs

In case you’re not familiar with the terms substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) I’m going to explain what they are, how they are connected to pain and why downregulation helps with pain reduction.

What is substance P (SP)?

Founders and Directors of Neuroplastix, Marla Golden, DO and Michael Moskowitz, MD share this about substance-P (SP), the main pain neurotransmitter:

It has five basic functions in the body. They are pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression and nausea. Even though these seem like negative experiences, they are important for survival. Problems arise with excessive production and release of Substance-P.

They share a very descriptive video that:

depicts a nerve injury causing a massive release of Substance-P, up to 5 times greater than in acute pain. This diffuses out to three to five times more local area. This is a major way that the pain map expands in persistent pain and keeps the pain going.

Be sure to watch the video on this page.

What is calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)?

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is relatively new marker for pain as this recent review paper discusses – Calcitonin gene-related peptide and pain: a systematic review

The present review revealed the association between measured CGRP levels and somatic, visceral, neuropathic and inflammatory pain. These data suggest that CGRP may act as a neuromodulator in non-headache pain conditions. However, more studies are needed to fully understand the role of CGRP in nociceptive processing and therapy of chronic pain.

Oral GABA lowers substance P and CGRP in asthmatic children

As I mentioned there is no research on the effects of oral GABA on pain reduction so I’m going to extrapolate from this study on asthma – Effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid treatment on plasma substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in children with asthma.

In this study of 75 children with asthma, 36 children were in the GABA treatment group and received oral GABA (25-30 mg/kg per day) in addition to standard asthma medications. For a 100 lb /45 kg child this would equate to 1125-1350mg of GABA per day.

The conclusion of the study is that oral GABA

can significantly decrease plasma levels of SP and CGRP in children suffering from acute asthma.

The authors propose that airway inflammation may be a factor in asthma and since GABA reduces SP and CGRP, eases neurogenic inflammation and tracheal spasms, it may offer a new approach for the prevention and treatment of asthma (this is my best translation from the Chinese paper).

In summary, oral GABA, used sublingually has helped me tremendously with the acute pain of my muscle injury, and it helped ease the anxiety and fear I felt right after the incident.

As you read above, I am using more than just the GABA, but because it works so quickly I saw benefits right away and had hope while all the other approaches are starting to slowly help too. I just love that I get to experience this first-hand and share it with you – although I would have preferred not falling and that initial severe pain!

I also have a good history of GABA helping me so this was a clue for me to try it now. It was my life-saver when I first experienced my terrible anxiety and panic attacks and helped me tremendously within a few days.  I also did very well with GABA when I used it for throat spasms during  my vagus nerve issue after that scary plane ride, and another incidence when I was getting terrible ice-pick type headaches that turned out to be a jammed neck issue.   I really am a GABA girl aren’t I!?

I have used high doses of GABA like this with one client who had a back and neck injury after a construction accident. It also helped him tremendously.

Have you used high doses of GABA for muscle injuries and seen improvements like this? Or do you use this approach with your clients/patients?

Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Conference 2017 (IMMH)

By Trudy Scott 22 Comments

The Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Conference 2017 (IMMH) runs Sept 28-Oct 1, 2017, in Orange County, CA (near Anaheim).

This is a conference I attend every year and I’ll be attending again this year – it’s that good! As IMMH mentions:

research has revealed that many disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, and autism spectrum disorders often have biomedical causes that contribute to symptoms, from nutritional deficiencies to chronic infections.

This is a practitioner-only event and attendees include psychiatrists, naturopathic physicians, family physicians, chiropractic physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners, psychologists, nutritionists and registered dieticians, and other allied mental health professionals. 

Here is a video with highlights from the 2016 conference

Here are just a few of the topics and speakers I am especially looking forwarding at the 2017 conference:

Integrative Medicine Approaches to Autoimmune Encephalopathy and PANDAS – KENNETH BOCK, MD

This lecture will discuss neuropsychiatric disorders with abrupt onset that include symptoms ranging from anxiety to intrusive thoughts and rage episodes. They may also include tics, dysgraphia (inability to write coherently), and dyscalculia (difficulty understanding numbers). These symptoms are triggered by infectious autoimmune encephalopathy (frequently referred to as PANS/PANDAS). Evaluation and treatment will be discussed from a comprehensive integrative medicine point of view.

Ion Channel Genetics in Mental Health: Associated Integrative Therapies – LAUREN FEW, PHD

Several studies have implicated genetic mutations in voltage-gated ion channels in the pathogenesis of mental health disorders. For example, both the CACNA1C calcium channel gene and ANK3 gene have been linked to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression in genome-wide association studies. This talk will focus on a number of integrative therapeutic options that target ion channels and have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of mental health symptomatology, including omega-3 fatty acids, lithium, magnesium, and N-acetylcysteine.

Mold and Mycotoxins: The Hidden Menace – MARK FILIDEI, DO

Mold and fungi are ubiquitous in the environment. However, particularly in “WDB”, water damaged buildings, mold can become a sinister force affecting physical and mental health. Not all molds are toxic and many just cause respiratory issues, but a subset of molds produce mycotoxins; powerful neurotoxins that can have a profound effect on the brain and mental health. The effects of mold, as well as testing, diagnosis, and treatment options will be discussed.

Mitochondria and Mood: Understanding the Role of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Psychiatric Illness – PETER BONGIORNO, ND

As the ‘powerhouse of the cell’ and nervous system, healthy mitochondrial function is an underlying key to healing mental illness. Dr. Bongiorno will explain what you need to know to help identify mitochondrial issues, understand the factors that contribute to poor function, and review the best natural treatments to restore mitochondrial health.

Helping Patients Follow Special Diets Despite Barriers – JULIE MATTHEWS, CNC

How do we support effective special diet implementation when our patients – both adults and children – face varied behavior, psychosocial, and environmental barriers? How do you determine the right diet for each individual? If it’s too complex or restrictive the patient may become overwhelmed and non-compliant. If it’s too basic, you may not see positive results. In this presentation, Julie will share keen insights gleaned from fifteen years of working with special diets for complex digestive, immune, and neurological conditions in both children and adults, audiences fraught with implementation challenges.

Discovery of a Novel Cause of Alzheimer’s Disease – DALE BREDESEN, MD

The cause(s) of Alzheimer’s disease have remained incompletely defined, although risk factors such as type 2 diabetes and the epsilon-4 allele of the Apolipoprotein E gene (ApoE4) have been described. Precision medicine approaches have proven valuable for the evaluation and treatment of various malignancies. This presentation will review the metabolic profiling done by Dr. Bredesen and his team in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and pre-dementia conditions. The results suggested that mycotoxin exposure may be a novel cause of Alzheimer’s disease.

Genetic SNP Testing for Neuropsychiatric Disorders – WILLIAM SHAW, PHD

Genetic variants called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) play a greater role in the metabolism of the human brain compared to almost all the other organs. A SNP called apolipoprotein E4 markedly increases the chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease after 50. A SNP in protein HFe that absorbs iron improves brain function in populations that have dietary iron deficiency but greatly increases the risk of psychiatric disease in populations in which dietary iron is excessive. In this presentation, a survey of the most significant SNPs for psychiatric diseases and potential “fixes” for these SNPs will be reviewed.

Estrogen and Mental Health: Exploring Estrogen’s Vital Role Linking the Brain, the Gut Microbiome, and the Immune System – FELICE GERSH, MD

There is an amazing and complex interrelationship involving our gut microbiome, our brain function and emotional wellbeing, and our hormones, and most particularly estrogen. A dialogue has only recently been re-initiated, opening the door to a deeper exploration of the most advantageous ways and manner in which to deliver estrogen supplementation for the improvement and prevention of cognitive and mood disorders. This talk will review how this dialogue is unfolding and using this new information, provide practical ways to address mental health issues.

Botanicals for Depression: Rhodiola, St. John’s Wort, Curcumin and Saffron – JUDITH PENTZ, MD

Botanicals have long been a part of the healing traditions in many cultures for depression. Certain medicinal herbs have increasing evidence based research and thus can be part of toolbox for an integrative medical practice. Yet, having a greater understanding of the complexities that herbs present is critical in having a successful outcome when prescribing them for your patients.

Here is the entire schedule and all the topic outlines

And here is the link to register

This is a practitioner-only event and CEs and CMEs are available.

Hope to see you there! I’m not presenting again this year (as you saw in the video I did present last year) but will be there to support my dear friend and colleague Julie Matthews AND will also have a booth there to share The Antianxiety Food Solution message!

If there is enough interest I’m going to arrange a small group meet-up with Julie and I and some of the speakers so please let me know in the comments below if this is of interest.

P.S. If you are NOT a practitioner and are interested please pass this on to your doctor, nutritionist, social worker, therapist, naturopath etc. The event is also recorded and will be available to purchase after wards so please leave me a note in the comments if you’re interested in the recordings.