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Archives for September 2017

Ashwaganda for adrenal support: a calming tonic that reduces anxiety and improves sleep

September 16, 2017 By Trudy Scott 17 Comments

Overactive adrenals can leave you feeling like you’re constantly in “fight or flight” mode. First, your body releases high levels of stress chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol. To ensure you’re ready to defend yourself or run, these chemicals spike your blood sugar, as well as increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and insulin levels – making you feel anxious, stressed and wide awake at night.

Nature offers plenty of wonderful herbal remedies to support the adrenals. Herbal adaptogens such as ashwaganda and rhodiola are two of my favorite herbs for the adrenals. They gently calm your overactive system helping your body damp down your fight or flight response and reduce stress and anxiety.

  • Ashwaganda is often called “Indian Ginseng” and is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine to lower stress and stabilize thyroid hormones. It is a calming tonic that reduces anxiety, improves sleep, and combats inflammation.
  • Rhodiola is a another potent herbal adaptogen that helps your body reduce anxiety and irritability. At the same time, it boosts immune function, hormonal balance, and concentration.

You can learn how to use herbs like this in your everyday routine in this no-cost online workshop “How To Use Everyday Herbs and Spices To Rebalance Your Hormones”

In this online workshop, you will learn about 20 healing herbs and spices to help support and heal your thyroid, adrenals, menopause, weight, hair loss, cellulite, PCOS, hot flashes (and more).

  • Skullcap – used to treat conditions like panic attacks, anxiety and also helps to promote better quality sleep.
  • Chamomile is well known for its calming properties. After people drink chamomile tea their levels of glycine increase. Glycine is a nerve relaxant with mild sedative properties – all things that can help you to de-stress. Chamomile also has anti-spasmodic properties that help to relieve menstrual cramps in women. It also contains a potent flavonoid called apigenin, a mild tranquilizer that can help benefit sleep onset and sleep quality.
  • Lavender made into a tea is an effective tonic for jittery nerves because it encourages a calmer state of mind. Research comparing the use of lavender to (synthetic) benzodiazepine medication for anxiety has found it provides equal benefit, minus all the side effects.

You will also learn 5 simple and delicious herbal recipes to restore and rebalance your hormones

Watch this video snippet to get a taste of some of what Magdalena will be covering in the online herbal workshop. One thing she’ll be making is the wonderful and nourishing Ashwaganda Latte for adrenal support.

And here is the recipe for the Ashwaganda Latte

Author: Magdalena Wszelaki

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of milk (almond or hazelnut works well, if using coconut milk, I would suggest ½ cup coconut milk and ½ cup water)
  • 1 teaspoon ashwagandha powder
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • ½ teaspoon maple syrup or honey

How To Make

  1. Warm the milk, then add the powdered spices and maple syrup or honey
  2. Stir well, using the whisk to blend, adjusting for sweetness if necessary
  3. Pour into a nice cup and drink an hour before bed

Equipment: Medium saucepan, whisk, strainer

You’ll also learn how to avoid common chemicals found in everyday skincare, personal care and house cleaning products that disrupt your hormones, and discover which herbs are best for your individual needs.

Hope to see you there! You can register for this online herbal workshop here

You may remember Magdalena from the Anxiety Summit and her wonderful interviews on eating for hormone balance! She is now taking hormone balance to the next level by teaching us how to use herbs. This wonderful workshop is a taste of what’s to come in her upcoming longer program so stay tuned for more on that!

Filed Under: Adrenals, Hormone Tagged With: adrenals, anxiety, ashwaganda, herbs, hormones, lavender, rhodiola, sleep, stress

How to Beat Anxiety and Resolve Panic Attacks with Targeted Amino Acids: Wellness Mama podcast

September 15, 2017 By Trudy Scott 20 Comments

Today I share my wonderful interview with Katie, the “Wellness Mama”. We talk about my favorite topic: How to Beat Anxiety and Resolve Panic Attacks with Targeted Amino Acids with some extra questions about pregnancy and nursing that I’m not often asked about. Katie is mom to 6 children and many in her community are moms too.

Here is some of what we cover in our interview:

  • nutritional deficiencies commonly linked to anxiety, depression, and other problems
  • my own story of recovery from severe panic attacks
  • why perfectionism and worry might have more to do with body chemistry than your personality
  • all about the key anti-anxiety amino acids: GABA, theanine, tryptophan, 5-HTP (and others)
  • how low vitamin D, low zinc, high copper, and other nutritional factors add to anxiety
  • the low zinc and high copper play a role in postpartum depression
  • the potential neurotransmitter issue that leads to cravings
  • biochemical reasons some people are introverted or socially anxious
  • guidance for pregnant moms who can’t take amino acids (and what to do if you’re nursing)
  • the way an MTHFR mutation is linked to anxiety and how to resolve it

Here is a snippet of our interview on the topic of how to assess for low neurotransmitters and do a trial of GABA or tryptophan, and how quickly they work:

Just like you test your vitamin D levels – that’ll tell you that you’ve got low levels and you need to supplement with vitamin D, then you’ll retest and see that your levels have come up. With the amino acids and the low neurotransmitters, I find using a questionnaire is the best way to assess the fact that you may have low GABA and you may have low serotonin. Then you do a trial of the amino acid based on your unique needs, and then you redo the questionnaire and you see how things have changed.

If you use these targeted individual amino acids based on your unique need, you can see results very quickly – within five minutes, and then over the course of the next few weeks you should be seeing results very quickly. Some people will say, “I’m not seeing any impact, should I keep trying, you know, how long should I be aiming for.” The thing that, about the amino is that are so amazing, is that you get results right away. If you don’t get results, it means it’s not enough or it means you don’t need it. The anxiety is not caused by low serotonin or low GABA.

I also talk about my personal experience with low serotonin and perfectionism:

I discovered low serotonin was a factor because although the GABA helped with the physical anxiety and the panic attacks, I still had this perfectionism issue. I remember working in that computer job and being called up to do an appraisal. And they told me I was too much of a perfectionist and I needed to let go a little bit. I couldn’t believe anyone could think that was a bad thing. So it was interesting how, as you start to implement some of these, you start to realize some of these other things that you may think is just a personality thing or it’s just me, it’s just the way I am – you realize that some of these things can be related to biochemical imbalances.

As I mention above Katie does ask me about using the amino acids during pregnancy and while nursing:

I don’t recommend anyone take them during pregnancy. It’s difficult advice for me to give because I know that there are so many issues with SSRIs during pregnancy. Because we don’t have the research, it’s not something that I can recommend. If you are prone to anxiety or you’ve had anxiety, get that sorted out before you get pregnant. I know, that’s easier said than done. A lot of women really want to get pregnant now or they are pregnant and then they realize that they’ve got the anxiety. So that’s a very difficult situation.

Once you’ve had the baby, if you are having really bad anxiety, obviously you’ve got to talk to your doctor and make sure that they are okay with you taking the amino acids right after nursing and then waiting four to six hours before nursing again. It is one way to do it. And then monitoring the baby to make sure that they are okay. There are actually two studies that came out recently showing that tryptophan and tyrosine, doesn’t seem to be an issue in breast milk.

You can listen to the entire interview (and download the interview mp3 file and read the transcript) via the Wellness Mama podcast #105 blog.

For additional information on products over and above those we covered in the interview here are some recent blogs:

  • GABA for the physical tension kind of anxiety
  • tryptophan for the worry-in-the-head anxiety

Katie, is the “Wellness Mama” and her goal is to help other families live more naturally through practical tips, real food recipes, natural beauty and cleaning tutorials, natural remedies and more. Her blog is a wealth of information and if you don’t tune in to her podcasts and get her newsletter I encourage you to check her out.

Here are a few really good ones to get you started (although they really are all excellent!):

  • Epsom Salt: 21 Surprising Uses & Benefits for Health, Beauty, and Home (the first one is to use it for a relaxing bath soak, a favorite of mine; another is a recipe for a soothing magnesium lotion)
  • Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste Recipe (Natural + Simple)
  • Homemade HE Laundry Detergent Recipe (Laundry Soap) (this was a hot topic on a recent facebook discussion)

She shares this on her site: “my real goal with the blog is to help you and to create lasting changes so that our children can grow up in a better world.” I just love her mission and passion and all the very practical and safe solutions she offers!

Filed Under: Amino Acids Tagged With: amino acids, anxiety, GABA, Katie, nursing, panic attacks, pregnancy, tryptophan, Wellness Mama

Glutamine for calming, intense sugar cravings, gut healing and low blood sugar

September 13, 2017 By Trudy Scott 29 Comments

Today I’m reviewing glutamine for the calming properties and to also share how glutamine helps reduce intense sugar cravings, helps with gut healing and prevents low blood sugar (which can actually cause anxiety and panic attacks).

I’m also sharing some additional resources for you on glutamine.

Here are all the symptoms we see with low blood sugar:

  • Crave sugar, starch or alcohol any time during the day
  • Irritable, shaky, headachey – especially if going too long between meals
  • Intense cravings for sweets
  • Lightheaded if meals are missed
  • Eating relieves fatigue
  • Agitated, easily upset
  • Nervous, anxious, panic attacks

Together with low serotonin and low GABA, addressing low blood sugar is one of the most effective approach I use with clients to help ease anxiety.   We achieve this with the use of glutamine and by controlling blood sugar by starting the day with a breakfast that includes quality animal protein.

Glutamine also helps eliminate sugar cravings and the strong desire for something sweet when opened directly on to the tongue. This blog and video explains it all: Glutamine for low blood sugar and calming effects

watch this video to hear how powerful glutamine was for Nicole – she saw results in around 5 minutes. I really like to get testimonials like this because when I talk about the profound and quick effects of the amazing amino acids it almost sounds too good to be true! But in this case (and the majority of cases), it really is true!

Nicole says “I get irritable, I get shaky and I get to the point that if I don’t get food NOW I think I’m going to hurt something!”

She tried the glutamine and in under 5 minutes she went from that feeling to: “I’m ok. I feel happy, I feel calm, I feel I can make it longer without needing food right away.”

She finished up by saying “I’m impressed at how well that worked for me”

When I mentioned I was working on this blog (on facebook) I had plenty of questions about this sugar craving benefit we see with glutamine. Keep in mind that low blood sugar is just ONE of the root causes of sugar cravings and glutamine will only work if the cravings are driven by low blood sugar. The way to figure it out is to do the amino acid mood questionnaire

Here is a simple way to help you figure it out:

  • if you have to eat sugar when you haven’t eaten in awhile it’s likely low blood sugar and glutamine on the tongue stops the sugar desire on the spot
  • if you stress-eat your sugar cravings are likely due to low GABA, and GABA will stop the stress-eating and calm you down
  • if you eat sugar or carbs to feel happy (and especially from late afternoon onwards) then your sugar cravings are likely due to low serotonin, and tryptophan stops the cravings and boosts mood and reduces anxiety
  • if you eat sugar for an energy boost then it’s likely due to low catecholamines and tyrosine will stop those cravings and give you a mood and energy boost
  • if you are a comfort-eater then it’s likely due to low endorphins and DPA will stop that “I deserve-it-reward-eating” and also give you a hug-like mood boost

When I asked for feedback one person felt glutamine made her depressed. This was new to me but I never say never and suggested she look at what else was in the product she used. I had one client feel more anxious on glutamine and it was due to one of the fillers.

Glutamine converts to GABA in most people and this is another way it helps calm you. For some people it converts to too much glutamate and can be a bit too stimulating. I’ll have these people use less or only use it during the day or not use it all. As with all nutrients used as supplements there is no one size fits all.

Dr. Josh Axe shares that glutamine is critical for any program designed to heal leaky gut and I write about this in this blog: Glutamine for healing a leaky gut

as a functional amino acid with multiple key physiological roles, glutamine holds great promise in protecting the gut from atrophy and injury under various stress conditions in mammals and other animals.

Here are some of the actual glutamine products I recommend and use with clients:

  • Pure Encapsulations L-Glutamine 500mg:  L-glutamine (free-form) 500 mg, vitamin C (as ascorbyl palmitate) 5 mg. The capsules can be swallowed or the capsule can be opened on to the tongue
  • Designs for Health Glutamine Powder: This is a powdered glutamine that you can use right on your tongue or even mixed in water. The taste is quite pleasant.

As with all the amino acids, when using glutamine:

  • Start low (500mg is a typical starting dose) and increase as needed.
  • Do a trial to determine if the anxiety and sugar cravings are in fact due to low blood sugar. I always do this with clients before starting any amino acid. Be sure to read how to do an amino acid trial. It has the amino acid questionnaire, the precautions and information on how to use targeted individual amino acids.
  • Take between meals and away from protein for the best effects

The blog has many other posts on glutamine – simply use the “search” function to find them.

This blog post is part of the series of amino acid product reviews:

  • Tryptophan for low serotonin (worry-in-the-head anxiety)
  • GABA for low GABA symptoms (physical anxiety)
  • DPA for weepiness, pain and comfort and reward eating
  • Tyrosine for focus, motivation, energy, a good mood and possibly even anxiety

The resources in this blog and my other articles are intended to be used in conjunction with my book: The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings. If you do not have my book I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and taking the amino acid supplements:

There is a complete chapter on the amino acids and one for pyroluria, plus information on real whole food, sugar and blood sugar, gluten, digestion and much more.

You can find the glutamine products and the others I recommend here on this blog: The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements

 

I’d love to hear if glutamine has worked for you and how it’s helped? With low blood sugar symptoms and anxiety? For intense sugar cravings? For gut healing?

If you have questions please post them below or on the supplements blog

Filed Under: Glutamine Tagged With: anxiety, calming, GABA, glutamine, gut healing, intense sugar cravings, low blood sugar, physical anxiety

Parasites, heavy metals and Lyme disease on the Parasite Summit

September 10, 2017 By Trudy Scott 4 Comments

Here are a few snippets from some of the interviews on the Parasite Summit:

The Trio of Parasites, Heavy Metals and Lyme Disease by Dr. Jay Davidson 

from what we understand research wise, Lyme disease, which is technically a bacteria or spirochete, has been shown to live inside of certain nematodes, which is essentially a type of parasite like a roundworm. So parasites can actually house Lyme disease, or bacteria, or other viruses, or other bacteria. And then, parasites are also a huge sponge for absorbing heavy metals.

And here’s what’s really crazy to think about. Parasites absorb heavy metals. So if you run a test and think, “Oh, man, I must have a ton of heavy metals because Dr. Jay and Dr. Scott are saying heavy metals are like this big thing,” and all of a sudden you have like no heavy metals show up or even false lows, and let’s say you “ran the test right,” it could mean that you also have a massive parasite issue because parasites absorb heavy metals. And if you didn’t deal with the parasites, then the heavy metals are still in the parasite, which then means that, from a testing standpoint, can still come up negative.

Digestion Strategies for Parasite Prevention by Dr. David Jockers

Now, somebody that does have their gallbladder taken out, you’re still producing bile. You just can’t produce as much. And so ultimately, therefore, you’re going to be at a much greater risk of developing something like a parasitic overgrowth if you don’t already have one. Which is typically one of the problems when you do have a sluggish gallbladder, oftentimes, it’s associated with a parasitic overgrowth or some sort of bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine.

I think it has to do with the ability of bile to be an emulsifier. Okay. So not only is it good for breaking up fatty acids in there, which is super key for digestion there, but the outer membrane of a lot of bacteria and microbes also is a fatty membrane. And so it can help break that up, as well. I believe that’s the main mechanism for it.

Parasites: Root Cause of Mystery Diseases by Ann Louise Gittleman

I think if any of your listeners have real difficulty in shaking off some of sort of illness, and if they’ve been feeling tired and listless and if they have a problem that the doctor simply can’t identify, then they have to begin to suspect that parasites could be the underlying cause. I also want them to remember that parasitic diseases don’t always happen to people just in other countries. The rate of parasite related disorders in our country is just about skyrocketing. And every single one of the 134 species that have been identified has been found on our shores.

The dark circles, the intermittent diarrhea, the persistent acne, anorexia, food intolerance, palpitations, puffy eyes, depression. Oh, that’s a good one. And there have been clinical studies from JAMA, as I recall, where they’ve connected toxoplasmosis with depression. So depression is big…who would connect it with a parasite? And the inability to relax and anxiety and being overly angry very oftentimes can have a toxoplasmosis connection.

I cover toxoplasma gondii in great detail in my interview on the Parasite Summit, as well as malaria and malaria medications.

At the Parasite Summit, experts will help you determine if parasites are silently impacting your health–they’re FAR MORE COMMON than you think! Parasites aren’t just found in third-world countries, millions are already infected in industrialized countries and could be silently hampering your health. Fortunately, with awareness and appropriate care, parasites can be prevented and treated, once detected.

If you’re struggling with any of the following, don’t miss this event:

  • Gastrointestinal: pain/cramps, excess gas, bloating, constipation/diarrhea
  • Infertility and hormone disorders
  • Skin issues: acne, itching, rashes
  • Mental health: depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, OCD, schizophrenia
  • Challenges with autoimmune disease recovery (Toxoplasma gondii may be a factor in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis)

The Parasite Summit is online from September 11-18, 2017 and you can register here I hope you can join us!

Please share feedback and ask questions in the comments below.

Filed Under: Events, Parasites Tagged With: ann louise gittleman, anxiety, David Jockers, heavy metals, Jay Davidson, Lyme Disease, The Parasite Summit, toxoplasma gondii

Nutrition solutions for psychological stress after a natural disaster

September 8, 2017 By Trudy Scott 8 Comments

There is much that can be done nutritionally in support of psychological stress and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) during and after a natural disaster. I’ve written this blog for you if you’ve been impacted by the recent storm and flooding due to Hurricane Harvey in the Houston area (the pictures of people returning home are so sad), and for everyone impacted by Irma and about to be impacted by Irma. This is for you if

  • you had to be rescued and had to evacuate your home, are displaced and/or saw neighbors in trouble, have lost your belongings and home – and anything else that may have happened during this natural disaster
  • you have been involved in on-the-ground rescue efforts or working online helping with rescue efforts and you have working long hours, not getting enough sleep and likely not eating well
  • you had a loved one in trouble and feared for their lives
  • and if you’re on observer feeling distressed by what you have witnessed

You may be feeling on edge and anxious about the future, fearful about losing your job, worried about expenses and the chemical soup of flood waters you were exposed to, exhausted and yet not able to sleep, feeling overly emotional and weepy, having nightmares and flashbacks and feeling frazzled.

I wasn’t even in Texas and my contribution was a very small one, helping online rescue efforts from Australia via a volunteer rescue group created by McCall McPherson, but I felt really burned out after just a few days and quite distressed by some of the rescues we were trying to facilitate. I have had to really walk my talk and implement some of what I’m sharing here even though I would consider myself resilient because my nutrient balance is good.

B-Complex for everyone

My first recommendation is a B complex and if this is all that can be managed it would be my first choice for everyone. In fact, if you live in an area prone to hurricanes, flood, fires etc. I’d recommend being on a B complex all the time.

My colleagues Bonnie Kaplin and Julia Rucklidge published this paper in 2015: A randomised trial of nutrient supplements to minimise psychological stress after a natural disaster. They share that:

After devastating flooding in southern Alberta in June 2013, we attempted to replicate a New Zealand randomised trial that showed that micronutrient (minerals, vitamins) consumption after the earthquakes of 2010-11 resulted in improved mental health. Residents of southern Alberta were invited to participate in a study on the potential benefit of nutrient supplements following a natural disaster.

Fifty-six adults aged 23-66 were randomised to receive one of the following for 6 weeks:

  1. vitamin D as a single nutrient
  2. a B-Complex formula or a
  3. broad-spectrum mineral/vitamin formula

The study participants monitored changes in depression, anxiety and stress via self-reporting. All of the above 3 groups showed substantial decreases on all measures. However, those consuming the B-Complex and the broad-spectrum mineral/vitamin formula showed significantly greater improvement in stress and anxiety compared with those consuming the vitamin D alone, with the results being similar for the group using the B-Complex and the broad-spectrum mineral/vitamin formula.

The authors report that:

The use of nutrient formulas with multiple minerals and/or vitamins to minimise stress associated with natural disasters is now supported by three studies.

Further research should be carried out to evaluate the potential population benefit that might accrue if such formulas were distributed as a post-disaster public health measure.

I would love to see either a B-Complex or broad-spectrum mineral/vitamin formula be given out to everyone as part of relief efforts for all natural disasters.

The B-Complex used in the study was made by Douglas labs but other similar B-Complex products would be fine too.  I happen to use Designs for Health B Supreme with my clients.

The broad-spectrum mineral/vitamin formula in the study was EmpowerPlus made by TrueHope.

From: A randomised trial of nutrient supplements to minimise psychological stress after a natural disaster

Vitamin D based on levels

In the above study, some participants in the vitamin D group did see benefits and it’s likely to have been those who were low in vitamin D at the time of the flooding since other research supports a connection between low vitamin D and anxiety and depression. I like to see vitamin D results before recommending supplementation.

Serotonin, GABA and endorphin support based on symptoms and a trial

As well as a B-complex and/or vitamin D, I’d also consider the following neurotransmitter support on a case by case basis, and after doing the amino acid questionnaire and a trial of each amino acid:

  • Serotonin support with Lidtke tryptophan or Lidtke Tryptophan Complete or Lidtke Combat Stress (a tryptophan product formulated for stress support) – especially if you’re feeling sad, worried, resolving to try and feel positive, imagining the worst, feeling fearful and having problem sleeping. I blogged about tryptophan products last week.
  • GABA support for physical tension and an increased need to self-medicate with alcohol in order to stay calm. New research shows that reduced plasma levels of GABA observed in PTSD could be considered as a possible biomarker for PTSD severity. This is not something I typically look at but it’s something I will be considering going forward. I blogged about some specific GABA products earlier this week.
  • Endorphin support with Lidtke DPA if you’re feeling especially emotional and weepy.

Serotonin and GABA play a role in stress resilience and when we have enhanced stress resilience mechanisms we have the ability to adapt more successfully to stressful situations like natural disasters.    

Additional adrenal support if needed

The adrenals are part of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA) and also need nutritional support after stress and trauma. I recommend a good adrenal support product with rhodiola, Vitamin C, pantothenic acid, eleuthero and ashwagandha. Designs for Health Adrenotone is a good product.

If it’s known that cortisol levels are high then the addition of Seriphos and/or a lactium product (such as Biotics Research De-Stress) helps to lower high cortisol, reduce anxiety and help with insomnia.

Additional pyroluria support if needed

It is well known that pyroluria symptoms are made worse in times of heightened stress. If you are on protocol for pyroluria, additional zinc and vitamin B6/P5P is likely going to be needed short-term too.

Essential oils

Essential oils like lavender and citrus are wonderful for the stress, anxiety and sleepless nights. An animal study reports that passively inhaling orange essential oil could potentially reduce PTSD symptoms in humans

 

Some other considerations include the following once things start to get back to some kind of normal:

  • trying to eat as well as you can and not skipping meals
  • trying to get enough sleep (the GABA and tryptophan support mentioned above can help in this area)
  • getting outside into nature as soon as it’s possible. If this is impossible right away, simply looking at images of nature can help you feel calmer, less irritable, and more empathetic. I hope you enjoy this flower photograph I took in Australia!   
  • meditating and doing yoga
  • community support and helping others if you’re able to
  • getting a cat or dog (veterans who were given pet dogs showed significant improvement in their PTSD symptoms)

I would recommend a similar approach for any natural disaster or in fact for any other traumatic event, always working individually with each person.  

If you have found some approach to be particularly useful for you please do share it.

And if you have any connections for getting this information into the hands of public health officials and non-profits offering aid please let me know. I feel that protocols similar to this one need to be made available to everyone subjected to a natural disaster.

I wish you and your families much healing and a speedy recovery.

Additional resources

I added these additional resources after September 20, 2017:

  • How to Stay Safe in a Disaster: Emergency Preparedness List by Katie Wells on the Wellness Mama blog. She says this: “The point of putting together an emergency preparedness plan is not to create any undue anxiety, but to help alleviate some of the stress of a disaster in case it hits.”
  • What to Do After a Hurricane: The Dangers Lurking Beyond the Storm by Dr. Jill Carnahan. This blog addresses both mold and bacteria in flood waters, and practical steps on how to deal with these issues.  Mold needs to be taken seriously – I interviewed Dr. Carnahan on the topic of mold toxicity and anxiety during one the Anxiety Summits – Is Toxic Mold the Hidden Cause of Your Anxiety?
  • My Flood Story and What to Do About Mold by Dave Asprey. This blog offers practical solutions on how best to do clean-up after a flood and the dangers of mold. He is also very kindly making his documentary, Moldy available for viewing at no charge.
  • Beyond Meditation: Making Mindfulness Accessible for Everyone by Mira Dessy and Kerry McClure. Mira is a dear friend whose home was flooded by Harvey and went I spoke to her last week she shared how much her meditation practice has been helping her.  I love that she has a book on the topic so that it can be shared far and wide to help those affected.
  • My book The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings, available in major books stores and via online stores like Amazon. You can find out more here.
  • I am also the host of The Anxiety Summit, now in it’s 4th season and called a “bouquet of hope”. It’s a wealth of information on all topics related to anxiety. More on the Anxiety Summit here. 

If you have links to additional useful resources please let me know and I’ll add them.

Filed Under: PTSD/Trauma, Stress Tagged With: essential oils, floods, GABA, Houston, Hurricane Harvey, lactium, natural disaster, nature, nutrition solutions, psychological stress, PTSD, seriphos, stress, tryptophan, vitamin B6, zinc

How the love hormone, oxytocin, is critical for gut health

September 7, 2017 By Trudy Scott 17 Comments

Dr. Lindsey Berkson’s fascinating interview on the Digestive Health Summit, hosted by Dr. Michael Murray, is all about the love hormone or oxytocin and the effects on digestion. The interview is called – How the Love Hormone is Critical for Gut Health.

Oyxtocin is not just a love hormone. It is also a helpful gut hormone. Dr. Berkson will clearly and easily explain the role of oxytocin in gut motility, sensation, tone of the muscular and nervous system layers, and even in the application for various gut issues from leaky gut to inflammatory bowel disease. You will also learn why nature intended oxytocin to be a care-taker of human health and how critical this hormone is in both genders throughout life. Historically oxytocin was regarded as a pregnancy and lactation hormone but you will now learn how it is even amazingly much more.  She shares that the love hormone: 

can be endocrine-disrupted by plastic, by Bisphenol A, by synthetic oxytocin given to a mother at birth i.e. Pitocin. I started using oxytocin in practice about 15 years ago as a hormonal Viagra and a rebooter, and I suddenly discovered that when I added it to the protocol of my inflammatory bowel disease patients, often people who were on Prednisone, methotrexate, on multiple meds, that could barely drag themselves out of bed, they were having many bowel movements a day, many of them were diarrhea-like and bloody; when I added oxytocin to them, usually within a few weeks we were able to get them off most of their meds and their health just came up incredibly.

There are oxytocin receptors all throughout the gut:

They’re in the esophagus. They’re in the stomach. They’re in the small intestine, the large intestine, they’re in the pancreas. They have a lot to do with the alpha and beta cells, with the release and maintenance of sugar. They’re in the liver; they have a lot to do with detoxification.

And oxytocin has also been shown to have an impact on constipation:

They have a double-blind, randomized trial in women with constipation and when they gave them oxytocin, they just delivered nasally because it first acts on the brain and then it has peripheral or distant actions. They had statistically significant normalization of bowel movements with oxytocin sprayed through the nose. How amazing is that?

Dr. Berkson then shares how intimacy and regular love-making improves gut health via oxytocin release:

I was so struck by how regular, satisfying intimacy was right up there with veggies and exercise [for longevity] and I was trying to figure out why, is it just the human contact? Well, one of the reasons was because both men and women become drenched in oxytocin and so nature takes care of your gut.

It’s a really fascinating interview with new information that is science-based.  It is not to be missed!

You can register for the Digestive Health Summit here

Other interviews include:

  • Joe Pizzorno, ND – The Toxin Solution: How to Clean Up the Gut to Ignite Vibrant Health
  • Wardee Harmon – Improve Your Gut Health and Save Money by Making Your Own Fermented Foods at Home
  • Razi Berry – Butterflies in Your Stomach: How Stess and Love Affect Digestive Health
  • Trudy Scott – Anxiety, the Microbiome, Psychobiotics and GABA
  • And more

Hope to see you on the summit!

Filed Under: Events, Gut health Tagged With: gut health, Lindsey Berkson, love hormone, oxytocin

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