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Archives for February 2018

EMFs and how to help your electrosensitive clients/patients

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Our exposure to “Electrosmog” from cell phones, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, smart meters and cell phone towers is increasing steadily and we can’t deny it anymore — electromagnetic fields (EMFs) — are making people sick. EMF exposure is now thought to be just as important as exposure to pesticides, mold, heavy metals or any other kind of environmental toxin:

  • Magda Havas from Trent University: up to 33% of the population has “mild to moderate symptoms” of electro sensitivity
  • Dietrich Klinghardt, health pioneer and Medical Director at the Sophia Health Institute: “patients suffering from chronic illness will likely never heal unless you reduce their exposure to Electrosmog.”

This paper published in 2016, Microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression reports that

the mechanism of action of microwave EMFs, the role of the VGCCs [voltage-gated calcium channels] in the brain, the impact of non-thermal EMFs on the brain, extensive epidemiological studies performed over the past 50 years, and five criteria testing for causality, all collectively show that various non-thermal microwave EMF exposures produce diverse neuropsychiatric effects.

Among the more commonly reported changes are sleep disturbance/insomnia, headache, depression/depressive symptoms, fatigue/tiredness, dysesthesia, concentration/attention dysfunction, memory changes, dizziness, irritability, loss of appetite/body weight, restlessness/anxiety, nausea, skin burning/tingling/dermographism and EEG changes.

My friend and investigative health journalist Nicolas Pineault is the author of “The Non-Tinfoil Guide to EMFs” (my Amazon link) and an expert on EMFs. He is the creator of  Electrosmog Rx, an EMF Course for Health Practitioners, now available as an evergreen version.

In February I announced the live version and I know a number of you jumped right in and did the training with me! What an amazing course it was!

Here is my official testimonial:

This is the most intellectually-stimulating course I’ve done in a long time! Nick’s expertise is exceptional, the research expansive (and quite mind-blowing!), the practical solutions excellent and the Facebook community invaluable!  The knowledge I’ve gained is going to be a game-changer for every single one of my clients. I HIGHLY recommend this course!

I was limited by word count and could have shared much more! Nick invited me to be part of the beta group and I actually said this to him: “I’ve read your book and it’s brilliant – I’m not sure I really need to do a course too” Boy was I wrong!

This training focuses on the clinical side of EMFs as an environmental factor contributing to ill health (including widespread neuropsychiatric effects) and includes critical information on what to ask your patients/clients to assess if they’re being over-exposed, how EMFs could disrupt the protocols you’re giving them, how to help them mitigate the effects of EMFs and how to make them more resilient to the effects.

If you want to learn latest evidence-based, cutting-edge, credible information on how Electrosmog exposure affects your patients/clients, how to prevent EMF-related symptoms and illness, and how to support those clients/patients who have symptoms, then I recommend this course.

The course includes all replays (audio, video, transcripts) of each of the 5 webinars, the 5 bonus interviews, access to the private members-only Facebook group packed with cutting-edge discussions, and several bonus cheat sheets that have been added based on group feedback.

EMF Basics

  • The EMF spectrum
  • 4 types of EMFs linked with ill health
  • Common sources of EMFs your patients/clients are probably exposed to
  • Are there “safe” levels of EMFs?

EMF Science

  • How EMFs affect every cell in the body
  • The NO/ONOO- cycle
  • Synergies between EMFs, inflammation, environmental toxins and excessive NMDA activity
  • Review of the strongest evidence available

EMF Symptomatology

  • What to ask your patients/clients to assess their exposure
  • Common EMF-related symptoms
  • What to look for on labs
  • How to properly diagnose electro hypersensitivity (EHS)

EMF Mitigation

  • Evidence-based ways to reduce exposure in and out the home
  • Using EMF-blocking clothes
  • The lowdown on grounding

EMF Resilience

  • Diet interventions and supplements which support the NRF2 pathway
  • Supplements to heal electrosensitivity

He has also interviewed and collaborated with some of the best minds in healing including Dr. Klinghardt, Dr. Joseph Mercola, Dr. Ben Lynch and many more and the course offers these interviews as a bonus. Here is what I learned from his interview with Dr. Klinghart:

After applying a few evidence-based solutions to reduce exposure to this new environmental toxin, Klinghardt sees patients with chronic diseases such as Lyme, ALS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, MS, autism and fibromyalgia heal faster — making every single supplement or protocol he sends their way more effective.

We also learned about EMF mitigation efforts for autism/ASD and autoimmune disease:

  • a simple and yet effective approach recommended by Dr. Toril Jelter and Cindy Sage: no baby monitors, no cordless phones, no Wi-Fi and switch off the bedroom circuit breaker at night. They report that over 80% of children with autism/ASD saw noticeable improvement in as little as two weeks.
  • One of the most compelling studies I learned about is the study by Trevor Marshall, MD and Trudy Heil, RN: Electrosmog and autoimmune disease. In this study, 90% of the participants – all with an autoimmune diagnosis of either arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, sjogrens or celiac disease – reported improved symptoms as a result of wearing silver-threaded EMF protective caps.

And based on what I learned in the course, I’m speculating (and extrapolating from some of the research) that EMF overload may play a role in chronic anxiety, insomnia, benzodiazepine issues, SIBO, high cortisol and dietary oxalate issues in some susceptible individuals. I blog in great detail about this here: Wi-Fi is an important threat to human health

 

You can watch his Mindshare presentation here:

 

Nick shares this wisdom

If you’ve never seen a patient or client whose health is being affected by EMFs, it’s very likely that you’ve missed it.

Here is some of the wisdom you can expect to learn in the course:

  • EMFs reduce the number of cells in the hippocampus
  • EMFs increase cortisol levels
  • EMFs affect the production of GABA
  • EMFs can increase blood pressure
  • EMFs increase markers of inflammation (TGF-Beta 1, MMP-9 and copper), disrupting hormone and neurotransmitter production

UPDATE March 1, 2018 – You can learn more and get on the waiting list for Electrosmog RX here. (the 100 seats sold out in 3 days and he’s opening up another 100 seats in the next few days)

UPDATE March 7, 2018 –  Another 200 seats have been added today and are now available for purchase. He is limiting the number so he can address all questions from participants. If you signed up prior to today you should have seen an email from Nick about this.  You can also use this link to purchase: Electrosmog RX 

UPDATE April 30, 2018: Updates to the blog with additional research and information for the launch of the evergreen digital version of the Electrosmog Rx program created by investigative health journalist Nicolas Pineault.

Feel free to post questions in the comments.

New book Food: What the Heck Should I Eat by Dr. Mark Hyman

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I highly recommend Dr. Mark Hyman’s new book Food: What the Heck Should I Eat if you are new to the world of nutrition and functional medicine.

I will be recommending it to my newbie clients who are switching from the SAD/standard American diet (that makes you sad and mad!) to a real whole foods quality diet.  

This book is well worth reading to get current trends and research

This book is well worth reading if:

  • you’re still on the fence about grass-fed red meat and eggs and still believe chicken is healthier than red meat

  • you are not current on the sugar-is-bad and fat-is-good research when it comes to cholesterol and heart disease

    Consuming lots of natural, whole food-based, healthy fats, including saturated fats, is absolutely critical for good health

  • you’re not convinced that eating only organic chicken is a must and don’t know about the chicken-arsenic issue

    Why would anyone feed arsenic to a chicken? Because it makes the birds gain weight faster, turns their flesh a little rosier, and kills parasites. Unless the poultry you buy is labeled organic, it almost certainly has been treated with arsenic. Of course, the arsenic the birds are fed doesn’t kill them it’s the organic kind, which is harmless. But once they eat it, it can be converted in the chicken’s digestive tract to the inorganic kind, which the World Health Organization classifies as a carcinogen.

  • you appreciate a research-based approach from a functional medicine doctor who has been doing this work for 20+ years

  • you are looking for a short overview of the benefits of a ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting, plus confirmation that coconut oil is actually healthy

  • you need a re-fresher on which additives to avoid and why – like calcium propionate, an additive in almost all commercial bread products and has been shown to cause autistic behavior in rats and in kids

    It’s enough to make you wonder if there’s a link between the 133 pounds of flour consumed by each American each year and the rising rate of brain disorders such as ADHD, autism, depression, [anxiety] and more.

  • you are interested in the social and environmental aspects like: how much water it takes to produce 2 liters of soda (it’s about 132 gallons); and how we only absorb 10% of the Splenda/sucralose we consume with the rest ending up polluting waterways

  • you don’t know about the superior nutritional qualities of wild or heirloom varieties of vegetables and fruit

A wild crabapple, for example, has one hundred times more cancer and inflammation-fighting anthocyanins than the Golden Delicious variety found in supermarkets. Purple carrots contain twenty times more phytonutrients than their more common orange brethren. Wild blueberries have dozens of times more phytonutrients than domesticated berries.

  • you are behind in some of the news stories like skittles and other junk-food being fed to conventional feedlot cows:

    In January 2017, a flatbed pickup truck accidentally spilled its cargo on a Wisconsin highway, creating a remarkable scene. The truck, destined for a factory farm, was carrying hundreds of thousands of red Skittles to be used as feed for cattle. The spill left a blanket of red candies scattered across the road, but what was most disturbing about the accident was that it revealed a little-known fact about factory farming: that it’s not only legal but common for producers to feed their cattle all sorts of sugar, candy, Kool-Aid powder, potato chips, and molasses.

What if you’re health savvy and are already following a real whole foods diet?

You may also wonder if this book is worth a read if you are health savvy and are already following a real whole foods diet. Here are some reasons why it’s well worth getting a copy:

  • It’s a great introduction for a loved one or friend who may be new to all this

  • It’s a great gift for your doctor who may not yet be fully on board with this approach

  • It’s great to take to school administrators so you can help effect changes in your kid’s or grandkid’s schools (and even universities)

  • It’s also a great resource for sharing with food banks, drug treatment/rehab centers, and non-profits that offer food and/or meals

Other dietary resources you may need based on your unique health issues

This book does a brilliant job of covering everything you need to know about eating a quality real whole foods diet where food-is-your-medicine. But if you have certain health issues, you’ll need other very specific dietary resources (which Dr. Hyman doesn’t mention), such as a low oxalate diet, low histamine diet, low salicylate diet, diets for SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth), an anti-candida diet,  an autoimmune diet and so on. 

The official book blurb

#1 New York Times bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman sorts through the conflicting research on food to give us the skinny on what to eat.

Did you know that eating oatmeal actually isn’t a healthy way to start the day? That milk doesn’t build bones, and eggs aren’t the devil?

Even the most health conscious among us have a hard time figuring out what to eat in order to lose weight, stay fit, and improve our health. And who can blame us? When it comes to diet, there’s so much changing and conflicting information flying around that it’s impossible to know where to look for sound advice. And decades of misguided “common sense,” food-industry lobbying, bad science, and corrupt food polices and guidelines have only deepened our crisis of nutritional confusion, leaving us overwhelmed and anxious when we head to the grocery store.

Thankfully, bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman is here to set the record straight. In Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? — his most comprehensive book yet — he takes a close look at every food group and explains what we’ve gotten wrong, revealing which foods nurture our health and which pose a threat. From grains to legumes, meat to dairy, fats to artificial sweeteners, and beyond, Dr. Hyman debunks misconceptions and breaks down the fascinating science in his signature accessible style. He also explains food’s role as powerful medicine capable of reversing chronic disease and shows how our food system and policies impact the environment, the economy, social justice, and personal health, painting a holistic picture of growing, cooking, and eating food in ways that nourish our bodies and the earth while creating a healthy society.

With myth-busting insights, easy-to-understand science, and delicious, wholesome recipes, Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? is a no-nonsense guide to achieving optimal weight and lifelong health [I would also add …and for providing the foundation for excellent mental health with freedom from anxiety.]

Grab your copy from your nearest bookstore or online from Amazon (my affiliate link) and find out more here.

Dr. Hyman makes this promise:

If you take the time to read through each section … not only will you walk away with new information, but you’ll also let go of the anxiety and worry that most people have around the basic question, “What the heck should I eat?”

Feel free to comment or post questions below and please do let us know what you think of the book.

PTSD from 3 tours in Afghanistan: Can GABA help with the anxiety?

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My husband is suffering from PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] from 3 tours in Afghanistan. Can [GABA] help with the anxiety he is experiencing. Your thoughts?

I received the above question in response to one of my blogs addressing GABA for the physical, stiff-and-tense muscle type of anxiety.

It’s very likely that GABA will help ease some of the anxiety he is experiencing. Anxiety can have many root causes and with PTSD I would look into neurotransmitter imbalances first and use three key amino acids to address these three possible root causes, before digging deeper to address other nutrient deficiencies and root causes that may take longer to address.

Amino acids to provide some anxiety relief quickly

In order to provide some anxiety relief as quickly as possible I would assess for low GABA, low serotonin and low blood sugar using the amino acid questionnaire:

  • With low GABA he could be experiencing physical anxiety, muscle tension and the need to self-medicate with alcohol or sugary foods in order to calm down and relax. We would do an amino acid trial with calming GABA. Research also now shows that GABA helps with unwanted obtrusive thoughts which are common with PTSD.
  • With low serotonin he could be experiencing mental anxiety, ruminations, fears, phobias, anger and irritability and probably insomnia. We would do an amino acid trial with tryptophan first and then 5-HTP if the tryptophan isn’t helping and we know cortisol is not high.
  • With low blood sugar he could experience anxiety and feel extra stressed when he goes too long without eating. It’s likely he could also have an intense desire to eat candies and sweet treats. We would do a trial with glutamine and make sure he’s eating a breakfast that contains quality animal protein such eggs and bacon, or a protein smoothie.

High cortisol?

We would also want to determine if high cortisol is a driving factor of the anxiety. I’d want to see the results from a 4-collection cortisol saliva test (on waking, noon, around 5pm and around 10pm).

We would address adrenal issues (either high or low) with adrenal support of a good 50mg B-complex, extra pantothenic acid, vitamin C, and adaptogen such as rhodiola. If cortisol is high this can trigger anxiety and adrenaline-type surges and the phosphorylated serine product Seriphos used a few hours before the high cortisol is the best for lowering the high cortisol.

Recent research finds evidence that orange essential oil reduces fear and anxiety, diminishes immune system markers of stress in mice and may help alleviate PTSD and a blend of lavender, ylang-ylang, marjoram, and neroli (also a citrus oil) reduces stress and lowers cortisol too.

Other factors: gut health, diet, low vitamin D

When it comes to anxiety and PTSD, there are other factors to be considered:

Possible effects from malaria drugs and other toxic exposures  

If symptoms persist other factors like the effects of medications (or other toxic exposures) must be considered. In one case study, Malaria drug causes brain damage that mimics PTSD, a service member was diagnosed with anxiety, PTSD and a thiamine deficiency. Various treatments, including medication, behavioral therapy and vitamins didn’t help. It was determined that his symptoms were due to the anti-malaria medication mefloquine, which is now known to contribute to neuropsychiatric symptoms in susceptible individuals.

As with any anxiety condition, the root causes and solutions are unique to each individual and the above approach would be adapted based on each person’s unique needs and biochemistry. Additional approaches over and above these listed here may well need to be considered.

Blend of lavender, ylang-ylang, marjoram, and neroli reduces stress and lowers cortisol

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As you know I’m a big fan of essential oils and the healing benefits they offer for anxiety and stress. Here is one example of the power of essential oils for both reducing stress and lowering cortisol levels.

In this study, Essential oil inhalation on blood pressure and salivary cortisol levels in prehypertensive and hypertensive subjects, 83 participants who were hypertensive (high blood pressure) or prehypertensive were asked to inhale an essential oil blend of lavender, ylang-ylang, marjoram, and neroli with the following ratio (20 : 15 : 10 : 2).

The study group experienced the relaxation effects of this particular blend of essential oils leading to:

  • significant decreases in the concentration of salivary cortisol
  • reduced blood pressure
  • and stress reduction.

Here is the rationale for the particular blend they used in this study:

Lavender alleviates cardiac excitation, lowers BP [blood pressure], and is effective in hypertension and palpitations. Ylang-ylang lowers BP [blood pressure], alleviates palpitations and nervous system excitation, and promotes emotional relaxation. Marjoram lowers sympathetic nervous system activity and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in vasodilatation to reduce cardiac strain and decrease BP [blood pressure]. Neroli brings forth emotional soothing and comfort and is effective in cardiac palpitations secondary to shock or fear.

Are you new to essential oils or want to learn more about using them?

Dr. Z and Mama Z’s 10-part video online masterclass called Essential Oils for Abundant Living offers practical steps for using essential oils.  It is science-based (which I love!) and they address potential risks. Dr. Z shares this:

We pride ourselves on providing safe, scientific and practical advice that is all non-branded. We do not sell essential oils so, regardless of what your favorite brand is, the information you will learn in this program applies.

Not to mention, because we don’t sell essential oils, we are not restricted by government or “compliance” regulations and we can freely communicate what the research REALLY says about the healing power of essential oils!

And here is the amazing line-up of video lessons you’ll have access to when you register for Essential Oils for Abundant Living. After watching the Quick Start Guide, a new lesson will air each day:

Setting the Foundation

  • Lesson 1: Aromatherapy Quick-Start Guide
  • Lesson 2: Inhalation Guide & Safety Tips
  • Lesson 3: Topical Application Guide & Safety Tips
  • Lesson 4: Internal Use Guide & Safety Tips

Natural Solutions for a Toxic-Free Home

  • Lesson 5: DIY Body Care Products
  • Lesson 6: DIY Cleaning Products
  • Lesson 7: Cooking with Essential Oils 

Regaining Control of Your Health

  • Lesson 8: Preventing Disease with Essential Oils
  • Lesson 9: Treating Disease with Essential Oils
  • Lesson 10: Advanced Strategies & Protocols

This video series will

  • give you the confidence that you need to use essential oils to make healing remedies for your body, as well as non-toxic natural recipes for your home.
  • provide many golden nuggets that you can start putting into practice today (no matter where you are in your essential oil journey)
  • offer an all-you-can-eat buffet of expert tips, recipes and DIY ideas to help you and your family enjoy abundant health with essential oils!

Reserve your spot for Essential Oils for Abundant Living HERE!

I hope you enjoy it and learn a ton!

After the no-cost online airing you’ll have an opportunity to upgrade and get additional content and also join the wonderful Facebook group. I’m a member and it’s a fabulous resource for asking questions and sharing what’s working!

Oral contraceptives cause low vitamin B6 and zinc, reduce serotonin levels and increase anxiety

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Oral contraceptives i.e. the birth control pill, cause low vitamin B6 and zinc, thereby reducing serotonin levels and can increase anxiety and depression in susceptible women.

Dr. Daniel Amen sees the association between the birth control pill and anxiety/depression in his practice and shared this when I interviewed him during season 3 of the Anxiety Summit.

Unfortunately, they drop serotonin levels. You’ve got to ask yourself why are 23 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 60 taking antidepressants? In large part, it’s the birth-control pills that are changing the hormones in their brain, the neurotransmitters in their brain. All of a sudden they’re more anxious and they’re more depressed.

Oral contraceptives lower serotonin due to various nutrient depletions and can also impact mood due effects on the progesterone/estrogen ratio.

Drug-induced nutrient depletions, especially vitamin B6

Many medications cause drug-induced nutrient depletions and oral contraceptives do this too. In this 2013 paper, Oral contraceptives and changes in nutritional requirements, the authors report:

It has been shown that the key nutrient depletions concern folic acid, vitamins B2, B6, B12, vitamin C and E and the minerals magnesium, selenium and zinc.

Zinc, magnesium, folate, vitamin C and vitamin B6 are all needed for the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin and can therefore impact both anxiety and depression, accentuating or precipitating the development of depression (and presumably anxiety too) in susceptible women.

The World Health Organization (WHO) report, Advances in Fertility Regulation, states that:

It has been shown that about 80% of women taking oral contraceptives have abnormal tryptophan metabolism suggestive of relative B6 deficiency.

Many of these same nutrients have a major impact on how women handle stress:

Magnesium and vitamin B6 may be effective in combination in reducing premenstrual stress, and vitamin B6 alone may reduce anxiety effectively in older women. High-dose sustained-release vitamin C may reduce anxiety and mitigate increased blood pressure in response to stress.

Zinc and copper imbalances occur very quickly

In this paper published in 1980, Serum copper and zinc in hormonal contraceptive users, it is reported that

Use of combined estrogen-progestogen contraceptives resulted in a significant decrease in serum zinc levels within 3 days and an increase in serum copper levels within 10 days.

In users of combined estrogen-progestogen contraceptives the magnitude and time of occurrence of the decrease in zinc levels and the increase in copper levels was unaltered by chemical composition, dosage, route of administration, and duration of use beyond 3 months.

We know zinc plays a role in the serotonergic system, reducing depression and anxiety.

Zinc and vitamin B6 are also key nutrients for alleviating symptoms of the social anxiety condition called pyroluria.

Lowered levels of endogenous estradiol and progesterone

Other mechanisms on how oral contraceptives lower serotonin relate to lowered levels of endogenous estradiol and progesterone (i.e. the estradiol and progesterone our bodies make), as well as out of balance progesterone/estrogen ratios leading to negative moods and emotional changes. The decreased prolactin response mentioned in this paper suggests reduced serotonergic activity.

High clinical relevance

The WHO report mentioned in the 2013 paper (mentioned above), states that this topic of nutrient depletions with oral contraceptives has high clinical relevance and should be receiving the attention it deserves.

Unfortunately, the nutrient-depletion with oral contraceptives conversation is not something many of my clients have ever had with their doctors, despite this being old news. The WHO report was published over 40 years ago, in 1975!

I’m particularly concerned about teens starting on birth control at such a young age and starting down this very slippery slope with no awareness of what they are getting into.

My recommendation is to NOT use oral contraceptives because of this increased risk in depression and anxiety. I write about this and FAM as an alternative here.

However, if you (or your daughter or grand-daughter or sister or friend) chooses to use oral contraceptives we need this awareness and you/they will very likely need to address these nutrient deficiencies. 

This awareness is also needed if you are using oral contraceptives (or have used them in the recent past) and have found you’ve needed to continuing using tryptophan or 5-HTP long-term.

And finally, this awareness is needed if you know you have pyroluria and the pyroluria protocol doesn’t seem to be working for you.

B complex, GABA, zinc, tryptophan, vitamin B6: powerful nutrients for disaster recovery

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My friend and colleague Dr. Shiroko Sokitch, and the crew at HealthMeans have created the Disaster Recovery Charity Event to help you learn to prepare for (and overcome) any lingering physical and emotional trauma after a natural disaster – fires, hurricanes, floods, mudslides, earthquakes and more.

When you register, you KEEP all the expert talks associated with the event (i.e. there is no charge), to listen and learn from at your own pace, in recovery or preparation for a natural disaster – it’s our goodwill gift to you!

In addition, a handful of global and local charities have been selected so have a choice to give back and donate to them if this feels like a good fit for you.

In my interview we talk about B vitamins for foundational nutritional support and to help with adrenal support. Research shows that a good B complex is very beneficial for disaster recovery

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

Of course, I also share how to use the amino acids, GABA and tryptophan, as needed when anxiety levels are high, and worry and fear are impacting your sleep.

  • 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. You can read more about tryptophan here.
  • GABA support for physical tension and an increased need to self-medicate with alcohol in order to stay calm. You can read more about GABA here.
  • Children who are fearful after a disaster and have a hard time sleep, often do very well with chewable tryptophan.

I also discuss pyroluria because stress makes symptoms worse so taking additional zinc and vitamin B6 is often needed in times of added stress such as being on call to evacuate, having to evacuate and/or rebuilding after a disaster:

Pyroluria is a genetic condition that is frequently associated with a type of anxiety characterized by social anxiety, avoidance of crowds, a feeling of inner tension, and bouts of depression. People with this problem experience varying degrees of anxiety or fear, often starting in childhood, but they usually manage to cover it up and push through. They tend to build their life around one person, become more of a loner over time, have difficulty handling stress or change, and have heightened anxiety symptoms when under more stress.

Addressing low levels of the mineral zinc and vitamin B6, together with some other nutrients and stress management, are key to addressing these symptoms.

I was thrilled to be able to contribute and share my expertise. I had friends impacted by the Houston hurricane and floods, and was actively involved in online support of volunteer rescue teams. So much of the stress and nutritional advice shared in my interview and by other experts can be used for rescuers, first responders and firefighters too – many of whom are under huge amounts of stress, are also suffering from lack of sleep and may be exposed to dirty flood water, mold, smoke, and flame retardants too.

Registration details for Disaster Recovery Charity Event here. It airs online from Feb 12-19, 2018.

My heart goes out to you and your families if you have been impacted by a disaster such a flood or fire or hurricane.

And even if you have not been impacted by a disaster, tune in so you can be prepared should this happen one day in the future.

Also, keep in mind, so much of this information helps recovery from PTSD and trauma that have other non-disaster causes.

Enjoy our gift to you and please share with loved ones and friends.

Feel free to share tips that have helped you recover from a disaster so we can all help more people.