Functional Medicine and Depression

Have you considered using Functional Medicine to treat depression?

A Case History

 

One particular lovely patient of mine had been Suffering with depression for almost all his life.  He was struggling in a multitude of different ways and had been unable to get better with normal psychiatric medicine.  He had been put on Various drugs throughout the previous few years, none of which had worked and many of which had indeed made him worse.  He felt poorly understood by Everybody that he had met and has spent many hours doing CBT. 

 

We carried out blood tests and found that he was functionally deficient in B12 and folate and had a gene type which meant that he Needed massive more B12 and folate than most other people.  Without such doses, his liver methylation detoxifications systems would not be able to Work and he would be unable to produce some of the neurotransmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline that are so important for our mental health.  He also had a Positive allergy test (IgG ) to dairy and showed various other minor deficiencies.  We have since then corrected his diet and eliminated dairy, also adding in high-dose B12 and folate and consistent with Abram Hoffer’s work in Canada, we have added in High-dose B3.  Niacin has been Shown to increase the effects of drugs and therefore the dose of drugs required is usually less. 

 

We also found that some of his digestive Enzymes were not working properly and that he was absorbing chemicals such as peptides which were overloading his immune system and liver detoxification systems.  We Taught him the importance of a low glycaemic index diet (to optimise blood sugar control).  Since then he has restarted medications which have Worked well.  He is feeling a lot better but we still have a long way to go and for the first time in her life, he feels understood and he is aware that he is Progressing well.

 

Remember that Siet and nutrition is absolutely essential.  A fluctuating blood sugar level can affect your mood constantly and if you are reacting to food such as dairy or wheat, This will affect your mental capabilities and may cause many other symptoms in your body as well.

 

There are many other Examples of the beneficial effects of nutritional and biochemical medicine. 

 

Here are some of the ways in which Functional Medicine can help you This is very Different to the way you would be Treated in the NHS. Functional medicine can include:

 

• Assessment of your nutritional biochemistry to measure minerals, vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids.

 

• Assessment of your current nutrition including healthy optimal Fatty acid consumption, low glycemic index whole food, a correct balanced nutrition.

 

• Assessment of digestion and Absorption to include the presence of whether the gut “leaky” or not.

 

• Test for coeliac disease also to include the level of IgA present (if IgA  is low, the Bowel is less able to fight off the Absorption of complex molecules into the body.

 

• The presence of gut dysbiosis (dysbiosis means the abnormal balance of bacteria in the gut).  This may include the overgrowth in the bowel of organisms such as yeast, fungi, protozoa, bacteria etc.

 

• The presence of food intolerances either IgE or IgG Mediated.  It may also be non-IgE or non-IgG mediated such Cytokine leukotriene mediated.

 

• The presence of Metal toxicity in the blood.  For those people whose liver detoxification system has spent a lifetime in low gear, the body would not have been able to get Rid of metals.  This is a complex area to test for and your Functional doctor or nutritionist would be able to help you.

 

• The detoxification Tests regarding the liver mainly involve methylation but there are others.  If methylation is optimised, the body is more able to get rid of toxicity and waste products and therefore will not push toxic products into the blood Stream in order to overload the immune system.

 

• Certain viruses such as the Epstein-Barr virus or Human Herpesvirus 6 or streptococcal infections (PANDAS) may cause mental illness in some people and need to be Excluded.

 

• Vitamin D is a potent immune factor.  Many people are vitamin D deficient and aware that vitamin D is extremely low. It is often recommended that a patient spends a long period of time in a hot country in order to Boost their vitamin D levels.  If there are any viral components to a mental illness boosting vitamin D levels will help.
• Measurement of actual fatty acids including omega 3 and 6, also the ratio of omega 3 to 6 is essential.  Fatty acids when low, depress the immune system.  Supplementation with high dose fatty acids can Help to fight off underlying viral infections.

 

• Your doctor will be able to help you treat the underlying metabolic Disturbances.  The changes which then take place will help Healing.  There are many different nutritional methods of supporting throughout the recovery process and your doctor will advise you about these.

 

• Psychological coaching is essential.  When someone is very seriously ill, there is little to be gained by this but as the Recovery process begins, there are many ways including CBT, hypnotherapy, NLP, psychotherapy etc.  Relaxation needs to be Encouraged with mindfulness, and massage, breathing tools, self-hypnosis and the list goes on.

 

• There are multiple tests Available so it is important that a doctor specialising in Functional Medicine advises you on which are the best ones to use for you and your body. 

 

Call us now for a consultation on 011627 00273.

 

Alternatively go to the Contact Us page of our website

 

 

If you have a query or would like to email us please go to our contact us page.

If you would like to book an appointment please call us on 0844 800 8673 or email info@privategp.com.

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