At Vibe, our Naturopaths work as part of an integrated team with your G.P., pharmacist, psychologist and psychiatrist for all mental health issues. As professionally trained allied health practitioners we offer long appointment times to dig deep into your health history, nutrition and lifestyle to uncover and understand any physiological factors that may be affecting mood, whether that be nutritional deficiency, diet or chemical imbalance.

Here’s what your naturopath can do

As naturopaths we look for the root cause of the anxiety symptoms. We will look at your hormones and metabolism, assess interactions of any medications you may be prescribed (and self-prescribed), diet and nutritional intake and the timeline of medical and lifestyle events that got you to this point.

We see many forms of anxiety in our clinic

Excessive worry and anxiety can be difficult to control. A person can be affected by various forms of anxiety such as: generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, phobias, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sometimes in combination, generally increasing and declining and cycling. Often with accompanying sleep and concentration problems, fatigue, restlessness, irritability, tension and depression.

Each anxiety disorder is different in presentation and cause. Some symptoms experienced could be shortness of breath, palpitations and persistent negative thoughts. The severity can range too, from mild but persistent anxiety that can really wear you out but can also be experienced as so debilitating that the symptoms prevent the person from participating in normal day-to-day activities. Some people with severe anxiety cannot leave the house or are unable to communicate or socialise.

We work with you, as part of your mental health team

Your naturopath will also look at hormone testing and functional pathology (specific pathways and cofactors) to assess the chemicals transmitted from one nerve cell to another, known as neurotransmitters.

How can neurotransmitters affect my mood

Neurotransmitters can be an indication of anxiety and low mood and can indicate what amino acids, vitamin and minerals may be deficient. There are many neurotransmitters but six (serotonin, GABA, dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, and glutamate), are the most researched in relation to their effects on mood disorders, hormones, sleep, blood sugar/insulin balance, pain perception, appetite, and cognitive function.

Evidence based herbal medicine can gently influence these pathways, and when used in combination with nutritional medicine to put the right co-factors in the pathway so your body can do what it is supposed to do - you are not simply putting a band-aid on the pathway - but fixing the root cause.

Different levels of neurotransmitters are identified in various mental health disorders, such as:

• Low moods
• Anxiety
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Panic attacks.

You have probably heard of the neurotransmitter serotonin; it regulates your mood and appetite and low levels may be associated with low moods. High levels of the neurotransmitters histamine, adrenalin, and glutamate can result in anxiety and stress. Naturopaths aim to balance and correct these neurotransmitters.

Initially functional testing may help to determine if your neurotransmitters are high, low or unbalanced. The results of these tests will determine a range of dietary advice, nutrients and herbal prescriptions to help produce or decrease the necessary neurotransmitters for the brain.

The ultimate goal of the naturopath is to help the body realign itself. Nutritional supplements, herbal medicine and whole foods can assist our bodies to create neurotransmitters; your naturopath will know the best combination that is right for you.