GENERALIZED ANXIETY
Anxiety (also known as generalized anxiety disorder) is excessive nervousness or worry that interrupts daily activities, without reasonable cause for nervousness. Anxious feelings occur along with physical symptoms that are similar to those of depression, such as difficulty concentrating, restlessness or fatigue, and insomnia. The diagnosis of anxiety requires at least 6 months of these symptoms. People with anxiety can also experience feelings of depression, often alternating with anxiousness. Anxiety can also occur by itself, without ever having any feelings of depression.

PANIC DISORDER
Some people with anxiety also have panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of intense fear without reasonable cause. The fear associated with panic attacks is usually accompanied by shortness of breath, a racing heart beat, nausea, dizziness, or a headache. Some people also experience a sudden feeling of heat or coldness, tingling of the hands or feet, or chest pain.

Our doctors offer a free 15 minute phone consult to get all the details on how we can help you.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is also sometimes called ADD. This condition impacts approximately 5% of children worldwide.

Symptoms of ADHD can be categorized into 2 types: Inattentive (sometimes called ADD), and Hyperactive. Some children or adults exhibit both inattentiveness and hyperactive traits.

The inattentive type of ADHD can sometimes go unnoticed because the symptoms may be less obvious to observers.

ADHD is more often diagnosed in boys than girls. Girls are more likely to have symptoms of inattentiveness only, and are less prone to disruptive behavior. This can mean that girls who have ADHD may go undiagnosed.

The symptoms of ADHD are well defined, and typically emerge before the age of 6. They occur in multiple settings, such as at home and at school.

Symptoms include:

• Distractibility

• Losing things, forgetfulness

• Hyperfocus at times, poor focus at other times

• Trouble with organization, prioritization, or follow-through on tasks

• Physical restlessness, impulsivity, or impatience

• Avoiding difficult tasks

• Excessive talkativeness or interrupting others

If you or a loved one has symptoms of ADHD, reach out to us for an evaluation to discuss natural treatment options!

Did you know that 1 in 68 children are now diagnosed with autism? This is a 100% or a 10 times increase since 2006. So why the sudden increase? Is it vaccines, imbalanced microbiome in the gut, increase in genetic mutations due to the toxic burden? The short answer is, we don’t know, but it is likely a combination of multiple factors. We do know that only 50% of the genetic mutations found in children with autism are inherited from the parents, so the other 50% is coming from another source. Signs of autism can be present as early as 3 months old, although autism is usually diagnosed around 18 months. Signs to look for include: lack of smiling or other joyful expressions, lack of eye contact, delayed/lack of speech, lack of interactive hand gestures.

Despite not knowing the definitive cause(s) for autism at this time, there are still ways to approach autism that are both effective and cost-efficient. Traditionally, children with autism are given heavy-duty medications that are either stimulants, anti-psychotics, or medications for seizures - sometimes, all three! It is essential to know that there are alternative treatments that don’t involve giving your little one heavy duty pharmaceuticals. Homeopathy is an invaluable tool in the treatment of autism, in addition to diet changes, craniosacral therapy, supplement usage, and sensory and motor development programs. Not knowing the cause(s) of autism does not stop us from taking an individualized treatment approach.

The sooner these therapies are started, the better it is for your little one’s developing brain. If your loved one is already developed, that’s okay too. We can still make a powerful impact. It is important to remember that our goal is not to make your little one like the kid next door. Our goal is to improve cognitive functioning and behavior. There is no magic pill to cure autism, but we can make great improvements.

If your child is exhibiting symptoms of autism or has been diagnosed, please contact us for a free phone consultation.

Approximately 2-4% of Americans are suffering with bipolar disorder, and most of these people are taking medications that may be causing undesirable side effects. In addition to potential side effects, there are serious long-term risks associated with some of these medications. Despite the prevalence of bipolar disorder, few people are aware of the possibility of safe and effective natural alternatives to these conventional medications.

There are several alternatives to medications that we often recommend when treating people with bipolar disorder, including lifestyle changes, psychological counseling, botanical medicine, acupuncture, targeted nutritional therapies, and homeopathic medicine. We find that homeopathic medicine offers the quickest and safest path to recovery, when compared with other treatments.

As a naturopathic doctor, we may recommend a combination of several therapies, as appropriate for each case. For people with bipolar disorder who are interested in these alternatives, it is important to consult with a physician or therapist who has an expertise in the above treatment methods, in order to ensure an optimal outcome, rather than the patient trying to use these therapies on their own. This is especially true if the patient is also taking medications for their condition.

When a patient with symptoms of bipolar begins has their first visit, our first step is to establish a clear diagnosis of their mood disorder. Testing may be helpful in ruling out chemical or hormonal imbalances, such as a thyroid disorder for example, which can contribute to symptoms of depression, mania, or anxiety.

Some people may have been misdiagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder, when their mood changes are in fact due to some biological cause that can be treated by correcting the underlying hormonal or chemical problem. Other people have been misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder when they actually have another psychological diagnosis that may require different treatment, such as a personality disorder or another condition that can cause similar symptoms or behaviors.

With a clear diagnosis, we can proceed to natural treatments. Naturopathic physicians are trained to find and address the deepest fundamental causes of the person’s health concerns. When determining where to begin with treatment, we look to these causes rather than only the superficial symptoms, and choose treatment options that will correct the underlying cause.

Naturopathic doctors also approach the patient as a dynamic whole, with interconnected and interdependent systems, rather than taking a more mechanistic view of looking at the patient as a machine with broken parts that must be fixed with one drug per broken piece. When one system is out of balance, it often will affect other body systems. With this perspective, we can recommend a simpler and safer treatment plan that can address multiple health concerns by getting to the root of the problem.

Homeopathic medicine is one of the best options for addressing the cause of mood disorders, and is one of the types of medicine that Naturopathic physicians are trained to utilize. Homeopathy was developed by a German physician several hundred years ago, and is currently used throughout the world, with particular popularity in India and parts of Europe. There are hundreds of homeopathic remedies, each made from a single natural substance, such as a plant or mineral. These plants or minerals are made into a solution that is diluted by a specific, standardized process, and these solutions are then used to coat small sublingual pills.

Each homeopathic remedy can be used to treat a specific set of symptoms. Rather than giving the same medicine to each patient with the same diagnosis, homeopathic remedies are selected for each person based on the entire symptom picture, in addition to the diagnosis and disease pathology. For treating bipolar disorder, there are several hundred homeopathic remedies that can be helpful, but we'll work together to narrow it down.

In order to find the right one for you, your naturopathic doctor will ask specific questions to understand the etiology of your mood disorder, what makes you feel better and worse, any associated physical symptoms, and a variety of other questions to be sure we have a clear picture of all elements of your health concerns. Your homeopathic remedy can also benefit other aspects of your health while it improves your mood, because it is working to restore balance overall.

Take the next step in improving your health. Request a free 15-minute phone consult today!

Depression is defined as feelings of sadness, low mood, or loss of interest in activities that would normally be enjoyable. If these symptoms interfere with your daily life, and occur at least 4 days per week for 2 weeks or more, you may have depression. Along with the mood changes, people with depression often experience the following symptoms:

• Fatigue

• Poor appetite with weight loss, or increased appetite with weight gain

• Physical sluggishness or restlessness

• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

• Difficulty concentrating

• Increased desire for sleep, or difficulty sleeping

• Recurrent thoughts of suicide

Depression is a leading cause of disability in the United States among adolescents and adults ages 15-44. If you or someone you know is affected by depression, you know how much stress it can cause. These mood disorders can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities, work, and relationships.

A variety of problems can cause symptoms of depression, including thyroid imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, and many other causes. As naturopathic doctors, we are committed to uncovering the cause of your symptoms. For most people who suffer with depression, there is no significant physical imbalance causing their symptoms. Depression can occur as a result of genetic susceptibility and stress.

Naturopathic treatment can restore better mood stability by not only providing symptomatic relief, but by actually improving stress tolerance and reducing susceptibility to disease in general. Over time, you may find that old triggers no longer cause problems for you. Homeopathic medicine can replace the need for conventional medications in most cases, by improving natural, healthy brain chemistry. These treatments can help you reach a place of remission, and improve your chances of staying in remission from depression.

There are many options for treating depression. It is essential to understand all of your options, and choose the best treatment for you.

We are here to help! Request your free call today.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition in which the person experiences obsessive, frequent, intrusive thoughts or impulses that cause significant anxiety. Common obsessions involve fear of infectious disease, anxiety about things being done in a specific order, or things being positioned in a specific place. These thoughts or impulses are not simply worries or obsessions about real life problems. The person recognizes that these thoughts and behaviors are excessive and inappropriate, but cannot sufficiently control them.

In order to reduce the anxiety caused by these thoughts or impulses, the person must compulsively perform specific mental or physical tasks, such as repeated hand washing, counting to a specific number or pattern of numbers, repeating words silently, redoing tasks or movements, or seeking reassurance. The diagnosis of OCD requires that these obsessions and compulsions cause significant impairment in the person's work or relationships.

Sometimes confused with OCD is obsessive compulsive personality disorder, in which the person has a rigid personality and requires that things be performed in a specific way, but this does not cause major impairment for the person. It is noticeable to others, and certain obsessive behaviors may appear somewhat excessive.

If you or someone you love has OCD, our doctors offer a free 15 minute phone consult to get all the details on how we can help you.

PANDAS is an acronym for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infection. It involves OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), tics (involuntary movements), and often suddenly develops following a strep infection. The theory is that PANDAS occurs as a result of brain-reactive autoantibodies after a Group A Streptococcal Infection.

PANDAS is under the umbrella of a larger group of disorders called PANS (Pediatric Acute onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). Trigger for PANS is usually infectious or inflammatory. PANS typically involves a sudden onset of OCD or avoidant food restriction plus at least 2 of the following symptoms:

• Anxiety

• Depression or emotional lability

• Irritability

• Aggression or severe opposition

• Deterioration of school performance or ADHD

• Sensory or motor abnormalities, ie frequency of urination, enuresis, sleep disorder

• Memory or cognitive deficits

In the treatment of PANS/PANDAS, or any immune-mediated psychiatric illness, we use a combination of homeopathic remedies, nutritional supplements when appropriate, probiotics and gut healing protocols, referrals for psychological counseling for OCD and anxiety if needed, and referrals for medical interventions from specialists in the treatment of immune dysfunction. 

We often refer to Resilience Naturopathic, a naturopathic practice that has become world renowned in the homeopathic treatment of PANS/PANDAS.
Here is more information on the Resilience Method to treating PANS/PANDAS:  resiliencenaturopathic.com/resilience-method.

If you would like to learn more about whether we can help you or someone you love, please reach out for a free consult!

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a worsening of moodiness and physical discomfort around the time of one’s menstrual period. This is common, and while annoying, it usually does not significantly impair functioning. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), on the other hand, involves severe episodes of premenstrual depression, rage, mental overwhelm, and can include extreme food cravings, aversion to food, insomnia, agitation, severe fatigue, breast tenderness, and cramping.

PMDD is often misdiagnosed as bipolar II disorder, because it is cyclical and episodic in nature. However, if close attention is paid to the timing of the mood episodes, it becomes clear that it is hormonal in etiology rather than a typical mood disorder.

In conventional medicine, most people with PMDD will be offered birth control medications to regulate hormones and prevent PMDD. While this is a good option for some people, it does not treat the underlying cause, and isn’t well-tolerated in every person.

We offer options beyond birth control alone, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, gut-healing protocols, and nutritional supplements that actually address the underlying hormone imbalances. This can lead to symptom relief and overall improvement in well-being.

Do you suffer from PMS or PMDD? Reach out for a free consult to learn more about how we might be able to help.

PTSD occurs after witnessing a life-threatening experience. This condition is prevalent among veterans, and is also common in victims of violent crimes, abuse, accidents, natural disasters, and other psychologically traumatic events.

Symptoms of PTSD may occur immediately after the event, or several months later. It is expected to be in shock for a few hours to a few days after any highly stressful experience. However, if the symptoms interfere with your daily life to a significant degree, or if the symptoms persist for more than 4 weeks, professional treatment may be necessary.

People with PTSD often have difficulty sleeping, may feel more “on edge” than normal, and can have flashbacks or disturbing thoughts that interrupt their daily activities. Some people will block out memories of the traumatic event, or become emotionally “numb” in an attempt to avoid the stress caused by the experience. Many people with PTSD will feel depressed or detached from others, and often turn to alcohol or substance abuse to medicate their depression or anxiety.

Homeopathic remedies can be a great option in the treatment of PTSD. We also refer for counseling to help improve outcomes. Craniosacral therapy can also help as a way to physically stabilize the nervous system and get out of fight-or-flight mode.

Learn more and request your free consult today!

Schizophrenia is a chronic illness involving hallucinations and delusions. People affected with this condition may hear voices that others do not hear, or have visual hallucinations. Delusions often involve paranoid thoughts that people are following them, reading their mind, controlling their thoughts, or trying to harm them. These symptoms are usually very distressing to the patient, and cause social isolation, fear, or bizarre behavior. People with schizophrenia may have episodes of psychosis (hallucinations and/or delusions) and then go into remission for a period of time.

Schizoaffective disorder is a combination of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia does not include mania or depression. In schizoaffective disorder, the person has distinct episodes of psychosis that last for 2 weeks or more, alternating with depressive or manic episodes. The difference between schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder is that in bipolar disorder, there are two types of episodes: depressive and manic. In schizoaffective disorder, there can be three types of episodes: depressive, manic, and psychotic. During the psychotic episode, the person’s mood and energy level are mostly normal; the person is not very manic or very depressed at the time. For some people, they only have psychotic episodes alternating depressive episodes, and for other people they only have psychotic episodes alternating with manic episodes.

The diagnosis of psychiatric disorders is made based on clinical symptoms and history. There is no physical test to diagnose schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder. Tests can be performed to rule out other possible causes of psychosis. It is important to make sure that there is no underlying physical pathology, such as a brain tumor, drug abuse, or a thyroid condition that could cause symptoms of mental illness. Some doctors order neurotransmitter testing or brain scans to attempt to find correlations between symptoms and labs. However, these tests are not diagnostic, and the results are not proven to be helpful in determining an effective treatment protocol, so they should not be considered reliable.

Typical conventional treatment of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder involves antipsychotic medications. For schizoaffective disorder, mood stabilizers are usually helpful as well.

Unfortunately, psychological counseling is rarely encouraged in the conventional treatment of psychotic conditions. People with schizophrenia can benefit tremendously from understanding more about their condition, and how to cope with the stress that the symptoms cause. Many people with schizophrenia have a history of significant emotional stress or trauma, and their current delusions are metaphorical exaggerations of their past psychological challenges. By discussing this stress, the patient may be able to elucidate underlying causes of their current concerns, and reach a healthier place of stability as a result.

Homeopathic medicine is a natural method of treatment that can safely and effectively reduce schizophrenia or schizoaffective symptoms by balancing brain chemistry and improving overall health. There are no drug interactions and no side effects of homeopathic remedies. Homeopathic medicines are made from natural sources such as plants or minerals, and are prepared as small sublingual pills. Homeopathic medicine is very affordable, usually costing about $10-20 for a vial of medicine that lasts over a month. Because there are no drug interactions, people taking conventional psychiatric medications can continue these medications while starting homeopathic treatment without problems. Most patients see improvements within a few days to a few weeks of starting treatment. Once improvement is seen during our care, we can discuss a gradual taper of  conventional medications and determine if this would be recommended for you.

Dr. Peyman has a published study of homeopathic medicine successfully helping her patients to achieve remission from schizoaffective disorder.

[Grise DE, Peyman T, Langland J. Remission of Schizoaffective Disorder Using Homeopathic Medicine: 2 Case Reports. Altern Ther Health Med. 2018 Mar;24(2):50-56. PMID: 28987077.]

In a 2010 study in the Archives of General Psychiatry [1], fish oil was shown to be effective for preventing psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In the study, the effective preventive dose was 1.2 grams of fish oil once daily. Fish oil is also useful in the treatment and reduction of bipolar symptoms, particularly in depressive episodes. [2] A research study showed that yoga was effective for improving social and occupational functioning for people with schizophrenia. Maximum improvements were seen after participants practiced yoga for 2 months, and results lasted even months after the people stopped practicing yoga. [3]

[1] Long Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids Indicated in the Prevention of Psychotic Disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(2):146-154.
[2] Omega-3 for bipolar disorder: meta-analyses of use in mania and bipolar depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011 Aug 9.
[3] Effect of yoga therapy on facial emotion recognition deficits, symptoms and functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Acta Psych Scand. Volume 123, Issue 2, pages 147–153, Feb 2011.

If you or someone you love has schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, request a free consult to see if we are a good fit to help you.