Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. With this month's update, we would like to support, advocate for and educate our patients on the importance of behavioral health. The pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of all individuals and now more than ever it is critical to address this for overall health and wellbeing. There are many factors involved in mood and our ability to respond to stress. Here are some of the approaches we take here at Pathways to Natural Health to support mental health.
Evaluate Amino Acids and Neurotransmitters
Amino acids are the building blocks of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers in our brain that communicate with the body to produce hormones and influence behavior. We offer different comprehensive testing based on your health history and main concerns. One of these is the Organic Acids Test by Great Plains Laboratory. This test provides an overall snapshot of your health and metabolic needs of your body. This test evaluates neurotransmitter metabolites, intestinal health markers, and nutrient needs. When there are imbalances, it can contribute to mood disorders, movement disorders and even impact energy and immune function. Based on this information the Doctors at Pathways can individualize your treatment plan to improve imbalances and overall health.
Screen for Hormone Imbalances
As mentioned above, hormones such as reproductive, stress, and thyroid hormones play a critical role in regulating mood. By evaluating these hormones, we can determine imbalances present, and can better address the cause of altered emotional states. From there we are able to formulate a treatment based on what is causing the disruption.
Optimize Nutrition
The food we eat every day plays a critical role in our mental health. The body requires amino acids to make neurotransmitters. Amino acids require cofactors including micronutrients such as B vitamins and Vitamin C in order to make these chemical messengers. Through our comprehensive approach, we work with you to identify if you are getting sufficient protein and nutrients in your diet. We can also test for nutrient deficiencies.
Address Lifestyle and Exercise
Exercise is an essential part of overall health and wellbeing. Exercise is a natural and effective way to decrease stress and relieve anxiety. It not only boosts physical, but also, mental energy.
IV Therapy
Intravenous nutrient therapy allows the body to use a greater quantity of nutrients than the body could absorb orally. Therefore, we are able to replenish nutrient stores more efficiently and provide the body with the cofactors needed for proper hormone and neurotransmitter production.