What is the Nervous System

Headaches, migraines, insomnia or mental health support, a naturopath can help you get to the root cause of your symptoms and support you on your journey to better health.
Condition

Sleep Disorders

  • Description

    • Over 2 in 5 Australians (aged 16-85) have experienced a mental health condition in their life. 1 in 5 Australians experienced a 12-month disorder, with anxiety being the most common.

    There is also data to suggest that depression is a risk factor for physical illness, and has been found to be higher in those with heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.

    Contributing factors include genetic, sex, neurotransmitter imbalance, pre-existing conditions, prescription medications, nutrient deficiencies and heavy metal toxicity.

  • Symptoms

    • There are a two classifications of insomnia:

    • Sleep onset insomnia: difficulty falling asleep.
    • Sleep maintenance insomnia: difficulty staying asleep/waking frequently throughout the night

    Some diagnostic criteria include difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, waking up too early, chronic non-restorative sleep, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, reduced motivation, tension and headaches.

  • Treatment
    • Dietary modifications: Regulation of blood sugar levels, ensuring adequate protein for neurotransmitter synthesis, supporting digestion, excluding stimulating factors (e.g. caffeine, alcohol, sugar).
    • Nutritional support: Optimising nutrient status for neurotransmitter regulation and supporting the rest and digest state through B complex, zinc, essential fatty acids, magnesium
    • Herbal support: provide symptomatic support whilst addressing underlying cause of insomnia; reduce stress, support mental health, regulate hormones.
    • Symptomatic herbs include hops, passion flower, kava, valerian and zizyphus.
    Condition

    Headaches & Migraines

    • Description

      • Headaches are amongst the most common neurological symptoms, with approximately 47% of adults worldwide experiencing an active headache disorder, 10% of those being migraines. There are primary and secondary causes for headaches. Primary include migraines, tension-headaches, cluster headaches, whilst secondary include post-traumatic headache, headaches associated with withdrawal, headache associated with disorder of head, neck, nose, eyes or ears, or those associated with psychiatric disorder.

    • Symptoms

      • Signs and symptoms are highly dependant on the type of headache or migraine. There are over 100 different types of headaches found; whilst typically head pain is experienced in all, the location, duration and nature of the pain will usually provide an insight into the type of headache experienced.

    • Treatment
      • Dietary recommendations: Ensure adequate water intake, avoid dehydrating fluids and stimulating substances, avoid known dietary triggers (such as sugar, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, nitrites and alcohol), regulate blood sugar levels.
      • Nutritional support: B complex, omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium, coQ10.
      • Herbal support depends greatly on the cause of the headaches; this can include, liver support (hepatoprotective, hepatotonic), restoring gut integrity (bitters, vulnerary), restoring natural stress response (Adaptogen, nervine tonic), hormonal modulation (male/female tonics, HPA modulator).
      Condition

      Mental Health Conditions

      • Description
        • Over 2 in 5 Australians (aged 16-85) have experienced a mental health condition in their life. 1 in 5 Australians experienced a 12-month disorder, with anxiety being the most common.

        There is also data to suggest that depression is a risk factor for physical illness, and has been found to be higher in those with heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.

        Contributing factors include genetic, sex, neurotransmitter imbalance, pre-existing conditions, prescription medications, nutrient deficiencies and heavy metal toxicity.
      • Symptoms

        • Symptoms of depression include: low mood most of the day and nearly every day, markedly diminished interest or pleasure in most activities, significant weight loss or gain (unintentional), insomnia, agitation, fatigue, reduced ability to concentrate.

        Symptoms of anxiety include: panic attacks, shortness of breath, dizziness, problem sleeping, “butterflies” in stomach, heart palpitations.

      • Treatment
        • Dietary recommendations: Adequate protein for neurotransmitter production, stabilise blood sugar levels, whole foods, essential fatty acids, avoiding stimulants (caffeine, sugar, alcohol, artificial sweeteners).
        • Nutritional support: B complex, vitamin D, chromium, magnesium, SAM-e, zinc.
        • Herbal support: Anti-depressant herbs, serotonin agonist, anxiolytic, adaptogen, nervine tonic.