Melatonin use is rising sharply post-pandemic and is often polarising in its effects. Some find it gives them what they need, while others don’t. In an article written earlier this year, I promised I would dive deeper into this remarkable hormone, and here we are. We’re going to look at how melatonin works in the body, how it interacts with other hormones such as … [Read more...]
Sleepless, Restless and Sad?
Sleep deprivation in Hong Kong is so prevalent it’s almost considered part of the lifestyle. An HKU study showed that 92% of the people studied showed signs of sleep deprivation without even knowing it. The same trial suggested that over 60 per cent of people woke up more than once in the preceding seven days before the survey.
If you feel as if you are one of those people, just because it seems normal does not mean it can’t improve. Maybe you’ve always been a good sleeper, but things have changed recently without a good reason why.
Most of us can handle the odd night where we don’t hit the magic eight hours, but when you find yourself waking at 3 a.m. every night, struggling to sleep from then until the alarm goes off every morning, it’s then that you start to feel anxious, restless and even sad. From there, it becomes difficult to know where one starts and the other begins. Sleepless, restless and sad offers articles and podcast episodes to explore the origins and solutions around fixing your sleep, feeling less anxious and improving your mood using natural medicine.
FIR Episode 60: Serotonin, Dopamine and Norepinephrine
Serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine are keys to your emotions, thoughts, memory and learning. Click here to read the full article, or scroll down to listen to the podcast on your favourite platform! The chemicals in our brains are the messengers that influence our minds and body. Various illnesses see unbalanced neurotransmitter levels, such as Parkinson’s … [Read more...]
Serotonin, Dopamine and norepinephrine and how they affect your day.
Brain chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine undoubtedly affect the quality of our day but did you know that we have frogs to thank for the first discovery of neurotransmitters in 1921? Austrian Nobel prize winner Otto Loewi’s inspiration to set up the groundbreaking experiment that discovered neurotransmitters came to him in a dream. A dream that would … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 57: Get to know your sleep cycles and wake up better.
In this Free and Inspired radio episode, find out more about your sleep cycles and how to use them to wake up feeling refreshed. Click here to read the full article, or scroll down to listen to the podcast on your favourite platform! “If you want to know about someone’s health, ask them how they sleep.” Or so Professor Andrew Huberman’s saying goes. How … [Read more...]
Get to know your sleep cycles.
Sleep is important. We spend a third of our lives doing it. I don’t think you need me to tell you that. The last few years seem to have been characterised by every online expert offering everyday reminders. My particular favourite quote is from Professor Andrew Huberman. “If you want to know about someone’s health, ask them how they sleep.” It doesn’t end … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 52: Most prescribed – Saffron for Mental Health
Saffron has taken its place as one of the pillars of herbal medicine for mental health, and in this episode, take a deep dive with Philip on how it might help you. Welcome to the first in a new series of episodes of Free and Inspired Radio called Most Prescribed. In this series, you can learn more about the most frequently prescribed clinical herbs in Philip’s … [Read more...]
Most Prescribed: Saffron for Mental Health
Those who know me well, both personally and professionally, know two things. The first is that everything is "my favourite", and the second is that I love prescribing saffron clinically for mental health. The story of my love affair with saffron began almost ten years ago. On a whim, I travelled interstate to Sydney to attend an informal fireside chat with two world leaders … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 48: Is your blood sugar affecting your anxiety and depression?
Suppose the causes that affect your depression and anxiety may not be what you expect? In this Free and Inspired radio episode, learn how your blood sugar might affect your mood and anxiety. Personal responsibility disclaimer: If there comes a time when you feel like it is difficult for you to take action and the quality of your day is declining rapidly, then getting some … [Read more...]
Your blood sugar can influence your mood and anxiety levels.
Sixty per cent of people with depression still do not seek medical help because of the social stigma around its perceived hindrance to their career or personal life.[1] Suppose you are one of those sixty per cent. In that case, managing your blood sugar and exercise could be two lifestyle choices that can begin your journey towards feeling better, especially if you are … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 45: Neuroinflammation – its symptoms and causes.
Neuroinflammation is one of the clearest connections between the gut, brain, and immune system. Neuroinflammation is a broad term for an inflammatory response in the brain or the spinal cord. There could be a different name for neuroinflammation - a hot brain. Learn more about how the immune system uses inflammation to activate and direct itself to critical areas … [Read more...]
What is neuroinflammation, its symptoms and its causes?
Neuroinflammation is a broad term for an inflammatory response in the brain or the spinal cord.[1] I have a different name for it—a hot brain. One of most people’s first experiences of neuroinflammation is when they get the flu. When we get sick, the immune system uses inflammation to mobilise or activate its different components to respond to the … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 43: Melatonin for IBS and Depression?
In this episode of Free and Inspired radio, discover how Melatonin works in the body. For example, find out how it interacts with other hormones such as cortisol, some things you didn’t know (Melatonin and IBS?!) and, of course, some guidelines on how to take it. Melatonin use is rising sharply post-pandemic and is often polarising in its effects. Some find … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 40: Herbs and Supplements for Poor Sleep
Although the prevalence of insomnia in Hong Kong is high, out of four thousand five hundred people surveyed, only forty per cent of adults and ten per cent of children and teenagers sought help to fix it. Let alone tried herbs or supplements for sleep. That’s sixty per cent of people, or six out of ten, experiencing less than optimal sleep in Hong Kong. This deficit … [Read more...]
Article: Poor sleep – A beginner’s guide to herbs and supplements to help.
It’s fair to say over the last fifteen years, I’ve used herbal and nutritional medicine to treat many people who have poor sleep, especially so in Hong Kong. You only need to experience poor sleep to understand just how the quality of your day falls apart after just one or two bad nights. In fact, nearly forty per cent of adults in the US with insomnia have either tried … [Read more...]
Article: Omega-3, Fish oil, Depression and your Mental Health
When talking about fish oil for mental health, especially depression, to my patients, I always refer to it as a “research merry-go-round.” One study will show it’s positive for mental health[1] and even for reducing mortality risk.[2] As the merry-go-round continues, there’ll be a contradictory study on mental health[3] that confuses patients and practitioners … [Read more...]