Herbal medicine used for anxiety and depression is becoming more common. One study of two hundred and sixty patients with depression showed that up to fifty per cent had tried some form of natural medicine.[1] Another study from the USA found that forty per cent of people with moderate depression and anxiety had tried some form of natural medicine, including herbal … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 29: Three Herbs for Anxiety and Depression
In this Free and Inspired radio episode, we look at some key herbs for anxiety and depression. One study of two hundred and sixty patients with depression showed that up to fifty per cent had tried some form of natural medicine. Seventy-four per cent of mental health sufferers don’t seek professional help. A survey conducted in Iran articulated some common reasons why … [Read more...]
Article: Magnesium: Deficient in many, essential to all.
When it comes to magnesium and its role in around six hundred different biochemical reactions in the body, essential is an understatement. In this article, we’re going to break down some of the key reasons this vital mineral is one of the first interventions for me when patients initially visit me. We’ll look at some of the different forms, which one is best to take if … [Read more...]
Article: Is there a connection between the gut, your brain and chronic pain?
The answer is yes, there is a connection between the gut, your brain and chronic pain. Around 2 billion people are living with chronic pain worldwide.[1] For most people living with chronic pain, it is often considered a symptom of another condition. Usually, unfortunately, this leaves it inadequately treated. In my early years of practice, I saw many fibromyalgia … [Read more...]
Article: Everyone tells me to reduce stress. I don’t even know where to start?
I’ve been making a sincere effort to reduce referring to “stress” when talking with patients. Why? You might think it’s obvious two minutes into a new doom scrolling session on Twitter, but as soon I enter into the discussion with patients, I’ve just started to feel as if it’s a moot point. Here’s often how the conversation goes. “So, talk to me about your … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 14: What is a leaky gut, and does it affect the brain and gut?
Do you have "leaky gut?" “The title says it all. I remember walking through an airport and seeing the caption on the front of Women's Health and smiling as it seemed to have finally crossed over into the public vernacular.” Of course, this was when we could fly freely, as a side note. The term "leaky gut" and its symptoms and causes are becoming highly ambiguous … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 13: Zinc is essential for your mental and digestive health
Zinc is undoubtedly one of the most important forms of currency your body uses to pay its bills. “You walk around with around 2-3 grams of zinc in your body every day. It's in all tissues in the body, with eighty-five per cent found in your muscles and bones and eleven per cent seen in your skin and liver.” In this Free and Inspired radio episode, Philip looks at … [Read more...]
Article: Zinc is necessary for IBS, immunity and depression.
Zinc is undoubtedly one of the most important forms of currency your body needs to pay its bills, especially for IBS, immunity and depression. It’s hard to simplify just how many of these transactions it pays for in a day, but maybe some fun facts might better illustrate it. Of all the trace elements in the body, only iron is more abundant than … [Read more...]
Article: Is histamine making your mental and IBS symptoms worse?
I feel histamine is most well-known because of anti-histamine drugs than its actual effect on the body, certainly not IBS. It's no wonder as allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is thought to affect ten to thirty per cent of the worldwide population, and that was ten years ago.[1] We've all been affected by histamine actions on the body at one stage in our lives, but hay fever … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 11: Going on a gluten-free diet – Things you need to know.
“It doesn’t take too many consultations into my practice day to have the “gluten-free diet conversation.” I don’t think I’m overstating things when I suggest that it might be the most hotly contested dietary conversation of the last decade.” In this Free and Inspired radio episode, Philip introduces gluten, how it might affect you, and some of the disadvantages of a … [Read more...]
Article: Things you need to know before going gluten-free.
Well, the answer is if you are sick, going gluten-free might be worth a try. Just be prepared to do it for beyond 30 days. Let’s look at this nuanced answer in a lot more detail. It doesn’t take too many consultations into my practice day to have what I call the “gluten conversation.” I don’t think I’m overstating things when I suggest that it might be the most hotly … [Read more...]