twitter_iconfacebook_iconrss_icon

When Medicating Depression is Not the Answer

by | Apr 18, 2015 | Depression, Medication, Supplements, Uncategorized |

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

Latest posts by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND (see all)

There’s a dangerous standard in mainstream medicine. One that treats illness like an external enemy to be eradicated at all costs, instead of an internally generated signal regarding important inner workings gone awry. Nowhere is this trend more disturbing than in psychiatry. In a commendable effort to remove the stigma from depression, there is a move to frame depression as a disease. According to the disease framework, depression has nothing to do with the individual, and how they live their life. Depression is given the role of a villain, and the patient the victim. The hero, of course, is the prescribed medication and treatment. But the worst part about the disease framework for depression is that it implies that only happy states are good and healthy. I disagree wholeheartedly. For me, depression was a painful, terrifying, yet crucial experience that ultimately led to understanding myself better than I ever had. Without going through depression, I would not be as clear about my purpose and as committed to living my truth. The key phrase here is “going through.” Not “getting rid of” or “treating” or even “curing.” It was only by surrendering to the process that I got the lesson I had already paid for in the form of pain and suffering. If I had taken an antidepressant and it helped me feel less terrible, I’m not sure that I would have experienced the transformation that I did. It was the agony, and the belief that I had something to learn from it, that pushed me to go deeper. But our culture is obsessed with painlessness. You see this in...

Taking Over-the-Counter Sleep Aids? They Could Be Putting You at Risk.

by | Feb 28, 2015 | Alzheimer's, Anxiety, Dementia, Insomnia, Medication, Panic, Sleep, Supplements, Uncategorized |

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

Latest posts by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND (see all)

If you’ve used an over the counter sleep aid in the last year, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans use brands like Zzzquil or  Simply Sleep. These medications contain the active ingredients diphenhydramine HCL, and according to the latest in a string of studies, those who use them may be at a greater risk for developing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Why? These medications suppress the activity of a part of the brain called the cholinergic system. The cholinergic system keeps synapses firing, triggering alertness, memory and muscle tone. This is why a common side effect of diphenhydramine HLC (also the active ingredient in Benadryl) is drowsiness. The problem is, it’s precisely the cholinergic system that seems to be in decline with dementia – and this is why Alzheimer’s drugs are called “pro-cholinergics.” Because of the latest data, researchers are now warning against the prolonged use of these seemingly-safe medications. Even occasional use, over time, may have a cumulative effect. Thankfully, there are many natural remedies that support restful sleep, without suppressing this valuable part of the nervous system. Here are five sleep-supportive supplements that I use regularly with my patients: Melatonin – This is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, in response to darkness. It helps you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and also appears to have antioxidant qualities. It is an essential part of your circadian (day/night) rhythm and is great for jet lag. Pro tip: Exposure to light suppresses melatonin. Turn down overhead lights, and stop looking at computer or phone screens, at least 2 hours before you want to fall asleep. L-Theanine – An amino acid found in green tea,...

Drug – Centric Psychiatry is Out

by | Feb 10, 2015 | Depression, Food as medicine, Medication, Research |

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

Latest posts by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND (see all)

Nutritional psychiatry (food as mood medicine) is rightfully taking its place in the mainstream. I have seen incredible results from using nutrition to treat anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses. My patients know firsthand how the right nutrients can totally change someone’s mood, energy and mental clarity. We’re not the only ones. The Lancet, one of the world’s leading medical journals, recently confirmed the link between the food you eat and your mood. According to their recent article, dietary treatments have been found to be helpful in treating: Depression Psychosis Suicidal tendencies Childhood mental health issues Schizophrenia Bipolar disorder Compulsive behavior PTSD In particular, the Lancet article discusses the promising results of the Mediterranean diet, with nuts, in preventing the onset of depression. Nutritional psychiatry goes beyond the essential foundation of using food as medicine. It includes using targeted supplements to act as mood modulators by themselves, and to increase the efficacy of medication. Individualized supplementation – using vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids – is helpful in the following ways: Correcting deficiencies due to poor nutrition Compensating for poor absorption or genetic errors in metabolism Reducing inflammation Improving the action of neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline) Enhancing cell-membrane function Growth and repair of nerve cells Protecting cells from damage The Lancet article identifies key nutrients that are particularly helpful in improving mood and brain function. These include: B vitamins (with active forms like methylfolate, please!) Zinc Magnesium Sam – E Vitamin D So does this mean that you should run out and buy these supplements? Maybe, maybe not. Remember, individualized medicine works better than any one-size fits...

The Most Important Food for Balancing Your Mood

by | Jan 17, 2015 | Anxiety, Depression, Food as medicine, Medication |

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

Latest posts by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND (see all)

Your diet is an essential key to healing depression and anxiety naturally. You cannot successfully get off antidepressants, for example, without a mood-supporting diet. This can be daunting to figure out, given all the diets, superfoods and instant cures your friends post on Facebook. Fortunately, from a foundational standpoint, there’s a simple place to start. If you change nothing else in your diet now, do this: Make sure every meal contains 20-30 grams of protein. Yup, every meal. Ideally animal protein at least half of that time. Why protein? It has a low glycemic index, which means it will not spike your blood sugar. Imbalanced blood sugar triggers your stress hormone, cortisol, which in turn can make you feel anxious. Blood sugar swings also deprive your brain of consistent fuel, which can result in depressive thoughts, lack of focus, and fatigue. Real life example: A low protein breakfast (like granola, or a low fat mocha latte) is often followed by a late-morning (or mid-afternoon) energy and mood crash. If you’re like me, that crash often results in a desperate pastry purchase (“Stale chocolate croissant? It’ll do!”) which you almost always regret. A solid breakfast of 2-3 eggs, or a piece of last night’s chicken dinner, on the other hand, keeps energy and mood stable, making you more effective and yes, happier, throughout the day. Why is it important to eat animal protein? Animal protein always contains all the essential amino acids, which are the raw materiasl for your feel-good chemicals: serotonin, dopamine and GABA. “Essential” means you have to get it from food – the body cannot manufacture it....