Did you know that you aren’t all human?
Creepily, trillions of tiny microbes (microbiota) have set up their habitats inside and outside your body, starting in utero. In fact, our gastrointestinal (GI) tract alone is home to 1014 cells of thousands of different species of microbiota. These critters form a give-and-take relationship with our cells and impact or mind and body in many important ways. Amazingly, these little microbe communities in our gut even have their own brain!
It’s true!
The cells and bugs in our bellies have their own nervous system and it is in a two-way communication with our central nervous system. This bi-directional connection between the “gut brain” and our “head brain” is termed the “gut-brain axis.”
In my recent article and video, I highlight key points everyone should know about this link.
It is based on my recent review article on the gut-brain connection published on Rupa health.
Topics include:
- How our gut microbiota has influenced our view of mental health
- The several routes that our gut and brain use to communicate (i.e., our immune system, tryptophan metabolism, the vagus nerve, our enteric nervous system, and microbe metabolites)
- The neurochemicals our gut bacteria produce (GABA, serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, and melatonin) and how they affect our brain and mind
- How gut inflammation impacts mood
- Functional medicine lab tests to consider for gut-brain health (e.g., comprehensive stool analysis, neurotransmitter analysis, micronutrient panel, and omega-3 index)
- 3 types of foods that help enhance mood
- Herbs and supplements that support the gut-brain axis
- Lifestyle factors for more optimal gut-brain communication
Understanding the gut-brain connection has immense implications for balancing emotions and mental health. Its discovery is shifting our beliefs about the origin and treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders.
Integrative medical practitioners can now work with conventional mental healthcare to ensure that the biological and neurological support of the gut-brain is addressed to improve efficacy in treatment. This can be done through diet, nutrients, herbal approaches, and lifestyle. (source)
Get the link to my summary and the full article with references here.
Naturopathic Medicine Resources for Mood and Hormone Support
- Free resources and more education on essential oils and mind-body wellness are available to you here.
- If you are struggling with mental health issues, please seek professional help: National Mental Health Hotline
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- Stay tuned for an upcoming opportunity that can support you in holistic mind-body-heart-soul healing.
Many blessings.
Disclaimer: This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic quality essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been tested for purity and standardized constituents. There is no quality control in the United States, and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only to contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin. The studies are not based solely on a specific brand of an essential oil, unless stated. Please read the full study for more information.
