The Autumnal Equinox falls on Tuesday, September 22 at 9:30 AM EST in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the moment in the cycle of the seasons when the amount of daylight and darkness will be exactly equal. It is the time of perfect balance between the polarities of day and night. I find it reassuring,… [Continue reading]
nutrition and mental health
Two Holistic Psychiatrists Talking: Self Care and COVID-19
My friend and fellow holistic psychiatrist, Courtney Snyder, MD, and I have embarked upon a new project entitled “Two Holistic Psychiatrists Talking…” We plan on recording ourselves weekly discussing a variety of topics related to holistic psychiatry. Our inaugural conversation explores holistic approaches to self-care during this time of great uncertainty. Please let us know… [Continue reading]
Brain Health, the Immune System and Cultivating Resilience
Given my conviction that the vast majority of psychiatric conditions are caused by inflammation of the brain, most of the recommendations that I make to patients in my practice of holistic psychiatry are designed to support the immune system which decreases inflammation. Depression, anxiety, attentional difficulties, brain fog, and other cognitive changes are all mediated… [Continue reading]
The Healing Gift of Intermittent Fasting
At the June International Conference for Functional Medicine in Florida, Dr. Jeffrey Bland, a pioneer and founder of the field of Functional Medicine declared that if any of us are not routinely fasting for a minimum of 12 hours a day, and not recommending that our patients do the same, that we are missing out on… [Continue reading]
Tapering Psychiatric Medications
These days many new patients who call are interested in getting off of psychiatric medications. Often they do not feel that the medicines are effective, they hate the side effects, and worry about the long term consequences of ingesting synthetic chemicals. I was trained to believe that stopping a psychiatric medication was not a big deal; you… [Continue reading]
