I often come across people and patients who are constantly on the go with multiple to-do lists and demanding work schedules. They feel as though they can never catch up. And guess what - their adrenals glands can't catch up either!

Adrenals glands sit just above the kidneys and help regulate the stress response by secreting the hormone cortisol. When you are constantly on the go or in a "fight or flight" mode, your adrenals are working very hard to keep you on top or your game. But there comes a time when these tiny glands get tired and need a moment to reboot. It's like running a car without any oil - chances are your car won't be functioning very smoothly. And it's not uncommon to see low mood, depression, anxiety and mood swings occur when the adrenals glands are over-worked.

By far, one of my top 5 prescriptions in practice comes in the form of adaptogen support. Giving your body and adrenal glands the support they need, feeding them healthy vitamins, minerals and botanicals to reboot their function, and your sense of well being. This is a foundational step in conjunction with a tailored treatment plan for your specific mood imbalance may it be depression or anxiety.

When it comes to supporting mood naturally, there are a few basics a naturopathic doctor like myself will always take into consideration. It relies on the whole body approach and finding the root cause!

Determining if there are any physical and chemical factors leading to an imbalance in the body and brain is always the first step. Certain medical conditions can give rise to symptoms that might mimic an unbalanced mood.  A few examples: hypothyroidism can mimic a depressed mood, hyperthyroidism can mimic anxiety, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can cause anxious feelings, low iron can cause fatigue and low mood.

Also, when your body is deficient in substances like omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, magnesium, vitamin D and overall low protein consumption, this state can lead to the development of depression, anxiety and the like.

Assessing your health with appropriate lab work-up and a look into your diet for possible deficiencies gives me more information to better assess your current health, both body and mind. An appropriate treatment plan can then be tailored for your optimal mood and overall health.