Tag: anxiety

A Bacterial-Derived Metabolite and Anxiety in Autism and Schizophrenia

Readers with (or who have family members with) anxiety issues, autism, or schizophrenia, please pay special attention to today’s post.  I have feeling that this is a really significant finding. Researchers at Cal Tech (along with colleagues at Stanford and other major California Universities)… Continue Reading “A Bacterial-Derived Metabolite and Anxiety in Autism and Schizophrenia”

L. reuteri: A Review of Its Many Known Benefits

A very happy New Year to you all. I hope your holidays were wonderful. First, an update on me.  You may have noticed that I have been writing posts less regularly. My new business has really taken off, and I am working insane hours. … Continue Reading “L. reuteri: A Review of Its Many Known Benefits”

Mechanism Discovered: How Stress Leads to Crohn’s Flare Ups

Today’s news is on a topic very near and dear to my heart, especially right now:  stress.  And the news isn’t good. Researchers at McMaster University have isolated a mechanism by which stress causes a flare up of Crohn’s disease.[i]  And surprise, surprise –… Continue Reading “Mechanism Discovered: How Stress Leads to Crohn’s Flare Ups”

Helminthic Therapy: A Review of the Current Status of Research

A couple of weeks ago, I found an interesting article in The Scientist that does a great job of summarizing the current status of helminth research.[i]  I have been too busy in my “real” life to read it though, until this past weekend. So,… Continue Reading “Helminthic Therapy: A Review of the Current Status of Research”

IBD, the Microbiome, Mental Health: Inflammation is the Key

The link between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and mental health issues has long been observed, and I have covered the topic before on this blog.  (Look here and here, for example.) On the one hand, it makes sense:  living with persistent pain, diarrhea, fatigue,… Continue Reading “IBD, the Microbiome, Mental Health: Inflammation is the Key”

Prebiotics: What We Currently Know About Their Use in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases

One of the questions I get asked the most by my readers is “what prebiotic and/or probiotic is the best?”  Unfortunately, there is no good answer to that because we just don’t have the research to know.  To boot, everyone’s body is different.  Still,… Continue Reading “Prebiotics: What We Currently Know About Their Use in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases”

Even at “Acceptable” Levels, Glyphosate Disrupts the Bacterial Microbiome (rodent study)

My regular readers know that I have been closely following the growing body of research into the effects of glyphosates on human health.  There has been huge controversy over this for years now.  While humans do not have the shikimate pathway that glyphosate (the… Continue Reading “Even at “Acceptable” Levels, Glyphosate Disrupts the Bacterial Microbiome (rodent study)”

A Probiotic to Reduce Physiological Effects of Stress and Anxiety: Clinical Trial Results

Today’s good news is brought to you by researchers in Finland and Germany who are looking for natural means of alleviating the development of mood and stress-related disorders.[i]  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I sure as hell could use some… Continue Reading “A Probiotic to Reduce Physiological Effects of Stress and Anxiety: Clinical Trial Results”

FMT and Psychiatric Issues: What We Know Now

My long-time readers may remember my tirade from almost 4 years ago re:  the FDA denying patients the right to use natural treatments like helminths and fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) as they see fit.  I had been (and still am) incensed after reading a… Continue Reading “FMT and Psychiatric Issues: What We Know Now”

Stress, Depression, the Microbiome: A Possible Mechanism of Action Revealed!

For years, I’ve covered the developing story about the relationship between the gut biome and depression and mood disorders.  With a son diagnosed with autism, who has severe anxiety issues (like so many of my students with autism diagnoses), research into this is one… Continue Reading “Stress, Depression, the Microbiome: A Possible Mechanism of Action Revealed!”