Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Treatment of Depression and Pain by Simon DuBois
By Simon DuBois, Psychologist The idea that an electric current through the brain might improve its functioning isn’t new. The physician of Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar described how placing live torpedo electric fish over the scalp could relieve headaches (1) . Most people associate brain stimulation treatments with electro-convulsive therapy – a psychiatric therapy […]
Stress management techniques can make all the difference by Bee Osborne
By Bee Osborne, Naturopath With the Bureau of Statistics revealing 75% of Australians experience stress related health effects, it is clear that stress has become a part of the modern human experience. Of those polled 51% said they were not seeking help to address their stress and the most common coping mechanism for stress […]
How Traditional Chinese Medicine can support your mental health by Joshua Leishman
By Joshua Leishman, Acupuncturist It is estimated that one in five Australians – roughly five million people – have suffered from mental health issues over the past year. Mental illnesses are far more than feeling sad or stressed, as they can have debilitating effects on our cognition and emotional balance, but conventional medications often have […]
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and mental health by Alexandra Preston
Written by Alexandra Preston A common view of depression and anxiety is that they are purely biological, caused by a chemical imbalance. However, psychological trauma can play a key role in their development. Stressful life events are more closely associated with the onset of depression than genetics, and a survey of over 22,000 people […]
Supporting chronic illness through food and lifestyle choices by Emma McLaughlin
Written by Emma McLaughlin, Integrative Naturopath What is chronic Illness? “Chronic disease” refers to a disease state that is ongoing or long term (at least 3 months as defined by the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics) and refers to diseases that generally cannot be cured or prevented by medication or vaccine. This predominantly includes […]
How chronic illness effects mental health by Simon DuBois
Written by Simon DuBois, Psychologist Being under the load of a chronic health issue is emotionally and psychologically stressful in the extreme. It creates a lot of uncertainty and fear about how we will cope. Our brains have been designed over millions of years to identify and ward off threats, but it really struggles […]
How adrenal stress can impact thyroid function by Alexandra Preston and Reine DuBois
Written by Alexandra Preston and Reine DuBois. Featuring Kristin Zanotti and Phil Baxter. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that sits at the front of our throats. It contributes to a wide range of physical and mental processes, including weight control, mood, cognition, and menstruation. The Australian Thyroid Foundation lists the causes of […]
Heavy Metal Toxicity: An Emerging Health Threat by Emily Holler
By Emily Holler Heavy metals are naturally found in nature, but if they build up too much in our body they can become toxic and inflammatory. Modern industrial practices have increased heavy metals in our environment over the past one hundred years and our exposure has increased exponentially. A prime example is lead based paint, […]