I’m seeking a practitioner that can assist with microdosing for anxiety in Australia. My 38 year old son has been on SSRIs and does not want to go that route any longer as he feels it’s just a ‘bandaid’.. We’re also looking at B vitamins, other mushrooms, and any other suggestions which may help long term. Also if anyone has any tests that could potentially indicate allergies, deficiencies or other avenues to explore that would be great.
Thanks in advance!
Hi robinluxor - just to note (and which you may know already) we recently had a webinar about SSRI’s.
That your son wants to come off them is brilliant, but for many it’s really tough. The big takeaway from this webinar was “tapering”.
Please share the link with him, and everyone else who’ll be involved near/around him so they also can learn the process.
Also regards the anxiety: Does Ashwagandha supplementation have a beneficial effect on the management of anxiety and stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials - Independent Medical Alliance - it looks like Ashwaganda may assist.
7 Incredible Health Benefits of Ashwagandha There is also this webinar, which may assist too.
Long Story Short Episode 65: Adaptogenic Effects of Ashwagandha - Independent Medical Alliance And this Dr Been episode too.
The IMA doesn’t, as a policy, recommend, but we do have a provider list here, and this search is a search for Australia - " " - Independent Medical Alliance
Hope this helps.
I’ve been researching vagus nerve / vagal tone lately and anxiety falls squarely in this category.
One area I’m reading about is there are wearable devices that can help vagal tone. For example:
IMA Health’s own Dr. Gazda is a neurologist, and she did a 2024 conference talk which covered some things that may be of interest. It is where I first heard of HeartMath Emerging Neurological Disorders – A Path to Solutions - Independent Medical Alliance .
While the talk is focused on COVID/post vaccine syndrome, a lot of her research applies generally to brain and nervous system function and health.
So, when speaking about anxiety, realizes that the autonomic nervous system is involved. We have a sympathetic (fight or flight) part of it that operates on adrenaline, and a parasympathetic (rest and digest) part that operates on acetylcholine and acts to counter it… when it is operating correctly. The better your “vagal tone” the better those two systems work in harmony. If you are having anxiety this is a primary indicator that your sympathetic system is operating unchecked and you likely have low vagal tone.
If you have an Apple smart watch, one of the things it tracks is HRV (Heart Rate Variability). HRV is a direct measure of vagal tone. A low number indicates poor vagal tone. Mine is quite low and my records show it has been for the past year.
You’ll see HRV mentioned here: Wearables Guide: Pros, Cons, and Real-World Applications
Treatment strategies: https://imahealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Long-COVID-Long-Vax-Feb-21-Webinar-2.pdf “Vagus Nerve Stimulation and nicotinic agonists”
This explains it better than I can:
"The gut and brain communicate through various pathways, including the vagus nerve, neuroactive compounds from gut bacteria, and the immune system. This two-way communication system ensures that changes in one can impact the other.
To be clear, that means your gut health influences the level of chemicals in the brain!
A significant portion of the body’s serotonin, crucial for mood regulation, is produced in high levels in the gut. Gut bacteria also influence other neurotransmitters like GABA, dopamine, and norepinephrine, affecting mood and anxiety levels.
Chronic inflammation from gut issues is linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety. The gut microbiome plays a critical role in regulating the body’s immune response and inflammation levels."
Hi @robinluxor - firstly so sorry about your son. We have a show this week (tomorrow) that I believe will be a must watch for you, its with special guest Dr. Josef Witt-Doering on getting off anti depressant medication safely: heres a link to the discussion https://imahealth.org/forums/groups/public-forum/forum/discussion/ssri-dangers-tapering-off-safely-tomorrows-show/
I am going to add a question into the mix for you now.