depression Archives %% - Dr Wendy Wells Naturopathic Doctor Online

Bugging the Blues: The Gut Microbiome’s Role in Depression

Ever wonder why your mood sometimes sinks for no clear reason? It turns out, the answer might lie deep in your gut—literally. While most people know serotonin as the brain’s “feel-good” chemical, fewer realize that nearly 90% of it is made in the gut. Even more surprising? Your gut bacteria play a major role in how much serotonin your body can produce—thanks in part to a microbial metabolic route called the shikimate pathway. Let’s explore how your microbes may be influencing your mood from the inside out. Serotonin is made primarily in the brain and the gut. [...]

Bugging the Blues: The Gut Microbiome’s Role in DepressionWendy Wells2025-07-06T19:12:43+00:00

The Hidden Causes of Depression: A Whole-Body Perspective

Depression is more than a mental health diagnosis—it’s a message from the body that something deeper is out of balance. While conventional medicine often reduces depression to a "chemical imbalance," naturopathic and functional medicine reveal that it’s far more complex—and far more treatable at the root. When I treat patients who suffer with depression, I am seeing beyond the diagnosis to the person and we look at all the possible underlying causes and find the ones that are at play in each person's case. Then we address, support the part of the body that is out of balance, and [...]

The Hidden Causes of Depression: A Whole-Body PerspectiveWendy Wells2025-06-24T18:34:12+00:00

Brain Healing Blockers: 6 Hidden Barriers (+ How to Fix Them)

Your brain is not broken. It's brilliant, adaptable, and constantly working to heal itself. Every day, it rewires connections, detoxifies waste, repairs damage, and generates new cells. This is the power of neuroplasticity and regeneration. But when modern toxins get in the way, this natural wisdom is blocked. Understanding which chemicals impair the brain's healing—and how to avoid them—is the first step toward restoring clarity, energy, mood, and function. The Brain's Natural Healing Pathways The brain is designed to heal. Here's how it does it: Neuroplasticity – Builds and reshapes neural circuits through learning, therapy, and experience. Neurogenesis – [...]

Brain Healing Blockers: 6 Hidden Barriers (+ How to Fix Them)Wendy Wells2025-06-20T04:07:14+00:00

Slow Metabolism and Weight Gain (and my doctor says blood tests are normal)

"I have gained weight and don't know why. I've have been to many doctors and they've checked the thyroid blood work, but found everything is normal." Sound familiar? There are lots of reasons for a suddenly slower metabolism and weight gain. I am sharing this so you can use the information with your doctor team and get the best results for your health! A holistic view of a person, means examining one's lifestyle, diet, hydration, nutrient status, energy/sleep patterns, digestion, other health conditions and often we need a physical exam. It is important to talking about the degree of [...]

Slow Metabolism and Weight Gain (and my doctor says blood tests are normal)Wendy Wells2023-04-24T14:00:00+00:00

How do I know if I’m toxic?

Toxicity Self Test Rate each of the following symptoms on a scale from 0 to 5 (5 being the most severe) based on the past 30 days. Read more from Dr. Wells about detoxification. __ Diarrhea __ Constipation __ Belching, passing gas __ Bloated feeling __ Heartburn __ Total __ Itchy ears __ Earaches / infection __ Ringing in ears __ Hearing loss __ Total __ Mood swings __ Anxiety, fear nervousness __ Anger, irritability __ Depression __ Total __ Fatigue, sluggishness __ Apathy, lethargy __ Hyperactivity __ Restlessness __ Total __ Watery, itchy eyes __ Swollen, reddened, or [...]

How do I know if I’m toxic?Wendy Wells2021-08-16T20:00:00+00:00

Soothe Emotional Angst with Motherwort

Soothe Emotional Angst with Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) A plant in the mint family, Motherwort gets its name from its ancient use: helping women who had a tendency to "over-mother" and thus experienced more stress, and less joy, in their maternal role. Today, throughout Europe and in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it's used as a medicinal herb to treat emotional conditions such as anxiety and depression. It also helps ease symptoms of menstrual distress, as well as physical and emotional exhaustion. Motherwort can be prepared as a tea, tincture, or in capsule form. Depending on the the type of preparation, it can [...]

Soothe Emotional Angst with MotherwortWendy Wells2021-08-15T10:00:00+00:00

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