Nervous system 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

Do This Technique if Your Nervous System is Stuck in Fight or Flight

Reset Your Fight-or-Flight Response with This Simple Vagus Nerve Exercise Feeling stuck in stress mode? The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in regulating your body’s ability to switch out of "fight-or-flight" and into a state of calm. By resetting the vagus nerve, you can promote relaxation, improve your overall health, and regain balance in your nervous system. This simple yet powerful Vagus Nerve Reset exercise, developed by Stanley Rosenberg, can help you shift into a neutral state of ease. For best results, practice it daily for the first week to establish a baseline, and then use it as [...]

Do This Technique if Your Nervous System is Stuck in Fight or Flightgunther2025-05-08T19:19:35+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

Avoid Consuming Excitotoxins

Excitotoxins are toxic to the nervous system. They can cause anxiety, tremors, insomnia, seizures, rapid pulse, heart palpitations, gastrointestinal distress, migraines and symptoms of autism. These are found in processed foods and drinks, even ones deemed 'natural' and 'healthy'. THE LIST Glutamate Glutamic acid GelatinMonosodium glutamate Calcium caseinate Textured proteinMonopotassium glutamate Sodium caseinate Yeast nutrient, Yeast extract, Yeast food Autolyzed yeastHydrolyzed protein (any protein that is hydrolyzed)Hydrolyzed corn glutenNatrium glutamate (natrium is Latin/German for sodium)Carrageenan Maltodextrin Malt extractNatural pork flavoring Citric acid Malt flavoringBouillon and Broth Natural chicken flavoring Soy protein isolateNatural beef flavoring Ultra-pasteurized Soy sauceStock Barley malt [...]

Avoid Consuming ExcitotoxinsWendy Wells2021-08-08T00:54:53+00:00

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