There are many things that can a child’s or adolescent’s mental health, from things as complex as neurotransmitter deficiencies to issues as simple as food allergies. Integrative and Naturopathic medicine always seeks to find the root cause of mood disorders, so that your child can experience long-lasting relief. Holistic therapies such as herbs, supplemental nutritional support, homeopathy, and lifestyle changes can make dramatic impacts on your child’s cognitive, behavioral, and emotional health.

The Gut-Brain Connection
A recent report put out by Caltech notes that an estimated 90% of our body’s serotonin is made in our gut. That means that an imbalance in gut flora, such as candida overgrowth, may disrupt the serotonin levels in your child’s blood, causing low serotonin. Low serotonin is associated with several conditions, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social withdrawal, and insomnia. Occasionally overgrowth of harmful fungi and bacteria in the gut (sometimes called dysbiosis) can cause mental and emotional disturbances simply by their own growth and metabolism. The bi-products of organisms like candida and clostridium can act as neurotoxins, causing irritability, confusion, mood swings, and aggression. Balancing the gut and maintaining healthy gut flora is an essential part of every child’s emotional and mental well-being. Check out the following blog post on dysbiosis and autistic behaviors: Gut Bacteria and Autism​​

Anxiety and Depression

Children and adolescents deal with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues for a variety of reasons. For some kids, there is a genetic tendency to have anxiety or depression in the family. Other kids experience traumas or stresses that make them more vulnerable to negative thoughts and moods. For other kids and adolescents, their mood may be affected by inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, or exposure to environmental toxins. Naturopathic medicine can help identify and treat these preventable causes of mood disorders, and help your child find long-term solutions to better deal with the emotional and physical stresses of their lives and environments.

Help for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Children and adults with OCD generally live with a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety. Rituals and repetitive behaviors can be very time consuming and prevent people suffering from OCD from engaging in common activities such as playing sports, going out with friends, going to other people’s houses, or even going to school or work. Watching your child or loved one go through this kind of stress can be very painful. Fortunately, there are many holistic, gentle treatments for OCD.

​At Dr.O Care we are always happy to set up appointments either remotely through obtainhealth.com or in-person to discuss all of the ins-and-outs of OCD in children. As a parent of children, I understand how complicated all of these decisions can be! If you’d like to schedule an appointment, just call 904-743-2100, or click here to make an appointment online.