A new study finds decreased social anxiety among young adults who eat fermented foods. Further evidence of the connection between the gut and mood disorders, and hope for a better alternative to addictive benzodiazepenes.
In health,
Dr. Gina
It’s not all in your head — it’s in your gut, too
June 10, 2015
1 Comment | 
anxiety treatment, brain gut connection, Diet and Disease, Sickness Syndrome | Tagged: alternative medicine, anxiety, dr. gina nick, drgina.com, HealthBridgeHealing.com, Sickness Syndrome, the gut mind connection | 
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Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
Gut Bacteria Impacts a Woman’s Brain Function
June 24, 2013
Naturopathic medicine has known this for centuries but now there is some promising new research demonstrating that the health of the gut affects a woman’s brain, how she processes emotions and her response to stress.
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Dietary changes to the bacteria living in our guts could have an impact on brain functioning, a new study suggests.
Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that regularly eating yogurt with probiotics, which contain “good” bacteria, seems to affect brain functioning in women. They said the proof-of-concept study shows it is possible to impact brain functioning by altering gut bacteria through diet.
The study, published in the journal Gastroenterology, was funded by Danone Research, which is the research arm of Danone, a company that produces yogurt and other dairy products. Some of the study researchers are Danone employees, but they had no role in the interpretation or analysis of results. Researchers noted that past studies have shown a gut-brain connection in terms of the brain sending signals to the gut. But this new study shows that the gut could also send signals to the brain.
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I have published extensively on Sickness Syndrome, a condition I identified where inflammation in the body triggers inflammation in the brain that is a cause of depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges. One of our treatment strategies for Sickness Syndrome, depression and anxiety, involves testing for, and then treating bacterial imbalance in the gut.
In health,
1 Comment | Diet and Disease, Sickness Syndrome, Women's Health | Tagged: drgina.com, gut bacteria, HealthBridgeHealing.com, Sickness Syndrome, Women's Health | Permalink
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
Mounting Evidence: The Link Between Inflammation and Depression
December 29, 2012
A new study was just published in the Archives of General Psychiatry involving over 73,000 patients that points to the connection between inflammation in the body and depression. I identified this connection nearly 10 years ago, began publishing on it about six years ago, and coined the phrase “Sickness Syndrome” to help doctors to diagnose this prevalent cause for depression. I have been treating patients using this knowledge ever since.
It is time to take a new look at the underlying cause(s) of depression so that mainstream medicine can offer long lasting cures for this debilitating health challenge.
In health,
2 Comments | Depression, Inflammation, Sickness Syndrome | Tagged: Depression, Dr. Gina Cushman, Sickness Syndrome, www.drgina.com | Permalink
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
New Study Links Inflammation to Depression
October 22, 2012
A new study, albeit on mice, further points to the link between inflammation and depression. I began publishing on this topic six years ago. In our medical office I see the real world connection between mood disorders like depression, and inflammation in the body. It is always a pleasure to watch patients as they heal from debilitating symptoms, when we address this underlying cause.
In health,
1 Comment | Depression, Inflammation, Sickness Syndrome | Tagged: Dr. Gina Cushman, HealthBridge Medical Center, Sickness Syndrome, www.drgina.com | Permalink
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
Breast Cancer Linked to Popular Antidepressant Medication
May 7, 2011
Bloomberg reported on a research study revealing a link between female cancers and antidepressant use.
Scientists should more closely examine whether antidepressant drugs increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, according to a researcher affiliated with Harvard University whose review of 61 studies suggested a link.
The risk of cancer increased 11 percent on average for patients taking the medicines, according to a report that analyzed previous data and was published in yesterday’s issue of the peer-reviewed journal PLoS ONE. Read the full article by clicking here.
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Preparing for a CME lecture (to air on PharmCon on June 9th, and categorized as live pharmacy hours for doctors) on augmenting the side effects and risks associated with oral contraceptives and other synthetic hormones popular among women and teen-aged girls. In addition to a significant increased risk in various cancers, the synthetic hormones also decrease serotonin levels, further increasing the chance of a woman being prescribed anti-depressant medications which appear to further increase her risk of cancer!
A solution could be to take well researched immunomodulators like BRM4 if you take synthetic hormones, or to avoid these hormones if at all possible and turn to more natural options like Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy.
In health and healing,
-Dr. G
Leave a Comment » | Depression, Immune Support, Pharmaceuticals, Prevention, Sickness Syndrome, Women's Health | Tagged: antidepressants, bioidentical hormones, BRM4, Depression, Oral Contraceptives, synthetic hormones | Permalink
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
Sickness Syndrome Depression-The Link Between Seasonal Allergies, Inflammation and Depression
April 12, 2011
A recent article in the New York Times discusses several large studies that link seasonal allergies to depression and anxiety. The cause is an increase in inflammatory cytokines that lower serotonin levels. This is a classic example of Sickness Syndrome Depression, a condition identified years ago and finally gaining media attention. We often see cases of wrongly diagnosed anxiety and depression at our practice where patients are prescribed antidepressant medications instead of being treated for Sickness Syndrome Depression. To learn more about the syndrome click here. One treatment that is not yet mentioned on the site but that we have recently been using successfully in practice to treat Sickness Syndrome Depression and other psychiatric illnesses with an inflammatory component is BRM4 by Daiwa Health Development– an immunomodulator that alters levels of inflammatory cytokines throughout the body. The effective dosage is 4 capsules three times per day for 4 weeks, and then 4 capsules per day thereafter.
In health and healing,
2 Comments | Depression, Immune Support, Inflammation, Latest Nutritional Research, Sickness Syndrome | Tagged: BRM4, Daiwa Health Development, Depression, Dr. Gina (Nick) Cushman, Inflammation and Depression, LTP Natural Medical Center, Seasonal Allergies, Sickness Syndrome, Sickness Syndrome Depression, www.ltpmedical.com, www.sicksyndrome.com | Permalink
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
The Gut Brain Connection..Sickness Syndrome Discussed in Psychology Today
December 13, 2010
A new article published in the November/December issue of Psychology Today reveals that gastrointestinal disorders, like infection, inflammation, and IBS cause anxiety and depression, and that probiotics may replace prozac and Valium as drugs of choice for some psychiatric disorders like anxiety and depression. This concept, first introduced over 5 years ago and referred to as Sickness Syndrome, is finally gaining the attention of popular media channels.
For those of you who are experiencing anxiety and depression, there are options available to you that go beyond masking symptoms and address at least one of the underlying causes of why you are feeling the way you do. We see the success of naturopathic medicine in treating anxiety and depression in our medical practice everyday, and treating digestive health is often the first step.
In health and wellness,
1 Comment | Depression, Inflammation, Pharmaceuticals, Prevention, Sickness Syndrome | Tagged: anxiety, Depression, Dr. Gina (Nick) Cushman, LTP Natural, Naturopathic Medicine, probiotics, Sickness Syndrome, Sickness Syndrome Depression, www.drgina.com, www.ltpmedical.com, www.sicksydnrome.com | Permalink
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
