Psychobiotics

[MoonGal]

Hi'yall I am researching about the correlation between inflammatory conditions and my mental health and have come across a number of scientific studies which speak to gut -health, good gut bacteria and mental health.

It is a difficult thing to have a conversation about here because of the restrictions on dicussions about medication, but - i hope I am not sailing too close to the wind to ask whether anyone here has also looked into this or has a relationship with their health practioners (or read bone fide books) that takes this new (old!) connections into consideration?

I am looking at pre-biotics , what to eat to maximise good gut flora - and IF I need to supplement with probitoics or not. Anyways - if this is allowed I would be interested to hear from anyone with inflammatory conditions such as fibromyalgia and the range of MI that have in the past few years been loosley associated with gut health and what you have learned through trial and error etc.

[Appleblossom]

Hi @MoonGal  Great question. I have been interested though not fanatic about natural and alternative therapies throughout my life. 

When my son was in mhu I had myself reassessed by psychiatrist.  This one was very experienced, trained in London and a member of the Integrative medicine Institute.  his only treatment was to to congratulat me for surviving and to give me a lot of references and hand outs re GUT HEALTH for my son ... which I followed up and implemented.

I dont get too obssessive about it as both my brothers became like that and did not seem to do them much good.  Steadily I learn more about nutrition and health (mental emotional and bodily).

We gradually are having more fermented food.  I dont make a big thing about it as I try to steer a course through the middle way ... in Buddhism or away from extremes as have experienced too many personally.

My brother with colorectal cancer .. spends a lot of time in Germany doing immune therapies . he gets heavily into the measurement .. he isnt doing well at moment ... currently his actual cancer burden is low and managed but other side effects from the huge range of alterniative therapies he has been doing have taken its toll ... he can barely walk and is using wheelchair more and more ... he is at experimental and rich end of doing alternative cancer therapies ... it is very interesting ... I honestly dont know things are going to go for him ...

[MoonGal]

Hi @Appleblossom - oh! Right, good reminder "try not to get obbsessive about it". Whew! I was galloping off on my unicorn definately! So, taking back the reins, thanks for your experience in regards gut health and your son's health. I suspect this is only a "part" of the overall thing - and I DO need to be careful not to just eat saurkraut and scoff probiotics for the next month, I DO tend to go on Enthusiam benders (ummm, otherwise known as hypo-mania) for new things that will be JUST THE TICKET to fix what's broke. 

So gentley bentley on this too!

[Appleblossom]

I caught the "gently bently" meme from a babysitter we hired a few times when my girls were little.

That is before I had heard of the meme concept, but not before I was into biology and evolution.  I am wary of cultish figures and dont care much for selfish genes.  I have had the "its genetic" said to me so many times that I now am careful and a little obssessive about language use .... and then try to self correct and go all vague and hazy.

I havent managed to convince son to eat much sauerkraut .. even though we do really good german style hotdogs ... so I end up having to eat it all ... but he has turned on to yoghurt and some dill pickles ... enough for me to know he is getting a regular amount of probiotics and not to fuss .... steady she goes.

I agree it seems to be part of the answer.  The endocrine system has such complex chemistry and a lot of good things are generated by the body by minimal nutrient levels ... I think it is related to a lot of general gender confusions as well as mood and mental health.