Closeness to Nature Helps Prevent Depression
Razi Berry Depression, especially in urban areas, is on the rise, now more than ever. Mental health outcomes are influenced by, among other things, the type of environment where one lives. Former studies show that urban greenspace has a positive benefit on people experiencing mental ill health, but most of these studies used self-reported measures, […]
Post-COVID Stress Disorder
Sarah Cimperman, ND The COVID-19 pandemic has caused nearly 1.5 million deaths worldwide as of late November 2020.1 It’s also been the source of considerable suffering as people struggle with economic devastation, food insecurity, unemployment, workplace safety concerns, the loss of loved ones, and social isolation. Even after individuals infected with coronavirus recover, the psychological […]
“Prescribing” Outdoor Time Could Undermine Benefits
Razi Berry Spending time in nature is believed to benefit people’s mental health. However, new research suggests that giving people with existing mental health conditions formal ‘green prescriptions’, may undermine some of the benefits. An international research team led by the University of Exeter and published in the journal Scientific Reports, investigated whether contact with […]
Weighted Blankets May Help Your Sleep Problems
Razi Berry Weighted blankets are a safe and effective intervention in the treatment of insomnia, according to Swedish researchers who found that insomnia patients with psychiatric disorders experienced reduced insomnia severity, improved sleep and less daytime sleepiness when sleeping with a weighted chain blanket. Results of the randomized, controlled study Results of the randomized, controlled […]
Vocabulary to Describe Emotions Linked to Well-being
Razi Berry Vocabulary that one uses to describe their emotions is an indicator of mental and physical health and overall well-being, according to an analysis led by a scientist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and published today in Nature Communications. A larger negative emotion vocabulary — or different ways to describe similar […]
COVID-19 May Lead to Delirium and PTSD
Razi Berry People taken ill by coronavirus infections may experience psychiatric problems while hospitalized and potentially after they recover, suggests an analysis of past research led by the UCL Institute of Mental Health with King’s College London collaborators. Coronavirus infections and the psychiatric connections The systematic review paper, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, compiled results […]
How do Psychedelics Work?
Razi Berry Perhaps no region of the brain is more fittingly named than the claustrum, taken from the Latin word for “hidden or shut away.” The claustrum is an extremely thin sheet of neurons deep within the cortex, yet it reaches out to every other region of the brain. Its true purpose remains “hidden away” […]
Volunteering Is Good For Everyone
Razi Berry A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, takes a closer look at the benefits of volunteering to the health and well-being of volunteers, both validating and refuting findings from previous research. The results verify that adults over 50 who volunteer for at least 100 hours a year […]
To B or not to B?
Dr Nicola Dehlinger, ND In my medical practice, there is rarely a time that I say something would be good for everyone. B vitamins are one exception. B vitamins are involved with many biochemical reactions in the body – especially the nervous system. They are crucial to energy production within your cells. B5 is vital in adrenal (stress) function […]
Long-term Impact of Video Gaming Studied
Razi Berry For most adolescents, playing video games is an enjoyable and often social form of entertainment. While playing video games is a fun pastime, there is a growing concern that spending too much time playing video games is related to negative developmental outcomes and can become an addiction. 90% of gamers do not play […]