Mood, Mental Health & the WALSH PROTOCOL

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Many factors affect one’s mood and mental health from the genetics one is born with, to the diet we consume, the environment we live in, and the stressors that surround us.  Some of these factors we have no control over and some we do.  Dr. LaBeau considers himself as much a Life Coach as a Physician and will help you to obtain optimal performance in order for you to best realize your personal goals and aspirations.

Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and attention deficit disorder (ADD) are often linked to hormonal imbalances and other deficiencies in the body. Such mood disorders often have a genetic tendency that is seen in other immediate and extended family members. Dr. Mark LaBeau uses the Walsh Protocol to identify nutritional imbalances relating to mental health problems. From this testing he can then design personalized integrative treatment and diet plans that improve your total health and well-being, both physical and mental. 

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What is anxiety? 

Anxiety is the body’s response to stressors or threats. Anxiety happens to everyone, and for most people, it does not need to be treated. In some people, the anxiety response is overblown, and they experience anxiety in a disproportionate level compared to the severity of the stressor. In these individuals, this negative response is known as an anxiety disorder. Symptoms of anxiety disorder include:

• Nervousness, restlessness, or physical tension 
• Feelings of dread or panic 
• Increased heart rate 
• Fatigue 
• Avoidance tendencies 
• Gastrointestinal issues 

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What is depression? 

Depression is a mood-changing syndrome that causes you to lose your ability to feel or sense emotions in the same manner that you were able to in the past. When one experiences depression, one may note that their functioning and response changes to various stimuli and one’s social interactions change, often to more isolation. Symptoms of depression include: 

• Inability to make decisions 
• Memory issues 
• Feelings of hopelessness and loss 
• Changes in weight 
• Low libido or sexual appetite 
• Difficulty concentrating 
• Substance abuse issues 
• Loss of interest in things that used to be interesting 

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What is OCD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) features a pattern of unreasonable thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviors (compulsions). These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress.

Symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) include: 

• Compulsive hand-washing
• Overzealous house cleaning
• Double-checking behavior
• Counting behavior
• Organizational perfectionism
• Thoughts and fears of violence
• Unwanted sexual thoughts
• Obsessive with relationships
• Seeking reassurance from others
• Unacceptable body image fixation

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What is ADD? 

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) consists of three domains of disability. These domains are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.  

Inattention is defined by the following symptoms: 

• Disorganization 
• Little or no focus 
• Careless mistakes 
• Inability to stay on topic 
• Forgetfulness 
• Easily distracted 

Hyperactivity is defined by the following symptoms: 

• Fidgeting or not being able to sit still 
• Constantly on the go or walking around 
• Excessive speech 

Impulsivity is defined by the following symptoms: 

• Strong feelings of impatience 
• Having difficulty waiting for your turn to speak 

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What is Dementia?

Dementia often is seen with disorders and/or injuries to the brain.  Symptoms seen, such as impaired memory, thinking, and behavior, have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life and interpersonal interactions.  Dementia can be caused by trauma, from toxic exposure, or diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.  Often trauma, or toxic exposure to alcohol, drugs, chemicals, heavy metals, or mold can allow genetic tendencies to manifest in a more severe form and at a younger age, Common symptoms of Dementia are:  

• Short term memory
• Forgetfulness
• Finding the right word
• Mood swings
• Slow movement
• Lethargy
• Loss of short-term memory
• Getting lost
• Struggling to complete ordinary tasks
• Problems with writing
• Being repetitive
• Change in behavior
• Sundowners syndrome
• Apathy and depression

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What is the Walsh Protocol?

The Walsh Protocol is based on the collaborative advanced nutritional work of Carl Pfeiffer M.D. and Bill Walsh Ph.D.  Together they have found a significant relation between various nutritional imbalances from methylation, copper overload, pyrrole disorder, glucose imbalances, malabsorption, essential fatty acid imbalance, and/or presence of toxic metals.  Multiple chemical imbalances typically create reflective imbalances in neurotransmitters that affect one’s mental health. 

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As an Osteopathic Physician, Dr. LaBeau understands the interrelationship of various body systems.  One example is the interrelationship between our digestion and brain function in which both share a similar chemistry namely: 

• Both have complex nervous system
• Both have similar neurotransmitters
• Gut micro-organisms produce neurotransmitters that can affect our mood
• Food sensitivity affects both digestion and mood

By using the Walsh Protocol Dr. LaBeau is able to:

• Test certain nutrients found to affect neurotransmitters
• Help determine if certain dietary restrictions are necessary
• Help determine which nutrients can help balance one’s neurotransmitters
• Provide natural support to one’s chemistry with no side affects
• Reduce the dosage and possibly need for prescription medications

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What is Cranial-Sacral Therapy?

Cranial- Sacral Therapy is based on the research and development by William Garner Sutherland, D.O. a student of Andrew Taylor Still D.O. the founder of Osteopathic Medicine.  As a student, Dr. Sutherland was intrigued by the anatomy of the human skull he observed that its formation consisted of 22 boney plates with saw-like edges giving an appearance of motion.  

Restrictions of these boney plates typically occur from various forms of trauma.  At birth, the cartilage plates of the baby’s skull can get restricted from prolonged passage through the birth canal producing irregularity in the shape of the infants head.  This causes increased irritability, challenges with breast feeding, tightness of the neck muscles, and later frequent ear infections.  Children, as well as adults, suffer through many accidents, falls, sports injuries, or motor vehicle accidents which often cause one to experience a concussion.  Multiple head injuries and concussions have a multiplying effect that have far more effect on brain functioning than the more obvious symptoms of headache or chronic sinus congestion.  Effects on brain functioning can include: hyperactivity, challenges with vision, concentration, coordination, and memory, depending on which boney plates are being restricted.  

To this end, whenever a patient presents with one or more of the above conditions I will recommend an initial trial of 6-10 Cranial-Sacral therapy treatments ideally done every week or two to evaluate for improvement.  Any history of trauma, especially after suffering one or more concussions will have the biggest negative affect on one’s brain functioning.

Osteopathic Approach for Optimal Mental Health

The Osteopathic approach to health care considers the whole person and the many factors that affect one’s health.  Dr. LaBeau will help you improve the factors that you can take control of, evaluate and treat for any metabolic imbalances, and address any cranial-sacral restrictions that are negatively affecting your overall performance.  In this way you will have the best opportunity to reach your optimal human potential whether it be physically, mentally, or spiritually.

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GIVE US A CALL IF YOU’VE BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT NATURAL MENTAL HEALTH OPTIONS 

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