Although conventional medicine often views our mental and physical health as two separate components of well-being, they are inextricably linked and can significantly influence each other.

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Eastern and integrative medicine has recognized this connection for hundreds of years, embedding it as a core principle in practices such as yoga, meditation, and acupuncture. Chinese medicine, which has been used to treat disease for more than 2,000 years, is based on the belief that optimal health comes from balancing a person's qi (life force) with the complementary forces of yin (passive) and yang (active). in relationship to their environment.

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As Chinese medicine becomes more popular in Western culture and takes a holistic approach to patient wellness, we have begun to understand how the systems and organs in the body affect our mental health:

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The Gut

The gut, particularly the gut microbiome, has a significant impact on virtually every system in the body, including the brain and hormonal balance. There are up to 1,000 species of bacteria in the human gut microbiome, all of which play different roles in the body. Certain types of these bacteria help produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin (the "feel good hormone"). In fact, 95% of serotonin is produced in the gut. So not only does the gut microbiome help produce necessary chemicals in the brain, it also helps improve mood and mental well-being. In addition, the gut is physically connected to the brain by millions of nerves. This means that the gut microbiome has the ability to influence the brain by helping to control the messages sent to the brain via these nerves. Studies have even shown that people with various mental disorders have different types of bacteria in their guts than controls.

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The Thyroid Gland

Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism in all organs of the body, including the brain. Thyroid hormones are important for brain growth and tissue maintenance. Thyroid hormone deficiency can impair memory and concentration. One of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism is brain fog, or an inability to think clearly. Inflammation and a weakening of the blood-brain barrier due to limited availability of thyroid hormones are usually the cause. Experts believe that for many depressed people, undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction is the cause or main reason for their depression, which is not detected by standard thyroid tests.

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The Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands are known to be associated with a specific aspect of mental health: the stress response. Adrenal health often affects our psychological well-being.

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Our adrenal glands produce hormones that balance blood sugar levels, control our energy levels, and help us cope with stress. When a person is under constant physical or emotional stress, the adrenal glands can become weakened and unable to produce sufficient amounts of important hormones, particularly the hormone cortisol. This leads to a condition commonly known as adrenal fatigue. Cortisol levels rise in the morning to wake us up, then gradually decline throughout the day, leaving us tired when it's time to sleep. When we are stressed, our adrenal glands produce extra cortisol, which triggers the body's stress response. If stress, which can be physical, mental, or emotional, continues for a long period of time, the adrenal glands may not be able to keep up with the increased demands and cortisol levels may drop. Low cortisol levels can cause symptoms such as severe fatigue, low mood, reduced ability to cope with stress, brain fog, difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, anxiety, and depression.

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The Immune System

The connection between the health of the immune system and mental health is not often discussed, but it is incredibly important when it comes to our overall well-being. When the immune system is chronically stressed, as it is in autoimmune diseases, Lyme disease, or chronic infections, the body is in a constant state of systematic inflammation. This immune response also occurs in the brain, damaging nerve cells and disrupting the balance of chemicals in the brain. In addition, studies show that inflammation of the hippocampus (which is critical for learning and memory) caused by infection or chronic stress can have negative effects on brain systems associated with motivation and mental agility.

Other symptoms of encephalitis include headaches, migraines, memory loss, brain fog, nausea, mood swings, and more.