Healing Your Brain

Mental Health Crisis

Dr. Greenblatt discusses our current mental health crisis as a crisis of care rather than an increase in mental health issues, and the root causes, such as environmental toxins, malnutrition, and a genetic predisposition, create a “perfect storm.”

Functional Medicine Approach

Dr. Hyman and Dr. Greenblatt discuss how treating the body’s biochemical imbalances can significantly improve mental health. Dr. Hyman shares his experiences where treating physical ailments led to improvements in mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and ADHD.

Orthomolecular Psychiatry (Using the right amounts of natural substances, like vitamins and minerals, to maintain health and treat diseases).

Dr. Greenblatt discusses his background in orthomolecular psychiatry, which focuses on correcting molecular imbalances with nutrients. This approach has been foundational in his practice.

Personalized Treatment

Highlighting the complexity of mental health, Dr. Greenblatt explains that even patients with the same diagnosis may have different underlying causes. Personalized treatment plans based on comprehensive laboratory testing are critical.

Common Nutritional Deficiencies

Dr. Greenblatt highlights common deficiencies in patients with mental health issues, including B12, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. He also discusses how low levels of amino acids can affect mental health, particularly in women.

Environmental Factors

Dr. Greenblatt notes the impact of environmental toxins and social factors like social media on mental health. He mentions that many children show undetectable levels of lithium, which is essential for brain health, possibly due to modern changes in diet and water sources.

Lithium and Mental Health

Low-dose nutritional lithium (not prescription lithium) can profoundly reduce irritability and aggression. Dr. Greenblatt shares cases where small doses of lithium dramatically improved symptoms in patients with family histories of addiction and aggression.

Objective Testing and Treatment

The video stresses the importance of objective testing, such as hair analysis for minerals and heavy metals, to develop effective treatment plans. This approach can uncover hidden deficiencies and guide personalized interventions.

Eating Disorders

Dr. Greenblatt discusses how eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa, are often linked to zinc deficiency and malnutrition. Addressing these deficiencies can lead to significant improvements in patients.

Personality Disorders

Nutritional interventions can also help with personality disorders by addressing underlying biochemical imbalances that contribute to symptoms like irritability and aggression.

Bottom Line

Dr. Greenblatt and Dr. Hyman’s conversation underscores a shift towards a more integrative and personalized approach to mental health, focusing on the root causes and using functional medicine principles to treat the whole person.