Depression is known to have multiple underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. The high failure rate of conventional pharmacotherapies may, in part, be due to their narrow mechanism of action, which primarily targets serotonin and other monoamines, but does not address the varied underlying drivers which cause depressive illnesses. The incidence of mood disorders has surged since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and natural medicine practitioners are well placed to meet an urgent demand for holistic mental health care.
This session will cover the role of the HPA axis as a neurobiological mediator of gut-brain-immune interactions and blood-brain-barrier permeability in depression. This understanding will lead to the identification of several broad-acting herbal, nutritional and probiotic interventions, which target these varied pathophysiological drivers.
The discussion will include an evidence-based assessment of different forms of curcumin, which questions commonly held assumptions around bioavailability-enhanced curcuminoid formulations, and the implications for prescribing in mental health.