Naturopathy & FSM for
- Mental Health Difficulties - 
in Children, Kids, Teenagers & Adults

Teenage depression, anxiety, mood disorders, sleep disturbances, self-harm, and school refusal are increasingly prevalent issues. While conventional medical treatment typically focuses on pharmaceuticals and psychological talk therapy, a holistic perspective reveals a broader array of contributing factors. Our screen-centric society, coupled with exposure to electrofrequency radiation, isolation from nature, and unhealthy lifestyle habits, exacerbates these problems. Junk food addiction, dysregulated blood sugar levels, social isolation, and nutrient deficiencies further compound the issue, often overlooked by mainstream therapies.

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As a parent, witnessing these challenges can be overwhelming and distressing, with families bearing the brunt of the consequences. However, there is hope. Despite the complexities, the body possesses remarkable resilience and can bounce back given the right support. Addressing the underlying factors behind these issues is crucial for restoring our children's physical and mental well-being. It requires a comprehensive approach to identify and address the multifaceted causes, allowing teens to reclaim their natural vitality and engagement in life.

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Mental Health Problems are on the rise that is clear,

but it is my firm view that these are SYMPTOMS of imbalance,

not 'diseases' to be medicated forevermore.  

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Identifying the underlying drivers of a child's issues is paramount, there are often a multitude of factors at play. In today's world, even the food we consume is often laced with pesticides, preservatives, colorings, and processing agents, putting significant pressure on the body.

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Tap Water

Seems healthy doesn't it, drinking water from the tap. Problem is, that water that has been laced with a multitude of toxins like chloramine, chlorine, Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), Volatile Organic Comounds, and fluoride, to name a few; all of which can  pose risks to health.

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Fluoride

Fluoride is a known neurotoxin, proven to cause "potential" neurological problems in children.  Several studies have linked fluoride exposure to potential neurological problems in children, including cognitive deficits and behavioral issues. A notable meta-analysis conducted by researchers from Harvard School of Public Health and China Medical University combined data from 27 studies and found strong indications that high fluoride exposure may adversely affect cognitive development in children, suggesting a potential decrease in IQ​ (Harvard School of Public Health)​.

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Further research has supported these findings. For example, a study from the University of Florida found that higher fluoride levels in pregnant women were associated with an increased likelihood of their children exhibiting neurobehavioral problems, such as anxiety and difficulty regulating emotions, by age three​ (UF Health - University of Florida Health)​. Additionally, a review published in Environmental Health documented that even low levels of fluoride exposure could induce biochemical changes in brain cells, contributing to developmental neurotoxicity​ (BioMed Central)​.

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These studies are just a few that highlight the need for more research to fully understand the implications of fluoride exposure on children's brain development and to establish safe exposure levels​ (IntechOpen - Open Science Open Minds)​ - and to filter all drinking water with a fluoride reduction filter! 

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Other things to think about...

Removing the obstacles while we support the body with what it needs is what has worked in my clinic.

At the clinic, these are some of the things we look at when reviewing a case.

• Nutritional deficits - for example, low B6 can lead to neurotransmitter imbalances and an excess of oestrogen. Nutrients are the rate limiting step in all Neurotransmitter pathways, from serotonin to dopamine and beyond.

• Antidepressant side effects - many SSRIs can increase suicidal ideation

• Chronic head and neck injuries - even the smallest head trauma can disrupt the delicate interplay of brain activity. Falls, sports, heading the soccer ball, football, rugby, ball sports. The brain stem and neck are the source of nerve supply to the whole body. Impingements anywhere can reduce neural supply, blood supply and diminish function of the physiology, tissue health, organ systems and sensory feedback essential for effortless function in the world. This is often not looked for in teenagers or children, and can put them back in developmental, cognitive and physiological milestones. 

• Chronic concussion - you don't have to lose consciousness to get concussion, and it doesn't always resolve completely. Symptoms of chronic concussion can include - headache, nausea, photophobia, sleepiness, irribility, mental confusion, problems word finding, memory and orientation. 

• Vestibular Injury - this is damage to the delicate balance structure between the ear and the brain. It is often missed, rarely checked for, and can increase the risk of cognitive disorders, nausea, balance issues, anxiety, low threshold overwhelm, sleep disruption, panic attacks and the ability for the eyes to track properly, being an obstruction to reading. People with this injury usually don't like to read, and prefer to be in quiet places with low visual stimulation. I believe this is one of the hidden issues in school refusal. "Vestibular disorders are prevalent and debilitating conditions of the inner ear and brain which affect balance, coordination, and the integration of multisensory inputs. A growing body of research has linked vestibular disorders to cognitive problems, most notably attention, visuospatial perception, spatial memory, and executive function." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10830645/  

• Vaccines - injected neurotoxins, inflammogens and immune disruptors.

• Pesticides - glycophosphate is not only a poison to insects, and it is sprayed on virtually everything we eat, particularly wheat. It crosses the blood brain barrier, drives neuroinflammation, disrupts the gut-brain axis, damages the microbiome, and has far reaching effects on all body systems, research is currently underway, and there is no doubt science will eventually catch up to this logical driver of physical and mental health breakdown. If you aren't already buying organic food, start now. 

• Chronic infections - like chronic tonsillitis, warts, herpes, cold sores, gardnarella, chlamydia, lyme, tick bites, EBV, CMV, etc.

• Drugs - Recreational and pharmaceutical disruption to biochemical balance, microbiome health, and dulling of the body's self-healing homeostatic controls. 

• Microbiome disruption - like hand sanitiser, that we invariable end up ingesting; antibiotic use, nurofen, panodol, sugar, etc.

• Skin products with toxic chemicals in them - whatever you put on your skin is absorbed into your body in 20 seconds. 

• Aerosol deodorants - infusion of toxic chemicals and aluminium straight into the lungs on application, and then into the skin.

• Trauma - mental, emotional, physical

• Social pressure - Social media, peer pressure, bullying

• Mould - inhaled mould toxins can also be neurotoxic and highly inflammatory. 

• Metabolic disruption - pyrroles, genetic snps, MTHFR roadblocks, krebs cycle blockades, thryoid disorders, hormone disorders, menstrual issues ... Functional testing is key to uncovering these hidden drivers, and are important because if you don't test, you don't know. Sometimes the fix can be quite simple. 

• Electromagnetic radiation overexposure is a neurotoxin and disrupts the delicate waves and impulses that run the body. Living in constant WIFI bombardment is highly inflammatory, toxic and disruptive to the delicate process of neurology and function. It is bad for everyone, most especially pregnant women, babies, children, teens and animals. If you haven't hard wired your house for ethernet, put all devices and computers on Aeroplane mode (it's a useless process without this step) and get the WIFI off on the modem, do that first and foremost. Dr Devra Davis will tell you why in her Melbourne University lecture 'The truth about mobile phones and wireless radiation.

• Smartphones - research proves a link between smartphone use and mental health problems in teenagers. The link is obvious and scientifically proven, but when you see your doctor, this is not likely to be part of the conversation. One of the many studies around says: "Evidence from a variety of cross-sectional, longitudinal and empirical studies implicate smartphone and social media use in the increase in mental distress, self-injurious behaviour and suicidality among youth; there is a dose–response relationship, and the effects appear to be greatest among girls.": Smartphones, social media use and youth mental health, Elia Abi-Jaoude, MSc MD, Karline Treurnicht Naylor, MPH MD, and Antonio Pignatiello, MD. CMAJ journal 10.2.21 - if you can talk your teen into doing a flip-phone trial for a month, you could both see improvements by the end of that time. it was a game changer for my teenage son. As soon as he went back to screens, he went backwards. These things are poison. 

• Disconnection from the Earth - we need to be earthed daily, barefoot on the ground. How many of us do that these days?

• Late nights - sleep is so vital for the developing brain of a teen, often problems start when they stop going to bed at a decent time, preferring to be up on their phone, gaming or watching Netflix. Disruption to circadian rhythm is a bid driver of mental health issues. 

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These are just some of the things we cover in Naturopathic sessions. Your child will be reviewed with pretesting with these things in mind. You can probably tell from my tone that I am extremely frustrated that the system does not for any of these things before they put our kids on medication. Not looking after the very biochemical and physiological drivers that our teens need in place to thrive is malpractice in my opinion. Unless you seek to identify the causative drivers of symptoms, you may never get to wellness.

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Could "Disease" just be the call of a body in dire need of help?

The body constantly communicates its state of balance or imbalance. Often, signs of disruption manifest long before a formal diagnosis is made—symptoms such as digestive issues, sleep disturbances, fatigue, recurring infections, and pain serve as early whispers signalling underlying issues. If these whispers go unheeded, they intensify into louder symptoms, eventually leading to a clinical diagnosis. Conditions like IBS, anxiety, depression, and many others are often the culmination of this progression.

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What conventional medicine often overlooks is the innate healing capacity of the body. Rather than viewing symptoms as isolated ailments requiring pharmaceutical intervention, it's crucial to explore the root cause—a metabolic disruption that demands natural, practical solutions. By addressing these underlying imbalances upstream from the symptoms, the body can effectively restore equilibrium and promote healing without solely relying on pharmaceutical interventions.

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Why a holistic approach is important

As a parent, witnessing these challenges can be overwhelming and distressing, with families bearing the brunt of the consequences. However, there is hope. Despite the complexities, the body possesses remarkable resilience and can bounce back given the right support. Addressing the underlying factors behind these issues is crucial for restoring our children's physical and mental well-being. It requires a comprehensive approach to identify and address the multifaceted causes, allowing teens to reclaim their natural vitality and engagement in life.

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Functional Testing 

Some of the tests that I find useful include:

• Advanced Microbiome Mapping

• Organic Acids

• Complete Blood testing with full thyroid panel

• Oral Microbiome Mapping

• Comprehensive Genetic Testing

• Pharmaceutical Pathway Genetic Testing

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These are tests that are not run by GPs. They give us a functional insight into where the body is at initially. Some parents like to do the whole panel of tests, others will do a couple. However testing is not always our starting place, it is where we go after the initial changes are made, and we want to dig deeper. 

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FSM - Supporting Mental Health in Children and Teenagers

Frequency-Specific Microcurrent (FSM) can significantly aid in improving mental health in teenagers by addressing several underlying physiological and neurological factors.

 

FSM uses specific frequencies to promote cellular repair and enhance neurological function, which may help balance neurotransmitter levels and improve mood regulation. By reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, FSM treatment is used to help ease of the intensity of anxiety, depression, fatigue. loss of appetite and sleep disturbance.

 

FSM therapy has been shown to help modulate the autonomic nervous system, calming down the sympathetic nervous system (associated with stress responses) and stimulating parasympathetic activity (associated with relaxation), to promote a calmer and more balanced state of being. This non-invasive and drug-free approach is particularly beneficial for teenagers, offering a holistic method to improve mental health and overall well-being​ in combination with Naturopathy and Nutrition.

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Some Client Stories - two teens

I have seen the most amazing turnaround in teenagers in such a short time. Two of them stand out.

1. Sam - 17 year old boy. His dad brought him to the clinic as a last resort effort to help his son. He had had school refusal for two years, was a heavy marijuana user, junk food addict, suffered severe fatigue, lethargy, brain fog, anxiety, agoraphobia, insomnia and depression.

 

After two weeks he becan to reluctantly attend school, but as he began to feel better and better he was soon looking forward to school again. He slowly came out of the fog, stopped smoking dope, made early nights and sleep a priority, ditched social media, gaming, and re-engaged in the sports he used to love. His dad reported some time later that he was accepted onto the national sports team and was travelling with his chosen sport. We did very basic things, he did the rest.  

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2. Ash - Ash was 15 when his mum brought him to the clinic. He was sporting some big peer-traumas in his history. He had dyslexia, ADD, brain fog, chronic tonsillitis, history of pneumonia, plantar warts, gaming addiction, phone addiction, and was going to bed at 2am then not wanting to go to school the next day. He had relapsing depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and OCD tendencies. By the end of one month on his program, Ash was willingly engaged in his change of diet and routine. He ditched his phone (got a flip phone that he was initially very embarrassed about, but a few 'cool' comments from the girls and he was soon okay with it). He became committed to early nights, his nutritional program, diet changes, and exercise regime because he could feel how much they were helping him.

 

He became a self-motivated 16 year old, engaging with his family, communicating well, and he started helping his depressed and suicidal friends. He had been attending clinic appointments weekly, and took home a Frequency Specific Microcurrent device to run brain integration treatments at home. At the end of the first month his mother had a call from his English teacher (he was failing English) to comment on how happy he is with her son's progress in English. Of his own volition he would go to the library after school and study the days work, he got five weeks ahead of the class in three subjects. 

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In my experience, the teens who don't get this result, are those who are taken down the pharmaceutical path before any of the underlying drivers are seen to, and those who are not interested in getting better (they usually come back later when they are ready).  A holistic integrated approach is what I have seen work efficiently, effectively and consistently. 

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UPDATE - at 17 Ash became captain of his school. Half of the year 10s and 11s voted for him. He was naturally dynamic and heart-centered character and nature. He had maintained his commitment to his health, sleep and self improvement. He was thriving, and fully enjoying life. How rewarding is that? 

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Sessions with Monica

Monica combines the magic of frequency (Biological Resonance & FSM) with the wisdom of Naturopathy. Monica has been working holistically with people for over 25 years. This work supports the body's own capacity for healing, working with the body's own innate intelligence, not against it.  

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Book a free15 chat to see if we can help you feel better sooner.