The Naturopathic Co.
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Modern naturopathy acknowledges that there is no single causative factor in psychological disorders, instead it is recognised that there are a range of factors including stress, dietary, and lifestyle habits (such as nutritional deficiency, gut microbiome, genetics, and hormonal factors).
How you feel day to day is shaped by far more than your thoughts. Your gut, hormones, blood sugar, nutrient levels, sleep and stress response all have a direct effect on mood, anxiety and emotional resilience. When one of these is out of balance, you can feel flat, anxious, irritable or overwhelmed without an obvious reason.
At The Naturopathic Co., our naturopaths and nutritionists take a whole-body approach to mood. We look for the physical drivers that may be affecting how you feel, and build a practical plan to address them. We see patients in person at our South Yarra clinic in Melbourne and via telehealth Australia-wide, and we work alongside your GP, psychologist or counsellor where that support is needed.
If you are living with depression, naturopathic care can sit alongside the support of your GP and mental health team. We never ask you to stop prescribed medication, and we check for any interactions before recommending herbs or supplements.
The gut is home to trillions of bacteria, some beneficial and some less helpful. An imbalance, often called dysbiosis, can follow repeated antibiotics, a parasite or gut infection, ongoing stress or a diet low in fibre and variety. Gut bacteria help produce and regulate neurotransmitters, and a large proportion of the body’s serotonin is made in the gut. This is one reason gut health and mood are so closely linked, and why many people notice their mood improve as their digestion improves. Read more about our approach to digestive health and gut microbiome testing.
Ongoing stress keeps the nervous system on high alert, which can leave you anxious, irritable and exhausted at the same time. See our pages on stress, sleep and the nervous system, nervous system dysregulation and stress and adrenal fatigue.
Skipping meals or relying on sugar and refined carbohydrates can cause blood sugar to drop sharply, which triggers a stress response. The result can feel very similar to anxiety: shakiness, irritability, a racing heart and low mood. Regular meals with enough protein often make a noticeable difference.
Low iron, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc and omega-3s are all linked with low mood, anxiety and poor stress resilience. Read more about nutritional deficiencies.
Oestrogen and progesterone influence serotonin and GABA, which is why many women notice mood changes in the week before their period, after having a baby or during perimenopause. Thyroid function also has a big effect on mood. See hormonal imbalance and thyroid health.
Poor sleep and low mood feed each other. If your mind won’t switch off at night, see our pages on stress and sleep, feeling tired but wired and our article on why you can feel tired even after a full night’s sleep.
Chronic low-grade inflammation can affect the brain as well as the body, and is increasingly recognised as a contributor to low mood. Gut health, diet and stress all play a part.
Every plan is individual. Depending on what is driving your symptoms, support may include:
Rebekah is a naturopath at The Naturopathic Co. with a particular interest in stress, anxiety, sleep and the nervous system. She works with people experiencing anxiety, overwhelm, poor sleep, low energy and the physical symptoms that come with a nervous system that has been under pressure. You can read her nervous system FAQs, meet her on our Meet the Team page, or book a consultation with Rebekah.
Yes. A naturopath can look at the physical factors that affect mood, such as gut health, blood sugar, nutrient levels, hormones, sleep and stress, and support them with nutrition, herbal medicine and lifestyle changes. This works best alongside psychological support where that is needed.
Yes. The gut and brain communicate constantly through the gut-brain axis, and gut bacteria help produce and regulate neurotransmitters. Many of our patients notice their mood improve as their gut health improves.
Yes. We never ask you to stop prescribed medication, and we check carefully for interactions before recommending any herbs or supplements, working with your prescribing doctor where needed.
Yes. Mood changes before a period are often linked to hormonal balance, nutrient status and stress, which we can assess and support.
Yes. We see patients Australia-wide via telehealth, including Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Hobart, with the same thorough assessment and written plan as an in-person Melbourne consultation.
The Naturopathic Co. is a Melbourne naturopath and nutritionist clinic with 190+ verified five-star Google reviews. You can see us in person as a Melbourne naturopath or South Yarra naturopath, or online as a Sydney naturopath, Brisbane naturopath, Adelaide naturopath, Perth naturopath, Canberra naturopath, Hobart naturopath or Gold Coast naturopath. Read what our patients say on our results page.
If your mood, anxiety or stress levels are affecting your quality of life, our team is here to help you find what is driving it. Book your initial consultation in person in Melbourne or via telehealth Australia-wide.
Book your consultation with The Naturopathic Co. today. Australia-wide via telehealth and in-person in Melbourne.
