Mental Health Treatment That Treats Your Whole Body—Not Just Your Brain

Anxiety, depression, ADHD, brain fog—these aren't just "chemical imbalances." They're symptoms of gut dysfunction, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and hormone imbalances. We fix the root cause.

You've tried SSRIs, SNRIs, stimulants, therapy. Maybe they helped a little. Maybe they made things worse. Maybe you're still struggling, still searching for answers.

Here's what most psychiatrists and therapists miss: Your brain doesn't exist in isolation. It's connected to your gut (90% of serotonin is made there), your hormones (thyroid affects mood, cortisol affects anxiety), your immune system (inflammation causes depression), and your mitochondria (brain fog = energy crisis in neurons).

At Rooted Health Clinic, we practice metabolic psychiatry—treating mental health by addressing metabolism, inflammation, gut health, and nutrition first. Not instead of medication—alongside it, or sometimes replacing it entirely.

We don't replace your psychiatrist or therapist. We work alongside them—addressing the metabolic and physical root causes they're not trained to see.

WHAT WE TREAT

Depression — Not just "low serotonin." Often driven by inflammation, gut dysfunction, thyroid problems, nutrient deficiencies, or mitochondrial dysfunction.

Anxiety & Panic Attacks — Often caused by gut-brain axis dysfunction, blood sugar dysregulation, cortisol imbalances, magnesium deficiency, or histamine intolerance.

ADHD (Adult & Pediatric) — Not just a dopamine problem. Worsened by gut dysfunction, food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, blood sugar crashes, and sleep problems.

Brain Fog — Caused by inflammation, thyroid dysfunction, gut issues, mold toxins, or nutrient deficiencies.

Bipolar Disorder — Metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and mitochondrial problems worsen symptoms. We support conventional treatment with metabolic optimization.

OCD & Intrusive Thoughts — Often driven by gut dysfunction (PANDAS/PANS), inflammation, or neurotransmitter imbalances.

PTSD & Trauma — HPA axis dysfunction, inflammation, and gut health all play a role.

OUR APPROACH: TREAT THE METABOLISM, HEAL THE BRAIN

Step 1: Start With Proven Metabolic Interventions

Ketogenic Diet — The Foundation of Metabolic Psychiatry

Dr. Chris Palmer at Harvard has shown ketogenic diets can treat depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, and ADHD by:

• Stabilizing blood sugar (no crashes = no mood swings)

• Reducing brain inflammation

• Improving mitochondrial function

• Increasing GABA (calming neurotransmitter)

• Stabilizing glutamate (excitatory neurotransmitter)

Gut Healing — Fix the Gut-Brain Axis

90% of serotonin is made in your gut:

• Elimination diet (remove gluten, dairy, sugar 4-6 weeks)

• Probiotics + prebiotics

• Anti-inflammatory support (omega-3s, curcumin, vitamin D)

• Gut-healing nutrients (L-glutamine, zinc, collagen)

Blood Sugar Stabilization

Crashes cause anxiety, panic attacks, irritability, brain fog. Low-glycemic, high-protein meals. Eliminate refined carbs and sugar.

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Mitochondrial Support

Your brain uses 20% of your body's energy:

• CoQ10 (200-400mg daily)

• L-Carnitine

• NAD+ precursors (NR or NMN)

• B-complex vitamins (B1, B2, B3)

• Magnesium, Alpha-lipoic acid

Targeted Supplementation:

• Omega-3s (2-4g/day for depression, ADHD, anxiety)

• Magnesium glycinate (300-600mg/day)

• Methylfolate + methylB12

• Vitamin D (5,000-10,000 IU if deficient)

• Zinc (especially ADHD)

• SAMe (depression), L-theanine (anxiety/focus)

• Ashwagandha (cortisol regulation)

Hormone Optimization:

• Thyroid (low T3 causes depression, brain fog)

• Cortisol (HPA axis dysfunction worsens anxiety)

• Sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone affect mood)

Sleep Restoration:

• Sleep hygiene, melatonin production

• Magnesium, glycine, L-theanine

• Address cortisol timing

Step 2: Test When Initial Protocols Don't Fully Resolve Symptoms

Inflammatory Markers: CRP, ESR, cytokines

Nutrient Panels: Vitamin D, B12, folate, magnesium, zinc, omega-3 index, homocysteine, iron

Thyroid: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, antibodies

Hormones: 4-point cortisol, sex hormones, DHEA

Gut (if needed): GI-MAP, SIBO breath test, food sensitivity

Mitochondrial: Organic Acids Test (OAT)

Methylation: MTHFR genetic testing

Toxins: Heavy metals if exposure history

Testing optional — only when initial protocols don't fully resolve symptoms.