The Physiological Roots of Mental Health: A Functional Medicine Approach to Autoimmunity & Childhood Trauma with Randall Gates

Functional medicine and psychoneuroimmunology is on the rise as a more integrative way of understanding the physiological roots of mental health concerns. For decades we’ve been obsessed with the theory that mental health concerns are solely about chemical imbalances in the brain - but that’s not what the research has shown. The truth is much more complex since environmental, societal factors, childhood trauma, gut health, and so much more impact our brain health. In this episode, Dr. Randall Gates, a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist discusses the profound impact of childhood trauma on long-term disease, the intriguing connection between schizophrenia, psychosis, and gluten, and the significance of inflammation in the brain. We talk about why going gluten free isn’t the only fix and why sometimes mental health issues are the primary if not, only, sign of an underlying autoimmune issue. We also delve into obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and PANS/PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), as well as Hashimoto's disease, the most common autoimmune disorder, often manifesting as brain fog and depression. Moreover, we delve into the potential synergy between functional medicine and psychiatry, and why our current system needs an integrated approach.

“Needless to say that’s why childhood trauma is so important. We have individuals walking around with, for all intents and purposes, dominant fear centers, and then that can have hormonal consequences, predisposing us to depression, anxiety, and irritable bowel syndrome. There’s some discussion in the literature, they wanted to rename it ‘Irritable brain syndrome’ because the vast majority of IBS patients have depression or anxiety.”

— Dr. Randall Gates, Depth Work Podcast Episode 49

Also in this episode:

how childhood trauma makes you more likely to develop an autoimmune condition
links between schizophrenia, celiac and gluten sensitivity
brain inflammation and the gut brain connection
the role of diet and food allergies
OCD, anxiety and PANS/PANDAS
Hashimotos diesease
what tests you may request from your doctor if you’re struggling with mental health concerns
how functional medicine can work with psychiatry

“It’s not just some theoretical, mysterious connection. We really have so many steps of this physiologic chain to the brain. A lot of people think, ‘oh, celiac disease… I don’t have physical symptoms like you’re talking about, or GI symptoms. How can it be affecting the brain?’ And what we find in schizophrenia is that rather than what’s called tissue transglutaminase 2, which affects your gut, They have tissue transglutaminase 6 antibodies that affect the brain. So it’s a celiac disease like response, but it impacts the brain, not the gut.”

— Dr. Randall Gates, Depth Work Podcast Episode 49

About Dr. Randall Gates:

For the past thirteen years, Dr. Randall Gates, D.C., Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, has dedicated his life to helping people discover the causes of their chronic health conditions. Earlier in life, Dr. Gates enjoyed athletics and excelled at football and the discus throw. While in college, Dr. Gates even aimed to make the Olympics in the discus throw! Throughout his life, his passion for understanding the body and human performance has remained unchanged. Shortly after graduating in 2006 with a B.S. in Biology, Dr. Gates started his doctoral program in Chiropractic. During Chiropractic school, he was introduced to Functional Neurology. When he learned about Functional Neurology, everything clicked! He became fascinated/obsessed with neurology and spent much of his free time studying the brain in-depth including its dysregulations and rehabilitation. In 2009, Dr. Gates graduated from Life Chiropractic College West receiving his Doctorate of Chiropractic, as well as being Valedictorian of his class. Simultaneously, he was completing 300 additional credit hours in the field of neurology, and in 2010, Dr. Gates passed the rigorous American Chiropractic Neurology Board Examination. At 28 years old, Dr. Gates attained his designation as a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist- one of five hundred in the world. Dr. Gates has since completed 250 hours of additional training in Traumatic Brain Injuries, Vestibular Rehabilitation and Movement Disorders. He continues to spend countless hours researching conditions that are not well understood, as well as conditions that are treated primarily through pharmacological medications. When the rest of his team goes home, he is often working well into the night.

Dr. Gates’ Website

DEPTH Work - A Holistic Mental Health Podcast

This is a space for those who love to dive into the underbelly, to revel in the mystery, question assumptions about what is normal, play in both/and, and honour the wide range of human emotions.

As a complex trauma survivor, holistic counsellor and co-founder of a mental health institute, I learned that there is immense wisdom in our pain and what we call crazy is just what we are yet not willing to understand and explore. Let’s dive in!

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