"Mental Health and GABA Signaling"
Presenter: Peter Bongiorno, ND
Original Date: May 19, 2024
Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) is the most calming substance in the body. We know when a patient takes a benzodiazepine which raises GABA, in the short term they feel more relaxed and generally happy. However, benzos are not healthy medications for they encourage dependence, tolerance and end up changing the brain in ways that can make it much harder to heal from an affective disorder in the long term.
Please join Dr. Peter Bongiorno, as he discusses GABA, this miraculous molecule of emotion. He will discuss GABA receptor structure and the reasons your patients have lowered GABA levels. Then he will discuss testing to understand your patient’s physiology (like hormones, nutrient levels, inflammation, gut tests, genetics and more) that can help you understand why a patient has challenges with their GABA system.
Finally, Peter will dive into his 20 years of clinical practice and review naturopathic protocols (lifestyle, foods, nature, supplements) designed to raise the body’s natural levels of GABA, as well as discuss how to use your new knowledge of the GABA receptor to create a patient – specific protocol that will naturally hit the right spots on the GABA receptor. This lecture will bring you clinical pearls and insights you can employ with your patients the next day.
Bio: Peter Bongiorno, ND, LAc’s mission is to improve health of his patients by using the most natural means possible, and to change the model of modern psychiatry in the process. He brings a special blend of compassion, warmth, and intelligent common sense to each patient visit which allows for optimal individualized care.
Dr. Peter has been in practice since 2003 with thriving practices in both New York City, Long Island. He also works with many clients from around the world via telehealth. He now consults with functional medicine practices, and teachesnaturopathic and integrative care, offering his near two-decade experience to help create effective integrative medicine programs.
In the early and mid 1990’s Dr. Bongiorno was a research assistant first at Yale School of Medicine, and then at the NIH’s National Institutes of Mental Health’s department of Clinical Neuroendocrinology before training at Bastyr University in naturopathic medicine and acupuncture. He is a past president of the NY Association of Naturopathic Physicians and has been active in working towards gaining naturopathic licensing in NY.
A major contributing author to the Textbook of Natural Medicine (Elsevier), his own books focus on using natural medicines for mental health care. In 2010 he authored Healing Depression (CCNM press) the first comprehensive textbook designed to teach physicians about natural medicine for mood support. He followed in 2015 with the professional text Holistic Solutions for Anxiety and Depression (Norton). His public books include How Come They’re Happy and I’m Not, (Red Wheel / Conari Press) and Put Anxiety Behind You: The Complete Drug Free Program (Red Wheel/Conari). His books have been translated into Italian and Chinese. He also has numerous peer-reviewed research publications, book chapters and articles written for the medical community.
Dr. Peter is a sought-after lecturer and has been a featured speaker at the top integrative medicine conferences, including A4M in Las Vegas, The Integrative Healthcare Symposium in New York and the Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Conferences. He enjoys teaching functional medicine and health practitioners who want to learn how to use natural medicines with their patients though webinars platforms. Peter formulates physician grade nutraceuticals for health and mood support which have supported scores of patients throughout the world over the last decade.
Peter has been playing the drums since he was 11 years old, and feels like his best self while playing and recording music. He enjoys live music of all types, reading excellent literature, and meditating on West coast sunsets. He most loves spending time with his daughter Sophia.
NUNM is accredited by the North American Naturopathic Continuing Education Council (NANCEAC). This activity qualifies for 1.5 General CEUs.