Anxiety and Depression: A Naturopathic Doctor's Root-Cause Approach to Brain Energy and Mood

Constant worry. A heavy, flat mood. Burnout. Feeling tired but wired, with a mind that won't settle. If anxiety or depression is wearing you down, and the standard approaches haven't helped enough, there may be a part of the picture that hasn't been looked at.

I'm Dr. Elie Klein, ND, a naturopathic doctor (naturopath) with 23 years of clinical practice. My approach starts with something that often gets overlooked: the energy your brain and nerve cells are able to produce.

Who this page is for

This page is for you if you have:

• Persistent anxiety, worry, or a sense of dread
• Low mood, a flat or empty feeling, or loss of motivation
• Burnout, or feeling "tired but wired"
• Brain fog, or trouble concentrating and remembering
• Poor sleep, or waking in the night with a racing mind
• Mood changes around perimenopause, menopause, or with a thyroid problem
• Treatment that hasn't given you the improvement you hoped for

Ready to talk? Start with a free 15-minute conversation, or book your first consultation.

Book a Consultation or a Free 15-Minute Call

What most people miss: it's often about energy

Depression and anxiety are often explained as a chemical imbalance, such as low serotonin. In my approach, they are, at least in part, conditions of a low energy state in brain cells and nerve cells. When these cells can't produce enough energy, you feel it as low mood, anxiety, fatigue, and brain fog. Published research increasingly points to a metabolic connection. For example, a 2024 study in PNAS examined brain tissue from older adults and found that higher negative mood was linked to lower amounts of the proteins that make up the energy machinery of brain mitochondria, while higher well-being was linked to greater amounts. You can read the study here: Psychosocial experiences are associated with human brain mitochondrial biology. Psychiatrist Dr. Christopher Palmer describes this view in Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness.

What about difficult life events?

Difficult life situations and psychological trauma absolutely contribute to mental health, and they deserve real support. But two people can go through very similar circumstances, and one develops anxiety or depression while the other doesn't. In my clinical view, a key difference is often brain metabolism: how well your cells make and use energy. That is why I look beyond the situation itself and ask what is affecting your energy.

Medication and your safety

If you take an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication, please don't stop it on your own. Any change should be made gradually, with your prescribing doctor. My role is to look at the underlying factors affecting how you feel, and to work alongside your doctor.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline), or call 911.

My root-cause, functional medicine approach

I look for what may be draining your brain's energy and affecting your mood. That can include:

• Thyroid and metabolic function
• Blood sugar swings
• Hormone balance, including progesterone, pregnenolone, estrogen, and cortisol
• Poor sleep
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Chronic stress
• Gut health

Your plan is individualized. It can include nutritional and dietary changes, correcting nutrient deficiencies, herbal medicines, and, when appropriate, bioidentical hormones, which can be very helpful in certain situations. I support you in putting it into practice. See also my approach to sleep, fatigue, menopause, and thyroid problems.

How we work together

1. Before your visit: you complete a health questionnaire and send me your recent lab work.
2. Your consultation: a one-on-one video visit where we go through your symptoms and history, unhurried.
3. Targeted testing: only what's needed.
4. Your plan: individualized, with my support.
5. Follow-up: we track your symptoms and adjust.

What we aim for

Calmer days, steadier mood, clearer thinking, better sleep, and your energy back. If you'd like examples of the results other people have experienced, reach out to me and I'll send you a link.

Virtual care across Ontario, or in person in Vaughan (Greater Toronto Area)

Appointments are by secure video from the comfort of your home, whether you live in Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Mississauga, Hamilton, Ottawa, or anywhere else in Ontario. If you prefer a one-on-one visit in person, you're welcome to come to my home office in Vaughan, in the Greater Toronto Area. Most extended health plans in Ontario cover naturopathic care.

Book a Consultation or a Free 15-Minute Call

Related reading

• Depression and energy: restoring vitality naturally
• Beyond the blues: how chronic stress fuels depression
• Natural solutions for stress, anxiety and depression
• Anxiety and poor sleep: a naturopathic doctor's approach
• Serotonin is not a feel-good hormone

Frequently asked questions

Can a naturopath help with anxiety and depression?

Yes. As a naturopathic doctor, I look for the underlying factors that affect brain energy and mood, and build an individualized plan.

Is depression really a brain energy problem?

In my approach, depression and anxiety are at least partly conditions of low energy in brain and nerve cells. Research is increasingly exploring a metabolic connection. Life events matter too, and we address both.

What causes anxiety and depression besides low serotonin?

Thyroid and metabolic problems, blood sugar swings, hormone imbalance, poor sleep, nutrient deficiencies, chronic stress, and gut health can all affect how your brain produces and uses energy.

Can I use natural treatments while taking an antidepressant?

Often yes, but please tell me about everything you take, because some supplements and herbs can interact with medication. Never stop a medication on your own. Any change should be made gradually with your prescribing doctor.

Can hormones affect anxiety and depression?

Yes. Hormones such as progesterone, estrogen, thyroid hormones, and cortisol influence mood, sleep, and energy. When appropriate, bioidentical hormones can be very helpful.

What is burnout, and can it be treated?

Burnout is a state of exhaustion from prolonged stress, often with poor sleep, low mood, and anxiety. We look at what is draining your energy and build a plan to restore it.

Can anxiety and depression care be done virtually?

Yes. I see patients across Ontario by secure video, from my home office in Vaughan, in the Greater Toronto Area.

Is naturopathic care covered by insurance?

Most extended health plans in Ontario cover naturopathic care, so your visits may cost you little to nothing out of pocket.

This page is educational and isn't meant to replace your doctor's care. If you are in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 or call 911.