Dr. Darin Ingels connects the dots between chronic infections (like Lyme), the gut–brain axis, and neuroinflammation—explaining “leaky gut/leaky brain,” vagus-nerve signaling, mast-cell activation, and why mood, brain fog, and sleep often shift with immune activity. He shares practical supports—from joy practices to potent, targeted herbs—and how to vet supplement quality for safety and results.

Key Takeaways

• Leaky gut and “leaky brain” often travel together; restoring gut function improves brain function.
• The vagus nerve can transmit gut signals that open the blood–brain barrier and drive neuro-inflammation.
• In Lyme and MS, immune cross-reactivity and mast-cell activation can inflame brain and nerves, contributing to anxiety, depression, OCD, and brain fog.
• Joy and regulation tools matter: music, humor, nature, and realistic activity resets help shift mental state on hard days.
• Herbal medicine is multi-targeted: combinations can modulate inflammation, immunity, hormones, and circulation—often at low doses with strong effects.
• Adaptogens to balance stress/cortisol: eleuthero (Siberian ginseng), rhodiola, holy basil, Ashwagandha—choose by symptom pattern (e.g., “tired-and-wired”).
• Sleep supports: lemon balm, chamomile, passionflower, kava, California poppy; nutrients like magnesium and 5-HTP/L-tryptophan help with staying asleep.
• Pain/inflammation options: highly bioavailable curcumin, Boswellia (frankincense), white willow bark, and devil’s claw (Harpagophytum).
• Quality matters: look for GMP certification and third-party testing; request Certificates of Analysis; be cautious with heat-exposed or counterfeit online products.
• Forms and safety: tinctures, capsules, teas, glycerites—many herbs are GRAS with low toxicity when sourced and dosed correctly.

Integrative mental health isn’t brain-only; it’s gut, immune, nerves, and daily rhythms working together. With clearer roots (infection, mast cells, barrier integrity) and practical tools (tailored herbs, joyful resets, vetted supplements), you can calm neuroinflammation and support steadier mood, sleep, and cognition—step by step.

About Your Hosts:

Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP
Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out.

Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM
Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University’s Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women’s wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen.

For more information, please visit https://myautoimmunemd.com.