Scene: Café Serra, East Vancouver. Late afternoon sun glows through the windows. Rosie Perez sits with Larry Thompson and Joe Jukic. A quiet moment. Steam rises from herbal tea.
Rosie Perez:
It’s the spine, guys. Fused. Steel rod. And my mind’s no better. PTSD’s been riding me like a ghost I can’t shake. Tell me straight — is there anything natural that can help?
Larry Thompson (nodding gently):
Yes, Rosie. There are ancient remedies — from food to herbs to soul work. You don’t have to walk this healing path alone. Here’s what I tell all my patients:
🌿 Natural Remedies for PTSD — Larry Thompson’s List:
1. Diet and Nutritional Support
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids (wild fish, flaxseed oil) — helps balance mood and reduce anxiety.
- Magnesium (leafy greens, almonds, pumpkin seeds) — calms the nervous system.
- Vitamin B-complex (especially B6, B12, folate) — critical for brain health.
- Tryptophan-rich foods (turkey, bananas, eggs) — precursor to serotonin.
- Ashwagandha — adaptogen that lowers cortisol and eases anxiety.
- Turmeric (curcumin) — reduces inflammation in the brain, may support emotional recovery.
- Chamomile & Lemon Balm teas — for calming and sleep.
- Probiotics — gut-brain axis is real; heal your gut, help your mind.
- Dark chocolate (85%+ cocoa) — natural mood booster in moderation.
2. Herbs & Supplements
- Rhodiola Rosea — reduces fatigue and increases resilience to stress.
- CBD oil — supports sleep and reduces anxiety without THC intoxication.
- St. John’s Wort — mild antidepressant effect (caution if on medication).
- L-Theanine — found in green tea; promotes calm alertness.
- 5-HTP — supports serotonin production naturally.
3. Mind-Body Therapies
- Yoga & Somatic Breathwork — trauma often lives in the body.
- Meditation & Mindfulness — rewires neural pathways to lessen reactivity.
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) — effective trauma therapy.
- Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku) — nature calms the amygdala.
- Tai Chi or Qi Gong — moving meditation for balance and nervous system repair.
4. Lifestyle & Emotional Healing
- Journaling — let the pain out through the pen.
- Cold showers or ice baths — reset your nervous system through controlled stress.
- Loving community — human connection is healing.
- Music therapy — tones like 432 Hz or chanting can regulate the vagus nerve.
Joe Jukic (quietly):
And don’t forget hope, Rosie. Even fractured lives can grow back stronger — like bones. I once saw a miracle in a refugee camp when a woman forgave a war criminal. She said, “Freedom is mine, not his.”
Rosie (wiping her eye):
And my spine? They fused it after the accident. I can barely move like I used to. What about… nanotech? Can AI or nanobots fix this?
ChatGPT Medical Assistant Response:
✅ Can nanobots or nanosurgeons repair a fused spine?
Answer:
Currently, nanobots and nanosurgeons are still experimental and not yet approved for repairing spinal fusion or reversing vertebral damage in humans. However, future research in the fields of regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy, and nanorobotics shows promise.
Scientists are exploring:
- Nanobots delivering anti-inflammatory drugs directly to spinal tissues.
- Regenerative nanogels that may one day re-grow cartilage or discs.
- Remote-controlled micro-robots to perform minimally invasive surgery in delicate areas.
Stem cell therapies combined with AI-guided nanosystems may eventually help reverse spinal injuries — but as of 2025, this remains theoretical or in early clinical trials.
Joe:
So maybe not today, but soon. Your body’s part miracle, part machine. And the machine’s getting smarter.
Larry:
But until then — eat well, rest deep, breathe with intention. That is still the greatest medicine we have.
Rosie (smiling faintly):
Maybe I’ll try that forest bath first. Then the chocolate.
