Supporting Digestive & Nervous System Health with Naturopathic Medicine
Welcome back to my interview-style blog series at Tiny Cottage Therapy focused on how different healing professionals support mental health and wellbeing.
This goal is to share perspective from different professionals on how therapy and holistic approaches can work together to support clients. My goal is to offer readers an accessible, educational resource that highlights the value of integrated care, not to promote any specific treatment or provider.
Today, I’m Interviewing Dr. Leo Mountain
Dr. Mountain is a naturopathic doctor who specializes in gut health, nervous system support, men’s health, hormone imbalances, LGBTQ+ & gender-affirming care, and other complex illnesses. Dr. Mountain supports patients online in California and in-person in San Diego. We are here to talk about how nutrition and craniosacral therapy can support holistic health.
How did you become interested in gut health and nervous system support?
My interest really grew out of two parallel paths: my clinical training and my own healing work. Early on, I became fascinated by how chronic pain, trauma, and digestive issues often show up together. When I trained in craniosacral therapy and regenerative medicine, I started seeing the nervous system not as a separate piece of health, but as the foundation that everything else organizes around.
In my personal healing, body-based work helped me feel more grounded and connected in my own system. When my nervous system became more attuned, I could process difficult experiences without feeling like I was reliving them. Talk therapy modalities like IFS and EMDR were also incredibly important for integrating all the parts of myself.
All of this made the gut–brain connection feel not just theoretical, but deeply real. And the science is compelling—about 90–95% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the digestive tract. That still amazes me. It means that what we eat, how we digest, and how safe our bodies feel all intricately shape our emotional landscape.
What are some benefits of people struggling with their mental health getting their digestive system looked at by a professional?
When someone is dealing with anxiety, depression, or chronic stress, looking at their digestion can offer another doorway in. The gut and brain are in constant conversation, and when the digestive system is inflamed, sluggish, or overwhelmed, it can amplify emotional symptoms or make it harder to experience stability.
Addressing gut health doesn’t replace therapy or medication—it complements them. For some people, supporting digestion reduces physical discomfort, stabilizes energy, and decreases the “background noise” in the body, which can make emotional work feel more accessible.
Sometimes, simply understanding that their body isn’t “working against them” but trying to communicate can be incredibly relieving.
What are some common ways you see the digestive system being impacted by mental health?
Stress has a very real physiological impact. Chronic activation of the stress response shifts blood flow away from digestion, alters motility, and changes how the gut microbiome functions. This can show up as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, food sensitivities, reflux, or a sense that the gut just isn’t working like it used to.
For many people, digestive symptoms are the body’s way of speaking. When we slow down and listen, they often point toward a dysregulated nervous system or a life that has demanded too much for too long.
Can you explain craniosacral therapy for people who may not be familiar?
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on approach that helps the body shift out of stress mode and into the parasympathetic state—the place where healing, digestion, and emotional regulation happen. Using light touch, I’m essentially listening to the body’s tension patterns and supporting them as they unwind at their own pace.
Most people feel deeply relaxed and notice improvements in sleep quality after just one session. It can create a sense of being grounded, safe, and more connected to themselves. It’s subtle work, but the shifts can be profound.
In your experience, how have you seen craniosacral help people struggling with their mental health?
Craniosacral can help soften the physical patterns that keep people in a heightened state of alertness. I often see reduced anxiety, improved sleep, easier emotional processing, and a decrease in hypervigilance. For some, it helps bridge the gap between knowing something cognitively and feeling it somatically.
A surprising number of people also notice their pain levels decrease, which can make it easier to engage in daily life and in therapy. When the body feels more regulated, people often say they feel more like themselves.
What are some specific ways gut and nervous system support can help LGBTQ+ populations?
LGBTQ+ individuals often navigate forms of stress that can accumulate in the nervous system over time. Living in environments where safety or belonging isn’t always guaranteed can affect hormones, digestion, and how the body processes stress.
Body-based work can offer a counter-experience—one of safety, attunement, and connection. Supporting the gut and nervous system can help reduce inflammation, stabilize mood, and ease some of the physical effects of chronic stress. For many LGBTQ+ patients, having a provider who honors the whole person—including identity, lived experience, and the body’s wisdom—can be deeply healing.
Are there any misconceptions about naturopathic medicine or craniosacral therapy that you’d like to address?
A common misconception is that natural medicine means avoiding all conventional treatments. In reality, psychiatric medications can be lifesaving, and no one should ever feel ashamed for needing medication to support them.
For me, the question is never “natural or conventional?” It’s:
“What combination of approaches will support this person’s life, safety, and healing?”
The most meaningful care often blends different modalities in a thoughtful, collaborative way.
How can naturopathic doctors partner with psychotherapists to support holistic health?
There is so much potential in collaboration. We get a full-spectrum approach, when psychotherapists help people explore their emotional landscapes and internal systems, and naturopathic doctors support the physical foundations—digestion, hormones, inflammation, sleep, nervous system regulation.
We can support each other with warm handoffs, shared language around regulation, and a mutual understanding that the mind and body are always in dialogue. When we work together, clients often feel more supported, more understood, and more capable of healing on multiple levels.
Disclaimer:
This interview is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the individual professionals and do not necessarily represent Tiny Cottage Therapy. If you are seeking medical or mental health support, please consult a qualified provider in your area. While we sometimes share professional referrals, this interview is not a paid or promotional partnership.