Dr Taal Bastien, ND

06/06/2025

29/03/2025

Wishing you all a blessed Eid! Eid Mubarak!

28/02/2025

Wishing you a blessed Ramadan, filled with peace and joy 🌙

25/12/2024

Happy Holidays🎄

Holiday hours:
• Sunday, Dec 29: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Monday, Dec 30: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Tuesday, Dec 31: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Sunday, Jan 5: Return to regular hours

05/01/2023

How would chronic stress be diagnosed? 🤨

The best method is to speak to a mental health professional who will be able to interview a patient and gather information about the overall presence of stress. 🙌

Given the wide range of symptoms and linked conditions, the diagnosis may require input from other specialists. An integrative approach is best when it comes to diagnosing stress. A endocrinologist may be asked to help if issues appear to be related to metabolic problems, for instance.

Stress biology, such as stress hormones and other physiological changes related to stress, may also perpetuate a chronic stress state and related conditions, so assessing those factors is also important.

How is chronic stress treated? 🤔

Patients with chronic stress often receive a treatment plan that targets their specific symptoms.

A patient with digestive issues rooted in stress could go on medication, change his or her diet and also focus on stress reduction. It’s better to address these earlier, as a preventative approach.

Here are some stress management recommendations:

🏃🏽‍♀️ Exercising

🍎 Eating healthy foods

⏰ Learning time management techniques

🏁 Setting realistic goals

😴 Getting more sleep

⚽️ Making time for leisure activities

📉 Building stress reduction skills

🧘‍♀️ Learning and practicing mindfulness (learning to control attention)

Don’t feel stuck with chronic stress, this is one of the main things I can help with as a naturopathic doctor and I would love to help you get on top of your stress.

Give In Touch Clinic a call and book your appointment.

💬+973 3317 4458

📞+973 1769 0100

Any questions you may have feel free to get involved in the comments or drop me a message.

Dr. Taal Bastien 👨🏻‍⚕️

06/12/2022

What are the main symptoms of chronic stress?🤔

Symptoms of chronic stress can be cognitive, emotional, physical and behavioural.🤯

Not all four of these categories of symptoms are necessarily going to show up in one person.

But if you have three to five of these symptoms for more than several weeks, you might be suffering from chronic stress.

Those potential symptoms include:

👉🏻Aches and pains

👉🏻Insomnia or sleepiness

👉🏻A change in social behavior, such as staying in often

👉🏻Low energy

👉🏻Unfocused or cloudy thinking

👉🏻Change in appetite

👉🏻Increased alcohol or drug use

👉🏻Change in emotional responses to others

👉🏻Emotional withdrawal

Ongoing stress reactions can interfere with productivity, relationships and health.

People suffering from chronic stress often describe it as feeling ‘stuck.’

Don’t feel stuck with chronic stress, this is one of the main things I can help with as a naturopathic doctor and I would love to help you get on top of your stress.

Give the clinic a call and book in your appointment.

💬+973 3317 4458

📞+973 1769 0100

Any questions you may have feel free to get involved in the comments or drop me a message.

Dr. Taal Bastien 👨🏻‍⚕️

21/11/2022

Check out my post
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11/11/2022

What is Chronic Stress?

So everyone experiences stress. It’s nearly inevitable in society these days.

But what is chronic stress and how is it different?

Chronic stress is a consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time.

Symptoms include:

👉Aches and pains

👉 Insomnia or weakness

👉Less socialisation

👉Unfocused thinking

👉Low energy

👉Change in appetite

👉Increased alcohol or drug use

👉Change in emotional response to others

👉Emotional withdrawal

We can often dismiss stress as not a serious health concern by thinking “well everyone gets stressed”

But I am here to tell you that chronic stress is serious. 🤷‍♂️

Stress can also be known as our “flight or fight response” in our bodies. 🏃‍♂️

Yes, the exact response that helps us evade a predator or a “stressor.”

The body does not distinguish between a physical stress or threat eg being chased by a lion or an emotional, psychological or even spiritual stress.

The physiological response in the body is exactly the same. 🤯

But the challenge that we have in our current day and age is that we are constantly under stress.

Social media, relationships, work. There are stressors all around us, and chronic stress can creep into our life without us even realising.

So that is why we need to pay attention to our stress levels and STOP chronic stress in its path.🛑

You may not have realised you have chronic stress until now, but if you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, please get in contact with the clinic so we can help you.

💬+973 3317 4458

📞+973 1769 0100

Any questions you may have feel free to get involved in the comments or drop me a message.

Dr. Taal Bastien 👨🏻‍⚕️

29/10/2022

The Dreaded cold & flu season is upon us again 🦠🤒

You might think it is a little too soon at the start of Autumn to worry but prevention is KEY 🗝

Here are my 5 top tips for avoiding this dreaded yearly drainer!

1. Washing your hands 🤲🏼🚰

So simple but so effective!

💦Scrub for at least 20 seconds because it takes at least that long to dislodge and remove stubborn germs
💦Imagine singing "Happy Birthday"...twice!

2. Eat a whole foods diet 🥦
Think of your body like you would a high-performance vehicle 🚗

To keep things running smoothly you need the best fuel possible⛽️

Focus on high-quality, nutrient-dense foods 🥗🥩🐟

3. Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates 🥯🍭

These are bad for your immune system, simple.

Did you know that 70 to 100 grams of sugar (about 20 teaspoons, or the amount contained in two average 12-ounce sodas 🥤 ) significantly weakens the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria for up to 5 hours afterward?

4. A good nights Sleep 😴

A good night's sleep is just what the doctor ordered! 💤

Aim for 7 to 9 hours of deep restful sleep per night 😴
You should wake rested and ready to tackle the day 🥳

5. Stay hydrated💦

Do you drink enough water?

💧Adequate hydration is vital to the optimal function of the body and most of us do not drink enough throughout the day

💧A general rule of thumb is that an adult should aim for 1.5 to 2 litres of water every day...MINIMUM!

Do you know what doesn’t count as water?
Coffee ☕️
Black or caffeinated teas 🫖
Soft drink and juices🥤

Be proactive and stay healthy!

Make sure to speak with your primary care provider for guidance if you were to have any symptoms relating to cold and flu. 🩺

For more information or to book an appointment call the clinic:

💬+973 3317 4458
📞+973 1769 0100

Dr. Taal Bastien 👨🏻‍⚕️

naturopathicmedicine

21/10/2022

Our hormone testing can give you the answers you’ve been looking for…👨🏻‍⚕️

For women, a lot of medical conditions just get dismissed as “part of your hormone cycle” and you are told that it is “normal” or “nothing can be done.”

When this just is not the case.🧐

If you are struggling with monthly migraines, fertility issues, PCOS, PMS, stress, insomnia, irregular cycles, or any other symptoms that affect your day to day life, please know that there are options out there for you for treatment!

At In Touch Clinic we offer a range of hormonal testing so we can actually get ANSWERS for your symptoms & then proceed with INDIVIDUALISED medicine to treat these symptoms.

We are the only clinic in Bahrain that offers DUTCH testing & these tests could finally get you the answers you’ve been searching for.💬

We offer all of the following tests:

DUTCH Complete Testing - This advanced hormone testing was developed to improve on available hormone testing options. It provides a unique combination of  clinical information that is not available by any other method.

DUTCH Complete PLUS  -  This test covers all the same as the last but also includes a “mini stress test” where we tracking your cortisol levels (the stress hormone). This can be really helpful if you are suffering from insomnia.

DUTCH Cycle Mapping  - We use this when it's preferred to track your hormone levels throughout your whole menstrual cycle.  Having a complete picture of your cycle in graph format will allow for a more accurate and comprehensive treatment program specific to your situation.

Cycle Mapping PLUS -  With this test again, we will be tracking your hormone levels throughout your whole menstrual cycle & we will be tracking your cortisol awakening response (mini stress test.)

If you are struggling with any of the issues we have mentioned here, you could really benefit from our hormone testing.

Your symptoms are real & there are answers available.

Give the clinic a call and book in your appointment.

💬+973 3317 4458

📞+973 1769 0100

Any questions you may have feel free to get involved in the comments or drop me a message.

Dr. Taal Bastien 👨🏻‍⚕️

17/10/2022

So why should you come to see me?

I can...

🟡 Provide a different approach to Health issues
🟡 Integrate Natural medicine with conventional healthcare
🟡 Stop problems before they begin
🟡 Provide a long term solution to any health issues you may have so that it doesn't become a constant issue
..and

I'm a pretty cool guy 😎

If you feel like I could benefit your health in any way please book into the clinic by calling the clinic:

💬+973 3317 4458
📞+973 1769 0100

Any questions you may have feel free to get involved in the comments or drop me a message.

Dr. Taal Bastien 👨🏻‍⚕️

naturopathicmedicine

16/10/2022

Your Hormone levels are IMPORTANT and here’s why❗️

Our hormones essentially support every function in our bodies.

Yeah important!

Hormones are chemicals secreted in our glands in order to send "messages" through the bloodstream. 💬

Those messages then tell our organs what to do to keep us alive and healthy. 🫁

Hormonal imbalance stems from your body making to little or too much of a hormone or series of hormones. 📉

There are many hormones such as insulin or adrenaline that everyone shares. But specific hormones can affect women and men differently.

Hormonal Imbalance symptoms may include:

Sudden inexplicable weight gain or loss 🙁

Difficulty Sleeping 💤

Excessive sweating (Very hot or cold flashes) 🔥

Heart rate changes ❤️

Dry skin or sudden acne ⦁

Anxiety or other mood changes 🙃

To name but a few

If you are experiencing any of these. Set up an appointment with me using by calling the clinic directly:

💬+973 3317 4458
📞+973 1769 0100

I will pinpoint the hormones that may cause the imbalance and how to resolve them!

Any questions just ask in the comments below and I will gladly answer them for you!

Dr. Taal Bastien 👨🏻‍⚕️