Feel Better When You Balance Your Brain Neurotransmitters
Your brain is a massive signaling system. Neurons within the brain are constantly talking to each other. They also talk to the rest of your body, and listen to your body as well.
This complex communication system relies on neurotransmitters to communicate. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that allow neurons to talk to each other. Neurotransmitters and hormones allow the brain to talk to the rest of the body.
Neurotransmitter balance is necessary for health and especially if you want to feel good. Anti-depressant drugs is one way medicine attempts to re-balance neurotransmitters so that we feel better.
New testing methods allow us to now test the levels of 12 neurotransmitters through urine samples. Testing includes serotonin, GABA, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, glutamate and phenylethylamine.
In many cases, particularly when there are complaints of fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, difficulty losing weight, it is helpful to also test for levels of two key hormones produced by the adrenal glands–cortisol and DHEA. Chronic stress can through these hormones out of balance and have a profound influence on our health. Nutritional supplements can restore these adrenal hormones to normal as well.
Symptoms and conditions associated with out of balance neurotransmitters and adrenal hormones
Cortisol
Low: fatigue, anxiousness
High: anxiousness, sleep difficulties, low immune activity
DHEA
Low: fatigue, menopause symptoms, low sex hormone levels
High: anxiousness
Epinephrine
Low: fatigue, low mood, lack of motivation
High: anxiousness, sleep difficulties, attention issues
Norepinephrine
Low: fatigue, lack of focus, lack of motivation, low mood, sleep difficulties, hot flashes, headaches
High: anxiousness, stress, excessive energy, high blood pressure
Dopamine
Low: urges, impulsivity, cravings, movement disorders
High: poor intestinal function, developmental delay, attention issues
Serotonin
Low: low mood, sleep difficulties, uncontrolled appetite, headaches, hot flashes
High: SSRI medications, stress, platelet aggregation
GABA
Low: uncontrolled excessive energy, uncontrolled anxiousness, uncontrolled sleep difficulties, poor impulse control
High: excessive energy, anxiousness, sleep difficulties, headaches
Glutamate
Low: fatigue, learning difficulties
High: anxiousness, low mood, activated immune system
(More information on neurotransmitter testing is available at NeuroScience.)
Rebalancing neurotransmitter levels with nutritional supplementation
Neurotransmitters are all derivatives of (made from) protein building blocks called amino acids. Once the pattern of imbalance is known, targeted nutrition with amino acids and other key nutrients can be used build up levels of depleted neurotransmitters.
For instance, if serotonin levels are depleted, supplementation with 5-htp and other nutrients that the body needs to manufacture serotonin are used to replenish the brains ability to manufacture serotonin.
Similar nutritional strategies have been mapped out for each of the major neurotransmitters. Brain balance can thereby be achieved in a safe, drug free way.