Brain Chemistry Imbalances Linked To Depression, Anxiety, and Many Physical Conditions Successfully Treated With Nutrition
Natural Treatments Offer New Hope for Many with Depression and Anxiety
By John Salerno, Ph.D. and Lauren Salani, BCIA,C
Medical research has shown that fast foods, fast-lane living, inadequate sleep, and genetics significantly affect the brain?s ability to keep levels of neurotransmitters in adequate supply and balance. Neurotransmitters, in specific amounts, are vitally important because they are the substances that create our moods, define our behavior and establish the state of our overall health. You may have heard some of their names. Serotonin, Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, GABA, Dopamine, Histamine, PEA are a few neurotransmitters with excitatory or inhibitory effects. The brain extends communication to the organs of the body through nerve cells that ?talk? with these substances. The brain tells the heart to beat, the gastrointestinal system to digest and the lungs to breathe. Thus, the list of clinical conditions that could arise from neurotransmitter levels either being insufficient or exorbitantly high is extensive and includes both mental and physical health. Addressing neurotransmitter imbalances may be the key to getting illness under control. The following is a list of commonly occurring neurotransmitter imbalance symptoms:
Fatigue
Chronic muscle and joint pain
Inappropriate food cravings
Irritability/hostility
Inability to focus/concentrate
Depression or agitation
Excessive body fat
Obsessive/Compulsive behaviors
Sleep disturbances
Physical and emotional stress
Recurrent diarrhea/constipation
Headache/migraine
Many people are being treated with medications that either alter neurotransmitter release or imitate their function in the body. Some medications such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft act to increase the time a neurotransmitter, such as serotonin, will stay in-between the nerve cells to increase the action. Problems arise when serotonin levels are so low that there is insufficient quantity to make drug levels effective. The study of the synthesis and metabolism of this and other neurotransmitters has led to the discovery of methods for detecting functional levels of these substances. Subsequent treatment includes targeting the amino acids which are the building blocks of these excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitters and providing these amino-acids at therapeutic levels so the body can start synthesizing its own supply and self-correct its own imbalances. This is very exciting news. Many patients seeking treatment for a variety of medical and psychological conditions are actually suffering from symptoms of an underlying neurotransmitter depletion or imbalance. Discovering the root of the problem makes treatment efficient and true relief a reality.
John Salerno, Ph.D. and Lauren Salani, BCIA,C are members of the Behavioral Medicine and Psychophysiology Team at Physicians for Alternative Medicine, P.C. Physicians for Alternative Medicine, P.C. offers free consultations to those who want to learn how natural medicine can best treat their medical and mental health problems. For more information about neurotransmitter (brain chemistry) testing or to make an appointment call: (732) 542-2638
