• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Dr Hagmeyer logo

Natural Holistic Treatments for Chronic Disease

  • About Dr. Hagmeyer
  • Wellness Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Shop
  • search
  • Schedule Phone Consult
    Today
  • About Dr. Hagmeyer
  • Wellness Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Shop
  • search
  • Schedule Phone Consult
    Today
  • Start Here
  • Functional Medicine
  • Conditions We Help
  • Services
  • Clinical Testing
  • Recipes for Health
  • Quizzes
    • Thyroid Quiz
    • Adrenal Quiz
    • Blood Sugar Hypoglycemia Quiz
    • SIBO Quiz
    • Candida Quiz
    • Histamine Intolerance/ MCAS Quiz
  • Affordable Treatment
  • Start Here
  • Functional Medicine
  • Conditions We Help
  • Services
  • Clinical Testing
  • Recipes for Health
  • Quizzes
    • Thyroid Quiz
    • Adrenal Quiz
    • Blood Sugar Hypoglycemia Quiz
    • SIBO Quiz
    • Candida Quiz
    • Histamine Intolerance/ MCAS Quiz
  • Affordable Treatment

Depression, Anxiety and the Role of Neurotransmitters

December 3, 2014 //  by Dr Hagmeyer

Depression, Anxiety and the Role of Neurotransmitters

Understanding Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that are responsible for sending messages to our brain and throughout our body.  They will be sending messages between the nerve cells in our brain.  They tell the heart to beat, your stomach to digest the food you eat, etc.  They can also play other roles related to your mood, concentration and even the weight that gain.  Individuals can have some very serious negative effects if they are not correct.  There are several ways that they can be depleted in your body.  In fact, there have been studies that show approximately 86% of Americans do not have an optimal number of neurotransmitters.  These can be decreased by stress, drinking alcohol or caffeine and even by taking medications.

It is important to understand that there are two types of neurotransmitters in the body. These will include inhibitory and excitatory.  The excitatory neurotransmitters are going to be responsible for stimulating the brain.  The inhibitory neurotransmitters will be responsible for creating balance and they effect our mood.  They can decrease when they are over active.

Inhibitory

Serotonin is one of the inhibitory neurotransmitters you will find in your body.  It is not going to be stimulating the brain.  It is needed to create balance and to also keep to many excitatory neurotransmitters from begin fired in the brain.  Those that use stimulant medications or that are consuming caffeine on a regular basis may cause the serotonin to decrease.  This is necessary to also help regulate the cravings for carbohydrates, sleep, digestion and pain.  Someone that has low levels of serotonin may also find that there immune system is decreased and not working properly.

GABA is another inhibitory neurotransmitter that will be sent out to help balance the amount of excitatory neurotransmitters that are fired in the brain.

Dopamine is special.  It is considered to be both inhibitory and excitatory.  It will help with depression and one’s ability to focus.

Excitatory

Dopamine will be the neurotransmitter that is going to get the most attention.  If this is high or low individuals will have trouble focusing.  They may not remember where they put their keys or they may not be able to stay on task when they are working on something.  Believe it or not, this is also important when it comes to our motivation to get things done.  Stimulants like medications for ADHD, or even caffeine, can move dopamine into the brain so that focusing can take place.  On the other hand, when this is stimulated to often it can cause a depletion.

Norepinephrine will have a role in stimulating all of the processes in the body.  It will also assist in making epinephrine.  Anxiety can be seen if there is to much of this in the body.  If there is to little then the person may have trouble sleeping and focusing.  Low energy may also be exhibited.

Epinephrine is one neurotransmitter that is the product of stress.  If someone is suffering from symptoms related to ADHD then this neurotransmitter may be elevated.  However, this can decrease if someone is continually experiencing stress or they are not sleeping.  This is necessary to regulate blood pressure and your heart rate.

Amino Acids

Learning about Amino Acids

Amino acids are the breakdown product of proteins in our body.  They are needed to help build muscle in the body and the brain.  They are not always consumed properly through the foods that we eat so they may need to be consumed through concentrated forms.

Amino acids are receive in the body from the protein that we eat.  They help to create serotonin in the body and help to fight depression, insomnia, anxiety, and memory loss to name a few.  Therefore, it is important to ensure that we are getting enough of these amino acids in our diet to help the body produce the neurotransmitter serotonin.

Amino Acid History

Amino acids were discovered in the 1900s and they were used as a natural way to help regulate the chemicals in the brain until the 1980.  It seems that medications have started to erase amino acids as a possible treatment for imbalances in the brain.  However, it is still an option for those that are looking for a natural remedy for depression and other complications related to neurotransmitter imbalances.

Getting Amino Acids from Your Diet

What you have to understand is that the amount of protein in your food will vary greatly.  Even though you should be consuming the proper amounts of protein in your diet to be healthy it can be difficult to get the right amount to help you balance the neurotransmitters in the body.  Once the proteins are broken down into amino acids by the body they will be released into the blood stream.  They must go across a blood brain barrier and this cannot happen if you have a depleted level of serotonin in your brain.

Amino Acid Supplements

It is possible to increase the amount of serotonin in the brain if we use tryptophan as a precursor.  This can be done by taking a supplement between meals when the amino acids are decreased and there are less of them circulating through in the blood.  This makes it easier for it to get through the blood brain barrier and it will be there so that it can be used to produce neurotransmitters.

If you look at some of the symptoms below you will see what amino acid therapy may be able to treat.  There are specific amino acids for each neurotransmitter and the role that it plays within the body.

amino acid precursors

The supplements that you take will be related to your particular imbalance.  One amino acid can be used to balance the brain it may be important to include others as well.  In fact, it should include mineral cofactors, vitamins and a high quality omega-3 fatty acid.

In the end you should realize that improving your neurotransmitter levels and creating balance can have a great impact on your mood and your body. It can help with depression, anxiety, headaches, memory and even pain. You may even want to consult a professional to determine what protocol is right for you.

Patient Testimonial
Hear how Sally overcame her anxiety with Dr. Hagmeyer’s help…

Other Articles You May Want To Read

  • Depression and Anxiety- Is It Your Thyroid?
  • Tests to Understand Depression and Anxiety in Thyroid Disease-Organic Acid Testing
  • Dr Hagmeyer Patient Review – Anxiety, Insomnia, Fatigue, Depression
  • Perimenopause and Depression
  • Natural Treatment Options for Depression and Anxiety|Is There Such An Option
  • Do You Suffer From Grain Brain?-Fatigue, Brain Fog, Anxiety

Category: Behavioral, NeurologyTag: depression

Previous Post: «ibs or parasite infection Parasite Infections
Next Post: Don’t Let IBS Ruin Your Holiday Fun Irritable Bowel Syndrome - IBS - Relief in Naperville»

Primary Sidebar

Schedule a FREE 15 minute consult

Schedule Now

Not Sure Where to Start?

In order to make the most out of your time with Dr. Hagmeyer, please take a moment to complete our health questionnaire.

Health Questionnaire

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Richard Hagmeyer unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Hagmeyer and his community. Dr. Hagmeyer encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Hagmeyer products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using any products. Copyright © 2021 Dr. Hagmeyer · All Rights Reserved · Powered by drhagmeyer.com

Struggling with Blood Sugar Hypoglycemia?

Adrenal Quizz

Thyroid Popup 2

Assess Your Risk Today For Blood Sugar Hypoglycemia? 

 

 

Lets Get Started

Struggling with Fatigue?

Adrenal Quizz

Thyroid Popup 2

Assess Your Risk Today For Adrenal Fatigue? 

 

 

Lets Get Started

Suspect  Histamine Intolerance/ MCAS issues?

Histamine Intolerance MCAS Recommendations 1

Thyroid Popup 2

Take the Quiz Right and Assess Your Risk Profile
Lets Get Started

Do you suspect Candida or Fungal Overgrowth?

Candida Popup

Thyroid Popup 2

Assess Your Risk for Candida

 

Lets Get Started

Struggling with IBS, Bloating, Frequent gas, Skin problems?

SIBO Popup

Thyroid Popup 2

You Might Have SIBO or Leaky Gut
Assess Your Risk Right 
Now


Lets Get Started

Suspect a Thyroid problem? 

Thyroid Popup

Thyroid Popup 2

Think You Might Have Thyroid Disease? Assess Your Risk Today.

 

Lets Get Started

<div class=”_form_61″></div><script src=”https://drhagmeyer.activehosted.com/f/embed.php?id=61″ type=”text/javascript” charset=”utf-8″></script>