Antidepressants? A Natural Functional Medicine Approach to Balancing Brain Chemistry

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Austen Barker
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1 Antidepressants? A Natural Functinal Medicine Apprach t Balancing Brain Chemistry

2 Cntents Neurtransmitters...3 GABA...5 Acetylchline...8 Dpamine...10 Sertnin...13 In Cnclusin...16

3 Neurtransmitters There has been a dramatic increase in the number f peple suffering and diagnsed with issues such as depressin and anxiety- which are assciated with an imbalance f the brain chemicals referred t as neurtransmitters. This is evidenced by the fact that between 1988 and 2008 the use f antidepressants increased nearly 400 percent, and tday abut 10.4% f Americans take antidepressants. And that number dubles (1 in 5 peple) when including all psychtrpic medicatins, such as antipsychtics and drugs used fr ADHD. And even within the traditinal medical cmmunity, there is a recgnitin that there is a prblem with inapprpriate prescribing f medicatins fr mental health prblems: Tday, patients ften receive psychtrpic medicatins withut being evaluated by a mental health prfessinal, accrding t a study by the Centers fr Disease Cntrl & Preventin (CDC). Many Americans visit their primary care physicians and walk away with a prescriptin fr an antidepressant r ther drugs withut being aware f ther evidence based treatments- such as cgnitive behaviral therapy- that might wrk better fr them withut the risk f side effects. (Mnitr n Psychlgy, June 2012, Vl. 43 N.6)

4 And frm a functinal medicine perspective there are a number f ptential underlying areas f metablic dysfunctin- many f which are all t cmmn in the U.S.- which can either be the actual underlying cause f neurtransmitter imbalances, r at the very least be significantly cntributing t these imbalances. That what this bklet is abut a Functinal Medicine perspective n the underlying cntributing causes and the natural crrective apprach t the Fur Main Neurtransmitters invlved in the cmmn mental health prblems f ur sciety. Fr each f these Fur Neurtransmitters Acetylchline, GABA, Dpamine and Sertnin- I will give infrmatin n the fllwing aspects: 1) Signs/Symptms f Imbalance- This is imprtant as there is currently n definite lab test t measure neurtransmitters. Having said that, there is a functinal medicine test called The Organic Acids test, which while nt measuring actual neurtransmitters, can give insight t their levels by measuring certain rganic acid by-prducts f them in the urine. 2) Cnsumptin/Absrptin Neurtransmitters are made in the bdy frm raw ingredients cnsumed in the fd we eat. A decrease in either the cnsumptin and r absrptin f these raw ingredients can cntribute t an imbalance. 3) Transprt- Smetimes the transprt f these raw ingredients frm the bld t the brainwhere the neurtransmitters are actually made, is interfered with. 4) Needed CFactrs- There are necessary key vitamins and r minerals- knwn as cfactrs which are required fr the prductin f the neurtransmitters frm the raw ingredients. 5) Specials Issues In additin t the abve items, fr each f the fur main neurtransmitters there are ther ptential issues which can cntribute t, r ut right cause an imbalance. 6) Additinal Supprting Cmpunds In additin t the needed cfactrs t prduce the neurtransmitters, there are ther natural cmpunds which can be taken in supplement frm that help crrect imbalances.

5 GABA A. Signs/Symptms f Imbalance Feelings f anxiety r panic Difficulty shutting mind ff Restlessness (restless leg syndrme) Severely sensitive t light and sund Overwhelmed fr n reasn Disrganized attentin Easily distracted B. Cnsumptin/ Absrptin: There is n amin acid that when taken rally will make GABA. There are GABA supplements, but GABA is t large t pass frm the bld int the brain, s if there IS a nticed calming effect, this indicates a prblem with the bld brain barrier which wuld need t be addressed.

6 C. Transprt: Since GABA is nt prduced frm amin acids (like with sertnin and dpamine) r chline (like with acetylchline) frm the diet, there are n ptential transprt prblems in its prductin. Instead GABA is made frm a by-prduct (alpha-ketglutarate) f the glucse metablism pathway called the Krebs Cycle (AKA citric acid cycle ). This is why peple with bld sugar prblems such as hypglycemia r insulin resistance/diabetes can have GABA imbalances. D. Needed Cfactrs: Zinc Magnesium

7 Manganese P-5-P (Active B6) E. Special Issues: The enzyme GAD (Glutamic acid decarbxylase), is needed t change glutamate (the mst excitatry neurtransmitters) int GABA. It s nt t uncmmn fr peple t have autimmune attacks against GAD, causing lw levels f GABA. The autimmune issue is especially prevalent in thse with a gluten sensitivity. Antibdy levels t GAD can be measured n a bld test, cnfirming this issue. F. Additinal Supprting Cmpunds: Valerian rt Lithium rtate Supprt the GABAergic Passin flwer System L-theanine L-Taurine Has similar structure t GABA Valerian Rt Passin Flwer * This statement has nt been evaluated by the FDA.

8 Acetylchline A. Signs/ Symptms f Imbalance Cnstantly lsing keys, phne, etc. Cnstantly frgetting where car is parked Cnstantly frgetting appintments Memry lapses Pr verbal memry Slw mental speed Difficulty with sense f directin B. Cnsumptin /Absrptin : Chline needed frm diet and chline rich fds are: Egg ylks Fatty meats Milk/cream Tfu Nuts Cheese Beef Liver

9 Egg Ylks Nuts C. Transprt: N knwn issues. Chline easily crsses the bld brain barrier. D. Needed CFactrs: Pantthenic acid (B5). It s rare t be deficient in this vitamin thugh. E. Special Issues: Fr thse wh ve had their gall bladder remved, special supplemental supprt t ensure fat digestin and absrptin may be needed. F. Additinal Supprting Cmpunds Huperzine A Increases the sensitivity f acetylchline receptrs * Alpha GPC precursr fr acetylchline N-Acetyl L Carnitine Has similar structure t acetylchline and precursrs fr acetylchline * This statement has nt been evaluated by the FDA.

10 Dpamine A. Signs and Symptms f Imbalance Depressin with hpelessness/wrthlessness Lss f mtivatin Slw mvements Islatin Anger episdes/quick t snap Inability t handle stress Inability t self-mtivate Need caffeine t stay fcused Crave chclate and/r meats Cnstipatin with diminished sense f taste Need Caffeine t Stay Fcused Inability t Handle Stress Anger Episdes/ Quick t Snap

11 B. Cnsumptin/ Absrptin: Dpamine can be made frm either f the amin acids phenylalanine r tyrsine, and phenylalanine rich fds are: Beef Cheese Chclate Eggs Fish Oats Prk Turkey Fish Oats Since these are in prtein rich fds, a lw stmach acid prductin knwn as hypchlrhydria can interfere with absrptin. C. Transprt: Once int the bld, these amin acids require the prper functin f a transprt vehicle called LNAA (large neutral amin acid) in rder t actually get int the brain t be made int dpamine. Bld sugar prblems/ dysglycemias either t lw (hypglycemia) r t high (insulin resistance/diabetes) interfere with this LNAA D. Needed CFactrs: Irn Flate Tyrsine t DOPA P-5-P (Active B6) DOPA t Dpamine E. Special Issues: The substantia nigra is the part f the brain that prduces dpamine and it s a degeneratin f the substantia nigra that causes Parkinsn s Disease. Als, anyne with methylatin pathway prblem (with r withut a MTHFR defect) can have challenges with dpamine levels.

12 F. Additinal Supprting Cmpunds Mucuna pruriens - natural surce f L- dpa, supprts the substantia nigra * Beta-phenylethylamine Blueberry Alpha Lipic Acid N-Acetyl L-Cysteine Selenium Supprts dpaminergic system Supprts glutathine levels & substantia nigra * This statement has nt been evaluated by the FDA.

13 Sertnin A. Signs and Symptms f Imbalance: Guilty Depressin ( I shuldn t feel depressed, but I just d. ) Can t find jy frm hbbies, friends, music, fd, etc. Depressed by vercast weather ( seasnal affective disrder ) Lack f purpse Islatin Craving and vereating carbhydrates and sugars B. Cnsumptin/ Absrptin: Sertnin is made frm the amin acids tryptphan which is in high amunts in: Beef Chicken Halibut Lamb Salmn Scallps Shrimp Snapper Turkey

14 Sybean/Tfu Spinach Beef Shrimp Spinach Sybean Just like with dpamine, these are mstly prtein rich fds that require sufficient stmach acid prductin t digest and be absrbed, s hypchlrhydria (lw stmach acid) will interfere with this prcess. C. Transprt: Again like with dpamine, dysglycemias (bld sugar imbalances) will interfere with the LNAA needed t transprt tryptphan int the brain acrss the bld-brain barrier. D. Needed CFactrs: Irn Tryptphan t 5-HTP Niacinamide (B3) P5P (B6) Flate (B9) Methylcbalamine (B12) Magnesium 5 HTP t Sertnin

15 E. Special Issues: As with dpamine, anyne with methylatin pathway issue (with r withut MTHFR defect) can me mre likely t have imbalances with sertnin. F. Additinal Supprting Cmpunds: SAMe Supprts sertnergic system* (methyl dnr in the brain) 5-HTP Immediate precursr t sertnin St. Jhn s Wrt Supprts sertnergic system* St. Jhn s Wrt * These statements have nt been evaluated by the FDA.

16 In Cnclusin I hpe this helps yu better understand hw there can be a definite pssibility fr significant imprvement in many mental health issues with a natural functinal medicine apprach. There are many peple suffering with depressin etc., wh have: Pr diets with inadequate raw ingredient intake Digestive issues impairing absrptin f the raw ingredients Bld sugar issues interfering with the transprt f necessary amin acids int the brain. Deficiencies f cfactrs needed fr the final steps in prducing the neurtransmitters in the brain Methylatin pathway challenges that present an additinal element t the picture f neurtransmitter imbalances. And nne f these abve issues are addressed with any f the prescriptin medicatins that are s verused. If yu are nt already a patient f Dr. Beyer s and wuld like t pursue a natural functinal medicine apprach fr yur mental health issue, please either call r t request a cnsultatin at inf@drstephenbeyer.cm

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