Is there a way to NATURALLY prevent (or limit) reuptake of serotonin?
>>>Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants that acts by blocking the reuptake of serotonin so that more serotonin is available to act on receptors in the brain. <<< Currently, my doctor has prescribed an SSRI medication [Lexapro] to help prevent my migraine headache suffering.
HOWEVER - while this approach has seemed to work pretty well, it does not address the real problem: What is causing the REUPTAKE of the serotonin in first place?
I don't mind taking a medication as a temporay fix, but I don't want to keep pumping drugs into my body over a long term, or to keep shelling out money for something that never solves the root problem, & I CERTAINLY don't want to continue living with the stigma of being a "pill-head" or being on anti-depressant drugs (even if they are only for migraine prevention).
Is there a natural way to prevent (or limit) reuptake of serotonin?
What causes the reuptake process to be triggered in the first place?
How do I 'reset' my circadian rhythm?
Answer:
I don't know of any natural ways to limit reuptake, and I have to agree with a previous respondee that limitting reuptake to extensively can interfere with the body's normal mechinism and leave with with a worse problem then yuo started with.
I to know of several ways to increase serotonin PRODUCTION naturally, and since the goal is to increase serotonin levels, rather then effect the reuptake process, it's probably a better way to go.
First, and why inhibitors are used to treat depression, being happy, relaxed, enjoying yourself will increase production, and being stressed, worried, sad will increase uptake.So the more time you spend focusing on things you enjoy and doing things you enjoy the better off you'll be.
Second, getting regular exercise will give you a huge boost in serotonin production, and other endorphins, even just a fifteen minute walk a day will make a big difference. I'm sorry to say it, but a job where you're walking everywhere doesn't count. Part of the reason exercise help is that while you are exercising you have a chance to focus on your body and how it functions, while you're working your probably to busy worrying about the work your doing to notice the feel of your feet hitting the ground, etc.
Third, and this can tie in well with exercise, the more time you spend in the sun, the more serotonin your body will produce. This is one of the reasons why areas north of the artic circle can have high suicide rates. Getting fresh air is good to, but justing next to a window at lunch is a simple change that can have a huge effect.
Fourth, there are few thing that effect the mind and emotions, and therefore the brain chemistry, more quickly and effectively then scent. If you don't have a black thumb, try growing a pot of flowers whose sent you enjoy. There are a lot of aromatherapy oils that are very good for boosting a mood, with related serotonin increase, several of them are also good for miagraines. If you do get aromatherapy oils, go to a massage supply dealer, or other professional supplier to be sure that the oils you're getting are pure, and don't try mixing them. A couple drops in the bath tub, in a pot of boiling water on the stove, or set in an oil diffuser like you can get at incense shops will be enough.
Fifth, get a pet. I don't know why, but a dog or cat around the house has been proven to increase serotonin levels. There has been some recent speculation that because dogs an humans evolved alongside eachother for some many thousands of years, we actually need regular contact with dogs to be fully healthy. (obviously if your allergic, or being around animals triggers migraines, ignore this)
Sixth, and it can get expensive, getting a regular massage will increase serotonin production, and a trained therapist can combine a massage with aromatherapy designed to help your migraines.
I'm not positive on this but I think Potassium can be used. You might want to do some searching on the 'net about this under alternative medicine/treatments.
There are a number of issues here that SSRI's address in Migraine.
1) Migrane is caused by constriction of blood vessels.
2) Red Blood Cells happen to be covered with Seratonin
thats part 1
this is part 2....
There are a number of things that can go wrong that are addressed by SSRI's when it comes to reuptake....
A) you might not make "enough" seratonin (abreviated 5HT)
B) your body might be "reuptaking" (its gets used over and over again) it before it gets a chance to get across the synapse (the space between one nerve and another)
C) Your receptors might not be "spitting out" the 5HT after it transmitted its "message" fast enough for it to be used over-and-over again
In any of those cases, the SSRI's increase the amount of 5HT in the synaptic cleft (the gap between cells) so that messages can be transmitted better....
So.....there are messages being transmitted between your blood cells and your blood vessels - those ones that are giving you such agony....
And I say, if the SSRI's work, stick with them - I mean, Boo Hoo - you were lucky enough to find something that keeps you from being miserable so you want to stop? Think about all the folks that pray everyday that a med were invented that would improve thier quality of life....
Sigh - I know, You wanted a "natural" product that would do the same thing.
I wish I knew - I spent 12 years in college trying to find something that would work through the same mechanism. Would have saved myself a lot of student debt.
You might want to try fish oil. It reduces a specific type of inflammation in the central nervous system - it may or may notbe related to your specific type of headaches - and through that mechanism, appears to make 5HT work more effectivly.
Ask your doc - because it does have a lot of interactions with meds and contraindications when used at the doses you would need.
Does anyone know of any herbal remedies including Chinese that are as good as a PPI?
You make it sound like re-uptake is a bad thing. This is the bodys way of conserving the neurotransmitter. It recycles it vs. simply degrading it with an enzyme like many other neurotransmitters are dealt with. The drug you are taking blocks the re-uptake process thus allowing serotonin to stay a little longer on the post synaptic neuron. This will potentiate the effects of serotonin and alter your mood. There is no natural substance that will do this unless some illegal drugs have a similar effect that I am not aware of. The bad thing about head meds. is that we fully do not understand all the effects they will have.
how many emus does it take to make an ounce of emu oil?
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basically, serotonin is whats called a neurotransmitter- its a chemical signal that effects mood. its released between 2 neurons (brain cells) so they can communcate with each other
neuron 1 | (gap between them where serotonin is released) | neuron 2
serotonin is released in the gap between the brain cells to enhance mood. an enzyme takes up serotonin after it has been in that gap awhile. if it didnt take up the serotonin, you would become high as a kite. SSRI drugs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) inhibit (stop) that enzyme from taking the serotonin out of the gap which means more serotonin is there longer which can enhance mood. im not sure why (and i dont think scientists really know why either. whatever the cause you treat it the same way) serotonin imbalances occur. and really it doesnt matter if you "naturally" or "artificially" block that enzyme, your body doesnt care all that matters is the effect- change in balance of serotonin. there really isnt that big of stigma of taking antidepressants, theyre some of the best selling drugs in america and everybody and their dog is on them. (literally, i just saw it on the news yesterday that more and more people are giving them to their pets) . St Johns wort is supposedly similar to an SSRI but its not nearly as strong as an Rx antidepressant
Jessica B is absolutely right. In addition, I would recommend getting to bed at least 3 hours before midnight and not getting up until 6 hours after midnight. This is the time your body naturally needs to make the proper chemical balances that promote serotonin production. You are wise to try to avoid constantly medicating yourself. Just because everyone else does it does not necessarily mean it's a good thing. I have found in my lifetime that my body eventually gets so used to the prescriptions that I have had to take for chronic conditions that it begins to become immune to their good effects. You can even get to the point that you cannot use any of the drugs on the market because of that. Then you're without them anyway, so what was the point in the first place? Plus after all those drugs being in your system for so many years, you're stuck with all their side effects, and the possible long-term effects of those. Natural is the way to go.