What are neurotransmitters?
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that your brain uses to communicate various essential functions. They also affect energy levels, metabolism, mood, sleep, and concentration. Neurotransmitters may become imbalanced by excessive stress, poor diet, toxins, genetics, inflammation, alcohol, and caffeine use.
Symptoms caused by imbalanced neurotransmitters and the neurotransmitters that are commonly associated:
- Low mood – serotonin, taurine, GABA, glutamine, histamine, PEA, norepinephrine, epinephrine
- Anxiousness – taurine, GABA, glycine, glutamate, PEA, norepinephrine, epinephrine
- Fatigue – glutamate, histamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine
- Poor sleep – serotonin, taurine, GABA, glutamine, histamine, PEA, norepinephrine, epinephrine
- Trouble focusing – PEA, dopamine, norepinephrine
- Poor memory – PEA, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine
- Weight gain – serotonin, epinephrine
- Cravings – serotonin, glutamate, dopamine
- Headaches – serotonin, histamine
- Immune issues – serotonin, glycine, glutamate, histamine, norepinephrine
- Intestinal complaints – serotonin, dopamine
Neurotransmitter testing can untangle complex and recurring health conditions and get to the root problem underlying your symptoms.
How we test
Neurotransmitters are tested through a urine test that reflects circulating levels of the neurochemicals in the body. Salivary hormone testing is often included with neurotransmitter testing to compliment the connection between hormones and the nervous system.
Treatment for imbalanced neurotransmitters:
Once the test results are received, various recommendations will be made to help to correct the imbalance such as, dietary and lifestyle changes, hormonal therapies, and herbal/amino acid supplementation.
Combinations of herbals and amino acids can be used to balance neurotransmitter levels by influencing biochemical pathways. 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an example of a precursor amino acid that is used to make serotonin in the body. We do not require patients to be off of their current medications such as anti-depressants, to assess and treat neurotransmitters. The supplementation can most often be used in conjunction with medication, with the possibility for some patients to lower dosing or discontinue their current therapies. These recommendations will be carefully monitored by your healthcare provider. Many patients are dissatisfied with the notion of taking medications to alleviate common neurological complaints.The neurotransmitter testing and guided supplementation offer a more natural approach to treating these common symptoms.