Whole Body Healing

Definition

Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that send signals between nerve cells throughout the brain and the body. There is a synaptic gap between cells and the neurotransmitters are released from the end of one cell into the gap between cells to stimulate the next nerve. These nerves run from the brain to every organ and every part of the body. The brain uses neurotransmitters to tell the heart to beat, the lungs to breathe, and the intestines to digest.  Neurotransmitters control and affect our moods, actions, and health. Disrupting the lines of communication between the brain and the organ can have serious effects on our health.  Inadequate neurotransmitter levels can lead to a long list of neurotransmitter-related symptoms.

Indications for Neurotransmitter Testing

• Anxiety/panic disorders
• Alzheimer's
• Attention issues (ADD/ADHD)
• Autism
• Chronic muscle and joint pain
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Food cravings/inappropriate hunger
• Insomnia
• Irritability/hostility
• Libido
• Memory problems (inability to focus/concentrate)
• Menopause/Andropause
• Migraine headaches
• Mood disorders
• Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Parkinson's Disease
• PMS
• Stress
• Weight loss/obesity

Whether preformed by a psychiatrist or naturopathic physician, neurotransmitter testing and Targeted Amino Acid Therapy (TAAT) are a valuable enhancement to health and well-being.

Benefits of balanced neurotransmitters through TAAT

• Good health is dependent upon balanced neurotransmitters 
• Improves sleep
• Improves mood
• Improves memory
• Improves energy
• Improves sexual function
• Relieves stress
• Relieves pain
• Improves  behavior from ADHD
• Improves  behavior from OCD
• Decreases addictive behaviors
• Decreases food cravings
• Helps weight loss
• Few to no side effects

Brief history of neurotransmitter testing

Neurobiology is the study of neurotransmitters and their role in the body.  Some of the neurotransmitters that have been identified are GABA, serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, PEA (B-phenylethylamine), glutamate, and histamine.  Pioneers of neurotransmitter testing began studying GABA more then 50 years ago.  The use of 5-HTP to increase serotonin dates back to 1957. In the 70's, neurobiologists studied the use of tryptophan for depression as well as the use of phenylalanine and tyrosine as a precursor to the catecholamines.

By the beginning of the 80's, the pharmaceutical companies developed SSRI's, which showed great promise for patients suffering from depression.  Unfortunately, SSRI's and other pharmaceutical drugs do not increase the supply of neurotransmitters or their precursors, they only shuffle the existing supplies.  If the body has an inadequate supply of neurotransmitter precursors, eventually there will not be enough neurotransmitters around to shuffle, and the drug will stop working. 

Today, in the 2000's, NeuroScience has developed a urine test to measure the levels of some of the more well known neurotransmitters in our bodies.  With this information, practitioners can use TAAT to more effectively focus on replenishing the neurotransmitters through the use of specific neurotransmitter precursor vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.