Natural Ways to Balance Your Brain Chemistry
It's in human nature to feel sadness. Every
life is filled with ups and downs, tragedy and comedy, kindness and
cruelty. It is a part and parcel of who we are and an important part of
our journey. But for some people, the struggles often don’t end with the
event that triggered the sadness. Nowadays, more and more people are
suffering from depression and other mental ailments, at young ages also,
and the explanation goes well beyond a singular circumstance, or an
individual's inability to be happy or find strength. In fact, most
mental health problems that people face can be understood from a purely
chemical standpoint.
The brain is essentially the chemical
factory of the body, producing all the hormones that keep our bodies
growing and sending out all the messages to keep our limbs moving. So
its only natural that in some cases, this factory might face some
difficulties while doing its job. After all, we are only beings of
flesh, blood, and imperfection, not machines. But those imperfections
are what give us the drive, the endurance and the passion to persevere
against all odds and struggle even through the toughest of times. That,
and television.
With that brief moment of levity over, let’s get back to the topic at
hand. What are some of the mental health problems that are now becoming
more and more commonplace?
Well, there’s depression. We already
covered that. There are various types of depression as well. One of the
more severe ailments that some people face is Bipolar Disorder, usually
marked by intense and often uncontrollable periodic mood swings and
personality shifts. Anxiety and frequent panic attacks can also be
extremely disruptive and can affect a person’s ability to function
normally and interact with other people.
There are also a large number of people world over who suffer from
memory loss, both long and short term, which can also be caused by an
irregular production of chemicals in the brain (when not caused by head
injuries or drugs, pharmaceuticals and other). Even addiction has been
linked to irregular brain chemistry. These problems can affect people of
all ages, races, geographies, and backgrounds.
What Does Brain Chemistry Mean?
So when we talk about brain chemistry, what chemicals are we talking
about specifically? We are basically talking about hormones and
neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the messengers of the body,
letting the various organs know how the brain wants them to act, through
nerve cells. These neurotransmitters can be huge determinants in our
emotions. The following are a few of the main hormones our brains
produce that affect our emotional state:
1) Dopamine
This hormone has a very important role to
play as it is the communicator between neurons and nerve cells. It is
also the chemical that controls our motor function and drive. Dopamine
is the hormone that keeps you motivated, active and focused on the task
at hand and the world around you. Needless to say, it is a very
important neurotransmitter, and lower levels of dopamine can result in
depression, fatigue, and anxiety. High levels of dopamine, on the other
hand, can result in addiction, largely because most addictive
substances, from video games and coffee to alcohol and narcotics, are
usually designed to increase dopamine levels drastically.
2) Serotonin
Also commonly known as the happy hormone,
Serotonin is responsible for the joyful sensations we experience in
life. Low levels of serotonin have been a major factor linked with
depression. This is because problems can arise with respect to neuron
inhibitors, that are in the brain to regulate the production of these
hormones, and inhibit them where necessary. But in some cases, the
production of serotonin can become too low as a result, which is why
most anti-depressants are created with the intent to stop inhibitors
from reducing the production of serotonin.
3) Melatonin
This is the hormone that helps you sleep at
night. It is produced by the pineal gland located in the center of the
brain. Our sleep cycles, in general, are regulated by the
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a center in the hypothalamus that sends
signals to other parts of the brain. On exposure to darkness, the pineal
gland receives a signal from the SCN and begins to actively produce
melatonin. As the melatonin levels in your bloodstream increase, you
steadily become drowsier. And the internal clock of the human body is
usually pretty strict, as melatonin stays in the body normally from 9 pm
to 9 am. Irregular production of melatonin can result in insomnia,
fatigue and even depression in cases of excessive sleeping.
4) Oxytocin
This is another hormone brought to us
courtesy of the hypothalamus and with the assistance of the pituitary
gland. It plays a major role in how we interact with people and react to
sexual arousal, giving it the name “the cuddle hormone” or “the love
hormone”. It can also affect our ability to trust and high amounts can
lead to anxiety and even addictive tendencies. It also has
gender-specific effects, affecting the production of testosterone in the
testes, as well as playing a huge role in the process of labor,
childbirth, and child-rearing.
5) Endorphin
These are the chemicals of the body
produced to give you an almost morphine-like rush. That is why many
athletes often experience what is called the “runner’s high”, a sense of
euphoria caused by increased production of endorphins due to vigorous
exercise. This hormone affects the way the human body perceives pain and
can act as an analgesic and a natural pain reliever. In some cases, it
even works as a sedative, allowing the body to rest after completion of a
strenuous activity.
6) Adrenaline
Also known as epinephrine, this hormone is produced in the center of the
adrenal glands known as the medulla. Adrenaline can also be produced by
certain neurons in the central nervous system. Once in the bloodstream,
it can have varying effects on different organs, usually activating the
“fight or flight” instinct in the body. Adrenaline can affect the body
in numerous different ways, from enlarging of the pupils to increase the
heart rate and blood flow to different areas of the body. As you can
guess, low levels of this hormone could make your lethargic, while too
much can make your body and mind go into overdrive.
7) Acetylcholine
This is one very important
neurotransmitter, and in fact, among the first neurotransmitters
discovered by scientists. Found commonly in both the central and
peripheral nervous systems, which makes this chemical of such vital
importance is that it stimulates the contraction of our muscles.
Essentially all behavior and almost all movement comes down to how this
particular neurotransmitter sends across its message, and what that
message is. Naturally, if this hormone is in large or short supply, it
can lead to some strange and almost unexplainable behavior.
8) Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)
This neurotransmitter plays the very
important role of a neural inhibitor and regulator, reducing, where
possible, the activities of nerve cells and neurons. In that way,
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid is an essential determinant of our cognitive
abilities and behavior. They work to keep neurons from becoming
overexcited, which could potentially reduce anxiety and panic. A
low-level of this neurotransmitter can cause disorders ranging from
insomnia to depression and even schizophrenia.
9) Glutamate
This non-essential amino acid is released
by nearly half of all the brains, synaptic agents. But its a more local
neurotransmitter that never leaves the blood-brain barrier (which is the
wall designed to protect the brain). It is specifically associated with
our ability to remember and learn, making it a major player in the
development of the brain. Increased presence of glutamate in the human
body has been linked with various ailments, like multiple sclerosis,
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson;s Disease, while low levels can be associated
with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Autism.
10) Norepinephrine
This hormone is a variant of adrenaline and
is also known as noradrenaline. Much like its counterpart, it is
heavily linked with the “fight or flight” instinct of the human body.
This type of neurotransmitter sends messages to the skeletal muscles of
the body to increase the force of contractions, as well as contractions
of the heart. It effectively prepares our body to react to a threatening
situation, whatever that reaction may be.
Natural Remedies For Keeping Your Brain Chemistry Balanced
Now that we know what really goes on in our brains, and how it affects
our happiness, sadness, physical behavior, energy levels, focus and so
many other aspects of living and feeling, what are some of the natural
remedies available that can help you self-regulate the production of
these hormones in your brain?
1. Get Moving
Regularly exercising is fantastic for the
body and the brain. It increases the production of endorphin in the
body, making you happy and euphoric, a mood-changer right there, and
gets the adrenaline pumping through your bloodstream. The increased
muscle movement will strengthen you physically and mentally.
2.Appreciate the Sun
Well, even if you don’t appreciate it, just
make sure you get a little of it every day. It can improve your state
of mind drastically. Sunlight, when absorbed through the skin, results
in an increased production of serotonin by the brain. Just fifteen
minutes a day in the sun, and you’ll understand why it’s called the
“feel-good” hormone.
3. Let go of Stress
Easier said than done, yes. But definitely
worth working towards, because stress is closely linked to low levels of
GABA and increased amounts of norepinephrine and oxytocin. Don’t worry,
there are numerous great ways to cope with stress.
4. Give yourself a bedtime
Even if you don’t feel like you need to sleep, your brain definitely
does. The brain produces melatonin, which will make you drowsier as the
sunsets. Not only that, but the brain requires strength, energy, and
fuel to produce the other hormones that make our bodies function
healthily, and avoid struggling with fatigue and exhaustion.
5. Watch your diet
Most chemicals produced by the brain are
also found in numerous foods, so it's important to eat carefully and
healthily. Caffeine, meat, bananas, chocolate and beets can increase the
production of dopamine in the body, while broccoli, brown rice, fish,
nuts, and even lentils can increase the amount of GABA produced by the
brain.