Brain Nutrients in Alternative Medicine Addictions seem to be in the news a great deal right now with the upswing in usage of illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin. There seems to be no end in sight as we also hear constantly about food addictions like chocolate, alcohol, shopping, and other obsessions like obsessive cleanliness and workaholism. These are all brain-related malfunctions that go back to what's happening in the old noggin', and beyond, into the overall health of the body. There are so many people suffering from depression and similar brain problems, that my first thought is that there must be something that can be put into the water systems around the world (or is it more prevalent in North America). It is true, there are many wonderful nutrients in the sea that are being harvested such as kelp, and many fish oils which do help the brain, but these are still individually used. I propose we take out the chlorine and put in St. John's Wort, one of the proven remedies for mild depression. However, there are far more serious conditions that St. John's Wort does not alleviate, so what's to be done for those people? Research in the last few years has uncovered a great deal of information on brain transmitters like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine which the body manufactures in varying quantities. And therein lies the problem. I know several people in my own family who believe they have cravings for certain substances (not illegal, thank goodness) who have researched this matter extensively. It turns out that some of this is hereditary, but can be changed. It doesn't mean that if one's father was an alcoholic, one will certainly become one. It means that there is a definite preponderance towards addictive traits that can be reversed with the proper use of natural amino acids for the brain. These, then, keep the person happy and living a productive life, when he/she could just as easily be wondering why life is passing them by. Most health food stores sell capsules such as l-Arginine, l-Tyrosine, 5- HTP, l-Phenylalanine, HGH (human growth hormone,) and GH3 to help the brain cope with varying degrees of cravings or addictions. Most of these nutrients have also been found to be effective for people with Tourette's Syndrome, Autism, Schizophrenia , and Parkinson's Disease. And that brings up another important point - natural substances like l- Arginine are there to boost the immune system and keep the whole body healthy. That is why these neurotransmitters are given to people with cancer, both during treatment and after in order to improve the immune system. It's not difficult to understand that for optimum health, our brains and bodies must be healthy. One of the most debilitating illnesses in the "minor" category today is migraine headaches….again a condition that can be alleviated according to studies that show that 80% of subjects were helped by dopamine supplementation as it increases cerebral blood flow. There are dopamine receptors in our stomachs (www.meds.com/conrad/aash/peroutka.html) which control gastric juices, peristalsis and intestinal co-ordination. These, in turn, have an effect on the onset of Migraines because of gastric dilation. There is so much interesting, although controversial, information available that anyone who suffers from minor addictions (and maybe even the major ones) should consult a forward-thinking MD or ND (a naturopathic doctor) to find out what can be used to remove these life-encompassing conditions. There is help for whatever ails you, but you must go back to the root of the problem. There is no excuse today for simply treating symptoms. Back to the Writing Index