Many patients will ask for non-pharmaceutical/natural medicine support for anxiety, depression, and/or decreased ability to concentrate.
These are very common concerns that occur either due to physiologic imbalance, stressful experiences, and/or secondary to a medical condition or medications.
The goal of treatment is to begin by identifying the root cause of these concerns and remove any obstacles to healing. In addition, amino acid therapy can be an incredibly effective tool; a great alternative to pharmaceutical intervention and without the side effect profile of many medications.
Amino acids are targeted natural medicine therapy.
Amino acid therapy consists of individualized evaluation and careful selection of essential amino acids that can be taken orally in a capsule or powdered form to optimize neurotransmitter balance. Neurotransmitters are the brain chemicals responsible for making us feel happy and calm, as well as enhance focus.
When functioning properly the neurotransmitters act in a checks and balance manner; either excitatory or inhibitory. They are classified and prescribed this way depending on what a person may need. It is very helpful to have lab testing done before and after to learn the status of neurotransmitter balance and treat accordingly.
Supporting function, not overriding function.
Amino acid therapies, as many natural therapies, work to support the body’s natural ability to heal without long-term side effects of building tolerance or dependence. Amino acid therapy is commonly used for a limited amount of time to help correct imbalances, effects lasting well beyond discontinuation.
A few key examples.
5HTP
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is related to serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin can affect sleep, appetite, temperature, sexual behavior, and pain sensation. Serotonin also has a significant role in depression, anxiety, and aggression.
Tyrosine
Tyrosine may have a beneficial impact on a brain that has been overtaxed due to stress. Tyrosine is derived from phenylalanine, which can be sourced in foods such as dairy products, meats, fish, eggs, nuts, beans, oats, and wheat. There is some evidence in animals and humans that supplemental tyrosine might improve performance, memory, and learning, under extreme environmental conditions, intense exercise, or psychological stress.
GABA
GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter synthesized in the brain by the breakdown of glutamate. GABA has an overall relaxing, sedative, and anxiolytic effect at the cellular level.
Consult your naturopathic physician.
Amino acid therapy is a very effective natural medicine tool and one to be carefully prescribed and monitored by your trusted naturopathic physician.
This will ensure there are no drug-drug/drug-botanical interactions, correct selection of type, dosage, and length of time. Your physician will consider vitamin cofactors (agents to help with absorption and effectiveness).
If you have underlying gut dysfunction, you will want to go further upstream to address the cause of why you may be experiencing a deficiency in essential amino acids and vitamins.
