For a long time, it has been strongly suggested that the main cause of depression and anxiety has been neurotransmitter deficiency.
Neurotransmitter deficiency or imbalance is just one of the multilateral reasons why someone may experience mood related symptoms.
Other reasons for depression and anxiety can be due to:
Chronic stress and HPA axis activation
Inflammation/ immune dysfunction – within the CNS and systemically/peripherally, including gut inflammation & dysbiosis
Neuro-inflammation and hence altered neuroplasticity and neurogenesis
Genetic factors & epigenetics (read more on epigenetics here) : https://www.discoveringbalance.com.au/post/how-diet-and-environment-affect-our-future
Successful management of depression and anxiety must therefore take into consideration all driving factors.
Omega 3 fatty acids are amazing for reducing inflammation. They also play a major role in regulating the HPA axis. If you are vegan or not able to take fish oil based omegas, clinical studies demonstrate that marine algae ameliorates depressive-like symptoms and behaviours, and alleviates intestinal inflammation.
In psychotic and mood disorders, immune alterations are hypothesized to contribute to cognitive symptoms, as they have been linked to elevated blood levels of inflammatory cytokines, kynurenine metabolites, and markers of microglial activation; Mushrooms significantly inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and assist with cognitive function.
Studies show that specific strains of probiotics can be useful in regulating mood. Lactobacillus plantarum can cause positive changes in emotional behaviours and significantly reduce anxiety-like behaviours. It does this by increasing dopamine and serotonin, lowering stress hormone levels, and reducing inflammation. A randomised, placebo-controlled human trial saw a reduction in stress-related symptoms after the daily consumption of Lactobacillus plantarum for 8 weeks. Another study determined that Lactobacillus rhamnosus significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms in postpartum women.
Both preclinical and clinical trials suggested that saffron and its bioactive compounds have multiple therapeutic effects in many conditions, including psychological disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Preclinical studies have proven that saffron exerts its neuroprotective effects mostly via antioxidative stress, anti-neuroinflammation, anti-apoptosis and certain other related pathways. Clinical trials also confirmed that saffron could alleviate depressive and anxiety-like symptoms in both depression and anxiety patients. Improvement of cognition impairment was observed in clinical studies using saffron for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as AD and PD.
When you book in for your appointment there are many ways we can test for neurotransmitter imbalance or deficiency, along with testing for pyroluria, methylation pathway and more to determine the causitive factor of depressive moods or anxious thoughts.
It's always important when trialling new nutritional or herbal supplements that you do so under the guidance of a practitioner.
Comments