We often associate serotonin as being the key to feeling happy and good. We raise serotonin through exercise, through mindfulness, through diet, through healthy fulfilling relationships and well functioning DNA.
Low serotonin can seem easy to pick out; depression, OCD, sadness, sadness that is worse during winter and sadness worsened with a lack of sun, lack of pleasure from foods + friendships, insomnia, tearfulness.
Excess serotonin can often go undiagnosed for many years.
High serotonin looks like paranoia, dark thoughts, disturbing thoughts, schizophrenic tendancies, OCD, obsession, histamine issues (due to slow functioning MAO-A gene)
Individuals who suffer from excess serotonin can have both genetic and environmental influences which cause high serotonin symptoms.
Some environmental issues which can cause excess serotonin include;
- Excess herbal medicine/high dosage (Many herbs are 5HT antagonist’s (MAO-A inhibitors) which work on serotonin receptors therefore increase serotonin available. It’s important to work with a naturopath when working with herbs for this reason.
- Smoking
- Coffee
- High dose niacin (Vitamin B3)
- Folate
- Genetics: Gene polymorphisms such as MAO-A GG and COMT can be slow functioning which will contribute to excess serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine. This is because the slow working gene (Ie MAO-A) is slow at metabolising serotonin therefore serotonin is not used up at a healthy speed. This means there is an excess of serotonin is floating around in the synapse causing side effects.
When particular genes (such as the above mentioned) are slow functioning, biochemically we support the gene by slowing it down to a healthy speed by nutrients such as SAMe, B2, B3, Magnesium, Zinc, NAC, glutathione, and once everything is in place we can use branch chain amino acids.
Spiritually, a genetic polymorphism such as a slow functioning MAO-A gene shows that there is often deep ancestral trauma which has been carried through to the individual and is expressed as a need for healing. Alongside approaching the biochemistry, other work is required to heal all energy fields within the individual can be used which include but is not limited to;
Energy work(Ie clearings), kinesiology, meditation, body work are all support used to help clear the ancestral trauma/block once the individual is ready to heal.
