Posted by Cruz on September 10, 2001, at 1:29:49
In reply to Re: Cam, could you please explain me something?, posted by Cam W. on September 7, 2001, at 9:53:39
People seem to be stuck in the box of thinking the brain is all that constitutes the mind. Your entire body has a role in how your mind functions.
I have a imbalance in my endocrine system which alters my circadian rythmn, causing problems with my mind. My symptoms are like many with atypical depression. But is it depression? When someone is eventually diagnosed with an underactive thyriod, they are diagnosed with Hypothyriod and treated accordingly. I've seen many cases like this when they had previously been diagnosed with depression and treated with AD's. We and researchers need to get out of the box of nuerotransmitter theories and look at the big picture. It never ceases to amaze me, how narrow many persons vision can be.
> Micha - For years, scientists have been breaking the brain down into smaller and smaller parts to see how it works (reductionism). Now that they have got down to neurotransmitters, second messenger systems, and especially gene transcription.
>
> I like to use the "automobile as human body" analogy. It he brain were the engine, then when we get down to the neurotransmitter level, we can equate (say) serotonin to spark plugs of the electrical system. Now, an isolated spark plug does not do much; it does not tell us how the car runs. We have to step back from the spark plug to see how it works in relation to the rest of parts it attaches to (and also what those other parts attach to).
>
> Of course, the brain is a much more complex piece of machinery than a car, and the analogy is far from perfect; but I hope you can see what I am trying to say. As for the functions of serotonin and norepinephrine, I will give an oversimplified answer of their effects. A far more in depth explanation can be found at the following website:
>
> http://www.acnp.org/g4/4thgen.php
>
> Serotonin: Involved in: sleep initiation, impulsivity, mood modulation, pain modulation, modulation of aggression, control of anxiety, maintenance of alertness.
>
> Norepinephrine: Involved in: sleep maintenance, mood modulation, energy, interest, vigilance, self-perception.
>
> Serotonin + Norepinephrine: Involved in: anxiety and irritability.
>
> Serotonin + Norepinephrine + Dopamine: Involved in: mood, emotion, and cognitive function.
>
> As for the pharmacology of Kava Kava, I have no idea. I have never seen serotonin syndrome result from the use of an SSRI and Kava Kava. I have seen some fairly nasty, flaking rashes result from the use of high doses of Kava Kava, over a long period of time, though.
>
> I hope that this (and the link) are of some use to you. - Cam
>
poster:Cruz
thread:78136
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010907/msgs/78438.html