Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers of the nervous system, essential for relaying signals within the brain and communicating with all organ systems of the body.
A neurotransmitter imbalance is an underlying cause for the improper functioning of the communication system of the body. Recent medical surveys report that eight out of ten people are found to suffer from neurotransmitter imbalances that ultimately result in general disorders like obesity, migraine headaches, depression, ADHD, and anxiety. Thus, it is of great importance to undergo the right kind of neurotransmitter testing, to diagnose the problem and get treated for it.
The Nature of Neurotransmitter Testing
Neurotransmitter tests are available to determine the levels of major neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and GABA.
There are a number of facts related to neurotransmitter tests that are discussed as below:
• Studies have demonstrated direct neurotransmitter transport out of the CNS, into the periphery, via blood-brain barrier transporters. • It is a more efficient way to establish the response an individual is having towards medicines and supplements taken for conditions like depression and anxiety. • Urinary neurotransmitter testing may identify the underlying neurochemical imbalances that affect mental disorders. • Researchers have repeatedly demonstrated that urinary neurotransmitter measurements correlate with neurological conditions
The Method Employed For Neurotransmitter Tests
Neurotransmitters circulating in the blood are filtered by the kidneys and subsequently excreted in the urine. The existence of intact neurotransmitters in urine is not disputed, as evidenced by studies demonstrating renal transporters capable of filtering neurotransmitters from the blood to the urine. A simple non invasive urine collection can be employed to obtain the levels of the main neurotransmitters that regulate mood and behavior.
Neurotransmitters currently available for testing:
1. Epinephrine 2. Norepinephrine 3. Dopamine 4. Serotonin 5. GABA 6. PEA 7. Glutamate 8. Histamine
How Do I Get Tested?
Neurotransmitter test kits can be sent anywhere in the world. This testing utilizes a simple urine specimen you collect in the privacy of your home and send back via postal service to the lab.
Once you have been provided with the test results you can then follow up with neurotransmitter supplements that rebalance your chemistry to provide a more natural cure for depression, anxiety, and many other mental health disorders. Don’t trust your brain chemistry to just anyone! Find a mental health practitioner that:
• Is experience in neurochemistry and neurotransmitter dysfunction • Provides customized treatment protocols based on symptoms and lab results • Provides consultations and follow up testing • Has training and experience with psychotropic medications
Integrative Psychiatry is an outpatient psychiatric organization that offers neurotransmitter tests, hormone test, adrenal stress tests, plus many others to determine the cause of your depression, ADHD, anxiety, and mood swings. Moreover, it provides a unique system of telephone consultations with mental health experts in the field to get information about the tests and also to discuss test results and make recommendations.
About the author: Valerie Balandra is a board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and holistic health practitioner. Her integrative psychiatry practice focuses on identifying the cause of the chemical imbalance and provides natural treatments for depression and anxiety.
