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Natural Remedies for Vertigo Same As Osteoporosis Natural Remedies Vertigo and osteoporosis have an unexpected link, research shows. People who have vertigo – the feeling of dizziness, spinning or falling even when the body is at rest – are more likely to have bone loss, according to a study published in the medical journal, Neurology.Conversely, people with osteoporosis, or low bone density, were three times more likely to have vertigo. And, those with osteopenia (or pre-osteoporosis) were twice as likely to have vertigo as people who had normal bone density.

The association was most pronounced in women – nearly 75% of those with a diagnosis of vertigo had osteopenia or osteoporosis compared with only about 43% of patients who did not experience dizziness.[1]

Discover what causes osteoporosis and learn natural remedies for osteoporosis symptoms with our top five osteoporosis guidelines in our FREE 13-page report, Osteoporosis Guidelines: Natural Remedies for Osteoporosis Symptoms!

Calcium is the link between vertigo and osteoporosis

While vertigo can be triggered by a number of underlying issues (inflammation or fluctuating pressure in the inner ear, Meniere’s disease, etc.) one major cause is loose calcium carbonate crystals moving through the sensing tubes of the inner ear. The inner ear governs sense of balance.

Both vertigo and osteoporosis occur more often in post-menopausal women because the drop in estrogen that accompanies menopause causes bones to release more calcium into the blood. And, the increase in “free” calcium also prevents the body from clearing the crystals out of the inner ear as it normally would.

“Women most often have their first case of vertigo in their 50s, when they are also having a drop in bone mass due to loss of estrogen,” says study author Ji Soo Kim, MD, PhD, of Seoul National University College of Medicine in Korea.

Calcium is one of the key natural remedies for vertigo and and osteoporosis

While it is well documented that supplementing with calcium slows the rate of bone loss in post-menopausal women, Dr. Kim also noted that the link between estrogen, bone loss and vertigo is somewhat incomplete since men with vertigo were also more likely to have thinning bones.

The bottom line is that while women with menopause definitely benefit from calcium supplementation, men and women of all ages should regularly consume calcium. In fact, many doctors advise getting an adequate amount of calcium beginning in childhood to fight bone disease.

Simply put, calcium is one of the important minerals needed for bones to form. If you do not get enough calcium, or your body does not absorb enough calcium from your diet, your bones will become brittle and are more likely to fracture. At the same time, taking calcium is one of the best natural remedies for vertigo as it helps clear the crystals out of the inner ear.

Remember these key factors when taking calcium supplements

Unfortunately, the typical American diet provides far less than the optimum level of calcium per day, so many people would benefit from taking a calcium supplement. Here are the key factors to remember when taking calcium supplements:

School-aged children (ages 4 to 8) require 1,000 mg of calcium per day.
As children reach puberty (9 to 18), calcium requirements increase to 1,300 mg per day.
During adulthood (ages 19 to 50), calcium requirements drop back to 1000 mg per day.
And after 50, adults require about 1,200 mg of calcium per day.
Take your daily calcium supplement in divided doses; that is, with a meal and spread out over at least two meals. Clinical studies have shown that the body can only absorb 500 mg of calcium at a time, so to take your full 1000 mg dose at one time would be throwing your money down the drain.

Calcium supplements come in several forms – calcium carbonate, fumarate, malate, succinate, aspartate, or citrate. Some forms of the supplement are better absorbed and have virtually no toxicity. So, which calcium supplement should you choose? Which provides the best absorption? And, which is the most cost effective? Get a detailed look a meeting your calcium requirements in our free download, Osteoporosis Guidelines.

For an even deeper and more comprehensive discussion, visit our subscription-only library guide, Osteoporosis Relief: Natural Remedies for Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment.

Natural remedies for vertigo = osteoporosis natural remedies

Don’t forget that calcium is not the only nutrient necessary to promote healthy bones, and it may not even be the most important one. In fact, calcium by itself does little good because it is not as readily absorbed by the body without taking magnesium and vitamin D. Furthermore, eating or supplementing too much calcium in the absence of other nutrients can actually lead to osteoporosis and cause dizziness as well as other serious problems such as kidney stones, plaque in your arteries or painful calcium deposits manifested as gout or arthritis. Therefore, calcium should always be teamed with two other bone health nutrients: vitamin D and magnesium.

Vitamin D Combined with Calcium Included in Natural Remedies for Vertigo & Osteoporosis Natural Remedies

Vitamin D facilitates the absorption of calcium from food. Therefore, without an adequate intake of vitamin D, the body cannot form enough of the hormone calcitriol to adequately absorb calcium. Without calcitriol, the body “steals” calcium from the bones, including the bones of the inner ear. That’s why people who suffer from vitamin D deficiency often suffer from a variety of symptoms including weak bones (osteopenia and osteoporosis), gum disease, brittle nails, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), and dizziness (vertigo).

Additionally, taking vitamin D helps reduce the risk of fractures. Since deficiencies in vitamin D lead to weak bones and dizziness, people with the deficiency are more likely to suffer falls resulting in painful fractures. A study examining the effects of vitamin D3 combined with calcium supplementation in elderly women found that vitamin D3 supplementation helped to reduce overall age-related bone loss as well as the risk of fractures due to fewer episodes of falling.[2] Learn more about vitamin D in Get a detailed look a meeting your calcium requirements in the free download, Osteoporosis Guidelines.

Magnesium Among Top Natural Remedies for Vertigo & Osteoporosis Natural Remedies

Magnesium is necessary for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body, including helping with muscle relaxation and nerve conduction, steadying heart rhythm, supporting the immune system, and keeping bones strong. Magnesium is also a mineral necessary for electrolyte balance within the body. If you lack an adequate amount of magnesium, your brain may not receive messages from your sensory nerves as it should. Additionally, the brain may interpret messages from the inner ear that movement and gravity are felt, even when there is no movement at all. This results in dizzy spells and loss of balance.

The richest food sources of magnesium are green leafy vegetables like spinach, nuts, seeds, and legumes. But most people are so deficient in this critical mineral that oral magnesium in the form of a supplement is required. To learn more about magnesium supplementation, read here:

Chinese Herb Used in Addition to the Other Natural Remedies for Vertigo and Osteoporosis Natural Remedies

Research clearly confirms that calcium, magnesium and vitamin D are remarkable natural remedies for vertigo, and they the cornerstones for any good osteoporosis fighting program. But, there is one Chinese herb that also ranks among the top natural remedies for vertigo and the osteoporosis natural remedies: Ginkgo biloba. Read about this amazing herbal treatment here.

If you have symptoms of either vertigo or osteoporosis, start implementing these simple strategies.

Download the Osteoporosis Guidelines report.
Supplement with calcium.
Test for vitamin D deficiency and supplement if needed.
Supplement with magnesium.
Consider gingko biloba.

Be sure to tell us about your experience in the comments section below.

[1] Neurology March 24, 2009 vol. 72 no. 12 1069-1076.

[2] Ann Nutr Metab 2009;54:59–66.

Originally published in 2013, this blog has been updated.

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Natural Health Advisory

Urine NTX and Serum CTX Test—Measuring Bone Breakdown Compliments DEXA Scan for Osteoporosis Bone resorption testing is becoming known as an accurate and inexpensive way to measure the rate of bone loss. Many integrative physicians now see these labs, such as the urine NTX or the serum CTX test, as invaluable in evaluating osteoporosis, since they can identify excessive bone loss before too much damage has occurred. Also, they allow for more regular, frequent assessment of bone health status than do bone density scans. This means that treatments can be started to slow bone loss before it would even have been identified by a DEXA scan. And treatment results can be monitored more frequently and thus adjusted for maximum effectiveness.

There are multiple bone resorption tests to choose from: at least four different markers of bone resorption can be measured in the blood, and at least seven can be measured in urine. So far, it’s not yet clear exactly which one, if any, is best to use. In part 1, you learned about bone remodeling in general and about the Pyrilinks-D urine test for the bone resorption marker known as deoxypyridinoline (DPD). Two other popular, commonly used bone resorption tests are the urine NTX and the serum CTX test. These two tests along with Pyrilinks-D have emerged as the three most useful.

What are “CTX” test and urine “NTX”?

CTX and NTX are acronyms for carboxy-terminal (CTX) and amino-terminal (NTX) telopeptides of type 1 collagen. Don’t let this mouthful scare you off from learning about these important tests. These short proteins (peptides) make up certain regions of bones’ collagen. Collagen, specifically type 1 collagen, is the substance that makes up the majority of the non-mineral tissue of bone.

Collagen forms the matrix upon which the mineral portion of bone accumulates. This collagen is strengthened by cross-linked proteins such as DPD, which is measured by the Pyrlinks-D test (see part 1). CTX and NTX are found in the region of type 1 collagen where the crosslinks such as DPD attach. They are produced during bone resorption and can be measured in blood or urine. Currently CTX is most commonly measured in blood (serum) while NTX is most often measured in urine.

What do high urine NTX or serum CTX test levels indicate?

High serum CTX test levels have been found to correlate with low bone mineral density and to predict fracture risk. Serum CTX test levels are higher in people with osteoporosis compared to those without the disease.[1] In a recent published Swedish study, 1,040 women aged 75 years were randomly selected and followed for ten years. High serum CTX test levels were associated with increased fracture risk for up to a decade.[2] The urine NTX test is also commonly used and recommended as a good bone resorption marker. A study of 2,305 women found that higher urine NTX levels in the urine before menopause and across menopause is associated with a higher risk of fracture.[3]

What are the normal ranges for the urine NTX and the serum CTX test?

The serum CTX test and urine NTX test are offered through LabCorp, Quest Diagnostics, and other major national labs. As with the other bone resorption tests, the various measurement techniques for CTX and NTX lead to reference ranges that may vary from lab to lab.

For urine NTX measured through LabCorp, for example, a baseline urine NTX value greater than 38 indicates significantly increased risk for decreased bone mineral density after one year.[4] As the baseline NTX goes up from 38, the probability of a decrease in bone mineral density increases significantly. For women being treated for osteoporosis, the probability that treatment is effective after three months is significantly increased if the NTX falls below 38 or drops by 30% from its baseline.[4] The retail cost for the urine NTX (N-telopeptide) test is between about $60 and $120.
For a serum CTX test through Quest Diagnostics, the normal range for women aged 18-49 ranges from 40-650 pg/ml. For patients being treated for osteoporosis, a serum CTX decrease of at least 25% from baseline 3 to 6 months after the start of therapy indicates the therapy is working. Life Extension’s retail price for the serum CTX test, which is run through LabCorp is $332.

Which is better, the serum CTX test or urine NTX?

Different research studies have used different markers, and experts vary regarding which markers they recommend. For these reasons and others, doctors have been reluctant to begin regularly using bone resorption tests in clinical practice. The serum CTX test, also called C-telopeptide, is the test that some experts are currently recommending becomes the primary bone resorption test used worldwide so that international reference ranges can be set, research can be more standardized, and the test can be more useful to doctors and patients.[5]

The main reason the serum CTX test is being recommended over the other bone resorption markers is that not all markers respond by the same amount for a given degree of bone resorption; for instance serum CTX tends to change more than urine NTX.[5] Nevertheless, both are useful and currently in use along with Pyrilinks-D. Your doctor may have a preference based on his or her personal experience with one test over another.

How to best take advantage of bone resorption testing using Pyrilinks-D, urine NTX, or the serum CTX test

Like most lab tests this day in age, bone resorption tests can be ordered without a doctor’s recommendation or guidance through various online companies that offer direct-to-consumer access to lab tests. DirectLabs or Life Extension are examples. However, given the complexity of bone resorption testing, it is recommended that you work with a healthcare practitioner experienced using and interpreting Pyrilinks-D, urine NTX, or the serum CTX test.

Osteoporosis is a silent disease causing major loss of mobility and even death. Fracture risk depends on much more than just bone mineral density as measured by a DEXA scan. If you are already at risk for fractures, or if you want to know if you are at risk, testing for bone resorption is emerging as an integral way to help assess and treat poor bone health. No matter what your current state of bone health, if you want to start tracking your bone loss rate, it is important to establish a baseline.

The best way to take advantage of a urine NTX or serum CTX test is to find out your initial level of bone resorption and then plan to re-test 3 to 6 months later using the same test at the same laboratory. This can help you determine whether you are currently losing too much bone. It may provide an early warning before a bone density scan reveals a problem. Or you can use the testing to determine how well your current bone building plan is working. If your bone resorption levels have not improved on the follow up test, those results will serve as a great motivator for you to be more vigilant with your weight bearing exercise and other natural treatments. What are the components of a truly effective natural treatment plan? They are outlined in Osteoporosis Relief: Natural Remedies for Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment. Now is a good time to get started.

[1] Joint Bone Spine. 2012 Jan;79(1):20-5.

[2] J Bone Miner Res. 2010 Feb;25(2):393-403.

[3] Menopause. 2012 Nov;19(11):1200-7.

[4] LabCorp NTX sample report.

[5] Osteoporos Int. 2013 Mar;24(3):887-97.

Originally published in 2013, this blog has been updated.

The post Urine NTX and Serum CTX Test—Measuring Bone Breakdown Complements DEXA Scan for Osteoporosis appeared first on Natural Health Advisory.

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Les amalgames dentaires sont extrêmement polluants mais on peut penser que si nos dentistes nous mettent cela dans la bouche c'est qu'en principe cela ne risque rien. Demandez leur s'il y a un danger, vous serez étonné de la réponse. L'amalgame est éminemment...

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Natural Health Advisory

Getting Sick After Flying? How to Prevent that Cold or Nasty Sinus Infection With literally billions of people traveling by air every year now, researchers are finally starting to gather and publish more data about the health risks associated with airplane travel. In terms of the common cold, it is now well-accepted that acute respiratory infections are frequently experienced after air travel. Studies have found a high prevalence and wide array of respiratory viruses in people who have recently traveled.[2] Up to 20% of passengers may develop respiratory infections within 1 week after air travel and that flight attendants have significantly more respiratory infections than those who do not frequently fly.

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Why does flying on a plane increase your susceptibility to getting sick?

Spread of exhaled infected droplets. Airline cabins have lots of people in a crowded space who are there for long “exposure times” so the risk of infection via airborne transmission could be high if one or more passengers are infected with an airborne infectious disease. The droplets exhaled by an infected passenger may contain infectious agents such influenza. The droplets have been shown to spread through the air from a single cough, a single breath, or a few seconds of speaking. Exposure to the row in front and the row behind occurs within 30 seconds and extends to 7 rows within minutes.[3]
Low air pressure and oxygen compromise immune function. The conditions of low air pressure and low oxygen have been shown to impair certain immune system functions for a few days after long flights.[4] To test how typical airplane air pressure and oxygen levels affect the immune system, researchers studied the effects of a simulated 10 hour flight at an average cruising altitude of 8000 feet; and they measured markers of immune system function in 52 healthy volunteers. They looked at blood samples before and on days 1, 4, and 7 after the flight. The researchers observed a number of immune system changes in the immediate days following the simulated flight. For instance, the subjects’ lymphocyte responses were decreased. Lymphocytes include T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells. Lymphocytes are the primary type of white blood cells made by the immune system to combat viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. These immune changes, they concluded, “may contribute to an increased susceptibility to respiratory infections commonly seen after long-haul flights.”[4]

Venous thrombosis is also a health concern related to air travel

The lower oxygen levels and prolonged sitting on long flights doesn’t just impair your immune system’s ability to fight infections, it also puts you at risk for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Together, these two conditions make up the third most common cardiovascular disease after heart attack and stroke. For persons who contract the conditions, they carry a high risk of death and permanent complications. Deep vein thrombosis is a condition in which a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain, but often occurs without any symptoms. Pulmonary embolism is a complication of deep vein thrombosis in which one or more arteries in your lungs becomes blocked by a blood clot that has traveled to your lungs from your leg.

While these conditions are of most concern for people with chronic respiratory diseases, doctors who specialize in travel medicine and lung diseases have been trying to spread the word for years that all travelers need to take precautions to avoid venous thromboembolism. This involves avoiding excess alcohol and caffeine-containing drinks, remaining mobile and exercising during the flight. For air travelers with a history of venous thromboembolism, obesity, heart disease, significant medical illness in previous six weeks, immobility, pregnancy or estrogen therapy (hormone replacement therapy or combined oral contraceptive pill), experts advise that in addition to the above advice, travelers wear compression stockings, avoid sedatives, and avoid sleeping for prolonged periods in abnormal positions. They also recommend a preventive dose of blood thinning medication for those at high risk of clots, such as those who have recently had a stroke, major surgery or trauma.

How to not get sick while flying

To reduce your risk of getting a respiratory infection while on a flight, here are three specific actions you should take:

Irrigate your nose (or your children’s) with a saline solution – both before and after the flight – by using a dropper or small squirt bottle. Nasal irrigation with a saline solution helps clean out at least some of the allergen, fungal and viral pathogens from the nose and thus can help to reduce the frequency of infections. Keeping the nasal cavity moist in the dry atmosphere of an airplane cabin is also most beneficial.
Drink lots of water throughout the flight.
Take an herbal medicine with immune boosting properties such as Echinacea for a week or two before the flight. Australian researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial to study whether a standardized Echinacea supplement is effective in the prevention of respiratory and other symptoms associated with long flights.[5] They gave 175 adults travelling for 15-25 hours Echinacea (root extract, standardized to 4.4 mg alkylamides) or placebo tablets starting 14 days before travel. The Echinacea group had lower respiratory symptom scores compared to placebo during travel. If you’re planning on traveling by air, you can give your own immune system a boost with Echinacea or other immune stimulating natural therapies starting at least 2 weeks before you travel. For more ideas on natural immune boosters for prevention of viral infections, such as Elderberry, Beta-Glucans, and Red Korean or American Ginseng, see the article titled 3 Immune System Supplements to Prevent the Flu this Winter.

What do you do to keep from getting sick when you are traveling by air?

Please share the techniques you and your family have used to keep an air flight from making you sick? Have you tried nasal irrigation? What other tips have your learned?

[1] JAMA. 2002 Jul 24-31;288(4):483-6.

[2] J Infect Dis. (2007) 195 (5): 675-679.

[3] Indoor Air. 2011 Aug;21(4):341-50.

[4] Aviat Space Environ Med. 2012 Apr;83(4):418-23.

[5] Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012; 2012: 417267.

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Natural Health Advisory

4 Dopamine Supplements for Improving Mood and Motivation When we think about depression, lack of motivation, or difficulty focusing and concentrating, the well-known brain chemical (neurotransmitter) serotonin often comes to mind. While it’s true that low serotonin is a problem for many people with depression and other mental health issues, researchers have known for years that other neurotransmitters are also involved. A study published in JAMA Psychiatry in the year 2000 reported that people with clinical depression also have significantly lower brain levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine.[1]

Since then, we’ve learned a lot about dopamine’s role in mood and mental health and about what can be done to restore low dopamine levels. Loss of pleasure, loss of motivation, and not having enough focus or concentration to get things done can all be dopamine deficiency symptoms, as can the characteristic “slowness” of many people with depression. While most pharmaceutical drugs designed to increase dopamine are associated with significant and serious adverse effects, scientists have discovered and clinically tested a number of natural dopamine boosters that can safely increase dopamine levels within the brain and are generally without side effects. Natural and integrative physicians have been successfully using these ingredients to help patients with depression, anxiety, low motivation, and other symptoms of low dopamine.

5 Natural Antidepressant Strategies. Discover safe and totally natural strategies to help your brain recover your body's natural good-mood chemistry in our report 5 Ways to Solve the Depression Dilemma. It's free!

What is dopamine?

Dopamine normally gets triggered when you approach and expect a reward. With the release of dopamine in the brain comes a good feeling and a surge of energy so you can reach your reward. Dopamine motivates you to seek, alerts your attention to things that meet your needs, and motivates you to persist in your pursuit of those things that meet your needs. Your brain rewards you with dopamine each time you take steps towards a new goal. Without enough dopamine, your motivation goes caput and you’re unable to experience pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable, e.g. exercise, hobbies, music, sexual activities or social interactions. In other words, dopamine deficiency causes a bad case of the “blahs.”

The four supplements presented here—L-Tyrosine, Rhodiola, Mucuna, and L-theanine—have each been found in studies to increase dopamine and/or help balance dopamine function in the brain. They can be used as natural dopamine boosters to improve mood and motivation and to treat dopamine deficiency symptoms like depression, fatigue, lack of interest in life, poor memory, and impulsive behaviors.

4 Key Dopamine Supplements:

L-Tyrosine. The conditionally essential amino acid tyrosine is a precursor of catecholamine neurotransmitters, including dopamine. It can be taken through the diet (especially from meat, eggs, and fish) or synthesized in the body. Tyrosine forms DOPA, which is then converted to dopamine, and this, in turn, forms norepinephrine, another neurotransmitter related to mood. By supporting production of neurotransmitters like dopamine, L-tyrosine supplements can enhance mood, sleep, emotional well-being, and cognitive/mental function, especially under situations involving environmental and emotional stress or when dopamine levels require additional support (some people are genetically programmed to make too little dopamine).[2-4] Start by taking one 500 mg capsule of L-tyrosine. If you feel no benefits within 30 minutes, take a second capsule, and a third in another thirty minutes if you still feel nothing. Continue by taking one to three 500 mg capsules 2-3 times a day, early morning, midmorning, and midafternoon. Decrease the dose if you feel agitated or your blood pressure increases.

Mucuna. Mucuna pruriens, commonly known as velvet bean, naturally contains up to 5% L-Dopa (levodopa). L-DOPA is the same biochemical that is made in humans from the amino acid L-tyrosine and is then synthesized into dopamine. When taken as a supplement, the L-DOPA from Mucuna can cross the blood-brain barrier to elevate brain dopamine levels. Powdered mucuna seeds have long been used in Indian traditional medicine as support in the treatment of various illnesses, including Parkinson’s. Recently, studies utilizing Mucuna supplements have shown promising results not just for Parkinson’s but for other conditions related to dopamine deficiency, including depression and psychological stress.[5-7] Mucuna extract has been shown to increase not only dopamine concentrations, but also other neurotransmitters that affect mood, such as serotonin and norepinephrine.[8] Look for an extract of Mucuna pruriens standardized to contain 15% L-DOPA. Take 300 mg twice a day.

L-theanine. L-theanine is an amino acid uniquely found in green tea that creates an alert state of relaxation without drowsiness. L-theanine is known to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier and increase dopamine levels in the brain. Animal studies show that L-theanine also increases brain serotonin and GABA. It has anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects, reduces mental and physical stress, and leads to improvements in learning and memory in humans and animals.[9,10] Even just a single, small dose of L-theanine (100 mg) significantly improves the ability to pay attention and maintain focus compared to placebo.[11] Take 200 mg of L-theanine 2-3 times daily.

Rhodiola. Rhodiola rosea, or ‘golden root’, is a popular plant in traditional medicine in Eastern Europe and Asia, with a reputation for improving depression, enhancing work performance, eliminating fatigue and treating symptoms resulting from intense physical and psychological stress. Rhodiola exerts its benefits via multiple effects on the central nervous system, including enhancing the stability of dopamine and supporting its reuptake. This leads to notable decreases in depression, anxiety, and fatigue, as well as an increased ability to handle stress.[12] In human studies, rhodiola has been shown to significantly reduce depression, anxiety, and stress-related fatigue compared to placebo.[13-15] Look for a rhodiola extract derived from Rhodiola rosea root and standardized to contain 3% total rosavins and a minimum 1% salidrosides. Take 170 mg twice a day.

Multivitamin. Certain minerals and B-vitamins, especially zinc, vitamin B6, and folate, are necessary for dopamine synthesis and neurotransmission. These nutrients are often depleted in individuals due to medications, inadequate diets, excessive stress, and toxic environmental exposures, compromising the ability to properly synthesize neurotransmitters like dopamine. A high-potency, high-quality multivitamin/mineral supplement can help replenish these co-factors, enhancing neurotransmitter function and playing a complementary role in supporting emotional wellness

Potential side effects, precautions, and drug interactions

Too much dopamine is dangerous and needs to be avoided. Do not take more than one dopamine supplement at a time without first consulting with a healthcare practitioner, preferable one trained in integrative or natural medicine. Similarly, do not use these supplements if you are taking methyldopa, antidepressants, or antipsychotic drugs without first consulting with a physician. Tyrosine and Mucuna pruriens may also interact with some nutritional supplements, including St. John’s Wort, 5-HTP, Tryptophan, and SAMe. Therefore, you should also consult your healthcare practitioner before combining these supplements. Do not take these supplements if you are a pregnant or lactating woman.

Additional ways to increase dopamine and improve your mood

In addition to taking dopamine supplements, there are also other ways to naturally increase dopamine. For instance, do you know which foods are natural dopamine boosters and which foods can deplete dopamine? Working towards a goal can also increase dopamine. By repeating small steps to reach a goal, you can re-wire the dopamine pathways in your brain, ultimately teaching your brain to give you a dopamine surge every time you take that small step. You can also increase dopamine by developing an active, regular, stress reduction practice.[16]

And because depression has multiple underlying causes, such as adrenal or hormonal imbalances, or nutritional deficiencies, you may be interested in our Comprehensive Guide to Depression which helps you easily identify and develop simple treatment plans based on evidence-based natural medicine for each of depression’s underlying causes. Also, be sure to read about Serotonin Deficiency and Serotonin Supplements.

[1] Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000 Aug;57(8):787-93.

[2] Biol Psychiatry. 2005 May 1;57(9):999-1003.

[3] C R Acad Sci III. 1988;306(3):93-8.

[4] Altern Med Rev. 2009 Jun;14(2):114-40.

[5] Evid Bas Comp Alt Med. 2010;7(1):137-144.

[6] Inventi Impact Ethnopharm. 2013;797.

[7] Pharm online. 2010;1:537-551.

[8] Orient Pharm Exp Med. 2013 Jun;13(2):143-148.

[9] Phytother Res. 2011 Nov;25(11):1636-9.

[10] Nutr Neurosci. 2013 Jul 23.

[11] Neuropharmacology. 2012 Jun;62(7):2320-7.

[12] Phytother Res. 2007 Jan;21(1):37-43.