The introduction of phenytoin in 1938 ushered in a new era in the treatment of seizures. Phenytoin, sold under the brand name Dilantin, was the first drug that prevented seizures without also causing sedation. It is used to reduce grand mal and...
Agaricus is a mushroom native to Brazil and popular throughout many other regions of the world for its nutty flavor, meaty texture and medicinal properties. Most notably, agaricus contains beta glucans, which are powerful immunity-enhancing...
L-theanine, an amino acid found predominantly in tea, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and influence brain function. By attaching to receptors in the brain, the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA activates the receptors, causing a relaxation...
Valium is a brand name for the dug diazepam. Valium is used to calm patients suffering from severe anxiety, patients suffering from insomnia, relax patients preparing for a surgical procedure and control muscle spasms due to seizures or...
The amino acid gamma-aminobutyric acid, known as GABA, is a neurotransmitter that has calming effects and helps regulate activity in the brain. Supplement manufacturers promote GABA as a natural tranquilizer to improve mood, and also as substance...
Everyone feels anxiety from time to time, but if you find that you are anxious most of the time, and your anxiety is interfering with work and relationships, then you may seek help in the form of life changes, therapy or medication. Doctors...
L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid that you must obtain by eating protein-rich foods or taking supplements. L-tryptophan has several important roles in health, including helping to create the neurotransmitter serotonin. Like serotonin,...
Anxiety is a type of mental health disorder involving excessive worry, panic and fear. Atenolol---a medication used to regulate blood pressure---is sometimes prescribed off-label to treat anxiety, though it can cause serious side effects like...
Kava (Piper methysticum) is an herb with sedating properties. It is popular in the Pacific Islands as a social intoxicant and is used traditionally in a manner similar to alcohol. Kava causes changes in the mind and body, with physical effects...
For most people, dealing with stress is a normal part of everyday life. You may experience stress from numerous sources, including your job, family and financial situation. According to the Mayo Clinic, too much stress can create physical and...
The Center for Substance Abuse Research at the University of Maryland states that benzodiazepines are a commonly prescribed depressant, which reduce the amount of function in the central nervous system, causing a relaxing feeling. Benzodiazepines,...
If you are what you eat, then it's no surprise that you feel better when you eat healthier. Diets high in fats, sugars, caffeine and alcohol cause people to feel sluggish, agitated, anxious and even depressed. Increasing your intake of healthy...
The use of birth control pills, oral contraceptives, to help prevent pregnancy is widespread. Oral contraceptives contain progestin or synthetic progesterone. These contraceptives have several negative side effects, including physical and...
Drug withdrawal occurs when the use of a drug is stopped after a prolonged period of time. Symptoms vary for different drugs and may include gastrointestinal upset, widespread pain and psychological symptoms such as anxiety and low mood. There...
GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, is such an important neurotransmitter that your brain would rather make it itself rather than bring it in from the outside. Nature has erected a barrier between the central nervous system and the bloodstream that...
Glutamic acid, also called glutamate, is an essential amino acid your body uses to make proteins. But it also acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter in your central nervous system, which includes both your brain and spinal cord. Glutamic acid is...
Alcohol causes depression and laziness through its effects on the brain. The brain is made up of cells called neurons. The neurons in the brain control a number of things, including cognition, sensation, muscle movement, balance and emotions....
Pregnenolone is a naturally occurring substance that has been researched and used for a variety of health-promoting purposes. With age, less pregnenolone is produced by the body, and by age 70 levels can decline by as much as 60 percent over...
Vitamin B6 (pyroxidine) benefits our metabolism. Of the 20 amino acids we receive from our diet, our bodies can manufacture 11 of these because of vitamin B6, which enables the metabolic reactions that our bodies need to make these amino acids....
Herbal teas are beverages made from herbs other than the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). There are a variety of herbal teas, many of which are marketed to treat specific ailments or provide health benefits. Understanding the effects of individual...
Benzodiazepines are a class of central nervous system depressant medications that have sedative, anti-anxiety and muscle-relaxing properties. They act on receptors of the neurotransmitter GABA by increasing its release, which has a nerve-calming...
Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb with a long history of use in the traditional system of Indian medicine called Ayurvedic medicine, where it is used to treat inflammation, stress, gastrointestinal disorders and numerous other conditions....
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is finding increasing research, use and support as a viable alternative to conventional hormone replacement therapy. In part, the move away from synthetic hormone replacement has increased as a result of...
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) reports one in every 100 Americans has been diagnosed with epilepsy or had a seizure. Epilepsy is a brain condition in which disordered electrical activity causes periodic...
Neuralgia is sudden, sharp and persistent nerve pain caused by irritation or damage to the nerves. According to the Mayo Clinic, neuralgia occurs in many forms, including trigeminal neuralgia in the facial area and postherpetic neuralgia after an...
Kava kava (Piper methysticum) is an herb with medicinal properties. It has been used in the Pacific Islands for centuries as an alcohol-like beverage and is valued today for its relaxing effects. Like all herbs and supplements, kava kava can...
Generalized anxiety is a mental health disorder that causes persistent feelings of nervousness, worry and fear. The symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder don't occur in response to any one trigger but are constantly present with no identifiable...
Taurine is a compound similar to amino acids that's manufactured by cells in the pancreas. It is then used by the liver to produce bile, which is necessary to digest fats in the small intestine. It also appears to activate the neurotransmitter...
Amino acids are vital to health and body function. Your body uses 22 amino acids to carry out various functions. Your body can manufacture 14 amino acids on its own, while the remaining eight are received through your diet. Glutamic acid, or...
Anxiety can be treated naturally with the use of herbs. Learn how to get started using herbal remedies to treat anxiety from a licensed nutritionist in this video.
