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Archives for May 2019

When using GABA for anxiety does tolerance increase and which amino acid to use for a low mood?

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gaba and tolerence

Today I’m sharing some great questions I’ve received about GABA and serotonin support for anxiety and low mood, and my feedback to give you some ideas on what to look for as you use the amino acids for your own issues (or with clients/patients if you’re a practitioner).

I cover possible reasons for ongoing low GABA levels, long-term use of the amino acids, low mood associated with menopause, problems with mainly sugar- and gluten-free, the role of the adrenals and thyroid, the amino acids I’d start with for low mood, how lithium orotate may help, how to know if collagen is causing a low mood and making you more anxious, and some resources for you.

GABA tolerance has increased

Gaba has been a lifesaver for my anxiety! I also use taurine sometimes for anxiety too, and that has helped too. Right now, I take 1000 mg [of taurine]. As for GABA (I now take 1000 mg of that also) I have noticed that my tolerance for it has increased.

Here is my feedback: I’m really pleased GABA and taurine are helping ease your anxiety. I have not seen tolerance to be a factor with my clients using GABA and I’m not aware of any research on this topic. I would look into what could be depleting GABA at a faster rate so you seem to need more and more.

This could be caused by:

  • increased stress which lowers zinc and increases cortisol
  • poor gut health and dysbiosis (there is a bacteria in the gut that may consume GABA – it’s called gabavorous)
  • low zinc and low B6 (which are needed to make GABA and other neurotransmitters)
  • toxin exposure (we’re now seeing that GABA has a protective effect – this blog covers have GABA is protective of the thyroid after fluoride exposure)
  • thyroid problems (the amino acids are less effective in this instance)

Keep in mind that long-term use of the amino acids is not the plan. Once the diet is addressed and the other underlying biochemistry, nutrient deficiencies, toxins etc. are addressed they should no longer be needed. At most, an occasional “top-up” may be needed.

Low mood associated with menopause

Which amino acids would you recommend for low mood associated with menopause? No panic attacks but a crashing low mood for 24hrs or more before slight recovery, a few easy days and then the cycle begins again. Diet is mainly sugar- and gluten-free. Any suggestions would be appreciated, thank you

Here is my feedback: When I hear “diet is mainly sugar- and gluten-free” with mood swings I always look into gluten exposure and blood sugar dips. Keeping a food mood log is an easy first step to see if the low mood is tied to what is being eaten and when.

I would recommend the complete removal of gluten and sugar. Gluten can trigger depression, anxiety, OCD and lead to many psychiatric symptoms. Blood sugar swings can cause both depression and anxiety. The amino acids make it easy to quite sugar and gluten – no willpower required and no feelings of deprivation. Do the questionnaire and do a trial of the amino acids that apply. Based on the above symptoms I’d suspect tryptophan and tyrosine may help and are always a good first step while everything else is being figured out.

I would also look at adrenal function as they take up the slack in menopause and rule out Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves (as you can get mood swings with both as the thyroid levels shift).

Low lithium can also cause mood swings too and lithium orotate can help to keep an even mood, allowing the amino acids to be more effective.

Finally, I’d want to know if collagen, gelatin or bone broths have recently been added to your diet and are being consumed in an on-an-off pattern that correlates with the low mood. Certain susceptible individuals find that it lowers serotonin and increases depression and anxiety, and causes insomnia.

Next steps are a full workup looking at sex hormones, low zinc, low B6, low magnesium, the gut, EMFs, sleep and other dietary factors like salicylates, histamine, glutamates etc. We look at all the possible 60+ nutritional and biochemical root causes and address them or rule them out.

It’s also important to have a good support system in place for those very low days – friends and family members, being part of a community and even keeping a mental health support line number close at hand.

And of course, I always say this: get out in nature, get some exercise, hug someone and have a good laugh.

Resources for you

  • My book The Antianxiety Food Solution (my Amazon affiliate link) has an entire chapter on the amino acids GABA, tryptophan, tyrosine, and DPA (and how to use them), a chapter on blood sugar balancing and glutamine and a chapter on gluten issues (and much more). Read it and become a savvy health-advocate for yourself. Become someone who is well-informed about the amino acids, the precautions and nuances, and all the nutritional approaches for anxiety-relief. Share a copy with your doctor and point out the references.
  • If figuring it out alone or reading my book feels overwhelming to you, or you’re afraid to use the amino acids on your own, my home-study Amazing Aminos for Anxiety program walks you through a step-by step approach on how to figure out which symptoms are tied to which neurotransmitter deficiency, and how to trial each respective amino acid. Stay tuned for a special upcoming launch with live Q and A calls so you can get your questions answered. (If you have recently purchased the homestudy ONLY version we will be contacting you to invite you to participate.)
  • Here is a blog to read if you’re new to GABA: GABA for the physical-tension and stiff-and-tense-muscles type of anxiety
  • Here is a blog to read if you’re new to tryptophan: Tryptophan for the worry-in-your-head and ruminating type of anxiety (it’s a blog about low serotonin anxiety but applies to low-serotonin low mood too)
  • Here is a blog to read if you’re new to tyrosine: Tyrosine for focus, motivation, energy, a good mood and possibly even anxiety
  • You can find the amino acids in my supplement store here.

Can you relate to either of these questions? And are you good at playing a detective to figure out why something may not be working as expected?

What has worked for your anxiety and/or low moods?

Feel free to post questions in the comments too.

And let me know if you’re interested in the homestudy program with live Q and A calls. (If you have recently purchased the homestudy ONLY version we will be contacting you to invite you to participate.)

The Toxin Solution – an interview with author Dr. Joseph Pizzorno

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toxin solution

Toxin exposure is at an all-time high and very relevant when it comes to anxiety, ADHD, asthma, diabetes, cancer, dementia and all chronic diseases. I did this wonderful interview with Dr. Joseph Pizzorno in 2017 when his book – The Toxin Solution – was published and for some reason it didn’t make it onto the blog.

I’ve decided to share it now because Dr. Pizzorno is one of the speakers at the August IMMH/Integrative Medicine for Mental Health conference.

If you’re planning to attend this will give you a taste of what to expect. If you’re on the fence hopefully this will convince you, together with the fact that I’m presenting again this year (I’m doing a deep dive into GABA).

I look forward to meeting him in person at the conference and will hopefully see you there too! If you can’t make it or are not a practitioner enjoy this interview and do checkout his fabulous book.

Read on for notes from our interview, the video interview and resources for you related to our interview. Some highlights include these facts: about 90% of diabetes is just due to 6 toxins; PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) may account for half of all breast cancer; top 10% of those exposed to organophosphate pesticides saw a doubling of ADHD (just one pesticide); 20% of osteoporosis in women is due to cadmium; lentil soup in a can has 10 x more BPA than homemade and much more

Here is the book: The Toxin Solution: How Hidden Poisons in the Air, Water, Food, and Products We Use Are Destroying Our Health–AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIX IT (my Amazon link)

Here is our wonderful interview

And here is a summary from the video interview:

  • in mid to late-70s people were sick because of nutritional deficiencies, lack of exercise and lifestyle factors
  • we have polluted our air, water, food, health and beauty aids, household cleaning products, products in our yards – independent of what you do, toxins are coming in
  • he worked with big oil company in Canada – they wanted to improve the health of the staff and he ran tests to measure nutritional status and toxin levels ($1500 worth of lab tests of 4500 people) – saw a lot of toxicity
  • top 20% of those with body burden of toxins vs bottom 20% – what is disease risk? very big increase in disease risk
  • diabetes as example – when he was in medical school 50 years ago diabetes affected 1% of the population and now it’s 20-30x more common
  • looked at data on diabetes and toxins – looked at organochlorine pesticides – used widely in our food supply
  • top 10% of those with high body burden – 12 fold increase risk of diabetes
  • looked at many other diseases and all had high correlation of toxicity with higher risk
  • used his book advance to hire researchers (Bastyr grads) to determine what toxins contribute to what diseases
  • about 90% of diabetes is just due to 6 toxins
  • it’s why he wrote this book The Toxin Solution (my Amazon link) – here’s how toxins cause disease, here’s where the toxins are coming from, here’s how you avoid them and here’s how you prepare your body for a detox (do this first) and then do the detox
  • [I shared my exposure to lead when I worked in an oil refinery before I became a nutritionist]
  • oil field workers he tested were never exposed to the oil itself as it was underground – they were also farmers and spaying with pesticides, herbicides and insecticides
  • everyone can relate to how dangerous smoking is i.e. lung cancer is doubled by smoking and it affects 20-25% of the population, so bring it home for people asked if there are other toxins that increase the risk of certain diseases – answer is most certainly yes
  • asthma – Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from second-hand smoke, city living, diesel, barbecue smoke; 93% of the US population have enough PAH exposure to double their risk of asthma
  • breast cancer – PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) may account for half of all breast cancer
  • some data on toxins and anxiety, mental health but more on neurodegeneration and dementia; damage to the neurons will make you more prone to anxiety, stress and depression
  • anxiety and ADHD in children – top 10% of those exposed to organophosphate pesticides compared to bottom 10%, saw a doubling of ADHD (and this was just looking at one pesticide)
  • neurological system is really susceptible to these toxins
  • if you’re eating conventional foods you’re full of toxins
  • Seattle study on kids coming out of organic stores vs those coming out of conventional stores – the later had 10x higher levels of organophosphate pesticides
  • high phosphate fertilizers are contaminated with cadmium
  • osteoporosis study in women – thinner bones when exposed to cadmium from conventional soybeans; 20% of osteoporosis in women in the USA is due to cadmium
  • eat organically grown foods
  • foods will absorb BPA and phthalates from the cans they are in
  • study comparing homemade lentil soup vs lentil soup in a can – canned lentil soup had 10 x more BPA
  • BPA binds to insulin-receptor sites, pancreas burns out and you get diabetes
  • [I mention moms exposed to BPA when pregnant and their children have higher risk for ADHD and anxiety]
  • children born to moms in top 10% of exposure to organophosphate pesticides vs bottom 10% – children had a 7 point drop in IQ (even when followed for 7 years)
  • women who breastfeed have lower cancer risk and more breastfeeding leads to lower PCB levels (breast-feeding for 12 months decreased PCB levels by 40%)
  • great for the mom but no good for the children
  • what’s remarkable – PCBs were banned in the US 40 years ago – so hard to breakdown in our bodies and the environment so they accumulate
  • best plan – east organic, don’t use plastic storage containers, beauty products with no phthalates
  • check your water – in the USA 10% of public water has high enough arsenic levels to increase risk of diseases; at least use carbon filter to get out the chemicals
  • 60-70% of out toxin exposure comes from food – we have control over this and the body can heal
  • [I say the book offers solutions: The Toxin Solution: How Hidden Poisons in the Air, Water, Food, and Products We Use Are Destroying Our Health–AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIX IT (my Amazon link)]
  • our bodies evolved to detoxify and there is a lot we can do
  • what to do – don’t let them in
  • increase your fiber intake – liver denatures toxins by binding them to another molecule and dumps them into the gut where they are bound to fiber and excreted but 90% of toxins get reabsorbed through enterohepatic circulation because we now only consume 15-20g of fiber a day. You need at least 40-50g of fiber a day to detox
  • if you do nothing more than consume more fiber you will get the toxins out – it’s very slow but you will get the toxins out
  • flax seeds, oats, alginate, pectin
  • not a fan of wheat fiber – most of his patients don’t tolerate wheat
  • any kind of fiber that mixes in water and gels – this is good
  • NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) – the cysteine promotes the production of glutathione (most important intracellular and intra-mitochondrial antioxidant
  • glutathione is also part of process in the liver where it binds chemical toxins in order to neutralize them and dump them into the gut to get rid of them
  • as little 500mg/day of NAC can help your body get rid of toxins
  • next is sweat – saunas and running, but not steam-baths as this recirculates stuff – your sweat is full of toxins
  • [I have a question about the toxin-filled sweat on the towels and in the sauna]
  • air out the sauna and wash the towels but it’s not ideal because then we’re putting those toxins back into the environment (can burn them or bury them but there is no good solution) – best to stop putting chemicals into environment
  • [I have a question about an indoor saunas and toxins going into the home]
  • valid question – his sauna has a window to the outside
  • tip for homemade cleaning products – water, vinegar and lavender oil (which is both calming and antibacterial)
  • no to fragrances which are solubilized to phthalates and 1/3 of all diabetes is linked to phthalate exposure
  • you get exposed to phthalates when hot water hits your plastic shower curtain
  • great-grandfather ate a Mediterranean diet lived to 95 and never saw a doctor, grandfather ate a mix of American diet and Mediterranean diet
  • dad ate 100% American diet, plus not worried about exposure to chemicals – lived to 88 but had dementia by 83, osteoporosis, arthritis, hip replacement surgery, cardiac surgery
  • final words of wisdom: good health is quite straight-forward – eat real food rich in nutrients and avoid toxins as much as you can and your wonderful body will take of just about everything else

Resources for you

Do let us know what steps you’ve made to reduce toxic exposure in your life and what you’ve done to detox, and what improvements you’ve observed.

Feel free to post questions in the comments too.

And let me know if you’ll be at IMMH. And be sure to stop by and say hi to both me and Dr. Pizzorno.

How best to use the amino acid DPA for easing heart-ache, weepiness, comfort eating and a compulsive desire for food

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amino acid dpa

DPA (d-phenylalanine) is an amino acid that destroys the enzyme that breaks down endorphins. Endorphins are feel-good chemicals that you experience with an endorphin rush when you go for a run or when someone gives you a big hug, when you show kindness to someone or an individual does something nice for you.

Taking the amino acid, DPA, as a supplement helps to raise your endorphins and helps when you feel weepy and overly emotional AND reduces the need to self-medicate with treats as a reward or for comfort. This amino acid is a favorite with so many of my clients and community because it makes them feel so lovely.

My recommendation has always been to chew the DPA capsule for the best effects and to get results quickly (in 2-5 minutes) but I’ve now changed my recommendation. Instead of chewing the whole capsule I now recommend opening the capsule into your mouth.

New DPA recommendation – open the capsule instead of chewing it

I’ve updated the Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements blog as follows:

I used to recommend simply chewing the capsule to get the quickest and best effects and this worked well when it was produced in a gelatin capsule. Now it’s made with a cellulose capsule and chewing doesn’t work at all well, so opening the capsule (or just biting off the top) and tipping the powder into your mouth works best.

When it was in a gelatin capsule, the warmth of the mouth dissolved the gelatin and you could eat the capsule together with the DPA. With the cellulose capsule, chewing it leas to much of the DPA getting partially stuck in the chewed capsule, which is not very pleasant to chew and swallow. The DPA is simply much more palatable and effective when it’s opened up into the mouth, rather than chewed. There is one caveat – the taste of the DPA itself – but if you’ve been chewing it you’ll be fine opening the capsule going forward.

EndorphiGen

My favorite DPA product is Lidtke Endorphigen. It contains 500mg and a tiny amount of vitamin B2 and vitamin B6.

You’ll notice the bottle says: “Maintain healthy endorphin levels to ease minor pain.” Physical pain relief is one of the side-benefits of DPA, but you could easily replace this statement.

Results for weepiness and a deep heart-ache, and the taste of DPA

Missy shares how DPA helps her deep heart-ache sort of feeling:

I have found I was using this product incorrectly. If you are feeling fine, you do not feel much of anything from it. But today I was weepy and felt that deep, heart-ache sort of feeling. I chewed 1000 mgs (2 capsules) and it DID help lift that awful feeling within 15 minutes.

Notice that she said if you’re feeling fine you don’t feel much at all. This is true of all the amino acids – they only make a difference when you need them.

Missy chewed the capsule but with the new cellulose capsule it’s much more palatable when it’s opened up into the mouth. She also reported what about half my clients say:

Tastes like slightly bitter dark chocolate. 🙂

The remainder of my clients don’t like the taste at all, although many say the taste grows on them. I’ve always been in the dark chocolate camp and find it quite pleasant tasting.

If you have a really hard time with the taste of the DPA, you can mix it with a small amount of GABA powder (assuming low GABA is also an issue) or inositol powder (if low serotonin and obsessions and ruminations are also an issue) as both of these are naturally quite sweet.

Results for a compulsive desire for food

Nanner finds that opening a capsule into her mouth gets rid of the compulsive desire for food:

It really helps! Whenever I notice I am opening cupboards when I cannot possibly be really hungry, I open one capsule and pour it into my mouth, let it dissolve. I like the taste! The compulsive desire for food goes away, and I am able to re-focus my attention and get on with my day. Amazing! Now, I just need to form a new habit and remember to DO IT!!! Lol

Take note how quickly this works for her. She is actually opening cupboards and on the prowl for a treat or reward, recognizes this and has some DPA and viola, she no longer needs the sweet comfort she was seeking. In an ideal world she would be taking DPA a few times a day until she has good levels of endorphins. In this instance there would be no cupboard prowling. But as you can see, it can be used on-demand with excellent results.

DPA, glutamine, GABA, tryptophan (or 5-HTP) and tyrosine are ALL powerful for eliminating sugar cravings – is it low endorphins?

The individual amino acids DPA, glutamine, GABA, tryptophan (or 5-HTP) and tyrosine are ALL powerful for eliminating sugar cravings, often within 5 minutes. It seems that this wonderful benefit – over and above the anxiety-reducing and mood-boosting benefits – is often overlooked or poorly understood.

If you’re not certain if your cravings are comfort/reward cravings the best way to figure it which neurotransmitter deficiency is affecting your sugar cravings is to do the amino acid mood questionnaire and also review the list on this blog for further clarification: The individual amino acids glutamine, GABA, tryptophan (or 5-HTP), DPA and tyrosine are powerful for eliminating sugar cravings, often within 5 minutes

The big clue with low endorphins is that you may also feel weepy, overly emotional and sometimes experience physical pain. The emotional connection to the treat – be it chocolate or ice-cream or cookies – feels very real and very strong too and you can’t imagine having to give up this treat you clearly deserve.

Resources for you related to this blog

Here is one paper, which discusses how DPA inhibits or breaks down enkephalins (endorphins are closely related compounds) and as a result helps with depression and pain, and acts as an anti-inflammatory.  This paper, discusses beta-endorphins and the reward mechanism and how they can induce euphoria, reduce pain and ease addictions and distress. Despite that fact that this is discussed in the context of drugs and alcohol, more and more research is showing parallels between drug and food cravings.

Here is the amino acid questionnaire

You can find the DPA and other amino acid products I use with my clients here.

As always, thanks for sharing your feedback and questions on my facebook page and in all the blog comments. It allows me to write blogs like this and share your own feedback and experiences.

I have to say that I agree with Sandra’s sentiments and so do most of my clients:

Honestly I think the whole world needs this!

Do let us know if DPA has helped you with reducing weepiness, comfort/reward eating?

Has it also helped with easing physical pain too?

And have you noticed DPA works best when opened up onto your tongue? And are you in the dark chocolate camp and find it quite pleasant tasting?

Treating Neuroinflammation Course by Dr. Datis Kharrazian

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treating neuroinflammation course

Dr. Datis Kharrazian is a Harvard Medical School-trained researcher and author of Why Isn’t My Brain Working. The Treating Neuroinflammation Course is based on breakthrough research into the role glial cells – the brain’s immune cells – play in neuroinflammation. Dr. Kharrazian has exhaustively studied this new research and developed new clinical models he’s used to treat his patients. Now he’s ready to teach them to you.

In the Treating Neuroinflammation Course you will learn:

  • The role of the brain’s immune cells, called glial cells, in maintaining the health of the neurons.
  • How focusing on the neurons but ignoring glial cells explains why functional neurology protocols often worsen symptoms or fail.
  • How glial cells that have become pro-inflammatory actually change in shape, anatomy, and function… and what to do about it.
  • Clinical strategies for disarming activated glial cells.
  • How to figure out what is causing neuroinflammation in each patient; it will be different for each.
  • How to stimulate the neurons to keep glial cells healthy.
  • How to prevent accelerated degeneration and loss of glial cells and take care of the ones you and your patients have left.
  • How to work backwards through a step-by-step clinical process to uncover each patient’s unique triggers for neuroinflammation.
  • How memory, cognition, synaptic function, neurotransmitter activity, and other vital brain functions are dependent on healthy glial cell function.
  • Research breakthroughs in what causes glial cells to become pro-inflammatory.
  • How to identify patterns of neuroinflammation on blood tests.
  • How healthy glial function supports positive neuron plasticity.
  • How gut bacteria directly communicate with glial cells.
  • How to use physical examinations and neuroimaging studies to identify neuroinflammation and track the progress of protocols.

Here is my video interview with Dr. Kharrazian sharing some highlights from the Treating Neuroinflammation course.

One of many gems he shared: when you hit your head, whether it’s a mild bump or if you’re concussed or lose consciousness or have a very severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), the severity of the neuroinflammation depends on many factors including your blood sugar levels, if you have an autoimmune condition and many other factors outside of the injury itself.

We talk about the fact that registration for this training does include ongoing access to case discussions on the private Facebook group. Two of the case studies will be followed live over the next few months. One gentleman who has volunteered to be a case study, has already introduced himself in the Facebook group. To me, this adds so much value to the course because we almost get to shadow Dr. Kharrazian in real life.

If you’re already signed up for the course, enjoy this video and I’ll see you in the course Facebook group (be sure to tag me and say hi). I am loving the interaction with the other practitioners and the training hasn’t even started.

If you’re not yet signed up and are still considering it, registration for the LIVE and LIVESTREAM does closes Wednesday, May 15th at 11:59 p.m. (PST). It will be available on-demand after this date at some time in the future but I don’t have those details.

dr. Kharrazian

I had the good fortune to attend a number of live trainings with Dr. Kharrazian shortly after becoming a nutritionist and I’ve been a huge fan ever since then. I’ve always been impressed with the depth of his knowledge.

Here are a few endorsements from prominent functional medicine practitioners:

mark hyman

Dr. Kharrazian has been a prominent educator and highly-respected clinician in the functional medicine community since the inception of functional medicine. He is an expert clinician and an innovator in this field ~ Dr. Mark Hyman

dave perlmutter

Dr. Kharrazian’s work represents the vanguard in our understanding of the role of lifestyle choices in charting the brain’s destiny. His highly effective educational outreach has opened the door for countless healthcare providers, allowing them to dramatically increase their effectiveness in treating and indeed preventing so many of the pernicious conditions that plague our modern society ~ Dr. David Perlmutter

This training is geared to practitioners BUT health-savvy patients/clients are welcome to attend too:

The neuroinflammation course is not actually practitioners-only. Dr. Kharrazian welcomes anyone to sign up for the course, and there are already a number of non-practitioners enrolled. Over on the Kharrazian Institute facebook page, he addresses this in some of the threads. There will be content that moves a bit too fast for those who do not have medical training, but for the avid patient who is well-read and keen to learn on a deeper level, the course is open. More info can be found on the Kharrazian Institute FAQ page.

Details and registration for The Treating Neuroinflammation Course here

Sjogren’s syndrome: tryptophan and GABA for anxiety, and moisturizing for dry skin and inflammation?

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sjogren's syndrome

A few weeks ago I blogged about a new pilot study about the use of a skin moisturizer twice a day reduced inflammation in older adults. I use the inflammation research to question if this may be applicable and helpful for you if you suffer from anxiety, extrapolating that it may well be given the added benefits of touch and an oxytocin boost.

I received a number of great questions about how to apply this information and have decided to share a question from someone with both Sjogren’s syndrome and anxiety, in order to illustrate how I’d work with someone like this.

Here is the question I received:

I would like to know how much of one’s body needs to be moisturized, and if it is also necessary to be done twice per day? Such a simple but effective way to help with anxiety. Will be slathering a lot more in the future! I have Sjogren’s so everything is dry – skin, mouth, eyes, hair. I have been trying to keep my face much “moister” and I am sure my wrinkles have lessened. I find rice bran oil is also quite good.

I’m going to address her moisturizing question below and share more about anxiety in Sjogren’s syndrome and some nutritional solutions, but first let me explain what Sjogren’s syndrome is.

An overview of Sjogren’s syndrome

Let me explain what Sjogren’s (SHOW-grins) is in case you’re not familiar with this condition. It’s an autoimmune condition and is described as follows on the Mayo Clinic site:

often accompanies other immune system disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. In Sjogren’s syndrome, the mucous membranes and moisture-secreting glands of your eyes and mouth are usually affected first — resulting in decreased tears and saliva.

Although you can develop Sjogren’s syndrome at any age, most people are older than 40 at the time of diagnosis. The condition is much more common in women.

The site goes on to say that other than dry eyes and mouth, some people experience joint pain and stiffness, swollen salivary glands, skin rashes or dry skin, vaginal dryness, persistent dry cough and prolonged fatigue. It’s worth a read to learn more about complications like more dental cavities, yeast infections, vision issues, problems in the lungs, kidneys or liver, the risk of lymphoma and peripheral neuropathy.

My feedback about moisturizing

In the study, moisturizing was done twice a day. I’m not sure how much of the body needs to be moisturized but if everything is dry, I’d want to moisturize as much as possible.

Given that chronic inflammation is a major factor in Sjogren’s and other autoimmune conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus, it’s feasible to expect similar benefits in terms of reduced inflammation. Hopefully we’ll see research on autoimmune conditions in the future.

When it comes to anxiety, I do want to make it clear that I was and still am extrapolating from the research on inflammation and measuring reduced anxiety was not part of the study. Moisturizing may or may not help with anxiety and I certainly wouldn’t only use this intervention.

Anxiety in Sjogren’s – low serotonin and GABA?

You may not be aware that anxiety/depression is very common in Sjogren’s. In one study they

found 33.8% patients with anxiety, and 36.9% had depression, which were significantly higher than controls.

I use a comprehensive nutritional and lifestyle approach to help my clients ease their anxiety and as I mention above, I would not only rely on moisturizing.

I would use the serotonin questionnaire to determine if low serotonin is contributing to the anxiety (the worry-in-the head and rumination type of anxiety) and do a trial of tryptophan or 5-HTP.

Interestingly, a number of studies suggest the involvement of the serotonin system in the development of Sjogren’s, with one study reporting

Significantly lower platelet levels of serotonin in Sjogren’s patients as compared to healthy controls.

They didn’t find a correlation between the levels of serotonin and how severe the Sjogren’s symptoms were, which falls in line with what we know about biochemical individuality and why doing a trial of tryptophan or 5-HTP (to find your ideal dose) is the best approach for serotonin support.

I would use also the GABA questionnaire to determine if low GABA (physical tension type of anxiety) is a factor, and do a trial of GABA.

If you recall, in the Mayo Clinic description above, stiffness is a common symptom of Sjogren’s and GABA eases stiffness.

I haven’t found any research on GABA in Sjogren’s, but one case study reports that a patient experiencing athetoid movements (a movement dysfunction, characterized by involuntary writhing movements), reported symptom improvement with hydroxychloroquine (which can have severe psychiatric effects in susceptible individuals), pilocarpine, gabapentin, and clonazepam. The latter two medications work on the GABA system.

You can find the tryptophan and GABA products I use with my clients here.

Poor sociability in Sjogrens – could this be related to pyroluria?

A study published earlier this year is reportedly the first study to conclude that patients with Sjogren’s score “high on neuroticism and anxiety and low on sociability.”

If social anxiety is a concern, I’d have her do the pyroluria questionnaire and address this if needed.

If you recall, in the Mayo Clinic description above, joint pain and dental cavities are common symptoms. These are also very common with pyroluria, so using a nutritional approach helps ease the social anxiety, and improves joint issues and mouth health.

The other factor that makes me suspect pyroluria may be common in Sjogren’s is that it’s considered a systemic connective tissue disorder, together with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. You can read more about pyroluria and connective tissue disorders on the pyroluria prevalence blog and the Ehlers Danlos/joint hypermobility blog.

Poor mouth health is also common with histapenia/low histamine so I’d want to look into this too.

You can find the pyroluria supplements I use with my clients here.

Sjogren’s and the Autoimmune-Paleo diet

Since Sjogren’s is an autoimmune condition, following an Autoimmune-Paleo (AIP) diet is key too. Here are some books that are well-worth making part of your library, even though they are not specific to Sjogren’s syndrome they offer support for autoimmune conditions (and many individuals often have more than one autoimmune disease)

I haven’t dived into the research on all the other autoimmune conditions and the above connections (low serotonin, low GABA and pyroluria) but it’s highly likely similar connections exist. So, if you have any autoimmune condition and anxiety this could all apply for you too.

If you have been diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome please share if GABA and tryptophan have helped ease your anxiety, and if the pyroluria protocol has helped you with social anxiety?

And let us know if moisturizing is helping your dry skin and possibly reducing inflammation and anxiety too?

DIY moisturizer recipes to lower inflammation and reduce anxiety, panic, PTSD, phobias and social anxiety?

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Could daily use of a good quality moisturizer help to reduce anxiety, panic, PTSD, phobias and social anxiety by reducing inflammation? Last week I blogged about a new pilot study on how a skin moisturizer reduced inflammation in older adults and extrapolated these results suggesting this may well be applicable for you if you suffer from anxiety because of the reduced inflammation. The benefits of touch, the oxytocin boost and slowing down for some self-care most likely play a role too. I promised to share some DIY home-made moisturizer recipes so here goes. You’ll see that many of these include ingredients that are helpful for anxiety when used stand-alone, so you get that benefit too.

Dr. Mariza shares Lavender-Cocoa Body Lotion Bars and a Soothing Skin Roller Blend

Dr. Mariza Snyder, author of The Essential Oils Hormone Solution (my Amazon link) and Smart Mom’s Guide to Essential Oils (my Amazon link), has a lovely recipe for DIY lotion bars on her site which she gave me permission to share here. She describes these bars as a “luxurious chocolaty-lavender post-shave moisturizer.” She adds that “Lavender and Geranium essential oils are the perfect combination when it comes to softening the skin while helping you to relax in the process.”

Lavender-Cocoa Body Lotion Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup beeswax pastilles
1 cup cocoa butter
1 cup coconut oil
2 teaspoons vitamin E
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops geranium essential oil

Directions: Combine all ingredients except essential oils in a double boiler or a glass bowl over a smaller sauce pan with 1 inch of water in it. Bring to a boil. Stir ingredients until they are completely melted and smooth. Remove from heat and then add essential oils and stir. Pour mixture into silicone bake cup molds for the lotion to solidify, allowing them to completely dry before removing them from the molds. Store lotion bars in a clean container and apply to body after a shower. The heat from your body will melt the lotion! Yield: 10-12 bars (depending on molds).

Check out her blog for other self-care recipes like a salt scrub, a cooling peppermint shaving cream and a razor burn serum (with versions for both women and men).

When I reached out to her for recipes, Dr. Mariza also shared a soothing skin healing blend recipe saying: “I’ve used this blend to reduce inflammation and redness on irritated skin with incredible success! I’ve treated a lot of acute eczema and psoriasis with this blend flare ups.” 

Soothing Skin Roller Blend 

Ingredients:

5 drops Melaleuca/Tea Tree essential oil
5 drops Geranium essential oil
6 drops Rose essential oil (optional)
6 drops Lavender essential oil
6 drops Frankincense essential oil
Fractionated Coconut Oil or Carrier Oil of choice

Directions:  Add essential oils to 10ml roller bottle and top off with Fractionated Coconut oil, or carrier oil of your choice.  Apply directly over the area of concern to reduce red, irritated skin.  Use as needed.

You can read my review of her book here): The Essential Oils Hormone Solution.

Dr. Z and Mama Z share their most used recipe: DIY Healing Skin Serum

Dr. Eric Zielinski, author of The Healing Power of Essential Oils (my Amazon link), and known affectionately as Dr. Z, and his wonderful wife, Mama Z, gave me permission to share this DIY Healing Skin Serum recipe. They run the Natural Living Family site.

Mama Z’s DIY Healing Skin Serum

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon cold fresh frozen aloe, or aloe vera gel
1 tablespoon organic coconut oil (softened or melted)
5 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops frankincense essential oil

Directions:

  1. Blend the aloe gel, coconut oil and essential oils in a Magic Bullet or food processor until smooth.
  2. Once well mixed, store in a class jar or glass salve container in a cool place so the coconut oil remains hardened.
  3. Store in fridge or cool place and enjoy at least once per day. Make fresh each week.

Notes: No matter what allergies you may have, there’s a carrier oil that’s right for you. You can use any, or a combination of these: Avocado, Fractionated Coconut, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Sweet Almond.

Be sure to read the entire blog post to get the back story on how Mama Z used this to heal her face after experiencing some chemical burns from store bought facial cleansers and creams when she was a teen, how it helped her dad with some skin cancer on his hands, some tips on aloe and some recipe variations.

Dr. Z gives it this glowing endorsement: “This is by far the most proven and most used DIY recipe that we have. It helps people with everything with skin cancer to sun burn, eczema to acne to psoriasis to you name it.”

Here is my review of Dr. Z’s book: The Healing Power of Essential Oils. You’ll find additional recipes here.

If you’re looking to learn how to use essential oils, I highly recommend their Essential Oils for Abundant Living 10-Part Video Masterclass.

Rachael, herbal skincare formulator, shares a lovely Skin Repair Souffle recipe

Rachael Pontillo, Licensed Aesthetician, herbal skincare formulator, educator and author of Love Your Skin, Love Yourself (my Amazon link) shares this lovely Skin Repair Souffle recipe.

Skin Repair Souffle Recipe

Supplies needed:

A glass jar–4 oz is preferred
A small double boiler/bain marie
Heat element (stove, cooktop, hot plate)
Kitchen scale
A small whisk
Small hand mixer, milk frother, or immersion blender

Ingredients:

30 g shea butter
30 g jojoba oil
15 drops total essential oils (Frankincense, Helichrysum, Geranium, and Lavender are the essential oils Rachael likes best for barrier support. She says either choose one or create a blend).

Instructions:

  1. Heat your double boiler until the water is boiling, then reduce to a simmer.
  2. Add the shea and jojoba and whisk gently until completely melted.
  3. Remove the vessel from the heat (careful not to get water into the mixture), and cool to room temperature in an ice bath while stirring gently.
  4. Add your essential oils, one by one, stirring gently.
  5. Blend gently with your milk frother or blender until the mixture begins to rise with a meringue-like texture (usually about 60 seconds)
  6. Pour into your jar. Close the jar immediately. Refrigerate overnight.

Dr. Keira, The Skin Whisperer, shares Lavender Bath Oil and Rejuvenating Serum

Dr. Keira L. Barr, MD, Founder and Chief Wellness Officer of Resilient Health Institute and author of The Skin Whisperer: A Dermatologist Reveals How to Look Younger, Radiate Beauty and Create the Life you Crave (my Amazon link), shares two wonderful recipes.

Lavender Bath Oil

Ingredients:

30 ml Almond Oil (or other carrier oil)
3 drops lavender essential oil
1 drop jasmine essential oil
1 drop myrrh essential oil

Instructions:

Mix all oils together in a bottle and shake well. This oil can be applied to skin in the shower, added to bath water or used after bathing or showering (while skin is damp but not completely dry to aid in absorption). Note: essential oil is 1% dilution.

Rejuvenating Serum 

Ingredients:

4ml Rosehip Seed Oil
3 ml Argan Oil
1 ml Pomegranate seed Oil
1 ml Sea Buckthorn Oil
1 drop carrot seed essential oil
Pour into 10 ml amber or dark colored glass bottle and label

Instructions:

Blend all the oils together adding the carrot seed essential oil last. Shake thoroughly and store in the refrigerator. Apply 3 to 5 drops after cleansing the skin nightly. Can be used on the face, neck and back of hands.

Calming essential oils and the original blog

As I mentioned above many of these recipes include ingredients that are calming and helpful for anxiety when used stand-alone, so you get that benefit too:

If you missed the original blog with the research or would like a recap here it is: Could a daily moisturizer help to lower markers of inflammation and reduce anxiety, panic, PTSD, phobias and social anxiety?

You can learn more about the study; why poor skin health leads to inflammation; the role of inflammation on anxiety and other mental health conditions; the many nutritional approaches for reducing cytokines and inflammation; some studies on the benefit of touch and a boost of oxytocin; and tips for adding skin moisturizing to your daily self-care routine.

Skin moisturizing, diet and calming nutrients

As I said in the original blog, I feel very comfortable saying you now have a new tool – daily skin moisturizing – to add to your toolbox to help lower inflammation and reduce anxiety, panic, PTSD, phobias and social anxiety. Let’s use this – together with dietary changes and key calming nutrients – to eliminate anxiety and feel your absolute best.

These recipes provide safe and fun options for you to try. Have fun with these recipes and be sure to share which ones you try and like or if you have your own favorite. Also share what your moisturizing self-care routine is like.

I have more to share – all the feedback from a recent Facebook post on favorite home-made and store-bought moisturizers and will share this in the next installment. Do let me know what else you’d like me to cover.