Magnesium

[Guest guest]

> Mg also is a GABA-enhancer. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter.

> Inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters are supposed to be more

> or less in balance so nerves neither fire to much or too little.

 

This is an issue that few TCM people have looked into but is one that

should be clearly understood. Perhaps some have read my frequent

references to the ideas that make a link between brain chemistry and

exhaustive states. I always ask for a Cortisol test and if this looks

OK (meaning not below medium low or lower)then I assume brain chemical

imbalance as the primary symbol for the ANS imbalance. Of course many

cases will have both markers.

 

Many think of Dopamine in these cases because of fatigue and other

defeciency symptoms - but in reality the real problem is very often

GABA. GABA is an inhibatory neurotransmitter - but it's real role is

to create a balance between Dopamine, Acetylcholine and Seratonin,

Endorphins. This is the symbol of the ANS imbalance. Correction of

these imbalances by correcting the GABA functions will resolve the ANS

imbalance. An expert in this subject that I often refer people to is

Dr. Eric Braverman. Dr. Braverman has helped many people climb out of

severe brain chemical imbalance. His full protocal is only available

to well to do people since it intails going to New York to his clinic -

he is physician to many celebreties and wealthy people and the basic

workup will cost around $5000+ - this is worthwhile if one can afford

it - but one must remember that to rebalance brain chemistry takes

commitment. Dr. Braverman is using cutting edge diagnostic techniques

to actually measure the level and balance of brain chemicals. Dr.

Braverman has a book where one can take a simple test to measure which

brain chemicals are imbalanced. Many people who take the tests and

follow the non-prescription part of Braverman's protocol get benefit

from taking appropriate brain chemical precursors. In fact for mild

exhaustive states this is the best way to go. These substances can be

bought in the Health Food store. This approach combined with herbs,

diet, appropriate exercise, and centering practices has proven to be a

very effective healing modality for many.

 

Simple anecdote - one lady in our support group was having difficulty

getting benefit from herbal therapies and diet - she would get small

benefit and then it seemed that it did not hold and she fell back to

her old symptoms. She saw Dr. Braverman and followed his protocal -

and after about two months she began to get full benefit from her

herbs and diet - her Organ systems began to function again and she

eventually achieved balance and full recovery from a 25 year old case

of CFS and FM (actually different forms of the same disease).

 

All of the 'centering' practices help to rebuild GABA functions - like

meditation - Chi Kung - Tai Chi - Yoga - etc. I have a set of

exercises that I have developed to help in 'centering' - I call

these 'Circles and Squares' - there are many ancient and modern

exercises that attempt to bring the nervous system to the center.

Search the term Stuctural Integration and you will find many exercises

that work on centering. I do not have the authors name with me but

there is one simple very effective protocal called 'Infinity Walk' -

the authors name is Sharon ---something --. I recomend this in many

imbalanced conditions of the brain and nervous system like ADD - ADHD -

Dyslexia - ANS imbalances - etc. Feldenkrais technique is also useful

for those who need centering but can not do standing exercises.