Category Archives: Anxiety

Bergamot and Earl Grey Tea

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Robert Barrington

The bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia) is a citrus fruit that is used in aromatherapy as an anxiolytic and calmative agent. The rind of the orange is used to produce bergamot tea, which is black tea with added bergamot. Bergamot has … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Bergamot, Brain, Tea | Comments Off on Bergamot and Earl Grey Tea

Brain Regions Involved in Anxiety

Posted on August 6, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Anxiety has been hypothesised to be a survival mechanism by which threats are assessed and a more tentative and careful approach, following intense reflection, may confer advantages in dealing with situations. However, chronic anxiety, as can develop in humans and … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Brain | Comments Off on Brain Regions Involved in Anxiety

Tea (Camellia sinensis) and Anxiety

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Tea (Camellia sinensis) has a large body of research supporting its various health effects. These effects relate to the presence of a number of different phytochemicals within tea including flavonoids, the amino acid L-theanine and a number of methylxanthines including … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Black Tea, Green Tea, L-theanine, Tea | Comments Off on Tea (Camellia sinensis) and Anxiety

L-Lysine and L-Arginine and Cortisol

Posted on August 3, 2023 by Robert Barrington

Supplementation with L-lysine has been shown to reduce anxiety in humans. This is interesting as L-lysine does not directly become converted to neurotransmitters, which is the case for some other amino acids such as L-tyrosine and L-phenylalanine. Therefore the anti-anxiety … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, L-arginine, L-lysine, Stress | Comments Off on L-Lysine and L-Arginine and Cortisol

Acetyl-L-Carnitine in the Treatment of Depression

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Robert Barrington

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) has a number of functions in human nutrition and metabolism. Perhaps its most well known role is the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondrial membranes for energy production. Another less well known role, that may be related … Continue reading →

Posted in Acetyl L-Carnitine, Anxiety, Brain, Depression, Mood | Comments Off on Acetyl-L-Carnitine in the Treatment of Depression

Pharmacological Uses of Vitamin B6

Posted on May 11, 2023 by Robert Barrington

Evidence suggests that serotonin deficiency is a causative factor in the development of depressive symptoms. There is also evidence that deficiencies of the catecholamines including dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline may also be involved in the development of mood disorders. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Depression, Mood, Vitamin B | Comments Off on Pharmacological Uses of Vitamin B6

Cuscuta reflexa (Aftimoon): Anti-Anxiety Herb?

Posted on March 2, 2023 by Robert Barrington

Cuscuta reflexa (Aftimoon) is a plant belonging to the Cuscutaceae family of plants. This family of plants contains the genus of plants belonging to the morning glory group of parasitic plants (Cuscuta). Colloquially the plant is known as Aftimoon in … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Cuscuta reflexa (Aftimoon), Depression, Mood | Comments Off on Cuscuta reflexa (Aftimoon): Anti-Anxiety Herb?

Fasting and Mood

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Robert Barrington

Evidence suggests that fasting may have particular benefits on mood. The association between mood and fasting is not fully understood but a number of mechanisms have been suggested to explain why fasting may affect the brain. One explanation involves a … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Depression, Fasting, Mood | Comments Off on Fasting and Mood

Tryptophan and Light Exposure to Improve Mood?

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Robert Barrington

Tryptophan is an amino acid that is a precursor of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that may become depleted in the brain in cases of depression and related mood disorders. As serotonin is in turn a precursor to melatonin, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Depression, L-tryptophan, Mood | Comments Off on Tryptophan and Light Exposure to Improve Mood?

A Misunderstood Problem of the Western Diet

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Robert Barrington

Calcium is an essential macromineral that is required for correct metabolic function. One of the main functions of calcium is as a structural component of bone. However calcium ions are also required for cellular signalling and correct neurotransmission and it … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Calcium, Depression, Magnesium, Mood | Comments Off on A Misunderstood Problem of the Western Diet