GABA is the abbreviated name for Gamma Amino Butyric Acid, which is the body's major inhibitory or calming and tranquillising brain chemical, more commonly known as a neurotransmitter. GABA is extremely important in balancing the excitatory action of neurotransmitters, in particular, Glutamate, Acetylcholine, Histamine and adrenaline. One of GABA's important roles is that it helps neurones or nerve cells recover after sending or receiving transmission making it one of the body's most significant mood modulators.
GABA acts via receptors to reduce the excitability in neuronal transmission and it modulates the size of the electrical impulse generated by those nerve transmissions. What GABA does is it filters out irrelevant messages (static) by terminating signals from the excitatory neurotransmitters in particular glutamate and its positive modulators adrenaline, noradrenaline and PEA. GABA can be viewed as the ‘braking system’ in the realm of neurotransmitters.
For humans to function properly there needs to be a balance between the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. If the brain has too many excitatory neurones it means that GABA levels are low and this can lead to many detrimental health conditions including;
ADHD | Insomnia |
Alcoholism | Low Digestive Enzymes |
Anxiety | Mood Disorders |
Bi-Polar Disorder | Motion Sickness |
Convulsions | Nervousness |
Depression | Panic Attacks |
Digestive Disorders | Racing Mind |
Feeling Overwhelmed | Seizures |
Hypertension | Tourettes Syndrome |
High levels of GABA may be a result of excitatory overload or the body's compensatory mechanism to balance surplus excitatory neurotransmitter activity. These high levels result in a ‘calming’ action that may contribute to sluggish energy, feelings of sedation and foggy thinking. These symptoms are similar to someone who has overdosed on benzodiazepines or consumed far too much alcohol.
Anaesthesia | Nausea |
Drowsiness | Poor Memory |
Impaired Learning | Sedation |
In our clinic, we use B-Calm a supplement that provides all the nutrients the body needs to effectively manufacture GABA. Pus we utilise the herbs in GabRelax to enhance the function of the GABA and Benzodiazepine receptors, thus allowing GABA to be uptaken into the brain more effectively. For more information on how to increase GABA levels naturally please read this Blog.
The information provided here is of a general nature intended for educational purposes only. We make no claims to diagnose, treat, prevent, alleviate or cure illnesses or diseases with any information or product stated. With any health issue, we suggest you consult your healthcare professional before undertaking any health treatment.
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Greg Newson
Author
Greg Newson is a qualified Naturopath, Western Medicine Herbalist, Nutritionist, Remedial Massage Therapist and Professional Health & Wellbeing Speaker. Greg has a passion for helping people and has been treating patients in clinical practice since 2002.
Greg is the owner of the Vitality and Wellness Centre, Lismore NSW Australia, a busy Naturopathic Clinic that cares for people suffering with any type of health complaint. He is dedicated in educating people to understand and embrace the enormous potential that natural medicine has on our long-term health and well-being. Greg is able to help people improve their health and offers in-clinic, phone and Skype health consultations as well as Guest Speaking on natural medicine and heath related topics.
Greg Newson's Qualifications: Advance Diploma Human Health Science 2001 (Charles Sturt University), Advance Diploma Remedial Massage 2002 (Health Schools Australia), Advance Diploma Western Herbal Medicine 2003 (Health Schools Australia), Bachelor Health Science 2005 (Charles Sturt University), Advance Diploma Naturopathy 2008 (Health Schools Australia), Advance Diploma Functional Nutrition 2008 (Health Schools Australia).
Greg is a member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)