Tag Archives: Physiology & Behavior

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Understanding massage therapy

Understanding massage therapy

Understanding massage therapy is of the great concern or benefits about understanding massage therapy is that the act of massage increases body awareness, promotes relaxation

Understanding massage therapy: What is massage therapy?

Of the great concern or benefits about understanding massage therapy is that the act of massage increases body awareness, promotes relaxation, and decreases muscle fatigue and strain, which complements the therapeutic process. Doctor Dalal Akoury MD, agrees that as part of an integrative treatment approach, a massage therapy may be recommended by medical providers when it is deemed to be clinically suitable. And before you can allow anyone to exercise this on you, it is important to take note that massage therapists are licensed professionals who only strive to maintain the highest standards of continued education and professionalism. That only tells you that when opting for massage, you must know how qualified the therapist is. In regards to that, at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, all we do is to offer the very best to all our clients.

Doctor Akoury and her team of experienced and qualified specialist in various medical discipline will attend to you professionally and have all your addiction concerns addressed effectively and timely. In the meantime it is worth noting that massage is generally considered part of complementary and alternative medicine. It’s increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and disorders. Massage is a general term for pressing, rubbing and manipulating your skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage therapists typically use their hands and fingers for massage but may also use their forearms, elbows and even feet. Massage may range from light stroking to deep pressure techniques. And that brings us to the many different types of massage which may include the following:

  • Swedish massage
  • Deep tissue massage
  • Sports massage
  • Trigger point massage
  • Reflexology
  • Warm stone massage and
  • Shiatsu massage

Understanding massage therapy: What is massage therapy?

All these and many more will be awaiting for you from the moment your call of appointment goes through. So if you need professional help with whatever addiction related condition, speak to us on telephone number 843 213 1480 now.

Physiological and psychological changes

Massage as a healing tool has been around for thousands of years in many cultures. Touching is a natural human reaction to pain and stress, and is used for conveying compassion and support. Healers throughout history have developed a wide range of therapeutic techniques using touch. Massage therapy therefore does more than just relaxing your body and mind, physiological and psychological changes occur, even more so when massage is utilized as therapy and not simply as a luxury. Massage therapy can be a powerful tool in the recovery process.

Benefits of massage therapy

  • Decreased anxiety and depression
  • Enhanced sleep quality
  • Improved circulation
  • Improved concentration
  • Lowering of blood pressure
  • Pain management
  • Reduced fatigue
  • Stress reduction

Research continues to show enormous healing and therapeutic benefits of touch. Massage therapy is becoming a more integral part of healing and recovery treatment programs. Many studies have actually established that massage therapy helps relieve depression and anxiety. It has also lowered levels of Cortisol by up to 50 percent, and increased levels of neurotransmitters that help reduce depression.

Understanding massage therapy: What is massage therapy?

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Dopamine and Norepinephrine Contributing to Addiction?

Dopamine and Norepinephrine and Their Contribution to Addiction

Dopamine and norepinephrine are very crucial neurotransmitters whose functions can never be underestimated. These are some of the most crucial neurotransmitters in the body. In particular, dopamine has very many functions in the body but to many people it is famous for its good feeling effects that it is always identified with but this should not be the case as it has functions beyond the mesolimbic pathway. In the brain dopamine plays such roles as: It plays a big role in starting movement, and the destruction of dopamine neurons in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra is what produces the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Dopamine is involved in the frontal cortex in executive functions like attention and feelings among others. In the rest of the body, dopamine is involved in nausea, in kidney function, and in heart function. Though only relevant to most people when it comes to such aspects as motivation, addiction, attention or lust, dopamine is a crucial neurotransmitter that also does vital functions in different pathways. Therefore dopamine should not only be limited to the mesolimbic pathway. A pathway which starts with cells in the ventral tegmental area, buried deep in the middle of the brain, which send their projections out to places like the nucleus accumbens and the cortex.  the levels of dopamine is naturally controlled by the brain, for example when a person engages  in pleasurable activities the brain will increase the level of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, however during addiction the dopamine signaling in this area is changed. For any drug to have any pleasurable feeling to the user then the level of dopamine must be increased and this is what causes euphoric feelings that drug users will do anything to achieve.

Dopamine

Dopamine depletion and cocaine addiction

Despite one of the most dangerous drugs of pleasure, cocaine has remained to be one of the drugs that are highly abused worldwide. Cocaine works in such a way that it targets the dopamine which is a neurotransmitter related with euphoric feelings. When taken cocaine will cause a surge of dopamine extracellular in limbic areas, specifically, nucleus accumbens it is this surge that causes euphoric effects cocaine is known for. It is the euphoric properties of cocaine that lead to the development of chronic abuse, and appear to involve the acute activation of central dopamine neuronal systems. Dopamine plays a key role in reward system and stimulation behavior. However, when a person uses cocaine for a long time his neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine alterations will eventually occur. Dopamine depletion is hypothesized to result from overstimulation of these neurons and excessive synaptic metabolism of the neurotransmitter. It is this depletion of dopamine that may underlie dysphoric aspects of cocaine abstinence, and cocaine cravings.  With many research findings on cocaine relations with dopamine, it is clear that cocaine addiction stems from the depletion of synaptic dopamine in the mesolimbic dopamine reward system, leading to a dysphoric withdrawal state that drives cocaine seeking to restore dopamine to normal, drug-dependence level.

After using cocaine for a long time, your brain will be conditioned to use cocaine in order to raise cocaine to the required levels and this result in addicted brain that can’t function without taking cocaine. At this stage it will be hard for an addict to quit using this drug as every time you try to quit all the withdrawal symptoms will set in thereby causing addiction and dependence thereafter. These cravings contribute not only to addiction but to relapse after a hard-won sobriety especially when the addict encounters triggers.

Norepinephrine and Drug Addiction

Norepinephrine is a very vital neurotransmitter in the brain that is also one of the most abundant in the brain. It is important for such roles as selective attention, general arousal, and stress reactions in challenging environments. Norepinephrine has been implicated by several studies as a key mediator of drug reward for three primary reasons. First, the noradrenergic pathways support intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) and modulate drug-induced changes in ICSS threshold. Secondly, the biochemical activity of psychostimulant drugs includes blockade of Norepinephrine reuptake and enhancement of Norepinephrine release and thirdly, compounds that interfere with Norepinephrine synthesis or signaling influence drug self-administration. The idea that drugs of abuse act via the endogenous reward systems in the brain first arose when psychostimulants such as amphetamine and cocaine have been found to alter support intracranial self-stimulation thresholds. One interpretation of these results was that Norepinephrine mediates the effect of psychostimulants on support intracranial self-stimulation, because these drugs cause Norepinephrine release, block Norepinephrine reuptake or do both.

Dopamine

In a 1970s research done by Davis WM and Smith SG in a study titled: Catecholaminergic mechanisms of reinforcement: direct assessment by drug-self-administration, it was found that catecholamines were important in the mediation of opiate self-administration. in this research, a series of experiments showed that depletion of Norepinephrine and dopamine with amphetamine , a drug which is known to inhibit tyrosine hydroxylase prevents or attenuates the self-administration of morphine in rodents and in nonhuman primates as was shown earlier by Pozuelo and Kerr in 1972.

Finally, Drug addiction is a vice that should be fought by all means that is why we at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts and offering them a place to call home. We offer NER Treatment and Amino acid therapy that are the most effective approaches to addiction treatment and recovery. You call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) today and begin your journey to victory against addiction.

Dopamine and Norepinephrine and Their Roles in Causing Addiction

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Reward Deficiency Syndrome In Addiction

Reward Deficieny syndromeReward Deficiency Syndrome and Its Role in Addiction and Treatment

The first people to come up with the term Reward deficiency syndrome were Blum K, Sheridan PJ, Wood RC, Braverman ER, Chen TJ, Cull JG and  Comings DE in a research titled; The D2 dopamine receptor gene as a determinant of reward deficiency syndrome in 1996. This term refers to an insufficiency of usual feelings of satisfaction. Reward deficiency syndrome results from a dysfunction in the brain reward system which is a complex interaction among neurotransmitters primarily dopaminergic and opiodergic neurotransmitters. Those who have a family history of alcohol and other drugs addictions may be born with a deficiency in the ability to produce or utilize these neurotransmitters which are known to play crucial in etiology of addiction to substances. This problem can also be caused by corruption of brain reward system that may be caused by exposure to long periods of stress or use of alcohol and other substance for a long time. When the neurotransmitters are low or are blocked from reaching the intended brain receptors, individuals often feel discomfort or pain. Behaviors resulting from a failure of the system that normally confers satisfaction include drug and alcohol abuse, overeating, heavy cigarette smoking, gambling, and hyperactivity. These problems have been linked to genetic defects especially to dysfunction of the dopamine receptors.

A dysfunction in the dopamine receptors obviously leads to myriads of health complications since it is the brain neurotransmitter that controls feelings of well-being and is mostly targeted by drugs of abuse. However powerful dopamine doesn’t work alone, it interacts with other neurotransmitters like serotonin and other neurotransmitters to control moods and cravings. When these neurotransmitters bind on the neural receptors, they trigger a reaction in the reward system, therefore any interference with this coordination will result in abnormal behavior in Reward deficiency syndrome, including addictions, impulsivity, and excessive risk taking. This is the reason why people who have a defect in the DRD2 dopamine receptor gene lack a sufficient number of dopamine receptors in their brains to produce the brain reward cascade. In turn, this leads to Reward deficiency syndrome, including abnormal cravings and resultant strange conduct.

 

Reward deficiency syndrome and Drug Abuse

The reward circuitry consists of an in-series circuit linking the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum via the medial forebrain bundle. In the past the reward circuitry was believed to encode only the set point of hedonic tone but have since been found to be functionally far more complex, also encoding attention, expectancy of reward, disconfirmation of reward expectancy, and incentive motivation. Here have been speculations that hedonic dysregulation within the reward circuits may lead to addiction. A second-stage dopaminergic component in this reward circuitry is the crucial addictive-drug-sensitive component. All drugs that are addictive are known to enhance the dopaminergic reward synaptic function in the nucleus accumbens. as for most of addictive drugs like cocaine the tolerance to the euphoric effects will develop after a long term use after which a post use dysphoria then comes to dominate reward circuit hedonic tone, and addicts no longer use drugs to get high, but simply to get back to normal. Reward deficiency syndrome as seen here may make an addict chained to the drug of use since the addict will need to feel normal but that will not possible since the dopamine receptors and parts of the reward circuit will have been affected adversely and so the drug use will be continued as a result of Reward deficiency syndrome and not for euphoric purposes.

It is also important to note that the brain circuits that mediates pleasurable effects of addictive drugs are anatomically, neurophysiologically, and neurochemically different from those mediating physical dependence, and from those mediating craving and relapse. Apart from Reward deficiency syndrome other factors that also come to play in addiction include gene variations that may increase vulnerability to drug addiction. Environmental factors also have an input for example prolonged stress and social defeat may also increase a person’s vulnerability to drug addiction as they alter the brain reward system. However dopaminergic dysfunction within the reward circuitry is the biggest contribution to addiction-prone personality effects.

Treating Reward deficiency syndrome

Reward Deficieny syndromeReward deficiency syndrome has influence in drug addiction and therefore any drug addiction treatment must incorporate strategies to treat Reward deficiency syndrome in order to avoid reoccurrence of the addiction after a hard won fight. In fact when the problem in the reward circuitry isn’t addressed then treatment of addiction will have very narrow chances of success. To help in this pursuit, treatment of cocaine addiction should have in part a dopamine agonist agonistic therapy to heal the dopaminergic system.

When an agonist therapy is to be used, it’s crucial to note that the baseline amount of dopamine receptors has predictability as to differential clinical outcomes in reward deficiency syndrome. In a study of 10 subjects with an allele on the Taq1A DRD2 gene, which is associated with reduced dopamine receptor concentration and decreased neural responses to rewards (A1+ subjects). The 10 subjects were scanned twice, once on placebo and once on cabergoline which is D2 receptor agonist. Consistent with an inverted-U relationship between the DRD2 polymorphism and drug effects, cabergoline increased neural reward responses in the medial orbitofrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, and striatum for A1+ subjects, but decreased reward responses in these regions for A1− subjects.  Drug addiction treatment should therefore put in place measures to ensure that reward deficiency syndrome is treated. Dr. Dalal Akoury of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Center has dedicated her life to helping patients restore their lives by use of integrative medicine. She also holds many conferences in which she offers training on how integrative medicine can be used to fight addiction among other conditions.  Call her on (843) 213-1480 for help.

Reward Deficiency Syndrome and Its Role in Addiction and Addiction Treatment

 

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Foods That Help Boost Serotonin Level

Foods That Raise Serotonin Level

Serotonin is one of the most important neurotransmitters in the brain. Serotonin helps in regulation of mood and sleep. According to recent research findings, when the level of serotonin is below optimum it can cause increased incidences  of aggressive behavior. Low serotonin levels have also been linked to anxiety and depression. If the recent research findings have to be believed which of course they are, then low serotonin levels are dangerous as it may lead to suicidal acts. In terms of dieting, making sure you’re not serotonin deficient is vital because serotonin triggers satiety after eating. Depressed serotonin levels is the likely reason why the vast majority of people cannot stay on a very low carbohydrate diet for the long term without feeling an unavoidable need to binge which may lead to more complex disorders. In the brain the production of neurotransmitter happens naturally without intervention of any other drug, however when you have used the drugs of abuse for some time they will lead to depletion in the levels of the brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine. This therefore means that for healthy levels of serotonin to be achieved after use of drugs, there is need for replenishing and supplementing serotonin through diet. There are foods that are very helpful in raising the levels of serotonin . Here are some of them.

Serotonin

Fresh Vegetables

Fresh vegetables work in myriad ways to ensure good health. the greens are rich in various minerals and vitamins that go along way in boosting the levels of serotonin. some of the fresh vegetables that are actually beneficial in increasing the level of serotonin include Spinach which contains a substantial dose of folic acid. it  is also a wonderful source of the mineral magnesium, a natural anxiety combatant. Without enough magnesium in your diet, you may find it hard to concentrate in addition to being fatigued and irritable. other foods that are rich in magnesium and hence helpful in boosting levels of serotonin include; cacao, seaweed, bananas, orange, tree nuts, peanuts, whole grains, corn, cheese, eggs, milk, and white fish.

Fresh Fruit

Fresh fruits are rich in nutritional content. The fresh fruits are rich in vitamins that serve the purpose of rejuvenating the body and giving it a healing approach as well as protecting the body and restoring crucial neurotransmitters like the serotonin which therefore helps in ensuring good moods. fruits are rich in B3 vitamins. these fruits may include watermelon, peaches, bananas, cantaloupe, and avocado. Generally, the B vitamins are very essential in restoration of neurotransmitters especially after a period of long term use of drugs of pleasure that are known to disrupt the functions of the neurotransmitters.

 Apples

An apple a day keeps the devil away is a common adage. The health benefits of apples are many and this explains why it is always recommended for patients. A compound found in apples called “quercetin’ is an antioxidant that studies have shown may not only help in the prevention of cancer but may also play an important role in the prevention of neurodegenerative disorders. the medicinal abilities of this compound is confounding. It also helps in boosting serotonin as well as dopamine levels.

 Herbs that Boost Serotonin Levels:

SerotoninSt. John’s wort -St. John’s wort is effective against mild to moderate depression, alleviates anxiety, insomnia, and irritability and eases pain. It increases the level of serotonin in the brain as well.

Dandelion– This herb is widely used in Europe as an excellent liver detoxifier and mild diuretic. It increases the flow of bile and encourages both the transformation and transportation of nutrients. It has been used historically to treat liver disorders, arthritis and gout. In the addict it will ease the transportation of nutrients in the body and restore energy in the cells as well as boost the level of serotonin.

Cannabis- though known for all the wrong reasons, cannabis has very high medicinal content, however it is highly addictive and that dictates that it be used in moderation as unregulated use can cause addiction. It works in a way that it increases the levels of excitatory neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

Burdock– burdock has been used to treat other conditions ranging from arthritis to diabetes to hair loss, and it’s an active ingredient in some cancer treatments this herb is also good in resoring the levels of serotonin.

Ginseng–  contrary to what many people believe , ginseng does not only increase the level of serotonin in the body but also works in rejuvenating, restorative, boosts energy and vitality and is tonic to the brain. Ginseng is often prescribed for patients fighting depression which is a common symptom of withdrawal from drug use. This herb is a better therapy for those who are under physical, emotional, mental or spiritual stress as it is a very strong antidepressant and adaptogenic. Ginseng promotes strong nerves, sound sleep, improves memory, clear thinking and enhances concentration.

Use of drugs for along time causes damage to the neurotransmitters. apart from the foods and the herbs, you can also increase the level of serotonin by sunlight. Bright light increases the production of Serotonin in the body.  Basking in the sunlight can absolutely improve your mood and also soothe muscle aches. It is good to note that by increasing the level of serotonin in your body, you are setting good grounds for addiction treatment and recovery. However, these problems need to be treated effectively through integrative medicine. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an expert at this.  Call her on (843) 213-1480 for help.

Foods That Raise Serotonin Level

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