What Is Serotonin Syndrome?

Serotonin is an important chemical found in the brain and other parts of the body. Serotonin helps to transmit messages that regulate bodily functions such as behavior, mood, body temperature, digestion, blood flow, and breathing. Many antidepressants work by altering the levels of serotonin in the brain [R].

Serotonin syndrome occurs when someone has too much serotonin in their system – either from an overdose of one drug or as a result of combining multiple drugs that increase serotonin levels. This can be extremely dangerous and result in many serious complications ranging from mild (confusion, diarrhea, shivering) to severe (delirium, seizures, comas) [R].

Although some people may be more susceptible to serotonin syndrome and the severity may vary, anyone with elevated levels of serotonin will experience symptoms. Even one dose of a serotonin-altering drug can result in serotonin syndrome [R].

Symptoms

Warning: serotonin syndrome is a potentially fatal condition and requires urgent medical treatment. If you’ve used psychoactive drugs/herbs/supplements and noticed any of the symptoms described below, seek medical help ASAP.

Since serotonin activates many receptors throughout the body, an excess of it in the bloodstream can have a wide range of effects. These vary from mild to life-threatening [R].

Too much serotonin in the brain can cause [R]:

• Confusion
• Agitation
• Increased sensitivity to stimuli (hypervigilance)
• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Fever

The effects on the heart and blood vessels include [R]:

• Rapid heart rate
• Blood pressure spikes

By acting on the gut, excessive serotonin can lead to [R]:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting

It can also cause [R]:

• Excessive sweating
• Muscle spasms or an increased muscle tone
• Pupil dilation
• Shivering
• Tremor (rhythmic shaking)

Life-threatening symptoms include [R] :

• Delirium
• Metabolic acidosis
• Rhabdomyolysis (the breakdown of muscle tissue that releases a toxic protein)
• Very high body temperature (over 41 °C)
• Coma

The post Serotonin Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment appeared first on SelfHacked.

Disclaimer: This post is not a recommendation or endorsement for buspirone. This medication is only FDA-approved for the treatment of certain specific medical disorders, and can only be taken by prescription and with oversight from a licensed medical professional. We have written this post for informational purposes only, and our goal is solely to inform people about the science behind buspirone’s effects, mechanisms, and current medical uses.

What is Buspirone?

Buspirone is an anti-anxiety medication (anxiolytic) that is sold under the brand name Buspar. It is chemically and pharmacologically distinct from other anti-anxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines and offers reduced anxiety without physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms [R, R].

Buspirone is most commonly used for generalized anxiety disorder but is also prescribed occasionally for anxiety related to other brain-related disorders such as depression, attention deficit disorder, social phobia, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s [R, R].

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of action of buspirone is not fully understood. It is known that buspirone binds to serotonin (5-HT1A) receptors and partially mimics the action of serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that promotes feelings of well-being and happiness [R, R].

Buspirone is also able to partially block the action of some dopamine receptors (DRD2) [R, R].

When buspirone is broken down by the body, one of the major byproducts called 1-PP becomes quite concentrated in the blood. 1-PP can block the activity of a receptor that epinephrine/adrenaline activates (α2-adrenergic), which could account for some of the anti-depressant effects of buspirone [R, R, R, R].

When taken by mouth (20 mg) it is rapidly absorbed and reaches its peak concentration within the blood in less than an hour. It takes 2.5 hours for half of the initial dose to be removed from the body (half-life). However, like most anti-anxiety medications, it may take 3-4 weeks until you start to feel relief from symptoms [R, R].

Approved Medical Uses

1) Anxiety

Buspirone treatment is more effective than placebo in treating and maintaining stability for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

The post 5 Buspirone Uses, Side Effects, Dosage + Natural Options appeared first on SelfHacked.

What is HDL Cholesterol?

HDL-cholesterol is cholesterol bound to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, which are made in the liver and consist of proteins and fats (lipids). They are called high-density because they contain the highest proportion of protein to lipids, making them denser than other types of lipoprotein particles such as LDL [R].

HDL particles help remove excess cholesterol from the blood by [R, R, R]:

• transporting it to the liver, where it becomes a part of bile and is excreted through feces
• taking it to adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes, where cholesterol is converted into steroid hormones (e.g. cortisol, estrogens, testosterone)

Cholesterol transported by HDL is known as “good” cholesterol because it is being removed from artery walls, which helps prevent, reduce, and even reverse hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and heart disease [R].

HDL also plays a role in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, improving cell and immune function, enhancing insulin sensitivity, and may protect against neurodegenerative disorders [R, R, R].

HDL-C Blood Test

An HDL-cholesterol test is a routine blood test that can help your doctor estimate your risk of heart disease.

More recently, scientists have discovered that HDL is made up of particles of different sizes. Having higher levels of large HDL particles is strongly associated with a lower risk for heart disease while having higher levels of small HDL particles is less protective. There are blood tests available today that can determine the sizes that make up the HDL cholesterol in your body. These tests are more expensive and they are used less often than the HDL-C test [R, R].

HDL-C Normal Range

HDL-C levels can be classified as follows [R, R]:

• High risk: < 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) for men or < 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) for women
• Average risk: 40-50 mg/dL (1.0-1.3 mmol/L) for men and between 50-59 mg/dl (1.3-1.5 mmol/L) for women
• Low risk: > 60 mg/dL (1.55 mmol/L)

High levels of HDL cholesterol has repeatedly been shown to protect

The post HDL Cholesterol: Increasing Naturally + Normal Ranges appeared first on SelfHacked.

What Is Dandelion?

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is known as a garden weed and belongs to a group of flowering plants (Taraxacum). The common name is derived from the French dent-de-lion, which means lion’s tooth [R].

Dandelion has been used in the traditional medicine of many cultures for centuries. In Russia, India, China, Turkey, and Mexico, dandelion was used for treating ailments such as diabetes, blisters, spleen, liver, and gallbladder issues [R, R].

Nutrients & Active Compounds

The dandelion plant is entirely edible from root and greens to flower. The majority of the beneficial properties of dandelion are common among the root, greens, and flower. Health benefits may depend on what part of the plant is used, what species, and how it is extracted [R].

Dandelion is a rich source of many vitamins and minerals such as [R]:

• Vitamin A (1,400 IU/100g) [R]
• Beta-carotene
• Vitamin C
• B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, and folate)
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Copper
• Iron
• Manganese
• Zinc
• Phosphorous

Dandelion also contains many important components responsible for its diverse effects, such as sesquiterpene lactones, taraxasterol, taraxerol, chlorogenic acid, and chicoric acid [R].

Mechanisms of Action

The health benefits of dandelion result from nutrients and antioxidants, as well as its diuretic and microbe-fighting action [R, R, R, R].

In cell studies, dandelion has:

• Protected cells from damage and oxidation (PI3K–AKT) [R]
• Reduced inflammation (TNF-alpha, NF-kB, mTOR, IL-6, COX-2) [R, R, R, R, R]
• Killed cancer cells

The post Dandelion Benefits (Root, Tea, Greens) + Future Research appeared first on SelfHacked.

What is Kambo?

Overview

Kambo is harvested from the poisonous secretions of the Amazon tree frog, Phyllomedusa bicolor. Kambo is traditionally used to remove “Panema,” or negative energy, which is said to result in numerous health benefits such as gaining strength and maintaining health. It is also historically used to aid with mental illness and addiction [R].

The Kambo ceremony involves making several small burns at specific locations on the body and applying the poison to the burns. Kambo initially causes a generally unpleasant period of increased heart rate, nausea, vomiting, and incontinence that lasts 30 to 40 minutes. This is followed by a period of listlessness and eventually some long-lasting effects [R].

The use of Kambo in the traditional ceremony has not been studied in any randomized controlled trials. Clinical research needs to determine the safety and effects of kambo on the human body.

There is no evidence to suggest that kambo (or “body cleanses” for that matter) has any health benefits. On the contrary, Kambo is likely dangerous.

Have in mind that kambo is a poison that can cause serious side effects. Several deaths have been reported. Additionally, it is applied after making open burns and wounds on the skin, which is a dangerous process by itself. Burning or cutting the skin and deeper skin layers can result in infection, excessive bleeding, severe swelling, and even death.

Despite the lack of evidence and serious potential for harm, “Kambo sticks” are commercially available on the internet and Kambo is legal in the US and many other countries [R].

These kambo “sticks” are unregulated, may have unpredictable strengths, and should be avoided.

We strictly advise against the use of kambo until its safety profile and dangers have been determined.

Some studies have investigated the health effects of active peptides found in the frog venom. These studies help scientists explore biological mechanisms and understand whether any of these compounds have medicinal potential. However, these findings can’t be extrapolated to humans [R].

Components

Kambo contains many peptides that are suspected to be biologically active, including phyllocaerulein, phyllomedusin, phyllokinin

The post Amazon Frog Poison Kambo Ritual, Effects & Dangers appeared first on SelfHacked.