The human nervous system is one of the most complex systems in nature. It is responsible for coordinating thousands of processes, from muscle contraction to crying.

The center of the nervous system is the brain, which contains over 100 billion specialized cells

called neurons. The nervous system also contains very important chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The brain uses neurotransmitters to tell your heart to beat, your lungs to breathe, and your stomach to digest. Neurotransmitters are also necessary for thought processes, emotions, and other essential body functions including sleep, energy, and fear.

Like hormones, brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, also act as messengers in the body. Neurotransmitters relay signals between nerve cells, called “neurons” at junctions know as “synapses” or “synaptic clefts.” They are present throughout the body and are required for proper brain and body functions, including hormone release. Since neurotransmitter imbalances can lead to or exacerbate hormone imbalances, maintaining healthy neurotransmitter levels may help maintain normal hormone levels. Simple testing can identify any neurotransmitter imbalances and allow for targeted interventions.

Some common neurotransmitters are:

• Serotonin
• Dopamine
• Acetylcholine
• GABA
• 5-HTP
• Norepinephrnine

Clearly, a system with this much responsibility needs to function properly in order for a person to remain healthy.

Unfortunately, the nervous system can be easily disrupted

through a number of factors:

• Stress
• Poor diet
• Toxic chemicals
• Infections
• Genetics

These factors can cause the levels of neurotransmitters to become either too high or too low.

Imbalanced neurotransmitter levels can lead to:

• Feelings of sadness (Depression)
• Feelings of anxiousness (anxiety)
• Disrupted sleep (insomnia)
• Fatigue
• Behavioral/Attention problems (Adult ADD)
• Foggy thinking (cognitive decline)
• Headaches (migraines)

Pharmaceutical medications influence neurotransmission while nutritional neuromodulators utilize dietary constituents and naturally derived substances to influence neurotransmission. Nutritional neuromodulators include various amino acids, standardized herbal extracts, vitamins and minerals,

and phospholipid derivatives.

Some nutraceuticals and naturally derived substances

used at Vitality Logix are:

• GABA
• Taurine
• Vinpocetine
• 5-HTP
• Piracetam
• N-acetylcysteine
• L-Theonine
• Magnesium
• Proline-Rich Polypeptide Complex