Serotonin deficiency: The best home remedies for it

Serotonin is essential for our well-being, because the important hormone not only regulates the day-night rhythm, but also our mood. When there is a lack of serotonin, we often feel drained and depressed, but we also get a depressive mood disorder. Especially in winter our mood deteriorates. But why is that and how can a serotonin deficiency be corrected?

Besides sunlight, there are more practical ways to boost serotonin in your body. The treatment does not necessarily have to be drug-based. In this guide you will learn everything about the subject of serotonin deficiency, ie from the symptoms, causes and diagnosis to treatment.

the essentials in brief

• The happiness hormone serotonin, which is also a messenger substance, is responsible for our mood and brain function. If you have serotonin levels, you may be suffering from insomnia, loss of libido, bad mood, and anxiety, among other things.
• A serotonin deficit can be difficult to determine, which is why a possible diagnosis is made primarily on the basis of the given symptoms. If treatment improves symptoms, serotonin deficiency is present. Most examinations only determine the serotonin content in the body, but not the decisive serotonin concentration in the brain.
• The body of research on the symptoms of serotonin deficiency could not be more controversial. Mental illnesses in particular, such as depression, are justified by some studies as a result of a lack of serotonin, while other studies make contrary findings. The effect of certain remedies against serotonin deficiency is also very controversial.

Definition: What is serotonin deficiency?

A serotonin deficiency describes a lack of the transmitter serotonin in the brain. Serotonin primarily controls and directs our mood and our driving force and causes inner peace and general well-being.

For this reason, serotonin is also known as the happiness hormone. A lack of serotonin can create exactly the opposite and have serious effects on the physical and psychological state of the person.

Background: What you should know about serotonin deficiency

In this guide you will receive important background information about serotonin deficiency by answering the most frequently asked questions briefly and concisely. Starting with the cause and effect to the symptoms and treatment, you will learn all the basic information about serotonin deficiency.

You will then be shown various remedies that you can use to counteract the serotonin deficiency.

What effect does serotonin have?

Depending on the docking of the neurotransmitter, it can develop different effects such as relaxation, deep sleep, memory promotion and much more. In general, serotonin can be understood primarily as a medium in our body, since serotonin acts primarily as a transmitter of important information between nerve cells.

The hormone serotonin is responsible, among other things, for peace of mind and for creating feelings of happiness and contentment.

In addition, serotonin can dilate and contract blood vessels and increase or decrease appetite, libido, drive, body temperature, sleep, and pain. In particular, serotonin is responsible for the processing and forwarding of information in the memory and, in the event of a deficiency, can lead to memory problems that can have a negative impact on mental and physical composure.

How does serotonin deficiency manifest itself?

A deficit of serotonin can cause very different effects with different intensities. Depending on which area of ​​the brain is affected by a lack of serotonin, different symptoms can develop.

In any case, a lack of serotonin should be corrected, since the symptoms can worsen if left untreated and lead to serious consequences. Here you will find a table with all possible symptoms of a serotonin deficiency:

symptoms	Explanation
listlessness and tiredness	An excess or deficit of serotonin can inhibit muscular nerve cells, leaving you feeling drained.
Irritability and sluggish mood	Disparate levels of serotonin can produce unusual emotions because the transmitters are functioning improperly.
anxiety and nervousness	Again, an unusual accumulation of serotonin in the brain can lead to negative sensations being aroused.
increased pain perception	The pain stimuli are mitigated by serotonin because the neurotransmitters are impeded.
sleep disturbance	Since serotonin is mainly produced during deep sleep, a lack of serotonin can lead to sleep disorders.
Loss of appetite or food cravings	In addition to the brain, serotonin is also found in the gastrointestinal tract and controls appetite. When there is an uneven level of serotonin, it can cause a lack of appetite or even the opposite, food cravings.
irritable bowel syndrome	Since serotonin is also in the stomach, negative effects can also be triggered here if there is a serotonin deficit.

While some studies have found that a lack of serotonin and its associated symptoms can cause long-term depression, there are other studies that dispute these findings. Certain studies show that anxiety, a low and irritable mood, and disturbances in sleeping and eating patterns can cause depression over the long term.

If you have a long-term serotonin deficiency, you risk developing depression. (Image Source: Polina Zimmerman / Pexels)

The issue of mental illnesses, which are caused in part by a lack of serotonin, could not be more controversial. What is certain, however, is that certain symptoms of serotonin deficiency can be treated with antidepressants.

With regard to the stomach area, a lack of serotonin there can lead to eating disorders with devastating consequences, such as drastic weight gain or weight loss. Body temperature regulation can also be disturbed and cause excessive sweating.

Furthermore, the libido can be affected by a lack of serotonin. Basically, it can be said that a lack of serotonin often puts a lot of strain on the circulatory system.

Can a serotonin deficiency cause mental illness?

Some studies have been able to prove the connection between depression and a lack of serotonin by showing that several people suffering from depression have a lack of serotonin. Signs of low serotonin levels mainly relate to mental or psychological composure. One of the most fundamental symptoms of serotonin deficiency: depression and low spirits.

The reason for this is that serotonin, also known as the happiness hormone, lifts the mood and thus suppresses negative feelings such as fear, nervousness or irritability. However, when there is a lack of serotonin, the negative feelings come to the fore and can become so overwhelming that they cause dire consequences.

What are the causes of a serotonin deficiency?

Certain factors, such as stress, a deficit in vitamin D and B, as well as diseases such as cancer, rheumatism, diabetes, but also chronic infections can lead to the production of serotonin being disrupted, since the function of the messenger substances is impaired by the respective factors become.

Stress, a deficit in vitamin D and B, as well as diseases such as cancer, rheumatism, diabetes, but also chronic infections.

Above all, however, prolonged stress in combination with vitamin deficiencies can encourage the development of depression.

How is a serotonin deficiency diagnosed?

In contrast to many other diseases, serotonin deficiency cannot be determined by a blood test, since only the serotonin content in the body can be determined, but not the decisive serotonin content in the brain. Even an examination of the brain fluid could not provide any information about the serotonin content in the brain, since the serotonin content in the brain varies depending on the area.

However, urine can be tested for hydroxyindoleacetic acid to determine the level of serotonin in the body. The only drawback here would be that it basically measures the serotonin level in the body and not in the brain. The decisive factor, however, would be the serotonin level in the brain.

Consequently, a lack of serotonin is always determined based on the existing symptoms. To secure the diagnosis, serotonin reuptake inhibitors are prescribed to correct the deficiency. The serotonin transmitters are inhibited here, so that the serotonin content in the brain can increase.

If there is improvement, the diagnosis can be confirmed. Foods rich in tryptophan may be able to compensate for a lack of serotonin.

What helps with serotonin deficiency?

Serotonin deficiency can be treated with different means. However, the method that is ultimately used depends on the severity of the serotonin deficiency. If there is a mild serotonin deficiency with mild symptoms, natural remedies such as foods high in serotonin and physical activity can be used.

If there is a high serotonin deficiency with serious symptoms, such as increased depressive mood, more serious measures must be taken, such as drug treatment or even therapy. Consequently, it can be said that your serotonin levels in the body are largely dependent on you and your lifestyle. You can ensure that your body produces enough serotonin or that a deficiency occurs.

Does a serotonin deficiency have to be treated with medication?

Depending on the severity of the serotonin deficit and the associated symptoms, the serotonin deficiency can be treated with medication. A long-lasting gloomy mood, a profound state of exhaustion and loss of appetite, as well as insomnia should definitely be treated with medication before the symptoms worsen and massive consequences are prescribed.

In addition to SSRIs, i.e. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which enable the serotonin level to be increased, SSNRIs, selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, which act as antidepressants, are occasionally used. In order for the condition to improve visibly, the medication must be taken for a longer period of time. Drugs such as paroxetine or citalopram are often prescribed, although the side effects of these drugs should not be underestimated.

Serotonin deficiency: The best tips & tricks for a healthy serotonin level

If you now think that you could possibly have a serotonin deficiency, we naturally recommend that you see a doctor in the first place. You should have this diagnosis confirmed by a doctor so that the deficiency can be effectively corrected.

This guide is only intended to show you practical and sometimes natural options that you can use as a possible help. Below you will find helpful tips and tricks that you can use if you have a serotonin deficiency.

Fix serotonin deficiency with medication

Various antidepressants are used to treat depressed mood. In this case, serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft and promotes the transmission of certain information. The so-called SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) ensures that, for example, the serotonin concentration in the synaptic cleft remains elevated due to the delayed absorption of the hormone.

The serotonin decomposing enzyme in the human body is inhibited, so it can be used for a long time. Antidepressants can inhibit the serotonin transporter and also increase serotonin levels.