An acetylcholine deficiency?
The neurotransmitter acetylcholine is involved in memory, creativity, and brain speed. If someone is less creative, slower to understand, less empathetic, curious, or has poorer memory than before, they may have a deficiency of acetylcholine in their brain.
During the intake of trip therapy we test acetylcholine, among other things
Acetylcholine supplementation
Supplementing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine can lead to noticeable improvements. This includes creativity, faster thinking, improved memory, and faster reflexes. You may also be more inclined to try new things. In short, you're more flexible and your brain functions faster when your acetylcholine levels are up to par.
Acetylcholine can be supplemented through diet, herbs, supplements, and activities.
Nutrition and acetylcholine
A healthy diet is the foundation of a healthy brain. You can use the information in the following two blog posts as a foundation.
Supplement your healthy diet with the following foods to increase acetylcholine.
- Artichoke
- Eggplant
- Avocado
- Leafy vegetables
- Beans and legumes
- Mushrooms
- Chocolate (As pure as possible)
- Eggs
- Goji berries
- Green tea
- Oatmeal
- Hemp seeds
- Nuts
- Dandelion
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Soybeans
- Tofu
- Meat (grass-fed)
- Fish (fatty)
- Seeds
- Sunflower seeds
Herbs and acetylcholine
Increasing acetylcholine with potent medicinal herbs is feasible for many people. However, a small group of people, such as pregnant women and those taking certain medications, should exercise caution. Personal advice is recommended.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba improves the production, release, and function of acetylcholine, GABA, serotonin, and dopamine. You can buy ginkgo as a supplement or make tea from this herb.
Salvia officinalis
Another name for Salvia officinalis is sage. Besides preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine, sage also has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antihypertensive properties. Sage can be made into a tea or used as a culinary herb.
Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa Monnieri prevents acetylcholine breakdown by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholine esterase. Bacopa Monnieri is also called a brain tonic.
Supplements and acetylcholine
To increase acetylcholine levels in the brain, acetylcholine precursors can be taken together with substances needed for its conversion into acetylcholine.
Precursors Acetylcholine:
Alpha-GPC
Citicoline
SAMe
Choline
Excipients:
B vitamins
Magnesium
What else you can do
Brain training, balance exercises, dancing, sports, strength training, and meditation all have a positive effect on the balance of neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine. Challenge yourself more often and try new things without thinking too much about them.
A warning about too much acetylcholine
If there's an excess of acetylcholine relative to dopamine, tremors can occur. Even Parkinson's disease is a result of this imbalance. If you notice that increasing acetylcholine causes tremors, reduce your intake slightly and ensure dopamine rises slightly relative to acetylcholine. Increasing dopamine can be achieved by lowering glutamate, which in turn can be achieved by increasing GABA. All neurotransmitters interact, and everything needs to be in balance.
Other neurotransmitters
Want to read more about other neurotransmitters? Here's a list of articles I've already written.
Neurotransmitters and nutrition | GABA| Glutamate | Dopamine | Serotonin
Personal advice
With trip therapy, we offer personalized advice to balance neurotransmitters before a psychedelic session. Neurotransmitter balance itself often alleviates symptoms and makes a psychedelic session more pleasant and effective. Interested in our holistic services?