The brain has a delicate balance of complex chemicals that can be altered by everyday substances, such as caffeine, as well-the-counter and prescribed drugs. Some of these mind medicines are beneficial, but they all need to be taken with due care, whether they are natural or synthetic.
Throughout the world, every day, millions of cups of tea and coffee are sipped, and millions of cans of cola are drunk. These drinks all contain caffeine – a mild stimulant that arouses the central nervous system, increasing alertness. While this effect can sometimes be useful, especially if it is necessary to stay awake, many experts argue that people generally consume far more caffeine than is good for them. In some cases, excess caffeine is responsible for psychological problems such as restlessness, nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia. Symptoms of too much caffeine include a Hushed face and cardiovascular problems, such as a rapid pulse and palpitations. Because caffeine is addictive, people often find that they experience withdrawal effects, including a lack of energy and headaches, if they stop drinking caffeinated drinks. As a general guideline, it is advisable to limit caffeine consumption to two or three cups of coffee a day maximum – with preferably none at all being consumed in the late afternoon or evening to avoid sleep disturbance.
Conventional medicines
Medicines that affect the mind include painkillers (analgesics) and antidepressants. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid ) was discovered in 1853 in Germany, although similar plant-based substances have been used for centuries. Today, it remains one of the safest and most effective drugs for relieving mild pain, although some people are sensitive to its irritant action on the stomach. Paracetamol is often used as an alternative painkiller to aspirin, mainly because it is less irritating to the stomach. However, its main disadvantage lies in the danger of overdose, which can cause serious irreversible liver damage. Whereas aspirin (and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) stops pain impulses traveling from the site of the injury to the brain, paracetamol reduces the perception of pain in the brain itself. Like paracetamol, more potent painkillers such as morphine and other opioid drugs also work by changing the way we think and feel about pain.
Most people become depressed at some time in their lives, especially after bereavement or other loss, and this is considered to be a normal human reaction that will heal in time. However, some people become clinically depressed for no apparent reason and may benefit from prescribed antidepressants. These drugs relieve the major symptoms of depression, allowing the individual to cope better and perhaps benefit from psychological therapies that may be available in conjunction with the medicine. Other nund medicines include anxilytics, such as the benzodiazepine drug diazepam (Valium). These widely prescribed drugs can alleviate specific anxiety states, but doses must be kept low in order to reduce the possibility of side effects.
Natural options
The St John’s wort plant ( Hypericum perforated ) has been used as an herbal remedy for depression since the times of the ancient Greeks, who believed that it could drive out evil spirits, and it is once again gaining in popularity. Native to Europe and Asia, the plant has tiny leaves, which contain oil glands, and five-petalled yellow flowers. St John’s wort also has antiseptic and ann-inflammatory properties and is used in both Chinese medicine and homeopathy. However, it should be emphasized that St John’s wort is a potent substance: people should always check with their doctor before using it, especially anyone taking other medication and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Antidepressants
There are three main types of antidepressant drugs in use today:
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AOls
( monoamine-oxi daseinhibitors): The first MAOI was discovered in the 1950s when a tuberculosis drug was found to have antidepressant properties. Research suggested it prevented the breakdown of monoamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters) in the brain. Modern MAOIs include phenelzine, iproniazide, and tranylcypromine. -
Tricyclics
(and other related drugs): Tricyclic antidepressants are often preferred to MAOIs as they have fewer side effects. Modern examples include imipramine, which is relatively non seating and stimulating and is used to treat depressed people who are slow and withdrawn. Amitriptyline has more sedative effects and is useful for treating patients who are tense, anxious, irritable, and have trouble getting to sleep. -
SRls
(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors): As the name suggests, SSRIs work by stopping the reabsorption of serotonin in the nerve cells of the brain, thus allowing more serotonin to be available for a long. This helps because depressed people are thought to have less serotonin than normal. This group includes fluoxetine, marketed as Prozac.
