The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is created by Rupa Health, the best way to order, track & manage results from 30+ lab companies in one place for free. The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is a weekly one-on-one conversation with renowned medical experts, specialists, and pioneers who are influencing the way we look at our health and well-being. This week we’re joined by Dr. Chip Watkins, President of NCHealthSPAN, Regional Medical Director at Community Care of NC, and Chief Medical Officer at Sanesco International. In this episode of The Root Cause Medicine Podcast, Dr. Chip Watkins talks to us about neurotransmitters, what they are, what their functions are, the different types, and potential issues related to neurotransmitters. Dr. Chip Watkins has over twenty years of experience in private practice, teaching, and corporate medicine. He uses mind-body medicine in his practice and nutritional approaches to care and has an understanding of traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, and bioenergetics. Dr. Watkins is the President of NCHealthSPAN, Regional Medical Director at Community Care of NC, and Chief Medical Officer at Sanesco International. He is also a Member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a past president and Chairman of the Board of the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians. Also, check out Dr. Chip Watkins’ recommended lab testing: Neurotransmitter testing, Neurotransmitter metabolite testing, Blood testing, Spot urine test Key Takeaways: What is a neurotransmitter? Neurotransmitters are chemical substances released at the end of a nerve fiber. By definition, neurotransmitters are neurohormones because they are signaling molecules secreted by a neuron to affect another cell across a synapse, which could be another neuron, a body part, a gland, or a muscle cell. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that your body really cannot function without. You should have enough chemical messengers, and they have to be in the right balance of release and reuptake for the system to work properly. GABA deficiency symptoms When GABA levels are too low, it's difficult for the body to relax after a stress-induced neurotransmitter release. This might lead to mood disorders, particularly depression, anxiety, panic attacks, sleep problems, memory issues, sexual dysfunction, and even perimenopause and menopause conditions. What are the main neurotransmitters? The human nervous system has about forty neurotransmitters and over 100 neuroactive substances. Some of these are dopamine, GABA, glutamate, serotonin, glycine, and histamine. The scientific community breaks them into inhibitory (serotonin, GABA, and glycine) and excitatory (norepinephrine epinephrine glutamate) neurotransmitters. How does the body make neurotransmitters? Neurotransmitters are synthesized by enzymes, most of which start out as amino acids that we get from our diet. Neurotransmitters can be separated into two groups, the amino acid neurotransmitters (glutamate, glycine, and GABA) and the biogenic amines or the monoamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine). Neurotransmitters and gut health Amino acids come from your diet. So the food you choose to eat and the status of your gut health is crucial to the creation of the neurotransmitters. Many neurotransmitters are made in the gut, like 95% of serotonin and about fifty percent of both GABA and dopamine.