How to Increase Serotonin Levels Naturally

Part of the work needed to ensure the overall well-being of neuropathy patients is to help them manage their moods and let them know that they are supported.

Increased serotonin may help patients with peripheral neuropathy symptoms associated with familial amyloid polyneuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, or diabetic neuropathy better regulate their emotional well-being and overall physical health. This may help them fight depression, sleep better, foster positive social interactions, and digest foods better.

Neuropathy treatments may impose a strong financial burden on patients and their families. The cost of treatments such as gabapentin and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy can make it difficult to help manage pain and improve nerve function. Even holistic treatments may prove costly.

My family helps my mother-in-law manage her pain symptoms through time spent outdoors and at family gatherings. As the costs of medical treatments tend to be high enough for her to only receive them sporadically, any natural treatment that helps her increase serotonin levels is more than welcome.

For neuropathy patients and caregivers, following are natural, medicine-free ways to increase serotonin levels.

Exercise

Regular exercise may help patients release tryptophan into the bloodstream, increasing overall serotonin levels. Patients and caregivers must be mindful of which levels of physical exercise may be the most manageable. Depending on how much neuropathic pain a patient experiences, light aerobic exercises may help patients establish a sustainable routine.

Sunlight

Being outdoors and in direct sunlight may help patients increase their overall serotonin levels. Studies have found that serotonin levels tend to be higher in the spring and summer months.

With the change in temperatures accompanying the springtime, patients and caregivers may find time spent outdoors to be beneficial for enhancing mental well-being. Still, patients and caregivers need to be mindful of temperatures and prevent excessive exposure to direct sunlight.

Dietary supplements

Some natural supplements such as St. John’s Wort and probiotics may help patients raise serotonin levels. Over-the-counter vitamins and herbal remedies may help increase serotonin and reduce depression. However, patients and caregivers need to conduct independent research and discern whether or not the results of research studies suggest that a treatment may be right for them.

Massage therapy

Massage therapy may help decrease cortisol levels associated with bodily responses to stress. Increased serotonin and dopamine levels have also been associated with massage therapy. Patients and caregivers may find massage therapy to be beneficial for naturally increasing the patient’s well-being. Be mindful of how the patient’s peripheral neuropathy pain can increase with physical touch.

It is important to research and practice discernment when proceeding with new forms of treatment for peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Consult your healthcare team before making changes.

***

Note: FAP News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of FAP News Today or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to familial amyloid polyneuropathy.