Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L)- increases GABA which helps lower glutamate and establish balance between the two neurotransmitters. “These results suggest that MOE increases cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation and integration into granule cells by decreasing serum corticosterone levels as well as by increasing GABA levels in the mouse DG.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21076869
Ginseng– inhibits inflammation caused by microglial/immune activation and therefore lower glutamate and cytokine levels (microglia are activated as a first step in immune response and they signal additional glutamate/cytokines/etc). “Ginseng extracts also inhibit immunoexcitotoxic activation of microglia, an important factor in preventing the destructive process of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, components in American ginseng, Korean red ginseng, and Panax ginseng all inhibit inflammation caused by microglial activation. Regulation of microglial activity is critically important in brain protection because these specialized immune cells can either be beneficial or quite harmful, depending on what state they are in. The protective activation mode stimulates [...]
Gingko biloba- Neuroprotective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract. “Antagonistic effects of extract from leaves of Ginkgo biloba on glutamate neurotoxicity” https://www.researchgate.net/publication/13217791_Antagonistic_effects_of_extract_from_leaves_of_Ginkgo_biloba_on_glutamate_neurotoxicity “The effects described mostly in animals include those on cerebral blood flow, neurotransmitter systems, cellular redox state and nitric oxide level. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14523543 “Molecular evidence of the neuroprotective effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb761) using bax/bcl-2 ratio after brain ischemia in senescence-accelerated mice, strain prone-8.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16677616
Frankincense- While some of these studies are geared towards arthritis, they indicate that frankincense (from the Boswellia genus) can be protective against glutamate, cytokine damage, unregulated calcium and help with neuroinflammation. It can even help against the spread of cancer. We personally saw increased speech when we started applying diluted frankincense essential oil to the back of our sons neck before bed. Boswellia serrata Protects Against Glutamate-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in PC12 and N2a Cells https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27494534 Boswellia frereana (frankincense) suppresses cytokine-induced matrix metalloproteinase expression and production of pro-inflammatory molecules in articular cartilage http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.3055/full “The resinous part of Boswellia serrata possesses [...]
Curcumin (Turmeric) – Protects against glutamate and inhibits glutamate release. “Curcumin protects against glutamate excitotoxicity in rat cerebral cortical neurons by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor level and activating TrkB” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18420184 “Curcumin Protects Neurons from Glutamate-Induced Excitotoxicity by Membrane Anchored AKAP79-PKA Interaction Network” https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2015/706207/ “Curcumin Protects against Monosodium Glutamate Neurotoxicity and Decreasing NMDA2B and mGluR5 Expression in Rat Hippocampus.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27529496 “Curcumin attenuates glutamate neurotoxicity in the hippocampus by suppression of ER stress-associated TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a manner dependent on AMPK” http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0041008X15000927 “Curcumin inhibits the increase of glutamate, hydroxyl radicals and PGE2 in the hypothalamus and reduces fever during LPS-induced systemic inflammation in rabbits” http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299908007449 [...]
Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria Baicalensis)– neuroprotective against glutamate damage/metabolizes glutamate. “Thus, S.B. extract exhibited neuroprotection against excitotoxic cell death, and this neuroprotection was mediated through the inhibition of NMDA receptor function by interacting with the glycine binding site of the NMDA receptor.” https://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2014/459549/ “Baicalein, a Constituent of Scutellaria baicalensis, Reduces Glutamate Release and Protects Neuronal Cell Against Kainic Acid-Induced Excitotoxicity in Rats” “This study is the first to demonstrate that the natural compound baicalein inhibits glutamate release from hippocampal nerve terminals, and executes a protective action against kainic acid-induced excitotoxicity in vivo. The findings enhance the understanding of [...]
Chinese Club Moss (Lycopodii Serrati) of the lycopodium family (for those homeopathy followers)– Neuroprotective by blocking the NMDA (a type of glutamate receptor) channels. Only Chinese Club Moss contains Huperzine A which is most commonly known to help with Alzheimers and memory loss. “Thus, on the one hand, HUP-A could be used as a pretreatment against OPs and it might also be a valuable therapeutic intervention in a variety of acute and chronic disorders by protecting against overstimulation of the excitatory amino acid pathway. By blocking NMDA ion channels without psychotomimetic side-effects, HUP-A may protect against [...]
Cat’s Claw (uncaria tomentosa)- NMDA (a type of glutamate receptor) inhibitor. Should be used with caution as it is a immune system activator and may be problematic for some. “Rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline are major tetracyclic oxindole alkaloid components of Uncaira species, which have been long used as medicinal plants. In this study, the effects of rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline on the ionotropic and metabotropic glutamatereceptor-mediated current responses were examined using Xenopus oocytes injected with total RNA prepared from rat cortices or cerebelli.” “hese results suggest that rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline act as noncompetitive antagonists of the NMDA receptor and that this property may contribute to the neuroprotective and anticonvulsant activity of the Uncairaspecies [...]
Black Cumin Seed (Nigella Sativa)– We have chosen to use black cumin seed oil to help lower glutamate levels. I have it linked in our medicine cabinet. “The secretion of different amino acids was studied in primary cultured cortical neurons by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a derivation before injection with dansyl chloride. NS modulated amino acid release in cultured neurons; GABA was significantly increased whereas secretion of glutamate, aspartate, and glycine were decreased. The in vitro findings support the hypothesis that the sedative and depressive effects of NS observed in vivocould be based on changes of inhibitory/excitatory amino acids [...]
Berberine (Alkaloid) Containing Herbs (Goldenseal, Barberry, Goldthread)- is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory known to protect against glutamate. Heads up it also lowers*** blood sugar and can help with fatty liver and SIBO “Berberine protects against glutamate-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in PC12 and N2a cells” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5478787/ “Berberine Inhibits the Release of Glutamate in Nerve Terminals from Rat Cerebral Cortex” http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0067215
