| In the past I have talked about the issue of | | | | appropriately and it is supposed to aid in the |
| serotonin levels in children with special needs and | | | | conversion of serotonin into its active form. There |
| particularly serotonin levels in children on the | | | | is a therapy called reserpine which is an Indian |
| Autism Spectrum. I have also talk about the | | | | herb that has been used since the 1950’s. |
| influence that serotonin has on things like brain | | | | Reserpine helps with many of those core issues in |
| function, learning, states of happiness and mood. | | | | Autism by boosting levels of the enzyme MAO-A. |
| For many people, medications like Prozac, Paxil | | | | There is a new therapy which is a homeopathic |
| and Zoloft are necessary, they are what is called | | | | derivative of reserpine called Respen-A. Respen-A |
| serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Depletion of | | | | is in a patch form that has been showing good |
| serotonin levels can cause depression in many | | | | benefits in aiding in many of those core issues we |
| individuals and these medications help with that. | | | | see in Autism like focus, attention, eye contact, |
| But for children on the Autism spectrum, it | | | | language, self stimulatory and sensory seeking |
| appears that the reverse is happening, the | | | | behaviors. |
| serotonin is there, they just cannot convert | | | | The complexities of brain chemistry continue to |
| serotonin into its active form. Many of the things | | | | be unfolded as we learn more and more and as |
| we see as “core issues” in Autism like | | | | we see further research that is done on this |
| poor eye contact, language issues, self stimulatory | | | | complex disorder called Autism. As we understand |
| behaviors, and behavioral issues can all be adverse | | | | the link between serotonin and MAO-A more, it |
| effects from failure to convert serotonin into its | | | | becomes an area of great interest. Respen-A |
| active form. | | | | could be one potential therapy to aid in this issue |
| One of the problems areas seems to be an | | | | and is showing good benefit currently in |
| enzyme in the brain called MAO-A or | | | | converting serotonin and aiding with some of the |
| monoamineoxidase A. What appears to be | | | | core issues seen in children with Autism. |
| happening is that MAO-A is not functioning | | | | |