How to Increase Serotonin Receptors

Serotonin receptors influence neurological processes such as depression, anxiety and mood. Antidepressants have proven to be effective in treating case of depression and raising levels of serotonin in the brain. Many people seek natural remedies to combat depression and modify serotonin receptor uptake because they want to avoid prescription antidepressants; however, these are very effective in relieving depression that can not be alleviated by natural means. Depression also may be addressed with simple life changes.

Things You'll Need

• Bright light
• Exercise plan
• Tryptophan supplement
• St. John's Wort

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Instructions

• 1

  Expose yourself to bright light in the form of sunlight or artificial light. Bright light is proven to naturally raise serotonin levels in the human brain and is a standard treatment for seasonal and nonseasonal depression.

• 2

  Exercise regularly. Exercising is another way to increase serotonin without medication. Studies have shown correlations between frequent exercise and high levels of serotonin. In fact, the United Kingdom the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommends using exercise as the first approach in treating mild clinical depression.

• 3

  Add the supplement tryptophan, found naturally in turkey, to your diet. A study published in Theoretical & Philosophical Psychology concluded tryptophan to be an effective antidepressant in mild-to-moderately depressed patients and to be effective in decreasing irritability. Unfortunately, foods that contain tryptophan do not raise serotonin levels like the purified supplement does.

• 4

  St. John's Wort, a well known supplement, also increases levels of serotonin and may be used to treat mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety, insomnia and loss of appetite. Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder also are treated with St. John's Wort.

• 5

  Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors, commonly called SSRIs, are prescription antidepressants that block the re-absorption of serotonin, in effect increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants and offer relief from moderate to severe depression; patients generally experience few, if any, side effects.