Second Nature Care Blog

Mast Cells Activated by Stress

[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 16, 2015 6:16:00 PM / by Dr. Isadora Guggenheim

Getting good health makes us more capable of doing the things we want to do. Second Nature Care.

I was blown away with the responses to my blog about Mast Cell Activation Disorder. 3,720 people reached. I wanted to follow-up with a short blog about Mast Cells activated by stress in the brain via the Hypothalamic Pituitary Axis. 

We all have stress.  It is our basic response to challenging and threatening situations. Stress stimulates the secretion of corticotropin-releasing hormone or CRH and activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. CRH can suppress immune responses and also promote inflammation. 

Corticotropin-releasing hormone or CRH is a neurotransmitter or brain chemical involved in the stress response. CRH stimulates mast cells that are coded to express CRH receptors.  Lock and key system. 

People with Alzheimer's, chronic disease and major depression have much higher levels of CRH. In pregnancy, CRH is high in the placenta and progesterone blocks the effect of CRH until the end of pregnancy.  CRH starts labor contractions.  

One part of the brain that is rich in mast cells is the median eminence in the hypothalamus. This area contains the most histamines in the brain. Mast cell activation in the hypothalamus stimulates the HPA axis or hypothalamic pituitary axis. Once histamines are in play blood vessels become more permeable in the blood-brain-barrier. 

Book Now

When we are under stress mast cells create and secrete alot of corticotropin-releasing hormone or CRH. Mast cells are also found in the pituitary gland. Blood vessels in the brain transport CRH to the anterior lobe in the pituitary where another hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH is secreted. In turn, ACTH in the pituitary stimulates the production of cortisol, DHEA, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. 

If you have increased CRH, you might experience less appetite, more anxiety and heightened attention. Kind of like drinking Red Bull. CRH can increase inflammation in the body. 

Nothing is simple. We can test to see your levels of this hormone and other neurotransmitters. We have treatment protocols that balance and regulate your stress hormones. 

 

/blog/methylation-and-oxidative-stress-are-hot-medical-topics

/blog/10-signs-you-need-ozone-therapies-now

/blog/even-low-levels-of-lead-exposure-in-the-first-trimester-of-pregnancy-affect-brain-development

Topics: Healthy Living

Isadora Guggenheim, ND, FNP, RN, MS, CNS, LMT, owner of Second Nature Naturopathic Care, LLC
For all appointments: Tel: 845 358-8385 Fax: 845 358-2963 drguggenheim@msn.com