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GABA is an important neurotransmitter you don’t hear about much.Learning of my own low GABA symptoms changed my life – I should say saved my life….
Is GABA Similar to Serotonin?
GABA is Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid. Along with Serotonin, these neurotransmitters provide the “brakes” to overstimulated nerve impulses. Keeping the brain relaxed but on purpose is their job.
Dopamine, Adrenaline, Acetylcholine, and anxiety are emotional, hormonal and neurological stimulants. They set off a chain reaction of stress, causing interference all over the body.
When our brakes are inadequate to the task, we suffer from imbalanced neurotransmitters and hormones.
What are Some Low GABA Symptoms?
Let’s nudge them into two “non-medical” categories: the over-active and the under-active. Both can be GABA deficiency symptoms. All can be symptoms of other issues.
“Hyper” or “aroused” low GABA symptoms: 
- Anxiety, nervousness, excess worry
- STRESS!
- Panic, Phobias
- Insomnia
- Addictions
- High blood pressure, Rapid heart rate
- Muscle clenching, Heightened pain perception
- Temper, Rage
- Rapid breathing, Breathlessness
- Diarrhea, Reflux, Nausea, IBS
- Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) and TMJ (not due to dental misalignment)
- Inappropriate sweating (not from heat or exertion)
- Overly frequent urination
“Hypo” GABA deficiency symptoms:
These are also GABA deficiency symptoms, which resonate more with “deficiency” than excess
- Depression
- Excess sleeping
- ADD, lack of focus and memory
- Mood swings
- Memory loss
- Blurry Vision that comes and goes
How I Use GABA in the Diet & Health Center 
The #1 use for Pharma-GABA (a fermented GABA that works better than ordinary GABA) is for ANXIETY.
The second most common use for GABA is for Insomnia, waking early, restless sleep, or hard to fall asleep.
GABA is naturally found in Passion Flower Tincture – we have it in a sweet glycerin base easy to take without water day AND night as desired. Read the Dosage suggestions for Passion Flower tincture here.
In addition to anxiety and sleep, I’ve seen many Clients’ lives simply settle down in a wide variety of ways – calmer, lower blood pressure, more relaxed muscles, more even temper. Handling pain better. Better digestion and fewer headaches….
Passion Flower tincture is more useful than capsule to take as many or as few drops or squirts as you need. With chewable Pharma-GABA, you can even snap one in half if you don’t want the full dose of one or two at bedtime, and taken day and/or night.
Feeling Stressed? That’s a Low GABA Symptom
Bottom line, if you think of the many ways and times you might think – that’s stressing me! – that’s a time some GABA support might be helpful.
GABATONE for Stress, Sleep and Relaxation 
Apex Energetics Gabatone is also in my Clinic and Online Store. But very different than Pharma-Gaba chewables.
Gabatone contains the PRECURSORS to GABA neurotransmitters plus amino acids, minerals and vitamins that help make and utilize GABA. It also contains Passion Flower, Valerian and Theanine which all have GABA-like activity.
Take Gabatone with meals (or between meals) 2 or 3 times a day, every day. Pharma Gaba is best at bedtime.
Gabatone helps create a “steady state” of GABA brain calm supporting dozens of body functions.
How GABA Saved my Life
In the early 2000’s I was struggling with hormones and family matters that seemed unmanageable. I was working full-time, doing what I love helping others to health, but my own health was failing.
I couldn’t sleep more than a few hours at a time and became unable to handle the stress of two businesses, Clients, my home, horses, and family issues.
It was a year of great struggle but I knew eventually I would find answers.
The answers came from a unique neurologist who diagnosed me using brain scans, mental tests and extensive lab work as having a severe GABA neurotransmitter deficiency. He named this “partial seizure disorder” and felt I had had this all my life but that menopause and severe emotional stress had taken a toll.
I went on extremely low dose seizure meds (prescription GABA) and my life changed quickly. This began my study of this powerful neurotransmitter and all the many ways it could affect me and my Clients.
I continue to take extremely low dose GABA meds, as well as the herbal products I know and love.