Key Neurotransmitters Involved in Mood Regulation

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers within the brain that are essential in regulating mood, emotions, and overall mental health. These substances interact in complex ways to influence psychological well-being. Below are some of the principal neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22513-neurotransmitters

Serotonin (5-HT) – Often called the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, serotonin helps regulate mood, anxiety, sleep, appetite, and digestion. Low levels are linked to depression and anxiety disorders. Many antidepressants (SSRIs) work by increasing serotonin availability in the synaptic cleft, though the precise mechanism of their effect on mood is still being studied.
Dopamine (DA) – Associated with pleasure, motivation, and reward, dopamine reinforces positive behaviors and plays a key role in learning and movement. Low dopamine levels are linked to depression, lack of motivation, and anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), while excessive dopamine activity in certain brain regions is associated with schizophrenia. It is also crucial for motor control, with deficiencies contributing to Parkinson’s disease.
Norepinephrine (NE) – A neurotransmitter and stress hormone that regulates alertness, energy, and the body’s “fight or flight” response. Low levels are associated with depression and fatigue, while high levels can contribute to anxiety, hypervigilance, and increased heart rate. Some antidepressants (SNRIs and tricyclics) work by increasing norepinephrine availability.
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) – The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA helps calm brain activity and reduce stress and anxiety. Low GABA levels are linked to anxiety disorders, insomnia, and epilepsy. Substances like benzodiazepines and alcohol enhance GABA’s effects, leading to their sedative and anti-anxiety properties.
Glutamate – The brain’s primary excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate is essential for learning, memory, and cognitive function. However, excessive glutamate activity can be neurotoxic and is implicated in conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. Imbalances in glutamate are also associated with mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder.
Endorphins – These neuropeptides act as natural painkillers and mood enhancers, reducing stress and increasing pleasure. They are released during activities such as exercise (the “runner’s high”), laughter, and social bonding.
Acetylcholine (ACh) – Plays a key role in attention, learning, memory, and muscle movement. While its direct influence on mood is less studied, imbalances can affect cognitive function and emotional stability. A decline in acetylcholine is associated with neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. It also plays a role in REM sleep regulation.
Oxytocin – Known as the “love hormone,” oxytocin is crucial for bonding, trust, and social interactions. It reduces stress, promotes emotional connections, and enhances empathy. However, it also has a complex role in social behavior, as it may increase in-group favoritism and decrease trust toward outsiders.
Histamine – Though primarily known for its role in immune response and allergic reactions, histamine also acts as a neurotransmitter that regulates wakefulness, attention, and arousal. It plays a role in mood and cognitive function, with disruptions linked to conditions such as schizophrenia and sleep disorders.

Related Hormone: Cortisol While cortisol is not classified as a neurotransmitter, it is a stress hormone that plays a crucial role in influencing mood by interacting with serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and GABA. Secreted by the adrenal glands in response to stress, cortisol regulates metabolism, immune function, and blood sugar levels. However, chronic elevation of cortisol levels can contribute to anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction, whereas reduced cortisol levels may result in fatigue and diminished motivation. Effective stress management through physical exercise, meditation, and adequate sleep is vital for maintaining balanced cortisol levels and overall mental health.

https://www.xcode.life/genes-and-health/what-neurotransmitter-causes-depression/

References:

Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 13e. (2018). McGraw Hill Medical. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=2189§ionid=165936845&utm_source=chatgpt.com

Molecular Neuropharmacology: A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience, 3E. (2015). McGraw Hill Medical. https://accessbiomedicalscience.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=1204§ionid=72648538&utm_source=chatgpt.com

McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: central role of the brain. Physiological Reviews, 87(3), 873–904. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00041.2006

I teach and offer lectures about holistic health, physical fitness, stress management, human behavior, meditation, phytotherapy (herbs), music for healing, self-massage (acupressure), Daoyin (yoga), qigong, tai chi, and baguazhang.

Please contact me if you, your business, organization, or group, might be interested in hosting me to speak on a wide spectrum of topics relative to better health, fitness, and well-being.

I look forward to further sharing more of my message by partnering with hospitals, wellness centers, VA centers, schools on all levels, businesses, and individuals who see the value in building a stronger nation through building a healthier population.

I also have hundreds of FREE education video classes, lectures, and seminars available on my YouTube channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExercises

Many of my publications can be found on Amazon at:

http://www.Amazon.com/author/jimmoltzan

My holistic health blog is available at:

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

http://www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

Herbal Extracts, Dit Da Jow & Iron Palm Liniments

Unlock the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Book 12-Herbal Extracts, Dit Da Jow & Iron Palm Liniments, a focused study guide on the use of Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm liniments for injury recovery, martial conditioning, and energy cultivation. Drawing from decades of hands-on training in martial arts, qigong, and Eastern wellness systems, this guide introduces the reader to external herbal applications designed to support healing, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the body’s natural energetic flow.

Explore the distinctions and complementary uses of these two potent liniments, Dit Da Jow for bruises, sore muscles, and soft tissue repair, and Iron Palm liniment for conditioning bones, tendons, and ligaments under stress from training or impact. Detailed charts, herb descriptions, and usage instructions offer insights into over 100 traditional herbs, including their Chinese names, botanical profiles, and therapeutic properties.

Ideal for martial artists, bodyworkers, holistic health seekers, and anyone pursuing non-invasive methods of physical recovery, this book also demystifies why chronic pain resists conventional treatments—and how natural remedies can play a key role in long-term wellness.

Key Features:

Practical applications of Chinese liniments for injury support and advanced conditioning
Explanation of Qi flow and energetic blockages in the context of pain and healing
Comparison charts between Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm formulas
Extensive list of herbs with their functions and energetic roles
Author insights drawn from 40+ years of study and teaching in martial and healing arts

Whether you’re a practitioner or a curious learner, Herbal Extracts offers timeless healing strategies rooted in tradition yet highly relevant to modern self-care.

Deep Breathing Benefits for the Blood, Oxygen & Qi

My latest book is the result of more than four decades of study, practice, healing, teaching, and reflection. It has been shaped through a lifetime of learning, from the grind of physical training to the quiet revelations of stillness. I’ve experienced injury and recovery, frustration and discovery, disillusionment and renewal. I’ve worked with athletes and seniors, martial artists and skeptics, students in pain and seekers of peace. And in all of this, I’ve come to a clear and powerful truth: how we breathe determines how we live.

Breath is our most intimate connection to life. It is the first thing we do when we are born and the last act of the physical body before death. In between, we take tens of thousands of breaths each day yet few of us are ever taught how to breathe well. Breath is assumed, automatic, and too often ignored until it becomes impaired. But for those who learn to pay attention, the breath is also a teacher, a tool, and a gateway to better health, greater awareness, and inner strength.

From physiology to philosophy, Eastern medicine to Western science, every tradition I’ve explored acknowledges the power of breath. What this book offers is a bridge between those worlds. It is not just a technical manual or a philosophical essay, it is a lived map. It charts what I’ve seen work, what I’ve tested, and what I’ve returned to again and again, both for myself and my students.

This book is also a response to a culture that too often seeks complex fixes while ignoring the fundamentals. We have machines that track every heartbeat, yet people feel exhausted. Medications suppress symptoms but rarely resolve the cause. In contrast, breathing with awareness costs nothing, requires no equipment, and is available to you at any moment. It can regulate blood pressure, balance hormones, release chronic tension, improve digestion, enhance mental clarity, and restore emotional balance. It can return you to yourself.

Whether you’re new to breathwork or a seasoned practitioner, this book is designed to meet you where you are. It begins with the body, your physiology and posture, then moves through traditional practices, energetic systems, and meditative tools. By the end, you’ll understand not just how to breathe better, but why doing so changes everything.

My hope in writing this is not just to inform, but to awaken, to stir in you a sense of curiosity, empowerment, and agency. You do not need to be a guru, athlete, or mystic to reclaim your breath. You only need to begin. Each chapter in this book is an invitation to return to that beginning again, more skillfully each time.

Proverbs, Koans, Dichos and Chengyus

Proverbs, koans, dichos, and chengyu are all concise expressions of cultural wisdom, yet they each emerge from unique linguistic and philosophical traditions. Though they may differ in form and function, they share the universal purpose of offering insight into human nature, behavior, and values. Below is a comparison that highlights their origins and distinctions.

Proverbs

Cultural Origin: Found in virtually every language and culture worldwide, proverbs are traditional sayings passed down through generations.
Purpose: Proverbs offer practical wisdom, moral lessons, or general truths about life. They are often metaphorical and easily remembered.
Examples:
- “A stitch in time saves nine.”
- “Actions speak louder than words.”
- “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”

Koans

Cultural Origin: Originating in Chinese Chan Buddhism and further developed in Japanese Zen Buddhism, koans are used as a tool for spiritual training.
Purpose: Koans are not meant to be logically solved. Instead, they challenge conventional reasoning and are used in meditation to provoke deep introspection and insight into the nature of self and reality.
Examples:
- “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”
- “What was your original face before your parents were born?”

Dichos

Cultural Origin: Common in the Spanish-speaking world, especially in Latin America and Spain, dichos are culturally rich sayings deeply embedded in Hispanic traditions.
Purpose: Like proverbs, dichos reflect cultural values and offer observations or advice about life, often with regional flavor or humor.
Examples:
- “No hay mal que por bien no venga”
  (There’s no bad from which good doesn’t come.)
- “El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta”
  (Jack of all trades, master of none.)

Chengyu

Cultural Origin: Chengyu (成语) are idiomatic expressions from classical Chinese literature. Most consist of four characters and are rooted in historical or mythological events.
Purpose: Chengyu condense complex narratives or moral lessons into brief, poetic form. They are often used in both written and spoken Chinese to convey layered meanings.
Examples:
- 卧薪尝胆 (wò xīn cháng dǎn) – “To lie on firewood and taste gall.”
  Refers to enduring hardship and humiliation in pursuit of a goal or vengeance.
- 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) – “To draw legs on a snake.”
  Means to ruin something by overdoing it.

In summary, proverbs are universal sayings found in many cultures. Koans are paradoxical statements used in Zen Buddhism for meditation and self-realization. Dichos are Spanish-language proverbs commonly used in Hispanic cultures. Chenyus are from Chinese culture and are idiomatic expressions or set phrases. While they all share common goal of conveying wisdom, they vary in their cultural origins and specific uses.

From a holistic health perspective, such wisdom serves not only the intellect but the mind-body-spirit connection. These expressions often guide emotional balance, mindful behavior, and personal growth, cornerstones of overall well-being. They offer reminders of resilience, compassion, humility, and inner strength, supporting wellness not just as a state of physical health, but as a dynamic, cultural, and spiritual journey.

Please contact me if you, your business, organization, or group, might be interested in hosting me to speak on a wide spectrum of topics relative to better health, fitness, and well-being.

I also have hundreds of FREE education video classes, lectures, and seminars available on my YouTube channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExercises

Many of my publications can be found on Amazon at:

http://www.Amazon.com/author/jimmoltzan

My holistic health blog is available at:

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

http://www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

Joy and the Heart in Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Double-Edged Emotion

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the human body is seen not merely as a collection of parts but as an interconnected system of energy, spirit, emotion, and function. One of the most profound concepts in TCM is that each major organ system is linked to a particular emotion. Among these, the Heart is associated with the season of summer and the emotion of Joy, a connection that is both beautiful and cautionary.

The Heart: Emperor of the Organ Systems

According to classical TCM, the Heart is not just a mechanical pump. It is the “Emperor” of the body’s organ systems. It governs the blood and blood vessels, controls the tongue, and most significantly, houses theShen the mind or spirit.

Heart Correspondences:

Element: Fire
Season: Summer
Color: Red
Flavor: Bitter
Tissue: Blood vessels
Sense Organ: Tongue
Emotion: Joy
Spirit: Shen (Mind/Spirit)

When the Heart is balanced, we experience mental clarity, restful sleep, appropriate excitement, and the capacity for deep connection with others.

Joy: The Nourishing Emotion

In appropriate doses, joy is a deeply nourishing force. Joy:

Soothes the nervous system and eases emotional tension
Promotes circulatory warmth and a sense of connection
Lifts the Shen, resulting in laughter, optimism, and creativity
It is vital to a healthy spiritual life

Joy reflects the expansive nature of the Fire element. Like the sun in summer, it radiates outward, illuminating relationships and animating the spirit.

When Joy Becomes Excessive

Paradoxically, the very emotion that nourishes the Heart can also harm it when excessive or poorly regulated. In TCM, “excess joy” includes:

Overexcitement, mania, or hysteria
Hyperactivity, constant stimulation
Overindulgence in pleasure or celebration

Physiological Consequences of Excess Joy:

Scattering of the Shen: The mind becomes ungrounded or erratic.
Heart Qi disruption: Can result in palpitations, insomnia, anxiety.
Mental-emotional disturbances: Talkativeness, inappropriate laughter, dream-disturbed sleep.

In modern terms, this may resemble bipolar mania, panic disorder, or emotional exhaustion. Prolonged joy without rest can overheat the system, especially in individuals already constitutionally “hot” or deficient in Yin.

The Importance of Emotional Balance in TCM

TCM recognizes no emotion as inherently negative. Emotions are considered physiological energies that must move freely, but in balance.

Emotion	Organ System	In Balance	In Excess
Joy	Heart	Warmth, clarity, connection	Scattered mind, insomnia, palpitations
Anger	Liver	Motivation, assertiveness	Irritability, tension, high blood pressure
Worry	Spleen	Compassion, thoughtfulness	Obsession, overthinking, fatigue
Grief	Lung	Reverence, release	Depression, breathlessness
Fear	Kidney	Caution, intuition	Panic, low back pain, adrenal fatigue

All five emotions (and their corresponding organ systems) influence one another. For example, chronic over-stimulation (excess joy) may weaken the Heart and eventually impact on the Kidneys (fear) or the Spleen (overthinking), leading to broader emotional and physical disharmony.

Recognizing Heart-Shen Imbalance

Signs that joy has turned from nourishing to disruptive may include:

Insomnia or difficulty falling asleep
Restlessness or excessive chatter
Palpitations or fluttering heartbeat
Red tip of the tongue (Heart Fire sign)
Vivid or disturbing dreams
Uncontrollable laughter or emotional outbursts

Practitioners aim to calm the Shen, clear Heart Fire, and nourish Heart Yin with techniques such as:

Acupuncture (e.g., Heart 7, Pericardium 6)
Herbal formulas (e.g., Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan)
Meditation and breathwork
Avoidance of overstimulation, especially in summer

A Holistic Reflection

In the West, joy is often pursued as a goal in itself. But TCM offers a subtle reminder: true wellness lies not in constant happiness but in dynamic balance. Joy, like fire, is beautiful but unchecked, it can burn.

Instead of constant excitement, TCM encourages us to cultivate:

Contentment
Presence
Inner peace

By anchoring our joy in stillness, we allow the Shen to rest peacefully in the Heart, just as the sun sets each day to allow the body to restore.

References

Kaptchuk, T. J. (2000). The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. McGraw-Hill.

Vanbuskirk, S. (2024, October 25). How emotions and organs are connected in traditional Chinese medicine. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/emotions-in-traditional-chinese-medicine-88196