With the recent popularity of serotonin re-uptake inhibitors such as Prozac, the public has acquired the idea that monoamine uptake inhibition to treat psychiatric disorders is a man-made concept. But long before the tricyclics and SSRIs were synthesized, Mother Nature had its very own potent re-uptake inhibitor: cocaine, the active alkaloid in the Erythroxylon coca plant. Because cocaine potently inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, its mechanism resembles that of today’s synthetic antidepressants. It is even speculated that natural antidepressant alkaloids such as cocaine once served the fitness of our ancestors’ genes by aiding survival during food scarcity. …

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Irritable bowel syndrome is a debilitating disease that can result in pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. Also known as spastic colon, IBS most often strikes those who have recently recovered from an infection or recently experienced a traumatic life event. This embarrassing condition is something that afflicts nearly 15 percent of Americans, according to a 2005 study, with women about two to three times more likely to experience IBS than men. Although there are medications available to treat the symptoms of IBS, addressing the disease itself requires serious dietary changes. Specifically, it is critical to avoid any foods that may …

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