Pineal Gland Function: Mental Health
The pineal gland may be small, but it is very important. It probably does not get discussed as much as it should because we still do not understand everything that there is to know about it. However, from what we do know, it is quite easy to see just how critical this small part of the brain is. In this post, we are going to focus on pineal gland mental health, in particular. So, continue reading to discover everything you need to know.
What is the pineal gland?
Before we take a look at the relationship between mental health and the pineal gland, let’s explain more about what the pineal gland is. This is a small, pea-shaped gland, which is situated in the centre of the brain. We are still yet to fully understand the function of the pineal gland, yet we do know about some of the things that it does. For example, researchers know that the pineal gland creates and regulates melatonin and a number of other hormones, including female hormone levels.
The impact of the pineal gland on mental health
There is a clear connection between mood stabilisation and the pineal gland. The size of your pineal gland could indicate the level of risk you have for some mood disorders. For example, in one study, it has been suggested that you may be at a heightened risk of developing mood disorders like schizophrenia if you have a lower pineal gland volume. Nevertheless, more research does need to be conducted to further understand how mood disorders are impacted by pineal gland volume.
The relationship between the pineal gland, mental illness, and circadian rhythm
As mentioned above, one thing that the pineal gland is most definitely responsible for is creating melatonin, and regulating this hormone in our system. Melatonin is very closely linked to our sleeping patterns, i.e. our sleep/wake cycle, which is also known as the circadian rhythm. For a number of years now, it has been suggested that there is a link between mental illness, circadian rhythm, and pineal gland metabolism.
The small, neuroendocrine organ, the pineal gland, has an influence on our sleep levels and circadian rhythm because of the secretion of melatonin in a circadian manner. An endogenous circadian master clock in the hypothalamus’ suprachiasmatic nucleus will generate the melatonin rhythm. Melatonin is then secreted in accordance with the 24-hour cycle of darkness and light.
The likes of pineal function abnormalities, altered nocturnal or diurnal peaks, and altered melatonin secretion have been found in a number of patients that have conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar depression (BD), and unipolar depression (UD).
As a consequence, a lot of research is being done into disruptions of the circadian rhythm to help professionals understand how to treat psychiatric illnesses, as well as understanding possible causes, prevention, maintaining factors, and mechanisms of such illnesses. However, there have not been a lot of studies that have investigated the link between psychiatric disorders and pineal volume, and so there is still a lot of research that needs to be done in this area.
Keeping your pineal gland healthy
Although there still needs to be more research done into the field of pineal gland mental health, there is no denying that boosting your pineal gland health is one of the best ways to optimise your health. You can do this by taking supplements, such as the Third Eye Activator. This is the only natural and herbal supplement on the market that has been created purely for pineal gland activation, ensuring the very best results.
There are a number of different signs and indications that show that you may need to detoxify your pineal gland, including the following:
- Mood disorders. We will mention depression and anxiety below, but no matter what sort of mood disorder you are experiencing, pineal gland supplements could be beneficial. This is because there have been a number of different studies that have examined the involvement of melatonin in mood regulation.
- Anxiety. If you are experiencing anxiety, you may benefit from taking a supplement to boost your pineal gland. In one review that was carried out in 2015, it was proven that melatonin was as effective in alleviating postoperative and preoperative anxiety as midazolam.
- Depression. As discussed above, there have been some studies that have shown that people who are suffering from depression, such as major depressive disorder (MDD), have been found to have dysfunction of their circadian rhythm and sleep disturbance caused due to abnormalities with their pineal gland.
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). During the winter months particularly, too much melatonin can make people feel sleepy and sad.
- Osteoporosis. There is evidence to suggest that an increased rate of pineal calcification and a significant decline in melatonin may result in osteoporosis.
- Changes in fertility. Fertility and circadian rhythms are interconnected. The pineal gland plays a critical role in female hormone regulation and the menstrual cycle.
- Difficulty with your sense of direction. Your pineal gland plays a role in spatial navigation.
- Suffering from headaches, especially nocturnal migraines and headaches, may mean that this is coming from your pineal gland.
- Your circadian rhythms are impaired, i.e. you are sleeping too little or too much, feeling restless and agitated in the middle of the evening, and feeling sleepy at unusual hours.
As you can see, there are a number of different signs that indicate that your pineal gland DMT may not be performing to an optimal level and could do with a little bit of help and assistance. There are some other steps that you can take in order to detox your pineal gland, including eating foods high in chlorophyll, cleaning up your diet, and staying away from fluoride.
So there you have it: everything that you need to know about pineal gland function and the impact that it has on mental health. If you would like to unlock all of the benefits associated with this, you may want to consider pineal gland supplements, which can help to optimise your health.