According to neuroscientist Prof. Frank L. Rice of the University of New York, impaired blood flow is the cause of muscle pain and other pain stimuli, but also of fatigue. This groundbreaking research was published on 20 May 2014 in the scientific journal Pain Medicine of The American Academy of Pain Medicine. Another article is also available that hypothesises that pH levels play a major role in both fibromyalgia and ME/CFS. The Newton team discovered that an elevated pH in the muscles goes hand in hand with a reduced blood flow in the brain and with a persistent narrowing in the blood vessels and brain.
According to several scientists, fibromyalgia patients appear to have low serotonin and tryptophan levels. Various clinical studies have demonstrated the beneficial effect of 5-HTP on the symptoms of fibromyalgia, reducing pain as well as morning stiffness, restlessness and fatigue.
A serotonin deficiency lowers the pain threshold and is therefore mentioned as a common explanation for pain sensations in diseases such as fibromyalgia. Serotonin is a so-called monoamine neurotransmitter, a chemical in the brain that transmits nerve impulses from cell to cell and sends information to the blood vessels. The chemical name for this neurotransmitter is 5-hydroxytryptamine/5-HT. Other well-known neurotransmitters are adrenaline, dopamine and endorphins.
This neurotransmitter plays an important role in brain chemistry. Factors such as mood, sleep, behaviour, pain transmission and physical condition depend on it. A shortage of serotonin leads to narrowing of the blood vessels, among other things, but there is also a risk of depression. When serotonin levels are optimal, this leads to better production of endorphins.
Melatonin is produced under the influence of serotonin, and this is an important regulator of the sleep-wake cycle. Research shows that a good serotonin level promotes sleep through improved melatonin synthesis. This is also the reason that IN-light users often report better sleep quality!
