Anti-Depressants, Armageddon, and Gardening

So how are anti-depressants, Armageddon, and gardening related? Let’s learn.

According to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, nearly 1 in 8 American adults regularly take anti-depressant medications.[1]  If you or a loved one use anti-depressants, and you have tried to gather a supply, you know how difficult that can be.  Even if you aren’t immediately involved with someone who uses these medications, you’ve probably given at least some thought to what happens to your neighborhood and community when people cannot get the drugs that allow them to function in society.  I know I have, and I certainly have a bit of apprehension about dealing with people who are off their meds.  Current shortages in medicines and medical supplies and trends in supply chain problems suggest that the situation with essential pharmaceuticals is only going to get worse.

While being unable to source anti-depressants won’t necessarily trigger Armageddon, it may make daily life incredibly difficult for some patients and their families.  Fortunately, researchers have found a solution—gardening—and they’ve got the research to support it.  More on that in a bit.

First, let’s take a look at serotonin.  Research on serotonin levels and how they affect the body is ongoing and results often seem contradictory.  Here is what researchers have observed so far in regards to serotonin levels in the body.

Low serotonin levels are associated with

• Aggressiveness[2] [3]
• Anxiety[4] [5]
• Bipolar disorder[6]
• Dementia and cognitive decline
• Depression[7]
• Fibromyalgia[8]
• Impulsive behavior[9]
• Insomnia[10]
• Irritable bowel syndrome[11]
• OCD[12]
• Panic disorder[13]
• PTSD[14]
• Social anxiety disorder[15]
• Suicidal behavior[16]

Serotonin somehow plays a role in the following bodily processes:

• Blood clotting
• Body sugar balance
• Cardiac function
• Digestion
• Energy balance
• Immune system response
• Liver function
• Metabolism
• Pain production
• Sleep

Accordingly, serotonin deficiency is often implicated in the following conditions:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Fatigue
• Gastrointestinal issues such as irritable bowel syndrome
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis

Low serotonin levels are a primary cause for depression.  Different parts of the brain and body require varying levels of serotonin for optimum health.[17]  The brain controls serotonin levels in three ways—by releasing it, by inactivating it once it is released, and by absorbing it, known as “re-uptake.” [18]  The bacteria involved in this study, Mycobacterium vaccae, work to increase the release of serotonin. [19]

The hypothalamus, which regulates moods, demands a lot of serotonin.  High serotonin levels are associated with a greater ability to handle stress.  Serotonin levels are generally lower in women, who as a group report more problems with stress. Other studies using Mycobacterium vaccae showed that it helped in treating allergic asthma, colitis, and anxiety.[20] [21]  The beneficial bacteria also helped reduced systemic inflammation.[22]

Other research in laboratory trials demonstrated that Mycobacterium vaccae exposure enhances learning.[23]

Now here’s where it gets interesting.  Mice were injected with the Mycobacterium vaccae bacteria, placed in stressful situations, and then evaluated.  But that’s not how the rest of us will get these beneficial bacteria, fortunately.  We simply need to breathe in the bacteria and get our hands dirty working in the soil in our gardens.  When the bacteria are inhaled or ingested, they activate the brain to produce serotonin, which then gives us the benefits and helps prevent the conditions listed above.  A somewhat related study showed that exposure to Mycobacterium vaccae didn’t prolong their lives, but it did improve the quality of life.[24]

Working in the dirt and breathing in the microbes aren’t the only ways serotonin levels in the body are boosted.  Sun exposure through the eyes and skin also helps increase serotonin levels.[25]  While working in a victory garden when society collapses may not entirely replace the need for anti-depressants, it surely will be helpful for many people.  As we’re going to need all the help we can get in the garden, and working in the dirt and sunshine will improve our perspective and reduce stress and anxiety, let’s make sure that those who are most susceptible to depression are out there working with us.

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[1] TJ Moore, et al., Adult Utilization of Psychiatric Drugs and Differences by Sex, Age, and Race. JAMA Internal Medicine, February 2017, Vol 177 No 2, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2592697 (accessed 24 January 2022).

[2] Catherine Paddock, Soil bacteria work in similar way to antidepressants, Medical News Today, 2 April 2007, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66840#2 (accessed 24 January 2022).

[3] Dominik Langgartner, et al.,  Old Friends, immunoregulation, and stress resilience.” Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology, Vol 471 No 2, 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334733/ (accessed 24 January 2022).

[4] Catherine Paddock, Soil bacteria work in similar way to antidepressants, Medical News Today, 2 April 2007, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66840#2 (accessed 24 January 2022).

[5] Dominik Langgartner, et al.,  Old Friends, immunoregulation, and stress resilience.” Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology, Vol 471 No 2, 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334733/ (accessed 24 January 2022).

[6] Catherine Paddock, Soil bacteria work in similar way to antidepressants, Medical News Today, 2 April 2007, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66840#2 (accessed 24 January 2022).

[7] Dominik Langgartner, et al.,  Old Friends, immunoregulation, and stress resilience.” Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology, Vol 471 No 2, 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334733/ (accessed 24 January 2022).

[8] Catherine Paddock, Soil bacteria work in similar way to antidepressants, Medical News Today, 2 April 2007, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66840#2 (accessed 24 January 2022).

[9] Dominik Langgartner, et al.,  Old Friends, immunoregulation, and stress resilience.” Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology, Vol 471 No 2, 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334733/ (accessed 24 January 2022).

[10] Dominik Langgartner, et al.,  Old Friends, immunoregulation, and stress resilience.” Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology, Vol 471 No 2, 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334733/ (accessed 24 January 2022).

[11] Catherine Paddock, Soil bacteria work in similar way to antidepressants, Medical News Today, 2 April 2007, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66840#2 (accessed 24 January 2022).

[12] Catherine Paddock, Soil bacteria work in similar way to antidepressants, Medical News Today, 2 April 2007, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66840#2 (accessed 24 January 2022).

[13] Dominik Langgartner, et al.,  Old Friends, immunoregulation, and stress resilience.” Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology, Vol 471 No 2, 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334733/ (accessed 24 January 2022).

[14] Dominik Langgartner, et al.,  Old Friends, immunoregulation, and stress resilience.” Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology, Vol 471 No 2, 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334733/ (accessed 24 January 2022).

[15] Dominik Langgartner, et al.,  Old Friends, immunoregulation, and stress resilience.” Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology, Vol 471 No 2, 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334733/ (accessed 24 January 2022).

[16] Dominik Langgartner, et al.,  Old Friends, immunoregulation, and stress resilience.” Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology, Vol 471 No 2, 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334733/ (accessed 24 January 2022).

[17] Catherine Paddock, Soil bacteria work in similar way to antidepressants, Medical News Today, 2 April 2007, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66840#2 (accessed 24 January 2022).

[18] Catherine Paddock, Soil bacteria work in similar way to antidepressants, Medical News Today, 2 April 2007, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66840#2 (accessed 24 January 2022).

[19] Catherine Paddock, Soil bacteria work in similar way to antidepressants, Medical News Today, 2 April 2007, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66840#2 (accessed 24 January 2022).

[20] D. G. Smith, et al. Identification and characterization of a novel anti-inflammatory lipid isolated from Mycobacterium vaccae, a soil-derived bacterium with immunoregulatory and stress resilience properties. Psychopharmacology 236, 2019, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00213-019-05253-9#citeas, (accessed 24 January 2022).

[21] Studying linking beneficial bacteria to mental health makes top 10 list for brain research, CU Boulder Today, 5 January 2017, https://www.colorado.edu/today/2017/01/05/study-linking-beneficial-bacteria-mental-health-makes-top-10-list-brain-research (accessed 24 January 2022).

[22] Studying linking beneficial bacteria to mental health makes top 10 list for brain research, CU Boulder Today, 5 January 2017, https://www.colorado.edu/today/2017/01/05/study-linking-beneficial-bacteria-mental-health-makes-top-10-list-brain-research (accessed 24 January 2022).

[23] American Society for Microbiology, Can bacteria make you smarter? ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 May 2010. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100524143416.htm (accessed 24 January 2022).

[24] Studying linking beneficial bacteria to mental health makes top 10 list for brain research, CU Boulder Today, 5 January 2017, https://www.colorado.edu/today/2017/01/05/study-linking-beneficial-bacteria-mental-health-makes-top-10-list-brain-research (accessed 24 January 2022).

[25] Randy A Sansone, et al., Sunshine, serotonin, and skin: a partial explanation for seasonal patterns in psychopathology? Innovations in clinical neuroscience, Vol 10 No 7-8, 2013, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3779905/ (accessed 24 January 2022).

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