Enkephaline is a powerful neurohormone that plays key roles in regulating mood and movement, feelings of pleasure and reward, and pain management. Find out more about what enkephaline does and how it can be used to improve everyday health.

What is Enkephaline?

Enkephaline is a type of neurohormone produced by the brain and is a vital function for maintaining overall health. It plays several important roles in the body such as controlling emotions, regulating movements, providing feelings of pleasure and reward motivation, and helping to ease pain. In addition, it has also been linked to transporting vital news from one system to another in an efficient and timely manner.

How Does Enkephaline Affect the Body?

Enkephaline can regulate many of our body’s processes, from emotions and movements to rewards and pain control. It works by binding to the enkephaline receptors in our bodies, activating the reward circuit and releasing signals that inform different systems on how to interact with each other. This helps facilitate communication between organs, muscles and brain pathways to keep our bodies functioning optimally.

Benefits of Enkephaline for Improved Health

Enkephaline is a vital helping hand in many of our body’s processes, from mood regulation and movement to cell repair. This can result in an array of mental and physical benefits including improved stress management, lower anxiety levels and better overall health. Moreover, it has been shown to reduce pain signals, as well as provide feelings of tranquility and a sense of wellbeing. An increase in enkephaline can give individuals a greater pleasure response when engaging in activities they enjoy, such as playing sports or listening to music.

What Activities Increase Its Levels?

Exercise, especially aerobic activities such as running and cycling, is known to release enkephaline. Other activities that encourage the flow of this neurohormone include practicing yoga or meditation, getting a massage, and engaging in deep breathing exercises. Additionally, research suggests that participating in meaningful activities may also stimulate the production of enkephaline.

Side Effects and Interactions Involving Enkephaline

Although enkephaline is generally considered to be a very safe and beneficial hormone, it does come with potential side effects. It is important to understand that this hormone cannot be taken in excess or consumed without the proper supervision of a qualified healthcare provider. Taking too much enkephaline may result in increased stress levels, irritation, and fatigue. Additionally, interactions between different drugs and the neurohormone are possible, so be sure to consult your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications or supplements after receiving the proper advice from your doctor.

The role of Enkephalin in cocaine addiction

Endogenous opioid peptides, such as enkephalin, have been found to be involved in the rewarding effects of cocaine. Previous studies have demonstrated that administration of psychostimulants, such as cocaine, can lead to a long-lasting increase in enkephalin levels within the mesocorticolimbic circuit. It is known to interact with both glutamate and dopamine in the brain reward structures related to psychostimulant-induced effects. Such an elevation may play a role in modulating dopamine and glutamate neurotransmission within this area which has been linked to positively contributing to the neuronal plasticity induced by drug use and the long-term behavioral effects associated with psychostimulant exposure.