MSH, Sandy

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy,

Melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH) are hormones secreted by the

pituitary. They stimulate melanin, the substance that causes skin to

tan, but a low MSH can mean many other things for health.

MSH are also found in the brain where they may play a signaling

role.

One of the MSH's, alpha-MSH, apparently plays a critical role in the

ability of our gut to function properly, and in inhibiting

inflammatory processes. There is still research being done, so this

is not something most doctors are familiar with.

I am also wondering about MSH's role with ACTH, another pituitary

hormone--and if there is some link that we are missing between low

MSH, low cortisol, elevated ACTH, and other hormones. There is some

interaction there that needs to be understood where we are concerned.

A low MSH is anything under 35 according to Labcorp's ranges.

Low MSH levels can have many effects, as the article I will post

below suggests.

Sandy, you seemed to indicate that your MSH was okay, as it was

greater than 24? Is this correct? What was the range listed for your

lab?

Here is an article:

MSH or alpha Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone

Perhaps one of the most serious blind spots in current medical

practice is an ignorance of the massive role that MSH plays in the

body. It is a major controlling hormone involved in possibly twenty

functions, and if it is low, a child, teacher or parent could have

any one of fifty different problems. It is not an optional lab, and

I feel it should be part of an average medical work-up in all

Americans. It is just that serious a hormone.

The most common cause of a very low MSH is exposure to mold toxins.

If it is below 35 according to LabCorp ranges, it is low. And many

youth with mold exposure can have less then 20. Lyme toxins and

severe inflammation can also reduce MSH levels. You might recall

from high school biology that this hormone is involved in skin

color. Now we know it has many serious roles in the body. In fact,

so many pharmaceutical companies around the world are seeing the

many roles for this hormone, that they are scrambling to make it in

a slightly altered form so they can patent it. They expect to make a

fortune.

So what do all these many drug companies know? What roles does MSH

have besides tanning and skin color?

MSH's Expanded Roles: A Small Sample

MSH has many roles, but a low MSH does not mean a child will have

all the problems listed.

Memory and Learning: If your son or daughter or you have a low MSH

then they will have a harder time recalling class work If your

memory drops, you cannot retain learn as well as normal Such a child

with a low MSH will seem forgetful and appear to be a fair student.

I wonder how many children across America receive special education

because of a reduced MSH? Since this is still not normative medicine

we do not know yet. But it appears quite common in our patients with

mold or Lyme.

Attention will fall in children or adults as MSH drops. I have

repeatedly had patients called " ADHD " or " ADD " but this problem

often started after they were ten years old. ADHD and ADD do not

suddenly start in adolescence!

While true ADD or ADHD exists, most child experts are not aware of

the role mold plays in creating behaviors that look like these

disorders. Many young children lose this problem when their moldy

home or school was fixed. In this case, we would say they

had " secondary " ADD or ADHD. The parent, teacher or pediatrician was

not hallucinating. The child was more than just " being a boy. " This

was more than " ants in the pants. " It was from a mold toxin and not

from genetics or an intra-uterine exposure or injury as in primary

ADD or ADHD.

Obesity (or Too Thin): Typically children and adults with a low MSH

gain weight. Often they gain a significant amount of weight. Perhaps

some people try to feel better by eating. But others gain weight

with only moderate eating. Commonly, people with low MSH have their

weight drift higher and higher. Diets may have some effect, but

people do not get what they put into the diet. They lose five pounds

instead of fifteen. A small minority struggles to maintain their

body fat, and start to look waif-like. Some of these seem to have a

lean body type with long arms. Or it may be that they exercise

massive amounts, perhaps to create natural opioids to feel better.

Pain Relief: MSH encourages production of your natural opioids. If

your MSH is low, you will feel aches and pains more often. Some

youth complain of headaches. Others report joint pain, which is

often called " growth pains. " Further, you may be more inclined to do

addictive, impulsive or pleasurable behaviors, in an effort to

feel " normal " or " right " again. These addictive behaviors are very

diverse. Low MSH promotes alcoholism, illegal drug use, binge

eating, sexual experimentation, impulsive exercise, intense work,

speed driving, thrill seeking actions, pornography addiction, and

rage. With binge work, a person does not want to stop working;

because once they stop they do not feel " right. " Impulsive activity,

even if it is constructive, may create a small amount of natural

pain killing chemicals. And patients with rage may feel

briefly " better " after a " blow-up " for a similar reason.

Flat or Bored Mood: Having an MSH deficiency can reduce your joy. A

person can be left with a malaise that is often different than a

typical depression.

Decreased Coping Ability: Low MSH makes it hard for body organs and

the brain to handle stresses, e.g., personal stresses or toxin

exposures.

Energy Changes: In our experience some patients with low MSH have

increased fatigue and are listless. Some are agitated with fatigue

at the same time.

Appetite Changes: Lows can cause both extremes in eating. People can

eat a great deal or lose their appetite. And this can change. One

season a person eats excessively and then loses their appetite, and

vice versa.

Sleep Changes: either extreme is possible with low MSH. One can have

very fragmented and poor sleep, with only 4-6 hours of sleep. And

others want to sleep all the time.

Testing MSH

Please do not go to just any laboratory. Dr. R. Shoemaker has found

that LabCorp offers the most meaningful clinical results. I found

the same thing. If you want a doctor to order a test for you, you

will need to have all the material in this chapter in hand. And you

will particularly need the material below, which lists the test

code, and the name of the special kit the blood goes into

immediately. LabCorp patient locations can be found on the Internet

by searching " LabCorp Patient Locations " or going to:

www.labcorp.com.

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> My MSH Test > #24

> What does this mean.

>

> I still do not understand what the MSH Test is about.

> Can anyone explain so it sinks in my brain ?

>

> Woman whose MSH levels are lower than others .

> Does it mean their health problems are more severe ?

>

> My right nipple sort of looks bruised.

> Is it possible I have an infection deep within.

>

> Hurt so bad all over for so long

> I do not know what normal is anymore.

>

> Could an infection from the scar tissue

> possibly cause me to be partially crippled?

>

>

> Just Wondering

> Sandy ~

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