The Role of CRH in Negative Health Effects of Stress

Stress is harmful in numerous ways. This post focuses on one of the most important mediators of the negative effects of stress, but it’s not the only culprit. If you have one or more of the following, you might have a stress-related issue (the more you have the more likely): “leaky gut”, “leaky brain”, mast cell/ histamine issues , skin problems, sleep issues, SIBO , gut inflammation and general inflammation, IBS-Constipation, gut pain , diarrhea, problems gaining weight, anxiety /fear, depression , emotional instability, cognitive dysfunction , arthritis, Hashimoto’s , uveitis, IBD , disrupted circadian rhythm , oxidative stress , low testosterone and high estrogen , low libido and problems with fertility If you’re reading this blog, you likely ticked off at least 5 of those. CRH is a common thread in all of these. Put your science hat and get ready for a technical read 🙂 Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) is the first hormone of the HPA axis , and it’s released by the hypothalamus . CRH-> ACTH -> Cortisol . Some people believe that CRH plays the largest role in gut permeability, which may ultimately be a significant cause of stress-induced food sensitivities. CRH production takes place in the cerebral cortex, limbic system, cerebellum, locus coeruleus of the brain stem, and dorsal root neurons of the spinal cord. It is also present in the adrenal medulla, T- lymphocytes of the immune system and the gastrointestinal tract [ 1 ]. The stress -response is classically divided into three categories: behavioral , autonomic , and hormonal responses . CRH is believed to be involved in all three stress-responses, involving different brain regions [ 2 ]. Behavioral responses include muscle readiness, fear, anxiety, heightened vigilance, clarity of thought, decreased appetite, and decreased libido. The behavioral response is initiated in part by […]

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