Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Dr. Scott Sherr on GABA: The Unsung Hero of Brain Health and Stress Resilience | EP 575
Thu, 20 Feb 2025
What if the key to unlocking peak performance and long-term well-being isn’t just about diet and exercise, but also about harnessing the power of oxygen, neurotransmitters, and cutting-edge health optimization tools? In this episode of Passion Struck, I welcome back Dr. Scott Sherr, a leading voice in hyperbaric medicine and health optimization. We break down the latest research and real-world applications of brain-boosting tools like methylene blue, nootropics, and GABA, the brain’s most abundant yet overlooked neurotransmitter.Dr. Sherr takes us deep into the role of GABA in reducing stress, improving sleep, and boosting cognitive resilience. We also discuss how AI is revolutionizing personalized medicine and why biohacking could hold the key to unlocking human potential. If you’re looking for science-backed strategies to optimize mental clarity, brain function, and resilience, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss!*********For 10% off Just Blue, Blue Canatine, or TroCalm, go to https://troscriptions.com/ and use code passionstruck. In the UK: https://www.xbrain.co.uk/product/troscriptions-blue-cannatine.Link to the full show notes: https://passionstruck.com/dr-scott-sherr-on-gaba-the-hero-of-brain-health/Key takeaways:Understanding GABA: The Brain's Unsung HeroThe role of Methylene Blue in Brain HealthThe impact of Nootropics on Cognitive PerformanceHow GABA counteracts stress hormones like cortisol.The impact of GABA on anxiety, depression, and epilepsy.Enhancing mental clarity, memory, and focus for optimal brain function.Connect with Scott Sherr: https://www.hyperbaricmedicalsolutions.com/integrative-hbot/scott-sherrSponsors:Factor Meals: http://factormeals.com/factormeals50off and use code “FACTOR MEALS 50 OFFRosetta Stone: Unlock 25 languages for life at “ROSETTASTONE.com/passionstruck.”Prolon: Reset your health with 15% off at “ProlonLife.com/passionstruck.”Mint Mobile: Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at “MINT MOBILE dot com slash PASSION.”Hims: Start your journey to regrowing hair with Hims. Visit hims.com/PASSIONSTRUCK for your free online visit.Quince: Discover luxury at affordable prices with Quince. Enjoy free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/PASSIONNext on Passion Struck:In the next episode of Passion Struck, John sits down with Katherine Morgan Schaffler, a renowned psychotherapist and author of The Perfectionist Guide to Losing Control, a Path to Peace and Power. Katherine challenges the conventional view of perfectionism, suggesting that it can be harnessed as a personal superpower rather than a flaw. Don't miss this enlightening conversation that could transform your relationship with perfectionism.For more information on advertisers and promo codes, visit Passion Struck Deals.Join the Passion Struck Community! Sign up for the Live Intentionally newsletter, where I share exclusive content, actionable advice, and insights to help you ignite your purpose and live your most intentional life. Get access to practical exercises, inspiring stories, and tools designed to help you grow. Learn more and sign up here.Speaking Engagements & Workshops Are you looking to inspire your team, organization, or audience to take intentional action in their lives and careers? I’m available for keynote speaking, workshops, and leadership training on topics such as intentional living, resilience, leadership, and personal growth. Let’s work together to create transformational change. Learn more at johnrmiles.com/speaking.Episode Starter Packs With over 500 episodes, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We’ve curated Episode Starter Packs based on key themes like leadership, mental health, and personal growth, making it easier for you to dive into the topics you care about. Check them out at passionstruck.com/starterpacks.Catch More of Passion Struck:My solo episode on The Science of Healthy HabitsMy episode with Jason O’Mara on Finding Strength in the Face of SetbacksCan't miss my episode with Stefanie Wilder-Taylor on Loving and Leaving AlcoholCatch my interview with Dr. Elisa Hallerman on How You Reconnect With Your SoulListen to my solo episode on 7 Reasons Why Acts of Kindness Are More than Meets the EyeIf you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.How to Connect with John:Connect with John on Twitter at @John_RMiles and on Instagram at @John_R_Miles. Subscribe to our main YouTube Channel here and to our YouTube Clips Channel here. For more insights and resources, visit John’s website.Want to explore where you stand on the path to becoming Passion Struck? Take our 20-question quiz on Passionstruck.com and find out today!
Chapter 1: What makes GABA the unsung hero of brain health?
brain or neurotransmitters in general we're thinking about dopamine norepinephrine and serotonin and these are important obviously but in much smaller quantities compared to how much gaba we have in the brain methylene blue itself actually works on a system called the monoamine inhibitory system it actually prevents the breakdown of norepinephrine dopamine and serotonin as a result of this you get more of those neurotransmitters and you get a mood boost you get more focus a little bit more
endurance.
But the key also is to welcome to passion struck. Hi, I'm your host, John R. Miles. And on the show, we decipher the secrets, tips and guidance of the world's most inspiring people and turn their wisdom into practical advice for you and those around you. Our mission is to help you unlock the power of intentionality so that you can become the best version of yourself.
If you're new to the show, I offer advice and answer listener questions on Fridays. We have long form interviews the rest of the week with guests ranging from astronauts to authors, CEOs, creators, innovators, scientists, military leaders, visionaries, and athletes. Now let's go out there and become passion struck. Hey, passion struck fam. Welcome to episode 575.
Whether you're a long time listener or tuning in for the first time, I am so thrilled you're here. You're now part of a global movement dedicated to living with intention, unlocking your full potential and making what truly matters matter most.
So let me ask you, what if the key to unlocking peak performance and long-term wellbeing isn't just about diet and exercise, but also about harnessing the power of oxygen, neurotransmitters, and cutting edge health optimization tools? What if the future of brain health and longevity is already here, but most of us aren't using it to our advantage? This is where today's guest comes in.
I am welcoming back my friend, Dr. Scott Schur, who's here to break down the science behind some of the most innovative advancements in health optimization. In our first interview in episode 147, we did a deep dive into hyperbaric oxygen therapy and how it's being used to treat neurodegenerative disease, cancer, and traumatic brain injuries. We also touched on its link to stem cells.
Then in episode 321, we explored nootropics. and focused on the unique benefits of methylene blue and its potential to support various health conditions, including brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, and even blood pressure regulation.
In this episode, we build upon those discussions and we explore advancements in hyperbaric oxygen therapy and how it's revolutionizing healing, performance, and recovery. We expand on the rising role of methylene blue in enhancing mitochondrial function and brain health, as well as the evolving landscape of nootropics and how they can be used to optimize mental clarity and focus.
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Chapter 2: How do methylene blue and nootropics enhance brain function?
I have to tell you, you are now the only guest I have ever brought back three times. And I have to say on my YouTube channel, you have the most popular episode we have ever done. Is that right? And it was talking about methylene blue and nootropics. I know people are really intrigued by your works, just had to have you on again. It's a pleasure.
On that topic, what advancements or insights have emerged in the use of nootropics since we last spoke?
Well, I mean, nootropic is a big category in the sense of there's lots of different definitions that people use as to what a nootropic is and what it isn't. I think we actually dove into this a lot during our last podcast. So if anybody's interested, they can go check this out. There's things like health optimization nootropics and performance optimization nootropics.
i've been very interested as always in the kind of integration of neutral nootropics with more of a comprehensive understanding of mental health physical health from a macroscopic scale from you know what it looks like when you're talking to somebody or how you feel personally but also from a microscopic scale your vitamins minerals nutrients
and cofactors that are responsible for truly optimizing our cellular biology.
And then within that, I've been, a lot of my interest always and continues to be on mitochondrial health and how improving mitochondrial health overall is going to raise your cognitive and physical bar all the time so that maybe you don't need nootropics all the time, but maybe you can only use them in more of a targeted way rather than more comprehensively or more often depending on the situation.
And I know one of the key ingredients that people have been most intrigued about in your work has been methylene blue. And that's probably where we on that YouTube channel have gotten the vast majority of the questions. Yeah. Have there been any shifts in how people are integrating methylene blue with lifestyle or diet to maximize its effects?
So it's super interesting. Methylene blue, as we talked about, it has been around a long time, but we're really starting to dial in the dosing of it, understanding that very low doses of this particular compound are fantastic for those mitochondria that we were just discussing. So what's interesting about
the US right now is that 94% of the US population has some element of mitochondrial dysfunction. This means that they cannot make energy effectively or they cannot detox with the energy that they make. So just to back that up for a minute for people, when you have these mitochondria in our cells, They are the powerhouse. They are what make energy.
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