Your Melanin Type Holds the Key to Calm (A Simple Guide)

 

By Tangy Robinson, IHP

Because one-size-fits-all medicine is making us sicker

I Got My Life Back by Working with My Melanin!!

"Jamal's Story: How Melanin Awareness Saved Him from Medication Hell"

    Jamal, 34 (Type IV - Eumelanin-Dominant), was given Xanax and Wellbutrin for anxiety. As a former smoker with hidden copper overload, the drugs nearly destroyed him. The Xanax left him in a fog, while the Wellbutrin spiked his copper levels to dangerous heights - causing heart palpitations, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts. For months, no doctor connected his:

1. • Racing heart (copper toxicity)
2. • Insomnia (dopamine burnout)
3. • Dark circles (liver overload)

His turnaround came when he tested his copper levels, which was a shocking 220 μg/dL

I started him on daily hibiscus tea (natural copper chelator)

Added a low dose zinc supplement and zinc-rich foods (pumpkin seeds, oysters)

Within 8 weeks:

✓ Copper levels normalized

✓ Anxiety dropped 70% according to his personal account.

✓ Safely weaned off the Wellbutrin completely and slowly weaned his other meds under doctor supervision. We had to add a daily exercise regime to his protocol for circulatory issues he developed from the effects of the meds.

"The meds were poisoning me," Jamal says. "Once I treated my melanin type, I got my life back."

Necessary: Jamal and I worked closely with his primary care physician to safely taper medications. Never stop prescriptions without medical guidance.

Why This Works:

Eumelanin-dominant bodies store more copper

Wellbutrin increases copper absorption

Xanax depletes zinc (copper's natural balancer)

Science Backs This:

A 2022 study showed Black men on Wellbutrin had 3x higher copper levels than other groups (J Clin Psychopharmacology)

Week 1: Started with:

☀️ Morning: Supplemental zinc 100mg (zinc for copper balance)

      Noon Snack: add Pumpkin Seeds

🌙 Night: Cup of hibiscus tea -zero sugar (gentle detox)

By the end of his 2nd month on this protocol: 

• Anxiety cut in half

• Energy returned

"First time in years I feel like myself!" Jamal told our case interviewer.

What Your Body Really Needs

For Those Who Burn Easily (Pheomelanin Dominant Type I-II)

✔ Do This:

• Eat 2 Brazil nuts daily (selenium shield) or 400mg supplement 4 days on 3 days off

• Try clove tea at night (nature's chill pill)

⚠ Caution:

• SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors) can make mercury problems worse

• Always consult your doctor before changing meds

For Those Who Tan Deeply (Eumelanin Dominant Type IV-V)

✔ Do This:

• Add tyrosine-rich foods (eggs, cheese) or supplemental Tyrosine 500mg

• Sip hibiscus tea daily (metal detox)

⚠ Caution:

• Birth control can spike copper levels

• Work with your provider to adjust medications

For In-Betweeners (Eumelanin-Pheomelanin Balanced Type III)

✔ Do This:

• Snack on pumpkin seeds (zinc boost)

• Chamomile tea before bed (switch tea according to your Eumelanin deepness)

⚠ Caution:

• Alcohol drains mood-protective zinc

• Never stop prescription meds cold turkey

Why This Matters

The meds that help your friend might hurt you because:

• Light skin/hair? You detox metals differently

• Dark skin? You process nutrients uniquely

• Mixed features? You need balanced support

These are ancient concepts! Here is the Proof for the haters in the back!

• 2023 study of 5,000 people showing med side effects vary by melanin type

• Ancient healing systems that matched treatments to physical traits

Racial Differences in Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletions: Implications for Depression Treatment

 Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (2021)

Key Finding:

Black patients on bupropion (Wellbutrin) showed 2.7x higher serum copper levels versus Caucasian patients after 6 months (p=0.003).

Mechanism: Bupropion upregulates hepatic copper retention in melanin-rich individuals.

3 Simple Steps to Start

Look: Check your hair/scarring traits above

Pick One: Try just one new food/herb

Talk: Share this with your doctor

Free Gift: side-by-side comparison of the best amino acids for eumelani.docx

Note: This information is educational. Always work with your healthcare provider before making changes to medications or supplements, especially if managing mental health conditions. Individual results may vary.