natural seretonin boosters

[sick and tired 47]

All- what are some natural seretonin boosters such as herbs, vitamins , foods?? How is serotonin linked to hormones such as thyroid, adrenals,ect.

Thanks for any info.

[SassyLassie]

Well, I have heard that the amino acid L-Trytophan is good for boosting serotonin. I also have heard that L-Glycine is good too. I have tried both, Unfortunately, the L-Trytophan made me more depressed and like I was in a daze, I hated that, but, the L-Glycine works just fine. Oh yes, you might want to try bio-identical progesterone cream, I just started it last night, and so far already, it has helped more than anything, I am not as "weepy" today, and I do not even hurt as much. It can do miracles if your body needs it.

There are lots of sites on it, and I would recommend the book by Dr Lee called "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Peri-Menopause" He also has one out called "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause" These are both excellent and I highly recommend them to ALL gals.

[margypops]

Well I want to tell you about something, I have struggled for years with sleeplessness, I will try anything,yesterday I bought something called 'Alteril" to try, it is a natural supplement it has the usual L-Trytophan, and other natural herbs well I woke at 3am  feeling groggy, raging tinnitus, headachy, the dose was 2 tablets I had the forthought to take 1 tablet . I am somewhat sensitive to anything I ingest.

[laura1967]

5-HTP is a great natural seratonin regulator.

[Paxiled]

The substance in the body that makes serotonin is tryptophane, which metabolizes to 5htp, which metabolizes to serotonin.  Therefore, the only natural remedy that creates serotonin, in theory, is tryptophane or 5htp.  5htp is recommended above tryptophane, because tryptophane is harder to get to the brain, and needs an additional step.  Many of the substances mentioned by Bi would be counter-productive.  For example, rhodiola most often keeps people awake unless they're quite athletic; ahswaghanda and eleuthero and American ginseng are better adaptogens.  But they help the body adapt to stress, they don't produce serotonin.  Chinese skullcap is great for allergies, but it also will keep you up, not relax you.  Plain old skullcap, not Chinese, is a muscle relaxant that will promote rest.  Glucosamine is basically sugar, so if you're an anxiety sufferer, watch out with this one and see how it does for you.  It has no known affect on anxiety or sleep other than it can cause anxiety because it is sugar.  Bioflavonoids are great again, but have no affect on sleep.  ON the other hand, catnip, hops, passionflower, valerian, kava, chamomile, and a host of others are relaxants, but don't create serotonin, they work on GABA receptors.  Melatonin is good for setting the body clock, but again doesn't create serotonin, but can be messed up by taking ssris.  

Sorry, Bi.  Gotta set the record straight.

[Paxiled]

Oh, and as to foods, milk is high in tryptophane but, alas, it is also milk.  Turkey is very high in tryptophane.  Tryptophane is an amino acid, a collection of which make up protein.  Anytime you eat a protein food you get some tryptophane.

[margypops]

Ok then I will eat a turkey before bed...

[enzymelover]

  Just want to mention, that when you take 5-htp, it's a good idea to take a vitamin B6 supplement too, as B6 is used in the conversion to serotonin also.

[Paxiled]

Hey, didn't I add something to this last night?  I forgot to add St. John's Wort, which might also create more serotonin.  It was originally thought an mao inhibitor, but the balance of opinion now is that nobody has a clue how it works.  But it is contraindicated if you're taking an ssri on the assumption it might cause serotonin syndrome, so I guess somebody thinks it acts on serotonin.  And the same goes for SAMe, which is also contraindicated for the same reason if one is on ssris.  And probably other stuff, too, that I just don't remember from whatever I remembered last night.  So there.