Understanding 5HTP

Today I stopped by the Alive health food store to purchase their 5-htp (5-hydroxytryptophan). After ingesting 200 mg I felt the anxiety that stress induces in me to dissipate.

Even though that could be the strong placebo effect that happens when I am bathed in the glow of healthy living after visiting Alive, it's been said by researchers that 5-HTP is useful in maintenance of mood balance, sedation that promotes sleep, reduces pain and relieves migraines.

Yet serotonin is also associated with anxiety, nausea and vomiting, which are side effects of the antidepressant SSRI drugs.

For it is actually dopamine, associated with the reward system that actually result in relaxation, contrary to the assumption that dopamine is only associated with mania and pyschosis.

The truth is, dopamine and serotonin receptors are associated with those physiological effect and is the rise and fall of neurotransmitter levels that lead to the symptoms.

As I mentioned early, serotonin promotes sedation but also the anxiety-nausea-vomiting triad when stress oppresses us.

Mania and psychosis are only evidence that the dopamine receptors are involved in their etiology. When we treat these effects as evidence of the neurotransmitters, we are under the misconception that only one neurotransmitter is involved, which leads to misconceptions about them.

It is actually the sum total of stress and its effect on the brain, especially in morphing harmless schizotypies in their various manifestations (schizo-affective, the myriad schizophrenias, and even bipolar disorders type I and II).

Since 5-HTP sedates me, it could a cascade effect beginning with serotonin receptors, which in turn affect histamine receptors and the mast cells that are associated with histamine. Hence the sedation.

All in al, I still feel this is a placebo effect. Meditation helps me to remain sensitive to my environment, both mental and physical. Since I believe in what it is used on to treat (migraines, pain, and mood balance), that affects its result, sedation.

The MAO Theory of Madness

Actually men produce vasopressin at orgasm.

This lowers blood pressure.

This is also how man destresses, and does not go crazy due to stress.

Indeed, men who kill report not having had time to attend to their sexual needs before they go on a rampage.

So there may be a connexion between vasopressin and monamine oxidase (MAO) receptor expression.

Without MAO, a person would have an excess of neurotransmitters.

Without MAO a person would develop insomnia, then hypomania, then mania and finally psychosis until he dies from lack of sleep.

This is why most anti-psychotics have an antihistamine effect.

Dreams Dependent on DMT

The fact that MAO-A and MAO-B oxidizes both neurotransmitters and DMT so we don't go mad is not common knowledge.

Insomnia probably leads to neurotransmitters' levels changing which might lead to MAO not oxidizing DMT.

Hallucinations result, resulting in more stress.

At the root of this is cortisol, which reduces receptors from doing their job.

It is known that high levels of neurotransmitters leads to psychosis while low levels may explain depression.

However, anxiety may be a learned response to uncertainty.

DMT is naturally expressed in the brain, but is quickly metabolized, possibly by MAO.

IMHO it explains dreams.

Flaxseed: Lignans and Protein Reason for Health Benefits?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignan
http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/lignan.php

Lignans are phytoestrogens with a phenol group as organic radical. By adding an amine to a lignan, a neurotransmitter may be formed. Though cell metabolism would prefer phenylalanine or even better tyrosine as precursor to dopamine. Meats are a good source of phenylalanine and tyrosine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenylalanine

Phenylalanine is found in plant and animal protein.

Additionally, dopamine has in addition to its role as neurotranmitter in neurons, a neurohormone effect in the hypothalamus, which controls mood, behavior and appetite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine

In contrast, acetylcholine has an amine added to the acetyl group. Its role is neuromodulation i.e. moderates the dopamine and serotonin levels due to its slow breakdown. Usually acetylcholine accumulates in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetylcholine

Choline is found in lecithin which is found in most animal meats and plants. Good food sources of choline include eggs, beef, chicken and turkey. Although animal proteins are the highest dietary sources of choline, vegetarians and vegans can obtain adequate choline through wheat germ, beans, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, collards, cauliflower and soy milk.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/90459-choline-content-foods/#ixzz0pnK7XVJF


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lecithin


As for tryptophan, it consists of an indole radical, propanoic acid and an amine. The body metabolizes it into serotonin in the gut.

It is found in protein from both animal and plant sources. Fish contains the most healthiest source of tryptophan, along with beans, nuts and seeds, and milk products.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptophan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin