I have tried a variety of these herbs and aminos with positive results, but the most effective amino combinations for my depression, ala "the amine theory of depression" is by far L-Tryptophan related. It is not available in the states but can be ordered from other locations. I stess this because for me it has been far more effective than 5HTP. I am not sure why this is so because 5HTP is the direct precurser to serotonin, with L-Tryptophan being one step further down the ladder, but it has proven much more effecetive for me and many other depressed friends. Perhaps this is because L-Tryptophan is the actual amino which is in our foods and 5HTP is the brain chemical which the tryptophan is then converted to making it perhaps more difficult for the body to metabolize via dietary supplement(?) Not sure why so many of my friends have had more success with L-Tryptophan but it is a fact in my experience. Regardless, both of these are part of the chain which leads to the direct fuel that the brain uses to make this crucial neurotransmitter serotonin. L-Tryptophan is lacking in most of our diets regarding the levels required to make enough of our happy juice.

I was turned on to it by a great book about nutrition and Depression called "the way up from down" which can be read online for free at www.thewayup.com.

Anyway, I order pharmaceutical quality L-Tryptophan from here: http://www.antiaging-systems.com/a2z/ltryptophan.htm

I take it as suggested by many nutritional therapists, 500 mg per each 50 pounds of weight, one hour before bedtime on an empty stomach. It not only builds up the levels of L-Tryptophan which are lacking in most of our diets, but it helps sleep, as it makes you drowsy.

Of course, the B-vitamins are crucial as they are coenzymes which are essential to properly metabolize the L-Tryptophan and all other proteins so it actually gets converted into serotonin.

I also take L-Tyrosine several times a day, between meals, on an empty stomach (which you can buy in the states at any nutritional store) which is the pre-curser to dopamine.

these three elements combined with regular cardio exercise has helped my Depression tremendously. I was actually on Zoloft for a year and ALL of the positive elemenets of this SSRI are achieved through this aminos+Bcomplex+daily cardio for me. (obviously, I was weaned off of the Zoloft quite some time ago; taking L-Tryptophan while on an SSRI is not recommended, a fact I can attest to from experimentation: badness!)

I hope this helps anyone considering this road. I am a true believer after several years of regular practice. In addition, throughout my research I have encountered numerous clinical studies where bloodwork revealed the relationship between Depression and far_too_low levels of L-tryptophan and L-tyrosine within the blood. This is of course only preliminary evidence as to what is going on within the brain, but is regarded by many specialists as enough evidence to suggest similar deficiencies would be apparant within the brain.

-brian

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I have tried a variety of these herbs and aminos with positive results, but the most effective amino combinations for my depression, ala "the amine theory of depression" is by far L-Tryptophan related. It is not available in the states but can be ordered from other locations. I stess this because for me it has been far more effective than 5HTP. L-Tryptophan is the *direct* precurser to serotonin, the direct fuel that the brain uses to make this crucial neurotransmitter. L-Tryptophan is lacking in most of our diets regarding the levels required to make enough of our happy juice.

I was turned on to it by a great book about nutrition and depression called "the way up from down" which can be read online for free at www.thewayup.com.

Anyway, I order pharmaceutical quality L-Tryptophan from here: http://www.antiaging-systems.com/a2z/ltryptophan.htm

I take it as suggested by many nutritional therapists, 500 mg per each 50 pounds of weight, one hour before bedtime on an empty stomach. It not only builds up the levels of L-Tryptophan which are lacking in most of our diets, but it helps sleep, as it makes you drowsy.

Of course, the B-vitamins are crucial as they are coenzymes which are essential to properly metabolize the L-Tryptophan and all other proteins so it actually gets converted into serotonin.

I also take L-Tyrosine several times a day, between meals, on an empty stomach (which you can buy in the states at any nutritional store) which is the pre-curser to dopamine.

these three elements combined with regular cardio exercise has helped my depression tremendously. I was actually on Zoloft for a year and ALL of the positive elemenets of this SSRI are achieved through this aminos+Bcomplex+daily cardio for me. (obviously, I was weaned off of the Zoloft quite some time ago; taking L-Tryptophan while on an SSRI is not recommended, a fact I can attest to from experimentation: badness!)

I hope this helps anyone considering this road. I am a true believer after several years of regular practice. In addition, throughout my research I have encountered numerous clinical studies where bloodwork revealed the relationship between depression and far_too_low levels of L-tryptophan and L-tyrosine within the blood. This is of course only preliminary evidence as to what is going on within the brain, but is regarded by many specialists as enough evidence to suggest similar deficiencies would be apparant within the brain.

-brian