5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid that is the intermediate step between Tryptophan and Serotonin, an important brain chemical. The Serotonin is known to modulate mood, emotion, sleep and appetite and thus is implicated in the control of numerous behavioral and physiological functions. Decreased level of Serotonin has been proposed to play a key role in the etiology of depression. There are lots of evidences that suggest that low Serotonin levels are a common consequence of modern living. The lifestyle and dietary practices of many people living in this stress-filled era results in lowered levels of Serotonin within the brain. As a result, many people are overweight, experience bouts of depression, get frequent headaches, and have vague muscle aches and pain. All of these maladies are correctable by raising brain Serotonin levels. Therapeutically, 5-HTP is proved to raise Serotonin level in the body system. It has been effective to raise Serotonin levels in the conditions like Depression, Obesity, Carbohydrate craving, Bulimia, Insomnia, Narcolepsy, Sleep apnea, Migraine headaches, Tension headaches, Chronic daily headaches, Premenstrual syndrome, Fibromyalgia, etc.
5 HTP is the natural way to overcome depression, obesity, and insomnia. Several clinical studies have revealed that 5-HTP is a safe, natural way to boost the brain Serotonin levels. Use of 5-HTP has been shown to produce results equal to or better than those of standard synthetic drugs used in the problems arising from Serotonin deficiency syndrome. It provides the quickest, most effective, and most consistent overall results in treating insomnia. It is an effective alternative for dealing with sleep problems in a safe and natural way compared to sleep medicines. It improves the quality of sleep. It increases REM sleep significantly (typically by about 25 percent) while simultaneously increasing deep sleep stages 3 and 4 without increasing total sleep time. 5- HTP accomplishes this by shortening the amount of time you spend in sleep stages 1 and 2, which in certain ways are the least important stages of the cycle.
References:
Michael T. Murray, http://www.5htp.com/
Holistic Online. http://www.holisticonline.com/remedies/sleep/sleep_ins_melatonin-and-5HTP.htm
Schloss P, Williams DC, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Ireland. http://www.biopsychiatry.com/serotonin.htm
