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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kiwiredbeach on October 11, 2006, at 6:10:25
Years ago I decided to get a whole lote of tests done to see why I suffered from anxiety. I got some interesting results...but the really interesting result was that my blood serotonin levels were none existant. One test showed 5 and another showed 15 times below the (reference range) lower limit for blood serotonin. I thought I had found an answer to my problem. My body must be not producing enough serotonin. So for the last couple of years Ive changed my diet. Ive always made an effort to keep my trytrophan content of food high. Ive must of eaten a whole farm of turkey. I tried whey powder, goats cheese, b6, zinc and the list goes on and on.
However I was wrong about the test..It does not indicate im low in serotonin at all. The test I took measured serotonin in blood platelets. Most blood test measure blood platelets because 99% of serotonin in blood is in platelets. However the problem with this test is if you are on an antidepressent(which I was) such as prozac or paroxetine. SSRI drugs totaly remove serotonin from platelets. I show the link belowhttp://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=57957
In the above study the people on paroxetine had serotonin levels in platelets drop to 1% of previous levels before taking the drug.
Not long ago I had a test for serotonin in urine which came back high. Im now on SJW which gives me very vivid dreams ( Common side effect of sjw is vivid dreams caused by SJW activating serotonin in the frontal lobes) Most of the evidence now seems to point to high levels of serotonin.
All those years of eating crap food. Ill never eat turkey again !!!!!!!!!!!
This also explains why SSRI drugs have only been of marginal help to me...Ive never got the great benefit that some people have got. I do admit that they did help but only marginaly. Ive always wanted to know what is the biological cause for my problem. At the moment I havent got a clue. Im not giving up yet.......redbeach
Posted by nolvas on October 11, 2006, at 7:55:44
In reply to A tale of Caution, posted by kiwiredbeach on October 11, 2006, at 6:10:25
I'm afraid the serotonin/tryptophan turkey thing is a myth. The tryptophan is bound up with other amino acids and also competes with some of them. The same goes for any food rich in Tryptophan. It will not provide the effect your are looking for.
http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/turkey.asp
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=55219
http://www.physorg.com/news8453.html
If you want to affect serotonin production/levels in your body then you need to take either of the forms L-Tryptophan or 5HTP. I prefer L-Tryptophan as that lets your body decide how best to use it.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on October 11, 2006, at 16:05:35
In reply to A tale of Caution, posted by kiwiredbeach on October 11, 2006, at 6:10:25
Plus, in addition to what Nolvas says, I would be skeptical about those tests. Larry Hoover knew alot about these sort of things...perhaps you could search the archives to see if he'd written anything about it.
Anyway, the sertonin definciency theory of depression is a mite simplistic, IMHO, and its probably alot more complicated than that...
I also think that SSRIs are rather over-hyped in their effectiveness...its just that the vast majority of studies done, just so happen to be funded by, guess who? The makers of SSRIs....so... don't feel bad if they don't work for you. They don't work for alot of people!
SJW, however, is definately worth it. I think its the best thing I've tried for depression/anxiety overall. Vivid dreams are a common side effect of many pysch meds. And incidentally, SJW is supposed to effect sertonin, noradrenalin and dopamine and GABA....although no-ones really sure yet apparently.
A good resource for SJW is:
Its sort of a babble for SJW.
Kind regards
Meri
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