Posted by Larry Hoover on May 25, 2006, at 7:15:13
In reply to Demon Alcohol-(live for it), posted by Paulbwell on May 24, 2006, at 23:42:55
> I can't seem to go more than a week before a trip down the drink store is in order.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but there is a simple substance that is healthy to take. A nutrient. An essential nutrient. And it might help you get past that limit.
It's called taurine. It's an irregular amino acid, synthesized in your body from methionine. Well, it's supposed to be, if you listen to the medical dogma. I bet you there isn't an alcoholic in the world that has retained any significant capacity to synthesize it, however.
Anyway, taurine is very similar in function to GABA, in the brain. Unlike GABA, however, taurine readily crosses the blood/brain barrier. Because of that, an oral dose very quickly has an effect. Minutes.
And what it does is it shuts down the craving, to some extent. I will not make exaggerated promises. But you can safely try even fairly large doses.
It is pleasant tasting, easily dissolves in water, and is almost dirt cheap, as amino acid prices go. I bought 300 grams bulk powder for something like 12 bucks. You get it at shops that sell all that body-builder protein powder stuff. Or decent health food stores.
You can take anywhere from 500 mg to 12 grams, in a single dose. There are no known adverse effects from using it, except for insomnia. A larger dose, or a dose late in the day, may prevent you from going to sleep. Taurine and melatonin share some binding sites, so I wouldn't be surprised if taurine antagonizes melatonin.
Further questions welcomed.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:648207
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20060512/msgs/648273.html