Topic Title: SJW and 5 HTP
| |  "SJW and 5 HTP"
, Wed 18 Jul 19:50
Hi all, I have been taking SJW for about two months now and it has worked good for me but I still feel like I need something more so I wrote to a Doctor who specializes in alternative medicine. He told me that he takes SJW and SAMe together. He did say that SAMe is expensive so he told me about 5 HTP also. I looked up both of them and I really am interested in taking 5 HTP with SJW but I'm afraid that It might cause to much seratonin in my brain. Last night I took one Melatonin pill and I got real sick. I got dizzy and sick to my stomach, I got sick. Melatonin causes seratonin levels to rise in your brain also. I don't take melatonin but I have before while I was taking SJW and I just got tired. I am afraid to take 5 HTP with SJW because they both raise the seratonin level in your brain. Have any of you gotten sick or had any side effects from this? Does anyone know if anything can happen if you have to much seratonin in your brain?
God Bless,
Vanna
Posts: 19 | | Registered: Wed 9 May 2001 21:9 |
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| |  "Re(1):SJW and 5 HTP"
, Thu 16 Aug 09:47
Hello, I was just reading your questions regarding 5-HTP and StJohns Wort. I initally went to my doctor believing I was going out of my mind. My ears would get completely stopped up and I ws having horrible panick attacks and at the time I had no idea what they were. I went through numerous tests only to be told I was suffering with Meneirs Disease. They put me on a water pill along with Adivan. The reason for this was my ears would get stopped up and I would panick. I would not leave my house without these in my purse. I was so dependent upon them. I decided I was not going to let this "disease" win me over. I started doing research on all the above. I hate taking any kind of medication and my goal was to find out why I was suffering with this. As time passed I decided, (yes I decided) that I did not have meneirs disease but was suffering from full blown anxiety and depression. I then went to another doctor who then put me on paxil. I HATED paxil and the side effects it had on me. Once again I hit the internet and did allot of research and found 5-HTP and St Johns Wort. Now is when I feel I like I could cry telling you this. I feel like I am back to my old-self. I tappered myself off of the paxil (I do not reccommend this however, not one doctor I spoke with recommended that I take "natural herbs") and then waited about 14 days (this was scary for me going without anything for 14 days) and then started taking 5-HTP and SJW. I don't know that this works for everyone but it certainly has brought me back to where I wanted to be. I also feel so much more comfortable knowing that these are natural herbs and not a "medication." I wanted to know what causes these attacks and depression and why are they occurring? I also know that when the body has been in this state of mind for sometime it will not produce the serotonin that it needs and sometimes we need to help it out and that's when your doctor will prescribe medications or we will start using natural herbs. By looking down into my soul I have had to learn to deal with issues that weren't so pleasant. But I am dealing with them and getting on with my life. I don't know that I will have to take 5-HTP and SJW for the rest of my life but I do know for now I feel like myself and I am happy and my family is happy.
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Thu 16 Aug 2001 9:18 |
| | |  "Re(2):SJW and 5 HTP"
, Wed 22 Aug 22:16
LisaMarie, I'm so happy that you are doing well. It sounds like you went through a real hard time. Since I posted that post about 5 HTP and SJW, I have started taking 5HTP with my SJW and I love the way I feel. The SJW helps my depression and the 5HTP also helps my depression but it also makes me relax, which I need. I was wondering what brands you take of 5HTP and SJW? I could only find Natrol 5HTP in the stores near me but I haven't gone to a few that might have a selection. Does anyone know if it matters what brand of 5HTP is taken? They don't upset my stomach at all so I don't care if they are enteric coated. Do all the brands work alike? Thanks in advance.
Vanna
Posts: 26 | | Registered: Wed 9 May 2001 21:9 |
| | | "Re(3):SJW and 5 HTP" , Tue 28 Aug 13:33
I am so glad you are doing well with the 5-HTP. I simply buy whatever is available from GNC stores. I have also been having to buy 2 bottles at a time as they cannot keep them in stock. Word must be out that these really do work. And just for my own piece of mind I stopped taking the 5-HTP just to see if I could notice a difference and indeed I did! Did the same thing with St Johns Wort. Won't do that again. It helps me to take the 5-HTP at night before bed. It doesn't make me sleepy but like you said it does help to relax. Good Luck and thanks for the wonderful response.
Lisa
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Thu 16 Aug 2001 9:18 |
| | | "Re(4):SJW and 5 HTP" , Sat 1 Sep 03:33
Hi Lisa, Thank You for answering my question. GNC is one of the stores I haven't looked in. I can't believe it because they have good products. I seem to get more things in the drug store because I am already there for one reason or another. I have to start going to GNC, other people I have asked shop there also. I always say I'm going to go but then I buy what I see, LOL. I did that today again. I've noticed that even the local drug stores and the grocery market I go to are out of 5HTP. In fact they had none. Well, the market had one bottle left. I'm going to have to start buying two at a time also. I guess the word has gotten around. That means they really do work. Well, you proved it by stopping them. If you felt bad when you stopped taking 5HTP and SJW then don't stop taking them. I feel that even if I have to take this for the rest of my life, at least they are not addictive or harmful. I know people who have taken Prozac,Paxil, etc. Plus tranquilizers like atavan and valium for years and those are addictive and harmful. Just think how lucky we are that these natural herbs really did work for us. We can stop anytime or skip a day if we want to and we don't have to worry about any withdrawal, ay least not like prozax and valium. We would feel like we did before we took them. Withdrawing from the other medications cause more anxiety and depression than we originally had. That just happened to a friend of mine, she took Prozac for years and she just stopped taking it. Wow, was she depressed. Worse than she was when she started taking it. She is taking prozac again. She won't take herbs, she's afraid. Imagine that. Oh well, I guess everyone is different. My doctor told me I should try SJW. I added 5HTP myself, but I am going to tell him when I see him again. I like to take 5HTP at night also because that is when I am ussually the most nervous. I know it makes a lot of people tired but they relax me like I said. I never thought I would find something that relaxes me because I am such a nervous person. To be honest, I am an agoraphobic. When I started taking SJW I could barely go into stores. The SJW helped my whole additude. I can go into stores now. I haven't taken the 5HTP as long as the SJW, but I notice that everything is even better with both of them. I had lost all hope in life, but now I have it back. Things don't seem so bad, even when they are. I used to get despondent and depressed with anxiety on top of it. Now, even when I have problems, I can cope so much better with them and actually use logic, LOL. Well, I wasn't to logical when I was despondent. I would just panic. Gee, Between you and I, we could do a informercial for SJW and 5HTP. The companys would love us, LOL. As long as they are working I will never stop taking them. They work for so many people on here, I can't understand why a lot of Doctors are against them? They can't be any worse than Prescription drugs, in fact they are better for people. Oh well, I guess our society is kind of narrow minded. That's to bad because a lot of people like you and I were are still noy feeling well. Thank God for SJW and 5HTP.
God Bless You Lisa and Thank You again. I'm going to go to GNC and buy SJW and 5HTP there.
Vanna
Posts: 28 | | Registered: Wed 9 May 2001 21:9 |
| | | "Re(5):SJW and 5 HTP" , Tue 4 Sep 12:46
Hi Vanna,
I forgot to tell you one other thing. I tend to get really tense in the shoulders and neck quite often. Probably due to working on a computer all day and causing my pinched nerve to flair up. I will periodically take Myocalm. It is like taking a muscle relaxer with out all the funky side effects that go along with those. Problem is you have to get them through a Chiropractor however, no prescription is needed as Chiropractors are not allowed to give prescriptions anyway. It is all natural, (Herbs, flowers etc.)along with magnesium and calcium. I don't take these everyday as I don't need to, but I do take them when my shoulders get tight. You can go to the web site http://www.doctorshealthsupply.com/metagenics/myocalm.htm
This site will give you all the information needed on this nutrient. I started on this because I had a pinced nerve in my neck so I finally decided to go see a Chiropractor and he did fine, but the myocalm he gave me worked better than he did! LOL It also relaxes you but not in a sleepy state. Anyway, if you get a moment read all about it. Talk to you soon.
Lisa
Posts: 3 | | Registered: Thu 16 Aug 2001 9:18 |
| | | "Re(6):SJW and 5 HTP" , Fri 12 Oct 10:25
Hi Lisa, Sorry it took me so long to answer you but I haven't been online in the longest time. I read the web site you gave me about Myocalm. It sounds really good. I have very tense shoulders and pain, but not from a pitched nerve, just from nerves, LOL. I tend to hold my shoulders up without realizing it so they end up aching, I guess it is muscle aches. Thank You for telling me about Myocalm. Do you think it might help Fibromyalgia a little. My sister has that and she is always in pain. Although she's afraid to take all these things we talk about but she's not afraid to take synthetic medicine, LOL. I don't understand it. Oh well, I'm going to keep this in mind. I wrote the name down and I'll take it if I need it. So it relaxes you too----- hmmmmm, lol. I'm only joking, but I can never be to relaxed because my relaxed is like normal, LOL. Thanks again, Sorry I took long to write back.
God Bless,
Vanna
Posts: 32 | | Registered: Wed 9 May 2001 21:9 |
| | |  "Re(7):SJW and 5 HTP"
, Fri 12 Oct 11:54
Hi Vanna, Good to hear from you. I think the myocalm would be great for your sister. I used to work for a chiropractor years ago and we would get several patients with Fibromyalgia. Having certain types of adjustments seem to help them a great deal. Also having her learn where her pressure points are can be of help to her. This enables her to learn how to alleviate the pain by using these points. Regarding the myocalm it has to be purchased from a chiropractor. It is not on the shelves of the stores. However, you can simply go into a Chiropractors office and buy it without seeing the doctor. It is not a prescription. With all that is going on in our world today its a wonder everybody isn't taking something. Take care.
Lisa
Posts: 5 | | Registered: Thu 16 Aug 2001 9:18 |
| | | "Re(6):SJW and 5 HTP" , Fri 28 Sep 19:46
hi everyone,
i was just wondering, if you'll mix 5htp and sjw then what quantities do you'll take them in....this is very urgent as i'd like to try both of them together...
i was taking 900mg of sjw for 2 weeks but didn't help much. now i've been taking 300mg of 5htp for the past 3 days...
thanx..
sidjor
Posts: 4 | | Registered: Wed 26 Sep 2001 10:25 |
| | | "Re(7):SJW and 5 HTP" , Thu 11 Oct 10:55
I take 900mg of StJohns Wort and 100mg of 5-HTP and that seems to work great for me. I have found taking them at night seems to work best. Good Luck
Posts: 4 | | Registered: Thu 16 Aug 2001 9:18 |
| | | "Re(8):SJW and 5 HTP" , Fri 12 Oct 11:38
Thank You Lisa, I was just wondering what a good amount is to take. I take 900 mg SJW but I had to increase the 5HTP to 200mg. It seems as though the 5HTP isn't working anymore. Well, they don't relax me anymore but maybe the antidepresant affect is working in them because you wouldn't believe how terrible my life has been lately and I'm not so depressed, I am a little but anyone would be if they had my life right now. I guess it's normal depression. You know when things go wrong and you get depressed a bit. Well, Thank You for telling me the MG's you take of SJW and 5 HTP. I just don't want to take to much.
God Bless,
Vanna
Posts: 35 | | Registered: Wed 9 May 2001 21:9 |
| | | "Re(9):SJW and 5 HTP" , Fri 12 Oct 12:04
Hi Vanna,
I dont think taking 200mg of 5-HTP would hurt any. When you take the SJW does it have kava-kava in it? Check to see because that makes a difference. Also take your 5-HTP and SJW at night. Watch your caffeine intake. (I also will have a glass of wine when I have had a really stressed day) Watch your schedule. Keep it the same. Makes a big difference. Make yourself get plenty of sleep. This is really important. Learn how to meditate. It works. I also find that stretching myself really helps. And I dont care where I am at, I will stretch because it works. But really watch your diet. No chocolate, no caffeine, watch your sugar and your salt intake. And you know what? When we have bad moments in our lives it is perfectly ok to feel bad about it. So have a good cry and if you need to talk I am here. Talking about your problems sometimes is the best medicine in the world. Take care.
Lisa
Posts: 6 | | Registered: Thu 16 Aug 2001 9:18 |
| | | "Re(10):SJW and 5 HTP" , Sat 10 Nov 09:12
Hi Lisa, Wow, I haven't talked to you in a long time. I haven't been on the computer and I have had so much mail to answer. I'm still taking the SJW and the 5 HTP but I did run out of 5 HTP so I have to go and by some. I haven't taken it in about three days and I am so miserable. Oh yea, I don't take Kava Kava. I'm afraid to mix it with the other two even though people do. I did drink it in tea though, LOL, you should have seen me. It made me nice and relaxed so I thought I was going to go into a coma so I made myself nervous, what a jerk I am, LOL. My Mom laughed because I was so relaxed, not loaded, just calm and then I turned into Woody Allen in one of his movies, LOL.
Thank You so much Lisa for saying that you would be there if I ever needed anyone. The same goes here. You can talk to me anytime about anything you want to. I'll give you my screen name in case you want to write to me. I don't care if I post it on here. My screen name is [email protected]. E-mail me anytime. Just put in the subject that it is Lisa so I know it is you and I will open it.I do want to ask you a question if you don't mind. When you buy the Liquid SJW at the GNC, how many bottles do you have to buy for one month if I take 900 mg a day. I never bought liquid SJW yet. I do buy other herbs in liquid form and I like they work better than the pills. Did you ever buy the Full Spectrum Gel Tablets at GNC? I was wondering which one was better. Well, I am going to buy the liquid. I still have my pills but when they run out I will buy it. You do buy the Liquid don't you? I know that either you or another woman buys the liquid. I guess I need Ginko Biloba, LOL.Well, I hope everything is going good in your life. Write to me If you want to. I would love to hear from you.
God Bless You,
Vanna
Posts: 38 | | Registered: Wed 9 May 2001 21:9 |
| | | "Re(5):SJW and 5 HTP" , Tue 4 Sep 06:32
Hi Vanna,
What a wonderful letter! And yes, we could definitely do advertisement for SJW and 5-HTP!!!One of the things I like about GNC stores and that is if you have someone working there who doesn't have a clue about what they are selling in the store then they have the capibility to go to the computer and it will tell them what products best fit your needs. For instance, every now and then I get this pinched nerve in my neck and WOW does it cause me pain. So my husband went up to GNC and asked the young teenager what I could take. He came home with some sort of herbal tea and I thought yuck, this isn't going to work! Nonetheless I drank it and it did worked!!! I was so surprised.
So my point is GNC stores really are helpful. We also have a store here in Little Rock that is called Beans,Grains & Things that carry a much bigger variety than GNC. So whenever GNC is out I head over to Beans etc. My belief as to why Doctors do not recommend SJW and 5-HTP is they simply haven't been educated about it. They seem to know only about so called "prescriptions" What a shame. And like you I too had gotten to the point of being afraid to go to certain places for fear that I would have a panick attack. The paxil I took seemed helpful at times but did not in any way work like the SJW and 5-HTP. And there were times when I would double the dose because it didn't seem to work. I also hated the side effects that came with it. With the SJW and 5-HTP I have had none. Can't get any better than that. And I loved what you said when you said things don't seem as bad even when they are. That is so true. I too have friends that take prozac, paxil, atavan etc and do not want to get off them. I have tried so many times to tell them about SJW and 5-HTP so no avail. I have also told them that this is their loss by being so closed minded. Which is what I think the doctors are doing. It is nothing but total ignorance. Just like myself a time ago but I didn't want to be dependent upon an addictive drug with side effects I simply did not trust. And like you the 5-HTP does too help me relax which is why I take it at night. I also take the SJW along with them. It was great talking to you! Hope to hear from you soon.
Lisa
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Thu 16 Aug 2001 9:18 |
| | | "Re(6):SJW and 5 HTP" , Fri 6 Sep 13:26
LisaMarie: I've been reading this discussion forum for suggestions on how much SJW & 5HTP to take. I noticed that you are from Little Rock. Small world - so am I! I just went to GNC at lunch today to buy some 5HTP and SJW. They had the SJW but the clerk said they "can't keep the 5HTP on the self". So I went to Wal-Mart and bought a small bottle of Natrol's 5HTP. I hope to see results soon. Any advice on how much I should take of each? I started with 100 MG of 5HTP and 300 MG of SJW before I ate lunch. Should I have taken it on an empty stomach? Thanks for your info on this discussion board! I'm trying to find some relief for anxiety attacks. A visit to my doctor will be my last resort - don't even want to think about the side effects from prescription meds!
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Thu 5 Sep 2002 14:46 |
| | "Re(1):SJW and 5 HTP" , Fri 3 Aug 13:38
Ok - I feel I've looked high and low, but here is what I have found:
from http://www.immunesupport.com/bes007.htm
"5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) works by increasing the cell’s output of serotonin. 5HTP is a precursor to serotonin so when the brain is given this, it knows exactly what to do with it; it turns it into serotonin."
"SJW minimizes the breakdown of various neurotransmitters, including serotonin. Hypericin, the active ingredient, causes an inhibition of serotonin re-uptake."
Therefore 5-HTP helps you produce serotonin and SJW and hypericin prevent serotonin breakdown and inhibit serotonin re-uptake.
Also Dr. Murry talks about taking SJW and 5 HTP at his site:
http://www.doctormurray.com/5htp/stjohns.htm
I've been taking both for about a week now (after coming off Zoloft). I feel much better.
Good Luck to you!!
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Wed 25 Jul 2001 12:17 |
| |  "Re(1):SJW and 5 HTP"
, Thu 19 Jul 03:53
5htp may upset your stomach if it is not Enteric Coated. Not only does 5htp raise your serotonin levels but also your melatonin levels. In one study I read it said that is raises melatonin levels in the brain by 200%.
Posts: 17 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
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