Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

[Picklelili]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

On the information it says it helps promote lean muscle tissue. Also, sorry for my ingnorance but is it a hormone?
Would that be equivalent to, say, a quarter of a teaspoon? As its in powder form, I wish they would provide a measure.

[cv1]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

Gaba is actually an amino acid but at higher doses, does influence hgh production, which is why body builders use it in high does for building lean muscle. At the lower doses, you want it to reduce anxiety.

Bamb--Here's the SAMe information from www.advance-health.com with dosages, recommendations and side effects.

SAMe Uses, Dosage, & Side Effects


SAMe (s-adenosyl-methionine) is beneficial for musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia and shows great promise for persons with Alzheimer's disease. This prized supplement is also used to treat acute liver disease provided a blood test is taken to ascertain effectiveness. And, SAMe has also been shown to be an anti-depressant. SAMe enhances the function of amino acids, hormones, lipids, minerals and neurotransmitters and is found in almost every tissue of the body.
SAMe Dosage Guidelines

SAMe tablets are enterically coated to enable them to pass through the stomach intact and be absorbed in the small intestine. Best results are obtained when SAMe is taken on an empty stomach but it can be taken with meals if necessary to avoid stomach irritation. Since SAMe is unstable at higher temperatures, it should be kept refrigerated whenever possible.
It is probably best to take SAMe during the day and avoid evening doses because the bodys natural rhythm is to have SAMe levels high during the day and low at night. This is a complement to the melatonin cycle which has melatonin levels low in the day and high at night. SAMe facilitates the conversion of serotonin to melatonin.
Below are dosage ranges of SAMe that have been used as nutritional support for various conditions.
SAMe can cause nausea and gastrointestinal upset in some sensitive people, so we recommend starting with the lower dosage and increasing the dosage as tolerated. Some individuals may benefit from lower dosages as well.
Depression -- Four hundred milligrams, three to four times daily. Start at a dosage of 200 milligrams twice daily for the first day. Increase to 400 milligrams twice daily on day three, 400 milligrams three times daily on day ten, and finally to the full dosage of 400 milligrams four times daily after 20 days, if required.
Osteoarthritis -- Start by following the guidelines for depression. After 21 days at a dosage of 1,200 milligrams daily, reduce dosage to a maintenance dosage (minimum dosage required to alleviate symptoms) of two hundred milligrams a day.
Fibromyalgia -- Two hundred milligrams to four hundred milligrams, two times daily.
Liver Disorders -- Two hundred milligrams to four hundred milligrams, two to three times daily.
Migraine Headaches --Two hundred milligrams to four hundred milligrams, two times daily (Requires long term use of SAMe for maximum effectiveness).
SAMe Side Effects & Precautions


SAMe is extremely safe and non-toxic. In clinical studies, SAMe is typically compared against placebo and other compounds for benefits and side effects. While SAMe usually produces beneficial effects superior to drugs and other nutrients, it often produces an incidence of side effects that are lower than the placebo!
While antidepressants can cause liver damage, SAMe has been shown in numerous studies to be liver-protective. SAMe also has no withdrawal reaction, commonly found when antidepressants are stopped abruptly.
After beginning SAMe supplementation, a positive response is often felt within a week of starting the program, and often within days, but it may take as long as four weeks.
In a few sensitive individuals, SAMe may cause gastric irritation or an upset stomach. While it is preferable to take SAMe on an empty stomach, it can be taken with meals if necessary to avoid upset stomach.
SAMe's antidepressant activity may lead to the manic phase in individuals with bipolar (manic) depression.
Though not reported in the literature, higher doses may occasionally lead to anxiety even in non-bipolar individuals. If the anxiety continues even on the lowest dose, the product should be discontinued.
There are no reported negative interactions with other medications or nutritional supplements.
To avoid conversion of SAMe into high levels of homocysteine you should also be taking the cofactors, vitamin B6 (50 mg), vitamin B12 (1000 mcg), and folic acid (800 mcg), to enhance production of the SAMe precursor, methionine. Homocysteine has been implicated as a contributing factor in heart disease, osteoarthritis and other degenerative conditions.

[Bambino]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

:h Thanks CV

Have printed it out so that I can keep referring to it.
You are a star

xxx

[Yuk-Shee_Chan]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

Energy Enhancer - Trip2Night

I am a skeptic by nature and never expect these types of products to be very effective, but I have to say Trip2night (narcomundo.com/legal-drugs/herbal-ecstasy/trip2night/) is better than most of the euphoric enhancers that I've tried. It mixes easily and taste better than I thought. It really provided me with what I was looking for. I felt totally satisfied with this euphoric enhancer. I enjoy going to clubs and bars and staying out all night.

[startingover]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

This is a real coincidence that this post has been bumped to the top just now.
I have been having an awful time recently with depression and guess what? I stopped taking my aminos in September.
So in a roundabout way Yuk-Shee_Chan the would be spammer has done me a massive favour !!
Note to self "Take yer supplements girl"

[aspman]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

hey starts.
I was reading this thinking to self, 'self, why are the posts in this thread so old" and then the spam and then your post...
however I have yet to odred any supps and that tomb of info from cv1 has convinced me to try some.
so I also would like to thank the spammer....never thought id do that.

[startingover]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

Aspy, I can honestly say the supps really helped me, I have had a mighty crash lately, stopping the supps probably had quite alot to do with it.

[fickle]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

Heya guys.. my thoughts exactly.
Ordered more of Roberta's Amino complete only a few days ago..
Good thread!

[individualnz]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

Hi there,

Just wondering cv if you knew whether or not these supplements begin to lose their efficacy after your body get used to them, ie your body builds up a tolerance to them and they become ineffective after a while?

I have taken 5 HTP for a while years ago, with good effect initally but the results seemed temporary, or the dose would need constant upping?? I am currently on prozac and have been for many years, that too is losing its efficacy and now I require triple the amount for relatively stable mood functioning. I hate the side effects tho and would do anything to not have to take them, and anything to kill my cravings for alcohol!

regards indiv

[individualnz]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

Also thanks to CV for all your valuable information it is fantastic and I would have missed it had it not been for hack person.

Counld you tell what you think would be the best supplement to get for depression. SAMe or L Glut or 5 Htp or GABA I dont know if it is possible to get a mixture of all the ingredients. I probably would find it really hard taking lots of tablets 3 times a day or more but its all for a worthy cause I guess!!

Kind regards Indiv

[startingover]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

Hi Indiv, I am not sure, but what I do know is that not taking them certainly contributed to a crash in my mood. I stopped them about 3 months ago (amino acids, lglutamine) thought I was stable and no longer needed them, but had an almighty crash depression wise the other week. I also take prozac 40mg a day. .I can honestly say that within hours of taking the amino acid supps I felt calmer.
A friend sent me this about Lglutamine....

The Role of L-Glutamine in Mental Health

Several key nutrients (known as precursors) are necessary to supply the chemicals responsible for the formation of the brain’s neurotransmitters,thus helping to balance brain chemistry.When taken on a daily basis, specific supplementation with certain amino acids helps us feel more mentally balanced and provides us with an overall sense of well-being. Research studies have confirmed the effectiveness of using just a few targeted amino acid ‘precursors’ to increase the key neurotransmitters,thereby eliminating depression,stress,anxiety and cravings for food and drugs (Ross,1999 )

Glutamine, or L-Glutamine, is an amino acid derived from another amino acid, glutamic acid.L-Glutamine is another example of an amino acid with substantial benefits to mental functioning.L-Glutamine is the most widely used amino acid and constitutes more than 20% of all the amino acid levels in the body. While it is the most prevalent amino acid, it is considered to be 'conditionally essential,' meaning that stress or excessive exercise can create a need for more of it than the body can provide.

Glutamine is found in plant and animal sources, as well as in supplement form.Many plant and animal substances contain Glutamine, but cooking easily destroys it. If eaten raw, spinach and parsley are good sources.Soy proteins, milk, meats and cabbage are additional sources of this amino acid.

Glutamine helps the body maintain a healthy pH balance and is necessary for making and repairing cells.As the most plentiful free amino acid in muscle tissue, Glutamine plays an important role in all parts of the body. It speeds recovery and healing,can improve mental acuity and helps curb cravings.Other than glucose, a stimulatory neurotransmitter known as glutamic acid can be used as an energy source by the brain.There are only two ‘fuels’ that the brain can readily use:

1.Glucose,which is blood sugar made from carbohydrates.

2.Glutamine, an amino acid available in protein foods or as a supplement.

Unlike other amino acids that have a single nitrogen atom, Glutamine contains two nitrogen atoms that enable it to transfer nitrogen and remove ammonia from body tissues. Glutamine readily passes the blood brain barrier and, within the brain, is converted to glutamic acid, which the brain needs to function properly. Aside from generally providing an energy source for the brain to function at a higher level, glutamic acid is thought to play a role in mental alertness and perhaps even memory enhancement. It also increases the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid, which is needed to sustain proper brain function and mental activity.It assists in maintaining the proper acid/alkaline balance in the body, and is the basis of the building blocks for the synthesis of RNA and DNA. Glutamine promotes mental ability and maintenance of a healthy digestive tract.

Potential therapeutic uses of Glutamine:

1.-Depression and Mood Disorders.

2.-General Energy Booster.

3.-Poor Memory, Concentration Difficulties,and Mental Fatigue.

4.-Aid Treatment for AIDS or Viral Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

5.-Blood Sugar Instability (Hypoglycemia).

6.-Exercise Endurance.

7.-Aid Treatment of Alcoholism (The Craving for Alcohol).

8.-Stress Tolerance.

9.-Protection Against Nuscle Catabolism and Overtrainig.

10.-Gastrointestinal Disorders and Ulcers.

11.-Aid Treatment of Cirrhosis.

12.-Strengthening the Immune System.

Glutamine is also an amino acid that stimulates the release of human growth hormone within the body.Human growth hormone serves many important functions by influencing carbohydrate,protein and lipid metabolism, regulating the secretion of other hormones, and interacting with the immune system. Preliminary scientific research show that L-Glutamine can increase the body's production of Human Growth Hormone.

Therapeutic dosages of L-Glutamine range from 1.5 to 6 g daily, divided into several separate doses. As a naturally occurring amino acid, Glutamine is thought to be a safe supplement when taken at recommended dosages.However,people who have kidney disease,Reye's syndrome,cirrhosis of the liver,or other illnesses that cause ammonia to build up in the blood should not take Glutamine.For such individuals, taking supplemental Glutamine may only cause further damage to the body. Those who are hypersensitive to monosodium glutamate should use L-Glutamine with caution, as the body metabolizes Glutamine into glutamate.If you are taking antiseizure medications use Glutamine only under medical supervision. Maximum safe dosages for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease have not been fully determined.Be aware that although the names sound ‘similar’,Glutamine, Glutamic Acid,Glutamate,Glutathione,Gluten, and Monosodium Glutamate are all different substances.

[boozehag]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

L glutamine will help with cravings and because the gut is our second brain it will also help keep the mood balanced too but it is not an anti depressant as such. If you are on antidepressants you should probably take extra l-glut because the brain is getting all the extra serotonin and the gut misses out so you can take a truck load of the l-glut. I found a combination of l-glutamine and l-trypothan spot on with cravings and mood elevation initially. 5http is the precursor to l-trytophan so skip the middleman - its either one or the other really. L-glutamine is a natural amino acid and GABA is a synthetic product so again its either one or the other. You can get l-glutamine and L-tryptophan in the clinicians brand in NZ and they are excellent - you can also get 5-http but as far as I know you are not supposed to take either if you are on AD's -they will probably ask you if you buy it. Personally I dont find you get used to the dose of l-glut after a while and you can vary it up or down depending on your need - I still take the l-glut (20months now) and I still find it good - if I dont take it I notice. Its also great for muscle repair and growth so if like me you try to replace the AL high with the runners high it is essential.
M

[boozehag]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

ha ha Starts cross posted!
M

[startingover]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

Also there is some interesting facts about prozac and lglut in here.....

The Brain-Gut Connection

Why do we get butterflies in our stomach before a performance?
Why does indigestion produce nightmares?
Why are antidepressants now also being used for gastrointestinal ailments?
It turns out that both our gut and our brain originate early in embryogenesis from the same clump of tissue which divides during fetal development. While one section turns into the central nervous system, another piece migrates to become the enteric nervous system. Later the two nervous systems connect via a cable called the vagus nerve -- the longest of all the cranial nerves whose name is derived from Latin, meaning "wandering." The vagus nerve meanders from the brain stem through the neck and finally ends up in the abdomen. There's the brain-gut connection.

Have you ever wondered why an impending job interview can cause an attack of intestinal cramps? And why do anti-depressants targeted for the brain cause nausea or abdominal upset in millions of people who take such drugs? The reason for these common experiences is because each of us literally has two brains --the familiar one encased in our skulls and a lesser-known but vitally important one found in the human gut. Like Siamese twins, the two brains are interconnected; when one gets upset, the other does, too. No wonder people trust their gut. One half of all our nerve cells are located within the gut?

The state of the gut has a profound influence upon our health. It is from the healthy gut that we enjoy neurological and psychological as well as immunological health. This is not to discount the human brain. This is simply to say that the body has two brains -- the second brain being our gut. There is an excellent article on this brain-gut connection called Complex and Hidden Brain in Gut Makes Bellyaches and Butterflies written by Sandra Blakeslee, originally published in the January 23, 1996 issue of The New York Times. I have added a link to her article in the Diet section of the Links page.

How it all Works
The gut's brain, known as the enteric nervous system (ENS), is located in sheaths of tissue lining the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon. Considered a single entity, it is packed with neurons, neurotransmitters and proteins that zap messages between neurons or support cells like those found in the brain. It contains a complex circuitry that enables it to act independently, learn, remember and, as the saying goes, produce gut feelings.
In his book The Second Brain, HarperCollins 1998, Dr. Michael Gershon, a professor of anatomy and cell biology at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, dubs the entire gastrointestinal system the body's second nervous system. "The brain is not the only place in the body that's full of neurotransmitters," says Dr. Gershon. "A hundred million neurotransmitters line the length of the gut, approximately the same number that is found in the brain..." If we add the nerve cells of the esophagus, stomach and large intestine, there are more nerve cells in the gut than there are in the entire remainder of the peripheral nervous system. Nearly every chemical that controls the brain in the head has been identified in the gut, including hormones and neurotransmitters.

This complex circuitry provides the brain in the gut with the means to act independently. Proof of this can be seen in stroke victims whose brain stem cells, which control swallowing, have been destroyed. If this occurs, a surgeon has to create an opening in the abdominal wall, so that feeding can be accomplished by manually inserting foods directly into the stomach. Once the food is in the stomach, digestion and absorption can take place, even in individuals who are brain dead. The central nervous system is needed for swallowing and for defecation, but from the time the food is swallowed to the moment its remains are expelled from the anus, the gut is in charge.

The Sleep-Gut Connection
As light is shed on the circuitry between the two brains, researchers are beginning to understand why people act and feel the way they do. The brain and gut are so much alike that during our sleeping hours, both have natural 90-minute cycles. For the brain, this slow wave sleep is interrupted by periods of rapid eye movement sleep in which dreams occur. For the gut, the 90-minute cycles also involve slow waves of muscle contractions but, as with REM intervals, these are punctuated by short bursts of rapid muscle movement. Could it be that both brains influence each other? The answer is probably yes. REM sleep is a sleep phase characterized by arousal, altered activity of the autonomic nervous system and altered colon (large intestine) function.
We also know that patients with bowel problems tend to have abnormal REM sleep. Poor sleep has been reported by many perhaps a majority of, patients with irritable bowel syndrome (lBS) and non-ulcerative dyspepsia (also known as "sour stomach") who complain of awakening tired and unrefreshed in the morning. Even after patients awake from what they describe as a "sound sleep," they report a general feeling of tiredness and fatigue.

Abnormal REM sleep is reduced by low-dose treatment with the anti-depressant amitryptiline, which has also been shown to be effective in treating lBS and non-ulcerative dyspepsia. Many drugs designed to affect the brain also affect the gut. For example, the gut is loaded with the neurotransmitter serotonin. In fact, more serotonin is produced there than anywhere else in the body. Serotonin is linked with initiation of peristalsis.

The Anxiety-Gut Connection
About 25% of people taking fluoxetine (Prozac) and other types of similar-acting antidepressants experience gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, diarrhea and constipation. The problem with these drugs is that they prevent uptake of serotonin by cells that should be using it. While this enables the depressed person to have more serotonin in the brain, less is available for use by the cells of the gastrointestinal tract. "Serotonin is calming to the digestive tract, initiates peristaltic and secretory reflexes," notes nutritionist June Butlin, M.Sc., Ph.D. "Long-term use or the wrong dosage may cause fluctuations between nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea, and can cause depression, anxiety, insomnia, and fluctuations in appetite."
In a study reported in The New York Times article, Dr. Gershon and his colleagues explain Prozac's side effects on the gut. They mounted a section of guinea pig colon on a stand and put a small pellet in the 'mouth' end. The isolated colon whips the pellet down to the 'anal' end of the column, just as it would inside an animal. When the researchers put a small amount of Prozac into the colon, the pellet "went into high gear," Dr. Gerhson explained to the paper. "The drug doubled the speed at which the pellet passed through the colon, which would explain why some people get diarrhea," the paper says. No wonder, in small doses, Prozac is used to treat chronic constipation.

Although a little is beneficial for constipation, a lot is not. When the Gershon team greatly increased the amount of Prozac in the guinea pig colon, the pellet stopped moving at all. Hence, a little cures constipation; a lot causes it. Prozac stimulates sensory nerves, thus can also cause nausea.

The gut has opiate receptors much like the brain. "Not surprisingly, drugs like morphine and heroin that are thought to act on the central nervous system also attach to the gut's opiate receptors, producing constipation," notes pain management specialist Michael Loes, M.D., M.D.(H.), author of The Healing Response (Freedom Press 2002) "Both brains," he says, "can be addicted to opiates."

Many Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease patients are constipated. A sickness we think of as primarily affecting the brain or central nervous system also impacts the gut.

Our gut also helps us in some amazing ways. The gut also produces chemicals called benzodiazepines. These are the same chemicals found in anti-anxiety drugs like Valium, and these are the same chemicals that alleviate pain. Perhaps our gut is truly our body's anxiety and pain reliever. While we are not sure whether the gut synthesizes benzodiazepine from chemicals in our foods, bacterial actions, or both, we know that in times of extreme pain, the gut goes into overdrive, delivering benzodiazepine to the brain. The result is to render the patient unconscious or at least reduce the pain, says Dr. Anthony Basile, a neurochemist in the Neuroscience Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

A Bit of Background
Throughout the world's healing and mystical traditions, the belly is seen as an important center of energy and consciousness. You've probably noticed that many of India's great spiritual adepts sport prodigious bellies. These tremendous tummies are thought to be full of prana. Hence, Indian artists often depict their deities with a paunch.
In China, the gentle art of tai chi emphasizes the lower abdomen as a reservoir for energy. Tai chi teacher Kenneth Cohen, author of The Way of Qigong (Ballantine Books 1997), explains that it's possible to strengthen the abdominals by learning how to compact qi (prana) into the belly. "From the Chinese viewpoint," he says, "the belly is considered the dan tian or 'field of the elixir,' where you plant the seeds of long life and wisdom."

Lastly, in Biblical times, the seat of emotion, which we call the heart, is actually referring to the bowels. That thought in itself conjures up an image of a young Romeo sending a love note to his Juliet saying, "You move me."

In all seriousness, most people today completely ignore gut health. As a result, they are experiencing health problems that could be overcome if they knew that they centered in their gut. So I guess the thing to remember is, as Dr. Gershon puts it, "Take care of your gut and your gut will take care of you."

Notes taken from, Patient Heal Thyself by Jordan S. Rubin, NMD, CNC

[startingover]

Amino Acids, The Mood Cure

BOOZY!! My guardian angel!!!
This is the wonderful lady who gave me all this info!!!