The wonders of 5-HTP!

Anxiety, depression, insomnia?? Have you considered taking 5-HTP?

5-Hydroxytryphophan, or 5-HTP, is converted in the body to the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT), with the help of vitamin B6.

The effect of 5-HTP is thought to be due to the fact that an artificially high supply of 5-HTP causes the brain's serotonin-producing neurons to increase production. Increased serotonin production then leads to increased serotonin release. Serotonin plays an important role in controlling anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, human sexuality, appetite, and metabolism, as well as stimulating vomiting.

It is thought the hectic modern lifestyle of stress and bad eating habits lowers serotonin levels in the body. It is known that irritability, aggression, impatience, anxiety and worrying cause the body to release serotonin. This Serotonin then needs to be replenished by the body from the food you eat. But Serotonin is not found in large quantities in most diets so the body has to makes it itself from foods which contain L-tryptophan, such as chocolate, oats, bananas, dried dates, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, meat, fish, turkey, chicken, sesame, chickpeas, and peanuts. Many people therefore crave the foods listed (fats and carbohydrates), causing weight gain, depression, headaches, and muscle aches.

Taking 5-HTP supplements can stop this craving for fats and carbohydrates, as well as providing the body with the means to control all those other functions listed above, such as anger, appetite and sleep.

Some research has been done into 5-HTP and shows it has potential to treat depression and possibly anxiety, panic disorder, sleep disorders and obesity. 5-HTP seems to have the same effects as SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) antidepressants.

Most research seems to suggest that 5-HTP is safe in the right dose. This seems to be no more than 100mg per day. 5-HTP is usually tolerated much better than traditional antidepressants. HOWEVER, it is important not to take more than 100mg per day, or other antidepressants at the same time.

It is widely recommended to take 5-HTP 30 mins before going to bed, as apart from producing Serotonin, 5-HTP also produces Melatonin, which is a sleep-inducing hormone. The effects of taking 5HTP can be felt within 10 to 30 mins.

Most 5-HTP, including the one we sell, is extracted from the seeds of a woody climbing shrub native to West Africa, called the Griffonia simplicifolia plant.

We sell high strength 100mg capsules of 5-HTP, as well as vitamin B6 on our website at the following links:
For 5-HTP: www.homeherbs.co.uk
For vitamin B6: www.homeherbs.co.uk


Why not try some today and see if you too can reduce your stress and anger levels, as well as get a good night's sleep!

Thank you for reading. All comments welcome!

Some information referenced from Wikipedia.org and 5-htp.org.uk

Take your vitamins & save your brain!

Vitamin B3

Are you worried about losing your brain power?? Do you feel your faculties have lost their edge? If so, you're not alone. Many people feel their memory and mental clarity seems to lose its sharpness past about the age of 30. I certainly feel that since having my 4th child last year my brain is not at all what it was!

I was therefore very interested to read the recent article on the BBC website about how Vitamin B3 could help stave off Altzheimers (see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7710365.stm).

Vitamin B3 is also known as Niacin and is the name given for nicotinamide (niacinamide) and nicotinic acid. It can be found in meat, fish, beans, cereals and potatoes. The amino acid 'Tryptophan' can be converted to vitamin B3
inside the body.

According to the website: http://www.internethealthlibrary.com/, the importance of Vitamin B3 was first realised in 1937 when scientists discovered that the disease 'Pellagra' was caused by a vitamin B3 deficiency. This vitamin is essential for: releasing energy from carbohydrates, fats and protiens, helping DNA synthesis, and for healthy skin, nerves and digestive system.

Signs of deficiency are: loss of appetite, indigestion, skin lesions, mental imbalance and Pellagra (gross deficiency).

Dr Kim Green, who led the study in the BBC article, said: "Nicotinamide has a very robust effect on neurons. It prevents loss of cognition in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and the beauty of it is we already are moving forward with a clinical trial."

His colleague Professor Frank LaFerla, said: "This suggests that not only is it good for Alzheimer's disease, but if normal people take it, some aspects of their memory might improve."


It is important to maintain a healthy balance of all vitamins and minerals, not just vitamin B3.

We sell a wide range of vitamins and minerals on our website at the following link: http://www.homeherbs.co.uk/0/category/425-Vitamins___Minerals.html.


Thank you for reading! All comments welcome.

The Wonders of Anthocyanins!

A new purple tomato has been produced that's packed full of anthocyanins! See the recent news article on the BBC website: news/bbc.co.uk. A team of Scientists created the new tomatoes and they're hoping it's high Anthocyanin content will help it act as a wonder tonic!

Anthocyanins are Glycosidic pigments found in blue, red and purple flowers and fruits. They are actually the substances that give the flowers and fruits this colour, hence it is said that the darker the colour of fruit, the better it is for you. They act as anto-oxidants and therefore have many associated health benefits.

Anthocyanins are thought to have anti-cancer properties, especially in the colon as this is where they're ingested. They are also thought to help fight cardiovascular disease, age-related conditions, obesity, diabetes, boost eyesight and act as anti-inflammatories.

We'll have to wait a while until the new purple tomatoes are available in the shops, but in the meantime you can get your dose of Anthocyanins from other sources, such as Elderberries. Anthocyanins are found in particualrly high levels alredy in berries. You can purchase a potent Elderberry tincture at the following link: www.homeherbs.co.uk

Well I hope this helps and thank you for reading!

How to Beat the Flu!

Flu Time

Well it's Flu time again unfortunately! Thankfully so far we haven't had a major Flu epidemic, such as the dreaded Bird Flu. However any strain of Flu tends to be very unpleasant and can sometimes be lethal, so it's important to help the body be prepared.

Many people think that any immume boosting herbs will help fight the Flu, but that's certainly not the case. Echinacea and Astragalus, for example, should be avoided especially in the active Flu Stage, as an increase in Cytokines brought on by a stimulated immune response can lead to a Cytokine Storm and actually ravage the lungs.

THIS IS WHY BIRD FLU DEATHS SEEM TO BE MOSTLY IN THE YOUNG AND FIT.

Anti-inflammatories and anti-virals are therefore thought best to help the body cope with Flu strains, especially should we ever encounter an epidemic such as Bird Flu (H5N1).

There are three herbs that I would choose to fight flu, namely: Ginger, Green Tea and Lemon Balm. This is based on their anti-viral and anti-inflammatory action, but equally importantly because none of them are thought to specifically boost Cytokine response.

Taste, safety and cost are also considered and these are generally regarded as very safe. Caution should be taken with Lemon Balm if pregnant or breast feeding, if you have a Thyroid condition, or Glaucoma.

Each herb was chosen for very specific reasons. See below:

Ginger Root: This herb was chosen because it contains 10 anti-viral compounds and is a stimulating herb that is warming to the system, making it a wonderful warming cold and flu remedy. It is also thought to be a powerful anti-inflammatory herb and there has been much recent interest in its use for joint problems, relieving headaches, soothing sore throats and reducing fever. All these symptoms are commonly associated with Flu. In her book '10 Essential Herbs' author Lalitha Thomas describes the properties: "The major active ingredients in ginger are terpenes (quite similar to the chemical action of turpentine) and an oleo-resin called ginger oil. These two, and other active ingredients in ginger, provide antiseptic, lymph-cleansing, circulation-stimulating, and mild constipation relief qualities along with a potent perspiration-inducing action that is quite effective in cleansing the system of toxins."

Lemon Balm: This herb is another excellent herb. It is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, sedative, and thyroid-regulating. It is often used to treat children with fever, flu, and colds. In adults, it treats colds, headaches, depression, menstrual cramps, insomnia, and nervous stomachs. In addition, it is a soothing, sedative herb that can relieve tension and lift depression. This is important as people do get very tired and fed-up when fighting the Flu. If you can start to FEEL better your body will heal much better.

Green Tea: Green Tea possesses one of nature's most powerful antioxidants, called EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate). Even moderate doses have an effect. In addition, Green tea is an excellent anti-inflammatory. It is thought the tea acts at the cellular level by inhibiting inflammatory pathways to reduce inflammation. The tea's high content of polyphenols is likely to be responsible for its high anti-inflammatory activity. It has been shown to REDUCE THE RELEASE OF PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES. (reference: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=57923).

I believe this is an excellent combination of herbs that are easy to take, taste nice and are not too expensive. Make a mug of Green Tea and add tinctures of Ginger and Lemon Balm, also a dash of Lemon juice for Vitamin C, and drink several times a day!

Garlic is another great herb for helping fight Flu. I haven't added into my top 3 as it's hard to add it to a warming beverage and drink it! But try regularly adding it to food. Be aware though, that too much Garlic can cause the Red Blood Cells to burst, causing Anaemia, so don't go overboard with it!

Goldenseal is another great herb that is both antiseptic and immune stimulating, increasing blood supply to the spleen. The spleen is the bodies staging area for the fighting cells in your immune system. Berberine is present in goldenseal, and activates macrophages (special white blood cells), which are responsible for destruction of bacteria, fungi, viruses and tumour cells. (Info taken from: www.organicnutrition.co.uk. Again I haven't added Goldenseal to my top three as it is very expensive, therefore not easily available to a lot of people. But if you can afford it, take it!

Please Note: This kit is NOT a substitute for the Flu injection and these herbs will not give you complete immunity from colds or Flu. What they aim to do is reduce the likelihood of catching an illness in the first place. And if you do become ill they should hopefully reduce the severity and duration of your symptoms, and help you recover afterwards.

If you want to purchase all these herbs together, you can do so at the following website: www.homeherbs.co.uk

I hope you find this useful! Thank you for reading.

Thanks for the image go to my fellow blogger at: http://anotherkcblog.wordpress.com/2008/02/