Book Review
In this edition of Panacea, we turn our attention to author and doctor, Michael Murray, ND. His book, 5-HTP: The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, is a bestseller extolling the virtues of 5-HTP, a herbal supplement made from plants.
Dr. Murray’s practice focuses heavily on natural treatments. He is also the co-author of the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, a must-have for families, which treats a myriad of illnesses and conditions using natural approaches, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. In all, he’s written over 30 books.
The purpose of this book on 5-HTP is three-fold;
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to help people overcome depression and anxiety,
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to lose weight, and,
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to sleep better.
Who wouldn’t want to improve those areas of their lives. But 5-HTP is useful for other conditions as well (fibromyalgia, PMS, seizures, Parkinson’s). 5-HTP is made from an extract of an African plant (Griffonia simplicifolia). Murray’s claims are backed up, as one will see in the book, with hundreds of research studies.
The book is easy to read and is divided into 8 chapters. Chapter 1 discusses 5-HTP’s effects on the serotonin system. In short, your body converts 5-HTP to serotonin in the blood. Serotonin is the chemical which helps to regulate our moods. Chapter 2 demonstrates how the natural supplement can treat both major and minor depression, making it a powerful alternative to pharmaceuticals such as SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). Chapter 3 discusses how weight loss can be achieved through 5-HTP supplementation. Murray provides several case studies involving his patients’ weight loss when they’ve used 5-HTP to treat depression.
With insomnia, Murray notes in Chapter 4 that 5-HTP holds out hope for red-eyed insomniacs to not only get quality sleep, but also a good amount of deep sleep. As Murray notes, the supplement should be taken on an empty stomach, close to bedtime, for its sleep effects to be effective. Dreams, sometimes scary ones, are a common side effect and shouldn’t surprise those who are first trying the extract, as they usually go away.
Murray states in Chapter 5 that 5-HTP is helpful for those suffering from migraines and chronic headaches. Because it works with the body’s own ability to create necessary brain chemicals, it works like a painkiller and antiepileptic, two medicines often prescribed for migraines.
He goes on, in Chapter 6, to convey his experiences in treating patients with fibromyalgia, PMS, and other symptoms. Many medical doctors believe fibromyalgia is “all in the head” of patients who describe the symptoms. Murray doesn’t. He believes it’s a real condition that can be treated using 5-HTP.
Murray’s final chapter addresses how 5-HTP can be combined with other supplements to enhance its potency. It must be noted that 5-HTP must be used together with a Vitamin B6 pill.
My own experience with 5-HTP has been excellent, with the supplement being used almost exclusively (with B6) to treat major depression, sleeplessness, and anxiety. It shouldn’t, however, be used for long periods of time, as the body can and does develop a tolerance to it. Use as needed, for as long as necessary, to provide the benefits referred to in Murray’s book. Also, it should not be taken if someone is already taking prescription antidepressants. As always, check with your health care practitioner.
