Posted by Bob P (129.65.106.2) on November 18, 1999 at 00:43:56:
Tonight I read an entry in the guest book where the poster said he started a cluster the day after Thanksgiving. 4 years ago I started a cluster the morning after Thanksgiving. Could the high dose of tryptophan from the turkey (remember serotonin is made from tryptophan) have been enough to push the two of us over the edge and into clusterdome?
Serotonin can only be made from tryptophan contained in the foods we eat. Don't eat those foods, lower tryptophan intake, lower serotonin levels.
Now, depending on whether CH is associated with elevated or lowered serotonin levels, I continue to read both cases, we could eliminate trypto.. containing foods and lower 5-HT levels or we could go to the health food store and buy 5-HTP (5 hydroxy-tryptophan) suppliments to raise our serotonin levels.
Which way do we go to to see if this can stop CH? Any active clusterheads that are willing to stop eating high trypto.. foods (meat, chicken, dairy products: I'm sure we could find a complete list)? Anyone tried taking 5-HTP suppliments to raise their serotonin?
A word of warning: tryptophan is a necessary amino acid needed to produce protiens. Limiting intake for extended periods could be bad.
BTW: Gary G - melotonin is produced from serotonin. Lowered serotonin levels could equate to lowered melotonin levels (I haven't looked into this yet).
I also read that the effects of psilocybin can be counteracted by tryptophan. Maybe Flash taking psilocybin ties up the tryptophan and reduces serotonin production in the process.
Well, that's my mind trip for tonight. Let me know what you guys think.
LYG
Bob P