5-HTP is the direct precursor to serotonin
According to University of Mississippi researcher Ronald F. Bore, Ph.D., in his article: Serotonin: The Neurotransmitter for the 90's. Drug Topics. 1994, October 10:108., serotonin is "The Neurotransmitter of the 90's" Of the chemical neurotransmitter substances, "serotonin is perhaps the most implicated in the etiology or treatment of various disorders, particularly those of the central nervous system, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, stroke, obesity, pain, hypertension, vascular disorders, migraine, and nausea."
5HTP is often used in the place of SSRI drugs and L-Tryptophan in the treatment of more severe depression and for epilepsy.
As a result, 5HTP has many similar uses compared to L-Tryptophan, such as the assistance of sleep and alleviation of age related mental depression, as well as alcohol withdrawal, but its affects are concentrated in the brain (L-Tryptophan has other roles throughout the body).
Very high doses of 5HTP must be avoided, unless also taking carbidopa to avoid serotonin crossing into the bloodstream. Normal doses are 50mg to 100mg (200mg-maximum) daily.
Avoid use with other serotonin enhancing agents, such as L-Tryptophan or other serotonin enhancing drugs, such as SSRI drugs like Prozac, etc., without your physician's guidance.
I started trichotillomainia in grade 1. I am now 55.
Only once in my life since the disease have I stopped trichotillomania for 2 years. It was when my children were small and I refused to have pets for about 4 years. Then it went into remission.
Recently had a friend with demodex skin mites. Read it can cause itchiness, and people with pets have more of these mites. I wondered if the demodex mites might be partly responsible. Since Borax kills demodex mites, I started putting borax paste (mule Borax with enough water to wet) on head hair where I pulled, rubbing the gritty mixture in scalp. Have only been doing it for past 2 days, but noticed 90 percent relief in urge to pull hair.
This may only be a placebo effect, but I find it encouraging, where nothing worked me in decades.
I hope this may be of help to other who suffer from TTM
Best of wishes in life,
Doreen, a long time TTM sufferer.
Hey everyone, I am 29 years old and have had OCD since about 12 years old. I have been searching for a natural cure and recently came across cayenne pepper. I put about 1 teaspoon in a mug of hot water, and it actually noticeably eased the OCD. And I mean my mind free'd up for the first time in years. The OCD is still there, but it became more tolerable. I'm interested to see if this helps out other people who read this. Please post if you try this and it helps. I also drink a lot of green smoothies, that may have helped too.
(Westwood, New Jersey, Usa)
I have had OCD for about 19 years. I have taken some SSRI medicine and some other medicine to. Most of them have not had any significant effect on me. I had insomnia because of obsession and anxiety. So last week because of allergic reaction to some food id searched for a remedy. I found out that chamomile tea is good for it. I drank it, and it was very very good! It really helped me for anxiety, allergy and itching and the best one for me was it affects good on my obsessive thinking and insomnia. so I suggest u, drink it every night. But be careful it may make u more sleepy for some days. So u can sleep sooner at nights. and it makes u relax and sleep good. Use it for anxiety, insomnia, allergy and... To. u can search for that and find more info. chamomile or Chamaemelum nobile
Coconut oil and strong religious faith for OCD
Use about 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil on a toast every day. On top of that have strong religious faith to not give into the obsessive urges.
Hi, I have suffered the below symptoms/disorders for many years, and I just wonder if any of you see any link between them (i.e. due to the lack of some mineral/vitamin, etc. ). I have had OCD for almost 10 years, and it has caused me chronic tension headache for 8+ years. The headache is better due to physical therapy, but OCD is still there. Further, I have ganglion cysts in my wrists. This could be due to sports, but I also had ovarian cysts, so not sure if something else is causing the cysts. The ovarian cysts were discovered 2 years ago and removed soon after the discovery (was causing great pain). Not sure when the ganglion cysts first appeared, but it started bothering me 2-3 years ago and still present after the doctor drained one.
This hasn't be diagnosed, but I think I have some degree of derealization or brian fog (not sure exactly what to call it). Basically very often I feel detached to the world and feel like the things/people around me are not real. I have trouble feeling my own feelings and cannot stay connected to my inner self or outside world. My brain often feels slow, sluggish and dull, and I cannot follow conversations sometimes even when I really try. When I am feeling spacey, time passes by quickly without me getting anything done. The "brain fog" followed soon after the OCD symptoms.
Just curious, does anyone see a link between OCD, brain fog and cysts? I am sure there isn't a single cause, but just curious if they could be related to some sort of element deficiency in my body. Also, any suggestions for cure will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
(Fountain Inn, Sc)
(Los Angeles, CA)
(Los Angeles, Ca)
I've been giving my 11 year old son Krill oil with Astaxanthan included, along Vit D (2000-4000) per day. (The Krill oil comes with 4mg of Astanxanthan.) He has OCD so I have been trying different, natural supplements. One day I realized that he was no longer walking around the house re-tracing his steps over if he "stepped wrong"...and I wondered if it was the supplements... or was it just wishful thinking and I was just missing the re-tracing...
Then one day I saw him twice re-tracing his steps after 3 weeks of nothing. I asked when was the last time he took his Krill oil, etc. He said it'd been a week. So he forgot to take it that whole week. Once he started up again the re-tracing stopped after 2 days. I was so happy to see a definite correlation!!
He also stopped chewing his shirt collars. He has anxiety and chews on the collars randomly throughout the day, to the point where he puts holes in them and I have to throw them away. That also started up again the week he forgot the supplements, but stopped within a day once he resumed. No shirt has been in his mouth since.
Some days I have him take 2 Krill oils and 2 Vit D's (2000 ea) (he was tested as Vit D deficient)...other days just one. I'm so happy to have found something that helps him.
Next, I'm going to also add Magnesium and Lugol's to his regimin. I'm hoping this will help with his forgetfullness. I've seen an improvement with the current suppl. but I'm hoping to really improve his memory even more.
There is a link between OCD and Strep called PANDAS.
(Kirkland, Wa Usa)
(Chapel Hill, Nc)
Hello, has anyone here had any experience with the over-the-counter supplements lithium orotate or lithium aspartate? This would be for OCD, or bipolar disorder, or anger, PTSD, etc. Thank you.
Hello Ted! Thank you find yourself near people with health problems. My son is 9 years suffering with OCD, is now 25 years, has used different medications but not recovered. I read your writings (http://ted.earthclinic.com/cures/obsessive_compulsive_disorder.html) that explain about the lack of minerals and thought maybe is true for my son ...... One day the boy had eaten fried mullet fish hard (had eaten the entire needles) and then a miracle happens his brain was very clear and he cheerfully said: "I recovered I'm not sick that my brain is clean". We do not know what happened, what mineral healed him, but it lasted only one day. My son continues with medications and they have given more effects anesore. Do be very grateful if you send feedback to, perhaps guy gonna antidepressant but no need for minerals. Thank you.
I have suffered from TTM for pretty much my whole life, and have struggled to get past the pattern of pulling and guilt and shame. Unfortunately, I have not found anyway to stop pulling; I pull my eyelashes and eyebrows until they are gone. I recently read that N-Acetylcysteine may help treat TTM and wonder if anyone has any experience with using this? I am considering trying it, looking up studies on pubmed as well. I would love to be able to have full eyebrows and eyelashes and not be embarrassed and ashamed. It's so hard to explain to people the compulsion to pull. Please if you know of anything that can help, please let me know. I would greatly appreciate it!
EC: From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichotillomania
"Trichotillomania (TTM, also known as "Trichotillosis"), or "trich" as it is commonly known, is an impulse control disorder characterized by the repeated urge to pull out scalp hair, eyelashes, facial hair, nose hair, pubic hair, eyebrows or other body hair, sometimes resulting in noticeable bald patches.:645 Trichotillomania is classified in the DSM-IV as an impulse control disorder, but there are still questions about how it should be classified. It may seem, at times, to resemble a habit, an addiction, a tic disorder or an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Trichotillomania often begins during the individual's teenage years. Depression or stress can trigger the trich. Due to social implications the disorder is often unreported and it is difficult to predict accurately prevalence of trichotillomania; 2.5 million in the U.S. may have TTM, with a 1% prevalence rate.
The name derives from Greek: tricho- (hair), till(en) (to pull), and mania."
(Indianapolis, Indiana, Usa)
Dealing with OCD/Anxiety
Hello, I just quickly wanted to say that i'm very familiar with this site and it has helped me very much through the few past years, so thank you!
I have had OCD since I was a child, but its mainly always been purely obsessional, no physical rituals. My anxiety has increased the past three months and I constantly feel afraid, nervous, sick because of the nerves, or just depressed. My brain fog has become very severe, its hard to pay attention to anything, and I always have a headache, especially behind my eyes. I never feel content, calm, or happy. I'm just very confused and numb. I know that vitamin D is good for the brain, i'm also familiar with valerian root, gotu kola, st. johns wort, and 5-HTP. The 5-HTP that I took was I believe 500 milgrams(?) and it said to take on an empty stomach before bed, but it gave me severe anxiety and almost made me vomit. I stopped taking it after three nights. I have never tried the St. Johns wort but i'm feeling so compelled too, I just wanted to know how to take it and how much should I take, as well as gotu and vitamin d. Will these counteract with one another? If there are better recommendations I would love to hear suggestions/insight. Thank you for reading, hope to here back soon.
Dear Ted, I am 32 years old and I have been living with my parents for the past six years, unable to work as a financial accountant due to my illness... My Symptoms: I was always a healthy person but since age 17 I began to have obsessive anxiety disorder (diagnosed as OCD by ALL the psychiatrists) and it was kept under control with Anafranil. But after five years' use it stopped working and everything came apart very rapidly from my 26 th year. I could no longer work, gym, listen to music or watch television or read a book - nothing. People talk about brain fog. I had almost NO brain function at all - just anxiety thoughts and pain. A total mental collapse. Here are my symptoms: BRAIN Anxiety, Bizarre obsessive thoughts, Paranoia, little perception, depressiveness, no pleasurable thoughts - all negative, No focus or concentration, impossible to start any task, nothing seems "real" and I am in a different world, severe brain fog, no cognitive function/ low ability to comprehend/learn. Can't "experience" or "feel" anything like music or a movie. Can't really think or experience at all. I can see and hear but Im not really "here". Burning sensation like acid in the brain. Pressure in the head. Always aware of "burning" and "pressure pain" but not like a headache. Difficulty in forming words or sentences and talking very unclear so that I have to repeat myself constantly. BODY Lethargy and tiredness - have to sleep A LOT. Burning type of pain over the whole body. Very weak muscles. No power or energy. Nerve problems. Pain in neck tendons and shoulders, Tremor/twitching of muscles with muscle exertion like doing a push up. Constantly feeling VERY sick all over, like having a strange flu or something but it doesn't go away. OTHER Constant ringing in the ears, "Pressure" feeling - physical, Teeth grinding while sleeping - jaw ache, Achy/irritation around eye area, Nasal congestion, Vision sometimes very blurred, Irritable Bowel Syndrome with chronic debilitating pain in lower large intestine/rectum, Spastic/Inflamed Colon (Colitis) with constipation. Kidney pain/tenderness. Hypothyroid. Weak liver. Pain under the arms. Back pain and in spinal cord. Hair loss, especially in the front. Note: There is always some good days and then bad days. Always up and down. Some symptoms come and go and come and go. I haven't felt healthy/just normal in years. Please Ted, my whole life has been robbed from me and I have seen over 50 doctors and specialists and natural doctors so far. Me and my parents have spent so much money on this strange illness that it is not even funny.
1. Does it look like metal poisoning and the resultant candida infection and maybe viral infection to you too? What would you recommend for a case such as mine? A few more specific questions.
2. Do I have to kill the candida with borax first before the metal removal or can I do it alongside?
3. I want to chelate metals with cilantro and oil pulling. Would that be ok or do I HAVE to add chlorella in order to get the metal out of the body (colon) as everybody says you must? I will be VERY VERY grateful if you could help me. Thank you for the opportunity to have written to you and ask for your help. Thanks again for helping mankind in their search for affordable health alternatives."
Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "The symptoms, while heavy metals is a suspect appears that you have the same condition as a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome induced heavy metals that I have witnessed here in Thailand, where mental fog and obsessive paranoia, and ringing of ears was completely cured or I may be having just a fantastic strings of luck here. LOL. The major remedies that have helped the person appears to be:
1. Magnesium 250 mg x 2 times a day.
2. Malic acid 1/2 teaspoon + Baking soda 1/2 teaspoon taken twice a day. In the early morning hours and late nights.
3. Vitamin B complex taken once every other day, where B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8 are 100 mg each, while B12 are about 100 mcg.
4. Hydrogen peroxide 3% 3-6 drops PLUS 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda in one full glass of water taken in the late mornings (about 9.00 am.) This helps with the brain fog.
5. Absolutely no sugar
6. A drop of clove oil added to the drinking water might help detox the liver
7. Some chelation using cilantro using a reasonable amount such as a tablespoon twice a week.
Those should do it, but my emphasis appears to be getting urinary pH to 7, by varying dose of baking soda more in the malic acid+baking soda mixture necessary. If a pH meter is handy, the baking soda added should be generally closer to 8. When varying dose, I usually mean more frequency. Getting sufficient alkalinity while important can only be done practically speaking 5 days out of a week.
The magnesium and the vitamin B complex, especially the alkalinity of urinary pH of 7 should solve the ringing of the ear problem. It takes about 3 weeks to noticed a general improvement using that remedy. I might be noted that should a person suffering from this condition that vomiting can result in improvement in condition as a result of excess acidosis. The remedy takes a while for an improvement, but the one I witnessed here with all the lack of taking properly, forgetting, bad communications takes about a year for a general trend of improvement, while a complete improvement were seen on the second year.
If candida is there, the remedy which is helpful was avoiding sugar, getting urine pH to 7 (using a cheap pocket pH meter), and 1/4 teaspoon (men's dose) of borax in 1 liter of drinking water usually once or twice a week at least for mild cases.
A general alkalinity formula I would use, such as 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water is also possible alternative to the malic acid, but malic acid removes aluminum. I have found that it was not only the mercury, but also the aluminum that comes from the vaccines and malic acid is an efficient chelator of aluminum. I would leave no stones unturned which might mean if thing's aren't working out, then I would consider adding 1/8 teaspoon of tannic acid in a liter of drinking water and finishing it off.
Tannic acid binds tightly to other metals such as free metal iron, cadmium, and especially mercury. I do take this myself from time to time because the water here are contaminated. Tannic acid added to drinking water for tests about 1/4 teaspoon in a liter of water if left overnight turns into almost opaque black water just to dramatically show that the metal thing is more widespread than we think.