Although naturally found in the foods we eat and in various plant species such as the West African shrub griffonia simplicifolia’s seeds, 5-HTP in supplement form is becoming increasingly popular, mainly because of the belief that as a pill, it will boost the body’s levels of serotonin.
5-HTP is considered as dietary supplement and widely available in Canada, United States and the United Kingdom.
In its supplemental form, 5-HTP for depression is also used as a sleep aid and appetite suppressant and may be purchased over the counter as gelatinor vegetarian capsules. Early in 2014, 5-HTP became available as a transdermal patch. 5-HTP is produced by the body from tryptophan after which it gets converted into serotonin, the neurotransmitter hormone that helps improve moods and suppresses hunger pangs. Read more >>
The sweetly-scented perennial plant known as valerian was first used as a medicinal herb by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Valerian for sleep disorders such as insomnia was prescribed by the Greek physician-surgeon Galen to Roman emperors.