5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid that is the intermediate step between tryptophan and the important brain chemical serotonin. There is a massive amount of Evidence suggests that low serotonin levels are a result of the lifestyle and dietary practices of many people living in this stress-filled era. As a result, many people are suffering from depression, being overweight, craving sugar and other carbohydrates, frequent headaches and vague muscle aches and pains are also common. All of these maladies are correctable by raising brain serotonin levels. The primary therapeutic uses for 5-HTP in low serotonin states may include
• Depression
• Migraine headaches
• Tension headaches
• Chronic daily headaches
• Obesity
• Carbohydrate craving
• Bulimia
• Insomnia
• Narcolepsy
• Sleep apnea
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
5-HTP is also used as a supplement by users of MDMA (ecstasy) to help replenish depleted serotonin, in an attempt to alleviate to a degree the depression and overall mental unsettlement that sometimes occurs in the days following MDMA usage.