Serine recommendation

[Giagal]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a good make of Serine for insomnia. I have looked on Amazon and there are quite a few to choose from and looking for any recommendations.

Thanks

Carolyn

[Giagal]

Oh as an update to my query - I have been reading tonight that melatonin and 5htp are not good for those of with hashimoto's. Great!!!

Thanks

C

[Collie in reply to Giagal]

Yes, you are right. I tried melatonin and developed worsening of hashimoto's symptoms (although it did improve my sleep a bit). The return of symptoms was too high a price to pay. Read the label and it said 'not to be taken if you have autoimmune disease' which confirmed my fears.

[cloud1 in reply to Giagal]

Oh,why is 5HTP bad for hashis!?I was taking it regularly,in morn(for depression)last year.

[humanbean]

Do you mean phosphatidyl serine? Or phosphorylated serine?

[Giagal in reply to humanbean]

Oh, what is the difference between them? thanks

[humanbean in reply to Giagal]

This may help :

drdebe.com/articles/phospho...

Phosphorylated serine is cheaper than phosphatidyl serine, and the cheaper one is the one you want.

BUT... Unless you have high cortisol levels it is not a good idea to use either of these compounds just to help you sleep, because what they actually do is lower cortisol. If you already have struggling adrenals and low cortisol, then using serine could be disastrous.

[cloud1 in reply to humanbean]

I am tjinking of taking serine in morn,my cortisol is v v high at that time..but am a little wary about how it works;does it affect ur pituatary?(eonder if affects thyroid indirectly).

[humanbean in reply to cloud1]

I took Seriphos (phosphorylated serine). The manufacturer (Interplexus) recommends taking it for a maximum of three months. I only took it for 4 - 6 weeks, and I built up quickly to three capsules a day. If my next saliva test also shows high cortisol I'll take it again for roughly the same time.

My science knowledge wasn't really up to the job of working out what it did. I just took it on recommendation from others with the same problem. The science behind it might (or might not) be explained in this blurb from Interplexus :

interplexus.com/pdf/seripho...

[Giagal]

Thanks Collie for the confirmation regards melatonin and hashimotos. I have ordered some of this:

highernature.co.uk/Products...

Just hope it works

[Giagal]

So, If I can't take melatonin because of Hashimoto's AND cannot take serine to get to sleep - what can I take as I am always alert and awake because of high cortisol !!!

[humanbean in reply to Giagal]

If you know you have high cortisol then taking serine might help you. It is only to be avoided if you have low cortisol. So you are safe enough.

[humanbean]

These links may contain something helpful - they are both quite comprehensive and are worth reading :

annapolis-nutrition-fitness...

moodcure.com/pdfs/Townsend-...

Incidentally, I have high cortisol too (or at least I did the last time I was tested about 6 months ago). I take both 5-HTP (just 50mg per night) and melatonin (about 0.5mg - 1mg per night). I wasn't aware I should be avoiding them. And since I have had sleeping problems all my life I think I would have to have them removed from my cold, dead hands before I would give them up!

[Giagal]

Hi Humanbean,

Many thanks for the advice and the links - very helpful. I have the classic cortisol pattern - on the floor in the morning and gradually improves thu the day. Then high at bedtime. So like you getting to sleep is a nightmare. I have been taking valerain, then 5htp closer to bedtime plus and over the counter sleeping tablet - then slap a load of lavender oil on my pulse points - and then read till the words on the page started to wobble - lights out and aim to relax my mind.

Most nights I can drift off - but always awake at least 3 times in the night. But I know lots of you here all know this scenerio.......I am waiting delivery of the serine and hope it works without screwing my morning levels even more!!! Trial and error.

Anyway, thanks again.

[cloud1 in reply to Giagal]

Just wondered if uv tried a bedtime snack.i find it helps;like yogurt&banana,seeds,milk..

[star-flower]

Have a look at Peter Smith's (PeterSmithUK.com) book 'Sleep Better With Natural Therapies - a comprehensive guide to overcoming insomnia, moving sleep cycles and overcoming jet lag'. You can also e-mail him for digital relaxation exercises that accompany the book - which aim to lower eveing cortisol. He also mentions various supplements that may help e.g. GABA (though it doesn't work for everyone), Lithinase, L glutamine, L Theanine. It's a really good book - only recently published - I borrowed it at my local library.