Serotonin is produced in the brain and helps regulate a number of functions in the body. Serotonin is best-known for its effect on mood. Scientists don't really understand how depression develops, but a direct correlation has been established between depression and low serotonin levels. The most common way to treat low serotonin is to take anti-depressant medications. However, these drugs can cause a number of side effects, including weight gain and anxiety, which is why natural serotonin supplements came into the market.
Step 1
Talk to your doctor before taking serotonin supplements. If you're suffering from serious clinical depression, supplements might not be enough, and you might instead need a prescription drug. Discuss the different supplements with your doctor to see which one fits your case and your symptoms best. You might even need to try different supplements until you find the one that works for you.
Step 2
Try the supplement 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, best known as 5-HTP. You can find this in pill form at vitamin shops and drugstores, and you don't need a prescription to buy it. After you take 5-HTP, your body changes it into serotonin. Dosage varies among brands and formulations, so read labels carefully. You usually need to take only one pill on an empty stomach, either in the morning or at night.
Step 3
Take St. John's wort supplements. A 2006 study published in the "Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology" in Germany showed that St. John's wort can raise serotonin levels and help treat mild cases of depression. Studies are inconclusive on more severe cases of depression. MayoClinic.com recommends up to 1,800 mg per day if you can tolerate it.
Step 4
Take one supplement at a time, and don't mix prescription antidepressants with natural serotonin supplements. Because all of them affect the same area of the brain, you can experience serious side effects if you mix them. The mix can be fatal if taken in large dosages.
References
- HelpGuide; "Antidepressants"; Melinda Smith, M.A., Lawrence Robinson, and Jeanne Segal; November 2010
- Dr. Weil; "A Supplement to Boost Serotonin?"; Dr. Andrew Weil; 2002
- MayoClinic.com: St. John's Wort (Hypericum Perforatum L.)
- "Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology"; "Antidepressant Use in Children and Adolescents in Germany"; Dr. Jörg Fegert et al; March 2006
- Depression Guide: 5htp Side Effects, Dosage and Benefits
- University of Bristol: Depression
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