5-HTP: The Benefits to Boosting Your Serotonin

5HTP increases levels of serotonin in the brain and if you have the appropriate balance of neurotransmitters in your brain, you can have the powerful ability of a good mindset. Without the appropriate precursor molecules in your brain, you will never be able to control your mindset, once you control your mindset, or at least get your brains the right micronutrients, then you rbrain has the ability to harness this thing we call descending inhibition. That is when your brain center turns down the volume of any given pain signal.

For instance, it can decipher the difference between “it’ll go away soon” vs “it needs to be amputated” when you stub your toe.

5-HTP is a precursor molecule to serotonin which is a precursor molecule to melatonin. 5-HTP increases your Rapid Eye Movement sleep, or REM sleep, and assists with sleep and hyperalgesia which is associate with sleep insomnia. It’s known to support healthy sleep cycles by regualting them, helping you wake up refreshed and restored.

5-HTP is there not just to help you sleep better and reduce hyperalgesia associated with sleep, it’s there also to help improve the descending inhibition power of your brain. 5-HTP is also in and of itself an antioxidant, an anti-inflammatory molecule. It helps reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reducing levels of chronic low grade inflammation. 5-HTP also reduces the levels of oxidative stress, an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in your body.

Therefore, 5-HTP works directly by reducing inflammatory cytokines and rlevels of oxidative stress but works indirectly by improving sleep and pain modification by way of descending inhibitory pathways.