One of the most prescribed antidepressants in the world is actually a plant. Saint John's Wort is an herb with effects on the brain's neurochemistry related to mood. Some people believe serotonin is the neurotransmitter that is most affected by this herb but others credit GABA or norepinephrine. My personal experience with Saint John's Wort has been mostly positive. I have a dyslexic-related visual disturbance that clears up with St. John's Wort. I have taken 5-HTP and the difference I have experienced is that the Wort energizes and relaxes while 5-HTP just relaxes.

The problem with these supplements compared to traditional SSRIs is the efficacy. In addition, the FDA doesn't allow manufacturers to show the appropriate dosage on the bottle. In my experience I have to at least double the dosage recommended on the bottle to get the intended effects. Most bottles recommend 900mg of Wort a day but I've seen it listed at 1800mg per day in one or two books.

Phenylalanine is a precursor to norephinephrine and dopamine and has similar effects as supplemental tyrosine. The experience I have had with L-phenylalanine has been more negative than positive. Like all other concentrations of protein it irritated my eyes and dried my skin a little. Psychologically this substance generated a little anxiety and energy. My brain is already optimally configured for maximum dopaminergic effect so extra dopamine from free form phenylalanine makes me feel uncomfortable, restless, and over focused. My experiences with tyrosine (and to a greater degree with N-Acetyl-Tyrosine) have been very similar to my experiences with L-phenylalanine. This is due to its close relationship in terms of its effect on brain chemistry.

There is another form of L-phenylalanine called DL-phenylalanine. People who have had positive effects from nicotine might have a more favorable experience with phenylalanine. I, on the other hand, become anxious when smoking or chewing tobacco, which feels a lot like the phenylalanine effect.

The author of this article is the owner of several food-related retail stores. His interest in food comes from the chemistry found in free form amino acids and their effects on the brain. Some people suggest that we think about food as a drug and how it makes us feel. As a rule of thumb we can count on carbohydrate-rich substances to increase serotonin while protein-rich food enhances dopamine in the frontal portion of the brain. The author’s stores are located at , , and .