5-HTP and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more



or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Start reading 5-HTP on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

5-HTP: The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity, and Insomnia [Paperback]

Michael Murray
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)

List Price: $16.00
Price: $13.11 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $2.89 (18%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 6 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it tomorrow, May 23? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition --  
Hardcover --  
Paperback $13.11  
Unknown Binding --  
Image
Save on Popular Books This Summer
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more.

Book Description

June 1, 1999
The most authoritative and comprehensive guide to realizing the amazing health benefits of 5-HTP

Written by one of America's leading naturopathic doctors, 5-HTP explains how this natural amino acid can safely and effectively regulate low serotonin levels, which have been linked to depression, obesity, insomnia, migraines, and anxiety.

5-HTP is also a powerful antioxidant that can protect the body from free-radical damage, reducing the risk of serious illnesses such as cancer. 5-HTP has already helped thousands, and Dr. Murray, citing extensive scientific studies and case histories, shows how this groundbreaking supplement can help you.

Frequently Bought Together

5-HTP: The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity, and Insomnia + The Mood Cure: The 4-Step Program to Take Charge of Your Emotions--Today
Price for both: $22.95

Buy the selected items together


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

5-HTP is a naturally derived amino acid that has been shown in comprehensive studies to be safer than prescription drugs for the treatment of insomnia and depression, and can also be used for treating obesity, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, and premenstrual syndrome. It may prove to be more popular than St. John's wort for the treatment of depression and other serotonin-related conditions, as it's been shown to produce results in as little as two weeks, while the herb may take a month or longer.

Author Michael Murray, N.D., a leading naturopath and coauthor of The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, delves very deeply to explain the hows and whys of depression at the neurotransmitter level, and the illustrations of presynaptic membranes may be a bit much for the lay reader. There are also several sections with intimidating titles along the lines of "Enhancing 5-HTP with Catecholamine Precursors." But the book's comprehensiveness makes up for its occasional denseness. Murray includes enlightening sections on nutrition for peak serotonin synthesis, other complementary herbal supplements, and many online and physical sources for obtaining 5-HTP. --Erica Jorgensen --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Murray (Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements, Prima, 1996) believes that the symptoms of depression, obesity, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, hyperactivity, premenstrual syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia can be alleviated by taking the amino acid 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan). The body converts 5-HTP into serotonin, a neurotransmitter vital for brain function, and Murray argues that increased serotonin levels mitigate much of the discomfort associated with the conditions cited above. He devotes major chapters to depression, weight loss, insomnia, and headache, with each following the same format: exploration of the condition and orthodox treatment, review of studies using 5-HTP, and recommendations for therapeutic doses. Personal stories illustrate how patients have benefited from 5-HTP. It is apparent from warnings given throughout the book, however, that use of this natural supplement is not without danger, especially if taken with certain prescription medicines. Buy for alternative health collections only if demand warrants.AJodith Janes, Cleveland Clinic Fdn., OH
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam (June 1, 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0553379461
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553379464
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael T. Murray, N.D.

Dr. Murray is one of the world's leading authorities on natural medicine. He has published over 30 books featuring natural approaches to health. His research into the health benefits of proper nutrition is the foundation for a best-selling line of dietary supplements from Natural Factors, where he is Director of Product Development. He is a graduate, former faculty member, and serves on the Board of Regents of Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington.

The Science Behind DoctorMurray.com

For the past thirty years, Dr. Murray has been compiling a massive database of original scientific studies from the medical literature. He has personally collected over 60,000 articles from the scientific literature, which provide strong evidence on the effectiveness of diet, vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other natural measures in the maintenance of health and the treatment of disease. It is from this constantly expanding database that Dr. Murray provides the answers on health and healing on DoctorMurray.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
159 of 160 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written book January 26, 2001
By A Customer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Minor obsessive-compulsive disorder run in my family. A brother of mine is taking Zoloft. I was looking for a natural alternative to treat symptoms that I've had that are considered "mild" by the psychiatric community (my symptoms don't prevent me from holding down a job and having relationships). I've been unable to find a cure with behavioral modification. This book had the information I needed to understand the neurological and behavioral systems that are affected by serotonin deficiency. I was impressed with Dr. Murray's presentation of scientific studies and comparisons of 5-HTP against pharmological alternatives. I'm on 5-HTP now and it "magically" cured my 20-year compulsion. 5-HTP is no placebo. Like one of the other reviwers, I have to take 5-HTP in the morning. Taken before bedtime, I experience very vivid dreams and wake up at 3:00 a.m., unable to get back to sleep.
Was this review helpful to you?
81 of 83 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This well-written and extremely interesting book is a must-read for anyone suffering from insomnia, carbohydrate cravings (which often lead to obesity), depressed moods, or migraines. All of these medical problems have been linked to lack of serotonin, a chemical that the human brain makes naturally, which plays a part in the ability to feel pleasure, feel satisfied after eating, and feel well rested. Dr. Murray introduces his reader to a naturally-derived serotonin booster, 5-HTP, which has had positive effects on obese, insomniac, and depressed patients in both medical studies and in his own patients, so far without the negative side effects associated with Prozac and fen-phen.

While I agree with Amazon's assessment that the in-depth neurobiology of Dr. Murray's book can be intimidating, I see that as more of an indication of his unwillingness to patronize his readers by omitting it because it's "too hard for us." I would actually greatly distrust anyone who advised me to introduce a new substance into my body without telling me exactly what effect it was going to have on me in great detail. Try not to be intimidated by all those Latin names and medical terms - Murray really does try to explain these very complicated concepts in layman's terms.

I also greatly respect Murray's holistic approach to curing depression and obesity - he is never satisfied with merely selling us a miracle pill that can cure all of the reader's health problems without any effort on his or her part in this book. In addition to detailing the positive effects of 5-HTP as a dietary supplement, he strongly emphasizes good nutrition, proper sleep and exercise, and having a positive attitude as well, which I find reassuring, given the number of crash-diet and snake-oil peddlers out there.

Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
74 of 76 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars I Gave This Book To My Doctor January 28, 2000
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
When I skimmed the book jacket it was like reading a list of my symptoms: strong need for carbs in the evening, depression, difficulty in sleeping. I bought the book, but wasn't expecting any miracles. Well, I found one. Dr. Murphy painstakingly documents hundreds of clinical studies that prove the effectiveness of this amino acid when used to treat everything from obesity to migranes. He never asks the reader to take a leap of faith; rather he explains everything about this product in exceptional detail. I was so impressed with both the book, as well as the results I saw within 3 days of my taking this supplement, that I gave my copy of the book to my doctor. He specializes in hereditary diseases and thanked me for passing this on to him. Warning: as is noted in the book, some people (like myself) do experience nausea when first trying this supplement. This was easily fixed by taking tablets that are coated -- like aspirin -- so they don't dissolve in the stomach, but in the intestines. Thank you Dr. Murphy.
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars Headline Required
Plus I have to have 16 more words to be able to submit which I am forced to do, they don't like me to just rate the product with 6 stars. What a bunch of bull.
Published 16 days ago by Jay R. Winans
5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Michael Murray and 5-HTP
I am absolutely delighted, the 5-HTP was very simply explained and made so much sense. I'm sure it will be an invaluable tool to use in my practice as a Naturopath. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Eibhlin O'Callaghan
4.0 out of 5 stars Gave this to my mother
My mom struggles with mental health issues and obesity (in denial on the latter) and the people at the drug store recommended she try the supplement 5-HTP to see if it would help... Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. C.
2.0 out of 5 stars hum
I really could only get through a few pages. I flipped through the book, but the thought of having to get through that many pages just defeated me. Read more
Published 4 months ago
3.0 out of 5 stars A very generous review
I'm being very generous with 3 stars here because I know that 5-HTP works, if not overnight then as a few weeks therapy it will help many patients. But not all. Read more
Published 14 months ago by C. Qu
4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive view of 5-HTP
This book might have more brain chemistry material than some readers want, but I enjoyed learning how neurotransmitters work and WHY 5-HTP works better than serotonin uptake... Read more
Published 15 months ago by TG
4.0 out of 5 stars the sleep of the young and innocent!
I scanned the book after taking 5 HTP under recommendation by a naturalist doctor. The author agrees with my doctor, and I (and two of my daughters so far) definitely agree, that... Read more
Published 20 months ago by tungjiii
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
Very good book with good info. In this era of inferior food supplements can be of great benefit to many people.
Published 22 months ago by Smokey
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource
As part of my continuing desire to learn more about natural medicine and wellness, I read Dr. Murray's book on 5-HTP. Read more
Published on April 24, 2011 by Edward J. Barton
5.0 out of 5 stars New 5 HTP and Rhodiola User
My father committed suicide after suffering major depression most of his life and in my late 20's I started fighting off symptoms that escalated with the birth of my first child. Read more
Published on March 23, 2011 by Shashe
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews





Forums

Topic From this Discussion
I thought 5-HTP was restricted?
that's pretty much false...and when i say pretty much i mean completely.
5-htp is legal and in my tummy.
Jun 6, 2009 by S. Rubek |  See all 3 posts
Have something you'd like to share about this product?
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions

Listmania!


Create a Listmania! list

So You'd Like to...

Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category