Expert: Tonja Wells - 11/26/2008

Question
Before I get into my long explanation - my basic question is by what mechanism do these supplements give you stomach upset?  Is it because of the fact that you swallow them, and they physically go into your stomach, or is it, as I've been told, that it's a reaction your body has to not having enough serotonin in the gut?

Here's my background.  I've been on 5htp for almost 3 years (I think).  After the initial period of taking it I started to have serious problems with 5htp pills in that I felt sick and swollen, and on bad days it was so debilitating that I had to leave work early.  No matter how tiny the dose.  I started taking a sublingual 5-htp spray.  The idea is that by the time you swallow it, it's absorbed into your bloodstream already.  Nope - couldn't hack it.  Have to let it sit, then spit it out.

Lately, I've been having issues again.  I had no idea why.  I thought maybe I'm just being kinda careless with the spray, and some of it is being swallowed.  I called my ND, and she has consistently said for a long time that it's a reaction to your gut not having enough serotonin.  She put me on St John's Wort, one pill per night along with a lesser dose of my 5htp spray, and BAM, I feel like crap again.

I don't understand what is going on here and she's not doing a very good job of addressing these issues.  (She also gave me a GI powder to try and strengthen my stomach - it has astralagus, slippery elm, and marshmallow in it; within a couple hours of taking less than a teaspoon I had stomach pain.)  The only thing I can come up with is to try my regular 5htp and just be very vigilant with not swallowing it.  I'm so frustrated with this that I'm sitting here at my desk at work, in tears.  I just want to feel normal for once.  I am always sick whether it's 5htp or some new herb I'm trying out.

Thank you so much.

Answer
Hello Jessica,

Usually supplements upset the stomach for one of two reasons.
1.  Taking them on an empty stomach
2.  The stomach is irritated.

I would be sure to take all supplements at the end of larger meals if your stomach hurt when taking them and then see if there is an ulcer or stomach irritation of some kind. The supplements in and of themselves should not irritate a full stomach.

For the colon to uptake seratonin you must have Probioitic. I suggest Bifidolophous flora force as you must clean off the seratonin receptor sites in the colon/gut for seratonin to uptake. So the issue may not be the body not producing enough seratonin but the gut being congested. Having at least 2-3 bowel movements a day is essential here and taking probioics and eating cultured foods are important as well as eating right for your blood type.

There are two other issues that must be addressed with depression.
One is the liver.  The liver is the seat of the emotions. If it is congested the herbal combination Chinese Mood Elevator is essential.

The other is the thyroid. If it is weak, it must be fed.  Herbal high in the mineral iodine are essential here.  I suggest the herbal combination Thyroid Support.

First I would heal the stomach. I would need to know what is going on.  A full consult would be optimal.

The slipper elm and marshmallow can be of great benefit to cool.
I would personal suggest Aloe Vera Juice. Doing liquids or powered formals here are good as the stomach is getting the direct healing results from it as it is on the stomach wall.

You can learn more and order these herbals at my web site at www.yourherbalhealthsolutions.com

Tonja Wells, CNHP, NHC

This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose and treat diseases.  If you have any health problems consult a health practitioner before embarking on any course of treatment.