Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “I have many symptoms of low serotonin levels. My doctor wanted me to take antidepressants but I don’t want to use them because I’m afraid of becoming addicted. Can you suggest something natural that would help increase my serotonin levels?” Jim B. Rhinelander, WI A. Dear Jim, You need to discuss with your doctor your reasons for not taking antidepressants and your plan to use natural interventions to address this issue. The best health outcomes are achieved when health care providers and their patients are all aligned. That said, there are several natural options for addressing low serotonin levels and improving mood. One suggestion is the amino acid tryptophan, 500 mg 1 to 3 times daily, and St. John’s wort extract, standardized to 0.3% hypericin, 1 capsule three times daily. Additionally, you might find chemotyped plant oils helpful. Chemotyped plant oils are highly concentrated. For example, in some cases it can take 8 tons of plant material to create one liter of oil. Make sure any plant oils you use are “chemotyped.” That means the oil has been purified, safety tested and “fingerprinted” to be the correct plant type and species. One formula I particularly like combines mandarin, basil and verbena chemotyped oils. It is excellent for improving mood and helping you feel calm and happy. You can read more about chemotyped plant oils in my article, Medicine of the Future: 100% Pure Chemotyped Plant Oils.