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DLPA vs DPA for pain, food cravings, depression, grief, lack of joy; and impacts of DLPA on sleep, and feeling more stressed/anxious

By Trudy Scott Leave a Comment

dlpa vs dpa

A very common question I get is from folks asking about the difference between the amino acids DPA (d-phenylalanine) and DLPA (dl-phenylalanine) for endorphin support and endorphin/dopamine support. I dedicate an entire blog to this question explaining the differences and which one I use for weepiness, heart-ache, pain and energy. I also discuss where tyrosine (for dopamine support) fits in. If you missed that or need a recap you can read about this on the blog.

The blog post generated some great questions that I’m sharing today, with my feedback, in case you have similar questions. I discuss a question about DLPA vs DPA for pain and impacts on sleep; a question about DLPA (used by mistake) raising already high dopamine levels and why DPA isn’t working any more for food cravings; a question about using DPA with GABA; and a question about DPA for depression and lack of joy caused by grief.

Here is the question from Gloria who shared this feedback about her use of DLPA (as part of a pain relief product) but says she can’t use it past noon. She also wants to know more about DPA for pain relief:

My experience with DLPA is as part of a supplement called Curamin for pain relief from arthritis that also has curcumin and boswellia. It works quite well in the AM but I can’t tolerate it past noon or it negatively affects my sleep.

Interesting to learn it is similar to tyrosine which I have had sleep problems with in the past.

Does DPA work as well for pain? Is it best to take amino acids on an empty stomach for best absorption? Does that mean an hour before a meal or two hours after? Thank you for your blogs and book!

It’s great that this combination product offers pain relief and it’s good that she has made the connection to poor sleep when it’s used after noon. This is a popular product that I would like to see include the possible impacts on sleep and the other precautions for DLPA . It is a proprietary formulation so you don’t actually know how much DLPA you’re getting. I really don’t like not knowing.

One other concern is that curcumin is high-oxalate and for some this can make pain worse. Otherwise, curcumin and boswellia are excellent for pain relief and reducing inflammation.

DPA is more effective for pain than DLPA because it offers a bigger endorphin boost. If oxalates are not an issue, one option could be to continue with the Curamin before noon and if needed, add standalone DPA in the afternoon and evening, for added pain relief.

Amino acids are more effective on an empty stomach and even more effective when opened on to the tongue. I share more about opening DPA onto the tongue in this blog.

DLPA (used by mistake) raised already high dopamine levels and why isn’t DPA working any more for food cravings?

Rhonda shared how she found out the difference between DPA and DLPA the hard way and wants to go back to DPA:

I certainly found out the difference the hard way. I had used Lidtke Endorphigen for a few years and I think it helped a bit with food cravings. As I am in Australia, I depend on my sister’s visits from US for my supply. When I ran out last year, I bought DLPA by mistake.

After 1 week I was unable to cope with life, totally stressed out about everything, wanting to cry or scream or run away. Zero tolerance towards anyone. After 10 days I realized my mistake and I went back to normal in 24 hrs.

I believe DLPA resulted in very high dopamine as I already have a very slow COMT gene activity for breaking down dopamine.

I now take Endorphigen again but not seeing much effect on sugar cravings this time.

That is quite the reaction she experienced but I’m glad she figured it out so quickly. It’s not uncommon for some folks to react to DLPA like this, feeling more stressed and even anxious. High dopamine, and norepinephrine and epinephrine (so a huge adrenalin rush), related to slow COMT activity could well be the cause.

When Endorphigen (or any of the amino acids) work well initially we continue with trials of higher doses to find the ideal dose. It may also be that a reset is needed after the shift in dopamine.

Rhonda did say she thinks Endorphigen “helped a bit with food cravings.” When it only helps a bit it may be that the dose isn’t high enough or we may need to consider other neurotransmitter imbalances. They can all cause cravings for slightly different reasons: GABA/stress, serotonin/worry or low mood, glutamine/low blood sugar. More on that and the respective amino acids here.

Can GABA be used with DPA?

Ray asks: “Can I use GABA 25mg and also take DPA? Would either/or offset the other?”

My feedback: If someone has low GABA symptoms and GABA helps and they also have low endorphin symptoms and DPA helps then they are absolutely fine to use together and even at the same time. However, I have my clients trial one at a time in order to find the ideal dose and so you know how each one is working

What can I use for my depression and lack of joy, caused by grief?

Vee says she needs something “to get through my grief depression”:

Completely flat, no joy. I always had a calm flat disposition, but now it’s a complete zero. I need my brain to produce some oxytocin so I can like myself, my family and remember all I should be grateful for. I sleep good. I don’t take any meds, and I don’t abuse alcohol. Does tyrosine affect the brain in the way of producing oxytocin?

My feedback: I use DPA/Lidtke Endorphigen for this very purpose. It’s wonderful for grief, depression, lack of joy and the weepiness we see with low endorphins. It also helps with emotional eating that can show up as we try to self-medicate with treats in order to try and feel better.

When the depression also includes being flat, blah and curl-up in bed we use DLPA instead of DPA, or a combination of DPLA/DPA or tyrosine/DPA. Trials of each, one by one, helps you figure out what works best for your unique needs.

And for some folks GABA is helpful as shared by this woman who found GABA allowed her to sit with a feeling of peace and calm most of the time after her mum passed away.

Research does shows a link between dopamine and oxytocin, with oxytocin “emerging as one particular neural substrate that may be influenced by the altered dopamine levels.” Also, for oxytocin support I’d focus on hugs, massage, touch, laughter, making love, yoga, and petting a dog or cat.

DPA and DLPA product options

lidke endorphigen
pure dlp

Products I recommend include Lidtke EndorphiGen (which is DPA) and Pure Encapsulations DL-Phenylalanine (DLPA).  You can purchase these from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account).

dr's best dpa
life dlp

If you’re not in the US, these products are available via iherb: Doctor’s Best D-Phenylalanine (or DPA) and Life Extension D, L-Phenylalanine (or DLPA) (use this link to save 5%).

Additional resources when you are new to using DPA and DLPA, and other amino acids as supplements

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low endorphins or low dopamine or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control (this is covered in an entire chapter too), sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs (over and above the few I mentioned above).

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I do always appreciate questions and feedback like this so keep your questions coming. I do hope my sharing these ones have been helpful to you.

How has DPA or DLPA helped your pain, depression, lack of joy, weepiness, and grief? And has DLPA affected your sleep or made you feel more anxious or stressed?

If yes, which products have helped and do you find swallowed or capsule opened is more effective?

If you’re a practitioner do you use DPA and/or DLPA with clients/patients?

And please let me know if it’s helpful that I’m now including product recommendations and where to get them?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Thera360 Plus: my portable full-spectrum infrared sauna from Therasage (better sleep and digestion, more energy, and even more joy!)

By Trudy Scott 39 Comments

thera360 plus

Today I’m sharing why I personally chose the Thera360 Plus, a portable full-spectrum infrared sauna from Therasage. And I also share my feedback on how I feel after using this sauna.  I also have a call to action asking you to share your sauna experiences so the community can benefit from the collective wisdom of everyone who has one or uses one.

I also highlight some of the many health benefits of regular sauna sessions – both mental and physiological.

Mental health benefits: improved well-being, reduced pain, stress reduction and improved sleep

Here are some of the mental health benefits from this paper, Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review):

  • In addition to having profound physiological effects, sauna bathing is reported to have beneficial psychological effects that are reflected in the many reports of improved well-being and pain tolerance.
  • The psychological impact of sauna bathing may be due to a combination of factors that include release of endorphins and other opioid-like peptides such as dynorphins, forced mindfulness, psychological stress reduction, relaxation, improved sleep, time out from busy life schedules, placebo effects, and other aspects of individual psychological and social interactions that likely occur around frequent sauna activity.
  • While it is difficult to distinguish between the different factors that produce positive psychological effects, such effects may enhance other physiological and metabolic benefits as they are likely to promote adherence to regular sauna activity.

Remember, endorphin release leads to feeling joyful.

And this last bullet is an important one to highlight: when you really enjoy doing something you are more likely to continue doing it. This means you’ll continue to see benefits.

There is also research that supports serotonin-boosting effects and cortisol-lowering effects, both of which are important when it comes to anxiety and mood too. (I’ll address this in a future blog on saunas, together with other mechanisms).

Physiological benefits: reduced inflammation, benefits for Alzheimer’s, reducing toxins and improved heart health

Here are a few studies you can read to learn more about some of the many physiological benefits of sauna:

And this is an excerpt from the Therasage site

The Thera360 Plus sauna enhances mitochondrial health and cellular energy, improves microcirculation and blood oxygenation, enhances the natural production of nitric oxide, offers skin and anti-aging benefits, and the best natural detoxification possible, along with all the amazing health benefits of Full Spectrum Infrared.

The many positive features that helped me pick this sauna

The Thera360 Plus is the sauna I own and endorse. Here are a few of the many positive features that helped me decide to purchase this one (I did a fair amount of research and did look at other units too):

  • It is a full-spectrum (near and far) infrared sauna
  • It comes with red light/photobiomodulation panels (which also help with pain, mood and reducing inflammation).
  • It has the tourmaline gemstones built-in (these generate negative ions so it feels like you’ve been at the beach or a waterfall).
  • The chair and foot base is made of non-toxic bamboo materials. I’m used to having to leave new items outside for days in order to off-gas. I was surprised that this was not needed. Their “No Off-Gassing” message holds true.
  • The bamboo foot base is a grounding mat.
  • It is low EMF and shields not only EMF’s but also ELF’s, RF’s and dirty electricity. Before I purchased my sauna, I met with the owner and am super-impressed by this feature.  It’s a really important factor for me and anyone with anxiety or chronic illness and/or electromagnetic hypersensitivity). As soon as it arrived I set it up (set up is so easy) and got out my meter and measured all the EMFs and sure enough there is no exposure when inside the sauna.
  • The digital temperature controller is simple to use.
  • It’s portable, small and convenient to use.
  • It’s affordable, is made in California and the company ships internationally.

My personal feedback as to how I feel after using this sauna

For me, this infrared sauna (with red light therapy and tourmaline) helps me with sleep, digestion and energy primarily (I have chronic Lyme). I also know it’s helping me with ongoing detoxification, mitochondrial health, stress reduction and mood support, immune function and cardiovascular health.

The good news is that the sauna has anti-inflammatory benefits and provides me with wonderful relief from pain, muscle spasms and other injuries.

Also, I feel a real sense of joy after using it … I can’t stop smiling for hours after a session.  That is the endorphin and serotonin boost I’m getting, plus some of the benefits of negative ions! I love the outdoors and after a session in the sauna, I almost feel like I’ve been for a hike or walk on the beach.

I’ve also positioned my sauna facing a large window that looks onto our covered patio. It has lots of greenery and I can see the blue sky off to the left. This is particularly pleasant on a cold winter’s day and I get some of the benefits of nature.

sauna
sauna

I love the bamboo chair that ships with it but it wasn’t providing me with any lower back support (I’m prone to back injuries).  I made a modification with a bamboo garden stake and PVC bracket (with some help from my darling father-in-law). Here are some images in case it’s something you’ve been considering….it works perfectly for the back support I need, keeps my bare back exposed to the heat and the bamboo garden stake slides out if needed.

sauna chair
sauna chair PVC clip

A more in-depth blog post: mechanisms and additional insights

I believe we can all benefit from regular sauna bathing! And I’ll be sharing a more in-depth blog post on additional benefits of infrared sauna, some of the mechanisms, how to interpret the research (since there is so much research on traditional/Finnish saunas which are shorter duration and higher temperatures), how to assess the different saunas that are available, and how to use one and get the most benefits.

I’ll also share my insights on using sauna bathing for benzodiazepine, SSRI, opioid and alcohol detox; why folks with pyroluria may see specific benefits; and using sauna bathing to help reduce the impact of these things that increase anxiety – toxic mold, heavy metals, Lyme disease, pesticides, glyphosate, fluoride, phthalates and much more.

Learn more about the Thera360 Plus sauna here on the Therasage site. If you decide to purchase use coupon code TRUDY10 to save 10%.

I was confused when I started looking into saunas and if you’ve been following me for a while you know I like to share what I learn – hence this blog post. I’m still learning and will continue to share in follow-up posts.

There are many excellent saunas available for purchase and this is just one of them that I landed upon after researching a number of them.

If you have a home sauna, please share:

  • which one you have
  • why you purchased this type/brand (or use this type of sauna)
  • and the benefits you have experienced.

And do feel free to share more about:

  • how you use yours – duration, frequency, temperature
  • what you do before and after (for hydration)
  • if you dry-brush (before or after)
  • if you use certain nutrients (like niacin, charcoal, magnesium and other electrolytes, glutathione, NAC etc)
  • anything else you do as part of your sauna bathing
  • what other detox approaches you use (such as rebounding or castor oil packs etc).

By using the collective wisdom from this community we can all learn and benefit. And giving/contributing gives you a nice endorphin boost too!

If you have questions please share them here too.

What is the difference between DPA and DLPA (amino acids) and which one do I use for weepiness, heart-ache, pain and energy?

By Trudy Scott 75 Comments

dpa and dlpa

Today we address a very common question I get: “What is the difference between DPA and DLPA?” The follow-up question is this: “And what symptoms do they help with?” These are both amino acids that help to boost certain feel-good neurotransmitters. DPA (d-phenylalanine) supports endorphins, whereas DLPA (dl-phenylalanine) supports both endorphins (to a lesser extent than DPA) and catecholamines (to a lesser extent than tyrosine).

Depending on your imbalances and symptoms, they could help with weepiness, heart-ache, comfort eating, emotional support, pain relief, better focus and energy, and even improved motivation.  

I mostly recommend DPA (which I call a-hug-in-a-bottle) and share the reasons why below, but some people do really well with DLPA. It’s a matter of figuring out the best one and dose for your unique needs.

DPA for low endorphin symptoms

DPA (d-phenylalanine) is an amino acid that destroys the enzyme that breaks down endorphins. Endorphins are feel-good chemicals that you experience with an endorphin rush when you go for a run or when someone gives you a big hug, when you show kindness to someone or an individual does something nice for you.

Taking the amino acid, DPA, as a supplement helps to raise your endorphins and helps when you feel weepy and overly emotional and reduces the need to self-medicate with treats as a reward or for comfort.

This amino acid is a favorite with so many of my clients and community because it makes them feel so lovely … a warm and fuzzy feeling. I often call it a-hug-in-a-bottle!

Here are the low endorphin symptoms I have my clients rate if they are considering a trial of DPA:

  • Heightened sensitivity to emotional pain
  • Heightened sensitivity to physical pain
  • Crying or tearing up easily
  • Eating to soothe your mood, or comfort eating
  • Really, really loving certain foods, behaviors, drugs, or alcohol
  • Craving a reward or numbing treat

Tyrosine for low catecholamine symptoms

Tyrosine is the amino acid that boosts catecholamines and helps with focus, motivation, energy (especially when you crave carbs for energy) and the blah kind of depression. It’s wonderful for helping you easily quit coffee/caffeine (when you are using it to “self-medicate” due to low catecholamines). It also provides support for the thyroid.

Here are the low catecholamine symptoms I have my clients rate if they are considering a trial of the amino acid tyrosine:

  • Depression and apathy
  • Easily bored
  • Lack of energy
  • Lack of focus
  • Lack of drive and low motivation
  • Attention deficit disorder
  • Procrastination and indecisiveness
  • Craving carbs, alcohol, caffeine, or drugs for energy

DLPA for both low endorphin and low catecholamine symptoms

If someone has both low endorphin and low catecholamine symptoms, a trial of DLPA could be considered.  DLPA supports both endorphins (to a lesser extent than DPA alone) and also catecholamines (to a lesser extent than tyrosine used alone). You could think of it as doing half and half of each.

Low endorphin symptoms:

  • Heightened sensitivity to emotional pain
  • Heightened sensitivity to physical pain
  • Crying or tearing up easily
  • Eating to soothe your mood, or comfort eating
  • Really, really loving certain foods, behaviors, drugs, or alcohol
  • Craving a reward or numbing treat

And low catecholamine symptoms:

  • Depression and apathy
  • Easily bored
  • Lack of energy
  • Lack of focus
  • Lack of drive and low motivation
  • Attention deficit disorder
  • Procrastination and indecisiveness
  • Craving carbs, alcohol, caffeine, or drugs for energy

Why I prefer my clients use DPA and tyrosine, rather than DLPA

Many people do well with DLPA (you can read one example below) but over the years I have streamlined my amino acid recommendations and seldom suggest DLPA. Here are the reasons why I prefer DPA:

  • DPA is not stimulating and doesn’t affect sleep. However, DLPA can be stimulating for anxious folks (and the majority of my clients have anxiety). For this reason, DLPA can not be used later than 3pm as it can affect sleep and for some folks with really bad sleep issues it can’t be tolerated later than mid-morning (in a similar way to tyrosine).
  • I like to have clients use DPA alone so we can clearly identify the benefits they are experiencing for their low endorphin symptoms and then use tyrosine alone so we can clearly identify their low catecholamine benefits.
  • There are no precautions or contraindications with DPA. However, DLPA has the same precautions as tyrosine. This limits using it for endorphin support. These are the precautions:
    • Overactive thyroid/Grave’s disease: tyrosine, DLPA (avoid)
    • Phenylketonuria (PKU): tyrosine, DLPA (avoid)
    • Melanoma: tyrosine, DLPA (avoid)
    • High Blood pressure: tyrosine, DLPA (watch)
    • Migraine headaches: tyrosine, DLPA (watch)
    • Bipolar disorder: tyrosine, DLPA, glutamine (watch)
  • The women I work with who do have low endorphin symptoms have reported superior benefits from DPA compared to DLPA, especially for emotional pain and emotional eating.
  • Some folks can’t tolerate tyrosine and these same folks have a hard time with DLPA.

The one disadvantage with DPA is that it’s not as widely and readily available as DLPA. It often needs to be purchased online (I list some brands below).

Here is some feedback from folks to give you an idea how these amino acids have helped them.

As you’ll see, there are some individuals who do well with DLPA so it’s really a matter of looking at the symptoms and doing a trial.

DPA helps Missy with weepiness and a deep heart-ache (and tastes like dark chocolate)

Missy shares how DPA helped her deep heart-ache sort of feeling:

I have found I was using this product incorrectly. If you are feeling fine, you do not feel much of anything from it. But today I was weepy and felt that deep, heart-ache sort of feeling. I chewed 1000 mgs (2 capsules) and it DID help lift that awful feeling within 15 minutes.

Notice that she said if you’re feeling fine you don’t feel much at all. This is true of all the amino acids – they only make a difference when you need them.

Missy said that she chewed the capsule, however around 2019, the gelatin capsule was replaced with a cellulose capsule. It’s much more palatable when it’s opened up into the mouth. I blog more about opening the capsule here.

She also reported what about half my clients say:

Tastes like slightly bitter dark chocolate 🙂

The remainder of my clients don’t like the taste at all, although many say the taste grows on them. I’ve always been in the dark chocolate camp and find it quite pleasant tasting.

DLPA helps Toby with energy and pain relief (he has CFS and fibromyalgia)

Toby has a diagnosis of CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and fibromyalgia and shared how DLPA helps him:

I’ve played around with (I think) all variations of these aminos and have found unequivocally (in the sense of definite and fast observable changes as opposed to none) that DLPA is the one that works for me. I have wondered what that means. I am male, 45, diagnosed with CFS and fibromyalgia and have speculated that in lay terms the DLPA gives me a bit of energy and pain relief (endorphins). Is that a logical conclusion?

He posted an image of the DLPA product he used and said this:

After putting it on my tongue, very quickly I get an agreeable boost in energy and pain relief. I have not experienced this with DPA or tyrosine.

Based on what I’ve covered above with the symptoms you can see that Toby has made a very logical conclusion. He is getting both endorphin support (the pain relief) and catecholamine support (the energy).

Resources if you are new to using DPA or DLPA as supplements

If you are new to using the amino acids DPA or DLPA as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see the low endorphin and low catecholamine symptoms.)

If you suspect low levels of endorphins and/or low levels of catecholamine and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the team you or your loved one is working with. Blog posts like this are intended to add value to the chapter on amino acids, which contains detailed information on doses and time of the day for dosing.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the DPA and DLPA products that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

For DPA I have used the Lidtke Endorphigen product for years and it’s a firm favorite with my clients (and I’ve used it myself).

I recently purchased  a bottle of Doctor’s Best D-Phenylalanine to test and it works just as well as the Lidtke product.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. It’s an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Do you have any of the low endorphin and/or low catecholamine symptoms and have you seen benefit with DPA, DLPA and/or tyrosine?  If yes, please share what benefits.

Has this blog provided clarification on DPA vs DLPA, and will you be changing how you use these amino acids going forward?

If you’re a practitioner please share what you use with clients/patients.

Feel free to ask your questions here too.

I am an emotional eater and eat sugar as a reward and find myself craving it when I am fatigued. Do you have clients on more than one amino acid?!

By Trudy Scott 24 Comments

 

emotional eating and amino acides

This is a question I received from a stressed out mom in my community. She has identified when she craves sugar and the emotion connected to her cravings. Now she has questions about how to trial and use amino acids to stop her cravings, get her energy back and feel emotionally stable:

I know I am an emotional eater, I know I eat sugar as a reward and I do find myself craving it when I am fatigued. I also seem to crave it after a very savory meal; especially one with garlic. What is THAT about?! Do you have clients on more than one amino acid?!

I have been a caregiver for my son (multiple disabilities) for 30 years; he has uncontrolled seizures and my husband has PTSD. It is a stressful household.

This is what I shared with her about the brain chemical imbalances and amino acids:

  • Many of my clients need more than one amino acid but it’s best to trial one at a time. When I hear my client say they eat sugar as a reward we immediately consider a trial of DPA (d-phenylalanine) especially if they are also overly emotional/weepy and also have physical pain.
  • When I hear my client say “I do find myself craving sugar when I am fatigued” we consider low catecholamines and a trial of tyrosine especially if they also have poor focus, low motivation and a flat mood. If the fatigue is caused by low blood sugar this can cause fatigue, irritability/crankiness and anxiety and a trial of glutamine may be a better option. If the DPA helps the emotional-reward-eating after a week or two, then we may do a trial of tyrosine and/or glutamine (one at a time) and use them in addition to the DPA.
  • When I hear “sugar cravings after a savory meal” we consider low serotonin and a trial of tryptophan if it’s after lunch or dinner. Serotonin dips in the afternoon and evening triggering this type of craving. With low serotonin we also see worry, anxiety, depression, anger, PMS, insomnia and irritability. Let’s assume the DPA helps and the tyrosine helps with the fatigue, then we’d consider a trial of tryptophan and add that.

So yes I do have many clients needing more than one amino acid! But we always trial one at a time and find a good baseline before adding the next one or doing a new trial if the first one didn’t give expected results.

With regards to which amino acid trial to do first, I always ask my client which area is causing the most problem or distress in your life and we start there. Since she mentioned emotional eating and then fatigue and then cravings after a savory meal, this sequence may be best for her. But addressing the fatigue with tyrosine first may be a better approach for someone else.

With regards to cravings after a savory meal we also look into how much protein and healthy fats the client has in that meal. I don’t know why garlic would be a trigger other than it’s possibly stirring up candida. Candida is also a big factor when it comes to sugar cravings, fatigue and feeling sad/emotional so we would also possibly need to address this too.

Adrenal and sleep support is also key and I recommend this resource for additional caregiver support for her – The psychological trauma of coronavirus – nutritional support for doctors, nurses and their loved ones.

For her husband’s PTSD I recommend this resource – PTSD from 3 tours in Afghanistan: Can GABA help with the anxiety?

For her son’s seizures I recommend this paper, Ketogenic Diet and Epilepsy: What We Know So Far, and working with a practitioner who could offer consultation and guidance on a ketogenic diet.  Another useful resource is this one – Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Epilepsy: Efficacy and Security in Clinical Trials.

If you suspect low levels of any any of the neurotransmitters and are new to using the amino acids and do not have my book I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in to taking supplements: The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings.

There is a complete chapter on the amino acids and one for pyroluria, plus information on real whole food, sugar and blood sugar, gluten, digestion and much more.  If you’re not a reader there is now also an audible version.

Here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution and additional information on Anxiety and targeted individual amino acid supplements: a summary

Please also read and follow these Amino Acid Precautions.

This lists The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs. You’ll find DPA, tyrosine and tryptophan listed here.

Please share your emotional eating and sugar craving success story if you have one using DPA.

And let us know if tyrosine helps with your fatigue and low-energy driven sugar cravings?

And does tryptophan help your afternoon and evening sugar cravings?

Feel free to post your questions here too.

The Essential Oils Hormone Solution by Dr. Mariza Snyder – my book review

By Trudy Scott 15 Comments

Together with dietary changes and key nutrients like GABA, tryptophan, zinc and vitamin B6, using essential oils are a wonderful tool for helping to ease anxiety, reduce stress, improve sleep and focus and contribute to overall hormonal health for women. Now we have a new book that is a wonderful essential oil resource specifically for women, The Essential Oils Hormone Solution: Reclaim Your Energy and Focus and Lose Weight Naturally by Dr. Mariza Snyder.

She shares this about essential oils:

Essential oils are natural aromatic com­pounds found in the roots, seeds, stems, bark, leaves, and flowers of various plants. They are super-charged, fifty to seventy times more potent than their dried-herbal counterparts. They’re simply the best plant-based remedy that exists, and they have been success­fully used for thousands of years.

Dr. Mariza lists these top 5 must-have hormone-support essential oils for perimenopausal and menopausal women: clary sage, geranium, lavender, peppermint and rosemary. Lavender and peppermint have been long-time favorites of mine and I recently learned about clary sage and rosemary and love both.

She covers so many wonderful essential oils in the book but for the purposes of this review I’ll focus on clary sage since it was new to me until recently and may be new to you too.

In the chapter on sleep, she shares this about the benefits of clary sage and how to use this essential oil:

CLARY SAGE (Salvia sclarea)

  • Promotes relaxation of the body for a restful night’s sleep
  • Calms and soothes the mind and body
  • Supportive during menstrual distress

Aromatic Use 

  • Apply 1–2 drops directly to bedclothes or pillow.
  • Diffuse 3–4 drops before bedtime.

Topical Use

  • Dilute 1–2 drops with your favorite carrier oil and massage into abdomen.
  • Add 2–3 drops to a warm bath with ¼ cup Epsom salts dis­solved in the water.
  • Dilute 1–2 drops with your favorite carrier oil and massage into your soles before bedtime.

I had looked into clary sage about 6 months ago when I learned that it supports serotonin production and also lowers high cortisol.

Interestingly, I didn’t care for the aroma of clary sage when I first purchased it and I diffused it with lavender and rosemary to disguise the aroma. But I have grown to really like it and use a drop on a hanky each night and look forward to how much it helps me sleep and the fact that it eased the mild hot flashes I had started to experience again.

I love the combinations/blends Dr. Mariza recommends in the book and would have welcomed these ideas when I first started using clary sage myself. Here is one example of a rollerball blend with clary sage:

Tense-Away Rollerball Blend

10 drops Lavender essential oil

10 drops Clary Sage essential oil

10 drops Peppermint essential oil

Carrier oil of choice

I also really like that Dr. Mariza describes different ways to use the oils other than only diffusing – like using rollerballs, using them for massages and in baths, and applying the essential oils on various parts of the body for a more direct impact. One such example is the Hormone Synergy Rollerball Blend (which contains clary sage, lavender, geranium, bergamot and ylang ylang). She recommends applying this blend directly over your ovaries.

I learned this direct application tip from Dr. Mariza last year and started using lavender, peppermint and rosemary (in a carrier oil) topically on my belly before bed. It helps with digestion, occasional belly bloat from SIBO (if I’ve eaten something that triggers symptoms) and is relaxing too. I think I’ll add clary sage to this belly blend too for the added hormone benefits. This could be one way to use clary sage for the benefits if you find you don’t really like the aroma (because it will be further from your nose!)

Here are some of the benefits of the other top 5 hormone-support essential oils for perimenopausal and menopausal women that Dr. Mariza shares:

  • geranium – calming and soothing and “rejuvenates and revitalizes skin, complexion, and hair” (I haven’t been using this one and looking forward to trying this one)
  • lavender – “eases and calms feelings of anxiety, stress, and tension while rebalancing emotions” and “relieves discomfort associated with menstrual cycles” (I’ve been using lavender for years)
  • peppermint – “stimulates mental focus and energy by enlivening the senses” and supports your respiratory system (I also use this one all the time. It’s also great for headaches and neck pain)
  • and rosemary – “increases memory, concentration, and focus” (I also use it for EMF/electromagnetic radiation protection. Research shows rosemary could play a protective role against this harmful effect through its antioxidant activity)

Clary sage is also featured in the libido chapter: “Commonly used to stimulate sexual energy and boost libido.” This aspect was new to me, but it makes sense given that it lowers cortisol and supports serotonin production (and hence estrogen). Dr. Mariza also covers many other wonderful essential oils that boost libido too: jasmine, neroli, rose, sandalwood, ylang ylang and geranium.  In one study neroli, lavender, fennel, geranium, and rose significantly improved sexual function in menopausal women.

Here is the official book blurb:

Have your hormones been hijacked? Do you feel energy-depleted and irritable, unable to sleep, stay focused, or lose weight? You may have attributed these symptoms to the natural hormonal fluctuations that occur with age. But behind the scenes, there are a host of pesky culprits wreaking havoc on your hormonal health: chronic stress, air pollution, chemical-laden foods and cleaning supplies, and the synthetic estrogens in personal care products. Women of all ages are left vulnerable to the consequences, suffering from unnecessary hormonal imbalance and frustrating symptoms that are often dismissed by their doctors.

Dr. Mariza Snyder is here to help put you back in control of your health. In The Essential Oils Hormone Solution, you will learn how to heal hormonal chaos and revitalize the body from the inside out with the support of high-quality essential oils. You’ll learn how essential oils work on a cellular level to mitigate the toxic loads we carry, and how to use essential oils to reduce cravings, get deep, restful sleep, ease stress, improve mood, banish the worst symptoms of PMS, regain focus and concentration, boost libido, and increase energy.

Featuring a 14-day plan to jumpstart your hormonal health, with over 100 essential oil blends, daily self-care rituals, and delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes, you’ll discover how to reset your body and pave the way for improved hormonal health, without taking hormones.

Grab your copy of The Essential Oils Hormone Solution here (my Amazon link).

I’d like to add my thoughts on what I have found to be safe use of essential oils, and what I share with my clients (I consider myself an essential oil user like you – I’m not an expert):

  • Always use a carrier oil, unless you are diffusing, and this includes using essential oils in the bath (I know there is some conflicting advice on this, but I like to err on the side of caution)
  • Don’t try to remove too much of an essential oil with water – it will only drive it deeper into the skin
  • Think low doses i.e. a little goes a long way
  • Be sure to rotate your essential oils
  • Don’t ingest the oils neat or even in a gelatin capsule. I would only consider doing so if I was working with an experienced practitioner and using an enteric coated capsule  (there is definitely conflicting advice on this one but again I like to err on the side of caution)

It’s a fun book with wonderful ideas for how to combine essential oils and use them to improve hormone imbalance. I love this quote from Dr. Mariza:

Inhaling them and applying them is like adorning yourself in something truly beautiful

What are your favorite essential oils and combinations for easing anxiety, reducing stress, improving sleep and balancing your hormones? How are you “adorning yourself” and what is your favorite way to use them – diffused, topically, via a rollerball, or via a massage or in the bath? Feel free to post questions here too.

Radical Metabolism: boosting energy, enhancing digestion, improving hormone health and blasting fat

By Trudy Scott 13 Comments

Ann Louise Gittleman has a new book called “Radical Metabolism: A Powerful New Plan to Blast Fat and Reignite Your Energy in Just 21 Days.”

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to interview her! The book is primarily about weight-loss but I chose to focus on other aspects in our interview. We talked about so many valuable topics for boosting metabolism and energy, enhancing digestion, improving hormone health and reducing anxiety.

She shares that no disease can be healed if your cell membranes – which direct nutrients in and poisons out – are weak and unstable:

Radical Metabolism is all about what to eat to rebuild and fortify those lipid (fat)-based cell membranes, so that toxins are prevented from moving up the chain and gunking up the function of every cell, tissue, and organ in your body, from your brain to your thyroid, gallbladder, liver, kidneys, and skin. This is where omega-6 fats really shine.

Here are some of the highlights of what we covered, together with some related snippets from the book:

– our gallbladders and thyroid health

a study out of Finland found that people with decreased bile production are nearly ten times more apt to experience hypothyroidism. With low thyroid on the rise, this provides great hope to the millions of hypothyroid sufferers who experience metabolic slowdown as well as fatigue, dry skin, and constipation. Besides hypothyroidism, studies have also connected poor quality bile with chronic fatigue, migraines, depression, and autoimmune disorders.

– the importance of bile for digesting fat and absorbing fat-soluble vitamins

Bile is stored in the gallbladder to break down dietary fat and remove toxins from the body. Harvard Medical School research has revealed that subjects with improved bile health showed a remarkable spike in metabolism.

– the metabolic benefits of omega-6 fats – hemp seed oil, sesame seed oil, pine nut oil and ghee

Hemp seeds are one of nature’s greatest gifts, perfect little bundles of benefits for your entire body. You can reap the hemp’s benefits by consuming the oil, seeds (typically these are “hemp hearts” which have had their hulls removed), or by blending them into hemp milk. Hemp seeds are about one third healthful fats and one quarter protein, as well as a magnificent source of natural GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). It’s hard to find a food with a better essential fat profile – hemp boasts a 3:1 omega-6–to–omega-3 ratio.

– omega-6s and pyroluria/zinc absorption (my addition)

– why to include these oils if you’re eating a keto or paleo diet

– why bitters are beautiful – the big one is improving digestion and stimulating bile production!

Studies suggest bitters “get your juices flowing” (literally) by stimulating the release of bile, as well as saliva, HCl, pepsin, gastrin, and pancreatic enzymes.

– watercress as a great bitter food bile booster

Watercress is kind of the forgotten stepchild of the cruciferous family – a peppery-flavored cousin to cabbage, arugula, and mustard greens. Recent studies have put watercress back on the menu thanks to its powerful health-stimulating benefits, which is why it deserves a starring role in the Radical Metabolism plan

Besides being a bitter food bile-booster, in a study led by nutritionist Sarah Schenker a small group of women lost an average of 17 pounds in six weeks on a watercress soup diet. The exceptional antioxidants in watercress pump up your energy while exercising, while at the same time protecting you from exertion-related DNA damage. According to head researcher Dr. Mark Fogarty, watercress contains ten times as many beneficial chemicals as any other fruit or vegetable.

– how coffee and cacao work as bitters and dandelion tea as a good alternative (also bitter) if you can’t tolerate coffee

– and grapefruit as a bitter fruit (and one of the reasons why the grapefruit diet worked!)

– why testing ferritin is so important (and why to avoid cast iron pots)

Here is the audio of our interview. Enjoy!

And here is the recipe for: Creamy Dreamy Watercress Soup

This soup is not only fat-burning, but filling and flavorful. The recipe makes about one day’s worth of soup on the 4-Day Radical Intensive. You can either prepare it daily or cook up four batches in advance—whatever works best with your schedule.

Makes 6 cups

4 cups bone broth, either homemade (page 216) or Kettle & Fire

1/2 large bulb celeriac (celery root), (about one 5-inch bulb), brown exterior removed (do not to remove too much); cauliflower works as substitute

1 bunch leeks, cleaned and sliced

1 daikon radish, roughly chopped

1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

1 to 2 teaspoons sea salt, to taste

1 Radical Lemon Cube

1 large bunch watercress, roughly chopped

Optional: Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon miso to each warm bowl of soup

Bring the broth to a simmer in a saucepan. Add the celeriac, leeks, daikon, and ginger. Add enough water to the pot to just submerge the vegetables. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until the veggies are tender.

Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until creamy. If too thick, you can always add a bit more water. Stir in the salt, lemon cube, and watercress. Simmer for 5 minutes, then blend again with your immersion blender.

Serve in a mug or bowl with or without the miso.

Note: To make Radical Lemon Cubes: 3 lemons quartered, 1 cup filtered water

Place the lemons and water in a blender or food processor and puree. Spoon the puree into ice cube trays and freeze.

Ann Louise Gittleman, New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and Before the Change, has been revolutionizing the rules of health and nutrition for more than three decades. She holds an MS in Nutrition Education from Columbia University, the title of Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) from the American College of Nutrition, and a PhD in Holistic Nutrition. Gittleman has also served as the Chief Nutritionist of the Pediatric Clinic at Bellevue Hospital and is the former Director of Nutrition at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Santa Monica, CA. She currently sits on the Advisory Board for the International Institute for Building-Biology & Ecology, the Nutritional Therapy Association, Inc. and Clear Passage, Inc. Read more about her at www.annlouise.com.

Grab your copy of Radical Metabolism on Amazon here (my Amazon link). Grab bonus ebooks and details about the private Facebook group here

Enjoy! And do let us know what you think of these tips and the watercress soup recipe. And be sure to leave a review for Ann Louise.