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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> l-tyrosine, dl phenylalanine, ginko, l glutamine
        
(Message started by: porkchop1 on Mar 7^th, 2004, 6:55am)

Title: l-tyrosine, dl phenylalanine, ginko, l glutamine
Post by porkchop1 on Mar 7^th, 2004, 6:55am

[tt]anyone tried any of the above? they are all listed in this new natural healing book i just bought. it actually has a pretty good synopsis of CH, which was pleasantly surprising. I'm going to get some just to see what the deal is. WARNING! research before trying, the book has warnings about mixing w/ mao inhibitors and etc. [flash=200,200][/flash]

Title: Re: l-tyrosine, dl phenylalanine, ginko, l glutami
Post by floridian on Mar 7^th, 2004, 6:50pm

Not any studies on cluster headaches and the supplements you mentioned. But here are a few thoughts.

Glutamine can be converted to glutamate by glutamate synthase. Glutamate is probably not a good thing for cluster headaches - it seems to be elevated in the acute phase, and it is associated with increased pain.

dl phenylalanine has always spooked me. It is a 50-50 blend of the two isomers of an amino acid - one of which does not occur in nature. It seems to help with some types of chronic pain, possibly by being incorporated into endorphins, which are more active and/or resistant to decay. This sounds too much like the trans-fatty acids that get put into processed food - they don't occur in nature, and they aren't handled well by the liver.

Tyrosine is good for boosting norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine. These are important, but don't seem to be central to cluster headaches. (http://arethusa.unh.edu/bchm752/ppthtml/mar7/Mar7/sld021.htm) My wife takes tyrosine when her thyroid is running low - tyrosine is also a precursor to thyroxine (ie, thyroid hormone).

Ginkgo might have some benefits - it reduces histamine and other inflammatory molecules. Ginkgo has an anti-stress action, and helps keep neurotransmitters (including serotonin) and cortisol from rising and crashing in response to stress. It has a tonic effect on blood vessels. It increases bleeding time, so don't mix it with aspirin, coumarins, or other blood thinners.

Title: Re: l-tyrosine, dl phenylalanine, ginko, l glutami
Post by floridian on Mar 7^th, 2004, 6:53pm

Melatonin, magnesium, and B-vitamins have been discussed here before, and some people do think they help.