Learning & education: Tro Zzz
5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP for short, is the intermediate metabolite of the essential amino acid tryptophan in the process of serotonin biosynthesis [1]. That is to say, it is an immediate precursor to serotonin [1,2].
Cordyceps is a genus of fungus that includes more than 500 described species. The name Cordyceps originates from the combination of two words: Kordyle, meaning “club” in Greek; and the stem ceps, meaning “head” in Latin. These fungi have a worldwide distribution and are prevalent in humid temperate and tropical forests, acting as endoparasites that infect insects, other arthropods, and even other fungi [1].
Cannabis has historically been used for a wide range of purposes, such as industrial, ornamental, and pharmaceutical applications [1,2]. In the modern world, marijuana use is permitted in some jurisdictions to help address the nausea caused by chemotherapy, anorexia in patients with AIDS, and to manage pain. It is also used recreationally to treat anxiety, insomnia, to stimulate an appetite, to simply get “high,” and much more.
Melatonin is widely regarded as an important hormone that helps regulate and synchronize sleep rhythm, including sleep-wake timing [1] and seasonal rhythmicity aspects across vertebrates. It also has lesser-known roles as an antioxidant [2]. We have touched briefly on melatonin in a previous article about sleep hormones and their effect on the GABA system here.
The most common sleep disorder in the world is insomnia, defined as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep with an associated daytime consequence [2]. In 2014, the third edition of the International Classification for Sleep Disorder (ICSD-3) classified insomnia into short-term, chronic, or other [3].
Cannabidiol (CBD) is certainly no longer the new kid on the block. In the last five years, it has exploded on the market in products that range from shampoos, skin creams, tinctures, suppositories, and (you've guessed it) troches! So why is CBD use so widespread?
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