Posted by bleauberry on February 6, 2008, at 19:12:37
In reply to Supplements that calm the immune system down?, posted by cache-monkey on February 6, 2008, at 1:07:37
I forgot to mention something interesting. You mentioned tryptophan.
I have had ongoing carbuncles (clusters of deep boils that never actually mature or open up) on my buttocks for years. They have been unresponsive to topical steroids, and only minimally responsive to prescription topical antibiotics or strong herbal ointments. Due to other fears I have avoided systemic antibiotics. I haven't had a cold or flu in so many years I can't remember. But the boils stay. Weird. My immune system seems really strong in one way but not another.
A few months ago I tried 5htp for depression. I worked up to 25mg per evening. Though I slept great it was not what I was looking for in terms of depression. BUT...something unusual and unexpected happened...those boils almost completely vanished! So maybe there is something to your tryptophan theory, and maybe it also goes for 5htp. Actually now that I think about it, lexapro made me much more depressed, but it also shrank those boils very rapidly. Makes me wonder what role serotonin plays besides in the brain.
poster:bleauberry
thread:810988
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20080110/msgs/811164.html