In this section I talk about a mood booster and sleep aid that I use, as well as a few other recommendations. SAMe is hands down the most effective natural antidepressant that I've found and melatonin is a powerful sleep aid. The best part is that both of these supplements are naturally found in the body and also protect the brain and central nervous system from damage. 

SAMe:

SAMe has literally changed my life for the better. It is an essential part of my daily supplementation routine that lifts my mood and helps me to feel better about life in general. SAMe is naturally found in the body, and has a thirty year history of effectiveness in treating depression which is what I mainly use it for. In addition, SAMe has shown to an effective anti-inflammatory and to benefit liver health. In a study of ALS mice with the SOD gene mutation, SAMe provided multiple neuroprotective effects. In these mice it delayed disease onset, prevented the loss of motor neurons and increased antioxidant activity. These results may or may not be relevant in humans, but I thought I would mention it here as I have found SAMe to be extremely beneficial to my mental health. I have heard that SAMe doesn't work this way for everyone but I love it as a natural alternative to pharmaceutical antidepressants, and I actually prefer it to Wellbutrin which I used to take.

​

Melatonin:

Melatonin is a natural hormone produced and secreted by the pineal gland to help us fall asleep and improve the quality of sleep. In ALS, the most promising effects of melatonin are those of blocking the pathways that cause motor neuron death in a process called apotosis and its antioxidant ability to scavenge for free radicals. Melatonin has also shown to be effective at reducing glutamate excitotoxicity, and I have actually experienced this firsthand. When I eat foods containing high levels of glutamate I notice a sensation at the back of my head and upper neck that feels like my brain is overheating. Over the years I have tied this feeling specifically to glutamate intake and I have found melatonin is a powerful way to to reduce this sensation and to calm my system down before bed. I don’t take it every day, but I have found a dosage of 3 to 5 mg works pretty well for helping me sleep when I need it as well.