as a sleep aid in lieu of synthetic sleeping pills.  A metabolite of tryptophan,  5-Hydroxytryptophan  (5-HTP), has been suggested as a treatment for  epilepsy and  depression , although clinical trials are regarded inconclusive and lacking. Since 5-HTP readily crosses the  blood-brain barrier  and in addition is rapidly  decarboxylated  to  serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or