Amino acids
Synopsis of amino acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, playing essential roles in nearly every biological process within the human body. Each amino acid consists of a central carbon atom bonded to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a variable side chain (R group) that determines its unique chemical properties. There are 20 standard amino acids used to build proteins, divided into three main categories: essential (must be obtained from diet), non-essential (synthesized by the body), and conditionally essential (required in higher amounts during stress or illness).
Amino acids are vital for muscle repair, neurotransmitter synthesis, immune function, enzyme activity, hormonal regulation, detoxification, and cellular energy production. For instance, leucine, isoleucine, and valine—known as branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)—support muscle recovery and endurance, while tryptophan serves as a precursor to serotonin and melatonin, influencing mood and sleep. Glutamine aids gut integrity and immune response, while arginine is crucial for nitric oxide production and vascular health.
Amino acids also regulate metabolic pathways, help maintain nitrogen balance, and support wound healing, cognitive clarity, and skin elasticity. They are commonly supplemented by athletes, individuals with digestive or absorption issues, vegans/vegetarians, and people recovering from surgery, illness, or trauma.
Supplemental amino acids are available as individual isolates, blends, or complete protein sources, often used in sports nutrition, functional medicine, anti-aging, and integrative health protocols.
Historical Use:
Although amino acids were not isolated or named until the 19th and 20th centuries, their sources—protein-rich foods and broths—have been recognized for millennia as essential to strength, vitality, and recovery. Ancient cultures intuitively understood the healing value of meat, bone broth, dairy, legumes, and seeds, all rich in amino acids.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), protein-rich foods and tonics such as bone marrow soup, organ meats, and gelatinous broths were prescribed to tonify Qi and Blood, strengthen the Kidneys and Spleen, and aid recovery after illness. These foods were believed to "nourish essence" and support deep tissue repair—concepts that align well with what we now know about the tissue-building and regulatory roles of amino acids.
In Ayurveda, protein was emphasized through the use of lentils, mung beans, dairy, ghee, and meat broths, especially in conditions of wasting, weakness, infertility, or trauma. Formulations aimed at building ojas (vitality and immune strength) often incorporated nutrient-dense, amino-acid-rich foods.
Today, amino acids are understood with biochemical precision, yet their functional roles reflect timeless themes in traditional healing systems: promoting recovery, enhancing resilience, and maintaining balance in the body's structure and function. Whether derived from food or taken as supplements, amino acids remain cornerstones of health, regeneration, and vitality.
Amino acids is used for these health conditions
Addictions (drugs) (Scientific)
Addictions (general remedies for) (Scientific)
Addictions (sugar or refined carbohydrates) (Scientific)
Addictions (tobacco smoking or chewing) (Scientific)
Aging (prevention) (Scientific)
Alcoholism (Scientific)
Alzheimer's Disease (Scientific)
Anemia (Scientific)
Anorexia (Scientific)
Anxiety (Scientific)
Anxiety Disorders (Scientific)
Arthritis (Scientific)
Athletic and Exercise Aids (Scientific)
Attention Deficit Disorder (Scientific)
Autoimmune Disorders (Scientific)
Body Building (Scientific)
Bulimia (Scientific)
Burns and Scalds (Scientific)
Cancer (natural therapy for) (Scientific)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects) (Scientific)
Cardiovascular Disease (Scientific)
Cartilage Damage (Scientific)
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects) (Scientific)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (Scientific)
Circulation (poor) (Scientific)
Concentration (poor) (Scientific)
Convalescence (Scientific)
Debility (Scientific)
Dementia (Scientific)
Depression (Scientific)
Diabetes (Scientific)
Digestion (poor) (Scientific)
Energy (lack of) (Scientific)
Fatigue (Scientific)
Free Radical Damage (Scientific)
Gastritis (Scientific)
Hair (loss or thinning) (Scientific)
Heart (weakness) (Scientific)
Injuries (Scientific)
Insomnia (Scientific)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Scientific)
Liver Detoxification (Scientific)
Memory and Brain Function (Scientific)
Muscle Tone (lack of) (Scientific)
Nervous Exhaustion (Scientific)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Scientific)
Post Partum Depression (Scientific)
Protein Digestion (poor) (Scientific)
amino acids is used to support these body systems
Arteries (Scientific)
Blood (Scientific)
Brain (Scientific)
Circulatory System (Scientific)
Cortisol (Scientific)
Digestive System (Scientific)
Dopamine (Scientific)
Female Reproductive System (Scientific)
GABA (Scientific)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Scientific)
Glandular System (Scientific)
Hair (Scientific)
Heart (Scientific)
Hepatic System (Scientific)
Hypothalamus (Scientific)
Immune System (Scientific)
Intestinal System (Scientific)
Joints (Scientific)
Kidneys (Scientific)
Liver (Scientific)
Male Reproductive System (Scientific)
Mitochondria (Scientific)
Muscles (Scientific)
Nails (Scientific)
Nerves (Scientific)
Ovaries (Scientific)
Pituitary (Scientific)
Reproductive System (Scientific)
Serotonin (Scientific)
Skeletal System (Bones) (Scientific)
Skin (Scientific)
Small Intestines (Scientific)
Stomach (Scientific)
Testes (Scientific)
Thymus (Scientific)
Thyroid Gland (Scientific)
