Herbs Pam have tried
For reference, I first wrote this the week after the World Trade Center.
Please DON"T miss the part about taking breaks when you take Ginseng.
I feel the Herbs are helping me with the stress and anxiety, which is
the original reason I decided to start taking them. They will NOT
magically stop your pullling. My reasoning was I need to get control of
my emotions or I will not be able to control my pulling :) Or even if I
did control my pulling, if I didn't control my anxiety I wouldn't be
able to enjoy it :)
Disclaimer - I think it is always best to talk to your doctor when
taking any herbals on a contintuing basis or in not-recommended doses.
Plus since originally writng this, I thought I read somewhere that Kava
may have been implicated in Liver damage. Don't know if it was reliable,
or if talking about people who were tryign to abuse it. The second email
was sent to me, don't know where the information originally came from.
But best to doublecheck. It sounded reasonable to me.
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Since going to the TLC retreat, I learned that LOTS of us pull from both
standpoints - when in the 'trance-like' state, and when stressed. And I
am a major emotional stress puppy anyway.
I looked through my book "Healing Power of Herbs." Few things came to
the forefront.
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Kava Kava
Kava Kava helps with anxiety, depression and isomnia; and is safe (side
effects only possible when taking 100x+ the recommended dosage). I have
been taking it this week, 1 capsule, 3x a day (am, lunch and pm). I have
slept better this week than in the past month! (They recommend 1-2
capsules, 3x a day, so up to 6 per day, but I don't want to get too
expensive.) Pretty amazing considering this week's events!
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GINSENG
Also, am trying the Ginsing (also very safe) either Panax or Siberian
doesn't matter. Ginseng combats stress, fatigue, and a unique
"adaptogenic" characteristic - which means it helps regulate you -
whether you are understimualated or overstimualted. ( I am hoping that
helps for my two kinds of pulling).
The Ginsing teas or things like that probably wouldn't have enough to
work. Each Pill manufacturer puts in different %'s of the active
ingrediants, so the cheaper ones you have to take more to get the same
effect. The standard would be 5-7% Active Ginsenocides. So whichever one
you buy, follow the directions on the bottle - some will say 1 capsule
3x a day, some will say 2 capsules 3x a day - reflecting the different %
of active ingredients.
The actual medical studies suggest to take it for 2-3 weeks, then take a
2 week break, then take it for 2-3 weeks, etc. So you shouldn't take it
"forever" without breaks, or you might have side effects like breast
tenderness, anxiety, headaches, but nothing permanent, would go away if
you stop taking it. I know my pulling gets worse before my period, so I
am going to start that on a regime 10 days before my period thorugh the
first few days, and then off again.
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MELATONIN
Melatonin - Suggested to me by someone else because they said Melatonin
helps your body create its own Seratonin while you are sleeping - in
addition to helping you fall asleep. (Seratonin is the "happy" chemical
in the brain- the main ingredient in the copycat SSRI drugs like Paxil.)
I checked that, and Serotonin is actually the precursor to Melatonin.
Which means that if you have low Serotonin levels, you would probably
also have low Melatonin levels? I don't think the Melatonin changes
back into Serotonin at any significant level, but maybe taking Melotonin
keeps the Serotonin levels up, since the Melotonin needs are filled by
the supplements.
Hope this Helps
Pam
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Update - 2 months later
The Kava and Kava and Ginseng are helping with my anxiety and stress.
THe GInseng is also helping with my energy. (I also have been very tired
lately). So having the energy to keep busy has helped with my pulling a
little.
I also keep forgetting to take everything and am very inconsistent. I am
one of the people who is sensitive to Ginseng. I totally get a 'Ginseng'
headache and know when to stop taking it.
I bought the Melatonin, and keep forgetting to take it. So haven't
tested the Seratonin theory. But it DOES hlep you fall asleep! I also
know I sleep deeper on those nights because I rememberd my dreams!
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Copy of Email to Me
Pam,
Here is the medical information on Kava Kava...
FYI: ALPRAZOLAM is the other name for XANAX
Possible Interactions
Kava may enhance the effects of substances such as barbiturates and
other psychopharmacological agents (psychoactive medications). In
addition, kava may increase the risk of unpleasant side effects if taken
with phenothiazine medications (often used for the treatment of
schizophrenia). There has been a case report of an interaction between
alprazolam and kava that resulted in coma.
Therefore, it is best not to take kava with these medications. There has
been at least one report that kava may reduce the effectiveness of
levodopa, a medication used to treat Parkinson's disease. Therefore, you
should not take this herb if you are taking any medications containing
levodopa.
If you look up the intereaction between Kava Kava and what ever it
should direct you to a site of possible intereactions.. there are many
others.
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