Herbal supplements and similar for treating SA
 

Hi folks,

I've been doing some online reading about the use and efficacy of herbal supplements etc. for SA. What I've gleaned so far is:

German chamomile
GABA (e.g. from Valerian Root; works similar to how Benzos work)
Red Ginseng
Kava Kava
Passionflower
Ashwagandha

These seem to be among the most popular herbal ones.

Also saw: Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6 and B12 can help improve your mood and make you feel relaxed. Low levels of these have been linked to depression.

Kava causes liver problems for some people.

Then there seem to be a bunch of supplements that seem to be more chemical in nature.

There are some user reviews here:

https://www.socialanxietysupport.com/forum/f56/
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/condi...1/anxiety.aspx

Do any of you have experiences with herbal supplements or similar? Would love to hear :thumbpur:

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

Turns out a LOT of people are deficient in magnesium. This deficiency can cause a myriad of problems in the body and affect the mind/mood as well. Google and you'll find a number of people claiming high doses of the right kind of magnesium (there are a number of kinds) cured or almost cured their anxiety.

This stuff gets excellent reviews, anyway, for things like helping with insomnia, muscle cramps and other pains, stress, etc.:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Natural-Vit...ct_top?ie=UTF8

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

"Natural Calm" is helping me - my mind is considerably calmer and my muscle tension is also improved. Recommended.

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

Herbal supplements don't work I'm afraid, only working on your own mind does

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

Haven't you also said the same about pharmaceuticals? Despite them clearly helping millions of people out there!

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

Yep, sort of, so I use a lot of tumeric and ginger in anything I cook for their anti-inflammatory properties. I don't think that herbal stuff is ever going to be as good as "proper" drugs in terms of efficacy, but that's partly because I work in the pharma industry so I'm kind of a bit biased, but I do think, that for me anyway, they can just tip the balance in your favour sometimes.

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

I had a Vit D test done a while back. It was 16.
After reading into supplementing, I took this for 6 months and got my level up to 96.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vitamin-Liq...ds=d3+k2+drops
NHS ranges say 70 is optimum, I read stuff online saying always be minimum 100 :circles:

I'm completely on board in the concept of having optimum levels of zinc, magnesium, iron, folate etc I think it's important
There are just so many variables
Firstly, surely it would be better to have baseline tests to see exactly what, if anything, you're deficient in
You ain't getting these off your GP anymore :crying:
Once deficiencies are highlighted, you could then at least have an idea of either boosting your diet with the foods that are prevalent in those particular vitamin/mineral deficiencies and/or supplementing
But your levels need checking, I'd say, at least every 6 months to see exactly if it's all tip top, otherwise how do you know if it's having any effect?


Also, the supplement industry is still like the wild west
The stuff in holland and barrett et al is basically like shopping in a joke shop
Percentage of active ingredient - tiny
Bulking agents - plenty
Pictures on bottles - pretty

The more I read about it, the more I see the American branded stuff have the better reviews
But still, who knows what the ingredients are in these things

Absorption of any vitamin/mineral supplement is very individualistic also!
What you're going through in your life, how much stress you're experiencing, all that will fluctuate your cortisol levels, which will in turn alter your absorption level
So what I take will absorb differently to the next dude

The NHS guidelines on vitamin/mineral levels change every so often
During NHS cuts they alter the lower level range to reduce the amount of prescriptions handed out
You used to be able to get a Vit D prescription if your level was around 25 or under
I think now you gotta be 15 or under
And that's purely a budget decision, not a clinical decision

Nice links there Limey, I'll be checking em out :thumbpur:
I seem to remember HH being quite knowledgeable about the whole vitamin/mineral topic

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

^^ I have read before that vitamin D deficiency isn't that uncommon in this country and it can be quite serious for your health so it does make sense to keep an eye on that. Unfortunately my Mother was told that they don't test for it anymore at her surgery, if you want a test you have to pay for it privately.

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

D'oh! I was looking at herbal supplements a while back and I came across one I'd never heard before which had really good reviews. I will try and find it.

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

Ashwaganda- that's the name of it.

Might try it myself once I can afford it.

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

Thanks everyone for your input! Especially Genovese, some v. useful thoughts there.

Yeah, I've been taking Vit D since last autumn or so and I believe it has really helped me get through the winter.
I am finding the magnesium really calming, too.

Ashwaganda - yeah that's one of the next on my list to try, I have bought some. It's not dirt cheap but doesn't strike me as overly expensive either.

Right now I'm taking 5-HTP. Combined with Wellbutrin (Bupropion), I'm hitting:

dopamine
serotonin
norepinephrine

Mentally, I haven't felt more upbeat in quite a while. Sunshine is helping too of course :)

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

^ Yes, seems you can buy it cheap from alot of companies, and other companies like Deepak Chopra's is a conplete r ip off as expected.

Let me know if you do try it :)

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

You know, it would be nice to maybe compile a list here of tried and tested supplements (specific brands we've bought & used) - and which have actually had a tangible effect - by means of a marked upward level of a blood test, or a hmm, 'feeling of upwardness'

Yes, the feeling could be a placebo effect, but hey, nothing ventured nothing gained
The alternative is to read through page after page of reviews & nutrition blogs in an attempt to find the good shit

My link to the Vit D3 drops above shot up my vit D level in 6 months.
I chose that one because it is Vit D3 and Vit K2 in olive oil, no other ingredients
The theory being you need to take D3 with a fat for better absorbtion and you need the K2 for, again, optimum absorbtion of the D3
And it's liquid drops (as opposed to capsules) which........again the theory being....better absorption, because it's taken under the tongue - and bypasses the stomach acid

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

Great idea, Genovese!

Here are the things I am currently taking:

For beating the winter blues and general health/better mood. They even sent me a 1-year supply FREE as a thank-you:

https://nuunutrition.com/products/vi...-1-year-supply

Helps absorb the Vit D3:

https://nuunutrition.com/products/vi...ne-year-supply

Calms the mind, I am finding, and improves muscle tension:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Natural-Vit...ct_top?ie=UTF8

Recently started on the below. Early days yet, but along with my anti-depressant, well my mood hasn't been better in ages:

https://nuunutrition.com/products/double-strength

Also taking 2 g of Chamomile daily (in pill form).

To try later:

Ashwaganda
Valerian root
L-Theanine

I didn't notice any effect from passionflower. But that may just be me :)

WARNING: 5-HTP acts on serotonin levels, so be very careful if you are already taking an SSRI! My anti-depressant acts on dopamine, so I am OK.

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

^ Nope!

PS - am taking the Ashwaganda but haven't experienced any clear benefits.

Re: Herbal supplements and similar
 

I don't think psychopharmaceutical drugs help millions of people, the opposite actually. Study how drugs work and how the brain works.