a true natural remedy? - Page 25

[UrbanSimplicity]

I am reading this thread from the beginning and I see it has tons of great info, but I'm only up to page 3 and see a bunch of mis-information. One poster wrote that the type of 5-HTP they were taking was L-Tyrosine....has anyone else noticed this? Is it too late to bother pointing them all out?

I am doing a bunch of supplements from The Mood Cure and will be chiming back in....overall, this is a great resource!

[UrbanSimplicity]

ok, still reading.

Question: I am taking "fish body oil" instead of cod liver oil. I think i choose it because it had a higher EPA/DHA for the price. I also got a Vit D supplement (which is what i think usually makes the cod liver oil the better choice.)

Thoughts? Should I be doing cod liver oil?

Also, does anyone else find their fish oils stimulating? I was reading that someone takes them (as does her dc) before bedtime....i found this surprising.

TIA!

[ramlita]

Originally Posted by brooklyn lisa

I am reading this thread from the beginning and I see it has tons of great info, but I'm only up to page 3 and see a bunch of mis-information. One poster wrote that the type of 5-HTP they were taking was L-Tyrosine....has anyone else noticed this? Is it too late to bother pointing them all out?

If you want to point that stuff out, I'm sure it would only be helpful!
Any confusing posts I've noticed, I've just chalked it up to my still learning about all of this, or tired mamas mixing things up in their memory, (sitting at the computer while the bottles are in the kitchen ) so I'd love to see what errors/confusions I've missed here.

I haven't gotten into fish oils yet (transitioning from a lifetime of vegetarianism, verrry gradually) but I did just read in The Mood Cure that some people end up waking up alert and energized at 4:00 am if they take too much CLO/omega 3s.

[UrbanSimplicity]

Originally Posted by brooklyn lisa

One poster wrote that the type of 5-HTP they were taking was L-Tyrosine

Well, this is the one that should really be corrected, since, in my understanding at least, they are so different.

5-htp is a precursor to seratonin, (as is tryptophan) and can help even out both depression and anxiety. In the Mood Cure, these are taken for "Under a Dark Cloud" types of depression.

L-Tyrosine is a bit stimulating for those with "The Blahs" mood type. For someone with anxiety, it may make things worse.

Regarding fish oils, I take them in the morning and I am not too stimulated during the day. But I am having a hard time falling asleep. Neither the GABA or 5-htp seem to be helping that. Does anyone know if fish oils take all day to produce their stimulating action?

[timneh_mom]

I wanted to say that after reading this thread, a couple of months ago I got some 5-HTP. I also got some GABA and more melatonin to help me sleep at night. The combination seems to be working pretty well. I think most of my depressed feelings come from being totally overwhelmed when the kids are having a bad day and not getting nearly enough sleep. DD wakes me up a lot at night, we do cosleep but I wake up to nurse every time, and sometimes she wants to party for an hour after nursing! And I'm a SAHM, DH works long hours, I'm alone with the kids usually 11 hours per day, 5 days per week.

I haven't been able to find much information about 5-HTP, GABA and nursing, but I figured it's something my body makes anyway, AND, prescriptions are SO strong... how could something my body has in it anyway be worse than a prescription? I've taken antidepressants (years ago) and it was SO hard to come off it, that I really didn't want to go that route now. I know what my problem is and I know if I could get consistent sleep I'd be SO much better. But until then....

I'm going to get some Nordic Naturals cod liver oil and add that to my mix as well.

[UrbanSimplicity]

I'm wondering if anyone felt immediately better within 15 minutes of taking 5-htp or tryptophan. Julia Ross mentions the instant change she saw in her patients a few times in her book, but I havent seen any mention of it here.

I did not see an immediate change, and do not think I've had much improvement from the 2 seratonin precursors (though i'm definitetly super-low in seratonin.)

I'm starting to think it might be my thyroid even though when tested it usually comes out normal, though on the low side of normal. My sister, father, and 2 cousins have low thyroid.

So, for those of you that got releif from 5htp/tryptophan, was it immediate and amazing?

[ShannonCC]

Originally Posted by brooklyn lisa

So, for those of you that got releif from 5htp/tryptophan, was it immediate and amazing?

Immediate, yes. Amazing, no. When I started taking the supplements I did feel a bit better immediately. I do wonder if that's psychological though. Just the act of doing something felt good maybe? But I did notice a difference right away.

Unfortunately, it took weeks before I noticed a really good difference and months before it really clicked.

[Ishtarbella]

Greetings Inositol users,
I purchased mine a week and a half ago and started with the 15 grams at once which has given me the diarrhea side effect.Those of you who had that exPerience,did it go away?Perhaps I should spread out the dosages rather then taking it all at once?How much Choline are you all taking with it?As far as Caffeine killing the inositol I wonder if taking it an hour or so before or after consuming caffeine makes any difference at all,does anyone know?I have read this entire thread(many pages) so I dont believe Im asking something already answered , any feedback would be apreciated.so thrilled to find this thread and TIA.
Also This is the cheapest source I found for it,hope it is good quality:
[URL="http://www.bulkfoods.com/health.asp?referrer=gooin"]
Esther

[Ishtarbella]

Another question :)

Does anyone know if its allright to have a glass of wine or a beer a couple times a week while taking this.Im assuming since its a vitamin and not an SSRI,it should be fine,right?
thanks!

[cjanelles]

I had to laugh and comment, only because I wondered if anyone knew that Inositol was actually used by drug dealers to cut cocaine with...

[FreeLove]

I used 5htp (hydroxytriptophan) before for stress or if just wanted to feel giddy and mildly uphoric. It's worked for me without any side affects. I just wonder if I can take it while nursing?

[ChristianAPmommy25]

wondering the same!

I was also wondering if 5 htp was safe while nursing. My ND is SURE it is and prescribed 100 mg/1x a day. I cut it to 50 mg because I read it can suppress lactation. I wondered if all you moms were able to continue to nurse just fine on it? Any side effects in baby? My dd has had diarreah since yesterday (thurs) although I started the supplement on Tuesday so I dont know if its the supplement causing the diarreah. If it is I dont want to keep taking. I did notice immediate relief especially on the 100 mg although I also felt a little hyper and giddy on 100 mg. Anyways, I am considering just stopping the 5 htp all together just because I am so nervous about it causing my 10 month old dd any side effects.

I already take Inosostol and Gaba at night and its done wonders for me, I have OCD and I feel so much better!!! My husband said "you arent crying all the time anymore." SO true!

If 5htp isnt completley safe for my dd I wonder if L-tyrosine would be good. I do have anxiety though so I dont want to trigger that, someone said it could cause worse anxiety?

Thanks ladies so much
post back or pm me if you have any info, I apperciate it!
God bless,
Mary

[GoodWillHunter]

bumping

[joyofgaia]

I have been doing well with all the supplements lately but I recently went off steroids (long story) and my depression is sneaking back in. Anyone know if this is a common event after going off steroids?

[Blancanieves]

Hi!

And please dont forget your thyroid!!! if your thyroid is ill, supplemets won´t really work ...and the sexual hormons are very important as well:

Here some links about it:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=747775

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by joyofgaia

I have been doing well with all the supplements lately but I recently went off steroids (long story) and my depression is sneaking back in. Anyone know if this is a common event after going off steroids?

Yes. I assume you weaned the steroids. Are you using the magnesium supplements consistently? And EFAs? Both are associated with hormonal balance.

You might also check about Bach flower remedies.
http://www.ainsworths.com/remedy/default.aspx

http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/remedies.htm

http://www.bachflower.com/38_Essences.htm

http://www.abchomeopathy.com/c.php/3


Pat

[KatSG]

Originally Posted by ChristianAPmommy25

I was also wondering if 5 htp was safe while nursing. My ND is SURE it is and prescribed 100 mg/1x a day. I do have anxiety though so I dont want to trigger that, someone said it could cause worse anxiety?

Thanks ladies so much
post back or pm me if you have any info, I apperciate it!
God bless,
Mary

5-HTP made my milk supply go all over the place, depending on what time of day I took it. Sometimes it was low, sometimes so high I got plugged ducts. So I quit.

brooklyn lisa: You mentioned that you thought Tyrosine would make anxiety worse. Not the case with me. It's my main supplement for anxiety. If I stop taking it for a few days I get testy. Haven't looked at TMC in many months but I seem to remember a story about a native man who had terrible anxiety and tyrosine did wonders for him.

Also, I do feel better within an hour of taking supplements, but at this point I'm pretty good all of the time (been taking supplements for 2 years now) so the highs and lows are much less noticable. I do remember when I started I was coming off of Paxil at the same time and I was just so happy to feel better I had unbounded energy. I think that high has worn off and I'm just happily normal.

[flowmom]

Is anyone willing to answer my poll question:
Did inositol supplementation relieve your depression symptoms?
Pretty please :

[KatSG]

Bumping. Don't be intimidated by this thread! If you have issues with anxiety or depression just peruse this thread at your leisure and ask any questions.

[flowmom]

my experience

Originally Posted by Ksenia

I don't think that inositol is doing enough for me, so I will be trying to supplement for the following conditions described by The Mood Cure:

# The Dark Cloud of Depression
# The Blahs
# Anxiety and Stress

This mostly involves taking 5HTP, tyrosine, and GABA. I hope that this isn't a giant waste of money

So, it's been more than two months that I've been taking 5HTP, tyrosine, and GABA, according to the recommendations in The Mood Cure.

I can definitely confirm that these supplements are working for me . Dh agrees. I still have all the same emotions, but my reactions are a bit more buffered. I am not feeling that same steam-coming-out-of-the-ears stress as frequently. I have a bit more energy and oomph to be productive (though procrastination is still a challenge for me ). And I am feeling a bit more optimistic - that I can laugh at some of the crises and chaos around here. The one day that I forgot to take the supplements, I had a long crying jag and also felt super-stressed. It was a difficult day, but my reaction was much more intense than on days when I've taken my supplements.

Frankly, I'm a bit surprised that these supplements are working. There are so many supplements being hawked these days. They are easily available at my local health food store (I got them at Sweet Cherubim). I have calculated that they are costing me quite a bit ($64.50 per month ) - for some reason I was underestimating the cost before. But it's totally worth it for me and I may be able to get a better price if I hunt around. Plus, the idea is that one shouldn't necessarily have to take the supplements indefinitely.

I am wondering whether a dietary change could have contributed to a change in my amino acid balance. In the summer our family started cutting back on meat and animal foods significantly, due to dh's health issue. Probably 90% of my meals are vegan now, so that could have contributed to my being deficient in certain amino acids .

My current supplementation regime:

• 1000 mg tyrosine
• 100 mg 5-HTP
• 100 mg GABA
• Blue Ice Cod Liver Oil - 1-2 tsp per day (going for 1500-2000 IU per day)
• B-complex capsule
• 750 mg calcium + 750 mg magnesium