Posted by LOOPS on March 7, 2007, at 9:25:47
In reply to Re: Natural cocktail to replace scripts, posted by bch on February 12, 2007, at 9:39:47
Hi -
well, where to start - I would recommend if you can afford it to start experimenting with different 'add-ons' to a decent multivitamin - that is what I have done over the past couple of years and here are some of my results (although be aware that different people have different nutritional demands):
Minerals: IME these are really really important for depression/anxiety/insomnia you name it - more so than is probably recognized. Here are the biggies:
Magnesium (and possibly calcium) - very good for anxiety, magnesium more for depression (calcium can be depressing if taken in wrong ratio to magnesium - but too much magnesium without calcium can result in anxiety/depression again). Start with magnesium only then add in calcium if you feel bad again. Don't take the oxide or carbonate form - very badly absorbed.
Zinc - good for both anxiety and depression. If taking 'large' amounts make sure to balance with copper (e.g. 40mg zinc 2mg copper).
vitamin C - again, large doses can lower zinc and copper - this has happened in my experience but might not in yours - some people swear by grams of the stuff. Then again, you might need more than say 60mg - I take around 500mg.
B vitamins: a good complex (but IMO not huge quantities of the stuff) - I do well on 10mg of each B taken in demand). I also like thiamine (B1) - I take extra of this one (10mg). I get anxious on 50mg B complex but some people like taking 100mg which is a lot. Make sure there is PABA in the formulation - this helps me with anxiety.
Well you see my problems are mostly with anxiety and if you have more lethargic tired depression type stuff going on, you may need different ratios of say the B vitamins. Also with regards to Ca/Mg - some people do very well with only magnesium but I need both (I have sleeping problems).
So minerals, B vits, vitamin C, a multi-vit which would include natural source vitamin E and low doses of vitamin A (avoid the synthetic form palmitate, acetate etc). You might get all the mienrals from a multi - but I prefer to have a different supplement - just be sure you don't take too many minerals if doing both - you have to do some maths there but it is worth it.
Fish oil can be very good for rebuilding damaged brain cells - if you have been on various meds then this would help things function normally again. I personally don't take much but I eat fish - too much fish oil makes me a little anxious. YMMV obviously.
Loops
poster:LOOPS
thread:731154
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20070201/msgs/738941.html