Posted by Lao Tzu on September 14, 2008, at 18:07:16
With all of my experimentation, I've discovered that the changing of the seasons has me adjusting my regimen, specifically, when winter turns to spring/summer and when summer turns to Fall and then winter. In the hot summer months, I try to take supplements that stabilize my mood, but some supplements cause me to feel lethargic during the day so I take these at bedtime instead of in the morning. Two examples are vitamin B6 (P-5-P form) and Niacin. These two I reserve for bedtime because they are better at helping me sleep than they are at stabilizing my mood during the day. However, in the winter, I almost need to take B6 and Niacin during the day for depression and then more B6 and Niacin at bedtime. In winter, and I don't know why exactly, I need to take more B12, zinc, and magnesium for anxiety since my anxiety seems to increase a lot more in the winter. During Spring/Summer I get off the B12 and zinc because they tend to make me more depressed in the summer. Don't know why exactly. In the Fall, when cooler weather starts to give relief from the heat, I notice that I can take small amounts of calcium during the day, about 150-300mg per day. I don't take calcium in the heat of summer because it can tend to be sedating, and I don't seem to need much sedation in the summer. Also, in the Fall, I increase my B6 and Niacin, still taking most of it at bedtime, but also taking a tiny bit of P-5-P (B6) during the day. I've found that 500mg of Niacin at bedtime is good. Some sources recommend up to 1,000mg of Niacin per day. As far as vitamin B6, I recommend the P-5-P form because I think it works very well. My limit for P-5-P in the Fall is about 90mg. I take 75mg at bedtime, then 12.5mg in the morning with my other supplements. During the winter, I take about 200mg of B6 per day, 100mg during the day and 100mg at bedtime. Fish oil--I always take it in the morning with my other supplements. Then 1-2 hours later I take 1 capsule of borage oil because I've heard that if you take borage and fish oils at the same time, they both compete for uptake in the brain. I don't know how true this is because I've taken fish oil and borage oil together and had good results. The key with fish and borage oils is to find the right combination that works for you since I think everybody is different as far as what they need and can tolerate. This takes a little patience and perseverence since it may take awhile to get used to fish and borage oils being in your system. After about a month or more, you probably will know how much fish oil and how much borage oil you can tolerate. It took me about two months to determine my limit for fish oil. Now, I take a specific dosage in the morning and don't waver from that. Some people need more vitamin D in the winter months. I have taken vitamin D with some positive effects on depression. However, I don't take it in the summer because you produce vitamin D from the sun, but I think it might be wise to take some during the winter if you really need it. Vitamin D isn't one of my main supplements, but I can see where it would be helpful. I've also read that calcium pantothenate (B5) is helpful for some depressives. I don't know whether it would be best to take this B vitamin during the day or at bedtime. With me, Niacin and B6 are more important than B5, but some people may need more B5 as well.
poster:Lao Tzu
thread:852011
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20080612/msgs/852011.html