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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tomatheus on March 23, 2012, at 17:19:02
Hello,
I was wondering if any of you have tried the herb tribulus terrestris for any form of depression. If you tried tribulus, what was your experience, and what symptoms was it most helpful at combating? Finally, if you found tribulus to be helpful at any point, did you find the benefits of the herb to be long lasting, or did the herb seem to lose its effectiveness?
Any responses would be appreciated.
Tomatheus
Posted by Hugh on March 24, 2012, at 16:59:12
In reply to Tribulus for depression ... any experiences?, posted by Tomatheus on March 23, 2012, at 17:19:02
I stopped taking it after a week because I found it too speedy. But I tolerate stimulants very poorly.
Posted by Tomatheus on March 24, 2012, at 18:36:44
In reply to Re: Tribulus for depression ... any experiences?, posted by Hugh on March 24, 2012, at 16:59:12
Hugh,
Thank you for your response. From my standpoint, it seems encouraging that you at least kept feeling tribulus' effects for a week. So many supplements that I've tried for my depressive symptoms have stopped exerting therapeutic benefits after a day, two days, or three days that a week seems like a pretty long time to respond in comparison.
I do think that it's too bad that you found tribulus to be too speedy. If I go ahead and take the herb, I will start off at a very low dose since I have a psychotic disorder and some sources on the Web say not to take tribulus if you have schizophrenia. That way, if I do react badly to the tribulus, at least my reaction won't be too intense.
Thanks again for responding,
Tomatheus
Posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 25, 2012, at 13:27:07
In reply to Tribulus for depression ... any experiences?, posted by Tomatheus on March 23, 2012, at 17:19:02
Its a waste of your time and money. Tribulus would probably help your depression (a little, at most) only if you are low to low normal testosterone. If your T levels are normal, taking testosterone boosting stuff of any sort is likely to make your depression worse or make you feel agitated or possibly hypomanic or overly aggressive in the bad kind of way.
On the other hand, if your T levels are low to low normal and have refractory depression, why not go the direct route and get your GP doc, Urologist or endocrinologist to rx your testosterone gel or shots? And get the real thing.
I have used both Androgel and Testim (legally prescribed) and I can tell you testosterone is some potent stuff. It does have a lot of potential bad side effects (elevated red blood cells, sleep apnea worsening, hypertension from fluid retention), but it is potent and can be a very good adjunct to antidepressants or a mood stabilizer in refractory depression, but ONLY when T levels are low to low normal.
Id forget the tribulus.
Eric
> Hello,
>
> I was wondering if any of you have tried the herb tribulus terrestris for any form of depression. If you tried tribulus, what was your experience, and what symptoms was it most helpful at combating? Finally, if you found tribulus to be helpful at any point, did you find the benefits of the herb to be long lasting, or did the herb seem to lose its effectiveness?
>
> Any responses would be appreciated.
>
> Tomatheus
Posted by Tomatheus on March 25, 2012, at 15:53:21
In reply to Re: Tribulus for depression ... any experiences?, posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 25, 2012, at 13:27:07
LostBoy,
I think you made some excellent points about tribulus as it relates to testosterone, and I thank you for the feedback.
Tomatheus
Posted by Hugh on March 25, 2012, at 15:58:27
In reply to Re: Tribulus for depression ... any experiences? » Hugh, posted by Tomatheus on March 24, 2012, at 18:36:44
> So many supplements that I've tried for my depressive symptoms have stopped exerting therapeutic benefits after a day, two days, or three days that a week seems like a pretty long time to respond in comparison.
I had five or six of the best days of my life on SAMe, and then it pooped out. I had two really good weeks on NADH, and then it pooped out. I had three pretty good months on P5P, and then it pooped out. I've been doing pretty well for nearly two months now because of kefir (fermented milk). This has caused me to do a lot of reading on probiotics, and I found something that might be of interest to you, since you have schizoaffective disorder. There's a clinical trial underway using the probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium (BB12) to treat schizophrenia. You can read about it here:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01242371
These two strains of probiotics are available in a product called USANA Probiotic Plus.
http://www.usana.com/webhosting/product?page=page3
BB12 lowers Interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels. The following is from http://crohns.net/Miva/education/articles/Probiotics_Research.shtml
IL-2 production from PBMC in the Bb12 group was significantly lower compared with the other groups.
The following is from http://www.cytokines-and-depression.com/chapter7.html
Interleukin-2 (IL2) and Interferon-Gamma (INFγ) INFγ and IL2 are primarily secreted by T-lymphocytes. Low doses of IL-2 produce symptoms of depression. Severe lethargy, impaired memory, slowed responses, impaired attention, anorexia, lack of interest and irritability are found with most volunteers after receiving low doses of IL2. High doses of IL2 provoke very severe symptoms of schizophrenia, including hallucinations, delusions, disorientation in time, place or person. These observations have prompted the development of a macrophage-lymphocyte model of schizophrenia.
Posted by Tomatheus on March 25, 2012, at 17:50:34
In reply to Re: Tribulus for depression ... (probiotics) » Tomatheus, posted by Hugh on March 25, 2012, at 15:58:27
Hugh,
Thank you for all of the information that you gave me. It was extremely helpful, and I will seriously consider trying USANA Probiotic Plus once I do a little bit more reading about the supplement. I haven't clicked on the links in your post yet, but I will take a look at all of the sites you linked to soon.
Tomatheus
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