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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by tepi on December 4, 2010, at 22:14:19
Ive been taking this supplement together with my Xanax dose (2mg/day) . I suffer mainly from a severe Social phobia, depression , and maybe very mild paranoia... not sure about this
Well , I tried the Gotu kola , and felt a little more calm the first days . Like if my mind were thinking slower before every word I wanted to say. That was only in the beggining , Im not having the same effect , Im just taking pills but not effect . Could it be the brand?Im decided to try anything else, what other things could I add to Xanax , I mean natural things to help with social phobia
Ginger Root?? anyother suggestions , Im gonna try everything. This is easier than real drugs, there are no side effects on these plants and I like itthanks
Tepi
Posted by Phillipa on December 4, 2010, at 22:14:19
In reply to Xanax- Gotu Kola - what else, posted by tepi on November 30, 2010, at 22:34:49
Tepi have heard that St John Wort is good for anxiety depression but no combining with other meds for depression. Phillipa
Posted by Hombre on December 4, 2010, at 22:14:19
In reply to Xanax- Gotu Kola - what else, posted by tepi on November 30, 2010, at 22:34:49
This will probably go to alternative quick, but from my recent readings and personal experimentation, the following are supposed to be good for anxiety, which I assume is the major symptoms of social phobia:
- St. John's Wort, and
- lemonbalm
- holy basil, or maybe even non-hold basil
- albizzia bark or flower, tincture - the Chinese name refers to collective happiness.
- passionflower
- valerian
- jiaogulan (an calming, adaptogenic herb that can be made into tea)
- ashwagandhaAll of the adaptogens help with dealing with stress, but some are more stimulating than others.
-Eleuthero, a.k.a. Siberian ginseng (not a real ginseng) is a mild, all around adaptogen that seems to warm the body, which lends comfort and calm energy.
In terms of Chinese herbs,
- Asian Ginseng is indicated to calm the spirit. It is erroneously categorized as a stimulant/stimulating herb due to marketing. Some find American ginseng more calming. White Asian ginseng, not red, is similar in action to American ginseng.
- fu ling, or hoelen, known as poria or Indian bread, calms the spirit as well. There is actually a category of herbs that calm the spirit in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Ginseng, white atractylodes, poria and licorice root form a basic formula for lack of energy and spleen energy, which is related to worrying and compulsive thoughts and behavior.
- dragon bone (long gu - really fossilized bones, no bone left, just minerals), dragon teeth, and oyster shell (mu li) are used in formulas to calm the spirit. The main formula for this is Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li Tang, available as a patent formula in pills, called Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li Wan. Just cut-n-paste into Google to find retailers.
- schisandra is an adaptogen and calming herb.
In Ayurveda, along with ashwagandha for all around strengthening and tonification, as anxiety is usually a deficiency condition, there is shilajit, a fossilized mineral pitch that is a calming adaptogen.
There's always good old magnesium and calcium, which help many people to sleep well. I find magnesium critical in dealing with depression and anxiety, as well as fatigue. I take magnesium glycinate and citrate.
A forum member, BetweenDreams81, says lithium orotate helps her.
Herbs work best when taken regularly for a prolonged period of time, along with some light exercise and ideally meditation, which works directly on the stress mechanisms in the body and mind, along with the psychological aspects of emotions and the way we react to them. Google "vipassana" for one proven method, which incidentally has been used in a couple of prisons in Alabama to good effect. This is documented in the film "The Dhamma Brothers".
Best of luck.
Posted by bleauberry on December 4, 2010, at 22:14:20
In reply to Xanax- Gotu Kola - what else, posted by tepi on November 30, 2010, at 22:34:49
Well, since everything we try is experimental...meds or herbs... with no prediction of result, I think you have the right idea. In your travels you could add these to your list of contenders:
Passionflower
Lemon Balm
Rhodiola Rosea
St Johns Wort
Japanese Knotweed (Source Natruals brand Resveratrol)Supplements would include:
Gaba
Glycine
Magnesium Taurate, Mg Glycinate, Mg MalateIf in doubt about serotonin, 5htp.
With most herbs and supplements, the synergy of 2 or 3 is what usually works best. But you need to sample them individually first to weed out the ones that feel bad to you. For example, Lemon Balm combined with St Johns Wort is a far more effective treatment than either alone. Gaba, glycine, and magnesium together are far better than any of them alone.
Dosing is also critical. Rhodiola for example can be uncomfortably stimulating at low doses, but calming at high doses.
The first few days can be deceptive as well. For example, when someone first starts an SSRI they might get more anxiety. But later on it turns into calmness (hopefully, doesn't always happen). Well, the same pattern can happen with herbs or supplements. So it is important to give them a little bit of time to see how things settle.
There are others as well. Skullcap. The chinese mushrooms (usually for immunity but also calming and good for adrenals).
An all around herb for a wide variety of symptoms is Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng). It modulates so many things. If too high, it lowers them. If too low, it raises them. Overall it helps the body deal with biological and psychological stressors, whether it be from disease or environment. It is an excellent balancer of adrenals. Too much is stimulating. The right amount is calming. The capsules aren't very great. HerbPharm makes a tincture that is excellent. My own opinion is that anyone with any kind of disease should give this one a serious try.
So you've got about 2 or 3 months of experiments here, and there are bound to be some you like.
Posted by tepi on December 4, 2010, at 22:14:20
In reply to Re: Xanax- Gotu Kola - what else, posted by bleauberry on December 1, 2010, at 19:29:17
Thank you very much for all your suggestions ! wow .. there is a lot of stuff out there. I really dont know where to begin.....
Nobody said anything about combining any of those supplements wth my benzo Dose (Xanax)Please Please God , send me something good to live better!
Posted by sigismund on December 4, 2010, at 22:14:20
In reply to Re: Xanax- Gotu Kola - what else, posted by tepi on December 2, 2010, at 22:32:56
>Nobody said anything about combining any of those supplements wth my benzo Dose (Xanax)
It shouldn't be a problem, Tep.
The result would be an added effect rather than a multiplication.I've combined most of those things (the ones blueberry mentioned) with Valium.
Do you find Xanax a bit uneven?
What about gabapentin? Did you look into that?
Posted by tepi on December 4, 2010, at 22:14:42
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
> >Nobody said anything about combining any of those supplements wth my benzo Dose (Xanax)
>
> It shouldn't be a problem, Tep.
> The result would be an added effect rather than a multiplication.
>
> I've combined most of those things (the ones blueberry mentioned) with Valium.
>
> Do you find Xanax a bit uneven?
>
> What about gabapentin? Did you look into that?
no no , Ive never tried that.... Gabapentin is similar to Lyrica? I tried EPIVAL some years agoCan you take a Benzo with Gabapentin??
Posted by sigismund on December 4, 2010, at 22:14:43
In reply to Re: Xanax- Gotu Kola - what else » sigismund, posted by tepi on December 3, 2010, at 22:43:01
>Can you take a Benzo with Gabapentin??
Yep. I've done it. Additive effect. Low dose of each.
Posted by Melanie-00 on December 12, 2010, at 22:41:24
In reply to Re: Xanax- Gotu Kola - what else » tepi, posted by sigismund on December 4, 2010, at 22:14:43
I think you can combine Rhodiola rosea with benzos, but better check with your doctor. I haven't tried Rhodiola yet, but I will be trying some soon (it's on order).
I know Rhodiola was mentioned already in this thread, but with the long list you have, I thought I'd mention it again. Based on my research (I've been looking at the published clinical/scientific research), it looks to be the most promising herb/supplement for anxiety, fatigue, concentration and sense of well-being, but I'm no expert. It could just be hype! There is a book called The Rhodiola Revolution by Richard P. Brown. I haven't read it, but I plan to. Maybe you should check it out, too.
Posted by Hombre on December 13, 2010, at 5:15:39
In reply to Re: Xanax- Gotu Kola - what else, posted by Melanie-00 on December 12, 2010, at 22:41:24
I've read it, and it's a good book. They combine rhodiola with psyche meds with few problems. I take it occasionally with no ill effects.
Rhodiola is pretty stimulating, and more is not always better. 500mg is probably too much to begin with, although it is often sold in that dosage. Combine cautiously with anything containing caffeine.
It's really good for physical energy, and in conjunction with mild to moderate exercise, it really helps build energy capacity. In terms of helping with anxiety, it will probably do better with low-energy type anxiety. Ashwagandha and jiaogulan are two calming adaptogens that can be safely taken on a regular basis. Holy Basil for that matter too, but I've only taken ashwagandha and jiaogulan; the latter makes a nice tea.
Posted by Melanie-00 on December 13, 2010, at 9:27:23
In reply to Re: Xanax- Gotu Kola - what else, posted by Hombre on December 13, 2010, at 5:15:39
This is interesting. Thank you. I really don't know if I have low-energy or high-energy anxiety. I do feel lack of energy, but my anxiety often manifests as a racing heart, tense body, sickening feeling in the gut. I am having trouble concentrating, but I am also having problems facing the source of my anxieties because I get so scared and overwhelmed.
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