Posted by verne on March 20, 2006, at 7:40:58
In reply to Re: Treating anxiety with other alternatives?, posted by nolvas on March 20, 2006, at 5:15:52
I'm still looking but have found varying success with tryptophan, niacinamide, magnesium citrate, and the herb Feverfew.
I use Nature's Way Feverfew premium extract (purple label) with 0.7% parthenolide. Although it is primarily used for migraines and pain relief, there are reports that it helps with anxiety and panic attacks. I always feel calmer and better able to concentrate.
Magnesium usually works too. I mix the citrate powder into water or juice throughout the day.
I haven't taken niacinamide long enough to know but have heard it works great if you take high enough doses spread throughout the day. I think it has to be at least 1,500 mgs per day split into 3-4 doses per day. Caps work better than tablets.
With me, most B vitamins are a crapshoot. Folic acid, B-12, and B-6 give me the heebie jeebies. B-12 especially. A good B complex though will usually calm me.
Tryptothan seems to work most of the time. I'm still experimenting with it. Gaba gives me the shakes, as does many herbs and supplements that are supposed to be calming. 5-HTP and S-ame make me climb the walls.
Valerian root and passion flower will make my heart pound and amp my body up. Kava kava agitates. Bacopa, Gotu Kola, melatonin, and taurine make me shake long time. I've forgotten most of them and would have to do some deep spelunking in the back of the cupboard to find past experiments gone bad.
Ashwagandha may hold some promise for anxiety relief. The jury is still out in my case but it seems to help most of the time. I think you have to take a hefty dose for at least 3-4 weeks to begin to see optimal results. Jarrow has the most potent formula at iherb.com
Verne
poster:verne
thread:622022
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060313/msgs/622427.html