Posted by blueberry on May 20, 2006, at 13:01:16 [reposted on May 21, 2006, at 15:38:17 | original URL]
In reply to Blueberry ... What is Taurine??, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 19, 2006, at 19:34:23
Taurine is a natural amino acid that is found in protein, but our bodies create most of it. It is inhibitory and slows down excess brain activity especially related to overactive glutamate or aspartate, both of which could be giving you anxiety and fear problems. It is an essential nutrient to get sodium, magnesium, calcium, and sulfur in and out of cells the way they are supposed to. Many people with psychiatric problems have bodies that just do not produce enough taurine. That's where supplementation can help.
People who prefer natural treatments to medicines find that taurine is an good mood stabilizer instead of lithium, depakote, or lamictal. From my own sample trials at low doses, it is indeed very calming and mellowing. It also seems to somehow make everything else work a little better. People have even been able to wean off of longterm xanax or klonopin with the aid of taurine and gaba supplements. Or for someone who wants to reduce dosage, taurine can help there.
Yes you can take it with meds. It stands a good chance of making the meds work better, or addressing issues that the meds are missing.
Another one to consider is magnesium. Favored ones are magnesium glycinate, magnesium taurate, or magnesium citrate. Magnesium is an essential mineral for brain function. Stress can deplete it quickly. Magnesium is very calming.
Taurine and magnesium are both natural, cheap, and basically just concentrated forms of food. And both are calming, so that could be help you through some tough times. Drug stores and health food stores have them.
poster:blueberry
thread:646593
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060428/msgs/646596.html