Posted by circusboy on November 28, 2006, at 19:23:07
In reply to Re: Amino acid therapy... or Mucuna pruriens? » circusboy, posted by sregan on November 26, 2006, at 18:24:59
> I like "standardized" herbals so I know how much
of the active ingredients I'm getting. I've tried
..snip..
> I have two issues with this stuff over Aminos. 1. There is other stuff in the Mucuna bean. What is it and what does it do?
> 2. If you supplement with L-dopa will your brain feedback and stop making as much of the stuff?
>
I share your skepticism and caution about herbals. Their complexity and variable potency between brands (and possibly between crops of the same brand, even with standardization) kept me away for a while. Still (as you know) after you've tried a few of the better ones, it's impossible to deny that they're (psycho)pharmacologically active and therefore really hard to resist experimenting with them...> I didn't ever order it. I thought I had butwhen my I-herb order came no SAM-e. After more reading I'm skeptical about getting this stuff over the counter until someone can give me a brand recommendation that they've actually had results with.
I have had -- and continue to have -- good success with the Jarrow Formulas SAM-e, 400mg. I take two pills before breakfast. I've also tried the Doctor's Best and don't like it nearly as much. I can actually feel the difference after just a day or two. Maybe this is an aesthetic more than a functional difference (placebo effect?), but the Jarrow pills are clearly better made. (Yes, I was the one who wrote that silly review on iHerb). Anyway... over the Doctor's Best, at least, I *strongly* recommend the Jarrow Formulas. I've also tried the Vitamin World brand, but that was a few years ago, and I quit taking it after a couple of weeks...I don't have anything useful to say about it. Consumer Labs says it's OK, though.
Anyway. I've just started a trial of vinpocetine. I'll try to remember (ha!) to let you all know how it's going. Unless I confound the results by taking some of my new bottle of Ashwagandha at the same time.
Empiricism is a cruel mistress! Or something.
-cb
poster:circusboy
thread:707527
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20061118/msgs/708326.html