Posted by Lao Tzu on July 29, 2010, at 8:44:36
In reply to Re: Holy Basil Rocks!))) Morgan, posted by morgan miller on July 28, 2010, at 17:18:35
I tried pregnenolone a few years ago. It gave me energy, yes, but overall, I didn't like it. I did feel a little agitated while taking it. I have tried DHEA as well, and I was disappointed. I actually felt worse on it, but perhaps, I was taking the wrong kind. I didn't take the micronized form. I tried taking some GABA yesterday, and I think I just wasted $10 for nothing. I call it a stupid supplement. It doesn't even cross the blood brain barrier, and if indeed there are problems with GABA/Glutamate neurotransmission, just dumping a lot of GABA into your system won't do sh*t. There is a theory that bipolars and schizophrenics may have problems with GABA neurotransmission, but so far from what I could dig up on the web, it's just a theory in progress. I don't think we've gotten that far to say a drug that works on GABA will definitely help schizophrenics, although I am hopeful about the new glutamate drugs coming out in a few years. I wish, and so I hope my wish will be granted someday. I have also tried glutamine supplements, and the only time glutamine ever worked for me was when I was taking Ativan. The two worked great together, so there is something to the GABA/Glutamate theory, it's just not proven as of yet.
Have you ever tried yoga for your physical maladies? It may do wonders for you, but I don't know for sure.
The only things that are working for me in the way of supplements are the vitamins and minerals, along with some ginger each day. I don't do well on aminos at all. I have to tell you I've tried so many different supplements over the years, and found no relief. I've wasted a lot of money on junk! It's only in the past couple of years that I have found relief in vitamins and minerals along with my meds. I'm thinking that the TCM will be very helpful for me. I just received the herbs in the mail the other day, but I haven't taken them yet. I'm going to see if I'm all right with my current regimen before I take them. If I need a little more boost, then I'll try it. In the winter, I was taking alpha lipoic acid for oxidative stress. Overall, it helped a little with motivation and energy, but I don't seem to tolerate it that well. I have been taking 200mcg of folate every other day, and it seems to help with depression somewhat, but the strange thing is that a few years ago, I couldn't tolerate any folate at all. It caused mood swings and depression. Now I can tolerate a little. It seems to help somewhat with libido by increasing histamine levels. People with high histamine levels tend to have strong libidos. In the winter when I take B12 everyday, I also seem to have a stronger libido, and sex isn't a problem at all. I think one of the best things I've done this year was to balance my magnesium and calcium levels. I sleep better at night, whereas only a year ago, I had trouble falling asleep at night and it bothered me. Magnesium is good for so many things in your body, teeth, bones, heart, mind, etc. You have to watch the Calcium, however. I stay with 500mg at bedtime. It helps me sleep. Too much, and I don't feel right. There might be something going on with calcium metabolism in bipolars, so it's wise not to take too much.
I really think I need to get out there and start doing some form of exercise because it seems to be great for depression, especially in bipolars. And I have to stop smoking eventually. I think the smoking is adding to my depression to a great degree. Without the cigarettes, I think I would feel really good. Damn those things! I should have never started. I started at a vulnerable time in my life when the bipolar was getting worse. I socialized a lot, and I guess I thought it would be no big deal to try and fit in. It was the stupidest thing I ever did in my life. When I spent nine days in the hospital, I quit smoking, and when I got out, I felt on top of the world. I was liberated, so to speak. But then I did something stupid. After I got out, I stopped taking my Buspar and started taking Provigil again. Well, the Provigil was too stimulating for me and I went back to smoking again. If I had just stuck with the Buspar and didn't take the Provigil, I probably would have quit for good, but who knows for sure? At that time, I was really manic, and I probably would have started up again no matter what drugs I was taking. I try not to feel guilty about it, but it was very stupid of me. Currently, some company is working on a smoking cessation drug that affects GABA neurotransmission because GABA is involved in the self-administering of nicotine in some way. Good things are on their way. I just have to be patient.
Well, wish you well today. Have a good one!!Lao
poster:Lao Tzu
thread:951856
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20100703/msgs/956303.html