![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tepiaca on May 5, 2003, at 2:36:17
KAVA ????????
a friend told me something about this plant
Do you know something about this? for anxiety??
anyone heard about it?
Posted by Emme on May 5, 2003, at 6:04:30
In reply to has anybody heard somethig about KAVA for anxiety?, posted by Tepiaca on May 5, 2003, at 2:36:17
I've never tried it, but I was told by a pharmacist that many people have had problems with it and that it tends to not mix well with medicines. I can't recall all the specifics, but he said that it was the herbal remedy that caused the most problems and recommended I stay away from it. He said valerian posed fewer problems and that you can have all the chamomile you want. Someone else on the board may have more specific or different information.
Emme
> KAVA ????????
> a friend told me something about this plant
> Do you know something about this? for anxiety??
> anyone heard about it?
Posted by Bill L on May 5, 2003, at 9:04:11
In reply to has anybody heard somethig about KAVA for anxiety?, posted by Tepiaca on May 5, 2003, at 2:36:17
KAVA is very effective for anxiety. Unfortunately, it can cause liver problems. The liver problem revelation came out in the press about 6 months a go.
Valerian works pretty good. You should buy a bottle that says "standardized". It takes up to 30 minutes to work. Valerian is used as a sleep aid. It does not cause tiredness, but makes people feel more relaxed.
Another thing to try for anxiety is melatonin. Start with 1.5 or 2 mg about an hour or 2 before going to bed. Melatonin can cause drowsiness.
My favorite is dark chocolate. Dark chocolate (not milk chocolate) can cause lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and fights cavities. I have also found that it gives me a lot of energy, fights anxiety, and caused me to lose weight since it makes me feel full. If you want to try it, take it in the candy bar form. Powdered chocolate loses its flavinoids during processing.
Posted by JackT on May 5, 2003, at 11:03:32
In reply to Re: has anybody heard somethig about KAVA for anxiety?, posted by Bill L on May 5, 2003, at 9:04:11
What brand of dark chocolate works for you?
Posted by jemma on May 5, 2003, at 11:26:50
In reply to Re: has anybody heard somethig about KAVA for anxi » Tepiaca, posted by Emme on May 5, 2003, at 6:04:30
Hi Emme -
Chamomile's great, unless you've got hayfever, like I do. In which case, it's a very powerful allergen :>(.
- jemma
Posted by KarenB on May 5, 2003, at 11:41:44
In reply to Re: has anybody heard somethig about KAVA for anxiety? » Bill L , posted by JackT on May 5, 2003, at 11:03:32
Jack,
I don't know about Bill but Ghirardelli is great. You can sometimes find it in the baking section of your supermarket (it will say, "for baking and eating"). My all time favorite, though, is found on the counter at any Starbucks. They have both "milk" and dark chocolates in little square packages.
And I thought I was the only one using it as medication! Ha ha.
BTW, Kava doesn't work for me.
Karen
Posted by Bill L on May 5, 2003, at 16:23:29
In reply to Re: has anybody heard somethig about KAVA for anxiety? » Bill L , posted by JackT on May 5, 2003, at 11:03:32
I have been taking between 1 and 1.5 ounces per day for the past 2 months. I get whatever is on sale and they all seem to work the same. I take Hershy's Special Dark, Dove's Dark, Cadburry Dark (also made by Hershy). The whole food health stores sell a variety of dark chocolates which have different concentrations of cocoa. I guess the greater the concentration, the more the effect.
I usually just take it once a day in the morning. But sometimes I'll take an extra half ounce at night instead of a different night time snack.
Posted by Questionmark on May 6, 2003, at 0:55:17
In reply to has anybody heard somethig about KAVA for anxiety?, posted by Tepiaca on May 5, 2003, at 2:36:17
Yeah, i've tried Kava a number of times: in capsule form, concoction-tea form, etc. But i never really felt much from it. From my experience (though i may just be less sensitive to many more-natural remedies), Kava would just be helpful for mild and MAYbe moderate anxiety. i don't think it would be that helpful for more troublesome forms of anxiety problems or disorders.
Posted by Viridis on May 6, 2003, at 2:06:56
In reply to Re: » Tepiaca, posted by Questionmark on May 6, 2003, at 0:55:17
My experience with Kava is that the only form that did something noticeable was fairly fresh root ground up into a soapy, nasty-tasting solution with water (similar to the way people in the South Pacific use it, except that they chew it and spit it into a bowl). And, I had to drink quite a bit (disgusting) to get a mild anxiolytic effect. The capsules don't seem to do much, although I haven't tried all brands. Given the recent evidence of possible liver damage, I avoid it now -- I find benzos much more effective, and they're probably safer.
Posted by Emme on May 6, 2003, at 22:22:38
In reply to Re: Dark Chocolate? Kava? » JackT, posted by KarenB on May 5, 2003, at 11:41:44
I'm a *completely* obnoxious chocolate snob. And the darker the better. Two of my favorite brands are Valrhona and Dolfin. Dolfin has a whole array of really interesting flavors in both milk and dark. You have to look around to find these brands, but they are amazing! They're not too cheap, but a little goes a long way. :) Which is good because too much chocolate at one sitting is too stimulating for me.
It never occurred to me until recently that my chocoholism might be some mild form of self-medication....Emme
Posted by BekkaH on May 6, 2003, at 22:30:33
In reply to Dark Chocolate....the best, posted by Emme on May 6, 2003, at 22:22:38
Mmmm. . .Yummy!
Posted by Bill L on May 9, 2003, at 12:57:57
In reply to Dark Chocolate....the best, posted by Emme on May 6, 2003, at 22:22:38
It probably is self medicating in the sense that it supposedly increases serotonin.
> It never occurred to me until recently that my chocoholism might be some mild form of self-medication....
>
> Emme
>
Posted by Snoozy on May 11, 2003, at 23:54:27
In reply to Dark Chocolate....the best, posted by Emme on May 6, 2003, at 22:22:38
I heard somewhere in recent years that chocolate contains the same chemical as what is in our brain when we're in love (with another human).
There's nothing better than getting some of the good stuff and savoring it.
Posted by Jack Smith on May 13, 2003, at 16:31:56
In reply to Re: Dark Chocolate....the best, posted by Bill L on May 9, 2003, at 12:57:57
Dark Chocolate. Is that the trade name or the chemcial name? What is this medication? Are there any side effects? Can I get any samples? Is it approved by the FDA and for what indication? Is there a generic?
> It probably is self medicating in the sense that it supposedly increases serotonin.
>
> > It never occurred to me until recently that my chocoholism might be some mild form of self-medication....
> >
> > Emme
> >
>
>
Posted by KMAnon on September 18, 2005, at 18:39:38
In reply to Re: has anybody heard somethig about KAVA for anxiety? » Bill L , posted by JackT on May 5, 2003, at 11:03:32
I have social anxiety that is moderate to severe at times plus a strange muscle fatigue and lactic acid build up in my facial muscles and chin. My doctors have been uanble to recognize the latter muscle fatigue and call it facial dystonia as a catch all diagnosis.
At any rate, for social anxiety, perhaps also to help the facial muscle fatigue / weakness, I'm starting a regimen of the following and want to know if anyone is aware of any harmful reactions of these substances or can help guide me in taking them without harm.
The supplements are...
- 2 tables of GNC Ultra Mega Man (3 is prescribed recommendation) in morning
- Fruit / Orange Juice / Protein Powder Smoothies in morning with Carlson's fish oil added
- Chamomille tea during day (1 or 2)
- Magnesium Citrate (Natural Calm) in evening in hot waterI'm concerned about reactions and naturally avoiding harm in the process of trying to do good.
Any guidance or experience with these would be appreciated, especially the combination of few or all.
Thanks in advance.
KM
Posted by gardenergirl on September 18, 2005, at 21:20:57
In reply to Picamilon / Magnesium / Fish Oil / GNC Vitamin Mix, posted by KMAnon on September 18, 2005, at 18:39:38
Hi and welcome to Babble.
I redirected your post to the Alternative board, as I think you will get more related responses there.
Here is a link: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050812/msgs/556639.html
Thanks,
gg
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.