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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 11, 2003, at 20:38:11
In reply to Re: ADHD--How and where do I get tested?, posted by DSCH on September 11, 2003, at 15:24:16
> > Hi,
> >
> > Me again. One more question--whether I have the ADHD-I or am just incapable of getting my act together, is there any natural product that has been successful in treating either?
> >
> > Thanx!
>
> OK, a switch got thrown and a lightbulb went off over my head. :-) This is the program I developed, and which I slid from when I stopped taking DLPA...
>
> 1) Atkins diet. Carbohydrates and sugar elevate blood sugar resulting in insulin release. Insulin then assists the transport of L-tryptophan across the blood-brain-barrier to form serotonin. This comes at the expense of the transport of L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine, the precursors to dopamine and norepinepherine. So keep carb intake low, especially simple sugars.
>
> 2) Full vitamin and mineral supplementation. I think Atkin's Basic #1 is a pretty good basis to work from. It's hard to come by and I think everything with the Atkins brandname has its price jacked up so I take one capsule of Solray Twice-a-day Fe-free Energy Formula with each meal. You need vitamins C, B3, and B6 in particular to assist the enzymatic activity that produces dopamine and norepinepherine within the brain. http://www.mind-boosters.com/chapter_13.html (see figure 13.1, NADH is activated B3)
>
> 3) DLPA, L-phenylalanine, or L-tyrosine. Load up on the precursors to dopamine and norepinepherine. These are best taken before meals.
>
> 4) Omega-3 deficiency? I don't think this is the case for me, but you may want to consider it. "excessive thirst, frequent urination, vision impairment, dry skin and hair, learning difficulties" from http://www.nutritional-healing.com.au/add.htm
Posted by DSCH on September 11, 2003, at 22:44:51
In reply to Re: ADHD--How and where do I get tested? « DSCH, posted by Dr. Bob on September 11, 2003, at 20:38:11
You don't need to take the two extracts at the same time. Basically you just want to find a source of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) that works for you and isn't too expensive. Pycnogenol (trademarked French maritime pine bark extract) can be really pricey... the least expensive I found was Trader Darwin's you can get at Trader Joe's grocery stores. Solaray has "Tru-OPCs" from grape seed extracted by Dr. Masquelier's process and might be a good deal. Then again I didn't notice any effect from taking Pycnogenol. Dr. Amen says some people have had success with it.
If you are getting good sleep and don't have dark circles under your eyes you probably don't need to drink licorice tea for the glycyrrhizin, which inhibits cortisol breakdown. Drinking it daily for much longer than a month can result in hypertension (too much cortisol!).
You'll need to conquer your sweets craving somehow and avoid caffiene as well. Caffiene constricts the blood vessels in the brain, so it literally cuts down on the amount of fuel and raw materials your brain can uptake.
Posted by EscherDementian on September 12, 2003, at 19:06:17
In reply to Supplements for inattentive ADD« horseluvr, posted by DSCH on September 11, 2003, at 22:44:51
Trader Darwin's pycnogenol is wonderful. i've found that it is not only substantially the best price i've ever found, but it seems to feel and taste better than some of the more pricey Pycnogenol i tried.
Yay TJs :)
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 13, 2003, at 18:15:23
In reply to Re: ADHD--How and where do I get tested? « DSCH, posted by Dr. Bob on September 11, 2003, at 20:38:11
Posted by Kacy on September 12, 2003, at 15:24:37
In reply to http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030907/msgs/259262.html
Horsluvr: I think you should take your first post—just as it is—to a psychologist or psychiatrist. I was diagnosed with adhd-hypo by a psychologist. I don't think there is a medical test you take. The symptoms of your problems are the way they diagnose it.
I know how profound it is to see yourself in those profiles. A sister brought an article to me and said "This is you." I had already seen another one myself a few months earlier.
I identify a lot with many aspects of your story.
I think…and please correct me if I'm wrong…that the add-hyper people may be served well by the Atkins diet. It didn't do anything for me. It's not that I can binge endlessly on carbohydrates, but I know carbs are not my enemy. I do feel better if I eat beef.
--
Re: ADHD--How and where do I get tested?
Posted by Blake G on September 12, 2003, at 20:49:02
In reply to http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030907/msgs/259119.html
DSCH,
> 4) Omega-3 deficiency? I don't think this is the case for me, but you may want to consider it. "excessive thirst, frequent urination, vision impairment, dry skin and hair, learning difficulties" from http://www.nutritional-healing.com.au/add.htm
There is a more detailed listing of fatty acid deficiency symptoms on the following page:
http://www.nutritional-healing.com.au/questionnaire.htmRegards, Blake
Posted by DSCH on September 13, 2003, at 21:20:58
In reply to Re: Supplements for inattentive ADD« horseluvr, posted by EscherDementian on September 12, 2003, at 19:06:17
> Trader Darwin's pycnogenol is wonderful. i've found that it is not only substantially the best price i've ever found, but it seems to feel and taste better than some of the more pricey Pycnogenol i tried.
> Yay TJs :)I still have a significant amount of what I bought left around here... I may start back on it and give it more time in case the full benefits take time as I gave it a very short trial.
How long did it you to notice improvement from Pycnogenol?
If you like what Pycnogenol has done it would be of possible benefit to everyone here with ADD to hear what you have to say.
Posted by EscherDementian on September 15, 2003, at 14:51:00
In reply to Pycnogenol » EscherDementian, posted by DSCH on September 13, 2003, at 21:20:58
One of the first things i noticed wasn't exactly an ADD thing (but may be connected, i'll hypothesize/ask in a moment):
In 1-3days i'll notice that any bruises or *minor* skin scrapes are clearing up VERY quickly. i've got pale skin that does not tan, and bruises easily. (i've had long enough in my own skin to notice an excellerated healing like that).Almost as if the above is a metaphor, my general frenetic "Owwie" sensitivity seems to subtly smoothe out in a mild feeling of energy maintenance with a less ragged center. Not a 'mind thing' at all, more like a 'body thing'. All of this is _very_ subtle, and general, but is definately a result and comes about within in a matter of a week or so.
i have taken it daily for 1-2+ months, but not usually beyond that, sometimes i have tapered it after an initial daily intake to every two or three days, depending on how "de-freneticized" my sensitivity feels. This is because #1: i'd heard that when the body gets enough, the excess is eliminated thru urine much like Vit.C (i could be wrong, and i'd be interested to know if that is accurate, now that i think of it). and #2: It's *expensive*.
Here's my very humble uneducated hypothesis/question: If pycnogenol seems to address external tissue healing, might it be assisting any other *internal* cellular damages done by, maybe, overstimulated adrenals? Out of whack braincell firing?
There must be a connection somewhere, in excelerating skin repair AND returning to center from jagged raggedness.
Or is it only an awesome anti-oxident?Escher
P.S.
i bought LicoriceRoot tea (Alvita Herbal- division of Twinlab). Have had two cups x night for two nights now... fell asleep last night while it was still night!
(but it could be exhaustion, too ;)
Posted by DSCH on September 16, 2003, at 17:42:49
In reply to Re: Pycnogenol, posted by EscherDementian on September 15, 2003, at 14:51:00
The recommended dose (well, as recommened by pycnogenol.com) is 1 mg/kg/day. This works out to 100 mg for me, i.e. four of the Trader Darwin's tablets.
Is it best to take all four at once or spread them out?
Posted by DSCH on September 17, 2003, at 13:29:16
In reply to Re: Pycnogenol » EscherDementian, posted by DSCH on September 16, 2003, at 17:42:49
I ran out of DLPA capsules on Saturday. I was broke so I was pretty much forced to ride things out, and I backslid noticeably in focus, energy, and self-confidence. Yesterday I had some petty cash I had leave to tap into and got a 1 lb. bucket of "Protein 95" soy powder from GNC. Had two servings back-to-back yesterday and today I had one in lieu of solid breakfast and took my morning Solaray capsule and my daily alottment of Trader Darwin's Pyncogenol (4 tablets, 100 mg total). Big difference noted by 11 AM; I am back up to speed again! :-)
I chose Protein 95 because (a) its $/lb. is reasonable and (b) they bothered to list the amino acid breakdown of each serving it seems richer than others when it comes to tyrosine and phenylalanine. I got two more buckets in different flavors today with some money that fortuantely came in. :-) I should be set for a little while.
Links for those of you interested...
http://www.mind-boosters.com/chapter_13.html
http://www.brainplace.com/bp/supplements/default.asp
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030818/msgs/253263.html
http://www.pycnogenol.com/html/index.html
http://www.nutraceutical.com/search/view_product.cfm?product_index=4744
http://www.gnc.com/category.asp?id=175
Posted by Franz on October 27, 2003, at 21:32:38
In reply to Back in the Saddle :-) Aminos/VitMin/Pycnog., posted by DSCH on September 17, 2003, at 13:29:16
from
http://www.innvista.com/health/herbs/grape.htmProanthocyanidin has been proven to promote the proliferation of hair follicle cells and possesses a remarkable hair-cycle converting activity from the telogen phase to the anagen phase.
Have you noticed hair growth?
Thanks
Posted by DSCH on October 27, 2003, at 22:24:45
In reply to Re: Back in the Saddle :-) Aminos/VitMin/Pycnog. » DSCH, posted by Franz on October 27, 2003, at 21:32:38
> from
> http://www.innvista.com/health/herbs/grape.htm
>
> Proanthocyanidin has been proven to promote the proliferation of hair follicle cells and possesses a remarkable hair-cycle converting activity from the telogen phase to the anagen phase.
>
> Have you noticed hair growth?
>
> ThanksNo, but then mine has always been fairly rapid.
Posted by DSCH on October 27, 2003, at 22:40:25
In reply to Re: Back in the Saddle :-) Aminos/VitMin/Pycnog. » Franz, posted by DSCH on October 27, 2003, at 22:24:45
Oh, BTW, I am taking Nature's Way "Masquelier's Tru-OPCs" rather than Pycnogenol now. 75 mg tid.
I'm not sure how much of a difference it is making, but I figure some extra anti-oxididant protection would be a good long term investment so to speak.
This is the end of the thread.
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