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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by foglady on November 11, 2006, at 22:39:22
Hello old friends,
I've decided to try some ginseng for mild depression/motivation problems, after a few days using a cold remedy that is based on purified American Ginseng gave me a definite mood boost. Anyone have any experience with ginseng?
Also I've recently re-started a few other things: fish oil, vitamin E, lecithin, DLPA, and tyrosine. If I were doing this just to experiment I wouldn't be trying so many things at once, but I'm desperate to increase my concentration and memory for the next few weeks for the sake of homework success. (43 + grad school + toddler does not = time to waste.)
foglady (formerly fogmama ... I changed my name because I couldn't remember my old password!)
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on November 12, 2006, at 2:49:02
In reply to Ginseng?, posted by foglady on November 11, 2006, at 22:39:22
Hello! Welcome back!
I was just thinking the other day how someone is supposed to have a life outside grad school, ie have children. People do here in Finland, but it has one of the most family friendly societies I have ever come across, which exceptionally cheap state funded childcare. Anyway, thats besides the point.
Which kind of ginseng are we talking about?
Posted by Declan on November 12, 2006, at 13:43:36
In reply to Ginseng?, posted by foglady on November 11, 2006, at 22:39:22
Hello foglady
It's interesting you mention american ginseng and fog together, because there was a preparation of fractions of american ginseng plus ginkgo called 'AD.FX' that was supposed to be of some use as an alternative to Ritalin (maybe), or at least some use in clearing mental fog. It was worse than useless for me (not so uncommon, that) because it made me anxious. The company is called Bioceuticals, but I wonder if they have discontinued it.
Ginseng generally is no good for me, because I am too hot already. Withania seems better.
If you sleep well there's always rhodiola?
Declan
Posted by foglady on November 13, 2006, at 13:38:04
In reply to Re: Ginseng?, posted by Meri-Tuuli on November 12, 2006, at 2:49:02
<<how someone is supposed to have a life outside grad school, ie have children>>
It surely would be easier if my DH were not also in grad school. :) But then the fact that he is, is part of what makes it work, because we have partially subsidized childcare through his school. One of these days we'll both grow up and graduate ... and hopefully, be somewhat more gainfully employed (at least one of us).
<<Which kind of ginseng are we talking about?>>
American Ginseng (panax quinquefolium). I got that kind because the cold-fighter I used had it, and it seemed to lift my mood, so I figured why mess with a good thing. So far it seems to be pretty good, and isn't making me nervous or anything.
Also, I'm not craving coffee, which is interesting because I stopped drinking it the day I started taking the cold-fighter. Maybe ginseng works on the blood vessels in the brain similarly to caffeine. Anyway it doesn't seem to bother me.
I've added back a multivitamin as well today, as I seem to do better all around when using some kind of multivitamin. I'm not that much more focused yet but I notice I'm not getting as upset with myself over small things, like spilling a bunch of my multivitamin liquid on the counter *yuck*.
Cheers,
foglady
Posted by foglady on November 13, 2006, at 13:42:38
In reply to Re: Ginseng? » foglady, posted by Declan on November 12, 2006, at 13:43:36
Hi Declan,
<<there was a preparation of fractions of american ginseng plus ginkgo>>
I was thinking about trying ginkgo too -- I've never used it but my late father-in-law did, to help with alzheimer's symptoms, and it seemed to be great help for him for a while. I may add it once my current regime is stable enough to try something else. Thanks for the tip!
I haven't heard of withania, but the same store where I got the ginseng had rhodiola right next to it, so I took a look. I sleep pretty well, but since I tend to go to bed late and my son tends to wake up really really early, I'd be loath to mess with my sleep. What are the benefits of rhodiola?
foglady
Posted by Declan on November 14, 2006, at 12:23:13
In reply to Re: Ginseng? » Declan, posted by foglady on November 13, 2006, at 13:42:38
Antidepressant, energising. There are said to be various health benefits but they are not much use if you can't sleep well.
Posted by foglady on November 17, 2006, at 18:11:11
In reply to Re: Ginseng?, posted by Declan on November 14, 2006, at 12:23:13
> not much use if you can't sleep well.
True enough. I bought some anyway, and I plan to try using it early in the morning, same as I would caffeine (and avoid caffeine of course, although I'm thinking the stuff I bought actually has gotu kola in it as well which has caffeine, yes?)
So much to figure out. But if it results in one happy day I'll be glad.
foglady
Posted by foglady on November 17, 2006, at 18:58:25
In reply to Re: Ginseng? » Declan, posted by foglady on November 17, 2006, at 18:11:11
OK, looked at all the labels, and the Rhodiola I bought doesn't have any gotu kola -- the Ginkgo I bought does. In fact it has a lot of things ...
Bacopa 150mg - 20% bacosides
Ginkgo 60mg - 24% ginkgo flavone glycosides, 6% terpene lactones
Proprietary Blend 390mg which has:
Cardamom Fruit
Ashwagandha Root
Chebulic Myrobalan Fruit
Indian Valerian Root
Gotu Kola Leaf Extract
Chinese Asparagus Rhizome
Guggul Extract (10%)The Rhodiola just has Rhodiola Rosea in it.
Any thoughts welcome!
foglady
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 19, 2006, at 0:27:20
In reply to Ginseng?, posted by foglady on November 11, 2006, at 22:39:22
> I changed my name because I couldn't remember my old password!
Would you be interested in changing back? If so, I'd be glad to help...
Bob
Posted by foglady on November 22, 2006, at 13:11:34
In reply to Re: couldn't remember my old password » foglady, posted by Dr. Bob on November 19, 2006, at 0:27:20
> > I changed my name because I couldn't remember my old password!
>
> Would you be interested in changing back? If so, I'd be glad to help...
>
> BobThat would be great. Can you send me an email telling me what I need to do to change it? Thanks so much ~ fogmama
Posted by foglady on November 22, 2006, at 13:21:26
In reply to Re: Ginseng? + Rhodiola + Ginkgo, posted by foglady on November 17, 2006, at 18:58:25
Just a quick note to let others know who might read this thread that the combination of Rhodiola Rosea, Ginkgo, and Ginseng has really been helping me to a more positive place. The total package now is:
Before breakfast:
Multivitamin
Rhodiola RoseaAt or after breakfast:
Ginkgo (with Bacopa, Ashwaghandha, and some other stuff)
Quercetin
Vitamin E
Fish Oil
Calcium/Magnesium/Vitamin D
Ginseng (North American)
LecithinEverything except the Quercetin, Ginkgo, Rhodiola and Ginseng were things I was already using. I added one thing at a time, and I am pretty sure the Rhodiola has made the biggest difference.
foglady/fogmama
Posted by foglady on November 24, 2006, at 10:56:06
In reply to Re: Ginseng? + Rhodiola + Ginkgo, posted by foglady on November 22, 2006, at 13:21:26
I wanted to share one other thing that has been an outcome of this experiment: near elimination of self-anger. (At first I was also taking tyrosine and DLPA together, which I'd had some good results with in the past re: focus and concentration. But they had a very negative affect on my anger levels and I stopped them -- along with coffee, even decaf, which I no longer crave -- after I started Rhodiola Rosea.)
A couple of things have happened in the last few days that would have sent me over the edge into extreme anger at myself, and they didn't really faze me. It's not that I had an unrealistically rosy outlook, but instead of having a distorted view of the meaning of the events (encountering the consequences of inattentiveness and using that to condemn myself angrily) I just took them in stride.
I also cooked something I've never done before for Thanksgiving dinner, which is usually the kind of situation that makes me extremely tense, and I wasn't tense at all, just interested to find out how it would turn out.
Just thought I'd share.
foglady/fogmama
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