Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 127901

Shown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

EMPower Plus-Has anyone tried?

Posted by Maisy on November 16, 2002, at 8:30:33

Did anyone see the Discovery Health Channel Medical Mysteries
episode a few weeks back that talked about treatment for BP and Depressive
Disorders? I think I'm going to try this supplment and wean off my
Effexor but am a little nervous. Has anyone ever heard of this supplement
or tried this supplement? Thanks for your input.

 

Re: EMPower Plus-Has anyone tried?

Posted by Larry Hoover on November 16, 2002, at 9:53:25

In reply to EMPower Plus-Has anyone tried?, posted by Maisy on November 16, 2002, at 8:30:33

> Did anyone see the Discovery Health Channel Medical Mysteries
> episode a few weeks back that talked about treatment for BP and Depressive
> Disorders? I think I'm going to try this supplment and wean off my
> Effexor but am a little nervous. Has anyone ever heard of this supplement
> or tried this supplement? Thanks for your input.

There's been lots of talk here about this stuff. Use Truehope as a search term.

I'm personally strongly in favour of nutritional support for all illnesses, including mental ones.

You should consider this, if only to balance out the hype:

http://www.healthwatcher.net/Quackerywatch/Synergy/synergy-lawsuit.html

 

Re: EMPower Plus-Has anyone tried?

Posted by Larry Hoover on November 16, 2002, at 10:36:30

In reply to EMPower Plus-Has anyone tried?, posted by Maisy on November 16, 2002, at 8:30:33

> Did anyone see the Discovery Health Channel Medical Mysteries
> episode a few weeks back that talked about treatment for BP and Depressive
> Disorders? I think I'm going to try this supplment and wean off my
> Effexor but am a little nervous. Has anyone ever heard of this supplement
> or tried this supplement? Thanks for your input.

For an excellent review of nutrition and depression, the book "The Way Up From Down" is available, in its entirety, online at:

http://www.thewayup.com/ebook/ebook.htm

 

Re: EMPower Plus-Has anyone tried?

Posted by rayww on November 16, 2002, at 11:06:01

In reply to EMPower Plus-Has anyone tried?, posted by Maisy on November 16, 2002, at 8:30:33

I have been taking EMPower for 2.5 months. I was unmedicated at the time, so I didn't have to wean off anything. From a clear-headed perspective this is what I have found:
I keep thinking I am going to go over the edge but I don't; rather I pass through situations that used to make me ill.
I still enjoy my creativity, but don't rely on how I'm going to feel a particular day to make my daily plans.
I enjoy my swinging, but I don't swing too high, out, down, or upside out. I seem to be more in control of the swing.

The down side to EMPower: I am struggling to form new habits and work patterns that fill the void and don't just move with the mood.

I'm not lazy by nature, but I am accustomed to living in survival mode. Life feels really good right now. Not euphoric. In euphoria I feel like everything's all better finally, and like I've solved all my problems, never to return to them again. I work around the clock to catch up on what didn't get done before, and then I either crash from exhaustion, or else the cycle repeats itself.

I have been waiting for the high to hit so I can tackle some major cleaning projects, but it's not gonna happen. For me that is considered a down side, but it is also up in that I feel capable of facing projects without going over the edge.

I have faced a couple of them already. One was my car port. I had my cleaning helper pull everything out of our shed and pile it on the car port. Then I waited for the mood to strike so I could organize and clean it. It never did hit, so one day (about a month later) I consciously went outside and faced it box by box, and it didn't even hurt. It felt good. I don't suppose anyone identifies with me on this.

I am going to stay on EMPower for another month, and then go off it for a time to see if I fall back to the old way. I don't know how else to evaluate its claim to fame.

AND---I don't know what I am. my pdoc, or I should say, gpdoc said bipolar, but as I read and study here, I'm not so sure.

Thank-you to everyone who posts here and recommends books and other sites. It has been the most amazing discovery.

 

Re: EMPower Plus-which one?

Posted by IsoM on November 16, 2002, at 12:46:18

In reply to Re: EMPower Plus-Has anyone tried?, posted by rayww on November 16, 2002, at 11:06:01

There seems to be two separate products called this. Out of curiousity, which one is it - the first:
http://www.healthwatcher.net/Quackerywatch/Synergy/EvB/empoweresearch.pdf
or the second:
http://www.qitohealth.com/Product.php?pid=4103

 

IsoM

Posted by Maisy on November 16, 2002, at 13:16:54

In reply to Re: EMPower Plus-which one?, posted by IsoM on November 16, 2002, at 12:46:18

The first site is the one. I could not connect
to your second site.

 

Re: EMPower , not legal

Posted by Larry Hoover on November 16, 2002, at 13:57:04

In reply to Re: EMPower Plus-which one?, posted by IsoM on November 16, 2002, at 12:46:18

Synergy, doing business as Truehope, was ordered to cease all sales and promotion of EM Power by Health and Welfare Canada, during 2001.

http://www.healthwatcher.net/Quackerywatch/Synergy/index.html#hcnotice010421

 

Re: EMPower Plus-which one? » IsoM

Posted by rayww on November 16, 2002, at 16:58:08

In reply to Re: EMPower Plus-which one?, posted by IsoM on November 16, 2002, at 12:46:18

http://truehope.com/EMPowerPlus_Ingredients.htm

http://truehope.com/index.html

Yes, Canada has banned this but:

United States has tested and approved drugs for cattle that are superior to those available in Canada, yet because Canada has not completed its own research, these drugs have been banned from entering the country.

The funny thing is while these drugs are banned, Canada still imports US beef that has been treated with such. So just because Canada bans something, doesn't mean she's right or that the left hand knows what the right is doing.

There's a powerful industry out there that is very protective of it's business, in who's name I'm not sure.

 

I'm taking this, Maisy

Posted by judy1 on November 16, 2002, at 23:04:00

In reply to Re: EMPower Plus-which one? » IsoM, posted by rayww on November 16, 2002, at 16:58:08

and purchase it from Truhope in Canada. I do have bipolar disorder and I am on other meds- which they wanted me off first. They are working off a grant, so I have to send in mood questionnaires, they call me every week and speak to my pdoc. As far as how I'm doing, not too well- they consider benzos 'red flag' drugs and wanted me off first (it would have taken at least 3 months at my doses) so that may be a problem. I was at 12/day and building by increasing 4 pills a day but they told me to go down to 6 because I feel a lot of anxiety and fatigue. I'm glad it's helping you Maisy, you sound like have a cyclothymic disorder (mild bipolar), I have bipolar 1 with true manic episodes. take care, judy

 

thanks » Larry Hoover

Posted by judy1 on November 16, 2002, at 23:30:16

In reply to Re: EMPower Plus-Has anyone tried?, posted by Larry Hoover on November 16, 2002, at 9:53:25

I sent that link to my shrink, it's good to have another viewpoint. I went to a Safe Harbor seminar in LA, there was a guy there who had 'recovered' from a serious bipolar disorder (numerous hospitalizations and a similar history to mine). He was on 16 pills/day and had been able to stop a 6 med cocktail and was symptom free for a year. That's basically why I wanted to try it (with my shrink's support). take care, judy

 

Re: EMPower's ingredients... » Maisy

Posted by IsoM on November 17, 2002, at 2:30:06

In reply to IsoM, posted by Maisy on November 16, 2002, at 13:16:54

Now excuse me if I sound a little naive, or maybe I'm still confusing which EmPower everyone's referring to (but I don't think so).

But what's the big deal? I read the list of ingredients, the potency, & how many capsules a day are to be taken. What's unusual about it?

None of the potencies are very high, none of the vitamins & minerals in it can't be found in foods, & no one ingredient is emphasized over another. Many don't even reach 100% of the RDA of such nutrients. A person could get all these vitamins & minerals in a healthy, well-balanced diet & they, too, would be in chelated form as it's found naturally.

So why is there such a hullabaloo about this supplement? And why is it supposedly better than eating a healthy diet? The formulation is no more superior over that of vitamins & minerals in foods. I'd like to hear from someone on why this is different, please.

 

Re: thanks

Posted by Larry Hoover on November 17, 2002, at 8:13:54

In reply to thanks » Larry Hoover, posted by judy1 on November 16, 2002, at 23:30:16

> I sent that link to my shrink, it's good to have another viewpoint. I went to a Safe Harbor seminar in LA, there was a guy there who had 'recovered' from a serious bipolar disorder (numerous hospitalizations and a similar history to mine). He was on 16 pills/day and had been able to stop a 6 med cocktail and was symptom free for a year. That's basically why I wanted to try it (with my shrink's support). take care, judy

Please, don't get me wrong. I strongly advocate nutritional augmentation as a strategy for mental illness. In fact, if the concept of cure is even possible, I believe it lies in nutrition. That said, and EMPower success stories notwithstanding, there is enough of the snake-oil shysterism surrounding this particular outfit to give you the willies. They make health-care claims that are unsubstantiated, rely on medical evidence from unqualified personnel, sell a medication that is not regulated in any respect, and make a lot of money in the process.

 

Re: EMPower's ingredients...

Posted by Larry Hoover on November 17, 2002, at 8:21:05

In reply to Re: EMPower's ingredients... » Maisy, posted by IsoM on November 17, 2002, at 2:30:06

> Now excuse me if I sound a little naive, or maybe I'm still confusing which EmPower everyone's referring to (but I don't think so).

No, there's only one. Synergy and Truehope are the same company.

> But what's the big deal? I read the list of ingredients, the potency, & how many capsules a day are to be taken. What's unusual about it?

Not much, except it is a package.

> None of the potencies are very high, none of the vitamins & minerals in it can't be found in foods, & no one ingredient is emphasized over another. Many don't even reach 100% of the RDA of such nutrients. A person could get all these vitamins & minerals in a healthy, well-balanced diet & they, too, would be in chelated form as it's found naturally.

Yes, but this is not a diet substitute. It is taken in addition to an existing diet. That difference may not be moot.

I know I don't eat well when my mood is dysregulated.

> So why is there such a hullabaloo about this supplement? And why is it supposedly better than eating a healthy diet? The formulation is no more superior over that of vitamins & minerals in foods. I'd like to hear from someone on why this is different, please.

It contains free amino acids. Some people may not be able to access the aminos in proteins, due to unrecognized digestive problems. The amino mix (the relative concentration) may have important effects at amino uptake sites in the body and brain. The trace minerals may be very important to the effects of the package. And the idea of getting all the nutrients simultaneously as a bolus may be very important to the net effect, via synergy. We recognize the collective action of B-complex vitamins. Perhaps this collective action is more extensive than has been recognized to date?

Just my speculative train of thought.

Lar

 

Re: thanks » Larry Hoover

Posted by rayww on November 17, 2002, at 11:48:23

In reply to Re: thanks, posted by Larry Hoover on November 17, 2002, at 8:13:54

notwithstanding, there is enough of the snake-oil shysterism surrounding this particular outfit to give you the willies. They make health-care claims that are unsubstantiated, rely on medical evidence from unqualified personnel, sell a medication that is not regulated in any respect, and make a lot of money in the process.
>
>

Please keep in mind, there is big money opposing Truehope - Synergy - EMPower on every turn. In the game of dodge ball you sometimes make a wrong turn, but you get back up and try again. These are little guys who know their product works, and who want to help others. In order to keep their company alive they have to make money. If they are able to stay alive long enough to help others also stay alive long enough there may be a chance that their product will be recognized and paid for by health insurance.

In my understanding, Truehope has charitable status in order to give those who cannot afford their product the opportunity to be helped by others. This isn't a claim to health care, rather to charity through the generosity of others. This company is struggling to get off the ground. They seek acceptance and recognition by the industry.

You are very right when you say this is not a diet substitute. So, why don't we all eat plenty of whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables? Because then we would have to grow them ourselves, preserve them, cook them, grind them, keep the preservatives and pesticides out of them, raise them, kill them, butcher them. Until we are able to do that, there is a need for nutritional balance. I mean how much anti-freeze (ice cream) and propane (non stick sprays) are we willing to injest to keep our motors running?

We kill our brain cells and then try to fix the consequenses. Spiraling down, down, down. I think we all agree that good nutrition and exercise gets us on the spiral going up. Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, and Water. It all makes sense. These guys just happened to get it right.

Oh, my, I do know of a horror story concerning EmPower and another popular vitamin company. A person was doing well on EMPower, better than ever before, and a sales person from a popular vitamin company told her that if EMPower could help her with no scientific research to back it, this other product would be superior. It didn't work. She is dead. By the time EmPower tried to help her get it back, she couldn't even remember taking it in the first place and refused to go back to EMPower. She went downhill fast on the better known supplement. Yet, my husband takes that same popular supplement and it works wonders on his diabetes and congestion problems.

We can all research both sides of the controversy right here on the Internet. We must be free to draw our own conclusions based on our own understanding coupled with trusted advice from those who know.

Quackery exists, but also large pharmaceutical companies, desperate to not have their cookies crumble. The way the world sees medicine is taking on new colors. Nutrition was always there in its brilliance, it was just dulled, greyed, and pushed aside by popular fads.

 

Re: thanks » rayww

Posted by Larry Hoover on November 17, 2002, at 12:06:52

In reply to Re: thanks » Larry Hoover, posted by rayww on November 17, 2002, at 11:48:23

> notwithstanding, there is enough of the snake-oil shysterism surrounding this particular outfit to give you the willies. They make health-care claims that are unsubstantiated, rely on medical evidence from unqualified personnel, sell a medication that is not regulated in any respect, and make a lot of money in the process.
> >
> >
>
> In my understanding, Truehope has charitable status in order to give those who cannot afford their product the opportunity to be helped by others. This isn't a claim to health care, rather to charity through the generosity of others. This company is struggling to get off the ground. They seek acceptance and recognition by the industry.

Well, they aren't a charity, in any legal application of the word. Nor have they even met the lesser legal obligations required of a non-profit, either in Canada or the U.S.

The fact that they suggest otherwise, leads me to wonder about the veracity of other claims they make. And, they make $0.18/capsule, which doesn't sound too charitable to me.

> You are very right when you say this is not a diet substitute. So, why don't we all eat plenty of whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables? Because then we would have to grow them ourselves, preserve them, cook them, grind them, keep the preservatives and pesticides out of them, raise them, kill them, butcher them. Until we are able to do that, there is a need for nutritional balance. I mean how much anti-freeze (ice cream) and propane (non stick sprays) are we willing to injest to keep our motors running?

I personally spent $1400 on various supplements last year (some of that just to build up my back-up supplies). I'm not a critic of supplemental nutrition.


> Quackery exists, but also large pharmaceutical companies, desperate to not have their cookies crumble. The way the world sees medicine is taking on new colors. Nutrition was always there in its brilliance, it was just dulled, greyed, and pushed aside by popular fads.

For an interesting insight into the politics and science of nutrition, you should read this:

http://www.internetwks.com/pauling/hoffer.html

 

Re: thanks

Posted by Larry Hoover on November 17, 2002, at 12:32:42

In reply to Re: thanks » rayww, posted by Larry Hoover on November 17, 2002, at 12:06:52

>
> Well, they aren't a charity, in any legal application of the word. Nor have they even met the lesser legal obligations required of a non-profit, either in Canada or the U.S.

Ooops! They are a privately owned non-profit in Alberta as of October, 2001. However, they are not a charity, either in Canada or the U.S., as of today (I checked).

http://www.healthwatcher.net/Quackerywatch/Synergy/evaluation-1.html
>
> The fact that they suggest otherwise, leads me to wonder about the veracity of other claims they make. And, they make $0.18/capsule, which doesn't sound too charitable to me.

Ooops again. The correct figure is 0.12. See above link.

 

Judy1

Posted by Maisy on November 17, 2002, at 12:47:43

In reply to Re: thanks, posted by Larry Hoover on November 17, 2002, at 12:32:42

Judy, Let me know how you make out. I 've decided to
give it a try. I actually have the supplments and forms
and all. I was just getting cold feet about actually putting
any in my mouth. I have MDD that started post-
partum over two years ago and can't see to get off
Effexor without a relapse. Effexor makes me feel fine
but unfortunately is making me gain a lot of weight.
I've tried the Zone diet that everyone says will help
control carb cravings but it didn't help. Thanks to
everyone for their input and on the links. Wish me luck!!

 

Re: Judy1 » Maisy

Posted by judy1 on November 17, 2002, at 13:42:01

In reply to Judy1, posted by Maisy on November 17, 2002, at 12:47:43

Best of luck and please post your progress. Take care, judy

 

Well, my shrink is ticked

Posted by judy1 on November 17, 2002, at 13:45:15

In reply to Re: thanks, posted by Larry Hoover on November 17, 2002, at 12:32:42

Truehope had told him they would keep in contact with him and they haven't. They also are trying to tell me what to do (re:meds) and he is really angry about that. But he still wants me to try it because he believes in this approach, just doesn't like their behavior so far.- judy

 

Re: Taking EMpower Plus for 2 months

Posted by Steve-o on October 15, 2003, at 18:54:02

In reply to Well, my shrink is ticked, posted by judy1 on November 17, 2002, at 13:45:15

I have been Bi-Polar for about 6 years. I had been on Lithium for a while combo'd with Effexor. Before my Dr diagnosed Bipolar, I had been taking all the regular SSRI's. About 9 or 10 of them along with anti-anxiety drugs. If anything helped it was for a short time only. Since I have been on EMpower Plus, I have stopped all perscriptions and at this point I feel better than I ever did with any prescriptions. I feel like I am about 60% or so to where I would like to be. It's not an immediate change like I would experience with the antidepressants before they would fizzle out, but I have slowly been feeling more normal in the last 2 months. Based off what I have seen so far, I would recommend this stuff to anyone with Bi-Polar, Depression, Anxiety, etc...I'll keep you posted on my progress.

 

Redirect: EMpower Plus

Posted by Dr. Bob on October 16, 2003, at 7:51:04

In reply to Re: Taking EMpower Plus for 2 months, posted by Steve-o on October 15, 2003, at 18:54:02

> Since I have been on EMpower Plus, I have stopped all perscriptions and at this point I feel better than I ever did with any prescriptions...

I'd like to redirect this thread to Psycho-Babble Alternative. Here's a link:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031003/msgs/269921.html

Thanks,

Bob

 

Re: EMPower's ingredients...

Posted by Yoga_Lover30 on June 23, 2009, at 15:39:14

In reply to Re: EMPower's ingredients... » Maisy, posted by IsoM on November 17, 2002, at 2:30:06

> Now excuse me if I sound a little naive, or maybe I'm still confusing which EmPower everyone's referring to (but I don't think so).
>
> But what's the big deal? I read the list of ingredients, the potency, & how many capsules a day are to be taken. What's unusual about it?
>
> None of the potencies are very high, none of the vitamins & minerals in it can't be found in foods, & no one ingredient is emphasized over another. Many don't even reach 100% of the RDA of such nutrients. A person could get all these vitamins & minerals in a healthy, well-balanced diet & they, too, would be in chelated form as it's found naturally.
>
> So why is there such a hullabaloo about this supplement? And why is it supposedly better than eating a healthy diet? The formulation is no more superior over that of vitamins & minerals in foods. I'd like to hear from someone on why this is different, please.


Hi Maisy,

I am also considering EMPower Plus, but I do see your viewpoint. If natural foods today actually retained the nutrients that they are supposed to have, then this would make sense, but, since our soils are so depleted of vitamins and minerals, so are the natural foods that are produced from that soil, so either 1.) people need to start growing their own gardens in order to make more nutrient-dense soil that in turn produces nutrient-dense foods or 2.) supplement. That's my opinion.


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