![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by former poster on July 30, 2010, at 23:49:47
Is anyone taking Kava? How safe is it? How effective?
Posted by morgan miller on August 3, 2010, at 1:19:24
In reply to Kava Kava still around?, posted by former poster on July 30, 2010, at 23:49:47
Kava is very effective but may not be good for your liver if you use it regularly for a long time.
Safer alternatives that also don't make you feel as numb are:
GABA
Ashwhaghanda
Magnesium taurinate or glycinate
low dose Lithium orotate or aspartate
Posted by morgan miller on August 3, 2010, at 1:36:55
In reply to Kava Kava still around?, posted by former poster on July 30, 2010, at 23:49:47
Personally, one of the best things for anxiety is exercise. Moderate to intense pulsatile burst type cardiovascular exercise(increases serotonin and dopamine) followed by a long meditative full body stretch(increases GABA) is one of the best ways to treat anxiety. There is a recent study suggesting that over about a 4 to 6 week period after starting a proper exercise routine, actual changes take place in the brain that contribute to better anxiety management and stress management. Evidently the anxiety relief benefits of exercise build over time as these positive changes occur. Let me try to find the study. Here are a few articles that may discuss what I'm talking about.
Posted by former poster on August 3, 2010, at 11:59:02
In reply to Re: Kava Kava still around?, posted by morgan miller on August 3, 2010, at 1:36:55
I agree with you on exersise. But... Lately it is having less impact the older I get. Since I have reached middle age it seems like it takes a marathon to get the same results that I got from jogging a block. Could it be the beta blocker I'm on?
Posted by morgan miller on August 3, 2010, at 12:47:40
In reply to Re: Kava Kava still around?, posted by former poster on August 3, 2010, at 11:59:02
It could be the beta blocker. Why are you taking it and do you take it everyday? I'm guessing you take it for social anxiety.
Have you ever tried intense pulsatile bursts of cardiovascular exercise that don't last more than 20 or 30 mins? What about doing about 12 mins of interval training and then doing moderate to intense-fluctuating between the two based on how you feel. When you feel you can go harder and faster, do it. When you feel you need to slow down a bit, do it. Just pay attention to your body and what it can do and what it needs. Try to reach a zone where you are sort of in a relaxed meditative state, breathing through mouth and nose, even while you are hitting it hard. Focus on finishing your breath through your nose or getting to a point where you are effortlessly breathing through your nose as if on a ventilator. Breathing through your nose will get oxygen straight to your brain, increasing the brain benefit of cardiovascular exercise. You will find that it feels better to get air into your nose, at least half the time. I even close my eyes at times. You CAN train yourself to relax your mind and body and go hard at the same time.
I hear ya on the getting older thing. Maybe consider taking some herbs and supplements that will help you reach energy levels and physiological levels a little closer to what they were 10 years ago. I believe this is possible.
Morgan
Posted by former poster on August 3, 2010, at 13:50:07
In reply to Re: Kava Kava still around?, posted by morgan miller on August 3, 2010, at 12:47:40
Thanks for the advice, but if I add another supplement to my regimen I will sound like a maraca when I jog.
Posted by morgan miller on August 3, 2010, at 15:43:55
In reply to Re: Kava Kava still around?, posted by former poster on August 3, 2010, at 13:50:07
> Thanks for the advice, but if I add another supplement to my regimen I will sound like a maraca when I jog.
Ha ha, yeah me too.
Posted by morgan miller on August 3, 2010, at 15:46:27
In reply to Kava Kava still around?, posted by former poster on July 30, 2010, at 23:49:47
Have you ever consider Hormone replacement therapy done by a well qualified doctor? If you do everything right and keep all of your other hormones in check, like estrogen, there should not be any real long term health concerns. Actually, HRT done the right way could very well improve overall health and help prevent some diseases in the long run. Just a thought
Morgan
Posted by former poster on August 4, 2010, at 0:49:33
In reply to Re: Kava Kava still around? » former poster, posted by morgan miller on August 3, 2010, at 15:46:27
Thank you for that advice. I was thinking exactly the same thing. Dropping my Psychiatrist and seeing a Endocrinologist. Now you have started me rolling. I don't care how much I have to pay out of pocket. Do these Physicians and Psychiatrists really want us to get well? Or the insurance companys? I always believed that they did. Now I'm not so sure. Can anyone recommend where to go? I'm in the midwest? In the Wisconsin / Minnesota area.
Posted by morgan miller on August 4, 2010, at 1:04:15
In reply to Re: Kava Kava still around?, posted by former poster on August 4, 2010, at 0:49:33
I would do a google search for your area and see if you can find anyone that comes highly recommended. I'm sure when I pass 40 in less than 3 years I will be seriously considering HRT.
Mind and Muscle is a good place to go for information concerning HRT.
Good luck! When you get the ball rolling come here and report back on your experience. I'm interested in hearing how it works out for you.
Morgan
Posted by Lao Tzu on August 11, 2010, at 12:34:02
In reply to Kava Kava still around?, posted by former poster on July 30, 2010, at 23:49:47
I took Kava kava for many months years ago. It did help my anxiety and I didn't have any side effects from it. Don't know what the long-term effects might be. A very few persons have had liver problems with it, but these people may have been very sensitive to it, took too high a dosage, mixed drugs or alcohol with it, or had liver problems to begin with. Generally, it is safe, but still use caution, especially if you drink a lot of alcohol. Not good to mix these two. Not good to mix pharmaceutical antidepressants with kava either. I had this experience.
Lao
Posted by Lao Tzu on August 11, 2010, at 12:35:42
In reply to Kava Kava still around?, posted by former poster on July 30, 2010, at 23:49:47
The Natrol brand makes a good kava product. It comes in 200mg capsules. Don't overdose on kava because it could cause overstimulation. I would just say keep to the dosage that is recommended.
Posted by former poster on September 1, 2010, at 23:00:29
In reply to Re: Kava Kava still around?, posted by Lao Tzu on August 11, 2010, at 12:35:42
I'm curious why the FDA banned it for the above mentioned liver problems but then OK'd it years later?
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Alternative | 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.