Supplements for Anxiety/Depression?

[Harold_Hill]

Not just Erica, but for anyone considering herbs for health reasons. Herbs come from plants, and not all herbs with the same name come from the same plant. For example: There is an American Goat's Rue and a European Goat's Rue. American Goat's Rue is toxic to animals and has no benefit to humans, while European Goat's Rue has been used for centuries to as a galactagogue and to treat diabetes. They are two entirely different plants, but have the same name.

Another herb is Shatavari, an herb in India used for centuries by women as a general health tonic. Shatavari is the Indian common name for Wild Asparagus. Wild Asparagus grows all over the world, but only the species that grows in India, (asparagus racemosus), has medicinal qualities. However, to many selling Shatavari, Wild Asparagus is Wild Asparagus, and as a consumer, you have no way to know where the herb came from, or if it is even the right genus/species.

Also, growing conditions affect the potency of herbs. Originally, Fenugreek came from the Mediterranean area, and has been used for centuries as a galactagogue to increase milk production for nursing mothers. Today, Fenugreek is grown all over the world as a food for dairy cattle. Because growing conditions are different in different countries, (soils and climate), Fenugreek grown in Canada for cattle food, may not be as potent as Fenugreek grown in the Mediterranean area.

If you are going to use herbs for health benefits, you should look for a Herbalist or perhaps a Naturopathic Doctor that really knows his/her stuff. Someone who has invested the time and effort to learn their profession, and is conscientious about the source of their herbs.

In my opinion there are too much misleading information on the Internet, and too many people in the herb selling business who don't care as long as they can make a buck. Herbs are generally safe, as long as you get the right genus/species, grown in the right growing conditions.

 

[jomar]

I don't think anyone has mentioned fish oil. Get EPA ingredient to 1 gram (the whole pill is one gram so you'll have do do the math. Fish oil has been well researched to be effective in treating depression.

Also, writing down 3 things you are grateful for each day for a week lifts mood and the lift can last for up to six months. If you write down gratitudes for 21 days you might also get mindfulness rolling.

Exercise.

The other day I saw something about apple cider vinegar...drinking some (don't know in what concentration) before you eat promotes breaking down amino acids (differently somehow, quicker maybe?) resulting in increased serotonin.

Best luck.

 

[Harold_Hill]

The other day I saw something about apple cider vinegar...drinking some (don't know in what concentration) before you eat promotes breaking down amino acids (differently somehow, quicker maybe?) resulting in increased serotonin.

From my experience, if you take a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar, and it tastes like sour apples, it will help you feel better, but if it has a strong vinegar taste, it doesn't seem to help. Perhaps it has something to do with the ph of your body.

 

[simplegirl]

As previously mentioned, has he had blood work to eliminate thyroid disease or diabetes? Thyroid especially can mimic symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Cognitive behaviour therapy might be better for him than straight talk therapy, as I find it gives more building blocks to correct the negative thinking that depression invariably causes. For a natural option to anxiety, there are Hylan's Calms. http://hylands.com/products/hylands-calms They help with mild anxiety, but if he's suffering from panic attacks, he may need something stronger than these. These will not help with depression though. If he doesn't trust his therapist and is hesitant to speak of his issues, then it may be worth trying a different therapist. Like meds, no one therapist is a great fit for everyone.

Exercise can help elevate mood, but it's hard to be motivated when under the dark cloud of depression. Meditation and gentle movements such as yoga or Qigong may also help.

It's all really dependent on how severe his symptoms are. If they are severe, it may be worth rethinking the medication route. If he hesitates with meds (justifyably where he had a nasty reaction) maybe electroshock therapy would be a good option? It's a far cry from what the horror movies show. Studies have also shown that by placing the electrodes on the forehead rather than the temples, you have less incidents of short term memory loss associated with ECT, so great strides have been made there. It has the advantage of working quickly, i.e. days vs weeks with herbs or meds.

 

[tumbledown]

Long reply sorry! but I have dealt with depression/anxiety for many years. I've tried many of the meds modern science has to offer. Maybe 2 out of a dozen have been very helpful, the rest where either "hell no" or "meh". My experience with herbs is similar. If your hubby wants to explore supplements he needs to know it's a road with many forks and dead ends - one must be persistent in the search for an effective remedy.

Personally I have found only two things that calm anxiety: regular vigorous exercise, and mitragyna speciosa. The latter is an herb known as kratom making the rounds of the younger generation and being used for depression/anxiety but also by some in a lot of dumb ways ( contributing to a negative reputation, I see it going the same path as mj - a helpful herb to many but the medicinal uses overshadowed by the unwise actions of some extreme recreational users).

There are many people using kratom in medicinal, sub-recreational doses. For individuals who don't abuse it looking for a high, it seems to offer benefits with very few side effects. It gives the most mood lift and anxiety relief I have ever gotten from any supplement and even better than some prescription meds I've had. It provides a measure of pain relief as well, a bonus for those of us with back or joint pain. It can be taken in capsules, it tastes pretty bad as tea to most. I would encourage looking at reviews to find a reputable vendor and not waste money on smoke shop garbage.

There is a lot of b.s. and unwise usage advice from both opponents and " partiers" but it's possible to dig thru it and find info about medicinal use. I have found it very helpful. What I like about it is that at very small doses I don't notice feeling "affected" in any way, I just feel better. There are many different strains each with their own balance of effects, so one can explore the varieties to find what works the best.

 

[Mister_Chris]

The following is not to be considered medical advice, and is presented as information only.

Siberian Ginseng will elevate mood, increase feelings of self worth, and increase sex drive. Not all Ginseng is created equal. Choose a major brand name, make sure it's Siberian, and adjust the dosage up or down every few days to judge the effects.

Gotu Kola is also frequently recommended to help fight depression.

If marijuana is legally available in your area, it will help relieve stress and may aid in elevating mood. My personal observation is that long term use decreases intellect, and results in weight gain. Basically, people wind up dumb, fat, and happy. Sometimes, this isn't a problem; retirees and palliative care patients are two categories which come to mind. And being a bit fatter and a bit stupider is generally preferable to being dead. So it's a valid therapeutic agent in some circumstances.

It's worth keeping in mind that ALL psychoactive preparations are drugs, whether they are called St Johns Wort or Wellbutrin. And they all have side effects. The primary advantage to using standard anti-depressant medication is that you're always getting the exact, standardized, same molecule. With OTC supplements, it's a bit more of a crap shoot. Whats in the pill you take today depends, to some extent, on how much rain fell on a mountain slope in China nine months ago.

Speaking very generally, Wellbutrin is an example of a very small class of drugs known to affect Dopamine levels. Dopamine is a 'brain chemical' - a neurotransponder - which is associated with mood. There are only a very small handful of medications that directly affect Dopamine levels; the vast majority of anti-depressants work on Serotonin, a different brain chemical altogether.

I would suggest that anyone suffering from depression seek the services of a doctor of medicine - as opposed to a therapist, or in conjunction with a therapist. There are large advances being made in the field of medicine daily, and a biochemical cause will not be remedied by any amount or type of therapy. Therapy can be very useful; but it is not a 'one size fits all' solution. I would suggest that a doctor of medicine, either a GP or a psychiatrist, become involved early in the game.

Some effective anti-depressants can actually increase the likelihood of suicide around day 10 in treatment. There are many theories, but I haven't seen any proven causative mechanism. It is also true that most anti-depressant medications take about 30 days to show any psychological affect (although side effects show up almost immediately).

Another useful line of therapy is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. This involves the application of a strong, focused magnetic beam through specific areas of the brain for specified times and intensities. It is available through the same types of clinics that would offer CAT scans, and larger hospitals. The advantage of TMS is that it does not involve any chemicals at all, and has few side effects (although there are some; google TMS to see if it's right for you).

To sum up:

1. Siberian Ginseng and Gotu Kola are said to be useful in treating depression.

2. Everything that affects your body is a drug.

3. Depression kills. It's an often lethal illness. Get a doctor on the case early.

4. Wellbutrin is an uncommon anti-depressant. Much more common types, such as Prozac, Paxil and a million others are considered much more 'front line' drugs, and will have very different side effect profiles. Frequently a mix of medications works best.

5. TMS is showing great promise.

Good luck - MC

 

[Setanta84]

I have PTSD and long-term depression with features of suicidal ideation.

On top of anti-anxiety meds and anti-depressants, the thing that was recommended to me as a supplemental was heavy doses of fish oil--specifically, 1000 mgs a day of EPA and DHA.

And those do help. Not much on their own--during phases of losing insurance, I've had them on their own--but they do take the edge of anxiety and depression symptoms. You go from feeling totally overwhelmed to "Eh, this sucks, but I'll live."

 

[JoeTristano]

Hi, Ive been going through this with my girlfriend. I suggest researching CBT (Cognitive Behaviuoral Therapy) - it shows the depressed person what their thinking is like and how they are being affected by their thoughts.

Beware of using pot, that is pure nonsense. It makes you more depressed. Fish oil is great and of course healthy nutrition and active lifestyle in general helps, but what really worked with my girlfriend was the CBT thing, it is nothing complicated.

A nice blog about it: http://whatdepressionfeelslike.com/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-out-of-depression/

 

[SweetErika]

The following is not to be considered medical advice, and is presented as information only.

Siberian Ginseng will elevate mood, increase feelings of self worth, and increase sex drive. Not all Ginseng is created equal. Choose a major brand name, make sure it's Siberian, and adjust the dosage up or down every few days to judge the effects.

Gotu Kola is also frequently recommended to help fight depression.

If marijuana is legally available in your area, it will help relieve stress and may aid in elevating mood. My personal observation is that long term use decreases intellect, and results in weight gain. Basically, people wind up dumb, fat, and happy. Sometimes, this isn't a problem; retirees and palliative care patients are two categories which come to mind. And being a bit fatter and a bit stupider is generally preferable to being dead. So it's a valid therapeutic agent in some circumstances.

It's worth keeping in mind that ALL psychoactive preparations are drugs, whether they are called St Johns Wort or Wellbutrin. And they all have side effects. The primary advantage to using standard anti-depressant medication is that you're always getting the exact, standardized, same molecule. With OTC supplements, it's a bit more of a crap shoot. Whats in the pill you take today depends, to some extent, on how much rain fell on a mountain slope in China nine months ago.

Speaking very generally, Wellbutrin is an example of a very small class of drugs known to affect Dopamine levels. Dopamine is a 'brain chemical' - a neurotransponder - which is associated with mood. There are only a very small handful of medications that directly affect Dopamine levels; the vast majority of anti-depressants work on Serotonin, a different brain chemical altogether.

I would suggest that anyone suffering from depression seek the services of a doctor of medicine - as opposed to a therapist, or in conjunction with a therapist. There are large advances being made in the field of medicine daily, and a biochemical cause will not be remedied by any amount or type of therapy. Therapy can be very useful; but it is not a 'one size fits all' solution. I would suggest that a doctor of medicine, either a GP or a psychiatrist, become involved early in the game.

Some effective anti-depressants can actually increase the likelihood of suicide around day 10 in treatment. There are many theories, but I haven't seen any proven causative mechanism. It is also true that most anti-depressant medications take about 30 days to show any psychological affect (although side effects show up almost immediately).

Another useful line of therapy is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. This involves the application of a strong, focused magnetic beam through specific areas of the brain for specified times and intensities. It is available through the same types of clinics that would offer CAT scans, and larger hospitals. The advantage of TMS is that it does not involve any chemicals at all, and has few side effects (although there are some; google TMS to see if it's right for you).

To sum up:

1. Siberian Ginseng and Gotu Kola are said to be useful in treating depression.

2. Everything that affects your body is a drug.

3. Depression kills. It's an often lethal illness. Get a doctor on the case early.

4. Wellbutrin is an uncommon anti-depressant. Much more common types, such as Prozac, Paxil and a million others are considered much more 'front line' drugs, and will have very different side effect profiles. Frequently a mix of medications works best.

5. TMS is showing great promise.

Good luck - MC

Great post, Chris; thank you for your thoughts!

I'll get more fish oil today, and have Hubby give that a try first. I'll do some research on the other supplements you guys suggested while the fish oil kicks in, and hopefully our therapist can give him some relaxation and CBT techniques to use while he's on the road as well.

He's willing to see a naturopath/complementary medicine doc at some point, but I don't see that happening until September. He'll be fine until then, I'm sure. He's not showing any signs of a more severe depression that I'd really worry about. It's more of a chronic background issue, not anything that would be life-threatening in the near future.

FWIW, I've lost 70lbs since I started using MMJ last year. I attribute that to less pain, anxiety and depression, which has allowed me to make better lifestyle choices and increase my activity all around. It's been a hell of a lot better for me than conventional medications and treatments. I typically limit myself to nighttime use only after I've had a healthy meal or snack. On the very rare occasions I get the munchies, I turn to healthy stuff first so I don't consume empty calories to excess. I think my results can be attributed to my attitude, personal guidelines, oral administration, and knowledge of what strains tend to work for me as an individual. I could be a stereotypical stoner, but I choose to use MMJ judiciously so I can be MORE active, engaged, productive and happier.

 

[fire_breeze]

I was having a conversation with a coworker earlier and he mentioned acupuncture. I did some digging. There are studies (here, here, here and here) that shows positive results with acupuncture being able to help with anxiety and depression. Would that be an option?

 

[midwestyankee]

<snip>

FWIW, I've lost 70lbs since I started using MMJ last year. I attribute that to less pain, anxiety and depression, which has allowed me to make better lifestyle choices and increase my activity all around. It's been a hell of a lot better for me than conventional medications and treatments. I typically limit myself to nighttime use only after I've had a healthy meal or snack. On the very rare occasions I get the munchies, I turn to healthy stuff first so I don't consume empty calories to excess. I think my results can be attributed to my attitude, personal guidelines, oral administration, and knowledge of what strains tend to work for me as an individual. I could be a stereotypical stoner, but I choose to use MMJ judiciously so I can be MORE active, engaged, productive and happier.

I just want to say that this gave me a huge smile. I'm really happy you've found this way to improve your life all around.

 

[SweetErika]

Hi, Ive been going through this with my girlfriend. I suggest researching CBT (Cognitive Behaviuoral Therapy) - it shows the depressed person what their thinking is like and how they are being affected by their thoughts.

Beware of using pot, that is pure nonsense. It makes you more depressed. Fish oil is great and of course healthy nutrition and active lifestyle in general helps, but what really worked with my girlfriend was the CBT thing, it is nothing complicated.

A nice blog about it: http://whatdepressionfeelslike.com/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-out-of-depression/

Agreed on the CBT (I always associate that acronym with kink, BTW ). I went through a 12-part CBT program for PTSD and I not only had significant improvements in my symptoms, I still use many of those techniques to work through issues to this day. And I've started using them to combat our 5-year-old's anxiety and self-esteem issues (he has Asperger's with a lot of sensory issues, but is high functioning enough to realize he's different and doesn't feel typical). Anyway, for me, CBT is a very effective, logical approach to issues that involve negative thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

It seems the current research is actually finding that cannabis can have a positive effect on depression, even though it has depressant effects. You can find that research by googling "cannabis depression," BTW.

In my experience and opinion, the effects vary widely by type, strain and THC/CBD/CBN content, PLUS the route of administration (oral is very different from smoking and vaping), PLUS the amount & frequency used vs. the tolerance of the user. I've figured out what works for me, but the lady down the block might be using way too much of a higher THC and CBN Indica and seem utterly depressed. I don't think those who use it (or ANYTHING) to numb their thoughts and feelings or disconnect from their reality are on a good track, either. I've never come across anyone who's actually using it like they would any other medicine who seems less functional than they would on appropriate doses of traditional drugs prescribed for their condition. And Western Washington is awash in MMJ patients and recreational users. A lot of it comes down to that therapeutic/medicinal use vs. using to get high or numb, too. As with many medications, it has therapeutic benefits when it's administered correctly (but that correct formula can be tough to nail down, and is a matter of trial and error that probably includes some stoner behavior).

 

[SweetErika]

I was having a conversation with a coworker earlier and he mentioned acupuncture. I did some digging. There are studies (here, here, here and here) that shows positive results with acupuncture being able to help with anxiety and depression. Would that be an option?

Yeah, probably. He did acupuncture as a teen for his allergies and psoriasis, and it worked on his allergies at least, so he believes it has the potential to be effective. He really hates to do anything medical because his insurance has a $1000 deductible, though. I bet he'd go if I got him a Groupon package or something. I should have sent him to an acupuncturist when he was in Taiwan recently!

I switched to a new primary care doctor a few months ago, she does acupuncture on my trigger points, and it helps me tremendously. It's amazing that a little bit of poking with some thin needles can make me feel like I got hit by a truck for a few days as my body works on healing!

 

[SweetErika]

I just want to say that this gave me a huge smile. I'm really happy you've found this way to improve your life all around.

Me, too! And thank you, my dear friend. It's been too long since we've caught up!

 

[NightL]

FWIW, I've lost 70lbs

Damn - BIG congratulations. Amazing.

Curious - how has MMJ impacted on your sleep dreaming? You mentioned only using MMJ in the evening - do you feel a residual impact the following morning? Cloudy, hazy?

I smoke occasiionally and enjoy it, but resent the loss of vivid dreams when I do and the 24 hr fuzziness that follows is something that I always hate. I only smoke back yard, no chemical fertilized MJ and these days I limit intake with that knowledge. When I drink more wine than I should the hangover from that is far worse.

Living in Australia where many life style choices are less complicated than in the US I have been astounded at the uptake of legalizing marijuana in your country. Of course I understand that they can now tax what they spent billions on trying to prevent and the cost of the criminalization... If access to MJ reduces ice and crack intake then it all makes sense. No one has died from marijuana. Give the population a panacea and they won't complain.

However I am still curious to the dreaming question for your MMJ use and if it has a residual effect the following day as most traditional pot use does.

 

[Bottomlover]

FWIW, I've lost 70lbs since I started using MMJ last year. I attribute that to less pain, anxiety and depression, which has allowed me to make better lifestyle choices and increase my activity all around. It's been a hell of a lot better for me than conventional medications and treatments.

Congratulations, that is truly impressive.

How did you figure out the dosing and strain? Do you have a go-to information source or guru to help?

 

[SweetErika]

Damn - BIG congratulations. Amazing.

Curious - how has MMJ impacted on your sleep dreaming? You mentioned only using MMJ in the evening - do you feel a residual impact the following morning? Cloudy, hazy?

I smoke occasiionally and enjoy it, but resent the loss of vivid dreams when I do and the 24 hr fuzziness that follows is something that I always hate. I only smoke back yard, no chemical fertilized MJ and these days I limit intake with that knowledge. When I drink more wine than I should the hangover from that is far worse.

Living in Australia where many life style choices are less complicated than in the US I have been astounded at the uptake of legalizing marijuana in your country. Of course I understand that they can now tax what they spent billions on trying to prevent and the cost of the criminalization... If access to MJ reduces ice and crack intake then it all makes sense. No one has died from marijuana. Give the population a panacea and they won't complain.

However I am still curious to the dreaming question for your MMJ use and if it has a residual effect the following day as most traditional pot use does.

I primarily use it in the evening, although I occasionally use a very small amount during the day (usually a Sativa or a lower-THC strain) during the day for breakthrough pain IF I don't need to drive or do anything of real importance. For instance, I had an extensive root canal this morning that has been hurting me since the novocaine wore off, and Hubby is home with the kiddo today, so I medicated as soon as I got home. It's A LOT better than being gorked out on an opioid (which is what my endodontist offered); the pain is significantly better and I'll actually be able to engage with my family this evening.

I haven't noticed how it affects dreaming. I'll have to see if I have more vivid dreams when I take my next break.

I definitely feel it the next day if I've taken too much! You're right, it's way better than having a hangover, but I do my best to use as little as possible so I'm not fuzzy and/or at risk of nodding off the next morning. The fact that I mostly use high CBD strains (the CBD works against the psychoactive effects of the THC), and administer it very carefully orally, might be why I feel good most mornings. I'm not sure what you have access to in Oz, but maybe give a higher CBD strain (here Harlequin, Cinex, Charlotte's Web, some Blackberry Kush are common CBD strain names) a shot sometime (in edible form, if you can, 'cuz then you get all the good stuff and don't waste your weed). The roots of the plant are supposedly very rich in CBD. I'm planning on growing a few plants in September, and I will likely juice the roots and freeze it into ice cubes for smoothies to get all that anti-inflammatory goodness out of my plants after the harvest.

Yes, I'm finding the legalization movement absolutely fascinating to watch! I DO think they need to figure out a good solution for the DUI issue before it's legalized nationally because we certainly don't want people driving stoned and cannabis is not like alcohol or other drugs. But other than that and working out reasonable laws and tax structures (Colorado's seem to work well, whereas Washington's are total crap), I'm all for legalization, or at least national decriminalization for recreational and safe access to qualifying medical patients. It makes a lot of sense to me financially and ethically.

It'd be fun to discuss how it works Oz, but I kind of hate to hijack my own thread any more than I already have.

Congratulations, that is truly impressive.

How did you figure out the dosing and strain? Do you have a go-to information source or guru to help?

Thanks, BL! Today I was down another 5 pounds. I'm having oral surgery on Monday, and I bet the recovery period will be another boon to my weight loss.

I researched cannabis online for probably a year before I got a doctor's recommendation and went to a dispensary. I grew up during the Reagan administration and thought it was an awful gateway drug that made users fat, stupid and lazy until a few years ago, so I wanted to know what I might be getting into when more research on its effects on chronic pain started coming out.

I wanted to go to a legit doctor, so I called a highly-reviewed local dispensary and asked if they knew anyone. I used Leafly, Weedmaps and Yelp reviews to figure out which dispensary I wanted to go to, and I happened to select a really good one that tested EVERYTHING they offered with a GCMS and had an extremely knowledgeable owner and staff.

It didn't take too much trial and error from there, because I knew about the amazing non-psychoactive properties of CBD and I had already researched the process of extracting the cannabinoids into organic coconut oil. So at least I had sort of a plan (which I then discussed with the dispensary owner, and he agreed it was a good course for my issues) going into it.

Now that I'm into my 2nd year and have a tolerance, I'm doing a little more experimenting with different strains, making a few edibles, etc. When I come across an idea or application that's safe, I give it a shot. For instance I read some articles on topical use in infused salves, massage oil, etc., so I made some topical preparations and have had AMAZING results on burns & other owies, muscle pain, my disintegrating left knee, oral/dental pain of all sorts, bruises, even my severely sprained ankle and shoulder injuries last summer.

Really, I view this as a big, educational adventure; I find the pharmacology, large number of applications, business, legal and cultural aspects to be absolutely fascinating!

 

[Sidney_1]

These are herbs to help with adrenal fatigue, but are probably helpful for anxiety, too:

-Holy Basil
-Rhodiiola
-Ashwagandha
-Vitamin D (Getting outside in the sun is good for mood as I'm sure you know. This is not based on any scientific fact that I'm aware of, but I do have a strong feeling that for the UV light to positively affect your neurotransmitters, you should take your sunglasses off for a little while. )

I wish all herbs were standardized and pharmaceutical grade, though.

I'm just going off intuition, but I think your husband might have been so emotionally afraid to take the wellbutrin, that it was disharmonious with him on a lot of levels. I hope your husband doesn't take anything unless he feels positive about it. I wish you both the best!

 

[GrrlFriday]

There's been some recent studies on the impact of an extract of turmeric, curcumin, on depression - not conclusive, as far as I can tell, but very interesting.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2929771/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032714003620
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1586/14737175.2015.1008457

 

[subbygirly]

Has he been tested for Vitamin D deficiency? I have struggled with depression for years and finally a new doctor ordered a Vitamin D deficiency test. We found that my level was 15, and the lowest average is 30.

So she put me on Vitamin D-3 supplements. The supplements can be bought over the counter, but I would suggest getting checked before jumping in and taking them. While it hasn't cured my depression I think it has helped a little bit.

I also try to take two fish oil capsules a day for the Omega-3's. Supposedly good for mood elevation as well. If nothing else, it seems to be good for my skin.

 

[DrHappy]

I’m a little late to this discussion, but maybe better late than never.

#1: Omega-3 supplements, with fish oil being the best choice.
#2: Vitamin D: Most people are low, and it takes a fairly big dose to make a significant difference. I monitor my blood levels, and I need about 5000 IU/day to be in the optimum range.

L-tyrosine and L-Phenylalanine are two that are worth considering (taken on an empty stomach). I believe that high blood pressure is a possible contraindication.

I don’t recommend melatonin. Too much makes me feel depressed.
Wellbutrin tends to be stimulating, and can make anxiety worse for some people.
The recent FDA study about 80% of herbal supplements having zero active ingredients had serious flaws. I spoke to a chemist about this paper. They were using a DNA method, though this would not be very helpful for purified extracts, such as garlic extracts. The US FDA has a lot of hostility about supplements, and have gone overboard in their desire to regulate them. Having said that, I’m dubious of many supplements as well.

I agree with the fire_breeze about getting his thyroid checked. If he gets anything bloodwork done, request to have his vitamin D levels checked.

 

[CutieMouse]

Also super late to the party, but wanted to mention a book that was recommended to me a year+ ago- The Mood Cure. (I can't rember the author off the top of my head.)

Seriously life changing.

The book breaks down symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, etc with chapters on how those issues manifest. Then you work through some quizzes, tally up your "points", and create a supplement plan to deal with the deficiencies that are contributing to the stress, anxiety, depression, etc.

I didn't stay on the supplements as long as I should have, and need to reread the book/remap a personalized plan, but holy crap the results were astounding. The first day I started the suppliments? Within and hour or two, it was the calmest I'd felt in about 30 years. (My primary challenges were dealing with anxiety.)

My schedule was too erratic to maximize the benefits of the program, and I fell off the wagon after a few months (ideally I needed to take supplements when I woke up, breakfast, mid-morning, lunch, mid-afternoon, dinner, bedtime), but I still felt significant improvement and the results lasted the better part of a year.

 

[southern_gal]

CM, thanks for posting that. I looked the title up and it's written by Julia Ross. I think I am gonna order it. I have never been too wild about taking medications but I think supplements should be safer. I look forward to reading the book.

 

[Hypoxia]

I'll repeat a point I made earlier: If you buy 'supplements' from commercial USA suppliers, you have NO IDEA what you're actually getting. Buy from sources in regulated countries, not here. And thank Sen. Orrin Hatch for ruining the industry here.

 

[Mister_Chris]

Re CBT - yes, a very effective therapy. Can't believe I forgot to mention it. Definitely look into that; it's the most effective therapy for treating depression of which I'm aware.

Speaking very generally, medication will help about one third of sufferers; and therapy of all types will help about another third. It is the remaining third that stimulates ongoing research.

Fish oil - I've heard some people state that they've had success with fish oil as an anti-depressant. I'm not aware of any clinical studies. But there are good studies that show fish oil as having several other beneficial effects - lowering cholesterol levels, lower incidence of some cancers - so it's worth while taking in any case. The same is true of low dose aspirin (82 mg) which acts as a low level anti-inflammatory, reducing the risk of heart attacks and stroke.

Vitamin D - low vitamin D levels are associated with suicide (from measurement of Vitamin D levels performed on suicide victims). Low Vitamin D levels are also associated with a host of other illnesses, including various cancers. However, supplementing with Vitamin D has been shown in clinical studies to have no effect on occurrence of either cancer or depression. It is now believed that some more subtle interaction is taking place, which results in the production of Vitamin D within the body as a side effect. I have noted that many people experience great relief from depression - even demonstrating elation - in the days after returning from a vacation in sun-drenched locations.

To reliably generate Vitamin D in a manner that is beneficial to the human body, I recommend the use of a tanning bed (or sunbathing, if you're in a location that works). Many doctors would disagree with this recommendation, citing skin cancer concerns. I would suggest that depression kills, too; and often more quickly and more effectively than skin cancer. Best bet is to start slowly with a tanning bed, and work up to therapeutic levels while avoiding sunburns. If it proves to be of no value, then the risk is negligible. If it is of value, you will need to make a decision. All treatments have side effects.

I do not believe that SAD lights are of any value. The florescent tubes are of standard design, and do not even come close to duplicating daylight (and in truth, no artificial light does). And the intensity levels generated by a typical SAD light are not even 1/10th of 1 percent of daylight. My personal feeling regarding SAD lights is that they represent a great way to sell a room lamp at about 20 times the fair price.

I have no real experience with MMJ; I speak only from my observation of others who do smoke marijuana. I think it's unusual to lose weight on MMJ; my observation is that most people gain. However, everyone is unique, and all drugs affect everyone differently. And there are well known examples of people - Willie Nelson and Bill Maher come to mind - who consume a lot of MMJ, but are quite slender. So it clearly doesn't make all people fat.

Hope all that helps - MC