Questions about natural supplements and herbs

[FrankJ]

What makes a natural/herbal supplement better than another??
I've been suffering from anxiety on and off since my late teens. It got really bad since going back to school at night while working full time. I am going out of my mind.... I want to try taking some natural supplements or herbs (I don't want to get on any prescriptions). And have been doing some research, but I am not even sure where to begin... there are a lot out there.

What are the typical questions to ask when trying one? Is there anything to watch out for, or something that makes one better than the other?

It just seems there are a options, and I would like to get the best one. Any help is much appreciated.

f

[constantmover]

Tough question because there are no regulations for natural supplements (in Canada at least) that I am aware of.  That means, one has to be careful that you are getting a remedy that actually has some properties in it and the tablets are consistently the same regarding the amount of ingredient in each pill.  I will give you a website you can look at for Bach's Remedies.  It has a pretty good reputation and I think you can order on line.   

Here it is"  http://www.bachflower.com/

I hope this helps.  Lots of people swear by these remedies and other think they aren't worth the box they come in.  Keep an open mind and let us know if you decide to order some. 

CM

[Karebear]

Do your research.  I personally believe that herbs and supplements have a great potential healing value to them, provided that you take them as directed/expected, and provided that they have some evidence of efficacy.  And you should tell your doc, no matter what, what kind of herbs you take.

I take kava root myself.  Like you, I also do not want to be on Rx meds.  (I have tried them in the past with lousy results and side effects.)  I did some research and found that kava root has a long history of being used as a sedative and anxiety reducer.  There are several scientific studies and a wealth of anecdotal evidence to support kava's usefulness.

HOWEVER, kava has been linked to liver issues, even to the point of liver disease.  Some maintain that it's the use of the entire plant and not simply the root that causes these issues.  So, I take it at my own risk, and trust that the manufacturer only uses the root in its preparation.  (Gaia Herbs is the brand, and they maintain on their website that they only use the root and not the plant.)

http://www.erowid.org/  <----- This site is a huge database of information about many drugs (from pharmaceuticals to street drugs to herbs, etc.)  You may want to start here.

I am not a doctor.  Therefore, I have only personal experience to give you.  But I do hope that you find the information you seek and find whatever combination of drugs, herbs, positive energy and behavioral change to lessen any symptoms you have.  Good luck to you!

[Daisy131]

they are not regulated here in the US, but i have heard of people using kava, valerian, st john's wort and passionflower to help with their anxiety, as well as magnesium and chamomile. you might want to try natural calm- i use it in conjunction with my meds, and it works well. it's magnesium and calcium, and they say magnesium is linked to anxiety.

check with a doctor first though- because these drugs aren't regulated by the FDA, they can cause more harm than good if not taken correctly. or ask your pharmacist.

for example- melatonin is a natural hormone found in the body, and a lot of people take it for sleep= you can find it anywhere. my pdoc even said it was ok. i run everything by her about natural stuff, and she either gives me the look or ok's it.

[gcalex]

I have read that kava extracted with water is perfectly safe; most commercial supplements however are extracted using alcohol.  As posted above others have said that the issue is the root versus the whole plant.  Whether it is efficacious is another matter, although of all the herbal stuff out there it does seem to have the most evidence. 

[Mr_Ben84]

I take melatonin for sleep pretty much every night, and it is moderately helpful. But if I try to use it for anxiety, then it just makes me feel drowsy on top of being anxious.