i was just curious if anyone took anything 'natural' such as herbs for their mood? years ago i took st. johns wort but i wasnt sick at the time and wasnt on any meds... i cannot tolerate cymbalta and was told by my doc that if it dried me out as bad as it did all of the other ones would as well.. now i am wondering if i went the 'hollistic" way???
The 10khz tone on this link will release endorphins in you body. http://www.chakraforce.com/LEDlist.html#Obesity I know it says obesity but it is for endorphin release.
"Feeling good" by David Burns has Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) exercises for depression.
Val, Please, please, please see a doctor. Depression is a very, very serious health challenge.
Xango mangosteen is a pretty good anti-depressant.. expensive though.
im seeing a psychologist.. and thanks Joe for those links. i am working on cognitive therapy with my therapist but i would like to do more..thank you
thanks toyou too Jazzlover.. i will research that one
The 10kHz tone releases endorphins if you have them. I used them to demo the effects of frequencies in presentations that I do. I watch people with very sad and depressed looks on their face, start to smile, giggle and laugh. They also work good on pain management.
I had one elderly couple come to a presentation with her in a wheel chair. She used the handholds for 15 minutes and started to giggle. Her husband started to cry. I found their son and he told me that his dad was crying because that was the first time in over a decade that she had shown any emotion.
Joe - I have been listening to some of these based on my ailments. I'd like to know more. My mind can't grasp how this would work...
I use a very low dose of Zoloft for depression and anxiety. It is the only one that didn't dry me out something ferocious. And I tried Savella, Cymbalta and Lyrica.
Are you old enough to remember the old memorex commercial where the singer hits the note and the glass shatters. That is basically how it works. For more detail, a parasite is appears as a series resonate circuit on a spectrum analyzer. So when you are sending the kill frequency the parasite blows like a fuze.
Most of the frequencies have been know for decades, since the development of AC power. A lot of experimentation was developed in the 1920's-1950's. The uses of sounds date back many centuries BC. Tingsha bells, gongs, and singing bowls have actually been used for millennium.
Advanced chemistry courses are now starting to use frequency as a catalyst for making and breaking chemical bonds. Infrared spectrometry has been used to analyze chemical compounds so has nuclear magnetic resonance. The MRI diagnostic tool that so many doctors and patients put their faith in uses Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) to convert these resonance into images. I had to analyze these circuits in one of my projects. Your ultra sound works on the abortion and reflection of the ultra sound frequency and the FFT to generate the image. I understand if you do not understand the electronics that makes this possible. I also understand if you view this technology as a form of magic. Most people that do not understand radio and TV but use them, view them as magic.
Joe - that actually helps. Thank you!
Hi Val,
I used to suffer from depression myself, and I did the following to help my mood:
1. high doses of niacin (vitamin B3)
2. light therapy (using a light box)
3. exercise
4. regular testing of my thyroid (I have found it fluctuates a lot since SJS entered my life)
5. cognitive therapy (as you are using as well)
I hope this helps. ;)
When I was 13 I was dx with major depressive disorder (MDD) nothing they gave me helped or had horrible side effects. When my latest flare started I had some major anxiety and depression. I tried celexa and had a flushing reaction and I was just done with antidepressants. My TMJ specialist told me about this little machine called alpha stim. It uses electricity to correct balance in the brain. Its not cheep, I think $800 but my insurance paid for it. I been using it for a few months and its been a miracle for me. I have not had a full blown panic attack since I started using it and my depression is about 80% better and continues to improve.
Its worth looking into, I didnt believe it would work at first, but I am so happy I tried it...and no side effects!!
Hi Valene,
In Europe we can get Valdoxan (Agomelatine) = an anti-depressant. For me it improves saliva a little... And greatly improves sleep.
Hope this helps!
Maria
Carebear, thanks for reminding me of those options.
The alpha-stim looks to be a type of TENS unit.
There are also several natural products on the market in your local health food store...
SAM-E, St. Johns Wort, Holy Basil,, you just have to make sure they wont interfere with any of your med's. There are a ton of them out
there..I would check with a good health food store and see what they might recommend.
Gursie
Hi Gurs,
I've tried all of those you listed.... Worked absolutely zilch for me... I was so disappointed, had a hard time getting SAMe and when I could finally lay my hands on it... I found it to be an expensive hoax...
Recently I stumbled on some info which might explain depression/anxiety in Sjoggies... Could be due to disrupted GABA-synthethis according to some studies...
Inversely this is the reason why tranquilizers like Valium and Librium have a strong calming effect because they work by stimulating the brain's receptors for GABA.
So I suspect herbs are not strong enough to avail GABA-synthesis.
Quote from: gurs on November 18, 2011, 03:55:01 AM
There are also several natural products on the market in your local health food store...
SAM-E, St. Johns Wort, Holy Basil,, you just have to make sure they wont interfere with any of your med's. There are a ton of them out
there..I would check with a good health food store and see what they might recommend.
Gursie
Sam-e works really well for me. I take 600- 800mg/day in winter, less in the spring when there is more daylight.
beth
you know what Prunella-i took Sam E years and years ago and loved it.. i totally forgot.. i think i will try it--it doesnt dry you out? i wonder if i can take it with my xanax and ambien. i will ask my doc..thanks for reminding me of that!
I have ordered and received my lemon balm extract/tonic for anxiety so I will let you all know how it works. Apparently, it does have some impact on the GABA receptors, or so I've read. The proof is in the pudding, as they say!
KellyG
maria, This is exactly what my psychiatrist told me many years ago about my depression and anxiety. It is the GABA gateways as he calls it that don't open and close allowing the proper exchange. Simple but complicated.
This was long before I was diagnosed with Sjogrens but I had the symptoms. Irish ;D
just as a note, Valium is extracted from Valerian root, so it is actually a plant based allopathic.
I grow and tincture it myself and have found it very helpful for low anxiety and related sleep disruption.
Thanks so much for this forum :)( I'm a relative newcomer!) My mother has had sjs for ( diagnosed!) 10 years and also stage 4 liver failure due to primary biliary cirrhosis. Seems genetics have caught up with me as I now have sjs and raynuads. I have learned so much from a few weeks of reading here. Seems I have probably had this for some time given all my " strange" symptoms over the past 5 years that I never thought were related to sjs or even an autoimmune response.And I had a family member with the affliction and am a Nurse myself!
Just goes to show, you have to be your own advocate
5-HTP is one you can also try.
I brought some about 2 months ago and I must admit, I did feel less anxiuos about my horrible eye's, but unfortunately had to give up due to the fairly severe diarrhoea that followed. I did try dropping the dose but it was not effective enough for me on a low dose. It is not that cheap but some people have had some good results with it and found it far more effective than their anti d meds.
The GABA theory sounds pretty bang on as I must admit when in the past I have taken valium, this makes me feel quite well, anti depressants never do anything for me and in fact make me far worse! I cannot tolerate anything like Valium at the mo though as it is just simply too drying and my eyes are driving me insane at the moment!
I had another go at some yoga but found it actually quite unhelpfull but this is poss because I have too many health issues to be in the right place for this at the mo. A more gentle form of relaxation is perhaps what is needed at the mo.
Callisto
I also see you have hypothyroid? what med are you taking for that? I heard some people just take a T4, but actually feel better when
a T3 is added, especially with depression..a combo is what my friend does and started feeling much better overall.
Gursie
I think all of the things being discussed are involved in the disease process. If you lacked the ability to break down proteins, you would not be able to make 5-HTP, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), dopamine, serotonin, and there would be a disruption in GABA synthesis. This would of course lead to depression.
Threonine is an amino acid found in high protein foods. It is the precursor of serine. Serine is needed to produce tryptophan, an amino acid that is used to make serotonin, a mood determining brain chemical. Both tryptophan and serotonin shortages have been linked to depression, insomnia, confusion and anxiety.
Dopamine is derived from phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is also found in high protein foods. Studies show that autoimmne sufferers are severely deficient in these amino acids.
Vitamin B12 is only found in dietary animal proteins. If you check my past posts, there is a great deal of information on the connection to lack of B12, Sjogrens and all other autoimmune disease. B12 acts as a coenzyme in the transformation of homocysteine to methionine. This reaction is essential to make SAMe.
Here is some information on GABA. If you look at the summary you will see how important acetylcholine and serotonin are to the GABA receptors. Acetylcholine comes from choline. Choline comes from B12 and folate.
Also, if you check my past posts, I believe I have posted studes to show the connection to Raynauds and homocysteine. (for Cargill)
I forget to post the link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GABA_receptor
If you lacked pancreatic enzymes called proteases, you would not be able to make all of the things we have been discussing. Nor would you be able to make thyroid hormones.
Phenylalanine (essential amino acid found in high protein foods) breaks down into tyrosine. Tyrosine breaks down into both of the thyroid hormones-thyroxine and triiodothyronine. In addition, according to studies, pernious anemia occurs 20 times more frequently in patients with hypothyroidism than generally. Pernious anemia is CAUSED by a B12 deficiency. Here is a study you can access online that shows nearly all hypothyroid patients are deficient in B12.
The title of the study is, "Vitamin B12 Deficiency Common in Primary Hypothyroidism". The study shows a approximately 40% prevalence of B12 deficiency in hypothyroid patients, but they were tested at an extremely low level to determine a deficiency-133 pg/mL. At more than three times that level, (500 pg/ML) you will start to see disease symptoms such as memory loss, lethargy, and dementia.
Hi Nat,
Thank you for your posts - very interesting read!
So what do you suggest we take? All of the mentioned supplements?
Some years ago I also dived into knowledge about restoring natural GABA synthethis, but soon hit a dead end.
For example, the much reputed use of L-Tryptophan. Oh boy yes, did this work for me! Not only did it lift my depression, my overall mood improved, as did my sleep... And also, the excess pounds started melting off...
The only thing I couldn't figure out was, why the heck my mouth dryness deteriorated so deploreably... After much and intense searching I finally found a website where it was listed as a *dang* side effect of L-Tryptophan. So I quit using it.
I also tried Phenylalanine but didn't discern any improvement.
Curious to know your thoughts on this.
Take care,
Maria
Hi Maria,
If you click on my name, you can view my past posts. I have posted a great deal of information on taking specific supplements in autoimmune disease you can't bind or transport. Here are some of the posts that address supplements.
#30 - B12
#33- iron
#34- Binding and transport of B12
calcium and vitamin D
#35- Missing pancreatic enzymes
#50- supplements can mask B12 deficiency
Post # 89 specifically addresses taking amino acids you can't properly metabolize. Studies show, you will increase your disease risk. There is a group online that was started on my book called " Curing Autoimmune and Mimics." Many of the severly ill members are getting better just by changing their diets and healing their GI tracts.
Also, my book just recently came out. It is at the library and on Amazon. It is called Autoimmune The Cause and The Cure. You can go to your library and get an inter-library loan from one of the libraries that carries the book if your library does not stock it. We sold out our first printing in less than 5 weeks and it has been nominated for herbal book of the year.
I take SAMe and after about 3 weeks I felt much better mood wise, kind of lighter instead of everything bringing me down.. If you keep look you can get it buy 1 get 1 at Walgreens and CVS.
SueAnn
Val,
I've also struggled with anxiety and depression! Who wouldn't when you are in chronic pain and chronically ill?
If you are not seeking therapy, I would try that first.
I would also suggest Bella Ruth Naparstek Guided Imagery CD's. I have about 15 of them and can't get to sleep without her warm voice. Every time I wake up, I punch "play" again and off I go.
Lately, I've been utilizing her "Panic Attacks" CD. But she has great ones on Immune System, Depression, Allergies, Fibromyalgia, PSTD etc...
Also, I'd stay clear of trying to introduce "herbs" for depression into your system without the advice and training of a qualified "Naturapath Physician".
Remember herbs are just like drugs. Some are just as strong. And, many have side effects.
I hope you feel better soon.
Remember, we are here for you!
MNCJL
I use St Johns Wort. There are many formulations and strengths ( I use one of the higher dose ones). Some of them will be also have B12 and other herbal ingredients in them which are supposed to be good for stress.
One thing to note though, St Johns Wort CAN interfere with the absorption of certain medications (the contraceptive pill is one of these). You do need to tell your Dr that you are taking it in case it could interfere with any of your meds.
St Johns Wort is only helpful in cases of mild depression and anxiety. (I find it very helpful and my Dr is happy and I can stay on it as long as I want!)
Good Luck ;D
Here are some natural aids that I don't think have been mentioned, and a couple that have been mentioned that I'm including because they work for me.
- 5 HTP -- don't take if you have restless leg syndrome. 5-HTP is a prescursor of Serotonin, a natural antidepressant drug
- Spicy Hot V-8 juice. Make a cocktail with it and vanilla rice bran and normal V-8 juice to reduce the *spicy*
- Unimpressive exercise. By that I mean just get on the exercise bike or treadmill and move your body ONLY as much as is comfortable. Tonight, instead of a Heart Rate of 105 to 120 for 30 minutes, I just did 86 to 98, for 15 minutes, and felt better. Skip the gym unless it's on the way home and you are dressed for the gym (or until depression lifts)
- Play a silly game with a friend or family member, like tossing a nerf ball or snapping rubber bands at each other. Put some hostility into it, if it doesn't escape the game. The idea is that family members all suppress some hostility, and a game releases it harmlessly -- and that can lift the gloom of depression
- Kick a soccer ball around outside for five minutes
- Call ATT and yell about their bill, or their terrible web site, or something. Apologize, if you must!
- Play with a kitten and some catnip
- Ask for hugs -- here or at home
- Maybe, cry. For some reason that's hard for me since Sjögren's, but do it if you ca
- Write a list of silly and wonderful things to do to life depression, and do one of them as soon as you write the list
If these various tricks don't lift your depression (I can't promise that they will), get professional help of some sort, coundeling or clinical psychologist, Licensed clinical social worker, Psychiatrist, and possibly start medication or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Best,
Soycoffee
SueAnn-you said you take Sam e.// i tried that years ago and liked it... can you take it with plaquenil? thanks!!!