Anyone Used Valerian Root/scullcap?

[bluemoon]

I have been recommended a tea called "Sleepytime". which contains Chamomile, Spearmint, West Indian Lemongrass, Tilia flowers, Blackberry leaves, Orange blossoms, Hawthorn & Rosebuds.:)

 

[NutritionNerd]

Sleepytime is good tea - be sure to cover it while it's brewing so you can savor the smell when you drink it - a lot of the best stuff in many teas are volatile oils.

 

[lisamarie]

Wow, thank you all for all of the feedback.

I started getting really irritable after I continued taking the Valerian root/scullcap combination. Don't know if it was just ME or a side effect of the supplement.

I've heard of Kava Kava; I'm just afraid that its too potent for me....I have an addiction history and don't want to take something that I think would make me feel high.

I ended up getting a homeopathic remedy (Lindell's Anxiety and Tension) and so far, so good. I've been taking it for about a week and it seems like it helps a lot. If it stops working I think I'll try hops and maybe Chamomile, although I've taken chamomile for sleep and its knocked me right out so I can't imagine using it during the day, LOL.

Has anyone ever taken a supplement called GABA?

 

[NutritionNerd]

GABA doesn't readily cross the blood brain barrier. However Dr Emmons says that it may help relax muscles. I haven't noticed any effects when I took it.

I have a book called The Chemistry of Calm by Henry Emmons. He recommends Taurine 500 mg once or twice a day to improve Glutamate/GABA function.

I've also been experimenting with 7-Keto DHEA - that is a metabolite of DHEA that can't be converted into sex hormones.

I didn't get any effect the few times I tried Valerian and Skullcap. I think I invented several combos for sleeping potions all of which kept me awake! California poppy was good though - it seems like I need something to relax spasming muscles to get to sleep. There's a magnesium product called Calm that is good for that as well as just regular chelated magnesium.

 

[lisamarie]

I read someone else's recommendation about magnesium. This is something that calms nerves?

 

[bluemoon]

I told my Naturopath that I had anxiety & depression,(I didn't mention PTSD).

He recommended a product called ' Pharma Mag Forte ', a magnesium supplement (for the anxiety).

I am yet to try it.

I would do a lot of research & start with a low dose of... anything.

Seeking professional advice can't do any harm too. :)

 

[NutritionNerd]

Magnesium is being tested for depression and anxiety but I believe it's best use for PTSD symptoms is it's ability to relax muscles. When your flight or fight activates it can cause your muscles to tense up. Tense muscles can pinch nerves and cause pain. This is often most noticible when you lie down to try to go to sleep and everything hurts.

I take chelated magnesium (250mg) twice a day - and sometimes take the product called Calm which is a mixture of magnesium and calcium to help me get relaxed for sleep. If you don't get a lot of calcium in your diet you may want to consider using a mixed calcium/magnesium supplement since the two work in tandem.

 

[bluemoon]

Have just started trying a magnesium supplement.

My Naturopath (/osteopath/chiropractor.) Said it looks I have magnesium defiency (hence the anxiety??).

I am trying a supplement containing Magnesium++,(Zinc,B6,Chromium,& Selinium).....heard calcium is good too.

If you can afford a Naturopath & are looking for alternative therapies, go for it!

My GP has also been very helpful in those respects.

NutriNerd looks like an invaluable research tool.:tup::tup:

Keep asking questions & disseminating opinions.
:cool:

 

[Kris1984]

I use Valerian Root for sleep and I picked it over Kava and Melatonin based on it's side effect profile. Check out the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine for info on herbals.

 

[Anna]

I have also used valerian root to help calm me down. Also to help me sleep. I found it to be quite effective.

 

[lisamarie]

Just to come back and check in on this thread....

Thanks so much to everyone for your feedback.

I have been taking both magnesium and calcium supplements daily. I am also taking Lindell's Anxiety and Tension sublingual spray anywhere between three to six times per day. I also recently got a product called Nutrasleep at Whole Foods, and while I don't think its helping me sleep THAT much better, I do feel much less anxious in the mornings! Oh AND I've drastically changed my diet and am now eating much more organic/natural foods, drinking a lot of 100% fruit juice, and eating a lot of yogurt. So I'm not sure which of these changes has improved my symptoms, but overall I'd say I'm experiencing a 50-75% decrease in anxiety symptoms.

 

[AngelaMarie]

I just started taking valerien every night and also St. John's Wort.