Does Anyone Have Experience With Herbal Preparations For Stress?

[Hope4Now]

I've been reading about herbal preparations for stress, anxiety, and sleep issues, and got some tinctures from an herbalist recently. I've been taking milky oats (supposed to heal damaged nerves), Tulsi (to balance the limbic system), and valerian (a sedative). They all seem to be vaguely helping, but not enough to fend off the stress that sends me into flashbacks and debilitating pain. Tonight I was reading about kava and am excited to experiment with that.

I'm just wondering if anyone has had any successful experience with herbals as opposed to prescription drugs? I have a prescription for Ativan, but I rarely use it because I know it is addictive, but I need something. I'm not excited about most of the prescription drugs out there because of the side effects (I've had problems in the past with zoloft and cymbalta). Anyone have any insight or experience on this?

 

[Sammyiam]

Hi Hope4now,

I tried the herbal way for two years trying to fight my demons, it cost me thousands of dollars it was about $ 100 a week and they tried everything you could think of. My herbalist was an amazing lady who was so caring and rang loads of people trying to get the right mixture for me, everything we tried would either be not strong enough or would work for a week or two then wear off. I was slowly getting worse and worse and she finally talked me into going and talking to a therapist, that was the first time I had talked to someone for over twenty years and the last time was for only a few times. With both the therapist and herbal we just couldn't get on top of it. I finally was made go to a Doctor (forced into going ) and they put me straight onto venlafaxine and seroquel, it's the first time I have been on any medication, it worked for a little while but made me very sick for the first two months, but stopped working like the herbal. I am better than I was as in I can work sometimes, but other times I cannot work at all, I never know until I go to unlock my shed wether I can or can't, my counsellor and Doctor made me go and see a psychiatrist and a psychologist, and I still am not a lot better. I think the herbal way wasn't strong enough as I had left it way to long before doing anything, but in saying that I'm on medical stuff and it's not doing much better. I think after trying both, if you can get help soon enough and not leave it to late it would be ok. It really depends on how bad your symptoms are, but I would definitely say it is well worth a go and I will go back on it as soon as I can. I hope you can get through on herbal and wish you all the best of luck, I can PM you if you would like the names of some of the ones I tried, as I would have you ask my herbalist to get the names for you.

Take care

Sammy

 

[Hope4Now]

Thanks, @Sammyiam. I'm sorry you are having such a rough time. It sounds as if you suffer from the same unpredictability of symptoms that I do (for a year, I was never sure if I would be able to go to work, or stay there if I managed to get there...). It's exhausting and triggering never knowing what the day will bring!

I've been working with a trauma therapist for about a year. I didn't even know I had anything wrong with me other than debilitating pain that had gone on for almost two years...then once I started in psychotherapy, the lid blew off me and I've been having a rather miserable time of it. I should be on some kind of meds, but apparently the psychiatrist I consulted with who specializes in complex trauma said it is common for people like me to respond oddly to medications, and that I have to work through the objections of some of my "parts" to get to a point where meds would help. BUT, I can't seem to get through the trauma work because of all the symptoms, so it's kind of a vicious catch-22 I'm in. So, I'm just looking for something to soothe things a bit so I can sleep and maybe get through more than a few hours without the intensity of symptoms. Alcohol works well, but that scares me as much as prescription meds...

Thanks for the offer of suggestions via PM. I might take you up on that.

 

[Sammyiam]

the psychiatrist I consulted with who specializes in complex trauma said it is common for people like me to respond oddly to medications, and that I have to work through the objections of some of my "parts" to get to a point where meds would help

Hi Hope4Now,

It's funny you said that as I went back to see my Pyschiatrist, a couple of weeks ago and he more or less said the same thing. He said they will only help so much like a pair of crutches, nothing will fix it apart from working through it, he said I wish there was something I could give you to take it all away but there isn't, and no one should have ever put you in this position that you are in now , NOBODY should ever have an effect on someone else to have caused them this much pain and the ability to take so much away from someone else. It has caused so much damage they need to be made accountable for it. I just sat they and said sorry. He said see what I mean ! He is really really nice and was just trying to help, he went to change one about 6 weeks ago and I was to scared it was going to make me die if I tried something else so he said we have to stay wilth what you are taking until you get a bit more stable as it alone will cause a major meltdown. I'm like you Hope4 now, I jus don't know what to do either. I've tried both and still aren't any better . I hope you have far more luck in what you try

Take care

Sammy

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I have so many tinctures in my kitchen right now....I can't even remember which ones work! Its been awhile since I've been experimenting with them. I think Kava is the one they said to not use because there are issues with the herb for some reason, so I never bothered purchasing it. I know I posted awhile ago about which ones worked for me and which ones didn't.....if you feel up to a search, lol.

 

[Sammyiam]

I think Kava is the one they said to not use because there are issues with the herb for some reason

I to was on Kava for a while and I can also remember something about it, maybe it affects the liver if on it to long, I think it's a short term one but only guessing, ....... but I can find out for sure if you like

Sammy

 

[Hope4Now]

Yes, kava is an issue according to the internet medical sites. It's rare that it happens but it can cause massive liver damage and people have died from it. I guess I won't add that anxiety to my pile. It's too bad, because it seemed like it would get at a lot of my issues. Valerian seems pretty safe, and I've discovered I may not be taking enough of it, so maybe I can get some relief with that.

Thanks for your input!

 

[shaky]

I once had some success with an Indian ayurvedic herbal formula, which I bought as a ready made mix in capsule form here in the UK. It was called Ashwaganda and Gotu Kola formula and I found I didn't get the headaches I used to get when I took valerian. You might be able to find something along those lines if you're interested - and if you want to do more research!

 

[Sammyiam]

Valerian seems pretty safe, and I've discovered I may not be taking enough of it, so maybe I can get some relief with that.

Hi Hope,

I was on Valerian for a long time and took a lot plus I had three or four others at the same time, I just don't remember the doses but it was a lot. I think it was one of the better ones. Are you under a herbalist as I think that would be a great idea to go and see one. They are really nice and can be really helpful, I wouldn't want to just chance it by trying odds ones, as some of the herbal things can be as strong as everyday meds.

Sammy