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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bryn on March 8, 2007, at 12:46:34
Hello,
I thought it would be appropriate to introduce myself since I've been posting for a couple of weeks now.
My nickname is Bryn and I am from the Left Coast of the U.S.
I think Dr. Bob's cyberforums for informal group counseling are fantastic! (I appreciate your efforts to bring this service to the public, Dr. Bob.)
I am particularly interested in this forum because I've had very little success with the (U.S.) allopathic model of medicine and have turned to an alternative/complementary system of medicine and health management. I feel that this shift has brought about positive changes in my own, as well as the rest of my family's, medical conditions. I am particularly interested in sharing information derived from empirical sources. I am interested in all health conditions and a variety of modalities, but I am particularly interested in the immune and nervous systems. I consider myself an amateur herbalist.
It's been a pleasure interacting with you. Thank you for including me in the discussion! :)
Warm regards,
Bryn
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on March 8, 2007, at 13:59:33
In reply to Introduction, posted by Bryn on March 8, 2007, at 12:46:34
I hope you like it here.
Perhaps you could share what supplements etc you're taking at the moment (if you don't mind, if you do, no worries!)
Currently, I'm taking nothing because I just feel like it.
Kind regards
Meri
PS I live in the bottom left hand corner of Finland.
Posted by Bryn on March 9, 2007, at 21:38:13
In reply to Nice to meet you!, posted by Meri-Tuuli on March 8, 2007, at 13:59:33
Hi, Meri.
Thanks for the kind welcome!
I'd be happy to share what I'm taking, though it is a bit long. Some people might classify some of these things as "food," others as "supplement." I will include them here in my list since I use them for their therapeutic effects.
-Multivitamin (obvious, right?)
-Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc. Taken separately from the multivitamin.
-Kelp, dried -- for potassium iodide and associated minerals. Helps keep my body temperature up (thyroid) and helps my hair/nails grow. When I take it regularly, it also helps prevent long menstrual cycles (most likely due to a slow thyroid.)
-Flaxseed and Evening Primrose Oil Blend. I've read several entries about others advocating fish oil, but I've used Flax Seed Oil for my Omega-3s, I like it and it seems to work when I use it. Do you know if I am missing something by using Flax instead fish oil? I notice a mental health benefit when I take it as it seems to keep my tendency to ruminate in check. Plus, my skin is softer and it helps my joints. The Evening Primrose Oil addition is new; I'll let you know how it works.
-Cat's Claw - For an immune system boost. I had low WBC counts and I was able to raise the count significantly (well within the normal range) after taking it for a couple of months.
-CoQ10 Enzyme - Whenever I remember, since I have a tendency toward irregular heartbeat.
-Hawthorn Tincture - For the same reasons above and for circulation problems (varicose veins and Raynaud's). Works great when I use it regularly. I highly recommend this herb.
-DMG + B Complex. I got the DMG on a good sale and am now taking it in an effort to fend off a flare of ME/CFIDS.
-Red Marine Algae - Related to above. There is research that demonstrates that this helps cells form resistance to herpesviruses. Since many theorists believe that ME/CFIDS might be in part caused by a herpesvirus, I take this when I experience a decline in my health. After taking this for a few months, the "crimson crescents" associated with ME/CFIDS went away and have not returned.
-Extra Vitamin C, Green Tea, Nettles and Bioflavinoids (from fresh fruit or tabs) - for allergies, on an as needed basis.
-Other stuff: ginger in tea for circulation and stomach soothing; peppermint and licorice tea for stomach soothing. Ginko leaf tea for mental focus, allergies. All on an as needed basis.
It sounds excessive, doesn't it? I haven't had effective treatment from allopathic medicine and I'm too controlling to put my health completely into the hands of another. :) Therefore, I am always tweaking my regimen, experimenting with herbs (very easy to come by where I live -- many can be foraged) and quality supplements that fit in my budget.
I am always open to suggestions. Are you taking a break from supplements in order to give your body a rest or because you are feeling healthier? I'd be interested to know what has worked for you.
Peace,
Bryn
Posted by Declan on March 10, 2007, at 13:20:28
In reply to Nice to meet you, too, and what I'm taking.., posted by Bryn on March 9, 2007, at 21:38:13
Hello Bryn
It doesn't sound excessive to me.
This morning I took 400mg SAMe with my tianeptine (depression) and it feels OK atm.
Cat's Claw is interesting, isn't it?
Declan
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on March 11, 2007, at 5:59:44
In reply to Nice to meet you, too, and what I'm taking.., posted by Bryn on March 9, 2007, at 21:38:13
Hello!
I wouldn't say your supplement list is excessive. In fact, I'm highly envious of it. I really struggle with supplements and herbs, and I mean really struggle! :( Unfortunately I have this anxiety that I'm poisoning myself all the time, even with normal foods, so I'm constantly checking tabs, washing my hands, to the point where I only use paper plates etc for my food. Sigh. Yes I know. Anyway, it makes it hard to take supplements and herbs, of which I'm both a massive fan of by the way. At the moment, I'm working up the courage to get some of my vit/min formula down my bloomin neck (my thinking is this: I'm going to take one tomorrow morning, as I see the pdoc then - she can reassure me if I panic about it for some reason!). Anyway at least this morning I managed to get some sublingual zinc under my tongue. Thats all I can manage I'm afraid. So things are very difficult for me.
> it also helps prevent long menstrual cycles (most likely due to a slow thyroid.)
I have a question I've been wondering about - what would you define as a long menstrual cycle? My cycles are quite long - kinda 33-35 days - and I've always wondered what that was about. I know they're in the longer part of the 'average' but still. Plus they're relatively light, or perhaps they're just normal? I only ever use 'normal' santitary pads even at night, and they hardly ever get soaked through or anything. I suppose I'm worrying about nothing, someone once told me light periods are a sign of good health. Anyway I only have one ovary.
I used to eat hawthorn leaves when I was a kid. I think kids have this natural foraging instinct well I suppose adults would have it too, but its been conditioned out of us!!
Anyway. I once had really low blood cell counts which was abit puzzling. But I don't often get colds or anything, well perhaps one once a winter, so I have no idea what the white blood cell count thing was about. I'm assuming I'm normal now!
Oh well. I took SJW for maybe half a year, and it totally cleared up my cold sores. I would get a nasty cold sore once every half year or something, but now, nothing!! (touchwood).
anyway, sorry this is abit garbled.
Your supplements sound fantastic, I'm deeply envious you can take all these things!
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by Bryn on March 11, 2007, at 16:49:16
In reply to Re: Nice to meet you, too, and what I'm taking.., posted by Declan on March 10, 2007, at 13:20:28
I actually tried SAMe a month or so ago and I noticed the effects within a few weeks. Since having ME/CFIDS I haven't felt "normal" -- low libido, low "fight or flight" response, etc. After being on it for a couple of weeks, I actually had "fireworks" again with my partner! This was a big plus.
Unfortunately, I had to quit it because it irritated my stomach. I am prone to gastric erosion, but I had such a good experience with it, I'd like to see if I can find a form of it that is buffered or otherwise gentle on the stomach. Do you know of any available that would be available to me in the U.S.?
What has your experience with tianeptine been like?
Cat's Claw -- I didn't notice any of the supposed anti-inflammatory or antidepressant qualitites it is purported to possess. However, I was impressed with how effectively it brought my WBC back into the normal range in a short period of time.
Peace,
Bryn> Hello Bryn
>
> It doesn't sound excessive to me.
>
> This morning I took 400mg SAMe with my tianeptine (depression) and it feels OK atm.
>
> Cat's Claw is interesting, isn't it?
>
> Declan
Posted by Declan on March 11, 2007, at 17:24:31
In reply to SAMe + Cat's Claw, posted by Bryn on March 11, 2007, at 16:49:16
SAMe is in some kind of shell to release the contents after the stomach, is it not?
So maybe you felt the irritation there.
I have heard of gastric irritation from it, although it was OK that way with me.
For me though it aggravates insomnia, so I'd have to take something to help me sleep, which is a pity because otherwise the effect is good.
Tianeptine has at least been useful for me. Comforting, is perhaps how you might describe it.
There is all this stuff about tianeptine and asthma.
Have I heard something about tianeptine and irritable bowel syndrome? Not sure.
Posted by Bryn on March 11, 2007, at 17:51:05
In reply to Re: Nice to meet you, too, and what I'm taking.. » Bryn, posted by Meri-Tuuli on March 11, 2007, at 5:59:44
Meri,
Are you afraid of taking supplements and other things because of OCD-related issues? If that is the case, I certainly can relate to it. OCD runs in my extended family and I became a vegetarian a couple of years ago when I read about the possible contamination of BSE/TSE in our food supply. At first I was a strict vegan and purged my belongings of ANYTHING I suspected of being from an animal source. In time I came to a compromise with myself that it would be impossible for me to control my exposure to molecular-sized particles. I then decided that the best I could do would be to decrease my ODDS of consuming TSE-infected particles and, since that time, my anxiety surrounding consumption issues has lessened considerably. Best of luck with your fears... you are not alone. :)
>
> I have a question I've been wondering about - what would you define as a long menstrual cycle? My cycles are quite long - kinda 33-35 days - and I've always wondered what that was about. I know they're in the longer part of the 'average' but still. Plus they're relatively light, or perhaps they're just normal?I should have been more clear -- I meant to say that I take kelp to prevent long stretches of (usually heavy) bleeding. When these times are long for me, they usually last for an entire week or so.
In regards to your pattern of longer menstrual cycles, I've heard many different opinions as to what this could mean and the risks it may involve. The most prevailing opinion I've heard is that having a cycle that is somewhat longer than the standard 28 days is just an individual variation on a general pattern. That is, 28 days is the norm, but it is by no means the perfect number of days for a woman's cycle.
I've also read that some believe that irregular cycles over a lifetime can increase female cancer risk. The idea behind this is that when a woman has longer cycles, she has a longer exposure to estogen than women with "normal" cycles. I find a lot of flaws in this reasoning.
The final common explanation for longer cycles is that the body is slowly easing itself into menopause. This seems like the most likely explanation for longer cycles in women over 35 to me.
You mentioned that you only have one ovary. If you subscribe to the idea of an intuition of the body, having longer cycles might be your body's way of drawing out your fertility, i.e. since you only have a finite number of eggs, spreading them out over a longer time frame might result in more offspring (a positive outcome from an evolutionary point of view.)
If you are at all concerned about your longer cycles, could you try Vitex? It has an excellent reputation for keeping menstrual cycles in sync. When I've taken it in the past, I brew it in a tea. Here's my quick recipe: approx. 1 teaspon of dried Vitex berries (ground of crushed), 1 t. of peppermint of spearmint leaves, 1 t. crushed rose hips and/or dried hibiscus petals, 1/2 t. of dried citrus peel or zest (organic or well-cleaned). Steep in a large teapot (.5-1 L) with boiling water for approximately 15-20 minutes. Drink approx. 2 cups a day.
I don't know if you feel nervous about teas, but the great part about them is that you can see all of the ingredients going into it and can seal it in a vacuum bottle if you feel more comfortable with that.
>
> I used to eat hawthorn leaves when I was a kid. I think kids have this natural foraging instinct well I suppose adults would have it too, but its been conditioned out of us!!Yes, it's funny, isn't it? As an adult I have learned that many of those "weeds" I played with and nibbled on as kids were actually good for me!
> Oh well. I took SJW for maybe half a year, and it totally cleared up my cold sores. I would get a nasty cold sore once every half year or something, but now, nothing!! (touchwood).
>That is very interesting. I didn't know that they were useful for preventing cold sores. I'm glad you found something that was effective for you. Thanks for the good tip!
Peace,
Bryn
Posted by Declan on March 12, 2007, at 15:40:09
In reply to SAMe + Cat's Claw, posted by Bryn on March 11, 2007, at 16:49:16
Hey Bryn
Quintal had posted this on the main board. You might be interested.
In fact tianeptine may finally reach the USA branded not as an antidepressant, but in the guise of a treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). For in 2004 Vela Pharmaceuticals registered a patent for the use of tianeptine to treat IBS. In March 2006 Pharmos Corporation acquired Vela. Tianeptine for IBS is now in "late-preclinical development" (mid-2006). If and when a medicine gains a US product license, physicians can then prescribe it "off-label" for whatever they see fit, including depression. But this prospect is several years away at best.
Posted by Bryn on March 15, 2007, at 19:04:41
In reply to Tianeptine and IBS » Bryn, posted by Declan on March 12, 2007, at 15:40:09
This is the end of the thread.
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