Posted by blueberry on February 6, 2006, at 7:00:03
In reply to Bipolars and Alternative/Natural Treatment, posted by Sobriquet Style on February 5, 2006, at 14:20:36
At my doctor's suggestion and supervision, I am in the midst of attempting natural treatments for bipolar depression. I have tapered off all longtime meds, with only 1.25mg zyprexa remaining. Still tapering that one. I'm no worse than I was on meds, and sometimes better. It is sporadic at this early point in the game. Still sampling various things.
For stability, useful things include taurine 500mg to 1000mg a day; and/or magnesium 400mg to 600mg, in the glycine or taurine form, not the citrate or oxide form. Any calming herbs can also be tried, of which there are many.
For the depression, I have not found the common things to be very helpful for me...such as 5htp, st johns wort, tyrosine. I discovered by trial and error that the most profound and rapid antidepressant effect is with a combination of rhodiola rosea and panax ginseng. Ginkgo is sometimes good. There are at least a handful of other herbs as well. The amino acid DL-phenylalanine is worth a try, but dosing is tricky, ranging anywhere from 500mg 3 times a day to 500mg once every two or three days.
Like the meds, it's all trial and error and mileage varies.
poster:blueberry
thread:606600
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060130/msgs/606824.html