Magnesium
★★★★★
I also use a combination herbal therapy for Mood Support, which works well. And every day I take vitamin D at 4000 mg, fish oil, and something called lithium orotate, a safe, commonly found supplement for brain and mood health. (Don't let the word lithium scare you. Unlike the drug lithium, lithium orotate is safe to take and you don't need to have your blood tested. Please look up lithium orotate online for more info.)
But to me, the most important missing link in the puzzle was magnesium. You can buy it at the drugstore, but I do suggest taking at least 700 mg a day to begin to see results. I stagger the dose, taking 200 mg magnesium citrate tablets twice a day at work, and then taking the wonderful fizzy magnesium drink at night as a hot tea, which makes me feel very sleepy and Calm.
(Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
08/18/2011
Hi Celia - I like your message about being calm while taking... Calm! I, too, use it nightly - although I only take a teaspoon (about 200 mg) so I probably should increase it. I use it to help me with restless legs and it works. I do get rather vivid dreams, though. I'll gradually up my dose and see what happens. Cheers, Bess
(Melbourne, Australia)
08/18/2011
I read yesterday that the best way to get magnesium into you is to take it transdermally... Through the skin. A great way is to use magnesium oil and rub it on the skin but the best way is to swin in the ocean.. it is a veritable magnesium bath. The reason racehorses swim in the ocean after a race to relieve their muscles.
So if you live near the ocean go for a swim every day to relieve your depression or aches and pains. Or grab a bucket of sea water and soak your feet!
Magnesium
★★★★★
(Jerusalem)
05/21/2014
I will try the magnesium I tried liquid mag, no luck yet tastes horrible. My chiro put me on homeopathic lithium, and also a combo of bacopa, for brain fog and a few other herbs. I am unbelievabley moody, rage attacks, deep frustration often cannot stop crying and terrible depression. I was on 300 mg of gabapentin for moods, about 3+ weeks ago went down to 250 with drs ok, and feel nuts. Am also on 100mg trazodone for sleep.
I will not go up again, but wonder why I feel so much worse on such a small dose change. My holistic md friend says they make it so that when you withdraw you feel awful and want to go back on it for relief.
I am alos on high doses of valerian, cal poppy, but sleep is awful.
Any ideas? Serach
(Hotspot, Texas)
05/22/2014
Hi Serach, I'm not sure, but I think that Gabapentin is a drug that works by enhancing the effects of the GABA that you do have. The problem I see with this is that it doesn't give you more GABA so what happens when the GABA deficiency becomes so bad that it can't be "pushed" anymore? Suicidal tendency is also a side effect of this drug.(! )
I took Xanax for a short time for anxiety and felt that it did make the anxiety worse, kind of like a rebound effect.
There is a good book called The Mood Cure that discusses neurotransmitters and depression, anxiety, etc. The author gives detailed instructions as to what nt to take for what condition.
I found that my anxiety and insomnia went away as I supplemented with large dose vitamins and minerals. Interestingly, vitamin C seemed to add to my problems of anxiety.
At night, I take zinc, magnesium, copper, and niacin, as well as tart cherry juice and sauerkraut and have minor sleep issues, if any.
(Hotspot, Texas)
05/22/2014
Hi Serach, I'm not sure, but I think that Gabapentin is a drug that works by enhancing the effects of the GABA that you do have. The problem I see with this is that it doesn't give you more GABA so what happens when the GABA deficiency becomes so bad that it can't be "pushed" anymore? Suicidal tendency is also a side effect of this drug.(! ) I took Xanax for a short time for anxiety and felt that it did make the anxiety worse, kind of like a rebound effect.
There is a good book called The Mood Cure that discusses neurotransmitters and depression, anxiety, etc. The author gives detailed instructions as to what not to take for what condition. I found that my anxiety and insomnia went away as I supplemented with large dose vitamins and minerals. Interestingly, vitamin C seemed to add to my problems of anxiety.
At night, I take zinc, magnesium, copper, and niacin, as well as tart cherry juice and sauerkraut and have minor sleep issues, if any.
(Fort Wayne, In)
05/23/2014
Serach from Jerusalem, I want to suggest a website for help with your anger. It is orthomolecular.org. On the home page hit Library and then click on the article Nutritional influences on Aggressive Behavior. Please read the complete article as it has much information. The site has helped a lot with our bipolar son. I wish you the best.
Magnesium
★★★★★
Magnesium
★★★★★
Medication Side Effects
I suspect that cortisol from fight or flight emotions feeds the yeast. Three years on prozac, no emotions, no symptoms. I don't think it is good for people to take prozac, I felt suicidal the whole time I used it, but wasn't depressed anymore.
Having HAD been both most of my life, there is a difference, depression is hopeless dark tunnel and suicidal is like BEAM ME UP, I HAVE NO DESIRE TO LIVE! Your mind constantly thinks of ways to end it . Of course you have to resist.
I don't have those battles anymore! Whew!!!
(San Francisco)
07/03/2014
(Montebello, Ca)
07/04/2014
Meditation and Movement Arts
★★★★★
Methylene Blue
★★★★★
OK .... Food grade methylene blue has proven to change electrons and alleviate depression of every order. Do your own research. People take a mild dose of 15 drops per day...
CBD oil needs to be mentioned here because of it's ability to calm you and raise serotonin but not a true High power option.
Now for the big one:
Clinical and lifelong depression has been completely or partly eliminated in one day, one week or one month with this incredible substance. Hallucinogenic Therapy
John's Hopkins and Harvard Med School is studying human subjects and has been studying this for years. It was featured on 60 minutes and is shown directly in brain scans to open up centers and structures in the brain that have been closed off for years or since birth.
LOOK it Up!!!! *** Hallucinogens against depression..... or PTSD and more.
Hopkins and Harvard administer it every day (Psylocibin..but others also work) and the results are beyond belief in many cases.
Don't think of hallucinogens as drugs. That is a political and economic tool to scare you....
It cured my Viet Nam combat stress... Do the Research and Blessings to All
It is not legal in most states, but the Psychology world is catching on fast.
Milk Thistle
★★★★★
Multiple Remedies
Depression is a multi-faceted problem. You need to treat it on three levels: physical, psychological, and environmental. There are 4 books that have been key to me on this journey. 2 I will mention here. The first is "Perfect Health" by Deepak Chopra, which introduced me to the life-changing practice of Ayurveda. The second book, my holy grail that I give to everyone I know who has depression, is "The Chemistry of Joy", which balances Eastern/Western methods for a truly holistic method of treatment.
Physical - If you want to kick depression, prepare to put in a tremendous effort and to make a lot of lifestyle changes. The two things that have helped me the most is cleaning up my diet and getting regular exercise. I switched to eating whole, natural foods. I cook my own meals, and if it has something in it I can't pronounce, I don't eat it. I eat lots of serotonin-producing foods (meats, eggs, cheeses). I only use all-natural cosmetics, cleaning products, laundry products, deodorants, shampoos, etc - NO CHEMICALS! Supplements: 5-HTP was initially instrumental in getting me back on track, but after 2 years I had to stop using it because it gave me irregular heartbeats and chest pain. Magnesium supplementation (or epsom salt baths) are also really wonderful for curbing depression and anxiety. I have had the best results using ionic magnesium citriate. Vitamin B supplementation is also very helpful. Get as much fresh air and sunshine as possible and aim to get exercise at least 5x week. Drink 8 glasses of water every day. Yoga, meditation, cardio workouts, and reiki are also miraculous for depression. Be gentle with yourself. Do a self-massage with warm oil everyday, morning and night, with an oil that is suited to your "dosha" (ayurvedic type). For a quick "boost", ACV helps (as others have said here), or I make a shake with bananas, milk and raw cacao powder. If you are smoking, drinking, or using drugs, you need to cease use before you can start really healing yourself.
Psychological - One cause of depression is a pattern of negative thinking, usually learned in childhood. Did your parents, siblings, or friends tell you or make you feel like you were never good enough? Were you ever verbally or physically abused? Were you teased? Did you experience trauma in your early life? You may not realize it, but you may be talking to yourself the way that THEY talked to you - "I'm not good enough", "I can't do this", "I'll never have... " If this sounds like you, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) will help greatly. You can do this with a therapist or do it yourself, but please note this is not an easy task and you will need to put in effort everyday to re-train yourself out of this kind of thinking. My therapist recommended the book "The Feeling Good Workbook" and I still use the lessons everyday. Another book along the same lines is "Heal Your Life" by Louise Hay - a good book on positive self talk. Be thankful for the good things in your life. Also, having a spiritual practice (religious, or even something like yoga, which balances the spiritual with the physical), helps us put everything in perspective.
Environmental - Have a support network. When people are depressed, they tend to isolate themselves from family and friends. As much as you don't want to go out and do things, force yourself to do them. Let people know what you are going through. Take one day at a time. Join a support group. Surround yourself with positive, loving, people. Turn off the news. Get rid of the "toxic" people, influences, and habits in your life. Your parents, your friends, and your family may have hurt you. Maybe they were once victims themselves - forgive them. And above all, remember that you are not alone and you deserve to be happy!
If you have tried everything and you still are struggling with depression, please seek help from a trained psychologist or counselor. I know what a dark, awful place depression can be and you don't want to be there alone. While I think that lifestyle changes and CBT can help most people, if this doesn't help you, medication might be life-saving. Your life is too precious to spend in pain.
I wish you good luck on your journey... Xoxo
(Seattle, Wa - Usa)
04/02/2012
Google "Lithium Orotate" for depression. It is helping my husband in a major way. It is sold at health food stores and online, no prescription needed. Worth looking at.
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
Couple of things that helped me...
1) Seeing a chiropracter and getting the spine re-aligned, which in turn allows the nerve endings to do their bit effectively.
2) Acupuncture and chinese herbs which allowed me to wean off the nasty allopathic depression meds that I was originally put on.
3) Soaking 1-2 times daily in dead sea salt (Available at ebay. The more you buy, and you use 3-4 heaped cups or more in a single soak). This allows your body to absorb magnesium and other critical elements and minerals that are missing from your body which may most definitely be adding to the 'low'.
4) Green juice first thing in the AM on an empty stomach. Include celery, cucumber, parsley, ginger and lemon juice. This detoxes your liver and flushes out the toxins from your body which will shift things very fast for you. FRESH juice drunk as soon as you have juiced, preferably withOUT the pulp.
5) Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine, atleast 30-45 mins daily in nature.
6) Walk barefoot atleast 30-45 minutes daily on the earth, grass, see earthing under separate heading on this site.
7) Exercise to release those endorphins.
8) Eliminate all sugar, white flour, and processed foods from your diet. HUGE in getting better. Substitute with more healthy choices like greek yogurt and agave and nuts for a 'sweet' treat.
9) Addition of raw foods to your diet. If you can go 50% raw, you will find you are getting better very soon.
10) Pranic healing. Please google it. Learn to do it yourself or find someone who can do it for you. Life CHANGING!
Please ask any specific questions. I really know the above has shifted my being and hope it can be helpful to you too.
Multiple Remedies
I listened to her tapes every night for 9 years and they helped alot. Another woman who became a doctor after being Agoraphobic for years has a hospital but sorry to say she charges too much for her programs and that's a terrible shame after knowing how bad these panic attacks and depression feel and most people I know who have it bad can not work. She geta a big lump of coal from me!!
I did a lot of research to help myself. GABA is a very important supplement to take because it relaxes your mind enough to let you sleep and find therapy to help you get through it. Magnesium for me is 700 mg daily but check for your size and weight this helps to keep your muscles loose and not tight. Exercise for depression is very important. Don't eat too many foods that contain MSG this spice can actually bring on anxiety attacks. If you can go and swim in the beach the salt water takes away many negative energies and relaxes you. If you cannot, take epsom salt baths. Laughter is very good for your overall health. I have bought movies that make me laugh or I look up jokes and keep them in a folder. When I am down I go for these things to cheer me up. God bless you all and may you heal and have very wonderful lives. Please don't forget to "pay it forward" and help others who are in a difficult place in their lives.
Blessings to all, Mary
(Las Vegas, Nevada)
07/09/2011
I have had some severe bouts of depression, crying for several days at the drop of a hat for no apparent reason. One day it hit me for some reason that my seratononin levels must be off for me to be feeling this way. I had heard that many people have had good experiences with 5HTP so I bought some and emptied the cap under my tongue thinking it might absorb a little faster. I could feel a subtle change happening almost immediately. Haven't had any depression since that point. I take it once every few days if I feel a little off. My brother has also been suffering for several years with depression and he tried it the same way 50mg under the tongue. He began feeling better the same day and reported feeling brighter. Like the fog had lifted, and he sounds much happier. I believe if your seratonin levels are low then 5HTP will definitely help you feel better.
(Solana Beach, Ca)
08/18/2011
Multiple Remedies
Thanks in advance for any info you can provide...Loretta
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
Obviously it depends on what's really wrong, but here are some suggestions that have helped me. I scanned the list of titles on the right and did not see the following:
-adequate sleep
-quitting coffee
-massage
-tanning/sun bathing
-loseing weight/body image/new clothes
-doing things you've always wanted to but were too afraid to do
-jogging/runner's high - this works well
-fresh fruit and vegetable juices/smoothies/fasting on them
-clean water - not fluoridated/chlorinated tap water with additional mystery chemicals
-spending time alone with Jesus/getting close to Him
-church
-getting enough fiber in your diet - apples
- Drink 2 tablespoons of olive oil mixed with the fresh juice of a lemon and the juice or minced bits of a few cloves of fresh garlic.
-staying out of co-dependent relationships - love people the way Jesus did
-being honest with yourself about who you are, what you want, etc. For example, don't tell yourself you want to be married, if all you really want/need is fellowship. Be real honest with yourself about your wants and needs. Isaiah 58:4, Matthew 19:12
Multiple Remedies
I have been plagued by the so called blues most of my life and so its been a preoccupation with me to find suitable remedies to cure my down times. While the following have more benefits than just making one feel better... they all seem to make life more generally happy for me. So after many years of trying one thing and another.. here's a list that I hope will be helpful..
Fennel..Powder form
Black sesame seed powder...some chinese markets carry it.. I take quarter of a cup a day
Chamomille tea
Garlic
lemon and lime juices
Poppy seeds
''Fleur de sel''.. the salt that they harvest at certain select times
Blackstrop molasses
Omega 3 oils... a must for those prone to the blues like myself
hemp protein..acts for me within minutes especially if I mix it with applesauce
ACV
canadian ginseng..doesn't affect BP as much as others..its a cooler energy than the others
goji berries...soaked first..they are less expensive at chinese groceries
number 8 of the ''Schuessler Salts'' some health food stores carry this..this one affects me a lot.. I feel grounded, good, in tune with my spiritual self.. I have heard others say the same about this one
I hope this helps,
Richard
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
