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Magicgal (Cambridge, Ma) on 09/29/2013
5 out of 5 stars

I have bipolar disorder. Being vegan, I diligently take my daily supplements. But on business trips, I don't bring flax oil which I store in fridge. I go without flax oil for 3-4 days and I become angry, paranoid, and a completely different person. As soon as I reach home and resume taking flax oil, my symptoms just vanish into thin air. So, I figure I should buy flax softgels to bring with me on business trips. As expected, my mood swings never ever come back and mess with my life.

In case you are curious, I weigh 50 kg, age 31. I take about 1-2 tablespoons of flax oil daily with my breakfast oatmeal. I also take niacin @100 mg after every meal, making around 300mg/day. I take it along with a B-complex. Both niacin & flax oil are indispensable to my normal functioning. Missing either one will set me in trouble. Hope this helps any of you.

Replied By Matt (Rhode Island, US) on 02/13/2015

I'm sorry to tell you but this is a placebo effect. Flaxseed oil does not have the omega 3 responsible for mood stability (EPA). However, fish oil does. There is no substitute. And for anyone else on this board with true manic depression (Bipolar I disorder), you can not substitute medication with herbs and vitamins. True bipolar I is a medical illness, which needs to be treated medically. If your disorder responds to vitamins and herbs alone, you probably have a personality disorder, such as borderline personality disorder. I am a mental health professional and see this type of misconception all the time.

Replied By Clay (Louisville, Ky) on 02/13/2015

I'm sorry to tell you that flax seeds contain ALA which can convert into EPA. So it seems there is a substitute.

Replied By Mckenzie (Ca) on 02/13/2015

Matt,

You may be a mental health professional, but you lack logic. You say the person experienced a placebo effect. Then your said that bi-polar can only be treated with medication. If a person was "healed" via placebo, there is a solution other than a medical one. Additionally, your concept that bi-polar can only be managed medically shows a narrow mindedness common among medical professionals. Have experiments been conducted to prove that every other possible treatment of bi-polar is ineffective? Obviously not. You cannot know that only medication is the solution. Most would agree that medication helps bi-polar, but you seem to believe that medical conditions can only be treated medically. You can read hundreds upon hundreds of posts on this forum alone where people who have not found satisfactory help with modern medical professionals and medications, have found health and healing with natural remedies or sometimes a combination of the two.

Because you are a medical professional, and you profit from people being sick, your statements come from a bias against natural solutions.

Replied By Jason (Wisconsin, US) on 03/12/2015

I cannot tolerate Flaxseed. After taking it, I become extremely irritable. I suffer from seasonal depression and usually rely on alcohol to help during the rough times. For panic attacks I'll take a very small dose of Xanax .125mg - .25mg maybe 3-4 times a year. But I have never experienced the level of anger that results from taking flaxseed. It makes me feel frustrated and paranoid. There is nothing else in my 45 years that has made me feel so terrible and unable to control my emotions. I also have a sister and a brother who have the same reactions to flax as I do. My sister has suffered from occasional depression, however, my brother has never suffered any form of mental illness. Don't know if it is something we are allergic to or if it just creates some chemical imbalance. The disappointing thing for me is whenever you do an internet search for flaxseed, 99% of the results are praising the wonderful miracle cures that are possible but offer very little if any information on the possible negative side effects. I wouldn't wish the reaction I have on anyone. I just wanted to share in case anyone else out there has had the same experience.

Replied By Timh (KY) on 03/13/2015

J: How or by what method or type are you taking?? Whole seeds, milled seeds, or oil??

I always advise taking Omega 3's w/ Selenium & Vit-E for the greatest benefit.

Also, a major problem with Flax is storage. Flax oil must be kept cool & dark and not exceed the expiration date. If not, the "rancid" oil will make one sick.

Replied By KT (Usa) on 03/13/2015

Hello Jason, Our entire food supply has been made corrupt by hidden sources of manufactured glutamic acid (MSG) and genetically modified organisms (GMO's), in one way or another. This includes medications, vitamins and supplements.

Our food is being engineered to last longer. The animals we eat and get milk or eggs from are being fed GMO grasses and grains. Because everyone eats differently, everyone is going to react differently. I think anyone with an egg or dairy allergy/sensitivity is due to what those critters are being fed now. We get 2% milk. "Grass-fed" and/or "free-range" are terms that are deceptive and really don't make a difference anymore. "Non-GMO" is impossible just because of wind and bird droppings. Infiltration cannot be avoided.

I believe many of the farmers are sincere in what they're trying to raise or produce but are genuinely unaware of what has happened to our food supply.

My husband and I cannot eat whole wheat without having a problem with anger. My husband is affected by any wheat products. We do better if I get the unbleached white flour products. Nothing with any flavoring (no tasty crackers or cookies). I cannot eat plain yogurt because it makes me extremely agitated. Our daughter noticed and brought it to my attention.

I had been hospitalized twice for depression. Once in the early 70's and once in the early 80's. Over the last two decades we've had to change our way of eating and it has not been an easy endeavor. Reducing my meat and egg portions (more difficult for husband), cooking all vegetables until tender and only getting vegetables canned, without salt or frozen because they have been blanched is not as quick and easy as fast food or processed but safer. Only using RealSalt, purchased from the health food store and staying away from all added salt in anything because there is a flowing agent in that salt that I strongly believe is the culprit for many ailments. We get real butter (any store brand) without salt.

I get canned fruit in its own juice. Sometimes I get "fresh" blueberries and freeze them. Never bananas anymore. They have been cloned for several decades.

I know this may be a lot to digest but it is what I have had the opportunity to learn since my retirement. We have been desensitized to what has been going on for, at least, sixty years. It's been tough and took awhile to clean up my system the best I can.

I have been amending this, just about, all day but feel I've left something out. I hope it helps you identify what may be causing your difficulty. I can tell you that alcohol will deplete the B vitamins you need for your nerves and the troubles will never go away. You only numb them for awhile. I have been there and done that too.

Replied By Lesley (Queensland) on 09/03/2016

Yes I agree. My live in friend has bi-polar. he was on Zyprexa and valproate for 11 years. A year ago he just stopped medication completely. I noticed no change. Recently the past 2 weeks I noticed some mania. I thought OK he is just having a super thought and productive week. I also noticed that he was sleeping 4 hours a night. Three nights ago he started laughing like really uncontrollably. I commented on this as it was rather inappropriate like the humour in Funniest Home Videos-not really funny at all. He told me that he needed sleep as he was feeling crazy. That triggered me to realise that the past 2 weeks he was bi-polar again. Tonight for the third night of good sleep he should improve even more. His diet is unprocessed food and balanced. Fruit, veges, whey and hemp seed milk drink.

It seems with regulated sleep, at least 7 hours every 24 hours bi-polar conditions do not exist. He believes that the Doctors Medication had him completely overweight and mind fogged. No side effects! I am speaking from experience.

Replied By Sandy Smith (Usa) on 04/05/2017

Hello, maybe eating cow dairy is not agreeable with everyone. I eat raw goat yogurt, anyone who says goat is the same as cow is misinformed. I make my own raw goat yogurt and eat it plain or sometimes with a smudge or raw honey. I will tell you that there are certain times to not consume goat products as it can get pretty pungent. But anyone raising goats and knowing the changes are the best to purchase products from.

Replied By Sam (Santa Barbara ) on 03/10/2018

I have this reaction with chocolate.

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