This is a post I found today while looking for info for my new Toxic Free Living Page. It was originally written for some friends with regards to taking supplements for mental health. It’s written in more of an email format then an article, but I thought I would Share.
We all know that these issues are a chemical imbalance in our brains. So we have to start at the beginning and get our entire bodies balanced first. The first step is to take a really good multi-vitamin. Not a one a day, a really good, reputable brand. That is the base. Think of is as the foundation of a house. Everyone needs a foundation, there are numerous medical reports out there to support this. Now those of use with this little chemical imbalance need more “nutrition” than the average Joe, because we are “lacking” a little more balance than others. People who suffer from depression, anxiety, and general “mood issues” also need Extra folic acid, B vitamins, and Magnesium. A lot of people know this, but they make the mistake of just taking B vitamins, just folic acid, or just Magnesium. Maybe they even take all three, but here is the problem. If they are not already taking a high quality supplement AND eating a well balanced, diet of REAL food, for their “foundation”, they might as well be pouring those vitamins down the drain. (Or the huge cracks in the foundation.) Those “extra” vitamins will only be able to fill in the cracks left from inadequate nutrition and not be able to make a dent in balancing the brain. So, someone with this imbalance needs both. Next, there are atleast two, and probably more natural supplements which help with this imbalance. We have the foundation w/ the basic vitamins, we have the walls, with the extra B, Folic acid, and Magnesium, and now we need to put on our roof. That is where St. John’s Wort and griffonia seed (5-HTP in it’s natural form) come in. These are only the two that I know about. I know there are many other things out there, but these are the ones I know about. St. John’s Wort and griffonia seed help complete the total package. These are known to work in conjunction with the other vitamins to help maintain emotional health. Again, lots of people know this, but they make the mistake of taking them alone, and leaving out the vitamins and minerals their bodies already need. It’s like putting your roof directly on your foundation, or worse yet, directly on the ground. Anyway. Maybe this info will help you, maybe it won’t, maybe you all think I’m a nutcase, but I just thought that maybe this description, and the ”need” for such things more tolerable than “drugs”? I had to quit my Paxil when I was preggo w/ Ashton, and this information is what has kept me from being a complete wacko over the last three years. I still take it while pregnant (most of it is just vitamins anyway) and I still take it while nursing. There is some speculation about the use of St. John’s Wort during pregnancy, but I look at it like this: Herbs have been in use for 1000s of years, with no serious side effects known. But how many times have prescription drugs been on the market for 20 years, or less before something is discovered about them being dangerous?
Anyway, just thought I’d mention it. Don’t shoot the messenger. And you don’t have to go buy all these things seperately. If you do the research, you can find products made for emotional health that contain everything in one to two supplements so you don’t have to sell your right pinky
Be well,
Jenn
