Skullcap

[HereInMyHead]

Thinking of using this herb to help with anxiety symptoms. Anybody have any experience of it? Thanks

[ovumahead]

What exactly are your anxiety symptoms? And why do you want to take a herbal remedy for them? I've not used this treatment personally, but am very wary of all herbal medicines since they can be incredibly strong, are unregulated and it's difficult to know exactly what's in them, how strong they are, and whether they actually work or not.

[madmouse]

If you think you need to use skullcap instead of any of the more mainstream and regulated medication available please be aware of the following:

It can have an effect on your periods (make them stronger, promote miscarriages)

It can make you drowsy

It is relatively easy to overdose with dangerous consequences.

I would advise against self medicating with it. See a proper naturopath/homeopath but preferable start with your GP if you haven't already been.

[HereInMyHead]

Thanks for the info madmouse. Have been using it and has definitely made me feel tired. Wasn't aware of possible effect on periods. Will look into it further. Thanks again.

[HereInMyHead]

Ovum- general anxiety symptoms such as constant sinking feeling, headaches, sense of impending doom, trouble sleeping, early waking...

[madmouse]

Hereinmyhead that doesn't sound like pure anxiety, more like depression....in which skullcap is not that great - try St Johnswort if you want to keep it natural

[HereInMyHead]

Could be some depression too. , tho doesn't feel like it.not sure how you differentiate between the two anyway?!

[madmouse]

Personally I see anxiety as not able to switch off properly, so excessive worry, feeling shaky, unable to stop thinking about something, you may breath too quickly or be aware of your heart beating fast, you may feel things are outside your control even though you frantically try to control things.

Depression can have many different guises but a sense of impending doom, loss of pleasure, feeling low, feeling down, not seeing the way forward, staying up late, sleeping too much, waking too early, appetite changes, no energy, not wanting to socialise, tearfulness are important one

[madmouse]

It sounds like you could do a lot worse than to see your GP and do a depression questionnaire

[HereInMyHead]

Think i may have a mixture of both, looking at your descriptions! Took prozac for a year after son's birth and came off them last year with doctor's approval. Really don't want to go back on them tho as didn't like the way they flat lined my emotions. Plus found getting on to them really tough.

[ovumahead]

It definitely sounds like you don't just have clear-cut anxiety. The early waking and sense of impending doom are more symptoms associated with depression. Although I'm sure you realise by having lived with these symptoms, neither depression nor anxiety exist in their own special little bubbles! They often go hand in hand. Rather than self-medicating with unregulated and potentially harmful chemicals (don't get sucked in by the 'natural'ness of herbal remedies - often they are just as potent or more potent than many manufactured drugs, without the benefit of really knowing what's in them or having been thoroughly tested before).

Is there a particular reason why you want to take a tablet to make yourself feel better? Why not talk to someone, get to the bottom of your problems, rather than medicate them? If money is an issue, you can usually find subsidised and therefore very cheap counselling if you look for it. ask if you'd like more tips. If money isn't so much of an issue, then get yourself to a qualified psychotherapist, or at the very least, a sympathetic herbalist/ naturopath if you're more inclined to think along those lines at the moment.

Best of luck - and remember you're not alone - all the symptoms you describe are really common. I for one can say that I've experienced such feelings on a regular basis (psychotherapy has helped and continues to help me!).

[ovumahead]

Sorry about the unfinished sentence - it's early and I'm tired! (early morning waking, me?! Never!)