Herbal remedies for anxiety - 5HTP, relora, anything really

[Bananaketchup]

I've been taking St John's Wort for several weeks now and I really don't think it's working for me - I have anxiety not depression. Plus the giant size and disgusting taste of the pills have given me a fun new anxiety tic of retching when I feel anxious - great.

I can't take ADs as I had to stop them to apply to adopt, but I really want to try something other than the SJW - realistically with the adoption process I'll have to be off ADs for probably 3 years and I don't think I can do it feeling as I do now. I've been reading up on non-prescription remedies like 5HTP, relora, but am really confused. Has anyone found anything herbal good for anxiety?

Hi Bananaketchup. I've also been trying SJW recently, and not seen any change whatsoever in my anxiety.

I've not tried them recently, but Kalms have worked before for me when I've had a bit of a blip. They make me feel a lot more chilled out than normal, and help me to sleep as well. You do have to take them for a good week or so before noticing any change, but they may be worth a try?

Are you taking the propper dose of SJW starting at 3 of the one a day tablets? Also you need to use a good quality supplement.
Look at 'The Way Up From Down' by Priscilla Slagle.

Hi all. I have good old flat depression, not anxiety so when the doctor put me on SSRIs I went positively catatonic! I tried 5-HTP as an alternative to SSRIs and yes it had exactly the same effect. The product I tried was "Happy Days" - worth trying if you're looking for a good alternative to SSRIs I should think. For myself I have found SJW is good at lifting my depression when taken in combination with something else. I've just been trying SAM-e as well and I have to admit I've been more than pleasantly surprised. The cost is a bit steep though - good if you're trying to find the motivation to go into work!!

bach flower rememdy?

the rescue rememdy i mean.

remedy of course!

There is a new pill out, Silexan, which is derived from lavender and which is for anxiety.

I found this article about it.

I just read that article Swans but did a quick google and not sure if you can actually buy a lavender pill yet can you?
I think it would work though. I used to drink a lavender tea at work in a stressful job. It really chilled me out. Tasted wierd, though, like drinking bathwater!
Go a bit carefully with kalms and those sort of pills if you take them at bedtime, as they contain valerian which I found give me nightmares.

OP I take a really easy to swallow smallish sugar coated SJW with the brand name Kira which isn't at all hard to swallow. Quite expensive but can get three for price of two at Boots.

Hi,

Just a quick note. I have been using Relora for over 2 years and have found it very helpful in controlling my anxiety and panic attacks. It has no side effects and doesn't make you sleepy or groogy- I felt horrible on Valium.
I order it online at www.relora.co.uk

Good Luck

Jane

Wow, thank you all so much! I was really feeling like I'm not going to be able to do this but this is loads of things to look into which is fab. I was a bit low yesterday and starting to think I was never going to be able be a mum but now I feel like I should be able to find something that works for me. Thank you!

Thanks jane1967, I just looked at the relora website and have ordered some. I'm very excited about it, had never seen it before, really hope it's going to help - I have anxiety and sleep problems. Did you have to take it continuously for a certain time for it to work, or does it help straight away?

Bananaketchup I really hope that you are able to find something that works, I think it's really tough that you have to be off ADs to adopt, considering how many people are on them! Good luck with everything.

I use Kalms and find them really useful.

Could you take a beta blocker? I take a low dose for anxiety, it helps to stop the physical side of anxiety and makes me feel calmer.

i suffered really badly from anxiety and refused medication from the gp. i can recommend loads of things which worked for me (including diet changes) and i have never looked back! let me know if you want a run down! its long!

PerfectMummy run down please!

Arcadia hello! What is this relora stuff?? I'll read this thread properly later and find out.

I'm still battling the same sort of problems - anxiety and restless sleep (sometimes insomnia) with no help except magnesium OK tablets and omega fish oils which I find are wonderful.

It seems that these sorts of problems are very common.

I hope this helps!

A run down of some changes I made. Maybe worth trying some for yourself. It certainly wasn't an overnight cure but had to become a way of life. I am not as strict with myself now but have continued with most of the changes I made.

Valerian tablets - Helps with Insomnia and nervousness and promotes natural sleep and is a mild sedative.
Magnesuim supplement - natural relaxant
Epson salt baths
No caffine, alcohol or nicotene
No high sugar food. Only slow release such as oat cakes and bananas for breakfast rather than toast and jam. Lots of nuts and seeds. Brazil nuts = good mood food as well as bananas.
Cooked using Food Doctor cook books (amazing)!
Long warm baths b4 bed with epson salts and lavendar oil.
once weekly massage
regular relaxtion CD's - found some great ones on ebay. Always fell asleep before the end.
A SAD lamp in the bedroom for first thing in the morning.
Exercise - loads of swimming and walking
bach flower remedies including rescue.
Argentum nitricum - homeopathic remedy.

Good luck!

Quiet Life are good for taking the edge off anxious moments.

Dr Bach now do a night time Rescue Remedy which is excellent.

Just a quick update to thank you again for your suggestions, I have been having a good look around online at all of the things suggested.

For now I've ordered some Relora and a rescue remedy spray. There was only one homeopath listed in this area and he was pricey so I'm going to have to save up a bit. Am very keen on the teeny pills though!

SJW - I am only taking 1 a day atm, I don't think I could stomach 3! But I'm going out later to buy the sugar coated ones arcadia suggested so then I can up the dose. I'll get some Kalms too I'm sure they sell them in Tesco.

I quite liked the sound of 5HTP but having read that it can cause heart valve disease I was wary. The healthspan catalogue says to take them for 3 months then stop for 1 month too which I'm not sure I'd cope well with.

I'm interested in the Silexan but I couldn't find it to buy - will have to look out for it if/when it gets made I guess. I did find one website saying taking 2 drops of lavender oil was the same dose as the pills in the study but I definitely don't have the stomach for drinking lavender oil!!

Thank you

Perfectmummy has listed things which i found very helpful.

Other things which have been fantastic are

Meditation
Yoga
Books such as "you can heal your life" by Louise Hay and several other books on positive thinking.
CBT
The lightening process (though was very expensive).