26 replies to this topic

[birthdaysuit]

To put it blunt, I have been under a significant amount of stressing regards to work and school. Staying up all night working at gigs and doing homework has taken a serious toll on my hormonal balance, which has skyrocketed my cortisol levels and decreased my dopamine and serotonin levels. Needless, to say I feel depressed, anxious, dull and spaced out. 

 

I try to meditate often and this only helps to calm my mind, but during work and school stress and anxiety lingers.

 

I have researched various adaptogens and other herbs and I’m wondering which one is great for high stress situations and brain fog.

 

-Rhodiola Rosea 

 

-Holy Basil

 

-Maca

 

-Ashwagandha

 

-Muira puama

 

Any input would greatly be appreciated!

 

 

 

 

 

 

To put it blunt, I have been under a significant amount of stress in regards to work and school. Staying up all night working at gigs has taken a serious toll on my hormone balance which had skyrocketed my cortisol levels and decreased my dopamine and serotonin levels.

Needless to say I felt depressed, anxious, dull and spaced out.

[birthdaysuit]

Sorry about the repeated sentences at the bottom of the post. I posted this questions elsewhere and received no answers, so I’m hoping longecity does a better job. I’m going to work very soon and would love some input!

[Junk Master]

IMO

 

Ashwagandha.

[OneScrewLoose]

Ashwagandha if you are trying to treat stress. Just take note that with adaptogens, using them more than 2-3 times a week, they lose their potency. Find a brand with a good extract.

[Ark]

Try stacking Rhodiola Rosea , Melissa, and Cats claw.

Ashwagandha if you are trying to treat stress. Just take note that with adaptogens, using them more than 2-3 times a week, they lose their potency. Find a brand with a good extract.

I also would stress brand and quality, Jarrows Ashwagandha is a good choice based on their testing.

[OneScrewLoose]

Try stacking Rhodiola Rosea , Melissa, and Cats claw.

Ashwagandha if you are trying to treat stress. Just take note that with adaptogens, using them more than 2-3 times a week, they lose their potency. Find a brand with a good extract.

I also would stress brand and quality, Jarrows Ashwagandha is a good choice based on their testing.

 

From what I've heard, they just switched from Sensoril to something else. Does anybody have any info on the new extract their using?

[birthdaysuit]

Ashwagandha if you are trying to treat stress. Just take note that with adaptogens, using them more than 2-3 times a week, they lose their potency. Find a brand with a good extract.

 

What adaptogen is best for fatigue and social anxiety?

 

So far I have taken a low does of Rhodiola Rosea (200mg 3% Rosavins) which made me agitated and on edge. I was more anxious and could not stop moving. It was really unpleasant.

 

Ashwagandha put me to sleep. Makes me tired, relaxed, calm; almost spaced out but I have zero motivation.

 

Maca definitely increased my libido when I took it in the morning and seemed to make me a little bit motivated. 

 

Holy basil left a sweet taste in my mouth but didn’t seem to do much. Be it I have only taken it for the past few days.

 

Social anxiety is something I have dealt with since I was a child and I’d rather go the natural way rather than take SSRI’s. PLEASE HELP! 

[hamishm00]

Have you tried moderate to high dose Inositol?

 

Also maybe try and Eleuthero and Schizandra together.

[Ark]

Have you tried moderate to high dose Inositol?

Also maybe try and Eleuthero and Schizandra together.

Good suggestion, I'd add these to the list.

Gotukola (Centella asiatica),and Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis)

[Junk Master]

I'm experimenting with Magnolia Bark right now and I'd say it's a no go.

 

High Dose Inositol was hit and miss.  Plus causes some stomach issues at very high doses.  I'd say it would work but the doses have to be so high they become a problem.

[Gerrans]

I have just spent a week at my mother's hospital bedside, at the other end of the country, including two all nighters when she was given hours to live. Knowing I was in for a stressful time, I took rhodiola, magnesium, and ashwagandha with me. The truth is that throughout the week I have never once felt tired or had the headaches other members of my family have mentioned. I have remained lively, sharp (including today after driving the length of the country), and well. My sleep has been restful, whenever I got it. I would be surprised if at least the rhodiolia did not play a part.

 

I have experimented with various "adaptogens" over the past four years (most of which--schizandra, various ginsengs, Boswellia, Ginkgo, etc.--had no effect), and rhodiola ended up as my favourite. Even though I cannot feel its effects tangibly, I remain at my best for long periods, even under stress, while taking it. I take the British brand Viridian's high potency rhodiola. It is not cheap, so I save it for times when it looks like I will have a hard day. Unless it is a coincidence, I believe this stuff keeps coming up trumps.

Edited by Gerrans, 16 June 2015 - 08:28 PM.

[birthdaysuit]

I have just spent a week at my mother's hospital bedside, at the other end of the country, including two all nighters when she was given hours to live. Knowing I was in for a stressful time, I took rhodiola, magnesium, and ashwagandha with me. The truth is that throughout the week I have never once felt tired or had the headaches other members of my family have mentioned. I have remained lively, sharp (including today after driving the length of the country), and well. My sleep has been restful, whenever I got it. I would be surprised if at least the rhodiolia did not play a part.

 

I have experimented with various "adaptogens" over the past four years (most of which--schizandra, various ginsengs, Boswellia, Ginkgo, etc.--had no effect), and rhodiola ended up as my favourite. Even though I cannot feel its effects tangibly, I remain at my best for long periods, even under stress, while taking it. I take the British brand Viridian's high potency rhodiola. It is not cheap, so I save it for times when it looks like I will have a hard day. Unless it is a coincidence, I believe this stuff keeps coming up trumps.

 

Thank you for your input. I’m glad you're doing well.

 

Brand wise, I use Gaia Ashwagandha, Gaia Holy Basil, Navitas Yellow Maca and Perfect Rhodiola Rosea, which is freeze dried and contains a min. of 3% Rosavins.

 

Today, I took some Maca and the Rhodiola in the morning. I felt great and full of energy at noon I took Ashwagandha, which almost put me to sleep.

 

I have not tested these adaptogens in a social environment yet.  

[Ark]

Two more useful suggestion for you, Lemon balm and skull cap.

Edited by Ark, 17 June 2015 - 12:39 AM.

[Ark]

Try stacking Rhodiola Rosea , Melissa, and Cats claw.

Ashwagandha if you are trying to treat stress. Just take note that with adaptogens, using them more than 2-3 times a week, they lose their potency. Find a brand with a good extract.

I also would stress brand and quality, Jarrows Ashwagandha is a good choice based on their testing.

From what I've heard, they just switched from Sensoril to something else. Does anybody have any info on the new extract their using?

Would you recommend Chinese club moss for thread starter. (Kinda controversial)

[ceridwen]

I take plnt Ashwaganda because it doesn't have fillings and is non GMO.
I take plnt Ashwaganda because it doesn't have fillings and is non GMO.

[birthdaysuit]

So I take Rhodiola Rosea in the morning (200mg 3% rosavins) and this seems to make my anxiety worse. I’m more on edge and social interaction is tougher. HOWEVER, I am full of energy!

 

When I take Ashwagandha, I feel fatigued, calm, relaxed, no anxiety and unmotivated. Would mixing these two adaptogens together balance the effects out? 

[Duchykins]

So I take Rhodiola Rosea in the morning (200mg 3% rosavins) and this seems to make my anxiety worse. I’m more on edge and social interaction is tougher. HOWEVER, I am full of energy!

 

When I take Ashwagandha, I feel fatigued, calm, relaxed, no anxiety and unmotivated. Would mixing these two adaptogens together balance the effects out? 

 

No because if those ashwagandha symptoms are caused by excess acetylcholine, adding rhodiola could make you downright miserable since both are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.  Mix that up with rhodiola's norepinephrine effects and that could be one really bad trip.

 

It's usually not a good idea to stack up herbals once you've noticed some negative side effects with each in the stack because this is not quite the same thing as stacking noots, aminos, etc to counter effects of others.  The herbs are insanely more complex compounds with a whole lot more going on than we realize.

[Duchykins]

I think you could give relora a try.  I think it's the only one on the list here that has significant clinical effects so far.

 

But honestly I don't think any of this is going to work if you're not getting proper sleep.  Sleep is the foundation you need to build anything on.

Edited by Duchykins, 18 June 2015 - 04:24 PM.

[Fenix_]

Another vote for ashwagandha. I do not respond well to rhodiola personally. Have not tried those other ones. I take ashwagandha in the morning, along with gotu kola, bacopa, and ginkgo. I know it works really well because I always feel 100% good in the morning, and then the effects wear off towards the end of the day.

[birthdaysuit]

 

 

No because if those ashwagandha symptoms are caused by excess acetylcholine, adding rhodiola could make you downright miserable since both are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.  Mix that up with rhodiola's norepinephrine effects and that could be one really bad trip.

 

It's usually not a good idea to stack up herbals once you've noticed some negative side effects with each in the stack because this is not quite the same thing as stacking noots, aminos, etc to counter effects of others.  The herbs are insanely more complex compounds with a whole lot more going on than we realize.

 

 

 So, acetylcholine plays an active role in memory, reasoning, focus/attention and alertness? Initially, when I took Ashwagandha in supplement form it gave me a sense of calmness and tranquility. Normally, I have racing thoughts so Ashwagandha aided in calming my mind. 

 

 

However, now when I take Ashwagandha, usually a low dose around 2 o'clock I feel lethargic, slow, unmotivated with acute brain fog. I’m a walking zombie who can not focus on even the simplest of tasks. Why would this be? And I did take Rhodiola Rosea and it definitely gave me a boost in mental clarity, but made my anxiety slightly worse.

 

 

I suffer from mild social anxiety, but I feel that it is only getting worse. I try to talk to others, but I just can’t with brain fog. My sleep has been better but I still

 

suffer from brain fog. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, if that’s even a real thing and all of these symptoms started after I had a panic attack while

 

smoking cannabis. 

 

  

[birthdaysuit]

I think you could give relora a try.  I think it's the only one on the list here that has significant clinical effects so far.

 

But honestly I don't think any of this is going to work if you're not getting proper sleep.  Sleep is the foundation you need to build anything on.

 

Magnolia bark extract. Is it good for anxiety? 

 

 

[birthdaysuit]

 "A certain amount of ACh is necessary for normal, optimal brain function. Memory, motivation, higher-order thought processes, sexual desire and activity, and sleep (among other things) depend on ACh. In lower amounts, ACh can act like a stimulant by releasing norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA).  However, those brain chemicals are used up (depleted) in the process; and a deficiency can occur. Too much ACh relative to other brain chemicals such as SE, NE, and DA has an adverse effect on brain function. This is because in larger quantities ACh acts like an inhibitory neurotransmitter, causing increased nervous system inhibition (depression). Important to remember is that, in general, as ACh levels go up in the brain, the levels of the other brain transmitters go down."

 

So how do I decrease my acetycoline levels? 

[birthdaysuit]

 "A certain amount of ACh is necessary for normal, optimal brain function. Memory, motivation, higher-order thought processes, sexual desire and activity, and sleep (among other things) depend on ACh. In lower amounts, ACh can act like a stimulant by releasing norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA).  However, those brain chemicals are used up (depleted) in the process; and a deficiency can occur. Too much ACh relative to other brain chemicals such as SE, NE, and DA has an adverse effect on brain function. This is because in larger quantities ACh acts like an inhibitory neurotransmitter, causing increased nervous system inhibition (depression). Important to remember is that, in general, as ACh levels go up in the brain, the levels of the other brain transmitters go down."

 

So how do I decrease my acetycoline levels? 

Also, I have a prickly rash all over my body as well as inflammation in and around my joints. There is something exacerbating oxidative stress/inflammation, which is making my brain fog worse.

 

Not sure what it is but I’m going to stop taking these adaptogens. I exercise and mediate every other day, I’’m just sick and tired of feeling like I’m on another planet. I’m completely emotionless and spaced out. 

Edited by birthdaysuit, 19 June 2015 - 02:30 PM.

[birthdaysuit]

What Nootropics are the best? Nootropics help with fatigue, focus, memory and reasoning skills all of which have worsened because of my brain fog. It has been suggested to me that having no mental chatter is something many people strive to obtain, a 'peace of mind’. I practiced meditation everyday for almost a year, which cleared almost all of my mental chatter.  But to me, it's not a peace of mind if it's not a choice and not a state you can revert out of.

   

 

[OneScrewLoose]

Would you say your mental chatter as aspects of OCD (without being full-blown OCD)? Take a look at the attached PDF as an option.

Attached Files

•  inositol.pdf   381.65KB   6 downloads

[birthdaysuit]

Would you say your mental chatter as aspects of OCD (without being full-blown OCD)? Take a look at the attached PDF as an option.

 

Yes, my mental chatter was partly due to obsessive compulsive disorder, although it wasn’t severe in the case that it negatively impacted my daily routine.

 

My thoughts can be intrusive, in the way that I overthink social situations to the point where I sometimes experience impending doom. Sometimes I’m not able to move forward because I will dwell on frustration situations for hours. I will read that PDF file, it seems very interesting. 

 

I hear inositol not only helps anxiety and OCD but also psoriasis, which I suffer from!

[OneScrewLoose]

Meditation can also help a lot with that chatter. I recommend starting with this exercise:

 

http://bit.ly/1U6tPLo

It teaches you how to let your thoughts go, and just pass through you.

My dad had psoriasis that cover up to 1/3 of his body. He tried for decades to get rid of it. Recently, he entered a trial for a new medication for psoriasis, and it completely cured him. I'll ask him what it is, but I don't think it's available as a prescription yet.

Before that, my dad had luck with Low-Dose Naltrexone and a gluten-free diet in helping his psoriasis. I didn't cure it like this has, but it certainly helped.