11 replies to this topic

[spacey]

Long time ago since I touched noots, but school has started and doing my last year in the gymnasium sure is stressful. Now with the stress obviously comes the fatigue, and I definitely need to perform. So my question is, what are the best noots(I'm thinking, maybe adaptogens?) to combat this stress-induced fatigue of mine, and provide more mental performance.

[mystery]

Long time ago since I touched noots, but school has started and doing my last year in the gymnasium sure is stressful. Now with the stress obviously comes the fatigue, and I definitely need to perform. So my question is, what are the best noots(I'm thinking, maybe adaptogens?) to combat this stress-induced fatigue of mine, and provide more mental performance.

The adaptogens would be a great place to start. I've tried a dozen or so herbs regarded as adaptogens in various forms. I never got a very desirable sustainable response, but I was probably using the wrong dose as I'm hypersensitive to them. It's important to try different doses. Also, add a multivitamin/multimineral and a few antioxidant and energy supplements once you've found some herbs that work well.

In my opinion, using dried plant material to make an infusion (tea) is far superior to taking herbal supplements in pill form. Tinctures are ok, but generally not as good as the raw plant material in a tea (though this depends). If using raw plant material, make sure and get powders if the root is used, as making an infusion from whole roots takes forever.

Some adaptogens to try:
Siberian Ginseng (elutherococcus senticosus)
American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolium)
Indian Ginseing (Withania somniferia)
Rhodiola Rosea: Can be quite stimulating
Asian Ginseng (Panax Ginseng): Be careful as this one is very stimulating
Schisandra
Bacopa Monnieri: Probably more helpful for cognition

Supplements:
Acetyl L Carnitine: Smooth energy supplement
Alpha Lipoic Acid: Aparently can cause bad side effects in some
Maybe extra Vitamin C &/or B vitamins

[mystery]

BTW, it wouldn't hurt to try some of the racetams. These may not help so much with fatigue, but certainly with mental performance once you deal with the fatigue.

Edited by mystery, 16 September 2008 - 12:53 AM.

[ajnast4r]

clinically tested:

http://www.proactive...hp?id_product=6
http://www.shi.se/prod_chisan.htm


just ordered 2 boxes for my cross country drive!

Edited by ajnast4r, 16 September 2008 - 12:52 AM.

[graatch]

DHEA

[hamishm00]

Yeah Bacopa and Rhodiola from personal experience. Also make sure you've got all your other bases covered for things that could cause fatigue, such as candida, proper sleep etc.

Modafinil might help with the fatigue.

[spacey]

Long time ago since I touched noots, but school has started and doing my last year in the gymnasium sure is stressful. Now with the stress obviously comes the fatigue, and I definitely need to perform. So my question is, what are the best noots(I'm thinking, maybe adaptogens?) to combat this stress-induced fatigue of mine, and provide more mental performance.

The adaptogens would be a great place to start. I've tried a dozen or so herbs regarded as adaptogens in various forms. I never got a very desirable sustainable response, but I was probably using the wrong dose as I'm hypersensitive to them. It's important to try different doses. Also, add a multivitamin/multimineral and a few antioxidant and energy supplements once you've found some herbs that work well.

In my opinion, using dried plant material to make an infusion (tea) is far superior to taking herbal supplements in pill form. Tinctures are ok, but generally not as good as the raw plant material in a tea (though this depends). If using raw plant material, make sure and get powders if the root is used, as making an infusion from whole roots takes forever.

Some adaptogens to try:
Siberian Ginseng (elutherococcus senticosus)
American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolium)
Indian Ginseing (Withania somniferia)
Rhodiola Rosea: Can be quite stimulating
Asian Ginseng (Panax Ginseng): Be careful as this one is very stimulating
Schisandra
Bacopa Monnieri: Probably more helpful for cognition

Supplements:
Acetyl L Carnitine: Smooth energy supplement
Alpha Lipoic Acid: Aparently can cause bad side effects in some
Maybe extra Vitamin C &/or B vitamins

That's a good list, so what I'm considering right now is Rhodiola, ALCAR + ALA, Vitamin B Complex, Oxiracetam + Aniracetam, and then one Ginseng. So my question is which ginseng is most optimal in terms of anti-fatigue effects?

[mystery]

That's a good list, so what I'm considering right now is Rhodiola, ALCAR + ALA, Vitamin B Complex, Oxiracetam + Aniracetam, and then one Ginseng. So my question is which ginseng is most optimal in terms of anti-fatigue effects?

I would start with the Siberian Ginseng.

[Zoroaster]

That's a good list, so what I'm considering right now is Rhodiola, ALCAR + ALA, Vitamin B Complex, Oxiracetam + Aniracetam, and then one Ginseng. So my question is which ginseng is most optimal in terms of anti-fatigue effects?

I would start with the Siberian Ginseng.

Bad call. You picked the only kind of ginseng that isn't actually ginseng. Its just another herb that's been named ginseng because the first few people that used it thought it was similar. But its not. Totally different active ingredient. In fact, its illegal to sell "Siberian Ginseng" under that name in the United States. The "Siberian Ginseng" root may still be a good product for you (its called Eleutherococcus or Eleuthero) but its more of a stress relaxant and less of an energizing herb. You should use either panax ginseng or american ginseng if you want energy. They are essentially the same in their concentration of ginsenosides. 1 gram is a decent dose, 1-2 times per day. But ginseng's effects are mild, even in large doses, so don't expect a lot. But it does work.

[mystery]

That's a good list, so what I'm considering right now is Rhodiola, ALCAR + ALA, Vitamin B Complex, Oxiracetam + Aniracetam, and then one Ginseng. So my question is which ginseng is most optimal in terms of anti-fatigue effects?

I would start with the Siberian Ginseng.

Bad call. You picked the only kind of ginseng that isn't actually ginseng. Its just another herb that's been named ginseng because the first few people that used it thought it was similar. But its not. Totally different active ingredient. In fact, its illegal to sell "Siberian Ginseng" under that name in the United States. The "Siberian Ginseng" root may still be a good product for you (its called Eleutherococcus or Eleuthero) but its more of a stress relaxant and less of an energizing herb. You should use either panax ginseng or american ginseng if you want energy. They are essentially the same in their concentration of ginsenosides. 1 gram is a decent dose, 1-2 times per day. But ginseng's effects are mild, even in large doses, so don't expect a lot. But it does work.

I was just trying to address the subject of this thread: "Combating Stress-induced fatigue" in recommending Sibering "ginseng." You are right in that it is not a ginseng, that is just a name for it.

I found that I liked eluthero the most for fatigue & stress. I found, that I really don't like to be too energized, especially not on panax ginseng (asian ginseng) when dealing with a lot of stress & fatigue. American ginseng and Asian ginseng are very different in effect BTW, even though they may contain some of the same constitutents.

You may get good results experimenting with different routes of administration. I got a different effect from taking eluthero tea, vs. taking capsules (that just contained raw plant material). I would start with taking the raw plant material either in capsules, or in some water (but not in a tea) first, as I found that to work the best for stress, and give me a sort of "cool" energizing effect, and reduce stress.

Zeroaster, what is your experience with the various ginsengs, and pseudo ginsengs?

Edited by mystery, 18 September 2008 - 12:46 AM.

[hamishm00]

I tried Manchurian Ginseng, but did nothing for me.

[spacey]

Well right now I'm thinking, that I'll start with AOR Ortho-Mind which already containts, R-ALA, ALCAR, Ginkgo, Bacopa and some other stuff. Then maybe if I need more energy and performance than that, I'll throw in rhodiola and panax ginseng.