Re: Relora plus question re. aches and painsand update

[Guest guest]

Dear Sally,

You said:

<<Hello - just wondered if anyone has heard / has view on the anxiety herbal

remedy relora? Its been promoted quite heavily in UK at the moment as a

replacement for kava kava. Also would be interested in views on whether

stopping SSRI's but then going onto herbs like this is just really avoiding

the challenge of 'going it alone'. >>

** The ingredients in Relora are Phellodendron amurense and Magnolia

officinalis. The latter could have some anti-anxiety effects but I would

not recommend the former unless it was being prescribed specifically by an

herbalist who was going to be seeing you regularly. This herb should not be

taken by people with irregular heartbeats (most people who have taken

antidepressants). You also don't want to take it in conjunction with

psychotropic drugs.

You said:

<<Also (sorry) Ive got a cold at the moment but alongside it have very

severe pain in my neck/shoulders and head. Nothing like the usual aches and

pains i get with a cold. Could these be withdrawal linked. >>

** Yes, they could and more than likely are. Benadryl may help.

You said:

<<(Just a quick update for catherine - im down to 4mg prozac plus 1

1/2mg valium daily. Seem to be very affected by mood based PMS at the

moment so thats something Im going to try and tackle with diet/supplements.

I never had PMS before having my children- but I read recently that women

who get PND are more likely to be affected by PMS and that women are more

likely to get affected as they get older anyway.)>>

** What you're experiencing has more to do with having taken an SSRI than

it has to do with anything else. The SSRI has altered serotonin metabolism

in your body. Here is what happens:

A menstrual cycle has two phases: luteal and follicular. The luteal cycle

begins after ovulation and lasts about two weeks. During this time, the

ovaries increase production of both estrogen and progesterone. The hormones

prepare the lining of the uterus for implantation with a fertilized egg.

If the egg isn't fertilized, the ovaries stop producing estrogen and

progesterone. That, in turn, causes menstruation, or the shedding of the

blood and tissue that line the uterus. With that, another cycle begins

(called the follicular phase)

So, at the time of ovulation, estrogen and progesterone are at their

highest. Estrogen levels affect serotonin levels by raising serotonin.

When the egg isn't fertilized, estrogen and progesterone levels drop quickly

with this drop in estrogen causing serotonin to drop quickly. This happens

until one menstruates.

The high levels of estrogen, progesterone, and serotonin during the

fertile phase is usually a time women feel quite well. The period of time

after that, as these hormones drop, can be challenging for many women. For

those who have taken antidepressants this becomes a real challenge as they

metabolize less serotonin than normal anyway due to the changes in serotonin

transport and metabolism caused by taking an antidepressant. This would

bring serotonin levels down quite low.

(Also to be considered is the intimate connection between serotonin and

blood sugar. Higher levels of estrogen also make cells more receptive to

insulin.) This is why people crave carbs after they ovulate and begin

heading toward menstruation..

The key to this is raising serotonin gently through things like chamomile

tea,

and increased exercise. If you took a good vitamin supplement you would

also be getting B6 which can assist in raising serotonin levels. Some people

find B6 taken alonr of with only other B vitamins to be too stimulating. It

and other B vitamins are most easily tolerated in a formula that has all the

other needed nutrients (full spectrum formula).

Regards,

[Guest guest]

- thanks so much for all this info.

Particularly re. the PMT.

I think I mentioned to you before that Ive started a good quality

full spectrum multi vit and min so hopefully this will help in the

long term. Ive got chamomile tea and am going to make a real effort

with the exercise.

Thanks again

Sallyx

> Dear Sally,

>

>

> You said:

>

> <<Hello - just wondered if anyone has heard / has view on the

anxiety herbal

> remedy relora? Its been promoted quite heavily in UK at the moment

as a

> replacement for kava kava. Also would be interested in views on

whether

> stopping SSRI's but then going onto herbs like this is just really

avoiding

> the challenge of 'going it alone'. >>

>

>

> ** The ingredients in Relora are Phellodendron amurense and

Magnolia

> officinalis. The latter could have some anti-anxiety effects but I

would

> not recommend the former unless it was being prescribed

specifically by an

> herbalist who was going to be seeing you regularly. This herb

should not be

> taken by people with irregular heartbeats (most people who have

taken

> antidepressants). You also don't want to take it in conjunction

with

> psychotropic drugs.

>

> You said:

>

>

> <<Also (sorry) Ive got a cold at the moment but alongside it have

very

> severe pain in my neck/shoulders and head. Nothing like the usual

aches and

> pains i get with a cold. Could these be withdrawal linked. >>

>

>

>

> ** Yes, they could and more than likely are. Benadryl may help.

>

>

> You said:

>

> <<(Just a quick update for catherine - im down to 4mg prozac plus 1

> 1/2mg valium daily. Seem to be very affected by mood based PMS at

the

> moment so thats something Im going to try and tackle with

diet/supplements.

> I never had PMS before having my children- but I read recently that

women

> who get PND are more likely to be affected by PMS and that women

are more

> likely to get affected as they get older anyway.)>>

>

>

> ** What you're experiencing has more to do with having taken an

SSRI than

> it has to do with anything else. The SSRI has altered serotonin

metabolism

> in your body. Here is what happens:

>

> A menstrual cycle has two phases: luteal and follicular. The

luteal cycle

> begins after ovulation and lasts about two weeks. During this time,

the

> ovaries increase production of both estrogen and progesterone. The

hormones

> prepare the lining of the uterus for implantation with a fertilized

egg.

>

>

> If the egg isn't fertilized, the ovaries stop producing estrogen and

> progesterone. That, in turn, causes menstruation, or the shedding

of the

> blood and tissue that line the uterus. With that, another cycle

begins

> (called the follicular phase)

>

>

> So, at the time of ovulation, estrogen and progesterone are at

their

> highest. Estrogen levels affect serotonin levels by raising

serotonin.

> When the egg isn't fertilized, estrogen and progesterone levels

drop quickly

> with this drop in estrogen causing serotonin to drop quickly. This

happens

> until one menstruates.

>

>

> The high levels of estrogen, progesterone, and serotonin

during the

> fertile phase is usually a time women feel quite well. The period

of time

> after that, as these hormones drop, can be challenging for many

women. For

> those who have taken antidepressants this becomes a real challenge

as they

> metabolize less serotonin than normal anyway due to the changes in

serotonin

> transport and metabolism caused by taking an antidepressant. This

would

> bring serotonin levels down quite low.

>

>

> (Also to be considered is the intimate connection between

serotonin and

> blood sugar. Higher levels of estrogen also make cells more

receptive to

> insulin.) This is why people crave carbs after they ovulate and

begin

> heading toward menstruation..

>

>

> The key to this is raising serotonin gently through things like

chamomile

> tea,

> and increased exercise. If you took a good vitamin supplement

you would

> also be getting B6 which can assist in raising serotonin levels.

Some people

> find B6 taken alonr of with only other B vitamins to be too

stimulating. It

> and other B vitamins are most easily tolerated in a formula that

has all the

> other needed nutrients (full spectrum formula).

>

> Regards,

>