Has anyone who's bipolar tried Rhodiola Rosea or Holy Basil?

Yeah, that is the thing. This ain't exact science and I wish more professionals were willing to work with that premise, instead of staying on the safe/mainstream side.

The thing is we don't know how psych meds work either. But since it was made in lab, it's science, unlike something that grew up in dirt, right? The thing is some of that stuff was used for millenia, so I would not dismiss that.

So one has to trust themself (and do what works for them), and if they are lucky, their treatment provider (but from what I read around the nets it's not always the case). To a degree it's about attitude towards one's well-being as well as environmental factors.

Experience sadly, aren't transferable.

I actually would like to add I am not on any medication at all. Why? Because every single medication that I have ever taken has made my mental illnesses worse. They have caused severe reactions every time. And I've been on Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Celexa, Seroquel, Haldol, Trazodone, Risperdol, Tegretol, Lithium, Attivan, to name quite a few. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. caused severe worsening of symptoms.

I have been off Lithium and Haldol since the end of December because they were causing me hallucinations, depression, nightmares, weight gain, and suicidal thoughts. In the time I've been off, I have been supplementing with vitamins and amino acids, all of which it has been proven that deficiencies in these nutrients can cause or worsen all of the symptoms of mental illness.

I feel better now than I did on any medication. In fact , I have increased my magnesium the last few days and feel the depression lifting. So yeah, I am going to continue on a natural, healthy path as it is helping me, and stay far away from medications which have proven time and time again to make me feel horrible. But again, I know medications do help some people a lot and I am happy for them that they have relief when they take that route. Just as I feel glad that the route I am on now is starting to help me.

I am going to take from this that nobody has tried either of the herbs I asked about. I don't feel I need them now, but if I consider it again in the future I will probably look elsewhere for advice.

Learningtoaccept,

I'm sorry no one was able to respond who has actually tried these, I'm glad the magnesium is helping with your depression. I have a friend who is also Bipolar who has had good luck with magnesium and vitamin D for her depression.

I am glad you are taking an active stance in your treatment, that can only help. And I am happy that you are finding things that work for you, I hope you continue to feel better, that is what this is all about!

I'm sorry that your thread turned into some kind of boxing match. This should be a place where you are safe to ask for this kind of advice.

But I have a feeling some of the other members here who also choose a natural approach might have some ideas on helpful websites. I would be interested too.

Just know that a lot of us here do want to support you, and do like to hear about your success! I hope you keep on feeling better!

Have you heard of the Icarus Project? It is an alternative/radical mental health community.... they have their forums and there is a place decicated to natural remedies in there. You could try asking there.

http://theicarusproject.net/

Learningtoaccept...I would like to apologize for your experience on this forum in this instance.

As I said in my response, I tried one of these (namely Holy Basil) and didn't have a good experience with it.

You're doing exactly as you should be with the healthy eating to boost your vitamin and mineral intake. It's such a simple thing to do yet it can produce such great results and really make a difference to both your mental and physical wellbeing.

Please don't be put off posting and/or asking for help on the forum because of the poor and potentially rather aggressive responses to this thread. It's the first time I've seen something like it on the forum and its generally a very good place for support.

Keep us posted on how the magnesium and vitamin intake is working for you.
RB <3

I thought this was a place to get support without judgment. It looks as if I was wrong.

The poster was just asking if anyone has tried these things to help with their BP. My nutritional shake that I brought up helps me more than any antidepressant could.

Nutrition does work for some peope, so why all the nasty replies?

I hope the original poster isn't scared away from posting anymore.

Come on folks, try to be supportive. If you don't have anything supportive to say, do not reply.

I'm sorry, too, that my first post was negative toward the previous poster. Please forgive me, as I usually try to stay very positive.

I did try st. John's Wort, but the highest dose did not come close to affecting my severe depressions. Sorry, wish I had better news for you, there.

Yes, it isn't known to be the optimum choice for severe depression. I was in a phase something like cyclothymia during the decade it was working for me.

Saw a doccie that stated Niacin (sp) was quite effective in helping a depressed girl who was catatonic and didn't respond to AD's...

My older brother used it in Spain and sings it's praises too.
But strangely enough here in CT, not many multi-vitamins contain it, a pharmacist was quite confused and perplexed when we pointed it out to him.
Not looking to start a pharma conspiracy theory, but I DO find it strange...

I looked into using niacin and at the strengths recommended, it was ridiculously expensive. Maybe there is a supplier that makes higher strengths more affordably.

Thanks! I have been reading quite a bit about Niacin lately as well. I will probably add some Niacin to my supplements, and I'm also looking into NAC which is an antioxidant that is supposed to be helpful at detoxing the body and balancing moods with long-term use. I think additional vitamin D would help too, since I'm in Canada and always get depressed during fall-spring.

You can buy most supplements in bulk powder form at PureBulk.com. Most come in large amounts of powder so it lasts quite a few months before you need to buy more. You just have to either capsulize it yourself or make drinks with it.

Responding to the original question of ~ "do you have any idea whether these products work/ help?"
Short Response- some do, some don't, much of it depends on YOUR biochemistry and psych, which can vary greatly between individuals. See long response for more complete information.

I've been researching information on this topic for over a decade from the perspective of a biological researcher and an individual with personal family concerns; (almost needless to say) the information and research available on this topic has advanced a lot during that time.
Being of a family that has a history of hypo-mania (with a couple individuals who are bipolar) and a spouse whose family tends to be depressive I have looked into all of the options I have come across that will help alleviate the symptoms, because the two (bipolar (manic-depression) and depression are very different beasts. AND the individuals who deal with these issues are INDIVIDUALS with differing biochemistries.

If you are looking for GOOD information/ research on nature-based drugs, I would suggest checking out information from Europe/Canada or a University in the US like Bastyr. The primary reason for this is that the pharmaceutical companies in the US cannot patent an individual plant/herbal thus keeping others from benefiting financially since it is a natural remedy that has been used for centuries AND they don't like to spend money researching things that they aren't likely to get their money back out of (regardless of how well it works) AND the cost of putting a drug through U.S. FDA approval process is pretty pricey... so it isn't because the herbals don't work, they do... arg! I find I could go on about the history of the development of modern drugs (distracting from the point) so I'll just say "go look it up!" and for a really basic example of natural drugs look up the "history of aspirin".

OK, a few things I've come across to consider (but PLEASE, look this up yourself and take it slowly and under guidance)- Rhodiola, while it can be very helpful to many suffering depression, it can be very dangerous for anyone who is manic-depressive or hypomanic (similar to drugs like Prozac). I know someone bipolar who took Rhodiola several years ago and had a very bad response after a couple weeks and despite the doc saying "Rhodiola is entirely safe, stay on it", went off it because they quit sleeping... and in the last year research has come out showing that can be one of the side effects for a some people; we just don't know ALL of everything about how ANY drug [pharmaceutical or "natural"] can effect ALL individuals. Ashwagahnda seems to help some manic-depressives during "up" times but for individuals who have hyperthyroid issues can increase thyroid levels and cause serious problems and for some can be too sedating (making them feel dull).
The key is to know YOUR biochemistry ; get baseline blood tests and to start with knowing your self. Remember, your baseline, due to your INDIVIDUAL biochemistry, can change due to 1) seasons (light levels, etc.), 2) your stress levels, 3) your nutrition, 4) activity levels, 5) changes according to your age, and 6) many more things... so it is good to realize HOW you are doing compared to what the blood tests report, so as things change you get a better idea of what is actually happening... so you'll kn0ow if something works or not.

Ii is very individual, but you CAN sort it out. Look for good sources of information, make changes slowly ( don't add 3 new things at once!), and know your own biochemistry.

dear learning to accept: I'm newbie enough that there's a wait while moderators screen this message. I googled "Rhodiola and bipolar" and got your post and this site. Lucky me! I ate rodiola last week while depressed first one a day then two with no effect. Today i am hyper and took two just to see... seems to be having an effect but not sure. well... for what that's worth. I have been off meds for 10 years and have tried a billion dietary things being something of a health nut to no avail re depression though i think vitamins helped some. My natural doc took one cap and was up washing dishes at one in the morning. make sure u get calcium w the mag and vitim d. dolamite?=cal/mag.All the best. ps not against meds may reinvestigate same now have medicare

Hi Learningtoaccept... I use to see a naturopathic practitioner who "prescribed" holy basil and L-theanine for me. I didn't disclose my BP, I just explained my symptoms. These herbs were added to my MG, D, B complex, and fish oil that I already took. I feel they were helpful most certainly...however, the depression i experience needed some additional intervention. I survived on the herbs (somewhat) successfully for a few years though. I just wouldn't say they did enough at one point. To be fair, I didn't take very heavy doses of them...I am always very skittish about putting things into my body. My only advice would be to make sure and use a good/pure brand without a bunch of fillers. I used something with the name "Paradise" in it (memory has gone to pot, so i don't remember the entire title). Bye : )