I have been experimenting with herbs lately after realizing how problematic many pharmaceuticals are in terms of their long term side effects. I am an ex benzo addict, been off 'em about six years but still had some minor withdrawal related issues.
Yesterday I take 400 mg valerian and wow, it feels like 1.5 mgs of klonopin. I say klonipin because it is long acting and not euphoric or muscle relaxing like valium.
Unfortunately, it seemed to keep me awake (just like kava) rather than put me to sleep which seems to be the main problem I have with herbs. I have not yet found an herb that effectively puts me to sleep. But aside from that it was great. I smoked some weed with it and literally felt like these two plants were made for each other. It removed the tension anxiety from the cannabis high and just helped me to relax and go to a deep, mystical place.
The other amazing thing was, it felt like it healed some of my lasting benzo systems. Ever since coming off benzos I have had this tension in my mind which I just could not get past. I have taken lots of kava but it felt like this one part of my mind just didnt respond to kava and I now realize that is because there are GABA-A receptors and GABA-B. Benzos and valerian hit one, while kava and alcohol hit the other. Kava is closer to alcohol, while valerian is closer to benzos (especially k pins).
Anyway, I felt the valerian working on my brain and releasing all this pent up tension from the benzo withdrawal and today I feel less benzo-fried. So yeah gonna keep experimenting with this, any one have any tips or info?
Also what dosage do you guys use? and does tolerance sky rocket like with benzo?
Yesterday I take 400 mg valerian and wow, it feels like 1.5 mgs of klonopin. I say klonipin because it is long acting and not euphoric or muscle relaxing like valium.
Unfortunately, it seemed to keep me awake (just like kava) rather than put me to sleep which seems to be the main problem I have with herbs. I have not yet found an herb that effectively puts me to sleep. But aside from that it was great. I smoked some weed with it and literally felt like these two plants were made for each other. It removed the tension anxiety from the cannabis high and just helped me to relax and go to a deep, mystical place.
The other amazing thing was, it felt like it healed some of my lasting benzo systems. Ever since coming off benzos I have had this tension in my mind which I just could not get past. I have taken lots of kava but it felt like this one part of my mind just didnt respond to kava and I now realize that is because there are GABA-A receptors and GABA-B. Benzos and valerian hit one, while kava and alcohol hit the other. Kava is closer to alcohol, while valerian is closer to benzos (especially k pins).
Anyway, I felt the valerian working on my brain and releasing all this pent up tension from the benzo withdrawal and today I feel less benzo-fried. So yeah gonna keep experimenting with this, any one have any tips or info?
Also what dosage do you guys use? and does tolerance sky rocket like with benzo?