• H&R Moderators: VerbalTruist

What is your current supplement regimen and why you use them

I don't take any supplements at all. Although sometimes I make herbal capsules from turmeric, tinospora, fenugreek, and some other herbs. I probably should be taking supplements because I'm vegan, but my diet is a pretty varied selection of fruit and veggies, so I don't really bother.

When I have to start working in an office, I usually start taking supplements, because I don't get quality food, or sometimes don't eat all that regularly.
 
I take a high quality multi every other day, because the chromium it contains gives me a headache if I take it every day.

Gotu Kola (500 mg) when needed. Excellent for headaches, relaxation, sleep and meditation.

Herbal Immune Support (Echinacea, Black Elderberry and Olive Leaf extract, and Myrrh) when sick. This is the only 'medicine' I take. It get's me going in a few days, even if I'm 'dying'. I also take this when I'm low on energy - Myrrh get's me going better than any Ginseng or Astragalus does.
 
I haven't had much luck with supplements because I haven't found any that worked for me, apart from magesium which can be relaxing when I take around 400mg of Magnesium carbonate at a time. I'm planning to try Maca and a low dose of DHEA because I've heard that they can increase energy levels. But I have to admit that even here, i am wary, especially of the DHEA because I have read that it could do longterm damage. I used to take mega doses of vitamins but it bothered me and probably put a strain on my liver/kidneys so i stopped. i also developed terrible skin rashes. I'm open minded but it can get very expensive...it's probably not strictly necessary if you eat a balanced diet.
 
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I take the following supplements regularly:
ginseng complex (energy enhancement w/ out stimulation)
ginger root extract (for its anti nausea properties)
generic multivitamin (for my heath in general)
ginkgo biloba (to increase blood flow in my brain)
melatonin and valerian (for sleep)
Tums (for calcium)
5-htp occasionally (to increase serotonin levels)
milk thistle occasionally (for my liver)

I will be taking the following supplements to help me during opiate withdrawal in a week or so:
10x standardized kratom extract (stimulates delta opiate receptors but not mu receptors as much, works as a great herbal opiate addiction treatment drug)
kava root powder (for anxiety)
passion flower (for depression/anxiety)
 
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I take the following on a daily basis:

Multivitamin and mineral
Vitamin B-complex
Zinc
500 mg vitamin C (in addition to the 60mg in the multivit.)
Probiotics

I also took Burdock capsules until recently.

Occationaly I also take ginger, additional vitamin C, garlic and different
herbal teas, such as licorice, fennel, nettle ++
 
I take 3 herbs as recomended by my Ayurvedic practitioner/yoga teacher.

Chyawanprash-Mixture of Amla( Indian Gooseberry) the worlds richest source of vitamin C , as well as 43 other herbs.Used in India for countless ages to enhance digestion and promote longevity. It is a superb antioxidant . The primary action of Chyawanaprash is to increase resistance to infectious diseases, to build haemoglobin and white blood cells. It is especially good for the lungs as it nourishes the mucous membranes and helps to clear phlegm
Triphala-Cleanses, detoxifies and tonifies internal organs.improves digestion,
reduces serum cholesterol,
improves circulation (potentiates adrenergic function),
contains 31% linoleic acid,
exerts a marked cardio-protective effect,
reduces high blood pressure,
improves liver function,
has proven anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties,
expectorant, hypotensive.


Ashwagandha -adaptogen,Research shows ashwagandha is a promising alternative for cancer treatment and prevention .Ashwagandha seems to show positive effects on the endocrine, cardio, and central nervous systems. It is one herb that can help your body produce it's own thyroid hormones.also known as indian ginseng, but unlike its chinese cousin is not a stimulant.

Those are the 3 I take daily, on less frequent occasions i will also take Neem powder.
 
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^ Whenever I see the words, "cleanses, detoxifies, or tonifies" alarms go off in my head. Those claims might be based on junk science.

Chyawanprash and ashwagandha sound interesting to me (assuming they are reasonably priced).
 
I've been taking multi vitamins along with melatonin and valerian root capsules. Only because I am insomniac and the valerian root kinda helps with the nicotine cravings by calming me down a little.
 
I have started to see a naturapath - if you have never been to one before, i highly reccommend it

*EPA/DHA fish oil tablets 1000mg- 6 daily

*Tresos B (antioxidant,multi-vit,minreal and amino acid) - 2 daily

*Liquid herbs- 15mls per day

*PPMP (potasium phosphate,magnesium phosphate) - 4 daily

*Cartin - 20mls daily

*Liquid zinc - 2mls daily
 
Have I answered this before? I can't be bothered checking.

I take a high-potency B-vitamin supplement every day - I have to, our family has chronic B deficiency which results in sores in the corners of our mouths, it's a genetic thing. I also take Vit C daily, just because... well, it's a good one to have :)

Apart from that, I occasionally use:

* Fish oil - fantastic all-round supplement for EVERYTHING from brain health to joint health to ... well, it's just fabulous for everything.
* Gingko biloba and ginseng - when I'm feeling tired and run down
* Echinacea - when I feel a cold coming on
* Valerian - when I can't sleep
* Milk thistle - for before and after those BIG nights out ;) great for the liver.
 
^^^^Milk Thistle is awesome...I take this preparation that contains 125 mgs of pure Milk Thistle (extracted from the seeds of Silybum Mariarum) with Lecithin and Beeswax.
 
s0nic said:
^ Whenever I see the words, "cleanses, detoxifies, or tonifies" alarms go off in my head. Those claims might be based on junk science.

Chyawanprash and ashwagandha sound interesting to me (assuming they are reasonably priced).


I basically only trust those big 3 words in the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine or anything Ayurvedic. I do agree with the "alarms" that go off in my head when I see it in your run-of-the-mill homeopathic cure all =D
 
Coming from a pharmacetical background, it's funny how you can get around TGA and CHC laws to advertise something ;)

"Cleanse" "detoxify" "tone" "soothe" "general wellbeing" "rejuvinate" etc. are general claims which don't have to be verified in Australia. If the supplement you're buying states any of these, you can be certain they're saying that because they CAN, not necessarily because it's the truth.

(it MAY be the truth for some, but many just use these words because they're innocuous and don't need studies to back them)

"High level" claims are something else entirely. I could go into a whole list of what you're not allowed to say about a supplement, unless you have double-blind clinical trials to prove it.

I wonder what the laws in the US are about this? Ours are very, very strict.
 
Having IBD of one sort or the other has made me a very healthy eater as it keeps me from getting symptoms. So I don't really eat anything processed including takeaway etc. I also supplement with the following:

- Calcium complex tablets: 1 x daily, to help with my bones that got thin when I was taking corticosteroids for my condition.

- Tresos B Multivitamin: 1 x daily. Alot of people in the health field would have heard of these. They are full of goodness, one of the best multivitamins you can take but are a bit on the expensive side.

- Vitamin D - 2 - times a week, to help absorb the calcium.

- L-Tryptophan: 100mg a day. Definently helps me stay positive and keeps away depression. I used to use 5-HTP but it didn't agree with my gut and I prefer to take this anyhow as you're body regulates the synthesis into serotonin. I take quite a bit more after I take ecstasy, and it helps with the comedown.

- Vitamin C: Approx. 800 - 1000mg daily at night before bed. Good radical scavenges and works about 300 processes in the body, its super good stuff. The one I take is in mineral absorbate form with bioflavinoids to help absorbtion.

- L-Glutmamine: 3 teaspoons before bed in isolation of protein containing foods. This stuff is FANTASTIC for IBD and I highly recommend it. It makes up a good proportion of the bowel wall, so it helps heal the damage.

- Alpha Lipoic Acid complex: 100mg a day. Free radical scavenger, good for people with cronic inflammatory conditions as it mops up the radicals these conditions can produce. Also works well after consumption of ecstasy to reduce the general shit feeling.
 
^ is that irritible bowel (syndrome) disorder?

anyway my question is has anyone stopped a pretty heavy supplement regimen and felt shitty? i started taking acetyl-l-carntinine, alpha lipoic acid, choline, aniracetam, omegabrite fish oil, and magnesium/calcium, and i am considering adding DMAE bc it has been suggested to me on this board. anyway, i am very happy with the results so far, but i am worried about what will happen if i stop them, like i worry about starting/stopping psychiatric medication.
 
^ of those that you mentioned (I've done all pretty much at the same time as well), only aniracetam will give you a noticeable buzz, and then leave you a little irritable the next few days after stopping. Nothing that a cup of coffee won't cure though.
 
Most days I only take:
Vitamin C 500 mg-1 gram
Vitamin B-Complex
EFA Complex
CLA
Whey, of course
Valerian for sleep
Ginseng and Ginkgo when I want a real lift
Kre-Alkalyn pre-workout (sometimes with my carnitine mix, and some p-cetam/choline thrown in for mental strength :))
 
Vitamin C - a little bit everyday - I think it's healthy
Spirulina - contains high amount of protein/vitamin/minerals
Glucosamine - good for knees/elbows/wrists


^ if you don't eat meat you gotta eat pills
 
Fish Oil has been recommended to me before and I was taking it for awhile, do those of you who use Fish Oil find it effective?

2000mg daily seems to be the way to go.
 
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