Posted by honeybee on February 19, 2006, at 12:49:54
In reply to Re: How Much Is Too Much? Disclaimer., posted by blueberry on February 18, 2006, at 6:08:29
Blueberry,
This is very helpful, and thoughtful. I've been reading your posts for a long time now, and admire the amount of research and caution that you seem to be putting into your own regimen. Your thoroughness--and that of other posters on this site--is part of what inspired me to give it a go. The people with whom I've discussed going this route have all wanted to warn me to be careful, even while they seem to have a mountain of skepticism suggesting that herbs don't work. (Then why worry that they'll do anything, is my follow up.) You're right about the naturopaths. The rub is that I live in New York City, the land of plenty when it comes to alternative medicine practitioners--but also the land of jacked up price tags. Thus far, I'm finding Naturopaths costing about 250 bucks for a consulation. Since I'm supporting my husband and me on a meagre salary while he's in graduate school, it's been tough for me to justify the expense (so far). But I am going to the local herbal clinic at Pacific College and will talk to my intern and the clinic supervisor about ramping up our efforts. My current blend, Sheng Mai San, includes Schisandra in it, and I can remember the first few days on it I breathed better (I have asthma, too, and their idea is that the depression and heart/lung qi and yin deficiency are ... comorbid, so use a western term) and felt optimistic. The acupuncture seems to work wonders, too, I just wish its effects would "stick" longer...
In the meantime, I'm also going to go the library and pick up a few books to add to my growing pile and educate me in things before I try them. (Thank you University library!) The Psychopharmacology of Herbal Medicine and The Handbook of Psychotropic Herbs are top of my list. Here's to high school bio serving me while I pour through these volumes.
Thank you, again, Blueberry.
hb
poster:honeybee
thread:610599
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060130/msgs/611098.html