Topic Title: Perika / N.Way/ NSI: groggy with Perika ??
| |  "Perika / N.Way/ NSI: groggy with Perika ??"
, Wed 27 Aug 13:15
Hi all,
I was told to be suffering from depression 3 months ago; Not wanting to go on prescription drugs, my travails on the net led me to this site; i read about SJW and also the good reports about Perika.
I have been using Perika for the past two months with positive results (though In my case there were a bunch of things happenning around the same time, so that its difficult to say that SJW is the sole thing responsible for the mood lift, but then life is hardly ever a controlled experiment!!).
Recently, on doctor's advice I have also started taking vitamin/mineral supplements, and also MSM and CoQ10.I am using all Trader Joe's brand for this (any comments on this??).
My Qs were:
1. I do still feel a bit groggy on some days (1-2 days a week); very sleepy. My dosage of perika is two in the morning and 1 at night (or vice versa sometimes). Is it the medicine? or is it just the depression (i remember that in the hey days of my depression i used to be low-energy and groggy most of the days)??
2. consumer Lab (www.consumerlab.com) does an indendent testing of various brands -- some of the brands that pased the test were nature made, naturre's resource, nutrilite .... the complete list is only available to subscribers. If someone on the list is an subscriber, can you tell what other brands passed the test. What about Perika??
3. Vitacost.com also does independent testing of products. they have rated the Nature's Way Standardised Product very highly. In fact the amount of Hyperforin in it is very good and comparable to Perika.... if they have the same quantities of hyperforin and hypericin, then does it make sense to pay more for Perika? But perika comes from a german lab -- perhpas that gives me more confidence in the brand and perhpas I woudl pay more for that confidence.
4. NSI (available at Vitacost.com) has this new product NutraLift, which seems like a wonderful combination of required ingredients -- 'convenience in a bottle' -- and considering the price at $50 for a month, its not too much if we add the prices of Perika, multivitamin, multimineral, CoQ10, Ginkgo etc etc separately.?? Does anyone know anything about this product??
any comments/views would be most welcome.
Thanks
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Fri 22 Aug 2003 9:51 |
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| | "Re(1):Perika / N.Way/ NSI: groggy with Perika" , Wed 3 Sep 14:36
I get very groggy and fatigued on Perika, but find no relief from my depression. The longest I've been on SJW is for 3 weeks, but I stop because of the side effects (I seem to get even more depressed, so it's hard to eke it out past the other side effects).
I tried Trader Joe's MSM, but for some reason, Vitamin Shoppe brand seems to work better, perhaps because it is powder inside a capsule as opposed to being solid. I just notice my finger nails getting really strong when I'm taking Vitamin Shoppe as opposed to other brands. I'm taking MSM for pain, and hair problems. I've been taking Trader Joe's ginkgo biloba for a few months - I don't know if it's the brand or the herb - it just isn't working for me. I haven't heard anything about the quality of the supplements at Trader Joe's. I know that they are really cheap, though, and that's why I've been trying their brands.
Posts: 20 | | Registered: Thu 3 Apr 2003 5:33 |
| | | "Re(2):Perika / N.Way/ NSI: groggy with Perika" , Mon 15 Sep 09:06
Hi
Thanks for replying to my mail.
Well, i know that groggy feeling well. but sometimes I also wonder if its really side-effects or is it the depression playing tricks with the brain!! .. what is real??
but here's what I am doing ... i have increased my dose to 1200mg of Perika. and i am taking all four capsules with dinner (about 1-2 hours before bed). I am continuing on the vitamin,MSM, and CoQ10.
I can say that you might try CoQ10 (please ensure that it has Q-gel stated on the label) for energy. my Doc says that is really good esp. for people above 30 (which is why he says it might not do me much good- me 25!). Also you said you are taking Ginkgo. I guess that too is helpful only for older age. (i dont really know how old you are and so am writing a general reply)
MSM -- i thought the trader joe's is kind of okay, though i have not tried anything else ( i will try the vitamin shoppe next time, thanks). its similar to the SAMe at least in the joint etc part. but SAMe has strong studies suggesting its use as a anti-depressant. there are some things which suggest that MSM might also help mood, but no definitive studies. but both are methyl groups and MSM is much cheaper.i usually take 1000mg MSM per day. plus both are methyl groups (perhpas they work similarly)
You might try taking SAMe for the mood. the starting dose that i found on many places was 400mg. but it might be pretty expensive. Also on my look around i guess they had mentioned two types(composition) of SAMe which are effective. (try reading on "consumerlab.com" and also on "dr andrew weil's site" ). they had a good rating for NAture Made brand.
I would say 3 weeks might not be enough time for SJW to start. it takes different periods for different people. and though the grogginess at times, SJW has helped me with the mood. i would not say that its a upward journey all the way. i still slide down and have a couple of bad days every two weeks or so, but overall i am improving, there is no doubt in that. there are times when i just feel taht i am fine ( just normal, neither ecstatic, nor down).
I am so still continuing with SJW, 1200mg, plus countering the grogginess, with tea, exercise, etc.
also, you had mentioned about being more depressed with SJW -- wel sometimes i too got that feeling. but over the three months (neglecting the local downs) my overall feeling is that it has helped me. so i would say give it more time, try experimenting with taking the SJW at different times of the day ( or all at night). Youu can also try adding SAMe to it (SAMe also helps with the joints and skin).
For general things like a multi-vitamin, i guess trader joe's etc is fine. but for other supplements i usually check out on www.consumerlab.com
Also I have found a good doctor who deals in alternate medicine also along with prescription drugs. he is also looking into my diet to ensure a balanced level of vitamins, proteins, calories etc.IF you are in Maryland, somewhere near DC, i could suggest his name. else you might try looking for such a doctor in your area.
Finally, my fellow sufferer, defeating depression is about taking control of our own life, by exercise, positive thought, some medicine, and just not letting life get the better of us. we have already made some progress, by finding this community where one can discuss the medicines etc.
// i know this is jumping the boundary, but might i advice seeing a therapist if you are not already seeing one. and I have also felt that in case of a depresion more serious than moderate(which a therapist can diagnose), it might not be a bad idea to give prescription drugs a try ...//
I would be interested in knowing how you are doing.
and once again thanls for taking your time out to write me a reply.
Take care
Ayush
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Fri 22 Aug 2003 9:51 |
| | |  "Re(3):Perika / N.Way/ NSI: groggy with Perika"
, Mon 29 Sep 06:22
FYI
Sometimes batch consistancy produces reduced effects. There is some excellent research in this regard on the following site.
http://www.aphanet.org/JAPhA/julyaug01pdfs/wurglics%20p560_566.pdf
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Mon 29 Sep 2003 6:18 |
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