Ayurvedic herbs for the nervous system

[Guest guest]

Hi everybody,

 

First of all, let me introduct myself. I am 18/m. I am very

interested in Ayurvedic herbs for the nervous system, mental health

and intellect.

 

I have a couple questions for any Ayurvedic doctors here:

 

(1) I am interested in a product called Mentat or Mind Care by

Himalaya Health Care. Is anyone famililar with this product? I am

interested in using it for control of bipolar (manic-depression)

symptoms. I was also considering introducing it to an alternative

mental health group for it's use in schizophrenia.

 

Here is the description:

 

Mentat improves mental functions by a modulation of the cholinergic

and GABAergic neurotransmission. By restoring the frontal cortical

muscarinic and cholinergic receptor activities, Mentat improves the

mental quotient, memory span, concentration ability and stress

threshold. Mentat helps reduce the level of tribulin, an endogenous

Mono Amine Oxidase inhibitor, that is elevated in various levels of

anxiety. Mentat also ameliorates attention fluctuations and

behavioral disorders. Mentat exhibits significant anti-parkinsonian

activity by enhancing the dopamine post-synaptic receptor activity.

The sedative and tranquilizing effects of Mentat offer protection

against convulsions and are beneficial in insomnia. Mentat improves

articulation and corrects speech defects.

 

http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/products/mentat.htm

 

I am concerned with this statement:

"...enhancing the dopamine post-synaptic receptor activity..."

 

I know that schizophrenics have dopaminergic excess or dysfunction,

and that bipolars are super-sensitive to dopamine as well.

[Guest guest]

Dear Dreamlife,

 

What are the ingredients?

 

GK

[Guest guest]

The ingredient composition is online here:

http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/products/mentat.htm

[Guest guest]

Dear dreamlife789

 

No personal experience with "Mentat". However, I will

report a limited experience with some ingredients

given by the manufacturer of Mentat. For instance, a

combination of Brahmi, Jatamansi, Shankhpushpi,

Aswagandha, Yeshtimadhu and Vaj (Vekhand) has been

used as nervine tonic for two Schizophrenics. On the

other hand, a mixture of Ashvagandha (Withania

somnifera)

Kapikachchhu (Mucuna pruriens) in ratio 1:3 by weight,

in addition, has been used on Parkinson patient with

satisfactory success. Mucuna prurien seeds are well

known source of natural dopamine. Since you are

looking for enhancing the dopamine post-synaptic

receptor activity, later mixture may be adequate and

will have focussed approach. This mixture can be

started 2 gm three times a day and gradually increased

to 4 gm each dose over a month(adult dose). Exact

quantity suitable for each person needs to be decided

by state of each. The mixture causes a little

vomitting, uneasiness for a week, but then patient

stabilizes and enjoys the dosage. The parkinson

patient was running under severe depression as well.

It vanished slowly with the above herbs. It needs to

be noted that he used Tibetan Pranayama and meditation

as additional healing techniques. What contributed to

cure by what percentage does not matter. One should

maximise his efforts to bow before mother nature.

 

Please share your experience on schizophrenics,

whenevr they accumulate, with our group.

 

Regards

Dr. Bhate

[Guest guest]

Mucuna looks dangerous because schizophrenics have an excess of

dopamine.

 

I've narrowed it down to Amla (lots and lots), Pure Radiance C from

Synergy Company (lots and lots), Bacopa, Aswagandha, fish oil, krill

oil, coconut oil, Flavay, and especially Gotu Kola. If there are any

doctors on the list that work with schizophrenics, I can write up the

regimen and put sources to the ingredients for purchase. It really

does make a difference b/w brands, for quality and potency.

 

-Taylor

[Guest guest]

>

> Message: 3

> Wed, 14 Jan 2004 23:24:33 -0000

> "dreamlife789" <dreamlife789

> Re: Ayurvedic herbs for the nervous system

>

> Mucuna looks dangerous because schizophrenics have an excess of

> dopamine.

>

> I've narrowed it down to Amla (lots and lots), Pure Radiance C from

> Synergy Company (lots and lots), Bacopa, Aswagandha, fish oil, krill

> oil, coconut oil, Flavay, and especially Gotu Kola. If there are any

> doctors on the list that work with schizophrenics, I can write up the

> regimen and put sources to the ingredients for purchase. It really

> does make a difference b/w brands, for quality and potency.

>

> -Taylor

 

Hi Taylor

 

are your recommendations based on personal clinical experience? I only

ask because I have found schizophrenia particularly difficult to

"treat," especially without involving the patient to take considerable

responsibility for their condition. And I am very familiar with all

the herbs and supplements you mention. Interestingly, some forms of

schizophrenia (i.e. those not related to nutritional deficiencies or

drugs) can now be classified in the DSM IV as "spiritual emergence"

syndrome, which hopefully should revolutionize how medicine sees this

condition. There is plenty of room here for Ayurvedists to view

schizophrenia in this context, rather than a condition we should throw

a bunch of herbs or supplements at.

[Guest guest]

I don't base it on my own clinical experience, I'm not a

practitioner. However, by induction and deduction, the experiences

of others, and research, I've come to this regimen.

 

 

ayurveda, Todd Caldecott <phyto@w...>

wrote:

> >

> > Message: 3

> > Wed, 14 Jan 2004 23:24:33 -0000

> > "dreamlife789" <dreamlife789>

> > Re: Ayurvedic herbs for the nervous system

> >

> > Mucuna looks dangerous because schizophrenics have an excess of

> > dopamine.

> >

> > I've narrowed it down to Amla (lots and lots), Pure Radiance C

from

> > Synergy Company (lots and lots), Bacopa, Aswagandha, fish oil,

krill

> > oil, coconut oil, Flavay, and especially Gotu Kola. If there are

any

> > doctors on the list that work with schizophrenics, I can write up

the

> > regimen and put sources to the ingredients for purchase. It

really

> > does make a difference b/w brands, for quality and potency.

> >

> > -Taylor

>

> Hi Taylor

>

> are your recommendations based on personal clinical experience? I

only

> ask because I have found schizophrenia particularly difficult to

> "treat," especially without involving the patient to take

considerable

> responsibility for their condition. And I am very familiar with

all

> the herbs and supplements you mention. Interestingly, some forms

of

> schizophrenia (i.e. those not related to nutritional deficiencies

or

> drugs) can now be classified in the DSM IV as "spiritual emergence"

> syndrome, which hopefully should revolutionize how medicine sees

this

> condition. There is plenty of room here for Ayurvedists to view

> schizophrenia in this context, rather than a condition we should

throw

> a bunch of herbs or supplements at.