Need help with possible side effects of herbs being taken.

[Guest guest]

I have done lots of research online and find a lot of conflicting

information on some of the herbs I'm taking. I have been taking

470mg of Valerian per day for almost 6 months now. I also have been

taking 225mg per day of chaste berry extract for almost 3 months. I

have also been taking 120mg of Ginkgo Biloba a day for almost 3

months. I also take a multi-vitamin, amino acid, multi-B, calcium

and E. Some of my prescriptions are a hydrochlorthiazide, cenestin,

fexofenadine, and protonix.

I have been having problems with insomnia for a couple of years but

very bad the last 9 months or so. I am having what I would call

very severe memory lapses. I can't speak half the time because I

can't think of the word I want to use. I can't think of people's

names that I talk to everyday and/or have known for years. I have no

short term memory. Also I'm gaining weight like crazy and can't seem

to get it off even with diet and exercise. I am extremely hot all

the time, other people are complaining it is freezing and I have my

fan on my and still hot. I also am having gastro intestinal

problems. It seems like everything I eat goes right through me.

Now that you know all about me, here's my question. I'm hoping with

the vast knowledge of this group someone can help me identify the

culprit that may be causing this. I just want to add one more thing.

I have had so many tests run, my thyroid is fine but I am post

menopause. Do any of these herbs have any side effects that may

cause the insomnia, memory problems and/or gastrointestinal

problems?

I would love some thoughts you have on what might be causing this.

Thanks again.

[Guest guest]

I do know that I have been drinking 1 to 2 cups of valerian tea daily - not sure how that relates to mg's...but often I use 2 tea bags (or 3 if I am making a super size mug) if it is store bought, or about a bit under 1 tsp if I make my own...I drink it every night, though in conjunction with other herbs, as a tea and I have been for about 6 to 8 months now to help me sleep...I used to drink quite a lot more, and had a hard time sleeping w/o it..I was once diagnosed with possible mania, and the racing mind at night kept me up...but I digress...Yes, I take enough valerian nightly, along w/ chamomile, skullcap, passionflower..and more...but enough to actually calm myself & my mind...and I personally, have not noticed any changes at all (other than helping me sleep), especially not anything like you mention below...but I know nothing of the chaste berry and ginko biloba as I do not take either, nor am I on any other meds...but everything I have read has said that continous use of valerian (while still taking it) causes little or no side effects..coming off of it can supposedly cause some...but I would have to relook at it...

 

 

so there is my 2 cents...maybe it helps, maybe not...

 

Georgia

On 6/23/06, Nancy <nll2000 wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have done lots of research online and find a lot of conflicting information on some of the herbs I'm taking. I have been taking 470mg of Valerian per day for almost 6 months now. I also have been taking 225mg per day of chaste berry extract for almost 3 months. I have also been taking 120mg of Ginkgo Biloba a day for almost 3 months. I also take a multi-vitamin, amino acid, multi-B, calcium and E. Some of my prescriptions are a hydrochlorthiazide, cenestin, fexofenadine, and protonix. I have been having problems with insomnia for a couple of years but very bad the last 9 months or so. I am having what I would call very severe memory lapses. I can't speak half the time because I can't think of the word I want to use. I can't think of people's names that I talk to everyday and/or have known for years. I have no short term memory. Also I'm gaining weight like crazy and can't seem to get it off even with diet and exercise. I am extremely hot all the time, other people are complaining it is freezing and I have my fan on my and still hot. I also am having gastro intestinal problems. It seems like everything I eat goes right through me. Now that you know all about me, here's my question. I'm hoping with the vast knowledge of this group someone can help me identify the culprit that may be causing this. I just want to add one more thing. I have had so many tests run, my thyroid is fine but I am post menopause. Do any of these herbs have any side effects that may cause the insomnia, memory problems and/or gastrointestinal problems? I would love some thoughts you have on what might be causing this. Thanks again.

[Guest guest]

herbal remedies , " Nancy " <nll2000 wrote:

>I just wanted to clear a few things up. Just in case they weren't

clear. Most but not all of the weight seems to be from water

retention. Also the hydrochlorothiazide is a water pill, fexofenadine

is generic for allegra, cenestin is my estrogen pill, protonix is for

my acid reflux.

I just don't know if it could be my prescribed meds(although I have

been on them for a few years) or some of the new herbs I'm taking.

Thanks again.

>

[Guest guest]

Nancy.. I have reread your post and if Im getting it right, you

started the herbs 6 months ago but the insomnia has been worse for 9

months.... i would say it is not the herbs. I would look at the RX

meds. How long have you been taking them? My first thought with your

memory and running hot, is congested liver... this would also lend to

waking you up very late at night and/or early morning as the liver has

it's own schedule. How is your emotional state? the liver is

associated with or holds past emotion. How is your diet? I would

recommend you start at the beginning which is always a thorough bowel

cleanse, with cleaner diet, followed by a liver cleanse. You should

see remarkable results, also digestive enzymes taken with and between

meals will help you right away. Your digestion will improve... also

watch the protein intake, you may need HCL with pepsin for awhile.

Have you changed your diet drastically lately? one more question, were

you involved in some sort of physical trauma recently... car accident,

slip and fall, etc??? Feel free to email me privately if you wish.. i

have many questions that are lengthy.

Blessings to you..

spot

 

 

> On 6/23/06, Nancy <nll2000 wrote:

> >

> > I have done lots of research online and find a lot of conflicting

> > information on some of the herbs I'm taking. I have been taking

> > 470mg of Valerian per day for almost 6 months now. I also have been

> > taking 225mg per day of chaste berry extract for almost 3 months. I

> > have also been taking 120mg of Ginkgo Biloba a day for almost 3

> > months. I also take a multi-vitamin, amino acid, multi-B, calcium

> > and E. Some of my prescriptions are a hydrochlorthiazide, cenestin,

> > fexofenadine, and protonix.

> > I have been having problems with insomnia for a couple of years but

> > very bad the last 9 months or so. I am having what I would call

> > very severe memory lapses. I can't speak half the time because I

> > can't think of the word I want to use. I can't think of people's

> > names that I talk to everyday and/or have known for years. I have no

> > short term memory. Also I'm gaining weight like crazy and can't seem

> > to get it off even with diet and exercise. I am extremely hot all

> > the time, other people are complaining it is freezing and I have my

> > fan on my and still hot. I also am having gastro intestinal

> > problems. It seems like everything I eat goes right through me.

> > Now that you know all about me, here's my question. I'm hoping with

> > the vast knowledge of this group someone can help me identify the

> > culprit that may be causing this. I just want to add one more thing.

> > I have had so many tests run, my thyroid is fine but I am post

> > menopause. Do any of these herbs have any side effects that may

> > cause the insomnia, memory problems and/or gastrointestinal

> > problems?

> > I would love some thoughts you have on what might be causing this.

> > Thanks again.

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Errrrrrrrrr, Nancy. You need to get onto a Natural Healing Regimen.

Sounds to me like you are firmly in the grip of the Medicos and the Pharmaceuticals.

In Health, Freedom, and Love,

Doc

 

Doc Shillington727-447-5282Doc

 

-

Nancy

herbal remedies

Saturday, June 24, 2006 12:14 PM

Herbal Remedies - Re: Need help with possible side effects of herbs being taken.

 

 

herbal remedies , "Nancy" <nll2000 wrote:>I just wanted to clear a few things up. Just in case they weren't clear. Most but not all of the weight seems to be from water retention. Also the hydrochlorothiazide is a water pill, fexofenadine is generic for allegra, cenestin is my estrogen pill, protonix is for my acid reflux. I just don't know if it could be my prescribed meds(although I have been on them for a few years) or some of the new herbs I'm taking. Thanks again.>

[Guest guest]

Dear Nancy:

 

A few points:

 

*I would like to know what time you take all your herbs and supplements, as some of these can be keeping you awake and alert during the evening and nighttime, depending at what time you take them. e.g is Multi Vit B tablets - that should be taken with food before midday.

*I have seen patients who have come in with increased aggitation, mental activity, heat flashes and heart palpitations after gingko, and some that were having trouble sleeping if they took it to late in the day. Although this is not an effect written about in the texts, from my clinical experience, it is something worth considering.

*Another thing to note is that Valerian has been shown to occasionally have the opposite effect on some people. I was taught back at Uni that this presented in about 5% of cases. I found I was one of them - a little valerian and i'm bouncing around. I have only seen this in a couple of patients, but it does seem to happen. The way the herb is extracted is important aswell. If you are taking the raw herb in a tablet, it may not do much as the active constituents are hard to extract through digestion, especially if you have poor digestion. If you use it as a tea, make sure to do a decoction. I find of course that the alcohol extraction of Valerian works best at even the smallest doses. However, more often enough, I also use other herbs in combination or without Valerian in those who get hyper from it: herbs such as Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia), Passionflower (pasiflora incarnata), Hops, with an adjunct of herbs such as WIthaina somnifera, Zizyphus spinosa ( which is by the sounds of it - an excellent herb for you, as it is indicated in insomnia esp with night sweats and excess heat, post menop[ausal, etc), Vervain, etc.

My suggestion is that taking Valerian for an extended period of time is not recommended, nor is the reliance on any hyponitc or heavy sedative herb for an extended period of time. Many of my collegues have found it almost just as hard to get people off valrian and passionflower as it is to get them off sleeping pills! From a naturopathic point of view, you need to find the base cause of your insomnia whilst treating it with the sedative herbs. This is where seeing a herbalist or naturopath might help you, as it is hard to determine and asses your health and underlying causal factors that are leading to your health issues through email. I have successfuly treated long term insomnia, and never has it involved the use of only sedative herbs. Most of the time it involves more than one body system, and often tied in and associated with emotional problems. However, it really could be stemming from anywhere, and even if it is nervous system related, there are many more herbs that will help to treat the cause, rather than masking the symptoms.

I feel very much for you - I suffere greatly from insomnia myself as a child and teenager for months on end, it is not an easy journey. ( which is why it is one of the areas I tend to have a keep interest in).

I wish you all the best - restful sleep - and the chance to do whatever is holding you back from falling to the bed exhausted but content, and falling itno a happy deep sleep.

Bright blessings,

Hania

 

 

 

 

 

> On 6/23/06, Nancy <nll2000 wrote:> >> > I have done lots of research online and find a lot of conflicting> > information on some of the herbs I'm taking. I have been taking> > 470mg of Valerian per day for almost 6 months now. I also have been> > taking 225mg per day of chaste berry extract for almost 3 months. I> > have also been taking 120mg of Ginkgo Biloba a day for almost 3> > months. I also take a multi-vitamin, amino acid, multi-B, calcium> > and E. Some of my prescriptions are a hydrochlorthiazide, cenestin,> > fexofenadine, and protonix.> > I have been having problems with insomnia for a couple of years but> > very bad the last 9 months or so. I am having what I would call> > very severe memory lapses. I can't speak half the time because I> > can't think of the word I want to use. I can't think of people's> > names that I talk to everyday and/or have known for years. I have no> > short term memory. Also I'm gaining weight like crazy and can't seem> > to get it off even with diet and exercise. I am extremely hot all> > the time, other people are complaining it is freezing and I have my> > fan on my and still hot. I also am having gastro intestinal> > problems. It seems like everything I eat goes right through me.> > Now that you know all about me, here's my question. I'm hoping with> > the vast knowledge of this group someone can help me identify the> > culprit that may be causing this. I just want to add one more thing.> > I have had so many tests run, my thyroid is fine but I am post> > menopause. Do any of these herbs have any side effects that may> > cause the insomnia, memory problems and/or gastrointestinal> > problems?> > I would love some thoughts you have on what might be causing this.> > Thanks again.> >> > > >>

 

 

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