What to do to treat bipolar naturally?

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  1. peeples profile image93
    peeplesposted 10 years ago

    What to do to treat bipolar naturally?

    I have been unmedicated for over 10 years, I have slow cycling bipolar. For a few of those years in the beginning  I used marijuana to treat and it worked well, however that is not legal and I need a treatment that will help both the depression and manic parts that does not involve pharmaceuticals. I've been able to control until lately but have had some changes in my life that are making it hard to control. Suggestions?   (not looking for a doctors opinion)

  2. Lee Tea profile image82
    Lee Teaposted 10 years ago

    Not a doctor, so this is just the insight of an herbalist.  This is not medical advice, I'll just tell you my own experience.

    St. John's Wort is an herb that has been used historically to treat depression.  I use it myself, and am a fan of its cheerful effects.  Instead of sitting around full of anxiety wondering what I should be doing, or what I might be forgetting, I find myself sitting around thinking "hey, everything's alright."  I drink it as a tea - here's how to prepare it: http://leetea.hubpages.com/hub/Brewing- … s-Wort-Tea

    Kava kava is an herb I use to curb my urge to drink alcohol at night.  It helps quell my need to want more, or want different, and helps me be ok, even feel good, about right now.  I buy it ground up and drink 1 Tbsp mixed with warm chocolate milk.  It's grainy, thick, and makes your tongue a little numb.  It tastes pretty bad, but the effects are pleasant bordering on euphoric.

    Ginkgo biloba is an herb that helps with mental function and memory recall.  When my mind is feeling sluggish or I'm getting frustrated with tasks in my day, Ginkgo tea helps get me back on my game.  I steep 1 tsp. in 1 cup hot water for 5 minutes.

    Eleuthero root (aka siberian ginseng) helps with physical stamina and energy.  I steep 1 tsp to 1 cup of hot water for 5-10 minutes.  I make a tea with both ginkgo and ginseng, you can find that here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/114998632/ … um-ginkgo?

    Getting into the more exotics, kratom is an herb that mimicks the effects of an opiate without being one.  It can seriously downshift your mental and physical activity, but I find it comes with a moderate amount of anxiety.

    I understand bipolar symptoms can range extreme along a "manic/depressive" spectrum.  So for me, I would treat symptoms individually as they come.  My mother is a manic depressive bipolar schizophrenic that has been on pharmaceuticals for over 20 years.  If she could be stable without them I'd have some teas for her to try...but weaning her off her medication has not proven successful, and I foresee she'll need them throughout the rest of her life.  Even still, she likes my chamomile, lavender, and peppermint teas for gentle relaxation.  My shop makes aromatherapy sprays too, body and pillow sprays, specifically designed to relax, rest, release, and renew.  My business stems from my desire to help others like my mom naturally - maybe it can help you smile

    Be well,
    Lee

    1. peeples profile image93
      peeplesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for the in depth look at the different herbs. I guess I need to do some research and figure out what may work best for me. Thanks!

    2. Georgie Lowery profile image91
      Georgie Loweryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Small warning on Kava Kava - it can be addictive and you can overdose on it!

  3. duffsmom profile image61
    duffsmomposted 10 years ago

    A lot of people note improvement in this condition by removing all additives from their diets.  Certain food allergies can cause tremendous shifts in mood and mood cycling. I would find a naturopath who is knowledgeable in this area.

  4. Georgie Lowery profile image91
    Georgie Loweryposted 10 years ago

    I'm bipolar and have been unmedicated for two and a half years. I'm rapid cycling, though, so I don't know if there's a difference. There are a few things I do and things that I watch for.

    No Nutrasweet. In anything. It worsens my mood swings. I found that out after breaking a Diet Cherry Pepsi addiction - it's been almost three years and I still crave the stuff.

    I try to watch excessive caffeine and sugar intake. They're all nice and all while you're eating/drinking them, but the crash after has a bad effect on my mood.

    Exercise helps and taking vitamins to make sure that my body doesn't let me down on top of everything else is important, too.

    I do take a supplement that I get from VitaCost called Mood Plus - it's got St John's Wort and 5HTP (tryptophan). I take one before I go to bed and I find it helps me regulate my moods.

 
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