A strange tree in the early morning sunshine (Pilanesburg, S. Africa)
Just like there are more ways to arrange leaves on a tree (see the photo), there are more ways than one to successfully heal mental illness.
In conventional psychiatry, the "first line of treatment" is usually the use of prescription medications. Short of a patient having a tumor or other diagnosable medical illness like hypothyroidism, the first thing that a conventional psychiatrist will reach for is a prescription pad. That is what they were taught to do (my condolences to all holistic psychiatrists currently stuck in settings that do not permit them to practice integrative medicine).
As a holistic psychiatrist, however, I like to start my patients on the basics: nutritional support and some mind-body medicine. Many, maybe even half, of my patients improve with just that simple intervention. The body is an amazing healing machine!
But other times, I will need to reach for my "second line of treatment," the herbals and homeopathics. Today, I thought I would share my favorite brands and herbals/homeopathics so that you can consider adding them to your toolbox.
Hardy Helpers: Herbals and Homeopathy
More tools for your toolbox
Back in 1997, when I was my own guinea pig for holistic approaches, I initially turned to herbals to treat my depression and Zoloft (an SSRI) withdrawal. I used St. John's Wort and sometimes also Ginkgo Biloba. At the time, I didn't know that brands mattered, but I soon discovered the hard way that it did indeed matter!
Twenty-two years later, I still use St. John's Wort and Ginkgo Biloba to help my patients if nutritional supplements are unable to completely resolve mental health problems. Unfortunately, the companies I use most often sell only to clinicians. However, there are many excellent, competitive brands available online that will have similar effects. For herbals, I typically use MediHerb, a part of Standard Process. Their products are reliable and powerful. For homeopathics and energy medicine supplements, I use Deseret Biologicals (DesBio) and Energy Tools.
For ease of reference, I will list the products and explain how I apply them in my practice:
St. John's Wort 1.8g (MediHerb): 1 tab 2-3 times per day or as directed. St John's Wort 1.8g is standardized to contain 900 mcg of hypericins and 18 mg of flavonoid glycosides per tablet.
If a patient has not responded to nutritional interventions that build and enhance serotonin, endorphins, GABA, detoxification, enzyme levels, and proper methylation, I will add St. John's Wort to mitigate symptoms such as sadness, despondency, anxiety, despair, and low energy.
Ginkgo Forte (MediHerb): 1 tab 1-4 times daily. This product is standardized to contain 14.4 mg of ginkgo flavonglycosides(ginkgo flavone glycosides) and 3.6 mg of ginkgolides and bilobalide per tablet.
If a patient has not responded to basic supports for mitochondrial activity, dopamine/ acetylcholine/ endorphin systems, anti-inflammatory effects, and detoxification, I will add Ginkgo Forte to accentuate cognitive functioning in those who have difficulties with concentration and distractibility.
Livton Complex (MediHerb): 1 tablet twice daily. Livton Complex contains five herbs (globe artichoke leaf, dandelion root, milk thistle seed, bupleurum root, fringe tree stem bark) and the many compounds within them combine to support healthy liver and gallbladder function, encourage healthy digestive function, and enhance elimination function through the liver and intestine.
I used to use Liver Extract by Cardiovascular Research to support the liver. Patients always tested well with it, but the company stopped producing it, so I had to find another liver detox support product. I've found Livton to test well across the board with my patients. Livco by MediHerb often also tests well for liver support, but not as consistently.
Magnolia Stress Aid (Energy Tools): As the name suggests, this product helps with lowering stress. It holds the information and frequency of magnolia but not the actual substance. I use it to help patients reduce anxiety quickly. Usually the dosage for adult patients is around 10 to 15 drops twice daily in water or juice. I have also used Magnolia Bark Extract, but when I energy test the herbal compared to the Energy Tools' Magnolia Stress Aid, the patient often tests stronger with the Energy Tools product.
This is a very safe and versatile product. I have found it useful especially in conjunction with liposomal GABA by QuickSilver, which allows GABA to be absorbed through the mucous membranes through liposomes. Other calming products by Mediherb are Valerian Complex and Kava Forte. I have resorted to them all with patients who needed additional calming support. Because these are herbals, they will require the patient to be able to metabolize them through the liver. Sometimes anxious patients don't metabolize well, so liver support may be necessary along with these calming herbals.
Lymph Drainage (Deseret Biologicals): This is a safe way to support detoxification in the patient without causing significant detoxification and lowering of medication levels. Sometimes using powerful greens supplement formulas can provide such powerful detoxification that the patient's medication levels can drop by 20% in just a week. That would lead to withdrawal side effects from taking a powerful detoxifier. This is not helpful if the patient is not ready to lower his/her medication yet. So, Lymph drainage supports detoxification through another route.
Foot Detox Pads (Body Pure): This is one of the best ways to detox gently. The process uses herbal packs that you place on the soles of the feet. I usually space them out to every other night. In the morning, remove the herbal packs and wash off the soles of the feet. I recommend patients use these pads as long as they are still dark when they remove them in the morning. If using them all night long is too strong for the patient, then shorten the duration of use. Patients who sent their herbal packs in for lab analysis have found various heavy metals, herbicides and pesticides present in the packs.
Hawaiian Spirulina (Nutrex): Removing mercury often leads to increased anxiety. I have found that using Hawaiian Spirulina to be more gentle and less disruptive during the detoxification process and surprisingly effective--at least with energy testing. I tend to start dosages at very small amounts, e.g. 1/4 teaspoon and gently work up to one teaspoon per day. If you are using the tablets, then begin with 1 tablet twice daily.
The Series Therapies by DesBio: They include products that treat the following infections (and many others). By treating these infections, the patient will experience a decrease in the amount of inflammation, which will help to ameliorate symptoms.
Epstein Barr Virus Series
H. Zoster Series
H. Pylori Series
C. Diff Series
Hepatitis Series
Borrelia/Babesia Series
Bartonella Series
Coxsackie Virus Series
These Series boxes each contain 10 vials, numbered 1-10. The patient should take one vial every three days, though I have had patients take them as infrequently as every seven days. I would encourage using these Series one box at a time, while also supporting detoxification, to help with die-off or Herxheimer effects, such as using liver detox support, Lymph Drainage, and/or foot detox pads. Die-off symptoms increase inflammation and therefore exacerbate the symptoms the patient is trying toameliorate, so I don't use these Series boxes until the patient is feeling calmer and can handle a little stress from die-off.
I know this is a lot all at once, but I hope you can use this as a resource for later. Have a great week!