I'm already taking Agnus Castus for PMDD symptoms - have been taking them a month, and have just increased the dose as it wasn't helping much. [not officially PMDD as I have chronic major depression all the time, alongside complex trauma sequelae,so supposedly cannot have PMDD *rolls eyes*. I get very low and paranoid and jittery and irritably hostile more from day 22 of my cycle. Like clockwork.] I am also on a low dose of mirtazapine [standard NASSA class of anti-depressant]. Is it safe to take rhodiola with these? The a/d is not an MAOI so I assume that's safe, but what about the agnus castus? I am willing to stop taking agnus castus if I can take rhodiola with the hope that it might relieve my intense anxiety and exhaustion and vulnerability so that I can cope more with my daily life as I process deep emotional material. Thanks.
Hello Eleison
I have an interest in mental health and nutrition, so yours is the type of question I like to answer.
I'll put my cards on the table and say that I am not a fan of herbal alternatives to SSRIs/MAOIs. Whether you prod your body with a pharmaceutical distillation or a herbal one is of no odds to me. OK, less side-effects with herbal... but it follows the same model... stimulating a bit of your body to produce/suppress a specific response by taking a concentrated natural/pharmaceutical chemical.
I do, however, love agnus castus... so am going to be a complete hypocrite and suggest that you do continue taking this. It does appear to be an hormonal regulator par excellence, for which I know of no equivalent. My suggestion is to take it in the morning (it's better assimilated by the liver, which is directly involved in processing female hormones) on an empty stomach. My recommendation would be to take 2 x 300mg capsules, or 5mls of tincture. Continue this daily for 4 months, then stop for one month - then continue as above but only for days 14-28 (or until your period starts).
My approach is to step back and look at general health and lifestyle. No matter what health condition you have, be it arthritis, dermatitis or depression, you are better able to cope with it if your general health is good. There are specific nutrients which your body needs in order to keep your moods and your female reproductive cycle stable. There are a couple of nutrients common to both - magnesium, B6 and zinc. For depression I feel that the key nutrient is magnesium. The irritability/jittery mood symptom plus PMT scream low magnesium to me.
I am quite specific about magnesium supplementation - having had a lot of trial and error experience over the years. I now only recommend magnesium citrate, in the powder form. If you have low magnesium status you need a decent therapeutic dose, and it's best to avoid tablets/capsules because you take more fillers/binders than active ingredient. I like [url]this product[/url] which you can buy online. Magnesium citrate is very well absorbed, which means that you can take more without it giving you diarrhea (which is what happens when you take therapeutic doses of other forms of magnesium). My recommendation would be to buy some cheap plastic measuring spoons and using the 1/2 teaspoon do the following:
take 1/2 teaspoon in 250ml fluid (not milk) with breakfast
take 1/2 teaspoon in 250ml fluid (not milk) with dinner
take 1/2 teaspoon in 250ml fluid (not milk) before bedtime
Don't take it with milk because magnesium is used to metabolise calcium... and you want it to be used for your moods/PMT instead. Try this for one month and see how you go. If you get diarrhea reduce your dosage by a little until you get comfortably loose bowels. If you feel that it is helping then it is best to continue the dosage under the guidance of a qualified nutritionist. Taking therapeutic doses of one nutrient can affect the requirements of others. You'll need advice re this.
With regard to general health, the single most important thing you can do for both mood and PMT is to avoid all sugar and sugar-containing food. Sugar inhibits the breakdown of oestrogen, and that's where your PMT symptoms reside. It also affects your blood sugar levels which reeks havoc with depression and mood stability. There is a theory that depression is simply a hypoglycaemic symptom (hence why it is worse in the morning,
perks up in the evening, eating disorders frequently co-exist, and is improved by exercise). Eat a diet with plenty of lean protein - protein is needed to manufacture neurochemicals, and stabilise your blood sugar. Also eat plenty of fruits and vegetables for their mineral and vitamin content.
Exercise, for me, is the single most important thing for keeping my moods stable. It regulates your blood sugar, keeps your triglycerides levels low (which again impacts mood and PMT), keeps your weight in the healthy range which is very important for self esteem, and aids functioning of organs... everything works better in a strong healthy body.
The best advice is to make an appointment with a qualified nutritionist who has experience with treating mood disorders. Alternatively, join a gym or weight loss group - where you are around people for whom diet and lifestyle is important.
Ava x
p.s. Yes, Agnus castus is fine to take with antidepressants. If you are taking endocrine medications (thyroid, adrenal, diabetic etc.) then you should mention this to your GP. Agnus castus works on a different endocrine balance... but there is a bit of overlap in the adrenal/thyroid area because of their impact on female hormone production/secretion, hence needing to mention it to your GP.
Hello
Your case is quite involved and the interaction of each herb with each other and then mixed with your own body chemicals and the alopathic medication is something that only a trained herbalist should be dealing with. They can then prescribe exactly the right herb (or mix) at the right strength for you. Self prescribing is fine for minor things now and again, but for anything more complex it's always best to see a professional.
I do, however, love agnus castus... so am going to be a complete hypocrite and suggest that you do continue taking this. It does appear to be an hormonal regulator par excellence, for which I know of no equivalent.
Also, as with all herbs, Agnus castus may not be the best herb for you. There are many people whose physiology means that it can actually maket them worse rather than better - and there are a number of other herbs with similar actions (I was told this by 3 Western herbalists that I know).