? about herbs & supplements - I know we have some experts on BYC

[gritsar]

Quote:
Thanks for your input. I may have to make a greater effort to find it, maybe in Hot Springs.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Both of my doctors and my pharmacist know what I'm taking, supplements and prescription drugs, so I'm not worried about it. I don't take a bunch of narcotics. Just the Lyrica and other seizure meds.
I know what a kinesiologist is. I doubt there's one in all of Arkansas.

You are probably right about that!!!! Is your doctor an MD or a DO? I prefer a DO myself, but the only one around these parts doesn't take my insurance.

An MD, the rheumatologist and an internist, who is our family doctor.

 

[Livinzoo]

I'm guessing the Magnesium they want you to use is a citrate or chelate? I've done a lot of research on magnesium and I swear by it. I personally have not found absorption issues with the easy to find magnesium oxide. As long as you don't take it with calcium or something with lots of calcium. I have TMJ and the magnesium really decreases my pain among many other things.

I will tell you my experience with brain fog. I lived with it my entire life. At age 30 I went to a doctor that treated for hypo thyroid based of symptoms rather than just the TSH. (Brain fog is a symptom of Thyroid problems so if you haven't had your TSH, T4 and T3 tested I would recommend it). My TSH was at the high end of normal. The brain fog disappeared within 2 weeks.

Fast forward to 9 months later. My TSH was 0.022, way too low. The dr was fine with this and I was having some memory issues. We have also been trying to conceive for several months without luck. So I decided to stop the thyroid meds. 6 weeks later the OB-Gyn tested and my TSH was 5.4. She sent me to an Endo. I went 6 weeks later and found my TSH to be 1.65 . Perfectly normal.

I have not had a return of the brain fog and I stopped taking the thyroid meds at the end of August. Still haven't had luck conceiving. There were two things I did since that first testing of my thyroid. I started taking a iodine supplement (iodoral) and I had my metal fillings replaced with the ceramic ones. Not sure what got me out of the fog and I really was expecting to fall back into it. I hope you can find your way out too.

 

[dlhunicorn]

http://www.aafp.org/afp/990301ap/1239.html
general article (scroll down to the specific section on gingko biloba)

http://www.cpjournal.ca/archive/1913-701X/142/5/pdf/i1913-701X-142-5-e1.pdf
quick reference tool for drug-herbal interactions (chart > print out for quick reference)

http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/hisham/Documents/Pharmacy_Docs/herbal_drug_interactions.pdf
PDF chart with a bit more info than the chart above

Another source of info:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/umherb01.htm

sign up for MEDscape and do a search there for the most recent info
ETA:
Ginkgo Biloba

Uses: This herb is very popular as a treatment for dementia (a progressive brain dysfunction) and to improve thinking.

Reactions: Mild stomach upset and headache have been reported. Ginkgo seems to have blood thinning properties. Therefore, it is not recommended to be taken with aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve) or Motrin], or medications to prevent blood clotting (anticoagulants) such as warfarin (Coumadin). Ginkgo should be avoided in patients with epilepsy taking seizure medicines, such as phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and phenobarbital
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7506&page=2#ginko

http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=96352&page=3#Interactions

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Very helpful, thank you.