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Bipolar Disorder Community
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no meds
by candace_1008, Nov 28, 2008 09:27PM
do anyone kno of any natural things i can take to help my bi polar??? i dont have ins at the moment so im not on meds...
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As for your general question fish oil or flaxseed oil is used as an adjunct mood stabilizer by many psychiatrists and the anti-cholesterol medication Lovaza was developed from it and is being used experimentally for bipolar. Be sure to get a brand that is pure and is in a known concentration. Also the concentrates of fatty acids sold that are derived from fish oil are good as well. Lecithin has been of some use as well. Those are the two that are known quantities. The rest are unknown. Do not take Tyrosine or Taurine under any circumstances. They are highly dangerous. I know all of this not just from studies but because I've tried all of them as well and fish oil was actually a good supplement mood stabilizer though I don't know if it could function as a mood stabilizer on its own.
But the more pressing question is getting insurance coverage and I could give you some suggestions on that. Then you could get the prescriptions you needed to begin with.
And regardless when you do get coverage you need to go back to seeing a psychiatrist even if you are taking natural remedies as since they are mood stabilizers they need to be monitored by a psychiatrist. All natural remedies should be taken under a doctor's supervision but especially ones for psychiatric disabilities, as in the recovery process you can't monitor your own mood swings.
Its mainly used in pets as a matter of fact and sold as a diet supplement as well. You would likely do better with Cod Liver Oil and St Johns Wort. The fact is orotate is actually not effective and may be more dangerous than Lithium Carbonate - doing some ciritcal reading (IE not the vitamin sites) will show a different picture of this untested drug. The studies that have been done dispell the myth you dont need as much and there are no side effects - as every person is different you cannot begin to judge what your reaction will be and depending on presentation and symptoms you may not just need a mood stabiliser you might need an AP or an AD or an anti anxiety.
The cornerstone of treament is a trio of drug therapy, life education and behavioural education (ie right foods, exercise etc) and therapy. These are vital. The real killer about BP is you can go a long time without major episodes but then it can slam you so hard you dont know where you are.
Put it this way. Try and find one board certified psychiatrist who reccomends using it.....
Lithium carbonate is cheap and effective, surely you can see a family doc or health service who can give you scripts?
5 years on high quality fish oil EPA. Also the green seeweed stuff. wheat grass, high protein diet. More I cant remember!!
Nothing worked for me, sorry, but these things just didnt work and you are taking a big risk if you think they will help you.
And high quality fish oil EPA will help on bipolar. But best under the authorization of a psychiatrist. And MonkeyC you are right except about cod liver oil. That can build up to a toxic dose in the liver. Fish oil, flaxseed oil are good and concentrate EPA is best but all under the care of a psychiatrist. The effect I felt on mood stabilization was not just "calming" it was measurable. I remember and I did not think it would work at the time so it was not placebo effect but studies and psychiatrists would back me up. In fact my psychopharmocologist was the one who told me to take it. But they should be taken under the direction of a psychiatrist.
And I do believe that you should look into means of obtaining cover and I could provide some ideas on that as I said since I volunteer in the arena of benefits advocacy.
The big key to BP treatment is a healthy balanced diet, exercise and looking after yourself - it sounds so hokey but eating well, exercising and making sure you get as much rest and relaxation time as possible is so important.
Ultimately everyone of the natural and herbal drugs for BP are little more than snake oil and promises - like cancer and diabetes bipolars and other mentally ill people are preyed on by unscrupulous or ill advised peamountople who will sell you x or y as a treatment and even a cure - I have seen people who claim you can cure BP and I have met them here.
You cannot cure bipolar, no drug will make it go away all you can do is treat and manage the symptoms and learn how to deal with them - this is the key, education is vital to learn what to do when you feel depressed or manic and how to get help.
Supplements like Lithium orotate are sold as just like lithium - they are not - Orotate is a different ionic bonded lithium and its been studied and despite the claims of the natural therapies people it is not safer nor needs a lower does - the reason why its used by naturopaths and homeopaths is its not prescription and thus they can give it to patients without a prescribers license - some reading on it shows its not remotely as safe as its made out to be.