Re: valerian - garlic

[Guest guest]

<<You can find information about the use of valerian in just about any good

herb book. It is classified as " generally safe " .>>

The herb books do say that , however, as with many herbs they are finding

side effects that were never reported in the past, due primarily to their

wider use. From the book " The Herb Society of America Encyclopedia of Herbs "

by Deni Brown - " Valerian: Medicinal: Internally for insomnia, hysteria,

anxiety, cramps, migran, indigestion of nervous origin, hypertension and

painful menstruation. Excess causes headaches, palpitations and stupor,

extended used may lead to addiction. NOT GIVEN to patients with liver

problems.... " Most people on this list are dealing with their liver in one

way or another, and this clearly states not to use it if you have liver

problems.

from: http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v280n18/ffull/jlt1111-7.html

Cardiac Complications and Delirium Associated With Valerian Root Withdrawal

To the Editor. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root is a widely used herbal

product with putative sedative, hypnotic, and anxiolytic benefits<A

HREF= " http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v280n18/ffull/#rc1r1 " >1-4</A> similar

to the benzodiazepines. Preparations recommend dosages ranging from 200 mg to

several grams per day taken at bedtime or in divided doses. The optimal

duration of use is not well established, although some preparations advise

against long-term use. We report a case of serious cardiac complications and

delirium associated with withdrawal of valerian root.

<<Whoever said I was taking " handfuls " every 5 minutes was sure on some

(medical) drugs!>>

I was in error and mis-quoted you on that . The only drug I was on was,

valarian. I have taken it off and on for several years but after discovering

its ill effects have discontinued it.

<<I also mentioned regularly tossing purslane (my favorite), flat leaf

parsley, oregano, in addition to valerian, and drinking them with my usual

gallon a day of water. Well this was compared by someone to taking opium,

since opium (they said) is also a food and a herb. Weird!>>

I compared valarian to opium - and that isn't weird. It affects the body in

a very similar way and through the same pathways.

<<Since when are body building supplements considered to be either herbs or

foods. However, there have been millions of people who have been to doctors

and taken conventional medical advice, then had strokes. See the connection?>

>

The supplement was Met RX, which is a food, but used to be laced with

ephedra. Some body supplements do contain herbs.

<<You say the medical community isn't causing delay, then you say the medical

world has political clout.>>

My statement was to the effect that the alternative medicine community has

tremendous political clout. Perhaps I didn't state it clearly. I would be

willing to bet that the diet industry, made up primarily of herbal supplement

manufactuers, is behind the current blocakge of warning labels on products

containing ephedra. Many weight loss pills contain ephedra and several other

herbs, including St. 's Wort, which itself is beginning to raise

questions about its own safety. The point that I'm trying to make is that

political clout means someone is makeing huge profits somewhere, and the

public is being taken. It doesn't matter of it is the pharmacuetical

industry with Viagra, or the herbal supplement industry with ephedra. Trying

to keep the public blind to detrimental side effects while at the same time

trying to make huge profits is simply greed.

From:

http://www.thedietchannel.com/weightloss6b.htm

" · Ephedra (Ma Huang)

The active ingredient in ephedra (also known as ma huang) is ephedrine, which

is structurally similar to amphetamines. Ephedra has been linked to hundreds

of incidents, including high blood pressure, abnormalities in heart rhythms,

seizures, heart attacks, and even death. Some states have laws that ban the

sale of ephedra because of its demonstrated serious side effects. Ephedra is

in products such as metabolife and " herbal phen-fen. " "

[Guest guest]

That last one got sent before I finished.

But anyway, bottom line is that valarian has been found to have problems when

taken long term. In fact long term in one of my herb books is 2 weeks. I

have used it, but will no more. Herbs are not subject to testing as are

other drugs (herbs are drugs - again, morphine, digitalis and many others are

herbs which are by prescription only), and while many are beneficial, the

long term effects of others are truly unknown.

, I agree that we (U. S.) are an over medicated society and that the

pharmaceuticals have much to much power, but truly feel that you have to pick

and choose alternatives very carefully. I have made more trips to MDs the

past couple of years than I would have liked to due to injury and skin

eruptions, and during just those past two years have turned down several

prescriptions, primarily pain killers and antibiotics.

About 30 years ago I went to my 2 bit " family " doctor who in fact was running

a weight loss clinic (my wife picked him, that's why I went) by prescribing

speed to all the ladies, and indicated that I had some anxiety difficulties.

Without asking any questions and within the 60 second office visit he wrote

me a prescription for Vallium. I filled it (10 pills of 5 grain), and the

next day before going to a pressure cooker job took one. I didn't make it to

work. I couldn't drive the distance. I turned around and went back home and

slept the whole day long. For the balance of the 9 pills, I used it

recreationally as an alternative to martini's (bigger high, and no hangover)

in the evenings and when they were all gone swore I would never take a

tranquilizer again in my life, and never have - even though MDs have tried to

get me on them from time to time. I have an RN family member who was hooked

on Vallium for 12 years - should have known better, and had tremendous

difficulty getting off of it. The good news is that she did. Tranquilizers

are the other over prescribed drugs. So, mood altering drugs and herbs get

me going, and valarian, a hypnotic affecting the central nervous system, is a

mood altering drug, just like its opiate counterpart morphine, which comes

from that sweet little backyard flower.

Jay