The Times (subscription) - London,England,UK
... Rhodiola would be my herb of choice for any mood disorder, because ... makes it an important remedy for adults and children coping with attention deficit ...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8125-1055647,00.html

I think I am going to give Rhodiol a try. FYI- I did come across an article (I tore it out a while back and now I can't tell where it came from) but it does warn that it could intensify mood swings in people with bipolar disorder.

March 28, 2004

The Sunday Times, Style magazine

Natural health remedies: Lift your mood
In the final extract from her new book, Susan Clark, alternative-health columnist, looks at how natural remedies can help dispel depression, feed your brain and ward off anxiety

Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to be clear-thinking seven days a week, or to be consistently happy? Depression, mounting stress levels and panic attacks cause most of us to have disabling periods of angst, so it is vital to know what we can do to lift our mood and maximise our brainpower. A dramatic change in lifestyle is often the answer, yet rarely a realistic one. Thankfully, you can use food, herbs and nutritional supplements to bolster levels of the brain chemicals that control everything you feel.

Many people take vitamin C to ward off colds, but what they may not realise is that the brain needs more of this nutrient than any other part of the body. So, while fending off their colds, these people are unwittingly supporting brain function.

Even if you are not suffering from depression, you can use natural remedies to lift and maintain a better mood. Simply burning Melissa officinalis oil in the room can not only make you feel better, but improve brain performance. Intrigued? Read on.

BEATING THE BLUES

Depression is part of the human condition, but while in most people it will be triggered by an outside event, such as the death of a loved one, for 5% of the population it is a clinical disorder that will not go away simply because someone tells you to buck up.

Women are up to three times more likely to suffer from depression than men. Heredity plays a role, too — both depression and suicide appear to cluster in families. The symptoms reflect changes in levels of the brain chemicals, specifically norepinephrine (a chemical cousin of adrenaline), the feelgood brain chemical serotonin and dopamine, and insomnia is almost invariably a side effect.

Natural remedies that help to regulate mood usually work to increase levels of serotonin: a good example is St John’s wort, the popular supplement that has become known as nature’s own Prozac. Useful for the treatment of mild to moderate depression, it helps to maintain normal levels of serotonin by blocking its breakdown in the body. The herb now comes with a warning on the packet for anyone taking anticoagulant medication, and for those who have been taking the contraceptive pill for a long time, which means many consumers have been looking for “alternative” alternatives.

Rhodiola would be my herb of choice for any mood disorder, because it can simultaneously help to improve the body’s resistance to stress and normalise other systems, including hormones and immunity. It also works to increase dopamine levels, which makes it an important remedy for adults and children coping with attention deficit disorders and hyperactivity.

The B vitamins are also important in tackling depression. Vitamin B6, for example, is needed to convert tryptophan (a serotonin precursor) into serotonin. Deficiency is often caused by taking prescription drugs, so supplementing this nutrient is a good idea.

The food you eat plays a critical role as well. Depression and other common mood disorders are frequently linked with imbalances in the essential fatty acids (ETAs) that protect brain-cell membranes, and vitamin C is also important, because it helps to maintain normal brain function.

One of the most widely investigated non-drug antidepressants is S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe), a naturally occurring substance that the body uses to make neurotransmitters. It is sold in health stores, but it’s expensive to use in a therapeutic dosage in the long term, which makes the other remedies more attractive if cost is an issue.

The simplest antidote to depression is exercise, which can also help counter associated tiredness by raising levels of serotonin. You may hate the thought of having to move your body, but depression and chronic tiredness are two of the big risk factors for mortality as we age, so you will be investing in your health in a way that will pay significant dividends in the longevity stakes as you get older.

TRIED AND APPLIED

Use essential fatty acids with antidepressants to enhance their effects. In trials, patients taking antidepressants who were also given 1g of EFAs, twice daily, scored lower on the scales of depression after a month than those given a placebo. Researchers concluded that the fatty acids either augment the action of the prescription medicine without adverse side effects or have their own antidepressant properties.

THE ONE TO WATCH — MELISSA OFFICINALIS

Traditionally, herbalists have used lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) as a remedy for melancholia, and scientists have shown that it really does have both a calming and mood-boosting effect on the brain. Even used as an aromatherapy oil, lemon balm can have a dramatic impact on the brain. I suggest you use a brand that provides 100mg of standardised extract of lemon balm per capsule, taking three a day. If you cannot find one locally, order from Revital (0800 252875, www.revital.com).

ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACKS

A simple emergency measure is to rub calming lavender oil on the inside of both wrists or add it to a soothing bath. You can also drop the oil onto a tissue and inhale the aroma to help calm yourself. The Australian Bush Flower Essences also work quickly to help restore emotional equilibrium. Use Emergency Essence in the throes of an attack (take seven drops under the tongue) and switch to Calm & Clear until you have worked through the crisis. (For more details of these essences, which work on an energetic level, making them safe to use as an adjunct to other medication, visit www.ancientroots.com.)

Avoiding stimulants, including caffeine, alcohol, sodas, chocolate, refined sugar and carbohydrates, can also help to fend off anxiety. And remember, if you are an anxiety sufferer, you are anything but alone. This is the single most common mental disorder encountered in clinical practice — about 8% of the population will experience at least one anxiety attack at some point in their lives — so there are thousands of others who know exactly what you are going through. To find them, contact the UK support group No Panic (0808 808 0545, www.nopanic.org.uk).

ADDICTION AND VITAMIN C

Vitamin C can help to alleviate the misery of withdrawal from addictive drugs, including heroin. In trials where heroin addicts on detox programmes were given high doses of vitamin C, only 10-16% of participants suffered serious withdrawal symptoms, compared with 56% of those being weaned off the drug without vitamin C supplementation. This suggests that all detox and rehab centres should consider nutritional advice and supplementation as part of a recovery programme.

TOP THREE OVER-THE-COUNTER COMBINATION REMEDIES FOR MOOD AND BRAIN SUPPORT

You can get all these from Victoria Health, which specialises in American supplements (0800 389 8195, www.victoriahealth.com).

New Chapter’s Supercritical Neurozyme

This has the lot: omega-3 fatty acids, ginkgo biloba, vitamin E and more. You take one soft-gel capsule twice a day with food and a large glass of water.

LifeTime’s Brain Support

This excellent formula includes dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), which is known as “IQ food”, ginkgo biloba and phosphatidylserine.

Glutamine

If you take only one supplement, take Glutamine (500mg, twice a day on an empty stomach). This is probably the single most important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in the natural supplement arsenal. People take it for moodiness and depression. Glutamine helps improve thinking by picking up excess ammonia from the brain and can be useful in clearing the brain fog caused by excess alcohol and tiredness. Use a good-quality supplement such as Solgar’s (www.solgar.com).

What Really Works in Natural Health: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need by Susan Clark is published on April 1 (£10.99 Bantam Press). To order a copy at the special price of £8.79 + 99p p&p, call The Sunday Times Books Direct on 0870 165 8585

Before following any medical or dietary advice referred to above, please consult your GP if you suffer from any health problems or special conditions, or are in any doubt as to its suitability

The Times (subscription) - London,England,UK
... Rhodiola would be my herb of choice for any mood disorder, because ... makes it an important remedy for adults and children coping with attention deficit ...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8125-1055647,00.html
Thank you for this link, Andrew. This looks very promising. :)

Day #2 taking Rhodiola Rosea 250mg.

FYI the study I read showed results w/170mg but 250 & 500 was all I could locate ($9.99 on sale @ Whole Foods)
Yesterday I took the Rhodiola along with my Adderall, usually with Adderall I have a tough time "lightening up" and I can get a little anti-social, (I take the short acting so usually I can time it so I can still have a life) Not so yesterday, I was all positive energy, laughing and chatting up a storm even with the meds.
Today I took the day off from Adderall and just took the Rhodiola and spent the day with my son. I do not go a full day w/out medication very often, but when I do it seems I get kind of spacey and headachy, not so today, I am not sure if it did anything for my add symptoms but it did seem to help with the "withdrawal" effects that usually occur on a day with out meds.
I am more skeptical than I probably should be about the safety and effectiveness of “all natural” type of stuff, I wish I could find more research.. My biggest question is does this stuff need to build up to be effective or does it wash right through? There are so many factors that could have influenced me in the past 2 days that I can’t get too excited, but I certainly will continue.
Any insite or info would be much appreciated!!

I found a GREAT article about Rhodiola as soon as I have a few seconds I will compile all the information in a hopefully easy to read form. As far as I understand right at this moment the effectiveness need not be built upon but is immediate.

Most of what I have read regarding Rhodiola rosea can best be summed up by these case studies which are very interesting. The World Health Organization has had success using Rhodiola rosea during the recent SARS outbreak. I did learn that in the 1980’s due to over cultivation the plant was depleted and trials on the scientifically formula was unsuccessful. In 1986 they finally got the formula correct.


(1)
Clinical Case Studies
The following cases are representative examples of the many clinical situations in which Rhodiola rosea may be beneficial. Although the presentation of individual cases does not carry the weight of double-blind placebo-controlled trials, the authors hope that these samples from their larger case series may help to generate interest and funding for future controlled clinical trials to explore the medical applications of this multipotent medicinal herb. Note that in some cases the patients served as their own controls by discontinuing R. rosea, relapsing, and then improving upon resumption of treatment.

Ms. W., a 45-year-old writer, never quite finished her doctoral thesis. A "block" prevented her from completing any manuscripts for publication. Seven years of psychotherapy did not alleviate the problem. After "drifting" for years and being terrified of taking any more prescription antidepressants, she tried 100 mg extract of R. rosea (Rosavinª, a preparation standardized to 1 percent salidroside and 3 percent rosavin, Ameriden International, Fallbrook, CA) twice a day. Although she had not considered herself to be depressed (and did not meet criteria for dysthymic disorder), within 6 weeks she experienced a new sense of enthusiasm and increased productivity. She became able to complete writing projects and to feel happy with herself. She was well for over two years on R. rosea. However, feeling recovered and happily married, she decided on her own to stop the herbal medicine and gradually relapsed over 6 months. Upon resuming the R. rosea, she again improved with full recovery.

Ms. P., a 50-year-old computer analyst, complained of constant fatigue, dragging herself out of bed every morning, and dreading encounters at work. Because she was highly sensitive to side effects of any psychotropic medication, she began with one pinch (equivalent to about 50 mg) of R. rosea extract (Rosavinª) in her morning tea. Within a few days her fatigue was gone. She had the energy and confidence to deal more effectively with the inevitable conflicts at work.

Ms. B., a 45-year-old mental health professional, had refractory depression and fibromyalgia for 5 years. Her symptoms were completely unresponsive to multiple trials of psychotropic medication. She had a partial response to the antidepressant sertraline (Zoloft¨, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRI), but this was not adequate for her to do more than carry out her daily job. The addition of 600 mg/day R. rosea extract (Rosavinª) enabled her to return to normal enjoyment and full productivity in life. It took about 2 months to see these effects. After 6 months, the patient began to doubt that she needed the R. rosea and discontinued it on her own, only to relapse over the next 3 weeks. Upon reinstitution of the R. rosea, she returned to full remission and remains well 2 years later on sertraline and R. rosea.

Mr. S., a 74-year-old man, had suffered from Parkinson's disease for 10 years. Despite conventional treatment with pramipexole (Mirapex¨), levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet¨), donepezil (Aricept¨), and rivastigmine (Exelon¨) for motoric and cognitive deficits, he was functioning poorly. He spent most of the day sitting in a chair, rarely speaking or initiating any activities. His wife, a practicing neurologist, carefully observed his clinical status and reported that within one week of starting 300 mg R. rosea extract (Rosavinª) twice daily he began to recover with marked progressive improvements in his abilities to think, speak, read, and initiate independent activities. Because of some residual cognitive impairment, galanthus (Galanthus spp., Amaryllidaceae) an herbal extract (customized formula by Ameriden International containing 100 mg R. rosea, 200 mg galanthus, and 50 mg plant cell-derived vitamin C) was added with consequent additional improvement.

Ms. A., an athletic 62-year-old Oriental woman, was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma of one breast. She began chemotherapy but suffered extreme fatigue and suppression of her white and red blood cell counts to the point where, despite conventional treatment adjuvants, the chemotherapy regimen had to be repeatedly interrupted. A trial of 150 mg R. rosea extract (Rosavinª) twice daily restored her energy and completely normalized her white and red blood cell counts, allowing completion of chemotherapy. Four months after mastectomy and chemotherapy, Ms. A. resumed her usual rigorous martial arts practice.



(1) http://www.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2371