Archive for NEEPS North East Eco-friendly People's Site
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PurpleDragon
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SupplementsRight, I am sick and tired of feeling like a heap of junk. I am really needing some assistance to my diet to tide me over until the summer comes and kicks my immune system back into condition.
I am asking here what others use as supplements to cope with :
joint pain/stiffness - Sometimes, like today, I can barely move my hands. They don't particularly hurt (although they ache a bit) but it is like my brain has forgotten how to make the fingers work. I could barely unbutton the duvet covers!
memory loss - half way thru a sentence I forget what I am talking about; I forget words for things; I forget names; etc etc
immune system when my cat bites turned septic, so did my knees, and now I have a chest infection/cough
I am currently taking antibiotics for the septic bites, anti inflammatories for the Tietze Syndrome, calcium/vitamin D because I am not absorbing calcium properly, 600mg iron daily because I can't retain iron levels, and Multibionta which is a multi-vitamin with that 'nice' bacteria (I can't stand those drinks - they make me barf!).
Tips, anyone?
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Ina
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Turmeric for the joints - I find that helps better than any anti-inflammatories I've ever been given by the docs. Plus I'll start on another course of glucosamines (if SUMA manage to deliver this time!).
As to memory loss - I've heard that Gingko Biloa is supposed to help, but I've never tried it myself.
I also take a multivitamin and mineral supplement; but maybe you need a bit extra vitamin C, if your immune system is so bad? Some people just need a constant supply - something to do with their metabolism getting rid if it too quickly or so. Echinacea should be good for you, too.
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PurpleDragon
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How do you take the tumeric?
What do the glucosamines do?
I read something just recently that says that taking ginko bilboa in middle age is good for memory loss, but as you get older, it actually makes alzheimers worse!
Ah, vitamin C - how could I have forgotten.
I think I will take a course of echinacea as well, but apparently garlic can be more effective - have you heard this?
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baldowrie
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glucosamines...there has been reports about these being damaging, so becareful.
Good old omega 3 fish oils will help with memory and concentration. They will also help with arthritis...doctors would love to prescribe them but the government won't put them on the 'list'.
They are also good for stress, heart, blood pressure, and cholesterol lowering
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Diana
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Agree Turmeric (put it in smoothies, recipes, any way you can manage) and Gingko Biloa.
You could also try:
Echinacea - immune system (as a tea[Raspberry and Echinacea is good] or capsule)
Arnica - aches and pains (as an ointment or essential oil in some almond oil)
Apple Cider vinegar - inflamation and absorption or nutrients (try 1 tsp ACV and 1 tsp honey in 1 cup of boiled water - allow to cool a bit before drinking of course)
Honey is good for infection - taken internally or applied direct to the wound (local, unpasturised is much better for this than supermarket stuff)
To be honest, I find a regular walk helps a lot - fresh air, not in a gym.
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Ina
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| baldowrie wrote: | | glucosamines...there has been reports about these being damaging, so becareful. |
It seems that some people are allergic to glucosamines. However, I'm not sure whether it's the type derived from shellfish they are allergic to - in which case it may be a shellfish allergy... I take the vegan type. Just seems to help strengthen the joints, and make them more supple.
I take turmeric by the half spoon full, washed down with water. Takes a bit of getting used to, I must admit. But usually I only have to take it for a few days - three times a day - and then I'm a lot better.
Garlic is always good to ward off infections - same as onions, only more so. (The smellier, the more effective, it seems!  )
Just remembered - I also usually wear a copper bracelet. I started that when I was working on a farm where I had to do quite a bit of hand milking, and my fingers/joints became very stiff and painful. It helped a lot - although I've never understood why it would!
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Julie
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| Ina wrote: |
Garlic is always good to ward off infections - same as onions, only more so. (The smellier, the more effective, it seems! )
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According to gypsy lore (Leon Petulengro) you can add horseradish to the above two. He believes them to be three powerful natural antiseptics.
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PurpleDragon
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| Quote: | baldowrie Good old omega 3 fish oils will help with memory and concentration. They will also help with arthritis...doctors would love to prescribe them but the government won't put them on the 'list'.
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Oh, golly - I had forgotten about Omega3. Shows what my memory is like! I can't take evening primrose because it makes me homicidal, but I can certainly try these! How stupid am I, because I give these to my kids to help them with their learning problems.
| Quote: | Diana
Echinacea - immune system
Arnica - aches and pains
Apple Cider vinegar - inflamation and absorption or nutrients
Honey is good for infection - taken internally or applied direct to the wound
To be honest, I find a regular walk helps a lot - fresh air, not in a gym.
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I have ordered some echinacea. I know that you can only take a course, rather than take it regularly, otherwise it is less effective. I am hoping this will kick start my immune system again.
I do use arnica in a massage oil. Perhaps I should use it more often.
I have honey every day. I am a honey addict - I have it on toast every day!
Once the wee dog finishes his jags, and i get my 'dog car' back again, I can start taking the dogs back to the woods for their walks. Right now, they are stuck in the garden for their exercise.
| Quote: | Ina
It seems that some people are allergic to glucosamines.
I take turmeric by the half spoon full, washed down with water. Takes a bit of getting used to, I must admit. But usually I only have to take it for a few days - three times a day - and then I'm a lot better. |
But what are glucosamines for?
| Quote: | | Ina Garlic is always good to ward off infections - same as onions, only more so. (The smellier, the more effective, it seems! ) |
I think my man would leave home if I started smelling of garlic - he can't abide the smell!
| Quote: | | Ina Just remembered - I also usually wear a copper bracelet. |
I wear a magnetic bracelet. I have found it works wonders, but I don't know why either!
Thanks for your replies, everyone 
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Ina
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| PurpleDragon wrote: |
But what are glucosamines for?
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They do seem to strengthen the joints and make the more supple and less painful. Why - I have no idea... (I should have paid more attention at biology, I think! :? )
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Julie
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PD, I don't know whether it actually works but an Italian cook I used to know would saute the garlic in the oil until it browned and then remove it. She said it added flavour without making you smell of garlic. You would need to test it out and breathe on him to find out.
Not sure if it would still give any medicinal benefit that way either, but I thought it might be a useful thing to pass on.
Re Glucosamine; My Chemist told me that they are a thing you need to take over a long period of time (ie; ten years or so) before you can tell if they have done you any good.
They are preventative rather than curative as they help the body to make cartilage which is the shock absorbsion material in the joints. Anyone who does a lot of activity which is likely to give their joints a pounding should take it as a way of reducing the damage they might do.
They don't have any pain relieving properties (unless combined with other ingredients for pain relief) and any evidence to support claims for their effectiveness is anecdotal as there haven't been any 'proper' clinical trials conducted on them yet. They are classed as a food supplement rather than a medicine for the same reason. That is also why you can buy them off the shelf rather than having to get a prescription or ask the Chemist for them.
Re Turmeric; I also find this effective, but not enough to give up the NSAID's for. Being a bit of a cynic, I tried it out on the dog too who also responded remarkably well. I wasn't sure if I was imagining it because I wanted it to work, so she was the 'control' for the experiment. It does taste foul, but Holland and Barratt sell it in two a day capsule form.
It is also a good source of iron and helps to protect the stomach from the ulcers that NSAID's can cause.
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PurpleDragon
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| Ina wrote: | | PurpleDragon wrote: |
But what are glucosamines for?
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They do seem to strengthen the joints and make the more supple and less painful. Why - I have no idea... (I should have paid more attention at biology, I think! :? ) |
I had a look in the chemist the other day, but decided to go for a fish oil supplement instead, which should do the same job but it also has Omega 3 in the same pill, so I am killing two birds with one stone.
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PurpleDragon
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| Julie wrote: | Re Turmeric; I also find this effective, but not enough to give up the NSAID's for. Being a bit of a cynic, I tried it out on the dog too who also responded remarkably well. I wasn't sure if I was imagining it because I wanted it to work, so she was the 'control' for the experiment. It does taste foul, but Holland and Barratt sell it in two a day capsule form.
It is also a good source of iron and helps to protect the stomach from the ulcers that NSAID's can cause. |
I think I am going to skip the whole garlic thing. I used to work with a bloke who ate a lot of garlic and although I couldn't smell it on his breath, I could smell it off his skin when he got warm. Yuck.
I am quite interested in tumeric. I shall keep an eye out for that, as it sounds like I might be able to drop the iron supplement if I take that instead.
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baldowrie
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| Quote: | | I had forgotten about Omega3 |
definitely need a good dose of them then 
| Quote: | | but decided to go for a fish oil supplement instead, which should do the same job but it also has Omega 3 |
Well it is basically fish oil anyway 
My son takes it for his concentration and it keeps his autistic trait behaviours in check, without them he 'zones out' for several mins several times a day and becomes distraught
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PurpleDragon
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My kids have been taking Omega 3's for a while now, and I have noticed a difference.
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baldowrie
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My boy has been taking 1000mg 3 times a day for nearly 7 years, he misses 1 dose I can tell by his behaviour. He gets confused, upset, zones out etc.
I have tired lower doses but as he grew the dose wasn't holding him. 1000mg seems to be the right dose for him.
Before any one should sound the alarm his pead knows what he takes and how much and has said if it helps continue. She would have said if she felt it detrimental to him as that would form abuse.
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