"Jose J. Ortiz-Carlo" wrote:
>
> >From: Jan Coffey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >
> >--- "Jose J. Ortiz-Carlo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> > > If you wish to experiement with a non-drug solution for a sleep
> > > disorder,have you tried Melatonin? Doesn't do much for me, but I hear it
> > > does wonders for others. Also, Tryptophan (if you can find it somewhere)
> >is
> >
> > > supposed to be good.
> >
> >Uh? Melatonin and Tryptophan are both drugs.
> >
> >=====
>
> Your inquiry prompted me to do a little research. I quote the following
> excerpt from
>
> http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/ucdhs/health/a-z/27Insomnia/doc27.html
>
> "It should be stressed that melatonin is currently classified as a dietary
> supplement and not as a drug, so its quality and effectiveness is
> uncontrolled in the US. (The United State is the only developed nation that
> does not regulate this agent.) Melatonin is a powerful hormone that can have
> major effects, many still unknown, on all parts of the body."
>
> Another note on Tryptophan from the same site:
> "Of note, melatonin is structurally similar to L-tryptophan, another natural
> agent that has been used for insomnia."
Dietary supplements and herbal remedies shouldn't be used very much
unless you know what you're doing.
And you need to talk to your doctor about what you're taking, especially
if you have some sort of "condition".
As a pregnant woman in the last trimester, I can have garlic in my food
now and again, but I really, really oughtn't be taking a garlic
supplement, as lots of garlic acts as an anti-coagulant -- not something
you want when you know you're going to be doing some bleeding. (Aspirin
does the same, IIRC. I'm not supposed to take anything for pain besides
Tylenol, which is an analgesic and not an anti-inflammatory agent.) The
only things I'm taking are prescription prenatal vitamins (which count
as a "drug") and an iron supplement (which would count as a
"supplement"). I'm doing my darnedest to meet my calcium needs without
taking a calcium supplement. I try to be aware of what might be bad for
me in my current condition, and avoid it.
Now, just as insurance of a sort, I bought a package of herbal tea
containing something to help with milk production, just in case. Not
going to brew any of it until after the kidlets are born, and only if I
think it's appropriate.
> If anyone can find better sources of information on this topic, feel
free to
> jump in.
>
> My former therapist swore by both Melatonin and Trytophan. She would buy
> Tryptophan from a company in LA that marketed it as a "pet medication", and
> then use it on herself. She even gave me a couple of samples, but it never
> worked well with me. Go figure...
Nothing is going to work the same way on *everybody*. Someone may be
more sensitive to the effects of extra garlic than the next person. I
don't fall into a "turkey coma" as badly as some of my husband's
relatives do.
Figure out what works for you, but be aware of *how* it works, and if
the *how* doesn't go with something else you're doing, maybe you
shouldn't do it, and check with your doctor before you make a habit of
anything, just in case there's some weird additional effect that you
don't know about that would be bad for you personally.
Julia
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