Kava Kava or Vallerian Root?

[Anderson]

I use vallerian root extract in form of pills when I want to sleep deeper and not to wake up during the night.

I was wondering if anyone here has some experience with Kava Kava. I heard it's better than vallerian root.

[James]

(08-01-2012 04:24 AM)Anderson Wrote:  I use vallerian root extract in form of pills when I want to sleep deeper and not to wake up during the night.

I was wondering if anyone here has some experience with Kava Kava. I heard it's better than vallerian root.

I prefer kava. I don't like the smell or taste of valerian to begin with. This "dirty gym socks" smell comes from the valerenic acid that forms from the oxidation of the plant as it is dried. Generally oxidation also reduces the effectiveness pf plants as oxidation destroys many active compounds in plants.

Another problem with valerian is that in a small percentage of people it has the opposite effect and actually acts like a stimulant.

I have used kava occasionally and find it works much better that valerian.

Another option is the amino acid glycine taken in an empty stomach. Glycine helps to increase GABA levels in the brain, which slows down brain activity and helps us to relax.

[Anderson]

I have read somewhere that the precursor to GABA is gluthamine. Is it like glycine helps but it's not the precursor?

[Anderson]

http://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/t...id-therapy

[James]

(08-01-2012 11:05 PM)Anderson Wrote:  I have read somewhere that the percursor to GABA is gluthamine. Is it like glycine helps but it's not the percursor?

Glycine is first converted in to glutamate by the enzyme glutaminase. Glutamate is then converted in to GABA by glutamate decarboxylase.

Glycine can be converted in to glutamate with the aid of the enzyme glycine transaminase.

[Anderson]

The enzymes names can make one dizzy....

Which one whould be the best then? Glycine or gluthamine?

[James]

(08-02-2012 07:02 AM)Anderson Wrote:  The enzymes names can make one dizzy....

Which one whould be the best then? Glycine or gluthamine?

Both are great, but I tend to lean towards glycine mainly because of its smaller size makes it more readily absorbed. Glycine is actually the smallest of the amino acids.

On the other hand both glycine and glutamine have other properties that could make one a better choice over the other in certain instances. For example, if the person has intestinal lining damage or elevated ammonia levels then glutamine would be a better choice since it will address those issues as well. Glycine on the other hand is helpful in the cases of connective tissue diseases or osteoporosis since glycine is a component collagen and elastin.

[Anderson]

One can also have an enzyme defficiency which screws up the whole process, right?

[James]

(08-03-2012 02:03 PM)Anderson Wrote:  One can also have an enzyme defficiency which screws up the whole process, right?

Possible, but highly unlikely. These kind of problems are genetic and therefore you would have been born with the problem and had lifelong issues.

[Anderson]

I continue taking my vallerian pills which (thank God) don't taste anything since I can't find kava kava.

What doses do you recommend for the amino acids?

[Anderson]

Another thing I came to is that I can also try to take flaxseeds daily to see if my anxiety goes down due to its suppressing effects on the thyroid.

Another thing that leads me to think that it can be from hyperthyroidism is that I have a very hard time keeping my weight and I'm hungry very often.

Does ashwagandha also suppress the thyroid?

[James]

(08-04-2012 02:13 PM)Anderson Wrote:  I continue taking my vallerian pills which (thank God) don't taste anything since I can't find kava kava.

What doses do you recommend for the amino acids?

I recommend 500-1000mg three times daily at least 30 minutes before meals.

[James]

(08-04-2012 11:55 PM)Anderson Wrote:  Another thing I came to is that I can also try to take flaxseeds daily to see if my anxiety goes down due to its suppressing effects on the thyroid.

You can try, but anxiety is normally due to elevated lactate or an excess of epinephrine with a lack of acetylcholine to balance it. If the flax seed does not help then you can try addressing high lactate or try increasing your acetylcholine levels.

Another thing that leads me to think that it can be from hyperthyroidism is that I have a very hard time keeping my weight and I'm hungry very often.

There are several things that can cause that including diabetes. So be careful on diagnosing yourself on such limited symptoms.

Does ashwagandha also suppress the thyroid?

No, it has supportive effects on the thyroid.

[Anderson]

I'll make the test with flaxseeds during this week. Two table spoons every morning in the smothie.
I'll report if I feel any difference.

[Anderson]

Maybe I should also avoid spirulina?

[James]

(08-05-2012 11:41 PM)Anderson Wrote:  Maybe I should also avoid spirulina?

I see no reason to avoid spirulina.

[Anderson]

I thought about iodine...

[James]

(08-06-2012 06:54 AM)Anderson Wrote:  I thought about iodine...

Forget all the hype about spirulina being high in iodine. Spirulina only has about 1.2 micrograms of iodine per 100 grams of spirulina powder.

[Anderson]

Flaxseeds didn't work so I have already dropped that...