Cortisol
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Maybe that is the case, yes. Let us know how you go. Perhaps if you're 'answerable' or needing to report in it'll help you be consistent?0
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Thanks for the reminder, May. Your "starry-eyed" episode sounds so strange and a little scary. I'm glad that's all that happened!
I have a bottle of Ashwaganda (plain) that I will start today. I also have some Tulsi tea (holy basil) that I had gotten last year after reading that it was beneficial--however I can't remember exactly how, haha! Maybe the combo will help me. I've actually been sleeping better the last three nights--about 8 hours!--and it's felt so good! This is also the third morning I haven't gained weight; just stayed the same, so that's good too. I hope it means I'm getting ready for a little loss, but I'm not holding my breath. My husband just shakes his head when he sees what I eat in comparison to what I gain/don't lose. It doesn't make sense. If my body is burning stored fat, shouldn't I be getting smaller, even a little? I must not be burning fat? I try to think it all out and get myself so frustrated---grrrrrah!0 -
If ashwaganda is the same as withania, I'm taking it twice a day from my chiro.0
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It's weird Ellen, but it didn't frighten me. And I'm easily frightened. But I felt totally well otherwise. I checked that it was both eyes, not just one, because my brother had a detached retina last year. But whether the stress reduction qualities of the stuff was helping me remain calm, or whether I'm just sick to death of being afraid with all the heart palpitation stuff that has been going on since late Feb (and has now stopped!) I couldn't tell you. But I had a cup of coffee with coconut milk added and it passed after about 5-10 minutes. The dosage definitely says 2 tablets a day and I'd taken the second one 10 or 11 hours after the first, so I will only be taking one a day since then.
Yes Twibbly, they are different words for the same herb. Have you had any interesting reactions? Just wondering if I had starry eyes after taking the recommended dose. Admittedly it was my first dose ever, and maybe you can build up an immunity.0 -
GrannyMayOz wrote: »Yes Twibbly, they are different words for the same herb. Have you had any interesting reactions? Just wondering if I had starry eyes after taking the recommended dose. Admittedly it was my first dose ever, and maybe you can build up an immunity.
No problems here. 2 x 95mg twice a day.0 -
Yikes. My ashwagandha is 400 mg. Maybe too much? Saw it recommended on the Dr. Mercola site. I don't know whether he's a good recommendation or not. Anyone?0
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I normally don't trust any one person's recommendation. I look at a bunch of different resources.0
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Agree--I read a whole bunch of online resources.0
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I'm watching from afar...curious to see everyone's results, but don't know yet if any of this is for me. But I do know that my chiropractor recommends info from Dr Mercola. ( I haven't listened to him or checked it out...sshhh.)
I'm sure my cortisol level must be through the roof though, with tons of stress from work. My treatment plan so far is to win the lottery and quit work, but that doesn't seem to be panning out. So I'll keep watching and see how all of this works for everyone here, then make a decision.0 -
Darn, that's my plan too!Kitnthecat wrote: »I'm watching from afar...curious to see everyone's results, but don't know yet if any of this is for me. But I do know that my chiropractor recommends info from Dr Mercola. ( I haven't listened to him or checked it out...sshhh.)
I'm sure my cortisol level must be through the roof though, with tons of stress from work. My treatment plan so far is to win the lottery and quit work, but that doesn't seem to be panning out. So I'll keep watching and see how all of this works for everyone here, then make a decision.
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Then after I win the lottery, I'll reduce stress even more by travelling around the world to visit all the wonderful people I have met through MFP !0
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@Kitnthecat thanks, your choro's recommendation is reassuring. Everything I've read about Ashwagandha sounds really good and safe, with a long history of usage. My dose of 400mg doesn't seem out of line with what I see online, so I went ahead and took my first one this morning. I thought it would be prudent to take it in the daytime to see what happens. If it revs me up, I won't lose sleep. If it makes me sleepy, I don't care. It will likely take a while before I see any effect, though. It will be marvelous if it lives up to its reputation! And if it helps me lose weight, I'll be a believer for life! I figure I'm the acid test for it. If it helps me, it will help anyone.
@May and @Twibbly have seen positive results, so that's an indication for good things ahead. We'll keep you posted! 0 -
@Ellen Dr Mercola is good from everything I've heard.
@Twibbly Phew, that's a relief. And obviously no weird starry eyes etc LOL
@ The other brand of ashwaganda that I didn't buy had a large measure in each tablet. I forget the figure but I'm sure it was around 800mg so yours would be fine.
@Kitn There's a bed here for you.
I've had a gain this morning but I had a bit of a cheese fest after I'd completed my diary and David got home from work. I hate that if you add to the diary after closing it, you lose the comments that people have made. Happens if you log a second lot of exercise in a day too.0 -
@May Good to know Dr. Mercola is good. He has tons of info on his site. I felt no effect of the Ashwaganda today, so glad there was nothing negative. I didn't realize that about the food diary. I've added to it, so must have lost things and didn't even know it.
Maybe the starry eyes weren't connected to the ashwagandha. I've had weird things happen, like suddenly seeing green paragraphs while I was reading, and there was no color on the page. My eye doctor didn't think anything of it---she said it just happens and means nothing. Just a thought.
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@May Good to know Dr. Mercola is good. He has tons of info on his site. I felt no effect of the Ashwaganda today, so glad there was nothing negative. I didn't realize that about the food diary. I've added to it, so must have lost things and didn't even know it.
Maybe the starry eyes weren't connected to the ashwagandha. I've had weird things happen, like suddenly seeing green paragraphs while I was reading, and there was no color on the page. My eye doctor didn't think anything of it---she said it just happens and means nothing. Just a thought.
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Thanks Ellen
Because I chew tablets they affect me pretty quickly, but it's good to know it possibly wasn't those.
I just changed my diary but there hadn't been any 'comments' on it, only 'likes' so I was happy to be able to update it to tell the truth. And the 'likes' have stayed put. No point missing food out of the whole diary just becomes a pack of wishful thinking that teaches me nothing about cause and effect ha ha!0 -
So happy to see all this info! Very useful.
@ Janice....You have a bed here too ready and waiting!
I have a question. I looked that the different links that May sent me for her collection of herbs. What struck me was that although they are a good selection none of them are at levels that are usually recommended for a single herb so theoretically they are below theraputic levels. Do they work synergistically in lower doses or, and sorry for suggesting this, is it a marketing ploy to make you think you are getting all these in one dose so it will be superduper when it is actually ineffective or placebo effect???
I am sure one of you can clarify this for me.
@ Ellen so sorry you couldnt use your Sytrinol. Mine doesnt have any nasties in it either and my tum is decreasing. 1/2 inch in last week. Been taking it 2 weeks. Cant you reorder a good brand? That was the one thing suggested to be effective in affecting the cortisol within the cells in the Cortisolconnection link.
I'm interested in the study you read by a Pharma company saying it raises cholesterol as it is marketed as a cholesterol lowerer!!! Do you have the link by any chance please????0 -
@jane What brand of Sytrinol do you use? I'll check it out. I don't remember the company that gave the caution. I looked at so many. Yes, all the brands of Sytrinol I saw were sold as cholesterol-lowering supplements. The company just cautioned that with some people, it raised instead of lowering it so people should get their lipids checked frequently. (That would probably be my luck!) Most people do have lowered cholesterol as a result of using it. I'd probably risk it if I could find a Sytrinol w/o troublesome additives. So glad to hear you've lost 1/2 in.!! Yahoo!!0
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This is the brand first developed. It definitely doesnt have grapefruit in it and no nasties!
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Thanks, Jane. I almost ordered Source Naturals, but the label pic on Amazon says "contains soy" so I didn't get it. I just checked on the Source Naturals site, and now they've changed the formulation and the label specifies that it does not contain soy! That means I could take it!! But now I wonder which one I'd get when I order it. I'll have to find a source that has the new formulation. Thank you for making me take another look!0
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jumanajane wrote: »
I have a question. I looked that the different links that May sent me for her collection of herbs. What struck me was that although they are a good selection none of them are at levels that are usually recommended for a single herb so theoretically they are below theraputic levels. Do they work synergistically in lower doses or, and sorry for suggesting this, is it a marketing ploy to make you think you are getting all these in one dose so it will be superduper when it is actually ineffective or placebo effect???
I am sure one of you can clarify this for me.
That's really interesting Jane. So I should try to take the second tablet by the look of it. I've taken one a day with no stars, so hopefully I can now take the full dose of 2. The very first tablet I took, I could feel an effect very soon after that just lasted a minute or so. I felt rather 'floaty' just very briefly. The second tablet that same day you already know about. 24 hours later I took my next one and did feel that hit, again very briefly, but no feeling at all since then. So they're not total placebo. I wasn't expecting any reaction at all so I didn't dream those up. But whether the levels are therapeutic I don't know. I measure my waist and stomach on Fridays so we'll see if/what Friday brings for my brand.
It'll be interesting to see how everyone fares with the various brands, concoctions and doses.
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GrannyMayOz wrote: »Wow! So I took my blood ketone reading this morning and it was 0.2 - not ketonic. I've read in various places that 0.5 is the minimum recording for a ketogenic state. I put my macros into the flexibleketogenic.com/?m=0 calculator each day and have been having a lot of low days, but always over "+1 equals mildly ketogenic". I haven't measured my blood for a while now; last reading was 8th May at 0.7. I am pretty much always 0.7 and have only twice seen 1.2 as my highest. So obviously (why?) I'm not a high ketone producer even when I was on 15g or less of carbs per day, every day for months on end. Since I raised my carb goal to c40 grams (on 13th May) perhaps I've not been ketogenic that whole time. But my weight has been behaving better since then because I also started taking the valerian. It's all a giant mystery isn't it?
Don't mean to hijack the thread here, but wanted to say thanks to Granny for the flexible keto link. I played around with my macros on there so I could get a higher ketosis rating...and am now anxious to see what happens from here on.
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To help me sleep I take a mix of herbs called Herbal Insomnia: Valerian root, passionflower herb, chamomile, hops, and Wild Lettuce leaf (Lactuca verosa). Works like a charm and no drug-style grogginess in the morning. I have Fibromyalgia and it interferes with normal sleep.
"Fibromyalgia's Connection to Impaired Deep Sleep
There are five stages of sleep, and in the course of a normal night's rest, a person will normally cycle through various stages, from light to deep to dreaming, every 90 minutes or so. Dreaming occurs during what's called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Interestingly, EEG (brain wave) studies have found that fibromyalgia patients lack the restorative levels of deep, non-REM sleep. It is during these deepest levels of sleep — also known as stages 3 and 4 — that the body restores and refreshes itself. Stage 3 is characterized by moderately deep sleep and stage 4, the deepest sleep phase, is when certain substances like growth hormones are released for body-tissue repair and replenishment.
Research suggests that people with fibromyalgia are constantly aroused by bursts of "awake" brain activity, which limits the amount of time they spend in these critical deep stages of sleep. "On EEG studies, fibromyalgia patients in deep-sleep stages have been found to have alpha waves, which are signs of arousal or wakening," says Patrick Wood, MD, chief medical advisor for the National Fibromyalgia Association. One study found that fibromyalgia patients experience at least twice as many arousals per hour as people without the disorder.
It's also common for people with fibromyalgia to have problems with concentration, thinking, and even memory, a condition known as "fibro fog." One possible reason: Memories are processed during sleep stages 3 and 4. "During these two stages of sleep, the brain sorts through information accumulated during the day, taking it out of short-term memory and putting it into long-term memory," says Dr. Wood. When the amount of deep sleep is reduced, experts speculate that the body may have a limited ability to repair and replenish the brain's functioning, affecting memory as well as energy.
Brain Chemicals: The Root of the Problem?
While the causes of sleep problems in those with fibromyalgia are not yet completely understood, research is uncovering possible links. One theory is that brain chemicals may be out of whack. "There's very good evidence that fibromyalgia is associated with abnormal amounts of dopamine, which is an energy-related neurotransmitter, or brain chemical," says Dr. Wood. Norepinephrine, another energizing neurotransmitter, and cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, have also been found to be abnormal in fibromyalgia patients."
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Don't mean to hijack the thread here, but wanted to say thanks to Granny for the flexible keto link. I played around with my macros on there so I could get a higher ketosis rating...and am now anxious to see what happens from here on.
That's wonderful to know that it's helped you. Thank you for mentioning it and I hope it serves you well.
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I use ST Wart and it has really help with my post meno mood.0
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canadjineh wrote: »To help me sleep I take a mix of herbs called Herbal Insomnia: Valerian root, passionflower herb, chamomile, hops, and Wild Lettuce leaf (Lactuca verosa). Works like a charm and no drug-style grogginess in the morning. I have Fibromyalgia and it interferes with normal sleep.
"Fibromyalgia's Connection to Impaired Deep Sleep
There are five stages of sleep, and in the course of a normal night's rest, a person will normally cycle through various stages, from light to deep to dreaming, every 90 minutes or so. Dreaming occurs during what's called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Interestingly, EEG (brain wave) studies have found that fibromyalgia patients lack the restorative levels of deep, non-REM sleep. It is during these deepest levels of sleep — also known as stages 3 and 4 — that the body restores and refreshes itself. Stage 3 is characterized by moderately deep sleep and stage 4, the deepest sleep phase, is when certain substances like growth hormones are released for body-tissue repair and replenishment.
Research suggests that people with fibromyalgia are constantly aroused by bursts of "awake" brain activity, which limits the amount of time they spend in these critical deep stages of sleep. "On EEG studies, fibromyalgia patients in deep-sleep stages have been found to have alpha waves, which are signs of arousal or wakening," says Patrick Wood, MD, chief medical advisor for the National Fibromyalgia Association. One study found that fibromyalgia patients experience at least twice as many arousals per hour as people without the disorder.
It's also common for people with fibromyalgia to have problems with concentration, thinking, and even memory, a condition known as "fibro fog." One possible reason: Memories are processed during sleep stages 3 and 4. "During these two stages of sleep, the brain sorts through information accumulated during the day, taking it out of short-term memory and putting it into long-term memory," says Dr. Wood. When the amount of deep sleep is reduced, experts speculate that the body may have a limited ability to repair and replenish the brain's functioning, affecting memory as well as energy.
Brain Chemicals: The Root of the Problem?
While the causes of sleep problems in those with fibromyalgia are not yet completely understood, research is uncovering possible links. One theory is that brain chemicals may be out of whack. "There's very good evidence that fibromyalgia is associated with abnormal amounts of dopamine, which is an energy-related neurotransmitter, or brain chemical," says Dr. Wood. Norepinephrine, another energizing neurotransmitter, and cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, have also been found to be abnormal in fibromyalgia patients."
Wow, that is so interesting---thank you! I have fibro and that description fits me to a T. I never realized before May started mentioning that she lost when she slept well and gained when she didn't. I've been taking notice of my pattern, and I'm doing the same thing. I slept pretty well last night and went down a pound. (No excitement here, I've lost and gained that pound more than 20 times.) The article just shows how important it is to get good sleep. I'm working on that. So glad you've found something that works well for you. Chamomile makes my heart flutter, so that mix wouldn't work for me, but I'm trying other things.0 -
wheatlessgirl66 wrote: »canadjineh wrote: »To help me sleep I take a mix of herbs called Herbal Insomnia: Valerian root, passionflower herb, chamomile, hops, and Wild Lettuce leaf (Lactuca verosa). Works like a charm and no drug-style grogginess in the morning. I have Fibromyalgia and it interferes with normal sleep.
"Fibromyalgia's Connection to Impaired Deep Sleep
There are five stages of sleep, and in the course of a normal night's rest, a person will normally cycle through various stages, from light to deep to dreaming, every 90 minutes or so. Dreaming occurs during what's called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Interestingly, EEG (brain wave) studies have found that fibromyalgia patients lack the restorative levels of deep, non-REM sleep. It is during these deepest levels of sleep — also known as stages 3 and 4 — that the body restores and refreshes itself. Stage 3 is characterized by moderately deep sleep and stage 4, the deepest sleep phase, is when certain substances like growth hormones are released for body-tissue repair and replenishment.
Research suggests that people with fibromyalgia are constantly aroused by bursts of "awake" brain activity, which limits the amount of time they spend in these critical deep stages of sleep. "On EEG studies, fibromyalgia patients in deep-sleep stages have been found to have alpha waves, which are signs of arousal or wakening," says Patrick Wood, MD, chief medical advisor for the National Fibromyalgia Association. One study found that fibromyalgia patients experience at least twice as many arousals per hour as people without the disorder.
It's also common for people with fibromyalgia to have problems with concentration, thinking, and even memory, a condition known as "fibro fog." One possible reason: Memories are processed during sleep stages 3 and 4. "During these two stages of sleep, the brain sorts through information accumulated during the day, taking it out of short-term memory and putting it into long-term memory," says Dr. Wood. When the amount of deep sleep is reduced, experts speculate that the body may have a limited ability to repair and replenish the brain's functioning, affecting memory as well as energy.
Brain Chemicals: The Root of the Problem?
While the causes of sleep problems in those with fibromyalgia are not yet completely understood, research is uncovering possible links. One theory is that brain chemicals may be out of whack. "There's very good evidence that fibromyalgia is associated with abnormal amounts of dopamine, which is an energy-related neurotransmitter, or brain chemical," says Dr. Wood. Norepinephrine, another energizing neurotransmitter, and cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, have also been found to be abnormal in fibromyalgia patients."
Wow, that is so interesting---thank you! I have fibro and that description fits me to a T. I never realized before May started mentioning that she lost when she slept well and gained when she didn't. I've been taking notice of my pattern, and I'm doing the same thing. I slept pretty well last night and went down a pound. (No excitement here, I've lost and gained that pound more than 20 times.) The article just shows how important it is to get good sleep. I'm working on that. So glad you've found something that works well for you. Chamomile makes my heart flutter, so that mix wouldn't work for me, but I'm trying other things.
So, speaking of random-can't-sleep stuff, I've been tested for cortisol results, response (where they give you pill then test blood the next day), and 24 hour urine collection (I hope and pray no one else here ever has to do this - it is so miserable a process...ugh). Everything showed that my cortisol levels are fine.
So, I can lay down, fall asleep within 5-10 minutes (according to my FitBit sleep tracker) and be woken up ten minutes after than and have been in REM. Very rarely do I hit that deep restorative sleep bit. Anyone have any ideas of what the heck? I also have a high level of wakefulness occurrences, as per the sleep study I had 5-7 years ago... 255 times or more I "woke" in 2 hours.0 -
Sounds miserable...so sorry for you.KnitOrMiss wrote: »wheatlessgirl66 wrote: »canadjineh wrote: »To help me sleep I take a mix of herbs called Herbal Insomnia: Valerian root, passionflower herb, chamomile, hops, and Wild Lettuce leaf (Lactuca verosa). Works like a charm and no drug-style grogginess in the morning. I have Fibromyalgia and it interferes with normal sleep.
"Fibromyalgia's Connection to Impaired Deep Sleep
There are five stages of sleep, and in the course of a normal night's rest, a person will normally cycle through various stages, from light to deep to dreaming, every 90 minutes or so. Dreaming occurs during what's called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Interestingly, EEG (brain wave) studies have found that fibromyalgia patients lack the restorative levels of deep, non-REM sleep. It is during these deepest levels of sleep — also known as stages 3 and 4 — that the body restores and refreshes itself. Stage 3 is characterized by moderately deep sleep and stage 4, the deepest sleep phase, is when certain substances like growth hormones are released for body-tissue repair and replenishment.
Research suggests that people with fibromyalgia are constantly aroused by bursts of "awake" brain activity, which limits the amount of time they spend in these critical deep stages of sleep. "On EEG studies, fibromyalgia patients in deep-sleep stages have been found to have alpha waves, which are signs of arousal or wakening," says Patrick Wood, MD, chief medical advisor for the National Fibromyalgia Association. One study found that fibromyalgia patients experience at least twice as many arousals per hour as people without the disorder.
It's also common for people with fibromyalgia to have problems with concentration, thinking, and even memory, a condition known as "fibro fog." One possible reason: Memories are processed during sleep stages 3 and 4. "During these two stages of sleep, the brain sorts through information accumulated during the day, taking it out of short-term memory and putting it into long-term memory," says Dr. Wood. When the amount of deep sleep is reduced, experts speculate that the body may have a limited ability to repair and replenish the brain's functioning, affecting memory as well as energy.
Brain Chemicals: The Root of the Problem?
While the causes of sleep problems in those with fibromyalgia are not yet completely understood, research is uncovering possible links. One theory is that brain chemicals may be out of whack. "There's very good evidence that fibromyalgia is associated with abnormal amounts of dopamine, which is an energy-related neurotransmitter, or brain chemical," says Dr. Wood. Norepinephrine, another energizing neurotransmitter, and cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, have also been found to be abnormal in fibromyalgia patients."
Wow, that is so interesting---thank you! I have fibro and that description fits me to a T. I never realized before May started mentioning that she lost when she slept well and gained when she didn't. I've been taking notice of my pattern, and I'm doing the same thing. I slept pretty well last night and went down a pound. (No excitement here, I've lost and gained that pound more than 20 times.) The article just shows how important it is to get good sleep. I'm working on that. So glad you've found something that works well for you. Chamomile makes my heart flutter, so that mix wouldn't work for me, but I'm trying other things.
So, speaking of random-can't-sleep stuff, I've been tested for cortisol results, response (where they give you pill then test blood the next day), and 24 hour urine collection (I hope and pray no one else here ever has to do this - it is so miserable a process...ugh). Everything showed that my cortisol levels are fine.
So, I can lay down, fall asleep within 5-10 minutes (according to my FitBit sleep tracker) and be woken up ten minutes after than and have been in REM. Very rarely do I hit that deep restorative sleep bit. Anyone have any ideas of what the heck? I also have a high level of wakefulness occurrences, as per the sleep study I had 5-7 years ago... 255 times or more I "woke" in 2 hours.
Separately, or perhaps not, I took 2 valerian pills last night and slept solid 6 hours falling asleep straight away. This was a result as I was anxious about a court appearance today, so am crediting the valerian with the sleep as quite often I wouldn't sleep before something I perceived as stressful.
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@KnitOrMiss I had the cortisol test two years ago. It showed that mine was messed up. I was tired when I should be awake and awake when I should be sleeping. My doctor never helped me with it; I don't think she knew what to do. After a sleep study they told me that I woke up something like every two minutes, and they put me on CPAP. Ugh.
I'm taking the ashwagandha and the past two days my heart has been fluttering like crazy. I don't like it. It hasn't been this bad in a long time. I'm going to stop taking it to see if my heart settles down.0 -
Yikes ! That care @wheatless !0
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