(Part 2) Best echinaceea herbal supplements according to redditors

I hate doctors who won't put people on SSRI's or other psychiatric meds because of their age. I've been on Wellbutrin for ~2.5yrs now since I was 23 and it's helped a lot! I can't take SSRI's or SNRI's because I get serotonin poisoning so wellbutrin is really the only thing I can take. I will likely be on Wellbutrin till the day I die but that doesn't bother my as I don't get any side effects from it aside from appetite reduction, but that's been a good thing! ;) Some SSRI's are only taken during the week or so before your period, it all depends on what medication you respond to.

My PMDD symptoms are very similar to yours. It's like I become a different person and oftentimes completely lose the will to live every month. Diet and exercise play a big role in managing symptoms! Dramatically reducing caffeine and sugar intake helps a lot as does vigorous exercise at least 3 times a week.

Personally I don't have issues with caffeine as long as I watch my intake (anything over 100mg a day makes me feel like shit) and keep it consistent. I've cut out white breads and most refined foods, especially sugar! During my PMDD time I'll indulge any fatty food craving but try to reign in sugar cravings with fruit, dark chocolate, or sugar free cookies. I also up my protein intake during that time as it curbs my appetite.

As I mentioned above, I can't take most meds. I'm ridiculously sensitive to them and have had life threatening reactions. If your psychiatrist does genotyping I highly recommend getting that! It'll give you a good idea what medications you can or shouldn't take. There are 3 categories ranging from "shouldn't have issues" to "don't ever take this drug if you want to live". Almost every psych med our there is in that last category for me! Everyone is different though so I don't want that to scare you! My fiance had the same thing done and there are hardly any medications he can't take!

I'm the same way with birth control so now, along with the wellbutrin and watching my lifestyle, I take an herbal tincture. I don't like taking lots of pills so if you don't like the idea of a tincture, there are gel cap options too. There is a significant difference in my symptoms when I take this and it lets me be more or less functional the entire month. I take two doses daily during my PMDD time and one dose daily the rest of the month. It tastes terrible so have a flavorful beverage to wash it down with if you try it!

I've read up on whether or not a hysterectomy can cure PMDD and I'm not convinced it's worth the risk, especially since it can make things worse instead of better.

Sorry this became a wall of text but I hope this helps!

Seconding the suggestion for 4-aco-dmt.

I've microdosed 4-aco-dmt for one year (off and on) and it works GREAT. Dosage is 100% controllable and consistent, physically feels clean, without side-effects. Being able to dose very accurately is an important part of microdosing -- adjusting up or down makes it easier to find the "sweet spot".

Here's what you need:

-- 60mg 4-aco-dmt or more

-- a scale accurate to 0.001g (should be $30 on Amazon)

-- a bottle of Propylene Glycol (an edible non-toxic liquid used in cough syrups and candies, less than $10 on Amazon)

-- a small (30ml) amber glass bottle with dropper (I reused a store-bought herbal tincture bottle from Herb Pharm -- looks totally innocuous when traveling -- something like this:https://www.amazon.com/Herb-Pharm-Certified-Organic-Echinacea-x/dp/B00028NR2I)

-- optional, but highly recommended: Amazon sells droppers that have milliliter markings on them. This way you can set dosages very accurately (www.amazon.com/Measured-Marked-Dropper-Boston-Bottles/dp/B01604GLRU/ref=sr_1_11)

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Here's how to do it:

-- make sure your bottle is empty, clean and dry. Fill your bottle with propylene glycol -- not all the way to the very top, leave the neck empty -- this should be very close to 30ml.

-- CAREFULLY weigh out 60 milligrams of 4-aco-dmt: place cigarette paper or some similar smooth untextured piece of paper. "Tare" the scale (put the paper on scale before turning it on, so that it reads zero when fully on). Use a toothpick or the tip of a knife to scoop exactly 60 milligrams onto paper. Be careful, precision matters.

-- CAREFULLY put 4-aco-dmt into bottle. Add marked dropper, close, and shake repeatedly. The 4-aco-dmt doesn't dissolve right away, it may take two days or so to dissolve fully. Leave it out and shake it a few times a day, until you don't see any solids in the liquid. (The liquid is active right away, but for consistency's sake, best to wait until fully dissolved.)

-- Store bottle in fridge, if possible. Shake before use! Best is to open bottle, drain stopper into bottle, re-close, then shake, then measure dosage.

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Now you have a bottle of tincture with 2 milligrams of 4-aco-dmt in every milliliter. In the fridge, it should stay potent for 6 months or more.

You should start your mom on 0.5ml (half-dropper) every 4th day (that's 1mg 4-aco-dmt / dose). Adjust her dose up or down as needed. I microdose in the range 0.5mg (one-quarter dropper) up to 2mg (one full dropper), but usually 1mg (half-dropper) -- that's just what works for me.

Hi, yes of course! So, he gave me his special supplier stuff, but I looked at the labels, and this is roughly the same (and cheaper):

Adrenal complex - I took something like this 2x a day.

http://www.amazon.com/Jarrow-Formulas-Adrenal-Optimizer-Count/dp/B0015ZW6QA

Dandelion extract - I used this 2x daily, starting on day 15 of my cycle (ovulation). This really helped to relieve the mood swings that came with my late cycle. He said it would help me "conjugate my hormones". Whatever you say, doc!

http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Answer-Alcohol-Free-Dandelion-1-Fluid/dp/B000I4DH08/ref=sr_1_1

Progesterone cream - he said this would help support my low progesterone. I'll be honest - it did nothing for me.

http://www.amazon.com/Foods-Progesterone-Cream-Lavender-Ounces/dp/B0019LTGTA/ref=sr_1_6

Adrenal complex + dandelion extract worked for me. I don't know if it's right for you, but maybe it will give you some idea do what to try!

Before he gave me any of this, I did a saliva hormone test. It was pretty gross spitting into little vials every day, but he said it gave him a good look at my cortisol levels.

Please keep us updated!