What herbs can help bipolar brain?

Answer 1

There are no herbal remedies effective enough to treat bipolar disorder, and no other non-medication remedies,either (like exercise, eating right, using a light box, etc.) You have to take medication, there is a lot of evidence for this.

Here are my tips for helping manage bipolar disorder:

If your depression seems to be more of a problem in the winter, try to get more sun. You could have seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, or your depression could have a seasonal component, meaning you can get depressed other times of the year, but you tend to have more trouble in the winter. A light box is really good if you can afford one (about $300 online, don't get it at a local store, they will charge more for a light less than 1/2 as bright).

Exercise more. Exercise is a natural mood stablilizer. My counselor has been nagging me to exercise again.

Try meditation tapes like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. They may seem silly at first, but they work!! Hopefully your library will have some of these tapes. Helps you cope with the depression, and maybe calms down the mania somewhat.

Go out with friends, and if you don't have any, find a club to join and MAKE yourself go until you actually look forward to it. Isolation makes depression worse, MUCH worse!!

Try to regulate how much sleep you get. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Keep some routines, too. Try not to give in to oversleeping when depressed, and staying up all night when you are getting manic. Make sure you bedroom is pitch black at night, even turn your clock away or cover it up.

Do things that comfort you, or do things that distract you. Like take a bath, read a book, do a hobby.

I give these suggestions to lots of folks, and hardly anyone ever tries them.. I have really really severe psychiatric symptoms from bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder, I mean, I have one of the most severe cases you can get. And I am able to control my behavior almost 100% even when I am suffering, and able to feel quite a bit better using some of these tricks, because the meds have only been partly effective for me. If I didn't do stuff like the above, I would be in an institution for sure. so please try some of these things, there is no harm in them, and they may provide some real relief for you.

Finally, counseling is probably a good investment for you, insurance or no. You have to learn how to let stress slide off you as best you can, to reduce symptoms.

Also go to bipolarworld.net and read up on Dr. Phelp's stuff. He has some non medication approaches (like "dark therapy" that you can try. I'm going to tell you, though, unless your bipolar is pretty mild, you are going to have to take the pills or you may well ruin your life and relationships and you won't live as long, either.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Herb Denninberg, may be able to help but I don't know of any others

Answer 3

some herbs are ok for the brain, but a person with a bi polar, needs medications from a psychiatrist.

Answer 4

Omega-3 fatty acids, ginko biloba, and also a dash of vitamin B-complex (drink alot of water makes one v heaty and urine takes on a think orange)

Answer 5

st. john's wort