Posts by Nicole Nelson55

James Watson84 said:And here we go again with the artichoke leaf. In one thread, this stuff was supposedly detoxing the liver and spiking blood pressure, and now suddenly it’s magically lowering prolactin levels.👎 👎

I’m actually trying to hold back from making a more serious critique this time—really, I am.

Look, let's get it straight: artichoke leaf doesn't lower prolactin secretion. What it does is help detox the liver, which—if you're actually paying attention—is a necessary step before you even touch any supplements meant to target prolactin.

It’s really about finding that sweet spot—balanced nutrition (not about deprivation, just moderation, you know?), keeping active without overdoing it, and actually putting in the work on yourself as a whole person. If someone smokes or drinks, look, there's no sense in being judgmental—that's not helpful—but maybe point out the perks of quitting instead. As for supplements? They're fine, sure, but don't go blowing past 100% of your RDA. Every other week there's some new study showing how certain things can actually be harmful if you overdo them—think Vitamin E or antioxidants... stuff like that. For instance, if you're already eating enough fresh fruits and veggies, you probably don't need extra Vitamin C, unless you're actually sick or something.

briskcyclist11 said:Not many people realize that most of the bacteria found in every type of yogurt or whatever else is on the market gets wiped out by stomach acid. Capsules are recommended because they're designed to release their contents exactly where they're needed—in the gut. You really think $1.25 a day, which is what those capsules cost, is too much to pay for your own health??

The thing is, capsules are also a massive pain in the neck—you have to take them on an empty stomach, thirty minutes before eating, and you actually have to *remember* to do that. Nowadays, there are plenty of probiotics on the market in tablet form where the bacteria are tucked into oil-coated granules. They can survive the stomach acid for a few hours and then head straight to the intestines to actually do their job.

There are actually certain natural substances that work pretty effectively at dialing down prolactin levels. If you’re looking to suppress milk production specifically, artichoke leaf and sage tea infusions are the way to go.
Now, if you just need to bring those prolactin numbers down across the board, hemp tincture is probably your best bet. You really ought to run this by a professional herbalist first, though—I don't personally know anyone in Indianapolis, but I'm fairly certain you could find a specialist in Washington, D.C. or San Francisco. Honestly, the results I've seen are pretty encouraging.

Douglas Diaz2 said:If you happen to be dealing with stuff like this and feel more comfortable leaning toward natural remedies, I guess you might want to reach out to Stribor Marković over at the Cedrus Center.

I'm totally with you there—the guy basically revolutionized natural medicine by actually basing it on real science for once.

Sandra Harris2 said:Hmm... Maybe try some B vitamins or magnesium?

Deficiencies in those vitamins and minerals are a super common reason for feeling "groggy after sleeping."

Of course, it would be best to check in with a doctor to get your thyroid and other endocrine glands checked out...

She’s spot on there—if you're dealing with chronic fatigue, B vitamins and magnesium are usually the go-to. But, a little heads-up: don't just grab any random magnesium off the shelf. You want it in the form of glycerophosphate. If you take the cheap stuff—like those standard brands you see at CVS—it’ll basically turn your gut into a waterslide. As for the B vitamins, don't overdo it; more isn't always better. If you’ve got a decent diet with plenty of meat and grains, you probably don't need anything exceeding 50% of your RDA for a B complex. Just stay within reasonable limits.

If you want to branch out, ginseng and ginkgo can also help kickstart your energy. I'm also a big fan of leaning into spices—adding more ginger, turmeric, coriander, or cloves to your meals can actually help fight off that sluggish feeling over the long haul. Honestly, if you're one of those people who makes fresh juice at home, just tossing a bit of fresh ginger root into the juicer is a total game-changer.

Now, if we’re talking about the really heavy-duty, soul-crushing exhaustion, you might need to look into aromatherapy via specific encapsulated doses of essential oils—things like clary sage, Myrocarpus fastigiatus, Niauli (transnerolidol chemotype), and so on...

Look, what you're feeling—that whole mess of symptoms—could just be straight-up chronic stress and burnout, but honestly? It could also be something much more serious. My advice is to rule out the scary stuff first. Just go see a neurologist—even if you have to pay out of pocket for the appointment—so you actually know what you're dealing with. If you can get a clean bill of health and confirm there’s no underlying illness, then managing the fatigue and tension becomes a whole lot easier to wrap your head around.

Honestly, vaginal suppositories made with essential oils can be a total game-changer—I’ve actually seen people get some really solid results using them for both yeast infections and HPV. You can definitely find them here in the States, too. For dealing with yeast, you’re usually looking at a blend of tea tree, niaouli (specifically the linalool chemotype), palmarosa, cinnamon leaf, and German chamomile. Depending on how bad the inflammation is, you could use them once or even twice a day. Just a heads-up though—you won't find these sitting on a shelf at Walgreens; you really need to go through a certified herbalist or an aromatherapist who can custom-blend them specifically for what you're dealing with.

Long-term reliance on stuff like Sulfasalazine or corticosteroids—not to mention Tramadol—just isn't a sustainable way to go. You’ve got to watch out for things like anemia and that general sense of being completely wiped out (especially with Sulfasalazine), plus you're messing with your hormones and immune system balance in ways that aren't great. Honestly, I've seen much better results using natural approaches, specifically with devil's claw extract and fresh nettle supplements. People have been sticking to them for several months now, and my clients are actually really happy with how they feel.

Raymond Harris11 said:Wait, how can you not be taking any kind of treatment? I guess I wonder if you're feeling better so you don't feel like you need it, or if they just didn't prescribe anything specific to you?

My son actually went through a similar phase where he wasn't taking anything for a while, and things seemed fine for a bit, but then he started getting this pain in his foot and heel. We eventually took him to see a different rheumatologist who put him on some pretty heavy-duty medication.

I honestly can't say for sure myself whether all these medications are strictly necessary, but I suppose you really have to trust your doctor's judgment regarding the treatment plan.

Has anyone here ever tried using Cortisone or methotrexate? They seem like pretty intense drugs, so I was hoping to hear about people's experiences with them. Like, how long do people typically stay on them? And what kind of side effects should I maybe look out for?

The medications mentioned are incredibly aggressive, and let's be real, the side effects can be pretty serious. You're looking at a potent anti-rheumatic (Indomethacin), a cytostatic (methotrexate), and a corticosteroid (Cortisone). Beyond just stomach issues or digestive trouble, methotrexate can mess with fertility, suppress your immune system, and could even cause minor disorientation when you're driving or operating machinery. It’s just too much for someone that age.
I’d suggest starting with something lighter—maybe more natural supplements. Things like devil's claw, nettle leaf, or black currant have proven effects that could definitely help. Plus, you really ought to focus on a three-week liver detox beforehand; after all, the liver is basically the organ responsible for the whole "glitch" where the immune system decides its own joints are foreign invaders and starts attacking them.

feralwolf24 said:Is there any kind of tea or herbal blend—maybe a specific combo of plants—that actually helps with chronic, everyday headaches? I need to be really careful here because the person asking has an incredibly sensitive stomach... they've had surgery for stomach cancer, so whatever remedy is suggested absolutely has to be gentle enough not to mess with their digestion further.
Thanks

Look, obviously there are plenty of herbal blends or other remedies out there for headaches. But—and this is a big "but"—the most important thing is figuring out *why* they’re happening in the first place. Are we talking tension headaches 🙏from stress, maybe something liver-related—like if the liver is struggling to process toxins due to too many meds or just a bad diet—or is it sinus issues or something else entirely? Just popping something to kill the pain isn't enough; you aren't actually fixing the root cause that way. You have to target the source. Some things work better when taken orally, while others should be applied topically. And yeah, obviously, any recommendation has to take that stomach history into account.

crimsonhound28 said:What exactly is this "new French approach" you're talking about?
I'm down to chat about it—just give me a little more context so I can wrap my head around what you mean.

So, the whole European style of herbalism and aromatherapy is built on using medicinal plants and essential oils in a way that’s actually precise—we're talking professional-grade extracts where the dosage is specifically measured. It’s not just some vague "handful of leaves" thing. For instance, there's actual science showing that St. John's Wort extract works wonders for depression, but you have to take the exact right amount two or three times a day to see results. That’s the big difference from traditional herbalism, which usually relies on teas where you're just eyeballing things with teaspoons or pinches of herbs. This method focuses on creating specific, standardized formulations. In fact, this school of thought led to the development of SIPF products—which were the first ones on the market made from fresh herbs rather than dried ones, since drying them out basically kills off most of the active ingredients. Because they use fresh material, they can make everything from targeted capsules with exact dosages to suppositories for hemorrhoids, vaginal treatments for HPV, therapeutic creams without all those nasty chemical preservatives or dyes, natural cosmetics, and all sorts of other stuff.

Stress is easily one of the biggest culprits behind those annoying heart palpitations—you know, that "skipped beat" feeling. And honestly? You don't even have to realize you're stressed for it to happen. It’s just that constant, grinding pressure from daily life building up until your heart decides to act out. I bet almost everyone has felt that sensation at least once. It can hang around for a few days or just linger indefinitely. But look, if you start dealing with dizziness, chest pains, or anything else sketchy, you seriously need to go see a doctor.

For starters, try to backtrack and see if any recent chaos in your life triggered this. Maybe try some natural stuff to take the edge off—things like passionflower or valerian root. As for coffee—it's not the monster people make it out to be; if you're just having two cups a day, you probably don't need to cut it out entirely. Cigarettes, though? That's a different story. They crank up your heart rate, spike your blood pressure, and mess with your muscle tone, so if I were you, I'd quit them cold turkey.

Since you've been dealing with this stuff for quite a while now—and honestly, it sounds like classic prostate issues—I’d really suggest just biting the bullet and seeing a urologist. Getting an ultrasound and a quick digital exam should be enough to start with, just so you actually know what we're dealing with. Once you have a real diagnosis in hand, figuring out a treatment plan becomes a whole lot less of a guessing game.

As far as natural remedies go, they can actually be pretty effective for prostate stuff if you use them right. Take nettle, for example. You can't just grab any old thing off the shelf; you need to make sure whatever supplement or tea blend you're using is made from the root, not just the leaves. Using the leaves won't do much for you.
I'd also suggest trying some suppositories for about ten days or so—specifically ones formulated with essential oils like chamomile, myrtle, and LEDUM. It might help take the edge off.

Anyone here actually down to have a real conversation about medicinal herbs, extracts, and essential oils—specifically how they’re used following those modern, French-style principles? Because let’s be clear: modern natural medicine isn't some vague continuation of old-school folk remedies. It has absolutely nothing to do with that traditional American "cure-all" mindset where people think every single plant can fix every single ailment. Modern phytotherapy and aromatherapy aren't based on guesswork; they’re built on narrow specificity, where we actually know the exact, precise purpose of every individual plant.