Pharma Thistle Gold

Pharma Thistle Gold is NutriGold's very own version of the herb Milk Thistle, which is known for its gallbladder and especially liver usages. Milk Thistle is a really powerful herb for the liver, and has even been said to have cured some people of liver damage. I can't verify that, but I can share all the uses and benefits of Pharma Thistle Gold, so keep a scrollin'.

What Milk Thistle Does

As you can tell, Pharma Thistle Gold is a supplement that's useful to take for healthy liver function. 

Milk Thistle may also have the ability to protect the liver from free radical damage, and also rejuvenate it.

It's also great for cleansing the liver, and since the liver is the organ that metabolizes a lot of things we put in our bodies such as medications, it's important to keep that sucker healthy and properly cleansed so it functions as well as possible. And it really is necessary that the liver is able to function as best as possible. I used to think the liver was somewhat unimportant! Mostly because I just never really learned what all its jobs were, but was always taught more about the big jobs the heart has in school. The liver kind of took a backseat to the heart, so for a while I just didn't realize how hugely necessary it was to keep the heifer in good shape.

Milk Thistle stimulates the growth of liver cells, which can replace damaged areas of the liver.

The ingredient in Milk Thistle that promotes the function of the liver is called Sylimarin, and Sylimarin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Anytime antioxidants are a part of a supplement, that's a positive thing. They're very important to consume, too. More importantly, the antioxidant is supposed to help protect liver cells from things like environmental toxin damage and even toxins that are in food, water and the air.

In other words, Milk Thistle does both: cleanse or "detoxify" the liver of damaging toxins and stuff, and allows it to function better, meaning a healthier liver. 

That's like a two in one, which is why I was excited to try it. I'd been trying to drink a lot of lemon water to "flush" my liver so it would stay in good shape, but when I found out that Milk Thistle did that and then some (making it healthier overall), I thought it was just perfect. No more yucky water. 

I particularly started trying to work on my liver health because I've taken a lot of BC Powder over the years, and a lot of other harmful medications to help with pain from migraines and endometriosis pain. The worry of the damage building up kept nagging at me, and it lead me to looking into what I could do to help my liver's health. The acetaminophen in things like BC Powders and Tylenol can be very harmful for your liver, and stomach too! I was given the "BC Riot" by a nurse when I had surgery for endometriosis, and figured eventually I needed to really do something about it. 

The bottle of Pharma Thistle Gold contains 90 capsules and 175 milligrams of Milk Thistle per vegetarian capsule.


Usage/Dosage :  Adults take 1 vegetarian capsule one to three times daily with a small meal, or as directed by a healthcare professional.

P.S. NutriGold has a FAQ section on their Pharma Thistle Gold page that answers a lot of questions like "how do you know if you need Milk Thistle?" and ingredient info, plus other information stuff that I encourage you to read if Pharma Thistle Gold is something you're considering.



Possible Drug Interactions
Below you can find the info listed on the bottle's label, but first I must give the warning: Do not combine Milk Thistle with any other herb or supplement or drug! Unless of course you have a trusted healthcare professional's approval (preferably one who knows about herbs!) I say this because I take different things depending on what state of issue or non-issue I am having at the time, and since I am on some medication, I have to research before taking something. I learned that Milk Thistle uses the same cytochrome pathway (P450) as quite a few other herbs and drugs, including one I take occasionally, when necessary.

So when you combine things like this take both use this same liver enzyme pathway, things can get out of whack. A lot of the things I read said that using Milk Thistle with other herbs or especially medications that use the same (P450) cytochrome pathway can cause it (the medication) to potentiate!

This can be dangerous because it basically means it may increase the time the medication stays in your blood stream and therefore, side effects that some medications have (I think it's mostly pain medication side effects that are the biggest scare in this situation, from what I understood) to increase or be more potent than usual. This means it can raise risks of OD'ing, for some people.

Then there's also the possibility of it doing the opposite and inhibiting the other medication/supplement.

You can read about the whole P450 and drug interactions here.

Other Possible Side Effects: Milk Thistle can have a mild laxative effect on some people. I suppose if you were experiencing trouble here, it could be useful.

NutriGold gives a suggestion for in case this happens, saying that taking it with a meal may be helpful if you experience diarrhea. This hasn't happened to me at all, and my digestive system is very easily upset, so if that's any help...

I'll say, I have been 100% fine with my own journey, so I know that for me, I just have to be aware of what herbs I use and never to over-consume them. Ever. Still, you have to be careful. So, now that that un-fun part is out of the way, let's get to something more interesting...

More possible Benefits of Milk Thistle:

- Can help improve liver damage or disease like cirrhosis. (Source: Journal of Hepatology. 1998)

- It's also used for gallbladder disorders, jaundice and for it's possibility to lower cholesterol (particularly when taken in combination with other things).

• "Studies have shown a decrease in blood sugar levels and an improvement in cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes." Source: WebMD.

-Can help people with Hepatitis B and C.
(Source: International Journal of Clinical Pharmacological Therapy Toxicology. 1993)

-Could help prevent those kind of problems, like liver damage (since it flushes, protects and detoxes the liver). It can protect the liver from further damage, though.

-Used to help diabetes symptoms. According to WebMD: "Medical research does suggest that milk thistle, combined with traditional treatment, can improve diabetes."

- Some say Milk Thistle can reduce growth of cancer cells in breast, cervical, and prostate cancers. Some have used Milk Thistle for these things and claimed results of some kind or another, but of course it's something that's natural, and unfortunately, will never be given any recognition if it does have such an amazing ability.

-The active ingredient in Milk Thistle (Sylimarin) also protects against paracetamol-induced lipid peroxidation. (Source: Journal of Applied Toxicology. 1992)

- - "Researchers have found that Milk Thistle can actually prevent or reduce drug-induced liver damage." (Source: Milk Thistle: Effects on Liver Disease and Cirrhosis and Clinical Adverse Effects.)

- Milk Thistle has shown the ability to neutralize and detoxify the deadly poison from the Death Cap mushroom called Amanita phalloides, when ingested by Beagles! (Source: Toxicol Applied Pharmacology. 1984)

Here are some things I thought were worthy of noting as far as NutriGold's Pharma Thistle Gold product goes:

"Pharma Thistle Gold™ is formulated using the most clinically validated Milk Thistle extract in the world.

The extract used in Pharma Thistle Gold™ has been the subject of over 100 clinical studies

2x more bioavailable than standard Milk Thistle preparations

Standardized to ALL six isomers of Silymarin, consistent with European Pharmacopeia specifications

Pharmaceutical Grade - guaranteed purity, potency, stability, solubility, structure, bioavailability, and bioactivity

Formulated without the use of GMOs, additives, binders, artificial ingredients, preservatives, Stearates, Sulfates, Laurates, and Dioxides

Verified free of allergens by an independent, third-party lab

Verified free of GMOs by the Non-GMO Project™"

Very impressive information, huh? That's exactly what I thought when reading about it on their website. I love how up-front NutriGold is about their supplements, and I've come to trust theirs completely. I never ever have to guess or do loads of research to find out if I'm getting a decent, quality supplement from them, and that's something I know you guys appreciate too when you're in the market for a new herb or supplement.

About NutriGold

Along with the supplements, NutriGold sends a little informational catalog that goes into detail about their philosophy, their products and guiding principles. All the information is very handy to have, so I will share some of the parts I think are important with ya’ll below:

The NutriGold Philosophy (I really love this part and think it’s something we could all keep in mind as  things to live by.)

“Excellence can be obtained f you:

…Dream more than others think is practical.

…Risk more than others think is safe.

…Care more than others think is wise.

…Expect more than others think is possible.”

Those are some pretty powerful things to live by! I actually liked that part so much that I cut it out and stuck it to my bulletin board to remind me every  time I see it.

NutriGold’s Guiding Principles (also very powerful and worthy of being hung up as reminders as well as a few things that make me confident in my choice to trust NutriGold as a company for quality supplements)

I’m just going to write the first few sentences of each of NutriGold’s Guiding Principles.

1.     “Do no harm” - Hippocrates

“At NutriGold, we know that every time customers  purchase one of our products, they are entrusting us with their most precious asset – their health or the health of a loved one and this is not a responsibility we take lightly…”

2.    “Let the food be thy medicine, let medicine be thy food” – Hippocrates

“…At NutriGold we stay true to our guiding principle as “food as  medicine” while developing products to supplement consumers’ nutrient needs by formulating with ingredients that are either sourced from traditional food sources or cultured in whole-food matrices so customers can feel good about taking a product that is the next best things, but still a distant second to what nature has to offer.”

3.    “Quality does not have to be expensive, it just has to be a priority” – Anonymous

“It’s a well known fact that there are substantive differences in quality among supplement brands and in an industry where “quality” is synonymous with “premium” and boasts a price tag that is unaffordable for the majority of supplement users, NutriGold products are proof that quality does not have to be expensive, it just has to be a priority…”

4.    “If you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love what you’re doing an you always put the customer first, success will be yours.” – Ray Krock

“The sole purpose of a company’s existence is to serve its customers, for without customers, there would be no purpose to the company’s existence…”

5.    “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” – Oprah Winfrey

“It is a well-known fact that most companies struggle to do the right thing because there is often a disconnect between the consumers’ and companies’ perceptions of what counts as “doing the right thing.

NutriGold defines doing the right thing simple as doing what’s in the best interest of consumers, regardless of whether or not they know enough to care about or appreciate the significance of all the things we do to ensure their interests are protected."

And the NutriGold Advantage, which can also be viewed on their page here.

They have a symbol that says “Purity  Use of high quality, clinically validated, allergen-free ingredients, whose safety and efficacy are backed by extensive scientific, and clinical research.”

“Potency  Product potencies and recommended dosages based on ingredient specifications, clinical evidence, and in compliance with USP disintegration parameters.”

And “Perfection  Finding innovative and meaningful ways to enhance consumer satisfaction with our company through engagement, education, and empowerment.”

And to keep this from getting too long, I won’t paste the NutriGold “Our Story”   here, but I do encourage you guys to read it.

-           

Extra disclaimer (I know, I hate them, too, but these days you kind of can't afford to note post them.):

I am not a specialist or any other kind of doctor or expert. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information/suggestions to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with the company mentioned. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

St. John's Wort By NutriGold - My Experience and Review

St. John's Wort is an herb that's been used at least since ancient times.

 It has been used to treat and help so many health problems, but most especially its known for its usefulness in treating or minimizing depression and nervous disorders, along with PMS symptoms and more (which I'll discuss in a moment.)
 

First of all, let me just share (as briefly as possible) why I was so interested in trying St. John's Wort myself:
 
Since my mom had a lot of experience, and positive experiences at that, with St. John's Wort, I'd been really interested in trying it since the beginning of my problems with PMS, endometriosis, IBS and horrible mood issues. I was pretty afraid to fork over more money for products that are supposed to help these things and be disappointed yet again, so lucky for me, I was able to try the St. John's Wort from NutriGold (a supplement company that I have bragged about several times already.)
 
So, now that I've had this wonderful opportunity, I am going to share what my experience has been with this specific St. John's Wort. I'll also include every bit of detail I know about the herb, so grab some coffee or tea... or St. John's Wort and sit back.
 
P.S.  Just to keep you informed, I began using St. John's Wort in hopes of it being the solution to my hideous mood problems that I've finally decided I'll no longer deal with. That and also the PMS problems and things I mentioned above.
 
If ya'll have been diligent readers lately, you know that I've had some pretty impactful issues with my mood. To brief you, my problem is that my moods are so intense and up and down so quickly. This is almost a daily thing for me.

Image source: Rottenecards.com

 I get frequent "bouts" of what I figure is best described as melancholy and just don't feel as happy as I know I should a lot of times. So, now that you have my problems to go on, my results/experience later in this post will make more sense. Also, knowing the things I am dealing with may be helpful for others who are trying to gauge their own issues and figure out what types of remedies may work or be useful for them.

I've tried almost all of these herbal remedies to help with the issues I can't seem to fully get rid of, and have shared my journey along the way. So, St. John's Wort is basically a last resort for me. I've had a lot of great results while using other herbs and stuff like Kratom, Maca powder, etc. And others that have left me with little to no results (SAM-e, etc.) 

Most of the ones I've mentioned liking are great, but I have figured out that I must need something more to kind of get things back in order since I just keep coming back to the same area. Combinations of the ones that work (never taking more than one thing at once, though!) have been helpful for me, so keep that in mind, too.




           First things first: How St. John's     

                             Wort Works








There are two active ingredients in St. John's that are believed to be the ones that give the herb its ability to treat depression. These two fellas are called hypercin and hyperforin. They work by affecting norepenephrine, serotoning and dopaming  levels (by preventing the "re-uptake" of these.)

It can take up to 6 weeks for St. John to work against some problems like depression. I have actually read where people say they notice results in days! This was not the case for me.

St John's contains something called phytoestrogens, which are part of the plant's compounds and they're similar to estrogen.

Side note: St. John's Wort is said to be most effective for those who's problems  are due to serotonin deficiency.
 

            Important Things to Look for in St. John's Wort     
                                           Supplements:

I've come to learn that you have to research before choosing a supplement like this (one that you're hoping will result in positive changes in mood and happiness levels). 

Unfortunately, not all manufacturers really care about their product being useful to people, but they're so greedy they only thing about selling some crap-filled product and claiming it'll do what it's said to do -- make you happier, or whatever. It's pathetic really, but that's a rant for the rant section.



  

  

By researching, I found that it's important to make sure the St. John's Wort you're taking says "Standardized to 0.3% Hypercin" on its label. 

If it says this, then it's supposed to be more effective. I've even read that without that 0.3% Hypercin, the St. John's effects we're looking for might not ever show, for some people. So obviously the first thing I did was look for the reputable, trustworthy versions that said that on the label, leading me to NutriGold. 

                              
                             Warnings:
St. John's should not be taken in combination with SSRI's, anti-depressants, MAOI's or other drugs. It definitely can't be taken with Xanax or Elavil, according to EmedicineHealth. Always ask your healthcare provider, blah, blah, blah. Be careful with it.

It's also been said that St. John's Wort will decrease the effectiveness of oral birth control by breaking down the estrogen in it. I wondered if it messed with the injection birth control, Depo Provera (I get the injection for endometriosis pain) so I looked into it, and as far as I could tell, it all depends on the use of estrogen in the birth control, and most pill-forms do go by estrogen. The injection doesn't, as far as I could tell, but if you're worried, you should ask your doctor.

It seems the biggest issue with combining St. John's with other drugs is that it breaks down the other drugs quicker. For instance, if a drug you're on is broken down by the liver, using the P450 Cytochrome, you should do some research to be sure St. John's won't cause it to break down and leave your body quicker than it normally does (and reducing its effectiveness, or maybe preventing it from "working") before combining. 

If it uses the P450 pathway, always check into it. I have actually taken another supplement that uses this same pathway and it doesn't seem to counteract each other in any way. Some say that one can cause an increase of the other (example: taking a medication such as one for pain with St. John's -- the effect may be more intense, and this can lead to overdose, although I have read that it's rare, but do not trust anyone but your own body and a healthcare provider's opinion that you trust.)

It also interacts in other ways with other meds, so check first.
St. John's Wort is said to be non-addictive.

Side Effects: 
Can cause photo sensitivity when exposed to sunlight. I've read that long term usage can cause increased risk of cataracts and that it's important to wear dark sunglasses when exposed to sun if you're taking it for long periods of time. Other side effects include: stomach upset (even I, a person with an extremely easily upset stomach have been okay so far), agitation and the already mentioned sunlight sensitivity. Headaches, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue and sexual dysfunction are said to be possible side effects.

I know, some of those like sexual dysfunction are scary side effects. They have not happened to me, but I will say that for sexual dysfunction, maca powder (not to be combined with other supplements, so check first to see if it's okay) is amazing for putting that back in place! So, if it were to happen, you could always go on maca after quitting St. John's. So I wasn't about to let those things hold me back, not when I knew I'd have a "backup" to "fix" me if that went wrong.

Some sites like EmedicineHealth say not to take it if you're schizophrenic or bipolar, if you have major depression or Alzheimer's or ADHD. There are more, so always check first.






  Combining St. John's Wort with other       
                               Herbs:

I have been racking my brain and bookshelf to find the book I read where a holistic practitioner recommended using both St. John's Wort and 5-HTP together for depression. I cannot find this information! I apologize, but will update once I find it. She had recommended certain daily dosages in the book, as well. 

A lot of practitioners recommend the combo of them, but of course you gotta be careful and remember not to do anything without asking first and remember I am not giving advice, simply stating the information I have found and presenting it in one spot for you guys.

I was able to find some info on a site called Ray Sahelien about using them both together. They also say there that adding some exercise along with a St. John's Wort supplement can increase its mood-impacting benefits.

 Other herbs the site mentioned being possibly useful for combining with St. John's to help depression were: Valerian and Passionflower. I've taken another supplement for sleep with those two herbs in it, but haven't particularly noticed a huge help in my mood issue, although I've never used it during a bout of depression, and it's important to know that I am not depressed, but have gone through mild depression. 


According to Pharmacokinetic interactions of drugs with St John's wort Psychopharmacol. 2004, using St. John's with oral contraceptives  has caused breakthrough bleeding and unplanned pregnancy (source.) 








            Uses/Benefits of St. John's Wort:


   
 

• Hormonal imbalance

• PMS, mood problems and depression, anxiety, sadness, stress, OCD, mental health problems as we've already discussed.

• Appetite control (when combined with other supplements)

 

• Regulates mood (one main reason I take it because of my major increase/decrease in moods so suddenly throughout the days).

• Relieves inflammation

• Used externally to heal wounds and treat nerve pain.

• Kills viruses

• Has anti-bacterial properties

• While it's said that insomnia can be a side effect of St. John's, it's also said to be used as a sedative and to calm and promote sleep! I know of other supplements like Kratom that can have slight opiate-like effects, but when you reach higher doses, it begins to have sedative effects, so this could be something how St. John's Wort works. It has actually been used to treat restlessness and sleep problems.  I suppose it just depends on your issue and dosage.

  It's also been used to treat:
 

• Menopausal issues.

• Cramps

• Malaria

• Insect bites and burns, shingles, chicken pox, measles (external application of the herb)

• Bladder ailments

• Hemorrhaging

• Nervousness (another very big problem of mine! I'm talking I'm a nervous wreck just calling someone on the phone!)

•  Worms!

• Diarrhea

• Dysentery

• Also been used to treat spinal paralysis caused from tick bites in cats and dogs.

• I'm adding one more thing myself: St. John's seems to be helping decrease tension in my body from nervousness.

             

Image of St. John's Wort Fruit by
Luis Fernández García on Wikimedia

  

A St. John's Wort plant. Photographed by Anne Burgess. Source: Geograph.org.uk

                Studies on St. John's Wort

Scientific studies have shown that St. John's is useful as an ant-depressant for some depression cases, depending on the severity. Most mild depression is relieved by it than severe, but you'll hear people with all sorts of levels of depression and mood disorders who say they've found relief. 

You'll also find those who don't. I for one have never heard anyone say they didn't get relief from whatever ailment they were using it for (my grandmother, mother, sister, etc.)

Studies like this one  have also shown it to have equally as effective properties as drugs like Prozac and more, only without those common, horrific side effects (for most.)

On the other hand, another study has claimed no difference between participants on St. John's and those on the placebo in the treatment of major depression.

A Clinical Trial found reduction in hot flashes by those taking St. John's Wort.

Possible Side Effects

Insomnia, headaches, irritability and anxiety with high doses. As mentioned, it's been said that there's a possibility of retinal issues and cataracts if you're exposed to sunlight a lot and when taken for long periods of time.

How to Use St. John's Wort by NutriGold 

Serving size of NutriGold's St. John's: 1 vegetarian capsule 3 times daily with food or as directed by healthcare practitioner. Each capsule contains 180 milligrams, so that's 540 milligrams a day.

The use of St. John's Wort for things like I've mentioned -- PMS, mood problems, depression, nervous disorders, etc. is pretty widely known and you guys have probably heard of it being used for those things, or even use/used it yourself. But just to be sure I've included any useful information on the herb, I have posted all of its uses below:
 
Before going into all the wonderful uses and benefits of using this herb, I thought it might be important to mention the huge variety in dosages I've read recommended across the web. Some sites will say that some people may need or do well with upwards of 900 milligrams a day whereas others say 300 milligrams. I have so far seen the 300 daily milligram to be recommended most. But everyone is different, and I find that it's something to experiment with (depending on what your trying to "fix" and how severe, etc.).

What I've been doing is taking my first capsule as I wake up, and it seems like it helps put me in a slightly better mood, whether that's a placebo thing or not, I don't know. Then, in the evening when I already take a calcium supplement, I go ahead and take my second dose, and then in the late evening I'll take my third, or skip it if I feel really good. 



My Experience and Results with St. John's Wort from NutriGold:

I happen to be one of those people who didn't notice an instant, drastic mood change the first few days of taking St. John's Wort. It's also important to know that I always start off a new herb by doing only half the dose the first couple days, and if things go well (no funny effects), I increase until I reach the recommended daily dosage. This could be why it didn't "kick in" faster for me.

The first thing I noticed change was my sleep, and I'm not even sure this was due to St. John's, but I did wake up and had trouble getting back to sleep after about 6 hours of sleep, where I usually sleep a good 8-10. It's highly likely this was just one of my PMS sleep problem phases, though and it resolved quickly.

The second day, I increased the dose to almost a full capsule, but not quiet. The third day, I did the recommended dose and could've noticed a minor mood improvement, but can't be totally sure.
Also on the third day I noticed a huge change in how my anxiety and stress levels was! 

It was the week of Christmas (a day before that I started taking it) and my stress levels were through the roof for the last 2 weeks. Constant eyelid twitching, sleepy as heck, migraines -- all the biggest indicators of heavy stress for me, especially once my eyelids start jerkin'!  No matter how much meditation I kept trying to sit through, this stress was really screwing with me. 

The third day of taking it, though, even during the crazy day-after-Christmas, hectic shopping (and let me tell you, it got cra-zay!), I was calm and cool. Sat through the crazy, loud, road rage-filled traffic without anything more than a sigh, whereas I normally break out into a sweat, and actually ended up with a migraine 2 days before on our Christmas shopping trip. 

So, this was a huge improvement that I feel came from my St. John's usage, and possibly from adding a spoon of maca powder to my diet the night before. I'm a big maca user, though and it normally takes a lot of heavy and regular maca use to receive enough benefits to reduce my stress.

Other First Possible Effects of St. John's (2nd - 3rd day) Crazy Dreaming

I also want to say that my second day of taking it, I had the most insanely vivid and intense dreams of my life! I'm already a vivid and lucid dreamer, but I think the St. John's Wort really took those crazy dreams to the next level because... wow. 

I don't even think it'd be appropriate to share these particular dreams. But I will say they were so real! Funny because right in the middle of my dream, on this second day of using St. John's, I was woke up by this screaming sound. Still half asleep, I realized it must be the cat and she must be hurt, so I got up, searching around for pants, still half asleep and realized the sound was not cat, but human and my dad happened to be having a nightmare yelling. I thought he was having a heart attack, but it was a nightmare. It was so weird for both of us to be having such wild, animated dreams at the same exact time, although I don't think he's on St. John's Wort. 

After the crazy dreams continued on the 3rd night, I started thinking it might be St. John's Wort!  However, mine may have not been caused by the herb, either, but these dreams  sure are different than my usuals.

The 5th Day, When I Really Noticed the First Changes

Before I even reached the 5th day of using St. John's Wort, I had an entire day full of new feelings. I mean, I really noticed big changes in every single way I acted and reacted to so many events through the day. For the first time in months, I did not experience a single mood swing! This is huge! It's massive. 

It's the best thing that's happened to me in so long, and it's the very moment I began to hold my breath, too. I was so scared that I'd simply worked my mind up so hard (placebo thing) that I just "tricked" myself into having such a new me. 

 

Image source: Someecards.com

It was so different that I didn't even have my usual upsets over small things like, ahem, getting frustrated over a mini crisis when we thought I'd been shorted $200 at a store. 


Not even that got to me, and usually by this time, such an occurrence would've ruined my night and I'd have been left with a migraine and just plain moody and irritable. No matter the bumps throughout the day, and also the night out my spouse and I had, I never got down like I normally do! I was happy. Truly, full-blown happy, guys! All day, and all night. No change. Just happy and calm!

 It was so incredible because it felt like I was still the me I was back in my high school days -- the positive, generally very, very cheerful and happy person that had fun every minute of my existence.  

That is who I've wanted to be again for a while now, and after coming down with illnesses that lasted so many years, I never was able to regain that me back, but I believe I am getting there and I've never been so excited. 

I was completely taken back when I started feeling that way on the 4th day. I could not believe what was happening! I had so much fun, too! The entire day was all fun. I mean I felt so light, like these heavy, crappy feelings and stresses were really sticking with me and perhaps I didn't realize that even when I thought I was content, I was still not really me or happy. 

The feelings and all that I had that 4th day made me realize this. I really am a cheerful, fun person when things are situated in my . . . mind? I guess.

So, two weeks in and there's been no change. The mood swings and negative feelings haven't popped back up to ruin my days. I'm feeling like the only changes I'll see from here on will be more positive ones as I keep up with St. John's Wort. I'll update as time goes on because I expect to see more changes since I've not even made it to a full month of use yet, and the stuff is supposed to really "kick in" after a few weeks +.

About NutriGold

Along with the supplements, NutriGold sends a little informational catalog that goes into detail about their philosophy, their products and guiding principles. All the information is very handy to have, so I will share some of the parts I think are important with ya’ll below:

The NutriGold Philosophy (I really love this part and think it’s something we could all keep in mind as  things to live by.)

“Excellence can be obtained f you:

…Dream more than others think is practical.

…Risk more than others think is safe.

…Care more than others think is wise.

…Expect more than others think is possible.”

Those are some pretty powerful things to live by! I actually liked that part so much that I cut it out and stuck it to my bulletin board to remind me every  time I see it.

NutriGold’s Guiding Principles (also very powerful and worthy of being hung up as reminders as well as a few things that make me confident in my choice to trust NutriGold as a company for quality supplements)

I’m just going to write the first few sentences of each of NutriGold’s Guiding Principles.

1.     “Do no harm” - Hippocrates

“At NutriGold, we know that every time customers  purchase one of our products, they are entrusting us with their most precious asset – their health or the health of a loved one and this is not a responsibility we take lightly…”

2.    “Let the food be thy medicine, let medicine be thy food” – Hippocrates

“…At NutriGold we stay true to our guiding principle as “food as  medicine” while developing products to supplement consumers’ nutrient needs by formulating with ingredients that are either sourced from traditional food sources or cultured in whole-food matrices so customers can feel good about taking a product that is the next best things, but still a distant second to what nature has to offer.”

3.    “Quality does not have to be expensive, it just has to be a priority” – Anonymous

“It’s a well known fact that there are substantive differences in quality among supplement brands and in an industry where “quality” is synonymous with “premium” and boasts a price tag that is unaffordable for the majority of supplement users, NutriGold products are proof that quality does not have to be expensive, it just has to be a priority…”

4.    “If you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love what you’re doing an you always put the customer first, success will be yours.” – Ray Krock

“The sole purpose of a company’s existence is to serve its customers, for without customers, there would be no purpose to the company’s existence…”

5.    “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” – Oprah Winfrey

“It is a well-known fact that most companies struggle to do the right thing because there is often a disconnect between the consumers’ and companies’ perceptions of what counts as “doing the right thing.

NutriGold defines doing the right thing simple as doing what’s in the best interest of consumers, regardless of whether or not they know enough to care about or appreciate the significance of all the things we do to ensure their interests are protected."

And the NutriGold Advantage, which can also be viewed on their page here.

They have a symbol that says “Purity  Use of high quality, clinically validated, allergen-free ingredients, whose safety and efficacy are backed by extensive scientific, and clinical research.”

“Potency  Product potencies and recommended dosages based on ingredient specifications, clinical evidence, and in compliance with USP disintegration parameters.”

And “Perfection  Finding innovative and meaningful ways to enhance consumer satisfaction with our company through engagement, education, and empowerment.”

And to keep this from getting too long, I won’t paste the NutriGold “Our Story”   here, but I do encourage you guys to read it.

-           

Extra disclaimer (I know, I hate them, too, but these days you kind of can't afford to note post them.):

I am not a specialist or any other kind of doctor or expert. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information/suggestions to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with the company mentioned. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's unless otherwise stated, and put in quotations (such as product descriptions or claims).  I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.  This is a sponsored post. I was provided with a product in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I receive no monetary compensation for writing this, and you can rest assured that my post (and all of them) is in compliance with the FTC's Guidelines.

5-HTP Review

5-HTP -- which also goes by the name oxitriptan, comes from the bean of plant Griffonia simplicifolia in Africa --  is an amino acid used for its positive mood effects.

How 5-HTP Works

5-HTP does its job in the central nervous system and in the brain where it increases serotonin production. Serotonin is a chemical that affects our appetite, sleep, sexual behavior, temperature, and even pain sensations.

What 5-HTP is Used For

5-HTP is used for depression, insomnia, anxiety, migraine and tension-type headaches, fibromyalgia, binge eating associated with obesity, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and along with prescription drugs to treat seizure disorder and Parkinson's disease.

This site (Nlm.Nih.Gov)  states that there is some evidence that 5-HTP might be as effective as some prescription drugs in treating depression.

The same site states that taking 5-HTP appears to improve fibromyalgia symptoms such as pain intensity, morning stiffness, sleeplessness.

My Experience

My first experience was with 5-HTP Gold, a supplement that's said to support positive mood, relaxation, restful sleep, overall emotional well-being, and again, appetite control. 

I have had some successful days taking 5-HTP Gold and some not-so-successful ones. Sometimes I'll experience stomach discomfort and other times I'll be fine. 

The positive results I've experienced with 5-HTP Gold include: improved rest, a subtle increase in my ability to focus, and often times, I'll notice an improvement where my anxiety is concerned.  

Pro's 

• 100% natural source of 5-HTP

• Made with organic, food based, whole-food, and clinically-proven ingredients.

• No GMOs, artificial ingredients, preservatives, allergens, stearates, sulfates, laurates or dioxides. 

• Free of "Peak X," a contaminant linked to EMS-like illness that's been found in commercially available 5-HTP supplements. According to the NutriGold website, "5-HTP Gold™ is manufactured using a pure extract that is guaranteed by an independent, third-party lab to be Peak-X free."

Con's

Side effects of 5-HTP could include nausea, constipation, reduced libido and gas.Occasionally, I've had stomach pains and felt nauseous after taking it.

Precautions

5-HTP affects serotonin and is not supposed to be used in combination with other anti-depressants or MAOI inhibitors. There's the risk of "serotonin syndrome," which is serious.

5-HTP also should not be taken with some OTC cold remedies, or with products containing ephedrine or pseudo-phedrine.

I shouldn't have to, but let me do the disclaimer thing:  
you should consult your doctor before taking things... including advice. Just kidding. 

You should make sure that it's okay to take supplements like 5-HTP with whatever other meds you are on.

To learn more about 5-HTP's interactions with other drugs, I recommend going here. If you scroll towards the bottom, you'll find information on using 5-HTP with other drugs and the effects.

-           

Extra disclaimer (I know, I hate them, too, but these days you kind of can't afford to note post them.):

I am not a specialist or any other kind of doctor or expert. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information/suggestions to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with the company mentioned. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's unless otherwise stated, and put in quotations (such as product descriptions or claims).  I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.  This is a sponsored post. I was provided with a product in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I receive no monetary compensation for writing this, and you can rest assured that my post (and all of them) is in compliance with the FTC's Guidelines.