I need medicine to help with over-whelming emotions and thoughts. How do I decide what is best for me or my children? Some psychotropic drugs are chemical and some are herbal. How do I choose which way to go? The solution comes out of questions that I have heard many people struggle with.
For example,
“I couldn’t live without my antidepressant (SSRI) medication, but I have gained thirty pounds! Is it worth it?”
“Is it better to take chemical psychotropics or herbal psychotropics?”
“Western chemicals saved my life. I was an emotional wreck.”
“Chinese medicine cured depression.”
“I am afraid to use herbal anti-anxiety medication because I don’t trust that herbal stuff.”
“When I use Xanax and other anti-anxiety meds, I feel like a zombie.”
“The doctor tells me that my son should go on ritalin and a antidepressant so he can study better at school. Really? He’s twelve!”
“Herbal medicines don’t work for me.”
“I don’t want to be on antidepressants the rest of my life. What can I do?”
“My daughter’s seizures went away with CBD cannabis!”
“My son’s anxiety was decreased by half with homeopathic medicine.”
“I do not know how to use herbal medicine such as St. John’s Wort for depression or Ashwaganda for anxiety. I have even heard of Liquid Xanax herbal treatment.”
“Can I take both?” NO! See an herbalist.
Some basic Knowledge, A Good Practitioner and Medicine that Works
I hear stories everyday of how people struggle to find the right medicine for themselves and their children. I am a marriage and family therapist. I cannot prescribe medicine. My job is to help uncover the confusion and fear standing in the way, so they find the best help for their unique situation.
Some people will not consider taking herbs and some people will not consider taking chemicals. Some, do not know the difference and would be glad to take whatever works. We need to learn about the differences and how to get the help that best suits ourself and family.
Only MD’s can prescribe pharmaceutical psychotropics and other medications. Herbalists; such as, a Chinese herbalist, Ayurvedic herbalist, Western herbalist and Homeopathic doctor to name a few of the major categories, can prescribe herbs.
Ultimately, each individual needs to decide if something is making them better, worse, or having no change. This can be scary and confusing for many, especially when feeling unstable, depressed or anxious.
Some MD’s are now also prescribing herbal remedies and homeopathic remedies for emotional problems and physical problems. They are now being called Integrative Medical Doctors. For example, Andrew Weil, MD is one of the leaders in integrative medicine.
Different psychotropic drugs for different personalities
I have seen people begin taking an antidepressant such as Lexipro or Zoloft and feel better in two weeks. Some stay on it for a short period of time and some for years. Each person has varying degrees of benefit and side effects. We need to stay attentive to those effects.
For example, a friend of mine stopped taking his antidepressant when he realized he was the only one not crying at a theater performance he was attending.
I have seen people take St. John’s Wort and relieve depression symptoms in hours. (Do not mix chemical antidepressants with herbal antidepressants).
Many people cannot consider herbal medications because they do not have information from a reputable herbalist, they cannot trust herbal doctors or they have tried herbal remedies and they did not get enough relief or they did not work.
Some people do not want to start chemical antidepressants because they feel the side effects will be too great. Or, they will be covering up underlying emotions that need to be looked into.
In this situation, I usually suggest they see their doctor for evaluation and consider it an experiment for six months and then reevaluate the overall result. Some stay on the medication because it takes enough of the symptoms away and they are willing to accept the accompanying side effects. It is worth it.
Many have been able to find a good acupuncturist for Chinese herbs and acupuncture. It can change their life by getting their whole system back into balance, not just the symptom. Other’s do not want to participate in their healing. They are not ready for that. A pill is simpler to start with.
Other’s are very attracted to Ayurvedic medicine from India. I will refer them to Ayurvedic doctors in our area. For example, many have found relief with Aswaganda for anxiety.
I have seen homeopathic medicines work instantly and not at all. The right homeopathic doctor helps diagnose the correct remedy and monitor the progress.
I commonly find people resisting the use of cannabis for mental and emotional problems because they think it is wrong or “just another drug like alcohol or heroine”. But when they find how to use it correctly, there are less side effects than the pharmaceutical equivalents.
Getting the right type cannabis (cbd, indica, sativa, or blend) for their problem and the best delivery system; such as, smoking, edible, oil or tincture is essential. Again, finding the right information, medical cannabis dispensary or doctor is important.
PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)
There is a medication still in the research phase that is not available to MDs yet. However, MDMA is a pharmaceutical chemical that in conjunction with therapy is curing many years of PTSD from rape, war and child abuse in a few sessions. This is very solid research with the FDA. It is being supported through MAPS.
How do I decide natural medicine or chemical medicine? 
I usually suggest starting with plant medicines or homeopathy first, especially with children and teens. Natural medicines have zero to minimal side effects. I give referrals to practitioners in the area with a good reputation. They can then ask for a consult from an Acupuncture doctor, Ayurvedic doctor, homeopathic or other naturopathic doctor. These practitioners understand how to use plant based medicines with chemical medicines. Some go together very well and some do not. As a reminder, if it does not work, go back to the herbal practitioner to adjust dosage or change the herbs. Now, if that does not work consider pharmaceutical medications as the next experiment.
Pharmaceutical psychotropics
When people do not have an inclination toward natural treatments or natural treatments do not work, I suggest they go to their MD. Describe the symptoms in detail so the doctor can determine the best psychotropic medication.
A psychiatrist is the most expert in this area. General doctors can prescribe antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications but a psychiatrist is more knowledgeable in determining the correct medication, dosage and mixture with other medications.
For example, medication for a bipolar disorder may be the same or different medication for a major depression, depending on each individual’s problem and body chemistry. It may take a psychiatrist a few months to find the right combination of drugs. So it is necessary to give your doctor regular feed back about your experience of the prescribed medicine.
For example, I have had many clients take chemical psychotropic medication for depression, anxiety and bipolar symptoms. They stayed on the meds while in therapy to stabilize and allow deeper experiences to arise. They can then reduce the dosage or taper off when the stability takes hold. It is best to keep the psychiatrist in the loop when tapering off, that is their expertise.
However, some psychiatrists do not support patients when they want to eliminate chemical-based psychotropics. Or they do not recognize herbal-based psychotropics as effective. The client then needs the guidance of a reputable natural-based practitioner for guidance.
For example, I have seen many children who did not want to take chemical meds anymore, even though they helped. They did not like the other feelings they got with the medication. Some did very well by changing schools as the medicine, adjusting their diet as the medicine and family therapy as the medicine. Changing the way we live is big medicine.
Eastern Medicine and Western Medicine
They each have a place in treating mental and emotional dis-ease. I purposely did not put any research in this article because that is for you to explore and compare. I would suggest using research and looking into the history of plant medicines. Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine has been around for 3000 years that we know of. We can find the best of both worlds in Eastern and Western medicine.
Links:
Saint John’s Wort, WP
