There are a million and one “remedies” out there for PTSD marketed towards Veterans & First Responders alike.
I’m not writing this Op-Ed to try and sell you anything. I am only writing this to let other PTSD afflicted persons know that these work for me and that there maybe other means to combat the symptoms that afflict us.
I can already hear some of the criticism, “…I ain’t taking that hippie crap…” and “…that New Age garbage is just a bunch of mumbo jumbo bull shit…”
Whatever man. First off, this stuff has been around and used to treat people for centuries. So it’s actually kind of “Old Age”. Hell, most of modern medicine is based off of and made from nature itself. Aspirin comes from the bark of a willow tree. Atropine occurs naturally in a number of plants of the nightshade family including deadly nightshade, Jimson weed, and mandrake. Digitalis which is used to treat heart arrhythmia comes from the Purple Fox Glove flower. Penicillin comes from bread mold. So I don’t want to hear the ignorant ramblings of the uneducated.
I have been using these natural supplements for a while now, and they HELP!
First off, I quit drinking. Alcohol is a depressant. It slows down everything in your bodies attempt for homeostasis. (The attempt to balance and regulate the body, simply put). I cut out all caffeine after 12:00 pm and started exercising.
Like most PTSD afflicted, I have a ton of difficulty sleeping at night. This is where I take what is called Valerian Root. It smells to high hell, kind of like a platoon of Marines after a 25 mile ruck in Lejune during August. It works though. I take 2 capsules about a half hour before I go to bed. It completely relaxes me and I wake up feeling refreshed. Since I started taking it and cut out the alcohol, I haven’t had a single night terror.
Like most Veterans, I have chronic aches and pains on a daily basis. This is why I take Turmeric. I haven’t ached nearly half as bad since I started taking it. Makes for a much more enjoyable PT session.
Now comes the double whammy. Panic attacks. I use this weird capsule called Ashwagandha. It is an adaptogenic herb used to help the body manage stress. It works 99% of the time. Every now and then though, a massive panic attack will hit me like a freight train and that’s where the Lavender Oil comes in.
“Lavander oil?” you might ask. Yes. Lavender Oil. A drop on each of my wrists and rub it in. Rest my head in my hands and breathe deep. It sounds crazy, I know; but it WORKS! “…I ain’t gonna go around smelling like a damn flower Doc… screw that…” Whatever dude. I’m telling you it works for me. And I’d rather smell like lavender, than succumb to a near debilitating bout of anxiety.
Now, I’m not saying these will work for everybody, but they do work for me. As always, you should consult a physician before taking anything. However these are all available at your local vitamin store or pharmacy. These along with a balanced diet, exercise and yoga (yes I said yoga. I found a great yoga DVD specifically for PTSD Vets) has helped me a ton. (disclaimer- say what you want to about Yoga, It stretches me out, makes my body ache less and my Wife is REALLY pleased with the….ummm….improvement…ummm…. let’s say side effects. Wink. Wink.)
I hope this may help some of my brothers and sisters in their ongoing battle here at home. I pray for you all. God Bless.