Hello all,

Before NBE, what was your perspective on using herbs to improve your health? Prior to NBE, I occasionally had stretches of time when I would take a multivitamin, but that was it. I was clueless and had zero interest in using herbs. Perhaps after seeing how effective herbs like pm and spearmint are, I certainly have a more developed interest in trying other herbs for non-NBE.

Anyone care to share their experiences?

I have used garlic before (as a supplement). It's supposed to do lots of great things, but I never noticed much difference. In my case I was looking to lower my blood pressure.

I have also used astragalus to boost my immune system (and the immune systems of my children). I first bought it several years ago when a nasty flu strain was killing more children than usual. I don't know if it works or not (but neither of them caught the flu). That was a year when the flu vaccine was ineffective.

I also used D-Aspartic Acid to boost my T. That DEFINITELY works. It was while I was on D-Aspartic Acid that my GD soared to previously unknown heights (and it was while I was on it that I found my way into BN).

Misty

I've long had some degree of interest in herbal remedies, but the first that I actually recollect using successfully was horse chestnut. For the last 15 years or so I have had CVI (chronic venous insufficiency) in my legs which has tended to lead to edema, peripheral neuropathy and proneness to injuries which don't heal well and can result in ulcers. To control these I wear pressure socks, and got good advice from a wound healing specialist on how to treat the ulcers, but a problem with the socks is that they don't apply pressure to the toe area and I was tending to develop ulcers on my toes. It was at this point that I discovered horse chestnut, on the internet of course. It seemed to get a good write-up, even from the Mayo Clinic, and in fact it has worked really well for me in conjunction with the socks to control the edema , so well that it now permits me to take a calcium channel blocker which effectively controls my blood pressure. A previous attempt to use a CCB had failed because of edema problems that it caused. This provided me with an incentive to experiment with herbal treatments as a possible route to feminisation, although an initial six month session of following 'Flat to Fem' failed to produce any results that I could persuade myself were significant.

On a trip to South America in 2005 I took Gingko Biloba since one of the things it is supposed to do is guard against altitude sickness. Unlike some others, I didn't have any problem with altitude sickness even up to nearly 16,000 ft, but whether the GB helped I really don't know. I was also drinking coca tea , which is widely drunk for the same purpose, as I did on an earlier trip reaching similar altitudes, and during which we went through the area at around 14,000 ft where maca is grown (as well as areas at much lower altitudes where coca is grown - another herb whose active constituent clearly has sufficient effect for even its possession to be widely illegal).

I am with you Flame...I never thought about herbs as something effective prior to discovering this board. Actually, if I had been a big believer in herbal powers I wonder if I would have still have the nerve to have started taking PM and the rest of the things I have have tried...? Interesting to consider...but I am sooo glad I did...tee hee.

Over the years I have tried many different things. When I was (a lot) younger I used to suffer really badly from hay-fever, and that was 'cured' mostly by identifying the culprit plants then using homoeopathy to build a resistance. I know most people think that homoeopathy is a non-starter but I think I am a bit of a believer. In addition, I used to use symphytum for bruises, and arnica for shock.
Looking at synthetic pharma they take herbs and find an artificial or improved source that they can patent, but most of the initial research comes from traditional medicine.
I think Honey and Lemon for colds should also come under this banner too

I donno if you would call it an herb but green tea is one Ive been drinking for a long time.... Supposed to be good for males with prostate troubles... I USED to have BPH pretty bad but NBE and now HRT has cured that

Also quercitin (found in onions and some prostate health formulas) and saw palmetto are good for BPH...