Calling Ganjasaurusrex. Need a naturopathic consult.

[birdgirl73]

Hello, my friend. Thanks for your very kind words regarding my sister. I appreciate the kind thoughts and words on her behalf. We feel that positive energy!

OK, I have a question, and I apologize to others in advance that this isn't a weed-related inquiry. Remember in a thread, oh, five days or so ago when a young lady was asking about antidepressants and I happened to mention that I thought I might be on the edge of clinical depression, too, but had first had bloodwork and chemistries done in case I was just running low someplace?

Well, indeed I am. Am very low on B12 and moderately anemic. My doc wants me in for a series of B12 injections and is putting me on an iron/intrinsic factor supplement, too. You already know I have more of an allopathic medical way of thinking, but the naturopathic and osteopathic angles interest me, too, because I think there are lots of good complementary treatment modalities that we traditionalists need to open our minds to and explore.

Anyway, I'm wondering what a naturopath would recommend for B12 deficiency and B12-deficiency-driven anemia. What supplements and/or dietary changes? I'd like to incorporate both. Part of the problem, my doc said, may be that I'm largely vegetarian. (Not an easy thing to be when you live with two ravenous, carnivorous men.)

Finding out I had deficiencies rather than depression was great news to me. I've wondered why I've been so bone-dead tired and mentally dull feeling--and why I've had absolutely no appetite whatsoever. Thought it was everything going on in my life. I want to get back to my frisky, quick-on-the-uptake self FAST because in 8 weeks, I start allopathic medical school myself, and I'm going to need every ounce of energy and brain power I can muster.

I'm eager to hear what you have to say, and I thank you in advance for taking the time to ponder my "case" if you have the time to do so. By all means, I hope anyone and everyone else will chime in, too, because I always enjoy the ideas and humor that this place seems to generate.

[Ganjasaurusrex]

Check out my thread history. "orthomolecular approach to depression".
It discusses issues of b-12, and a variety of foods that affect different moods and energy.

As far as iron intrinsic therapy and injections, then Id say avoid supplementation because it wouldnt be a good idea to interfer with that at the same time. Thats a whole different scenario combining things like that.
Iron is a tricky issue.

But yes being vegetarian I could see problems with several deficiencies.

I dont see how the foods in the article would be a problem though.


Thats about all I can say.

[birdgirl73]

Thanks, Ganja! I only just now got back and retraced that thread. Will take your input into account.

I'm going to add fish and chicken back into my diet. I just tried vegetarianism to see what it was like and sorta liked it, but I've never developed any strong objection to animal protein. I just don't care much for red meat. Right now, animal protein may do me some good.

My husband gave me my first B12 injection earlier. So far I don't feel any different, but we'll see if it helps after I've had two or three. My doctor wants me to get them weekly for about six weeks and then monthly after that.

Thanks again for your input!

[greenetn05]

i have heard that dark green leafy vegies are a good source of iron
hope this helps and good luck on every thing

[birdgirl73]

They are indeed a good source. I'm trying to hit the spinach and turnip greens pretty hard these days. Thanks for the suggestion!

[mrdevious]

You 2 are quite right, I read the nutritional facts on the spinache bag (as I do with all food) and that stuff is pumped full of nutrients, 1 of which I never heard of (and can't remember at the moment).

[beachguy in thongs]

Mmmm, spinache roll...