Vitamin C
Molybdenum
Passion Flower
Choline, Inositol, and Methionine
Potassium
Skullcap
St. John's wort
Niacin
Selenium
Valerian
Taurine
Zinc
Wild Yam

    Vitamin B complex, vitamin C and lipotropic factors (choline, inositol and methionine) play many essential roles in the chemistry of stress responses. I discuss these beneficial roles fully in the companion volume, The Butterfly and Life Span Nutrition

    First and foremost, it is important to use herbs in moderate doses and in rotation. All herbs become drugs if used in large doses and for long periods of time. Indeed, historically most drugs were isolated from herbs and plant sources.

Valerian root in doses of 400 to 1,000 milligrams taken at bedtime enhanced the quality of sleep for most of my patients. For patients with severe stress, anxiety and depression, I prescribe 400 to 500 milligrams two or three times during the day. If necessary, I add melatonin in doses of 1.5 to 10 milligrams to promote restorative sleep.

Chamomile taken as tea or in capsule form is helpful in chronic stress and anxiety states. It may be safely added to prescriptions for valerian. I usually prescribe two cups of tea or a capsule containing 250 to 400 milligrams once or twice daily.

St. John's wort and Ginkgo biloba in doses of 250 to 500 milligrams, two or three times a day, are valuable additions to my total program for the management of unrelenting chronic stress and depression.

Passion flower, catnip and skullcap are mild herbs that have been extensively used for managing irritability, anxiety and stress. I sometimes prescribe these herbs in combination and rotation with others included in the above table.

Anise (licorice) is useful for adrenal support. However, this herb should be used only under close supervision of an experienced clinician, especially when used by people with a history of high blood pressure.

    Hormonal imbalances almost always occur in chronic stress. Estrogenic overload, in my view, is one of the primary health hazards facing American women. I recommend 10 to 15 milligrams of folic acid to prevent troublesome hot flushes and other estrogen-related symptoms. A natural progesterone preparation, such as one derived from Mexican wild yam is valuable for providing a counterbalance to estrogenic overload. I usually recommend the application of one-third to one-fourth teaspoon of natural progesterone cream to the skin of the upper chest or face at bed time for a period of two weeks before the menstrual period. For postmenopausal women, I recommend the use progesterone cream during the last two weeks of the month.