Here is a clip from "Food Matters."
Not to mention, I also used Niacin to compensate as my body weaned off my antidepressants. It does so many wonderful things when our body has a level it needs, like lower your cholesterol by boosting your HDL.
We started cautiously, as I try to only add/subtract things in a way that I can truly tell what is helping or hurting. So, we purchased the no-flush formula (time released, which lowers the typical flush sensation) of Niacin at our local drug store and started our attaching kid at one 500 mg capsule daily. After a week, we went up to two. We actually saw improvement. It definitely helped to counter that underlying flow of shame and depression that put her into a regular tail spin of crying, raging and for-what-seemed-like-no-reason defiance. It wasn't a happy pill, by any means. But it dealt with one of her many layers.
When things escalated in February, we went up to 1500 mg and have stayed there. We knew it had been helping, but got used to our new normal. We didn't realize just how much, until one day when she was just totally off her rocker (but for no apparent reason that any of us could determine). She finally admitted that she had run out and not taken her Niacin for four days. We bought some that afternoon, and one hour after her dose she was once again regulated.
Some children cannot swallow pills, and I now have two friends who have successfully delivered the Niacin to their kids by opening the capsule into pudding, yogurt, etc.
Anywho, feel free to peruse the links. I am also putting a link to Food Matters at the end of this post. Full disclosure: that is my affiliate link, and I do make a wee bit on any purchases if you enter the site that way. What I like about it, no matter how you get there, is that you can watch it instantly online for about $5.
It is not a "Watch Instantly" movie on Netflix, but you can get it via DVD if you have a membership.
It has made a tremendous impact on our daughter and kept her off of RX antidepressants. It has helped me to removed them from my own body. Do your own research, and find out if it may be one of your missing pieces to the puzzle your family is trying to complete.
15 comments:
Thanks to your input on that horrible no good very bad day, we have ALL started taking the Niacin supplement. We have yet to boost it up yet, but I am extremely hopeful.
Okay. Off to the beach now. YAY!
Blessings!
Hannah
I haven't tried it on Princess yet, but boy howdy it sure helps ME.
thanks for sharing this - have put the dvd in our Q and and heading over to the website now to learn more!
sharing is caring and we appreciate your caring :)
this is so interesting! Looking in to it. I don't even know what niacin is... is it over the counter? natural? found in the vitamin dept. of Target??? any direction?
@Misty - Niacin's one of the B vitamins (Thiamin, Niacin, and Riboflavin are the three common ones with names). According to Wikipedia, it's B-3. Should be OTC.
So interesting when you talk about how much nutrition is helping. I think I've shared before how much we have found that keeping our little gal on "Go Ruby Go" helps her. The diff if she starts skipping is profound--and I always "catch her" because of her behaviors spiraling out of control!! When she's on it, life is pretty peaceful . . . only minor little things that aren't much more than you might have with any bio kid who is a "challenging" kid. When she's off?! Hoo-boy! NOT fun times. Wonder if she gets Niacin in that? I've also added in fish oil after hearing that there is some research to believe that brains damaged by birth-Mom's alcohol can really benefit from it. Can't say yet whether I notice such a diff or not with fish oil.
Huh, I might have to try niacin for myself and see if it helps. I definitely do want to be on meds if I can help it, but I can see a downward spiral of moods forming.
my monkeys take 1000 a day and I see the difference it makes in Calvin, less of one in Fudge but I still think it helps. I am all about the natural supplememnts.
interesting...thanks. Someone posted one of your Youtube videos on my facebook page and that's how I found you...can totally relate- you rock for your honesty.
I am reading your blog today while wearing my tiny foster baby who was born to a coke addict (what else?! who knows) mom. He is screaming all day. I have an adopted almost 14 year old daughter too, in addition to my 3 bio kids. ALways helpful to have another mom in similar circumstances, who is honest (rare) about it all. Lovin' it.
Hey Christine,
Just strolling through your blog - remarkable stuff. I was so glad to meet you but very sorry to not have had the chance (or made the chance) to speak with you. Anyway...I'll be a regular reader now.
Very interesting discovery about Niacin and mood - the B vitamins, incl. & esp. folic acid - are linked to healthy brain & nerve development in fetuses, so it makes sense that this supplement improves brain chemistry in adults/kids.
This Niacin deficiency - and others, like Lysine, Vit D - are becoming more common and it's my personal theory (and others, more learned than me) that our bodies are using these elements up more rapidly - hence the low levels - due to environmental stresses (metals, chemicals, etc.)
My own daughter has Celiac's and damned if we didn't find out until last year, when she was 6. I don't know what long term damage her body & brain sustained due to the vit & mineral deficiencies she suffered, but before diagnosis she had (a) psoarsis & rashes over her entire body (b) increasing frustration, and tantrums and (c) told me she was hearing voices.
I had been giving her daily supplements, but due to the injury to her small intestines (that's what Celiac's does) she was not absorbing much of them.
She's gluten-free now for one year, her last blood test was awesome and she is stronger and healthier than ever.
Thanks for a great post and a great link, and a great blog.
Best,
Lisa Duggan
aka motherhoodmag
Hey Christine,
been reading you for a while - a year, two years I don't know it all runs together, but I found you through Corey. Anywho, I was wondering how quickly you saw a change with the Niacin. I just started my son on 500mg today - yes today, and he just voluntarily cleaned our family room, said it was a present for my anniversary and hugged me saying, "you can't stop the love." WHAT THUH???? Just curious if it is even metabolically possible that it is affecting his system that quickly??
Heather, yes it is totally possible. This of it like that euphoria after you throw up. You may not feel 100%, but DANG do you feel better than just a few hours previously.
HOWEVER, while it peels back a layer or two, and you may see some MAJOR improvements - it does not take away the shame or the fear. Once they get used to that "new normal" their old ruts in their brain are still going to be there. Most behaviors will return - YET, they will be able to move through them more easily and practice trust and love better than before. It actually helps them finally do some of the tough work.
BUT THE TOUGH WORK IS STILL GOING TO BE TOUGH.
In the meantime, ENJOY IT! Don't let those few moments of "Ahhhhhh" slip past you!
I'm just learning about the whole Niacin thing...totally new to me! Our son just started on antidepressants (we're on wk 2), but we're willing to try anything. Thanks for the info. I'm always looking for whatever helps!
Chris
i dorked out about understanding what flushing is and so Eli and i got to have a *field trip* to the E.R. last week (http://psbohemian.blogspot.com/2010/09/tuesday-we-had-wyatt-for-day-his-last.html)
but, he says he is feeling less anxious with the niacin and i am totally feeling better too - so grateful you shared this!
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