Acne Rosacea: [rosacea] Re: supplements

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

[rosacea] Re: supplements

--- In rosacea-support@yahoogroups.com, Emma Waghorn <redaction@...>
wrote:
>
> On 28/11/06 18:18, "Ricky Butler" <classics_guy@...> wrote:
>
> > I have noticed we all seem to take alot of
> > supplements! its a good thing, but I have noticed
> > as some of you probably have too doesn't it
> > get kinda costly?? haha I know it does for me!
> > but I keep popping 'em!
>
> On a whim, I bought myself some combined Pycnogenol and grapeseed
extract
> capsules a couple of weeks ago -- 15 quid for a month's supply --
and I've
> decided I'm not doing it again. I mean, 180 pounds a year for just
one
> supplement? I've read that grape seed extract on its own is widely
> considered to be just as effective, if not better, and it's less
than half
> the price. (See, for example,
<http://www.immunesupport.com/95spr007.htm>.)
>
> But then it occurred to me that I didn't really know *why* I was
taking the
> supplement anyway. Is there strong evidence that it helps rosacea?
If so, I
> can't find any. And then I found an old reference to grape seed
extract in
> Rosacea News: <http://snipurl.com/13lal>, saying that a combination
of grape
> seed extract and Vitamin C increases blood pressure.
>
> Now, I'm not hypertensive, so I'm not at risk, and I only take
Vitamin C
> occasionally. But still -- it's given me second thoughts. I'm not
doing this
> self-medication thing any more. It's expensive, it might not be
helping, and
> there's a very small risk that it might even cause harm. You say,
Ricky,
> that taking a lot of supplements is a good thing. But do we really
know
> that? For sure? Do we know how some of them might interact?
>
> Emma
>I agree Emma. The choices are overwhelming and there seems to be no
definitive combination. The dosage, the supplement choices, the
timing, the interactions with each other and with food or on an empty
stomach. My cheeks are flushing from just the overwhelming thought
that in the best case scenario we may get some relief and do no harm
to the worst- making it much worse- and perhaps damaging our health
in another way. Remember, herbal supplements, etc. are not FDA
regulated. We have no way of knowing the quality control of the
stuff we are taking. Desperation sometimes breeds choices we would
not necessarily make if not so hopeless and helpless. Believe me, I
feel pretty frustrated and stressed and scared. I also have purchased
hundreds of dollars of supplements, etc. in just the past 2 weeks. I
just am not sure I will be taking them on a regular basis- for all
the reasons stated above. And I purchased them because it makes me
feel better to try to take control of what's happening to my body.
But when all is said and done and the dust clears I'm not sure what
the best thing is to do. Anyway, sorry for the long thought process-
I'm just thinking out loud- on paper.
With much empathy,
Melissa