hello everyone,

thought i'd start a thread on supplements.  I'm something of an alchemist when it comes to supplements, and my vitamin cabinet resembles a pharmacy/vitamin store.

Anyway, I'll start off by posting some supplements that can be dangerous.  I got this info from http://www.youngagain.com , a great place to buy supplements online.

POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SUPPLEMENTS

A. Chaparral (Larrea tridentata)

Chaparral, commonly called the creosote bush, is a desert shrub with a long history of use as a traditional medicine by Native Americans. Chaparral is marketed as a tea, as well as in tablet, capsule, and concentrated extract form, and has been promoted as a natural antioxidant "blood purifier," cancer cure, and acne treatment. At least six cases (five in the United States and one in Canada) of acute non-viral hepatitis (rapidly developing liver damage) have been associated with the consumption of chaparral as a dietary supplement. Additional cases have been reported and are under investigation. In the majority of the cases reported thus far, the injury to the liver resolves over time, after discontinuation of the product. In at least two patients, however, there is evidence that chaparral consumption caused irreversible liver damage. One patient suffered terminal liver failure requiring liver transplant.

B. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), S. asperum (prickly comfrey), S. X uplandicum (Russian comfrey))

Comfrey, like a number of other plants (e.g., Senecio species), contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids to humans is well-documented. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease following ingestion of pyrrolizidine alkaloid-containing products, has been documented repeatedly throughout the world. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease is usually acute and may result in fatal liver failure. In less severe cases, liver disease may progress to a subacute form. Even after apparent recovery, chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, has been noted. Individuals who ingest small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids for a prolonged period may also be at risk for development of hepatic cirrhosis. The diagnosis of pyrrolizidine alkaloid-induced hepatic veno-occlusive disease is complex, and the condition is probably underdiagnosed.

C. Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe)

Yohimbe is a tree bark containing a variety of pharmacologically active chemicals. It is marketed in a number of products for body building and "enchanced male performance." Serious adverse effects, including renal failure, seizures and death, have been reported to FDA with products containing yohimbe and are currently under investigation.

D. Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)

Depending on the dose, lobeline can cause either autonomic nervous system stimulation or depression. At low doses, it produces bronchial dilation and increased respiratory rate. Higher doses result in respiratory depression, as well as sweating, rapid heart rate, hypotension, and even coma and death. As little as 50 milligrams of dried herb or a single milliliter of lobelia tincture has caused these reactions.

E. Germander (Teucrium genus)

Germander is the common name for a group of plants that are contained in medicinal teas, elixirs and capsules or tablets, either singly or in combination with other herbs, and marketed for the treatment of obesity and to facilitate weight loss.
F. Willow Bark (Salix species)

Willow bark has long been used for its analgesic (pain killing), antirheumatic, and antipyretic (fever-reducing) properties. Willow bark is widely promoted as an "aspirin-free" analgesic, including in dietary supplement products for children. Because it shares the same chemical properties and the same adverse effects as aspirin, this claim is highly misleading. The "aspirin-free" claim is particularly dangerous on products marketed, without warning labels, for use by children and other aspirin-sensitive individuals.

H. Ma huang

Ma huang is one of several names for herbal products containing members of the genus Ephedra. There are many common names for these evergreen plants, including squaw tea and Mormon tea. Serious adverse effects, including hypertension (elevated blood pressure), palpitation (rapid heart rate), neurophathy (nerve damage), myopathy (muscle injury), psychosis, stroke, and memory loss, have been reported to FDA with products containing Ma huang as ingredients and are currently under investigation.

Out of all these supplements, the only one I have tried is Ma Huang.  It's effective in increasing concentration and giving you a sense of energy (if you don't notice any effects, double your doses), but at the same time makes your heart beat like crazy.  I'm surprised how it makes your body go all crazy yet at the same time increases your concentration!  Personally, I have quit using this because I feel it is dangerous, and there are side effects, such as feeling very fatiqued after the energy goes away.

Does anyone know about the effectiveness of vitamins for healthy people?  I don't see how all my years of taking vitamins have helped me.  I've quit taking vitamins because of laziness, yet I am even healthier now than before.

I've found tea to be a good mild supplement.

I'm still waiting for my shipment of vinpocetine and vasopressin.  I heard that Aniractam or Pramiracetam in combination with Centrophenoxine to be extremely effective.  Nootropics seem to be very effective supplements!

I've tried Ma Huang too, and found that a sublingual preparation was really effective at increasing alertness and vigilance, though the effect seemed to wear off after a couple of weeks.  The pills, though, including ephedra extracts, don't really do anything good for me except make me somewhat nervous.

i tired some sleeping supplement once it worked pretty well seeing how i hadnt slept in 73 hours....

hello to all- I ran across this site while reviewing information on the pyrrolizidine alkaloids in comfrey. We make a salve on our farm that uses comfrey as a main ingredient, and we are trying to have it tested for the alkalooids. it is complex, as the amount of the alkaloids varies with variety, climate, soil, size of leaf, root vs. leaf, and time of year of harvest. the fda is cracking down on comfrey products so we want to test this before we get run out of town. we find that tuberous comfrey contains almost no alkaloids, and the old russian comfrey contains quite a bit. so i will stay in touch.
rick machado
machado farms

Comfrey is not for internal use at all. It can cause lethal liver failure. People used to put it in smoothies, and it grows easily, but it can cause your liver to die. That is why there is a crackdown on the sale of comfrey, it is poisonous taken internally.

MA HUANG+RITALIN+GUARANA+PIRACETAM(TO PROTECT)+ANTI-OXIDANTS(TO PROTECT) is interesting