Kalms.

St John's Wort has been shown to be as effective as anti-depressants in some people, as per article in the BMJ a couple of years back. However, it is a strong herb that can interfere with some other drugs (many drugs are based on natural herbs, aspirin from birch bark, digitalis from fox-gloves, etc). So to say herbal remedies have no effect is silly.

The main problem with St John's wort is sensitivity to light- so extra care should be taken with wearing sun-glasses and not sunbathing, avoiding strong sun light.

Passiflora, hops, valerian, rosemary, melissa, verbena and many more, are known for a calming effect without side-effects- so why not. But yes, always check with pharmacists for reaction with other drugs.

Don't make me laught about Rescue Remedy!!!

I think the ssri's followed on on the heels of the Librium/valium stuff. With the tricyclics and the MAOI's in between.

It can probably help with mild anxiety, as can St John's Wort, Rescue Remedy and other over the counter remedies. Of course more severe symptoms need GP-prescribed medication.

It's been around for years, some people swear by it - and when it came out, it was probably that or purple hearts.

And why would doctors bother to prescribe it? Why don't they send their anxiety patients along to Boots?

If Kalms could help anxiety, why would Eli Lilley have put millions of pounds into producing fluoxetine?

I fancy buying the flakes and making my own. I sometimes wonder if whose advice I follow depends on the mood I'm in, but I rarely buy end up buying something that doesn't work. I do read loads of reviews on lots of sites before I part with my pennies.

So, practising what I preach, I googled 'Kalm Reviews' and went to the Amazon site.

www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000KU72S8

So it seems to work very well for roughly 50% of people, and is a total waste of money for roughly the same amount.

My son badly damaged his back, and uses the spray to assist healing. He is a paramedic. But, like all things, it will work for some people and not others.

I use the night time one on my neck and shoulders and the ordinary one on my legs. I don't use it every day. I take the liquid magnesium supplement on alternate days to the spray.

It seems expensive but you do not need a lot.

Why? If you took advice from an online forum and you agreed with it you'd still go out and buy the stuff. Conversely, just because you read an article on a website, that doesn't mean you buy whatever is being promoted.

Indeed

The latter is less costly.

... or an online forum!

I tend to agree with you there, jings!

Never take health advice from an internet sales site.

Yes, but you have to use loads. I'm no expert. She is a yoga instructor and very healthy, skinny and sickeningly beautiful for a 54 year old - so something must work! Although I have to say her crystal deodorant recommendation didn't work...

I've never heard of that - so the Epsom Salts acted as a relaxant?

I see why she recommended it now, but I had so much to do after she visited that I never got around to getting any or googling it. I had just sprained my ankles and damaged my knee, she brought me over a big bag of Epsom salts and told me to lob the whole lot in the bath! That practically knocked me out. I was like a zombie, I had never used it in huge quantities before. It made for a very expensive bath, though.

So I just realised, it is being recommended by a professional - a pharmacist - and it is complementary medicine

I can't be without it, it's available at Boots or Amazon, everywhere really. I buy the one with lavender in it:

www.amazon.co.uk/BETTER-MAGNESIUM-GOOD-NIGHT-SPRAY/dp/B00289SX28

And this is from the Victoria Health website:

Magnesium Oil Joint Spray is ideal for direct application to inflamed and painful joint and muscle tissues. Magnesium helps to relax muscle and nerves and this helps to alleviate pain and stiffness. Magnesium Oil Joint Spray also contains glucosamine sulphate together with the cooling and calming effect of menthol and the anti inflammatory and pain relieving qualities of wintergreen oil. Glucosamine suphate is responsible for the production of connective tissue and stimulates cells that encourage the formation of cartilage.

Find out more about Magnesium Oil - Joint Spray in Shabir Daya's (Victoria Health's pharmacist) article https://www.victoriahealth.com/editorial/magnesium-the-most-important-mineral-we-all-overlook

And now I know that DBH is a 'nocebo' person. Unless it has been proscribed by a sports therapist, apparently. Who are Gods and know far better than wives who have spent hours and hours researching stuff on the internet for them, and their doctors.

Oooh- my sister swears by magnesium spray. Please tell what, why and how! She was very vague but said I should have it..

Ha Grannyknot, I wonder if that is where I first read about it. If so, thank you. I use the spray on my knees and calfs. I used to get really bad cramps in my calfs that kept me awake.

Ann60 Perhaps that's why she's called GrannyNot -. she gets excited so takes an antidote.

Haha annsixty

littleflo I swear by magnesium and have written about it on these forums before. I use the oil spray.

I tried Kalms but had a bad reaction to them . I take mangnesium now which does help. I use Floradix Magnesium liquid formula. I got mine in Holland and Barrett but I am sure you can buy it elsewhere. If you google Magnesium supplements it is quite an eye opener.