Herbal Medi Care M-Aid, or Mood-Aid, is a product that is designed to help people who suffer from the occasional bout of fatigue, mild depression, sadness, irritability, and anxiety. These cases include people who simply have the occasional case of the blues to those who suffer from conditions such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). These individuals don’t want anything as strong, expensive, or that have strong potential side effects. Herbal Medi Care M-Aid is one of many similar products with comparable ingredients list that are currently on the over-the-counter shelves.
The Herbal Medi Care M-Aid formula is made up of a proprietary formula. Though the quantities are not disclosed, the ingredients are: St. John’s Wort, Gingko Biloba, Skullcap, Valerian, Gotu Kola, Black Cohosh, Motherwort, and Chamomile.
St. John’s Wort is an herb that functions similarly to prescription strength MAO inhibitors, only in a much slower and milder fashion. It inhibits the brain enzyme monoamine oxidase, while assisting in creating balance among important brain chemicals such as serotonin and norepinephrine. St. John’s Wort should be used with care as it conflicts with many other medications, including most prescription antidepressants. Skullcap is another drug that impacts the nervous system, though it is more commonly used as an anti-inflammatory. This should be used very carefully as overuse has been known to cause confusion, twitching, giddiness, and stupor. Black cohosh is most often used for treating arthritis and symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats, and other discomforts, though not anything related to mood. Ginkgo Bilboa has never shown any mood enhancing benefits, but does have undesirable potential side effects such as nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, dizziness, and headaches.
At $18 to $25 online, Herbal Medi Care Mood Aid is certainly less expensive than its prescription strength cousins, but is about average among products with similar ingredients.
There is some indication that there are ingredients within Herbal Medi Care M-Aid that can assist with helping to boost the mood. However, there is some concern about additional ingredients that may not be necessary to the formula, but that cause risk of contradictions with other medications and supplements, and that can lead to unpleasant side effects that needn’t be there. Before taking a supplement such as this one, it is important to consult with a doctor to ensure that these contradictions will not occur and to find out if there is an alternative that might offer mood enhancing without the unnecessary unpleasantness.
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