THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. PLEASE CONSULT A DOCTOR IF YOU WANT TO START A NEW SUPPLEMENT. THIS IS JUST MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND WHAT WORKS FOR ME.
There's been a rise in people moving towards supplements, natural remedies, and holistic/functional medicine over western medicine, which is great as long as we're not just following trends and 'influencers' and are being careful with what we take. Whatever you want to call it, ayurvedic, holistic, functional, natural, there's a lot more to it than the things you see in a tiktok video. It's not a secret that western medicine is very much money focused and sometimes it can do more harm than good. Obviously, the natural side doesn't suit everyone either and can have its downsides too. The thing with supplements is that you really need to be mindful of what you're taking and what reactions it may have with other medicines/supplements.
Why do I take supplements?
As someone who's allergic to a lot of foods, it's hard for me to get the vitamins and nutrients I need. I also take a lot of medication and my overall health is quite poor and supplements are a way of boosting your health. Back in 2020/21 ish, I was seeing a doctor who specialises in functional medicine and focuses on the root causes of a issues and how they can be treated through supplements and diet. This is very controversial in the chronic illness world but I think it's because alternative medicine is seen as taboo, too much gaslighting from doctors during diagnosis journeys and even after, too much emphasis on 'you just need to eat better and exercise because that'll heal you'. Things like that are not helpful. There's no 'cures' to most conditions. Yes dieting and supplements and meditation, mindfulness etc are amazing tools and can overall get your body out of a fight or flight mode, but the word 'cure' is harmful.
The supplements I take are:
Omega 3 -- I can't eat fish. Anti inflammatory
Querciten -- I can't eat fruits
Vitamin B2 -- For migraines
Vitamin D -- Everyone should be taking vitamin D! I take a lot because of hEDS
CoQ10 -- For migraines
Probiotics -- My gut is a problem
Magnesium Glycinate -- For anxiety, sleep and pain
CBD gummies -- For pain
Peppermint oil capsules -- For my stomach
First thing first - the brand of the supplement matters. If a supplement is not working well for you, try changing the brand. This is something many people don't think about because if they react to something they completely stop using it. Definitely seek medical help if you're reacting and if it's not a big issue, try changing the brand and go from there. Do ask your doctor. I had to swap my B2 brand because the first one caused a very upset stomach and fatigue.
Number 2 - always check for drug interactions. Talk to your GP or any other health professionals about possible interactions.
Three - don't over do it. Supplements and vitamins usually target similar things. That doesn't mean you take all 30 tablets. Do your research, as long as it takes, make sure you are only taking what you need.
Don't start them all together. Start 1 and give it some time to kick in before starting the next one. If you start 3 new tablets at once and have a reaction, you won't know which one's causing the issue. Similarly, if you start them together, you won't know which one is working and if 1 isn't actually doing anything.
Brands I love:
Holland and Barrett
Nutravita
Solgar
Nutri Advanced
Biokult
Optibac
CBD FX