It's always a revelation to see how the media  manipulate us!  I would be ashamed, for example, to use the kind of prose that seems to sell so many supplements.  I have more respect for my readers, and would rather let them decide for themselves based on the facts.

What has set me off this time?  A widely read woman's magazine has published a report guaranteed to cause everyone to assume that Kava Kava is toxic.

Here is the article in Good Housekeeping:
http://lifestyle.msn.com/MindBodyandSoul/PersonalGrowth/ArticleGH.aspx?cp-documentid=1203095

Pretty convincing, you will say.  I sent the piece off to Gaia Herbs for a comment, since their product featured prominently in the photo, and this is their reply:

"I have seen this article and am aware of the European reports about Kava Kava, however we do not have an official response at this time.  One of the reports about Kava toxicity addresses the issue of using the stem and leaves in products,  the stem and leaves are toxic and they may have (not proven) been used in the products in Europe and possibly in No Doz.  Substituting the leaves and stems, (which are cheaper) for the root, is called adulteration and is illegal. We only use the roots of the Kava plant and have never had an adverse event reported to us re: Kava.  No Doz apparently contains caffeine and is a product to keep you awake, so it makes me wonder why Kava is listed as an ingredient in the first place. I would say that a full analysis of the product is necessary. It may be easy to jump to conclusions from an article however, I would like a fuller history of OTC medications such as Tylenol which is a big cause for liver transplants in the US as well as alcohol intake (considering that the couple in the article are in the wine business). Alcohol and Tylenol are a toxic combination.

We do not recommend Kava for anyone under 18 years or for longer than 4 weeks of continuous use. "

Indeed, alcohol and Tylenol ARE a toxic combination!  I have posted about that in the past,  as you may see here:  This hang-over cure DE-livers.  However, Doctors are still in denial about this pretty much all over:  how much easier and more convenient to blame a herbal supplement.

What do we learn from this?  1) Be safe!   Don't buy the cheap stuff:  there are many ways to make things cheaper, and none of them have to do with making them better. 2) Before believing an attack on herbs and nutrients, get the whole story.

My article on Kava Kava is here

458 deaths annually from liver failure due to Tylenol

This gave me a laugh, partly because of the mildly self-congratulatory tone of the headline:  Antidepressants Increase Suicide Risk but Decrease Death Risk

It turns out that while more people on anti-depressants TRY to commit suicide fewer actually succeed.

The authors conclude, "Among suicidal subjects who had ever used antidepressants, the current use of any antidepressant was associated with a markedly increased risk of attempted suicide, and, at the same time, with a markedly decreased risk of completed suicide and death."

So now they are not only depressed, but a failure, too?  This is good? Well, it is after all the classical cry for attention and help.

Read about natural ways to fight Depression.

A list of medications implicated in causing depression.

Would you rather be a little unhappy while you are pregnant, or run the risk of worrying for a life-time about the health of your baby's heart?

Well, when you put it that way ...

Pregnancy means the body has a high requirement for the Omega 3 fatty acids, which help with the developing fetus's brain and vision.  Add to this that Omega 3s are also protective against mild depression, and that a recent survey by the Washington, DC-based Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) reported that only 41 per cent of mothers and expectant mothers know they should be consuming omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy - I would say it is a no-brainer   that the first avenue of approach for depression during pregnancy should be - OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS.

NOT - I repeat - NOT - pharmaceutical anti-depressants which have previously been linked to possible birth defects, but which are now positively linked to heart damage in  some babies.

Despite all this the report on heart damage in infants concludes:

However, reproductive-age women have the highest prevalence of major depressive disorders. The benefit to the mother of treatment with any of the drugs may outweigh the risk to the fetus.

Can they possibly be that short-sighted? Or do we hear the voice of the pharmaceutical industry super-imposed on common sense?

Paxil poses possible risk of birth defects, group of obstetricians says

The Vitamin Lady writes about natural help for Depression

A Prenatal with Omega 3: Pregnatal w. DHA

Source of Omega 3: Carlson Fish Oil Liquid   Carlson Fish Oil Capsules