Coping with grief
Over the last decade, there have been several tragedies and deaths in my immediate family. I am finding it hard to cope with the burden of grief. Is there anything you can recommend which might help me get through these terrible days?
Sutherlandia frutescens is a South African plant that has a long history of traditional use to support anyone suffering from extreme emotional distress, including and especially grief. The widows of slain Zulu warriors, for example, would use Sutherlandia as a gentle tranquilliser during the mourning period.
When I first wrote about this herb, five years ago, there was an on-going controversy over concerns about toxicity which, thanks to more recent independent studies by The Indigenous Knowledge Systems Division (IKS) of the Medical Research Council of South Africa has now been resolved making this not only an effective but safe recommendation.
If you search the internet, you will discover that, the controversy centred on the low-level presence in Sutherlandia of a chemical called canavanine but subsequent animal studies at dosages five times higher than the recommended therapeutic dose have proven there are no toxic side-effects.
One of the key active chemicals in the plant is GABA (Gamma-Aminbutyric acid) which is used to help relieve anxiety, depression and stress. You can now order a new Sutherlandia supplement called Filisa - pronounced “feleesa” a Zulu word that means “to make better” from the African remedy specialists, The Little Herbal Company (01484 685100) where 120 vegetarian capsules cost £24.50 plus £1.50 p&p. Although, as mentioned, animal studies were relied on for safety investigations by researchers, these supplements have not been tested on animals.
Take two 200mg capsules twice daily, after food to reduce any risk of nausea or dizziness; rare side-effects, which has been reported among already weakened patients.