Not giving medical advice to you, your dh etc just tossing out info for others reading.....silymarin (milk thistle) is an evidence based liver support option that will, in the absence of serious liver disease, optimize liver function in short order. There currently no evidence available suggesting that fish oil does anything besides *reduce* problematic liver related lab values. It's possible that in the case of the above poster, the fish oil was the 'red herring', not the true cause....a number of things are possible. While flax has benefits of it's own, and flax *oil* has benefits of it's own (some different from whole flax). However, they are not interchangeable with fish oil. Flax oil offers a subset of benefits attributed to fish oil, but far from the whole array of fish oil benefits. While care should be taken and benefits and risks be weighed with any treatment, the statement 'would not suggest any herb or supplement' is not generally going to be helpful as there is significant number of both herbs and supplements that are not hepatotoxic and some may actually be beneficial to the liver. Ideally, we'd all be getting what we need from out diets....but that it virtually impossible in our modern world. If fish oil isn't an option for someone, then the obvious alternative is eating wild fatty fish frequently - ideally every day. Some may have concerns then about mercury.....The evidence from the Seychelles Child Development study is very clear that the benefits of the LCPUFAs dramatically outweighs the risk of ingesting mercury from the fish *as long as it's a high selenium content fish* like tuna. I can talk more about this is someone has questions, but yes, it looks like everyone, incl toddlers and pregnant women will benefit from eating fish. Just to clarify, I'm not suggesting that the above poster go against medical advice - I'm just tossing out further information so that other posters reading and making dietary and nutrtional decisions have a little more information. :) k

Fwiw, _Depression Free Naturally_ (Joan Matthews-Larson) covers everything that's been discussed, amino acids, inositol, choline, various b vites, the role of magnesium, diet etc. It has extensive questionaires to pinpoint what exactly is going on biochemically as there are multiple types of anxiety, depression, irritability etc. Unfortunately, it's an older book, so it's missing some new data, specifically that about vitamin D. Of course, the book recommends ordering supplements from Joan's treatment center. I just order everything from iherb.com Her website now has fairly extensive data on it as well. :) K

ahh, yeah. i'd rather take rx meds than SJW. powerful stuff. looooooots of drug interactions. it's a PITA once you know enough about it. it's definitely a drug herb. not a food herb. :) K

Agree with what unless bipolar? Orthomolecular treatment, incl fish oil is highly effective with bipolar disorder. In Stoll's fish oil study, they quit the study to give all participants the 'treatment' (fish oil) b/c it was so effective that withholding it from those on placebo became unethical. Tiny doses of lithium orotate can be added in cases that aren't responding to specific amino acids, vites, minerals, efa's etc. :) K

Seriously. That's what makes the mess. If everyone would just sit, we'd all be fine. K

ITA. Someone involved in the study should be willing to write it....and if your peds nurse is willing to do the test, I have to imagine your ped would be willing to write the order. If he is, then you can go anywhere...i'd go to a children's hospital or directly to the lab. I really think though that if your ped won't write it, one of the study docs will. :) K

It's also fairly easy to figure it out based on symptoms if one can't get a doc that is helpful (ie insurance/access barriers etc). I used targreted amino acid therapy along with other helps (sufficient calcium, optimal amounts of magnesium, optimal amounts of d, specific forms of b6 and folic acid, more zinc than is typical)......orthomolecular medicine saved my life. :) k

The book _Depression Free Naturally_ is amazing. I love it. Changed my life. Also have your dh get his 25(OH)D levels checked as low D levels are linked to depression. Even though you're in Australia, it's easy tohave low D levels if you work indoors and/or wear *any* sunscreen or sun protective clothing. :) K

Just read _The Penderwicks_ and _The Borrowers_. My favorite though has to be the Jim Dale audiobook of _Around the World in 80 Days_ :) Katherine

2nd. Meds for my daughter were life changing. For me too (her meds and mine). We also have done extensive dietary changes (feingold, GFCF, organic, high protein, mostly raw blah blah blah). Not helpful. We stick with just a healthy diet and eat mostly organic b/c for me, it's the right thing to do. We eat lots of produce, some high quality animal protein, some junk (more than I'd like). What was problematic? dyes seem to be moderately problematic and some yellow dyes have triggered asthma attacks. What's helpful? meds! but also sufficient magnesium and inositol are noticeably helpful. She takes additional supplements (calcium, D, p5p, 5-mthf, zinc, multi). Before I used meds for my ADHD (which had been severely problematic since 6th grade), I was able to get relief - as an adult - by about 50% taking the following: SAM-e (400 mg first thing in the am) sufficient D (1,000 IU per 25 lbs body weight) sufficient zinc (about 30 mg per day *for me* in addition to dietary zinc) sufficient iron (about 10 mg iron bisglycinate) _Depression Free Naturally_ is a great book. While it doesn't address ADHD specifically, it's the best primer for learning about orthomolecular meds for all mental health issues. I'd start looking at the ADHD books....ADDitude magazine is incredible. I love it. CHADD has a great book on teaching ADHD kids. Chris Dendy has a great book on ADHD teens. Some ADHD 'coaching' might be in order if she's motivated. :) K

I also live in Atlanta and was in Italy this summer....Tuscany mostly. :) K

Oooh, but you are:) k

I can get all of those here too for the same prices or less. And I have had them. They're tippy. The wires eventually bend. The one I chose is very different. It's nearly 5' tall. the lines are plastic and can be tightened over time. The size I have can hold two king sheets and still have two lines available. I like inexpensive. I often choose inexpensive. In this category, I've done inexpensive but knew that for specific reasons, this particular device would better suit our needs. Expensive yup. But it'll easily pay for itself within a year. Easily. I'm happy to hang the sheets, towels and all clothes with the right set up (this is that set up). But with regular racks, I don't have the space for towels and all of the sheets.....so regular inexpensive racks save less $$ for me, effectiely costing me more over the long haul. :) Katherine

Yeah, it's covered in my initial post. All of the reasons. The ridiculous reasons. I also think that as the support for both 'green' actions and 'cost cutting' actions increases, attitudes towards clothes lines and line drying have shifted and will continue to shift. :) K

Okay Meredith Grey. ;)

Me too! No chemicals....we just mow. Mmhmm. Okay. Well that's worth it no matter what.:) K

I actually like sandpapery towels. Exfoliation. But most don't. I dry most things first in the dryer for about five minutes. Then hang them. This reduces stiffness and wrinkles dramatically. *dramatically*. Towels, for every few minutes they're left in, will be significantly softer. I sometimes leave them in for 10 min. If there is a boxfan on, like there is overnight, I set up the rack in front of the boxfan. The airmovement helps keep the towels a little less stiff. Hey, have you tried a Brill mower? It is so much better than the Scott one ime. And keeping the blades sharpened:lol: Yeah I haven't gotten to that in 10 years. But the Brill is so much better. very cool. very very cool. I imagine he's very careful about how he handwashes dishes......for most, the dishwasher is more efficient even taking into consideration the heating of the water (gas or electric) *and* water use. but for some very conscientious consumers, handwashing wins out. not many though! :) K

Oh yeah! I kind of do that.....in some fairly obnoxious ways I mentioned in another post in this thread:) I also don't park my car in the garage <gasp> so I'm really pushing the envelope for the comfort zone of some of my neighbors. K

Oh yeah! I kind of do that.....in some fairly obnoxious ways I mentioned in another post in this thread:) I also don't park my car in the garage <gasp> so I'm really pushing the envelope for the comfort zone of some of my neighbors. K

I will never live in one with restrictive rules again. It's ridiculous. k

I'd love to have one of those old fashioned ones on a pulley....from my upstairs bedroom window (which is right by the laundry room)...to well, it'd have to be my neighbor's house! :lol::D To which my neighbor would say::glare: ;)

She was amazing. Like no one else. I wish I could adequately describe her. But I can't....so.... http://judaism.about.com/od/shabbatprayersblessings/f/eshetchayil.htm Eshet chayil mi yimtza v'rachok mip'ninim michrah An accomplished woman, who can find? Her value is far beyond pearls. Batach bah lev ba'lah v'shalal lo yechsar Her husband's heart relies on her and he shall lack no fortune. G'malathu tov v'lo ra kol y'mei chayeiha She does him good and not evil, all the days of her life. Darshah tzemer ufishtim vata'as b'chefetz kapeiha She seeks wool and flax, and works with her hands willingly. Haitah ko'oniyot socher mimerchak tavi lachmah She is like the merchant ships, she brings her bread from afar. Vatakom b'od lailah vatiten teref l'vetah v'chok l'na'aroteiha She arises while it is still night, and gives food to her household and a portion to her maidservants. Zam'mah sadeh vatikachehu mip'ri chapeiha nat'ah karem She plans for a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. Chagrah v'oz motneiha vat'ametz zro'oteiha She girds her loins in strength, and makes her arms strong. Ta'amah ki tov sachrah lo yichbeh balailah nerah She knows that her merchandise is good. Her candle does not go out at night. Yadeha shilchah vakishor v'chapeiha tamchu felech She sets her hands to the distaff, and holds the spindle in her hands. ***Kapah parsah le'ani v'yadeiha shil'chah la'evyon*** ***She extends her hands to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy.*** Lo tira l'vetah mishaleg ki chol betah lavush shanim She fears not for her household because of snow, because her whole household is warmly dressed. Marvadim astah lah shesh v'argaman l'vushah She makes covers for herself, her clothing is fine linen and purple. Noda bash'arim ba'lah b'shivto im ziknei aretz Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. Sadin astah vatimkor vachagor natnah lak'na'ani She makes a cloak and sells it, and she delivers aprons to the merchant. ***Oz v'hadar l'vushah vatischak l'yom acharon*** ***Strength and honor are her clothing, she smiles at the future.*** ***Piha patchah v'chochma v'torat chesed al l'shonah*** ***She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the lesson of kindness is on her tongue.*** ***Tzofi'ah halichot betah v'lechem atzlut lo tochel*** ***She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.*** ***Kamu vaneha vay'ash'ruha ba'lah vay'hal'lah*** ***Her children rise and praise her*** her husband lauds her. ***Rabot banot asu chayil v'at alit al kulanah*** ***Many women have done worthily, but you surpass them all.*** Sheker hachen v'hevel hayofi ishah yir'at Hashem hi tit'halal Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears God shall be praised. T'nu lah mip'ri yadeiha vihal'luha vash'arim ma'aseha Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. ~~~~~~~ Jo, I miss you so much. Still.

The ridiculous covenants of our neighborhood specifically prohibit outdoor drying of laundry on both permanent and temporary devices. I should go find the document and type it in. Fascist. Seriously. But anway. I still do put out laundry anywhere and everywhere:) When we come back from swimming, I drape towels *in the front yard* over the landscaping bushes....just until they dry:) I set up two chairs on the tiny back patio (cement slab) with a broom over the chair backs and hang things on hangers out there (now that's seriously low rent;)) I'm going to get a couple of these to hang out my bedroom windows (if they work....may only work over doors: http://store.laundrylist.org/Leifheit_Quartett_p/20-017.htm :) K

Reposted...... We can't line dry laundry in our subdivision. Neighborhood covenants specifically disallow it based on the widely held and spreading belief that line drying laundry is 'low-rent', unsightly, and that it actually lowers property values. I actually love the way that it looks. Possibly b/c my very high rent, now dead:(, beloved mother in law line dried (after five minutes of machine drying:)) at her homes in VT, AL and Jerusalem. It always looked so pretty to me. As she traveled the world what did she photograph? (she was a photographer and watercolor artist and just generally artistic and design oriented) She photographed line drying laundry. All. Over. The world. When my first child was born, she gave me a framed photo - that she took - of baby laundry line drying in a Jerusalem neighborhood. I cherish it. Since I can't dry outside, I often have clothes on hangers drying all over my house. After a recent visit to my SIL (MIL's daughter) in Firenze, I was inspired to get a drying rack. SIL rarely uses the electric dryer, even in winter. In Italy, it's very very rare to even have one. After much perusing, I got a Mrs. Pegg's Handy Line. It really is like an indoor clothes line. But 10 of them. On a rack that's nearly 5 ft tall. There are two sizes; I have the larger. It weighs 4.9 lbs http://store.laundrylist.org/Mrs_Peg...e_p/20-006.htm I actually wanted to get this one as it's got 10 ft additional drying line, but it's *20* lbs instead of 4.9 and about $25 more after shipping is factored in. It comes in two sizes as well http://www.breezedryer.com/products/...0-287-257.html However, the heavier one will fit on the back of a door and comes with an 'over the door' hanging rack. The Mrs. Peggs is a little too wide for the back of the door but is just fine standing up in the closet leaning against the wall (behind the door), or under the bed. I love that I can hang queen sheets on it. Right now it has towels - huge beach towels - hanging. We run a fan at night for the white noise....so I just stood it up in front of the fan. i love it! Katherine

go to Consumer Counseling Credit Services right away. First thing tomorrow call them. Don't consider consolodation or other scams. Just use CCCS or a reputable non-profit like CCCS. Wishing you the best, K