Momotaro Apotheca Tincture Review

The product mentioned in this post was sent to me for free by Momotaro Apotheca.

If you follow Momotaro Apotheca, you have already seen that they are doing series on Pelvic Pain, which I have contributed to. There is a post discussing pelvic floor issues that will go live on September 16th, 2020. I am not going to reiterate what I have provided for their post on my blog. You will just have to wait for the post to be published on their blog. When the post is live I will link to it from this post.

Instagram is a wild place. I have thought this many times. At first, I had no intention of maintaining an instagram for this blog. I am glad, however, that I am indecisive and flighty as heck sometimes and decided to do it anyway. One comment on a Momotaro Apotheca post about pelvic pain, as part of their pelvic pain series, and here we are.

As I have mentioned in a previous post about women's health, I have been in the biological sciences field for awhile. I have been a long time skeptic of supplements and homeopathy. I started probiotics and cranberry supplements in earnest when my flora was destroyed by the over-prescription of antimicrobials by my previous gynecologist. Re-balancing my body was a process that actually took around 60 days, so it is not a get-well-quick scheme, and neither was the PT for my pelvic floor. This whole process created a lot of anxiety for me, which led to me being prescribed generic Prozac. I took Prozac on and off for a year or so, then backed the dose down to 10mg before stopping entirely.

Recently my medication was switched to generic Lexapro. Starting this medication was not a fun time at all. The prescriber encouraged me to "stick with it, don't be deterred by the side effects. They will disappear in such a short time!" In a few ways, it felt like a hard sell. 

Despite the "encouragement," I found that the sexual side effects were, simply put, intolerable. Dryness, itching, discomfort. Desire went to absolute zero. I hated it, and I was supposed to keep taking this medicine that does things that I hate and wait and hope for my body to finally adjust? No. I would rather take my chances with behavioral therapy-only management. I'm part of the college of medicine for my PhD and as an aspiring researcher, rejecting a clinically tested medication goes against something deep within me. Trying untested supplements, or those with conflicting data, goes against everything I feel as a researcher. However, more and more natural compounds are gaining interest in the field of medicine. I even have care providers at student health asking me if I am interested in a more natural approach. My department has someone studying endocannabinoids. 

Endocannabinoids are the subject of a lot of buzz right now with the new niche marked in CBD. It is used to treat everything from arthritis to anxiety. CBD and related hemp extract products aim to reduce inflammation and decrease nervousness without the involvement of THC, the compound in hemp that produces the high associated with smoking the plant. At this point in my hatred of SSRIs, I am willing to try other options. So far, I have tried SAMe, which works, and Momotaro Apotheca's Tincture. The jury is still out on the long-term effectiveness of the tincture, but I am here to let you know my first thoughts.

It is made with several plant extracts: ginger, raspberry leaf, rooibos, fennel, dandelion root, spearmint, chamomile, and full spectrum hemp.The tincture does what it is set out to do: promote relaxation. It has a sweet, earthy taste when taken by itself. It is recommended to take it in tea or soda water. Each time I have used the supplement so far, I find myself calm. It doesn't require a build-up in your system like an SSRI. I didn't experience any sexual side effects like I did with SSRIs. The smell of the tincture is somewhat offputting, but don't let that scare you.

How do I incorporate this into my daily routine?
I am a huge fan of Celestial Seasonings Sleepy Time Tea (which, can technically be classified as an herbal supplement). I make a cup at bedtime and add the tincture. I drink it before I go to sleep.

I think it is important for me to confess that this is a product I never would have tried if it was not sent to me. I am not sure I would have repurchased the SAMe either, which is easy to find at any drugstore. I had no idea what direction to take next with anxiety management.

It is also important for me to note that given my skepticism with supplements, I had no qualms about taking this one when I saw the ingredients list. I drink ginger tea to help with menstrual cramps, I use ginger in a lot of my cooking. Raspberry leaf tea has long been drunk by women who are close to delivering their children. Chamomile is an ingredient in my sleepy time tea. Hemp extracts are of course in dietary supplements, but they are also becoming a key ingredient in skincare lines. These herbal ingredients are commonplace in our everyday lives, and are all considered safe unless you have an allergy to any of them.

Like with any natural products, I recommend you patch test for an allergic reaction before using the recommended amount. I patch tested with both their Salve and Tincture by gently rubbing some into the skin on the underside of my arm. I waited 48 hours, monitoring for a reaction, and since there wasn't one I continued using the products safely. If you have a reaction, such as a rash, swelling, or inflammation, do not continue using the product. 

I am going to continue using the tincture at bedtime, as it truly helps me relax. It is $48, which might be outside some budgets. But trying this supplement helped me realize that having a bedtime relaxation routine is important. If you already have one, please keep doing what you're doing. Whether you choose to use this tincture or not, I hope you find a routine for relaxation that helps you de-stress.

Kasey

Disclaimers:

1. This post is not intended to constitute medical advice, it is meant to review a product
2. Each person is unique and so is their body. What works for me may not work for you.
3. Always patch test when using new botanically based products. Do not use if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.
4. Always consult your doctor before using new supplements of any kind to be sure that they do not interfere with any of your current prescription medications, including birth control.
5. If you are regularly drug tested for work, I do not recommend the use of hemp derived products as there can be trace amounts of THC (<0.3%) in this product. Whether or not this will be detected on a drug test will depend on the sensitivity of testing used by the testing provider and your frequency/amount of hemp product use. Use of hemp products may result in positive drug tests. If you choose to use this tincture while employed where random drug testing is standard practice, you do so at your own risk.
6. SAMe and Momotaro Apotheca's Tincture are herbal supplements, which are not regulated or evaluated by the FDA. You assume any and all risks when trying them for yourself.