The most beneficial music for the health of a patient is classical music, which holds an important role in music therapy. It has been shown that music composed by Bach, Mozart, and Italian composers is the most powerful in 'treating' patients. [...] Patients who would receive the most benefit from classical music include those with anxiety, depressive syndromes, cardiovascular disturbances, and those suffering from pain, stress, or sleep disturbances.For me, Mozart is more relaxing than other composers. He brings a sense of calm and normalcy even when his music is quite frenetic. Here is a small selection of works:
Friday, October 30, 2015
Music for Healing: Mozart
Gramophone says that "Mozart's music has humanity, beauty, delicacy and an unmistakable reaching towards the sublime." Some studies have shown that Mozart's music has a positive effect on treating pain, depression, and other ailments:
Day 5 & 6: First Signs of Recovery?
Six days after developing symptoms, I think I am noticing the first signs of recovery. For one thing, the neuropathy episodes seem less severe and less frequent. I am also experiencing fewer cramp-like sensations, which had been almost constant during the first few days (the exact sensation is hard to describe. In the arms, it almost feels like carpal tunnel or overworked muscles after a vigorous workout).
One facet of B6 toxicity that is especially alarming is muscle weakness. For the first few days, I was experiencing this symptom every day, usually in one limb at a time. It often occurred alongside aches and the cramp-like sensation and would sometimes last for hours, causing me to wonder if the affected limb(s) would ever recover. Thankfully, these episodes always seemed to pass without any (apparent) permanent damage. I'm also glad to say that these episodes seem to be ending, as I haven't experienced one in over a day.
If I really am starting to recover this soon, then I would consider myself lucky. In many of the stories that I've been reading, people have suffered with B6 toxicity for months or, in some cases, years. Their symptoms are also much worse than mine. Perhaps the only difference between their stories and mine is that I stopped taking B6 at the first sign of symptoms. If I hadn't known that B6 was the cause of my symptoms, I might be in a much worse state right now.
I'm also doing everything I can to recover. I am drinking at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day (to flush the B6 from my system), I am staying active (I walked over 2 miles yesterday), and I am eating healthy meals (although I am not avoiding B6 entirely -- unfortunately, most "healthy" foods have B6 in them). In between workouts, I try to do stretches or other low-impact exercises to keep the blood flowing. This is the best remedy for neuropathy that I've found so far.
One facet of B6 toxicity that is especially alarming is muscle weakness. For the first few days, I was experiencing this symptom every day, usually in one limb at a time. It often occurred alongside aches and the cramp-like sensation and would sometimes last for hours, causing me to wonder if the affected limb(s) would ever recover. Thankfully, these episodes always seemed to pass without any (apparent) permanent damage. I'm also glad to say that these episodes seem to be ending, as I haven't experienced one in over a day.
If I really am starting to recover this soon, then I would consider myself lucky. In many of the stories that I've been reading, people have suffered with B6 toxicity for months or, in some cases, years. Their symptoms are also much worse than mine. Perhaps the only difference between their stories and mine is that I stopped taking B6 at the first sign of symptoms. If I hadn't known that B6 was the cause of my symptoms, I might be in a much worse state right now.
I'm also doing everything I can to recover. I am drinking at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day (to flush the B6 from my system), I am staying active (I walked over 2 miles yesterday), and I am eating healthy meals (although I am not avoiding B6 entirely -- unfortunately, most "healthy" foods have B6 in them). In between workouts, I try to do stretches or other low-impact exercises to keep the blood flowing. This is the best remedy for neuropathy that I've found so far.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Music for Healing: Bach
Music can facilitate healing, so I will be occasionally posting music (via YouTube) that I think is especially calming, relaxing, soothing, or otherwise conducive to healing.
First up is Bach (1685-1750), the Baroque master. Generally, I find Bach's music, like Mozart's, to be both relaxing and mentally stimulating. The interplay of the different voices and instruments brings something new to every listening experience. There's always a "new" way to experience a Bach piece, depending on how we perceive the counterpoint at any given moment.
Both selections are performed by Andras Schiff, who has the mellowest tone of any Bach performer I know. The first selection, the Sinfonias (or 3-part inventions, as they're commonly known), is a series of 15 contrapuntal exercises. The second selection, the Goldberg Variations, was written for a Count who suffered from insomnia. In other words, it's especially conducive to restful sleep.
First up is Bach (1685-1750), the Baroque master. Generally, I find Bach's music, like Mozart's, to be both relaxing and mentally stimulating. The interplay of the different voices and instruments brings something new to every listening experience. There's always a "new" way to experience a Bach piece, depending on how we perceive the counterpoint at any given moment.
Both selections are performed by Andras Schiff, who has the mellowest tone of any Bach performer I know. The first selection, the Sinfonias (or 3-part inventions, as they're commonly known), is a series of 15 contrapuntal exercises. The second selection, the Goldberg Variations, was written for a Count who suffered from insomnia. In other words, it's especially conducive to restful sleep.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
B6 Toxicity: What Helps
It's surprising how hard it is to find information on B6 toxicity and what to do about it. The medical consensus seems to be to stop taking B6 supplements and hope you recover. In other words, you're up a creek without a paddle. Fun, huh?
In my search, however, I have found a few good sites and recommendations. (First and foremost is to stop taking B6!) Here is a list of things that have worked for me:
(1) Drinking water. B6 is water-soluble, which means you can flush it out of your system. According to this article from LiveStrong: "Typically, it takes the body between 15 and 25 days to eliminate unused pyridoxine [i.e. B6]. Drink eight, 8-oz. glasses of water per day as part of a healthy diet." I plan to keep this up until I'm fully recovered.
(2) Exercising. Unlike some sufferers of B6 toxicity, I can manage moderate exercise. My symptoms are not so bad (yet?) that I'm completely bedridden. I've found that staying active helps with my neuropathy (and mood, and sleep, etc.). In general, exercise is very important for overall health, not just B6 toxicity, and because of this, I try to stay active throughout the day.
I've also found that one burst of exercise doesn't do the trick, even if it's the "recommended" 30 minutes a day. While I do try to do a 30-minute workout every day (right now I'm trying to do two), I also try to keep the blood moving throughout the day. Personally, I prefer walking, but I've also done trampoline and light weightlifting.
Oh, and another reason exercise is good is because (I've heard) that B6 is stored in the muscles, and working up a good sweat is one way of excreting it. If I find a reliable source for this, I'll link it.
(3) Getting good sleep. This was very difficult (i.e. impossible) on the first night due to severe anxiety (probably a combination of natural anxiety and B6 toxicity). I felt much better after the second night, when I was able to get a good night's sleep. There's no real trick to this, I've found; either you're anxious, or you're not.
(4) Avoiding foods high in B6. This is one of the recommendations from the same LiveStrong article mentioned above. I'm not sure this has helped me too much yet, but other people have reported that avoiding foods high in B6 has worked for them. (Presumably, eating B6 triggers toxicity symptoms). You can find lists of foods that are high and low in B6 online. Some of it is conflicting, so I won't post any recommendations here until I get it all figured out for myself.
That's it for now. I will post new tips as I come across them.
In my search, however, I have found a few good sites and recommendations. (First and foremost is to stop taking B6!) Here is a list of things that have worked for me:
(1) Drinking water. B6 is water-soluble, which means you can flush it out of your system. According to this article from LiveStrong: "Typically, it takes the body between 15 and 25 days to eliminate unused pyridoxine [i.e. B6]. Drink eight, 8-oz. glasses of water per day as part of a healthy diet." I plan to keep this up until I'm fully recovered.
(2) Exercising. Unlike some sufferers of B6 toxicity, I can manage moderate exercise. My symptoms are not so bad (yet?) that I'm completely bedridden. I've found that staying active helps with my neuropathy (and mood, and sleep, etc.). In general, exercise is very important for overall health, not just B6 toxicity, and because of this, I try to stay active throughout the day.
I've also found that one burst of exercise doesn't do the trick, even if it's the "recommended" 30 minutes a day. While I do try to do a 30-minute workout every day (right now I'm trying to do two), I also try to keep the blood moving throughout the day. Personally, I prefer walking, but I've also done trampoline and light weightlifting.
Oh, and another reason exercise is good is because (I've heard) that B6 is stored in the muscles, and working up a good sweat is one way of excreting it. If I find a reliable source for this, I'll link it.
(3) Getting good sleep. This was very difficult (i.e. impossible) on the first night due to severe anxiety (probably a combination of natural anxiety and B6 toxicity). I felt much better after the second night, when I was able to get a good night's sleep. There's no real trick to this, I've found; either you're anxious, or you're not.
(4) Avoiding foods high in B6. This is one of the recommendations from the same LiveStrong article mentioned above. I'm not sure this has helped me too much yet, but other people have reported that avoiding foods high in B6 has worked for them. (Presumably, eating B6 triggers toxicity symptoms). You can find lists of foods that are high and low in B6 online. Some of it is conflicting, so I won't post any recommendations here until I get it all figured out for myself.
That's it for now. I will post new tips as I come across them.
Day 1-4: The First Few Days in Recovering from B6 Toxicity
I first had symptoms of B6 toxicity on Sunday, October 25, 2015. Luckily, I was only taking one supplement (B12-B6) at the time, so I was able to immediately identify B6 as the problem and discontinue use.
Unfortunately, in the stories that I'm reading, many people continue taking their B6 supplement days or even weeks after developing symptoms, because they don't know that they have B6 toxicity. This seems to worsen the symptoms. Because I stopped using B6 the same day that I developed symptoms (burning in the arms and legs), I have high hope that I can make a full recovery.
The first day of my recovery was the worst. I began to develop symptoms, and I didn't know how bad they would get. As I read about B6 toxicity, I wondered how bad the symptoms would get, how long they would last, and if the nerve damage would be irreversible (as it sometimes is).
I was not able to sleep that night due to anxiety, which only made the symptoms worse.
Four days later, I am doing better mentally. The heightened anxiety has diminished, and I've accepted that recovery will take weeks at the least. Unlike many people with severe B6 toxicity, I am able to walk and exercise, which helps flush the B6 from one's body.
That said, I am 4 days in and the other symptoms have not (as far as I can tell) abated. My arms and legs continue to burn. Sometimes it feels like a skinned knee or elbow. Other times it feels like carpal tunnel. I wonder if the latter sensation is my body recovering after the burning phases, because the pain isn't constant. It tends to leap from limb to limb; it will go from the legs, to the arms, to one arm, to one leg, etc.
The fact that the pain DOES pass gives me some solace. I figure that means the nerves have time to recover in between bouts of pain.
Unfortunately, in the stories that I'm reading, many people continue taking their B6 supplement days or even weeks after developing symptoms, because they don't know that they have B6 toxicity. This seems to worsen the symptoms. Because I stopped using B6 the same day that I developed symptoms (burning in the arms and legs), I have high hope that I can make a full recovery.
The first day of my recovery was the worst. I began to develop symptoms, and I didn't know how bad they would get. As I read about B6 toxicity, I wondered how bad the symptoms would get, how long they would last, and if the nerve damage would be irreversible (as it sometimes is).
I was not able to sleep that night due to anxiety, which only made the symptoms worse.
Four days later, I am doing better mentally. The heightened anxiety has diminished, and I've accepted that recovery will take weeks at the least. Unlike many people with severe B6 toxicity, I am able to walk and exercise, which helps flush the B6 from one's body.
That said, I am 4 days in and the other symptoms have not (as far as I can tell) abated. My arms and legs continue to burn. Sometimes it feels like a skinned knee or elbow. Other times it feels like carpal tunnel. I wonder if the latter sensation is my body recovering after the burning phases, because the pain isn't constant. It tends to leap from limb to limb; it will go from the legs, to the arms, to one arm, to one leg, etc.
The fact that the pain DOES pass gives me some solace. I figure that means the nerves have time to recover in between bouts of pain.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Warning - Don't Take B6!
If you are thinking about taking a Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) supplement, READ THIS!
I began taking B6 to treat a medical condition in October of 2015. The pills were purchased over the counter at a local health-food store, and there was no warning on the bottle about the adverse effects of B6. The directions simply advised one to take one pill every day, with each pill containing 50mg of B6.
Unfortunately, 50mg is a dangerously high amount of B6. While some people can tolerate it, many people cannot. I am one of the latter group. After about 11 days, I began to experience burning and tingling in my limbs (i.e. neuropathy) and heightened anxiety. After searching the internet, I discovered many other people like myself. Some had taken less B6 (as little as 2mg a day), while others had taken more. In every case, the consequences were months or years of pain and illness.
So if you are considering taking a B6 supplement, keep this in mind: YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR HEALTH AT RISK. Unless you know what you're doing, DON'T DO IT.
I began taking B6 to treat a medical condition in October of 2015. The pills were purchased over the counter at a local health-food store, and there was no warning on the bottle about the adverse effects of B6. The directions simply advised one to take one pill every day, with each pill containing 50mg of B6.
Unfortunately, 50mg is a dangerously high amount of B6. While some people can tolerate it, many people cannot. I am one of the latter group. After about 11 days, I began to experience burning and tingling in my limbs (i.e. neuropathy) and heightened anxiety. After searching the internet, I discovered many other people like myself. Some had taken less B6 (as little as 2mg a day), while others had taken more. In every case, the consequences were months or years of pain and illness.
So if you are considering taking a B6 supplement, keep this in mind: YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR HEALTH AT RISK. Unless you know what you're doing, DON'T DO IT.
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