Using Velvet Beans as a supplement?

[KassandraTroy]

Have any of you tried Velvet Beans as a supplement to help with your RLS?

[Hidden]

Mucuna pruriens (aka velvet beans), has been mentioned in the forum before a couple of times.

It can apparently raise dopamine levels, which could possibly relieve RLS sensori motor symptoms in the same way levodopa does.

However, that isn't necessarily a good thing. Simply increasing dopamine levels, long term is not a good treatment for RLS.

This is because RLS isn't really caused by low dopamine. Often people with RLS have excess dopamine.

RLS is due to a dysfunction of dopamine receptor sites and this is why dopamine agonists can help relieve RLS. This also incidentally raises dopamine levels.

The problem with dopamine agonists and even worse with levodopa is that there's a high risk of augmentation.

One member of this forum I recall was using mucuna pruriens and suffered augmentation.

If that's the case then taking velvet beans may be like taking levodopa with the same risks.

[RCHD in reply to Hidden]

Great response .. thank you!!

[Joolsg]

Yep. Mucuna Pruriens. Didn't make any difference to my RLS.

[RCHD]

It’s also called Mucuna Pruriens .. a version of L dopa

[janland]

Hi everyone...I have recently started taking the velvet bean... small dose..half a teaspoon in milk each night...

It does help somewhat but I still need...

either magnesium..or paracetamol..or ginkgo biloba..or cbd oil...or 5 htp...or ashwaghanda... and usually vits d and b and zinc....

Do you think half teaspoon is enough..?

Would it really cause augmentation with everyone...?

I'm trying so hard to go down natural/herbal route rather than docs drugs if possible...

So the cause of rls or periodic limb movement... apparently I have both..is that dopamine levels need stabilizing or levelling...?

Is this correct... and could be caused by drinking alcohol in the past...or similar..?

Would anyone have any input on these questions and suggestions..

Thank you..