Here is my attempt at a short profile of myself / symptoms. I've read a lot of natural health books and I don't seem to fit completely into any one problem or profile. There are no really good experienced natural doctors in my area. I'm looking for suggestions on completely safe food/herbs/supplements that may help in addition to lifestyle changes I'm making.

eyes: blepharitis / mebomain gland disorder, dark circles under (since childhood)

physique: tall, slim, narrow: eat a lot, very fast metabolsim/transit time, hard to put on weight, when i do tend to go around the gut. very hard to put on or sustain muscle

medical tests: lower than optimal testostorone, dhea, progesterone and erratic cortisol levels

emotional: very suseptible to feeling down/melancholic but can also go hyper

energy: flucuates between low/weak and hyper (for instance after eating orange)

skin: prone to boils and keratosis pilaris since I was a child. seem to have a mixture of dry/oily skin (prone to breakouts)

sleep: usually manage to get to sleep (10:30ish) but wake very early (2-3) and don't get back to sleep.

mental: much more forgetful, less mindful overall

sexual: some dysfunction (low libido) experienced

drugs: took accutane when I was a teen, eye problems and permanent dry hands/face are very likely a result of that.


I eat a healthy diet, 6 small meals throughout the day with a lot of vegeabltes, whole grains and some fruit/meat/poultry here and there. I don't drink, smoke or take drugs. My mother has MVP (mitral valve prolapse) and there seems to be a history of irritable bowel/poor absorption of nutrients on her side of the family.

Anything even remotely stimulating seems to irriate me (tried siberian ginseng and other ginsengs, ashwagandha, maca)

I'm considering holy basil as a general adaptogen. I already take a multi, b complex, evening primrose oil and mag/zinc/calcium. I don't want to end up relying on drugs or taking 10000 different pills.