Mother Nature Cares For Bipolar Disorder

A Question Worth Asking About Bipolar Treatment

“If you have bipolar disorder, medication will likely be the foundation of your treatment plan.”
“You may not like the idea of taking bipolar medication long term, especially if you’re struggling with unpleasant side effects. But just as a diabetic needs insulin to stay healthy, taking medication for bipolar disorder will help you maintain a stable mood.”

These statements are commonly presented as settled fact.

But they leave out something important.

The Risks Patients Are Rarely Asked to Weigh

Tegretol (carbamazepine) carries this warning:

“Serious and sometimes fatal dermatologic reactions, including Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), have been reported during treatment.”
— RxList

Lamictal (lamotrigine) carries a warning for serious rashes that may require hospitalization and discontinuation.

Depakote (valproate) includes this warning:

“Hepatic failure resulting in fatalities has occurred in patients receiving valproate and its derivatives.”
— RxList

These are not rare footnotes.
They are acknowledged risks.

So an honest question deserves to be asked:

What if there were another option?

What if there were an approach that showed equal or greater effectiveness,
with no reported severe adverse effects in clinical research?

And what if patients were allowed to know about it?

A Traditional Formula, Studied in Modern Research

Researchers studied a Traditional Chinese Medicine formula known as Xiao Yao San Jia Wei in 50 individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The formula includes herbs such as:

• Angelica

• Peony

• Bupleurum

• Ginger

• Peppermint

• Licorice

• Poria mushroom

Results:

• 52% showed marked improvement

• 34% showed moderate improvement

• 14% showed no improvement

• No significant side effects were reported

For comparison, a large clinical trial of Tegretol (carbamazepine) involving 224 patients showed:

• 41% with marked improvement

• A very high rate of adverse effects reported in clinical use

By these measures, Xiao Yao San Jia Wei demonstrated a higher rate of marked improvement, without the level of risk associated with conventional mood stabilizers.

Choosing Order Before Suppression

This is not an argument against medication.

It is an argument for informed sequencing.

Nature-first does not mean anti-medicine.
It means beginning with the least harmful, most regulating approach — and escalating only if needed.

Our Bupleurum Formula

The traditional ingredients used in Xiao Yao San Jia Wei form the foundation of our Bupleurum Formula, with additional herbs chosen for nervous system support and resilience:

Skullcap
– Studied for mood support and pain relief comparable to naproxen in osteoarthritis.

Ginseng
– Studied for benefits in blood pressure, blood sugar regulation, energy, mood, well-being, and hormonal balance (including DHEA).

Magnolia bark
– Studied for its anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects.

Red Jujube fruit
– Traditionally used and studied for digestive support and nervous system calming.

Beyond Bipolar: Nervous System Sensitivity

This same formula has been studied for symptom relief in:

• Borderline Personality Disorder

• Treatment-resistant schizophrenia

Historically, it was formulated centuries ago in Japan for emotionally sensitive, easily overwhelmed individuals — a description that aligns closely with modern understandings of nervous system dysregulation.

A Different Philosophy of Care

You can always add medication later.

You cannot undo harm once it’s done.

Beginning with a gentler, regulatory approach honors the body’s intelligence — and preserves options rather than narrowing them.

That, to us, is what responsible care looks like.

With respect for your autonomy and your healing process,
Dr. Stone