What is the supplement Garum Armoricum and where can I get it

asks Pathfinder:

A. As its name suggests, this supplement is an elixir used in Roman times. However, it originated with the druids in Armorica (ancient Brittany).

Q. What is it made of
A. The guts of a deep-sea fish combined with herbs and salt.

Q. What kind of fish
A. It's similar to an eel, and is blue with huge, bulging eyes. It lives deep in the Atlantic, but surfaces once a year to spawn off the coast of Brittany. Because it lives at depths, it has adapted to low temperatures and low oxygen levels. It has also developed beneficial nutrients - such as antioxidants and fatty acids - to help it cope with increased levels of oxygen as it reaches the surface.

Q. What can the elixir do for me
A. Romans valued it for its ability to fight anxiety and fatigue. Roman legionnaires were given it before they went on a long march and gladiators were given it before fights.

The elixir has recently been rediscovered and put through trials by a French pharmaceutical company, and it has been shown to fight anxiety and mild depression, fight muscle and mental fatigue, and help with stress-related sleep problems.

Recent studies in the US and Japan found that it improves anxiety in 90% of cases, compared to 30% for a placebo. And a clinical trial in California found that it reduced anxiety within a few days and the beneficial effect lasted for weeks after taking it.

Q. Are there any drawbacks
A. Not so far. There has been no interaction with prescription drugs, it's not addictive and there are no known side-effects. However, you should let your GP know that you intend to take it.

Q. Who should use it
A. Experts say that it particularly benefits two kinds of people - those who feel fairly tired all the time, and anyone who's about to go through a particularly stressful time - exams, for example.

Q. Where can I get it
A. Garum Armoricum is sold in many countries under the name 'Stabilum'. In this country you can buy it by mail order from the Nutrition Clinic, 1 Harley Street, London W1, tel: 020 7589 4394. It costs 19.32 for 30 capsules, inc p&p and an information sheet.

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By Sheena Miller