Starting Caffeine - Lots of Health Problems - Asthma, Erectile Dysfunction, Hypertonic Pelvic Floor, Hair Loss, Anxiety/Depression

[Mr Joe]

Be sure that you have enough sodium and magnesium. Asthma is also linked to hyperventilation (read Buteyko work about that) so increasing CO2 would be also good. Breathing exercice + bag breathing + baking soda. Avoid Pufa, endotoxin vegetable and strach.

 

[gettodachopper6]

I don't agree with people here claiming "Trash all supplements". They don't know what they are talking about. Obviously your list is quite long and i don't think you might need all of these. Actually it can result on opposite reaction by lowering (cortisol too much) and it will make you feel that it is not working. Having said that it is important to understand that when somebody is inside the "low metabolism" or "high stress" cycle, it is impossible to reverse that just by "changing your mind" or your way of thinking. I will agree 100% that mind and will is VERY important in this fight but sometimes supplements is needed. And in a case 4.5 tsh i think it is. I would recommand to you to switch between Thiamine, T3, Cypro, Niacinamide, vitamin D, aspirin and of course caffein. Search also in this forum 15 mg daily MB reversed bipolar disease (anxiety, depression, low metabolism) in few weeks and combine with some B1 + B3 would be a perfect combo. Cypro start with 2/3 mg and rise as long as needed (try to cycle again to avoid liver acclimatization). With time liver will improve, glycogen also, oxydation increase and stress reduce, and the body will come back to normal energy creation cycle (krebs) and inhibit glycolysis. And all of these is not with only "calm down bro trash your supplements". Good luck

Yes, I have built up this list over a long period of time. I don't actually notice a difference though in my health for the most part. Ideally I think getting all of this figured out through my diet would be the most beneficial approach, but I'm not sure if that is possible at this point.

Yes, I do think you are right about the mindset piece. I have a lot of mental patterns that lead me to become stressed out constantly throughout the day. I have chronic impatience. If I am typing a text message and my iPhone mistakenly mis-corrects a word, I get frustrated. I do this 1000x a day with anything I come up to in my environment and so I am constantly trying to slow myself down and stick to a healthy meditation and exercise routine. I also know that diet should be able to help if I can just find a way to optimize it to my body type and situation.

I have done over a decade of self development and it has helped my mental state but it is hard for me to make huge progress in the PTSD stuff that resides in my body. Hypertonic pelvic floor is one example of this. Instead of holding the stress in my shoulders (where they would raise way up), as a kid I learned to clench my pelvic floor and chest (tightening and causes heart burn) so that my stress would not be as visible.

Has anyone seen any type of healing take place for a war veteran suffering from PTSD? I hate to say this but it seems like most of them just learn how to manage it, but very few are able to overcome it. I hope I am wrong on this. Qigong has been the most promising endeavor for me to rebalance my mind, body and emotions, but I am not sure if it will be able to heal my trauma, unless I were to do it for 4-8 hours a day? But that is likely never going to happen.

I'll have learn more about those thyroid chemicals, I would prefer to have a doctor prescribe those. The reason I have targeted all of these supplements is because I am looking for a more natural approach to these health issues but like you are saying, it may take a lot more than that and some of these supplements may be hindering my healing process.

For now, I'll keep taking the B-Complex (thiamine, niacinimide, the caffeine and aspirin.

I'll have to continue to look into the T3, Cyproheptadine and the MB. These would require prescriptions or I would have to order from a "research use only" entity, correct? It seems like I would F*** that up on my own.

I appreciate the insight!

 

[gettodachopper6]

Be sure that you have enough sodium and magnesium. Asthma is also linked to hyperventilation (read Buteyko work about that) so increasing CO2 would be also good. Breathing exercice + bag breathing + baking soda. Avoid Pufa, endotoxin vegetable and strach.

I am with you on the magnesium, will 400mg/day work?

On the sodium, where should I be getting this from? Iodized salt, sea salt, somewhere else?

I do practice Buteyko on and off with amazing results, I think I will just have to slow my life down and commit to doing this daily for a couple of years so that my respiratory center truly resets itself. They say you have to reset the reptilian brain.

Actually, now that I think about it, Qigong along with Buteyko may be my best shot at overcoming the inherent trauma stress in my body. Both of those provide an immense amount of relaxation to the body, which is exactly what I need. Relaxed body, relaxed mind and vice versa.

I have never tried the bag breathing but I do the breath holds, restricted breathing, the walking breath holds (my favorite).

What does the baking soda do? How much should I take and how often?

I'll get a list of all starches and PUFA foods and avoid them at all costs. This sounds promising from what I have read on Ray Peat.

What would be common examples of endotoxin vegetables?

 

[ImprovingDaily]

I'll just reply to what I can relate with.

Asthma: Progesterone, Orange Juice, Benadryl, Chamomile tea

Anxiety: This is more complex as there are different types of anxieties. Could be low dopamine/High serotonin(Aspirin, very small doses of Cypro less than .5 mg, a bit of caffeine with some Theanine if it wires you up too much), could be low C02 (I like Thiamine in about 150 mg doses, Pau D'arco tea, Cascara Sagrada (Emodin).

ED: For me personally it relates to high estrogen. Progesterone helps with that. Will you feel horny and turned on all the time like with high estrogen? No. Will you perform when you need to? Yup.

Also I see you mentioned Progesterone cream. I havent tried that, but I do very well with Progesterone powder swallowed with some water or mixed in a bit of vitamin E. It's also a whole lot more economical if you want to experiment with higher (50+ mg doses).

Regardless. You are taking a lot of supplements, so it'll be hard to know what's doing what. So maybe cut down on unnecessary stuff and try things people suggest in this thread and see what difference they make. That is the most important thing. Read up and inform yourself, test out things, see how they make you feel and go from there. I've found that if you are in tune with your body and keep track of what makes you feel what, that can lead you towards the right way.

 

[Mr Joe]

T3 you could ask your doctor i think or search different sources in the forum. Same for cypro. If you never tried cypro before i think you should have a try. What you are describing is probably also linked to hyperactive brain (high serotonin). High serotonin and athsma cause hyperventilation causing loss of CO2 in the body. Ray said several times how CO2 is important for good health and brain relaxation. That would explain why breathing exercice gave you relax feeling. Practice exercice and increase metabolism until you go to 5/6 breaths per min naturally. You can get your sodium from good quality salt or from baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). 2/3 tea spoon a day is good i think and it will raise your CO2. MB and Thiamine taking together increase CO2 and reduce breaths. Concerning vegetables, anything that will inhibit thyroid seems to be bad in your case (all case but yours more). Anything green should be avoid, you can search more detail in Peat forum "vegetable". Carrots, bamboo shoots, would be good. Milk, protein, oysters, orange juice, sugar etc... good.

 

[thirdcatgy]

Hi Everyone,

I have been scouring the forums and have been researching solutions for the following health problems for many years, but I just can't seem to find a solution that works yet. Caffeine seems to actually be the most promising thing I have found yet. That along with the added supportive supplements that go along with it like Aspirin, Vitamin K, Taurine, etc.

Has anyone had any luck finding very good solutions to the following health problems?

All of these seem to come and go over the years, ever since I was a kid. Sometimes I do great, and sometimes the health problems come full boar. (One exception, hair loss has been gradual)

Core Issues:

Asthma (A lot due to stress/anxiety/hyperventilation/chest tighness)
Erectile Dysfunction (Related to Hypertonic Pelvic Floor somewhat along with PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, performance anxiety, porn use)
Anxiety/Depression

Related/Other:

Hypertonic Pelvic Floor
Hair Loss (Related to stress and hormone imbalances?
Cold Sores (Occasionally, these are well controlled now)
Small amounts of acne
PTSD - (I think I have a minor PTSD from an intense father)
ADHD
Fatigue
Poor Sleep (For some reason it has gotten better since I started Adderal)
Heart Burn
Acid Reflux/Heart Burn (I still can’t grasp the difference) – Related to chest tightness from anxiety/stress.
Restlesness (anxiety/stress)


They all seem to be linked to stress but no matter how much meditation, QiGong, working out and eating vegan, paleo, whatever else, I can't seem to find a solution to these problems that really works well over the long term.

I think if I lived out in a mountain town, some of these symptoms would get better due to less stress, simpler life style, but I am not in position to do that yet.

Has anyone gone from a stressful life style to a less stressful one and noticed a positive difference in their health?

Here are recent test results I have had:

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin Adult	Your value51 nmol/L	Standard range16 - 70 nmol/L
Testosterone	Your value623 ng/dL	Standard range200 - 745 ng/dL
Testosterone, Free	Your value10.2 ng/dL	Standard range3.1 - 12.8 ng/dL
Testosterone, Bioavailable	Your value239.0 ng/dL	Standard range71.7 - 300.0 ng/dL
TSH, Sensitive	Your value4.70 uIU/mL	Standard range0.30 - 4.50 uIU/mL
Hemoglobin A1C	Your value4.8 %	Standard range<=5.6 %

Metabolic Panel:

odium	139 mmol/L	136 - 145 mmol/L
Potassium	4.0 mmol/L	3.5 - 5.0 mmol/L
Chloride	105 mmol/L	98 - 107 mmol/L
CO2	26 mmol/L	22 - 31 mmol/L
Anion Gap, Calculation	8 mmol/L	5 - 18 mmol/L
Glucose	89 mg/dL	70 - 125 mg/dL
BUN	13 mg/dL	8 - 22 mg/dL
Creatinine	1.03 mg/dL	0.70 - 1.30 mg/dL
GFR MDRD Af Amer	>60 mL/min/1.73m2	>60 mL/min/1.73m2
GFR MDRD Non Af Amer	>60 mL/min/1.73m2	>60 mL/min/1.73m2
Bilirubin, Total	0.3 mg/dL	0.0 - 1.0 mg/dL
Calcium	9.3 mg/dL	8.5 - 10.5 mg/dL
Protein, Total	7.3 g/dL	6.0 - 8.0 g/dL
Albumin	4.3 g/dL	3.5 - 5.0 g/dL
Alkaline Phosphatase	71 U/L	45 - 120 U/L
AST	20 U/L	0 - 40 U/L
ALT	16 U/L	0 - 45 U/L

Lipid Cascade:

Cholesterol	199 mg/dL	<=199 mg/dL
Triglycerides	122 mg/dL	<=149 mg/dL
HDL Cholesterol	54 mg/dL	>=40 mg/dL
LDL Calculated	121 mg/dL	<=129 mg/dL
Patient Fasting > 8hrs?	No

Thyroid Cascade:

TSH

1.97 uIU/mL

0.30 - 5.00 uIU/mL

Currently Single: However, ED has gotten a bit better when I have a Girlfriend. But Adderall was an inhibitor to this in a past relationship and I will likely have to get off of this one. Unless there is a chance it will normazlie after 3 Months. I hate Adderall, it is very helpful for focus/motivation. But maybe 1000mg coffee will be just as good. I am hopeful about this.

Here are some meds I have been taking:

Lamotrogine 200mg/day - For Depression (Helps with Mood) Anxiety is better also
Cialis 10mg/day
Recently started Adderall (20mg/day) for 6th time over past decade - makes ED worse but helps with ability to be present and focused. I may have to drop this ***t.

As needed:
Propranonol 20mg
Clonezapam .5mg
Albuterol Inhaler
Zlaplon (Sonota) 10mg

I have been on and off the above medications for over a decade. I have been on and off other asthma meds, other anti-depressant, etc. I have tried a lot in this category.
Have taken Viagra/sildanifil in the past, that works fine, but would prefer a natural approach.

Here are some life-style things I am currently doing:
QiGong Meditation 1-2 hours daily
Walking, pushups, planks, building up slowly
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Looking at moving to Colorado
Got a Berkey Water filter on the way to reduce toxins from drinking tons of tap water over the years.
Cutting back slowly on porn/masturbation, getting back to total abstinence. Had 90 days clean before recent relapse.
Upping my caffeine intake to get to about 1000mg/day. Started yesterday, before that, I was off caffeine for several months.
Plant Based/Vegan with some vegetarian days when required socially.
Green smoothies, spinach, arugula
Pea protein smoothies, honey, fruit, flax seed, chia seeds.
Beet, carrot, kiwi, lemon apple juice
Celery Juice in the morning
Oatmeal with honey, cinnamon and cooked apples every morning
Eating vegetables, potatoes, bean soup, cauliflower/broccoli coconut milk curry.
Cashews.
Cut out peanut butter, dairy.
Maybe I am not getting enough calories? But I don’t lose weight so it is confusing.
Working with a urologist, said testosterone was normal. Said he does not think this is a physical problem with the reproductive organs. Prescribed Cialis and sex therapist.
Started therapy session with sex therapist.
Starting Buteyko breathing again, been doing this on and off for the past decade, so hard to keep up with it though with the rigorous exercise and breath holds for up to an hour every day. So wondering if there is another cause than just the CO2?
As suggested by my urologist, I have set up an appointment with primary care doctor to test thyroid, maybe hypothyroid? Test thyroid and TSH.
Just started experimenting with Coconut Oil again for the nTH time. Using it on hair, face, going to use as deodorant and apply to skin.
Also going to use rosemary oil and biotin on scalp with a derma roller.
I am going to discontinue washing my body, face or hair with anything other than tap water. I am going to look for an all natural hair gel as well.
I am going to use coconut oil for toothpaste and see what other options there are to reduce toxicity.
I am going to take cool showers and build up to cold showers.
I live on a busy street and right next to a gas station, so that’s just more pollution, but even growing up I had these issues living in suburban neighborhoods. Although we did have lots of cats running around. ?
Going to see a physical therapist for Hypertonic Pelvic Floor
Starting my exercise routine again and working my way up to HIIT and weight lifting. Starting small for now.
May start oil pulling.
Going to get a walking treadmill for while I work from home.
Taking my temperature upon waking and throughout the day. (today between 66-97 in morning)
Going to learn about Hypo-Thyroidism Diets
Going to reduce PUFAs, although I don’t think I eat a lot of these already.
Cook more with coconut oil, currently use Olive Oil.
Sit-stand desk.
Getting a solid bed time routine down.
Solid morning routine down.
Trying to socialize as best I can, but a lot more isolation for me during covid and all my friends family are mostly moved away.

Supplements I have been taking or I am starting on now that I read through the forums on here:
Having been taking:

Vitamin D 20,000 IU /day
Vitamin K2 1000mg
Digestive Enzyme Formula with most meals
Gas-X with most meals
Ashwaganda Serum 700mg
Natto-Serra
Zinc 50mg
L-Lysine 1500mg/day (this may actually be working, I don’t get cold sores that often so I can’t say for sure)
CO Q-10 100mg/day
Turmeric & Ginger Capsults wit hBioperine 1950mg
OneADay Ments Multi-Vitamin
B-Complex & Vitamin C from Trader Joe’s (Is this shitty quality I should reconsider?
Maca Powder
L-Citruline

Starting:

Caffeine, working up to 1000mg per day
Aspirin: 325/day
DHEA 50mg
Selenium 200mcg
Iron 65mg/day (Should I up this one?)
Irwin Naturals Liver Detox MAX
Magnesium 400mg/day (should I up this one)
Started 1200 IU of Vitamin E (it says it’s a mix of d-alpha tocopheral with d-gamma, d-delta, d-beta tocopherols) Is this the wrong vitamin E to be taking for asthma and ED? Brand 365.
Rubbing 400mg Vitamin E on penis directly twice per day.

Likely going to order from Amazon that I will start taking:

Gamma E 1200mg/day
Calcium: 1200mg/day
GABA: 750mg/day
Glycine: 1g/day
Inositol Powder
Niacinamide: 500mg/day
L-Theanine (with coffe): 200-600mg
Taruine: 1000mg/day (with coffee)
Caffeine Pills (1000mg – coffee amount)
Tongkat Ali
Progesterone Cream???
Iodine: 12.5mg/day
Pregnenolone biomarix, 2.4mg doses
Licorice Root
Nettle Root

Here are things I have tried:

Quitting Porn for a year – helped mildly with ED, but anxiety and stress and other dietary problems still made this an issue. I watched porn a lot since I was 14 until about 5 years ago. Sometimes up to 4 hours at a time.
Yoga, helped some with stress but still had social anxiety/performance anxiety, general anxiety
Years of traditional therapy
Spiritual Work
Self Help Work
Lots of different kinds of meditation
Lots of supplements, did not notice a difference
Mega dosing Vitamin C
Mega dosing Vitamin D 20K IU to 50K IU per day with K2 (
Tribulus Extract (did not notice a noticeable effect for ED)
3 raw garlic cloves daily for a few weeks
Every asthma medication out there, and they work, but my asthma comes and goes, what the heck? That means there must be a natural way I can treat this. Is Buteyko my only choice?
Quit my job to golf most of this summer, was still stressed.

If most of these are stress related, has anyone found anything that is by far the most effective way to reduce stress? Certain lifestyle or certain combined behaviors? Any physiological things I can work on that will directly combat the stress hormonally? Do I need to become a body builder? A light cardio person?

Thanks for you help with this!

Wow. That's comprehensive. My suggestions would be:

1) Complete Pelvic Floor Release (including potential internal work - professional or wand): Porn, ED, anxiety, etc all pour into pelvic floor tension that must be unwound. This alone can cause all of the symptoms you describe over time. Yoga is good, but you have to release trigger points as well. If you search for "Stanford Protocol", they have a great program all about this.

2) Back to the basics with diet. Try to limit supplements as well. Remember that over nutrition can be just as harmful as under nutrition.

3) Grounding and Full Body Sunlight. Work on the mitochondria.

4) Quality Sleep (10pm) and Movement.

5) Try Delta 8.

Best of Luck.

6)

 

[gettodachopper6]

I'll just reply to what I can relate with.

Asthma: Progesterone, Orange Juice, Benadryl, Chamomile tea

Anxiety: This is more complex as there are different types of anxieties. Could be low dopamine/High serotonin(Aspirin, very small doses of Cypro less than .5 mg, a bit of caffeine with some Theanine if it wires you up too much), could be low C02 (I like Thiamine in about 150 mg doses, Pau D'arco tea, Cascara Sagrada (Emodin).

ED: For me personally it relates to high estrogen. Progesterone helps with that. Will you feel horny and turned on all the time like with high estrogen? No. Will you perform when you need to? Yup.

Also I see you mentioned Progesterone cream. I havent tried that, but I do very well with Progesterone powder swallowed with some water or mixed in a bit of vitamin E. It's also a whole lot more economical if you want to experiment with higher (50+ mg doses).

Regardless. You are taking a lot of supplements, so it'll be hard to know what's doing what. So maybe cut down on unnecessary stuff and try things people suggest in this thread and see what difference they make. That is the most important thing. Read up and inform yourself, test out things, see how they make you feel and go from there. I've found that if you are in tune with your body and keep track of what makes you feel what, that can lead you towards the right way.

This is awesome, thank you for laying all of this out. I created a spreadshewet listing everything and will be able to track all of this going forward. I'm also going to track what I'm eating and drinking and whether or not the symptoms are improving or not. Thanks again for your help with this, much appreciated!

 

[gettodachopper6]

T3 you could ask your doctor i think or search different sources in the forum. Same for cypro. If you never tried cypro before i think you should have a try. What you are describing is probably also linked to hyperactive brain (high serotonin). High serotonin and athsma cause hyperventilation causing loss of CO2 in the body. Ray said several times how CO2 is important for good health and brain relaxation. That would explain why breathing exercice gave you relax feeling. Practice exercice and increase metabolism until you go to 5/6 breaths per min naturally. You can get your sodium from good quality salt or from baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). 2/3 tea spoon a day is good i think and it will raise your CO2. MB and Thiamine taking together increase CO2 and reduce breaths. Concerning vegetables, anything that will inhibit thyroid seems to be bad in your case (all case but yours more). Anything green should be avoid, you can search more detail in Peat forum "vegetable". Carrots, bamboo shoots, would be good. Milk, protein, oysters, orange juice, sugar etc... good.

This is so helpful, thank you!! The specificity really helps me figure this stuff out. I added all of these to my list as either incorporate right now, such as the foods, and research more, for the MB, T3 and Cyproheptadine.

I'll also spend some time looking into the low dopamine, high serotonin, hyperventilation, metabolism science.

I found a list of vegetables to avoid for now that might impact my thyroid. I'll eliminate and see how that helps my symptoms.

Thanks again, I really appreciate it!

 

[gettodachopper6]

Wow. That's comprehensive. My suggestions would be:

1) Complete Pelvic Floor Release (including potential internal work - professional or wand): Porn, ED, anxiety, etc all pour into pelvic floor tension that must be unwound. This alone can cause all of the symptoms you describe over time. Yoga is good, but you have to release trigger points as well. If you search for "Stanford Protocol", they have a great program all about this.

2) Back to the basics with diet. Try to limit supplements as well. Remember that over nutrition can be just as harmful as under nutrition.

3) Grounding and Full Body Sunlight. Work on the mitochondria.

4) Quality Sleep (10pm) and Movement.

5) Try Delta 8.

Best of Luck.

6)

Thank you! I added all of these to my notes list and will do my research on these. I appreciate your help!

 

[gettodachopper6]

I'll just reply to what I can relate with.

Asthma: Progesterone, Orange Juice, Benadryl, Chamomile tea

Anxiety: This is more complex as there are different types of anxieties. Could be low dopamine/High serotonin(Aspirin, very small doses of Cypro less than .5 mg, a bit of caffeine with some Theanine if it wires you up too much), could be low C02 (I like Thiamine in about 150 mg doses, Pau D'arco tea, Cascara Sagrada (Emodin).

ED: For me personally it relates to high estrogen. Progesterone helps with that. Will you feel horny and turned on all the time like with high estrogen? No. Will you perform when you need to? Yup.

Also I see you mentioned Progesterone cream. I havent tried that, but I do very well with Progesterone powder swallowed with some water or mixed in a bit of vitamin E. It's also a whole lot more economical if you want to experiment with higher (50+ mg doses).

Regardless. You are taking a lot of supplements, so it'll be hard to know what's doing what. So maybe cut down on unnecessary stuff and try things people suggest in this thread and see what difference they make. That is the most important thing. Read up and inform yourself, test out things, see how they make you feel and go from there. I've found that if you are in tune with your body and keep track of what makes you feel what, that can lead you towards the right way.

What dosage of progesterone have you found to be most helpful? Is there a certain dose I can try at first and then work my up to?

Also, where do you find progesterone powder? I only see the creams available.

Should I also take pregnenolone with it? I see powder available for this.

 

[gettodachopper6]

I also forgot to mention I have had some gynecomastia for the past 10 years. Current weight 180. Height 5'11'.

 

[TheBeard]

How much Iodine are we talking here? Can I just use Iodized salt?

What does the high TSH indicate, Hypothyrodism? I am seeing my primary care doc next week. He will likely test me for basic ***t. What other tests should I force him to take for me? T3/T4? Anything else?

Just paint some Lugol's on your arms in the morning.

 

[gettodachopper6]

This journey just gets more and more confusing. The more I read these forums, the more contradictions I run into. Some people say dairy is a huge factor in balancing hormones, and some say that dairy raises prolactin levels. I literally don't think there is anyone in the medical community or alternative communities who can legitimately tell you facts about a specific food.

People have now claimed that both dark greens and dairy raise prolactin. I threw away my greens last night and went out and bought a bunch of dairy and eggs and OJ. WTF.

It's as if every time a new research study comes out, they read the abstract, and then say "oh, here it is, research confirms."

“When the evidence points clearly in one direction, there is little need for a meta-analysis. When it doesn’t, a meta-analysis is unlikely to give the final answer.”

"Yet over the decades, the tandem of systematic review and meta-analysis has become widely accepted as a standardized, less biased way to weigh the evidence; it now guides thousands of treatment guidelines and social policies. Much of the respect it has earned reflects the work of Cochrane, a multinational organization headquartered in London that conducts systematic reviews of health care interventions and diagnostic tests, which are published in the Cochrane Library. (Cochrane was plunged into crisis last week after its Governing Board voted to expel Peter Gøtszche, a prominent member.) The Oslo-based Campbell Collaboration produces similar reviews for the social sciences. Both groups follow strict protocols and attempt to team up experts in the issue under study—say, cardiologists when the meta-analysis is about a heart drug—with methodological experts."

Each set of experts is biased in their field, agreeing to biased fundamentals and principals. Even with the experts of experts there are biases. You can attempt to water this down by getting experts disagree with each other, but the more you do this, the less likely you are to arrive at a "truthful" outcome.

"A good meta-analysis starts with clear criteria for study inclusion and exclusion, says statistician Robbie van Aert, a postdoctoral researcher at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. “If you do it after you have collected the studies, you can get almost any result you want.” But bias can occur even when inclusion criteria are chosen beforehand; because experts in a field already know the relevant literature, they can consciously or unconsciously adjust the criteria to include studies they like or exclude ones they distrust, Van Aert says."

"Money is one potential source of bias. It may not affect the actual results the authors produce, but it appears to affect their spin when they draw their conclusions. In 2006, for instance, the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Copenhagen compared Cochrane meta-analyses of drug efficacy, which are never funded by the industry, with those produced by other groups. It found that seven industry-funded reviews all had conclusions that recommended the drug without reservations; none of the Cochrane analyses of the same drugs did. Industry-funded systematic reviews also tended to be less transparent. Ioannidis found in a 2016 review that industry-sponsored meta-analyses of antidepressant efficacy almost never mentioned caveats about the drugs in their abstracts. “This is a clear example of an area where meta-analyses are emerging as a powerful marketing tool,” he wrote."

"And Cochrane itself has been charged with bias by critics who say some reviewers have an anti-industry attitude that results in overly negative assessments of drugs and vaccines. In a 2017 review on the effect of a new generation of antiviral drugs against hepatitis C, for instance, the authors concluded that the drugs cured the patients of the virus, but called this a “surrogate outcome”; there was no evidence that the drugs led to longer survival, they said.

The findings made many headlines, but some clinicians were outraged. The studies would have to last many years to show an effect on survival, they said, but previous trials with older drugs had clearly shown that patients who eliminate the virus live longer. “In my view, they have been too strict and they have overstated their conclusions,” says Andrew Hill of the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. “Due to this report, patients with hepatitis C may potentially be unable to access lifesaving therapy,” a group called The Hepatitis C Coalition wrote in The BMJ."

But every new research study most often contradicts the last study, so you don't actually make any progress. They go through entire meta-analyses and then those can even get written off eventually.

Science keeps using the phrase "we now know that x effects y." But if you keep following that "x does not effect why and also, z effects y and x." If you keep contradicting the last research report, then you never "knew" anything at all. You literally found nothing the entire time you did "research". It is proven wrong almost every single time with a new "study". A study is an completely biased dysfunction of several human minds buying into a certain belief system and ignoring all of the legitimate biases that the medical community has already established. You have to waive all potential biases to actually take merit in a study, and that is not science, it is hog wash.

I literally have no idea how to fix my health aside from Qigong, Buteyko, Meds, Exercise, Stretching, Sleep.

Ironically, there is plenty of contradictions on even these. I heard one person explain to me a study about how stretching is actually "bad" for you, in terms of being counterproductive.

Its not even that anyone is ignorant, it is that the critical thinking needed and the amount of facts needed are very strenuously time consuming and without a complete unbiased mind, it is nearly impossible to discern how all of these facts lead to outcomes that are actually reflected in reality.

It is the nature of the mind. When you have a memory of your high school graduation ceremony, or your wedding, that was 100s of people at huge 1000s of square foot buildings. This memory could not possible fit into your .5 ft brain. It doesn't actually exist. It is all in the mind.

Here is another example. My ex-fiance and I went hiking in Palm Springs in the mountains. We saw a snow melt stream and walked along it, did some small rock climbing (bouldering), saw some squirrels. We really connected with each other on this hike. Then when we got back home, we started arguing again about things like dishes.

You have never met me. Or her. And probably have never been to Palm Springs, CA. Yet you have a complete "knowing" of the depiction of the above events in your mind. And none of it is real.

These could not physically fit inside your brain. They exist only in the mind. They are not actually real. Then this is the same tool we use to discern research from. Something that produces "knowledge" that is not even real. It is all in the mind. Even one mind that believes something creates a factual reality out of it, even though it is not even real. When you find others that believe the same thing as you, then it reinforces something that is not even real into something that becomes even more real for you.

The only thing that is as close to "real" as you can get is the physical world around you, and possible the spiritual world or atomic universal world that lies behind it, but how do we "really know".

Perhaps that is the answer to all of this, that with placebo, virtually any diet can work for you so long as you reinforce the efficacy with your beliefs in a strong way. The body can adapt to the mind.

What options are out there for me to find a diet that fits my body?

Deep down I think I know how to figure this out, but I was hoping to ask all of you "experts" to help point me in the right direction and make this more efficient.

I'm not dismissing any of the help and I really appreciate all of it, but this is so complex that I can't actually discern what is actually likely to work for me and what is hog wash.

Does anyone have a legitimate elimination diet that has worked for them that I could try?

I heard of something called a "melon" fast. If I ate nothing but melons for two weeks and then slowly re-incorporated 1 food at a time and tracked every emotion, bodily function, bodily reaction, etc. I may be able to come "close" to what will ideally work for my body.

I will also have to assume that melons are not part of the cause of my issues. A bias.

Has anyone done this? What worked for you?

Thanks again for your insight into this complicated realm, I appreciate your help.

Let the hate responses begin ... maybe before you do, you can AT LEAST read the biased article I posted a link to above.

I'm honestly not trying to be a di**, I'm just really frustrated how difficult this is to find what works for people so they can experience healing.

Maybe it is better to take The Buddha's approach and live your life from the place of non-judgmental awareness the entire time you exist. Whatever is happening is happening and that's as far as you go with your thinking. Don't try to change anything. Accept everything.

Here is my knew way of evaluating a study or a claim:

What is the likelihood of this information being unbias and factual in reality?

A. A tiny bit likely.
B. Somewhat more than a tiny bit likely.
C. A little more than somewhat likely, but we are not really sure.

 

[gettodachopper6]

Just paint some Lugol's on your arms in the morning.

I'll give it a shot and track my results, that's the only way I'll "know" if it works or not. I appreciate the recommendation.

 

[gettodachopper6]

Yesterday, I had cheese, orange juice, apples for food, pea protein smoothie (two scoops pea protein 48g, frozen mixed berries, coconut milk, tap water, maca powder, L-Citrulline, honey).
I took lamotrigine, Aspirin, B-Complex, Magnesium, Vitamin E, Multi-Vitamin.

Felt okay. Today, digestion was good.

Incorporated a Chobani fruit yogurt this morning, and now I have a very bad runny nose and sneezing.

So I am guessing yogurt is not a magic food for me. I'll keep experimenting.

 

[ImprovingDaily]

What dosage of progesterone have you found to be most helpful? Is there a certain dose I can try at first and then work my up to?

Also, where do you find progesterone powder? I only see the creams available.

Should I also take pregnenolone with it? I see powder available for this.

You can start out with small doses like 3 mg a dose and see how that feels. Im sure you'll feel good effects from lower doses, but if you find you dont, dont be afraid to increase it. I'll do over 50 mg if I feel especially estrogenic and have done a bit over 100 mg on doses before with no ill side effects.

Suchlabs.com has progesterone powder for a fair price.

Pregnenolone acts differently in my experience. It can turn into Progesterone but also DHEA and if you're stressed it can turn to Estrogen quite easily, IME. Theoretically the conversion to Progesterone should balance it out, but I havent found that to be the case all the time, and pure Progesterone is a better option in those cases.

Also I forgot to tell you that a journal is a great idea. Great way to see whats working and whats not.

 

[Explorer]

Give a try to the Buteyko breathing practices.

 

[gettodachopper6]

You can start out with small doses like 3 mg a dose and see how that feels. Im sure you'll feel good effects from lower doses, but if you find you dont, dont be afraid to increase it. I'll do over 50 mg if I feel especially estrogenic and have done a bit over 100 mg on doses before with no ill side effects.

Suchlabs.com has progesterone powder for a fair price.

Pregnenolone acts differently in my experience. It can turn into Progesterone but also DHEA and if you're stressed it can turn to Estrogen quite easily, IME. Theoretically the conversion to Progesterone should balance it out, but I havent found that to be the case all the time, and pure Progesterone is a better option in those cases.

Also I forgot to tell you that a journal is a great idea. Great way to see whats working and whats not.

Okay, I am going to do a bit more research on potential side effects people have reported and then I'll give this one a shot. I also might try to find a way to order with a nameless debit card and have it shipped to an anonymous locker. I took m-drol and some steroids about 10 years ago and got mild gynecomastia, so I want to see how Progesterone may effect it. I have done a lot of dumb sh** in my day.

I also am going to look into doing a 7+ day water fast to see what healing my body might be able to do on its own. I have heart Ray Peat was against this, but for me, i was able to quit smoking permanently after a 5 day water fast.

Thanks again!

 

[gettodachopper6]

Give a try to the Buteyko breathing practices.

Thank you. I have gotten back to my practice and intend to keep it up permanently, knowing that is one of the few things that will really make a difference for me. Have you had success with it?

 

[ImprovingDaily]

Okay, I am going to do a bit more research on potential side effects people have reported and then I'll give this one a shot. I also might try to find a way to order with a nameless debit card and have it shipped to an anonymous locker. I took m-drol and some steroids about 10 years ago and got mild gynecomastia, so I want to see how Progesterone may effect it. I have done a lot of dumb sh** in my day.

I also am going to look into doing a 7+ day water fast to see what healing my body might be able to do on its own. I have heart Ray Peat was against this, but for me, i was able to quit smoking permanently after a 5 day water fast.

Thanks again!

Progesterone isn't a scheduled or banned substance. I got mine delivered directly to my mail with no issue.

Ive never had gyno but I'll tell ya that I haven't gotten any at all with all the Progesterone I've taken. I think thats more associated with aromatizable steroids.

Fasting is pretty anti-peaty, but if you want to give it a shot you can. I did Intermittent fasting a couple years back for about 5 or 6 months. I lost a ton of weight, but I felt like ***t and my hairline started to recede lol. Also gained all the weight back. Crazy how all the years of drugs and alcohol never caused any issues with my hair then boom.. Fasting starts the process.

I also recommend benadryl or famotidine if you're having chest tightness or anxiety issues. They block off Histamine which is one of the main ways Estrogen causes harm. Benadryl is in my top 5 supplements I've ever taken. Its been very beneficial to me.