Wednesday, March 04, 2009
As usual, I'm holding more supplement experiments. The problems I've identified to work on at the moment are: very mild allergy to my hairless cat (itchy nose and throat once every few days), reduced sugar craving (relates to weight), immune challenges (sickness, infection), reduced overstimulation, and general anti-aging/well-being.
Allergy situation: Leukotriene inhibition
I found out that the prescription drug Singulair works by inhibiting leukotrienes (thank god it's not one of the many antihistamines, which always make me feel horrible no matter what). So I set out to find natural supplements that do the same thing, partly because I don't like being beholden to a doctor for my solution and partly because natural things are more holistic and have more chance of working out for me without side effects, although I get them from all kinds of things anyway.
The supplements I came up with are boswellia (aka: frankincense) extract with high AKBA content, evening primrose oil, and the gamma form of vitamin E (since the alpha form doesn't affect leukotrienes). The first two absolutely worked to a good degree but caused me bad side effects. I'm trying the last option very soon (would have been my first had I known about it sooner). I like erring on the side of basic, necessary nutrients, not arbitrary, non-essential ones. So fingers crossed there.
Sugar cravings: Potassium
I figured out that I always lose weight when I go to Utah, even without changing any habits. The drinking water tastes kind of strange there, so I inquired about it and learned that potassium chloride is used in the house's water softener. Taking potassium helps me lose weight and possibly eat less. (Although I wonder how much of it has to do with water balance.) I've been toying with potassium chloride and potassium citrate. Taking too much at once overstimulates me and burns my tongue, so I'm trying out diluting a capsule in plenty of water and drinking a little bit a day or every other day (maybe just a teaspoon) . It does help me feel better, and I've been motivated to clean and organize my house more as well - an unexpected benefit. Also, many people have been complimenting me on my bright skin, even though I can't see any difference. But I still need to watch what happens long-term. It may be irritating my stomach, but that may be something else...
Immunity: "Miracle Mineral Supplement," or activated oxygen solution mixed with an acid
I found this drinkable antibiotic accidentally, and I don't even remember how. I stumbled upon Jim Humble's site, of which I was skeptical at first because of the lack of well-known establishment and poor quality of writing in the free ebook. But since I already had an activated oxygen supplement in my house (really just sodium chlorite), I decided to try mixing it with vinegar, waiting the 3 minutes, diluting with water, and drinking it. It really does wipe out any oncoming cold or flu. I was amazed. This is something I can't just will away (placebo effect). Even when I take it expecting it not to work, it does work every time. It helped my mom too when I visited and she felt the early signs of a flu. The next morning, she was right back to normal. I now buy MMS solution off amazon.com for relatively cheap and use apple cider vinegar as the acid. (The active agent is the chlorine dioxide formed after the reaction, and it's NOT the same as bad chlorine as in swimming pools. It leaves no undesirable leftovers in the body.)
Reduced overstimulation: homeopathic potassium bromide (kali brom)
I stumbled upon this stuff on the Internet accidentally and learned that it used to be used as an anti-seizure medication and sedative for people and dogs. For some reason, it's used homeopathically for acne and incontinence. I'm a bit afraid to use too much because one can have bromide overload.
But I tried it for the first time last night anyway (1 tiny pellet), and it was wonderful! For the first 20-30 minutes, I was giggling like a little kid about nothing. After that was done, I was deliciously relaxed and serene. I fell asleep on my couch for 2 hours because my feeling of overstimulation from counseling clients just melted away into a serenity one would normally feel from meditating for half an hour - just a feeling of simplicity and calm. The feeling lasted until the early afternoon, but I was fully functional at work.
Tonight, I was supposed to have dinner with a group of people and again felt overstimulated from the work day's social interaction. I was on the verge of canceling but then cautiously took half a pellet, went down there, and had a grand time as if there was no problem in the first place. I'm pleased but still cautious. At the least, I'll use it once or twice a week.
Anti-aging/well-being: Alkaline Water
After reading extensively about how an overly acidic body contributes to aging, age-related disease, poor energy, weight problems, weakened immunity, cancer, etc, etc, I've decided to try a water additive supplement. I hope this isn't just a gimmick, but it's Sang Whang's site I've mostly been reading. I figure, as long as there isn't any risk in trying, might as well experiment and observe. No venture, no gain.
His product contains potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide but, since I've already got a separate experiment going for potassium, I opted for a sodium hydroxide only supplement. It has no flavor that I can detect. So TBA on that one too. I remember over a decade ago when I was just starting out as vegan (and hadn't hit the malnutritioned phase yet) and also when I more recently experimented with fasting that I felt so free and clear, energy-wise. I hope that's the same feeling to be gotten from alkalizing, as they claim there will be.
Update: After 2 days of alkaline drop use, my pH testing strip results went from very acidic (5.0) to significantly more alkaline (about 6.6)! That's something.
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Allergy situation: Leukotriene inhibition
I found out that the prescription drug Singulair works by inhibiting leukotrienes (thank god it's not one of the many antihistamines, which always make me feel horrible no matter what). So I set out to find natural supplements that do the same thing, partly because I don't like being beholden to a doctor for my solution and partly because natural things are more holistic and have more chance of working out for me without side effects, although I get them from all kinds of things anyway.
The supplements I came up with are boswellia (aka: frankincense) extract with high AKBA content, evening primrose oil, and the gamma form of vitamin E (since the alpha form doesn't affect leukotrienes). The first two absolutely worked to a good degree but caused me bad side effects. I'm trying the last option very soon (would have been my first had I known about it sooner). I like erring on the side of basic, necessary nutrients, not arbitrary, non-essential ones. So fingers crossed there.
Sugar cravings: Potassium
I figured out that I always lose weight when I go to Utah, even without changing any habits. The drinking water tastes kind of strange there, so I inquired about it and learned that potassium chloride is used in the house's water softener. Taking potassium helps me lose weight and possibly eat less. (Although I wonder how much of it has to do with water balance.) I've been toying with potassium chloride and potassium citrate. Taking too much at once overstimulates me and burns my tongue, so I'm trying out diluting a capsule in plenty of water and drinking a little bit a day or every other day (maybe just a teaspoon) . It does help me feel better, and I've been motivated to clean and organize my house more as well - an unexpected benefit. Also, many people have been complimenting me on my bright skin, even though I can't see any difference. But I still need to watch what happens long-term. It may be irritating my stomach, but that may be something else...
Immunity: "Miracle Mineral Supplement," or activated oxygen solution mixed with an acid
I found this drinkable antibiotic accidentally, and I don't even remember how. I stumbled upon Jim Humble's site, of which I was skeptical at first because of the lack of well-known establishment and poor quality of writing in the free ebook. But since I already had an activated oxygen supplement in my house (really just sodium chlorite), I decided to try mixing it with vinegar, waiting the 3 minutes, diluting with water, and drinking it. It really does wipe out any oncoming cold or flu. I was amazed. This is something I can't just will away (placebo effect). Even when I take it expecting it not to work, it does work every time. It helped my mom too when I visited and she felt the early signs of a flu. The next morning, she was right back to normal. I now buy MMS solution off amazon.com for relatively cheap and use apple cider vinegar as the acid. (The active agent is the chlorine dioxide formed after the reaction, and it's NOT the same as bad chlorine as in swimming pools. It leaves no undesirable leftovers in the body.)
Reduced overstimulation: homeopathic potassium bromide (kali brom)
I stumbled upon this stuff on the Internet accidentally and learned that it used to be used as an anti-seizure medication and sedative for people and dogs. For some reason, it's used homeopathically for acne and incontinence. I'm a bit afraid to use too much because one can have bromide overload.
But I tried it for the first time last night anyway (1 tiny pellet), and it was wonderful! For the first 20-30 minutes, I was giggling like a little kid about nothing. After that was done, I was deliciously relaxed and serene. I fell asleep on my couch for 2 hours because my feeling of overstimulation from counseling clients just melted away into a serenity one would normally feel from meditating for half an hour - just a feeling of simplicity and calm. The feeling lasted until the early afternoon, but I was fully functional at work.
Tonight, I was supposed to have dinner with a group of people and again felt overstimulated from the work day's social interaction. I was on the verge of canceling but then cautiously took half a pellet, went down there, and had a grand time as if there was no problem in the first place. I'm pleased but still cautious. At the least, I'll use it once or twice a week.
Anti-aging/well-being: Alkaline Water
After reading extensively about how an overly acidic body contributes to aging, age-related disease, poor energy, weight problems, weakened immunity, cancer, etc, etc, I've decided to try a water additive supplement. I hope this isn't just a gimmick, but it's Sang Whang's site I've mostly been reading. I figure, as long as there isn't any risk in trying, might as well experiment and observe. No venture, no gain.
His product contains potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide but, since I've already got a separate experiment going for potassium, I opted for a sodium hydroxide only supplement. It has no flavor that I can detect. So TBA on that one too. I remember over a decade ago when I was just starting out as vegan (and hadn't hit the malnutritioned phase yet) and also when I more recently experimented with fasting that I felt so free and clear, energy-wise. I hope that's the same feeling to be gotten from alkalizing, as they claim there will be.
Update: After 2 days of alkaline drop use, my pH testing strip results went from very acidic (5.0) to significantly more alkaline (about 6.6)! That's something.
