Thank you, John Paul. I really appreciate your writings. I had long Covid that lasted about 8 months. I was fortunate to be treated by an MD/herbalist who used a combination of many of the supplements you suggest plus a tincture formula specific for inflammation (Schisandra, Cat's Claw, Ashwaghanda, Astragalus & Biacal Skullcap). I also added Oregon Grape root to my regimen after learning about Meformin. Oregon Grape contains Berberine. I am grateful to say that I am 98% symptom free at this point.
There are many natural plants and extracts that can help with many of the aspects of Covid/Long-Covid, but unlike the things I cover, I dont' understand plants biochemistry that well yet.
I am glad that you are now almost perfectly better, that 2% will come in due time. Thank you for your words.
Yes, and there is so much to understand. One of my favorite books is Medical Herbalism by David Hoffmann. It's a deep dive into the chemistry of different herbs and their therapeutic effects.
Great to hear (on Twitter) that your knee is better!
Thank you for this Tiger of an article! What a treat for Sunday afternoon! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I take everything (except the Niacin) from your "Starting List" plus Black Seed Oil, Glutamine and Creatine. I would recommend Creatine for anyone who is fasting and working out after 12h of fasting.
How are you tolerating the Niacin flush ? I hate it so much that I have stopped taking it. I know it is harmless but it lasts for ever and is sooooooo itchy. I was told to take half an aspirin with niacin or 30min before and it will decrease or eliminate the flush. What do you think? ( I hated the flush so much that I never took niacin again). Also, I was told (but haven't tried it, yet) to take Tryptophan with a little bit of carbs (no protein) like veggies, fruit (non wheat grains) . Apparently a little bit of carbs (without the protein) strategically taken with Tryptophan increase the absorption. What do you think?
Regarding, the BPC-157...I thought it is your go-to peptide. Correct? If so, is that something you take daily just for overall health optimisation?
The last question i have is about your views on Interleukin 6. I read an interview with Dr Doug McGuff " Body of Science" in which he says something along the lines that it might be possible to "obtain" all the benefits of execercising without actually exercising....More interleukin 6, you down regulate the receptors. The fewer receptors you have the less inflammation you generate.
Thank you for this (and all the other) awesome articles! So much usable information. Have a great Sunday!
It is a starting list, I intend to write something on creatine and glutamine, both things I DO INSIST MOST TO TAKE, so you are already ahead of the curve on that one =).
Soooo, I also get some strong, long-lasting flushs (rarely they can last an hour and half, horrible) what I found as months went by is, that you will build a tolerance to the flush, and secondly, since I take my "stack" with food, food will minimize the chances of flush (salad+some carb source+protein), little amounts of food won't be enough to hold the flush, a big meal (biggest of the day in my case) usually completely eliminates the flush.
I take Tryptophan with Melatonin and Magnesium right when I am laying down in bed, Melatonin and Magnesium will help both the absorption and the metabolic procress, you could eat a little bit of carbs with it if you choose too. Also the same applies to Creatine and Glutamine, a little bit of carbs will help your body metabolize and absorb it.
Yes, my favorite peptide is BPC-157 but there are many others one could take it. If you have injuries/inflammation/etc you would take a course of it (2-4 weeks, etc), otherwise you take a a short course (1 week) every few months to maintain optimal health.
Interleukin-6 is a superfamily of Interleukins, you will not only be messing 6, but 12 and others, the entire family, if you down regulate the receptors for "no reason" your body will compensate the next time you need the response, just in the effect of caffeine on your adenosine receptors as a simple example.
Exercise itself has many many other benefits, especially metabolic (it will literally fix most tryptophan metabolic dysfuntion many with many diseases find themselves). Conceptually his idea is interesting but I would have to dig a lot deeper. I am literally a fan of exerciting yourself to push your body to grow further than one think it is his/her limit.
Have a great Sunday too, and thank you for all your considerate words =D !
Bibi I will reply to the message you edited, because I have my substack set up to send me an email every time someone comment on it.
Yes it would be ok to take tryptophan a few hours before melatonin, but depending how fast your body metabolize it and where it goes (more of one of its end products) you might get very sleep hours earlier than usual, at least with me that is how it goes. Perhaps test it out.
Careful with the metabolic "cap" amino acids (well, everything really) has especially when you take as a supplement, if I recall correctly 10 grams of amino acids is the cap when you take as a powder, per 4 hours give or take, anything more and you are "pissing it away", but yes, timing of the supplementation will impact how your body absorbs and uses it, I find creatine for recovery much more efficient than Glutamine, but each person is different, some recovery much faster with Glutamine, and indeed recovery is the most important part of it all.
I have never seem a flush from niacin lasting more than 2 hours personally, and those are long flushs, but I also stay far away from the dosages some indulge, like 1, 2, 3 GRAMS.
If you have allergies, frequently or infrequently, means your body is in a thin line between Th1 and Th2 dominant, since you said you were a former athlete it does make sense, because some athletes have skewed immune system, runners more than other types.
Yes, for overall health, optimization, recovery, almost anything the go to are BPC-157 and TB500 (Thymosin Beta), either one or the other or both for compouding recovery, other peptides are all more "specific", like lungs, endothelium, brain, etc.
Natto and Serra are powerful antiinflammatories, besides digesting different types of protein, I also take it whenever I injury myself (but not lately because I keep forgerting about it).
Thank you for your ever kind words, it is encouraging. Best regards Bibi.
Thank you John Paul. My appologies I did delete my comment because I emailed you at tutanota.com (since you gave us the permission) because I included some personal health related conditions and genetics (potential) I seeked your advice on.
Dear Sally, its a huge topic. I litterally do not know where to start with it ...I can send you that interview to see the contex in which he is discussing it. Although I am not sure I would be intrested (yet) in taking it instead of exercise.
Hi! Just wanted to offer a tip that help me... At first the niacin itching was almost unbearable, but If I took a hot bath when it was kicking in I barely noticed it. Scratching made it much worse. I read aspirin inactivates some benefits? I adjusted to flush and itching after about a week. Good luck!
Just really appreciate what you do. I have all the usual options for substack reading and you are generally at the top. Don’t understand a good deal of the biochemistry but it’s good to stretch my brain a bit. Linking studies also very helpful. 🙏
I prefer linking all the references so people can go read for themselves, and go further down.
Understanding the biochemistry and molecular pathways is very good, but having justa understanding of what is going on is enough, and yes, that is also a covert way of me pushing some of my readers into just learning, little by little.
Amazing post this one and 'the Stack' is included.
I just bought bought Magnesium Glycinate thinking it was the same as Glycine. I was gonna take it at night with my tryptophan and melatonin and move my NAC to nighttime too to time it with the glycine. But its not glycine is it? or is it similar.
Berberine has beneficial antimicrobial effects, most of what Berberine will do is bring a equilibrium between the bad microbes and the good ones, unless you are 100% health with a very good microbiome, which then perhaps Berberine might impact your gut health >long term<, otherwise, no I don't think so.
You could also cycle, to avoid any potential side-effects that you are wary off. Cycling meaning X weeks on X weeks/months off. The same can be done with everything I suggest my readers to potential take to solve a myriad of their issues.
How does one differentiate between “Long covid” and covid “vaccine” side effects? Obviously a covid infection only group would be required but I would imagine that the “long covid” group is composed of covid only and covid+covid vaccine subjects, collapsed not segregated.
Precisely what Leslie wrote. While the dynamics and initial pathways/aggressors might be different, the "middle of the road" and the road to Rome (end result) are pretty much similar, since it is mostly mediated by the Spike and its after effects. (a lot more goes on, I over simplified here)
From all my reading, long covid and vax injuries generally improved by same treatment. When artemisia doesn’t work, niacin does for me. Just my experience. Obviously, those with heart damage are much more difficult to treat. If your point is that many long covid could be vax injured I would guess that’s correct but treatment similar.
In regards to tryptophan, are you recommending L-tryptophan or 5-htp? It’s my understanding that 5-htp is more easily absorbed and can cross the blood-brain barrier and positively influence the micro biome so it seems like a worthwhile supple ment.
Thank you, John Paul. I really appreciate your writings. I had long Covid that lasted about 8 months. I was fortunate to be treated by an MD/herbalist who used a combination of many of the supplements you suggest plus a tincture formula specific for inflammation (Schisandra, Cat's Claw, Ashwaghanda, Astragalus & Biacal Skullcap). I also added Oregon Grape root to my regimen after learning about Meformin. Oregon Grape contains Berberine. I am grateful to say that I am 98% symptom free at this point.
There are many natural plants and extracts that can help with many of the aspects of Covid/Long-Covid, but unlike the things I cover, I dont' understand plants biochemistry that well yet.
I am glad that you are now almost perfectly better, that 2% will come in due time. Thank you for your words.
Yes, and there is so much to understand. One of my favorite books is Medical Herbalism by David Hoffmann. It's a deep dive into the chemistry of different herbs and their therapeutic effects.
Thank you JP. I hope you are doing well ❤️
Thanks John Paul. 🙏
Great to hear (on Twitter) that your knee is better!
Thank you for this Tiger of an article! What a treat for Sunday afternoon! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I take everything (except the Niacin) from your "Starting List" plus Black Seed Oil, Glutamine and Creatine. I would recommend Creatine for anyone who is fasting and working out after 12h of fasting.
How are you tolerating the Niacin flush ? I hate it so much that I have stopped taking it. I know it is harmless but it lasts for ever and is sooooooo itchy. I was told to take half an aspirin with niacin or 30min before and it will decrease or eliminate the flush. What do you think? ( I hated the flush so much that I never took niacin again). Also, I was told (but haven't tried it, yet) to take Tryptophan with a little bit of carbs (no protein) like veggies, fruit (non wheat grains) . Apparently a little bit of carbs (without the protein) strategically taken with Tryptophan increase the absorption. What do you think?
Regarding, the BPC-157...I thought it is your go-to peptide. Correct? If so, is that something you take daily just for overall health optimisation?
The last question i have is about your views on Interleukin 6. I read an interview with Dr Doug McGuff " Body of Science" in which he says something along the lines that it might be possible to "obtain" all the benefits of execercising without actually exercising....More interleukin 6, you down regulate the receptors. The fewer receptors you have the less inflammation you generate.
Thank you for this (and all the other) awesome articles! So much usable information. Have a great Sunday!
It is a starting list, I intend to write something on creatine and glutamine, both things I DO INSIST MOST TO TAKE, so you are already ahead of the curve on that one =).
Soooo, I also get some strong, long-lasting flushs (rarely they can last an hour and half, horrible) what I found as months went by is, that you will build a tolerance to the flush, and secondly, since I take my "stack" with food, food will minimize the chances of flush (salad+some carb source+protein), little amounts of food won't be enough to hold the flush, a big meal (biggest of the day in my case) usually completely eliminates the flush.
I take Tryptophan with Melatonin and Magnesium right when I am laying down in bed, Melatonin and Magnesium will help both the absorption and the metabolic procress, you could eat a little bit of carbs with it if you choose too. Also the same applies to Creatine and Glutamine, a little bit of carbs will help your body metabolize and absorb it.
Yes, my favorite peptide is BPC-157 but there are many others one could take it. If you have injuries/inflammation/etc you would take a course of it (2-4 weeks, etc), otherwise you take a a short course (1 week) every few months to maintain optimal health.
Interleukin-6 is a superfamily of Interleukins, you will not only be messing 6, but 12 and others, the entire family, if you down regulate the receptors for "no reason" your body will compensate the next time you need the response, just in the effect of caffeine on your adenosine receptors as a simple example.
Exercise itself has many many other benefits, especially metabolic (it will literally fix most tryptophan metabolic dysfuntion many with many diseases find themselves). Conceptually his idea is interesting but I would have to dig a lot deeper. I am literally a fan of exerciting yourself to push your body to grow further than one think it is his/her limit.
Have a great Sunday too, and thank you for all your considerate words =D !
d
Bibi I will reply to the message you edited, because I have my substack set up to send me an email every time someone comment on it.
Yes it would be ok to take tryptophan a few hours before melatonin, but depending how fast your body metabolize it and where it goes (more of one of its end products) you might get very sleep hours earlier than usual, at least with me that is how it goes. Perhaps test it out.
Careful with the metabolic "cap" amino acids (well, everything really) has especially when you take as a supplement, if I recall correctly 10 grams of amino acids is the cap when you take as a powder, per 4 hours give or take, anything more and you are "pissing it away", but yes, timing of the supplementation will impact how your body absorbs and uses it, I find creatine for recovery much more efficient than Glutamine, but each person is different, some recovery much faster with Glutamine, and indeed recovery is the most important part of it all.
I have never seem a flush from niacin lasting more than 2 hours personally, and those are long flushs, but I also stay far away from the dosages some indulge, like 1, 2, 3 GRAMS.
If you have allergies, frequently or infrequently, means your body is in a thin line between Th1 and Th2 dominant, since you said you were a former athlete it does make sense, because some athletes have skewed immune system, runners more than other types.
Yes, for overall health, optimization, recovery, almost anything the go to are BPC-157 and TB500 (Thymosin Beta), either one or the other or both for compouding recovery, other peptides are all more "specific", like lungs, endothelium, brain, etc.
Natto and Serra are powerful antiinflammatories, besides digesting different types of protein, I also take it whenever I injury myself (but not lately because I keep forgerting about it).
Thank you for your ever kind words, it is encouraging. Best regards Bibi.
Thank you John Paul. My appologies I did delete my comment because I emailed you at tutanota.com (since you gave us the permission) because I included some personal health related conditions and genetics (potential) I seeked your advice on.
Hi Bibi!
Look at this old study on IL6:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21868536/
Down-regulation of expression of interleukin-6 and its receptor results in growth inhibition of MCF-7 breast cancer cells
Thank you for the critical reminder!
Dear Sally, its a huge topic. I litterally do not know where to start with it ...I can send you that interview to see the contex in which he is discussing it. Although I am not sure I would be intrested (yet) in taking it instead of exercise.
Hi! Just wanted to offer a tip that help me... At first the niacin itching was almost unbearable, but If I took a hot bath when it was kicking in I barely noticed it. Scratching made it much worse. I read aspirin inactivates some benefits? I adjusted to flush and itching after about a week. Good luck!
Thanks.
The differences between magnesium glycinate and tri-magnesium-dicitrate are interesting. Thank you for alerting me to the former.
Just really appreciate what you do. I have all the usual options for substack reading and you are generally at the top. Don’t understand a good deal of the biochemistry but it’s good to stretch my brain a bit. Linking studies also very helpful. 🙏
I prefer linking all the references so people can go read for themselves, and go further down.
Understanding the biochemistry and molecular pathways is very good, but having justa understanding of what is going on is enough, and yes, that is also a covert way of me pushing some of my readers into just learning, little by little.
Amazing post this one and 'the Stack' is included.
I just bought bought Magnesium Glycinate thinking it was the same as Glycine. I was gonna take it at night with my tryptophan and melatonin and move my NAC to nighttime too to time it with the glycine. But its not glycine is it? or is it similar.
I read somewhere that Berberine has anti-microbial properties and so might disrupt the gut microbiome. Do you know?
Berberine has beneficial antimicrobial effects, most of what Berberine will do is bring a equilibrium between the bad microbes and the good ones, unless you are 100% health with a very good microbiome, which then perhaps Berberine might impact your gut health >long term<, otherwise, no I don't think so.
You could also cycle, to avoid any potential side-effects that you are wary off. Cycling meaning X weeks on X weeks/months off. The same can be done with everything I suggest my readers to potential take to solve a myriad of their issues.
Hope this helps.
Thank you!
How does one differentiate between “Long covid” and covid “vaccine” side effects? Obviously a covid infection only group would be required but I would imagine that the “long covid” group is composed of covid only and covid+covid vaccine subjects, collapsed not segregated.
Precisely what Leslie wrote. While the dynamics and initial pathways/aggressors might be different, the "middle of the road" and the road to Rome (end result) are pretty much similar, since it is mostly mediated by the Spike and its after effects. (a lot more goes on, I over simplified here)
From all my reading, long covid and vax injuries generally improved by same treatment. When artemisia doesn’t work, niacin does for me. Just my experience. Obviously, those with heart damage are much more difficult to treat. If your point is that many long covid could be vax injured I would guess that’s correct but treatment similar.
Thank you!
Just sent your post to a wonderful friend who is suffering from Long Covid and EBV. Alas...
Huge thanks!
How did you friend know they are suffering from EBV? Were they tested? Hope they feel better!
Question not aimed at me, but yes you need to get tested, preferably when the infection is active to get the result.
In regards to tryptophan, are you recommending L-tryptophan or 5-htp? It’s my understanding that 5-htp is more easily absorbed and can cross the blood-brain barrier and positively influence the micro biome so it seems like a worthwhile supple ment.
I am recommending Tryoptophan. Some people might want to use 5-HTP, and they can get better results sometimes, but I am recoomending Tryptophan.