6 replies to this topic

[Jerome Henderson]

Hello,

 

Long story short, an experience I once had lead to a long path of self discovery, meditation/mindfulness, shifts in perception, deep insights and introspection, elevation in mood and bettering my physical and mental health. It began with with an experience of peace that I had no recollection of experiencing before. This sense of peace lasted for months. It was one in which all previous methods of pleasure seeking and avoidance of pain were no longer of importance to me and any time my mind attempted its former behaviors, I would notice and drop it right away. From time to time I would also experience the present moment without any thoughts or perceptions about what was in front of me. I experienced "beneficial" behavioral changes, elevated moods, etc. and my baseline for happiness seemed to be higher on average. I changed my diet to one higher in protein, got into supplements like goji berry, astragalus, functional mushrooms, CDP Choline, noopept, multivitamins, omega-3, etc. I also experienced greater mental clarity and memory on average. However, somewhere along the way I ended up undoing a lot of my "hard work" with kratom liquid extracts for back pain. I am now seeking to get back on track and change my lifestyle for the better. I realize I do have to get back to a healthy baseline, do adequate research and testing responsibly. I also realize that internally generated motivation and discipline play a huge role in this and pretty much anything else for that matter. However, at the moment I  am primarily looking into natural supplements for acutely boosting mood and potentially any others for increasing resilience to stress so I may get things going. I'm also aware it's up to me to not become dependent on a supplement for things that are my responsibility. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears! I do have a high tolerance to caffeine and a "history of adhd" as well. I'm not sure if they'll be of any use but I have attached a few png's related to my genetics/health. Thank you in advance! 

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[Mind]

Ashwaganda and bacopa seem to work for me.

[pamojja]

 

Long story short, an experience I once had lead to a long path of self discovery, meditation/mindfulness, shifts in perception, deep insights and introspection, elevation in mood and bettering my physical and mental health.

 

Sounds like me from 2015 to 2002. Along with 7 malarias (4 times the at times deathly plasmodium falciparum), bilharzia, tubercles, spondilodiscitis, kidney and NAFLD. Being young and resilient, overcame everything, so I thought. Only back-pain from the spondilodiscitis hindered me from doing my former job. At age 40 with resilience declining, I've got the bill for those organ damages from about more than decade before. Walking disability from PAD, COPD and ME/CFS.

 

Genetic future possibilities were a bid moot, in my case. I already had so much to work on right there. I took patience and persistence, motivation to stay independent, I had enough.

 

I am now seeking to get back on track and change my lifestyle for the better. I realize I do have to get back to a healthy baseline, do adequate research and testing responsibly

 

That's what I end up with. Found no doc not completely complacent with the fact, that all my chronic condition were mercilessly progressing. In the most, their progression could be slowed somewhat. Therefore, I set out with a willing GP with as much of lab-testing, as reasonably available. There I saw basically all metabolic and bodily systems struggling. Therefore, I started with comprehensive life-style changes and orthomolecular supplementation. The rest is history: https://www.longecit...nal-remissions/

 

 

[layla jin]

Really inspiring to see how much self-awareness and persistence can shift both mindset and health. I’m also looking into natural supplements like ashwagandha and bacopa to support mood and resilience, curious if you’ve found certain combinations or routines particularly effective? 

 

speed stars

[pamojja]

 curious if you’ve found certain combinations or routines particularly effective? 

 

If you read my linked health history, you know that comprehensiveness, over long times, was particularly effective. Though there are some supplements mentioned, wich I could associate with direct effects, but only in minor effects only. And not the extensive repair over many years, as was necessary in my case. Most supplements I don't feel anything.

 

Bacopa or ashwagandha I don't feel anything in particular, probably because never had difficulties with mood.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jerome Henderson]

 

If you read my linked health history, you know that comprehensiveness, over long times, was particularly effective. Though there are some supplements mentioned, wich I could associate with direct effects, but only in minor effects only. And not the extensive repair over many years, as was necessary in my case. Most supplements I don't feel anything.

 

Bacopa or ashwagandha I don't feel anything in particular, probably because never had difficulties with mood.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a similar way there have been multiple supplements that appeared to have no effect (at least in the acute sense). Where a lot of reports indicated various users experiencing similar results, I on the other hand felt nothing. However, to their credit, I will say that over time that wasn't necessarily the case. For instance, noopept didn't appear to have any acute effects (at various dose levels) but it did appear to have a mood and focus "brightening" effect after a few weeks.

[pamojja]

 I on the other hand felt nothing. However, to their credit, I will say that over time that wasn't necessarily the case. For instance, noopept didn't appear to have any acute effects (at various dose levels) but it did appear to have a mood and focus "brightening" effect after a few weeks.

 

Agree. But when I spoke of 'direct' effects, it always took at least a few weeks, if not month or years to mention differences, sometimes still nothing directly felt, but seen in lab results. Those benefits would be completely missed, if one only kept taking felt supplements.

 

And not the extensive repair over many years, as was necessary in my case. Most supplements I don't feel anything.

 

Chronic diseases usually develop over many decades, impossible to reverse, in most cases, in a few years again.

 

Found no doc not completely complacent with the fact, that all my chronic condition were mercilessly progressing. In the most, their progression could be slowed somewhat. Therefore, I set out with a willing GP with as much of lab-testing, as reasonably available. There I saw basically all metabolic and bodily systems struggling. Therefore, I started with comprehensive life-style changes and orthomolecular supplementation.

 

Maybe not as much as with herbals, like bacopa and ashwagandha (though synergies develop there too), but with essential nutrients it is important to supplement comprehensively. Like all the B-vitamins, which work in concert and act as co-factor for each other. And which could be especially beneficial for mental health, like ADHD, too.

 

When increasing one of the B-vitamins to therapeutic doses, the need of others might also go up. Otherwise, it can backfire. One example in my history was choline, which I tolerated only up to 500 mg/d before causing unpleasant jaw-tensions. 3 years later, that limit lowered already below 300 mg/d. Only increasing inositol up to about 10 g/d, that intake limit was lifted. Which exemplifies not to forget to consider conditionally essential nutrients too.

 

Through our different medical history, toxic exposures, genetics, ... etc. our vitamin needs not get from diet can differ vastly. While some are doing well with no or only a B-complex, some could benefit greatly from higher doses too. The only way to find the beneficial doses, is by experimentally increasing over weeks, months and years, from initially tiny doses. Overtime, and monitoring lab-results and symptoms, doses can be adjusted up or downward again.

 

In your situation I would experiment with conditionally essential nutrients too, like ALA, carnitine, creatine, glycine, inositol, PABA, etc.. With vitamin C, D3, or marine omega-3 I don't understand anyone above a certain age or already manifesting health difficulties not supplementing. Since higher blood levels of each alone, are associated with almost equal mortality in cigarette smokers, compared to non-smokers with the usual low levels.

 

Vitamin D3 up to therapeutic blood-levels, again needs the very important co-factor of magnesium and preformed vitamin A, at least a bid K2 too. Higher Omega-3 intake might need the antioxidation effect of other fat-soluble vitamins (mixed tocopherols, tocotrienols.., polyphenols too).

 

Edited by pamojja, 20 August 2025 - 10:47 AM.