Snorting etodolac 500mg

27 Female => Male Transgender
5'7 265lbs White/Romani
I have been waking up badly shaking and weak from deep sleeps since I was at least 7. Sometimes the shaking is so bad i can't get out of bed for risk of falling and hurting myself. It only seems to happen when I'm coming out of a deep sleep either naturally quickly coming out or being woken up by a person or alarm clock. I've noticed less frequency when i take 50mg or higher of Diamox before bed but can still happen. It feels almost like someone dumps ice water on me i'm shaking so bad and even if its warm in the house i feel ice cold.
Happening since childhood, around 7y of age.
I suffer with Idiopathic Intercranial Hypertension, Traumatic Brain injury (2012), Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Psych issues (PTSD with psychotic features, generalized anxiety, major depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder, anorexia nervosa (been in recovery for 4 years)), Migraines, Balance issues, hearing loss, Irritable bowl syndrome, hypothyroidism.
Medications: Gabapentin 300mg 3xD, Diamox 500mg 3xD, Propranolol 120mg 2xD, Etodolac 400mg 2xd, Tylenol 1000mg 2-3xD, Lexapro 20mg 1xD, Lamictal 75mg 1xD, Benzotropien 0.5mg 1xD, Rexulti 3mg 1xd, Doxeipin 25mg 1xd 50mg 1xd, Claritin, Trigger point injections w/o steroids every 8 weeks, Testosterone i don't remember the dose math but its like half of a bottle 1xWeekly.
Use non-nic vapes occasionally, does not use Nic, or smoke cigs, drinks a glass or two of wine or a tequila sunrise once a month / every other month, 10 days clean from Marijuana.

It took me a while to develop this and did not do it on a perfect routine. If I had the perfect day, it would be this:
In the morning, I take (took): 1x 500mg NAC 2x 1600mg Solaray okra capsules 2x 260mg Activated charcoal 5 drops of mushroom tincture (mainly chaga, reshi, tuerkytail) 1x 30mg Zinc 2x 1000mg turmeric capsules And chug it all down with 2 bottles of water I would snort water up my nose and flush out all my snot, and spray "xclear" nasal spray in there and snort it in deep. Again at night
For breakfast, I would eat coconut yogurt with: Hemp seed hearts Chia seeds Crushed flax seeds A small dab of raw honey And then chug a bottle of Emergency-C And 6 plain eggs cooked only in olive oil.
I would apply a low mg nicotine patch to my belly. The nicotine opens up detox pathways in your brain to get the toxins out while making it harder for toxins to get in.
I would then go to the gym and get aerobic exercise in, stew in an infrared sauna for 25 minutes, hotter than hell steam sauna for 10 minutes, and swim in the pool for 5 minutes (very important to get the sweat off your body fast so you don't re absorb it) The pool water seems to be helpful on its own with the chlorine and other chemicals to prevent mold and bacteria. Then I would chug 2 more water bottles.
If your pee is any darker than apple juice, you must drink 2 water bottles.
For lunch, I would eat as much lightly salted popcorn cooked in olive oil with a drizzel of oregano oil as I needed to eat to be full.
For dinner, I would eat a nice big steak if section out from a lean chuck roast. Salt and pepper only.
At night, I would make sure to chug a single water bottle and take the same pills as I did it the morning.
Don't forget to meditate and / or pray to God so you can ground your sanity. (Very important)
I would then fast for a day or until I felt like I was starving. This causes the body to use dead cells as an energy source and cleans your body. I would remain taking the pills and tincture drops.
I would also keep track of my "waves" of symptoms as the liver will discharge some of the toxins into the bloodstream. It was all the time, until it was every other day, every 3 days, and then every 5. The every 5 days lasted a long time, then it was every 8 days, and after an even longer time it then turned into every 10, and now I can expect a symptomatic day every 15 days. Now, it's unpredictable and very infrequent, like a period or something.
That is pretty much what I did.
What I wish I did:
Get on antifungals when I was at the every 8 day mark. Antifungals tend to make things temporarily worse and are not recommended as a first treatment.
Did a better job keeping my sugar cravings down. I'm an addict and sugar is a bad one.
I wish I quit marijuana as it is by far the most triggering substance I consumed. Would cause me to be mentally unsure about the process, mental health is #1 issue.
I wish also that I did not purposely do/ eat things that make me worse, just to reaffirm that what's happening is real.
I wish I had consumed nicotine in the form of a patch sooner. It cleared my brain up immediately but kinda temporarily.
If you want to test out something that will drastically fuck you up and make you feel like dieing, which I did for some stupidly unhealthy reason to check if the science behind my diet was real, do the following: (If you want to check if you are sick in such a way)
Eat a banana Apple sauce Lots of butter Sit in a steamy room with the windows closed Drink orange juice Eat a bagel Eat lots of pasta
A final secret cheatcode is to good quality icecream when you are feeling extremely sick. It's like magic for those tough times.

Hey guys, I recently got some Kanna from Sceletium Source. Really awesome place to do business with. But, I have yet to have any kind of a really positive experience. It's not horrible, but snorting about 20-30mg of the MT55 5% just makes me feel sweaty, a little anxious in a "I took too much pre workout" kind of way, and then really heightens my awareness. But not euphoria, no buzz, no warmth, not really anything overtly enjoyable.
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Is that just how I react? Or am I dosing wrong? I had hopes for this to be a fun thing to stack, so I got like 5 bags of 500mg lmao

Age 27
Sex femal
Height 5’5
Weight 140 lb
Race Caucasian
Duration of complaint almost 6 weeks
Location Sailing through international waters
Any existing relevant medical issues Gilbert’s disease
Current medications none besides described
Include a photo if relevant
Non-Smoker Non-Drinking No drugs, recreational or prescription
Hi so I am going to post in the sinusitis sub as well but not sure what’s going on so I need a wider audience. I will tell you from the top. 5+ weeks ago I was on an international cruise. On January 11 I woke up with the worst sore throat of my life, it persisted for about 4 days. I took ibuprofen 800 on a regular time schedule as the pain would come back full force to let me know it was time for another dose. As that began to subside I started coughing up green thick mucous, but it felt like it was coming from my nasal cavity not my lungs. I have never experienced a sinus infection so I was confused at first. This went on for about 2 more weeks, of feeling shitty with mucous and then starting to feel better then falling back into it. I’m not sure if I had a fever, maybe very slightly but nothing major. Was exhausted beyond belief, and aches and body pain. Waking up with left eye bloodshot and crusted shut (this continues till present) Dizziness, sometimes nausea. Disoriented feelings, although I was traveling so that didn’t help. I started to feeling better around week 3, I was about to get off the cruise ship and we had a 2 day excursion booked. Since I was much better and had no symptoms I went. I all of sudden fell back into that horrible itchy, need to excuse yourself from the room cough. But it was really just the itchy cough and weakness feelings. Went on for a few day and I arrive at my destination. On land for 5 days before flying home, felt shitty but seemingly getting better cough would intrude occasionally throughout the day. The night before I was to fly I had sudden beyond severe ear pain, worse than I have ever experienced (I’ve had a lot) was so excruciating I finally went to doctor. She see completely swollen ear canals and middle ear. Prescribes antibiotics and pain meds and she tells me not to fly for 5 days. I was very far from home with an expensive flight and had now been away from home for 4 weeks and sick. I decided against my own better judgement to fly the next day anyways. Thankfully I was lucky and feeling much better the next day. Thank god the flight did not impact me negatively at all in fact opened me up a little. I took the antibiotics for one whole day, just to get to be able to fly, and then I stopped for two days. Bad, terrible I know. But I’m against them for myself and I thought I could just go home and heal with time. After those two days I started again because the blockage had not cleared. finished them and felt better. Laid in bed and rest for about a week, went to work for one day (thankfully I work for myself and have the luxury of time off) this brings us to 5 weeks in, feeling almost 100% maybe. A few days after 5 week mark I wake up with roaring symptoms at 3AM snorting sore throat blockage and the like. That’s when I assume sinus infection because that’s when I get my first ever sinus headache. Absolutely brutal. The following night was a dark night of the soul. Next day not much better, nose like a river, tooth pain, delirious almost feeling. Starting to get kidney pain now. Woke up today both eyes completely bloodshot and crusted over. Although today I do feel better-ish. Nose no longer running. Crazy excuse me cough is back. Been chugging water like a champ, mucinex, Tylenol sinus, elderberry syrup, 500mg vitamin c Tried saline neti pot last night, was too blocked but could get some through, seemed to help. Help. Will I be like this for ever? Knocking on 6 weeks of illness.
Disclaimer; I’m a crunchy person. I eat clean, I never take pain meds and I haven’t taken antibiotics in years. I despise to put stuff like that in my body. However this instance has been so severe I have had no choice but to try conventional medicines. I believe in medicine and antibiotics, I just believe in them for more threatening occurrences and not to be so regular with them. I had frequent ear infections as a child and been on many rounds of antibiotics which had ruined my gut health.

I know it was my heater because prior to my illness, I was blowing my nose, and quite a bit of blood came out. I usually dont get bloody noses. Then, BOOM: The cough started. Phlegm in the throat, constantly. Now it is moving down to my chest.
I have been drinking water non stop to try to remedy the issue. But the cough wont go away- it has been almost a week. I tried snorting some salt water. But, maybe that is making it worse? I tried clariton d,,, nope.
Last time this happened about a year ago, amoxacillin 500mg fixed it. I dont have any more antibiotics this time,. Any suggestions?

Hey, everyone!
I have been living with a chronic headache condition since 2019, more specifically a neuropathic pain within the occipital nerve. This condition kicked off due to a herniated cervical disc, that got my occipital nerve excessively sensitive to most kinds of stimulation.
What my pain feels like?

• I'd describe the constant pain I feel as a dull/itchy/numb sensation on the back of my head most of the time. These are not as debilitating, but very distracting, and they escalate to flares if I don't rest up. Flare ups I'd describe as throbbing headaches where I can't do anything but take medication and rest/lie down.

So, good news! Things improved again a lot since my last update on 2022.
What has changed from the last update wrt medication/pain?

• I can do most of my leasure activities again! Got back to drumming :) , learning piano, playing games while on the PC (and not having to lie down after 30min!) and actually work without experiencing constant pain!
• What I can't do that for any amount of time? I can't run. Like a 5min run and it is heavy flare up and rescue medication time.
• This does not mean I don't get flare ups ever, or the numb sensation is not there. Now it is mostly related to bad posture and stress: turning myself over during sleep, cleaning the house while bending over too much, excessive PC time without breaks etc, hiking downhill. Excessive physical exertion, emotional stress, and not taking daily medication (including not doing PT diligently), these are all triggers for my pain.
• The numb/itchy sensation has been more of an alarm system: if I feel it, it is full stop on what I am doing and resting/relaxing, and most of the time it goes away on its own. Previously, it woudn't go away while resting, and only with medication.
• Some days are still hard. I still get the numb/burning sensation sometimes, and flares up (maybe a heavy episode once every month/two months?). It is a weird feeling, as while the flare up pain is milder now, when they hit, it triggers a full on emotional roller coaster reminding me of my limitations.

Medication
- Full switch to CBD Oil on nov/2022.
- Stopped with pregabalin (was taking 150mg+75mg) + tizanidine (2mg every night). Pregabalin+daily muscle relaxers had been the first big step into getting my life back together, but CBD oil has been a whole different game. Stopping the pregabalin had an amazing effect on my weight, as I lost the 10kg that I had gained since I started taking it (year 2 to year 3 +-)
- CBD Oil Effects: my thresholds for flare ups increased significantly. I could "resist" up to a few hours of using PC while doing breaks, now I can basically do a full day of work with 10min breaks every hour, and still drum or play games some at home and not flare up (and not even getting the numb sensation most of the time).
Current Treatment:

1. Full Spectrum Oil (3000mg). 4 drops after breakfast, 1 after lunch, 4 after dinner. This amounts to +- 45mg daily (I think? using a 0.05ml to drop conversion rate).
2. OBS: CBD oil manufacturer has a huge effect on treatment effects. I've taken CBD from 4 different labs in the past 1.2 years. Two of them had basically zero-effect and I had to switch up quickly;
3. Rescue medication: etodolac 500mg + muscle relaxer for flare ups, tizanidine 2mg + OTC headache medication for mild pain.
4. Physical Therapy / Daily Stretches and Exercises;

Previous posts:
Year 1: https://www.reddit.com/migraine/comments/lrifc3/chronic_headaches_back_and_side_of_the_head_and/
Year 2: https://www.reddit.com/Occipitalneuralgia/comments/ova6x0/progressupdates_on_my_occipital_pain_vent_and/
Year 3: https://www.reddit.com/migraine/comments/w5pye2/progressupdate_on_occipital_pain_year_three/
Year 4: current post
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Hello, Taking Prep for 2 years daily and last week had to take Etodolac 500mg for a few days due to muscles pain. I read that this combination is not recommended. The question is why and if it reduces Prep efficiency? (I did had unprotected sex in those days).

Hello, Taking Prep for 2 years daily and last week had to take Etodolac 500mg for a few days due to muscles pain. I read that this combination is not recommended. The question is why and if it reduces Prep efficiency? (I did had unprotected sex in those days).

Hey everyone, I’m at the end of my rope mentally and a friend suggested posting here.. I’m having some issues, mostly ongoing but I have developed concerning new symptoms. I’ll try to be as thorough yet concise as I can but this is going to be long in order to fit everything I think may be relevant. Basically, I need to know where to go from here. What specialists to see, what tests to request, or if there’s something big and obvious I could be missing that I need to communicate with my doctors.
I am 36 years old, I weighed 226 at last appointment. I have maybe one or two drinks a month. When I was 21 I smoked 3 cigarettes, and none since then. I have occasionally smoked marijuana through my life but never regularly. My mother has a history of heart problems, cancer, and she had rheumatoid arthritis (in her hands.)
I’m taking:
Wellbutrin XL 300 mg
Cymbalta 60mg
Lipitor 20mg (genetic issue with my cholesterol)
Etedolac 500mg/2x day (this recently changed from Voltaren 75mg/2x day)
Chromium 1000mcg (recommended to me by old doc for blood sugar because mine would regularly drop and I’d feel awful)
Magnesium 50mg
And CoQ-10 50mg
And Flexeril 10mg a night (I usually skip this one or cut it in half because it just makes me sleepy and very groggy the next day as far as I can tell)
I see:
A brand new PCP (my original just retired suddenly but had been my doc my whole life)
A psychiatrist, who sent me to a psychologist and had me officially diagnosed with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and PTSD. I was taking Strattera for my ADHD but it made me unable to easily urinate so I stopped it.
A rheumatologist, we just had our third visit together.
I’ve been having pain in my sacroiliac joint since I was at least 13. Pain and stiffness would come in “flares” that would last a few months, go away, and then come back. It’s always been that I wake up stiff and in a lot of pain, I go about my day and it loosens up and fades, but as I slow down, sit down, the stiffness and pain would come back. It’d be difficult to sleep so I’ve slept on a heating pad during these whenever I can. Nothing ever showed on xrays when I was young. I worked as a waitress from 19-23 or so, and by the end of my shift (especially doubles) when I’d slow down and start to close I’d be in excruciating pain. At this point in my life, I was very healthy and in-shape. I weighed around 130 lbs and I am 5’3”. I had to quit working to stay with my father (dementia) when my sister went away. I stayed with him for 8 or 9 years, during which I got married and was able to stay home with my children as well. This worked well for me because all during this time I was still experiencing these flare ups, as well as the occasional eye issue that made it impossible to move or open my eye without incredible pain. Doctor said this was uveitis. During this time I was mostly without health insurance. My husband got a promotion and in 2020 I finally had health insurance and started trying to see doctors and get my health on track. We tried mobic but I had a bad reaction to it. My doctor put me on Voltaren and it gave me back the ability to function normally. For atleast a year I felt normal.
In 2021 however I developed serious shoulder pain and put it off as just sleeping on it wrong for a long time, until I had an MRI and my ortho told me I’d need surgery now or later, due to bone spurs in acromioclavicular and glenohumeral joints. I was developing a tear in my rotator cuff, and had all of this corrected as well as 3mm of my clavicle removed due to damage.
After recovering from this, I had about a solid year that was okay. Mostly pain free, I could tell when I was having flares because I would have “breakthrough pain” that was more of a dull ache because of the Voltaren. During this time I started getting clicking sounds in my spine while walking. After a few months of clicking, the clicking stopped and now I have had a mild pain in that area since then. This pain is close to the bottom of my ribcage, I believe. A few months later, I developed a tremor. It started in my left thumb while I was texting, and quickly developed into my left hand, and then suddenly it was my entire body. This happens when I use any part of my body. Driving is the worst, I experience it in my legs, my back, my arms, and it sometimes even happens in my chin/head. Whenever I strain my muscles it is the worst; I helped my husband carry a cooler into our daughters birthday party and I was having tremors so badly that my husband had to serve cake and I couldn’t even hold my plate or feed myself because I was shaking so badly. It was so embarrassing. I also tremor all over while very tired, and sometimes while falling asleep. I can no longer engage in my hobbies or drive my children around safely. I also developed a new pain, a burning in the middle of my lower back. Looking at a chart, it looks like L5-S1. I only have this pain when I change my posture when I am standing or bending. (The first time I noticed it, I was roller skating.I notice it while doing dishes, bending a lot to pick things up, etc. I walk with a friend regularly and we can walk normally for miles and I’m fine.) At a regular checkup, I told my psychiatrist about all of this and she put me on the Cymbalta. It has done wonders for my anxiety, and finally, months later, has seemingly started dulling the pain in my lower back. What did feel like a burning, unbearable sensation now feels like severe cramping after a few minutes.
I went to see my original doctor, and he sent me for a lumbar MRI and referred me to a rheumatologist (finally.) He did blood tests for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and I was negative for both. My doctor's office called me back to tell me that my MRI was “Just arthritis. Just normal wear and tear arthritis.” He told me to take some vitamin D and that my C-reactive protein was high. My rheumatologist took x-rays of my spine and pelvis and also did bloodwork at our first visit and didn’t receive the MRI until our second visit. At the second visit, he said my spine showed degeneration and many bone spurs. I asked if the bone spurs in my spine could cause the tremors and my occasional muscle weakness. He said tremors could possibly, but only if the bone spurs were in my neck. My c-reactive protein was still high, as well as my ESR. He said “I’m sending you for a pelvic MRI to diagnose you with ankylosing spondylitis.” He told me I am hla-b27 negative but he still thinks I have it. He did not order an MRI of my neck, but I left feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time. I looked back at my old labs from my doctors office, they only go back online to 2017, but I saw that my C-reactive protein and Alkaline phosphatase have never been in normal range. I’ve had labs done at least once a year every year. My c-reactive protein has varied from 19-26. My ESR at my rheumatologist was in the 30s and when my new PCP did labs a few weeks ago it was 55. I went back for my last visit to my rheumatologist about a week ago, and I was thinking I’d finally have a diagnosis and a treatment plan so I could stop getting worse, if nothing else. He tells me my pelvic MRI didn’t show any inflammation in my SI joint so it isn’t AS and so I must just be having muscle spasms and that aside from changing my voltaren to try etodolac, there’s nothing else he can really do for me right now. I burst into tears. I have gained a lot of weight from going from active to not leaving the house and am around 220 lbs now. He asked me if I had considered losing weight, but I know that my symptoms were at my worst before voltaren while I was young and thin and in-shape. I know losing weight will help keep me from progressing as quickly, but… I feel like there’s something missing.
I am, at this point, in so much pain all the time when I do anything that I can’t sweep more than half of my living room floor without having to sit down. It takes me hours to wash dishes because I need so many breaks. I started magnesium on my own for restless legs and it has dulled the tremors but they’re still here. Aside from my tremors and new lower back pain, when I looked into Ankylosing Spondylitis EVERY SYMPTOM FIT. Literally down to the eye problems I have! Something felt off about my MRI not showing inflammation and I looked into it and learned that I was supposed to stop taking my anti-inflammatory medication 3 days before my MRI. No one told me this, not my doctor or the people who scheduled my MRI. Could this be AS and I had a false reading on my MRI? Would that MRI on my pelvis have shown any issues with my L5-S1 area? If so, should I assume that this really is just a muscle spasm because my MRI was clean? If so, what do I need to ask my doctors, to address WHY this is happening and fix it? Which doctor do I ask? My PC did refer me to a neurologist but I can’t get in there until December. I follow up with my rheumatologist in November, but I can go see my PCP at any time. I have a really high deductible and my max out of pocket is almost 7k. I am not able to work right now so we’re on one income and I feel so defeated that I feel like I’ve wasted almost 2k on this rheumatologist and the tests he ordered for us to get nowhere with no answers. The new medication doesn’t even work as well as my old one. I just want to get it right. I want to see the right doctors, ask the right questions, ask for the right tests, and communicate the right things. I want to be able to work and go back to school and finish my education. I want to be able to show up for my kids like I used to. I’m a crappy mom and wife right now, I can barely do basic housekeeping tasks and I’m miserable. The toll this has taken on my mental health, even on two antidepressants, is enormous. It feels like something is missing. I’ve been a stay at home mom for over a decade now. It doesn’t feel like this is all explained by “wear and tear arthritis” and this feels like more than muscle spasms. Rheumatologist told me that between my NSAID and Cymbalta I shouldn't be feeling much pain and that's not my experience.
Some other things of note, I have had chest pain that my doctor explained as costochondritis and during my labor with my first child at 22 years old, my doctor told me that I had bone growth in my epidural space. When I was in labor with my second child, the anesthesiologist attempted 3 epidurals. The first never fully kicked in (I could feel things and still move everything easily, pain was only slightly numbed) and failed entirely after 15 minutes. The second one went “up” and I could barely breathe and I couldn’t speak to tell anyone what was wrong. I thought I was going to die if I went to sleep, but I felt like I couldn't fight it. And then it failed entirely a couple of minutes later which is great because I really thought I was dying.. My anesthesiologist told me this was impossible, for it to go “up." My third epidural worked perfectly… for a few minutes. It again failed and I told them to stop trying and I gave birth naturally. I don’t know if this contributes any necessary or important knowledge about my spinal situation, but just incase. My PCP put me on flexeril to help me sleep because I told him about the continued pain and stiffness. I have also been running a temperature of 99.2-99.8 every time I've been to the doctor in the past several years, I've not been sick when I go. My white blood cell counts are always slightly higher than normal. I have had COVID twice, and I'm fully vaccinated and even get my flu shot regularly. If there's anything you need to know, just let me know.
Thank you for reading my novel, and for any advice you can give me.

So I’ve been on a TON of NSAID’s and pain relievers in my time, and I wanted to start a thread to share what I’ve learned, as well as give other people a chance to chime in.
ANALGESICS
Don’t waste your time with acetaminophen. Research has shown it’s just not effective on arthritis pain. And my personal experience has confirmed that. Actually, I have yet to figure out what kind of pain it does work on. Certainly not migraine pain either. Do NOT exceed the recommended dosage, even temporarily. Unless you want to die horribly.
OTC NSAID’s
Aspirin - may be good in a pinch but only in much higher doses than recommended. At standard doses, not much of an effect and higher doses may be dangerous, especially long term, because aspirin builds up in your system and can ultimately lead to toxicity. So the long and the short of it is that if you don’t have anything else and need some instant pain relief, aspirin can work, and you can exceed the recommended dose temporarily. But don’t make it your long term solution. I didn’t know this at first and I started using aspirin as my pain reliever of choice because it was cheap and pretty darn effective. But then my rheumatologist told me the scoop on aspirin and I wisely eschewed it from that point on (except for occasional use because it is one of the main ingredients in the best formulation of Alka Seltzer cold and flu medicine). My experience with aspirin is that it used to be really common in people’s houses. My grandma always had a bottle. But it’s kind of fell out of favor and so a lot of younger folks may have never even tried it alone as a stand-alone treatment. Know that it’s pretty effective if you get the dosage right but it is insanely hard on your stomach. Take it with bread or else get those enteric coated versions that dissolve in your intestines instead of your stomach or else you will likely get a pretty bad tummy ache for your trouble.
Ibuprofen - I typically don’t use Ibuprofen as my first choice for arthritis pain. I like ibuprofen. I think it’s underrated for pain relief. I use it on migraines all the time, which I really like it because it seems like it kicks in faster than the other pain relievers. But it just doesn’t last long, and for joint pain it doesn’t seem to work as well as it does for head pain. If you do use it, short term I’ve had doctors prescribe as much as 1000mg at a time. Just know that you will likely need a higher dose than the OTC recommendations, so consult your doctor to find the right dosage for you. If you have tried it and hate it, you may have been using too low a dose.
Naproxen - Prescription dose is 500mg every 12 hours. I don’t know why but the OTC dosage is 220mg which makes it hard to get the exact prescription dose using the OTC formulation. I have found that Naproxen is really great for arthritis pain - but only at first. It takes a long time to take effect, so if you need immediate relief it’s not so good. I still cycle in Naproxen, but I cycle it with other pain relievers because I find that taking a break from Naproxen, it will start working well again. My body seems to get used to it though and so it needs frequent breaks to maintain efficacy. Don’t use for migraine pain. It doesn’t seem to work at all on head pain.
PRESCRIPTION NSAID’s
Etodolac - Possibly the most worthless prescription drug I’ve ever tried.
Diclofenac - I’m kind of in love with this drug but no one wants to prescribe it for long term use. I wish it was OTC.
Indocin - Also very effective but probably not safe for long term use. I cycle it with Naproxen and a little bit of Ibuprofen. Dosing with Indocin also seems really critical, as with ibuprofen. My doctor first prescribed 25mg and I hated it. But when she moved me to 50mg it worked like a charm.
COX-2 INHIBITORS
The only cox-2 I ever tried was taken off the market. It’s just as well because it wasn’t very good. I’m interested in knowing how your experience has been with the one still on the market.
OPIOIDS
I’ve never been impressed with opioids. They don’t seem to work well for me on arthritis pain and they screw with my sleep.
CBD/THC
I’ve never got these to work well for me but it’s possible I was using them wrong. Awesome for sleep though.
NATURAL HEALTH FOOD SUPPLEMENTS
We are getting into “don’t waste your money” territory here. I will say that I have had some success with curcumin but you really have to be careful to get a formulation that makes it bioavailable. Other than that I’ve wasted thousands of dollars on snake oil, and that’s probably what the highly touted natural remedy you are looking at is. (Glucosamine and chondroiten? Give me a fucking break!)
OTHERS?
???

As appreciation of being here and learning with you guys I wanted to share with you some of my experiences working with different kinds of medicines for healing purposes.
After being interested in this field seeing how many people got very little help from our government, I decided to start a non-profit 3 years ago, making custom blends of herbal extracts, as well as advice people with all kinds of issues and diseases what to take and where to go buy it if I didn't have it on the shelves.
Yogis and Taoists would be required during their training to make elixirs and Ayurvedic potions so they would become more stable and energized for their often hardcore training regiments. They needed to stay grounded yet agile enough for the qi and kundalini raising techniques not to make them manic or psychotic and thus learning medicines were a must for going into these fields.
This will teach you how to make your own blend to suit the specific needs you might encounter in your daily quest for enlightenment and peace.
Like most fields that will help liberate you, bring you balance/clarity or give you siddhis or mystic powers, medicines are too shrowded in smokescreens and covered benieth hyped up nonsense and trendy sales-people trying to get you to buy their healing water, or some sort of CBD product from a multi-level marketing setup leaving you, with way to overpriced and dieluted products often.
There are though, hidden gems to be found that can be of immense importance to your practice especially in these days, allow me to explain.
Way back in the old days monks would spike the beer, wine or mead with healing herbs, mushrooms and roots seeking to heal the grumpy townsmen. They needed this due to living in cities became stressful after going from living life in tribes and also due to a lot of unbalanced foods compared to before.
They have actually found wine with more than 50 herbs and roots in them in the Mediteranian area as well as a lot of other finds with everything from liberty caps and amanita to nightshades. (they didn't shy away from partying either)
Actually in the 1500 there was a stir in Germany and they made a reinhardt-geboten "purity - law", making it illegal to add other stuff than hops and barley and especially not anymore of those devilish deliriants as well as trippy little fuckers from the dung-fields.
Today we're moving from country constellations to a more globalized system of sharing knowledge as well as bringing each of our own cultures mindfucks to the table. This puts an enormous stress on the individual and we're not only being bombarded through social media also our foods and social and familyconstellations (Radiation, pesticides, lightpollution, microplasts, monocultures, etc) All of these are throwing our systems out of homeostasis meant as the balance our body and systems have where in it can heal, and our brains remain placid to adapt to the new circumstances.
Each culture around the world kept certain plants and remedies in the highest regard due to their effect of either being a psychedelic or acting as an adaptogen and bringing them back into balance after stress. i.e.
This kind of medicine I will dive into will focus mostly on these adaptogens as the psychedelics have already gotten plenty of fame and glory but not enough know the potential of adaptogens quite yet.
This benieth here is a gross simplification of the medicines but can be used to get an understanding of how and why these practices are used.

• Psychedelics are chaos inducing for the mind which can be great if you have a rigid mindset, but can be detrimental if you're already suffer from chaotic mindset shifts or carry certain kinds of trauma. It can also open you up to spiritrealms and other dimensions but this is another discussion.
• Adaptogens are mainly order-inducing and can be great if you have a too placid mindset carrying or being vulnerable to others trauma and have been neglected or have neglected your health too. Too much of these are also harmful for if one doesn't clean up ones energy at the same time and use with moderation.
• Practicing healthy habits is balance-inducing but this is kind of already what most here are discussing in depth with exercises and meditations. It is thus the most important of the three as balance is to be sought after but some can be in need of getting to the point where this practice is doable (order) or can be thought of as crucial (chaos) to ones wellbeing.

Medicine as a field in the West have unfortunately been colonized by shady industrial interest making a lot of harmful medicines to treat issues that could easily be helped with adaptogens as well a few exercises and diet recommendations. Medicine in the East too suffer, but here mostly from magical thinking that using certain rare animal parts will cure or effect their health in certain ways. Each they are delusions that harm the planet and the beings that call it home.
It is though said that the Wests' medicine is best for the accute issues like surgery etc. where as the Easts' approach is best for the chronic issues like lifestyle diseases and mental illnesses.
Of course, who would like to have a witchdoctor operate on you, inside of his dirty hut, but then again, who would actually prefer a crusty old doctor with speciality in feets and ligaments to diagnose and medicate you, for your depression?..
So enough of the parabels, let's get to the the actual advice.
Here is short list of some of the most potent herbal allies I've found through out my practice. Used for healing people severely depleted through everything from anxiety and depression to jing depletion as well as hardcore addiction to drugs and alcohol and an array of diseases.
There's a lot more herbs and remedies than these, that we use, but these are meant as inspiration of something that will guide you to use these for the betterment of yourself as well as the people you're working on healing.
All of these dosage recommendations are meant as extracts not raw powdered material.*
Standardized extracts are usually in the same range but be aware that some might be weaker or more potent still.
!!(IMPORTANT)!!
Look up interactions before taking any of these especially if you're also using other medications or doing recreational substances.
Google substance-x + substance-y + interactions and do a bit of reading.
Or ask in this thread I will keep my eye on any questions and try to answer dilligently.
Rhodiola or rosenrod. Used by everything from the Vikings to Chinese dynasties to fight off fatigue, wearyness, and boost mood and moral in the harsh winters. It was said to be it's weight worth in gold in China during one of the reigns. Rhodiola works on many parameters but increases serotonine as well as norprenephrine and has been proven to pull people out of severe work-related burn-outs within a few Weeks. Don't use it too late during the day as it will hinder onset of sleep. Dosages is reccommeded at around 400mg for 80kg's person. One or twice as 2x200mg morning and lunch.
Bacopa or brahmi. Used around South East Asia and India to heal the brain, foster cogniton and boost memory. Again being an adaptogen it works on many areas and neurotransmittors but the exiciting part is that it increases synaptogenesis (formation of new synapses) after a Month of daily dosing. The yogis of India used to fast on nothing but the fresh juice of bacopa stalks as well as milk for Months at a time. It can be used to stop progressing Alzheimers in high doses even and have been studied for ADHD with great results. It will quell psychotic and manic outbreaks with consistent dosing too and grounds the person doing intense energywork also. Bacopa potentiates opiates which is why it is very powerful to use in an opiod taper and it also reduces cravings for opiates heavily after seizing using. You can dose high with bacopa without issues from 300mg to 4000mg extract each day depending on your needs here. But it will bring a slight fatigue so pair it with stuff like rhodiola r tongkat ali to balance it out.
Tongkat Ali or pasak bumi. Used in Indonesia as a tonic for elderly men or people with fatigue and hormonal deficiencies. Through studies TA has shown to increase testosterone especially if your system has had damage from stressors and toxins. It increases spermatogenesis (formation of new spermcells) and have shown cases where fertility clinics couldn't help a couple but TA could help them consieve. TA also increases virility and sex-drive for men so use only if you can control your urges. It will help you cultivate more jing and will intensify the energy created from testiclebreathing greatly as well. Dosages can be around 300mg-1500mg extract pr. day. depending on weight and goals. Remember to cycle it 5 days on 2 days off and use only for 3 Month at a time and take a Month off to let them testies breath.
Polygala or yuan zhi. Used especially in China to combat fatigue, mental brainfog as well as bring calmness and replenish heart and kidney qi. Polygala increases both synaptogenesis, neurogenesis as well as raises BDNF which is not seen in many extracts I've come accross. It also has a moodlifting quality already after first dose and works great as a natural antidepressant too. It will also increase memory and cognitive ability gradually and works especially great if coupled with meditation and exercise. Dosages can be around 100mg-1000mg a few times each day.
Ashwagandha or Indian ginseng. Used in India especially against fatigue, sleeplessness mental instability and anxiety. It works on many parameters also but interstingly it lower cortisol by upto 30% which can help break a nasty circle of anxiety due to exposure and low restitution. I also modulates GABA to er certain degree which can have anxiolytic effects. Some respond bad to ashwagandha though and experience too much anxiolytic effects making them care little about social interactions as well. Others respond very good and can manage social interactions much better though. Dosages can be in the range of 200mg-600mg each day.
Mucuna or velvetbean. Used around Southeast Asia and Africa to boost energy and focus as well as treat sexual dysfunction. It contains L-dopa which readily converts to dopamine which is also why it has been made into Parkinson's medicine even which is modelled by L-dopa discovered in this bean. It can be great for treating addiction to stimulants or to substitude ADHD medication as well. Dosages range from 50mg-400mg one or twice pr. day.
Maca or Peruvian ginseng. Used in Southamerica as a foodsource and as a treatment for altitudesickness. Contain an array of vitamins, minerals and aminoacids as well as different alkaloids. There's varieties ranging from yellow, red and black. It can help treat sexual dysfunction and hormonal imbalances in men and women and also has some antidepressing proporties. Dosages is ranging from 400mg-2000mg one or twice each day.
Saffron or kumkum. Used in Iran and India to alleviate depression, boost mood, and as an afrodiciac. Contains a lot of chemical compunds that aids in supressing apetite and boosting mood and energy levels as well as protect the brain against damage and inflammation. Is also shown in studies to help with symptoms of PMS. Dosages range from. 3mg-100mg and are active even in the lower dosages while more stimulating at the higher dosages.
Sabroxy or sona pata. Is extract made from the bark of a tree native to India used in Ayurveda also. Sabroxy increases neurogenesis, synaptogenesis and boost energy, drive and focus as well as memory and is a promising treatment for Alzheimers through increased levels of BDNF too. Dosages range from 50mg to 500mg
Shilajit or mumijo. A resinous substance used across Southwest Asia and Russia as a multivitamin back in the days, as it contains a lot of trace elements, healthy acids like humic and fulvic and a lot of aminoacids and vitamins too. Has been used for more than 4000 Years and is mentioned by Aritotle, Ibn Sina and Razi and more as this was sort of the multivitamin back then to treat all sorts of ailments. Dosages range from 50mg to 1000mg
Lemon Balm or Melissa. Used in Europe, Iran and Central Asia to induce calmness and quite the mind, treat menstrual cramps, headaches and ease digestion. The monks used it for their longer intense sessions of prayer it is said. Today people use it to combat sleeplessness as well as anxiety and restlessness. Dosages from 100mg-1000mg depending on if it's used for sleep or anxiety i.e.
Passionflower or passiflora. Used in Southamerica in concoctions to treat insomnia and restlessness as well as against anxiety. It works by modulating GABA and will be a beneficial sleepaid as well as part of an anxiety stack. If you suffer from nighttime restlessness a mix og this and lemon balm will greatly reduce your cravings for sugar or indulgences in other harmful activities brought forth by the evening restlessness. Will also benefit sleep greatly. Dosages range from 200mg-1500mg depending on your needs as higher doses will be more sedating.
Magnolia bark or hou po. Used in China and East-Asia to combat asthma, anxiety, depression and stomach-issues. Contains powerful anti-oxidants and more than 200 chemical constituents. Can be powerful to use for anxiety and also be a great sleep-aid and also works against epilepsy. It also boosts the GABA-receptors making it great for tapering from anxiety-meds like benzodiazepines as well as gabapentenoids. Doages range from 100mg-1000mg while larger doses can be a bit sedating.
Helpful aminoacids for anxiety, depression or accute psychosis.
L-theanine. An aminoacid found in green tea and some mushrooms also that works on an array of neurotransmittors and have accute effects already after the first dose. Can also be used as a powerful sleeping aid. Some report increased visual dreams but also nightmares so if you're prone to these have this in mind. Dosages range from 100mg-1000mg
L-tyrosine or n-acetyl tyrosine. An aminoacid naturally found in the body and in certain meats and cheeses. Used in many preworkout formulas to help increase dopamin, norprenephrin and adrenaline. Boosts mood, focus and energy and drive and can be very useful if suffering from fatigue, depression and brainfog. Dosages range from. 100mg to 5000mg depending on weight
Agmatine. An aminoacid that is naturally found in the body as well as in some fermented foods. It acts as a neuromodulater and have powerful anti anxiety and antidepressant effects. People tapering opiates, benzodiazepines, gabapentenoids and other pharmaceuticals can greatly benefit from agmatine as it potentiates the drugs and makes it more easy to taper aggressively and without discomfort. Dosages range from 400mg-2000mg and can be taken multiple times each day with little to no sideeffects.
Beneficial oils with medicinal properties.
Black seed oil or nigella oil. Used in the ancient Egypt and highly revered for internal as well as external use. Used around the Middleeastern countries for everything ranging from diabetes to acne to anxiety. These claims has been proven too from studies. Contains a bunch of exciting chemicals and oils with medicinal qualities. It also potentiates opiates and reduces withdrawal symptoms from these as well as benzo's and gabapentenoids. Dosages ranging from 500mg-5000mg
Celastrus oil or malkangni oil. Used and highly revered in India, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, and is also known as intellect tree or elixir of life in Ayurveda. Used for everything from brainfog, to gout and asthma. Contains a ton of different actives but is said to increase acetylcholine in the brain very rapidly leading to increased mental agility and flexibility. Some reports being able to carry with them a half visible dreamstate while being awake after a while of daily dosing. Is suggested to aid with OBE's and astral projection as well. But be careful as it can have a nasty comedown if you have been dosing high and suddenly stop and it can feel like severe depression if you don't taper out carefully. Dosages ranges from a half teaspoon to 3 teaspoons pr. day.
Oregano-oil. Used in the Mediteranian countries and many places in central Europa to combat bacterial and viral infections as well as pain and inflammation. Many products contain merian and thyme and not proper oregano with carvacrol in it so it's best to search out a good supplier of proper oil. It can also be used topically on the skin but is just as well used in capsules and as drops. Dosages range from a few drops to 50 drops pr. day. If you have existing liverissues don't use more than 35 drops each day.
Getting a good multivitamin as well as an omega 3 supplement (algae also works) can be helpful as most are deficient in these actually.
If you're getting a balanced diet and not lacking any vitamins or omega 3's which is widespread imbalance found in most western nations especially, and you're not having issues with fatigue or lack of focus and drive in your practice this is perhaps not for you. This is meant for a quick dive into some medicines that can help people who's system are already out of balance due to everything from stress to outside stressors.
Benefitial smartdrugs.
Emoxypine or Mexidol. A Russian invention structurally related to vitamin b6. Acts as a neuro-and cardioprotective drug including heavy antiinflammatory effects. Works on GABA'ergic and glutamate systems and do this with a allosteric mechanism which makes it non-addictive yet very calming and relaxing stressreducing effects. Is one of the best supplements to taper from benzos and gabapentenoids but also works well in the later stages of opiod dependance. Can be used to treat anxiety, depression, stress and even be useful for psychosis symptoms with great results also with accute effects. Dosages range from 50mg to 350 mg
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide or NMN. Is a version of vitamin b3 or niacin with added molecular structure making in a rapidly absorbed pre-cursor to NAD in the cells of the body. Increases mitochondrial function and slows down aging and has a long range of benefitial effects for optimizing brainhealth to repairing DNA faster. Dosages range from 150mg-1000mg
Bromantane or Ladesten. A Russian developed medicine that instigates dopaminergic, serotonergic and anxiolytic effects, while still increasing energy and focus. Is somewhat of a chemical adaptogen with effects that builds up over time from neurogenesis and antidepressive effects and more. Dosages range from 30mg-300mg
Medicines with recreational potential. (Empathogens)
Now to some of the recreational herbs, and I include this as many suffers from the downsides of drinking alcohol as well as using harmful drugs and most today can benefit either from switching, or from knowing these, as to help out others, who're still suffering from addiction.
Kava or piper methysticum. Originated in the islands of Vanuatu where it was found by the Polynesian seafarers and soon became a very important crop for most lapita-originating cultures around the Pacific. When the sailors fist sat foot on these islands they found the islanders using kava as they would use alcohol, although it was also part of their ceremonial protocols. The strains of kava varies in effects too from heavy and sedating to heady and uplifting. Kava works mainly on GABA-a receptors but doesn't create tolerance or withdrawals after seizing using, even after intense use. It is especially touted as an alcohol-substitute and used as social lubricant gaining popularity in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well. Independant studies have all confirmed kava to be the least harmful substance known at the moment. Kava has a sort of reverse tolerance meaning the more often you drink it the more sensitive you become to the effects and can do by with less. It has anticravings properties for most addictions besides only for alcohol shows recent studies.
Dosages: Buy good quality medium grind or instant and follow the directions and use on an empty stomach. (typically 30g to a liter of water and 5g pr dose of instant kava)
Kanna or sceletium tortuosum. Kanna is a succulant shrub found in South Africa as well as Namibia and was used by the Khoisan, San or the Bushmen who used this as their primary recreational substance as well as tonic for long hikes and dances. Old sailors called it South African ginseng and sent multiple ships out to get some more but they returned emptyhanded as the native population had already used up that years harvest and didn't wan't to sell the rest they had. Kanna has an array of interesting properties besides being a potent serotonergic compound that has been given the name "natural MDMA" in it's extractform due to the very similar effects to MDMA. There are variying potencies of kannaplants and some are potent enough for just a little raw dried herb to be chewed to produce intense moodboosting and empathogenic effects. Smartshops now sell the extracts for young people seeking a natural substitute to drugs, and they then snort 10-50mg of the extracts instead of using drugs and suffer very little to no sideeffects the days after. For serious daily use one can experience some slight increase in anxiety when stopping but it is not that much. Kanna also works to combat withdrawals from opiates, benzodiazepines, gabapentenoids as well as cannabis and alcohol. Dosages range from extract. 10mg-100mg or raw kanna 50mg-2000mg
Medicines with potential of increasing ones dreams intensity, clarity, recall as well as help with lucidity and OBE's these substances are called (Oneirogens)
Mugwort or artemisia vulgaris. European mugwort was a mainingredient in beer before hops was introduced and used as incense as well as a kind of tobacco. Contains a lot of different chemicals but the oneirogen effect is said to stem from thujone which is said to increase lucidity in dreams among other things. Dosages of raw herb ranges from 1000mg-10.000mg and extract from 50mg-1000mg
Wormwood or artemisia annua. Used in China to reduce fever and has recently been shown to contain artemisinin which now is a reccommended medicine for uncomplicated malaria as a documented treatment. Also contains thujone and can be used as incense or to smoke in herbal tobacco. Dosages of raw herb ranges from 1000mg-10.000mg and extract from 50mg-1000mg
Calea Ternufolia or Calea Zacatechichi. Used in Mexico and Central America as a remedy for gastro internal issues and to enhance lucidity and dream coherence. User report clearer dreams and more vivid dreams too and some also reports minor hallucinations when awake. It also lowers your breathing rate and bloodpreassure so it is often said to calm you down. Dosages range from: 5g-25g raw herb (not extract)
Buying extracts or capsules or powdered herbs. A recent study found 80% of supplements in the US storebrands such as Walmart and the likes, didn't even contain any of the original plants or supplement listed. They instead contained soy, rice, or palmflower so be aware not to buy from places like these.
A good source is Indian wholesellers like Herbadiet.in or Maple Life Sciences from eBay (also India) Nootropicsdepot.com is also very trustable although also with a cost pr. gram that reflects this. In general look for reviews most of the time.
I've learned to muster getting down the mix of extracts with water but some of my clients prefer if I mix in some cocoa-powder as it does mask most of the taste.
You can also buy a capsule-filler and some empty capsules and make yourself or some aqquiantances a customized gift of easy to use capsules and you'll save a lot by doing this. It's also quite a meditative practice to setup and fill the capsules I've found.
Good places to ask/look for guidance on this subject. Reddit subs such as stackadvice, supplements, nootropics also the forum longecity.org has some serious experts on the panels in there discussing neurology and supplements on a high level.
For further reading on some of these and more check out: https://nootropicsexpert.com/nootropics-list/

In the past few days, I have been studying and sitting all day long, and I will continue to study in the next few days as well. I feel like I cannot sit anymore because my buttocks hurt, and I am also experiencing pain in my thighs and frequent stabbing sensations in my toes. Yesterday, I took 500mg of Etodolac, which I believe helped a little, but I cannot say for sure. However, I did experience heartburn all day after taking it (I took it after lunch).
Will sitting in the coming weeks worsen my discomfort? Should I continue to take Etodolac or another medication during this time? Could this harm my health in the long term?
Thank you.

As appreciation of being here and learning with you guys I wanted to share with you some of my experiences working with different kinds of medicines for healing purposes.
After being interested in this field seeing how many people got very little help from our government, I decided to start a non-profit 3 years ago, making custom blends of herbal extracts, as well as advice people with all kinds of issues and diseases what to take and where to go buy it if I didn't have it on the shelves.
Like most fields that will help liberate you, bring you balance/clarity or give you siddhis or mystic powers, medicines are too shrowded in smokescreens and covered benieth hyped up nonsense and trendy sales-people trying to get you to buy their healing water, or some sort of CBD product from a multi-level marketing setup leaving you, with way to overpriced and dieluted products often.
There are though, hidden gems to be found that can be of immense importance to your practice especially in these days, allow me to explain.
Way back in the old days monks would spike the beer, wine or mead with healing herbs, mushrooms and roots seeking to heal the grumpy townsmen. They needed this due to living in cities became stressful after going from living life in tribes and also due to a lot of unbalanced foods compared to before.
They have actually found wine with more than 50 herbs and roots in them in the Mediteranian area as well as a lot of other finds with everything from liberty caps and amanita to nightshades. (they didn't shy away from partying either)
Actually in the 1500 there was a stir in Germany and they made a reinhardt-geboten "purity - law", making it illegal to add other stuff than hops and barley and especially not anymore of those devilish deliriants as well as trippy little fuckers from the dung-fields.
Today we're moving from country constellations to a more globalized system of sharing knowledge as well as bringing each of our own cultures mindfucks to the table. This puts an enormous stress on the individual and we're not only being bombarded through social media also our foods and social and familyconstellations (Radiation, pesticides, lightpollution, microplasts, monocultures, etc) All of these are throwing our systems out of homeostasis meant as the balance our body and systems have where in it can heal, and our brains remain placid to adapt to the new circumstances.
Each culture around the world kept certain plants and remedies in the highest regard due to their effect of either being a psychedelic or acting as an adaptogen and bringing them back into balance after stress. i.e.
This kind of medicine I will dive into will focus mostly on these adaptogens as the psychedelics have already gotten plenty of fame and glory but not enough know the potential of adaptogens quite yet.
This benieth here is a gross simplification of the medicines but can be used to get an understanding of how and why these practices are used.

• Psychedelics are chaos inducing for the mind which can be great if you have a rigid mindset, but can be detrimental if you're already suffer from chaotic mindset shifts or carry certain kinds of trauma. It can also open you up to spiritrealms and other dimensions but this is another discussion.
• Adaptogens are mainly order-inducing and can be great if you have a too placid mindset carrying trauma and have been neglected or have neglected your health too. Too much of these are also harmful for if one doesn't clean up ones energy at the same time and use with moderation.
• Practicing healthy habits is balance-inducing but this is kind of already what most here are discussing in depth with exercises and meditations. It is thus the most important of the three as balance is to be sought after but some can be in need of getting to the point where this practice is doable (order) or can be thought of as crucial (chaos) to ones wellbeing.

Medicine as a field in the West have unfortunately been colonized by shady industrial interest making a lot of harmful medicines to treat issues that could easily be helped with adaptogens as well a few exercises and diet recommendations. Medicine in the East too suffer, but here mostly from magical thinking that using certain rare animal parts will cure or effect their health in certain ways. Each they are delusions that harm the planet and the beings that call it home.
It is though said that the Wests' medicine is best for the accute issues like surgery etc. where as the Easts' approach is best for the chronic issues like lifestyle diseases and mental illnesses.
Of course, who would like to have a witchdoctor operate on you, inside of his dirty hut, but then again, who would actually prefer a crusty old doctor with speciality in feets and ligaments to diagnose and medicate you, for your depression?..
So enough of the parabels, let's get to the the actual advice.
Here is short list of some of the most potent herbal allies I've found through out my practice. Used for healing people severely depleted through everything from anxiety and depression to jing depletion as well as hardcore addiction to drugs and alcohol and an array of diseases.
There's a lot more herbs and remedies than these, that we use, but these are meant as inspiration of something that will guide you to use these for the betterment of yourself as well as the people you're working on healing.
All of these dosage recommendations are meant as extracts not raw powdered material.*
Standardized extracts are usually in the same range but be aware that some might be weaker or more potent still.
!!(IMPORTANT)!!
Look up interactions before taking any of these especially if you're also using other medications or doing recreational substances.
Google substance-x + substance-y + interactions and do a bit of reading.
Or ask in this thread I will keep my eye on any questions and try to answer dilligently.
Rhodiola or rosenrod. Used by everything from the Vikings to Chinese dynasties to fight off fatigue, wearyness, and boost mood and moral in the harsh winters. It was said to be it's weight worth in gold in China during one of the reigns. Rhodiola works on many parameters but increases serotonine as well as norprenephrine and has been proven to pull people out of severe work-related burn-outs within a few Weeks. Don't use it too late during the day as it will hinder onset of sleep. Dosages is reccommeded at around 400mg for 80kg's person. One or twice as 2x200mg morning and lunch.
Bacopa or brahmi. Used around South East Asia and India to heal the brain, foster cogniton and boost memory. Again being an adaptogen it works on many areas and neurotransmittors but the exiciting part is that it increases synaptogenesis (formation of new synapses) after a Month of daily dosing. The yogis of India used to fast on nothing but the fresh juice of bacopa stalks as well as milk for Months at a time. It can be used to stop progressing Alzheimers in high doses even and have been studied for ADHD with great results. It will quell psychotic and manic outbreaks with consistent dosing too and grounds the person doing intense energywork also. Bacopa potentiates opiates which is why it is very powerful to use in an opiod taper and it also reduces cravings for opiates heavily after seizing using. You can dose high with bacopa without issues from 300mg to 4000mg extract each day depending on your needs here. But it will bring a slight fatigue so pair it with stuff like rhodiola r tongkat ali to balance it out.
Tongkat Ali or pasak bumi. Used in Indonesia as a tonic for elderly men or people with fatigue and hormonal deficiencies. Through studies TA has shown to increase testosterone especially if your system has had damage from stressors and toxins. It increases spermatogenesis (formation of new spermcells) and have shown cases where fertility clinics couldn't help a couple but TA could help them consieve. TA also increases virility and sex-drive for men so use only if you can control your urges. It will help you cultivate more jing and will intensify the energy created from testiclebreathing greatly as well. Dosages can be around 300mg-1500mg extract pr. day. depending on weight and goals. Remember to cycle it 5 days on 2 days off and use only for 3 Month at a time and take a Month off to let them testies breath.
Polygala or yuan zhi. Used especially in China to combat fatigue, mental brainfog as well as bring calmness and replenish heart and kidney qi. Polygala increases both synaptogenesis, neurogenesis as well as raises BDNF which is not seen in many extracts I've come accross. It also has a moodlifting quality already after first dose and works great as a natural antidepressant too. It will also increase memory and cognitive ability gradually and works especially great if coupled with meditation and exercise. Dosages can be around 100mg-1000mg a few times each day.
Ashwagandha or Indian ginseng. Used in India especially against fatigue, sleeplessness mental instability and anxiety. It works on many parameters also but interstingly it lower cortisol by upto 30% which can help break a nasty circle of anxiety due to exposure and low restitution. I also modulates GABA to er certain degree which can have anxiolytic effects. Some respond bad to ashwagandha though and experience too much anxiolytic effects making them care little about social interactions as well. Others respond very good and can manage social interactions much better though. Dosages can be in the range of 200mg-600mg each day.
Mucuna or velvetbean. Used around Southeast Asia and Africa to boost energy and focus as well as treat sexual dysfunction. It contains L-dopa which readily converts to dopamine which is also why it has been made into Parkinson's medicine even which is modelled by L-dopa discovered in this bean. It can be great for treating addiction to stimulants or to substitude ADHD medication as well. Dosages range from 50mg-400mg one or twice pr. day.
Maca or Peruvian ginseng. Used in Southamerica as a foodsource and as a treatment for altitudesickness. Contain an array of vitamins, minerals and aminoacids as well as different alkaloids. There's varieties ranging from yellow, red and black. It can help treat sexual dysfunction and hormonal imbalances in men and women and also has some antidepressing proporties. Dosages is ranging from 400mg-2000mg one or twice each day.
Saffron or kumkum. Used in Iran and India to alleviate depression, boost mood, and as an afrodiciac. Contains a lot of chemical compunds that aids in supressing apetite and boosting mood and energy levels as well as protect the brain against damage and inflammation. Is also shown in studies to help with symptoms of PMS. Dosages range from. 3mg-100mg and are active even in the lower dosages while more stimulating at the higher dosages.
Lemon Balm or Melissa. Used in Europe, Iran and Central Asia to induce calmness and quite the mind, treat menstrual cramps, headaches and ease digestion. The monks used it for their longer intense sessions of prayer it is said. Today people use it to combat sleeplessness as well as anxiety and restlessness. Dosages from 100mg-1000mg depending on if it's used for sleep or anxiety i.e.
Passionflower or passiflora. Used in Southamerica in concoctions to treat insomnia and restlessness as well as against anxiety. It works by modulating GABA and will be a beneficial sleepaid as well as part of an anxiety stack. If you suffer from nighttime restlessness a mix og this and lemon balm will greatly reduce your cravings for sugar or indulgences in other harmful activities brought forth by the evening restlessness. Will also benefit sleep greatly. Dosages range from 200mg-1500mg depending on your needs as higher doses will be more sedating.
Magnolia bark or hou po. Used in China and East-Asia to combat asthma, anxiety, depression and stomach-issues. Contains powerful anti-oxidants and more than 200 chemical constituents. Can be powerful to use for anxiety and also be a great sleep-aid and also works against epilepsy. It also boosts the GABA-receptors making it great for tapering from anxiety-meds like benzodiazepines as well as gabapentenoids. Doages range from 100mg-1000mg while larger doses can be a bit sedating.
Helpful aminoacids for anxiety, depression or accute psychosis.
L-theanine. An aminoacid found in green tea and some mushrooms also that works on an array of neurotransmittors and have accute effects already after the first dose. Can also be used as a powerful sleeping aid. Some report increased visual dreams but also nightmares so if you're prone to these have this in mind. Dosages range from 100mg-1000mg
L-tyrosine or n-acetyl tyrosine. An aminoacid naturally found in the body and in certain meats and cheeses. Used in many preworkout formulas to help increase dopamin, norprenephrin and adrenaline. Boosts mood, focus and energy and drive and can be very useful if suffering from fatigue, depression and brainfog. Dosages range from. 100mg to 5000mg depending on weight
Agmatine. An aminoacid that is naturally found in the body as well as in some fermented foods. It acts as a neuromodulater and have powerful anti anxiety and antidepressant effects. People tapering opiates, benzodiazepines, gabapentenoids and other pharmaceuticals can greatly benefit from agmatine as it potentiates the drugs and makes it more easy to taper aggressively and without discomfort. Dosages range from 400mg-2000mg and can be taken multiple times each day with little to no sideeffects.
Beneficial oils with medicinal properties.
Black seed oil or nigella oil. Used in the ancient Egypt and highly revered for internal as well as external use. Used around the Middleeastern countries for everything ranging from diabetes to acne to anxiety. These claims has been proven too from studies. Contains a bunch of exciting chemicals and oils with medicinal qualities. It also potentiates opiates and reduces withdrawal symptoms from these as well as benzo's and gabapentenoids. Dosages ranging from 500mg-5000mg
Celastrus oil or malkangni oil. Used and highly revered in India, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, and is also known as intellect tree or elixir of life in Ayurveda. Used for everything from brainfog, to gout and asthma. Contains a ton of different actives but is said to increase acetylcholine in the brain very rapidly leading to increased mental agility and flexibility. Some reports being able to carry with them a half visible dreamstate while being awake after a while of daily dosing. Is suggested to aid with OBE's and astral projection as well. But be careful as it can have a nasty comedown if you have been dosing high and suddenly stop and it can feel like severe depression if you don't taper out carefully. Dosages ranges from a half teaspoon to 3 teaspoons pr. day.
Oregano-oil. Used in the Mediteranian countries and many places in central Europa to combat bacterial and viral infections as well as pain and inflammation. Many products contain merian and thyme and not proper oregano with carvacrol in it so it's best to search out a good supplier of proper oil. It can also be used topically on the skin but is just as well used in capsules and as drops. Dosages range from a few drops to 50 drops pr. day. If you have existing liverissues don't use more than 35 drops each day.
Getting a good multivitamin as well as an omega 3 supplement (algae also works) can be helpful as most are deficient in these actually.
If you're getting a balanced diet and not lacking any vitamins or omega 3's which is widespread imbalance found in most western nations especially, and you're not having issues with fatigue or lack of focus and drive in your practice this is perhaps not for you. This is meant for a quick dive into some medicines that can help people who's system are already out of balance due to everything from stress to outside stressors.
Medicines with recreational potential. (Empathogens)
Now to some of the recreational herbs, and I include this as many suffers from the downsides of drinking alcohol as well as using harmful drugs and most today can benefit either from switching, or from knowing these, as to help out others, who're still suffering from addiction.
Kava or piper methysticum. Originated in the islands of Vanuatu where it was found by the Polynesian seafarers and soon became a very important crop for most lapita-originating cultures around the Pacific. When the sailors fist sat foot on these islands they found the islanders using kava as they would use alcohol, although it was also part of their ceremonial protocols. The strains of kava varies in effects too from heavy and sedating to heady and uplifting. Kava works mainly on GABA-a receptors but doesn't create tolerance or withdrawals after seizing using, even after intense use. It is especially touted as an alcohol-substitute and used as social lubricant gaining popularity in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well. Independant studies have all confirmed kava to be the least harmful substance known at the moment. Kava has a sort of reverse tolerance meaning the more often you drink it the more sensitive you become to the effects and can do by with less. It has anticravings properties for most addictions besides only for alcohol shows recent studies.
Dosages: Buy good quality medium grind or instant and follow the directions and use on an empty stomach. (typically 30g to a liter of water and 5g pr dose of instant kava)
Kanna or sceletium tortuosum. Kanna is a succulant shrub found in South Africa as well as Namibia and was used by the Khoisan, San or the Bushmen who used this as their primary recreational substance as well as tonic for long hikes and dances. Old sailors called in South African ginseng and sent multiple ships out to get some more but they returned emptyhanded as the native population had already used up that years harvest and didn't wan't to sell the rest they had. Kanna has an array of interesting properties besides being a potent serotonergic compound that has been given the name "natural MDMA" in it's extractform due to the very similar effects to MDMA. There are variying potencies of kannaplants and some are potent enough for just a little raw dried herb to be chewed to produce intense moodboosting and empathogenic effects. Smartshops now sell the extracts for young people seeking a natural substitute to drugs, and they then snort 10-50mg of the extracts instead of using drugs and suffer very little to no sideeffects the days after. For serious daily use one can experience some slight increase in anxiety when stopping but it is not that much. Kanna also works to combat withdrawals from opiates, benzodiazepines, gabapentenoids as well as cannabis and alcohol. Dosages range from extract. 10mg-100mg or raw kanna 50mg-2000mg
Medicines with potential of increasing ones dreams intensity, clarity, recall as well as help with lucidity and OBE's these substances are called (Oneirogens)
Mugwort or artemisia vulgaris. European mugwort was a mainingredient in beer before hops was introduced and used as incense as well as a kind of tobacco. Contains a lot of different chemicals but the oneirogen effect is said to stem from thujone which is said to increase lucidity in dreams among other things. Dosages of raw herb ranges from 1000mg-10.000mg and extract from 50mg-1000mg
Wormwood or artemisia annua. Used in China to reduce fever and has recently been shown to contain artemisinin which now is a reccommended medicine for uncomplicated malaria as a documented treatment. Also contains thujone and can be used as incense or to smoke in herbal tobacco. Dosages of raw herb ranges from 1000mg-10.000mg and extract from 50mg-1000mg
Buying extracts or capsules or powdered herbs. A recent study found 80% of supplements in the US storebrands such as Walmart and the likes, didn't even contain any of the original plants or supplement listed. They instead contained soy, rice, or palmflower so be aware not to buy from places like these.
A good source is Indian wholesellers like Herbadiet.in or Maple Life Sciences from eBay (also India) Nootropicsdepot.com is also very trustable although also very expensive. In general look for reviews most of the time.
I've learned to muster getting down the mix of extracts with water but some of my clients prefer if I mix in some cocoa-powder as it does mask most of the taste.
You can also buy a capsule-filler and some empty capsules and make yourself or some aqquiantances a customized gift of easy to use capsules and you'll save a lot by doing this. It's also quite a meditative practice to setup and fill the capsules I've found.
Good places to ask/look for guidance on this subject. Reddit subs such as stackadvice, supplements, nootropics also the forum longecity.org has some serious experts on the panels in there discussing neurology and supplements on a high level.
For further reading on some of these and more check out: https://nootropicsexpert.com/nootropics-list/
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All the best

I went to an orthopedic interventional doctor and I'm happy with him I'm getting off Suboxone with sublocade 100mg plus I'm getting Soma I'm done. With addictive meds he gave 500mg of Etodolac I don't know to take he never told me.

Hi gang, this subreddit has been a life saver as I'm seeking a diagnosis for AS. Thanks to the community for all of the incredible info and support! I have a great rheumatologist and am going through the proper diagnostic testing for the disease, but he's convinced it's not AS because my spine is so flexible. I have a good range of motion and am able to comfortable touch my toes, rotate the spine and move my neck, side bend, etc.
I am 47f and had SI pain and some serious flares in my 20's that sent me a few times to the ER. MRI's showed degenerative disk disease (DDD) and was told it was sciatica and went off to PT. I suffered from low back and SI pain for 2 more decades and always assumed it was "sciatica" until I met with a neurologist who didn't think it was nerve related. With a slightly elevated rheumatoid factor, I was sent to the rheumatologist. My dad had AS and I am HBA-B27 positive. I had tons of x-rays which show progressing of DDD at L4-L5, L-5 S-1 and now they found cervical DDD at C-7, but no sacroiliitis. I have had problems with chronic tendonitis in both shoulders and elbows, plus sore and tight ankles. I am scheduled for a lumbar MRI this weekend, then a pelvic MRI if that one is inconclusive. I am taking NSAIDS (Etodolac 500mg 2x per day) and muscle relaxers at night (Tiznidine 4mg).
I am really active and work out 4-5 days per week. I run (when my hips aren't hurting me), do yoga and Pilates weekly, serious weightlifting, strength training and mobility work. I also see a massage therapist/trainer weekly to help with muscle tension (primarily hips, lower, thoracic and cervical spine) and assisted stretching. I work out at 6am because I wake up stiff and sore and feel awesome after an hour workout, which keeps me on the low pain threshold throughout the day (unless I sit too long).
Is it reasonable to assume that because I am flexible, this couldn't possibly be AS? I assume that my flares are kept in check because of my high level of activity. I know that symptoms are so different in so many patients, so just curious if this is something others have experience with?
Thanks so much for reading my saga!!!

Male 46 Years Old 6'2 300 pounds East Coast USA
I was prescribed Etodolac SA 500mg for joint pain I was having. I was taking with food like told by my doctor and after about 3 days was feeling bloated all the time. Nothing big, just felt really full whenever I ate anything. It was slowly getting worse and by day 15, they weren't helping my joint pain and the bloating was getting pretty uncomfortable so I stopped taking them. It's been a week since I have taken them, but anytime I eat or drink anything, it feels like I've been at the all you can eat buffet.
I'm not constipated, and my stool has been mostly normal, def no black in it or red. I did have a little bit of green yesterday, but it's normal color today.
It's the lower right part of my stomach. I've pushed around down there to make sure I don't have any sharp pains, and I don't. It just makes the bloating feel more pronounced.
My doctor is a come in for everything doctor, so not sure if this warrants taking half a day off work and the copay.
I do take BP meds and smoke, which my doc is aware of both, so hopefully no drug interactions. He is a GP, but his specialty is internal medicine.

TL;DR: Addicted to inhaling codeine tablets to help me sleep/ease anxiety. Family and friends are beginning to catch on, but I really don’t see the benefits of coming off it, as I’m likely dying of cancer anyway. And I don’t feel like I need the help when there are people with worse off problems than me.
My dad jokingly called me a junkie the other day when I asked him if he had any spare for me (I can only renew my prescription every 14 days, and I’ve usually gone through a pack of 100 pills within a week). But then they began to lecture me about taking too many.
I did the math, and on average I’m consuming around 3000mg of codeine a week, 300-500mg a day sometimes. I love how it makes me feel; it takes away my fear of dying and helps me fall asleep. I have no side effects, and it relieves the pain I’m in.
But my partner and some friends have noticed I’m always taking them, despite me having zero side effects besides being chilled out. And I deserve to be chilled out. I’m facing death from Medullary Thyroid cancer, which has metastasised to my liver. I have to take immunotherapy drugs daily that make me tired and achy, depressed, my gums sore, my hands and feet sore, my hair white, and I’m losing roughly 1lb a week (which is a good thing because I was overweight to begin with). I’ve lost two stone since I started on my immunotherapy in October 2021, and I haven’t even had to exercise.
I don’t get why they are worried, as it’s done nothing but good for me. My only issue is I’m clearly dependant and taking more and more all the time. Started on the maximum 8 a day, and now I’m taking anything from 10-20 per day.
My anxiety is almost nonexistent, and that’s how I want to live the remainder of my life. It allows me to spend time with my daughter because I’m not crying in pain and grief.
I think I would only try to quit if it affected my relationship with her, or my job, or my relationship with my partner, but it isn’t doing any of those things 🤷🏻‍♀️
I just hate that I can’t just get it over-the-counter. The only thing that used to help me relax and sleep as well as this was when I used to smoke weed, but I’ve stopped that since it’s illegal where I live, and people seemed to frown upon that more than me taking prescription drugs.
But I really don’t get the issue. I’m not snorting coke or injecting heroin, and I can function like a human being on the daily.
For context: I’m a 33yo mum to a 4yo, happy long-term relationship with her dad, full-time job, own a house, pay bills, no debts, my own car, no criminal record… not exactly the “junkie” stereotype.

Hi everyone, I've tried Kanna 3x now, and it's just not doing anything for me. I'm using a 1 gram 20x extract I got from magic mind, a dutch smart shop. I've used LSA seeds, Magic Truffles and Salvia from there, all really good but maybe this is just not any good I don't know.. Anyways, the first time (Yesterday) I took 100mg of the powder and put it in some gum and then chewed on it for about 20 minutes. Didn't feel anything so decided to snort about 100mg after 30 minutes. Felt basically nothing the entire evening. Today (about 11am) I made myself some tea and put about 150mg of the powder in it. Felt nothing. I made myself another tea this evening, didn't let it boil and added 500mg of the powder. 1.5 hours later and still absolutely nothing.. I don't know if it's just me using it 3x in such a long time period or something else but I'm really confused. Anyone have an idea what the reason might be? High tollerance? Wrong intake? Would love to know. (Side note: Tea was used 2.5 hours after last meal)
EDIT: I got another extract from the same company, this time it worked real good. Got the 40x extract, put like 150 mg under my toungh and it's really strong.

27M (NB- they/them). 5'5", 207lb, a mix of white and Indian descent.
I am having muscle and joint pain, mostly in my left leg. I have a lot of soreness around the knee, but I feel intense pain in the joint when I move it, and it even hurts if I keep it still during breaks or after work. There have been three (3) instances where I experienced excruciating, stabbing pain that lasted around 30 seconds; I believe they all happened just after waking up. My PCP gave me non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, which seemed to help for about 6 hours.
This has been an issue for a few months now, and it started a couple of months after I started my current job (in December of 2021) that requires standing and walking on concrete. I've had general leg, foot, and hand pain problems in the past, and I sometimes feel pain in my right hip when walking a lot, but x-rays didn't show anything at the time. I feel like it's different than what I feel right now, but I'm sure it's related. At the time, I had two sets of insoles in my shoes. In 2015, I was squatting and my knees suddenly started hurting, and I haven't been able to squat without pain since.
My current medication is as follows: Venlafaxine HCl Ex 225mg, Lithium Carbonate Er 300mg, Lamotrigine 200mg, Spironolactone 50mg, Estradiol 4mg, Trazodone HCl 100mg for sleep, Etodolac Er 24hr 500mg before work (4 times a week)
I drink somewhat heavily, though I've been sober for about a week —I've developed alcoholism symptoms, so I wanted to take a break for a while— and I vape nicotine (6mg) regularly. No recreational drugs except the Devil's Lettuce on extremely rare occasions.
I hope I've been detailed enough. As I've said, the standard tests came back negative in the past, so I'm kinda hoping someone has a wrinkle-brain, House MD style diagnosis of something really uncommon but curable.