Ynt: Re: Seriphos (very long) Message: 13 Sat, 31 Aug 2002

[Guest guest]

Message: 13

Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2002 20:57:10 +0300

From: " Yildiz " <ng2113@...>

Subject: Ynt: Re: Seriphos (very long)

>,

>I am not familiar with medical terminology so I must say that I

>could not clearly understand at what point of HPAA Seriphos

>comes into action. Hypothalamus or Pituitary? Have you

>understood it?

Some progress in " pinpointing, " but not as much in understanding.

This is the most credible localization to me, almost solely

because it is the most specific [using ALL-CAPS for italics]:

http://mbg.drkalish.com/template/store/productlist.asp?department=10

" SERIPHOS INCREASES SENSITIVITY OF THE CORTISOL RECEPTORS IN THE

ANTERIOR PITUITARY. This stimulated the negative feedback loop

controlling the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

The anterior pituitary then reduces ACTH output, resulting in

lower cortisol production.

" Seriphos crosses the blood-brain barrier; it may help to

optimize brain neurotransmissions, specifically in the

hypothalamic-pituitary area. In clinical trials, Seriphos was

shown to promote memory retention and recall by stimulating

neuronal plasticity, which can slow age-dependent

neurotransmitter deterioration. "

The suggestion, I think, is that

1. Seriphos helps these receptors, increases their sensitivity,

in much the same ways it generally benefits other neurons in the

neighborhood.

2. The receptors needed help, their sensitivity had been

compromised.

Other sources (i.e., Web-search sites) speak, less-specifically,

along the same lines

http://www.providentmedical.com/medfacts/19ChronicFatigueSyndrome.pdf

Adrenal-Pituitary Disorder: Similar to hypoglycemia, the adrenals

pump out cortisol and adrenalin during the night, when they are

supposed to be " resting. " But in this case, THERE IS A LOSS OF

FEEDBACK SENSITIVITY AT THE PITUITARY LEVEL, resulting in a

disruption of restful sleep.

http://srd./goo/seriphos+%2b+cortisol/11/T=1031018671/F=c7199d77f6e4078\

505c01442ef5f9788/*http://www.pacifichealthcenter.com/updates/32.asp

" In cases of hyper functioning adrenals, a specific supplement

called phosphoralated serine (brand name " Seriphos " ) may be

helpful. This helps the hypothalamus and pituitary glands to

reduce their ACTH hormone output, which is the cause of the

adrenals pumping out excessive cortisol.

So there we have points 1 and 2, from above. But, I start to get

boggled at these points:

3. Why do the receptors need help? What happened to them?

4. What about the all-important rhythms of the day?

Re: 3. Why the receptors need help. Is it because so much

cortisol was being thrown at them that it blew out their capacity

for negative feedback, their ability to respond by turning down

the secretion of ACTH? If so, we may have found out the point at

which Seriphos intervenes, but not yet the " root of the problem. "

On the other hand, if the original cause is for any reason no

longer operative, there is encouragement that " a nutritional

supplement called Seriphos....has been shown in one study to

" RESET " THE PITUITARY so that the problem is corrected. Treatment

is probably necessary for several months. "

Re: 4. Time of day. Rich and Mark have worked the time angle

recently, and it is clearly central to all this. From the Web:

http://srd./goo/seriphos+%2b+cortisol/11/T=1031018671/F=c7199d77f6e4078\

505c01442ef5f9788/*http://www.pacifichealthcenter.com/updates/32.asp

" In the normal cycle the cortisol output is greatest first thing

in the morning, and then heads down from there, being the lowest

at midnight. Some people with stressed out adrenals get this

cycle out of balance, resulting in high cortisol levels at

bedtime. This interferes with sleep, as well as producing " hyper "

physical and mental symptoms. "

The postings on the list about circadian inversion certainly held

true for me. And the report of waking up OK, but being hit with

fatigue a little later in the morning also rang true, though from

my state a few years back.

The advice from lifeextensions is:

" Seriphos works with the pineal gland. Take two in the morning

and two at lunch time before meals for better sleep at nighttime.

This mimics the cortisol " curve " . " This confuses me, and I don't

think it has worked.

Also, if your circadian cycle is inverted, should you normalize

cortisol to the way your rhythm should be or to the way it

actually is?

The Adrenal Stress Index (ASI) test seems to me reasonably

proposed to begin to get a handle on yhe time factor. I'll insert

this passage from Immune Support at length, because it goes

through a number a different permutations that are possible for

individuals, also stages one might go through:

http://www.immunesupport.com/articles/imm28.cfm

" The new Adrenal Stress Index (ASI) test, which has only been

available in [britain] for the last [four] years, may be of great

importance for people with ME/CFS....Previously, adrenal hormones

such as cortisol and DHEA had always been measured by a blood

test taken once and once only at a random time of day, despite

the fact that the level of cortisol varies throughout the day.

" This new test involves taking saliva samples four times a day

-before breakfast, at noon, at tea time and just before bedtime.

The early morning cortisol level should be the highest of the

day, giving you a strong start to the day. A healthy person's

output of cortisol always follows the same curve. It drops

throughout the day until it falls to its lowest level by 11pm or

midnight, enabling a restful night's sleep.

" Whenever the patient's curve departs from the normal there is a

problem.

" 1. High nighttime cortisol means that the patient is finding it

difficult to relax from the stress of the day and will have

trouble going to sleep. This results in sleep neither restful nor

restorative, and this can lead to depression and reduced energy

levels the following day.

" 2. Another kind of patient will have normal cortisol output in

the afternoon and evening, but will have too high and too sudden

a release of cortisol in the early morning. This will result in

waking in the early morning, at 5am or 6am or even 4am, and an

inability to go back to sleep. This, in my experience, is a major

cause of insomnia in patients with ME.

" 3. A third kind of patient will have high cortisol throughout

the day. Initially, DHEA levels may also be high in order to

provide some compensation for this, but if stress becomes chronic

the adrenals can no longer maintain the production of extra DHEA.

This results in an elevated cortisol-to-DHEA ratio. This

divergence, as it is called, has been shown up in the results of

many patients since the ASI test was first introduced, and it

identifies the first stage of adrenal exhaustion. This can have

potentially serious effects, including diminished immune

function, reduced REM sleep, diminished skin regeneration and a

catabolic state where tissue break-down exceeds tissue repair and

building, leading to muscle wasting, weight loss and bone loss

(osteoporosis).

" If their adrenal exhaustion is left unchecked, patients may end

up with both a low DHEA and low cortisol output throughout the

day. If they still have a job they will be hanging on by their

fingernails, needing to push themselves all day long and having

no energy whatever left for looking after children, cooking meals

or enjoying themselves socially. Many, like those with ME, will

have had to stop working and will be in a state of severe chronic

fatigue.

" The remedies Liquorice has been touted as a remedy for low

cortisol (InterAction 23). It is helpful for some people who have

low cortisol throughout the day, so before you start taking

liquorice or any other adrenal stimulants it is very important to

have the ASI test.

" Low DHEA, high cortisol and various other results identified by

the test can all be helped by reducing stress and by following

nutritional advice (the content and timing of meals can be

crucial - see interview with Dr Briffa in InterAction 24).

" AfME medical advisor Dr Andy adds: 'Sometimes it's worth

giving someone DHEA to take if the test shows them to be

deficient [...] It is also important to realize that certain ASI

test results tend to suggest other medical problems, such as

silent cortisol elevators, including parasites, and bacteria such

as Helicobacter Pylori.'

" Dr Gale adds: 'Some of my patients have had this test

done, but it is difficult to know what to do about it. I have not

found liquorice to be very helpful and not many of my patients

can afford DHEA.'

" Source: Reprinted with the permission of InterAction (Vol. 27, p

10). "

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

,

So,we understood how it works,thanks..

|

| 3. Why do the receptors need help? What happened to them?

|

| 4. What about the all-important rhythms of the day?

|

| Re: 3. Why the receptors need help. Is it because so much

| cortisol was being thrown at them that it blew out their capacity

| for negative feedback, their ability to respond by turning down

| the secretion of ACTH? If so, we may have found out the point at

| which Seriphos intervenes, but not yet the " root of the problem. "

|

Probably we need to go further to find the root cause.Hypothalamus?Amygdala?

| On the other hand, if the original cause is for any reason no

| longer operative, there is encouragement that " a nutritional

| supplement called Seriphos....has been shown in one study to

| " RESET " THE PITUITARY so that the problem is corrected. Treatment

| is probably necessary for several months. "

" if the original cause is for any reason no

longer operative, "

What if it still is. Should Seriphos help than? Not sure,it probably will be

a temporary solution.

| Re: 4. Time of day. Rich and Mark have worked the time angle

| recently, and it is clearly central to all this. From the Web:

|

|

| The advice from lifeextensions is:

| " Seriphos works with the pineal gland. Take two in the morning

| and two at lunch time before meals for better sleep at nighttime.

| This mimics the cortisol " curve " . " This confuses me, and I don't

| think it has worked.

I know that starting to take Seriphos in the morning helps with sleep much

better than starting it at noon.

Thanks.

Nil