Re: what does HC feel like?

[Guest guest]

>

> Can I hear from people about what HC feels like for them?

> I don't mean the long-term benefits, I mean how it feels

> when a dose starts taking effect.

>

> Did it feel strange when you first started taking it,

> and did that go away?

>

> --

>

======================

For me, it gave me a pretty immediate energy boost. It helped

slightly with muscle/joint pain. It also made me feel more in control.

Good stuff if you need it.

[Guest guest]

>

> Can I hear from people about what HC feels like for them?

> I don't mean the long-term benefits, I mean how it feels

> when a dose starts taking effect.

For me it feels like I wake up, and have energy actually to do

something. It's not speedy like caffeine, and I can think more clearly

and definitely feel happier, but not euphoric. It feels like I'm

myself again. It kicks in pretty quickly.

Until I got an alarm watch and set it to Cortef Time, I kept

forgetting doses. I'd realize I'd been sitting in one place zoning

out, or wanting to play Civilization, or feeling too tired to get up

from the chair -- and say OH! Forgot the Cortef! And within 15 minutes

or so I'd be mostly functional again. Although it works better if the

timing doesn't have lags in it like that.

Also hungrier, which is turning into a problem.

What's going on for you? Strange in what way?

Nell

[Guest guest]

For me, it doesn't " feel " like anything...I only don't feel as sick.

~Inga

>

> >

> > Can I hear from people about what HC feels like for them?

> > I don't mean the long-term benefits, I mean how it feels

> > when a dose starts taking effect.

>

>

> .

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

When I take h/c I do get very obvious benefits like feeling much

calmer and in control and just generally feel that I can cope with

things more. I have more physical stamina and it calms down the

inflammatory feelings I get in my head when my gut is playing up so I

can think a bit straighter and feel less irritable.

I did get some mild side effects initially that I attributed to

electrolyte disturbance and it triggered sweet cravings which might

have been related to candida. I think I do remember feeling slightly

strange as though I had taken a very mild drug and later on I

realised this was getting worse and affecting my personality more

which I think was due to my liver not handling it very well. This was

actually quite subtle and it was difficult to work out what the

problem was at the time. I weaned off it but I have since started

taking it again at a very low dose of 2.5mg. I am getting the same

benefits from it but none of the other side-effects yet but I think I

may just have to put up with them as long as I dont take too high a

dose as I really dont think I can get through chelation without it

now.

I hope that helps.

Anne

>

> Can I hear from people about what HC feels like for them?

> I don't mean the long-term benefits, I mean how it feels

> when a dose starts taking effect.

>

> Did it feel strange when you first started taking it,

> and did that go away?

>

> --

>

[Guest guest]

Can I turn that around? A few days ago I stupidly nearly run out of hc, so had

to reduce my morning dose from 10mg to 5mg (I then normally take isocort

lunchtime & either isocort early evening or another 5mg hc depending on

whichever I pick up or whether or not I am eating at the time as I cannot take

hc without food). Anyway I only had 3 x 5mg cortef left so could not do my

norm. The first evening I felt slightly shaky & had sort of nervous shivers

going through me. The 2nd day I felt anxious in the evening. The 3rd day

(yesterday) I was extremely knackered all day & felt unable to cope with

anything - I really just felt like going back to bed. Early evening I " found "

some old naturally compounded hc in my golf bag and even though I had taken my

normal maximum dose of equiv 20mg (15 of which were 6 isocort) I took 1 x 5mg

capsule of hc & within a short time felt back to normal. This morning I took

10mg of this compounded hc & feel good - I am just going to go out & cut down an

old conifer which I had been meaning to get around to doing for the last 6

months. Personally if I could afford it I would always use the naturally

compounded hc but I cannot afford it, and so use the normal cortef hc (not a

generic which I have not tried), and as a result my weight is probably about a

stone or so heavier (my thoughts - not fact). The last few days has proved to

me that isocort is nowhere near as good as cortef for me, and I am not well

enough yet to substitute it, although this remains my long-term aim.

Val

Can I hear from people about what HC feels like for them?

> I don't mean the long-term benefits, I mean how it feels

> when a dose starts taking effect.

[Guest guest]

Can I turn that around? A few days ago I stupidly nearly run out of hc, so had

to reduce my morning dose from 10mg to 5mg (I then normally take isocort

lunchtime & either isocort early evening or another 5mg hc depending on

whichever I pick up or whether or not I am eating at the time as I cannot take

hc without food). Anyway I only had 3 x 5mg cortef left so could not do my

norm. The first evening I felt slightly shaky & had sort of nervous shivers

going through me. The 2nd day I felt anxious in the evening. The 3rd day

(yesterday) I was extremely knackered all day & felt unable to cope with

anything - I really just felt like going back to bed. Early evening I " found "

some old naturally compounded hc in my golf bag and even though I had taken my

normal maximum dose of equiv 20mg (15 of which were 6 isocort) I took 1 x 5mg

capsule of hc & within a short time felt back to normal. This morning I took

10mg of this compounded hc & feel good - I am just going to go out & cut down an

old conifer which I had been meaning to get around to doing for the last 6

months. Personally if I could afford it I would always use the naturally

compounded hc but I cannot afford it, and so use the normal cortef hc (not a

generic which I have not tried), and as a result my weight is probably about a

stone or so heavier (my thoughts - not fact). The last few days has proved to

me that isocort is nowhere near as good as cortef for me, and I am not well

enough yet to substitute it, although this remains my long-term aim.

Val

Can I hear from people about what HC feels like for them?

> I don't mean the long-term benefits, I mean how it feels

> when a dose starts taking effect.

[Guest guest]

Can I turn that around? A few days ago I stupidly nearly run out of hc, so had

to reduce my morning dose from 10mg to 5mg (I then normally take isocort

lunchtime & either isocort early evening or another 5mg hc depending on

whichever I pick up or whether or not I am eating at the time as I cannot take

hc without food). Anyway I only had 3 x 5mg cortef left so could not do my

norm. The first evening I felt slightly shaky & had sort of nervous shivers

going through me. The 2nd day I felt anxious in the evening. The 3rd day

(yesterday) I was extremely knackered all day & felt unable to cope with

anything - I really just felt like going back to bed. Early evening I " found "

some old naturally compounded hc in my golf bag and even though I had taken my

normal maximum dose of equiv 20mg (15 of which were 6 isocort) I took 1 x 5mg

capsule of hc & within a short time felt back to normal. This morning I took

10mg of this compounded hc & feel good - I am just going to go out & cut down an

old conifer which I had been meaning to get around to doing for the last 6

months. Personally if I could afford it I would always use the naturally

compounded hc but I cannot afford it, and so use the normal cortef hc (not a

generic which I have not tried), and as a result my weight is probably about a

stone or so heavier (my thoughts - not fact). The last few days has proved to

me that isocort is nowhere near as good as cortef for me, and I am not well

enough yet to substitute it, although this remains my long-term aim.

Val

Can I hear from people about what HC feels like for them?

> I don't mean the long-term benefits, I mean how it feels

> when a dose starts taking effect.

[Guest guest]

>>I would always use the naturally compounded hc but I cannot afford it, and so

use the normal cortef hc

Hi Val,

What is the difference between your compounded HC and normal HC?

Thanks,

Dean

[Guest guest]

>

>Personally if I could afford it I would always use the naturally

compounded hc but I cannot afford it, and so use the normal cortef hc

(not a generic which I have not tried), and as a result my weight is

probably about a stone or so heavier (my thoughts - not fact).

I didn't realize there was a third option, after Cortef and Isocort.

And the naturally compounded stuff doesn't cause weight gain? What

good news! The only downside (beside dependency) to Cortef for me is

that I'm really gaining weight. I look like Tweedledum. It seems odd

since I'm able to be so much more active. Can you give more details

about it?

Nell

[Guest guest]

>

>Personally if I could afford it I would always use the naturally

compounded hc but I cannot afford it, and so use the normal cortef hc

(not a generic which I have not tried), and as a result my weight is

probably about a stone or so heavier (my thoughts - not fact).

I didn't realize there was a third option, after Cortef and Isocort.

And the naturally compounded stuff doesn't cause weight gain? What

good news! The only downside (beside dependency) to Cortef for me is

that I'm really gaining weight. I look like Tweedledum. It seems odd

since I'm able to be so much more active. Can you give more details

about it?

Nell

[Guest guest]

Thanks - Nell, Val, Inga, Anne - for sharing your experience.

It's not like that for me.

I won't even try to describe the first dose. I'm willing to

chalk that up partly to anxiety. But I have medicated for

anxiety prior to other doses and still had odd stuff happen:

chills, sneezing, itching, dizziness, coughing, skin sensations,

odd proprioception, headache, brain feelings, slight blurry vision...

Not necessarily all at once, some are continuous, some come and go.

Very strange.

There's some overlap between these symptoms and yeast die-off

symptoms.

I know I'm a big baby and I should just take the full dose,

but.....I think I'll take the gentle approach and work up slowly.

--

[Guest guest]

> I won't even try to describe the first dose. I'm willing to

> chalk that up partly to anxiety. But I have medicated for

> anxiety prior to other doses and still had odd stuff happen:

>

> chills, sneezing, itching, dizziness, coughing, skin sensations,

> odd proprioception, headache, brain feelings, slight blurry vision...

> Not necessarily all at once, some are continuous, some come and go.

> Very strange.

>

> There's some overlap between these symptoms and yeast die-off

> symptoms.

I can imagine some scenarios where HC could improve your immunity

either directly or by making you use thyroid hormones more

effectively, so that you truly could be seeing yeast die-off.

> I know I'm a big baby and I should just take the full dose,

> but.....I think I'll take the gentle approach and work up slowly.

That sounds like a good plan. Your reaction sounds horrible. Do you

think it could be the fillers and not the HC? Would it be worth

trying another brand?

W.

P.S. I did not describe my feelings right after taking HC as you asked

a couple of days ago because as others have said it is like taking it

makes you feel the way you SHOULD be and NOT taking it is what gives

symptoms.

[Guest guest]

> I won't even try to describe the first dose. I'm willing to

> chalk that up partly to anxiety. But I have medicated for

> anxiety prior to other doses and still had odd stuff happen:

>

> chills, sneezing, itching, dizziness, coughing, skin sensations,

> odd proprioception, headache, brain feelings, slight blurry vision...

> Not necessarily all at once, some are continuous, some come and go.

> Very strange.

>

> There's some overlap between these symptoms and yeast die-off

> symptoms.

I can imagine some scenarios where HC could improve your immunity

either directly or by making you use thyroid hormones more

effectively, so that you truly could be seeing yeast die-off.

> I know I'm a big baby and I should just take the full dose,

> but.....I think I'll take the gentle approach and work up slowly.

That sounds like a good plan. Your reaction sounds horrible. Do you

think it could be the fillers and not the HC? Would it be worth

trying another brand?

W.

P.S. I did not describe my feelings right after taking HC as you asked

a couple of days ago because as others have said it is like taking it

makes you feel the way you SHOULD be and NOT taking it is what gives

symptoms.

[Guest guest]

>

> > There's some overlap between these symptoms and yeast die-off

> > symptoms.

>

> I can imagine some scenarios where HC could improve your immunity

> either directly or by making you use thyroid hormones more

> effectively, so that you truly could be seeing yeast die-off.

Yep. Also, I have recently added other stuff for my gut that is

probably shifting things and weakening the bad guys so I can kill

them more easily (haven't started Epicor yet, but have added mastic

gum, new digestive enzyme, s. boulardii, biotin). None of that

seems to have effects by itself, but taking the HC seems to trigger

something.

> > I know I'm a big baby and I should just take the full dose,

> > but.....I think I'll take the gentle approach and work up slowly.

>

> That sounds like a good plan. Your reaction sounds horrible. Do you

> think it could be the fillers and not the HC? Would it be worth

> trying another brand?

>

> W.

When I get odd symptoms from a supplement or drug, it is usually

well explained by the active ingredients (even if it is an atypical

reaction). And said I might be sensitive to HC at first,

which seems believable based on everything I know. So for now, I

am willing to believe it is the HC itself.

> P.S. I did not describe my feelings right after taking HC as you asked

> a couple of days ago because as others have said it is like taking it

> makes you feel the way you SHOULD be and NOT taking it is what gives

> symptoms.

>

I actually feel a bit sleepy after taking it. And in fact, this

seems like the way I *should* be feeling. When I started ashwagandha

last spring I had a lot more sleepiness, too, and it seemed a more

appropriate feeling than my usual hyperness, given what is going on

inside my body. For years and years I have felt tired and needed

more sleep, but I have trouble calming down.

For me, there is no point being awake because I am constantly

spinning my wheels and never seem to accomplish anything.

I have lots of thoughts and ideas, but it is hard to *do* stuff.

Maybe HC will eventually help with that.

--

[Guest guest]

>

> > There's some overlap between these symptoms and yeast die-off

> > symptoms.

>

> I can imagine some scenarios where HC could improve your immunity

> either directly or by making you use thyroid hormones more

> effectively, so that you truly could be seeing yeast die-off.

Yep. Also, I have recently added other stuff for my gut that is

probably shifting things and weakening the bad guys so I can kill

them more easily (haven't started Epicor yet, but have added mastic

gum, new digestive enzyme, s. boulardii, biotin). None of that

seems to have effects by itself, but taking the HC seems to trigger

something.

> > I know I'm a big baby and I should just take the full dose,

> > but.....I think I'll take the gentle approach and work up slowly.

>

> That sounds like a good plan. Your reaction sounds horrible. Do you

> think it could be the fillers and not the HC? Would it be worth

> trying another brand?

>

> W.

When I get odd symptoms from a supplement or drug, it is usually

well explained by the active ingredients (even if it is an atypical

reaction). And said I might be sensitive to HC at first,

which seems believable based on everything I know. So for now, I

am willing to believe it is the HC itself.

> P.S. I did not describe my feelings right after taking HC as you asked

> a couple of days ago because as others have said it is like taking it

> makes you feel the way you SHOULD be and NOT taking it is what gives

> symptoms.

>

I actually feel a bit sleepy after taking it. And in fact, this

seems like the way I *should* be feeling. When I started ashwagandha

last spring I had a lot more sleepiness, too, and it seemed a more

appropriate feeling than my usual hyperness, given what is going on

inside my body. For years and years I have felt tired and needed

more sleep, but I have trouble calming down.

For me, there is no point being awake because I am constantly

spinning my wheels and never seem to accomplish anything.

I have lots of thoughts and ideas, but it is hard to *do* stuff.

Maybe HC will eventually help with that.

--

[Guest guest]

>

> > I can imagine some scenarios where HC could improve your immunity

> > either directly or by making you use thyroid hormones more

> > effectively, so that you truly could be seeing yeast die-off.

Really good thought. I had the flu last month, and did that Jeffries

thing of doubling my HC for a few days, and it whacked that flu away!

I had one day of feeling bad and really that was it.

>

> For me, there is no point being awake because I am constantly

> spinning my wheels and never seem to accomplish anything.

> I have lots of thoughts and ideas, but it is hard to *do* stuff.

Describes me perfectly. HC has helped quite a lot, as long as I don't

exercise much, which is hard to do.

Sorry you're having those uncomfortable side effects, . Hope

it resolves quickly.

Nell

[Guest guest]

- HC feels the same for me as it does for Nell.

If I am anxious about something - like I'm not sure that I can drive

at night through a blizzard on rural roads I'm not used to - I can

take extra HC and suddenly the anxiety is gone and I can think clearly

about what I need to do to accomplish whatever it is I am afraid of

(like maybe take a cell phone, a shovel, extra HC, and so on).

Nell - the weight gain probably indicates that the dose is too high.

For the first year I was on HC I had no weight gain. I increased the

maintenance dose and started gaining weight. Right now I'm trying to

get back to where I was during the first year.

J

> >

> > Can I hear from people about what HC feels like for them?

> > I don't mean the long-term benefits, I mean how it feels

> > when a dose starts taking effect.

>

> For me it feels like I wake up, and have energy actually to do

> something. It's not speedy like caffeine, and I can think more clearly

> and definitely feel happier, but not euphoric. It feels like I'm

> myself again. It kicks in pretty quickly.

>

> Until I got an alarm watch and set it to Cortef Time, I kept

> forgetting doses. I'd realize I'd been sitting in one place zoning

> out, or wanting to play Civilization, or feeling too tired to get up

> from the chair -- and say OH! Forgot the Cortef! And within 15 minutes

> or so I'd be mostly functional again. Although it works better if the

> timing doesn't have lags in it like that.

>

> Also hungrier, which is turning into a problem.

>

> What's going on for you? Strange in what way?

>

> Nell

>

[Guest guest]

Personally I do not know, but my altdoc said " a lot " . They are produced by

apothecure.com, and will not sell direct to patients. I did not put on weight

on the naturally compounded and I think I felt better on them - I think they

were more effective from a mood point of view in that I felt immediately up

after taking some a couple of days ago, and had plenty of energy & felt well the

following morning after taking 2 more, but they were expensive.

I used to pay £40 for 60 x 5MG capsules direct from my doctor in 2005.

Val

Hi Val,

What is the difference between your compounded HC and normal HC?

Thanks,

Dean

[Guest guest]

Personally I do not know, but my altdoc said " a lot " . They are produced by

apothecure.com, and will not sell direct to patients. I did not put on weight

on the naturally compounded and I think I felt better on them - I think they

were more effective from a mood point of view in that I felt immediately up

after taking some a couple of days ago, and had plenty of energy & felt well the

following morning after taking 2 more, but they were expensive.

I used to pay £40 for 60 x 5MG capsules direct from my doctor in 2005.

Val

Hi Val,

What is the difference between your compounded HC and normal HC?

Thanks,

Dean

[Guest guest]

It took me a couple of months at least to work up to the full dose. I felt

awful when first starting it, but I think this was due to becoming thyroid toxic

& old T4 suddenly converting to T3 - I took 5mg first thing for a while & adderd

in 5mg lunchtime, & then another 5mg first thing before finding out that

generally I need 5mg evenings to not feel edgy. Previously I had not been

converting properly & could not take enough armour to feel well. Also I then

needed to take 25mcg thyroxine as well as my armour (which I still take with

2.25 grains armour) to get things to work properly. My altdoc said that some

people need this to balance themselves.

Val

I know I'm a big baby and I should just take the full dose,

but.....I think I'll take the gentle approach and work up slowly.

--

[Guest guest]

> Thanks for replying. I'm not totally sure but I think that might well

> be the case with me too, I have responded quite quickly to all the

> hormones I've tried at lowish doses so what you say could explain

> it. I think this is being upregulated? I know Andy mentions this in

> AI as a result of mercury's effect on the dopamine receptor and the

> body's way of compensating and you can go either way, down or up but

> would make sense re long-standing deficiencies. I also dont seem to

> do well if I take large doses of supplements, it just always feels

> like too much, I d taking smaller doses frequently.

He says upregulated people need large amounts, but they have to

start low and go slow. They also tend to get allergic to everything.

This sounds like me. I have a " weak " allergic response, but it does

seem like I am sensitive to lots of stuff.

Downregulated people can take large quantities of supplements,

but have to taper off slowly.

> My main problem though was when I weaned off, I went through a really

> hard time, my adrenals just seemed to pack up, I could hardly walk

> and because of this I can only assume some suppression of my HPA axis

> had occurred as my body really struggled to cope with the withdrawal.

> And since then I've suffered more severe low cortisol symptoms

> compared to how I was before I ever took h/c. In fact I feel like Ive

> come down with an infection the last few days, I've been feeling like

> I've been run over by a truck and it definitely feels like my

> cortisol has dropped again so might have to increase my dose now.

Well, it sounds like you may need something, whether for adrenals

or something else, I can't really tell.

> > I guess you could also be a very fast metabolizer and need to

> > dose more often? Just a guess.

>

> I think I'm a slow metabolizer due to being hypothyroid but frequent

> lower doses might be worth trying yes.

I'm hypothyroid, but I'm a fast metabolizer by Ca/P on hair test.

I need to dose chelators frequently, I need to eat frequently and

I need a lot of fat in my diet, now that I tolerate caffeine again,

I seem to crave it often...

> > I used 3 g per day of ashwagandha. From what I read, this is the

> > low end of the therapeutic dose range, but people on various yahoo

> > groups seem to think it is a lot.

>

> It does sound a lot though I didn't know you could take much higher

> doses therapeutically thats interesting, I might experiment with a

> higher dose to see what effect it has. The most I've ever taken is a

> 1200mg mix of standard root extract and powder.

I think what I read was 3-6g for therapeutic effect. 3g is what the

ND recommended and I remember checking it out and being convinced

that was a reasonable dose to try. I actually worked that up fairly

slowly, as I was nervous about it, but never had any problems like

with h/c. (BTW, the h/c problems are gone now. Think I might try

a whole 5 mg.)

One thing I like about ashwagandha is it can be of some help

for hypothyroid, too. And it improves immune function and calms

anxiety. It also helps to prevent excess adrenal stimulation,

I think similar to seriphos.

> > I wonder if you have a very reactive stress response at the

> > level of the pituitary, which exhausts your body by trying to

> > push your adrenals to produce lots of cortisol when they can't

> > keep up. By telling the pituitary to quit asking for so much

> > cortisol (which is my understanding of what phos serine does),

> > this actually gives you more energy, because your adrenals are

> > not being forced to work so hard. I'm sure I've heard this

> > explanation somewhere, but can't remember where.

>

> I found that on Dr Lowe's site so presumably thats where you read it

> too. Yes I guess it is the effect on the pituitary or on the

> hypothalamus and downregulating or blocking cortisol as taking it

> made me feel like a load had been lifted off my adrenals and I had

> much more energy and stamina and felt much calmer.

Sounds like seriphos is a good supplement for you if it is having

this effect. I have had benefits from it at times, and problems

with it at other times. Not real certain what that was about.

> Yes I would imagine you would have noticed some difference if you

> were deficient even if you took a low dose. I noticed from another

> post you take kelp so it might be that you dont need the extra iodine

> anyway. Where do you source your kelp from, do you know if its

> screened for heavy metals?

Hm - no, I didn't look into that, but of course it's a reasonable

concern. I'm using NOW brand.

I've tried Iodoral and Lugols and

> definitely noticed quite a few benefits mentally and physically but I

> am hypothyroid so I know for sure that I'm lacking in Iodine and I

> feel better eating seaweed too. If you are interested in learning

> more about Iodine there is a really good yahoo Iodine group and it

> has a sister website you might want to check out..

>

> http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/iodine/?yguid=157652497

>

> http://iodine4health.com/

>

Thanks, I'll put that on my list of stuff to check out.

Hope you get to feeling better soon. Maybe at the moment the

most important thing is to support immune function to fight off

the infection. I imagine either h/c or ashwagandha, or some

other herbal agent might be a good idea.

--

[Guest guest]

> Thanks for replying. I'm not totally sure but I think that might well

> be the case with me too, I have responded quite quickly to all the

> hormones I've tried at lowish doses so what you say could explain

> it. I think this is being upregulated? I know Andy mentions this in

> AI as a result of mercury's effect on the dopamine receptor and the

> body's way of compensating and you can go either way, down or up but

> would make sense re long-standing deficiencies. I also dont seem to

> do well if I take large doses of supplements, it just always feels

> like too much, I d taking smaller doses frequently.

He says upregulated people need large amounts, but they have to

start low and go slow. They also tend to get allergic to everything.

This sounds like me. I have a " weak " allergic response, but it does

seem like I am sensitive to lots of stuff.

Downregulated people can take large quantities of supplements,

but have to taper off slowly.

> My main problem though was when I weaned off, I went through a really

> hard time, my adrenals just seemed to pack up, I could hardly walk

> and because of this I can only assume some suppression of my HPA axis

> had occurred as my body really struggled to cope with the withdrawal.

> And since then I've suffered more severe low cortisol symptoms

> compared to how I was before I ever took h/c. In fact I feel like Ive

> come down with an infection the last few days, I've been feeling like

> I've been run over by a truck and it definitely feels like my

> cortisol has dropped again so might have to increase my dose now.

Well, it sounds like you may need something, whether for adrenals

or something else, I can't really tell.

> > I guess you could also be a very fast metabolizer and need to

> > dose more often? Just a guess.

>

> I think I'm a slow metabolizer due to being hypothyroid but frequent

> lower doses might be worth trying yes.

I'm hypothyroid, but I'm a fast metabolizer by Ca/P on hair test.

I need to dose chelators frequently, I need to eat frequently and

I need a lot of fat in my diet, now that I tolerate caffeine again,

I seem to crave it often...

> > I used 3 g per day of ashwagandha. From what I read, this is the

> > low end of the therapeutic dose range, but people on various yahoo

> > groups seem to think it is a lot.

>

> It does sound a lot though I didn't know you could take much higher

> doses therapeutically thats interesting, I might experiment with a

> higher dose to see what effect it has. The most I've ever taken is a

> 1200mg mix of standard root extract and powder.

I think what I read was 3-6g for therapeutic effect. 3g is what the

ND recommended and I remember checking it out and being convinced

that was a reasonable dose to try. I actually worked that up fairly

slowly, as I was nervous about it, but never had any problems like

with h/c. (BTW, the h/c problems are gone now. Think I might try

a whole 5 mg.)

One thing I like about ashwagandha is it can be of some help

for hypothyroid, too. And it improves immune function and calms

anxiety. It also helps to prevent excess adrenal stimulation,

I think similar to seriphos.

> > I wonder if you have a very reactive stress response at the

> > level of the pituitary, which exhausts your body by trying to

> > push your adrenals to produce lots of cortisol when they can't

> > keep up. By telling the pituitary to quit asking for so much

> > cortisol (which is my understanding of what phos serine does),

> > this actually gives you more energy, because your adrenals are

> > not being forced to work so hard. I'm sure I've heard this

> > explanation somewhere, but can't remember where.

>

> I found that on Dr Lowe's site so presumably thats where you read it

> too. Yes I guess it is the effect on the pituitary or on the

> hypothalamus and downregulating or blocking cortisol as taking it

> made me feel like a load had been lifted off my adrenals and I had

> much more energy and stamina and felt much calmer.

Sounds like seriphos is a good supplement for you if it is having

this effect. I have had benefits from it at times, and problems

with it at other times. Not real certain what that was about.

> Yes I would imagine you would have noticed some difference if you

> were deficient even if you took a low dose. I noticed from another

> post you take kelp so it might be that you dont need the extra iodine

> anyway. Where do you source your kelp from, do you know if its

> screened for heavy metals?

Hm - no, I didn't look into that, but of course it's a reasonable

concern. I'm using NOW brand.

I've tried Iodoral and Lugols and

> definitely noticed quite a few benefits mentally and physically but I

> am hypothyroid so I know for sure that I'm lacking in Iodine and I

> feel better eating seaweed too. If you are interested in learning

> more about Iodine there is a really good yahoo Iodine group and it

> has a sister website you might want to check out..

>

> http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/iodine/?yguid=157652497

>

> http://iodine4health.com/

>

Thanks, I'll put that on my list of stuff to check out.

Hope you get to feeling better soon. Maybe at the moment the

most important thing is to support immune function to fight off

the infection. I imagine either h/c or ashwagandha, or some

other herbal agent might be a good idea.

--

[Guest guest]

> Thanks for replying. I'm not totally sure but I think that might well

> be the case with me too, I have responded quite quickly to all the

> hormones I've tried at lowish doses so what you say could explain

> it. I think this is being upregulated? I know Andy mentions this in

> AI as a result of mercury's effect on the dopamine receptor and the

> body's way of compensating and you can go either way, down or up but

> would make sense re long-standing deficiencies. I also dont seem to

> do well if I take large doses of supplements, it just always feels

> like too much, I d taking smaller doses frequently.

He says upregulated people need large amounts, but they have to

start low and go slow. They also tend to get allergic to everything.

This sounds like me. I have a " weak " allergic response, but it does

seem like I am sensitive to lots of stuff.

Downregulated people can take large quantities of supplements,

but have to taper off slowly.

> My main problem though was when I weaned off, I went through a really

> hard time, my adrenals just seemed to pack up, I could hardly walk

> and because of this I can only assume some suppression of my HPA axis

> had occurred as my body really struggled to cope with the withdrawal.

> And since then I've suffered more severe low cortisol symptoms

> compared to how I was before I ever took h/c. In fact I feel like Ive

> come down with an infection the last few days, I've been feeling like

> I've been run over by a truck and it definitely feels like my

> cortisol has dropped again so might have to increase my dose now.

Well, it sounds like you may need something, whether for adrenals

or something else, I can't really tell.

> > I guess you could also be a very fast metabolizer and need to

> > dose more often? Just a guess.

>

> I think I'm a slow metabolizer due to being hypothyroid but frequent

> lower doses might be worth trying yes.

I'm hypothyroid, but I'm a fast metabolizer by Ca/P on hair test.

I need to dose chelators frequently, I need to eat frequently and

I need a lot of fat in my diet, now that I tolerate caffeine again,

I seem to crave it often...

> > I used 3 g per day of ashwagandha. From what I read, this is the

> > low end of the therapeutic dose range, but people on various yahoo

> > groups seem to think it is a lot.

>

> It does sound a lot though I didn't know you could take much higher

> doses therapeutically thats interesting, I might experiment with a

> higher dose to see what effect it has. The most I've ever taken is a

> 1200mg mix of standard root extract and powder.

I think what I read was 3-6g for therapeutic effect. 3g is what the

ND recommended and I remember checking it out and being convinced

that was a reasonable dose to try. I actually worked that up fairly

slowly, as I was nervous about it, but never had any problems like

with h/c. (BTW, the h/c problems are gone now. Think I might try

a whole 5 mg.)

One thing I like about ashwagandha is it can be of some help

for hypothyroid, too. And it improves immune function and calms

anxiety. It also helps to prevent excess adrenal stimulation,

I think similar to seriphos.

> > I wonder if you have a very reactive stress response at the

> > level of the pituitary, which exhausts your body by trying to

> > push your adrenals to produce lots of cortisol when they can't

> > keep up. By telling the pituitary to quit asking for so much

> > cortisol (which is my understanding of what phos serine does),

> > this actually gives you more energy, because your adrenals are

> > not being forced to work so hard. I'm sure I've heard this

> > explanation somewhere, but can't remember where.

>

> I found that on Dr Lowe's site so presumably thats where you read it

> too. Yes I guess it is the effect on the pituitary or on the

> hypothalamus and downregulating or blocking cortisol as taking it

> made me feel like a load had been lifted off my adrenals and I had

> much more energy and stamina and felt much calmer.

Sounds like seriphos is a good supplement for you if it is having

this effect. I have had benefits from it at times, and problems

with it at other times. Not real certain what that was about.

> Yes I would imagine you would have noticed some difference if you

> were deficient even if you took a low dose. I noticed from another

> post you take kelp so it might be that you dont need the extra iodine

> anyway. Where do you source your kelp from, do you know if its

> screened for heavy metals?

Hm - no, I didn't look into that, but of course it's a reasonable

concern. I'm using NOW brand.

I've tried Iodoral and Lugols and

> definitely noticed quite a few benefits mentally and physically but I

> am hypothyroid so I know for sure that I'm lacking in Iodine and I

> feel better eating seaweed too. If you are interested in learning

> more about Iodine there is a really good yahoo Iodine group and it

> has a sister website you might want to check out..

>

> http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/iodine/?yguid=157652497

>

> http://iodine4health.com/

>

Thanks, I'll put that on my list of stuff to check out.

Hope you get to feeling better soon. Maybe at the moment the

most important thing is to support immune function to fight off

the infection. I imagine either h/c or ashwagandha, or some

other herbal agent might be a good idea.

--