#enzyme treatment helps

[chemicalproduct]

Septic tank enzyme treatment

[owlpellet]

wishing people would understand (and advertisers would stop giving the impression) that herbal remedies don't actually work like fantasy potions where you have a Symptom and they magically target that Symptom specifically-- they work exactly like pharmaceutical medicines but at a less concentrated scale, and it can interact poorly with them if you are already using them.

ashwagandha doesn't "lower your anxiety", it reduces your cortisol levels, which can in turn lower your blood pressure and interact with other adrenal and BP meds. ginkgo doesn't "help you think", it dilates your blood vessels and is an anti-platelet, which increases cerebral bloodflow but can interact with other circulatory meds. grapefruit seed extract is an incredible antifungal but it will inhibit enzymes that break down many types of medication and lead to blood toxicity of those meds.

i've worked in this industry since before insta/tiktok was a major force in advertising for it and i've watched the swing from people generally being educated about this niche thing they have come in to buy to "i saw on tiktok that this will give me energy"

.... will it? have you had bloodwork done? are you adequately absorbing your nutrition? are you getting sunlight? stop being scammed by symptom-centric buzzwords. anything that promises it will give you energy or help you focus or whatever else hinges entirely on your body chemistry fitting very certain criteria and a lot of people end up disappointed when that cordyceps did nothing for them when it turns out they're low on stomach acid and not synthesizing their B vitamins correctly or something else that is way above my paygrade to determine.

the american healthcare system is a shitshow and people often have no choice but to take their treatments into their own hand, but "natural remedies" want your money just as bad as "big pharma" and it's up to the individual to do their epistemological due diligence when treating themselves. godbless.

[dreamgrlarchive]

High Maintenance 101

Prissy Girl Beauty Regimens 🎀

my prissy girl guide to beauty services and building a beauty lifestyle that fits you 💗

Skincare:

Essential Skincare Routine ❤︎︎

twice daily, in the morning and at night

daytime: gentle cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, SPF

prep and protect skin

nighttime: double cleansing with oil and cleanser, exfoliation, treatments, moisturizer

wash away the day and help skin accept treatments and actives during your beauty sleep

products will change depending on skin type and goals, but sequence will more or less stay the same

Face Masks + Treatments ❤︎︎

Face Masks -

typically done at home 1-3x/week

clay, gel, mud, cream, liquid

my fav masks at home:

aha + bha liquid mask by the ordinary: a literal overhaul of my pores. it’s refining and helps reduce texture and hyperpigmentation. 1-2 x/week

korean modeling mask: i use this after doing everything in my routine. it’s super cooling and smooths my skin out. the low temp of the mask reduces flushing of my skin and helps the steps in my routine absorb better. 2-3 x/week

Treatments -

done either 1-3x/week and/or exclusively at night

consumer grade Retinols, AHAs, BHAs at high strength

little extra things i like to use to enhance my routine:

gua sha, ice pack, rose quartz roller, however often i choose

Facials ❤︎︎

done every 1-2 months by licensed estheticians

often includes exfoliation and extraction

Classic Facial: cleanse, extract, massage, moisturize

HydraFacials: extracts pores while infusing serums to boost skin’s vitamin and nutrient content

dry, dehydrated skin

Microdermabrasion: microabrasive tool removes outermost, textured, damaged layer of skin using suction to reveal a smooth and refined new layer of skin

sun damaged, aged, textured skin or skin with hyperpigmentation

Chemical Peel: application of medical grade AHA, BHA, Lactic Acid, Fruit Enzymes, or Retinol to peel away top layers of skin over the course of 1-2 weeks

pore refining, brightening, and anti-aging

after care is crucial. skin will be peeling and sensitivity to sun is increased. SPF MUST be used. it’s heavily advised that clients stay home for the first few days.

HydroJelly Facial: facial made of electrolytes, algae, organic white grain oat flour, rice flour, and white willow bark powder. leaving your skin hydrated, plump, and nourished. forms a vacuum-like seal that compresses facial contours.

there are 25 different hydrojelly pro masks for most skin concerns you may have, check here

More Facials ❤︎︎

Contouring Facial: sculpting, tightening, and lifting of facial muscles

LED Facial: uses LED light to soothe inflammation, aiding in acne healing and prevention

Vampire Facial: plumps skin and improves wrinkles by extracting blood, removing its platelets, then either re-injecting it into the skin or applying it topically

Diamond File Facial: finely ground diamonds resurface skin by filing to improve dark spots

Glass Skin Botox: multiple tiny botox injections just below the surface of the skin. alleviate fine lines, redness, texture, and more achieving glass skin

AquaGold Facial: microinjections that combine vampire facial methods, hyaluronic acid, botox, stem cells, antioxidants, vitamins, peptides, etc. improves fine lines, wrinkles, pores, pigmentation, acne scarring, dryness, tone, texture, skin elasticity, and more

cite

Hair:

Hair Care ❤︎︎

Wash Routines:

curly textured: wash and condition every 2-3 weeks, deep condition every 1-2 weeks

straight: wash and condition every 2-3 days, deep condition every 2-3 weeks

Styling ︎❤︎︎

Hair should have a style everyday! At home hairstyling is limitless and really depends on your taste and lifestyle. The everyday woman does her own her once every 1-4 weeks using natural hair products, heat, or other tools.

Professional Stylists:

hair is styled every 1-3 months: uses heat to straighten or curl, extensions to lengthen and add volume, shears to maintain/attain a shape and length

trim ends: every 6-8 weeks

hair color: touched up roughly every 6-8 weeks (depending on how fast your hair is growing and how fast your color will fade)

Silk Press:

after a clarifying wash and deep conditioning, natural hair is straightened using flat iron and/or pressing comb, then usually curled in feathers or pin curls to preserve the style

lasts 3-4 weeks depending on maintenance

preserved by wrapping hair at night, keep hands out of hair, and using a wide toothed comb only

can be further styled with different kind of rollers, or with pin curls

Braids:

afrocentric hairstyles typically done to protect hair while maintaining beauty

lasts 3-8 weeks

styles include knotless braids, faux locs, stitch braids, french braids, etc

Extensions:

hair added to natural hair to enhance length or volume

can be done at home with patience and proper materials

sew-in extensions: (my personal fav) 1-2 months

your natural hair gets braided down flush to your scalp and the bundles are sewn on by the wefts in a flat pattern typically with a section of hair left out to cover the wefts $100-600

microlinks: up to 4 months

i-tip extension is added to hair using micropliers, clippers and loop tool. takes far longer than most extension methods but looks the absolute most natural $500-1000

tape-in extensions: up to a year, touch ups every 4-6 weeks

medical grade tape is used to attach extensions to small sections of hair $200-400

clip-in extensions: 3-6 months

extensions are clipped on by the wefts. the hair itself can last up to six months, but it’s not recommended to sleep, shower, or swim with the extensions in $50-100

Natural Styles:

all last roughly 1-2 weeks at most. allowing hair to completely DRY is crucial for these styles. your natural hair can be further changed in styles like buns, puffs, etc once dry

natural hair essentials: scalp oil, leave in conditioner, detangling brush, wide tooth comb, curling cream, styling gel, edge control and edge brush

wash n’ go

wash and detangle, then use leave in conditioner to keep hair moist. oil on the scalp and ends is recommended for growth and healthy ends

bantu knots

a traditionally african style where the hair is cleanly sectioned (usually parted in a cute pattern) and twisted into knots. style can be worn just like this or taken down for curls

braid/twist out

a specific pattern of curls is achieved after hair is twisted or braided with curl preserving products. end result depends on how big your twists or braids are

roller set

hair is sprayed with water and curl cream applied before roller of your choice is added. hair is left to dry usually overnight for springy well formed curls

Brows and Lashes:

Brow Shaping ❤︎︎

in salon or at home

Waxing - every 3 weeks

Threading- every 2-3 weeks

Razor Shaping - weekly

Brow Enhancement ❤︎︎

Tinting - monthly

can be done at home or by pro in the salon

Microblading - every 1-3 years + annual touch ups, exclusively professional work

cosmetic tattooing using a manual tool with nearly invisible hair-like needles to inject pigment in brows to create your desired brow look

Lash Enhancements ❤︎︎

*done exclusively by professionals

Lifts - every 6 weeks

basically a perm for your lashes to curl them semi-permanently for lashes to appear longer

Lash Extensions - new set every 6-8 weeks, fill ins every 2-3 weeks depending on quality and style

false individual strands of lashes glued to natural lashes to create semi-permanent length and/or volume

lash baths: wet lashes and apply a small amount of gentle cleanser or a “lash bath” to lashes. cleanse lashes and eyelids for about 10 seconds. hold a towel under your eye and use a nozzle bottle to flush soap and bacteria from lashes then dry with a disposable lint free towel. finish by brushing your lashes with a spoolie. daily.

Lash Styles:

Classic: one lash on each fan, thin lashes

Volume: fluffier lashes with more lashes on each fan

Hybrid: uses classic and volume lashes to make an alternated look

Russian: volume lashes made with very thin individuals, 5-6 extensions per natural lash, fanned out look

DIY Lash Extensions - lasts about a week (sometimes longer)

lash fragments or individual wisps are glued either under the lashes or on the lash line. KISS Falscara is a product that makes this concept simple and easy

Nails:

all these services can be done at home with the proper materials and KNOWLEDGE

Classic Manicure ❤︎︎

every 1-2 weeks

nail service that consists of soaking hands in warm soapy water then drying them. nails are trimmed, filed, and buffed. cuticles are pushed back before applying nail polish (base coat, color, top coat), then finally cuticle oil is applied.

nails can be enhanced with rhinestones, glitter, or charms and attached with uv gel or nail glue

my fav styles are pink, cream, white, black and any french tip using those colors

Pedicure ❤︎︎

every 2-4 weeks

sister to the classic manicure, but can be upgraded depending on materials. steps are similar to manicure, except feet are scrubbed and exfoliated before feet are washed and dried to apply nail color

regular polish, acrylic, or gel can be used on toenails

Gel or Shellac Mani ❤︎︎

every 2-3 weeks

same process as the classic manicure, but traditional nail polish is replaced with uv base coat, gel or CND Shellac polish, then uv top coat that’s cured in a UV or LED lamp

longer lasting and more strong/3d than classic mani and is typically removed by soaking in acetone

Apres Gel-X Nails ❤︎︎

every 2-3 weeks

my personal fav at home nails using the artme yoko matsuda nails. after doing a classic mani sans polish, you apply a dehydrator and primer to prep nail for gel. then you apply builder gel to your natural nail and cure. then you apply that same builder to the nail extension after etching it using an electric drill or acetone. marry the gel to your nail and cure. then just shape to your liking and top with uv top coat. tutorial here

Acrylic Nails ❤︎︎

every 2-3 weeks, nails are fully grown out after 6 weeks

manicure done with liquid monomer and acrylic powder to build and extend natural nail, then polished with color or just a top coat if desired

Russian Mani ❤︎︎

every 4-5 weeks

essentially a gel manicure, but more invasive. the eponychium is snipped away so polish can be applied more closely and flush to the cuticle. this aids in visuals and longevity

service is seen as risky because the skin is more susceptible to fungal or bacterial infection. this is actually how i do my nails at home.

Body:

Bathing ❤︎︎

2x daily

self explanatory, we all know how to bathe. i have other posts that talk about my shower and bath routines.

use a gentle cleanser then a scented body wash to complement perfume and smell fresh all day.

if needed, you can use body soaps with actives like aha, bha or retinol to exfoliate or treat skin at night

exfoliation - 2-3x/week. using scrubs, loofahs, bath brushes, etc.

Hair Removal ❤︎︎

shaving - 2-3x/week

waxing - every 3-5 weeks

sugaring - monthly

ipl device - a device that uses light therapy to slowly destroy hair follicles and unwanted pigment in skin. i use mine after every 5-6 shaves but i could really use it more often.

Vajacial ❤︎︎

1-2x/month

a “facial” for your lady area

the esthetician will first wax, then cleanse and apply an enzyme exfoliant. then they extract any blackheads or ingrown hairs from the area before applying a soothing mask usually in the jelly form.

Moisture and Hydration ❤︎︎

body cream or lotion - daily right after bathing to hydrate skin

body oil - daily to seal in moisture and protect skin from debris and dryness

masks - weekly to address particular skin concerns

ex. when i was having eczema flare ups on my back, i used a dead sea mud mask every 1-2 weeks to help treat it

done at home or at spa

glycolic, clay, mud, salicylic, etc.

Enhancement Procedures:

the goal is to look younger and balance facial features. all these services are exclusively done by professionals usually in a medspa and are widely considered luxury.

Botox ❤︎︎

every 6-8 months; between brows, smile lines, outer corners of eyes, etc

discourages muscle movement to reduce wrinkles

Lifts ❤︎︎

lasts about 10 years; face, neck, brow, eyelids

skin is lifted to desired look, then excess skin is removed

Fillers ︎❤︎︎

every 6-12 months; under-eye, lips, jawline, wrinkle sites, cheekbones

injects acids (usually naturally occurring) like Hyaluronic Acid and Calcium Hydroxylapatite to add volume to your face

Body Contouring ❤︎︎

every 2-4 months until desired results are achieved

non invasive liposuction to achieve desired physique

CoolSculpting - cryolipolysis freezes fat cells for the body to the metabolize and and remove them

SculpSure - essentially the same as CoolSculpting, but uses heat and laser technology to destroy fat cells

Laser Hair Removal ❤︎︎

every 5-6 weeks; bikini, underarms, legs, arms

touch ups done every 1-2 years

hair growth is inhibited by exposing follicles to light at frequencies that kill them

Building the Regimen 🗒️💕:

when making appointments with your “glam squad” you can stagger your services by week depending on what’s being done. for example you can get your mani and pedi done one week. then your facials, brows and lashes another week.

Things to Keep in Mind 💭💞:

these frequencies won’t be the same for everyone depending on personal wants, budgets, etc. but will most likely land somewhere in the ranges i gave. if you need touch ups or redos any sooner than i mapped out, then the service most likely was of poor quality.

anything done at home may or may not be up to the level of detail and longevity as salon or spa work. if you see yourself doing the majority of your beauty maintenance at home, this can save money but may end up taking more time than professional services. so it’s a give and take.

More Resources:

manage your routines, services and products using a beauty binder

a look at my skincare routine

at home beauty treatments for the summer

my hair care routine at home

pretty on purpose by @shefromhouston

monthly beauty routine by @angeljpg

dream girl routines by me

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Okay. Okay okay okay. So. This is a HUGE discovery. Death caps and destroying angels are two of the deadliest mushrooms in the world; both are in the genus Amanita. Both species contain both amatoxins and phallotoxins, though the latter are likely not a major factor in the massive cell death that occurs in the liver and/or kidneys after consuming these mushrooms.

The most medically significant of the amatoxins is α-amanitin. When a deadly Amanita is consumed, you're likely to get the expected gastrointestinal upset that accompanies many toxic mushrooms within a few hours, and they may last for a few days. Then you start to feel better--but you can't just say "Okay, learned my lesson, I won't eat THAT one again." That's because α-amanitin has been stuck in your liver and kidneys the whole time, destroying their cells left and right, and its deleterious effects are catching up to you. So you can expect to end up in the hospital, potentially dealing with acute organ failure.

Supportive care generally includes IV fluids and electrolytes along with penicillin, oral activated charcoal, and other medications, along with hemodialysis and hemoperfusion. Some people have needed organ transplants, and numerous people have died, especially those who got medical help too late.

While compounds from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) have shown success in treating amatoxin poisoning in a small study several decades ago, there hasn't been much follow-up since. Recently, researchers studied the molecular effects of α-amanitin, and discovered that the enzyme STT3B plays a crucial role in creating N-glycans that facilitate the cell death caused by α-amanitin. Then they went looking for anything that could inhibit STT3B from a list of possible treatments approved by the FDA.

Enter indocyanine green. Developed as a dye for photography in the 1950s, it received approval for medical use a few years later, and has been used for everything from measuring cardiac performance to opthalmology. But it just so happens to also significantly reduce cell death both in vitro in human cell lines, and in vivo in mice. There haven't been any in vivo studies in humans just yet, but results are very promising.

There's one limitation--indocyanine green must be given as soon as possible after ingestion. When it was given eight or twelve hours after α-amanitin poisoning, it was no longer effective due to cell death having already occurred.

Still, the fact that we now have a potential new tool in treating acute α-amanitin poisoning is a massive hope for the future. Couple this with increasing education about safe mushroom foraging and how to identify poisonous species, and we could see a significant reduction in poisoning from those two deadly Amanita species.

[reasonsforhope]

A new drug was able to quickly and temporarily immobilize sperm in male mice, according to a study published Tuesday in Nature Communications, a discovery researchers described as a “game-changer” that could pave the way for a male contraceptive pill and could ultimately allow men to share equal responsibility with women for birth control.

A single oral dose of the drug immobilized mice sperm for up to two and a half hours and was 100% effective in the first two hours, the researchers said.

Treated mice showed normal mating behavior but none impregnated a mate despite 52 different attempts to do so, the researchers said, compared to almost a third of mice impregnating mates after being treated with an inactive control substance.

The drug is fast-acting—Melanie Balbach, one of the study’s authors and a researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine, said it worked within 30 to 60 minutes—and works by inhibiting an enzyme needed for sperm to function.

It is also temporary, with efficacy dropping to 91% at three hours and fertility returning to normal by the next day.

These properties set the drug apart from many of the other efforts to develop a male contraceptive, the researchers said, which often rely on hormones to control fertility and can take weeks or months to be effective or to wear off.

The study demonstrates proof-of-concept for “safe, non-hormonal, on-demand, male contraceptives,” the researchers said, and while it may work in theory any product will be many years and a great deal of testing in the future.

-via Forbes, 2/14/23

And there is ANOTHER breakthrough with a different method from just two months later:

A ground-breaking contraceptive pill for men could be just around the corner after a major genetic breakthrough. Scientists at Washington State University have identified a gene which temporarily renders sperm infertile after they remove it.

The research team discovered a protein encoded by this gene, found solely in the testicular tissue of most mammals, which reduced sperm counts and deformed remaining sperm to make them incapable of fertilizing an egg when altered. The potentially historic breakthrough contraceptive pill would also have no hormonal side-effects and could be additionally help control animal overpopulation — replacing castration.

Crucially, the destabilization of the infertility protein is not permanent, meaning sperm will recover once the person or animal stops taking the treatment. Scientists have hailed the discovery as potentially important for the future of the human race. In their study, researchers identified the expression of a gene called Arrdc5 in the testicular tissue of mice, pigs, cattle, and humans...

However, disrupting the functions of this protein will not require any hormonal interference, a key hurdle considering the multiple roles testosterone plays beyond sperm production in men, including the building of bone mass and muscle strength as well as red blood cell production. The team also says that designing a drug which only targets this protein would further make it easily reversible as a contraceptive.

-via Study Finds, 4/19/23

Note: Please excuse the cissexist language from the sources here, which I have not edited out for accuracy, etc. The Forbes article does respectfully discuss trans and nonbinary people and their birth control needs further down.

[genderqueerdykes]

Hey! Regarding endo and T, I just want to mention that I had endo that was initially treated with T and the depo provera shot (because I was fuckin') but it came back about 2 years after I started treatment. T by itself only shuts down the reproductive system about 50% of the time, which is why we don't use it as a contraceptive!

I hunted down a second-line treatment, which is to use aromatase inhibitors -- I actually got the idea from another transmasc who was using them as part of his transition to lower his E levels even further! Aromatase is the enzyme that converts T to E, it isn't usually a problem for transmascs but it can make endo keep growing even when your reproductive system is shut down. I started that in 2022 and it's been working well!

So like super glad for the people that T has been helping, just wanted to throw out there that if your symptoms come back you have more options!

hey appreciate you sending this ask!

i've been wanting to look into aromantase, i wasn't aware of the name of it, thank you! that's very important information, some intersex people are affected by this when starting HRT, so this is important information for people with endo and intersex people alike!

thank you, i appreciate the input!

[shrinking-slowly234]

3/27

199 lbs / 90 kg ⬇️ 1.4 lbs

BMI - 34.15

I feel my mental health declining. I should be happy with the loss, but I'm not. I can't help thinking that the real loss is only 0.8 lbs because if I hadn't eaten more yesterday and gained, I would have been under 199 lbs.

I actually wondered if I should wait to put on deodorant so it wouldn't mess with my weight.

I go back to the doctor at the end of April to have my liver enzymes checked again. Doctor highly believes I have fatty liver disease, and treatment is weight loss. How much weight do you think I can lose in a month?

[aloy-sobek]

Vet Bills and a Sick Kitty Boy

Hello all, over the past month and a half I have incurred some medical bills for my cat Alistair, that while one bill hurts but isn't world ending. Multiple have put us in a bind.

Our Total: $430/$1176.86

My Paypal: tielfingriley or paypal.me/tieflingriley

The Story:

So my sweet yet very hungry boy Alistair, had been having stomach troubles. He's 12 years old, so not uncommon for a cat his age, and he has always had a bit of a sensitive tum, but this was different. He was projectile vomiting mostly water, and I had noticed he was loosing weight. He is a long cat, and his healthy weight sits at 15-16 pounds.

So we take him to the vet and the do a initial blood panel with a special panel to check a for a heart protein, it is here that I learn my asthmatic cat also has a heart murmur! But because of the special check it had to be sent to THE ONLY LAB IN THE US THAT CHECKS FOR IT, which meant it was pricey

Good news, blood came back fine. His heart and kidneys weren't failing but he was still vomiting water at this time. At this point we were moved to a different vet who noted his long term tum issues. Informing me that long term inflammation can lead to Gastrol Intestinal Cancer. (Maybe) They only DEFINITIVE way of checking was to slice him open and do biopsies, which wasn't ideal. Instead we opted for an Ultrasound, it would check for inflammation, which would say absolutely yes or no on inflammation, but would still be a maybe on the cancer (however its the same treatment either way). But could also check Liver, Pancreas, and Gallbladder. I of course chose this because it was far less invasive to the boy. Alistair did need to be sedated. He isn't a violent cat, but he is a squirmy noodle.

This is when things got really spicy for us financially. You see this happened RIGHT before my birthday. Like legit I found out my cat had maybe cancer the day before. And my husband a few weeks prior had bought me a rather nice gift of storage drawers? IDK what you would call it but furniture for my art supplies to be stored in. It was a bit pricey but I was having a rough time and a history of astronomically shitty birthdays. (As you can see, the universe has a sense of humor)

So the Ultrasound came back. Yes there are signs of inflammations, so cancer is still a maybe. However, what had the doctors eyes and was concerning her more was the pancreas. It was, extended and incorrect. She believed that it wasn't producing a enzyme to help break down food, particularly fat, for absorption. Essentially, on top of the inflammation, Alistair was slowly starving to death. However before just popping some pig panceas pills inside my boy, she wants to make sure. So more blood work, TO THE ONLY LAB IN THE US OF COURSE, an another bill.

Now we are waiting on this information. He is on some pro and prebiotics that have stopped the vomiting entirely. However his weight is still quite thin. I am unsure if we will have more hefty bills. For reference a checkup at this vet is 50 bucks. So normally its not to rough on us, and check up plus vaccines is 100 which is a planned event. None of this was planned to say the least.

AND NOW THE SAPPY SHIT

Alistair saved my life. I know logically getting a cat as a means to not kill yourself isn't the best thing to do, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Ive had him since September of 2012. I love that fluffy biscuit stealing bastard with my entire heart. I have a tattoo on him on my arm, my first and currently only tattoo. Because of him, I was able to live a longer and healthier life and I want that for him.

Despite being a cat, he loves biscuits, potato chips, and the tops of muffins but only the tops. He can and will open cookie jars for cookies. I have explained he is an obligate carnivore and he has explained like a good southern he cant turn down a carb.

He will fist fight you for cheese. Love to play fetch with a hair tie. Isn't a lap cat with the exception of me. LOVES NAPS, and likes to watch Markiplier.

He's a very good boy with separation anxiety, and tummy issues who just wants to nap and eat and I think we can all relate.

Oh...and he has a little mustache

Thank you to all who donate and to everyone who spreads the word to help us get out of this debt.

[naturalrights-retard]

The mind-boggling decisions and actions by the US Food and Drug Administration during the COVID-19 debacle can be boiled down to one simple question:

Does the FDA Favor American Profits Over American Lives?

It was bad enough for FDA to discourage the use of any inexpensive, OTC supplements while we WAITED for FDA EUA approval of treatments and vaccines.

FDA then approved treatments and vaccines that have a deplorable track record. Just as we predicted, and just as we detected early on.

Now, the FDA is dragging their feet on a new treatment from Japan. From The Atlantic:

“Existing data (not all of which have been peer-reviewed) show that people with COVID who promptly take ensitrelvir, marketed as Xocova in Japan, test negative about 36 hours faster than people who take a placebo. Fever, congestion, sore throat, cough, and fatigue disappear about a day earlier too. Even smell and taste loss appear to resolve more quickly. The company also has some tentative evidence suggesting that the drug can help protect patients from developing long COVID.”

“Ensitrelvir, a drug made by the Osaka-based pharmaceutical company Shionogi, was conditionally approved in Japan last November. Like Paxlovid, ensitrelvir works by blocking an enzyme that the SARS-CoV-2 virus uses to clone itself inside the human body. But for the millions of Americans who will likely get COVID in the coming months, the new drug is almost certain to be out of reach. In 2021, Pfizer waited just five weeks for Paxlovid to receive its emergency use authorization. But ensitrelvir is still sitting in the approval pipeline, stuck in another round of clinical trials that may run well into 2024.”

[sidewalkchemistry]

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana, Brassicaceae - Mustard Family)

an extended version of this materia media can be found on the Patreon - where I share some gastronomic/culinary commentaries on horseradish

"The root's potent smell can be attributed to allyl isothiocyanate, or Mustard oil, which is released when the plant's skin is broken or disturbed. Similar to other members of the Brassicaceae family, this constituent is also found in Brussels sprouts, Mustard, and Turnips."

"In Greek mythology, the Delphic Oracle told Apollo, 'The Radish is worth its weight in lead, the Beet its weight in silver, the Horseradish its weight in gold.'"

"To a worm in a horseradish, the world is a horseradish” - Yiddish Proverb

Gardening: full sun to part shade; well draining loose or sandy soil; regular water; room to spread and grow deep, often takes over more space than expected; thrives even when neglected; herbaceous perennial

Native Region: Russia & Eastern Ukraine

Season: autumn and winter (hardy to zone 5)

Affinity: sinuses, lungs, digestive system, circulation

Parts: roots and leaves

Medicinal: fire cider/oxymels, cold-water infusion, succus (fresh juice), cough syrup, poultice for sprains/injuries, tincture, culinary measures

"Grated horseradish mixed with honey [or vegan alternative]. After mixing, allow to stand to take off sharp taste. The [sweetener] is only used to make it more palatable. 2/3 horse-radish and 1/3 [sweetener], or to suit the taste. The ordinary radish, especially the black radish, may also be used the same way, or finely sliced and eaten alone as a salad. For consumptives who cough without spitting, give a spoonful every once in a while." - Special "Mucus-Eliminator" Recipe in Arnold Ehret's Mucusless Diet Healing System

^I like to add grated orange peel to help make it more manageable to taste^

Actions: diuretic, stimulant, expectorant, rubefacient, aphrodisiac, digestive, antiseptic (laxative), aperient, anthelmintic, emetic (in high doses)

‼when you cut into horseradish, its pungent smell can irritate the eyes and nasal passages, so it's better to do in a well-ventilated area or outside. It is more potent in its effect than onions. The taste is also very pungent, so you don't need much.

Energetic Uses (eg. flower essence, elemental rituals): FIRE ELEMENT - balance fiery nature, excite inner fire, move you beyond sense of being stuck/helpless, shine a light on blockages, release old patterns or thoughtforms

Indications: hoarse, persistent, dry cough; rheumatism; tuberculosis; kidney stones; parasite infections; cold; congestion

Analogs: wasabi, radish, mustard, brussels sprouts, moringa (Moringa oleifera)

Traditional Uses:

Ancient Greeks & Romans: rub for lower back pain or menstrual cramps, aphrodisiac

Middle Ages: asthma, arthritis, cancer, toothaches

Jewish: bitter herb for Passover seder

Native Americans: toothaches, menstrual cramps

British: accompaniment to beef and oysters, cordials

Scurvy preventative

Treatment for tuberculosis

Restoring color and freshness to skin (cosmetic usage)

Modern Ideas:

"The enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is a useful

tool for detecting antibodies in the molecular biology field."

"In 2008, researchers reported that they had developed a fire alarm for the deaf and hard of hearing by harnessing the strong smell of horseradish."

"Researchers from Pennsylvania State University announced in 1995 that according to their studies, using horseradish may help purify wastewater and tainted soils."

Sources: a b c d e

[worldnewsbd]

Can COPD be treated with stem cell therapy?

Introduction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, refers to a group of progressive lung diseases characterized by long-term breathing problems and poor airflow. The two main conditions that fall under the COPD umbrella are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. As the lungs and airways become damaged from environmental pollutants like cigarette smoke, it becomes progressively harder for the lungs to function normally. This often leads to symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, fatigue, and other issues that significantly impact quality of life.

Currently, medication is relied on to treat and manage COPD symptoms, though it does not reverse underlying damage or restore lung function. Other options like pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, lung transplantation, and smoking cessation can also help in severe cases. However, there remains an unmet need for an intervention that can repair damaged tissue and regenerate lost lung cells. This has led researchers to explore whether stem cell therapy may hold promise as a treatment for COPD.

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are unique cells in our bodies that can both self-renew and differentiate into specialized cell types. There are different classes of stem cells:

Embryonic stem cells: Derived from embryos within a few days of fertilization, these cells are considered pluripotent, meaning they can become any cell type in the body. However, research on human embryos faces ethical issues.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs): Adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state with pluripotency. iPSCs avoid the use of embryos.

Adult (somatic) stem cells: Present in adult tissues like bone marrow, brain, blood, skin, and muscles. They are multipotent, with the ability to become a few specialized cell types.

In the context of COPD, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold particular promise. MSCs are multipotent adult stem cells that can differentiate into cells that make up muscles, bones, cartilage, fat, and other connective tissues. They are most commonly derived from bone marrow but can also be found in fat, dental pulp, and umbilical cord blood.

How could stem cells help treat COPD?

Research suggests MSCs may help treat COPD through these mechanisms:

Lung regeneration: MSCs have the potential to differentiate into lung cell types like epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and pneumocytes that form the gas exchange surface in the lungs. This raises hopes that MSCs could help regrow damaged or missing lung tissue.

Immunomodulation: MSCs secrete cytokines and growth factors that reduce inflammation and regulate the immune system. Persistent inflammation driven by the immune response is a major factor in COPD progression.

Angiogenesis: MSCs stimulate the growth of new blood vessels. In COPD, impaired vascularization and oxygen delivery to lung tissues are issues that may be addressed in this manner.

Antifibrotic effects: COPD lungs experience fibrosis or scarring of pulmonary tissue. Studies show MSCs help reduce fibrosis and promote wound healing through matrix remodeling enzymes.

Neurotrophic support: Dysregulation of the pulmonary neuroimmune axis occurs in COPD. MSCs secrete neurotrophins to stabilize the local neural microenvironment in the lungs.

Overall, through their multipotent and immunomodulatory properties, MSCs aim to suppress lung destruction, restore lung function, and mitigate symptoms in COPD through tissue repair and regeneration. Let's explore the evidence behind this stem cell approach.

Clinical trial evidence

A range of small, early-phase safety and proof-of-concept trials have investigated the potential of stem cell therapy in COPD patients so far:

Intravenous infusion: In a phase I trial, 20 COPD patients received two intravenous infusions of autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs a month apart. At six months, significant increases in exercise capacity and health-related quality of life were observed compared to baseline, along with decreased emphysema in high-resolution CT scans. Similar improvements were seen in other studies testing intravenous MSC administration.

Endobronchial transplantation: Another phase I study involving 14 patients delivered autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs via a bronchoscope into the lungs. At three months, lung function and walking distance increased while clinical symptoms decreased relative to before treatment. Endobronchial delivery likely enhances engraftment in the target tissues.

Intratracheal infusions: A trial in 16 COPD patients evaluated fat-derived MSCs administered by bronchoscope through the trachea. Post-treatment, they saw elevated levels of the lung surfactant-associated protein-A and reduced numbers of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, implying a dampened inflammatory reaction alongside potential regeneration.

While the numbers are still low, no significant safety issues have been reported with MSC use in COPD trials thus far. Further evaluation in larger cohorts continues across the world. Platform trials like ONE-BRIDGE are also exploring more variables including factors like donor age, route of administration, and dosage levels.

Real-world examples

R3 Stem Cell is a stem cell bank based in India with facilities for treating patients using autologous adipose stem cell therapy for various conditions. On their site, they discuss indications for which they have seen benefits with COPD patients, including:

Improved breathing patterns and lung capacity parameters like FEV1 and FVC. Following treatment, patients demonstrate measurable gains in pulmonary function parameters.

Reduced exacerbations and fewer hospitalizations. Patients experience far fewer worsenings of respiratory symptoms requiring medication changes or hospital admissions post-treatment.

Enhanced quality of life. Patients note returned abilities to conduct daily chores, perform physical work and exercise, and an overall better feeling of well-being.

Improved breathing comfort and exercise tolerance. Shortness of breath is diminished. Patients find they no longer get breathless from routine movements and can walk longer distances without gasping for air.

Mitigation of chronic lung infections. With strengthened immunity and fewer exacerbation-prompted hospital visits where patients are exposed to illnesses, recurring lung infections tend to attenuate.

Disease stabilization halts further decline. For patients whose lung function was progressively deteriorating each year, treatment allows stabilization preventing additional loss.

These observations provide real-world insight into how adipose stem cell therapy may benefit COPD patients outside the constraints of clinical trials. Of course, larger studies are still vital to fully validate the approach.

Future considerations

While preliminary results are promising, stem cell therapy for COPD remains in the exploratory phase. Questions that still need answers include:

Determining the optimal cell dose and route of administration. More research aims to establish standardized protocols.

Longer-term follow-up data. Currently, most trials only follow patients up to 6-12 months. Longitudinal studies spanning years are essential.

Delineating which COPD subgroups benefit most. Further stratification is important based on disease severity, emphysema presence, exacerbation frequency, and other criteria.

Elucidating the precise mechanisms of action via lung tissue analysis. Further validation of stem cell effects on regeneration, remodeling, and inflammation modulation is underway.

Conducting comparative effectiveness studies. Head-to-head trials against conventionally available COPD treatments will help define the treatment landscape.

Ensuring consistent quality and safety across providers. Optimization of donor screening, cell manufacturing, and administration standards on large cohorts will strengthen the field.

As more long-term safety and efficacy results emerge, stem cell therapy could become an accepted component of COPD management. It holds great potential to improve care for a condition representing a major worldwide health burden. Further clinical advances and research remain on the horizon.

Conclusion

In summary, while definitive conclusions are still being drawn, initial experiments show stem cell therapy may effectively treat COPD symptoms through regenerative and immunomodulating actions. Mesenchymal stem cells administered through various routes seem to help minimize lung injury and enhance recovery by regenerating tissue and counteracting inflammation. Real-world cases also confirm gains in lung function and quality of life following treatment through adipose stem cell therapy. While larger controlled studies are still warranted, early evidence establishes stem cell therapy as a promising avenue worth further exploration for COPD, a progressive and irreversible disease currently lacking an intervention that can reverse the damage. Continued investigation will likely optimize this cell-based approach and bring it closer to becoming part of standardized COPD care pathways.

[thetrashiestoftrash]

Today's TMI Crohn's symptom: sometimes when I have a nasty flare-up, after all the pain and nausea is over, I get atrocious gas. It's not often enough for me to expect it, and it's not bad enough to justify any kind of actual medical treatment. It's just unpleasant, both for me and any other conscious being in my general vicinity. Did you know there's no real in-the-moment treatment for gas? Oh, sure, there are pills and potions that SAY they treat gas, and every single one of them relies on the active ingredient simethicone. Simethicone is an anti-foaming agent that reduces small bubbles by reducing surface tension so they combine into larger bubbles, which results in fuck-all if you're feeling bloated. It's harmless, side-effect free, and cheap to manufacture, so it's gone largely unquestioned. I mean, nobody's dying of gas, right?

Googling further for help results in long-term lifestyle changes. Have you tried eating more and/or less fiber? Tried taking an enzyme supplement before you eat? Could you be lactose intolerant? All of these are strictly preventative measures. If you're already a balloon animal, it's too late.

Last time, I took the highest dosage of probiotics I could find, and it seemed to do the trick. That, or it just took long enough for me to deflate naturally. But that was months ago, and I don't have any left, so I spent this evening scrolling Amazon to find a probiotic supplement with the perfect intersection of "maximum strength" and "overnight shipping."

And no prebiotics. It's always inulin, which gives me gas.

[nerendus]

I've seen a lot of posts and Youtube comments that say otherwise, but I love how the original Subnautica, how I see it at least, does show sympathy towards the Architects.

Yes, at the beginning of the game during your first encounter they are portrayed as being imposing and threatening—destroying your once only shot of getting off the planet (which you should've stayed on) and then intercepting a broadcast of their enforcers saying that they are going to kill you.

But as you learn of Khaara and the quarantine that has been imposed for several hundred years, walking through the subsequent alien facilities and seeing not a soul of those who built them, it feels...sad and incredibly lonely. I can't help but always feel bad for those who wouldn't have made it to the sanctuaries to upload their consciousness, as well as those who did but will never wake up—we see Al-An in Below Zero, but no others. Did they silently return home? Or are they still sleeping, doomed to never know they could come back to life?

And the game sort of goes out if its way to...quietly suggest they are not so different from humans when it comes to behaviour. They are significantly more intelligent and advanced, yes, but the glass casings in the facilities tells us of their culture that seems to hold a lot in traditions that most Sci-fi series wouldn't give to super intelligent extraterrestrials. They study other less developed species, similar to how humans study animals—which many in those fields do it out of respect. They had safe havens for their kind to retreat to when they became overwhelmed with the likely possibility of their death.

The violence they are shown committing is...not at all beyond what humans would do if they were in that situation. The Architects were faced with total annihilation, and they set up a weapon to keep other societies from facing what they faced. And if they survived the initial attack, their quarantine enforcers will spare those who manage to stay healthy, and whilst most definitely inflicting pain, I doubt the Warpers would go out of their way for a sadistic treatment for the infected.

I've always wondered why the planet would be under a strict quarantine yet there would be no broadcast in outer space alerting travelers of the dangers. And I have two theories why that might be the case: they either did have a broadcast and for whatever reason it no longer plays in orbit or, as the Architects have never seemingly made direct contact with humans before, they didn't send out a broadcast in hopes that others would see the planet as a useless drop of water—as an alien broadcast would certainly arouse curiosity, and explorers would head down there despite the warnings.

I feel that much of the distaste towards the Architects comes from not their violence but their treatment of the Sea Emperor Leviathan. Now, admittedly, I am deeply in love with both of them, but sadly, I am more of an Architect simper, so I naturally have to side with them when it comes to this argument.

But again, this is a species on the brink of total extinction and the loss of a culture far older than the entirety of humanity, it only makes sense that they would take drastic measures in attempt to save themselves.

One thing that I've recently realised, is that when the Sea Emperor says that they could not hear her and her pleas to release her children, I first assumed that it meant that they heard what she said and just disregarded it. But as a species that is highly intelligent, that doesn't exactly add up. They wanted her children to hatch and to release the enzyme that would save them and the planet, and if they were going to all go into hiding within data pods until the planet was healed, it logically only makes sense to let her children leave so they go spread the cure around. So, I think that is meant to be taken literally. Despite their translators and own telepathy, the Architects were incompatible with the Sea Emperor, and thus subjected both of them to a lifetime of misery and loneliness.

Anyways, in case it wasn't obvious, I'm in love with the Architects and the stupid lore of this stupid game set on a stupid water planet and I wrote way too much for what its worth. I'll probably post something like this again with slightly different wording in a few years as this is the only thing in my mind.

[xxlovelynovaxx]

I've been experiencing worsening MCAS symptoms for four years now.

It took me two years to get to the point of knowing what it was and another year and a half to learn most of my triggers.

DAO enzyme and quercetin have slowed the progression and allowed me to eat things other than literally just plain rice and zucchini (I react to plain chicken, the really common safe food, for other reasons), but they are rapidly losing efficacy and I'm getting close to being unable to eat anything other than those two again. And I just have to pray I don't develop a salicylate sensitivity.

At this point, I need actual treatment. I need to be able to get compounded meds because I violently react to corn and react to the milk byproducts commonly present as inactive ingredients in meds. Let alone dyes and such.

I've had actual allergists tell me that the only way to treat MCAS once I get a diagnosis (and they didn't actually order any of the actual tests that can be used to diagnose it, either), is a combo of an h1 and h2 blocker, inhaler, and nasal spray (specifically, flonase, when even the fluticasone/azelastine combo doesn't really help me), when that set is literally only the first line of treatment AND the albuterol inhaler they recommended is a fucking mast cell trigger.

For the past few months, I'd given up on getting an official diagnosis, because I'm so in despair over the utter negligent incompetency of supposed specialists. I literally had one say "MCAS?" when I brought it up, and they didn't even know what it WAS.

At this point I'm getting too sick NOT to pursue treatment, but I have no fucking clue how to actually get diagnosed and treated by a competent allergist (which at this point might be an oxymoron). I don't have the energy to waste on people getting paid six figures to brush off chronically ill people and not know jack shit about their own specialty.

I also am wildly fucking impoverished and can't afford to travel for diagnosis, and I live in the fucking potato state where very few good doctors would ever CHOOSE to work, so like... And plus, I only have Medicaid and can only go where Medicaid covers or where they have cheap sliding scale fees.

Advice welcome from other histamine disorder havers.

Doctors who are actual allies to disabled/chronically ill people may contribute advice for navigating the system/what tests and treatments to request but please understand that I refuse to cater to anyone's ego when my life is not on the line and I've spent every doctors visit for years doing so. I expect any medical professionals to treat me with respect and acknowledge the power they hold over disabled people in how they interact.

[torturing-characters-101]

Hello. I’m looking for help writing a whumpfic centered around heatstroke/exhaustion. Plenty of health websites describe the differences and offer first aid suggestions, but struggling to find how it would be treated at the ER beyond active cooling and fluids. I gather they’d run lab work to check for things but I’m not sure what sort of resource to use for this info. Thanks in advance!

Active cooling and fluids help stop the damage from occurring, but you could have them do bloodwork to determine the extent of the damage that has been done and determine what other interventions are necessary to help the patient.

Generally heat exhaustion does not result in an increase of the person's temperature, so it's not going to do any damage. The person might become a little more heat sensitive for a while, but heat exhaustion can generally be treated with fluids and passive cooling (sitting in the shade or going to a place with air conditioning and resting for a while, without having to go to the hospital). Meanwhile, heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate and fairly aggressive cooling.

Humans are much better at making heat than they are getting rid of it. Heat stroke involves environmental or exertional conditions that overwhelm the body's ability to reduce it's own temperature. This results in very high core temperatures very quickly. If it's not treated within a half hour or so, it can result in rhabdomyolysis (the breakdown of muscle tissue), kidney damage, liver damage, and brain damage resulting in ICU stays, long-term disability, or even death. Even short bouts with heat stroke (less than a half hour) can result in long-term heat intolerance.

Initial treatment would involve some IV fluids, the insertion of a foley (urinary) catheter for the monitoring of urine output as well as core temperature, and active cooling. Active cooling involves cooling blankets (basically pads the patient lays on with tubing through which cold water is continuously pumped), ice packs, and damp sheets and fans for evaporative cooling. If the patient is shivering from the sudden onslaught of cold, they may be given muscle-relaxing medications to prevent the body from overcoming the cooling measures. These interventions are designed to reduce the patient's core temperature quickly to about 39*C, which stops the damage done by extremely high temperatures.

The lab work (blood, urine, and sometimes cerebrospinal fluid gathered by lumbar puncture) would focus on checking for damage that has actually been done. It measures the amount of myoglobin in the blood (a protein found after muscle breakdown), waste product buildup that would indicate damage to kidneys, liver enzyme levels that indicate damage to the liver, and changes in electrolyte levels (high or low) that could cause heart arrhythmias (bad heart rhythms) so they could be corrected quickly.

Medications (fluids, mannitol) can be given to prevent the kidneys from clogging with myoglobin from muscle breakdown. Additionally, hypoglycemia is common in heat stroke for some reason and D50 (a strong IV sugar solution) is given to correct this as well as life-threatening potassium abnormalities. Fever-reducing medications have no effect, and may also make liver and kidney damage worse if given.

Assuming no major problems were found, the person would probably stay at the hospital for observation for 48 hours for repeated bloodwork and monitoring (they are looking for seizure activity and heart irregularities/arrythmias related to the electrolyte abnormalities).

Long-term problems (more common if the heat stroke went untreated for a long time) would be dealt with later by an outpatient physician. These include poor heat tolerance, cerebellar movement disorders (balance problems, certain tremors), dementia, personality changes, persistent liver or kidney damage (requiring medications or dialysis), and/or partial paralysis.

[alwaysjustmina]

i have a slightly different idea after reading your answer :) all the scientific terms here could possibly be wrong (i didnt do any research and simply typed whatever came to mind 😂)

im keeping phantom as the barista at the coffee shop, but this time rain is kind dew‘s coworker

so dew is in physical chemistry, quantum mechanic, quintessence research department right? with aether… they’re both doing their phd researches

so we have rain in the marine biochemistry department, researching bioluminescence enzyme for cancer treatment (my lab report 😭 it was in organic chem, but lets pretend theres a marine biochem dept bcs i have no fucking clue)

and then there’s swiss, who’s doing his bachelor thesis under mountain‘s guidance, researching fluorchemistry specifically CFC and its impact on nature

phantom‘s still an undergrad student, he had a lab course where he got mountain as his assistant, so he stops by his office quite often, and after the lab course was done, and he has more time, he applied to work at the coffee shop

of course phantom met swiss quite often, bcs swiss‘ desk is beside mountain, and they chatted sometimes

so rain and dew being heart eyes for each other, they have coffee run shifts. in the mornings dew stops by the shop like you said and buy coffees for him and rain, stops by rain‘s office to drop it off and chat a bit

and afternoons is rains turn… and seeing that the marine biochem and organic chem are beside each other, whenever swiss saw rain heading to the coffee shop, he tags along, bcs he wanna see the cute barista

so they walk there together, but then rain goes to dew‘s office for a chat, and he left swiss in the shop with phantom

and rain and dew both claims they’re just best friends, because they met each other since they were undergrads and often studied together and whatnots, and yeah, besties (everyone knows its more 😂)

and we also get swiss trying to flirt with phantom, offering to help with his exams and assignments and everything, though the others know he’s crushing on the barista, but phantom is oblivious

thoughts?

You are killing me and I love it so much!! You have to tell me you are writing this! I need!!