Hi guys. Since i'm still banned and have a few minutes I will have
Ender post this for me (which illustrates how useless an account/IP ban
is). Some people asked me for my current list of what I am taking
supplement wise, what I have been experimenting with, and what I plan on taking
as soon as finances allow. So here we go:
I am still taking water soluable OO in my neb mixed with albuterol
first thing when I wake up (6 drops), then right before bed same doseage.
As for the regular non-mycelized (water soluable) OO, I occasionally
take that below the tongue or directly to the back of my throat or as a
gargle if I am getting some kind of throat nasty coming on. The one thing
we can all universally agree on is how OO whoops the living crap out of
whatever you got going on in the back of your throat. It totally
destroys the begining stages of sore/strep/whatever throat (the onset of
getting sick for most of us, which can help us totally avoid getting sick
most of the time).
It has been a little under a year now since I started inhaling the OO
(In case you are new: I started with the regular stuff, then moved onto
the water soluable stuff due to possible concerns with the oil not
absorbing in the lung tissue), I started around September last year. From
the several replies on here and correspondence in email with me on the
matter, I have figured out it might not be for everybody, and seems to
be something that might be more helpful in general for those who are
considered more moderate, and not to the point where they are "really bad
off" with CF lung capacity/lung flora-fauna wise (bacteria, fungus,
etc). It's not a "Hey this will cure your CF" approach, but after doing
tremendous amounts of research a while back, and taking the leap of faith
and being my own guinea pig, I have found out that it can indeed be
very helpful and keep many of the chronic CF symptoms at bay. For some
people it would work for a while (like a month or two) just as good as it
did for me, then they would start having negative symptoms like
wheezing, some bleeds, and other negative aspects. This leads me to think that
for some people like myself, you can stay on the OO indefinitely, and
for others it would best be administered like how some to tobi, which
could be something like one month on, one month off, to take some of the
burden off of our regular antibiotics in the aspect of keeping
resistance down and increasing the regular antibiotics (especially inhaled)
effectiveness.
Of course this would be something (I have always been a huge advocate
of officially testing this substance in a real clinical trial) to
seriously investigate properly, and not just rely on anecdotal testimony from
vastly different people. Of course I doubt this would ever happen
without MANY more people coming forward after using it for a period of time
like myself and requesting the CFF to do just that, which I don't see
happening.
That being said, my last PFT was @ 104% (an increase over last time).
The culture showed a similar result like the last one, with "very light"
staph, pseudo, and serratia. So nothing new there besides the increase
in PFT. My doctor still has no idea what is going on, but openly told
me he would be a fool to tell me to stop what i'm doing due to the
results. I have also had several thorough blood tests, and liver tests. My
uric acid in my blood is way down (even after a night of drinking beer),
my gout has been totally gone with only one very slight left toe
soreness episode, skin is totally clear (used to have bad problems with
bacterial back acne, it was gross at times), and I just feel great.During
the past year, I have had only 3 bleeds. Two being very minor and over
with quickly, one moderate and over with quickly. Two of these occured
with me abusing myself (being in a smoky bar back to back nights,
drinking, etc). Before the OO, I had several bleeds per month, so I feel this
is a vast improvement. Since I have always been "A bleeder", seriously
expecting not to bleed at all for a year, regardless what i'm
doing/taking, is a pipe dream. Well that covers the OO, on to the other things I
have been experimenting with.
The way I approached tackling my diseases symptoms was to look at many
of the root causes of what produces my symptoms. As many of us know,
the root causes for our recurring problems is inflammation, bacterial
infections, and poor absorption of nutrients. So I started to look into
what natural substances are out there that are strong antiinflammatories,
antioxidants (for cell protection/repair/oxidation armor), with some
bacteriocidal properties. Many plants have these properties, but you have
to decide what plants are available in supplement form, and what you
can afford (doing many supplements isn't cheap). Here is what I am
currently taking, with the newer stuff towards the end, and why i'm taking
them (I will provide a brief link or two - if readily available on each
substance I am refering to. If the link isn't as informative as you
would like, apply some of your own elbow grease and use google to look
deeper into anything. Wikipedia is good, but often just gives cursory
information and not much on some of the medicinal properties of the
substance)
Thyme leaf from Nature's way (425mg per capsule, 4 capsules per day
with first meal). Thyme leaf is strong with Thymol, carvacrol, and hardy
phenols (Same with OO), and also has antiinflammatory, antioxidants, and
bacteriacidal properties:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyme
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyme
</a>
N-Acetyl Cysteine from NSI (vitacost.com's store brand, great stuff and
real cheap, just ask Ender, we both use them). 600mg per capsule, 3
capsules with first meal (1800 mg). Here is some information on NAC in
case you aren't aware:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-acetylcysteine
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-acetylcysteine
</a>
Lyc-o-mato (vitacost.com's store brand of lycopene). One softgel daily.
15mg lycopene, 231mg rice bran oil. Lycopene is one of the major
components of what makes some fruits and vegetables red in color. One of it's
known applications is as a strong anticarcinogen, primarily against
colon cancer, but more and more tests come out often stating how it has
other helpful benefits. If money is tight and you live in the south, or
you can't find a high doseage supplement of the stuff (most of the ones
you find in places like walgreens are low dose), just eat a ton of
watermelon. Tomatoes used to be known as the kings of lycopene, but one
square inch of watermelon (I prefer seedless, and eat the stuff whenever I
can) has the same amount of lycopene as 2-3 tomatoes. It is a
carotenoid pigment, which is a phytochemical, and is one of the absolute
strongest antioxidants (helps protect and repair the bodies cells):
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycopene
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycopene
</a>
Mega men multivitamin/mineral for men (From GNC). Regardless if I slack
some due to schedule or whatever, I always have time to take my daily
multivitamin. I have looked around a decent amount, and in my opinion,
the cheapest most dense readily attainable multivitamin/mineral is this
brand. Of course your opinion may differ, but it's real good to take a
strong multivitamin/mineral supplement due to our malabsorption from
out diet. It also has vitamin K, which helps:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.gnc.com/home/index.jsp
">http://www.gnc.com/home/index.jsp
</a>
Vitamin K. Any health food/vitamin store. I have found that places such
as walgreens and other mainstream drug stores, don't carry vitamin K,
and I have no idea why. I usually have to go to a mom and pop place or
GNC for it. Vitamin K is known as the clotting vitamin, which helps us
out big time, especially if we take OO which is a known antiplatelet
similar to aspirin. I take 1 daily with first meal:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_k
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_k
</a>
42 fruits and vegetables from vitacost.com:
Not much explanation needed there besides the description on their
product. It is a highly concentrated form of those fruits and vegetables
(high ratio of 100:1 of their extracts). I take the recommended doseage
of 2 daily, with first meal:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-42-Fruits-Vegetables
">http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-42-Fruits-Vegetables
</a>
Mega EFA from vitacost.com:
EFA's (Essential fatty acids) are becoming more known for just how
helpful they are for the human body, especially for people like us who have
malabsorption of many nutrients. I take the recommended doseage of 2
daily, with my first meal. I feel due to our distinct problems with
absorbing fat based nutrients, it is even more important to take this
supplement. I used to take vitacost.com's "complete EFA" supplement, but felt
while it had one more EFA that what I currently take, the mega EFA had
higher doseage. More and more information comes out on the importance
of EFA's in our diet all the time, just root around more on google and
you can find a ton of information. Just make sure that if your EFA
supplement is based on fish oils, make sure it is purified properly because
a substandard product can have spoiled fish oil, or worse, heavy metals
present in them, and you don't want that.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Mega-EFA-Omega-3-EPA-DHA
">http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Mega-EFA-Omega-3-EPA-DHA
</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_fatty_acids
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_fatty_acids
</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://goodfats.pamrotella.com/
">http://goodfats.pamrotella.com/
</a>
Balanced B-100 from Naturemade (www.naturemade.com but I couldn't find
the actual product on their site). Naturemade products are heavily
available at places such as walgreens, cvs, etc. As long as the B vitamin
supplement you take is timed release and covers several of the B
vitamins such as B6, B12, etc and has a respectable density, it's a good buy.
B vitamins generally help convert food into energy (one of our problems
CF wise), and keep the nervous system healthy, which could be a massive
post in itself.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?id=prod3518&CATID=100142&skuid=sku303518&V=G&ec=frgl_640999
">http://www.walgreens.com/store...18&V=G&ec=frgl_640999
</a>
Cowslip flower (used to take it, but ran out and can't find a high
concentration version of it anymore): You will have to search for it
yourself because wikipedia doesn't have anything, and the one source I had
via www.zooscape.com seems to no longer be available. The plant has been
well known to help with respiratory problems since the dark ages. So if
you want to know more, look for it yourself via google, there is some
information out there if you look.
Those (with the exception of the change in EFA supplement and me not
being able to find Cowslip flower anymore, are what I have generally been
taking for quite a while now). Here is what I added about 2 or so
months ago, and felt a distinct improvement:
I started doing more research into bioflavonoids in general, and found
out there are very amazing substances:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioflavonoid
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioflavonoid
</a>
You could research the wonderful world of bioflavonoids for quite a
long time due to how varied the family tree of the substance is, with
different classes, sub classes, etc etc. Basically they are amazing
substances that offer tons of protection against all kinds of nasty things,
including alergens, carcinogens, bacteria, viruses, oxidation,
inflammation, etc, etc etc. I felt it was a logical conclusion to look further
into these substances and look for what was available supplement wise and
tolerable $ wise. I plan to research more into other substances besides
what I am taking now when I get more time, but here is what I am
currently taking.
Activated Quercetin complex from vitacost.com:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vitacost.com/NSIActivatedQuercetinComplex
">http://www.vitacost.com/NSIActivatedQuercetinComplex
</a>
Quercetin is a flavonoid that forms the "backbone" for many other
flavonoids, including the citrus flavonoids rutin, hesperidin, naringin and
tangeritin. In studies, quercetin is found to be the most active of the
flavonoids, and many medicinal plants owe much of their activity to
their high quercetin content. Quercetin has demonstrated significant
anti-inflammatory activity because of direct inhibition of several initial
processes of inflammation. For example, it inhibits both the manufacture
and release of histamine and other allergic/inflammatory mediators. In
addition, it exerts potent antioxidant activity and vitamin C-sparing
action.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercetin
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercetin
</a>
One of the most dense sources for Quercetin appears to be apple skin,
and onions (I eat a ton of both, whenever I grill I do a few onions with
the meat as well, and eat a ton of fuji apples weekly). It seems to be
the most aggressive of the bioflavonoids. My skin, nails, and hair all
seem healthier, with my hair much thicker, and I generally feel better
in general. I have noticed my nose doesn't run nearly as much as it
used to before taking this supplement, and I generally feel much less
stuffy too. The list of nasty things that quercetin is said to fight off is
fairly lengthy, from asthma to cataracts (just read the above link). I
take 3 per day, with my first meal. I chose this brand from several
other "everything but the kitchen sink" brands with quercetin because I am
more of a fan of higher dose of one particular thing that is helpful,
versus much lower doseage but other things added.
Cherry fruit extract from vitacost.com:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vitacost.com/NSICherryFruitExtract
">http://www.vitacost.com/NSICherryFruitExtract
</a>
Promotes balanced uric acid levels! How Does Cherry Fruit Extract Work?
Cherries are a source of flavonoids-natural compounds that help
maintain capillaries, collagen, eyes, joints and arteries. The anthocyanidin
and proanthocyanidin flavonoids in cherries also have antioxidant
properties to protect your body from the damaging effects of free radicals.
A 1996 Harvard study was done on 35,000 men, with the results published
in published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. It was found that the
flavonoids in cherries and other purple-colored berries (as well as
onions, parsley and apples) could reduce the risk of death from heart
attack in middle-aged men with coronary artery disease. The more
flavonoid-rich foods that the men ate, the lower their risk for heart disease.
Flavonoids act as an anti-histamine (Histamine promotes inflammation.),
and this is beneficial for those suffering from allergies or other
inflammatory conditions. Flavonoids also strengthen collagen, the building
blocks of connective tissue, by cross-linking the fibers themselves.
This process then reinforces the web of connective tissue that includes
tendons, cartilage, and other key structural tissues.
Finally, cherry fruit extract may reduce high uric acid levels in the
blood, which can lead to a host of health issues (taken from their
site).
Basically cherries are well known to lower uric acid levels in the
blood, which was one of my problems that eventually led to me contracting
horrible, crippling gout (which has been totally gone for nearly a
year). I basically couldnt drink any beer anymore, and my alcohol intake was
very limited. Beef and other meats lead to the problems with it as
well. Drinking cherry and pomegranite juice (also known to lower uric acid
levels) is expensive, so this was the next best thing. It seems to have
really helped. The added bioflavonoid benefits just makes it that much
better.
Green tea extract from vitacost.com:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Green-Tea-Extract
">http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Green-Tea-Extract
</a>
Provides potent antioxidant protection, guarding healthy cells from
free radical damage.
Supports heart and immune health, and may help with weight loss.
How Does NSI® Green Tea 500 mg Work?
Prepared from the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, green
tea is an ancient beverage that's enjoyed for both its simple, soothing
taste and for its notable health benefits. Used in China, Japan, India
and Thailand for thousands of years, green tea is now reported to be the
second most popular beverage in the world, topped only by water.
Green tea is produced by lightly steaming, then immediately drying the
leaves, a process which prevents oxidation and preserves active
constituents in the herb. Besides vitamins and minerals, green tea is a rich
source of polyphenols, particularly the catechin, epigallocatechin
gallate (EGCG). Studies show that EGCG provides powerful antioxidant
protection, guarding healthy cells from the damaging effects of free radical
molecules caused by toxins, pollution, smoke and UV sun rays.
Green tea may also assist with weight loss. It's believed to help boost
metabolism, producing fat- and calorie-burning effects, while also
suppressing appetite. Other potential benefits of green tea include
maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels and promoting liver
health.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea
</a>
I also drink as much green tea as I can get my hands on. It helps that
my sister makes it all the time too. I take one daily with my first
meal.
MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) from vitacost.com:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vitacost.com/NSIMSMMethylsulfonylmethane
">http://www.vitacost.com/NSIMSMMethylsulfonylmethane
</a>
May benefit joint health, allergies/asthma, hair and nail health.
One of the purest MSM sources. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a natural
and efficient source of organic sulfur, which is necessary for the
formation of collagen, and is required by many of the body's structural
molecules. MSM has been shown to be essential to joint health and
function, and for all types of connective tissue in general. A proven analgesic
and anti-inflammatory, this nutrient has been shown to be very
effective in the treatment of allergies and asthma. It has also been found to
provide nutritional support for healthy energy levels and toxin
elimination. MSM is also effective at maintaining skin, hair and nail health.
NSI® OptiMSMT is guaranteed 99.9% pure methylsulfonylmethane, and is one
of the most potent and pure forms of MSM available.
MSM has been the subject of various arthritis studies. In a
double-blind trial published in the International Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine,
it was shown that for people with osteoarthritis, 2,250 mg per day of
MSM reduced pain after 6 weeks. MSM is often combined with glucosamine
and chondroitin, two effective nutrients for joint and cartilage health.
Allergy and asthma sufferers may find an effective, natural alternative
in MSM. One multi-centered, open-label trial published in The Journal
of Alternative and Complementary Medicine focused on the role of MSM in
the treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR), or "hay fever,"
which is estimated to affect more than 23 million Americans. The results
showed that 2,600 mg/day of MSM for 30 days was effective in reducing SAR
symptoms, with few side effects shown. Adequate levels of MSM make your
cells more permeable, which enables your body to flush out undesirable
foreign particles and absorb nutrients. For asthma patients, MSM may
help regulate the fluid covering the lungs' airway surfaces, and prevents
an inflammatory response. While MSM may not be a cure, it can enable an
asthmatic person to reduce their required dosage of medication.
MSM is effective for skin, hair and nail health as well. As sulfur is
found in keratin, the tough substance composing skin, hair and nails,
MSM has been shown to hold benefits for skin problems, such as psoriasis.
The nutritional benefits of MSM were discovered by Robert J. Herschler,
a chemical researcher, in the early 1980s. OptiMSM is easily
assimilated, and is the first MSM to be certified kosher by the Orthodox Union.
NSI formulations use only OptiMSM, a superior, non-toxic and
non-allergenic ingredient. Another source of MSM is NSI Glucosamine Chondroitin
MSM, which combines 1 g of MSM with these two nutrients, shown to be
effective for bone and joint health.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylsulfonylmethane
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylsulfonylmethane
</a>
I started taking it primarily to help countereffect the gout/general CF
related arthritis I had/was becoming more apparent I had. As I said
before, the OO seemed to get rid of it on it's own, but the more I learned
about MSM and how it benefits other problems, I started taking it
seriously. I take 2 1000mg capsules per day, with my first meal.
And that is basically it for now. There is one more bioflavonoid I want
to start taking seriously, but laziness and time has kind of got in the
way of me ordering it right now. That will change as soon as I get paid
again. It is Cacao:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacao
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacao
</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.rain-tree.com/chocolate.htm
">http://www.rain-tree.com/chocolate.htm
</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.rawfood.com/cacao.html
">http://www.rawfood.com/cacao.html
</a>
basically it has tons of goodness in it. Read up on it for more
information.
I also plan on looking into other specific plant extracts to help
battle my disease and specifically my diseases symptoms. I also eat tons and
tons of veggies and fruit whenever I can now. I also exercise a ton,
with weights (just maxed out @ 330 lbs on the roman chair today) and tons
and tons of walking. I am now down to 190lbs, and most of the fat went
bye bye. Proper supplementation, diet, exercise, and adherance to your
normal CF care is very important, please do your own research into
different supplements and look into using them yourself. Since I started
using various supplements with applied logic to tackle the basic
underlying cause of my CF symptoms, i'm as close to "cured" as I can be without
actually being genetically corrected. Thanks for reading, I know it's
long, but I feel there is some very good information to be shared. Also,
it seems you guys are having fun in the silly drama department without
me being here, so there goes that theory <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Ender post this for me (which illustrates how useless an account/IP ban
is). Some people asked me for my current list of what I am taking
supplement wise, what I have been experimenting with, and what I plan on taking
as soon as finances allow. So here we go:
I am still taking water soluable OO in my neb mixed with albuterol
first thing when I wake up (6 drops), then right before bed same doseage.
As for the regular non-mycelized (water soluable) OO, I occasionally
take that below the tongue or directly to the back of my throat or as a
gargle if I am getting some kind of throat nasty coming on. The one thing
we can all universally agree on is how OO whoops the living crap out of
whatever you got going on in the back of your throat. It totally
destroys the begining stages of sore/strep/whatever throat (the onset of
getting sick for most of us, which can help us totally avoid getting sick
most of the time).
It has been a little under a year now since I started inhaling the OO
(In case you are new: I started with the regular stuff, then moved onto
the water soluable stuff due to possible concerns with the oil not
absorbing in the lung tissue), I started around September last year. From
the several replies on here and correspondence in email with me on the
matter, I have figured out it might not be for everybody, and seems to
be something that might be more helpful in general for those who are
considered more moderate, and not to the point where they are "really bad
off" with CF lung capacity/lung flora-fauna wise (bacteria, fungus,
etc). It's not a "Hey this will cure your CF" approach, but after doing
tremendous amounts of research a while back, and taking the leap of faith
and being my own guinea pig, I have found out that it can indeed be
very helpful and keep many of the chronic CF symptoms at bay. For some
people it would work for a while (like a month or two) just as good as it
did for me, then they would start having negative symptoms like
wheezing, some bleeds, and other negative aspects. This leads me to think that
for some people like myself, you can stay on the OO indefinitely, and
for others it would best be administered like how some to tobi, which
could be something like one month on, one month off, to take some of the
burden off of our regular antibiotics in the aspect of keeping
resistance down and increasing the regular antibiotics (especially inhaled)
effectiveness.
Of course this would be something (I have always been a huge advocate
of officially testing this substance in a real clinical trial) to
seriously investigate properly, and not just rely on anecdotal testimony from
vastly different people. Of course I doubt this would ever happen
without MANY more people coming forward after using it for a period of time
like myself and requesting the CFF to do just that, which I don't see
happening.
That being said, my last PFT was @ 104% (an increase over last time).
The culture showed a similar result like the last one, with "very light"
staph, pseudo, and serratia. So nothing new there besides the increase
in PFT. My doctor still has no idea what is going on, but openly told
me he would be a fool to tell me to stop what i'm doing due to the
results. I have also had several thorough blood tests, and liver tests. My
uric acid in my blood is way down (even after a night of drinking beer),
my gout has been totally gone with only one very slight left toe
soreness episode, skin is totally clear (used to have bad problems with
bacterial back acne, it was gross at times), and I just feel great.During
the past year, I have had only 3 bleeds. Two being very minor and over
with quickly, one moderate and over with quickly. Two of these occured
with me abusing myself (being in a smoky bar back to back nights,
drinking, etc). Before the OO, I had several bleeds per month, so I feel this
is a vast improvement. Since I have always been "A bleeder", seriously
expecting not to bleed at all for a year, regardless what i'm
doing/taking, is a pipe dream. Well that covers the OO, on to the other things I
have been experimenting with.
The way I approached tackling my diseases symptoms was to look at many
of the root causes of what produces my symptoms. As many of us know,
the root causes for our recurring problems is inflammation, bacterial
infections, and poor absorption of nutrients. So I started to look into
what natural substances are out there that are strong antiinflammatories,
antioxidants (for cell protection/repair/oxidation armor), with some
bacteriocidal properties. Many plants have these properties, but you have
to decide what plants are available in supplement form, and what you
can afford (doing many supplements isn't cheap). Here is what I am
currently taking, with the newer stuff towards the end, and why i'm taking
them (I will provide a brief link or two - if readily available on each
substance I am refering to. If the link isn't as informative as you
would like, apply some of your own elbow grease and use google to look
deeper into anything. Wikipedia is good, but often just gives cursory
information and not much on some of the medicinal properties of the
substance)
Thyme leaf from Nature's way (425mg per capsule, 4 capsules per day
with first meal). Thyme leaf is strong with Thymol, carvacrol, and hardy
phenols (Same with OO), and also has antiinflammatory, antioxidants, and
bacteriacidal properties:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyme
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyme
</a>
N-Acetyl Cysteine from NSI (vitacost.com's store brand, great stuff and
real cheap, just ask Ender, we both use them). 600mg per capsule, 3
capsules with first meal (1800 mg). Here is some information on NAC in
case you aren't aware:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-acetylcysteine
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-acetylcysteine
</a>
Lyc-o-mato (vitacost.com's store brand of lycopene). One softgel daily.
15mg lycopene, 231mg rice bran oil. Lycopene is one of the major
components of what makes some fruits and vegetables red in color. One of it's
known applications is as a strong anticarcinogen, primarily against
colon cancer, but more and more tests come out often stating how it has
other helpful benefits. If money is tight and you live in the south, or
you can't find a high doseage supplement of the stuff (most of the ones
you find in places like walgreens are low dose), just eat a ton of
watermelon. Tomatoes used to be known as the kings of lycopene, but one
square inch of watermelon (I prefer seedless, and eat the stuff whenever I
can) has the same amount of lycopene as 2-3 tomatoes. It is a
carotenoid pigment, which is a phytochemical, and is one of the absolute
strongest antioxidants (helps protect and repair the bodies cells):
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycopene
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycopene
</a>
Mega men multivitamin/mineral for men (From GNC). Regardless if I slack
some due to schedule or whatever, I always have time to take my daily
multivitamin. I have looked around a decent amount, and in my opinion,
the cheapest most dense readily attainable multivitamin/mineral is this
brand. Of course your opinion may differ, but it's real good to take a
strong multivitamin/mineral supplement due to our malabsorption from
out diet. It also has vitamin K, which helps:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.gnc.com/home/index.jsp
">http://www.gnc.com/home/index.jsp
</a>
Vitamin K. Any health food/vitamin store. I have found that places such
as walgreens and other mainstream drug stores, don't carry vitamin K,
and I have no idea why. I usually have to go to a mom and pop place or
GNC for it. Vitamin K is known as the clotting vitamin, which helps us
out big time, especially if we take OO which is a known antiplatelet
similar to aspirin. I take 1 daily with first meal:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_k
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_k
</a>
42 fruits and vegetables from vitacost.com:
Not much explanation needed there besides the description on their
product. It is a highly concentrated form of those fruits and vegetables
(high ratio of 100:1 of their extracts). I take the recommended doseage
of 2 daily, with first meal:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-42-Fruits-Vegetables
">http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-42-Fruits-Vegetables
</a>
Mega EFA from vitacost.com:
EFA's (Essential fatty acids) are becoming more known for just how
helpful they are for the human body, especially for people like us who have
malabsorption of many nutrients. I take the recommended doseage of 2
daily, with my first meal. I feel due to our distinct problems with
absorbing fat based nutrients, it is even more important to take this
supplement. I used to take vitacost.com's "complete EFA" supplement, but felt
while it had one more EFA that what I currently take, the mega EFA had
higher doseage. More and more information comes out on the importance
of EFA's in our diet all the time, just root around more on google and
you can find a ton of information. Just make sure that if your EFA
supplement is based on fish oils, make sure it is purified properly because
a substandard product can have spoiled fish oil, or worse, heavy metals
present in them, and you don't want that.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Mega-EFA-Omega-3-EPA-DHA
">http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Mega-EFA-Omega-3-EPA-DHA
</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_fatty_acids
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_fatty_acids
</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://goodfats.pamrotella.com/
">http://goodfats.pamrotella.com/
</a>
Balanced B-100 from Naturemade (www.naturemade.com but I couldn't find
the actual product on their site). Naturemade products are heavily
available at places such as walgreens, cvs, etc. As long as the B vitamin
supplement you take is timed release and covers several of the B
vitamins such as B6, B12, etc and has a respectable density, it's a good buy.
B vitamins generally help convert food into energy (one of our problems
CF wise), and keep the nervous system healthy, which could be a massive
post in itself.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?id=prod3518&CATID=100142&skuid=sku303518&V=G&ec=frgl_640999
">http://www.walgreens.com/store...18&V=G&ec=frgl_640999
</a>
Cowslip flower (used to take it, but ran out and can't find a high
concentration version of it anymore): You will have to search for it
yourself because wikipedia doesn't have anything, and the one source I had
via www.zooscape.com seems to no longer be available. The plant has been
well known to help with respiratory problems since the dark ages. So if
you want to know more, look for it yourself via google, there is some
information out there if you look.
Those (with the exception of the change in EFA supplement and me not
being able to find Cowslip flower anymore, are what I have generally been
taking for quite a while now). Here is what I added about 2 or so
months ago, and felt a distinct improvement:
I started doing more research into bioflavonoids in general, and found
out there are very amazing substances:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioflavonoid
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioflavonoid
</a>
You could research the wonderful world of bioflavonoids for quite a
long time due to how varied the family tree of the substance is, with
different classes, sub classes, etc etc. Basically they are amazing
substances that offer tons of protection against all kinds of nasty things,
including alergens, carcinogens, bacteria, viruses, oxidation,
inflammation, etc, etc etc. I felt it was a logical conclusion to look further
into these substances and look for what was available supplement wise and
tolerable $ wise. I plan to research more into other substances besides
what I am taking now when I get more time, but here is what I am
currently taking.
Activated Quercetin complex from vitacost.com:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vitacost.com/NSIActivatedQuercetinComplex
">http://www.vitacost.com/NSIActivatedQuercetinComplex
</a>
Quercetin is a flavonoid that forms the "backbone" for many other
flavonoids, including the citrus flavonoids rutin, hesperidin, naringin and
tangeritin. In studies, quercetin is found to be the most active of the
flavonoids, and many medicinal plants owe much of their activity to
their high quercetin content. Quercetin has demonstrated significant
anti-inflammatory activity because of direct inhibition of several initial
processes of inflammation. For example, it inhibits both the manufacture
and release of histamine and other allergic/inflammatory mediators. In
addition, it exerts potent antioxidant activity and vitamin C-sparing
action.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercetin
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercetin
</a>
One of the most dense sources for Quercetin appears to be apple skin,
and onions (I eat a ton of both, whenever I grill I do a few onions with
the meat as well, and eat a ton of fuji apples weekly). It seems to be
the most aggressive of the bioflavonoids. My skin, nails, and hair all
seem healthier, with my hair much thicker, and I generally feel better
in general. I have noticed my nose doesn't run nearly as much as it
used to before taking this supplement, and I generally feel much less
stuffy too. The list of nasty things that quercetin is said to fight off is
fairly lengthy, from asthma to cataracts (just read the above link). I
take 3 per day, with my first meal. I chose this brand from several
other "everything but the kitchen sink" brands with quercetin because I am
more of a fan of higher dose of one particular thing that is helpful,
versus much lower doseage but other things added.
Cherry fruit extract from vitacost.com:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vitacost.com/NSICherryFruitExtract
">http://www.vitacost.com/NSICherryFruitExtract
</a>
Promotes balanced uric acid levels! How Does Cherry Fruit Extract Work?
Cherries are a source of flavonoids-natural compounds that help
maintain capillaries, collagen, eyes, joints and arteries. The anthocyanidin
and proanthocyanidin flavonoids in cherries also have antioxidant
properties to protect your body from the damaging effects of free radicals.
A 1996 Harvard study was done on 35,000 men, with the results published
in published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. It was found that the
flavonoids in cherries and other purple-colored berries (as well as
onions, parsley and apples) could reduce the risk of death from heart
attack in middle-aged men with coronary artery disease. The more
flavonoid-rich foods that the men ate, the lower their risk for heart disease.
Flavonoids act as an anti-histamine (Histamine promotes inflammation.),
and this is beneficial for those suffering from allergies or other
inflammatory conditions. Flavonoids also strengthen collagen, the building
blocks of connective tissue, by cross-linking the fibers themselves.
This process then reinforces the web of connective tissue that includes
tendons, cartilage, and other key structural tissues.
Finally, cherry fruit extract may reduce high uric acid levels in the
blood, which can lead to a host of health issues (taken from their
site).
Basically cherries are well known to lower uric acid levels in the
blood, which was one of my problems that eventually led to me contracting
horrible, crippling gout (which has been totally gone for nearly a
year). I basically couldnt drink any beer anymore, and my alcohol intake was
very limited. Beef and other meats lead to the problems with it as
well. Drinking cherry and pomegranite juice (also known to lower uric acid
levels) is expensive, so this was the next best thing. It seems to have
really helped. The added bioflavonoid benefits just makes it that much
better.
Green tea extract from vitacost.com:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Green-Tea-Extract
">http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Green-Tea-Extract
</a>
Provides potent antioxidant protection, guarding healthy cells from
free radical damage.
Supports heart and immune health, and may help with weight loss.
How Does NSI® Green Tea 500 mg Work?
Prepared from the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, green
tea is an ancient beverage that's enjoyed for both its simple, soothing
taste and for its notable health benefits. Used in China, Japan, India
and Thailand for thousands of years, green tea is now reported to be the
second most popular beverage in the world, topped only by water.
Green tea is produced by lightly steaming, then immediately drying the
leaves, a process which prevents oxidation and preserves active
constituents in the herb. Besides vitamins and minerals, green tea is a rich
source of polyphenols, particularly the catechin, epigallocatechin
gallate (EGCG). Studies show that EGCG provides powerful antioxidant
protection, guarding healthy cells from the damaging effects of free radical
molecules caused by toxins, pollution, smoke and UV sun rays.
Green tea may also assist with weight loss. It's believed to help boost
metabolism, producing fat- and calorie-burning effects, while also
suppressing appetite. Other potential benefits of green tea include
maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels and promoting liver
health.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea
</a>
I also drink as much green tea as I can get my hands on. It helps that
my sister makes it all the time too. I take one daily with my first
meal.
MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) from vitacost.com:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vitacost.com/NSIMSMMethylsulfonylmethane
">http://www.vitacost.com/NSIMSMMethylsulfonylmethane
</a>
May benefit joint health, allergies/asthma, hair and nail health.
One of the purest MSM sources. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a natural
and efficient source of organic sulfur, which is necessary for the
formation of collagen, and is required by many of the body's structural
molecules. MSM has been shown to be essential to joint health and
function, and for all types of connective tissue in general. A proven analgesic
and anti-inflammatory, this nutrient has been shown to be very
effective in the treatment of allergies and asthma. It has also been found to
provide nutritional support for healthy energy levels and toxin
elimination. MSM is also effective at maintaining skin, hair and nail health.
NSI® OptiMSMT is guaranteed 99.9% pure methylsulfonylmethane, and is one
of the most potent and pure forms of MSM available.
MSM has been the subject of various arthritis studies. In a
double-blind trial published in the International Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine,
it was shown that for people with osteoarthritis, 2,250 mg per day of
MSM reduced pain after 6 weeks. MSM is often combined with glucosamine
and chondroitin, two effective nutrients for joint and cartilage health.
Allergy and asthma sufferers may find an effective, natural alternative
in MSM. One multi-centered, open-label trial published in The Journal
of Alternative and Complementary Medicine focused on the role of MSM in
the treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR), or "hay fever,"
which is estimated to affect more than 23 million Americans. The results
showed that 2,600 mg/day of MSM for 30 days was effective in reducing SAR
symptoms, with few side effects shown. Adequate levels of MSM make your
cells more permeable, which enables your body to flush out undesirable
foreign particles and absorb nutrients. For asthma patients, MSM may
help regulate the fluid covering the lungs' airway surfaces, and prevents
an inflammatory response. While MSM may not be a cure, it can enable an
asthmatic person to reduce their required dosage of medication.
MSM is effective for skin, hair and nail health as well. As sulfur is
found in keratin, the tough substance composing skin, hair and nails,
MSM has been shown to hold benefits for skin problems, such as psoriasis.
The nutritional benefits of MSM were discovered by Robert J. Herschler,
a chemical researcher, in the early 1980s. OptiMSM is easily
assimilated, and is the first MSM to be certified kosher by the Orthodox Union.
NSI formulations use only OptiMSM, a superior, non-toxic and
non-allergenic ingredient. Another source of MSM is NSI Glucosamine Chondroitin
MSM, which combines 1 g of MSM with these two nutrients, shown to be
effective for bone and joint health.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylsulfonylmethane
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylsulfonylmethane
</a>
I started taking it primarily to help countereffect the gout/general CF
related arthritis I had/was becoming more apparent I had. As I said
before, the OO seemed to get rid of it on it's own, but the more I learned
about MSM and how it benefits other problems, I started taking it
seriously. I take 2 1000mg capsules per day, with my first meal.
And that is basically it for now. There is one more bioflavonoid I want
to start taking seriously, but laziness and time has kind of got in the
way of me ordering it right now. That will change as soon as I get paid
again. It is Cacao:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacao
">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacao
</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.rain-tree.com/chocolate.htm
">http://www.rain-tree.com/chocolate.htm
</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.rawfood.com/cacao.html
">http://www.rawfood.com/cacao.html
</a>
basically it has tons of goodness in it. Read up on it for more
information.
I also plan on looking into other specific plant extracts to help
battle my disease and specifically my diseases symptoms. I also eat tons and
tons of veggies and fruit whenever I can now. I also exercise a ton,
with weights (just maxed out @ 330 lbs on the roman chair today) and tons
and tons of walking. I am now down to 190lbs, and most of the fat went
bye bye. Proper supplementation, diet, exercise, and adherance to your
normal CF care is very important, please do your own research into
different supplements and look into using them yourself. Since I started
using various supplements with applied logic to tackle the basic
underlying cause of my CF symptoms, i'm as close to "cured" as I can be without
actually being genetically corrected. Thanks for reading, I know it's
long, but I feel there is some very good information to be shared. Also,
it seems you guys are having fun in the silly drama department without
me being here, so there goes that theory <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">