dreammachines

3.5: web.wealth/dreammachines:

cheapest dream machine is
$129.00 Sirius by Mindplace

When I was in college
in the late '80s
I built something called a Dreamachine
to help me relax in stressful times.
It was invented decades earlier by
Brion Gysin  and Ian Sommerville.

The Dreamachine is a somewhat
primitive antecedent
of the Sirius and other devices like it.
So I hunted around for a flicker rig
and found that the technology had
come a good way along in 20 years.
This is the sort of little machine
that you will have to try for yourself.
Some people find that the
flickering lights make them feel
uneasy or even nauseous,
and if you have any seizure disorder
then this type of thing should be avoided at all costs.
But with those caveats, if this thing does it for you,
you will never want to be without it.
The features are really good considering
that this is basically the lowest priced instrument
you will find of its kind.
What I really purchased this box for
was the ability it offers users to set our own frequencies.
I like to be able to find a frequency that feels good to me
and just leave it there for a while.
The lower frequency ranges actually settle my mind into
sleep-oriented brain wave patterns
and help empty my head of the sort of ruminative thoughts
that keep me from getting the sleep I need.

-- James J. Pyke "Pajkossy" 2009

3.31:
. I was first exposed to a dream machine by
psychologists who were testing me for epilepsy
(because I convulsed after passing out
during a medical procedure).
. the strobe light they used was very bright,
and they would adjust the strobe frequency
until it showed on my EEG
that I was getting alpha wave spikes .
. it caused me to see vivid dreams while awake!
I saw a neon-intense version of a flag
with green and red checkers,
and the letter K floating above it .
. I was so in love, and here it is,
but at $129, I'm worried about the durability .

#antipsychotics are a total outrage

3.15: news.med/apm/antipsychotics are a total outrage:

Sandra G. Boodman washingtonpost.com 03-14-12:

Adriane Fugh-Berman, a physician, and associate professor
of pharmacology at Georgetown University,
was stunned by the question:
Two graduate students who had
no symptoms of mental illness
wondered if she thought they should take
a powerful schizophrenia drug
each had been prescribed to treat insomnia.
"It's a total outrage," said Fugh-Berman,
"These kids needed some basic sleep [advice],
like reducing their intake of caffeine and alcohol,
not a highly sedating drug."

. some of the public may not be aware
that physicians are not only outraged by
inappropriate use of psychiatric drugs,
but often also feel that the entire field of psychiatry
is "a total outrage" because they profess the very notion
that psychosis is a neurotransmitter imbalance
in need of a rebalancing medication .

. honest scientists will tell you something else:
emotions and chronic stress cause these imbalances;
and, the only reason for medications
is if your state doesn't have the money
to provide a secure environment for the mentally ill:
one that calms emotions, and reduces stress .

. remember that even when hallucinations exist,
they are no worse than reality;
both can be called the subject's environment,
and what makes mental illness dangerous
is not the hallucination,
but the policy of taking the law into one's own hands .
. what people are really afraid of from the mentally ill,
is the likelihood of responding to stress in an illegal way
because the mentally ill often believe in
pervasive conspiracies that would cause one to
lose faith in our legal system .

. the other problem that medications try to solve
is emotional contagion:
when people can't hold their emotions,
then those emotions get transmitted to others .

. finally there is the non-obvious problem:
what the psychiatrists are calling hallucinations
are really artifacts of supernatural disorders,
where people are exchanging thoughts silently
via devil-synchronized daydreams .
. this can cause great emotional distess,
as people have no way of controlling
what they {think, said} to others .
. these shared thoughts can be
esp'ly damaging in the workplace;
because, we have to be there -- and stay there --
for what seems like forever .
. if something evil is rubbing off on you,
it's got a lot of time to do that rubbing .
. if many are feeling you rub them the wrong way,
that's not a halucination,
and you may not even be mentally ill,
yet we should consider you to be socially challenged,
and there should be special programs for you,
that find an employment setting where you can fit in .

. if on the other hand, we chose to give you meds,
then you get diabetes, and raise our medicaid bills .
. capitalism can be efficient;
and christianity can be merciful;
but, when you try to mix them,
please don't think you get merciful efficiency .

. that would be a delusion,
unless it was religiously recognized ...
-- that gem can be found in the psychiatrist's dsm IV
(diagnostic and statistical manual).
. do you see what psychiatry is doing?
it's an army of politicians not scientists .
3.31:
. it doesn't matter that the "superstitious" might have
more insight or more proof
than conventional religious theories;
what matters is,
who is funding psychiatrists ? .
. psychiatrists had to stop calling
homosexuality a disorder,
and, in time, they will also have to stop calling
parapsychology a delusion .
. a belief in parapsychology is a key part
of the current schizophrenia diagnosis;
that's why they are called psychotic,
because they believe in what is
perfectly possible according to parapsychology .

#alzheimer's cured by anti-cancer drugs #health

3.21: news.health/alz/cured by anti-cancer drugs:

. epothilone D (EpoD) works like paclitaxel,
but it also crosses the blood-brain barrier,
bexarotene is another anti-cancer agent that
cures alzheimers in mice bred to develope alzheimers
or alz'-like symptoms .

. are these anti-cancer drugs working by controlling
sugar's ability to cross-link proteins?

Epothilones are Novel Anti-Tubulin Cytotoxic Agents .
Epothilones act via microtubule stabilization:
. after stabilization of microtubules,
the formation of the mitototic spindle is inhibited,
and the cell undergoes apoptosis.

uphs.upenn.edu's summary:
EpoD prevents cancer cell proliferation by
over-stabilizing specialized microtubules involved in the
separation of chromosomes during the process of cell division.
. in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD),
epothilone D (EpoD) is effective in
preventing further neurological damage
and improving cognitive performance:
. aged mice had memory deficits and a condition that resembles
the tangles formed by misfolded tau protein .
In nerve cells, tau normally stabilizes structures called microtubules,
the molecular railroad tracks upon which cellular cargo is transported.
Tangles may compromise microtubule stability
with resulting damage to nerve cells.

jneurosci.org's summary:
Neurodegenerative tau.opathies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD),
are characterized by insoluble deposits of
hyper.phosphorylated tau protein within brain neurons.
Increased phosphorylation and decreased solubility
may diminish normal tau stabilization of microtubules (MTs).
EpoD treatment reduced axonal dystrophy
and increased axonal MT density
which led to improved cognitive performance.
Moreover, the EpoD-treated PS19 mice had
less forebrain tau pathology
and increased hippocampal neuronal integrity .

. another {anti-cancer, anti-alzheimer} coincidence
is that Bexarotene also cures both;
but appears to be doing so by a different route .
. while it controls cutaneous T-cell lymphoma by
activation of retinoid X receptors (RXRs);
it may be controlling alzheimer's amyloid plaque by
stimulating the expression of apolipoprotein E (ApoE)
which leads to intracellular clearance of β-Amyloid .

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) :
. ApoE transports lipoproteins, fat-soluble vitamins, and cholesterol
into the lymph system and then into the blood.
It is essential for the normal catabolism of
triglyceride-rich lipoprotein constituents.
. found in the chylomicron and Intermediate-density lipoprotein
that binds to a specific receptor on liver cells and peripheral cells.
. it is suppressing T cell proliferation,
macrophage functioning regulation,
lipid antigen presentation facilitation (by CD1) to natural killer T cell
as well as modulation of inflammation and oxidation.
. ApoE also enhances proteolytic break-down of beta-amyloid,
both within and between cells;
but the E4 variant (isoform ApoE-ε4) is not very effective at this .
. carriers of 2 E4 alleles have 10 ... 30 times the risk of
developing AD by 75 years of age,
as compared to those not carrying any E4 alleles.

ApoE deficiency causes depleted myelin cholesterol;
statin therapy may result in Cholesterol Depletion;
both statins and ApoE deficiency can result in neuron failure
as can Alzheimer's disease .
The inhibition of liver-produced cholesterol is associated with
failure of cholesterol-rich lipid transport mechanisms
used by processes such as cell imports (endocytosis)
and cell exports (exocytosis).
. most substances important to cells are
large polar molecules that cannot pass through the
hydrophobic plasma or cell membrane;
therefore they rely on vesicles attaching to the membrane
to either import or export the reluctant molecules .
. cholesterol lowering drug can harm insulin function by
making pancreatic beta cells unable to export their insulin .
A retrospective analysis of a five year trial showed a
30% increase in the incidence of Diabetes
associated with a cholesterol reduction therapy .

olive oils with acidity or peroxide max's

3.25: web.cook/oo/olive oils with acidity or peroxide max's:

usa has True Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
 .5% free oleic acid
California Olive Oil Council is the only North American
certified quality control program
that exceeds strict International standards for
True Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
eg,
Bari Gourmet Robust  (4 Gallons) $152.00
Bari Traditional Gallon Tin (6 Gallons) $210.00

definition of True Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
. In order to classify as extra virgin,
the oil's acidity must be below 0.8%,
(a maximum peroxide level of 16 meq O2/kg)
The best-quality extra virgin olive oils
have an acidity level ranging from 0.1 % to 0.3 % .

definition of (non-extra) Virgin olive oil:
This oil is produced the same as extra olive oil.
It differs only in acidity level.  It cannot exceed 2% acidity
. another definition differs:
. maximum acidity level of 1.5° degrees,
and peroxide 20 meq O2/kg max .

sleeping pills risk cancer

3.1: news.health/sleeping pills/
increased risk of death and cancer: 

The higher the dose, the greater the risk of dying,
while people on higher doses also had
higher risks of cancer .
. any drug for sleep -- benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepines,
barbiturates and sedative antihistamines --
increased the risk of dying;

[but death from cancer was not specified .]

3.10: news.health/vit'e
protects against sleep-loss nerve damage:
The neuroprotective effect of vitamin E on
chronic sleep deprivation-induced memory impairment:
the role of oxidative stress.Behavioural Brain Research, 2012;226(1):205-10

"Sleep deprivation induces memory impairment,
and treatment with 100mg/kg vitamin E orally
prevented this impairment probably through
its antioxidant action in the hippocampus.
. chronic sleep deprivation induces a reduction in
hippocampus antioxidant markers including
glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG)
and GSH/GSSG, glutathione peroxidase (GPx),
catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD)
. vitamin E normalized the GSH/GSSG ratio,
and the activity of catalase, SOD, and GPx .

lean programming applied to business

2011.9.24: news.adds/the lean startup:
tech nation radio with Eric Ries,
Author of Start-Up Smarts:
The Thinking Entrepreneur's Guide to
Starting and Growing Your Business
. science based entrepreneurship,
defined as finding the tools
for most efficiently managing risk .
. instead of asking:
how can I produce the spec
 with a cheaper impl'?
 the lean startup asks:
. how can I learn the same thing,
from a cheaper experiment?
eg, how can you prove people will think
your product adds value?
. the pivot is the plan you go to
when you decide your current one
has produced a lesson instead of a product .
. mgt is human engineering
2012.2.26:
. engineering is the science of
optimizing utilization of a resource .
. engineering is often neatly about
working with standardized parts,
but also about wrapper strategies
for dealing with the unstandardizable
aspects of humans .

modulation of hormones with food and herbs #cancer #hormonics #BHRT

2.25: web.health/hormonics/anti-cancer
modulation of hormones with food and herbs:
[!] adapted from: 11.9.23:
news.health/hormonics/meridianvalleylab.com
intro:
. this explains how hormones of both men and women
can be affected by dietary changes .
. both men and women are often over-producing their
estrogen, cortisol, insulin,
and are thereby mismanaging their
progesterone, DHEA, and testosterone .
. this advice is mainly a paraphrasing of the
naturopathic doctor, Dr. Barry Wheeler,
who uses bio-identical hormone replacement therapy
while testing for current hormone levels
(see resources at bottom).

cancer prevention: estrogen quotient(EQ)

 EQ(should be > 1 ) =
            E3[estriol]
-----------------------------------------
(E1[estrone] + E2[estradiol])

. an iodine + iodide mix can induce a healthy EQ
by converting E1 to E3,
(16-alpha-hydroxy-estrone is a middle step)
. use 3...4 doses of {Iodoral, i-Throid}
or 6...8 drops of Lugol’s iodine (Rx).
[. an iodine-rich diet is yet another reason why
the Japanese are protected from breast cancer .]

DHEA is anti-cancer but beware oral use:
. low DHEA can increase the risk of cancer;
but oral DHEA is a common cause of high estrone (E1);
use it only transdermally [cream, inhaled] .

methyl-donors are anti-cancer agents:
. E1 and and esp'ly 4-hydroxy-E1
increase cancer risk.
. a diet that raises 2-methoxy-E2
can usually lower 4-hydroxy-E1 levels .
. this is done with methyl-donors:
# the methylcobalamin form of vitamin B12,
# the methylfolate form of folate/folic acid,
# S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe),
# betaine, and glutathione.

The 2/16 ratio:

. conversion of E1 to the good E3
is done by first producing the pro-cancer
16-alpha-hydroxy-estrone;
and then converting that to anti-cancer E3 .
. things that reduce 16-alpha-hydroxy-estrone
will tend to raise 2-hydroxy-estrone .

. the Brassica family can shift 2/16 ratio:
(Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts,
bok choy, mustard greens, and kale)
. the active ingredient is indole-3-carbinol (I3C)
and di-indolylmethane (DIM);
but, if using a veg'concentrate, beware overdose:
they can stop E1 from being converted to the E3
that is needed to maintain a healthy EQ
and avoid osteoporosis .
. men who eat Brassica vegetables four times a week
have 40 % less risk of prostate cancer .

Other supplements for 2/16 ratio:
magnesium (300 milligrams daily),
vitamin B6 (50 milligrams a day)[beware nerve damage]
vitamin E (600 IU at bedtime)[beware flu eroding heart]

paths for making testosterone:

. not only is testosterone decreasing in elder men,
but estrogens may increase by up to 40% .
. aromatase converts T to estradiol,
while 5AR (5-alpha-reductase) converts T to
DHT (5α-dihydro-testosterone).

. the 5AR is also doing other conversions as well:
# Androstenedione -> andosterone
# Cortisol -> allo-tetrahydro-cortisol .
. DHEA up-regulates 5AR activity
[ ... perhaps this how it balances cortisol,
by reducing it to allo-tetrahydro-cortisol ?]

Progesterone inhibits 5AR .
[. often thought of as a woman's hormone,
progesterone is the man's primary device for
preserving testosterone! ]

convert DHT to anti-cancer hormones:

. it's a myth that DHT needs to be suppressed;
while an over-abundance of DHT can be a sign of
estrogen's dominance over progesterone,
the other key to avoiding prostate cancer may be found in
converting any DHT to the anti-cancer androgens:

# androstanediol, [(5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol)
-- also known as 3α-diol (3α-Androstanediol)  --
is catalyzed by the enzyme 3-α-HSD .]
[. 3α-diol can be potent:
it can provide a key signal for progression of
androgen-independent prostate cancer .

# 3β-Adiol  (5-alpha-androstane-3-beta-17-beta-diol).
[3β-Androstanediol catalyzed by the enzyme 3-β-HSD .]
. 3β-adiol is inhibited by some Heavy metals,
such as cadmium and arsenic (prostate cancer risks).
. 3β-Adiol stimulates only estrogen receptor beta,
and has anti-proliferative and re-differentiation activities;
it also modulates the brain's stress response .

 . beware powerful anti-DHT prescriptions
-- the 5-alpha reductase inhibitors --
because they are also lowering androsterone[s] .
. Saw palmetto can lower 3β-Adiol too much .

. the best way to control DHT production
is by maintaining progesterone function
(don't have too much estrogen).
. some food ingredients are 5-alpha reductase inhibitors:
    GLA (grass fed animals)
    EPA fish oils,
    Vitamin D3
    Zinc -- B6 can potentiate this .

testosterone's aromatization to estrogen:

. ways men make estrogen:
# androstenedione -> testosterone -> estradiol
# androstenedione -> estrone .
. chronic high insulin is the main cause of
men's testosterone being aromatized into estrogens;
however, a low-insulin diet is not a quick fix:
it could take 2 years to normalize aromatization .

. herbal ways to reduce aromatization include
Myomin (a combination of Chinese botanicals)
and chrysin liposomal spray ).
[. I could not find any liposomal versions of chrysin ...]

[Dr Chi's Myomin:
Myomin contains Aralia, and Cyperus rotundus;
both reduce estradiol [volume and function]:
by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme,
and preventing estradiol from binding to receptors.
. Myomin also contains Smilax glabra, [anti-diabetic]
and Curcurma zedoria .
. Myomin may raise levels of interferon (IFN)
to stimulate natural killer cells,
and raise interleukin-2 (IL-2)
to induce the proliferation of immune cells .]
[ Curcurma zedoria(White Turmeric):
Chang Minyi` AntiCancer Medical Herbs
(Hunan Science and Technology Publishing House, 1992):
Curcuma zedoaria ... breaks ribosoma formation in cancer cells, ... .
.... possibly related to
RIP (Ribosome inactivating protein) function .]

resources:

# Dr. Barry Wheeler's hormone balancing articles .
# Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement (BRHT):
risks you should know and how to reduce them
# BHRT is not easy after HRT proven wrong
# other Nutrition & Healing articles
# Bioidentical hormone Physician referrals:
American College for the Advancement in Medicine
or the American Academy of Environmental Medicine .
# Wright`Taking The Fear Out of
Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy
- One Urine Test at a Time
# more about chinese herbs .

best sources of chloride #hypertension

12.1.17: web.health/hypertension/best sources of chloride:

summary:
. trying to find a source of chloride
I couldn't find one specifically vegetarian
(and thereby avoiding sodium chloride)
but the best source of chloride or other buffers
(for the preferred alkaline diet)
will coincide with sources of potassium;
so, what were the best sources of
high potassium and low sodium ?
. all fruits & veg' are low in sodium
except seaweed, but some high-sodium seaweeds
are still low in sodium chloride,
(this should concern you only if your
grossly high-carb diet is messing up your kidneys ).
. the highest sources of potassium, by far,
are the beans, -- go legumes! --
followed by nuts, yam, avocado, mushrooms
(500 ... 1000 mg per 100 g of food)
. high-carb sources of buffer include
oats, quinoa, buckwheat, wild rice .
. surprisingly,
while green density is a sign of magnesium,
greens aren't always the best sources of potassium
(Spinach has 558mg but collards an kale much less so)
. the same with many great sources of
anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories
(often just 100 ... 200 mg of buffer per 100 g food ).