current medication and diet

Diet: Oats in morning and night; rice, vegetables and fish curry and one piece of sliced fish either fried or curry cooked.

Medications:
Morning: one tablet of Multi B + C after breakfast
Night: two capsules of mega-3, 1/2 tablet of folic acid 5 mg, 1/4 tablet of thiamine mononitrate 100 mg

This combination gives good balance between fluent speech, mood, focus, concentration and energy. In this combination, folic acid appears to be responsible for the improvement in mood. If I don't take folic acid, then dullness and negative thoughts start appearing.

Update on 18 Feb 2018:

Diet:
Morning: 1-2 Wheat dosa/Ragi dosa + 1 Egg (Organic selenium enriched - 44 mcg of selenium per 100 g of egg; each egg approximately weighs around 60 - 80 g)
Lunch: Rice + Two vegetables + 1 egg (normal egg - no selenium enriched)
Dinner: 1-2 Wheat/Ragi Dosa + 1 Apple + 1 Orange

Medications:
Morning: 1 capsule of Blackmore Multivitamins + Minerals; 1 capsule of Blackmore Vitamin D3 1000 mcg; 25 mg of Thiamine mononitrate
Night: 25 mg of Thiamine mononitrate; 1 capsule of 500 mg of L-Tryptophan

Effects: Thiamine mononitrate used to worsen the cold intolerance. That means, If I take thiamine mononitrate, I used to feel very cold whenever the temperature goes below 25 deg C. This effect seems to be countered by intake of L-tryptophan. The sugar intake (sugar added in tea - morning and evening) seems to decrease the frequency of vocal blocks. The most effect is experienced when the refined white sugar is taken. This clearly indicates that there could be some impairment of tryptophan transport into the brain. It appears that effective tryptophan transport across blood brain barrier requires significant amount of insulin to clear the other large neutral amino acids. However, there appears to be no problem with the phenylalanine and tyrosine transport into the brain. However, this cannot be concluded.

Probiotics and increased focus and concentration

Lactobacillus reuteri consumption increased testosterone levels.

References:

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0084877

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24392159

I consumed probiotic capsule from 21st Century for 10 days (1 capsule a day in the morning after breakfast)

21st Century Probiotics contains 8 billion “friendly bacteria”, of four types :
 
Lactobacillus Acidophilus - 2 billion cfu/100mg
Lactobacillus Salivarius - 2 billion cfu/100mg
Bifidobacterium Bifidum - 2 billion cfu/100mg
Streptococcus Thermophilus - 2 billion cfu/100mg


The positive effects:

1. Increased and sustained focus and concentration
2. Increase in working memory

Negative effects
1. Decreased speed while walking
2. Decreased libido
3. Slightly worsened stuttering

Ginseng extracts and their effects

Major species of ginseng

Korean red ginseng - Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer Root

American Ginseng - Pananx quinquefolium

Siberian ginseng - Eleutherococcus senticosus

Generally, in Korean ginseng, roots are used. They are off white in colour. Traditional method of preparation includes steaming of the roots and sun drying. This process changes the color to red.

Major bioactivities of ginseng species

Korean red ginseng - Antistress, adaptogen, aphrodisiac

American ginseng - Antistress, adaptogen, increases working memory

Siberian ginseng - No evidence based

Standardised extracts of Korean red ginseng - Panax ginseng

Ginseng extract IDB - ≥7.0% of ginsenosides and malonylginsenosides ≥0.9% ≤1.4% of Rg1 ≥1.7% ≤3.0% of Rb1 by HPLC - Proviton multivitamin contains ginseng extract IDB 50 mg

Ginseng extract G115 - < 4% ginsenosides - Pharmaton capsules/caplets contain 40 mg

Panax Ginseng root extract - BioLife's Premiton contains 100 mg (8% ginsenosides)


Update on Nov 2019:
Effects:

I had taken Pharmaton multivitamin capsules with ginseng for 3 weeks. It caused me mainly gabergic effects. Almost similar effects were obtained when I was taking Revital capsules.


Positive effects:

• Less stuttering
• Reduced anxiety

Negative effects:

• Increased sleepiness
• Reduced motivation
• Reduced Libido
• Reduced focus and concentration
• Unable to complete any tedious work

 

Effect of atorvastatin (statin) on serum cholesterol level, mood, stuttering and energy

For the last three and half months, I have been taking atorvastatin 10 mg (Lipivas). I used to take it after dinner as recommended. Overall, the effect is good in terms of total cholesterol and LDL reduction. It reduced both total cholesterol and LDL-C to 40% of its previous levels.

Negative effects:
1. Increased anxiety and low mood
2. Increased stuttering
3. Increased sleepiness
4. Lack of focus and concentration

Positive effects:
1. Slightly increased libido with more lubrication
2. Slightly more strong erections

Sometimes, I have to take tryptophan 500 mg to increase fluent speech. Also, I have to take it in the afternoon to dampen its effect next morning. When it is combined with a multivitamin tablet/capsule, the stuttering was more pronounced. Lack of sleep increased the stuttering in this set up.

Food items and their impact on neurotransmitters

Whenever I consume the following foods items, I experience the following feelings.

1. Refined sugar - increased stuttering
2. Brown sugar/Jaggery - slightly increased stuttering
3. Full cream milk powder - reduced anxiety
4. Roasted ground nut with/without skin - Reduced anxiety/slightly increased energy/Slightly reduced stuttering
5. Roasted green peas - Increased stuttering
6. Butter consumption at dinner - slightly increased energy next morning, reduced stuttering next day
7. No sugar consumption - wrinkles on nails, dry skin, easy bruisability of skin, increased vocal blocks, reduced loudness of voice, good initiation to start a work, good concentration and focus to remain in a task

Sore throat and runny nose cured - acid reflux

15 March 2018

I had a sore throat yesterday. I felt like something is cutting my throat. Also, I had running nose and felt mildly feverish. I had taken chicken (shawarma chicken+ curry cooked chicken) 3 times from day before yesterday until yesterday lunch. Also, I had taken thalisaadi vadagam tablets (1 tablet 3 times a day) from yesterday morning. Today morning, I am surprised to find no running nose and no sore throat and cutting feeling in throat. The same condition persisted until today evening indicating the curing of sore throat and runny nose. Thalisadi vadagam (syn: thaaleesaadhi vadagam) tablets is a Siddha formulation consists mainly ginger powder and long pepper.

Update on 1 Aug 2021:

Whenever I visit India, I eat spicy home cooked food. This increases acid reflux. Also, I sleep with different pillows which enhances acid reflux. This time also, it happened. I got sore throat and runny nose. I was afraid of Covid-19. I took azithromycin 500 mg once daily for six days. But, I had no fever and no body pain. Even after 3 days, the sore throat and runny nose did not decrease significantly. Also, whenever I bow down for prayer, I get cough. I consulted  a doctor. She suspected upper respiratory tract infection and asked to continue  azithromycin and prescribed cough syrup and antihistamines. I realized that the sore throat could be due to acid reflux and not due to infection. But, still, I continued the azithromycin tablet until its 6th day. I took Gaviscon gel after each meal. This helped fast curing of sore throat. This is clearly indicating that my frequent sore throat perhaps due to acid reflux and not due to infection. The treatment for acid reflux is taking proton pump inhibitors for long term. However, this may lead to dysbiosis in intestine. Hence, it is recommended to take Gaviscon gel after each meal to protect the throat from acid reflux. 

Recommendations:

1. Never eat full stomach

2. Avoid foods that can increase belching and acid reflux (oily food, onion etc)

3. Sleep with raised pillows always.

4. Do regular exercise to improve the tone of all muscles