Posts by Brenda Parker5

If you've got fibromyalgia, those small fiber nerve issues? They're almost certainly driven by an autoimmune response.

Source: https://www.jci.org/articles/view/144201

Pinpointing why your nerves are actually damaged—that's the real challenge. It could be anything from a vitamin deficiency or an autoimmune issue to a lingering virus or even diabetes. The key is treating the actual root cause; once you tackle that, your nerves can finally start to heal.

But honestly, that’s where most people get stuck... just trying to hunt down what the actual root cause is. Still, plenty of people have found it and managed to turn things around!

Evidence for Dietary Agmatine sulfat Effectiveness in Neuropathies Associated with Painful Small fiber Neuropathy. A Pilot Open-Label Consecutive Case Series Study

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7071502/

Jacob Lopez51

Maria Johnson said:Look, I’m not just talking out of my ass here—I’m being dead serious. I’ve spent a ton of time watching various health influencers who are out there actively promoting lithium, along with things like NAC and ALA, so I know exactly what's going on. Everything checks out with me.😉
If you're the type of person who actually wants to dig deep—like, really get into the weeds—you're going to stumble upon some seriously interesting stuff.😁

Yeah, lithium is exactly what I’m using. I went ahead and grabbed two bottles right away.




By the way, you should definitely check out those YouTube videos by Rhonda Patrick about sulforaphane—it’s seriously fascinating stuff. I ended up picking up some from Jarrow Formulas myself.

So, I was listening to Rhonda Patrick on Joe Rogan's podcast—she’s basically a genius when it comes to this stuff—and she mentioned that taking 6g of Omega-3 during pregnancy can really help with fetal brain development. We're talking about building an Einstein in the womb here... seriously.

I know you're just messing around, but honestly, so many people have this totally warped view of lithium because they're stuck thinking about those toxic psychiatric lithium carbonate pills. Real talk—lithium is basically brain fuel; it helps transport B12 to the brain and supports all your neurotransmitters, which is such a massive win.

For me, lithium orotate paired with pregabalin is my absolute go-to.

Lithium orotate and pregabalin are my mainstays.
It keeps my OCD in check and manages those bipolar manic episodes—mostly just the "shopping spree" kind of mania, lol.

If anyone’s on the hunt for some solid spirulina—honestly, I’ve tried a bunch—but these two are my go-tos:

Seriously, stay away from NAC in powder form. It’s just not worth the hassle.

I basically get pretty much all my supplements through iHerb.
By the way—collagen actually pairs perfectly with NAC. Since most collagen is packed with glycine, combining it with cysteine creates glutathione, which is hands down the strongest antioxidant out there.

This is easily the priciest supplement in my routine right now:
https://hr.iherb.com/pr/doctor-s-bes...gie-caps/23168

The only thing is, they already complained about not having the 5mg lithium in stock, so now I have to hunt it down from some specialty supplier over in Europe.

dustypilot11 said:A woman your weight could take this using their suggested 500mg dose—it even comes with a tiny little scoop inside.

Diana, honestly, MP is probably the worst thing you could pick up—one of their employees actually talked to me about their quality control, and yeah, it’s just bottom-tier stuff.
Also, taking NAC in powder form is a bad move—it's super harsh on the stomach and can totally wreck your tooth enamel, so stick to capsules or tablets if you want to do it right.

The NAC from NOW is way better than the rest because they include selenium for better absorption, plus it pulls in molybdenum to help out with antioxidant processes.

Maria Johnson said:Thanks Jacob Lopez51—did you deal with any side effects from taking NAC or ALA? I’m thinking about starting with a lower dose since I only weigh about 115 lbs. I don't have any fillings or history of cavities, so nothing to worry about there, but I’m still a little nervous about jumping straight into high doses.

Look, 600mg of ALA and 600mg of NAC are totally standard doses.
I haven't had any side effects at all.

For me, these supplements are basically non-negotiable—total nootropic essentials.
I grab the 600mg NAC from NOW, and for ALA, I go with a solid 600mg time-released version from Nature's Bounty (though personally, I take Doctor's Best 100mg R-ALA twice a day, which puts me closer to 1200mg total).

https://www.amazon.com/now-nac-600mg...
https://www.vitacost.com/alpha-lipoic-acid...

My advice? Take the ALA in the morning on an empty stomach, then hit the NAC after lunch along with some Vitamin C—like a glass of orange juice.
The NAC is great for clearing out your lungs, sinuses, and bronchi... honestly, if you're dealing with congestion, you might cough a bit at first while everything clears out. For me, once that happened, I could finally breathe easy for the first time in forever.

Maria Johnson said:I'm planning on starting NAC and ALA for the first time—so, which one should I go with? What are you guys taking, and have you dealt with any side effects?

What's the goal here? Because honestly, there aren't really side effects unless you’re dealing with amalgam fillings—in that case, ALA can actually shuttle mercury straight to your brain, which is a total nightmare. If you have those old-school fillings, just stick to NAC. Otherwise, both help boost glutathione levels. ALA is more geared toward managing diabetes and neuropathy, while NAC is better for psychological stuff—you know, things like anxiety and OCD.
Both are top-tier antioxidants.

Personally, I take both r-ALA and NAC every single day. I do 200mg of r-ALA and 1200mg of NAC (split into two 600mg doses).
The "r" version is a much more stable form of alpha lipoic acid—standard R-S isn't nearly as bioavailable, which is why most people just stick to the 600mg dose.

You might also want to pair them with 1 gram of ALCAR—acetyl L-carnitine.

https://nootropicsexpert.com/n-acetyl-l-cysteine/

https://nootropicsexpert.com/alpha-lipoic-acid/

https://nootropicsexpert.com/acetyl-l-carnitine/

It’s all super individual—honestly, some people probably get by just fine with nothing more than ashwagandha. It really just comes down to your specific brain chemistry.

Jeremy Bishop35 said:I haven't messed with the first and third options yet—which wild goat milk from Now Foods are we talking about? There’s way too much stuff floating around online, so I honestly have no clue which one actually holds up.

Look, you really can't go wrong with Now Foods. They're solid.

You should probably look into Cordyceps mushrooms too—and I'm betting you've already given KSM-66 Ashwagandha a shot.

Jeremy Bishop35 said:So, tell me—out of all that stuff, what’s actually the best for getting a libido back up to speed?

I'd go with horny goat weed, tribulus terrestris, and citrulline malate.

I forgot to mention—I’ve got this specific stack I’m running for small fiber neuropathy, plus it targets my anxiety, depression, mood swings, and those occasional bouts of possible bipolar mania. lol

Honestly, I feel like a beast with this setup! I used to be totally unmotivated and basically a zombie on psych meds—my brain felt way too sluggish and my motor skills were off—all without actually touching the root cause of the issue. With this, I’m tackling insulin resistance and my B1 levels, while keeping my immune system dialed up. It keeps EBV from flaring up, and it seems to have completely wiped out my H. pylori and Candida issues.

But the biggest thing? My brain is on a whole different level. It’s like that scene with Bradley Cooper in *Limitless*. Everything just feels effortless now; I can multitask like a pro. I can binge three series back-to-back and actually recall almost every single frame. Plus, all those intrusive thoughts and random nonsense? Blocked.

It’s like colors have more contrast now—for the last few years, it felt like someone turned down the saturation in my settings, but now the sharpness is perfectly calibrated. I’m watching shows constantly, listening to music, and hitting the gym harder than ever. Getting that deep, stable REM sleep is huge for me too, so I take a few things for that—L-theanine, Magnesium Glycinate, and Myo-Inositol.

I tried going without lithium before and I just crashed hard—my OCD came roaring back and I spiraled into self-destruction. This microdosing approach is easily the best thing that's happened for my hyperactive brain!

The infection has been removed,
The soul of this machine has improved.

I dropped the Black Cumin from my stack—it spikes my libido way too much and just messes with my OCD.
Back to my old reliable, Lithium. I took a break for about ten days, but I grabbed some yesterday and man, it totally slows down the racing thoughts and gets me right in the zone—just pure focus. Honestly, if people in India are getting lithium from their water all their whole lives, I can definitely handle some Pure Encapsulations lithium. XD

Bottom line: the way lithium hits glutamate and all those other neurotransmitters is incredibly powerful. It’s probably the strongest nootropic out there for tackling brain fog and OCD.
It's pretty obvious I probably have some mild bipolar tendencies, so lithium orotate works wonders for me. Since I definitely deal with mood swings, the combo of Pregabalin and lithium is easily the best thing I've found for stabilizing everything.

My classic post-lunch routine: 5mg lithium paired with 600mg NAC and 5g Myo-Inositol.


I’m only taking the Hericium at night. It helps me sleep, and besides, the heaviest neurogenesis happens while you're out cold anyway.

I also bumped my Taurine up to 6g—that’s the sweet spot to actually get that GABA effect.
After messing around with this stuff for a year, I’ve learned how to basically manipulate and swap these natural remedies and amino acids around depending on how my chemistry is feeling at the moment.

Some people claim NAC doesn't do anything for them when they're just sipping on 600mg. Meanwhile, others are taking 600mg three times a day. You really have to find your own soft spot.
For me, twice a day at 600mg works best, plus I take 200mg of NAC alongside the lithium. So, 1.4g of NAC daily is my magic number. It’s super important to take NAC with selenium (like the stuff from NOW) and to use OptiZinc (zinc methionine with a little copper).

If you ask me, the lithium orotate + NAC + Myo-Inositol combo is the ultimate stack for OCD, bipolar, and heavy depression.


There isn't a single person on this planet for whom this stack won't work five times better and harder than those limited SSRIs. You will definitely feel the difference.

Just wanted to give you guys a heads-up—I've got some agmatine sulfate headed my way from Columbia University in the USA.

This little-known nutrient could be a total game-changer for dealing with fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and neuropathy.

wanderingbadger0 said:I have low blood pressure, so this probably wouldn't be great for me.

Are there any side effects with curcumin? Anything specific I should watch out for?
From what I've read, it seems pretty safe to use—but I know you've done way more deep dives than I have, so you definitely know more than me.

And please, can you DM me a link to the curcumin you recommend (just the pure ingredient without all the extra stuff)?

In principle, there aren't really any reported issues, so it's generally considered safe.
Curcumin is incredibly important when dealing with neuropathy—it's seriously powerful.
Basically, anything that works for neuropathy is going to work for MS too.

wanderingbadger0 said:I don't jump in to comment all that often, but I really enjoy following your latest discoveries. Though, honestly, the thread title doesn't even make sense anymore since you aren't just talking about NAC.

So, let me ask you—what do you find this bolded stuff works best for?

I've been thinking about trying Curcumin for a while because I desperately need something anti-inflammatory. I'm looking for a way to ditch the standard anti-inflammatories since they absolutely wreck my stomach. As for Black Cumin, all I know is that it’s good for allergies.

Black seed oil modulates glutamate and blood sugar, acts as a powerful antihistamine, fights inflammation, kills bacteria, cleans up the lymphatic system, helps lower high blood pressure, and more.
Curcumin has some of the strongest antioxidant properties out there and actually helps with nerve regeneration. Personally, I take it in a combo with Lion's Mane.
It's a killer combo. Black Cumin is seriously underrated—it works wonders on GABA and has some opioid-like qualities, which makes it awesome for dropping cortisol and managing anxiety.

For instance, Black seed oil, Rhodiola, and Curcumin all share that same mechanism through MAOI receptors.
They are absolute powerhouses for brain health and neuroplasticity.

For me, Black seed oil has been the surprise of the year.
I can't recommend that Black seed oil/Curcumin combo from Life Extension enough. I'll probably be buying it for life!!

mistyscout34 said:We should probably just rename this thread "Pill Mania." Jacob Lopez51, man, this is getting totally overkill. 😛

It’s not overkill at all if you're protecting your liver with milk thistle and NAC.
Everything I'm taking targets blood sugar, calcium, the liver, or glutamate.

My insulin resistance is right on the edge—same goes for my B12 and folate levels. It's a classic MTHFR thing.
Based on my symptoms, it feels like small fiber neuropathy caused by diabetes (basically, the brain cells mishandling glucose) combined with chronically low B1.

Plus, my homocysteine and free calcium are elevated.

Think of this as a professional protocol. I'm fighting live small fiber neuropathy, so anything that helps metabolize glucose and lowers glutamate is basically gold to me.

So yeah, I'm definitely doubling down on NAC and 5g Myo-Inositol.

I even keep some lithium orotate on hand for certain situations—mostly when I feel a shopping mania coming on, haha.


Just ordered some methyl b12 and folate.


One of my absolute go-tos for anxiety:




Lions mane and Black seed oil/Curcumin are also incredibly solid for me.

To start my morning right, I take pregabalin, then a combo of R-ALA + Benfotiamine + ALCAR + methyl b12 (sublingual, tastes like cherry), and I'm ready to go.

The reality is, once I took control of my own regimen, I saw about a 70% improvement. When I was relying solely on pregabalin, I was barely scraping by at maybe 20%.

Honestly, these supplements have absolutely crushed the "best" meds for neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.

From what I've learned studying neuropsychiatry and neuroscience over the last year, I'm convinced that most neuropsychiatrists in the US couldn't teach me the basics. Maybe a specialist at the Mayo Clinic could, but that's about it.

And look, a neuropsychiatrist is the real deal—standard psychiatrists honestly don't have a clue. A neurologist will run an MRI or an EMG, tell you everything looks "within normal limits," and leave you hanging. By the time I show up with these symptoms, I need someone to actually look at five pages of lab work—especially the immunological stuff—just to have a real conversation. It's exhausting.

None of this is made up; there are plenty of PubMed studies backing this stuff.
For instance, ALA is used as a treatment for neuropathy in Germany, but nobody here in the States is ever going to mention it to you.
That’s why Reddit is basically my doctor and nootropic expert, along with Joseph Mercola, Dr. Berg, Andrew Huberman, Rhonda Patrick, and even Joe Rogan. XDD

Post-COVID management approach: https://blackbeltwhitehat.com/2021/1...event-man-flu/

* Update** (July 12, 2021) Honestly, I'm starting to think I might be dealing with long COVID—it's been 16 months now. I've suspected it, but lately, I'm convinced I also have ME/CFS... I really hit home on that about a week after my last post. I guess I knew it was a possibility, but I didn't truly grasp how heavy this could get, the scale of it, or just how many different symptoms come with the territory.

I've been dealing with a bunch of other stuff over the last few months, but most of those seem to be slowly fading—things like insomnia, racing heart, hormonal imbalances, libido issues, stomach problems, and even some stress/anxiety stuff like that pins and needles sensation. Before this, I'd already cut out most dairy, gluten, processed junk, boxed meals, and sugar. I also started tapering off my histamines very gradually about 6 weeks back.

Since my absolute rock bottom back in early 2021, I'd say I've managed to pull through about 60% of the way.

Every single one of my vitamins comes from Thorne Research.

Foundational

• Thorne Advanced Nutrients, Multivitamins. Foundational. (I usually stick to 6 instead of 8) • Co Q10 Q Best 100 (Foundational, Brain/Nerves & Heart/Vessels) • Calcium & Magnesium (Foundational, Muscle/Tendons, Bone Support) • Vitamin D (Foundational, Immune, & Bone Support) • Glycine (Foundational, Stress, & Liver Detox) • L-Lysine (Foundational & Immune Support) • PolyResveratrol-SR (Foundational & Healthy Aging) • Zinc (Foundational & Mood Support) • Minerals (Foundational) • Taurine (Foundational, Heart/Vessel, Liver/Detox)

GI Support

• Artecin (GI Support & Immune System) • L-Glutamine (GI Support, Sports Performance, & Wound/Injury) • Boswellia Photosome (GI Support, Joint Support, & Respiratory Support) • Flora Sport 20B Multi-Strain Probiotic

Brain/ Nerves

• Alpha-Lipoic Acid (Brain/Nerves & Liver/Detox) • L-Carnitine (Brain/Nerves & Heart/Vessels) • Super EPA & DPA (Brain/Nerves, Heart/Vessels, & Muscles/Tendons) • Memoractive (Brain/Nerves) • Neurochondria

Sleeping Supplements

• Iso-Phos (Sleep, Brain/Nerves, & Stress) • Magnesium • PharmaGaba (Sleep, Sports Performance, & Stress) • Melaton (Sleep & Wound/Injury)

Mood

• 5-Hydroxytryptophan (Sleep & Mood) • L-Tyrosine (Mood & Thyroid Support) • Deproloft-HF (Mood & Stress)

Immune Support

• Moducare (Immune Support) • Vitamin C (Immune Support & Foundational) • Phytogen (Immune Support) • Olive Leaf Extract (Immune Support) Respiratory Support • Quercetin Photosome (Respiratory Support & Foundational) • Perilla Extract (this is pretty much the only thing I take that isn't from Thorne.

Women’s Health

• Meta Balance (menopause formula) I heard the pycnogenol in this was a good call for post-COVID. It also has chaste tree extract, wild yam, and black cohosh extract.

Healthy Aging

• ReserveCel (Healthy Aging/Metabolism)

Energy

• Phytisone (Energy & Stress)

Liver Detox

• NAC N-Acetylcysteine (Liver/Detox & Respiratory Support) • Glutathione-SR (Liver Detox & Foundational)

Joint Support

• Glucosamine & Chondroitin (Joint Support) Thinking about dropping this one. • Meriva SF Curcumin (Joint Support, Liver/Detox, & GI Support) I take this specifically for inflammation. Muscles/Tendons • M.F. Bromelain (Muscles/Tendons & Wound Injury) • Phytoptofen (Muscles/Tendons) • AR Encap (Muscles/Tendons & Joint Support) Thinking about dropping this one too.

Heart / Vessel

• Berberine-500 (Heart / Vessel & Metabolism)

Metabolism

• Diabenil (Metabolism) — honestly, I threw this in there because it’s got bilberry extract, which really helps with CFS.

Circulation

• O.P.C. 100 — I added this one too, specifically to tackle the CFS side of things.

Probiotics

• Pure Encapsulations PureGG 25B (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) • Thorne Research FloraSport 20B Multi-Strain Probiotic

I also jumped on those Autophagy & Sod Powders a couple of weeks back. To be real, I haven't felt a massive shift from them quite yet.

Regarding CFS: I've basically just stacked Diabenil, O.P.C. 100, and a few other supplements into the mix.

Myo - Inositol is hands down the best supplement for OCD—honestly, it works wonders for neuropathy too. A solid therapeutic dose is around 8-9 grams.