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drritamarie · 5 months

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Cordyceps Benefits: Nature’s Functional Powerhouse

In the realm of functional medicine, the exploration of natural remedies often leads practitioners to unearth hidden treasures with powerful health benefits. One such gem is Cordyceps, a unique fungus that has been revered in traditional medicine for centuries. In this comprehensive guide, I dive into the intricacies of the benefits of Cordyceps, unraveling their importance and exploring their diverse uses in functional medicine.

Understanding Cordyceps and Its Wonders

Botanical Background of Cordyceps:

Cordyceps is a genus of parasitic fungi that traditionally infect insects, transforming them into a fungal hybrid. The most well-known species, Cordyceps Sinensis, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for its purported health benefits.

The life cycle of Cordyceps begins with spores landing on an insect host, often caterpillars of various moth species or other arthropods. Upon contact, the spores germinate and penetrate the host's body. As the fungus infiltrates the insect, it begins its transformative process, gradually taking over the host's tissues. As it grows, Cordyceps derive nutrients from the host while releasing enzymes that alter the host's physiology and behavior.

Remarkably, as the fungus matures, it manipulates the host to move to an elevated position before ultimately killing it. This strategic manipulation aids in the dispersal of spores, as the elevated position facilitates their spread upon the host's death.

From a botanical perspective, Cordyceps showcases remarkable adaptability and diversity. It belongs to the Ascomycota phylum and encompasses numerous species, each exhibiting distinct traits and preferences for specific host organisms. This diversity allows different Cordyceps species to thrive worldwide in various ecological niches and geographic locations.

Cordyceps Sinensis, commonly referred to as “Caterpillar fungus” or “Dong Chong Xia Cao” in Chinese, holds a significant place in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). For centuries, it has been valued for its potential health benefits, believed to enhance vitality, support the immune system, and promote overall wellness. Its usage in TCM is rooted in historical records and folklore, with practitioners often incorporating it into tonics, teas, or herbal remedies.

Modern scientific studies have explored the bioactive compounds within Cordyceps, revealing potential pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. This has sparked interest in its potential applications for various health conditions, although further research is ongoing to elucidate its mechanisms and therapeutic potential fully.

Bioactive Compounds of Cordyceps:

Rich in bioactive compounds such as cordycepin, polysaccharides, and beta-glucans, cordyceps exhibit potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties.

Polysaccharides constitute another vital group of bioactive compounds within Cordyceps. These complex carbohydrates play a significant role in the fungus's biological activities and therapeutic potential. Cordyceps polysaccharides possess immunomodulatory properties, stimulating the immune system's response by enhancing the activities of immune cells like macrophages, T cells, and natural killer cells. Additionally, they exhibit antioxidant properties, scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress, thereby potentially mitigating cellular damage and inflammation.

Beta-glucans, a type of polysaccharide, represent another essential component in Cordyceps' bioactive profile. These molecules contribute significantly to the fungus's immunomodulatory effects, activating immune cells and enhancing the body's defense mechanisms against infections and diseases. Beta-glucans interact with specific receptors on immune cells, triggering a cascade of responses that bolster the immune system's ability to combat pathogens and maintain overall health.

The synergistic action of these bioactive compounds in Cordyceps mushrooms contributes to their multifaceted therapeutic potential. Studies have indicated the fungus' efficacy in supporting immune function, reducing inflammation, scavenging free radicals, and potentially combating various ailments, including respiratory disorders, cardiovascular conditions, and even certain types of lung cancer.

Research into Cordyceps' bioactive compounds continues to unveil their mechanisms of action and potential applications in medicine. While promising, further investigations are necessary to fully understand the complexities of these compounds and their interactions within the human body, paving the way for developing novel therapeutic agents derived from Cordyceps.

Vitamins, Nutrients, and Minerals in Cordyceps

Cordyceps is a fascinating fungus known for its potential health benefits. While it's not a direct source of vitamins like fruits or vegetables, it contains a variety of bioactive compounds that contribute to its therapeutic properties. Here are some of the key vitamins and nutrients found in cordyceps:

Polysaccharides – Cordyceps is rich in polysaccharides, complex carbohydrates that exhibit immune-modulating effects. These compounds are believed to contribute to the fungus's adaptogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Cordycepin – Cordycepin is a nucleoside analog found in cordyceps. It has been studied for its potential anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. Cordycepin is known to interfere with RNA synthesis in certain pathogens.

Adenosine – Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that plays a role in energy transfer and is involved in various physiological processes. Cordyceps contains adenosine, contributing to its potential energy-boosting effects.

Beta-Glucans – Beta-glucans are a type of polysaccharide found in the cell walls of cordyceps. These compounds are known for their immune-modulating effects, helping to regulate the immune system's response.

Amino Acids – Cordyceps contains various amino acids, including essential and non-essential ones. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and they play crucial roles in various physiological processes, including muscle repair and neurotransmitter synthesis.

Vitamins and Minerals:

While Cordyceps themselves are not a significant source of vitamins or minerals, they can contain trace amounts of these nutrients depending on their growing conditions. Some studies suggest the presence of small amounts of vitamins B1, B2, and B12, as well as minerals like zinc and selenium.

Enzymes – Cordyceps may contain enzymes that could aid in digestion and other metabolic processes. Enzymes are essential for breaking down nutrients into forms that the body can absorb and utilize.

Sterols – Sterols are compounds with a structure similar to cholesterol. Cordyceps may contain sterols, and some research suggests that they may contribute to the fungus's cholesterol-lowering effects.

Health Benefits of Cordyceps

Enhanced Energy and Stamina – Cordyceps is renowned for its ability to enhance energy production by improving oxygen utilization. It is good to explore its potential in addressing fatigue and promoting endurance and exercise performance, making it a valuable ally for athletes and individuals with chronic fatigue issues.

Immunomodulation – The immunomodulatory effects of Cordyceps can be harnessed to support the immune system. Consider its use in managing autoimmune conditions or as an adjunct to conventional therapies.

Respiratory Health – Cordyceps are historically associated with respiratory health, with potential applications in conditions such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. Its bronchodilator effects and anti-inflammatory properties make it a candidate for integrative respiratory care.

Adaptogenic Properties – As adaptogens, Cordyceps help the body adapt to stressors, supporting the adrenal glands and mitigating the impact of chronic stress. This makes it relevant for functional medicine approaches to stress management and adrenal fatigue.

Antioxidant Defense – Cordyceps' antioxidant properties contribute to cellular defense against oxidative stress. It is good to explore using cordyceps as a supplement to combat inflammation and oxidative damage implicated in various chronic diseases.

Cordyceps as a Heart Health Supplement

Cordyceps is known for aiding in heart health by positively affecting blood lipid levels and addressing irregular heart rhythms, known as arrhythmia.

Elevated levels of fats in the bloodstream, termed hyperlipidemia, significantly increase the risk of heart disease. A comprehensive analysis in 2020, reviewing various studies, highlighted cordycepin, the primary bioactive compound in cordyceps, for its potential to reduce the accumulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in animals. This suggests a promising avenue for managing lipid levels associated with heart health.

Moreover, a study in 2021 examined CM1, a polysaccharide derived from Cordyceps militaris, and found its effectiveness in reducing blood lipid levels in hamsters. Polysaccharides, the primary water-soluble components within Cordyceps, are believed to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which could positively impact heart health by addressing lipid imbalances.

It's important to note that these findings stem from animal research, and caution is warranted when extrapolating these results to human health due to potential differences in biological responses between animals and humans.

Despite these caveats, a thorough review in 2022 encompassing nineteen trials involving 1,805 patients reported that Cordyceps demonstrated effectiveness in regulating abnormal heart rates, particularly in patients with arrhythmia. This suggests a potential therapeutic role in managing irregular heartbeats.

However, it's crucial to acknowledge the limitations of the existing research. All the trials reviewed were conducted in China and had relatively small sample sizes, raising concerns about potential geographical bias and the need for broader, more diverse studies.

Further comprehensive studies involving human subjects from diverse demographics and geographic regions are essential to validating the efficacy and safety of cordyceps supplements in supporting human heart health. These investigations will provide clearer insights into the potential benefits and appropriate usage of cordyceps as a supplement for heart-related conditions.

Cordyceps as Herbal Medicine for Blood Sugar Management

Cordyceps may be useful for managing diabetes and insulin resistance, a condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels that rank as the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.

Research conducted on animals suggests that extracts derived from Cordyceps militaris may offer beneficial effects in lowering blood sugar levels. This decrease in blood sugar levels is believed to occur through the enhancement of glucose metabolism, optimizing the body's efficiency in processing sugars obtained from the foods we consume. Additionally, Cordyceps extracts might hold promise in shielding against nerve damage, a prevalent complication associated with diabetes.

Furthermore, a recent study conducted in 2023 observed that Cordyceps militaris, alongside cordycepin, could potentially regulate blood sugar levels in mice suffering from diabetes. This regulation might be attributed to the improvement in gut bacteria balance, suggesting a potential avenue for managing diabetes by influencing gut health.

Additionally, insights from another study involving rats with diabetes highlighted further potential benefits of Cordyceps. This study suggested that Cordyceps might have a role in enhancing sexual desire by increasing testosterone production while concurrently reducing oxidative stress, factors that could potentially influence sexual health in those with diabetes.

Nevertheless, it's crucial to approach these findings cautiously, considering their derivation from animal studies. Directly applying these outcomes to human health might not yield identical results due to inherent differences in biological responses between animals and humans.

Cordyceps Mushrooms' Potential in Chronic Kidney Disease

Fungi, renowned for its potential health benefits, has garnered interest in its relation to chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time.

Several studies and traditional medicinal practices suggest that Cordyceps may have potential implications for kidney health:

Renal Protection: Cordyceps is believed to possess properties that could potentially protect the kidneys from damage. Some research indicates its ability to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the kidneys, which are common factors contributing to kidney injury and CKD progression.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects: Compounds found in Cordyceps exhibit antioxidant properties, which help combat harmful molecules known as free radicals. By reducing oxidative stress, Cordyceps may aid in protecting kidney cells from damage. Additionally, its anti-inflammatory effects could potentially alleviate inflammation in the kidneys, contributing to renal health.

Blood Pressure Regulation: Cordyceps might have a role in regulating blood pressure, which is crucial in managing CKD. High blood pressure can exacerbate kidney damage, and some studies suggest that Cordyceps may help lower blood pressure levels, potentially benefiting individuals with CKD.

Immune Modulation: Cordyceps is known for its immunomodulatory effects, which could potentially support kidney health. It may assist in modulating the immune system, reducing inflammation and immune responses that contribute to kidney damage in CKD.

Renal Function Enhancement: Limited studies indicate that Cordyceps might have a positive impact on renal function. It may help improve certain markers of kidney function, although more robust clinical trials are necessary to confirm these effects conclusively.

Despite these promising indications, it's essential to approach Cordyceps' role in CKD cautiously. Comprehensive research, particularly human clinical trials focusing specifically on CKD, is crucial to validate these potential benefits and determine optimal dosages and safety profiles.

Application in Functional Medicine:

Individualized Protocols – Functional practitioners can tailor Cordyceps supplementation to individual needs, considering factors such as clinical aspects such as client health status, specific health goals, and potential interactions with other interventions.

Synergistic Approaches – Cordyceps can be integrated into holistic plans, working synergistically with other functional medicine modalities such as nutrition, lifestyle interventions, and targeted supplementation.

For Further Education

You can explore more podcast episodes on various related topics at ReInvent Healthcare and find my latest Cordyceps recipe here.

I'm on a mission to reinvent healthcare. Health practitioners, click here to learn more and join the movement!

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health-and-fitness-care · 5 months

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High blood pressure system and causes information

Increased blood pressure in the arteries is a medical disease known as hypertension, or high blood pressure. It’s a vital component of cardiovascular health that has broad effects on general wellbeing. This illness usually takes time to manifest, and until problems happen, it frequently remains asymptomatic.High blood pressure is caused by a number of variables, such as underlying medical…

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mysuitcasejudgeturtle · 2 years

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The Kidney Disease Solution - Kidney Disease Solution REVIEW – Warning K...

#youtube #the kidney disease solution #the kidney disease solution review

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supplementsreviewss · 2 years

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The Chronic Kidney Disease Solution Reviews

The Chronic Kidney Disease Solution Reviews Hello readers, I am here with The Chronic Kidney Disease Solution reviews. Since you already know that this e-book has become quite popular in the market because of its high demand, you must know what the hype is actually all about. The Chronic Kidney Disease Solution e-book is a natural guide that will help you mentally as well as physically. You must…

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#chronic kidney disease solution reviews #the chronic kidney disease solution #the chronic kidney disease solution book #the chronic kidney disease solution book review #the chronic kidney disease solution reviews

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scientia-rex · 9 months

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I also spend a lot of time trying to convince people to prevent problems, because prevention still works better than cures. Don't fucking smoke! I would instantly become the best doctor who ever lived if I could just convince all my patients to quit smoking. Avoid alcohol! Don't do meth! Don't do fentanyl! Things that are poisons will poison you in ways you understand, in the short term, but also ways you can't really understand until you've watched dozens of people die from it thirty years later, struggling to breathe from their COPD or weak and nauseated beyond bearing from their end-stage liver disease. I watched a man take 3 weeks in the ICU to die from what meth did to his heart. Your heart isn't meant to beat 145 times a minute for weeks on end. Your liver isn't meant to metabolize 5 shots of gin a day. You aren't going to be able to use denial and willpower to repair the damage your own habits did.

I drink a lot less now than I did before I went into medicine. Lot of different reasons, including that I'm older and more settled. But I can't look at it the same way I used to; I can't brush off as a "fun quirk" what I know is alcohol use on a level that risks withdrawal seizures if they were to suddenly stop, like some of my family members do, nervously asking me about their loved one's drinking when we're alone because beneath the jokes they know it's a problem.

If you're having more than one, maybe two drinks a day on average, over a long period of time, you are damaging your body in ways you don't understand. You're setting up a permanent heightened inflammatory state. Your heart cells don't like alcohol; Google "alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy." Your esophagus and stomach respond to incessant bathing in poison by first developing wounds and then cancer. Your liver, of course, doesn't like it. Your liver not only converts poisons to harmless substances you can excrete, it also makes your platelets, so your blood can clot. It makes albumin, a protein that's essentially for keeping water in your blood vessels and not letting it leach into your tissues. So people who are dying of liver failure are in pain and weak and tired and sad the whole fucking time! And the only solution, a liver transplant, will come with a lifetime of medication and specialist check-ups and the knowledge that if you fuck up and kill this liver, too, no one is going to be eager to give you another try.

I don't guilt-trip my alcoholic patients with liver disease. I don't guilt-trip my smokers with COPD. They chose to cope with substances for reasons, even if I disagree with their reasons, even if those reasons are opaque to me. They will suffer the natural consequences of those actions whether I guilt-trip them or not. I want them to continue to see me, I want them to be honest with me. Other people will lay enough guilt on them. And nothing I can say or do would ever compare to the physical and mental suffering that goes with those diseases.

But if you can prevent these diseases in yourself, prevent them. Quit smoking. Do it now. Your lungs are going to look better starting almost immediately, with positive changes continuing for many years. Drink less alcohol. Sure, it's fun, sure, it's a longstanding human tradition, but it is also unfortunately a straight up poison and your body knows that no matter how persuasively you argue about the obvious failure of Prohibition. You can't argue with a cell. You can't convince your kidneys that high blood pressure shouldn't damage them. They are a system; they do what they do; they existed long before prefrontal cortex existed to justify what we want to do but know to be harmful.

#the attending dr. kristophine

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derinthescarletpescatarian · 4 months

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hey! so i hope this isn’t too creepy/nosey, but im a medical student and i was reading your possible fibromyalgia post and have a couple ideas lol. full important disclaimer that im only partly into my studies and im currently in the hypochondriac phase and also your summary was amazing but a real doc would ask way more questions, so please consult with an actual doc and take everything i say with a grain of salt! but like your symptoms aren’t nothing so i would def encourage finding a doc that you trust to do a proper exam and run some tests. also im operating under the assumption that you’re under 50 lol, bc if you’re over 50ish that’s a whole diff list of possible diagnoses.

so the thirst thing you’re talking about is often called polydipsia and is commonly associated with diabetes insipidus. that’s not the normal diabetes you think about, but happens when your body can’t regulate fluids in your body properly. id think of this if you’re also peeing a lot lol. your doc would have to do some kidney tests for that, which wouldn’t be part of the blood panel you mentioned. i’m a little skeptical that it’s hypokalemia bc that would’ve showed up on your blood test results. it could be transient electrolyte imbalances when you exercise so have one of those electrolyte packets when you exercise lol, bc it never hurts to try the easy solutions first, but chronic low potassium should’ve shown up? tho eating sweet potatoes has never hurt.

other things it could be is a lower motor neuron problem bc you mentioned twitches and muscle weakness which is typical for those. i def can’t say more without tests, but look into/get your doc to look into myasthenia gravis or LEMS and see if either of those fit. i think it’s possible bc these often also start with face/upper body symptoms, but would need way more questions/tests to know. it’s unlikely but could also be a glycogen storage disease called McArdle disease bc you describe a second wind thing when you exercise along with exercise intolerance. that’s super rare tho so it’s unlikely unless someone in your family has it/has similar symptoms.

also look into autoimmune stuff like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and sjögrens disease. i have way less useful info on that bc we haven’t gotten to it in class yet lol, but sjögrens looks promising bc you often get dry mouth with it, and it often goes along with rheumatoid arthritis which could explain the joint stuff possibly.

it’s also totally possible this is fibromyalgia, but i would be cautious diagnosing it bc it often comes with fatigue and cognitive stuff which you didn’t mention. it’s also more of a pain thing, and doesn’t include your twitches/dry mouth. it’s def possible, and it was def something i thought of when i saw your symptoms, but personally i would want to rule out other stuff first bc fibromyalgia is pretty vague and often a diagnosis of exclusion when other things don’t fit.

sorry for overwhelming you!! i just saw your post and was like hmmm those symptoms sound like Something. again take my advice with a big grain of salt, but i do really think it’s worth asking your doc about it and getting tests done, bc even if there aren’t cures there are def treatments to help with a bunch of this stuff. it doesn’t sound urgent, but at least from your post your symptoms don’t sound like run of the mill aches and pains. hope you figure stuff out!!

The problem with 'muscles don't work right ouchy and I am also tired' is that it's a symptom for Absolutely Everything That Can Be Wrong With The Body. Is it cancer? Is it a terrible diet and sleep schedule? Who knows!

The doctor ran a diabetes test with the blood panel and it came up negative, but I don't know if that checks for weird kinds of diabetes. (Diabetes does not run in my family until we get very old.) That test was memorable because I have stupid fragile veins that freak out and collapse at the mere sight of a needle so I had to get stabbed nine times, they didn't manage to get the middle reading at all, and in the end they resorted to just stabbing my thumb with one of those diabetes home blood test thingies and manually squeezing my blood out into a tube drop by drop.

I looked up polydipsia and I don't think I have that. I think I just prefer my mouth to be wetter than my salival glands want it to be. 🤷‍♀️I think most of my problems are probably not related to any rare chronic disease, but just run-of-the-mill autism making it hard to look after myself or properly notice and process my physical condition and adapt accordingly. I don't eat enough fresh foods because it's hard to plan with the very short timeframe to prepare and eat them in. I'm uncoordinated and damage my body a lot through overwork or using muscles incorrectly because autism makes it hard to keep track of those things. My mouth feels dry and my skin feels itchy and my muscles feel sore because that's what being autistic feels like. My sleep schedule is garbage because my executive function is garbage and even once I do manage to get myself into the bed I can't just "go to sleep", I pass out when I'm ready to pass out.

I'm not saying it's impossible for anything else to be going on, but I think the known factor is the simplest explanation here. It's 2:30pm and I've been putting off breakfast for five hours. Every time I go into the kitchen I get distracted by housework instead. I am very hungry. This is not behaviour that is conducive to a well-functioning body.

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starrmarr · 2 months

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Just woke up. Can’t wait to finish getting my degree(s) and work in cognitive psych research and wherever else life takes me in my mission to expose how psychiatry, and clinical pharmapsychology, is a money-grab pseudoscience that has everyone by the balls. The doctors of TikTok will be so mad, the feds will be listening, I will keep publishing. Y’all are gonna have to kill me. Everyone has a mental illness now, not even realizing how much it’s all a byproduct of advertising. “De-stigmatizing” my ass, you’re a customer. Psychiatry is inherently fascist and cultish. They never did a test for the “chemical imbalance” they said you have, did they? They “just know”, because their Bible tells them so, and so on and so forth. Once you are named, the authority to hold you against your will is handed over as your privacy is violated. You are never given clear instructions for recovery either, despite the “YEARS of research proving your illness”— kindness and responsibility towards yourself involve prioritizing your daily dose, presumably for life. Mischief managed. Kidney failure or thyroid disease because of all the lithium you take? Solution: another doctor, another cocktail.

Diagnoses work like activation phrases. There is a mental illness for believing you have a mental illness when you don’t— imagine that. A doctor once told me, when I was at the height of crisis, that it is difficult to know whether highly intelligent people are sick or not— that’s when I knew, I took control ever since. With that being said, a lot of what people experience is real, that isn’t what I’m trying to say. We just aren’t as helpless as they make us seem. Whatever. So much to do. I’m gonna be the female Szasz of my generation. We’re gonna get fucking freeeee! My psychiatrist has no explanation for my remission, I’m bi-winning and sometimes I flush my Adderall down the toilet. Sometimes I take it when I need to be a zombie, for the sake of others, of course.

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everlastiingiimmortals · 3 months

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(Some of) The Achievements of Dr. Ratio

And Elaborations on Their Significance: A Review

As transcribed from the Keeping Up with Star Rail video because that shit was hard to read

Medicine: Developed serum for lithogenesis, completely lifting the shadow of the "King of Diseases"

Philosophy: Published What is Knowledge, acclaimed as the "ultimate answer to all 'epistemological' questions."

Natural Theology: Published the work Aeons: A Natural Phenomenon, hailed as the "most sacred prophet of Aeon non-theism."

Mathematics: Published a paper entitled "A Solution to the Marta-Cishian Undirected Connectivity Problem in Metric Spaces," successfully solving three of the "Seven Challenges in Contemporary Mathematics" left by Genius Society #56, Elias Salas.

Physics: Established the Ratio Unified Field Theory, thoroughly elucidating the spaciotemporal discrete structure that was once obscure to humanity.

Computer Science: Published a paper entitled "Existence Proof of the Fyangu Function," opening the doors to solving numerous problems in computer science.

Engineering: Led the research on the Energy Black-Body Radiation Generator, resolving the energy crisis of the century (multiple Amber Eras).

Biology: Published papers on "The Neurobiological Mechanisms of the Nesting Behavior of Witherflies" and "The Metabolism of the Ahriman Archaea." As Genius Society member #55 Yu Qingtu once said, these two papers "accelerated the scientific world's understanding of species evolution by 1000 years."

This sounds like a load of honky, right? Yeah. So let's break it down and address what we can here. Keep in mind that while I am a biologist (officially, in five months) and intimately familiar with evolution and ecology, I know Very Fucking Little about everything else! I am looking into sources while I go through this.

So, the first thing: what is lithogenesis?

Looking into the breakdown of the word, we can split it into its prefix particle and the suffix particle: 'litho' and 'genesis'. The prefix 'litho-' refers to stones, such as in lithiasis, which is the pathological creation of stones (like kidney stones) in the body. -genesis refers, obviously, to the beginning, development, or production of something, such as in osteogenesis, the production of bone. But if lithiasis already exists, then what might lithogenesis mean? Given that it is referred to as the King of Diseases (which is another interesting note), my guess is that it is perhaps a more literal version of scleroderma (an autoimmune disease that causes the skin to thicken and harden), where the skin or other parts of the body literally turns to stone. This is significant for another reason, which is that Ratio is Greek (as well as Roman, but we'll get into the points of his character design with another post). Some of the most famous monsters of Greek mythology are the Gorgons, of which Medusa is the most notorious. What did the Gorgons do? Turn people to stone. I'd like to propose that lithogenesis is perhaps a degenerative disease that previously had no cure in which the body undergoes accelerated petrification caused by a creature not dissimilar to the Gorgon, though I hesitate to suggest that the disease is as fast acting as the Gorgons' stare is.

Second: What is Knowledge and epistemology

I don't have much to say about this one as I am not well versed in philosophy, but a quick google search says that epistemology is "the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion." AKA: What do people know, and how do they know what they know? Further digging says that epistemological debates revolve around four main areas: 1) the analysis of the nature of knowledge, as well as the conditions for belief to constitute as knowledge (truth, reason); 2) sources of knowledge or belief (memory, reason, perception, testimony); 3) the structure of knowledge or belief (foundations of belief vs. coherent justification); 4) skepticism, which basically questions all of that, and the implications for such skepticism. I found this to be neat because this is Ratio's fundamental approach to teaching, and I just thought that was fun. Epistemology has been debated since ancient Greek philosophy, and that tie-in to his entire character was nice.

Third: Aeon non-theism

Now this was real fun to see, and I ended up laughing about it to some friends because from the outside, it looks like Nous' rejection of Ratio left him so petty he became an atheist, and perhaps that is true, but it holds far more significance to his character than that. The Aeons, all of them, are higher-dimensional entities widely worshiped as gods by all sorts of people across the galaxies (also called Gods of the Stars in Chinese), and even the Genius Society treat Nous as a god with more than some level of fanaticism. The Aeons are prayed to, sworn by, given offerings, and bless followers with their powers. It's not hard to see why they are considered gods. Yet Dr. Ratio basically challenges that with a reference to the Aeons as natural phenomena, rather than divine beings. The idea of natural theology in general is interesting, and I guess it has to do with the fact that the Aeons, while perceived as gods, do have direct and tangible impacts and effects on the natural world. I imagine that Dr. Ratio argues that Aeons are the product of an entity (or multiple) embodying a belief, movement, or philosophy to its utter and exhaustive extreme, and that what makes a god is whether or not they are perceived as worthy of worship, yet every single thing in the universe is subject to scrutiny and criticism. Worship introduces blindness, tunnel vision, fanaticism, and ignorance, and erases scrutiny and reason. It is as he says: "the Path of Erudition has neither reason nor logic." As Ratio scrutinizes all things, he therefore worships nothing, thus directly challenging the widespread worship of not just the Aeons, but those they favor and choose to represent them (hi Genius Society ;) ).

Fourth: ....Math.

Again, not much to say here (I don't even know if the problems addressed are mentioned in-game as readables, but I might do some digging tomorrow to find out) but I find it especially significant to point out that he solved problems that even Elias Salas, one of the most famous Genius Society members, did not (or left behind). I need to stress that Ratio is a genius. He is. What gatekeeps him from the Genius Society is not capability, but principle. Elias Salas (along with #22, Aiden) is incredibly unique among the Genius Society members for being someone who actively shared his findings and inventions with the public, handing the rights to the Synesthesia Beacon as well as long-range communications technology to the Intelligentsia Guild. But Ratio's focus is less on the pursuit and breakthrough of uncharted knowledge and more on the sharing and use of knowledge to educate and help others. Though he's certainly made breakthroughs himself, it's clear he does so with the intent of bettering lives, not just because he can. Maybe one could argue that he isn't "genius enough," but really? I just think that he cares too much. This point just goes to show that he is on par with the Geniuses of the Society, and that the existence of said Society introduces elitism into the picture more than the word already does -- hence Ratio's repeated use of the phrase "ivory tower."

Five: ...Physics.

So I did end up looking into unified theories for a more comprehensive understanding of what the fuck was so significant, and this is... admittedly far beyond the scope of anything I comprehend (obviously). But from what I could understand of current theoretical physics is that the unified theory is a goal of modern physicists, some single theory that can be used to marry the concepts of electromagnetism and gravity, as they're currently under two separate theories with no relation to one another. There is no singular, widely agreed upon theory as of right now, while the String Theory (vibrations of one-dimensional "strings" determine the properties of these strings, and each vibrational state corresponds to a particle) is one such attempt to do so it is not without its many criticisms. The idea of a unified theory was one that Einstein himself had tried, even on his deathbed, to formulate, but never managed to solve. It's been almost 70 years since then in our time, yet we can assume from the wording of the achievements that a unified theory that concisely joined forces (gravity) with fields (electromagnetism) was not proposed until Dr. Ratio, or at least was not improved until he posited his theory. ...In normal English: that's fucking huge. Truly, I wish I had more insight into the topic so that I could explain its applications, but I don't. Maybe this will be something I can return to later? I dunno. I'm not a quantum physicist adslkfjhsad

Six: ...Computer Science.

Okay this one actually genuinely holds no substance that I can write about aside from wow did you know Dr. Ratio is a polymath and super smart and cool and-

Seven: Energy crisis and black-body radiation

Back to the interesting things! So, to put it simply, black-body radiation refers to the light (electromagnetic radiation) a black-body emits when it is heated, as higher temperatures mean higher velocity of the charged particles on the surface of the black-body. The thing is that a black-body in the true sense is only a idealized object, not a realized one -- though black holes are predicted to get pretty close as they absorb almost all radiation rather than reflect it. After doing some reading, the reason this is so significant is that most real-world objects are not black-bodies, and thus only radiate a fraction of the energy that they theoretically would if they were black-bodies. Stars and planets are approximated as black-bodies when estimating their surface temperature, so... My guess is that Dr. Ratio was able to manufacture a material as close to a black-body as he possibly could, or discovered a celestial black-body that he could harness the radiation of, and engineered a generator that could use that power as efficiently as possible -- utilizing an isolated vacuum, the amount of radiated energy lost to gas particles or escaping the system would be reduced or near-entirely eliminated, thus providing far more energy than any systems or generators applied today.

Eight: Neurobiology and metabolism.

Now this is more my speed. The relation of neurobiological activity to cognition and behavior is actually specifically my major, but admittedly there is not much I can discuss without a mode of comparison. What are witherflies? What are they related to? How does their nesting behavior differ from that of other species related to them, and why is that significant for the understanding of cognition or their evolution? I could talk at length about sexual selection and intrasexual competition, about wars of attrition and the handicap hypothesis, but without something to compare to it's a bit of a moot point, especially since none of these nesting behaviors are described. Nesting is also very different from courtship, while both can (and do) affect the neurobiology (and physiology!) of both male and female individuals of a species, how and when they do so differs between each scenario. The metabolism of the Ahriman Archaea is an entirely different look into organisms which I find interesting for a different reason: archaea are single-celled organisms that, unlike bacteria, have genes (like us!) and unlike us are capable of utilizing far more energy sources than just organic compounds, such as metal ions or even hydrogen gas. Dr. Ratio's discoveries about the metabolism(s) of the species within the Ahriman Archaea could very well have provided immense insight into the evolution of life in that ecosystem, or whether or not said life can be traced to another galaxy or another point of origin. Another thing that I do want to point to here is the fact that he was acknowledged and praised by Yu Qingtu, someone that Ruan Mei mentions and I believe she considered a friend, or at least someone worthy of admiration.

TLDR: Dr. Ratio is absolutely a big deal and his spite towards the Genius Society is entirely justified, fuck you Screwllum.

#Willow Rambles #//about; (DOCTOR OF TRUTH)#i thought this would be longer than my piece on jy's relation to the aeons but i'm about 150 words short of that one #still sfdlgkjhadslfkjha #THIS TOOK SOOOO LONG

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kittendrumstick · 5 months

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had an experience that exemplifies how shitty the internet has gotten due to low-quality content, AI garbage, and google being useless now.

it all started on instagram, where i was shown a clickbait-style video about a study where japanese researchers tried to figure out what causes kidney disease in cats (with the supposed goal of making them live 30+ years as the "hook" to get people to watch). the video goes on to state the researchers eventually came up with a solution called the AIM injection that would be available in 2025.

i was like ok, the injection part sounds promising, where did they get this info? so i went to google. the top source was the research paper itself, but… nowhere in the paper or anything associated with it does it state anything about an injection (or cats living 30+ years as a result, though this part was obviously pretty dubious from the start). there's no info later than 2016. the other top sources? clickbait sites rewriting each others' content, one of which literally links to the instagram account as a "primary source." just. lmao.

two of the top sources, from the SAME WEBSITE, and one of which is being used as a "featured snippet" on google, are AI-generated content about the AIM injection. the featured one says it addresses a "spectrum of ailments" which is obviously wrong, and the other is written as if the injection is a cybersecurity threat (i had to look this up again because the writing was so incomprehensible the first time i saw it i actually forgot what it was about, lol). i thought maybe because the research originated in japan that it might be hard to find any specific info in english beyond the study itself, but if there is an originating source for the injection claims, it's not coming up on google or any of the sites sharing this "information." if it was linked in an instagram or tiktok video, someone would have pulled it by now since they all love to steal from each other (assuming they're not all created by the same people/content farms). i feel like even without the absolutely wild "cats will live to 30+" claims, an injection that can significantly reduce or potentially cure kidney disease in cats should be big enough news to have at least one true english source if accurate, which tells me it most likely isn't.

i found one post on reddit asking similar questions about the injection availability with no responses, because apparently no one else knows if this shit is real or fake either. but they're sure as hell gonna flood the internet with bullshit content that google happily promotes. i hate it here!!

(also if anyone does somehow have an actual, real source for this... i want to see it lmao)

#text post #enshittification #google sucks #ai sucks #content farms suck #i want to leave #aim injection #cats #google

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kangals · 1 year

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long post with lots of discussion about dog urine for ppl interested in vetmed or who need time to kill this morning:

so the reason boone had a Vet Day yesterday is that about a week ago, seemingly without warning, he suddenly developed urinary incontinence. specifically if it’s been more than ~5-6 hours and he has a full bladder, he just kind of starts… overflowing. it’s not just a little trickle but he also doesn’t seem to be aware that it’s happening, and it’s happened at least once while he was sleeping/lying down. so for the past week almost every morning he’s just been trailing urine all over my house on the way to the yard. this did happen last year for 2-3 days but then spontaneously resolved, so when it seemed like it wasn’t fixing itself this time I brought him in for a workup.

good findings: no bladder tumors, no blood in urine, no drinking more than normal, no UTI (culture is still pending but no growth yet), prostate is normal, blood values are within range

bad findings: urine is low concentration - not “holy shit this is just water” level, but at the very low end of the acceptable range, even when water has been withheld. conversely, his kidney values on blood work are at the high end of normal, and compared to previous tests have been slowly increasing over time. appetite hasn’t been great lately. he’s also showing progressive neurological deficits in his hind legs/lumbar area

so right now the potential problems are:

UTI: would be the easiest solution, but is unlikely to be the case. will know for certain next week once the culture is finished.

early kidney disease: more likely given the urine dilution and increasing blood values. not curable, but can be managed with a rx diet (expensive, but he doesn’t like his current food anyway so not a huge hardship).

nerve damage: possible due to his long history of neuro problems and current degradation in his hind legs. only definitively diagnosable via MRI which is a big hassle and very expensive. the treatment for that would likely be steroids which have the unfortunate side effect of making you pee fucking everywhere, which is the same problem we’re trying to fix in the first place.

so assuming the culture comes back clear, which seems likely, it’s down to either kidneys or neuro (or possibly both). im trying to take things one step at a time and not get too overwhelmed, which I’m having varying levels of success with. I put him in a belly band last night and woke up early to take him out which did at least save my house from getting covered in pee, so hopefully we get some answers soon and can trial some things to get him feeling better.

#trial and error my beloathed #anyway boone seems to otherwise be acting normal so I’m trying not to stress #fingers crossed we can get a solution and get the Endless PeePee under control

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quex-your-local-witch · 1 year

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Herb Spotlight: Fleabane

Guess what bitches? It's ~Fleabane Season~

Fleabane is a "weed" (i.e., a wildflower in the Erigeron family) that is prevalent throughout North America, and grows like crazy if left to prosper in meadow-y areas. It looks very similar to domesticated daisies, albeit much smaller in flower size, more akin to German Chamomile. There are actually many different types of Fleabane, and the color of the petals can vary from white to yellow, or even a pinkish/purpley color. It's a composite flower, and it will have many flower heads per stem. Neat, huh?

Anyways, Fleabane had been used for thousands of years in North America by the indigenous peoples. It has both a variety of magickal and medicinal uses!

Magickal uses include:

Exorcism. Yes, like banishing-bad-sprits type of exorcism, along with banishment of negative energies. Burn it as you would any other herb bundle (sage, rosemary, cedar, etc) to exorcize a space of any negative entity or energy.

You can also use it to protect yourself by preventing bad spirits from arriving by hanging it around your home - either in bundles, or small sachets. Can be done in combination with St. John's Wort, wheat, and a few capers for best effect.

The seeds of the Fleabane flower tossed between the bedsheets promotes chastity. I guess if you really need someone (or yourself) to remain celibate for a time, this can come in handy - especially if the person co-sleeps with a partner.

Alignments of: feminine aspect, the planet Venus, and the element of Water.

Along with the metaphysical uses of Fleabane, there is a wide variety of medicinal uses for this plant (note: I am not a medical doctor. Do not take this as medical advice. Consult a physician or certified herbalist if you plan on taking it for any of these... ahem... more serious uses).

Medicinal uses include:

To reduce inflammation. Can be used in a poultice or a tea to treat inflammation about the body.

Wound ointment. Traditionally, the Cherokee made an ointment using the herb and tallow to made a balm or salve for cuts and scrapes, as it has astringent properties.

You can steep it in a Witch Hazel Extract solution to further enhance the astringent properties for use on skin.

The roots can be boiled in water to make a solution for "menstruation troubles" (i.e., to bring about a miscarriage. Dangerous. Do not do this).

Drinking a tea can also help break fevers and treat symptoms of the common cold

A diuretic, can help with certain kidney conditions (consult a doctor for this one to make sure no medications you are taking with interfere with its use. Do not use if you have a history of kidney disease) by breaking up any of the smaller particulates that would lead to kidney stones

Using the herb as an incense and inhaling the smoke can be used to treat head colds

Has antioxidant and neuroprotective properties from something called caffeic acid, which this plant has LOTS of!

Aids in digestion and can be used to treat diarrhea

May help with passive bleeding or minor hemorrhaging by being applied directly to the wound (don't take this advice, go to the fuckin ER)

Had been shown in some circumstances to inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors (for the love of God, see a doctor for this, don't take the advice of a post on tumblr dot com to treat cancer)

Isn't this plant so cool? And you cloud have it growing in your yard right now! I know I do, because I harvested a fuck ton of it today, evidenced here:

I'm going to dry all of these bundles and process them into cut and shifted leaves/stems and flowerheads. The two small bundles in the middle will be hung from the ceiling to ward off negative spirits and energies.

Now for some fun facts!

Despite the name Fleabane and the association of repelling fleas and ticks, there is no proven evidence that this works... at least for the dried herbs. I haven't found any studies on this for live plants.

The entire plant is edible, and is high in vitamin C! It was used to treat scurvy, and the cooked leaves taste like spinach (you can eat them raw, but there's little hairs all over it, which are not pleasant to consume)

These plants are high in caffeine! If you make a tea out of the flower heads the same way you would Chamomile, you get a nice floral tea with a kick to start your day off right.

Remember kids! I am *not* a doctor, so don't be using this to treat some weird ailment or cancer. And please, for the love of God, do some research on herbs before you use them medicinally. But in terms of the metaphysical properties, go ham! Have a blast! Banish that weird ghost in your house that likes to watch you pee!

And as always, have fun with your craft!

Sources:

Department of Agriculture, United States. Erigeron Philadelphicus, L. USDA. https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=ERPH. Accessed April 17, 2023.

Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Llewellyn Publications, 1985.

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turbotaxevasion · 10 months

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Happy Disability Pride Month!

In honor of the shift from LGBTQ Pride Month to Disability Pride Month, I’m going to bring awareness to some underrepresented and underinformed disabilities as a queer and disabled artist/writer. These are all disorders that I have come across among friends and acquaintances. Every disorder I discuss must have a clinical diagnosis in order to be treated. You should only be self-diagnosing if you plan on going to a doctor to confirm your speculations. Do not self-diagnose if you are not willing to confirm with a medical professional. This post is not to diagnose you.

Big Trigger Warning: Discussions of psychological disorders like E/Ds, depression, and personality disorders.

Dysautonomia

Any disorder relating to the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system

POTS

I have this! It is a nervous system disorder that affects heart rate and blood pressure because your nervous system does not allow your muscles to properly circulate blood, especially through the legs. Some symptoms include elevated heart rate, chest pain, low or high blood pressure, fatigue, changes in body temperature, and dizziness or fainting. POTS is more common in AFAB people than AMAB.

Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a disorder that occurs when a protein known as amyloid builds up in the organs. Amyloidosis is closely related to dysautonomia and chronic pain syndromes such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome because of the comorbid symptoms. These symptoms include edema, purpura around the eyes, skin that bruises easily, and fatigue.

Frey’s Syndrome

A neurological disorder closely related to dysautonomia that causes excessive sweating while eating. There are very few solutions to this disorder and even fewer of them are known to work.

Mitochondrial Syndrome

Mitochondrial diseases occur when there are genetic mutations and deformations to the mitochondria in cells that directly influence how the organelle produces energy. People with mitochondrial diseases can have poor growth, muscle weakness, seizures, visual and / or hearing problems, learning disabilities, and may develop kidney, liver, or heart disease.

Autonomic Dysreflexia

Autonomic dysreflexia is a disorder that causes abnormal overreactions of the autonomic nervous system. Symptoms include elevated heart rate, excessive sweating, and high blood pressure.

Chronic Pain

Any disorder relating to long-lasting pain surrounding any part of the body.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

I have this one too! Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a chronic pain syndrome in which muscles in the lower extremities are too weak to support patellar (kneecap) movement. Thus, the patella (kneecap) will not track right. this causes lots of issues with walking.

Scoliosis

I also have this one! Scoliosis is defined as a physical disorder in which the spine is not a straight vertical line. There is either an “S” or “J” curve in the spine, compressing it and causing sharp or aching back pain.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

TMJ causes pain and tenderness in jaw joints and surrounding muscles and ligaments. Symptoms of TMJ include jaw stiffness, limited movement and locking of the jaw, ringing in ears, and dizziness.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

This is a chronic muscular pain disorder. Typically, this pain is confined to one specific area, such as the neck or shoulders.

Fibromyalgia

A chronic disorder that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue. People with fibromyalgia can also have depression, anxiety, and trouble with memory and concentration.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

EDS is a group of disorders that affect connective tissues that support the skin, bones, blood vessels, organs, and other tissues. Symptoms of EDS include stretchy, translucent skin, loose joints, and chronic pain.

Arthritis

Arthritis is defined as inflammation in one or more joints causing stiffness and pain. There are many different kinds of arthritis, each with different causes. These causes can include wear over time, infections, and underlying diseases.

Neurological Disorders

Any disorder relating to the brain and how it functions.

Seizure Disorders

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterized by repeated seizures. People with epilepsy can experience multiple kinds of seizures and can experience symptoms such as confusion, staring spells, stiff muscles, and loss of consciousness.

Cerebrovascular Diseases

Functional Neurological Disorder

Functional Neurological Disorder is essentially a stroke mimic. It can replicate the symptoms of a stroke, such as limb weakness, numbness, and speech disturbance.

Migraines

Lots of people have migraines and I am no exception. Migraines are caused by excessive blood flow to the brain. Migraines affect more than 10% of people worldwide and are 3 times more likely to affect AFAB people than AMAB people.

Psychological Disorders

Any disorders affecting mood, thinking, and behavior. I will not be discussing my mental disorders on the internet. Most people are familiar with what these are and what they look like, so I will instead be providing statistics for each one.

Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) affects 6.8 million adults. Only 43.2% of those adults are receiving treatment. AFAB are twice as likely to be affected (Anxiety Disorders Association of America).

Panic disorder (PD) affects 6 million adults. AFAB are twice as likely to be affected (Anxiety Disorders Association of America) .

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects 2.5 million adults. AFAB are 3x more likely to be affected (Anxiety Disorders Association of America) .

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects 7.7 million adults. AFAB are 5x more likely to be affected (Anxiety Disorders Association of America) .

Depression

Approximately 280 million people in the world have depression. AFAB are twice as likely to develop depression (World Health Organization).

Bipolar Disorder

4.4% of US adults experience bipolar disorder in their lives (National Institute of Health).

Personality Disorders

It is estimated that 9% of US adults have at least one personality disorder (American Psychiatric Association).

Eating Disorders (TW)

Eating Disorders affect 9% of the population worldwide (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders).

BIPOC are significantly less likely than white people to be asked by a doctor about eating disorder symptoms (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders).

Black teenagers are 50% more likely than white teenagers to exhibit bulimic behaviors (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders).

Rates of body dissatisfaction were higher among transgender and nonbinary youth (90%) compared to cisgender youth (80%) (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders).

#disability pride month #disability awareness #disability #dysautonomia #pots #chronic pain #neurological disorder #psychological disorders

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eretzyisrael · 10 months

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Good News From Israel

In the 18th Jun 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:

An Israeli startup can train the brain to filter out chronic pain.

Children with psychological problems receive therapy from Israeli dolphins.

3 Israeli startups have independently developed solutions to cure insomnia.

It’s official - another major Israeli natural gas discovery.

Israel beat Korea to come 3rd in the Under 20 Soccer World Cup.

An Israeli kidney donor ran a marathon alongside the transplant recipient.