Herbal tinctures - Helping or harming my gut microbiome?
I have recently begun seeing a naturopath who specializes in the gut microbiome, and she has given me herbal tinctures to take twice daily. While I have seen positive feedback online about the benefits of herbal tinctures for the gut which contain ethyl alcohol. I recently heard in one of your podcasts that alcohol can kill both good and bad gut bacteria. This has left me feeling unsure about whether these herbal tinctures are ultimately helping or harming my gut microbiome. I would really appreciate it if you could clarify this for me. And thank you again for your podcast, I love listening to them!
How can I increase alertness at nighttime without disrupting my sleep?
Are there any behavioral tools, supplements, etc that can increase alertness and cognitive performance in the immediate short-term (1-2 hours) but that won't disrupt sleep that night? I occasionally need to work until 10 or 11 PM but the half-life of caffeine prevents me from having it in the afternoon. Are there any shorter-term tools or supplements?
pros and cons of NSAIDs
Could you discuss the pros and cons of NSAIDs. I know we should limit there use but there are times when they are helpful to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever. If we need to use NSAIDs are there protocols we can employ to limit their damage to our microbiome and liver. Is it helpful to alternate the use of different NSAIDs? Are there NSAIDs other than ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin that are available over the counter but are safer to use? And how does acetaminophen fit into this picture since it is not classified as a NSAID? Is it helpful to alternate acetaminophen with NSAIDs?
Dopamine & Parkinsons
My sister has been diagnosed with Parkinson's and has been put on an exercise program to increase her dopamine. After listening to your podcast on creativity and the effect of NSDR on dopamine, I am wondering if adding NSDR to her regimen would help her. Lying still seems to be the exact opposite of what she is doing now to increase her levels. Do you think this would be worth exploring?