Hey Gang, good to be a part of your team again. I went on the Marshall Protocol for 6 months and found that there were some benefits. Taking the primary medication, Benicar after orgasm seemed to significantly decrease the amount of refractory time. Upon discontinuation of the MP, I found that many of the symptoms returned. I was quite pleased that the inventor, Trevor Marshall was willing to discuss POIS with me once a week in an attempt to identify what the causitive agent(s) and the important considerations to help narrow down the appropriate diagnosis. In the next few days I will be sharing with you some of those conversations and you will be able to make an educated decision as to whether they apply to your situation or not.
1) If POIS is caused from an auto immune response that is a direct result of an ongoing infection, what is the best way to determine whether an intrinsic infection is present. The problem with some of these therapies is/are that eradication of the infectuous agent may cause symptoms to become worse for a time before getting better. This is called, "Herxing"
Herxing is the result of the infection fighting back and releasing some toxic by products in order to get you to stop using that substance. These substances are anti-infectives such as: Garlic, Oregano oil, Grapefruit seed extract, wormwood, High dose Zinc, High dose Lysine, and of course anti-biotics and or anti fungals.
2) If POIS is a result of an auto-immune response, what exactly is the immune system attacking and importantly, how is it attacking. Is Prednisone or other corticosteroids effective? Is it more effective than Ibuprofen? What dose of Ibuprofen is effective? 200? 600? Does strong black coffee eleviate the symptoms? In the Marshall Protocol, they frequently used coffee to help with Herxing. There is an acid in coffee that helps decrease the immune response.
3) Why do Nitric oxide and vasodialators help? High dose Arginine, Gingko Biloba, Niacin, (Erectile dysfunction drugs) Cialis, Viagra, Nitric Oxide Gym supplements such as NO FUEL etc.
4) What is the role of Mono-amine oxidase inhibitors such as: Yohimbine, Nutmeg, Rosea, and why do they appear to be functional when typical antidepressants fail?
5) What is the role of H1 blockers (antihistamines)? Do antihistamines that cross the blood brain barrier such as benedryl better protect against the cognitive effects of post coital POIS symptoms?
6) What is the role of saturated fats in the diet and why do they appear to prolong POIS?
7) Why does it appear that Vitamin D does not increase after supplementation and what is its role in POIS?
What is the role of sleep in POIS?
9) What is the role of sunlight avoidance with POIS? Why is it that low energy states decrease the refractory time?
10) What are the effects of Oxygen therapy? Is it beneficial or have little or no effect?
11) Why does the pH of your urine change during the syndrome for some people? Is there an easy fix for that?
12) What is the effect of hydration status? Zinc supplementation, Vitamin C, traditional B vitamins?
13) What minerals help? Timothy Ferris suggests Brazil nuts, high in Selenium. What about Iron? Copper?
14) Force myself to exercise or just stay in bed? What is better?
These are some of the questions I hope to address in the coming weeks with you guys. I will try to present this material in an unbiased way, and immediate results are not always a tenable.
