Aspirin

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"If a newly discovered substance had aspirin's anti-infective, anti-cancer, anti-stress, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory actions it would be the most researched substance in history." - Ray Peat

Introduction

“Because aspirin has been abused by pharmaceutical companies that have competing products to sell, as well as by the original efforts to promote aspirin itself, people can easily find reasons why they shouldn’t take it.” - Ray Peat

A true wonder drug, aspirin is much more than just a blood thinner, pain reliever and fever reducer. One of its great effects is inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, primary mediators of the HPTA (hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis) which IS the stress system. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11740295/ this study shows how production of prostaglandins was reduced as well as cortisol and prolactin post-exercise)

Lactic acid, elevated levels of which is a fantastic predictor of degenerative disease, is decreased when aspirin is used.

Prolonged use (or the use of higher dosages) requires Vitamin K2 to prevent bleeding.

Function/Mechanism of Action

Function/Mechanism of Action

Medical uses/Effects

"Many drugs that are currently popular decrease stress resistance. A few drugs are protective in the short term, but are toxic if used for a long time. Aspirin protects against some of the worst stressors, including the polyunsaturated fats, so despite its mild toxicity, long term studies usually show that it decreases sickness and mortality. Antibiotics, though they are toxic in themselves, also have powerful antistress effects." - Ray Peat

“

When a drug such as caffeine or aspirin turns out to have a great variety of protective effects, it’s important to understand what it’s doing.

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Benefits

• Activates PDH
• Increases Mitochondrial uncoupling (raises temperature)
• Partially inhibits aromatase
• Inhibits synthesis of prostaglandins
• Depletes Carnitine (more at higher doses)
• Inhibits FAO and Lipolysis (excessive amounts of them)
• Inhibits 11beta-hydroxy-steroid-dehydrogenase (lowers cortisol)
• Increases synthesis of androgens and progesterone
• Aspirin increases glucose oxidation
• Anti-cancer due to inhibition of FAO, COX, and LOX.
  • May reduce risk of certain cancers (colorectal, breast, etc.)
• Wide margin of safety, with an LD50 of about 25 grams for an average sized male.
• Willow bark (salicin) has been consumed medicinally for millennia and is essentially aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).
• Inhibits aromatase, limiting testosterone-to-estrogen conversion
• Lowers free fatty acids (FFAs) and improves glucose metabolism
• Reduces risk of preeclampsia and miscarriage
• Protects against cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes
• Increases progesterone metabolism

Aspirin can be used pre-workout to reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and during or before times of certain stress to improve performance. I personally have found that I can push harder in the gym when I’ve taken some aspirin and bakind soda beforehand.

Intended Effects: Reduces pain, inflammation, and fever (analgesic and anti-inflammatory); inhibits blood clotting by blocking platelet aggregation (antiplatelet effect).

Dosage

"One dose of approximately 300 mg (the size of an aspirin tablet) keeps acting for about a week, as absorption continues along the intestine, and as it is "recycled" in the body." - Ray Peat

Any substance that stimulates glucose metabolism requires adequate glucose supply.

Therefore, taking aspirin on an empty stomach or without sufficient fuel can alter its benefits. For this reason, I always recommend taking aspirin with or shortly after food, which also helps reduce the risk of potential stomach irritation.

• Dose should be proportional to the problem
  • Standard low doses (81 mg or 325 mg) are often inadequate for serious inflammatory or metabolic issues.
  • For chronic inflammation or cancer (in the bioenergetic view), people may need to investigate 1–4+ grams per day.
  • “Swiss Army knife”: fast-acting for bad days, insomnia, or sudden health downturns.
  • Research Gomez paper: 300 mg–1 g, 1–3 g, and 3–6 g/day each show progressively stronger anti-inflammatory and anti-Warburg (anti-cancer) effects.

• Single-dose size
  • Large single doses (1–2 g at once) tended to cause low blood sugar for him.
  • Ray Peat said he took up to 1 g at a time but preferred ≤500 mg per dose.
  • 500 mg at a time ideal (no side effects), 1 g acceptable with food; higher single doses needed only if spreading multi-gram daily totals.

Dosage for specific ailments

Dosage should be tailored to individual needs and context. Starting with a small dose and experimenting safely is advisable.

• Standard low doses (81 mg or 325 mg) are often inadequate for serious inflammatory or metabolic issues
• Boosting metabolism: 100 mg-300 mg (Pair with coffee/caffeine)
• Reducing Estrogen: 100 mg-300 mg (every 4-6 hours)
• Improving carbohydrate utilisation: 300 mg (high carb & high fat meals)
• Lowering iron: 300 mg with each iron rich meal
• Lowering endotoxin
• Lowering serotonin: 300 mg with tryptophan rich meal
• Sleep: 300 mg-600 mg (With fruit juice or supper / shortly after supper)
• PUFA protection: 300-600 mg (with PUFA counting meal)
• Sunburn / sunstroke: 600 mg every 6 hours
• Hangovers: 600 mg before bed and 600 mg the next morning
• Uncoupling and weight loss: 1-1.5 g followed by 500 mg (every 4-6 hours)
• Anti-fungal / anti-candida: 2-2.5 g/day (across the course of a day)
• Heart attack incomming - 325 mg chew and swallow after experiencing chest pains
  • The study found that if adults across the U.S. took aspirin within four hours of beginning to experience severe chest pain, 13016 deaths would be averted each year, even after accounting for deaths from aspirin-related bleeding.
• Cancer prevention

Application

Dissolve in water with a pinch of baking soda to avoid gut irritation

• Even at very high doses, dissolved aspirin has never irritated his gut; undissolved tablets regularly do.
• Method:
  • Heat ~¼ cup water in a glass
  • Add 1–2 tablets and a pinch or two of baking soda
  • Let it fizz completely (on counter or microwave 30 sec)
  • Discard the white sediment
  • Drink the clear liquid (mix in juice to deal with the taste)

Take with vitamin K and food for regular use

• Take with food, for every 325 mcg of Aspirin, take 1-2 ml of K2 to counter blood thinning
• Aspirin inhibits vitamin K-dependent clotting proteins (Protein C and S), which is why it thins blood.
• Many people are already vitamin K deficient; bleeding from small cuts or scabs is a sign.

Alternatively you can take an aspirin bath.

Brands

• Most commercial aspirin (especially Bayer in the US) contains titanium dioxide, artificial colors, silica, and other additives he considers toxic.
• Bad experiences with aspirin are often due to these additives.

Good Brands

• Gericare
• Aniprin
• Health Natura's Aspirin powder (USP aspirin USP or aspirin + starch only).

Additives/Excipients

• You can disolve the pill in water to separate
• Starch - Problem only if causes symptoms such as hemorrhoids, asthma, or headaches.

Side/Adverse effects

Overdose

May cause blood sugar crash, tinnitus, rapid bleeding.

Expiration

"If the aspirin smells like vinegar it's decomposing, otherwise the expiration date doesn't matter. I have some aspirin, USP, that's at least 10 years old that's still good." - Ray Peat

Vinegar smell is when it breaks down into salicylic acid and acetic acid

Aspirin allergy

"I know people who had lifelong "aspirin allergy" who now use it regularly. I think part of it is the metabolic problems caused by PUFA and low thyroid function." - Ray Peat