A Cell Salt Experiment: Retrospect and Prospect

[ecosophia]

It's been some months now since I launched the cell salt experiment chronicled in these virtual pages. I'd hoped to keep up a steady stream of posts on the subject, but life intervened, in the form of hard deadlines on some book projects. Fortunately the most important of those are now behind me, or mostly, and I've been able to make some time to return to the laboratory. (A Mercury retrograde is approaching, and that's always a good time to glance backward...)

First of all, for those of you who weren't here yet to take part in the experiment or who have forgotten the details, here they are: 

https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.org/81817.html
https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.org/84513.html
https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.org/86784.html

(I've left out the two questionnaire posts because both of those are now closed.)

Second, I'd be very interested in hearing from those of you who've continued using the protocol. What effects have you noticed from the daily doses of Bioplasma? The astrologically timed doses of the mixed cell salts? The two in conjunction? 

Third, I've managed to get all the results from the first questionnaire keyboarded into an Excel spreadsheet; what remains is statistical analysis. One of my readers commented on an earlier post offering to crunch the numbers, and I'm embarrassed to confess I can't find that comment. If that reader or anyone else who's familiar with statistical methods is willing to put in a little time extracting meaning from a not especially huge data set, I'd be most grateful.

Finally, now that the first stage of the experiment is definitely concluded, I plan on posting at some length about further dimensions and implications of Carey's protocol -- and a few bits about Carey himself, including his one science fiction story...

So...come up to the lab, and see what's on the slab.  ;-)

Comments

[nomad0]

Not the original reader, but I'm happy to help with statistical analysis. It's been part of my work and University studies.

[ecosophia]

Thank you! I've just sent a private message.

[yuccaglauca]

I wasn't the original commenter, but I have some statistical background (M.Sc. from work in a lab that focused on analyzing ecological systems using statistical methods), and I can certainly take a look.

[ecosophia]

Thank you also! Another private message is on the way.

Update

[(Anonymous)]

I have been using the protocol - Bioplasma daily, and the astrologically timed mixed cell salts. Offhand, I generally haven't noticed any particular health effects, one way or the other - but I think that's because it's been such a weird year in so many ways*, so it's difficult to compare. What this experiment has done for me is on a different level: 1) i've been keeping a journal of using the cell salts (though still striving to to do daily rather than weekly or so updates. Keeping even a small journal/record over a period of time is a new positive step for me), 2) Mostly just barely noting cell salt usage, but infrequently other comments or memories, 3) because of the astrologically timed cell salts, i've had a greater awareness of the cycles of the moon. It seems that insomnia is more likely in the days just before using the astrologically timed cell salts (another thing i need to keep track of). Keeping track of the cycles of the moon helped with the timing of my cataract surgeries this year. Thank you for this. It is possible that another questionnaire might jog my memory on various health effects.

*Social & economic disruptions from the COVID pan-ic-demic, extremely hot dry summer, smoke from mostly out-of-state forest fires which caused a sinus infection, an unusual number of deaths of relatives and friends and others known to me, cataract eye surgery (seems to be successful, caused some inconvenience but now i have 20/20 farsighted vision in 2020; a positive note for the year, one that makes for safer walking, driving), etc., etc.

Re: Update

[ecosophia]

Many thanks for this. In some ways I suppose this wasn't the best possible year to schedule an experiment like this one; unfortunately nobody flagged 2020 in advance with big red "Enter At Your Own Risk" signs.

Signing up?

[(Anonymous)]

I'm not sure if i recall correctly, but i think at the beginning of the study people could 'officially' enroll. I never did, thought I've commented and responded to the questionnaires as anonymous. Does that make a difference?

Re: Signing up?

[ecosophia]

People announced that they were in, and I made Igor jokes; that's as close as we got to offical enrollment. The questionnaire was entirely anonymous because it asked one question about an activity that's illegal in some jurisdictions (recreational drug use) and a few others about potentially embarrassing activity. So you're in, and Igor has his eye on you.

[yuccaglauca]

To answer the second part,

I've kept up with it. I answered the questionnaire before in rather positive terms. I didn't notice any particular health effects, but I thankfully didn't have any particular health complaints to begin with. I did, however, make some sudden progress in some spiritual and long term self-improvement goals, coinciding with the fist two months of the protocol. It's not exactly unequivocal, as I was already working toward those things, but you've talked about "coincidence" enough that it's notable at least.

Since then, the successes have proven lasting, but I can't say that I've noticed any particular changes one way or another.

[ecosophia]

Many thanks for the data points.

[open_space]

I could try to feed them to the Instant Gobbler Of Reports (I.G.O.R) and see what comes out. What info were you looking to extract?

[ecosophia]

Specifically, I'm trying to find out if the various lifestyle issues that Carey writes about -- alcohol and coffee consumption, sexual, activity, etc. -- have a statistically significant effect on the outcome. If you're serious about being able to help, PM me with your email address and I'll get the files to you.

Experiment

[kayr]

I also feel that the effects have been subtle. I can't say I have noticed anything different, but I am looking at this practice as well as other nutritional and dietary practices as a way to fine tune my overall health. I can say that I haven't experienced any colds yet this year and while the wildfire smoke has been pretty bad some days, I don't seem to feel any really adverse effects. I would like to think I won't get this COVID plague or if I do it's effects will be light, but that remains to be seen. Looking forward to reading the analysis.

Re: Experiment

[ecosophia]

Interesting. For what it's worth, I came down with the coronavirus in April, treated it with sleep and cell salts, and was fine three days later.

Cell salt expt

[slclaire]

Since I started taking the cell salts I have had much less trouble with sinus inflammation. On the few days I have woken up with sticky eyes and a mild sinus headache, I have been able to treat it with a bare minimum of OTC decongestant and pain reliever, sometimes with the Dolmen Arch self-healing added. In the past, besides having sinus issues on more days, the inflammation and pain were worse for a longer period of time, and I often had to add doses of herbal tinctures to the OTC meds. I have also had a higher energy level overall since beginning the cell salt regimen, though it is a subtle effect. Finally, I have experienced a considerable increase in the intensity of the visualizations I do in the SOP and the grove ritual since I began taking the regime, which I am not sure is related to the cell salts, but could be. I haven't noticed anything I could attribute to the astrologically timed cell salts versus the Bioplasma so far.

Re: Cell salt expt

[ecosophia]

Interesting! Many thanks for these data points.

[(Anonymous)]

I started the cell salt experiment on March 24 and continue to this day (next round of additional salts is later this week). Like others have commented, it's been a very strange year, so it is hard untangle causality. Some things I have noticed over the past six to seven months:

- some sort of increased sensitivity to lunar cycles; I am having more spiritually resonant dreams in the few days around a full moon
- general good health, no COVID, no colds, no flu
- I developed a flurry of health issues back in 2015, one of which was a new wheat allergy (verified by blood test) that resulted in itchy, red eyes. That seems to have disappeared?!? I started making my own sourdough bread this summer and was able to eat that, then tested out a few store-bought products and the allergy remains in remission--though I'm not going to go crazy eating wheat products
- I almost crave the extra cell salts; like I can't wait for those days of the month to take them

I'm looking forward to hear the results of all that data crunching.
-lp

[ecosophia]

This is really interesting. I wonder what would happen if you took two doses of the cell salt mix each day during the lunar period rather than one.

[(Anonymous)]

I have not noticed anything dramatic, but I generally wouldn't expect that from anything with cell salts. I will say that this has turned out to be possibly the best, most productive year of my life, spirituality and artistically speaking at least. And that the high productivity does roughly correspond with when I started the protocol in March, but didn't really ramp up until mid summer.

It's made the year doubly weird though to be having such a great time when everyone I know seems to think it's the end times.

I did get Covid in July, so the protocol didn't help protect against that FWIW. My case was a little scary for a couple days, but I treated it with cell salts, herbs, and vitamins and came out the other side in good shape. Not that that should be considered medical advice, I am not a doctor, etc.

[ecosophia]

That's very interesting. I've also had a very successful and productive summer and early fall, for what it's worth. Thanks also for the feedback on the coronavirus -- worth knowing.

Which ones

[kayr]

If I may ask, which cell salts did you chose to use? Of the four people I know who have contracted coronavirus (one in her 70's, three were teens or young adults) all seem to have had an easy time of it and recovered quickly. To the best of my knowledge, none of them used anything more then sleep to recover.

Re: Which ones

[ecosophia]

Oh, sleep was probably the most important ingredient for me as well. The cell salts I used were Ferrum phos. 6x and Nat. sulph 6x, four pills each sublingually whenever symptoms appeared or worsened; I've used that successfully with all sorts of respiratory illnesses. Of course this is not to be taken as health advice!

[(Anonymous)]

I agree with others that the effects have mostly been subtle and hard to separate from other causes, especially the spiritual effects. One definite health improvement I’ve noticed is a complete disappearance of restless legs at night. I have made no other changes to my diet or physical activity in the same time period, so I feel confident attributing it to the cell salts. Spiritually, I have been going through many challenges which are leading me to confront things I have been putting off for the past couple of years. This coincides with me starting to take cell salts, so maybe they are playing some part, but it’s hard to say anything for sure. I can’t say that I particularly notice anything different on the days that I take the extra cell salts. Looking forward to more information!

[ecosophia]

Many thanks for these data points!

[(Anonymous)]

Premature gal here, reporting in.

First, the doses of bioplasma have caused gradual but definite improvements in my overall health. A lot of small problems and discomforts have dried up completely, and I'm sleeping more soundly with fewer episodes of insomnia.

The mixed cell salt doses, for a while, were stirring up old business from my childhood and teens, but now that seems to have passed off. Instead, I feel a bit better than average on the days when I take the mixed doses. I'm curious to see what will happen next with them.

I can't say that I notice anything in particular from the combinations of the bioplasma and mixed cell salt doses, but then I tend to take them several hours apart to prevent any possibility of them interfering with each other.

[adwelly]

Late starting as lockdown made obtaining the salts difficult. They did eventually arrive though.

I’ve seen no particular impact from the lunar related pills at all.

The daily bioplasma do seem to have had an obvious effect though. 2020 has seen significant changes in my life, some pandemic related, some simply coincidental. I’ve had to take some significant risks and normally these would lead to anxiety, sleepless nights, poor concentration. Indeed, I was dealing with all of these when I started the protocol.

Then about 2 weeks into the experiment, I simply stopped being concerned. It was such a gentle change I’d didn’t even notice for a couple of days.

Post hoc ergo propter hoc applies but I see no reason not to carry on indefinitely.

Andy

[brendhelm]

Control group poster here.

No substantive changes in health to report. Apart from a couple bouts of allergies (which are normal for me when the weather starts changing), I haven't been sick since the experiment started, with the proviso that I tend not to get sick very often in general. I did have a case of foot inflammation in late June that flared up again in mid-September; this was treated through the conventional medical route.

Have noticed increased anxiety and fatigue, but suspect that is largely due to 2020. The interminable Capricorn stellium has been spending most of the year squaring my natal retrograde Jupiter in Aries.

[(Anonymous)]

I was going to say I hadn't seen any effects except for the initial improvement in stomach acidity I reported earlier, but...I have a recurring problem with autoimmune inflammation of the inner ear, and that flared up very badly in August (cold air from a fan got into my ear). I spent most of September on steroids--a series of injections through the eardrum finally beat it back, but my ears are still extremely sensitive to cold, and I've had several milder flareups since the weather changed. I have no idea if this is related to the protocol or not, but I figured it was worth mentioning.

Not that I'm asking for medical advice, of course, but I'm trying to figure out alternative ways to handle the autoimmune issue, since I'd really rather not go on immunosuppressants, especially not this year!

Oh, and perhaps the readership would be interested to know, my otolaryngologist said that up until this year she'd only seen one other person with this condition, but this year with Covid she'd seen 20. If you have sudden hearing loss, especially with a feeling of fullness in the ear and vertigo, go in ASAP and get steroids. I have permanent hearing loss in one ear because they weren't aggressive enough treating my first attack.

--Crimson Exiguous Stoat

[kylec]

After many months of diligence, I misread the lunar transit chart I was using and missed all three days of my cocktail. Never missed the bioplasma, though. Am I now starting from scratch, or does it pick up where it left off?

[andrewskeen]

Hi JMG,

I had a pretty odd result which started a few days after I began bioplasma (I am doing both that and the mixed cell salts). Whenever I did any form of magic, SOP, daily planetary Orphic hymns, the Offering to All Spirits (h/t Sam Block), I perceived this odd sensation on my back, about opposite my solar plexus. It wasn't unpleasant per se, just very odd; reading back through my notebooks, nearly every entry for one of these reads "channeling* plus backfeel". [*perceiving some etheric flow across the hands] I had no idea what to make of it until you published that essay on astral parasites, which made me think that might be it. This was almost immediately followed by a surge of aggression which I definitely couldn't place, but it made me frustrated and angry enough I decided to poke at myself with a tiny iron novelty dagger immediately. The angry feelings intensified as I did this to the point I inadvertently stuck myself a few times as I was trying to reach my back, and especially the odd area. Nothing happened immediately, but over the new couple of days I had a definite lessening of the "backfeel" until it vanished completely.

So, that's my story, the "backfeel" hasn't returned, nor have I picked up any other larvae (as far as I know), but it's a bit disturbing to think that I had this parasite attached to me for months? years? totally unknown until I started the cell salts.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Andrew

my update

[lloydgd]

I have been doing the cell salts experiment since May 1st & not missed any day. I have not noticed any significant difference physically, which is disappointing, apart from one incident noted below. What I did notice was that my one hour of sitting meditation, (Eastern, not discursive) which I do at 4.00am every morning, became stronger and deeper, this seemed to be strongest at full & new moon and was especially noticeable when the new moon coincided with taking the extra (combination) cell salts on July 20th (my sun sign is Leo). The following month, taking the cell salts also coincided with the new moon (on August 19th) and I felt extremely tired for three days afterward. Overall my response to the cell salts seems a bit erratic & not sure what to make of them. Hope this helps.

[jpc_w]

Still at it since near the beginning.

I'm better with anxiety. I can meditate for 15+ minutes at least 5 times a week, which is something I could not have managed in the past. Doing daily CGD work and exercise.

I think I am one who offered to help

[(Anonymous)]

Would have to go back to the original post, but I think I offered my help with the results. I use both statistics/quantitative analysis in my day job (to advanced level) as well as being advanced in qualitative techniques (including teasing themes out of open ended survey response data). Would still be happy to help. You can contact me at my user name (boulderlovincat) at gmail dot com.

BoulderLovin Cat

[(Anonymous)]

Herbalist Matthew Wood has been a proponent of cell salts for many years. He has an upcoming class and book on the subject. You can find info here:
https://www.matthewwoodinstituteofherbalism.com/courses/homeopathy-cell-salts-minerals-herbalists

[(Anonymous)]

I started the protocol 3 months late due to problems getting bioplasma. I missed a few days but have generally been taking the pills religiously otherwise.

I don't notice much difference but as people say this is a weird year. I am working from home still. I would say I remember my dreams more easily though. Will there be another questionnaire?

PS. I notice Matthew Wood is offering a free Herbalism class too.

https://www.matthewwoodinstituteofherbalism.com/courses/history-philosophy-and-science-of-herbalism

[litotease]

I've been doing the protocol consistently since the beginning. I have noticed that I'm sleeping better and that the constant, generalized anxiety I've felt for most of my life has lessened (which is an absolute gift).

I haven't noticed anything different on the days I add the additional salts.

[(Anonymous)]

I have been doing the protocol since the experiment started - for background, I drink 2 cups of coffee a day in the mornings, the occasional beer or glass of wine every couple of weeks.

So far there doesn't seem to be too much effect when taking the astrologically timed doses. I looked back through my journal, and once during the astrologically timed doses, I had a huge amount of energy and creativity, on another month, the timed doses seemed to correlate with a great lessening of a lower back problem I've had for months, yet on two other months, the timed doses didn't seem to do much at all, and I struggled with mental chatter and lack of energy during my daily SOP and meditation practice. However, there is a slight correlation in all months with the astrologically timed doses and a subtle increase in strength of visualization during the SOP.

I get the sense that the Bioplasma taken daily is helping, but I can't quite qualify how. I haven't had a cold yet except for the first tinges of one last week which some Ferrum Phos helped to wipe out, and I seem to have an allergy against dust or something else which has flared up in the past month, and was difficult to curb. However, I barely had hay fever in the spring, which I normally am affected a lot by.

I hope this helps in some way, it's not very detailed I'm afraid.