Behaviors

Combination treatment using a mechanical stimulus plus a chemical stimulus is presented as more effective than either alone. Microneedling combined with minoxidil is described as far more effective than either treatment alone and may recover 'dead zones,' with regrowth in those regions taking roughly 30-50 weeks. Microneedling combined with finasteride is described as one of the most effective combinations for robust regrowth, including in people who are quite bald.

If minoxidil works for you, expect to continue it long term, potentially for life, to maintain the hair gained or preserved; stopping usually leads to loss of those gains.

Topical caffeine ointments do not necessarily need to be applied daily; about three times per week is suggested. Drinking more caffeine is not a viable way to offset hair loss because too little reaches scalp follicles at useful concentrations.

If using berberine or metformin, take them with carbohydrates because both can dramatically reduce blood sugar levels and may otherwise cause discomfort.

Recommended because sufficient iron is important for the anagen phase of hair growth; ask for an iron test as part of blood work.

Because saw palmetto has a relatively short half-life, divide about 300 mg/day into two or three doses, such as morning/afternoon/evening or morning/evening.

If using ketoconazole shampoo for hair loss, use a product with at least 2% ketoconazole. Typical recommendation is 2-4 times per week with 3-5 minutes of scalp contact time, rubbing it into the scalp and around follicles rather than leaving it only on top of the hair.

Ideally use finasteride while monitoring DHT and other hormone levels and working with a doctor.

Practical starting regimen for topical finasteride: 1 mL of 0.25% one time per week, with expectation of transiently higher blood finasteride and lower DHT after application.

Keep eyes closed for at least the majority of the psilocybin session, ideally using an eye mask or other covering, to bias attention inward and improve therapeutic benefit rather than focusing on external visual hallucinations.

Recommendations are focused on adults age 25 or older because developmental neuroplasticity and core brain wiring are still ongoing before then.

Clinical studies required participants either not be on antidepressants that impact serotonin or abstain in the weeks leading up; do not stop medications on your own and consult a physician/psychiatrist.

Especially relevant for antidepressants and psilocybin; do not cease SSRIs or similar medications without physician and psychiatrist guidance.

Use a safe, subdued, closed indoor setting—typically one room—with no windows to jump from, no access to streets or moving cars, no chance of getting lost, and no access to bodies of water.

Have at least one, and perhaps two or more, responsible individuals present who are not taking psychedelics to ensure safety.

Bias toward lying down, or at minimum being seated, during the session to support inward focus and therapeutic benefit.

Include music during the session, as it is a major driver of the cognitive and emotional experience and can bias toward a positive experience. Typical progression: begin with fairly low-volume music with few vocalizations, often classical; transition near the peak into higher-volume, percussion-heavy music, often drums, for about 45 to 90 minutes; then shift into softer melodic or choral music, often with female voices; later transition into nature sounds and sounds mimicking the natural world.

Do not eat for at least 4 hours prior to the psilocybin journey to reduce variability in gut acidity and metabolism.

During the peak, move through the anxiety and let go rather than resisting it; allowing anxiety to peak and pass is described as important for therapeutic benefit, though extreme anxiety is counterproductive.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid psilocybin and other psychedelics entirely.

After deliberate cold exposure, get warm afterward rather than staying cold. Do not allow yourself to remain really cold for more than 10–15 minutes or maybe half an hour; bundle up, put on clothes, take a hot shower, or if conditions allow, get into hot sun to warm back up.

When feeling rundown or really unwell, avoid anything stressful or challenging, including cold challenges, heat challenges, or exercise challenges. This includes avoiding overly stressful heat exposure such as very hot saunas intended to induce adaptation while ill.

If not severely ill or bedridden, a little movement such as walks is probably good to circulate blood while sick.

For most adults, daily caffeine use is acceptable only if it does not induce anxiety, panic attacks, or disrupt nighttime sleep. People who become jittery, anxious, sweaty, or get heart palpitations even from small amounts should avoid caffeine altogether.

Children age 14 and younger should avoid caffeine if possible. For adolescents roughly 15–18 or 20, limit caffeine as much as possible because brain wiring is still occurring. Energy drinks and added neuroactive ingredients such as theanine and L-tyrosine are best left until about age 18 or older. Young people should delay starting caffeine use for years if possible.

If using caffeine, prefer clean sources such as plain coffee or tea rather than complex energy drinks. If consuming an energy drink, know exactly what is in it, what each ingredient does, and the implications of chronic use.

To come off caffeine, taper over 4–7 days rather than stopping abruptly. Reduce intake by about 10–15% per day by volume or concentration, or use a simpler reset: cut intake by 50% for 2–4 days, then take 1–2 full days off caffeine to reduce withdrawal severity.

After a brief caffeine break or reset, return to caffeine at about 50% of your former daily dose and use that as the new baseline. Only occasionally return to the original higher dose when you want stronger performance-enhancing effects, and do not maintain the elevated level the next day or set a new higher baseline.

On the day after a caffeine spike, get outside, get more sunlight, and add some movement to help offset malaise. Then return to your original goal level of caffeine rather than escalating intake.

Expect a slight withdrawal effect lasting about 24–48 hours after going above baseline or adjusting intake, and push through that short period rather than escalating caffeine intake.