The SHN #49: Disengaging from the Collective and Endotoxin

Welcome back to The Synergetic Health Newsletter! 

In this edition, I ask you if I can help with any health issues you’re having.

After that, I include the part of my recent e-book that talks about the importance of breaking free from the herd.

Then comes a discussion on endotoxin.

Finally, I’ll include some links to things I’ve found particularly interesting recently.

Joe Burt

🩺 Do You Have A Chronic Health Issue?

If you have a chronic pain, illness, or disease that you can’t quite seem to manage effectively or eliminate, I would love to try and help. Please reply to this e-mail with as many answers to these questions as you can:

• When did it first appear/how long has it been an issue?

• What are the symptoms, what are their frequency?

• What have you done in the past to help with the issue?

• What are you currently doing to help with the issue?

• What is your health condition otherwise?

🗽 Disengaging from the Collective Consciousness

After someone begins some measure of philosophical inquiry into their existence, a logical next step is the breaking free from the collective and mass consciousness.

The following is an excerpt from my recent e-book:

As we continue our exploration of authentic self-development, a crucial aspect of the process is learning to disengage from the collective consciousness and the pressures of "normal" life.

In our modern world, we are constantly bombarded by social expectations, cultural narratives, and the demands of others. From a young age, we are conditioned to conform, to fit in, to follow the crowd. We internalize the values, beliefs, and scripts of our family, our education, and our society, often at the expense of our own unique voice and individual potential.

As the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard observed, "The crowd is untruth." When we are caught up in the mass mindset, our individual rationality and discernment can easily dissolve, leading us to think, feel, and act in ways that are not authentic to our deepest selves.

This phenomenon of "crowd psychology" has been explored by thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche, who warned of the dangers of the "herd mentality," and Gustave Le Bon, who noted that "in the crowd, the individual is a grain of sand amid other grains of sand, which the wind stirs up at will."

Modern psychological studies, such as the famous Asch conformity experiments and Milgram obedience trials, have further demonstrated the powerful influence of majority opinion and authority figures on individual behavior and belief.

To reclaim our individuality and connect with our true nature, we must be willing to break free from this collective conditioning and the constant noise of society. We must cultivate the courage to stand alone, to think for ourselves, to question the inherited scripts and narratives that have shaped our lives.

As the writer and philosopher Colin Wilson put it, "The outsider's break with society is not a sign of weakness, but of strength. He cannot live the comfortable life of the insider, accepting the values and prejudices of his society. He sees too deep and too much."

This break with society does not necessarily require a physical withdrawal or retreat into isolation. As Tsarion notes, "Be aware, however, that when I speak of turning inward I am not advocating asceticism or solipsism. I am speaking about attitudinal rather than physical withdrawal from the world of men."

Instead, it is about cultivating a certain inner distance, a psychological space in which we can begin to disentangle from the collective trance and reconnect with our own deep well of knowing. It is about learning to be alone with ourselves, to sit in silence, to create pockets of solitude amidst the busyness of modern life.

This can take many forms, from setting firm boundaries around work and social obligations, to reducing our media consumption and digital distractions, to prioritizing activities that allow us to connect with our inner world and authentic desires.

By consciously disengaging from the noise of the collective and making space for introspection and self-reflection, we begin to shed the layers of conditioning and rediscover the unique essence of who we are. We start to hear our own inner voice, the "daimon" or guiding spirit that, as Socrates noted, can lead us beyond the confines of societal norms and expectations.

This process of individuation and self-discovery is not always easy. It requires courage, persistence, and a willingness to face the uncertainty and discomfort of leaving the well-trodden paths of society. But as Nietzsche reminds us, the rewards are great: "The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."

Key Takeaways:

• Disengaging from the collective consciousness is a crucial aspect of authentic self-development.

• Modern society conditions us to conform and follow the crowd, often at the expense of our individuality.

• Breaking free from collective conditioning requires courage, self-reflection, and a willingness to stand alone.

• Disengaging from the collective does not necessarily mean physical isolation, but rather cultivating inner distance and solitude.

• By creating space for introspection, we can reconnect with our own deep wisdom and authentic self.

Practical Steps:

• Set boundaries around work and social obligations to create more time for self-reflection.

• Reduce media consumption and digital distractions to minimize external noise and influence.

• Prioritize activities that allow you to connect with your inner world, such as journaling, meditation, or solo walks.

• Practice questioning your own thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions, especially those that seem to be socially conditioned.

• Seek out perspectives and ideas that challenge the status quo and expand your understanding of what's possible.

Case Study: Henry David Thoreau: In 1845, Thoreau embarked on a two-year experiment in simple living at Walden Pond, Massachusetts. By retreating from society and immersing himself in nature, Thoreau sought to gain a more objective understanding of society through personal introspection. His experience led to the publication of "Walden," a reflection on self-reliance, solitude, and the human relationship with nature.

🦠 Endotoxin

Endotoxin, also known as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is a component of gram-negative bacteria that triggers inflammation in the body when digestive function is impaired. This can lead to various health issues, including brain fog, flu-like symptoms, and gut problems like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Endotoxin is involved in many chronic conditions and can leak from the gut into the bloodstream, causing further damage.

Nate Lawrence does an excellent job breaking down this subject, where he highlights that stress is the main thing that causes poor digestion.

He also believes that cancer, diabetes, obesity, anxiety, depression, learned helplessness, etc. probably cannot exist without some degree of elevated endotoxin (which synergizes with stress hormones and PUFA-polyunsaturated fats).

Here are Nate’s lists on being aware of what things increase endotoxin and ways to lower it:

Things that increase endotoxin:

• Stress

• Indigestible/fermentable foods (such as starches, soluble fibers, etc.)

• Hypothyroidism (which causes poor digestion, impaired gut motility/chronic constipation)

• Impaired liver function (liver works with thyroid and digestion)

• Estrogen (which impairs thyroid/liver/digestion, damages intestinal lining and increases endotoxin absorption)

• PUFA (harms metabolism, damages intestinal lining and increases endotoxin absorption)

• Overgrowth of bacteria (such as SIBO) feeding the vicious cycle of endotoxemia

• Strenuous exercise (causes gut permeability and increases endotoxin absorption)

Ways to lower endotoxin:

• Avoid anything that causes digestive irritation

• Strive for consistent well-formed bowel movements

• Use anything that promotes gut motility (ex. cascara sagrada (emodin), magnesium, thyroid, etc.)

• Insoluble fiber (raw carrot/Ray's carrot salad, well-cooked white button mushrooms, bamboo shoots)

• Activated charcoal (bind to endotoxin and other gut irritants)

• Avoid PUFA

• Gelatin (glycine) to heal the gut, support metabolism and oppose endotoxin directly

• Aspirin (anti-inflammatory and lowers stress hormones)

• Colostrum (lactoferrin) to support immune function, bind to endotoxin and heal the gut lining

 🎯 Where Can You Find Truth?

🐞 Insects and Other Animals Have Consciousness: A new declaration by biologists and philosophers embraces the view that consciousness may be widespread among animals much different from us. “The empirical evidence indicates at least a realistic possibility of conscious experience in all vertebrates (including all reptiles, amphibians and fishes) and many invertebrates (including, at minimum, cephalopod mollusks, decapod crustaceans and insects).”

💩 Are You Having One Bowel Movement or Less Per Day? While not talked about often, frequency of bowel movements is an indication of optimal health. Opinions vary but many people I follow believe you should be having 2+ per day. Less than one on average is cause for concern. Two things that could help, discussed in this post, are eating well-cooked white button mushrooms or supplementing with well-aged cascara.

🦾 Why Biohacking Sends the Wrong Messages About the Pursuit of Health: “Medicine 3.0” thought leader Peter Attia makes clear is no fan of the term “biohacking” in this short video:

“The very term “biohacking” feels to me like an affront to those of us who strive to help others achieve meaningful improvements in health and quality of life. It seems to imply the existence of shortcuts to health and longevity, such that those who are in-the-know and have sufficient disposable income might circumvent the need for consistent adherence to tried-and-true approaches like exercise, nutrition, and good sleep.” -Attia

🔗 One Hitters

📖 Read “Accelerated SELF-Development” and the accompanying "Resources”

🫄 Fix Pooch Belly Fast (Article and Video)

☀️ Longevity in humans is tied to optimal solar exposure (Tweet Thread)

🦷 “Chewing vitamin K & calcium infused gum reduced the occurrence of new cavities by 60-90%.” (Tweet)

📅 My Scheduling Page: Go here to book a 15-minute free call to chat about how I can help you in any way.

✔️ That will do it for this time! Hopefully you got some value out of it. If you have any questions/comments/things you’d like to learn more about please don’t hesitate to reach out.

🔗 If you know anyone who loves learning about these types of topics, send them this link!

📰 To read all past newsletters, go here.