Tiny's Blog

Tiny's Blog

Tiny's Blog

DUTCH Hormone Testing: Tiny Reviews!

DUTCH Hormone Testing: Tiny Reviews!

This month, I want to tell you about my most recent experience with Precision Analytical and its DUTCH test.  ‘DUTCH’ is an acronym for ‘Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones’ and, as the name suggests, it involves the testing of hormone levels using dried urine!  I wrote in detail last month about the pros and cons of different methods of hormone testing, so I will not repeat that information in today’s post.  Please go back and read the previous blog post if you would like to know how dried urine testing compares to blood or saliva testing.  Similarly, I am not going to go into much detail about what DUTCH testing is and when you might choose to have it done.  I covered that in this blog post comparing Genova Diagnostic’s Rhythm Plus test to Precision Analytical’s DUTCH Complete.  If you have never heard of DUTCH testing, I would suggest you read those two blog…

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How To Get Your Hormones Checked: Four Different Ways!

How To Get Your Hormones Checked: Four Different Ways!

Regular readers will know that I consider it very useful for people with chronic health issues to have their hormone levels checked out.  When hormone levels are out of balance, it can contribute to a wide variety of symptoms, including:Irregular or painful periodsDifficulty conceivingPainful bladder syndrome or interstitial cystitisVulvodyniaVaginal drynessLichen sclerosusPremenstrual syndrome or premenstrual dysphoric disorderPanic disorders, depression, mood swings, or insomniaThrushUterine fibroidsPolycystic ovary syndromeThyroid hormone imbalanceI often find myself recommending people to get hormone tests done and have previously written in detail on the subject in this blog post about Medichecks and this one about Genova Diagnostics and Precision Analytical.  I thought it might be nice to write a summarised version of the different methods of measuring hormones, outlining the pros and cons for each.  This will therefore be the topic of this month’s blog! Basic GP Blood TestsIn the first instance, you can ask your GP to run blood tests to measure…

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New Year, New Product! Introducing Tiny Pioneer Simply D-Phenylalanine Capsules!

New Year, New Product! Introducing Tiny Pioneer Simply D-Phenylalanine Capsules!

Happy New Year!  We’re starting 2024 in style at Tiny Towers with the launch of a brand new product!  In the previous blog post, I discussed the possible applications of D-phenylalanine (DPA) in chronic pain conditions and both physical and emotional oversensitivity.  I have been using DPA for years and while I am not sure how much of a role it plays in managing my PGAD, I definitely notice improved emotional resilience when I use it. Standalone DPA supplements are not always easy to get hold of, as DPA is usually mixed with L-phenylalanine and offered as a DLPA combination product.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with this if you are able to tolerate L-phenylalanine; however, some people find it too stimulating and cannot use it.  The market leading brand of standalone DPA is American and although it is usually readily available in the UK, there have occasionally been times when all…

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Can D-Phenylalanine Help with Chronic Pain, Emotional Oversensitivity and PGAD?

Can D-Phenylalanine Help with Chronic Pain, Emotional Oversensitivity and PGAD?

Please note that I am not a doctor and nothing in this blog post is intended to constitute medical advice.  Always consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner.In this month’s blog post I want to talk about one of my favourite amino acids:  D-phenylalanine (DPA).  Less commonly used than its mirror image counterpart, D-phenylalanine has been shown to have pain relieving and antidepressant properties which might benefit individuals suffering from conditions that leave them physically or emotionally over-sensitive.  I have been using D-phenylalanine for a number of years now and in today’s post I will draw on both clinical research and my own personal experience to spotlight this lovely little ingredient. If you cast your mind back to school chemistry lessons, you might remember that proteins are made up of small building blocks called amino acids.  Within the body amino acids are used for growth and repair processes, including the manufacture of…

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All About Aloe: The International Aloe Science Council

All About Aloe: The International Aloe Science Council

In this month’s blog post I want to introduce our readers to the International Aloe Science Council (IASC).  I have talked briefly about this organisation in previous posts and it is mentioned on some of our product pages; however, I thought it was high time I put it in the spotlight and dedicated an entire piece to it!The International Aloe Science Council has been advocating for the aloe vera industry and the science of the aloe plant for over 40 years.  Founded in 1980 as the National Aloe Science Council, its aim was to establish quality standards and codes of best practice across the aloe business community.  It now has international reach, with members on five continents who share a commitment to using authentic, high-quality aloe vera and promoting regulatory compliance.  Aloe growers, processors, finished goods manufacturers, product distributors, testing laboratories, scientists and more are eligible to join the organisation. The IASC was…

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What Type of Water is Best for Interstitial Cystitis?

What Type of Water is Best for Interstitial Cystitis?

In this month’s blog post I am going to talk about different types of water.  Yes, really!  I don’t like to brag, but I have something of a refined palate when it comes to water, having once correctly identified five different types of mineral water in a blind taste test.  I’m like a really boring version of a sommelier!  Anyone with a bladder pain condition or a propensity to urinary tract infections will know the importance of drinking enough water, as becoming dehydrated can bring on a flare.  Many of you are probably, like me, rather obsessive about staying hydrated and make sure to take a bottle of water with you whenever you leave the house.  What you might not know is that some people’s bladder symptoms worsen or improve depending on the type of water they drink.  In today’s post I will discuss the pros and cons of various…

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Prelief, Calcium Glycerophosphate and Interstitial Cystitis

Prelief, Calcium Glycerophosphate and Interstitial Cystitis

In this month’s blog post I want to talk about the role of Prelief® or calcium glycerophosphate in managing symptoms of interstitial cystitis. Let’s begin with some questions that I am often asked:Are Prelief and calcium glycerophosphate the same thing?Does Prelief help with interstitial cystitis?Does your Simply Calci-G do the same as…?How often can I take Prelief/calcium glycerophosphate?Firstly, yes, Prelief and calcium glycerophosphate are pretty much the same thing.  Prelief is the brand name of a range of products that utilise calcium glycerophosphate as the active ingredient.  These products are made in the United States by a company called AK Pharma and they have medical food status, meaning they are not required to display ingredients information in the same way as food supplements and are legally allowed to make claims about their use in the management of interstitial cystitis.  By contrast, food supplements must display a supplement facts table, an ingredients…

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Do People with Interstitial Cystitis Need to Avoid Vitamin B6?

Do People with Interstitial Cystitis Need to Avoid Vitamin B6?

In the last blog post, I discussed whether people with interstitial cystitis need to avoid vitamin C.  Today’s post is going to focus on a very similar topic:  do people with interstitial cystitis need to avoid vitamin B6? To reuse my introduction from last time, I have noticed that there is a lot of confusion among interstitial cystitis sufferers about vitamin B6 and whether or not it should be avoided.  I hope to clear up some of that confusion today!The succinct answer is that people with IC do not need to avoid foods that are naturally high in vitamin B6.  They might wish to avoid foods artificially fortified with vitamin B6.  They should avoid supplements that use the pyridoxine form of vitamin B6.  And they may or may not need to avoid supplements that use the P5P form of B6.  If that’s all you wanted to know, you can stop reading…

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Do People with Interstitial Cystitis Need to Avoid Vitamin C?

Do People with Interstitial Cystitis Need to Avoid Vitamin C?

I have noticed that there is a lot of confusion among interstitial cystitis sufferers about vitamin C and whether or not it should be avoided.  In this month’s blog post, I hope to briefly clear up some of that confusion! Those of you who have been with Tiny Pioneer from the beginning might remember that my first ever post on Tiny’s Blog was about liposomal vitamin C.  At the time, liposomal supplements were still quite new and I had been curious to investigate whether liposomal ascorbic acid was any more bladder friendly than the ordinary stuff.  One very painful bout of cystitis later, I was able to conclude that no, it is not!  Although that first post did touch a little on different types of vitamin C, it did not explicitly answer the question that I am asked on a fairly regular basis:  “Do I need to avoid vitamin C if…

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Tiny's First-Aid and Medicine-Box Essentials! (Part 2)

Tiny's First-Aid and Medicine-Box Essentials! (Part 2)

Hello and welcome to Part 2 of my post about medicine-box and first-aid essentials that I wouldn’t like to be without!  If you haven’t already read Part 1, you can find it here.  In the interest of safety I suppose I had better repeat my disclaimer before I resume the list.Please note that I am not a doctor and nothing in this blog post is intended to constitute medical advice.  In the case of illness or injury, always consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner or a trained First Aider.  In a medical emergency, call the emergency services. Okay, let’s continue! Fresh garlic.  Some IC sufferers find high sulphur foods triggering, so if you’re not able to tolerate garlic and onions, you’ll need to skip this one.  However, many people have no issues with high sulphur foods and fresh garlic is known for its antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.  It would be great to…

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