Aspirin

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a synthetic variant of the naturally occurring salicylic acid, a phenolic compound found in willow bark and other plants, to which an acetyl group has been added to dramatically improve absorption. 2 Peat considered aspirin, alongside progesterone, to be one of the most systemically beneficial substances available, functioning as a broad-spectrum pro-metabolic agent. 2 The acetyl group serves primarily as a delivery mechanism; once ingested, aspirin acts as a pro-drug that is rapidly hydrolyzed in the body within about 15 minutes into its core active components, salicylic acid and acetic acid. 3 This rapid breakdown means that the long-term metabolic effects of aspirin are essentially identical to those of salicylic acid, though the acetyl group itself confers a slightly stronger anticoagulant and antipyretic effect during its brief existence. 7

The fundamental bioenergetic action of aspirin is the reactivation of the two final steps of cellular respiration—the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain—which become suppressed in degenerative states like cancer, where cells default to inefficient glycolysis and produce excessive lactic acid. 7 Peat argued that aspirin’s effects on the mitochondria are similar to those of the active thyroid hormone T3, suggesting that combining both could synergistically improve brain energy production. 8 Dinkov has elaborated that aspirin speeds up all enzymes inside glycolysis while also activating the electron transfer chain complex, and it functions as an aromatase inhibitor, lowering the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. 2 This anti-estrogenic action is central to its therapeutic profile, as it inhibits the enzyme aromatase strongly enough that multi-gram doses can approximate the effects of pharmaceutical aromatase inhibitors like anastrozole. 2 Additionally, aspirin opposes the inflammatory cascade by inhibiting the enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX), which use polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) as raw material to produce the majority of pro-inflammatory mediators in the body. 7

Peat viewed aspirin as a direct antidote to the accumulation of polyunsaturated fats in tissues, opposing the lipid peroxidation process and acting as a surrogate for saturated fats at a molecular level by competing for the active site on the COX enzyme. 2 He recommended its regular, if not daily, use for prevention against a wide spectrum of conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, provided adequate vitamin K is consumed to prevent excess bleeding. 2 Roddy notes that aspirin’s utility can be calibrated in proportion to a person’s historical PUFA consumption, as it takes years to clear these fats from the body. 4 Dinkov has pointed to specific mechanisms, such as aspirin’s ability to inhibit the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the ACE2 enzyme, thereby preventing the accumulation of the highly inflammatory angiotensin II protein that triggers cytokine storms. 3 He also cites evidence that even a low-dose, baby-aspirin regimen significantly lowers the risk of liver fibrosis progressing to cirrhosis, an effect linked to aspirin’s ability to lower serotonin synthesis, a known promoter of fibrosis. 12

Regarding practical use, Peat and his interpreters consistently warn against the toxic excipients in commercial tablets and advise dissolving aspirin in hot water to allow the insoluble fillers to settle, then drinking only the clear, sour supernatant. 3 Peat preferred using pure crystals over powder, noting that the crystals are more stable and do not develop an acetic acid smell over time, and he recommended storing a bulk supply in the freezer. 2 While acknowledging that aspirin can irritate the gut initially, Roddy and Peat maintained that the intestine adapts and develops a tolerance over a period of days, and that the salicylic acid released from aspirin is ultimately protective to the stomach and other organs. 2 Dosing is highly individualized and can change as metabolism adjusts; Peat reported sometimes taking about 500 mg at night to aid sleep, while therapeutic doses for serious conditions like cancer have been documented in the range of several grams daily. 3