Secrets of China’s Terracotta Army

Buried for over 2,000 years beneath the fields of Xi’an lies an army unlike any other—8,000 life-sized warriors sculpted to guard China’s first emperor in death. But are they merely statues… or part of a deeper mystery the history books barely scratch? Join Steve and Dave as they unravel the secrets, controversies, and unanswered questions surrounding the Terracotta Army—complete with rare discoveries, modern conspiracies, and the gear you’ll need to explore it all.

Dave vs Steve: Supplements Showdown

Natural Remedies vs Big Pharma

Dave: “Listen, Steve – I’m done with Big Pharma’s daylight robbery. They jack up prices on everything, even on stuff you could easily get from nature. Why pay for expensive pills when simple extracts like oregano oil or black seed oil can cool inflammation and ease joint pain?”

Steve: “Slow down, Dave. Oregano oil and black seed have some evidence, sure. For example, oregano’s active compounds are known antioxidants and anti-inflammatories pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. And a small trial (40 people) found adding Nigella sativa (black seed) to rheumatoid arthritis treatment improved symptoms pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. But larger experts warn these are preliminary findings – not a medical license to ditch proven treatments health.clevelandclinic.org.”

Dave: “But look at those supplement companies – markups are insane. We could grow our own herbs! Pharma’s just gating off nature.”

Steve: “I get it. Natural doesn’t cost patent fees. But even if oregano oil fights inflammation in lab studies pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, translating that to human health isn’t guaranteed. And Cleveland Clinic notes the evidence for black seed is tiny: that 42-person arthritis study was more of a hint than proof health.clevelandclinic.org. Plus they stress: these oils should only adjunct conventional therapy, not replace it health.clevelandclinic.org.”

Dave (grinning): “Still, stuff like that makes you wonder why a cough syrup costs £10 but a kilo of thyme is pocket change!”

Steve: “True, medicine pricing is insane. But price isn’t the same as efficacy. We should focus on evidence. Speaking of which, let’s talk the minerals you love – like magnesium and zinc.”

Magnesium, Zinc & Friends: The Mighty Mineral Mix

Dave: “Exactly! Magnesium in forms like citrate or glycinate is cheap and available. Folks say it helps with sleep, muscle cramps, mood… and it’s pennies compared to a pharmacist’s formula.”

Steve: “Some studies do show benefit. One RCT gave older adults 500 mg magnesium daily and found better sleep time and efficiency, longer sleep and less waking up, plus higher melatonin pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Another analysis even found magnesium modestly lowered depression scores frontiersin.org. But don’t oversell it – the effects are real but modest, and high doses often cause loose stools. And on cramps, the evidence is weak: a Cochrane review concluded magnesium likely doesn’t meaningfully prevent leg cramps in most people pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.”

Dave: “So you’re saying it’s not a miracle cure, but still helpful?”

Steve: “Yes – more like a nudge than a revolution. Now zinc is another essential. It’s true zinc deficiency can affect immunity and mood. In one trial, 30 mg zinc daily for 10 weeks significantly improved depression and anxiety scores in elderly patients openpublichealthjournal.com. And meta-analyses suggest zinc lozenges can shave a couple of days off a cold pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. But again, take care: excess zinc can cause nausea, and too much zinc without copper can lower copper levels. Copper’s a minor player, really – most people get enough from diet. Actually, high copper levels have been linked to depression risk bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com, so it’s not a “more is better” situation. Balance is key.”

Dave: “Alright Mr. History Detective, but calcium and vitamin D3 are obviously cheap naturals – basically sunlight and milkbones.”

Steve: *“Right, calcium and D3 are classic bone-health champs. NIH explains calcium builds bones and teeth, and vitamin D helps absorb calcium niams.nih.gov. However, ‘more’ isn’t always better. A large JAMA trial found mega-doses of D3 (10,000 IU/day) gave no extra bone benefit and may even slightly harm bone density compared to a modest 400 IU health.harvard.edu. So supplementing can help if you’re deficient or elderly, but wildly high doses aren’t magic.

And vitamin K2 (often paired with D3) has intriguing data: in the Rotterdam Study, folks with higher dietary K2 had less arterial calcification and far lower heart disease risk pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. That suggests D3+K2 makes sense for calcium to go to bones, not arteries. But these are observational findings, not prescriptions. Bottom line: vitamins D3, K2, calcium are valuable, but dosing and balance matter. Always check actual dietary intake and blood levels before piling on pills.”*

Sleep & Stress Helpers: L-Theanine, Shilajit… and More

Dave: “You can’t deny it – green tea’s amino acid L-theanine is practically free (as tea) but sold like gold in capsules. People swear it calms nerves and helps sleep.”

Steve: “It does have a good reputation. In a Japanese RCT, 200 mg L-theanine daily reduced self-reported anxiety and depression scores and improved sleep quality in healthy adults pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Specifically, subjects fell asleep faster and woke less oftenpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. So yes, L-theanine is a promising mild relaxant. And it’s cheap if you prefer the tea route.”

Dave: “And shilajit? This ancient “miracle resin” is trending among biohackers as a general vitality tonic.”

Steve: “Shilajit is interesting. One 2012 review gushes that it’s a ‘potent and very safe’ supplement that may restore energy balance and even help age-related cognitive issues pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. It highlights fulvic acid (a component of shilajit) as blocking tau aggregation in Alzheimer’s research. But remember, those are early lab findings. Clinical trials are still lacking. In essence, shilajit looks safe and has potential anti-aging benefits, but we need more human data pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.”

Dave (smirking): “So even the ‘resin’ has fans. You science guys say everything’s potentially good. But hey, at least it’s not spiked with corporate logos.”

Hidden Gems: Bacopa, Lion’s Mane & Other Underdogs

Steve: “There are plenty more ‘under-the-radar’ naturals worth mentioning. Take Bacopa monnieri, an herb. In an elderly trial, Bacopa improved memory recall and lowered depression and anxiety scores versus place bopmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Lion’s Mane mushroom is another: a pilot study found 1.8 g daily boosted cognitive speed (faster reaction on tasks) and even trended toward reduced stress pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Ashwagandha (Withania) is well-known in Ayurveda; RCTs have found 240 mg daily reduced anxiety scores and cortisol levels significantly pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. These adaptogens show real promise.”

Dave: “See? Nature keeps giving us stuff and pharma just siphons it. I bet the big guys are pissed we’re onto all this free research.”

Steve: “Well, to be fair, many of these natural compounds did come from research labs originally. But anyways, we should add caution: none of these are miracle cures, and effects can be modest. Still, it’s great there’s growing science on them. People just need to stay practical.”

Supplement Picks (Amazon UK Affiliate Links*)

For those who want to try, here are some friendly picks at different price points (Amazon UK, affiliates):

Nutrient Budget Pick All-Rounder Premium
Oregano Oil Oregano4Life Wild Oregano Oil Softgels NOW Foods Oregano Oil 90 Softgels Oreganol P73 (North American Herb & Spice)
Black Seed Oil 100 % Pure Cold-Pressed 100 ml Organic Black Seed Oil 250 ml Nature’s Blends Ethiopian Black Seed Oil 100 ml
Magnesium Nutravita Magnesium Citrate 1480 mg 3-in-1 Magnesium Glycinate/Citrate/Malate Complex Pure Encapsulations Magnesium (Glycinate) 120 mg
Zinc Horbäach Zinc 25 mg — 365 tabs Solgar Zinc Picolinate 22 mg — 100 tabs Thorne Zinc Picolinate 15 mg — 60 caps
Copper Copper Bisglycinate 2 mg — 180 tabs Solgar Chelated Copper — 100 tabs Pure Encapsulations Copper (Glycinate) — 60 caps
Calcium +D3 +K2 Calcium Citrate +D3 +K2 — 120 veg caps Pure Encapsulations Calcium-Magnesium (Citrate) Life Extension Bone Restore with K2 & D3
Vitamin D3 +K2 Nutravita D3 4000 IU + K2 (MK-7) WeightWorld D3 4000 IU + K2 125 µg D3 + K2 High-Strength Liquid 30 ml
L-Theanine NOW Foods L-Theanine 200 mg — 60 caps Doctor’s Best Suntheanine 150 mg — 90 caps Solgar L-Theanine 150 mg — 60 caps
Shilajit Pure Himalayan Shilajit Caps 500 mg — 180 caps Original Himalayan Shilajit Resin 30 g Gold-Grade Power Shilajit Resin 30 g

Daily Wellbeing Stack Picks (UK Affiliate Links*)

Looking for a one-stop daily stack? Here are some multi-ingredient picks designed for general health:

Prices and availability may vary. All product links are Amazon UK affiliate links. We may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you buy through them.


Not Medical Advice: This friendly debate is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional healthcare. Always consult a qualified practitioner before changing your supplement routine.

The Towers That Aren’t What They Seem

Wake up, people! I’m about to tell you something that’s going to make you look at every cell tower differently. And trust me, once you see what I’m about to show you, you can’t unsee it.

My name is Dave Morrison, and for fifteen years I was the guy climbing those towers, installing the equipment, and maintaining the networks that keep your phones connected. I thought I knew exactly what I was doing. Turns out, I didn’t know the half of it.

The Day Everything Changed

It was a cold morning in October 2018, and I was heading up to a remote installation site near Mount Hood. Nothing unusual about the assignment – just a routine upgrade to what my work order called “enhanced coverage equipment.” I’d done hundreds of these jobs. Drive up, swap out some hardware, run diagnostics, head home. Easy money.

But when I opened the equipment cases that morning, something didn’t add up.

The specifications on the new hardware showed frequency ranges that made my engineering brain do a double-take. We’re talking about equipment capable of operating at power levels that were completely unnecessary for civilian telecommunications. I’m not going to bore you with all the technical details, but imagine someone asking you to install a jet engine on a bicycle. That’s how out of place this equipment was.

The antenna arrays were wrong too. Instead of the standard directional patterns you’d expect for cell coverage, these were configured for something called “omnidirectional high-gain transmission.” In plain English, that means they were designed to blanket an area with signal, not provide targeted coverage to phones.

I called my supervisor. “Hey, Mike, I think there’s been a mix-up with the equipment specs. This stuff is way overpowered for what we need here.”

Mike’s response still gives me chills. “Just install what’s in the cases, Dave. Don’t worry about the specs.”

Don’t worry about the specs? I’d been an engineer for fifteen years. Worrying about specs was literally my job.

The Questions That Got Me Fired

Being the stubborn guy I am, I started asking more questions. I pulled up the FCC documentation for the site and compared it to what I was actually installing. The official paperwork said one thing, but the equipment told a completely different story.

The power output ratings alone were enough to make me suspicious. Standard cell equipment operates at around 20-40 watts per channel. What I was installing could push 500 watts or more. That’s not just overkill for phone coverage – that’s enough power to do things to the human body that the FCC definitely doesn’t approve of for civilian applications.

I started documenting everything. Photos of equipment serial numbers, power specifications, antenna configurations. I even brought a spectrum analyzer to a few sites to measure what these towers were actually transmitting. What I found made my blood run cold.

These towers weren’t just handling phone calls and data. They were broadcasting on frequencies that had nothing to do with civilian telecommunications. Some of the signals were in ranges typically used for radar and military communications. Others were in frequency bands that, according to my research, could affect human brain activity.

When I brought my findings to management, I was told I was “overthinking things” and needed to “focus on my assigned tasks.” When I persisted, I was suddenly reassigned to different projects. When I kept asking questions, I was laid off in what they called “company restructuring.”

Three weeks after I started asking questions about those towers, I was unemployed.

What I’ve Learned Since

Losing my job was the best thing that ever happened to me, because it forced me to dig deeper. And what I’ve discovered in the years since would make your head spin.

Those towers I was installing? They’re part of a network that goes way beyond keeping your Instagram feed updated. We’re talking about a surveillance and control system that would make George Orwell weep.

Let me break down what these towers can actually do, because the capabilities go far beyond what most people realize: