I took HUGE doses of ALA (300-600 mgs) once a day for nealry 2 years. That was before I knew anything about chelation issues.

How much damage did I do, I wonder? My symtpoms have gotten a lot better with proper supplementation, but I'm worried about hidden damage that could crop up later.

Is it possible ALA isn't as big a chelator as thought? I mean, I should be far more damaged by this, shouldn't I?

Sounds so me like your a little paranoid / anxious

Try some homeopathic GABA
http://www.elixirs.com/products.cfm?productcode=S50

Detox slowly starting with liver gall bladder, gut - yeast/bacteria, and then metals with algin/pectin or DMSA under Andy Cutlers protocol

Not anxious, just wondering.

As of right now, I feel so good that I'm not planning on chelating at all. I'll monitor the situation and use Cutler's protocol, but for now, 2 months after 5 amalgams removed, I'm doing well.

Only symptoms are a slightly numb head at times and some minor ear pressure pain which is getting better and better every day.

Your body may have been doing a good job removing mercury by itself. Some people are able to manufacture enough glutathione and there body is able to keep up with the burden...others can't.

This is the suspected reason why fillings bother some people more than others, it goes beyond mercury sensitivity.

I took some substances with small amounts of ALA and cilantro once daily and all hell broke loose.

Yeah, some people's body's seem much more adept at dealing with and eliminating mercury than others. Glutathione is definitely one of keys to that. The way to increase it apparently is by taking things like selenium, milk thistle, undenatured whey powder (the best for increasing glutathione), alpha lipoic acid etc and a good diet which naturally aids everything.

And also depends on immune status, overall toxic load, and whether someone is dealing with another injury. All those things come into play. Too many things wrong at once and you won't get anywhere or you won't get far. I've unfortunately found that out the hard way.

Blicero, the alpha lipoic acid you took with amalgams was risky but evidentally you are ok. I would not worry much about it at all, main thing is to go ahead as you are and it seems you are coping fine. Plenty of people have done stuff they wished they hadn't and you wonder if it did damage or not. But the body can heal itself amazingly well with the right support, unless there are other problems that are there 24/7 preventing it from doing it's job properly.

I think ALA is a strong chelator yes, but it also aids the liver and helps glutathione production. But it's just too risky to use too early on in mercury toxicity as it can cross the blood brain barrier. Great for when your ready to remove organ/brain mercury but not so great if your blood/tissue levels of mercury are still too high which need to be reduced first by amalgam removal and then by waiting it out for the first few months so the body can reduce those levels naturally (or you can use something to reduce it more effectively and faster, like DMSA).

Yeah me too, didn't use as much as you blicero but I do know now why that ALA made me feel lousy the past couple years.

I doubt you did any damage that your body won't heal. Just think... my brain fog is actually eliminated with my use of lots and lots of cilantro and garlic. I can barely remember it. heh. But truthfully, it's gone with the mercury and who knows what else, I actually feel about 16 years old in my head. that is a good thing.... umm probably, we'll see...

Anonymous maybe should try some ectasy for a real thrill. I have never actually done it myself but I hear it's quite exciting for a little while.