Found an interesting article entitled IS GLUTATHIONE DEPLETION AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PATHOGENESIS OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME? see http://phoenix-cfs.org/GluAACFS04.htm. What caught my eye was these para's in particular

"......While there are no published controlled studies of mercury level testing in CFS patients, several clinicians who specialize in treating CFS have reported that many of their patients have high mercury levels . In addition, immune testing has shown significantly elevated hypersensitivity to mercury in many CFS patients (Stejskal et al., 1999; Sterzl et al., 1999; and Marcusson, 1999). This suggests that the immune system has responded to elevated mercury levels. .
(Note that there have been epidemiological studies that showed no evidence that dental amalgams are associated with CFS as a causal factor. However, this does not constitute evidence that amalgams do not give rise to elevated mercury levels after CFS onset in people who have amalgams and who may have developed CFS as a result of other causes.)"

and also

"When GSH repletion is begun in patients who have been GSH-depleted for extended periods of time, their immune and detoxication systems can begin to function at higher levels of performance. If their bodies have accumulated elevated levels of toxins (especially mercury) and infections, glutathione repletion can cause significant Herxheimer-type reactions as pathogens are killed and toxins are mobilized. Care should be taken to proceed slowly and cautiously in such cases in order to avoid moving toxins into the central nervous system or exacerbating symptoms to a level that is intolerable to the patient.


WHAT APPROACHES HAVE BEEN USED TO BUILD GLUTATHIONE?
Diet high in sulfur-containing amino acids (as in animal-based protein, such as milk, eggs and meat) and antioxidants (as in fresh fruits and vegetables)
Diet high in GSH, e.g. fresh fruits and vegetables and meats
Curcumin
N-acetylcysteine together with glutamic acid (or glutamine) and glycine , or NAC together with dietary protein
Non-denatured whey protein
Oral reduced glutathione
Intravenous reduced glutathione
Intramuscular reduced glutathione
Transdermal reduced glutathione skin cream or lotion
Sublingual reduced glutathione troches
Reduced glutathione rectal suppositories
Reduced glutathione aerosol
Reduced glutathione nasal spray


Any opinions comments on this article? Has anyone tried increasing glutathione levels by any of the methods mentioned? Successfully or unsuccessfully? Problems side- effects if any?

You might want to have a look at the immune support website. They have a lot of articles and information on chronic fatigue syndrome and are supporters of the anti-mercury movement as well. Dr. Paul Cheney specializes in treating CFS and he has some interesting articles on that website on ways to build glutathione levels in the body. Cheney is the one who did studies in his office on the use of a whey product called Immunocal and had good results in raising glutathione levels using this.

There are many other articles and abstracts on the website from other practitioners as well.

I believe the owner of the site was a sufferer of CFS and also mercury toxicity.

http://www.immunesupport.com/

From what I've been able to deduce from reading that site for the past few months, there are a lot of folks out there with heavy metal toxicity and CFS. But what's interesting is that they have also found many other common denominators -- such as co-existing infections that go along with the heavy metal toxicity and CFS. For example, a LOT of people are testing positive for Lyme, Epstein Barr VIrus and Mycoplasmas as well. It seems that all areas need to be treated in order for health to be regained. Heavy Metal Detox is crucial, but for many that can't be done effectively until underlying infection is addressed, if possible.

ALso thought I'd add that while underlying infection is being identified and addressed it's crucial to begin rebuilding the body's terrain with diet and also nutritional supplementation.

In other words, many things need to be addressed at the same time or in a specific order which the body can tolerate -- since the body's terrain and defenses are already so depleted, weakened and disordered by metals and infection.

I'm going through this now. Had my amalgams out last year, got rid of the Epstein Barr Virus but have been diagnosed with a chronic case of mycoplasma pneumonia. The only reason the mycoplasma got identified was because out of desparation I demanded that my doctor test for it. And, Bingo I found another big piece of the health puzzle.

How did you get rid of your epstein barr?

Hi Anonymous,

You talked about getting your amalgams out a year ago and getting rid of the Epstien Barr Virus. How did you get rid of this virus. I was diagnosed with EBV with IgG of 2,459 which should be less than 99.

Thanks

Patty