Has anyone been introduced to the methylation theories involving mercury toxification? The therapy revoles around supplements to support/restart a broken methylation cycle, which then supports a natural detoxification.

PHD Rich Van Konynenburg has a great paper @
http://phoenix-cfs.org/GSHMethylDeplTheoryJuly07.htm



The now infamous "Dr Amy Holmes" has some great papers on mercury detox:
http://www.healing-arts.org/children/holmes.htm

http://phoenix-cfs.org/GSHMethylTrtPlanJuly07.htm

The latest Methylation theories might be the link between the "stress trigger" and mercury toxicity. Both of my CFs bouts (past and current) were preceeded by dental work in the current and previous year.

Mercury will interfere with methylation (and a ton of other enzimatic processes) which is your body's main pathway for detoxification of....guess what....Mercury.

If you chelate the mercury out of your system then it cannot interfere with the normal methylation and it should restore your bodys own detox ability.

An alternative which is happening now is that many are taking supplements to restore methylation which turns back on the detoxification mechanisms (restoring glutathoine levels, metallothionein , etc. levels back to normal) then the detox happens naturally through the normal pathways that were shut down previously by overburden or stress (I believe).

Those who choose this route still experience the detox reaction those who undertake chelation do, but from what I've read it's not nearly as bad.

Restoring methylation can be as simple as taking B12 and Folicin. The form of B12 that becomes blocked by mercury is Methylcobalamin. That is the form you want to take. There is a danger that this form might convert the mercury to it's methyl form so hydroxocobalamin is recommeneded. Three different types of Folic acid are supplemented along with Phosphatidyl Serine.

They start with low doses the same reason you would start chelation with a low dose. Some have experienced huge detox reactions from taking too much to start. You start slow and build up to a dose you can tolerate. (Like stepping on the gas pedal of your auto). When you can take more you press down a little more on the pedal and increase your dose (detox happens faster). All the while you take kidney/liver support, antioxidants and supplements to support the sulfur metabolism.

One can add TMG and/or SAMe later to enhance results.

Thanks Sregan, really interesting to read this. I've heard some people can even get detox symptoms from replacing minerals too! Because mercury competes with them for binding sites. When the minerals are replaced, they can displace a bit of the mercury (so I hear). So can cause symptoms.

I chose to chelate my mercury out and restore things that way. I didn't have anybody that was really giving me any particular supplements that would restore things that you are speaking of here. So I can't say if it would have helped me or not. But I know that replacing some minerals and using selenium often brought on enough symptoms alone.

What I wanted to stress with this thread is that a new approach to mercury detox is under trials (so to speak). PHd Rich Van Konynenburg has been helping those folks similarly to what Andy Cutler is doing for the chelation people.

The premise is to simply restore normal glutathione levels which will detox mercury. The body will naturally detox heavy metals UNLESS of course the heavy metals are interfering with the detoxification processes in the body (which mercury does). Simply taking B12 and Folate might be enough to repair one's methylation and restart normal detox.

This might be a preferable option to those who are having a hard time with chelation or cannot remove the mercury from their teeth for whatever reason.

I've started taking sublingual B12 after much time spent trying to decide to or not and finally coming to the conclusion that it should be a good thing.

I'm curious. How many people take B12 and do you notice any difference?