I gave my mother some Algin to take, but she read the label and was afraid to take it because of her blood thinner. It is called sodium alginate. Is this different from regular sodium? I have been taking the Algin and have not had any problems with it and I am very sensitive to sodium.

I've read of other alginates like Calcium alginate and potassium alginate. I don't think they do the same as sodium alginate though, but I don't know. I will see what I can find on it.

Algin is a polysaccharide derived from brown seaweeds. Algin is present as a mixed salt (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium) of alginic acid. Therefore, there is some natural sodium in sodium alginate.

However, since mercury indirectly leads to high blood pressure (see explanation as to how below), I would be more concerned with getting rid of the mercury in my body.

Mercury reduces or inhibits the body's ability to create methylcobalamin (methyl B12), which in turn (through a multi-step process), leads to elevated levels of homocysteine, which is known to cause high blood pressure.

I have not found any information that other "salts" of alginic acid have the same effect on heavy metals like mercury that sodium alginate does.

Thanks Laura for this information. I will pass it along to my mother and maybe she will now give it a try since she is becoming more convinced that her chronic problems are from mercury and her recent acute problems from the reaction from the dissimilar metals by the placement of a crown.

I would be curious to know the "nutrition facts" for Algin, particularly regarding sodium.

The first two or three times I took Algin I felt this incredible rush. It was seriously like a high that, interestingly enough, has proven exactly the same on anyone else I've asked to try 2+ capsuels. I don't feel anything from it anymore, but am convinced it must be doing some good so I continue to pop a few every couple of days or so. Anyway, I mailed a bottle of Algin to my mother, insisting that she had to give it a try, but she took one look at the label and got paranoid because of the word sodium .. so I was always rather curious what the sodium content of Algin is ever since then.

I've noticed that while most people talk about feeling a difference with taking Algin and many who say that they feel a feeling of euphoria, that I really haven't felt that for myself. I continue to take it because I like being able to take a "binder" that isn't also a mobilizer since I do seem to have too much moving about at this time.

Russ or Laura, have you heard of others that take it like me? Does this mean I should be taking more or could it be that (like other things) I'm not assimulating it?

Missy,

Although I haven't felt "euphoria," I definitely can tell a difference when my mercury blood levels are high, like after doing excercise or strenuous yard work, or even after eating fish (which I only do a few times a year).

When I've done something to mobilize or increase mercury, I first usually start feeling very agitated/irritable and anxious. I often start feeling hot like I'm running a slight fever. I will often have terrible bouts of fatigue and muscle soreness. Sometimes even headaches.

However, if I know I've done something to aggravate my mercury symptoms, I'll take 4-6 algin right away and I can often avoid these problems completely. If I'm already feeling bad and then take algin, I usually feel much better in about 15 to 30 minutes. Sometimes I'll have to take repeated doses and things continue to improve.

My suggestion would be to try taking a little more algin, maybe an additional 2 or 3 capsules and see if you see improvement. Think about it...if you were to open the contents of 2 capsules, you'd have very little algin. I know 3 or 4 capsules sounds like a lot, but it really isn't. Some people just need to take more because they have a higher body burden of mercury than others. If you're detoxing slowly, you might need less than someone who is detoxing more aggressively...try experimenting to see what dosage works best for you. I think if you try taking more, you'll probably begin to actually feel the difference!

As far as assimilation goes, you actually don't assimilate algin at all. It's a non-digestible fiber. It goes in and it comes out. The good thing is that it binds to heavy metals and other toxins on the way out. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Interesting fact: Algin is stockpiled by the government for protection against nuclear radiation exposure (war, etc.).

Even if I didn't notice a difference with Algin, I would still take it knowing it's properties in relation to mercury AND knowing that it provides other benefits as well, particularly related to the digestive system, which is particularly important when mercury toxic.

The real difference I see with Algin is when eating something with mercury in it. If I eat salmon without Algin, I will have several symptoms appear within 1 hour. With algin, I get either no symptoms at all or almost unnoticeable symptoms. It makes all the difference in the world.

Thanks. I will try taking a bit more and I think I will try taking some when I have been exposed to toxins like car exhaust and see if it helps there.