Hi Heartbroken,

I typed you an email, but I thought I'd copy and paste my response here as well.

I'm sorry for the conflicting advice regarding this chelator (typical we get a lot of conflicting advice and it's very hard to tell which way to go and whose got it right). However this is what I know about it, for what it's worth.

I am not aware that EDTA is a strong chelator of mercury in the first place, let alone crosses the blood brain barrier and removes it from there. I think it can be effective on other metals, which is why mercury toxic people may feel better with it. Because mercury allows also for other metals to build up also, which can cause multiple metal toxicities. It may still have some effect on mercury though (I can't be certain). But not such a strong chelator of mercury itself.

I know the chelators of mercury are DMSA, DMPS and Alpha lipoic acid. There are some other ones in the medical field, but they can be more risky to use (I cannot recall the names now).

The body should be the first area to chelate before chelating the brain. Or a person can wait a few months and let the body's levels come down naturally on their own instead (or use a chelator during that time). And then use a brain chelating agent after that. As long as you don't use a brain chelator too early following mercury exposure (e.g. Removal of mercury, or other exposure). You need to wait at least 3 months post removal (or exposure) before using a brain chelator.

Within that 3 months, some people may use DMSA or DMPS to chelate the body areas/tissues etc or other more natural methods if they choose. Or some do nothing and wait it out till 3 months are up and then use alpha lipoic acid (or even cilantro, which is a natural agent that apparently can chelate brain).

I find that it's wise to use those body area chelators (DMSA or DMPS) anyway because they still chelate mercury and lower the levels quicker and far better than what the body can do alone. That alone can improve brain symptoms. I'm not sure how, whether it creates more balance, or whether some areas of the body can create mental symptoms. Some believe that chelating the body allows the brain to naturally dump some mercury....however others say the brain cannot detox mercury unless it has direct help.

It takes a lifetime to eliminate some mercury from the brain apparently. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a brain chelator (antioxidant also and available in healthfood shops/chemists etc). It should be used according to Cutler's protocol for safety when moving/removing mercury. Starting with low levels and buildling up as time goes on (as tolerated). E.g. 25 mg every 3 hours around the clock for about 3 days or longer. Then taking a break of about the same amount of time you spent on it. E.g. 3 days on, 3 days off. Or 3 days on, 4 days off (or more if necessary).

It's annoying to have to take a pill every 3 hours (especially during the night) but necessary if a person wishes to keep the movement/removal of mercury safe and effective. Otherwise they risk bouncing it all over the place and may incur a backlash or even damage. Taking ALA less often that this, causes the levels of the chelator to drop and then when you take another pill, the levels spike suddenly back up. This creates unpredictable/wild movement of the mercury as well.

If you take it every 3 hours, the levels of ALA remain more consistent and even in the blood stream, which allows for more consistent/even movement of mercury. And that is the key to this kind of protocol. Mercury is not something you want moving all over the place and making symptoms much worse and possibly creating big and long term problems folllowing. Some people do get away with it, others do not.

A natural brain chelator is Cilantro (Coriander or Chinese parsley as it can be called). It is not known how to use this to be certain of a safe protocol, though some use it anyway and find it helps them a lot. Others get reactions and don't like it. Andy Cutler suggests that one can try this if the cannot get ALA or don't want to, or don't like it. But he admits he doesn't know how to use it in order to suggest a protocol tailored for it.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Take care

Bex.