If chelating gets the mercury out and when you stop there is redistribution then why stop? Is it to give the body a break because chelation is hard on the body? What makes it hard on the body? I am full of questions this morning.

Chelation is stressful on the body. Each day that a chelation round continues, you will typically feel more uncomfortable. Chelation yanks mercury stored deeply in the body into the blood stream so it can be eliminated. In the process, the blood level of mercury goes way up, and mercury symptoms get stronger. So I guess this is part of an answer to one of your other questions. If you feel pretty well before a chelation round, and feel horrible during the round, the most likely explaination is that the cause is mercury. So that is how you can know what mercury symptoms feel like. Chelation therefore needs to be handled carefully. I did 6 weeks of ALA at 50 mg every 3 hours 3 days on, 4 off, then crashed. I am now off chelation for several weeks. My case isn't typical though, as I had 25 mercury fillings! I guess there was so much mercury in my body that the chelation caused my blood mercury levels to get huge. When I plan to start again, I plan to use only 25 mg a dose. My advice to you is to start slow. That way you won't crash. You still might need a week or two off chelation every month or so though. Some like to just use ALA rather than using DMSA and adding ALA later. If you plan to start chelation before 3 months, then at least wait until the parasite cleanse is over, and use DMSA for at least several weeks before adding ALA. ALA is needed to get mercury out of the brain and nervous system. DMSA won't do that. The body itself without ALA is very slow in getting rid of mercury from the brain and nervous system. You didn't mention exactly how many amalgams you had. It seems like on average people here had 8 amalgams. There seems to be only very few here that had more than a dozen.

"If you feel pretty well before a chelation round, and feel horrible during the round, the most likely explaination is that the cause is mercury."

I did chelate before and felt really good for about 4 or 5 weeks and then crashed BIG time. All symptoms came back and then some. So that makes me think - yes mercury is my problem. It was improper chelation which I mentioned before I think - 250 mg DMSA every day, infrared ray sauna once a week, homepathetic detox kit, and IV DMPS every week. Now wonder why I crashed. But that makes me think that had I do it properly I may have felt better for longer. I will not add ALA for at least 3 months. I will not mess around with that stuff. I am only going to take 6.25 mg DMSA - I want to start slow and see how I do - I am very sensitive to meds. Oh, I had 9 amalgams out - using proper protocol.

Did you do the DMSA in one dose per day, or spread out every 4 hours. If the doses were too far apart, then you probably had plenty of redistribution. the IV DMPS is extreme, and imo seems crazy to do while also taking DMSA. With such a low dose of DMSA you plan to take, and not taking ALA for 3 months, you could start chelating right after the parasite cleanse is over. I was almost ready to say you could start chelating now, but it would be a good idea to wait until at least one month after the last amalgams are out to start chelating. Imo your supplement regimen is good, except that you are taking too much B vitamins. 200 mg a day is too much, especially for a petite woman. Andy Cutler recommends taking B vitamins and vitamin C 4 times a day for maximum effectiveness(to keep the blood level more stable) so perhaps half a B50 or even a lower dosage) 4 times a day, or else half a B50 twice or 3 times a day might be a good idea. I would never take a B100, and especially not 2 a day. It is too much stress on the kidneys and other organs. Most is probably excreted quickly anyway, so why stress your body so much by overloading so much on B vitamins. B vitamins are also diuretics, and it is easy to dehydrate yourself(especially in warm weather) while taking large doses of B vitamins. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, and replacing electrolytes(potassium, sodium, etc.). Part of why you might be feeling bad now may be dehydration, or low potassium (or perhaps even low sodium if you eat a low sodium diet).

JK, Since you are knowledgable on such things apparently, would you go to the Dr. if herbs didn't seem to be working for a definite bladder infection? I let myself dehydrate. It is hot here plus I have night sweats, sometimes, and hot flashes. My kidneys and lower back hurt and it isn't normal back pain. I have a low grade fever. I've had a kidney infection before. Actually the only thing that got rid of it was a kidney cleanse and I've only started taking NSP herbs since last night. Maybe I'm expecting too much too soon. My bladder still aches off and on, though, and have the frequency.... I tried to post this before but got no response ( a few days ago). Any input would be appreciated. I worry it could be going into my kidneys from how I feel..

I guess it depends on the severity of the symptoms. If you have a severe infection, then perhaps you should see the doctor. If it is more mild, then you could try treating it on your own. Are you taking plenty of vitamin c? Pehaps you should be taking a few grams a day. Some would even say to take it to bowel tolerance(until it give you diahrea, then scale back a bit until you no longer have diahrea). That may be a bit extreme, but most people could probably tolerate 5 grams a day of vitamin c spread out in at least 5 dose and not get diahrea. Take it in the form of calcium or magnesium ascorbate which is buffered, and also a good source of calcium or magnesium. Are you taking a good cranberberry supplement? Cranactin is supposed to be good. Are you eating raw garlic? are you drinking enough water? It might be a good idea to add peppermint oil, cinnamon(cassia) and ginger oil to your regimen. I guess just two drops at a time of each those mixed well in 2 ounces of water 3 times a day might help. They don't mix too well in water though, and mix better in a tablespoon of olive oil or other oil(flaxseed oil?)

Are you taking 50 mg a day of zinc? If not, then perhaps you should be.

This article is interesting.

http://evenstaronline.com/articles/urinary.html

Since I am male, and haven't really had urinary tract infections, I guess the best anvice to give you is to search curezone. Make sure to verify whatever you read there. Most advice there is good, but some is dangerous(for example, one person there suggested taking large doses of clove oil, which is very toxic except in tiny doses). You need to figure out if your symptoms are great enough to demand immediate care by your physician, or if you think you can try to cure it on your own first. If your temperature is over 100 for a while though, then it is more extreme. I can't really say any more, since I don't know much about urinary tract infections.

Also, bladder irritation can be caused by certain things like caffeine. Do you often feel a very urgent need to urinate? I think I read something about a kidney cleanse using epsom salts? Taking epsom salts internally is very dangerous. Some people have died from taking too much.

Perhaps your body is also quite toxic from candida, mercury, etc. Perhaps you might do well taking detoxifying herbs like licorice root, alfalfa, dandelion, etc. My favorite herb for infections and detoxification is raw garlic. eat a clove or two after a large meal. Cut it in small pieces, chew it well, and swallow it with plenty of water.

I'm sure I am toxic. I've also been craving sugar really bad. My body never has let me abuse it for very long. Kind of a blessing, I guess. Thank you for all the advice. I think maybe I will try a little garlic except leery of being around people.....I am out of pills. I need to take another trip to the Herb Shop.... I will start upping my C. I do use the cranberry pills and eat dried in salads, but they have sugar... I do eat chocolate to give me energy. Honestly I have pushed myself past natural energy for a while - but I'm at a dead stop at the moment. I have some herbs for parasite cleansing which I will start once i feel better. i am not deathly ill, but need to function. I just don't like that my kidneys are aching..... I've done this before long ago. I knew I was getting dehydrated but had no thirst. I let it go too far apparently. I'd rather do garlic than an antibiotic....Thank you!!! Guys are lucky that way! I wonder, too, if all the hormonal shifting going on with me affects anything... I will read up on that, though. Have lots of books on all this. The truth is I'm going to have to get back to cleansing....I haven't in a long long time. Strangely, too, I just started taking B-complex again! Interesting points on that. I've always read we are woefully deficient, but I also cravy brown rice. (Which has it). Maybe i should go more that route for now. Thank you so much JK. Jeanie

Stop eating sugar! While sugar raises your blood sugar level temporarily, insulin kicks in and then lowers your blood sugar to below where it was before you ate the sugar! Sugar makes candida issues much worse. Also cut out alcohol and starches. i am on a very low carbohydrate diet and doing much better on it. A parasite cleanse is a good idea. Before that you could try cinnamon, ginger, and peppermint oil as I mentioned above, or use plenty of the herbs in your food. Cinnamon helps the body to utilize insulin better, and helps with hypogycemia. I suggest that you eat raw garlic rather than taking garlic supplements. Aside from being much cheaper, raw garlic is much more effective against infections than garlic supplements. I suggest that you add licorice root to your regimen. I use Yogi Egyptian Licorice Tea which has licorice root, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and other herbs which are all antifungal. It also tastes great! Licorice root tastes sweet but has no sugar or calories. Licorice root will also help improve your mood.

http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-licorice-root.html
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-garlic.html
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-cinnamon.html
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-ginger-root.html

You're right about sugar. I want some now but my body doesn't and when I have given in a couple times (even with "healthy junkfood like Rice Dream ice cream") I feel very nauseated. I just took a little bite of garlic. Not bad... I'll keep working on a clove.

Would you suggest chelating now? No - too much strain. (Answered my own ?) What about with ALA? What do you think about just chelating with that, anyway??

The garlic is actually kind of good!! My body seems to want it. I love onions, too. I mostly eat sweet ones, though, and I think the selenium is not in them. I've had about 1/8th of a clove so far. Any suggestions how much to eat for antibiotic effect? Its powerful - I feel it.

I've been hypoglycemic for years. It wasn't till a few years ago that I gave in and started eating York Peppermint pattys. Got the cycle going no doubt.

JK - I just read about your chelating exp. here. I had a few amalgams in each quadrant, I think. Did not have strong teeth. (My husband insists its cause I don't believe in Flouride : ) But neither my mom or dad's teeth were strong and mom always claimed I took all her calcium. She was more concerned with being slim than healthy when pregnant. Not knocking her - she was gorgeous! She looks great for 76 too. But was vain...they didn't know quite as much then, either. She did breastfeed me, though. Anyway - I digress - I had quite a few fillings and played with it unknowingly as a kid!! (Broken thermometers). When i did a challenge DMPS (oral) test my urine went off the charts for mercury so its strong in me too.

JK - I already feel better!! I ate just barely less than a whole clove. I started cleaning even so my husband thanks you!! It wasn't bad and really I don't even feel like I reek at this point. Maybe that is after a while with saturation??? I went to Korea a couple times as an army reservist a long time ago and the people there had what i called Kimchi breath. It came through their pores. Good stuff. Sounds good actually. Its fermented...

Jeanie,

I have found the solution for sugar cravings...

When I was mercury toxic, I would crave sugar horribly. I then tried this:

GTF Chromium

and my cravings went away completely. I took two per day.

When I had my amalgams removed, my sugar cravings stopped immediately and I no longer had to take chromium.

Also note that Chromium picolinate is useless (patented form) and did nothing for my cravings. Only GTF worked.

I use to take this. I use to be so much more disciplined. I've almost gone backwards that way.... I was into natural health before it was as accepted. Even now my Sister in law who owns a donut shop calls me one of "those people." Not sure what happened other than just being caught up in life... I need to get back on track, though. And things have come a long way, too even since I learned about mercury. You have explained things I hadn't seen so clearly before. I need so badly to know I have some control over this and can get better. Getting sick has actually been a blessing recently cause its forcing me to slow down and start doing something. I had just a breath mint earlier (after eating a clove of garlic!) and even that made me feel sick. I'm seeing the light....

Russ, do you know the difference between chromium GTF and picolinate? i take the pictinate as recommended by Andy Cutler I believe in his book - I'm not sure I've looked at several sources to try and get my supplement list together. I take 200 mcg with each meal but still have sugar cravings - thought it was due to yeast. I'll try switching to GTF - have that in the cabinet too bought that first and then switched now I'll switch back. Thanks - I'll keep you posted.

GTF chromium is good. So is cinnamon(cassia) and licorice for curing sugar cravings. Licorice root has no calories and no sugar, but is sweet. It also improves mood. Cinnamon improves insulin tolerance. It is low calories, and has almost no sugar.

http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/spices-and-herbs/180/2

An easy way to add concentrated cinnamon is to use cinnamon oil.

I am taking chromium picolinate though. I was just reading about the GTF vs chromium picolinate debate. not sure what to believe.

I'm with you - I think I can try the GTF though - I've been on the other and hasn't done much for sugar cravings - I don't eat sugar but I still crave it. It won't hurt to switch for a week or so.

Interesting on the GTF I might benefit from that also...I still have sugar cravings too but mostly around that time of the month. The rest of the month I do pretty good. I was wondering also could this be another deficiency of some kind...probably just yeast though.

Jeanie
I had a bladder infection some years back and got some stuff at the health food store called Bladderwrack ....it had cornsilk in it. Cured me right up in a few days. It might help you too.
Rachel

Drinking licorice root tea takes care of my cravings for something sweet. It also boosts my mood. I used to use St. John's Wort, however I developed a sensitivity to that. St. John's Wort also makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so one sunburns much easier while using it.

Thanks (Dawn?) SkiesLimit, I'm feeling better after eating 2 raw garlic cloves yesterday. Just munched on another, too. Not bad...seriously I kind of like it!!! Must mean my body wants it. I've also been taking some herbs that detoxify with a little golden seal. May be why I've been so hungry. (GS lowers blood sugar). I think I'm getting better....I had energy not long after eating the garlic yesterday for the first time in days. I'm sure its helping me on a lot of levels.

Cinnamon is excellent at lowering high glucose levels.

http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-cinnamon.html

Just look at the ingredients. If it's GTF, is will usually say on the label.

Yes, I'm with you on the picolinate. It did nothing for my cravings, but the GTF did wonders.

2 per day actually made my sugar cravings stop completely. I was amazed.