Hi Jeanie,

The ALA (alpha lipoic acid) can be used safely when you are 3 months post amalgam removal (or 3 months post any recent mercury exposure). The reason for the 3 month waiting period, is because the blood levels of mercury are apparently still high.

If alpha lipic acid is used whilst the blood levels are high, then because ALA can cross the blood brain barrier and get into the brain, it may also take mercury with it on its way and may increase brain mercury. Though continuation of use will usually get it back out, some have been made extremely ill by doing this and sometimes apparently "irreversibly". It's not something to fool around at all, let alone early on in amalgam poisoning.

This is why it is better to wait it out, OR take DMSA (which chelates blood/tissue mercury, but does not appear to have the ability to cross over into the brain to any clincial degree). So it is safe to use early on. However, it should be used according to cutler's protocol to avoid random movement of mercury. Because mercury itself, when stirred up can go anywhere (brain being one of those place). Mercury crosses easily into the brain.

So if you are 3 months or more post amalgam removal or mercury exposure, you can (according to Cutler), safely start using ALA. You can use it WITH DMSA, or you can use it by itself. Some who do not like DMSA or cannot afford it, may choose to wait out the 3 months using no chelater and then simply go onto the ALA. Others may use DMSA for the first 3 months (or more if they choose), and then add ALA later, OR stop the DMSA and just use ALA.

ALA is very powerful and should be used at very low doses to start off and MUST be used at frequent intervals (every 3 hours). This is the half life of ALA. If one takes it less often, they risk redistribution because of unsteady/random levels of ALA in the blood stream, causing unsteady/random movement of mercury. You want to keep the levels of ALA constant/even. WHich allows the movement of mercury to be the same. Though symptoms are not usually avoidable regardless.

Good idea therefore is to start at a very low dose. E.g. 12.5 mg (or even 6 mg in some cases). Then you can test out your reactions and see if you can tolerate this dose. If all goes well and you've done a few rounds of this low dose, then you maybe able to safely increase it. A round means however long you take the ALA for every 3 hours. It could be 3 days on and 3-4 days off, or longer. ALA should not be taken non stop for more than 2 weeks. Most take it for 3 days at a time and take a break and continue this cycle. It seems to be the easier way to do it. You can chelate on weekends then, starting on Friday (or late friday). It is not really feasible to do it whilst you work (unless you work from home). Though I guess it could be done if you take a little alarm clock and your pills.

About the differences between body V brain mercury? I would recommend saving clicking on this link INDEX POSTS TO ANDY CUTLER and saving the page to your documents or favourites to refer to. This is an excellent page of information by Andy Cutler and hopefully will answer most questions in a nutshell. He mentions brain V body symptoms under the title EFFECTS OF MERCURY TOXICITY. Near the top of the page. I hope this helps.