Hi Linda,

I think that it's a good trial to use ALA alone without DMSA. Don't get me wrong, DMSA not only speeds chelation up, but makes it more stable when used alongside ALA. However, it is not essential according to Cutler. But it is also used to help with the symptoms caused by ALA. ALA apparently does not suppress symptoms, but DMSA "can" - or at least to some extent.

So I think this is indicative that you most likely have toxic metals at work and contributing or possibly even causing your problems. If the dose is still too high, you may need to cut it down further. It's up to you if you wish to use DMSA with ALA again, but sometimes we like to feel something happening as it's an indicator to us we're maybe on the right track.

Certainly you do not HAVE to take DMSA with it. Culter says many people have chelated their mercury successfully with ALA alone, though it may not be as easy due to symptoms. But it's certainly cheaper. I cannot afford DMSA anymore. I might be able to get ALA every now and again, but even then I'll be reacing through it because I'll be taking a tablet/pill every 3 hours. So it won't last me long at all. So I may only be trying chelation every other weekend or so. It's just life!

Ginger is pretty good for nausea. You may want to try some ginger herbal tea. I have one with ginger and lemon. Peppermint tea is nice also and pretty good for digestion. Nausea can be part of healing crisis symptoms, so you may well have to reduce the dose. It's up to you. If it's a bit more than you can bear, then you're probably taking too much.

If DMSA upsets your adrenals, then again, skip it. If you read Andy Cutler's amalgam illness book, again DMSA is NOT essential and those that do not respond well to it, cannot afford it, or just don't want to take it, do not have to!

Please keep us posted on how you go with this. I'm quite uplifted to hear that there are symptoms, as bad as that sounds, it indicates it's doing something and without metals, I cannot imagine it would create such symptoms.

Cheers

Just a note to those less familiar with the use of ALA in mercury: ALA (alpha lipic acid) should not be used too early on following mercury exposure/amalgam removal when the body/blood levels will still be high, or you will risk making things much worse. ALA can cross the blood brain barrier and may take more blood/body mercury across with it INTO the brain if blood/body levels are still too high. Either a person should use DMSA to reduce the initial high blood/body levels or if they don't want to, they can wait until levels naturally reduce over the first few months. After about 3 months post mercury exposure/amalgam removal, ALA is apparently then safe to use, but only according to Cutler's protocol. Using it in large and/or sporadic doses maybe asking for trouble. It is not simply a great antioxidant, it is a powerful chelating agent for mercury, so needs to be used correctly for safety (about 3 months or more post mercury exposure/amalgam removal and dosed every 3 hours around the clock. Approximately 3 days on, 3-4 days off and repeated until the person has chelated their mercury). This needs to be done for many months/even years.

DMSA chelates extra-cellular mercury
ALA chelates intra-cellular mercury