I would like to know if anybody on here has had a bad experience with
taking garlic supplement? I have mercury toxicity, plus cavitations
and used garlic capsules months ago. I had also used DMSA previously
and did not have a very good round with it, but took garlic after
it. I do not know what happened, but the garlic wrecked total havoc
in me and caused me some of the WORST symptoms and suffering I've
ever known.

I ended up with very very strange symptoms, not to mention enough to
make you want to slit your throat. I ended up with nervous and brain
symptoms, some tremor, racing heart, panic attacks and a strange
feeling in and behind the eyes in the head. My eyesight became over
vivid to wear I was in pain from any outdoor light. I had gut
cramping so bad I ended up in emergency, yet no explanation could be
given. And basically long term effects that I can't seem to rectify.

I have heard that when a person has cavitations that if they take a
supplement containing cystein and methionine in quite high doses,
they can be in ALOT of trouble. This is because the gram negative
anaerobic bacteria from cavitations desulfurate cysteine and
methionine apparently resulting in volatile sulfur compounds,
hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercapton.

I do not know if this is why I had such a severe reaction to garlic,
because apparently garlic contains cysteine and methionine but I
assume it "might". Or that garlic, being a high sulphur supplement
with the allicin etc, mobilised mercury in such a bad way as to put
it into worse and sensitive areas.

I am interested to hear of anybody else's experience with garlic,
good or bad. I personally feel it should never be used. I am not
allergic to garlic either. So whatever it did, has been something to
do wtih the toxins within me and it's simply made things far worse
without any real detoxing.

comments welcome.

Thanks

Rebecca

Garlic is high in sulphur. Mercury binds to sulphur strongly.

Sulphur is a mercury chelator which will mobilize mercury and can cause symptoms to appear if the bonds break in the blood or in the intestines. You can use Algin to prevent mercury from being reabsorbed into the blood from the intestines when eating high-sulphur foods or taking chelation agents.

Here is an article that may help:

http://mercurytalk.com/wiki/index.php/List_of_Foods_That_Contain_Sulphur

http://mercurytalk.com/wiki/index.php/List_of_Preservatives_That_Contain_Sulphur

I had a similar reaction when taking probiotics to attack my candida infection. However, as candia accumulates plenty of mercury, when you attack the candida infection mercury is released into the system. Garlic is a strong anti-fungal, and so would do the same thing as the probiotics that I was taking.

Strangly enough I can take probiotics and garlic, which helps a lot, just fine now. I'd suggest going slowly at the start -- you don't want more mercury released into your system than you can handle. Not that I took it, but align may help you deal with more mercury. It's had many postive comments.

I took garlic in the beginning, because I did not know that I had mercury...I thought I had a virus, or candida....Now I suffer from bad symptoms...it's been 2 years now...twitching in my head and all over, dizziness,I can feel my energy(QI) moving all around my body(weird), tremors...feel vibrations inside my body....and other weird stuff......can anyone relate...thanks sandraP

Years ago, when my body mercury level was high, I tried one tablet of a garlic supplement for my candida problem. I got one of the worst reactions ever. All my usual symptoms worsened big time and the body pain and nervous system effect was undescribeable. Mercury binds to it, but since my colon, liver, kidneys, basically my whole body was overburdened, it had no where else to go. So, I think it didn't help any, but cause a strong mobilization reaction.

Now, I can take fresh garlic in high amounts, but haven't tried the concentrated garlic pills with high allicin. Somehow I'm not tempted to <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Ann

I cant handle garlic in any form, it makes me suicidal and gives me alot of other horrible symptoms.

HI Sandra, yes, I am getting much the same. I have inner trembling now from taking garlic andanything I do in attempt to reverse what happened, simply seems to push things in even further instead of OUT. Like I took lipoic acid recently to try and help what happened, and now I'm worse. It's like it just simply moved things in further. Whatever the garlic did, I'm a mess. I have mental effects, fears, tremors, foul taste in mouth. hyped up, spaced out. You name it, I got it. Garlic might be ok when used in cooking, but NEVER NEVER NEVER used it in capsule form. Some people might be ok for reasons I don't understand, but it's not worth the terrible risk. I'm sad to hear of others having a problem too, but comforted in a way because I feel devastated and isolated with it and frankly scared. It is just not going away. I feel as though I've done something that can't be undone. I've tried DMSA in small amounts, but again this just aggravates things further. Perhaps if I keep chipping away at it, maybe it might eventually subside, but right now I'm at a loss.

thanks for your comments everybody.

Hi everybody, I'm not clear on something -- are you all sensitive to garlic and other high sulphur foods post amalgam removal? I was wondering whether you had reactions to it before and/or after amalgam removal?

I don't seem to have a problem with garlic -- as a food, that is. I was wondering if that will change after I get my amalgams removed in a few weeks.

SomedaySoon

Hi, no I don't think it's allergy to garlic. Allergies subside, this effect I've had has not subsided. I am also "ok" with it in food (fried). It is the supplement form that kills me just about. I never used to have that reaction to it once, and I had amalgams in my teeth. Once the amalgams were out, garlic did become more of an issue and caused some tough detox symptoms.

However, nothing compared to what it does now when I take it. Which could be becuase I have cavitations in my jaw from wisdom tooth removal. These produce anaerobic bacteria. sulfur amino acids cysteine and methionine (which I think garlic contains in high amounts) apparently are desulferated by this bacteria, then in combination with mercury, form volatile toxic compounds. If you put this with the fact it can redistribute mercury everywhere, plus what someone else said that it can kill candida. Candida is known to contain mercury, so therefore killing candida outright with garlic can release mercury and then again, it gets redistributed all over the place. Mainly, as I can sadly attest to, the nervous system, and the brain. I now suffer terrible symptoms, unrelated to any allergy, all related to acute toxicity (hence tremor, fears, brain symptoms etc).

I would never go near the stuff. Cooking it seems ok though.

Hi somedaysoon, I should have answered your post better. I think definitely I was more sensitive to garlic AFTER amalgam removal yes. But since I had my wisdom teeth removed, whether this is coincidence or not, the reactions from garlic now are devastating. As I mentioned, the possible relation to the bacteria produced from them, but I can't be certain.

Cooking garlic is ok though. It's the supplement form you have to watch, because it's concentrated allicin and it just does something to you if you have mercury. Some might get away with it, I didn't and I believe it's caused permanent damage, but I can only hope and pray that I might come out of this. The effects are devastating. IT's not that usual normal detox effect you get, it's like having something blasted into your mind and nervous system and blocking any ability from then on to detox and you just experience an ongoing nightmare. That's how it feels.

Hi Bex

Your experience with Alpha Lipoic Acid is the exact result I get too. Like it moves mercury around in my brain and worse, INTO my brain!

Anyway, I've been taking vitamin E lately, the type with several natural forms of E. This has made my nervous system mercury symptoms better, but must mention that my copper symptoms are worse such as the racing thoughts. But this vitamin combined with vitamin C, actually seems to protect against the constant free radical damage in my brain. I always thought you had to combine E with selenium for it to work (I get ill from selenium), but it does good stuff by itself.

Maybe this could help you too, with the devastating garlic effects??

Ann

PS. The gelatine capsules vitamin E usually comes in, contain glutamate. Glutamate is a nerve stimulator and toxic to the brain. I cut a hole in the capsules and squize the contens onto a a piece of bread <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ann

Hi anne, thanks for your post. I think because of the garlic, anything at all is quite dangerous for me at this point. Probably becaues the mercury is now in much worse areas, so gets stirred up in those same areas. Not sure though. Thanks for the tip on the vitamin E (I can't eat bread), but it's good to know that. I have been thinking about getting selenium plus E in one supplement. I take Vitamin C daily, so maybe I could do all at once!

I definitely need help that's for sure. I think some of it is to do with my liver detox pathways are unbalanced, so I'm unable to detox properly and the toxins build up and circulate.

Hi Bex, when did you get your amalgams removed? you sound like me, sensitive to everything! I think my liver is not too good, it never has been, even when i was young i was getting pain in that area, i definitly think its part of the problem with me as far as detoxing goes.

Hi Dawn, I had my amalgams removed nine years ago. I've had a terrible time. I've gone from one horrible stage to another. ONly at one point in my life was I beginning to see the light and then other things occured to break down my immune system. I developed a bacterial.viral infection that never left me and from there the mercury still in me caused more of a problem. Then had further exposure to mercury from simply walking into a dental office, then had wisdom teeth removed and developed cavitations and now am chronically ill and my father looks after me daily. One visit to a dental office can almost drive me insane with suffering after it. Even the so called "mercury free" offices. The fact they remove mercury int heir office, means the office is contaminated with vapor, regardless of how scrupulous they are with their removals. I cannot seem to make any headway.

Bex, in addition to being toxic with mercury, have you ever been tested to see if you are also allergic to it? My holistic dentist says nearly everyone he sees who is mercury toxic is also allergic to it.

SomedaySoon

Hi Bex, everytime i walk into a dental office mercury free or not i get ill for weeks. Even if it is mercury free, there must still be vapours. Like yourself i am so sensetive to it. Last year i had 3 teeth pulled out at a mercury free practice and became severly ill and suicidal afterwards, it lasted weeks and as i have had to keep going back for treatment i cant seem to get better. I am totally relying on Algin, its my lifesaver. .

Also, i was exposed to mercury when having treatment as my nose was uncovered (i would have prefered a gas mask)

Bex, i am sorry that you have to go through this, i will pray thet you will get better, please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.

HI Dawn, When I go into a dental office, I don't become just for weeks, it doesn't go from that point on. Sounds like you are very similar. Perhaps the algin is what has enabled you to improve at some point. I may need to get some. I did something very bad recently and wished I hadn't. I took Alpha lipoic acid, thinking ti woudl help detox me, but believe it's pushed more mercury into my brain and nervous system. Now I'm getting even worse effects than I was. The garlic is what started this and the dental office visit. But certainly I should not have touched the lipoic acid at this stage. Too late now. But thanks so much for your support and comments.

hi somedaysoon, yep, I have allergic to mercury. I have been tested. After a dental office visit, the next day I will be left burning and itching in the face and ears. So definitely there is vapor even in the "mercury free" dental offices. Why do they call them mercury free? They are removing mercury so they are contaminating their environment with it.

No dental office is mercury free, i dont like walking past dentists let alone going in one. Bex, i too took ALA a couple of weeks ago, it was one of the ingredients of the Heavy metal detox, also cilantro was in it, i only took 2 caps and felt absolutely terrible, i didn't recover for at least 7 days. It was stupid of me to do this at this stage.

In case anyone has not read this in another thread, I would start with only 1 Heavy Metal Detox per day, and be sure to be taking Algin throughout the day (3 to 4 caps 4 times per day) whenever you're on Heavy Metal Detox. Also supplement with a lot of C and 400 IU of E when detoxing using any chelator.

HMD is an excellent combination but it is potent and very effective and should be taken with care.

Someone earlier posted that...



Since I have taken vitamin E softgel capsules for years and have never heard of anything like this, I went straight to the source at Nature's Sunshine to ask if their vitamin E capsules contained glutamate. Here is their reply:



Glutamate (also known as glutamic acid) is a naturally-occuring substance found in both plant and protein. However, glutamic acid by itself (also referred to as "free" glutamic acid) reacts differently in the body than glutamic acid that occurs intact within protein.

The following article on Glutamate (Glutamic Acid) may be helpful:

Glutamate (Glutamic Acid)

While I cannot vouch for other supplement companies, I do know that Nature's Sunshine's products contain no food additives like glutamate. In fact, I've taken NSP's Vitamin E Complete (with Selenium) for years. It is one of the best vitamin E formulations I've come across.

Hope this helps clear up any confusion or worries!

To clear up more confusion:

Any capsule made of gelatin contains glutamate, BUT manufacturers will of course say no, because they haven't ADDED the glutamate so are in the right to say so.

Unfortunately, many like us who suffer with neuroproblems caused by mercury or other toxic substances have an oversensitive nervous system and can react strongly to even the smallest amount of glutamate and yes, also the glutamate found within protein. This is why we find gelatin on the MSG lists of foods to avoid.

My concern is even stronger when it is normal for mercury sufferers as ourselves, to take high doses of several supplements each day. This could potentially mean A LOT OF GELATIN capsules every week.

A little info:


Sources of Excitotoxins

Definite Sources of MSG

Hydrolyzed ProteinSodium Caseinate Calcium Caseinate
Autolyzed Yeast or Yeast Extract
Gelatin
Hydrolyzed Oat Flour
Glutamic acid
Monosodium glutamate

Possible sources of MSG

Textured ProteinCarrageenan or Vegetable Gum Seasonings or Spices
Flavorings or Natural Flavorings
Chicken, Beef, Pork, Smoke Flavorings
Bouillon, Broth or Stock
Barley Malt, Malt Extract, Malt Flavoring
Whey Protein, Whey Protein Isolate or Concentrate
Soy Protein, Soy Protein Isolate or Concentrate
Soy Sauce or Extract

Other sources of MSG

MSG is found in most of the food prepared by major fast-food chains.
Binders and fillers for medications, nutrients, and supplements, both prescription and non-prescription, and some fluids administered intravenously in hospitals, may contain MSG.
According to the manufacturer, Varivax-Merck chicken pox vaccine (Varicella Virus Live), contains L-monosodium glutamate and hydrolyzed gelatin both of which contain processed free glutamic acid (MSG).
MSG is used as a plant "growth enhancer" (AuxiGro) that is sprayed on growing crops. AuxiGro Plant Metabolic Primer contains 29.2% by weight, pharmaceutical grade, L-glutamic acid.
The most common source of MSG is molasses or sugar beet or cane.
MSG and Aspartame(nutrasweet) are found in everything from soups, sauces, and juice to frozen entrees, candy, cigarettes, and anything with seasonings (e.g., potato chips, meat, ice cream).








Uses of MSG

The use of MSG in the food industry is growing. It enhances the natural flavors of meats, poultry, seafood, and many vegetables. It can be found in most soups, stews, meat-based sauces, salad dressings, processed meats, frozen entrees, ice cream, frozen yogurt, and snack foods.
It is also used in low fat foods to make up for flavor lost when fat is reduced or eliminated.

MSG Labeling

Don't be fooled by product labels that claim No MSG, No MSG added, or no added MSG because they may contain MSG. Due to current labeling laws, it may not be listed on the label.
The FDA requires most products to label MSG containing ingredients with their common names. The term monosodium glutamate is reserved for the ingredient that is a 99 percent pure combination of glutamic acid and sodium.
Terms for products on labels that always contain MSG include any protein that is hydrolyzed, autolyzed yeast, calcium caseinate, glutamate, glutamic acid, gelatin, hydrolyzed soy protein, monosodium glutamate, monopotassium glutamate, sodium caseinate, textured protein, yeast nutrient, yeast extract, and yeast food.
If hydrolyzed soy protein is used in flavorings, it does not need to be mentioned on the label if the manufacturer claims it is not being used for flavoring.
When broth, bouillon, and stock are used as ingredients in other products, manufacturers do not have to disclose their MSG-containing components.

How Is MSG Made?

MSG was first extracted from seaweed and other plant sources but is now made from starch, corn sugar, or molasses from sugar cane or sugar beets.
MSG is the sodium salt of glutamate and is simply glutamate, water, and sodium. A process of protein hydrolysisis is used to produce MSG. In this process, glutamic acid is freed from protein through fermentation or use of chemicals or enzymes.
1995 FASEB Report
A 1995 report from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), an independent body of scientists, found an unknown percentage of the population may react to MSG and develop MSG symptom complex. This condition is characterized by one or more of the following symptoms:

burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest
numbness in the back of the neck, radiating to the arms and back
tingling, warmth and weakness in the face, temples, upper back, neck and arms
facial pressure or tightness
chest pain
headache
nausea
rapid heartbeat
bronchospasm (difficulty breathing) in MSG-intolerant people with asthma
drowsiness
weakness



Too Good to Be True?

As MSG became more widely used in the United States, reports began to surface about people's negative reactions to it. In 1968, the New England Journal of Medicine printed a letter from a doctor who experienced numbness at the back of his neck, general weakness and heart palpitations after eating foods containing MSG. Others complained about headaches, nausea, dizziness, disorientation and depression.
The first reports of MSG sensitivity were not taken seriously. Some thought they were psychological. Others concluded that it must be something other than MSG that was making people sick.

Despite piles of evidence, MSG sensitivity remains unacknowledged by many in the food industry and government. To make matters worse, some labels are being altered to hide the fact that the products contain MSG. A few companies have gone so far as to advertise "No MSG" when their products actually contain the substance. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has even listed MSG as one of the safest food additives, along with vinegar and salt.
I know from personal experience that the chemical is not as harmless as vinegar or salt. When I ingest a fair amount of MSG, I immediately have nausea, stomach cramps, "spaciness," heart palpitations and a "pins-and-needles" headache, followed the next day by lethargy and overall weakness.
Unfortunately, I'm not alone. Experts estimate that tens of millions of Americans - or as much as 50 percent of the population - may be sensitive to MSG. Relatively few suspect that MSG may be causing their headaches and other symptoms. Fewer still know just how prevalent MSG is.

What is MSG?

More than just a seasoning, MSG is a flavor enhancer. This means it intensifies the existing taste of something rather than altering it. When we taste something, our taste buds transmit electrical signals to the brain. When we taste something with MSG, these electrical signals become more intense.

Ann <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If your mercury has been removed, you may want to try treatment for chronic yeast..which can cause funny symptoms. Chronic yeast is usually found in anyone who has had or does have metal. Grapefruit Seed extract and probiotics are wonderful for killing the yeast overgrowth. But you may experience a die off in the first few days, which might be gas, bloating, loose stools. Algin may help absorb the yeast and reduct the symptoms. Others use charcoal for this too.
Garlic is very high in sulfer. Some poeple are sensitive to anything high is sulfer..for whatever reason. As for the DMSA reaction, that may be the dosing. Make sure you are on proper vitamin and mineral supplements when using DMSA and that you are dosing a low dose (1/8 mg per pound) and giving it every four hours. It wears off after four hours, so giving it far apart will cause redistribution and side effects.

I had a very severe reaction to a garlic supplement, I thought I was losing my mind, but eating raw garlic doesn't seem to hurt me, not noticeably anyway.

Hi anonymous, yes I am using DMSA. I weigh about 120 pounds and am using 17 mg every 4 hours. Not sure if it's helping or not, my symptoms are chronic. I used an antifungal a while back and devastated my health further. Because it hits yeast cells on impact and pops them open. Alot of yeast contains mercury, therefore it was released in a large amount and I was pretty much repoisoned dramatically. Diet alone was working well for me, but the antifungal ruined everything. Now diet alone doesn't really do the trick properly following the antifungal use, so the whole thing is very very odd. I can only assume I am simply ladan with toxic metals and no doubt cavitations bacteria adding to the load and further weaking and poisoning my system.

Yep, garlic is high in sulfur and so is eggs, yet eggs never caused such an effect like the garlic supplement and nor does any other sulfur food. I feel there is more to it with garlic supplementation. I'm ok with cooked garlic etc. So whatever they do in the supplement form can be dangerous to mercury poisoned people or those with both mercury and cavitations. That's just my own experience.

Hi sandi, yep, I had a similar effect. I thought I was losing my mind when I took the stuff too and I only took it for about a day or so. For me the effects have not worn off and I assume it's pushed mercury or other toxins into brain and nervous. NOt sure though.

The effects are frightening and I have actually been close to getting psychiatric care or ending my life. I try and get through each day now and hope for some improvements, but it continues.

the reason i'm on this site is last night i grabbed some fresh garlic at the supermarket, not knowng why as i never eat garlic. i had a clove as i was getting into my car and was promptly sick. Aha, I thought, my body is rejecting this food but I somehow know I need to eat it. I am now detoxing with garlic and lemon juice and oher juices for 3 days to see what happens. trust yourself gently and all will reveal.
cheers penny

Hi Penny. I'll tell you what going slow and all will reveal caused in me. I went slow by taking two very moderate doses of a simple garlic supplement. From this, I ended up shaking, I almost had convulsions, my eyesight altered, I had severe gut cramps and ended up in emergency and almost became a basket case.

this was not an initial healing crisis or a slight setback. I am still not over it and have had damage done to my nervous system and now have worse mental effects. Garlic can move mercury all over the place, pushing it into the nervous system and brain and gut. But alongside this, garlic can also cause havoc if a person has cavitations in their jaw, due to the bacteria in them desulferating the sulfer amino acids contained in high amounts in garlic (most probably the supplemetns due to it being more concentrated perhaps) producing dangerous toxic compounds.

I'm very glad you have not had such an experience and good luck on continuing to use it. But many can use raw garlic, the supplement form for those of us with certain toxic problems is a danger. I would not personally risk using garlic at all after what happened to me, but once bitten, twice shy as they say.

Wow, the info that Anonymous posted on MSG is awesome--thanks!!!

My sister has Celiac Spru- and from this has learned how badly MSG affects Celiac sufferers.

My aunt has Bipolar mental illness- and sadly actually goes out of her way to purchase MSG by the bag--- ! I didnt even think they actually sold it by the bag to consumers----yikes!

No doubt this is NOT helping her with her Bi-Polar condition, but try telling her that.