Does the Natures Sunshine product Heavy Metal Detox replace the need for DSMA and ALA?

No. Very few products have a tight enough grip on mercury to be able to be used to detox it. Most mobilise without really getting mercury out. Unless you are one of those lucky people that are able to eliminate mercury pretty easily with almost anything. But even then it's risky.

DMSA, DMPS and lipoic acid have two thiol groups which grab mercury more tightly and have more chance of removing it, than simply stirring it up (many products only have one thiol group and don't hold mercury tightly enough). Though even using the ones with the two thiols, if they're used in the wrong way, they will of course do more damage.

I'd rely more on using DMSA/DMPS.lipoic acid, but using them in the safe manner. I would steer clear of lipoic acid for a while until you are further detoxed and have lowered your blood/urine levels by using DMSA or DMPS first. Or if your body has naturally over months lowered those levels itself.

I'm one of thsoe unlucky people who retain mercury and do not eliminate it naturally. So I pretty much have to use something to lower my body levels before ever using Lipoic acid.

Garlic supplements are dangerous for me. I have damaged myself severely from using them. Chlorella is also risky. I gather because they can and DO move mercury, but pretty wildly and not very safely in many of us.

Some get away with it. Everybody is different I know, but I'd probably rely on the products with the tighter bond on mercury and just use them safely and slowly at frequent small tolerable doses.

Im pretty certain nature's sunshine contains things like cilantro etc, which can indeed remove mercury. But too easily it can end up in the brain and nervous system. Simply because it's not known exactly how to use it in order to be safe enough.

Some can improve, but it can greatly worsen others. I don't know if I'd risk a supplement that can move mercury, but perhaps not in the safest manner.

Hi Jim,

There are differing opinions and protocols when it comes to mercury chelation. Not everyone responds well to the same protocol, so don't be discouraged if you've tried something and it didn't work for you. Some people don't tolerate DMPS or DMSA very well and need to detox more slowly.

Heavy Metal Detox does not contain DMSA, but it does contain ALA (alpha lipoic acid), NAC (N-acetyl cysteine), and a few other substances that can help chelate mercury and other heavy metals. The formula also contains algin, but I personally recommend taking extra Algin whenever you are taking chelators...you don't want to reabsorb the mercury you're trying to eliminate.

As with any chelator, I'd also recommend lots of antioxidants like Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids and Vitamin E with Selenium.