The “How To” of True Heavy Metal Detoxification and Chelation Using
Proper Heavy Metal Chelating Agents (DMSA) and Detox Protocols
The key to properly detox heavy metals and heavy metal chelation is
using a true chelator or chelating agent within its “half-life” in
the body. The half-life of a substance in the body is defined as,
“The time it takes for the blood plasma concentration of a substance
to halve (plasma half-life) its steady-state,” or when it has lost
“half of its pharmacologic, physiologic, or radiologic activity.”[1]
In other words, the chelating agent needs to be taken often enough
so that there is sufficient amounts left in the blood and body to
keep the metals from recirculating and redistributing to other cells
within body tissues. In the case of dimercapto succinic acid (DMSA),
it needs to be taken every 4 hours, which is its half-life. Taking
DMSA at its half-life keeps the chelating agent at consistent enough
levels for heavy metals to move safely and effectively out of the
body. To explain this more simply, keeping the true chelating agents
like DMSA consistent in the body is similar to having a hepa filter
in your body extracting metals versus a feather duster. A feather
duster just moves it around; a hepa filter permanently removes the
toxins.
This process works and it saved my life and thousands of others. It
is the only protocol that is both safe and effective. With that
said, there is more to true heavy metal detox than using a true
heavy metal chelator and understanding its half-life. I discuss this
in detail in other articles I have written on true cellular
detoxification and restoration. Maintaining cell function is
critical for the heavy metal detox process to work smoothly and
effectively. For example, raising and maintaining INTRACELLULAR
glutathione is key to not just protect the DNA, but to keep the
toxins, such as heavy metals, moving out of the cells. Glutathione
doesn’t do a great job of taking heavy metals completely out of the
body, but it does protect the brain from circulating metals like
mercury. Raising glutathione in the cell also moves heavy metals out
of deeper cellular “store houses” of heavy metals that also need to
be removed. Please see my 5R’s of Cellular Healing and Detox
articles for more information. These articles explain the importance
and process of cellular preparation and detoxification:
R1 (Removing the Source)
R2 (Regenerating the Cell Membrane)
R3 (Restore Cellular Energy)
R4 (Reducing Inflammation/Oxidative Stress)
R5 (Reestablishing Methylation)
Before I, or any other practitioner we train, begin any heavy metal
detoxification protocol, we also prepare and restore critical
detoxification pathways, which include the liver, kidneys, lymphatic
and intestinal systems. You must keep these down-stream detox
pathways open during the detoxification process or cycle. This is
another important reason why it is necessary to work with a
practitioner trained in this protocol. Now that we have this
foundation, let’s go deeper into how to perform true heavy metals
detoxification of substances like mercury and lead.
What is a Safe Heavy Metal Detox Protocol and Detox Cycle?
We already discussed DMSA and its half-life for proper heavy metal
chelation. Next, we need to discuss the length and cycling of DMSA
during a protocol. For example, it is necessary to take this oral
chelator for at least 4 days before you stop. Typically, if you stop
AFTER 4 days, little if any metal will be left in circulation to
redistribute. If you stop BEFORE 4 days, very little, if any, heavy
metals will redistribute and cause unwanted symptoms. Once the heavy
metals are cleared from the “shallower stores” in the body, in
approximately 4 days, a resting period must begin. Two (2) things
happen during this resting period in the body. One, the heavy metals
residing deeper in the tissues and cells will begin to move from
higher concentration areas to lower concentration areas in the body.
Two, detox pathways, enzymes, antioxidants, and nutrients etc.
necessary for effective and safe detoxification are allowed to
reestablish in the body. We have found that a 10-day off-cycle is
sufficient for these two things to occur. Once again, you can see
why utilizing a doctor trained in proper heavy metal detoxification
protocols is helpful and at time necessary. Otherwise, your detox
can become dangerous. We train our doctors on how to support the
body in both the on-cycle and off-cycle heavy metal detoxification
process.
Removing Heavy Metals
The next 4-day on cycle will re-clear the heavy metal(s), such as
lead and mercury, which have moved out of the high concentration
cells and tissues during the off cycle. As I stated before, raising
glutathione in the cell during the 4-day on cycle helps this process
and prevents any metal from crossing into the brain and moving into
other cells and tissues. Also, utilizing a binding agent in the gut
helps to prevent metals that make their way to the gut during detox
from being reabsorbed. This is known as “auto-intoxication” and is a
classic oversight of most practitioners.
How Long Does Heavy Metal Chelation and Detoxification Take?
Perhaps a great mistake of practitioners is not telling their
patients the reality of the time this process takes. If a
practitioner states that the metals measured on a heavy metal
challenge test can be removed in a few months, you know you are in
the wrong place. They may even test you afterwards and say, “Look
your heavy metals are cleared,” but this far from the truth. It took
20-40 years for heavy metals to bio-accumulate in your tissues, so
does it make sense to you that it will come out that quickly? Of
course not! No logical person would think it would once we stop and
think about it. If it all came out that quickly, you would be
permanently damaged or it could even be fatal. Your body is not
designed like this. True detoxification and restoration must happen
daily and relatively slowly. On average it takes 2 years to remove
the majority of most heavy metals like mercury from the body.
However, with my high mercury levels and genetically weak heavy
metal detoxification pathways, it took me 4 years. Because of my
genetic weakness, I still chelate periodically to maintain stability
and performance. At one point during the detox (typically after a
year), we purposely start to extend the heavy metal chelation
off-cycles to provide the metals more time to move out of the deeper
“store houses” or deeper tissues. There is also new research for
those of you who are detoxing lead that states it can take up to 10
to 15 years for periodic chelation therapy. The reason for this
extended period is that lead is stored deep within the bone and
during certain life changes, it is released as a result of normal
bone loss and regeneration. For example, one study indicates that
seniors between the ages of 65-87 with high lead levels, who are
losing bone as a part of natural aging, were nearly 60% more likely
to die during the 12 year study. They concluded the lead being
released from the bone is increasing their rate of heart disease,
high blood pressure, strokes and weight gain. [2] In the case of
lead, this amount of time and chelation sounds challenging, however,
we teach our clients on this process and system and they are
eventually able to do it on their own. We believe in empowering
individuals by teaching them what to do and continue to do to get
their own life back. This is how we are able to help individuals who
have not been able to get their life back anywhere else.
Removing Heavy Metals from the Brain
After 3 months of DMSA ONLY cycling, we add a fat-soluble chelator
to the protocol to expedite the metals from the brain. We call this
the “brain phase” and this is where the real magic happens.
Recalling what I said earlier, it is the mercury in the brain that
causes the real problems and symptoms. Studies indicate heavy
metals, mercury in particular, bio-accumulate over time in the
hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which is the control center of the
hormone system in the body. In Part 2 of this series, we discuss how
catastrophic this is to how we function and live. The good news is
to offset this damage, during the brain phase; it is typically safe
and effective to support the hypothalamus and pituitary. As a
warning, I have found that supporting these tissues too early may
cause the release of metal before the rest of the body is cleared.
This is another major mistake that poorly trained doctors make,
causing their clients unwanted symptoms. Along those lines there is
a timing supporting the thyroid and adrenals during detox and
cellular healing. Violating the timing can cause weight gain instead
of weight loss, restless sleep, fatigue, brain fog, irritability and
irrational behavior.
Chelation And Heavy Metal Detoxification
I recall reading something that Andrew Cutler Ph.D., a great
researcher who teaches a similar protocol, said…that after 6-9
months of the brain phase, some symptoms may come back but after you
push through this time, your life really begins to change [3]. In
other words, finally, the dimmed lights become brighter and you can
start to see life clearly again with far less symptoms. Many of you
reading this article are living in the dark and you did not know how
you got there because the lights dimmed slowly over time and you
never noticed. Life can get better when you remove the cause. I can
say for sure that after a year, I was nowhere near being done but I
had my life back. How do you know when you’re done? Dr. Cutler
always said, if you can go 6 months without chelation and have no
symptoms. In my experience, I believe a real measure is when you can
go 9 months to a year, symptom free, without oral chelation therapy.
I had said earlier that typically after a year, I tell individuals
to try to go longer off cycles or allow more time for the metal to
come out of the deeper tissues. During these chelation breaks, many
symptoms start to resurface if you are off-cycle too long. I recall
going 2-3 months without chelation (a very long off-cycle) and my
wife would tell me I needed to get back on DMSA as she would see the
signs and symptoms before I would or wanted to admit. She was always
right. Literally, with one or two pills, I would be a new person.
The lights came back on! Another time after 7 month off, I thought I
made it but, again, my wife told me to get back on. This time I
didn’t want to hear it. I fought her on it because I just wanted to
be done this time, but she was right again. The metals just come out
in waves like peeling back an onion. It takes time but you will get
your life back.
True Hope and NO Gimmicks
Heavy metal toxicity is one of Three (3) major sources that I see at
the root of so many different health challenges, especially those
who suffer with unexplainable symptoms. I believe in my heart that
God allowed me to go through what I went through and have victory
over it, to bring this message to the millions that are suffering
with no true answers. They spend thousands on the next gimmick or
product with great marketing, but with little change to their
well-being. I also know that God will use your suffering for a
greater purpose as well. Never give up looking for the cause because
it always exists, and when you remove it, the body really does heal
itself; God designed it to do so. Continue to put your hope and
trust in Him and ask Him to lead you to that cause…He will not fail
you nor forsake you.
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