The past six months have brought some interesting and ultimately positive developments in my health search. I have long been curious about extremely high levels of copper and moderately high levels of other toxic metals including mercury and aluminum found in my hair analysis tests. Following a consultation with Andrew Cutler, PHD, an expert in heavy metal toxicity I embarked on a chelation program according to his protocol of taking alpha lipoic acid every four hours at three day intervals. Although I did not have a bad reaction to the alpha lipoic acid itself I became increasingly more reactive to other substances, my sleep became more disturbed, my muscle condition worsened making it difficult to do most physical activities, I felt light headed after walking upstairs or standing for periods of time, I was constipated, and I had a dry mouth. These are all symptoms that I have experienced in the past but not so extreme in a long time. After six weeks I discontinued taking the alpha lipoic acid.
I suspected that my worsened symptoms might be caused by dehydration. In my research I learned that dehydration is the number one side effect of heavy metal detoxification. Drinking more water was not helpful however increasing my intake of salt using a neti pot 4-5 times a day was particularly at night when my body was under a lot of stress that disturbed my sleep. The problem with heavy metal detoxification is that not only does it pull out the unwanted metals it also pulls out sodium and other valuable minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium and boron. These minerals were already low as evidenced by my hair analysis tests and Cutler’s chelation program amplified these deficiencies and brought my body further out of balance.
I knew that the hormone aldosterone, which is produced in the adrenal cortex plays a role in the regulation of sodium, potassium and blood pressure. My blood pressure is typically low especially when lying down when it is often around 80/40. I remember reading about chronic fatigue syndrome patients who experienced positive but short-term improvements from taking Florinef or fludrocortisone, a synthetic steroid that raises aldosterone levels. I also knew that some naturopathic and alternative physicians were prescribing a bio-identical aldosterone steroid procured at compounding pharmacies, most commonly for age related hearing loss related to declining levels of potassium. My aldosterone levels as measured by a 24-hour urine collection were in the low normal range and my naturopathic physician was willing to prescribe for me a very low dose (25 mcg.) daily of aldosterone. The results were immediate – a systemic improvement in all my symptoms including energy, sleep, muscle recovery and blood pressure. I was hopeful that if I increased my dose I would experience further improvements but that was not the case and after a month the aldosterone prevented me from getting any deep sleep so I discontinued taking it. Thankfully two months later I have continued to experience a certain measure of the improvements from taking the aldosterone. My blood pressure has remained higher, I no longer feel light headed and I continue to have better but far from ideal muscle recovery.
On the Internet I read an article written by a health consultant named Vincent Polito who works with clients using a mineral balancing health program that rids the body of toxic metal and restores levels of beneficial minerals without using chelation. Polito works with Dr. Lawrence Wilson who uses hair analysis as its main diagnostic tool and works specifically with Analytical Research Labs and Endo-Met supplements originally developed by Dr. Paul Eck. I did a new hair analysis test and was prescribed a program of nutritional supplements, diet, lifestyle recommendations, and detoxification. I also read Dr. Wilson’s book “Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis”. Although many of the recommendations for the program made sense to me others did not, specifically eating 70% cooked vegetables with each meal, avoidance of some vegetables, fish, and red meat and the inclusion of detoxification with infrared sauna and coffee enemas. Polito was familiar with individuals like myself who are very sensitive and reactive and he recommended that I start the program very slowly taking small amounts of one supplement at a time and gradually increasing. I was nonetheless uncomfortable with the program in its entirety.
Researching further I found an article entitled “Metals and the Mind” https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/mental-emotional-health/metals-and-the-mind/ in a Weston Price journal written by Theresa Vernon. This well written and informative article discusses the intricate system of checks and balances, which operate through mineral levels and ratios and explains how if you are deficient in one mineral, another mineral like copper can become excessive. High copper slows down adrenal and thyroid glands, which causes chronic fatigue. Vernon also discuses how pyroluria, a blood disorder that I was diagnosed with two years ago that causes copper toxicity. Since I do not have the symptoms of mental illness associated with this disorder nor was I able to tolerate zinc and B6 - the supplements recommended for this, my health practitioners were unable to make sense of this diagnosis.
Shortly after reading the article I made an appointment for a phone consultation with Theresa Vernon. https://www.tvernonlac.com Theresa who is an acupuncturist by training and now practices mineral balancing uses the same lab for hair analysis and supplement formulas as Dr. Lawrence Wilson so she was able to make recommendations for me right away. She disagreed with the same parts of Dr. Wilson’s program as I did, explaining that Wilson had gone off on a tangent that diverged from the original program developed by Dr. Eck. She also disagreed with the particular order of supplements that I was prescribed, explaining that I needed to lay down a specific foundation first. Most importantly she has an understanding of pyroluria, which she thinks is the underlying cause of my health condition and has experience helping other individuals who have this disorder. I can honestly say that Theresa Vernon is the first and only health practitioner that has a complete understanding of my health condition and a specific program to treat it. I started taking the first supplement formula four weeks ago, first cutting the tablet into quarters and then gradually increasing and I have since added two more. I am unable to take the supplements at dinner because I am more reactive at this time but otherwise I am tolerating them well with breakfast and dinner. I understand that this is a slow process that may last two to three years until I am completely well but I am confident that this is the right path for me. I also trust Theresa who answers all my questions intelligently and provides unlimited support as I go through this process at no additional financial cost. My goal is to be able to exercise, sleep well, digest my food well and have good energy but I know this will not be a quick fix. I have learned from the past that true healing is slow. I will of course report my progress in upcoming emails and blog posts