Chelation Seemed to Make Candida Worse
Ted, I have learned a lot from reading your candida posts at Earth Clinic. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I've been actively dealing with systemic candida for the past 8 years. My condition, I believe, is a result of my having received broad-spectrum antibiotics 5 times in 6 years (during childbirth; this is my OBs protocol, but I only realized after the fact that I could have declined this treatment. Oh well.) I have had some success with probiotics, grapefruit seed extract, vitamin C, fresh garlic (3 cloves/day - gulp!), nystatin & other prescription creams, and ginsing violet applied topically.
My main symptoms during the nursing of my babies has been extreme, deep, stabbing & burning pain in my milk ducts, as well as lots of itching all over, brain fog, loss of memory, CFS, digestive issues (constipation/bloating/lactose intolerance) & incontinence. Strangely enough, I rarely get a vaginal yeast infection, and my babies never got thrush, only blistery diaper rashes. Hence I went undiagnosed for about 6 months when this problem first showed up; since then, I have never been "symptom free" for more than 3 months. It is because of the immediate "feedback" I've gotten (i.e. intense breast pain within 12 hours of eaten something sugary, etc.) while nursing, that I have found chelation therapy, while recommended widely on the internet, makes my candida flare up. I first noticed this while taking spirulina supplements; within a day or two, my symptoms got much worse. The spirulina has caused definite increase in symptoms, of which I am certain because I have (at least 4 times) unwittingly taken it (included in protein shakes or other supplements), and every time there was an extreme increase in symptoms, so I would re-examine any changes to my routine & each time the common denominator was that spirulina had been accidently slipped in.
The same thing happened when I tried a cilantro pesto recipe I found in a book of "health remedies" (delicious!) ... after 2 or 3 days of taking it, I started noticing increased pain. Ditto when I took a "high quality alfalfa" supplement that was supposed to nourish my skin, except that with the alfalfa, I had already weaned, so the symptoms to flare up were instead athlete's foot fungus, constipation, CFS & incontinence. After my nearly non-existent symptoms flared back up after taking the alfalfa for a week, I researched it on the internet and found it was listed as being good for chelating metals from our bodies. I remember reading somewhere (but haven't been able to retrace the source) the theory that, in some people, chelating minerals out can work synergestically (sp?) to spur on candida overgrowth ... something like, the candida says, "Hey, look at all that metal leaving! Guess there's plenty of room left for us now!" (my totally lay-person recollection of the gist of the explanation). This appears to be the case with me. My question is this: should I still attempt to chelate? What about replacing my amalgam fillings? (I have about 5, I think) I am also considering replacing my root canal tooth (work done over 20 years ago). It seems to me that my digestive problems all started about the time that I got the root canal, especially chronic constipation. Does any of this make sense to you, or am I just totally off in my assessment? I have just today started trying your salt water & baking soda w/ACV therapies, and I am taking Threelac (a very expensive probiotic, but it does seem to make a difference in me). This is the first time in 8 years I am not pregnant or nursing, so I am also considering doing some cleanses (liver cleanse, candida cleanse), but am unsure where to start. I appreciate any thoughts you might have about all this.
Having high heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, cadmium obviously is going to kill people in the long run and a very high level may protect infections, but its going to kill us anyway as they are neurodegenerative.
Most of the problems not known in the internet is that the higher the levels of heavy metals, the lower the dose is chelation needed to minimized the circulating heavy metals. The second issue is the spacing of dose. The third problem is what kinds of chelation method is used. The fourth is the PRIMARY method of reduction of candida is alkalization first, chelation is often a supporting therapy if the body has proper levels of antioxidants, such as vitamin C sodium ascorbate and baking soda first.
As to why chelation works against some people is really simple. Assuming long term exposure to the heavy metals, such as amalgam, the heavy metals are going lodge into tissues and not circulating, the heavy metals are more destabilizing to the body if they were circulating the the bloodstream.
Since most of the oxygen and blood goes to the brain, the circulating high metals will goes there too, causing immune suppression (brain is the executive function of the immunity), leading to metabolic acidosis, which leads a common condition of the fungus, candida, or other similar conditions. Metabolic acidosis is an observed phenomenon myself that if a toxic chemical or heavy metals were taking, the body becomes acid, as noted in urine pH analysis. Apparently the brain is involved in intrinsically controlling the pH in its alkaline state. A proof of this is easy: taking aspartame (found in diet coke or sugar free gums, or children's vitamins), methanol, formaldehyde then these are well known in destroying neural cells, will immediately cause the fluids to become immediately acid, and this is why brain tumors are formed from long term exposure to excessive acidity from neural dysfunction. Brain tumors is a condition of long term acidosis bought about by chemical or
metal induced neural death that leads to a worsening cyclic neural suicide.
Therefore, the neurodegenerate effects of these metals is noted, obviously more vitamin B complex is needed to help neuroprotection, but also vitamin C sodium ascorbate and vitamin E. B helps neural growth, vitamin E and vitamin C are obviously antioxidants. It should be noted that chemical toxins induces this state too such as aspartame, and other chemicals found in many consumer products. A chemical toxin may also promote candida by promoting metabolic acidosis, in which a common method of detoxification is ozone or hydrogen peroxide therapies necessary to neutralize these accumulating chemical toxins found in the liver.
Since antioxidants are neural protective, the prerequisites for the antioxidants to work properly is proper alkalization. For example, vitamin C can exist in two states, in acid or alkaline states, such as ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate. The acidic state is causes oxidative state so it works against the body. The alkaline state works with the body as it is in an anti-oxidation state. Obviously acid lacks an electron and steals electrons from healthy cells, while antioxidation provides electrons to the healthy cells.
So when the body is acid, plus high circulating heavy metals from the chelation process the circulating blood is in high oxidation states, which leads to immune problems for the body, and promotes fungus growth. This has always been the problem when taking too much chelating therapy.
Let me give you a simpler example to see how this occurs in actual practice of chelation. Most autistics children, have learning disability can come from excessive heavy metals (usually from mercury and aluminum, but if lead is already higher before vaccinations,then the vaccines becomes lethal leading to Sudden Infant Death) found in vaccinations (imagine how many vaccinations a child goes through the public school system).
Amazingly enough, mercury and aluminum levels are quite high in vaccinations such that after injection, these levels still actually exceeds many times the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) finds it to be safe for the environment. Obviously it means the children's blood is more toxic than a normal environment, such as an ordinary lake!
Therefore, parents who treat their autistics found that giving too much (which occur more than I care to remember!), of cilantro and they go haywire with just the first dose. But on average, if a low dose is given, on the 8th day, the child goes haywire in the brain, along with candida and other skin problems that occurred during that time. So these "so called experts" who treat autistics did was to give the child chelation therapy for a week, followed by two weeks of nothing and seems to work from "trial and error", being absolutely unaware of why this occurs. However my own method of spacing of dose is different. If cilantro was used, both dose and spacing are used. In more sensitive children, which seems to occur in children with learning disorders, hyperactivity and autistics the average dose is only between 5-10 leaves of cilantro (more sensitive ones actually took 1-2 leaves a day -noticed spacing is reduced to zero with lower dose), and for average dose this can be
one every two days to twice a week, during the starting dose. But interestingly, at least for me they are given along with magnesium, vitamin C sodium ascorbate, and baking soda. The magnesium citrate for example the dose is 250 mg, vitamin C 500 mg. and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda x 2 were used in most instances without the side effects or any reaction. It should be noted that the method of dosage and spacing were determined where such side effects won't occur at all.
As to why magnesium has to be used, at the very least, is magnesium provided a buffer against the negative effects of circulating heavy metals. A circulating heavy metals INCREASES during chelation therapy since the lodged heavy metals to tissue is removed, and hence the observed toxicity. However, the RATE at which the heavy metals are removed from the body, is very much dependent on what I called the "gate keeper", which in most instance is the kidneys and sometimes the intestines. The major removal of metals goes through the kidney, to some instances the intestines, and then to some extent the sweat glands.
Intestines' ability to heavy metal removal depends greatly on osmotic balance between the body and the gut, are often due to two factors, usually it's the chloride levels and the alkalinity levels, which are OFTEN is the body's bicarbonates levels. As an example, if the chlorides level are high (such as drinking chlorinate water), and bicarbonate levels are low, which is often the case in western diet, the osmotic balance causes a dry gut, where fluids uptake by the body over the gut is high, as the body attempts to balance the pH towards more alkalinity by absorbing more alkaline metals such as sodium, but also of water too.
The sodium uptake by the body is high because it needs to maintain a sodium: chloride level ratio, such that the sodium to chloride level is around 1.2: 1 or 1.3 : 1 ratio is maintained. What is so interesting is table salt is very destabilizing because of the anti-caking component is added in a table salt such as aluminum silicate. These anti-caking, or other chemicals causes the pH of sodium chloride salt to be acid, which is often a pH of 5, which is very far ideal from the blood's pH of 7.35, the further it is, the more it requires energy by the body to push the food intake from 5 to 7.35. Interestingly sea salt chemistry is interesting and much more compatible with the body since it's pH averages 7.5 to 8.5, with averages (at least from my own samples) to be 7.8, so the differences are smaller between the blood pH.
The additional advantage is the majority of the foods we eat in civilized society is 90% of all foods is acid forming. This makes the advantage of sea salt whose pH is 7.8 and baking soda's pH of 8, to cause more balance so that the osmotic balance is balanced between the gut and the body, stopping constipation. Hence, my remedy for reduction of constipation uses sea salt and baking soda. A more concentrated solution is used to stop constipation and cause a laxative effect necessary to induce loose stools. The common remedy, depending on severity, is as follows that I used is (rough remedy):
Mild constipation 1/2 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon sea salt in 1/2 glass of water.
Chronic constipation: 1 teaspoon baking soda plus 1 teaspoon of sea salt in 1/2 glass of water.
Both the concentration and dose were needed to resolve this. I can't possibly explain everything about the chemistry of this, but this is a rough summary of the dose. In small children the dose to cause loose stools that I might use is often roughly 1/2 of the dose of mild constipation for cases to induce loose stools or diarrhea.
Therefore the main elements where chelation therapy does not seem to work are usually, metabolic acidosis from dietary choices, low bicarbonate intakes, excessive dose of chelation is used, salinity levels are low, chloride levels are high, magnesium levels are low, antioxidant levels are low are the major elements.
Magnesium interestingly are sacrificed by the body as the body tries to rid of heavy metals and hence it is not surprising that hair mineral analysis and other analysis will reveal magnesium levels to be consistently low if the body has already high level of heavy metals. Magnesium seems to help carry out heavy metals more and causes magnesium to be low. But the plethora of toxins people put in their body, especially western diets are amazing and it's no surprise why people are sick: fluorine levels are high in drinking water, aluminum are high, metal cooking utensils introduced in the body using the vegetable oils as a means of carrying them into the body, excessive rancid oils from heated vegetable oils inducing oxidization, and many more.
In event of a candida, it is often an indication of high heavy metals, but to be more specific, high level of circulating metals are apparent during chelation therapy. The reason why some people who do not have problems despite high level of circulating heavy metals and can handle them, it's usually that the initial amount of heavy metals lodged in tissues are already low, the body's alkalinity levels are high, magnesium levels are high as the main variables.
It SHOULD BE noticed that the very reason why I don't mentioned the "cilantro paste" recipe elsewhere in the internet is that the constant need of spacing and the lower dose usage are far more important to proper chelation therapies is needed to reduce the circulating heavy metals due to bottleneck, gatekeeping kidneys. These chelation therapies are in fact very dependent on the initial level of body's alkalinity too. Also many health practitioners often can't explain some these phenomenon because their methodologies are often too aggressive using large dose, which often is an overlook variable as well as ignoring too often the importance of alkalization.
However there are supporting elements that I also used that is important in chelation therapy too, such as the use of granulated lecithin before the chelation therapy also. It also prevents demyelination which often occurs when there is high level of circulating heavy metals during the chelation process.
Therefore to solve these problems, alkalization remedy I used are a couple of different kinds, the basic one, and more advanced one (which deal more with candida), another one to deal with energy levels, and a newer one to deal with constipation from dry gut, and the last one which deals with constipation AND candida.
1. Basic
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in at least 1/2 glass of water (ideally 1 glass of water) twice a day.
2. Advanced one (deals more directly with candida issues and skin problems during chelation):
1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon of sodium carbonate (washing soda) in at least 1/2 glass of water three times a day.
3. Deals more with energy levels (and certain gut problems with high level of tartrate from improper fermentative):
2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water taken twice a day.
4. Alkalization, Dry Gut and Constipation
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt in 1 glass of water.
5. Alkalization, but deals with candida AND constipation:
This remedy needs sea salt and bicarbonates for it to work, at the very least. It SHOULD BE NOTED that certain people who took unnecessarily high amounts of probiotics necessary to help their condition are often metabolic acidosis and acid gut. Acid gut kills probiotic immediately. In fact research has shown that gut flora are easily changed without the necessity of probiotics by ALTERING the acidity level of the gut with more ALKALINITY using bicarbonates, and lower fruit intakes and sour foods of all kinds. In that event, a more fitting remedy may likely be the 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon of sodium carbonate (washing soda) in at least 1/2 glass of water three times a day as this more effective in alkalizing and changing the flora balance to NORMAL, without the need to push probiotics. The environmental guts needs to be altered before probiotics can gain foothold. In my case I don't need to take probiotics because changing the gut environment mostly the
pH, but salinity are also important. Therefore an addition of sea salt in drinking water are needed such as 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt with 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 liter of drinking water.
As usual, I can't quite possibly cover everything or even most of process of chelation and problems that occur. But for me I used low dose cilantro, spacing of dose, magnesium, sea salt,and baking soda as the main elements, but I also used in addition to those lecithin, fish oils to raise omega 3 among other things, depending on the person involved. However a very simple way to reduce candida which occurs is the 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon of sodium carbonate (washing soda - a precursor of sodium bicarbonate) in at least 1/2 glass of water taken three times a day. The drinking water I used to help is 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt plus 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 glass of drinking water. I am experimenting with a newer drinking water for more general conditions of problems that water, I sometimes called ORMUS water, which is, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon of sodium carbonate and 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt in 1 liter of drinking water. This is a version
1 formula, but I think a modified form to taste less salty using half of baking soda, sodium carbonate and sea salt. As a tip, I prefer cilantro first, chlorella second, and spirulina third. In practice I will use cilantro, in case if it can't be found, i might use the other ones.
Did I forget anything? If I do email me...I am always forgetful!
Ted
Las Vegas, Nv
08/18/2009
Hi Ted, I am a mess. I found this post by doing a search for "parasites nursing." I am a nursing mom and after a ton of research suspect I have parasites and a candida imbalance. After reading your posts, I am sipping on himalayan salt water and baking soda. I would use the washing soda (is that borax?) but I don't have any so this will get me started. I have eczema that started on my hands during my pregnancy over a year ago, and now it has spread up my arm and I'm afraid it's going to keep spreading. I have been treating my son who also has eczema, with a parasite tincture with wormwood, cloves and walnut hull and his rash is going away. I can't find anything that says whether this is safe for me to use while nursing so I haven't done it yet. BUT last night he had left his glass sitting there and I walked by and took a swig and realized it was his cleanse after I swallowed it. Well today my rash is not hot, inflamed or painful and seems to be quickly healing. I am excited and amazed and scared. I read something a long time ago that I could pass the parasites to my baby if I try to cleanse while nursing. I want so badly to start cleansing but also have to put my sons health first. I have taken 1 tbsp bentonite with 1 tsp psyllium on 3 separate occasions. About once every 3 weeks, and I had one bentonite bath. Should I continue with this with the baking soda, salt water?
I eat a high raw diet. No meat, dairy or gluten. I just want to be healthy and feel like a failure with this rash taking over my arm. Oh, I also think I noticed my rash getting worse before when I used spirulina, but I am constantly blaming one food or another for my issues so I could be wrong.