My Current Approach to Keeping Healthy

It has been a great day of jogging, hiking, yard sale hopping, visiting the local home and garden show, and even working on my tree house (BIG construction). Anyhow, I am feeling pretty healthy and thought it'd be a good time to share what I am currently doing to keeping my body, mind and spirit in balance. I'll try to go through a typical day of health related activities.

I usually am up at 5 am (I like to go for a short jog before going to work). I take a teaspoon of Readisorb (liposomal glutathione), drink 2 oz of ASEA water (online reviews mixed, but mercury-toxic groups rave about it), have two glasses of regular water. I go for my jog and have another glass of plain water and then one with a tablespoon of Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.

I do take supplements which are a combination of those recommended in Dr. Mark Hyman's heavy metal detox approach- http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/05/19/how-to-rid-your-body-of-mercury-and-other-heavy-metals-a-3-step-plan-to-recover-your-health/#close and specific for me based on genetics (23andme then livewello and finally nutrahacker- total cost around $170 for information -http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/).

I work. My days are stressful, but I have learned to calm myself and take some deep breaths along the way (five deep ones in a row does the trick) . I make certain to leave my work place and all the related challenges  away from home.

I drink 2 more oz of ASEA water and usually go for a walk around town in the evening. I do sauna twice each week (usually Saturdays and Wednesdays) and pray/ meditate every evening. I do drink another glass of water with organic vinegar before bed and try to get at least seven hours of sleep each night.

In looking back through the various protocols (Dr. Amin's, Dr. Shelton's, Alison Adam's, Dr. Hyman's, Dr. Shade's and such) through the eight years since I recovered from Morgellons Disease, I find my present approach to feel simple. I think the Functional Medicine approach is best and do believe a body functioning properly will give us the best of health.

Exercise, Niacin and Sauna

I have been following a new approach to detoxing based primarily on an interview of Dr. George Yu by Dr. Joe Mercola .

Here is the approach I am taking/ suggesting-

     

Open bodies channels for elimination of toxins- kidney, liver and colon through coffee enemas, supplements, and diet

 Follow healthy diet and utilize large doses of natural chelators (cilantro and chlorella)

Exercise, Niacin and Sauna-

Dr. Yu suggests building up to 5000 mg of niacin. I was able to get as high at 2500…but found myself having serious reactions (my skin turned blotchy red especially in upper torso/around joints and vomiting in the am). 

I have decided for myself 1000 mg daily is enough.   Your body will let you know when you’re beyond your limit. Take your time and slowly build levels. Eventually, I may up my intake to 2000 mg daily.

I am fortunate to have a sauna. I know some may consider this an extravagant expense. I actually found my sauna heater and door on craigslist. With cedar, redwood and electrical work, I spent right around $2000.

My last sauna was an online purchase of an infrared sauna. Ramona on healinggrapevine.com is a big promoter of quality infrared saunas and also provides a wealth of information for those suffering from Morgellons-Ramona on Morgellons

Morgellons sufferers may have bodies ill-designed for toxic removal. The fact that Morgellons has forced me to better understand my body and how it works makes it more of a blessing and less of a curse. I plan routine detoxing in an ongoing fashion.

Hope this is helpful.

To your health,
Joe

An Online Protocol for T.I.L.T.

I came across this today and thought I'd recommend reading it. T.I.L.T. stands for Toxic Induced Lose of Tolerance and is primarily used in reference to those sick in the Gulf region. The protocol is very similar to the one I am currently following (add to it chelation agents). Bringing it all together is costly, but appears to help most. Of course, as with any approach, I recommend sufferers work with a medical professional. The article is found at: http://morgellonssupport.com/forum/topics/tilt-multiple-chemical .

Get the Metal Out!

It's a landmark week. My theory related to Morgellons Disease is now in print (Explore! 20.5) for which I give much thanks to Crystyne Jackson, Explore! editor, for ongoing support and motivation (keep on rockin' the medical world!) I'm soon to end my over half year+ of couch surfing as I'll be moving back into my home in Wellsboro. And, finally, what you might be most interested in, I'm taking more steps towards cleaning the heavy metals out of my system.

I picked up an internet order of glutathione from one of my sister's homes (remember I currently do not have a real address); this was motivation by recent dialog on this blog and understanding glutathione binds with mercury to pull it out of your system. In discussing this with a health store pro, I was told Alpha Lipoic Acid would have the same effect at a lower cost (ALA promotes our own system (liver I think) to create its own glutathione). I'll use glutathione initially with the plan to shift towards ALA.

I have just over one month until I can move back into my shack, so I will be house sitting for friends starting next week. I plan to do a week long lemonade fast (I've done this twice before) along with colon cleanse. The Tao of Detox mentions the importance of a clean colon for any detox work to be effective. I hope to also get some algin as it is known to assist in pulling metals from the digestive track and begin this along with the fast.

After the fast and re occupancy of home, I will use my infra red sauna with sulfur soap daily along with cilantro tea (not the best taste but is said to help pull mercury and improve memory). I'll continue my daily walks (minimal one hour) and build my yoga routine. I may also start doing some wood runs again. Key is getting my health and energy back to where it should be.

With summer over and fall here, it feels right to pursue happier and healthier. It makes sense to get the metal out! Happy trails, Joe

Reclaiming You Internal Environment- Part 2- Opening Detox Channels

There's plenty out there on detoxing to assist in healing. As I view Morgellons as a condition due to toxicity, I am keen on sharing some of the basic knowledge I feel is worthwhile. In general, I view our bodies as bouncing blobs of water. Our blobs are only on this world for a short time; it make sense for our time to be as healthy as we can make it.

Let's begin. We need to think about what we are allowing into our bouncing blob of water. Keep our intake of food, water and air as healthy as possible is essential. If you live near know toxic exposure, realize it has effects on your health...if you can, move (as I did. It ain't been easy, but I made the decision my health was more important than my income. I moved away from the power plant area of the Four Corners). Eat right--organic (when possible), avoid known junk foods, no GMOs,...you know, there are endless sources of information on this. For water, get it as clean as possible. I recommend filters on drinking water as well as showers (your body will absorb approximately 5 cups of water each shower). If you are in an area where historic mining has taken place, sponge baths may be your best alternative (I did this for an extended time when I lived in Teec Nos Pos, AZ. My levels of uranium exposure increase in urine test and I realized this was likely to waters coming down from mountains with uranium tailing piles). Air quality should be good if not great; my recent job/hell on earth position in Tanzania including my asking about air quality right off the bat (the head of schools told me, "...the quality is good". He failed to mention my needing to drive through diesel traffic for close to two hours each day). I will discuss/review more on air quality in the home in my next entry. Now that we've explored the intake for our blog, let's look at the outtake.

Toxins leave the body in three major ways--sweat, urine and feces (stress is also a form of toxin. Traumatic issues from the past may need to be confronted. Forgiving needs to happen...you need to forgive friends, health professionals who do not understand Morgellons (very, very important!), family, and even yourself. As I have made use of the 12 Steps for recovery (and suspect I will always need to make use of them), I recommend their use. For today's entry I will focus on matters related to the body and not the mind/spirit). The skins is the largest organ and sweating away toxins is helpful. I like sweats and saunas weekly (if possible). After getting to the point of sweating, you must wash off toxins before the body reabsorbs them; this can be done with a sponge bath, filtered shower, or rolling in the sand (as I did when going to traditional Navajo sweats).

Key to successful detox from heavy metals (such as mercury of course), is to have detox channels for passage out of body open. The kidneys and liver need to be functioning well. It is very important to not have toxins getting stuck along the way out. Though I have found it useful and having a huge impact, enemas (especially coffee which is good for the colon, intestines, liver and kidneys) need to be done with care. I recommend going into this slowly. There are also numerous herbal supports found at local health food stores; be cautious with these too. I use milk thistle for my liver. Lymphatic drainage is important (I have an entry on self massage and recommend looking at it). Regular massage is useful; if you cannot afford to go to a professional massage therapist, I would invest in a palm held massage device (found online for about $35).

Exercise and discipline are helpful. One hour of walking/jogging/yoga or what have you per day is good. I also find one hour of meditation/prayer helpful; stress produces toxins and calm opens the body to release. I recently found a copy of The Complete System of Self-Healing by: Dr. Stephen T. Chang at a yard sale; I have been working on internal exercise and can only say, "Wow! This is definitely beneficial!" In truth, I now know the best approaches to exercise for detox and general health includes both internal and external exercise.

Well, we've covered a lot of ground. I know there is plenty more which could be discussed and look into. Please share what you have found useful along your own path. Of course, we are all individuals and need to find what works for us. A good health professional working with you on all health matters (including detox and opening detox channels) is, as always, recommended. Happy healing, Joe

Nurses, Teachers and Adrenal Exhaustion

It has been an interesting week (not always a good thing). I had some health issues midweek which prompted me to getting a medical check up and having blood testing done to check on kidneys and liver. I'll have the test results this week and hope to hear all is well.

My health issues made me think of a recent conversation with Pamela Crane from Hypertoxicworld. I mentioned my chelation work and she said something along the lines of, "I'm sure you have all of the support you need for your kidneys and liver". I don't remember my response, but, honestly, I haven't focused much on some of the main exits for toxins. So, now I am wondering if I stressed out these organs. I need to work on strengthening them.

Typical of the way things work for me, I headed to the local health food store to get some cilantro tea (helps memory and pulls mercury from system)and cold pressed sunflower seed oil (google- oil pulling) as recommended by a friend in the health profession. I thought these would be a good start at simple ways to detox further. As I was leaving, the cashier threw in a copy of Better Nutrition Magazine.

B.N. (May 2011) has an excellent article on adrenal exhaustion and wondered about the possible connection to Morgellons and my present kidney/liver concerns. The article mentions the adrenal glands are located on top of your kidneys. So, if your body is working at eliminating mercury, it seems logical the adrenals might be effected.

Stress is key to activating your adrenal glands. I feel my Morgellons symptoms first started after extensive and intensive stress. Your body produces cortisol to help soften the effects of stress. If the adrenals are pumping nonstop for extensive time, eventually you body cannot produce cortisol.

So, I am now wondering about and thinking if professionals known to have extreme and prolonged stress, such as teaching and nursing, are developing symptoms initially in part from adrenal exhaustion. I am picturing a cycle of mercury to kidneys, adrenal pumping, cortisol exhaustion and Morgellons symptoms. Make sense?

I've had five emergency room visits where my heart was racing (four before Morgellons symptoms developed). I was told after the first visit (where I was absolutely certain I was about to die) I needed to eat more bananas and green vegetable (I was low in potassium). This cycle could account for my unexplained hospital visits...and it also may account for so many nurses and teachers having Morgellons. Again I ask, make sense? I hope so.

I recommend reading the article in Better Nutrition. I'll list the vitamins and herbal remedies recommended (please check with your medical professional before implementing). Vitamins include: B-complex, pantothenic acid, and vitamin C. Herbal supplements listed include: licorice root, ashwagandha, rhodiola rosea, and eleutherococcus senticosus (please keep in mind B.N. is meant to promote herbal sales).

Remember to talk with your primary health care professional. Peace, Joe

Protocols- Enough to Make Your Head Spin!

Okay...before I begin listing what my current protocol is I need to make some clarifications. First, I am not a medical professional (yes, right...got it!). Second, I am finding my current protocol helpful...but I am not presenting it as what you, the sufferer, need to follow (in other words I'm not marketing). Third, I believe there are two major stages of recovery with separate overlapping protocols (detox first and then overlap with nerve repair protocol).

My original protocols were designed by medical professionals Dr. Omar Amin and Dr. Bruce Shelton. Honestly, when I started three years ago, the original protocols were complicated but helpful. I am uncertain whether Dr. Amin's protocol has changed, but I think Dr. Shelton's has improved (due in part to the influence of Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt and his work related to neurotoxins).

My current protocol falls into two major categories--detox and nerve repair. Related to detox I do the following: EDTA Chelation Mineral Replacer daily, Phospholipid Exchange (one tablespoon)+ OSR#1 every other day, chlorella (4 tablets after dinner) and 10 drops of organic cilantro at bedtime M-F. I discussed nerve repair with Dr. Shelton and he prescribed the following homeopathic remedies: Cerebromax and Spinalmax (Friday- Sunday), Detox (1, 2, and 3) as well as Matrix Support (Monday through Thursday). Of course, I also exercise, eat right, and keep a calm spirit throughout life's hurdles.

I am interested in hearing about protocols working for others. I know, when I was deep in my symptoms, I was extremely vulnerable. WATCH OUT FOR THE SNAKE OIL SALES PEOPLE! Be careful! Take your time, listen to your body, and think everything through before you send off any money. I have opinions on all that is out there...but I'm not a medical professional. Listen to the medical professionals who are truly having success with Morgellons patients. Cleaning out your system takes time. There are no magic cures. You need to clean out your system and repair it (my opinion). I do believe the path is becoming clearer and clearer. We can all get beyond these symptoms.

Send your thoughts.

Happy trails- Joe