Natural Remedies for Peripheral Neuropathy

Hi Mike you may try seeking the help of Qingcai Zhang, M.D. He has a long history in treating chronic viral diseases with modern Chinese herbal medicine and is based (I believe) in NYC. http://www.sinomedresearch.org/drz.htm

I am not saying anything conclusive yet, but I have been taking Acetyl-l-carnitine for three days. I had numbness, tingling and sometimes burning in my feet. I have been taking 800mg daily. After three day they feel remarkably better. I will post further as time goes on.

Brad - have you tried Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements? It completely cured the neuropathy in my feet. I remain amazed at how well it worked.

Brad, Acetyl-l-Carnitine is very similar molecule to Choline and has remarkably similar action on the body; so you might get the same results by supplementing some kind of Choline product (Soy or Sun Lecithin is a favorite). Either will work, but do not use both as they will only compete against each other.

I too have been taking ALC (750mg/day) together with R+ALA (600mg/day) and have experienced some relief although I believe it's the R+ALA that has helped the most out of the two. My greatest progress so far has been made with B12 so I am obviously deficient in this area. I am now on to Serrapeptase. If you scroll way down you will find where I have started a thread on this relatively new treatment. Good luck to all on your journey toward an effective treatment.

Update: I have been able to cut back on the B vitamins (1,6 and 50 complex) although I still take 2 X B12 5000mcg/day. I have increased the ALA (r+alpha lipoic acid) to 800mg/day as it seems to be helping the most.

I also take N-Acetyl-L-Carnite 1500mg/day and Calcium/Magnesium 2X 133/167mg/day.

This protocol has eliminated 90% of the pain and I believe it is the ALA that is helping the most. Best wishes and good luck to all in their search for relief.

I was taking alpha lipoic acid for many years until recently when I read that it depletes vitamin B1 which showed up as very low in my blood test. I am taking Benfotiamine, a form of B1, and discontinued the ALA. As it was, I really never noticed any difference when I was taking it. We all have different types on neuropathy, mine is idiopathic. I am not looking into nightshades.

Hi Rosy,

It was so interesting to read your information regarding ALA and the connection to depletion of Vitamin B.

About 4 months ago, I quite literally woke up with symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy - numbness, tingling, weakness in feet, lower legs, hands, and forearms. It was particularly alarming to me as my mother had PN so severe that she needed a walker to ambulate.

After reading the info on Earth Clinic (my first go to! ) and some other sites, I did what I always do - which is use the "shotgun approach". I started on B complex, benfotiamine, niacinamide, sunflower lecithin, passion flower, evening primrose oil, and St John's wort. I also increased my B6, B12, and ....ALA. I have experienced such a lessening of symptoms - many days are symptom free, that I am reluctant to change the regimen. However, I will surely research a bit more on the ALA. I do think the benfotiamine has been really beneficial. I initially took a B1, but after more research, was convinced that benfotiamine is a better choice. Thanks for posting!

Hi Soazburrolady, Interesting to read your post. I've used a similar shotgun approach with much success and have achieved a 90% reduction in pain. I take B1-200mg/day, B6-200mg/day, B50-200mg/day, B12-10000mg/day, R+ALA-400mg/day, NAL-Carnite-1500mg/day and last but not least, Serrapeptase-960000SU/day. If you scroll way down you'll see where I've started a thread on Serrapeptase. Youtube has lots of info.on this.

In reply to Gord235 (Vancouver, British Columbia), Did you actually mean, B12-10,000 mg/day? That is a huge dose that would require you to take pills all day long to achieve! Most B-12 supplements are sold in tablets containing MCG (microgram) doses, but even at that, 10,000 mcg is a lot of B-12 per day. The B-12 supplement I take is 2,500 mcg and that is considered a high dose supplement. It would take 4 of these per day just to achieve 10 mg! I get that the B vitamins will pass along quickly, but 10,000 mg per day seems impossible to take. The other B-12 supplement I have is only 1,000 mcg per tab.

Art

Hi Art,

Sorry, I meant to say B12 - 10,000mcg not mg.

Update:

Since my last post I have learned that taking antibiotics can lower B12 levels and that a B12 insufficiency can be the cause of peripheral neuropathy in up to 7% of cases. I had surgery recently and was on antibiotics for two weeks. This may account for the dramatic improvement I experienced once I started taking a B12 supplement.

As a result of this new information I have returned to my regimen of taking B1- 2X100mg/daily, B6 - 2X100mg/daily, B12 - 2X5000mcg/daily as well as ALA - 4X200mg/daily and Serrapeptase - 10X120,000SU/daily. Although not completely rid of symptoms the frequency and intensity of pain has been reduced by 90%. I anticipate that I will eventually be able to reduce the number of things I am taking but feel certain that the B12 will be the last thing to go as it has been the only thing to give me overnight relief. I wish everyone well on their search for a cure.

Update: Since my last post, I have stopped taking Serrapeptase as it didn't seem to be making a difference. I have now switched to CBD (cannibis oil) which which is reducing the pain level in my foot as well as eliminating the Edema swelling in my leg. I plan to continue taking Vitamin B12 (1,000 mcg/day)as it was the first thing to give me relief in the beginning. I have stopped taking Alpha-Lipoic Acid as it didn't seem that effective.

Update: I made a mistake and bought ALA without the R+ and the pain in my foot returned so I have gone back to my original protocol of R+ALA plus B1, B6 and B12 vitamins. I had also cut back on the B vitamins so this might have been a contributing factor to the return of the pain. I noticed that as soon as I started back on the R+ALA and B vitamins the pain in my foot went from a 9 out of 10 to a 5 out of 10. Lesson learned - once you find something that works don't stop taking it.

The more fuel burned in the mitochondria, the more free radicals are produced. The 3 indigenous antioxidants that mop them up are sod, catalase, and glutathione. Sod changes the free radical into a less damaging one called hydrogen peroxide. Catalase and glutathione changes hydrogen peroxide into a harmless substance. Glutathione also makes redox signaling molecules. These are involved in cellular communication and activate all the other antioxidants, like c, e, coq10, idebonone, ubiquinol, and r-ala. A naturopath doctor discovered that all of his patients were low in sod, catalase, and glutathione. Eating raw organic foods high in trace minerals increases sod and catalase. The limiting factor in glutathione is a special amino acid only found in eggs from pastured hens eaten raw, cold processed whey, and absorbable colostrum. Taking r-ala is not a solution. The two best foods for the nerves are hawaiin spirulina and chlorella at a 2 to 1 ratio. These also contain many other benefits including trace minerals for the production of sod and catalase. For glutathione and many other benefits including growth factors take at least 20 grams nondenatured microfilotered whey protein isolate and 5 grams of absorbable colostrum. These 4 superfoods can be purchased on the internet from reputable companies at wholesale prices.

Mike Giller. Thank you for the quick reply. You suggested. Hawaiin spirulina and Cholrella at a 2-1 ratio and also 20 grams of non denatured whey and 5 grams of absorbable colostrum. I assume that's a daily dose. What's the daily dose of spirulina and chlorella would you recommend? I am going to order these supplements this week. I have used the denatured whey before but only 10 grams a day.

I'm currently on nutritional yeast-2 tbls/day, R lipoic acid, magnesium malate, B-50, fish and flax seed oil, Chianca piedra, taurine, pycnogenol, zinc, Vit-D-3, COQ-10, Acetyl L carnitine, Kelp, selenium, tumeric-3tbls/day, lecethin granules. My attitude is whatever it takes. I am in dire straights. Thank you again for your generous feeedback.

Thank you for the compliment Stephanie. I get so few that I imagine everybody complimenting me so I can be happy. I was poisoned by toxic fumes, damaging my nervous system. When I was a dirty and stinky homeless person I had uncontrollable emotional outbursts during the day and nightmares at night. I have spent hundreds of hours studying and taken dozens of folk remedies trying to become calm and cognitive. I am a lot better than before but continue to have a constant nervousness. I am all right around friends but get a jolt when around strangers. Google spirulina/chlorella 2:1 ratio. A famous naturopath doctor did a complete and thorough study of them. He gives a very good explanation of all the benefits and dosages. I take 14 grams/6 grams. I weigh 180 lbs. Make sure you get Hawaiian spirulina. They get the water from a certain depth that has the most trace minerals and least pollutants. They preserve more nutrients with a special drying procedure called ocean cold. You can get either korean thin celled wall or japanese chlorella. The only company that cells the korean also sells a 5 lb. Bag of nondenatured microfiltered whey protein isolate for $60 and raw kelp from canada for $8. As for the other supplements soy lecithin does not work because it is cooked. Sunflower lecithin works because it is cold processed. Coq10 works only in the ubiquinol form. B vitamins work for 5 hours, except B12. Vitamin d works at a 1 to seven ratio with vitamin a. The dosage for d is 5000. The dosage for a is 35, 000. You can get a from fish liver oil caps for a few pennies per day. David Wolfe says raw organic cocoa powder is the only herb for increasing and balancing all the neurotransmitters. I take 30 grams in divided doses.

Did you get well with your special supplements?

Mike Giller, I have searched the web looking for the supplements and have found several, but I'm unsure if they're what you would recommend. Would you please forward me the names of the company you purchase you 4 supplements from. Also the company that you get your organic cocoa powder from. I have seen companies on earth clininc previously. I have peripheral neuropathy and hepatitis c. The latter I believe caused my neuropathy. Do you have peripheral neuropathy as well? I did come up with a name Dr. Robert F. McCauley.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Much blessings

To insure adequate antioxidant levels from SOD, supplement Zinc/Copper and Manganese. Selenium is necessary to produce glutathione reductase. Oh, and another critical factor for proper enzyme and antioxidant levels is a NOT acidic body PH. Acidity simply depletes minerals and enzymes.

Magnesium is touted to be directly or indirectly involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions.

Dear Stephani, I suffered for many years from a viral infection when I was homeless and did not understand the way food affects cellular biology. Naturopath Doctors wisened me up. I believe the solution is eating the best food the right way. This is not a diet. Eat a lot. The dosage of food is per water. The more water you drink the more food you can take. I take 1 pint an hour for 16 hours. Right before bed I take another dose. This forces me to wake up 2 hours later to go to the bathroom. Then I take another dose. So I take 4 more doses while I am sleeping. I am going to give you a list of everything I take. I weigh 180 lbs. I walk 10 miles a day. You can adjust the dosage to your weight and activity level. Take the carbs, oils, and proteins together at the same time. Remember, the more you take, the more water you have to drink and the sooner the tissues will be repaired and rejuvinated. The foods contain all the nutrients the body requires in their most bioactive form. The grams are per day. The company I buy the most from is A-----. 200 g raw honey, 200 g organic whole cane sugar, raw organic cocoa powder 2 pack s and s $25, 30 g. 21 oz absorbable colostrum $60, 10 g. Hawaiin spirulina s and s $25, 14 g. Black chia seeds 60 g, 4 pack, $26, put in 1 pint of water and stir continuously for 5 minutes. Argentina beef liver powder nondefatted, 12 oz. $10, 10 g. 90000hu cayenne, 2g, 2 pack, $16. Only 1 company has korean thin celled wall chlorella Z--------. 1 lb. $30, 6 g. Nondenatured microfiltered whey protein isolate, 40 g, 5 lb. $60. Freeze dried coconut water powder, 40 g, 5 lb. $140. Raw kelp 5 g, 1 lb. $8. Coconut oil, cold processed, 1 gallon, $69, 20g. Many reputable companies sell raw fermented skate liver oil, 1 ml. 4x. Getting 1 kg. Of non gmo aka or red miso at asian grocery store is very important, 60 g, $6. These simultaneously nourish the cells, detox the poisons, kill the bad guys, repair and rejuvinate the all the tissues. Love from all us simple country folk in Colorado.

Mike Giller, You are drinking 2 1/2 gallons of water a day... Won't that flush all the vites and mineral out of you body? Do you take any sea salt? Again, thank you for your information. It sounds like you have done a lot of research...

Dear Stephani. The salt is in the miso. Everybody from Newton to Einstein studied Newton's theory of gravity. They all played the role of students absorbing like a sponge. Only Einstein played the role of a detective who investigates. He stretched his intellect. He thought of clues, angles, and possibilities. He was not an extraordinary man like Thomas Edison who invented something. He just discovered something that had always been there. He investigated something that nobody had investigated before. The same thing happened to me. What you say makes sense. Too much water is washing away the nutrients. In many cases what you say is correct. So let us do an Einstein and investigate. When people eat food, nutrients are absorbed into the plasma. When the cell needs nutrients the windows and doors open and the nutrients enter the cell. When the cell has enough nutrients the windows and doors close. The remainder are excreted through the urine. When that is the case the urine turns yellow. Mine is clear. Were the nutrients not entering the cell my energy levels would drop and again that is not the case. The 500 hundred grams of sugar, 80 grams of protein, 40 grams of oil, many vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that I take are being utilized. So I am not wasting my money having them being washed away. When I was sick my goal was to get well. When I got well I did not feel great. I continued to feel tired. I have been tired all my life. I was reprimanded in school, fired from jobs, and kicked out of coffee houses for sleeping because I was tired. When I get tired I get lazy and stupid. That was why I was a loser who always failed. Then I read a report by Dr. Colban and his colleges. They advise elite world class athletes. He recommended eating 6 meals a day. I was taking 4 doses a day. So I took 6 doses a day and I had more energy. So I thought 6 is better than 4 so maybe 8 is better than 6 and I had more energy. So I thought maybe 16 is better than 8 and I had more energy. So I continued to be tired while sleeping and had brain fog in the morning so I took 4 more doses during the night while sleeping and that is the way I ended up with 20 doses. There is an explanation for all of this. As I increased the frequency of the doses, more nutrients were utilized, increasing metabolism, requiring more nutrients. Like the bird and the alligator. 6 hours after a meal a bird gets hungry because he has a high metabolism. 6 weeks after a meal an alligator gets hungry because he has a low metabolism. My metabolism became more like a bird's and less like an alligator's. Our goals are not the same. Your goal is to get well. In order to get well you are going to have to take more than a well person because you have to repair damaged tissues. As you increase the frequency of the doses your metabolism increases, requiring more nutrients. You want to be well yesterday. The more doses you take per day the more repair work is done and the sooner you can get well. I already got well. You are going to have to go through what I went through. Today my goal is to feel great all the time. I feel great all the time when I have plenty of energy all the time. I have plenty of energy all the time when I take 20 doses a day instead of 4.

I kind of understand what you're saying. But how many times do you urinate a day?

I urinate 1 time per pint.

Where do you get "red miso sea salt?" I can't find it one the web. Thx much

Dear Stephani, thank you for replying. The non gmo aka red miso has sun dried sea salt. They add that during the fermentation process. They sell that at the asian grocery 1 kg. For $6. If you cannot get that you can go to the natural grocery store and get sun dried sea salt 23oz. For $1.69. Take 4 grams. You can also take 2 grams dead sea salt. I take 6 grams of sun dried sea salt and 4 grams of dead sea salt every day. The hawaiin spirulina, korean chlorella, and nondefatted dessicated liver do not taste good. You may have to dilute them with water to begin with or take smaller doses. Somebody said that iron feeds the hep c virus. That may be true. I believe the special substances in the superfoods can kill the hep c virus. For many years I suffered from frequent mouth ulcers and sore throats because of a viral infection. Making smoothies from organic baby leaves and organic raw berries greatly reduced the frequency of these very painfull occurances. Taking the superfoods eliminated them. Hawaiin Spirulina has a unique substance called a sulfur polysacharide. The sulfer combines with hydrogen to form hydrogen sulfide gas. This kills all pathogens. Sulfur is the mother of all minerals. The first life on earth used sulfur for energy before there was any oxygen. Sulfur activates all the other minerals. There are four amino acids that contain sulfur. The superfooods are high in these sulfur containing amino acids. For inspiration you can watch raw vegan 80/10/10 videos on youtube. Please reply after you begin the program to tell me of the results. Thank you.

hi.......you mention nervousness. you might try lemon balm tea. It stops barking at people..a couple 6oz cups a day

Mike, don't know HOW YOU were a "loser", homeless, etc. Man you are a SMART person. I have realized that if you want to feel better & be well, natural is the way.

Doctors want $. Thats all they are concerned with. DON'T TRUST THEM!!!

Stephanie: Thank you for your post. The fact that ALA is being prescribed as a treatment and is covered by health insurance in Germany is very useful information to have.

I have been taking R+ALA (600mg/day) and it's working.

Update: I have now increased the ALA to 800mg/day.

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY :

HI U GOOD FOLKS DOIN,,,,,,,, life is interesting these days and old age is at the heart of it all. Today, I got an IV using Alpha Lipoic Acid to help in my leg nerve problems. My doctor recommended one for 4 weeks and see where we are.

We had quite a diverse group in the room today. All had been down the Allopathic Medical route and that was a dead end, so they chose to pay their own way and possibly live to see another year. One 84 year old was consumed with a fungus, another was a mechanic that washed too many greasy auto parts in lead gasoline. One had gotten the mucus from his wife via their grandkids...... he was doing a Hydrogen Peroxide IV and was coming back tomorrow.

My best buddy is doing EDTA Chelation after I had begged him to do this for 5 years. Think his heart scared his mule. These folks use their insurance until they see a dead end and then they start to pay their own way to stay alive.

That is the way it is with most folks on EC. They obey their MD until they begin to see the Grim Reaper out the side of their eye and then they begin to research and find all the helpful folks on EC. Amazin how that works.

========ORH======

Hi Danielle, Ocean Shores: You say you use ALA -- can you tell me if you have mercury fillings in place and if so have you had any adverse reactions while using ALA? Thanks

Hello Paula, I've used the Borax remedy as a last ditch attempt to cure my aching hands, arches and metatarsalalgia.. It made a noticeable difference within 10 days and I am pain free after 2 months. Your neuropathy and foot problem sounds like a vitamin 12 deficiency I had. I had numb hands as well.. The B12 twice a day helped in literally days to relieve symproms. I had 6 of the 7 symproms listed.

http://www.kznhealth.gov.za/nutrition/food6.htm

Hello Rosemary, I started the Borax today... Noticed no taste while drinking mixed in 1/8th teaspoon in 1 liter of water. No aftertaste. Toughest part was getting a liter of water down over the course of the morning/early afternoon. I know I should drink more water, so if nothing else happens, at least I know it's good for me.

I have been tested for B-12 deficiency, it was negative.. I do take a B-complex. I was low in D-3 but that has been taken care of.

I just hate this neurontin I am on... It just covers up the pain somewhat, does nothing to heal. I feel it has grown worse over time and now that I have cut down to just 1 tablet (300mg) the pain is not only in feet but calves are numb & it is getting harder to walk.

Thank you for your reply. Will be following this thread. Welcome anyone's sugesstions.. it not only hurts, it makes me extremely nervous...

Day 7 of the Borax and water: Drinking the 1 liter a day faithfully but DR. changed my meds from neurontin to Lyrica 2x daily, so can't really say if this drug is actually helping the neuropathy in my feet or it's the Borax or combo of both. Open to any comments, other remedies as feet are numb, burning etc. But at least I have not had the shooting pains through feet and toes in the last few days. Question: How long should I continue the Borax? Taking 1/8th tsp. In 1 liter water per day. Woman, weigh 125. Thank you.

Paula, the burning sounds like b12 deficiency.... and your numbers could be low and your dr just not being proactive.

Paula,Dr. David Brownstein writes a book Vitamin B12 for Health. He put all of his patients on B12 supplements even if their blood tests revealed within normal ranges. He found in all his years in the practice that the levels that they state may not be the levels our bodies really need. All in all, all of his patients showed remarkable improvements.

Dr. David Brownstein has not taken on new patients in well over 4 years or more. I called to get in there and asked if his partners would accept me. They too are overwhelmed with patients. The receptionist gave me the name of a website that will direct you to doctors that will test your levels and get you back onto the right path. They test for hormones, digestive issues, and vitamin and mineral absorption levels. The bottom line to any health issue is... are you absorbing your nutrients and do you have inflammation going on in your body.

View this webpage --- acam.org for finding a doctor like Dr. David Brownstein recommends. I am forever grateful I found this book and this webpage. I have already went for my first appointment and am awaiting my test results to get my health back onto the right track. Currently my feet are showing signs of neuropathy... And it is so painful!!!!! Blessings to all of you who try to find the cure... and who wish to use natural stuff.

Vitamin B 12 is best absorbed into the body by injection or sublingually, regular B12 pills are not easy for the body to assimilate. My advice is B12 AND MAGNESIUM . Magnesium in powder form dissolved in water is good . Magnesium is best absorbed through our skin, so add a gel magnesium rubbed on your feet . This has been most helpful to me. The neurologist told me about magnesium. I hope this helps you.

Do you take high blood pressure meds, or statins, or diet soda, a diabetic?

Why are you still taking your meds if you feel it is causing the problem?

I am a health researcher I find the leading cause of your problem is the above, in that order.

Did you apply the cayenne/vco mixture topically? or ingest it?

What is the name and number of the Chinese Doctor?

Joanne: I have had this procedure twice. It's not nearly as dangerous as other invasive procedures like biopsies or surgery. The pain is not-so-bad, somewhat tolerable; but it sure feels good when it's over. No near or long-term side effects.

I had it done and refused to complete the test. It is extremely painful.

I had that test done its painful but it tells you how much nerve damage has been done to the nerves. My left leg has worse damage than my right but it hurts. I will never have it done again but try it once to see what your results tell your doctor.

I had an emg for my PN and it was not anything that I expected it to be. Did not hurt as the needle is so small. Confirmed the neuropathy but couldn't find the cause. I am searching for relief for my feet and I am tired of spending money for something that does not work.

Hello,

I too suffer from nerve issues in my feet. Hurts like hell at night, the rest of the time it is numb and feels like electric flowing around my feet. Calcium and magnesium helped me. The pain and numbness is there but manageable. Reflexology every other week really helps to as well as a good deep tissue massage once a month or so.

I also have found the Lord again, and to be honest with you I believe that, phrase to the Lord, and accepting Him as my Lord and savior truly was my best pain relief. I know this is an old post but I hope if you see this it helps.

Take care,

Bob R

Hi Diane... Gingko Biloba, cayenne and tumeric will certainly help to open up the blood vessels.

But the strategy that I would use for your Hep C as well as your neuropathy problems would be a combination of Magnesium supplementation (250 mgs twice a day), Alpha Lipoic acid(300 mgs twice a day), Milk Thistle (1000 mgs) twice a day and selenium (200 mcgs twice a day). These supplements should be taken at lunch and dinnertime. These strategies will help to repair the nerves and help to clear the blood of toxins caused by an insufficient liver due to the Hep C. See the Berkson Triple Anti-oxidant Liver Protocol given at this link. Dr Berkson has been highly successful with this combination protocol -- to help cure diseases like Hep C, pancreatic cancer and liver cancer. ALA does much more than just heal nerves. If you want to read about the wide beneficial effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid -- you could do no better than read Dr Berkson's book -- The Alpha Lipoic Acid Breakthrough.

I would also advise that you take B50 complex once a day with higher dose niacin(not niacinamide) at 500 mgs twice a day at mealtimes. The higher dose niacin (flush form) opens up the blood vessels(causing the niacin flush), thereby helping to transport essential nutrients efficiently to all areas the body where they are most needed -- to the nerves at the peripherals of your body -- ie the head, hands and feet. From the research -- taking higher dose niacin in this manner also increases immune system strength by a factor of 2000.

I would also include organic Chanca Piedra in your protocols -- 500 mgs twice a day or just drink the tea form if you can get it. This will further help to purify the blood by reducing excess levels of toxins, lipids, sugars and also helps to lower blood pressure. From the research, Chanca Pedra also kills the Hep B virus which can also be involved (undetected) with and greatly aggravate Hep C infections.

Hi, I was wondering does Bill have an opinion on the use of ALA with mercury fillings. There seems to be a lot of conflicting articles on the net but I would really like to get his opinion. I know other users have asked this question. I am guessing it is safe to use ALA with medication? Thankyou Bill in advance.

Hi Mary.... I can't really see a problem with taking ALA with mercury fillings. Personally, I think the arguments for not taking ALA verge on the ridiculous. Here are my arguments pro-ALA supplementation:

If you don't take ALA then the mercury in your fillings will still vaporize and still go down your throat and be stored as a heavy metal in your body anyway.

Is that beneficial to the body?

If you take ALA then, yes, its certainly possible that the mercury could be redistrubuted throughout your body but some of it will also be removed and excreted.

What about the other benefits of ALA?

• ALA is a super-antioxidant that is both water soluble and fat souble -- this means it can act in both fat and aqueous mediums as an anti-oxidant throughout the body. ALA, as an antioxidant, leaves vitamins like Vitamin C and Vitamn E at the post -- these two only act as anti-oxidants in aqueous and fat mediums respectively.
• ALA regenerates used up Vitamin A, C, D, E in the liver and also regenerates used up glutathione and CoQ10.
• The reduced ALA form -- dihydrolipoic acid or DHLA -- also has benefcial action in the body -- mainly used to regenerate used up vitamins.
• Both ALA and DHLA also act to extinguish a large range of dangerous free radicals in the body -- hydroxyl radicals, superoxide radicals, hypochlorous acid, peroxyl radical and singlet oxygen. Hence ALA's anti-aging effect.
• ALA is found in high amounts in young people. These levels reduce considerably at old age. The body needs ALA for anti-aging.
• ALA is a magnificent poison detoxer of the body, particularly useful against deadly fungal afloitoxins and mycotoxins and particularly useful against poisonous mushrooms.
• ALA heals neuropathy problems and helps to heal the liver and pancreas due to its anti-oxidant action.
• ALA chelates heavy metals from fat deposits and from aqueous mediums such as blood and tissue.
• Supplementing ALA discourages cancer forming in the body.
• ALA removes and reduces sugar in the blood. Very helpful for diabetes and other chronic problems.
• Dr Berkson has been using ALA, Selenium and Milk Thistle for many years to help cure Hepatitis C, liver cancers and pancreatic cancers.

Source: The ALA Breakthrough by Dr B Berkson.

I think, perhaps, supplementing ALA has clinched it here since supplementing mercury -- by way of fillings -- will do nothing but extreme harm for the body over time.

And if you want to ensure protection against re-absorbtion of mercury then just supplement Chlorella and eat raw cilantro two or three times a week as a salad. This protocol rapidly removes mercury and other heavy metals from the body (without danger of re-distribution or re-absorption) and also protects against re-absorption of heavy metals from the colon.

Thanks for the info Bill. I started ALA more than a decade ago at 30 mg daily. At that time I got upset stomach or irritations and was limited to that amount. After improvements in digestion, I took a whopping 300 mg 2x tonight with only little irritation. For supplements or drugs that cause irritation I usually take with a bite of food, but to my surprise the ALA is best on an empty stomach, and a few more drinks of liquid seem to help. Lately I pre-dose with 500 mg Vit-C, then 3 gms MSM, then 200 mg ALA for maximum effect.

If I might back up a bit on the facts of ALA, it is, as Bill states, an antioxidant, BUT it is first a metabolic antioxidant, that is, ALA is a key nutrient, and sometimes referred to as a coenzyme, in cellular respiration and energy production.

As an addendum to the health advantages of ALA, I would also recommend supplementing Co-E1 NADH. NADH is the end product of the Niacin vitamin. At one time, I experienced quite profound effects in recovery w/ as little as 5mg daily. Fast forward a few yrs and NADH is available in 20 mg doses. Like ALA, NADH benefits are numerous and worthy of consideration for everyone seeking health and vitality. Here's a link to one of the major proponents of NADH touting the virtues of this coenzyme: http://www.nadh-priceinfo.com/nadh_doctor_birkmayer_interview.cfm

Hi Bill, Thank you for the reply. I recently bought 2 bottles of R-lipoic acid. Is it as good as ALA? Also is Acetyl-L carnitine the same as L-carnatine? Thank you again.

Hi Bill, many thanks for your in-depth response. Are there any hard and fast rules as regards using ALA, I read an article that said to increase vitamin c and drink lots of water. Any other considerations? Also wondering if you know of anything to regenerate nerves say for sensory nerve damage, I bought helichrysum to apply topically but it just made the tingling hyperactive

Thank you again.

HI Bill, I was on your magnesium oil on body for peripheral neuropathy and it worked for a couple of days then stopped. I'm still doing that therapy and today am on day 13..I have hep-c and PN. I feel my PN was caused by Cipro but I had cold extremities previously from Atenolol. (drugs have not been good to me)I take many supplements for both conditions and just included your magnesium oil treatment..I had been getting phlebotomies to lower my liver enzymes. I find when my ferritin level lowers, so does my liver enzymes...I stopped the phlebotomy last month and just did Lugols exclusively at 50 mgs/day and occasionally went to 150 mgs/day...According to Stephanie Buist there is not problem going that high...I found that my ferritin went from 28 to 18 with no phlebotomy and I made it a point to eat a lot of red meat when it was it 28, yet it still went down...I feel 18 is about as low as I should go and maybe even not that low...My neuropathy just got horrendous...Is this because of the lowered ferritin.? Does ferritin carry oxygen? Should I lay off Lugols for a few days or weeks? I am freezing from my knees to my feet 24/7. 3-7 AM is absolutely terrible....The neuropathy has also recently gone to my forearms and hands. Recently started taking Cats Claw for pain, Nucleotide inosine to build myelin sheath and inositol hexanicotinate to open capillaries per Dr. Atkins. Your advice has been invaluable to me.Please advise...Thank you very much.

Diane, I came here to browse but saw your post and have to reply. I was able to turn around rapidly progressing PR in both my legs and arms caused by antibiotics about three years ago. It required extreme diligence. I cannot list everything I did, but the general areas were:

1. Absolute anti-inflammatory diet--but including raw eggs for the fatty acids in the egg yolks.

2. I kept my feet warm all the time. I kept my feet on a hot pad when I sat and worked. I wore socks with a sewn-on pocket at the toes, and inserted hand warmers. These stay warm about 10 hours. You can find these socks and warmers online. Any time I allowed my feet to get cold, I noticed a regression in the NP.

3. I took all the supplements recommended on this site, except ALA, as I was cautious regarding heavy metals and heeded the warnings of Cutler.

4. Metal detox. I did a few rounds of the Cutler protocol, and it was powerful, but products based on seaweed and modified citrus pectin are ideal as well. This is important as the metals inflame the nerves in our extremities.

5. Rebuilder. This is a machine like a tens machine, but it is supposed to have a pulse that stimulates the nerves. I used this religiously and it helped a lot.

6. Comfortable shoes. In my case, I found that flat and wide shoes were best. Any shoe that constricted even slightly, or slanted forward so that more pressure was one my toes, were catastrophic.

7. Swimming. The rhythmic motion and circulation helps, I was surprised by how much.

8. Visualization. I would mentally circle down through my legs and send my mind into the areas that were numb, encouraging them to come back online. I did this each day, especially before sleep.

I did many more things. One thing I learned on this site is the very basic combination of B6, methyl B12, and fish oil to help the nerves re-myelinate. Everything else is on top of that. If you can afford nothing else, at least do this.

Today, my NP is about 95% better. Don't give up, do the research and be diligent.

Great info. Do you or does anyone have experienced having a flair-up on their feet when: drinking soda (either diet or regular), wine, or Honest Iced tea! If so, do you know if it's the phosphoric component, or why? Please advise. Ellen