Detox

Dear SG,

Have you asked your dr's advice regarding detixification aids and programs?  Detox and chelation therapy is indeed used in mainstream medicine, but only for very specific medical conditions, such as lead poisoning, and it is always done with very close monitoring.  When a substance is intentionally cleared from the body, it's very difficult or impossible to prevent unintentional loss of other necessary substances as well, especially electrolytes and trace elements.  Electrolytes, such as potassium, sodium and chloride, have very narrow normal blood ranges, and having an electrolyte level that is too high or low is dangerous.  For example, when a person is vomiting or having loose BM's, they frequently lose potassium.  If the potassium level gets too low, it can cause heart rhythm problems that could potentially become life-threatening. 

There are many Detox aids and programs available on the internet, which claim to do everything from prevent cancer to curing fibromyalgia and more.  Most of these products are actually laxatives and all they do is, well, what you'd expect laxatives to do.  Will a laxative detox your body?  I can't answer that, but I do know that the products are very good at cleaning out wallets.  Here is more information: http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/detox.html

It looks like you are hoping to get your body as strong as possible, which is an excellent goal.  One consideration might be to look at your diet and make changes to avoid preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, processed foods, and eat a balanced diet and maintain adequate hydration.  Also, moderate daily exercise has been shown to be beneficial for people with Mito.  Also, if you have any underlying health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure it would be a good idea to keep them under the best control you can.  As always. make sure that you speak with your doctor for approval before making any changes to your diet or beginning any exercise program! 

I admire your strength and determination towards improving your health.  Please speak to your doctor about any specific toxins you believe may being affecting you (for example, lead in your drinking water or chemicals you are exposed to at work) as well as making plans for your nutrition and activity.  It may be a good idea to have baseline blood tests drawn to look at your electrolytes, trace elements, vitamins and minerals before starting on the Mito cocktail, as well as blood level monitoring a few times a year to make sure the dosages are appropriate for the unique way your body absorbs and uses nutrients.  I wish you the best.

Take Care,

HeidiC, MitoAction's Red Tape advocate

red-tape@mitoaction.org

Thanks Heidi....we won't see the mito doc, til after the biopsy now, but it seems such a chore to get a call back from his office....not him, but some of his staff act like it's such a bother...grrr...once that is done I will be hound doggin any/everyone with questions as a caregiver for my honey.  Our new primary is a medical doc, but also believes in a natural side to health as well.  I thank God for her every day, as she was the first doc to really listen to us and believe that everyone else missed something.  She directed us to begin the process to rule out mito, and I would trust only her to advise on a mild detox for him, as long as his blood levels are ok.  It just feels like the right thing to me, if he begins the cocktail with as much cell purity as possible....that's all.  It's the first thing advised in the naturapathic world, when there is a cancer or other serious medical concern, but I surely do agree that you must proceed with caution, knowledge, and clarity!  But we are learning to trust ourselves first, since so many in the medical field have let us down.  Still, we all need to have hope and believe that there are good docs who care....but our new coping skill is question everything!!  If we all chat and keep asking questions, maybe we can all get closer to quicker results/better care!  Knowledge is power and health is a gift worth it's weight in gold! 

 Love and Blessings...Superman's Girl......