Cholestyramine alternatives?

[Guest guest]

Some people claim that chitosan oligosaccharide (not ordinary chitosan)

works similarly to cholestyramine but it is pricey

Cholestyramine alternatives?

> Dear list,

>

> I have ordered Dr. Shoemakers new book 'Mold Warriors'. His ideas hinge

> heavily on the use of cholestyramine. Is there a non-prescription

> alternative to this medication?

>

> Regards, Blake Graham

> www.nutritional-healing.com.au

>

>

>

>

> This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

> other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

> discussed here, please consult your doctor.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Blake,

Yes, it is called Beta Sitosterol...but it can cause severe constipation...

Carol

> [Original Message]

> From: Blake Graham <blanket@...>

> < >; < >

> Date: 5/11/2005 3:59:01 AM

> Subject: Cholestyramine alternatives?

>

> Dear list,

>

> I have ordered Dr. Shoemakers new book 'Mold Warriors'. His ideas hinge

> heavily on the use of cholestyramine. Is there a non-prescription

> alternative to this medication?

>

> Regards, Blake Graham

> www.nutritional-healing.com.au

>

>

>

>

> This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with

each other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any

treatment discussed here, please consult your doctor.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Blake.

I researched this same question you have now extensively. Dr Shoemaker did the

same, I'm sure much more than me, and he has stated he simply could not find an

alternative to cholestyramine(CSM), both in terms of lipid neurotoxin binding

power and effectiveness reported by patients who he's diagnosed as neurotoxic.

Beta Sitosterol from my understanding does not do the same thing at all(I'm

willing to see the references for its benefit like CSM if they're available?).

If one still wants to experiment with Beta Sitosterol, I would suggest using

psyllium husk capsules to deal with the constipation. And as far as chitosan

goes it sounds good in theory, but my doc suspects toxin producing

dinoflagellates are infesting this product.

There aren't many if any controls in this way for products like this. I know I

had a bad reaction to chitosan within 48 hours of ingestion about five years

ago.

At least I think this product should be assumed to be infested until you can

obtain objective sources of verification that any particular chitosan brand

you're considering purchasing does not have this. Chitosan is a shellfish based

product.

> > I have ordered Dr. Shoemakers new book 'Mold Warriors'. His ideas hinge

> > heavily on the use of cholestyramine. Is there a non-prescription

> > alternative to this medication?

[Guest guest]

I wonder if CSM would be helpful during merc detoxing when removing merc

fillings? Anybody know? I took it a few months last year and didn't see any

changes, still have some left.

Marcia

Re: Cholestyramine alternatives?

Hi, Blake.

I researched this same question you have now extensively. Dr Shoemaker did

the same, I'm sure much more than me, and he has stated he simply could not find

an alternative to cholestyramine(CSM), both in terms of lipid neurotoxin binding

power and effectiveness reported by patients who he's diagnosed as neurotoxic.

Beta Sitosterol from my understanding does not do the same thing at all(I'm

willing to see the references for its benefit like CSM if they're available?).

If one still wants to experiment with Beta Sitosterol, I would suggest using

psyllium husk capsules to deal with the constipation. And as far as chitosan

goes it sounds good in theory, but my doc suspects toxin producing

dinoflagellates are infesting this product.

There aren't many if any controls in this way for products like this. I know

I had a bad reaction to chitosan within 48 hours of ingestion about five years

ago.

At least I think this product should be assumed to be infested until you can

obtain objective sources of verification that any particular chitosan brand

you're considering purchasing does not have this. Chitosan is a shellfish based

product.

> > I have ordered Dr. Shoemakers new book 'Mold Warriors'. His ideas hinge

> > heavily on the use of cholestyramine. Is there a non-prescription

> > alternative to this medication?

This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi, Marcia.

I don't think so. Cholestyramine is an anion exchanger. It binds

things that have a negative charge. Mercury is either neutral, as the

metal, or it has a positive charge, as mercuric ions. Activated

charcoal may help to bind mercury.

Rich

> I wonder if CSM would be helpful during merc detoxing when removing

merc fillings? Anybody know? I took it a few months last year and

didn't see any changes, still have some left.

>

> Marcia

[Guest guest]

> Dear list,

>

> I have ordered Dr. Shoemakers new book 'Mold Warriors'. His ideas hinge

> heavily on the use of cholestyramine. Is there a non-prescription

> alternative to this medication?

>

> Regards, Blake Graham

> www.nutritional-healing.com.au

I have been having this conversation with the Naturopath who initially

ordered my mycotoxin Ig bloodwork as well.

My understanding is that the operative element in Cholestyramine's

effectiveness is the anion-binding aspect of the synthetic

non-absorbable resin the drug is based on. This allows it to bind the

open bonds on the mycotoxins and prevent reabsorbtion in the gut,

stopping the repeating cycle that results in an inability for those

whose genotypes do not recognize the toxins for a proper immune

identification and excretion.

In my early investigations of treatment protocols, I saw that

activated charcoal was being used by the military for bioweapons

prophylaxis, and have seen references to the ingestion of bentonite

and diatomacious earth as well. Alpha-lipoic acid was also being used

by practitioners such as Dr. Gray as an oxidizer/free radical scavenger.

In my experience, niether of these provided the results I've had with

CSM. I think the charcoal/bentonite only provides for physical

absorbtion, where the CSM is binding at an atomic level. I do take

Alpha-Lipoic acid additionally, however, it's cheap.

My understanding is that these toxins can stay in your system

indefinitely if your system doesn't have the ability to recognize them

and mount an appropriate response. CSM provides the first step in

detoxing your tissues, the issue of ongoing toxicity to additional

exposures is another matter. Ig responses can take years to

normalize, even without additional exposure.

My experience with CSM has been very positive, where nothing else

really worked in as dramatic a fashion. Other treating physicians

need to understand this protocol. Dr. Shoemaker is just one man, there

are only so many hours in a day, and there are far too many people

affected. I'm fortunate that my PCP is an interpretive person, and

started me on this following the Shoemaker protocols.

Lee

[Guest guest]

> I HAVE A QUESTION TOO: IF A PERSON IS EXPOSED TO, DAMAGED BY,

MYCOTOXINS, ARE THOSE MYCOTOXINS FOREVER IN OUR SYSTEMS, NO MATTER

WHAT? OR, WITH TREATMENT, DO THEY LEAVE? AND IF THEY LEAVE, DO THE

SYMPTOMS LEAVE?

>

> THANKS, ALL.

> V.

--

See my other response here.

I believe that CSM can help to rid the body of mycotoxins, and that

symptoms can be alleviated by removal. Additional exposures to mold

still need to be avoided. has some insights here.

Everyone on this list who feels that they have been harmed by

mycotoxins should read " Mold Warriors " . Dr. Shoemaker has done an

excellent job of making his research and practice understandable by

the lay reader, and I feel that all the technical basis for this work

resonates with my experiences as an affected person.

Lee

[Guest guest]

I HAVE A QUESTION TOO: IF A PERSON IS EXPOSED TO, DAMAGED BY, MYCOTOXINS, ARE

THOSE MYCOTOXINS FOREVER IN OUR SYSTEMS, NO MATTER WHAT? OR, WITH TREATMENT, DO

THEY LEAVE? AND IF THEY LEAVE, DO THE SYMPTOMS LEAVE?

THANKS, ALL.

V.

[] Cholestyramine alternatives?

Dear list,

I have ordered Dr. Shoemakers new book 'Mold Warriors'. His ideas hinge

heavily on the use of cholestyramine. Is there a non-prescription

alternative to this medication?

Regards, Blake Graham

www.nutritional-healing.com.au

FAIR USE NOTICE:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

THANKS!

V.

[] Re: Cholestyramine alternatives?

> I HAVE A QUESTION TOO: IF A PERSON IS EXPOSED TO, DAMAGED BY,

MYCOTOXINS, ARE THOSE MYCOTOXINS FOREVER IN OUR SYSTEMS, NO MATTER

WHAT? OR, WITH TREATMENT, DO THEY LEAVE? AND IF THEY LEAVE, DO THE

SYMPTOMS LEAVE?

>

> THANKS, ALL.

> V.

--

See my other response here.

I believe that CSM can help to rid the body of mycotoxins, and that

symptoms can be alleviated by removal. Additional exposures to mold

still need to be avoided. has some insights here.

Everyone on this list who feels that they have been harmed by

mycotoxins should read " Mold Warriors " . Dr. Shoemaker has done an

excellent job of making his research and practice understandable by

the lay reader, and I feel that all the technical basis for this work

resonates with my experiences as an affected person.

Lee

FAIR USE NOTICE:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

There are a lot of natural detoxers but whether they would detox from

mycotoxins I don't know. I would like to know also. What surprises

me is drug books say that it isn't absorbed, so then how does it get

to the cholesterol to bind with and bring it out? Does anyone know

how that works? I thought cholesterol clung to blood vessel walls so

how would cholestyramine get at that?? Oatmeal is sticky substance

that is supposed to remove cholesterol. I don't know if it would pull

mycotoxins out also but they both are said to reduce cholesterol so

just in case, I've added oatmeal to my daily diet for now.

I have an extensive urinalysis done by Metametrix through my MD who

practices alternative medicine also. I got a four page report from

it. Amoung other things it listed as deficient detoxification agents

and anti-oxidants agents and recommended to 'lipoic

acid', 'glutathione', and/or 'n-acetyl-cysteine, NAC'. Then I went to

a new doctor recently who recommended I take 'lipoic acid' to detox

from high lead in my blood (I have lead paint problem in my sick bldg

also!) and I have read many references to Gluathione for detoxing. He

also told me to take four charcoal capsules at bedtime. I believe at

bedtime so the charcoal does not remove food or medicine ingredience

consumed. Glutathione is very good for you and charcoal is well known

for it's poison removing ability so those two would probably be pretty

safe to experiment with.

All this means nothing though if mycotoxins need to be detoxed in

different fashion than other toxins.

--- In , Blake Graham <blanket@t...>

wrote:

> Dear list,

>

> I have ordered Dr. Shoemakers new book 'Mold Warriors'. His ideas

hinge

> heavily on the use of cholestyramine. Is there a non-prescription

> alternative to this medication?

>

> Regards, Blake Graham

> www.nutritional-healing.com.au

[Guest guest]

,

This is what I read but I don't see how something that isn't

absorbable to get to where toxins in tissues to bind with them. For

that matter I don't see how it would get to cholesterol in veins

either. Does anyone understand this part of how cholestyramine

works?

--- In , " moldincolo " <jonathan1@a...>

wrote:

>

> My understanding is that the operative element in Cholestyramine's

> effectiveness is the anion-binding aspect of the synthetic

> non-absorbable resin the drug is based on. This allows it to bind

the

> open bonds on the mycotoxins and prevent reabsorbtion in the gut,

> stopping the repeating cycle that results in an inability for those

> whose genotypes do not recognize the toxins for a proper immune

> identification and excretion.

>

> > Lee

[Guest guest]

> ,

> This is what I read but I don't see how something that isn't

> absorbable to get to where toxins in tissues to bind with them. For

> that matter I don't see how it would get to cholesterol in veins

> either. Does anyone understand this part of how cholestyramine

> works?

>

I am still working my way through Mold Warriors, so there are probably

gaps in my understanding, but the issue is that systemic toxins are

excreted via the gall bladder into the gut. However, as they are not

recognized as foriegn by those of us with deficient genotypes, they

are then reabsorbed in the intestines, and reintroduced endlessly into

the body. Not a 100% closed system, as there is some inefficiency in

the gut and some would be passed, but the detoxifications process

would take years otherwise. The CSM binds atomically with the toxins,

which are then excreted with the nutritionally useless CSM.

I believe the activity with Cholesterol is related -- there the CSM

binds directly to fat molecules, which are then exrected with the CSM

in a similar fashion, as the body does have any use for the resin.

[Guest guest]

Dear list,

I have ordered Dr. Shoemakers new book 'Mold Warriors'. His ideas hinge

heavily on the use of cholestyramine. Is there a non-prescription

alternative to this medication?

Regards, Blake Graham

www.nutritional-healing.com.au

[Guest guest]

Thankyou to everyone who replied. It is hard to now have this new

knowledge about mold, but not able to implement the full protocol with

my patients as it relies on a prescription-medication as a key part on it.

Blake