Neurotoxins-Treatment Information Sheet by Teitelbaum M.D.

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Neurotoxins-Treatment Information Sheet

by Teitelbaum M.D.

www.Vitality101.com

This is a brilliant concept developed by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker. He

theorizes that many different infections can produce toxins. These

are toxic chemicals that can persist in the body even after the

infection is gone. Normally, the body is able to excrete toxins

through the liver and kidneys and eliminate them from the body. What

makes these toxins unique is that only the liver excretes them. The

liver excretes the toxins into your bowel (via the bile) so that

they can be eliminated from the body with your stool. Unfortunately,

these toxins are able to be reabsorbed from the bowel and therefore

cannot be eliminated (they continue to re-circulate to the liver and

then back to the blood).

Dr. Shoemaker believes that one common situation where this occurs

is in Lyme's disease. The Lyme infection has often already been

eliminated by using antibiotics but the toxins continues to persist

in the body. Therefore people continue to be ill. He also believes

that many other infections, including fungal infections that can be

found in sick building syndromes and many waterborne infections can

also produce similar toxins. It is possible that in the case of

certain viral infections or after some traumatic injuries, the

body's own genes may even be able to be tricked into continually

making the toxins.

In addition to getting rid of the neurotoxins, it is important to

support the body in two other key ways. These were developed and

popularized by Dr. Russel Jaffe Ph.D. and are called the Vitamin C

flush and the " Alkaline Way Diet " . How to do these will be discussed

below after we've discussed how to clear the neurotoxins.

So how can I test for these toxins?

Although there are no blood tests currently available, Dr. Shoemaker

feels that your nervous system is very sensitive to these toxins.

The retina in the back of the eye is part of the nervous system. He

uses a test that examines the body's ability to discern different

shades of black and gray. This VCS vision test (called the FACT) can

be done on his web site (www.ChronicNeurotoxins.com -see this site

for more info) for ~ $9. If you see a halo/glare around lights at

night (which may cause trouble with driving), light sensitivity

during the day, or have shooting pains, these symptoms (along with

most of the other symptoms of CFS/fibromyalgia) are also suggestive

of possible neurotoxins.

What is the treatment?

Because the liver is able to pull the toxins out of the body and

excrete them into your bowel, the trick is to keep the toxins in

your bowel so that they go out in the stool. Fortunately, there is

an old medication called Questran (cholestyramine). It is a powder

that acts like a sponge, and it used to be prescribed to pull

cholesterol out of people's bodies. Dr. Shoemaker recommends that

people take one scoop or one packet four times a day (although not

as effective, you can sometimes get by with 3 times a day, however).

Within a month (usually within 3 days to 2 weeks), those who are

going to improve with this treatment will often start feeling better

or at least have their vision test improve. Insomnia, pain and

spastic colon symptoms can sometimes improve in 1-3 days with this

treatment!

If the Questran does not help symptoms or the vision test after 6

weeks, I have people stop the treatment. Most people are better and

can stop cholestyramine after one month, but it can take 2 months

for Lyme's patients and those who have been ill with continuing

toxin contact for a long time. When you improve and feel well with

no further improvement in the symptoms or vision tests for 2 weeks

in a row, suggesting that all of the toxin has been removed from

your body, you can stop treatment. If symptoms recur, it suggests

that something (e.g.- persistent infection or being in a " sick

building " ) is still making neurotoxins. This then should be treated

as well. In this situation, I would continue the medication until it

is no longer needed (e.g. -- try stopping it or lowering the dose

every month).

The main problem with Questran is that it soaks up everything. This

means that you will likely not absorb a lot of the medications or

supplements you are taking if they are taken at the same time as the

Questran. Because of this, take the Questran/cholestyramine exactly

this way:

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