What would I do if I have GDD and did not have the funds to pay for chelation? SALAD 2.0
The hard truth of the matter of GDD is a majority of sufferers have been rendered financially destitute by the disease. Since chelation is largely not paid for at present by the US health care system (shamefully so), what can people do? I encounter this patient interaction several times daily.
Below is what I would do myself if I was in that situation. This largely repeats, but refines earlier blogs, and will be subject to further evolution.
There are a few realities that also have to be looked at:
1. Virtually no supplement has been subjected to scientific investigation to the point that they are considered irrefutably important for health. In fact large meta-analysis of studies suggest there is lacking information. None-the-less supplements are a multibillion dollar business. Most supplements advertised as showing scientifically proven benefits- pay attention to what has been proven: remembering a game 6 months later is not the same as curing dementia for example. Long term true outcome benefit is the only thing important, and generally are not studied (also true for medical drugs - the surrogates for drug effects are not adequate comparators for true benefit)
2. With complex disease that there are no consistent and excellent outcome medical treatments for diseases (maybe this applies to most diseases) it makes sense to try alternative or supplemental methods (I prefer supplemental - as this makes wisdom sense) for treatment.
3. Treatment methods are not 'perfect' for GDD so supplement treatment makes wisdom sense, the operative word is wisdom.
4. It may be impossible to tease out placebo effect and tincture-of-time effects (disease in many individuals improves on its own) from true benefit.
5. Supplemental approaches that make wisdom sense. The Semelka trilogy: i) affordable, ii) makes scientific sense (even if not proven), and iii) most likely does not cause harm.
Physical activity
Moderate physical activity is important for all aspects of health, not just GDD. It can be structured (such as Tai Chi) or simply walking. Walking outside in the sun-shine combines 3 health benefits for GDD (and most other things), sunlight (vit D production), and sweating (elimination of Gd in sweat). Swimming in salt water (mind the sharks) (*add on benefit: in the sunshine).Yoga and gentle stretching is beneficial.
Natural Elimination of Gd
Gd is eliminated primarily by the kidneys, hence keeping fluid intake high makes sense to continue the flushing process (more below).
Gd is also eliminated by sweating (Gd substituting for Na in sweat) is a secondary pathway. Other pathways much less important.
Diet
Many dietary recommendations work also for autoimmune disease and to ward off other diseases, like dementia. So the multifaceted benefit is critical.
In general, healthy natural foods, more vegetable based makes the most sense. I generally believe that the entire food substance is probably responsible for the benefit, and not an isolated chemical. Although the chemical may be essential - the housing likely contributes a great deal.
Generally foods and supplements that have anti-inflammatory properties (antioxidants and chelator properties also valuable)
Beverages
Alkaline water, alkaline drinks. Alkalinity seems to benefit many things, including autoimmune conditions, and increasing stability of chelates.
lemon water
Black tea (theophylline), Green tea.
Celery juice (other fruit and vegetable juices)
Drinks that contain supplements and minerals (may need to be diluted: eg: Gatorade diluted half and half with alkaline water
Foods
Cilantro
Chlorella
Garlic
Curry
Tomatoes
Fresh fruits, such as peaches, apricots (pectin- natural chelator), blueberries
Fresh vegetables
Mushrooms (especially Lion mane mushroom- I am not recommending them strongly as yet, because I suspect they are very expensive- and added benefit over other mushrooms not clear to me yet).
Honey (perhaps especially Manduka honey- but all natural honeys)
Maple syrup
Avoid processed foods and excess fats. These foods can slow down the detox process and offer minimal nutritional value.
Vitamins and Supplements
Do not take more supplements/vitamins than recommended on bottle. Many unusual, exotic supplements from other countries may not even contain the ingredient they claim is central in the pill.
Affordable multivitamin pill with antioxidants and minerals- made by a reputable company (eg: Pure, Centrum).
Vitamin D3 (possibly of value)
Glutathione (antioxidant, possibly of value).
Ginko (antioxidant, possibly of value)
Methylated Folic Acid (if you have the MTHFR gene variant)
N-acetyl cysteine (antioxidant, possibly of value).
CoQ10 (heart protection)
Tumeric pill (anti-inflammatory, effects against dementia
Probiotics
Spirulina
Affordable, nonspecific drugs
enteric coated aspirin (general broad anti-inflammatory drug, and inexpensive) for head pain, etc.
NSAIDs (ibuprophen) pains
Antihistamine drugs (general antihistamine activity against GDD). OTC claritin is good. I am studying now the antihistamine drugs with best combination of affordability and broad spectrum coverage of inflammogens.
CBD oil (in many sufferers appears to show good control of muscle fasciculations).
Pentoxifylline (Trental; antifibrotic, mild anti-TNFa properties, probably of value).
Richard Semelka MD Consulting Stay tuned on the latest advancements: