[DavidHC]

Interesting. Right, I'm not sure what to think of the glutathione in this form. Like I said, for all I know, the reason the NAC has been so beneficial for me is that that's how my body is upping it's glutathione and taking the reduce glutathione itself will not do it. If I had lots of extra money lying around, I'd get some labs done, but I'm not even sure if I can check my glutathione here. I'll ask my GP next time. NAC, B vitamins and D have been the most important for me so far.

So you don't think that Shoemaker's protocol has enough evidence behind it? I mean he says he has the numbers and the patient improvements, but, of course, we don't have the blind studies with control groups and all. I agree. I'd be curious to see how and if the functional physician helps you.

Yup, pretty much like you: I figured a 2 week course of the charcoal might be worth a try. I say 2 weeks because I intend to start very slowly and to ingest epsom salt too with it, to avoid constipation and blockages. I can tell you that I tried diatomaceous earth once and though it made me feel quite good that day, it completely blocked me and I had to use something to get my bowel moving again. That was a few months back.

I wish they would do more studies on it, but we know why that's not happening. I'll definitely report back what I experience, though I won't be using it until the spring I think. First, a two month course in herbal antibiotics. I'd be curious to know how you do on it.

Thanks again for starting this thread.

Originally Posted by Healthgirl

I agree that there just isn't enough research. I decided not to try the glutathione because from what I understand it might not be converted orally in the proper way. I gave ALC a try even in half doses it dropped my blood sugar so low that I was shaking. Then I tried NAC for month and I believe it caused a set back after few weeks of taking it.
I have been researching the methods used by the doctors who treat mycotoxin poisoning and the like. I can't find much evidence anywhere to prove that their treatment plan works (although I have an appointment set up with a functional md nevertheless).
The next step was to look for personal stories and reviews. I decided the try activated charcoal due to the personal reviews claiming how much relief provided for digestive issues. That at least is something... and since most of our immune system is in the gut and I have had improvement with the lactobacillus rhamanosis, I am giving this a whirl. It seems that it adsorbs from the upper digestive process and no one knows exactly what it removes or helps to eliminate exactly but it seems like its worth a week long trial.

[DavidHC]

So I just read this: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3654245/.

I was hoping for more on activated charcoal, but there's little here and the study to which it links positively states that Cholestyramine is much more effective. No evidence cited, but everything I've read claims as much. Again, there is very little research into charcoal (for obvious reasons), but it's still worth a try, very harmless.