Hemp seed oil and RALA
 

Hello everyone, I haven't posted in awhile but I value the opinions of people in this group.
I have a few questions. I started a new Rx program 2 months ago that calls for high doses of RALA (about 1000mg/day). It also calls for 3 tablespoons of liquid hemp seed oil. Along with many other ingredients.
I writing about theses two because I think I may be having issues with them and wanted to get your opinions.

My pain has intensified since starting this. Which members in this group say is the awakening of my nerves. I was prepared for this but not quite this bad.

I have been nauseous and have pain in my stomach since starting. Could this be the hemp seed oil?

Does anyone here have any experience with these products? I know many here take RALA.

I'd be greatful for any feedback you can give me.
Hopeful

The stomach side effects is possibly the RALA. That dose I warned about... is really high. Most people use a 10th of that. The amount of ALA in food is very small. So the body really does not have a way to handle that massive dose of RALA. I have not seen studies using that massive dose in subjects either. The high old ALA doses were high, but they were injected when done in Europe years ago. Those injected doses in the older studies on racemic ALA, are not translateable to oral doses of the solubilized RALA that your group is using. I really don't recommend those high oral doses. I have not seen any studies using that high dose either, for effectiveness or safety.

When using multiple supplements and running into side effects, it is best to stop them all. Then introduce one every two weeks or so until you are using them all again. That way you will find which is affecting you negatively. But I do suspect the RALA as the culprit, as small modest doses cause severe heartburn in many people who have posted here.

If I were you, I'd stop using that unsubstatiated ultra high dose of RALA.

Thank s much for the answer Mrs. D. I'm going to cut back on the dose and see what happens. I'm also going to stop the hemp seed oil just for a few days and see what happpens.
As always I appreciate your opinion

Mrs. D is the purpose of RALA for use in neuropathy to stop deteriorating nerves or to help them grow? I think I'm a little confused on this. From what I have read the RALA stops deterioration and the hemp seed oil rebuilds the nerves due to the omega 3 and omega 6. Am I understanding this correctly?
I hope you don't mind me coming back and asking questions. I had to step away from the group due to a family illness.

No one knows what lipoic acid does in the body. Most of the studies involved diabetic neuropathy, but they are not numerous.
What I find on searches is that lipoic acid is thought to be an antioxidant. There is alot of speculation, but it is just that. Omega 3's work as anti-inflammatories, and also to help rebuild myelin covering nerve axons. But C fibers (sensory) have no myelin. The other 3 fibers that are sensory and proprioceptive have differing amounts of myelin though.

Repairing myelin also takes B6, B12, and folate along with the Omega-3's.

I have small fiber thereby no myelin sheath issues. I think I'm stuck in a merry go round here. I put such hope in this new all supplements and oils program with the promise of being able to delete all prescription meds. However, I have found myself getting worse and worse since I started. The people there say it is something you need to bear and could take months to regenerate the nerves ( reason for so much pain). I'm kind of down on myself because I don't think I can hang in there,
If you were to or do take RALA what would you recommend as top amount to take safely. Also, what would you recommend I can safely take as a maximum dose of hemp seed oil?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me!

There are 4 types of sensory nerves in the periphery... 3 have myelinated axons and one does not. The reports on the skin biopsy can detail which are affected (diminished).

Neuroscience For Kids - conduction velocity

If you feel sick or worse using those substances at those doses, stop using them.

Thanks Mrs. D my biopsy did show small nerve neuropathy (C fibers).I know you are absolutely right. I guess I just so desperately wanted this to work. Oh well. I'm going to try cutting back on each substance until the pain stops. If it doesn't stop I'll just stop altogether.
Thanks again!
Nine years of neuropathy makes one desperate!

I see you don't understand how to determine what is causing your symptoms.

Cutting back does not mean eliminating. You have to eliminate everything, and then add things back in with a good time period between.
This is how my doctor determines what is causing my side effects from RX drugs. This is also how an elimination diet works.
You have to eliminate things to see what is causing your problems. Cutting back is not enough.

Notice that lipoic ACID is an acid and therefore may be causing some metabolic acidosis effects.
Chronic pain is an acidic condition, so adding a large amount of acid to a situation that feeds on acid, is problematic, IMO.

You can google "chronic pain and acid" and see some interesting articles.

Funny you should bring that up Mrs.D. I just finished an article called acidosis and pain.
I am going to take your advice and eliminate the two supplements that I believe are causing my issues. I will wait a few weeks and add one of the back in.
As always thank you, thank you, thank you!