Glutathione

Today I had my second-of-four glutathione treatment.

As previously described, glutathione is a natural amino acid, normally produced in the liver, that scavenges toxic molecules from one's system. But I am so toxic (specifically, with pesticides) that my natural glutathione can't keep up. Since glutathione cannot be taken orally (it gets digested in the stomach) it has to be given intravenously. Thus, these four weekly visits, to be followed by another blood test to see how I'm progressing.

I started reducing my daily exposure to toxins back in June, and started on various supplements and dietary changes (especially a daily cup of brown rice) in mid-July. I immediately put on weight and felt really crappy. This was because the supplements were stirring up the toxins that had, until then, been peacefully encapsulated in my adipose (fat-storing) cells. And since the most debilitating of my toxins may be the pesticides, I felt really rotten. Granted, I didn't feel so bad that it kept me from swimming in Fossil Creek, or rafting in Colorado with my grandson, or camping with Michael near Verde Hot Springs. But still, I've felt better.

The previous weeks have been spent testing and analyzing my toxic load. Last week's glutathione treatment, in which about half a cup of glutathione was poured into my bloodstream, was the first major step in dealing with the problem.

And yesterday, yesterday, was the first day I felt really good!

A standard question when I come to the clinic is, "On a scale of 1 to 10, what's your energy level been?" Before I started detoxing, it was usually 7. Since June, it's been more like 5. But yesterday (and today) I would give it at least an 8. Yesterday alone might have been a fluke. But the feeling of euphoric energy was still with me when I woke up this morning, and stayed with me all today as well. So I've got my fingers crossed.

It does appear, however, that I am finally seeing an experiential benefit to this detoxification program.

Which is good, because it ain't cheap. These glutathione treatments cost me under $50 each, and they are that low only because my husband is a student at the same school, and I get a break in the price (which is already discounted because I am being seen and treated by student doctors, albeit under the guidance of a licensed doc). Some of the tests are a couple hundred dollars. And none of this is covered by my health insurance, which simply does not recognize the possibility of slow poisoning by environmental toxins.

This isn't the case in Europe, of course. But the AMA's and Big Pharma's stranglehold on our entire health system is why, despite the AMA's claims to the contrary, we have such a shitty health care system.

Have you ever noticed that we haven't gotten a single cure for any illness since the 1950s? What we now get are "treatments". Why? Because cures pay once. Treatments are forever.

But, whatever. Once my accumulated toxins are gone, and as long as I eat organic foods and avoid household toxins as much as possible, the theory is that I will lose weight (the body stores the toxins in fat for safekeeping) and regain the health of my youth. I've already seen an improvement, and will continue to follow this through…and to reports the results, good or bad.