The Orthostatic Tremor Forum (archive)

Hi Lynda,
I applaud you for trying to find a solution using vitamins and supplements. I hope that you get some relief from the tremors.

To answer your question, I believe the mercury toxcity had much to do with my OT. I don't have a clue how I could have accummulated so much of the heavy metal in my body but I'm sure the mercury present in the fillings have contributed. Many traditional doctors will test for heavy metals using a urine analysis or hair sampling. There is nothing wrong with getting these tests for deficiencies of certain minerals but heavy metals such as mercury are not readily released into the urine or hair folicles. If they were, then just by daily elimination, we would be rid of these metals in a short time. Instead, they are stored in the organs and deep in the muscles and are not easily cleared from out bodies because they are so heavy. They require a chelating agent (such as certain meds or high doses of antioxidents which bind to the metals.)

This is why I first started with the Chlorella. It is (supposedly) a very effective chelating agent that binds to the mercury well. If your muscles are inactive, there is very little circulation in those areas and blood flow is minimal. I believe that exercise is one of the only ways to "massage" the muscles with lots of blood flow, and sweating is a very effective way to release the toxins that have been bound by the chelating agents. That's why I would take hot baths - to force sweating and wash away the toxins. And this is also why I believe exercising my legs was so important.

I know this is a very different way of thinking. Traditional medicine tells us we have a disorder that has no known origin; so just take different pills until your symptoms are masked enough that you can cope on a daily basis. In reality you are adding more toxins to your body.

The Ambrotose was almost an after-thought having detoxed first. Ambrotose is supposed to "repair" damaged cells. If you have the mercury still in your systmem (or other toxicities) then it won't matter how much cell repair is done. The damage is still occurring. You would be on a never-ending cycle. That is not to say nutrients are not still vital to our well-being. You never know which cells in your body need repair and you may never know how many maladies you have thwarted by taking this little sugar pill - or other vitamins for that matter.

I want to stress once again; to make your body healthy, you must be careful not to add any more toxins. It will do nothing but threaten the effectiveness of the antioxidents. There are so many chemicals and preservatives added to our foods. Try to avoid them as much as possible. Clean your body out first.

I guess I'm beginning to sound like I'm preaching my own sermon! (I'll stop now.) I hope this can help in some way.

Cheryl

Hi,
I'd like to ask Cheryl why she switched to Ambrotose from Chlorella. Was it graduating to a different level or did you continue to take Chlorella while you took Ambrotose> I immediately ordered Chlor. after reading your post and am planning to go back to my integrative doctor to work on strenghtening my immune system. I did feel bettter when I was followig her regime, which involved a million supplements and was v. expensive. I thnk I gave up too soon on her for those reasons. She sent me for adjunct therapies and I got sidetracked. From this I went on to Bowen therapy, Alexander technique (both helpful in improving stability), colon therapy and I.V. chelation (helpful in improving immune system). Massage helps, prolotherapy helps a lot, and so does chiropractic, but acupuncture didn't and neither did orthotics, although if I wear a magnetic waist belt and elastic stockings and occasionally an ankle support, I do much better. Unfortunately, any improvement is short lived and I don't know if that's becasue I change therapies or becasue the therapies can only help so much.
I totally agree with you on changing diet, strengthening immune system through proper nutrition and lifestyle changes and trying to detox. I no longer eat meat or chicken and watch the sugar, try to drink lots of water. I will be 78 in a couple of days and I think that's why I keep trying new things (it's now or never). I have never taken meds for POT, though, because I think that's adding more toxins and suspect some of the meds and shots (diet pills and shots, depression meds, vaccination) I've taken in the past may have contributed to harming an essentially good constitution. I am overweight (crept up on me after menopause) and have always found it hard to exercise. I also find that I'm becoming less resilient and am affected by arguments and angry words, but also more inclined to keep my own temper becasue I know I will pay in worse proprioception.
Can you tell me what your progression was with the supplements you're taking now? If you had gone sytaight to Ambrotose, do you think you would have had the same results? Is your improvement holding? I apologize for the long post.

In response to your post, no - I don't think I would have had the same sucess if I had just used the Ambrotose. I believe I needed to detox first. Ambrotose's function is for cellular regeneration and communication.

I applaud your efforts on trying a holistic approach. I know that exercising sounds close to impossible for some people but I strongly believe that it is one of the most effective ways to rid our bodies of the toxins we've accumulated. Chlorella was instrumental in helping that procees along although I'm sure there are many other forms of natural antioxidents that could also be used.

I received advice from an 84-year old fitness instructor from my church. She said it's never too late to start exercising. Start slow and simple. Hold on to a chair and do leg lifts and then march in place. The next day, do it again and add a few more repetitions. You will keep progressing if you are persistant. This lady taught an exercise class to a group of young moms over the summer. It was hard to keep up with her! She was an inspiration to all of us.

I don't know the status of your health or how much you have currently detoxified your body, but my advice is to work on that first. The reason I switched from the Chlorella to the Ambrotose is because I felt I had reached a plateau. I was on the Chlorella for about a year, was still feeling pretty good but had stopped progressing.

I have maintained my "no tremor" status and it feels great. There are days when my legs feel "heavy" but that seems to be triggered by lack of sleep, my hormonal cycle, or wearing heals that are too high. Sometimes too much caffeine makes me jittery all over including my legs, and I still need to work on my balance. If I close my eyes while I'm standing I feel as if I might fall forward. (I dig my toes into the ground out of habit.)

I'm currently seeking out ways to help the balance issue. If anyone has ideas - I'm all ears.
Cheryl

One more thing to try - extra virgin olive oil for your mood swings. In the morning before I exercise, sometimes I will have scrambled eggs and I stir in about 3-4 tablespoons of the oil before I cook them. They taste great and I get an instant "high". It gives me the energy to exercise and clears my brain. Also try dipping a piece of whole wheat toast in the oil instead of using butter. Make sure the olive oil is first cold pressed - extra virgin. This ensures it hasn't been processed and retains its nutrional benefits.
Cheryl

I have been reading these topics with interest. I am not clear as to how you have come to the conclusion that OT is connected with malfunction of the bodys immune system. Would you explain to me why you feel it is connected to the immune system. Thank you

Hi,
According to energy healing and alternative medicine theory, when the immune system is strong, disease can't gain a foothold and the body will overcome attempts to weaken it. Of course, by the time we are diagnosed with POT, disease has already gained a stronghold, so the idea is to find out what is causing this lapse of natural defenses. Accepted ideas are that malnutrition and faulty processing (digestion, usage and elimination) of nutrients cause diseases, coupled with toxicity caused by food, environmental or metal contamination built up in the system. Toxins can settle in fat, joints, teeth, organs and affect the entire system in mysterious ways, which is what led me personally to try a holistic approach after finding no solutions from allopathic practitioners. I have tried a variety of holistic approaches (diet, herbal remedies, colon therapy, Bowen and Alexander for balance, for example)and have not chosen to take any prescription drugs. I buy organic fruit and vegetables, stay away from wheat and dairy and don't eat meat or chicken. Of course, that's an individual choice. For me, it didn't make sense to add drugs and their side effects to already overburdened system. I am well aware that there are probably other factors in my own case. I have problems with my spine and am currently going to a chiropracter. Someone else may have a perfectly fine spine, but for me, if I can strengthen all the parts I know to be weak, as the immune system, I will show improvement in the POT. For me, the disheartening aspects of POT led me at times into depression and a degree of isolation contrary to my nature. When I started working on a holistic approach, I saw results. I can now shop for an hour or so, sitting down to try things on. I can go through a grocery line and sign my check. I have more energy. My mood is positive. I won't pretend I'm cured; I'm not. Perhaps improving my immune system has helped with other, unsuspected disease processes and the general improvement I see is a reflection of that. I am convinced that there is an emotional component of any disease. When I am in a crowd and unsure of my footing, I get much worse (fear) unless I have a drink (confidence). But if I am barefoot or walking in the sand, I am steadier (beach is relaxing). Reading back over this and in answer to your question, my belief is that the central nervous system responds to many different approaches and is tied in with the immune system.
Hope this helps. There are some great books out there, if you are interested in this approach.
Norak

Dear Norak
Thanks for you clear information. I questioned why the OT became worse when i was in a line waiting and the explanation I received was that because of my aprehension my adrenal glands produced adrenaline which then made the tremor worse as this is the fight and/or flight hormone which will cause rapid heartbeat, sweating and increase the already present tremor. Whilst your theory (as I understand, and am open to correction) infers that the state of "mind" can cause this to happen (psychological) rather than physiological?
I too get rather depressed about this condition but have assumed its the cycle of Tremor=loss of function(social and vocational)=depression. I think you are saying differently? Sorry to get bogged down but I also have for years had SLE (immune system disease) which seems to have plateaued and eventhough that disease is pretty "heavy" I did not experience the depressive episodes OT causes me. This is confusing as OT is minor in severity as far the morbidity and mortality rate of SlE. Of course I had to develop coping mechanisims etc. but, this OT has me almost "stumped". Hope to hear more from you

Hi,
Sorry to be so long answering your post but I have't checked in for a while. I think your doctor's explanation of adrenaline flowing is apt, but ask yourself what is behind that reaction. It seems to me that if sometimes the tremor is worse than othrs (it is for me), there have to be many factors involved, mental, emotional, physical. There are so many alternative therapies, such as Quantum healing, Bowen therapy and others that help if you are open to them. Also, I know that when I eat properly or exercise (ugh), I do better. Massage helps, probably by relaxing muscles.
I recently took a heavy metals challenge test (a drip which "draws" toxins out of your system and concentrates them in your urine which you collect over a period of hours and bring back for tesitng. The results showed I have unacceptable arsenic and tungsten levels, but more than twice the acceptable levels of mercury. Mercury of course is a strong toxin and can settle in joints, tissues, lymph nodes, organs including the brain. I am now (once again) concentrating on building up my autoimmune system with Glutothiane drips (antioxidant) and in my case becasue I needed it, Magnesium compounds. To combat irritation and gloom, I am taking an herbal remedy called Calming, which the doctor compared to an herbal Xanax, I think it's helping. I went this week to a biological dentist who confirmed the toxicity findings via muscle testing. I have much mercury in my mouth from fillings and two bridges, have had two root canals and have one cavitation (pocket of bone loss from infection from stuff left after root canal) left over from one of the root canals (these are very toxic to your body). So I am embarking on a three-month project to rid myself of the mercury both by removing fillings and cleansing it out of my body through detoxing (healthy diet with lots of raw foods, occasional colon therapy, hot baths and detox foot baths, which are amazing and gentle). After I have built up my immune system (a few weeks, lots of C, Chlorella and sulfur (don't ask), I will start the mercury extraction. This has to be done correctly and is expensive but I am at the point where I will try almost anything. It's like bailing out a leaking boat if you just try to detox and don't stop the course of the toxins coming in. All this because I hope that removing the mercury will target the tremor! At the same time, I found I have developed allergies to soy, gluten, dairy and eggs, so this is requiring a huge effort to eat correctly. One thing, I am excited about the possibiity of beating this thing, That's better than being depressed and/or angry, whcih I have been at times. This is so long, but I wanted to explain
. I will report back if (when) I get results and curious whether anyone else has tried that route?