***Hi, Lisa.
I could be wrong, but it seems to me that there are a lot of various steps, co-factors, etc. that are involved in allowing us to convert the raw sulfur that we take in (such as in eggs) to usable form.
***That's very true. If you want to see what those steps are, check out the diagrams of the sulfur metabolism that I have used in several talks, the most recent one being the one in Sweden. A video and the PDF slides can be found here:
http://iaomt.media.fnf.nu/2/skovde_2011_me_kroniskt_trotthetssyndrom/$%7Bweburl%7D
It would be interesting to think about what those are, to figure out whether there might be particular places where we're blocked.
***Yes, that's what I've done with the glutathione depletion--methylation cycle block hypothesis. People with ME/CFS have a partial block at methionine synthase, which is in the methylation cycle, and that is near the beginning of the sulfur metabolism. This partial block causes dysfunction of the entire sulfur metabolism, which includes methionine, SAMe, homocysteine, cysteine, glutathione, taurine, sulfate, and many other important sulfur-containing substances.
I am especially interested in sulfur because of an experience I had last winter with a homeopathic treatment. I went to a constitutional homeopath in Las Vegas, and he recommended Natrum Sulfuricum (which I do think is the right constitutional for me). As soon as i took this, I had an enormous detox response, with a huge amount of toxin suddenly being freed from my brain. This went on for about six weeks and was basically incapacitating (I'd been doing okay before that). Finally all that toxin flowing through had such a destructive effect on my liver and intestines that I temporarily stopped the reaction (by drinking a lot of coffee). After a couple of months of rest, I took another dose and got another big reaction.
This was an even more dramatic detox experience than the others I'd had in the past, and I think it turned out to be the most beneficial treatment I've done (apart from mold avoidance). I'm thinking I will try one more dose of the homeopathic this winter, to see if I can make any more progress.
Of course, if I'd not had all the other little pieces lined up in terms of all the other supplements I was taking, probably it wouldn't have done anything. All of these detox co-factors work together, of course.
I wish I understood why the homeopathy had such a big effect in helping to turn on the detox mechanism.
***That's very interesting. I can't claim to know how homeopathy works, but I've received a lot of evidence from people I believe (including you!) that it does. I do think that the sulfur metabolism is the key to ME/CFS.
It felt like the same thing that happened when I first started taking Metafolin -- that some pathway had been turned on for the first time in a very long time.
***Metafolin supports methionine synthase and helps to overcome the partial block there.
So I'm wondering if there are co-factors etc. that might be involved with sulfur.
***Yes, there certainly are.
The comments that she makes in the article about raw milk are interesting. I would be a little nervous about just drinking raw milk, but making it into kefir sounds safe (since the probiotics should kill off any stray bad bugs). Maybe I will try to get some of that.
The 7-part video series looks worth watching. Note how she talks in Part 2 about the necessity of zinc in the "battery" process. Pyroluria involves a zinc deficiency (I have been supplementing with large amounts of zinc over the 18 months), so that would fit in.
Best, Lisa
***Best regards,
***Rich