The observation that selenium can ameliorate petrochemical sensitivity was first made by Stephen Levine, Ph.D., founder of Allergy Research Group (ARG), when he described the reversal of his own illness by taking a selenium-in-kelp preparation. ARG sells a 0.004% solution of the right kind of selenium for this protocol.
Observations
- Petrochemically sensitive patients improve with the use of selenium;
- There are three groups of petrochemically sensitive patients:
- The majority improve slowly over a two-month period. They may not be aware of the slow progress until they realize that they can once again tolerate tobacco smoke and other exposures without devastating results. Their symptoms are first decreased in duration and later decreased in magnitude;
- Another group experience immediate benefit within the first few days;
- The third group actually react to the selenium in an apparently unfavorable way. This latter group is most interesting in that they are apparently the most sensitive, the most debilitated, and the group most in need of the selenium but are unable to deal with it.
Procedure
- On Day #1: take one drop in the AM and 2 drops in the PM;
- On Day #2: take 4 drops in the AM and 8 drops in the PM;
- On Day #3: take 15 drops in the AM and PM.
cc[/glossary]. One drop contains about 2mcg of selenium. At full dose, one 8oz bottle from ARG should last about 3 months.]
This dose should be sufficient, and later becomes the maintenance dose, i.e., 1/2 dropper full bid (twice a day). For the first two categories mentioned above, there is no problem. These patients tolerate the 1/2 dropper full bid, and they continue to improve. Some patients with arthritis become symptom-free even on low doses. (It is interesting to note that veterinarians have used selenium for arthritis in dogs for years).
With regard to the third, troublesome category, i.e. those patients who are too sensitive to take even one drop, they should do the following:
- Fill up five glass jars, each one containing about an ounce of water that the patient customarily tolerates. Take 1/2 dropper full of the above-mentioned sodium selenium solution and mix it into the first container of water and stir. Then take the dropper, which has now been washed free of any residue of selenium and take 1/2 dropper of the first dilution and empty it into the second glass jar. Mix this solution. Continue the same process until the original 1/2 dropper has been diluted out into the fifth container.
- Start with the most dilute solution and try a three times a day exposure, as follows: 2 drops in the morning; 4 drops in the afternoon; 8 drops in the evening.
- If this is still not tolerated, a smaller number of drops and a slower schedule can be used throughout the day. Very shortly, within 1-3 days, patients find they tolerate the most dilute solution. When this occurs they simply repeat this process with the next higher concentration. They keep doing this until they work themselves up to the most concentrated solution.
- After that try a slow progression of the original 0.004% solution, as described above for the first two categories of patients. Remember, there is no rush and there is no “right” dose. Just keep moving along until some comfortable dose is reached, as judged by tolerance to selenium as well as tolerance to petrochemicals.
The main thing to remember is that it is a slow process and may take two months before the ability to tolerate petrochemicals has improved. A good test is how well tobacco smoke is tolerated and how well one feels in general.
One last tip: some patients who have arthritis even without obvious petrochemical sensitivity do well on small amounts of selenium. Dr. Levine has published a number of interesting articles regarding his theories of how selenium works as an antioxidant.
Selenium Allergy Protocol can help with the following
Key
Highly recommended |
Glossary
Selenium
An essential element involved primarily in enzymes that are antioxidants. Three selenium- containing enzymes are antioxidant peroxidases and a fourth selenium-containing enzyme is involved in thyroid hormone production. The prostate contains a selenium-containing protein and semen contains relatively large amounts of selenium. Clinical studies show that selenium is important in lowering the risk of several types of cancers. In combination with Vitamin E, selenium aids the production of antibodies and helps maintain a healthy heart. It also aids in the function of the pancreas, provides elasticity to tissues and helps cells defend themselves against damage from oxidation.
pH
A measure of an environment's acidity or alkalinity. The more acidic the solution, the lower the pH. For example, a pH of 1 is very acidic; a pH of 7 is neutral; a pH of 14 is very alkaline.
Allergy
Hypersensitivity caused by exposure to a particular antigen (allergen), resulting in an increased reactivity to that antigen on subsequent exposure, sometimes with harmful immunologic consequences.
Microgram
(mcg): 1/1,000 of a milligram in weight.
oz
Ounce. Approximately 28 grams.
BID
Twice per day.
Arthritis
Inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, and resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes. It occurs in various forms, such as bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis, the most common form, is characterized by a gradual loss of cartilage and often an overgrowth of bone at the joints.
Sodium
An essential mineral that our bodies regulate and conserve. Excess sodium retention increases the fluid volume (edema) and low sodium leads to less fluid and relative dehydration. The adult body averages a total content of over 100 grams of sodium, of which a surprising one-third is in bone. A small amount of sodium does get into cell interiors, but this represents only about ten percent of the body content. The remaining 57 percent or so of the body sodium content is in the fluid immediately surrounding the cells, where it is the major cation (positive ion). The role of sodium in the extracellular fluid is maintaining osmotic equilibrium (the proper difference in ions dissolved in the fluids inside and outside the cell) and extracellular fluid volume. Sodium is also involved in nerve impulse transmission, muscle tone and nutrient transport. All of these functions are interrelated with potassium.
Antioxidant
A chemical compound that slows or prevents oxygen from reacting with other compounds. Some antioxidants have been shown to have cancer-protecting potential because they neutralize free radicals. Examples include vitamins C and E, alpha lipoic acid, beta carotene, the minerals selenium, zinc, and germanium, superoxide dismutase (SOD), coenzyme Q10, catalase, and some amino acids, like cystiene. Other nutrient sources include grape seed extract, curcumin, gingko, green tea, olive leaf, policosanol and pycnogenol.