GLUTATHIONE

 What IS it?  What does it DO?  And, WHY should you care?

According to over 95,000 articles found in Pub Med, glutathione is the most potent and abundant antioxidant in the entire body.

• Glutathione is a tripeptide produced in our liver that is made up of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. Glutathione exists in every single cell in our bodies (around 100 trillion cells!)
• Glutathione protects cells from damaging toxins and acts as a detoxifying agent. Foreign materials (free radicals, toxins, heavy metals…) bind to glutathione and are flushed away.
• Our metabolism can’t function properly with excessive toxins and, therefore, we are dependent on healthy glutathione levels in order to live a normal life.

I had to wonder: could proper levels of glutathione be responsible for maintaining an overall balanced health?  IF so, how could it be done?

I had been researching glutathione (GSH) since 2005, with little or no luck.  I gave DSMA Chelation to my son to pull the toxins from his body after blood tests revealed ‘Toxic levels of mercury, arsenic, lead and cadmium’.  But, under the advice of my doctor, I stopped after six months.  The last time I checked many DSMA chelations were being questioned by the FDA.

I looked into countless glutathione supplements but most were synthetics and/or had NO data or “proof” that convinced me. Because glutathione is such a large molecule it is next to impossible to ‘take’ it with any luck.  Our digestive systems recognize glutathione as food and only about 5% is ever absorbed into our systems.

In October, 2008, our pediatrician, Dr. Isaac Melamed, told me that my son had PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections).  He said there was no cure.  Blood tests said that he had “chronically low uric acid and chronically high inflammation” among other things.

The recommended treatments might help but it appeared that there was very little that could be done.  I went back to the drawing board to learn more about PANDAS.

PANDAS is caused by an immune reaction triggered when exposed to another with strep bacteria (Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcal infection).

Our immune system is supposed to neutralize and eradicate toxins, but a person with a suppressed immune system often does not react properly.  This improper response results in immune complexes being deposited in various tissues of the body.   When the strep bacteria travel to a person’s kidneys, the immune reaction is called post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.  When the strep bacteria travel to the heart, it is called rheumatic fever. When the strep bacteria travel to the brain, PANDAS can ensue.

The autoimmune disorder (when the immune system attacks itself) is centered in the Basal Ganglia area in the brain.  Obsessive-compulsiveness (OCD), strange body posturing/movements called chorea, and the typical TIC movements (quick jerking or vocal tics) associated with Tourette’s Syndrome are typically associated with the Basal Ganglia control center of our brain.  Anxiety, insomnia and extreme restlessness are often major problems. This was an understatement for us  . . . .

My son behaved like he had an entire army of ants in his pants and crawling up and down his arms. He was unable to stop moving for more than just a few seconds.  He ‘played’ the piano with his fingers in the air or simply shrugged his shoulders – every few seconds.  A rash around his mouth formed from the constant licking; a scab formed on his forehead from the frequent rubbing and his non-stop blinking was hard to witness without feeling pity.  He didn’t sleep and he didn’t eat much. We received invitations for him to join the Special Olympics.

I thought a second opinion would help. The next doctor recommended anti-depressants for my son.   At that time I probably needed them (for me!) but I was not willing to submit to mind altering drugs and went to doctor number three.

This third  doctor, a naturopath, did a ‘Bio-Scan’ on my son and determined that his major organs were all operating at less than 25% of their potential. His liver was operating at only 23%.  To learn that your child is literally dying from the inside out is a nightmare I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

She recommended a number of natural supplements to boost his immune system response. The monthly cost: $520.00.  I almost fainted.  I was selling copies of my children’s books just to purchase the nearly $400.00 in monthly supplements he had been taking.  It just wasn’t possible.  We started with a few – $250.00 worth. “There is no guarantee,” she said, “but, they should help to raise his glutathione levels.” 

I knew quite a bit about glutathione and I knew that his body could (literally) heal itself~                                                            IF only this would really work.

That night I went into research mode 1000.  At approximately 1:00 a.m., I typed a number of related words into my browser.  Glutathione., Autism, Suppressed Immune System, Low Uric Acid, Chronic Inflammation, Liver Deficiency… On the advanced search I required that ALL words would need to be included.

The site that came up at the top of the list was one for a Dr. Robert H. Keller.  I had not heard of him.  I read about his research and work that centered on those with low uric acid.  I kept reading. I continued on to related links. This site: Dr. Keller MD,  revealed information about a supplement that he created – a glutathione accelerator that improves immune systems and increases uric acid levels which, of course, raise our glutathione levels!\.

His glutathione accelerator was all natural and, therefore, should have no side effects! It sounded too good to be true. Then I read one of the BEST parts: this product was not $500 a month, not even $50 a month… it was / is $39.95 a month!!! I’ve paid more just to have a doctor say, “Yes, I agree with you, your son has autism. Unfortunately, I can only recommend (psychotropic drug of the month)…

I was fascinated.  I couldn’t stop reading.  But, (to be honest) I was looking for the “catch.”  How could this product do what no other had been able to do? But, the more I read the more I became convinced that this product was something I’d be crazy not to try.  I was becoming one of Dr. Keller’s biggest fans as I read about his dedication to countless people with terminal health conditions.  Story after story attested to his commitment.  It was like reading stories about Mother Theresa.

I put all of my son’s supplements (17 bottles) in a box and planned to give him Dr. Keller’s original glutathione accelerator formula over Christmas break.  I gave my son his first single capsule on on December 17, 2008. He had been suffering from PANDAS since September, 2007.  We were looking into special schools and receiving Special Olympics ® invitations because he was doing so poorly .

• Within one week we saw subtle improvements that included better eye contact.
• Within two weeks his overall focus was better and my husband remarked that his responses were unprecedented.
• At the end of three weeks I received a call from his school. His 100% modification was reduced to 50%!
• Within seven weeks ALL of his PANDAS (the incurable disease) symptoms were completely GONE!
• I increased his dosage slowly. Every two to three weeks I added one more capsule. We started with one every morning for two weeks. Next he had one in the morning and another at night. Next he took one three times a day for another two weeks.  Soon he took two in the morning and then two at night.
• It appeared that my son was returning from a long, long drought… he was eating well and gaining weight.
• On September 16, 2009 (one day short of nine months) I went in for his first parent – teacher conference of 4th grade. I was told that my son No longer qualified for services.
• Dr. Keller’s  glutathione accelerator was the ONLY thing we did. He was sleeping through the night again and acting like the boy I knew and loved. I wanted it to last and prayed often for him.

In January, 2009 I  began taking Dr. Keller’s glutathione accelerator myself – on a trial basis to see if it might help my chronic insomnia (that began in my teens) – since my son was sleeping so well. I began sleeping through the night in less than a week!  The bonus is that my chronic pain (from multiple broken bones and a serious head injury that left me in a coma for eight days in 1982 – from a very serious car accident) decreased dramatically as well!

YOU can read all about Dr. Keller yourself.  You should.  YOU can do the research – for days, weeks, months, years… if you want to.  YOU could.  I have tried everything, done everything and I finally threw away over $1,200 worth of products sitting in a box that sat in a box until July, 2010 – over a year and one half after Tanner began taking the Dr. Keller’s  glutathione accelerator. *I waited until they were all expired so I wouldn’t feel so bad throwing them away!

Today we are moving into 2012. Tanner will be starting the Gifted and Talented program with his new home school.  He took the tests and scored a WHOPPING 100% on the Language Arts and Math entry exams. Because he has shown an amazing ability for science he is also enrolled in the gifted and talented science classes. THIS all from the very same child that qualified for a voice activated computer in October 2008 because he couldn’t hold a pencil well enough to write!

Modern medicine took my son from me in 2001. Dr. Keller MD gave him back to me – starting on December 17, 2008. I can not thank him or his company enough so will spend the rest of my life working to help others to have a better life – one that begins with a healthy immune system!

You can learn more here: http://RobKellerMD.com/index.html