Iron Overload Illnesses: Thalassemia and Hemochromatosis – Part 1
Hello Dear One,
Recently, an online friend with Thalassemia was talking to me about the challenges she faces, on a daily basis, with this potentially life-threatening illness.
As if this condition isn’t bad enough, in and of itself, her situation is made worse by a few different allergies AND from the debilitating side-effects (serious concussions and more) from having been in a few major car accidents.
While she has already done a lot to try to help herself, and has succeeded quite well, I voluntarily undertook the challenge of learning more about Thalassemia out of compassion for her, in an attempt to help her even more.
My heart truly goes out to her.
A most complex health challenge
As you are already aware, Thalassemia and Hemochromatosis are very serious conditions.
So, the information that I present in this article, although focusing mainly on Thalassemia, also has the potential to positively impact those with Hemochromatosis. In fact, some of the information that I found was drawn from research studies done on those with Hemochromatosis.
As I was saying then, the information that I present in this post, as well as in the subsequent 16 posts (all related to Thalassemia and Hemochromatosis), comes from numerous articles and research that I found over the course of several weeks, as well as from some anecdotal accounts, and personal insights, all out of my concern for her.
And all I can say from this experience is that Thalassemia presented an interesting challenge for me that proved to be very enlightening. It has given me so much more than I could’ve ever anticipated.
As such, I sincerely hope that it can fill some holes in the information that’s out there and result in better self-management of this condition for those of you who are taking a more active role in your own care.
Personalized and Tweakable
As you read through these posts, remember that they were written specifically with my friend in mind, with her specific influencing factors that added to the complexity of giving her a “solution” best suited to HER specific needs.
And these are never set in stone.
Why?
Because as we begin to work with the suggestions, we find out the peculiarities of her (your) body.
Remember, until we put things to the test of application, everything is “theoretical”—that is, they should work, but because of our body’s specialness, they may not work, EVEN though the research says it should, or they may need to be adjusted/tweaked.
That’s where I listen very carefully, watch for the subtlest clues in what you say and do and feel, and make adjustments suited JUST FOR YOU.
And that’s where another phase of my service comes in, and that’s ONGOING COACHING AND SUPPORT with my PRIVATE Members’ Groups and Webinars.
Adjust, Adjust, Adjust
Moreover, as you implement my suggestions, your body begins to change. You experience improvements. And since my protocol is geared to restoring balance to your weakest area first (all the while also restoring balance to areas that are in a somewhat better state of being), once that area is stronger, the protocol gets adjusted again.
Sometimes, you experience what appears to be a setback. No, they’re just signs that adjustments/tweaks need to be made.
Over the course of the restorative journey, the protocol can be adjusted as many as 3 or 4, or even 5 times.
Such was the case with my Mom, for example, when I was working to restore her memory from Dementia.
Such was the case with myself, when I was recuperating from a type of Strep and Candida.
It’s all part of the process…adjust, apply, adjust some more, apply some more, adjust again if need be……tweak, tweak, tweak.
Through stages, through improvements, through re-balancing.
My Personal Style and Approach
Please understand that I wrote this originally as an email (can you believe it??) to her and it turned out to be SUPER long, so long in fact, that it’s 17 posts/articles and counting… That’s one heck of an email, wouldn’t you say ? And it took me a few weeks to put together. This thing is massive.
And while reading it/these posts, you may also note the personal style—remember, these were to her, and they were geared to her additional “factors”.
This presents a perfect example of what you could expect should you decide to embark on a journey of restoration with me. This is only one part of the journey, though.
In addition to the research (medically and scientifically founded), you also receive my analysis and my personal (albeit “anecdotal”—for what they’re worth) insights into the condition and how to restore balance to the body, your body, in the best possible ways.
As always, and here’s my MEDICAL DISCLAIMER, you need to remember that I’m not a doctor, and I’m not advising or prescribing you to do anything. (See my Medical Disclaimer link at the bottom of this page.) I’m putting all of this “out there” as added insight and information for you.
So, if you would like to find out how these suggestions/posts would be tweaked for you, click “Ask Alannah For Help” at the top menu of each page.
Now, back to the email (post) to my friend…
Here’s some of what I found out and want to share with you all who suffer from this serious condition. …
Over and above, or maybe as the external manifestation of, the genetic cause of the excessive iron problem, there appear to be three (3) theories about the source of the body’s excessive iron. The theories are that excessive iron is possibly due to:
- a ‘diseased’ or malfunctioning liver (born with it this way)
- ‘a weakness in the colon whereby the villi absorb too much iron’, and
- ‘cells in the lining of the small intestines that have an increased ability to absorb iron’ (a variation of #2).
Regardless of the genetics, I have been trying to see what symptoms can be dealt with, as near to the source as possible, that underlie all of the other resulting problems that you experience.
It is indeed an incredibly complex problem, with a couple of different approaches.
One approach deals with it by eating organic sources of iron with the thought of bumping out the inorganic iron. For some people, this appears to work.
Another approach deals with it by avoiding or minimizing all foods that contain iron. This, too, appears to work for some.
There does, however, appear to be some general consensus that mercury is a major contributor to the problem and it requires special detox (and this I provide for with two of the suggestions below).
But there’s more…
…..I am sooo excited…..no, I mean SOOOOOO excited. Why ?
Because I just found something, not technically related to your problem, that I believe helps to explain this situation (I mean, of the iron absorbing because of certain villi in the intestines and the malfunctioning liver. They could both be part of the problem….and more that they don’t know…..OMG, my friend, OMG….) and could help you soooooooo much.
(I’m keeping my fingers crossed…..Saying my prayers….I am so excited….I can hardly wait to share this with you…..I’m almost jumping out of my skin right now with excitement….)
I sincerely hope that what I share with you helps you feel better and enjoy more ‘normalcy’ in your life.
Lastly, before I get into the ‘stuff’, please know that I am prepared to work with you.
Better Together
The more that we work together, the more I’ll become in tune with the workings of your body, and the more that I’ll be able to tweak it just for you.
Now, the only thing that might cause you some problems is being able to afford some of the “ingredients”.
The good thing, though, is that there are enough “ingredients” that chelate iron from your system in the list below that you can do away with some and still experience a significant reduction of your iron load.
It’ll be just a matter of finding the right “ingredients” and right balance that work for you.
Moreover, you will undoubtedly experience a boost of energy because of the other nutrients in some of these ingredients.
Some of them you might already know about, have in your pantry, and be using. Great !
Others that I’ve included will augment your repertoire.
My suggestion, as with everything, is to come in under your lowest “tension” wire.
What I mean by that is, what is the thing that your body is the most sensitive to ?
It’s the first thing that your body usually reacts to at even the slightest exposure.
That is the area that needs to be addressed first. That is like your gateway into starting to undo the damage.
Anything is possible when we listen carefully enough to understand the ‘maze’. I also know, based on our many texting sessions, that you listen to your body and that you’ve figured out much of your ‘maze’.
Some of the “ingredients” you’ll be able to make a smoothie with, while others you will have to swallow in capsule form.
I’ll also be adding the caveats that I know of, either from my own personal experience or based on what I’ve seen in others, that can’t be found in the research.
Now to get into it…
These posts have been written to be read in the designated order. There’s a certain flow that I followed and there’s a reason for the order being what it is.
It’s kind of like a mystery novel unfolding, so don’t skip to the last post to find out how it ends, because you’ll miss a whole bunch of great information.
Each post is important and is the logical outcome of the preceding post, and flows naturally to the one that follows it.
So, please don’t skip around until after you’ve read them all in order. Thank you.
Now, onto the next post “Iron Overload Illnesses: Thalassemia and Hemachromatosis – Part 2”.
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