What works to get rid of dietary nickel from my body?

This post is a gentle reminder to all who might be reading, that ACD (allergic contact dermatitis) and SCD (systemic contact dermatitis) are type 4 allergies, with delayed response.

For now, I won't be posting any popular "detox methods" but will focus on steering us back to what the emerging science is telling us about how to safely reduce our symptoms with dietary nickel in mind.  But first ...

There is no known "cure" for ACD or SNAS (systemic nickel allergy), so avoidance of our contact allergens is so far, the most successful method of reducing symptoms. Of course, avoidance should be combined with "healthy living" and good overall self-care strategies. This is especially important in the managing of skin, and (with SNAS) GI symptoms.

With SCD, like systemic nickel allergy, which is the focus of the Facebook group, EATING WILL WITH SYSTEMIC NICKEL ALLERGY (SNAS),  it is crucial to remember that SYSTEMIC NICKEL ALLERGY is an allergy of EXPOSURE and ACCUMULATION.  Think of your body as a bucket, and every time we eat nickel loaded foods, the bucket gets fuller, until we excrete the nickel that we have ingested. So any time we who have systemic responses to the nickel in our foods, exceeding a certain threshold of consumption, we have allergic reactions that can manifest in a variety of different ways, as we have discussed many times in this, and other groups.

Whatever method of self-care we choose, whether proven or not, if it does no harm and only good, of course, we should not discourage each other from at least trying. However, I want to be very clear about one very important point with SNAS - however we choose to "draw out" nickel from the body, the moment we introduce higher nickel foods and reach that threshold of accumulation that provokes reactions - somewhere between 100 ug and 250 ug ++, we will once again experience reactions. This is the nature of the allergy itself.

I am sure most of us have all tried various "detox" methods, but so far the best and most "gentle" one, proven by science (and even so, it gets a lot of resistance in the western medical communities) is the 8 week low nickel "detox" phase of the INDD.  This is because it is designed to keep our daily consumption of dietary nickel to levels below 100 ug per day. Any other self care strategy should be implemented only after addressing the diet, adding vitamin C to every meal, and taking the right probiotic (and if you can tolerate it, some high quality dairy). Then, if you find that there are a number of external methods of "detox" ... baths, soaks, foot baths, etc. that might do your body good, I think they can only enhance your already focussed approach to keeping Ni out of your life (and your body).  That said, be every mindful of all your contact allergens and other allergens, or you may provoke additional skin reactions.

I have allergies to formaldehyde releasers, so when considering any bath or soak, I will read labels and ingredients carefully.  Watching out for all our triggers should be a way of life for us.  With some carefully implemented strategies and consistency with the INDD, I think we can all achieve a decent state of well-being, with enough flexibility to follow our own unique paths to healing.   

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION, 2 -How to determine if you have SNAS, or "just" ACD to nickel?

Q:  HOW DO I TELL IF I HAVE A SYSTEMIC NICKEL ALLERGY OR "JUST" ACD (allergic contact dermatitis) TO NICKEL?  
A:  I don't know the science behind this, but it seems that this approach has been mentioned by several doctors in the studies, as a possible approach: 

If you have contact allergic dermatitis (ACD) to nickel, you don't automatically have the systemic version - allergy to the dietary nickel in foods you eat. To determine if your nickel allergy is "systemic" two steps are involved:

1. Do a strict low nickel diet for 8 weeks (keeping below 100 ug of dietary nickel daily, if possible, and not exceeding 150 ug per day). 
 2. "Oral provocation test" ... after the 8 weeks, you will notice that your symptoms have improved. However this doesn't mean you have SNAS. The provocation challenge will tell you this -- It involves introducing high nickel foods again. After a period of 4 days to several weeks, if your symptoms return, this means that you are reacting to dietary nickel, or that in fact, you have SNAS.

Discuss with your doctor ... especially important here in North America, as most doctors aren't really clear on SNAS or whether it is a "real" condition. The oral provocation challenge is the proof.

If you aren't reactive later on with the reintroduction of higher nickel foods - Yay you!