Leading DoctorsFor Gadolinium Toxicity & GDD

Background

Dr. Brent Wagner is a native New Mexican and a graduate of the University of New Mexico (1990, 1992), the University of New Mexico Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (1995), and the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (1999). He is a certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. Dr. Wagner is a world-renowned expert in nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, gadolinium retention, and nanotoxicology. His laboratory was the first to prove experimentally that bone marrow-derived white blood cells (fibrocytes) are involved in NSF, and he was the first to demonstrate that bone marrow possesses a "memory" of gadolinium exposure—fibrosis is more severe in those who have had repeated MRI contrast administrations. His groundbreaking research has shown that oxalic acid, found in many foods, can generate nanoparticles of gadolinium in human tissues, which may explain why some individuals develop severe symptoms while others do not. Dr. Wagner leads an international patient registry to identify risk factors for gadolinium-related complications.

Approach

Dr. Wagner's research has revealed a critical finding: oxalic acid can cause gadolinium to precipitate out of contrast agents and form nanoparticles in the body. This discovery points to dietary factors that may significantly impact gadolinium toxicity. His approach emphasizes understanding the metabolic milieu that may predispose individuals to nanoparticle formation and severe disease responses. He recommends avoiding high-oxalate foods and vitamin C supplements before MRI scans with contrast, as these can react with gadolinium and potentially form harmful nanoparticles.

Related reading: Oxalates and gadolinium nanoparticles.

What Works/Helps

• •AVOID OXALATES! This is the main recommendation from Dr. Wagner's research. Oxalic acid, found in many plant-based foods, can generate nanoparticles of gadolinium in human tissues
• •Avoid high-oxalate foods: spinach, rhubarb, most nuts, berries, chocolate, and other plant-based foods containing oxalic acid
• •Avoid vitamin C supplements before MRI scans with contrast, as vitamin C can form oxalic acid in the body, which reacts with gadolinium
• •Understanding your metabolic state: Some individuals may be in a "high oxalic state" that makes them more prone to gadolinium nanoparticle formation
• •Participate in research: Dr. Wagner's team is building an international patient registry to identify risk factors. Contact the Kidney Institute of New Mexico to learn more
• •Comprehensive assessment: Evaluation of medical conditions, medications, and dietary supplements at the time of gadolinium exposure to understand individual risk factors
• •Monitoring for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF): Especially important for patients with compromised kidney function, as NSF can be severely disabling and potentially fatal

How to Reach

Contact the Kidney Institute of New Mexico: Julie A Harris at JuHarris@salud.unm.edu | Dr. Wagner practices at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and the New Mexico Veterans Administration Health Care System in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Background

Dr. Richard Semelka has been one of the major forces in Radiology for 3 decades. He has written 350+ peer-reviewed articles in Radiology and 17 textbooks, including Health Care Reform in Radiology. He has been one of the most accomplished authors on safety, especially regarding medical radiation, patient information, overuse of imaging, NSF, and most recently GDD. He served as Director of MR services (Dec 1992 - Sept 2017) and Vice-Chair of Quality and Safety (Dec 1, 2007 – 2016) at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Semelka has been a leading researcher and practitioner in MRI, has pioneered and is the leading author worldwide on abdominal MRI, and is the radiologist with the broadest research and publication record on safety in Radiology, having authored major works on informed consent, overuse of imaging, risk of cancer from CT and x-rays, nephrogenic system fibrosis, Gadolinium deposition in the brain on MRI, and most recently has pioneered in the medical literature the subject of Gadolinium Deposition Disease (GDD) and is presently the leading author on the subject. GDD is essentially a severe persistent disease secondary to the use of Gadolinium Based Contrast Agents (GBCAs) in individuals who often have normal kidney function. Dr. Semelka has had a profound international role in GDD, essentially being consulted by people from around the world and overseeing their treatment, from India to New Zealand, and every country in between. The majority are in the US, with Canada and the UK, and Europe as the other major centers for patient treatment. In many respects, Dr. Semelka has unofficially become the Protector Publicus (protector of the people) by focusing on the judicious and appropriate use of advanced imaging throughout the world.

Approach

Presently, Dr. Semelka focuses on treating patients with Gadolinium Deposition Disease at his Medical Clinic in North Carolina. His approach emphasizes starting with a healthy diet including food items particularly considered to have health benefits, combined with activities that maintain physical wellness and range of motion. He recommends reading his blogs and visiting Gadttrac.org for comprehensive information. His preference is to focus on food items and cold-press juicing before embarking on most supplements. He does not strongly advocate any supplements, as their efficacy would require randomized controlled studies, which generally do not exist for supplements. If any item does not agree with you physically, or you develop some form of reaction, then do not use it.

What Works/Helps

• •Core Items: Healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, alkaline water, cold-press juicing, staying active (avoid excessive exercise), plenty of sleep, Chlorella, LDN (low-dose naltrexone), GABA supplement, Ginger oil, Epsom salt baths, hot baths or showers, conventional or infrared sauna, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Turmeric/curcumin, Vitamin C supplement, Daily MVI with minerals
• •Physical & Mental Health: Walking/exercise, stretching, Yoga or Tai Chi, massage therapy, mind relaxation/meditation, acupuncture, lymphatic massage, physical therapy (modified as necessary), TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), ozone therapy
• •Diet & Healthy Foods: Avoid refined/processed sugars and food additives. Drink alkaline water, purified waters, electrolyte/mineral-containing beverages, celery juice, teas with ginger/turmeric. Eat lots of vegetables (spinach, leafy greens, tubers). Eat fruits with pectin: apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, grapefruits, guavas, lemons, limes, plums, grapes, oranges, peaches, pears, pineapples, raspberries, strawberries, bananas
• •Natural Chelators: Chlorella, cilantro, amino acids found in eggs and fish, onions, garlic, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley, alfalfa, dark green vegetables, fruit pectin
• •Foods High in Antioxidants: Dark chocolate, pecans, cinnamon powder, blueberries, strawberries, artichokes, olives, goji berries, kiwi, raspberries, avocados, red cabbage, beans, beets, spinach
• •Natural Supplements & Topicals: Apple cider vinegar, coconut oil topical (with peppermint or oregano extract for oral pain), ginger oil, rosemary oil topical, peppermint oil topical, arnica topical, cinnamon oil topical (low concentration), magnesium topical spray, CBD topical ointments/creams
• •Oral Supplements: CoQ10/ubiquinol, Fish Oil (Omega 3s), Milk Thistle, Selenium, ATP Fuel, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Zinc (do not use if receiving Zn-DTPA), Thiamine, Folate, Ginkgo biloba, Probiotics
• •Inflammation Reduction & General Detox: ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid), Glutathione, NAC (N-acetyl cysteine), Activated Charcoal/zeolite, Bentonite Clay, MCP (modified citrus pectin), PEA (palmitoyethanolamide)
• •Medications & Pain Relief: Antihistamines, Ibuprofen, Enteric-coated aspirin, Fibromyalgia drugs (variable benefits): Amitriptyline Rx, Nortriptyline Rx, Gabapentin Rx, Lyrica Rx, CBD Oil orally, THC oral doses
• •Important: Always consult with your doctor before taking new supplements or trying new treatments. What is safe and effective for one person may not be appropriate for you due to underlying health conditions and/or medications. Consider your allergies. Avoid starting multiple new supplements at the same time if possible. Avoid excessive exercise as it can cause metabolic acidosis. If things do not work or are not palatable, do not do them or ingest them. Not everything works for everyone.

How to Reach

Website and blog: https://www.richardsemelka.com/ | Contact: https://www.richardsemelka.com/contact-dr-semelka | Dr. Semelka practices at his Medical Clinic in North Carolina, focusing on treating patients with Gadolinium Deposition Disease. He has been consulted by people from around the world, with the majority in the US, Canada, UK, and Europe.

Background

Dr. Catriona Walsh is a Belfast nutritionist and burnout coach who helps exhausted professionals recover from burnout, chronic illness, and gadolinium toxicity. After working as a paediatric doctor for the NHS for 15 years, she experienced severe burnout, moral injury, and gadolinium toxicity herself following an MRI with contrast. She was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome - Hypermobility Type (EDS-HT), which helped explain many of her symptoms. Dr. Walsh trained in medicine at Cambridge University (MA) and completed her clinical training at Queen's University Belfast (MB BCh BAO). She later trained as a nutrition and lifestyle coach through the Institute of Health Sciences. Her personal experience with gadolinium toxicity led her to write an ebook "Contrasts: More than meets the MRI" and create resources to help others. She specializes in functional medicine, using root-cause approaches to support recovery from toxicity, burnout, chronic fatigue, and chronic illness. Based in Belfast and Mid Ulster, she works with clients worldwide.

Approach

Dr. Walsh uses a three-part approach: Investigate (identifying diet, lifestyle, toxic exposures, stressors, and genetic factors impacting health), Educate (teaching what to change, for how long, why, and when to reintroduce foods and habits), and Coach (providing support, motivation, accountability, and troubleshooting). She emphasizes getting to the root cause rather than suppressing symptoms. Her approach combines her medical training, nutritionist expertise, and personal recovery experience. She uses functional medicine principles similar to emergency medicine: supporting physiology naturally. Her personalized protocols often include an autoimmune protocol-like diet with medicinal mushrooms, lower carbohydrates, medicinal herbs, and supplements focused on protecting the brain and organs while boosting metabolism and mitochondrial function. She works with people suffering from gadolinium toxicity, burnout, chronic fatigue, EDS/hypermobility, and other chronic conditions.

What Works/Helps

• •Personalized nutrition and lifestyle coaching based on individual needs and root causes
• •Functional medicine approach focusing on diet, behaviors, and toxic exposures rather than symptom suppression
• •Autoimmune protocol diet modified for gadolinium toxicity, heavy metals, autoimmunity, and EDS/hypermobility
• •Medicinal mushrooms and herbs to support detoxification and health
• •Supplements to protect the brain and organs, boost metabolism and mitochondrial function
• •Support for burnout recovery, including addressing moral injury and work-life balance
• •Ehlers Danlos Syndrome/hypermobility support and education
• •Heavy metal detoxification strategies tailored to individual tolerance and needs
• •Gut health optimization and food intolerance identification
• •Stress management, self-care practices, and lifestyle modifications
• •Cold-press juicing, alkaline water, and hydration strategies
• •Metabolic support and mitochondrial function optimization
• •Accountability coaching to help maintain changes and troubleshoot challenges
• •Free resources including guides on MRI contrast toxicity and self-care activities

How to Reach

Website: https://thefoodphoenix.co.uk/ | Contact & Free Clarity Call: https://thefoodphoenix.co.uk/contact-me/ | Dr. Walsh is based in Belfast and Mid Ulster, Northern Ireland, and works with clients worldwide through remote consultations. She offers a free 30-minute discovery call to discuss your health needs. She is also co-creating a group coaching experience for professionals suffering from or at risk of burnout.