Metal Toxicity
Do I have it, what are the symptoms and what can I do about it.
Mercury has long been known to be a toxic element in the environment; the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that the primary source of mercury toxicity in the human body is from silver amalgam fillings in our teeth. Recent studies have also identified that one of the greatest local sources of mercury in our environmental, besides coal-powered electric power plants, is from crematoriums (remaining amalgam fillings in the teeth).
Facts about mercury toxicity:
- Mercury is a neurotoxin and a highly toxic element only second to radiation.
- The primary source in the human body is from silver amalgam fillings. Mercury in fish can vary however it is minimal compared to the constant source of an amalgam filling(s) in the mouth. Mercury leaks from an amalgam filling constantly and is exaggerated when brushing teeth, drinking hot fluids, chewing, and especially dental cleanings/polishing.
- There is vast amount of research on this topic available on the Internet. Recommended site is: International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) ...and I strongly recommend viewing these two short 6 min. videos, "Smoking Teeth" and "Brain Neuron Degeneration".
- There is no way to accurately measure the mercury body burden because mercury is so tightly bound to fat in the brain and body tissues.
- As the mercury body burden increases, the toxicity will spread to organs, glands, muscles, nerve tissue and lastly bones.
- Along with lead, mercury easily crosses the blood brain barrier as well as the placenta in pregnant women and breast milk.
How do I know if I have mercury toxicity?
- The standard blood and urine lab test are inappropriate for identifying this toxicity because mercury is hydrophobic and will not stay in the blood long enough to be measured. Hair analysis is also equivocal.
- Provocative heavy metal urine analysis is the only laboratory test presently available. This test is cumbersome to perform and requires a six-hour urine collection after taking a pharmaceutical chelating agent such as DMPS or EDTA. Most physicians are not familiar with this laboratory test and some question its accuracy.
- Applied Kinesiological testing, performed by a skilled practitioner can evaulate the level of toxicity in the body and central nervous system.
Symptomology associated with mercury toxicity.
- Symptomology and toxicity levels associated with mercury toxicity can vary from person to person depending on several factors, (diet, exercise, genetics, and ones emotional state).
- The most common factors are:
· 1. An inability to swiftly heal from common injuries (especially shoulder, hip and wrist problems)
2. Musculo-skeletal pain that appears to be more intense and persists longer
lasting than expected relative to the original injury
3. In the central nervous system, the symptoms are brain fog and a disruption of
pituitary glands ability to balance hormones of the thyroid, adrenals, and
reproductive organs
4. Fatigue
The strategy for detoxification:
- The strategy for a detox therapy depends on whether or not you have any remaining silver amalgam fillings.
- If one does have one or more silver amalgam fillings then a detox program must be coordinated with your dental care and may still require a pre-detox to minimize any potential adverse reaction before amalgam removal.
- The detox therapy may take the form of one or more different approaches depending on toxicity level, diet, age, ability for liver to detox and for women whether or not one is or planning to become pregnant or lactating.
- The method I prefer to use is an applied kinesiological approach of re-educating the immune system and then tagging the organs, glands, tissues, nerves and CNS where mercury and heavy metals are hiding. This technique will facilitate the bodies conversion of methyl mercury via glutathione transferase (enzyme reaction in the liver) to an inert chemical compound that can pulled out of the blood and discard it in the bile. This methodology, although slower than direct pharmaceutical and nutritional chelation, is safer especially in circumstances where amalgam filling are still present and without side effects.
- In some circumstances, nutritional support of the liver may be required to facilitate this process. Consulting with your healthcare provider and or a nutritionist may be suggested.
To learn more about the need for mercury detoxification and amalgam removal please ask to borrow an education DVD titled, “Smoking Teeth” and “How Mercury Toxicity Causes Brain Neuron Degeneration” at the time of your next office or email me. The University of Calgary in conjunction with International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) jointly produced these two short 7-minute videos. You can also view these videos on youtube at these links: Smoking Teeth & Brain Neuron Degeneration
Mercury Toxicity
Mercury or any of the Heavy Metals (...lead, nickel, cadmium)
Detoxification Protocol for Mercury & Heavy Metals
During and for 3 days after amalgam removal much of the mercury constituents are still floating around into the blood before it becomes assimilated into the body tissues. To maximize the detoxification via liver and kidneys, the International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) recommends the following, which I am in agreement.
Note: this is essentially a 3–day detox which can be very effective.
Preparation for Amalgam Removal
1. Increase oral vitamin C dose to 3-5 grams or more daily beginning the day prior,
day of and for three days following the procedure. Daily dosage should follow
the rule, more is better to the level of ones tolerance and comfort level.
2. Take Glutithione supplement to facilitate Liver detox (begin as soon as
possible or at least 1 day before and continue for at least 3 months)
... if Glutithione is unavailable substitute with Alpha Lipoic Acid 500-600mg daily (day before, day of and for 3-days after) then reduce to 300 mg daily
for one month (sustained release is best).
3. N-acetylcysteine ~1500 mg (~3 capsules) (day before and for 3-days
after) then reduce to 1 cap till finished.
4. Take ~1800 mg (~4 capsules) Modified Citrus Pectin (day before and for 3-
days after) then reduce to 1 cap till finished. If unavailable substitute with
Seleniun or Chlorella as directed on label..
- Modified Citrus Pectin, Selenium, Chlorella helps bind mercury constituents in the blood.
- N-acetylcysteine and Alpha Lipoic Acid assists the liver in phase I detoxification in the liver.
- Vitamin C helps protect the body tissues and assists in detoxification.
General Daily Dietary Detox Suggestions
Vitamin C 1 - 3,000 mg (1-3 gram) daily or more if tolerated
- eggs (with yolks) daily as a source of dietary sulfur
- Glutithione supplement if available to facilitate liver detox
[if unavailable use Lipoic Acid 300 mg daily (sustained release is best)]
- Chlorella, Selenium to act as a mild chelator
If one has remaining amalgams, it is not recommended to be overly aggressive in any detox program.
Metal Toxicity
ICD10 Diagnosis Code: T56.1x1(A,D,S) or T56.1x4(A,D,S)
Functional neurological method to evaluate metal toxicity (MT)
…mercury, lead, etc. in the central nervous system.
Discussion: Presently only a provocative 6 hour urinalysis is available for laboratory evaluation. Standard blood and urine analysis are not deemed accurate as heavy metals are not water soluble without a binding chelating agent. There is no accurate medical evaluation of MT load in the C.N.S. Amalgam fillings are the most recognized common source.
Theory: A functional neurology challenge test can be demonstrated via a disruption of normal neurology involving walking gait pattern concomitantly with a temporary global weakness of finger opponens flexor challenge. Further delineation to evaluate mild-moderate-or severe levels of MT requires knowledge of basic applied kinesiology skills by commonly identifying predictable organ(s) involvement.
Method: A potential subject is placed in a walking gait (step) position either supine or erect. Concomitantly the patient is instructed to do a simple fine motor coordination activity of rhythmically touching fingers to thumb. Elevated levels of MT will have an aberrant impact on cerebellar activity resulting in a readily observable deviation of above parameters. Within 10 seconds of finger movement and gait position disengagement, the aberrant gait and finger strength will return to original parameters (normal).
Neurological explanation: Cerebellar activity is chosen to evaluate as it represents the densest gray matter and thus the most vulnerable to toxic events.
Walking gait involves more primitive brain nuclei than any other single activity. With placement of a static gait step position either in supine or standing, one can predict opposite forward leg, the pec major clavicular (PMC) muscle contralateral will be conditionally facilitated and the ipsilateral PMC will be conditionally inhibited. Next a fine motor activity is introduced such as repetitive thumb to finger movement. This activity concomitantly requires cerebellum activity which being the highest concentration of neurons, is the most vulnerable to global neurotoxin such as Hg and other toxicity heavy metals. A positive test is recognized as a temporary disruption of the normal gait pattern and global weakness of all finger flexors. This test is accurate for mild, moderate or severe CNS toxicity. Further delineation requires knowledge of applied kinesiology skills commonly by identifying predictable organ involvement.
- American Bio-Dental (Tijuana Mexico)
- Corinne Vizcarra, DDS (near San Diego)
- Dentists of
Los Algodones
(Near Yuma AZ)
