SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH MERCURY TOXICITY
Research suggests that mercury reduces sperm counts in men and creates hormone imbalances in females; for example, it is known to cause disturbances in the regulation of progesterone.
Mercury toxicity and hypersensitivity symptoms include central nervous system disorders, head, neck, and oral cavity disorders, as well as gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, immunological, hormonal and systemic dysfunction. Depression, fatigue, insomnia, ringing in the ears, nervous disorders, timidity, neurological effects, memory loss, learning disabilities, mood swings, suicidal tendencies, anger, nausea, and tremors of eyelids, extra-ocular muscles, fingers, arms, and legs are common complaints of patients who are diagnosed with mercury toxicity. When mercury levels are reduced sleep patterns improve and depression subsides as well as other related symptoms.
TESTING PROCEDURES FOR MERCURY TOXICITY
- DMPS- Dimercaptopropanesulfonic Acid
- DMSA- Meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid
Some tests for the initial diagnosis of mercury-burden are needed and includes a DMPS challenge. For children and some adults, a hair analysis and DMSA challenge is used. Challenge tests are not quantitative nor definitive. If a negative result is achieved, treatment for heavy metal burden may still be pursued when there is other clinical basis to do so, such as significant pancreatic enzyme disruption or kidney dysfunction.
Appropriate ways to test for mercury have long been debated. A turning point was reached when in the Archives of Environmental Health, (May/June 1980), with a study of the interrelationships of blood and hair mercury concentrations was published. The ingestion of mercury can be predictably reflected in a hair analysis. Doctors’ Phelps and Clarkson demonstrated that “longitudinal analysis of hair can provide a simple and accurate method of monitoring continuing exposure and an estimation of peak blood levels months to years after exposure.” Likewise, Doctors’ Vance, Ehmann, and Markesbery from the University of Kentucky, presented the results of a study for trace element imbalances in hair and nails of Alzheimer’s disease patients in NeuroToxicology in 1988, thereby justifying the use of hair analysis as a screening tool.
To approximate the body burden level of mercury, the DMPS challenge was developed. First, the bladder must be emptied, as DMPS starts pulling mercury within seconds after being introduced. After administering 250mg of DMPS by IV, we use a non-standardized test of a 1-hour collection of urine. Any additional time simply dilutes the results. Collection begins immediately. Research shows that while this test can provide useful information, there are cases when results do not reflect body burden, only how much mercury the body is actually releasing at the time. It is hypothesized that specific enzymes are not activated or that sulfur amino acids that would assist in the detoxification process are at exhausted levels. When a test does not produce an expected outcome, it may provide guiding information that expands the overall picture of the patient’s health to the doctor including deficient nutritional factors.
For children, DMSA is an approved drug for removing lead and is clinically accepted as an effective treatment for mercury in children and adults. A calculated amount of DMSA is given to the patient and a 6-hour urine collection is obtained. Some adults who find DMPS too harsh will use this method of testing. While DMPS excretes almost entirely in the urine, DMSA excretes only 20% in the urine and 80% in the stool.
While other tests may be needed during the detoxification process to determine mercury toxicity, usually only a hair analysis and a DMSA or DMPS challenge, and recent blood chemistry are required initially.
DENTAL AMALGAM REMOVAL
Because the process chosen to remove amalgam fillings is important, our clinc can provide a list of dentists who are informed regarding the health hazards of silver amalgam fillings and who have been trained in procedures for the safe removal of mercury. Some patients prefer to use their own dentist. In all cases the following procedures are recommended to minimize exposure to vaporized mercury. Use of a rubber dam is important as this reduces the amount of mercury swallowed during drilling procedures. High-powered suction reduces exposure from mercury vapors. Make sure the dentist you select has a well-ventilated office. It is always best if your dentist and medical doctor work together to ensure maximum safe detoxification and reduced stress for the patient. Concurrently, chelation should be done following each dental amalgam restoration procedure to insure adequate or maximum elimination of the mercury
The patient’s breathing zone must be protected by following these simple steps:
- The use of a rubber dam must be used to prevent swallowing and inhalation whenever possible.
- Ideally, an independent air source supplying oxygen through a nose piece should be used.
- Damp gauze for eyes or protective glasses should be worn.
ROOT CANALS
Some doctors object to root canals beyond the use of mercury in the procedures. Mercury is commonly used in the restoration of teeth with root canals. The primary filling material for teeth with root canals is the substance called gutta percha, a naturally occurring latex with additives that make the material opaque. Today, even with the use of non-mercurial substance, root canal work may still have far-reaching effects on the body beyond the mouth. While the patient may remain symptom-free for years, a residual low-grade infection may be present. In the 1920′s, Dr. Weston-Price, then head of the scientific research for the American Dental Association (A.D.A.), did a research project to determine if root-filled teeth were sterile. He discovered that the tiny network of tubules that supply blood and nourishment to the vessels and nerves when the tooth is alive, after a root canal remain sterile for a period of about two hours. Containment of a low-grade infection would be dependent upon a healthy immune system. All too frequently this containment fails.
Before deciding on a root canal, have a careful discussion with your doctor and your dentist to determine if this is an appropriate choice for you. Consideration of long-term health effects must be taken into account as wel1 as expense. If a person has a compromised immune system, a root canal may not be the right choice. Sometimes a second opinion may be in order. The only other option is to have the tooth removed.
INSURANCE BENEFITS AND POSTERIOR COMPOSITES
Placement of posterior composite material requires more steps and calls for 50 to 90 percent more time than silver/mercury fillings. Yet the cost reflects only a 25 to 30 percent increase over that of silver/mercury fillings.
More progressive insurance companies recognized the need for increased benefits and considers the reimbursement for these newer restorative materials. For those carriers that do not, benefits may be paid for the traditional silver/mercury fillings only, leaving the patient with the responsibility of the balance.
RECOMMENDED CHELATORS OF MERCURY
The chelator of first choice is DMPS or Dimavol. The chemical structure is Sodium 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid, a water-soluable chelating agent which can be given by IV, injection or in special cases transdermal or orally. First developed in China, it has been used in the Soviet Union and Russia since the 1960′s, in Germany since 1978, and is presently used in the Scandinavian countries. In the United States, DMPS is legal to use but it has been classified as an “orphan drug.” This means that while funding to gain FDA approval for its efficiency in the removal of mercury is not available, sufficient clinical studies have been conducted to assure doctors of DMPS’s safety as in Europe. When a substance has been classified as an orphan drug, pharmaceutical companies no longer can patent the product. If they cannot patent the product, then they would not be able to make enough money to cover the cost of the needed research. For this reason it is not likely that DMPS will be approved any time soon. Doctors prescribe DMSA for adults at the end of their DMPS therapy because of it’s deep and penetrating effects to the nerve ganglia and ability to cross the blood brain barrier. DMPS, like EDTA (another chelator for metals) removes a wide group of nutrients as well as metals requiring replacement with nutritional supplements or nutrient IVs. DMSA removes vitamin B-6 and zinc primarily, but not tolerated well by patients who have compromised enzyme systems. Some people do better with one chelator over another so you and your doctor must decide together.
THE YEAST CONNECTION
Experienced clinicians notice that patients who are mercury toxic frequently are found to have chronic yeast infections. A German school of thought is that the body allows such high levels of candidia or yeast to proliferate in the system because it is trying to chelate these dangerous toxins. While there is no direct evidence to demonstrate this, we do know that the body needs a strong immune system to be able to keep the gastrointestinal yeast in balance. For example, one group of immune-compromised patients who suffer with all types of yeast infections are those who have AIDS. When a patient who presents with even a moderate level of mercury that is reduced, controlling the yeast becomes less of an issue.
NUTRITION & CHELATION
A healthy immune system is important to the mercury-toxic patient. Lifestyle changes should include avoiding coffee, sugar, soft drinks, white flour, processed foods, fried foods, red meat, milk, yeast, and some kinds of fish.
The recommended diet should include high sulfur foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, soy products such as tofu and soy milk, free range eggs, organic lean game, butter, essential fatty acids, grains, and an acid-alkaline diet in general. Some patients may tolerate an occasional wild caught fish.
SUPPLEMENT requirements vary from patient to patient. Important nutrients are alpha lipolic acid, glutathione, vitamin Bs and C, selenium, antioxidants such as quercitin, digestive enzymes, garlic, and chlorella. It is not uncommon to see low levels of pancreatic enzymes, potassium, and other minerals in mercury toxic patients. Patients may be required to meet with the nutritionist.
CAVITATION SITES: a potential problem area.
Some patients diagnosed with atypical facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia) present a chronic low-grade non-puss osteomyelitis often referred to as cavitations or Neuralgia Inducing Cavitational Osteonecrosis (NICO). It is referred to as invisible osteomyelitis, but it is more superficially similar to osteomyelitis. Some feel it more closely resembles ischemic osteonecrosis typically seen in the head of the femur.
Cavitation and ischemic osteonecrosis similarities are such that it lends credence to the theory that cavitations are the result of poor vascular circulation of the jaw compounded by low grade infection. The typical patient is 40-60 year old woman and the wisdom teeth sites account for the majority of molar area involvement. Typical cases occur years after an extraction or infection in the area but can also occur after an endodonic procedure that continues to be painful and re-occurring. Sinusitis can cause destruction of the sides and floor of the maxillary sinus. Pain related to cavitation sites is not limited to the face. For example, lower back wisdom teeth sites can cause referred pain to all radial joints such as arms, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles.
Some doctors believe that cavitations may somehow inhibit the body from detoxifying mercury efficiently, even with chelators. There needs to be further research in this area as to whether this is really true. Up to thirty percent of neuralgia-affected patients research tends to indicate NICO has a strong tendency to recur or develop at additional sites requiring additional surgeries. There is no age selection described in the research to indicate that this is true for all ages or whether this applies to those who do not have neuralgia related complaints.
THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR SUCCESS
Diet and lifestyle change is imperative for lasting benefits of chelation therapy, so chelation is only part of the curative process. When choosing your foods, be sure to avoid additives, preservatives, artificial flavorings, colorings, and minimize exposure to processed foods of any kinds. Of course, it is always best to use organic foods whenever possible. For more details, ask for our recommended diets.
