Removing Mercury/Silver Amalgam Fillings is Only the First Step
Heavy metals are absorbed by the body through the foods that we eat, fluids that we drink, through skin contact and directly into the lungs through inhalation. Over time as metals of dental restorations deteriorate due to use and/or trauma these heavy metals can leach into the bloodstream. Once absorbed by the body heavy metals can cause health issue ranging from headaches, bone aches, memory loss, skin discoloration and a myriad of other ailments and conditions.
Compounding exposure from mercury/silver amalgam fillings, over 6,000 tons of mercury enters the environment each year via industrial emissions like coal plants and naturally through volcanic ash. We are additionally exposed to it through immunizations, cooked and canned fish and many other sources.
Heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, arsenic and uranium are among the most serious environmental poisons we are exposed to every day. Another heavy metal you may be familiar with is lead, which is found in old paint, dust residues, lipstick and toys from China. Disturbingly tests now confirm that our bones have 1,000 times more lead than our ancestors of 500 years ago.
And, for those of us who are unfortunate enough to have both mercury and lead in our systems, the level of toxicity is magnified 100 times. In the face of this onslaught, and to maintain optimum health, it seems imperative to detoxify these heavy metals from the body.
Detoxification Removes Heavy Metals
Detoxification is one of the more widely used treatments and concepts in alternative medicine, and it is a process many biological dentists recommend for removing heavy metals from the body, following the removal of amalgam fillings. The science of detoxification is based on the principle that illnesses can be caused by the accumulation of toxic substances (toxins) in the body and from the biological dentist’s perspective eliminating exposure by removing metal fillings and then avoiding new toxins is an essential part of the healing process.
Adopting a detoxification routine can be particularly important for those patients suffering from many chronic diseases and conditions. It is helpful for those with conditions that are influenced by environmental factors and for those suffering from allergies or immune system problems that conventional medicine is unable to diagnose or treat. Detoxification can be considered a beneficial preventative measure and as a tool to increase overall health, vitality, and resistance to disease.
Symptoms for those suffering conditions caused by heavy metals may include:
- unexplained fatigue
- increased allergies
- hypersensitivity to common materials
- intolerance to certain foods and indigestion
- aches and pains
- low grade fever
- headaches
- insomnia
- depression
- sore throats
- sudden weight loss or gain
- lowered resistance to infection
- general malaise
- disability
Supporting the Process
There are certain avenues called excretory routes that the body naturally uses to eliminate toxins. The lymphatic system works to scavenge the blood for toxins, the lungs try to exhale the toxins, the large intestines dump toxins via the feces, the liver detoxifies everything and the kidneys filter the urine. The act of sweating removes toxins through the skin. These excretory routes help keep our bodies healthy in an otherwise toxic world.
Heavy metal detoxification can be a long process that can take six months to several years to accomplish and chelation therapy is often used to rid the body of heavy metals. Chelates are specific chemical and natural compounds that work by binding to heavy metals to speed their elimination. Chelating agents not only bind to mercury and other heavy metals, but they also bind with minerals normally found in the body, minerals it needs to perform daily cellular functions. Therefore, including a vitamin and mineral supplement routine is very important while undergoing a detoxification procedure.
Preparing to remove heavy metal toxins takes some consideration and a little planning. For instance, drinking enough water is essential – without proper hydration toxins will get thicker and become more difficult to remove. The human body is created to function best when it is provided plenty of water to clean the debris on a daily basis. Avoid drinking water at meals as this dilutes the natural digestive enzymes. Drinking no more than 4 oz at a 15 minute interval will allow time for the tissues to absorb the water and sipping water with a little lemon or lime is a great habit to get into.
To support the elimination of toxins, a person’s bowels should move at least once a day, EVERY day. Herbal laxatives and high fiber foods such as psyllium seeds may be taken to cleanse the digestive tract and promote elimination. Colonics can be used to cleanse the lower intestines. Because so many dental toxins from root canals and cavitation sites inhibit the body from being able to produce some vital enzymes it is important to replace those enzymes through supplements. Digestive enzymes can also be used to improve digestion, and acidophilus and other friendly bacteria can be reintroduced into the system with nutritional supplements readily available in the dairy section of most grocery stores.
Other Methods Used to Augment Some of the Detox Programs
A DMPS (Dimercaptopropane sulfonate) challenge can be done by your dentist or health practitioner after silver metal amalgams are removed and to document levels of heavy metals. DMPS use forms complexes with heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead, copper, silver, tin and others and is then excreted through the kidneys.
EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetate) can also be employed to help remove the mercury. The most important rule to observe when using EDTA is to take the treatment slowly. Multiple treatments will typically be needed.
Nutritional supplementation is essential for insuring health during the chelation process. Chelating agents not only bind to the mercury, but they also bind with minerals the body needs in order to be healthy and to perform daily cellular functions. Taking vitamins and minerals to replace those being removed in the process of chelation is a necessity.
Sauna Detox
“Dry sauna” has been used for centuries to reverse the symptoms of mercury poisoning in the miners of Spain. A person diagnosed with acute mercury poisoning was prescribed a daily 20 minute dry sauna. This method of detoxifcation also saves the kidney from being overworked, as toxins are removed through the pores. Dry sauna is very effective in mercury poisoning due to the fact that mercury content is higher in sweat when compared to urine output. In other words, sweating is more efficient in flushing mercury out of the body.
Sweating
The skin is the detoxification system of the body with the largest surface area of elimination. Sweating can also be induced by doing light exercises for about 20 minutes three times a day. Following exercise, a low-heat sauna or spending time under low-heat infrared lights will encourage additional sweating. With this method it is important to make sure to consume adequate amounts of fluid to avoid dehydration, and to encourage elimination. Electrolytes are also lost during the sweating process which can be replaced by drinking grape juice, prune juice and vegetable juices.
Supplements for Heavy Metal Detox
Methionine:
Methionine is an amino acid that assists in the digestive system’s ability to remove heavy metals from the body since it can be converted to cysteine, which is a precursor to gluthione, a substance of prime importance in detoxifying the liver. The amino acid methionine is also a great antioxidant as the sulfur it supplies neutralizes free radicals. Some studies have also indicated that taking methionine may increase the body’s ability to excrete mercury in the urine by as much as 60 percent compared to those patients not taking the amino acid supplement.
Milk Thistle (silymarin):
Silymarin protects the liver against toxins which could potentially be damaging to the organ. This supplement also increases the production of glutathione inside the liver, a vital substance for the detoxification of the liver. In one study, milk thistle use raised the glutathione levels in the body more than 30 percent; meaning that the liver was more effective at cleansing the body and eliminating toxic substances.
Cilantro:
Cilantro has been found to remove heavy metals like mercury, aluminum and lead from the body. It is believed to cross the blood-brain barrier and actually remove heavy metals from the brain. The contention that cilantro is a powerful chelation agent is based on the research of Dr. Yoshiaki Omura, President and Founder of the International College of Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics and Director of Medical Research of the Heart Disease Research Foundation.
Chlorella:
This is a super food that captures heavy metals in the body so that they can be flushed out via the digestive system. Chlorella is actually a cultivated algae that consists of phytoplankton (free floating aquatic plants that are derived from plankton). It contains vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin A, protein, iron, and 19 different amino acids. When used to detoxify the body, chlorella helps to deactivate heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium and flushes them from the system naturally. The algae are available in many forms including liquids, powders, capsules and tablets.
Vitamin C, administered through an IV drip or taken orally in various forms, is a common component in the detox protocol.
Soaking in a bath tub full of hot water with baking soda and epsom salt is another popular addition to the protocols addressed above.
It is important to keep in mind that detoxification is a process and that individuals may have varied responses to similar treatments. Rather than getting confused or frustrated with the varieties of detox programs, rejoice that there are so many practitioners using so many varied protocols that appear to be helpful and successful.