IF YOU ARE HEAVY, it could be making you sick and tired and age prematurely. And I don’t mean heavy with fat … I mean heavy with heavy metals–like mercury. Unfortunately, toxic mercury problems are common. Along with polar bears, beluga whales, ducks, otters, panthers, and all river fish as well as most large ocean fish, we humans are poisoning ourselves with mercury at ever increasing rates.
There’s no doubt about it, mercury is the most alarming, disease-causing source of environmental toxicity that I see daily in my practice. Many of patients have toxic levels of mercury–and they’re not alone. I personally suffered from mercury toxicity and chronic fatigue syndrome–which I cured myself from, in part by getting rid of the mercury in my body. So I know about this first hand.
I became toxic because I polluted myself by growing up on tuna fish sandwiches, eating sushi, living in Beijing, which heats all its homes with coal–the major source of environmental mercury load–and having a mouthful of amalgam (a.k.a. mercury) fillings.
All of these exposures, combined with genes that prevent me from effectively detoxifying metals in my body, led to a slow and significant poisoning of my cells and mitochondria. And the effects were obvious …
I felt weak, tired, and couldn’t think. I had muscle pain and twitches, insomnia, digestive problems, food allergies, depression, and anxiety. And it was only by discovering high levels of mercury in my hair and urine — and slowly detoxifying myself — that I was able to get better.
I have seen this over and over in my patients, too. From chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, to depression, anxiety, obesity, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, heart failure, and heart disease, the message is clear …
We are being poisoned!
Mercury is lipophilic, meaning that it concentrates in fatty tissues, especially in the brain, which is made mostly of fat.
This is such an important public health and personal issue for so many people I want to fully explain the extent of mercury issues and give you a comprehensive plan for reducing your exposure and healing from mercury toxicity. I’ll show you the science behind mercury toxicity, share some stories about my patients who have suffered, and talk about the way we need to deal with this major health problem.
First, I’d like to share with you what I learned at one of the most important international conferences on mercury yet to be held. It was called “The Impact of Mercury on Human Health and the Environment” and was presented at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans.
There, a unique international group of policymakers, environmental scientists, toxicologists, biochemists, journalists, academic physicians, practicing pediatricians, neurologists, and dentists gathered.
We were there to make sense of the environmental impact, toxicology, basic science, public policy and health implications of one the least studied and perhaps greatest potential threats to our long-term health–mercury. And I want to share some of what I learned at that conference with you.
Mercury Levels Are on the Rise
Barry Kohl, Ph.D. is an adjunct professor in the department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Tulane University. At the conference he provided a unique overview of the impact of industrialization on environmental mercury levels through a description of the levels of mercury in the ice core extracted from the pristine Freemont Glacier in Wyoming.
There were small peaks in mercury concentration in the ice core from the 1815 Tambora volcanic eruption in Indonesia, the 1850-84 gold rush in California where mercury was used for smelting, the eruption in 1883 of the Sumatran volcano Krakatau 10,000 miles away, and the more recent Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980.
Over all, the changes in environmental mercury levels have been dramatic. Over the past 100 years, there has been a 30-fold increase in mercury deposition, 70 percent of which is from human sources. In fact, there was an exponential peak in mercury occurring in the last 40 years due to major industrialization. Much of this mercury comes from coal-fired industrial plants and from chlor-alkali plants that use mercury in the process of making chlorine used in plastics, pesticides, PVC pipes, and more.
One note of hope was the reduction in industrial mercury emissions from 220 million pounds to 120 million pounds a year over the last 10 years. But that’s small consolation when we’re talking about a substance that is toxic in parts per million, not in millions of pounds.
And the more mercury we are exposed to, the more we are likely we are to be toxic.
Risk Increases with Dose
Harvey Clewell from the ENVIRON Health Sciences Institute, Ruston, Louisiana, reviewed the epidemiologic studies from the Seychelles and Faroe islands. He showed that your risk of toxicity increases with higher doses of mercury.
Now, there are different types of mercury. Nearly all human exposures to one type, methylmercury, come from fish.
In the Seychelle Islands, there seemed be little effect on kids from mercury; however their fish consumption was predominately from low-risk small reef fish that don’t contain much mercury.
On the other hand, in the Faroe Islands people eat whale blubber, which contains high levels of mercury — over three parts per million. There, high levels of mercury were found in umbilical cord blood and correlated with reduced performance in neurologic testing in 917 mother-infant pairs.
The health effects from methyl mercury upon infants and children depend on the dose. Severe symptoms start with exposure to doses of 100 mcg/kg/day, mild symptoms with more than 10 mcg/kg/day, and sub-clinical symptoms with less than 1 mcg/kg/day. These symptoms include late development in walking and talking and decreased performance on neurological tests.
Dr. Clewell also reviewed the limitations of various forms of testing for mercury.
Methylmercury (also called organic mercury) is found predominately in red blood cells, which is what doctors check when they do a blood test for mercury. But unless you’ve been eating fish with mercury recently, you won’t see your total body level of mercury.
Plus, mercury is lipophilic, meaning that it concentrates in fatty tissues, especially in the brain, which is made mostly of fat. That means that blood levels aren’t an accurate measurement of total body burden of mercury.
Inorganic mercury from dental fillings (amalgams) is found in plasma but is rapidly cleared and stored in your tissues. Inorganic mercury is also converted from methylmercury by the body and is the main form of mercury in brain, which can lead to dementia, autism, ADHD and more.
All of these are reasons you need to get comprehensive testing done to assess you total mercury load. I will review the test you need in a moment, but first I want to talk about how mercury gets in your body and what it does to your body and brain.
Health Effects of Mercury
We get mercury in our bodies from many different sources including mercury vapors in ambient air, ingesting it via drinking water, fish, dental amalgams, vaccines, occupational exposures, home exposures including fluorescent light bulbs, thermostats, batteries, red tattoo dye, skin-lightening creams, over-the-counter products such as contact lens fluid and neosynephrine, and more.
You absorb about 80 percent of inhaled mercury vapor and nearly 100 percent of the mercury in fish through your gut.
Once this mercury is in your body it is then primarily distributed in the kidneys and brain and can be readily transferred to the fetus via the placenta.
The only way it can get out of your body is via urine, feces, expired air, and breast milk. The major reason it is toxic to human biology is because mercury has the ability to bind to sulfur-containing molecules in the body (found in nearly every enzyme and in the mitochondria), as well as other chemical binding sites in the cells.
We’ve learned a lot about how this mercury effects us and our children from reported exposures to mercury over the last 100 years. These include epidemics such as the Minimata Bay exposures in Japan, acrodynia or pink disease in children from calomel (HgCl) used in teething powder, “mad hatter syndrome” or erethism, and methylmercury fungicide grain seed exposures in Iraq and Pakistan.
The symptoms and diseases these exposures have caused are varied and mimic many other conditions. Nervous system toxicity can cause erethism (“mad hatter syndrome” as mentioned above) with symptoms of shyness; laughing, crying, and dramatic mood swings for no apparent reason; nervousness, insomnia, memory problems, and the inability to concentrate.
Other neurologic symptoms may include encephalopathy (non-specific brain malfunction), nerve damage, Parkinsonian symptoms, tremor, ataxia (loss of balance), impaired hearing, tunnel vision, dysarthria (slurred speech), headache, fatigue, impaired sexual function, and depression.
Kidney toxicity leads to proteinura (protein in the urine) and acute renal failure.
Gastrointestinal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and colitis.
Skin toxicity causes allergic dermatitis, chelitis (cracked corners of the mouth), gingivitis (gum disease), stomatitis (sores in the mucous membranes of the mouth) and excessive salivation.
Clearly, mercury toxicity is VERY serious business!
Dentistry and Mercury
One of the more controversial sources of mercury toxicity is dental fillings. Silver dental fillings, or amalgams, contain inorganic mercury. Mercury exposure from amalgams is estimated to be between 3 to 17 micrograms per day from chewing, brushing, grinding, and even slow corrosion.
Questions have arisen about whether or not this amount is toxic … I am going to clear up the confusion here.
A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found no significant neurologic or behavioral changes in children who had mercury amalgam (silver) fillings, compared to kids who had composite (white) fillings placed. But there were significant problems with that study …
First, the duration of the study was short and the effects subtle. Second, they failed to emphasize the significance of the fact that the kids who had the silver fillings had much higher levels of mercury in their urine than the kids with white fillings.
This is one of the most important details of that study, because it proves that mercury fillings in your mouth release mercury vapor that is absorbed into your body, ending up in your urine. It is deposited in your organs, including your brain, where it accumulates over time.
Whether your fillings are new or old, the mercury in them is constantly absorbed into your body. And even if you stop being exposed to that mercury, it sticks around. It takes up to 18 years for the body to clear half of the dose of mercury from the body. Once mercury is in the body it comes out only VERY slowly.
In fact, people with amalgam fillings have significantly elevated blood mercury levels, three to five times more mercury in the urine, and two to twelve times more mercury in their tissues than those without amalgam fillings.
However blood and urine mercury levels don’t necessarily relate to the mercury load in your body tissues or severity of clinical symptoms.
Research on sheep and monkeys with dental amalgams has shown that blood mercury levels remained low — even though their tissue mercury levels were raised.
Urine mercury levels aren’t much better as an indicator of your total mercury load. They mainly reflect the cumulative dose of inorganic mercury in the kidneys and there exists only a very weak correlation with levels in other target tissues.
Another speaker at the conference, Mike Robichaux, a practicing dentist, reviewed his experience with removal of amalgams fillings. He showed a remarkable video of mercury vapor being released from a 25-year-old tooth. You can watch it on the website of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.
But other dentists aren’t so concerned. In fact, the American Dental Association still says it is safe to use mercury or silver fillings. That’s something I’ve always wondered about, since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers old mercury fillings that have been removed from the body toxic waste that has to be disposed as such.
Let me put this another way. It’s apparently all right to put mercury fillings in your mouth — but not to throw them out in the garbage!
The danger of amalgam fillings has been confirmed by research from around the world.
At the conference, Anders Lindvall, M.D., from the Foundation for Metal Biology in Sweden, reported his work on the health effects of dental amalgams and presented a review of the controversial literature on dental amalgams and human health.
Many of his patients reported a symptom complex consistent with chronic fatigue syndrome that they believed were related to dental amalgams. So in 1990, Dr. Lindvall began a study at Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden to diagnose and treat 796 patients with suspected amalgam-related illness and to develop and evaluate diagnostic tools to assess toxicity from dental amalgams. (i)
Besides conventional measures of quality of life and symptoms, unique laboratory assessments were used to determine the presence and immunological toxicity of metals.
One was PIXE, an accelerator-based test on single blood cells that assesses intracellular levels of trace elements, which showed that, in lymphocytes (white blood cells), mercury is found in the nucleus, particularly in places where zinc is low.
The other was MELISA, a test of lymphocyte reactivity to metal compounds. (ii)
Dr. Lindvall’s patients were treated with antioxidants (B complex vitamins, vitamins C and E, and selenium); infections and jaw dysfunction were addressed; and selective removal of any incompatible dental material was performed using low-emission amalgam removal techniques and bio-compatible materials to replace the amalgams.
The cost of these procedures was covered by national health insurance.
Laboratory follow up at one year showed over 70 percent of patients reported significant improvement in symptoms after amalgam removal!
Unfortunately, this study had some problems too …
The clinic was closed after the study was published, so there was no further access allowed to the records, which contained over 1,000 untreated patients who could have served as a control group. And since 1999, amalgam dental restorations in Sweden are no longer covered by insurance.
But Dr. Lindvall’s study still suggests that silver amalgams can cause health problems — and that removing the fillings can help relieve these problems.
And other studies have had similar effects.
Research has found that patients with chronic fatigue and autoimmune thyroiditis show improvement in their health status after their amalgam fillings are replaced with composites. (iii)
In another study, 71 percent of people with autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, improved after amalgam removal. Low-dose exposure to inorganic mercury may be a contributing factor in the development of autoimmune diseases. (iv)
Animal and lab studies suggest that exposure to metallic mercury may cause nerve cell damage and promote the production the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. (v)
Plus, we know that mercury levels in the human placenta correlate with the number of maternal amalgam fillings — and a substantial amount of mercury from amalgams reaches the fetus.
Worse, mercury from dental amalgams in pregnant women may also contribute to development of autism in their children. In one study, mothers of 94 autistic children had statistically more amalgam fillings during pregnancy than 49 mothers of healthy kids. (vi)
In contrast to their higher mercury exposure during pregnancy, these autistic children had reduced mercury levels in their first haircut (mercury exposure can be measured in human hair). This may reflect a reduced capacity to excrete mercury from their body, which in turn may lead to elevated brain mercury levels.
And approximately 20 percent of the general public may experience sub-clinical central nervous system and/or kidney function impairment due to amalgam fillings.
When taken collectively, the research forces us to question the safety of dental amalgams. In my view, there is no doubt about it … they are a danger.
But before you start yanking out your fillings, there is something else to consider …
Genetic Variations in the Ability to Detoxify
Some of us are very good at detoxifying mercury and other toxins, while some of us store toxins like a toxic waste dump. Genetic variations (called polymorphisms) make some people more prone to metal toxicity.
One gene in particular is very important because it’s related to the body’s production of glutathione, our most powerful detoxifier and antioxidant. Your body can only excrete mercury when it’s bound with glutathione.
The polymorphism of the gene that controls the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GSST) prevents excretion of mercury. That is the gene problem I have that led to my mercury toxicity. When that happens, the mercury stays in tissues and does damage. Plus, mercury also binds to key enzymes that help us produce glutathione — in effect helping itself accumulate in our bodies.
Research also shows that people suffering from symptoms like fatigue, irritability, mood disorders, poor concentration, headaches, and insomnia due to their amalgam fillings are more likely than their peers to have the apolipoprotein E 4 (ApoE 4) gene. (vii)
ApoE 4 is known as the “Alzheimer’s gene.” It also promotes heart disease. ApoE 4 reduces detoxifying activity. This means that people with this gene can’t get rid of mercury from their brains, contributing to its toxic effects on this organ.
I know this all sounds very depressing. And it is. But the good news is that there are things you can do to reduce your exposure — and identify if you have toxic levels of mercury. So let me sum up what we learned in this week’s blog and offer some suggestions for reducing your exposure.
10 Truths and Tips about Mercury Toxicity
- Industrial exposure to mercury is significant and mostly comes from coal burning (220 million pounds a year) and chlor-alkali plants.
- The main ways that humans are exposed to mercury are from contaminated fish and dental amalgams or silver fillings.
- Mercury can affect nearly all your organs, especially the brain, heart, kidneys, and gut.
- Many chronic diseases may be caused or worsened by mercury, including neurologic disease, ADHD, autism, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, and more.
- Some of us are genetically better adapted to detoxify mercury than others, leading to variable effects within the population.
- You should reduce your exposure by avoiding large ocean fish (like tuna, swordfish, shark, and tilefish) and river fish. Eat only small wild fish. If it fits in your pan, it is probably okay.
- Blood tests are relatively worthless for analyzing mercury toxicity, unless you have had a significant recent exposure or eat a lot of sushi or tuna.
- Hair tests only check for mercury from fish, not from fillings so they only give you a partial picture.
- The only way to find out your total body load of mercury is to take a medication with sulfur molecules that binds to the mercury like fly paper. This is called DMSA or DMPS. This test should ONLY be done by a trained physician and involves taking one dose of this medicine, followed by a 6- or 24-hour urine collection to see how much comes out. (In my opinion, the most reliable testing is done by Doctorsdata.com).
- If you are toxic and sick, you may consider addressing your dental health by seeing a biological dentist who can safely help you deal with mercury in your mouth.
Going to see a conventional dentist who drills out your fillings without any precautions or protection can lead to serious health consequences. I strongly advise against it. However, amalgam filling removal CAN be done safely and effectively done by a dentist trained in the correct techniques.
In this related post, I’ll give you more advice on how to safely eliminate the mercury in your body if you find you are toxic. Finding out if you are poisoned by mercury, limiting your exposures, and getting the mercury out of your body is absolutely critical if you want to achieve lifelong vibrant health.
If you would like to read more of the extensive research on the biologic effects of mercury and toxins on human health, please link to this extensive online bibliography. If you have any doubt about the evidence of harm across a broad range of health conditions of mercury, you must do your homework and review the research yourself.
Now I’d like to hear from you…
Do you think mercury toxicity is a legitimate health concern or a bogus problem?
Do you have any symptoms of mercury toxicity and what have you done about them?
Have you asked your doctor about mercury toxicity and if so, what was his/her response?
Are you exposed to many sources of mercury? What could you do to reduce your exposure?
Please let me know your thoughts by adding a comment below.
References
(i) Lindh U. Removal of dental amalgam and other metal alloys supported by antioxidant therapy alleviates symptoms and improves quality of life in patients with amalgam-associated ill health. Neuroendocrinology Letters 2002; 23(5/6):459-482.
(ii) Stejskal V. Metal-specific lymphocytes: biomarkers of sensitivity in man. Neuroendocrinology Letters 1999;20:289-298.
(iii) Sterzl I., et al. Mercury and nickel allergy: Risk factors in fatigue and autoimmunity. Neuroendocrinology Letters. 1999; 20: 221-228.
(iv) Prochazkova, J., et al. The beneficial effect of amalgam replacement on health in patients with autoimmunity. Neuroendocrinology Letters. 2004; 25(3): 211-218.
(v) Stejskal, J. and Stejskal, V. The role of metals in autoimmunity and the link to neuroendocrinology. Neuroendocrinology Letters. 1999; 20: 351-364.
(vi) Holmes, A.S., et al. Reduced levels of mercury in first baby haircuts of autistic children. International Journal of Toxicology. 2003. 22(4): 277-285.
(vii) Wojcik, D.P. et al. Mercury toxicity presenting as chronic fatigue, memory impairment, and depression: Diagnosis, treatment, susceptibility, and outcomes in a New Zealand practice setting (1994-2006). 2006. Neuroendocrinology Letters. 27(4): 415-423.
An excellent tool to gauge how much potential mercury is in the fish you are eating is the free on-line calculator found at http://www.gotmercury.org
Can you please give me the name of a dentist that can safetly removesilver dental filings located in the Atlanta, Ga area?
Thank you.
Elisa Roberts
Thank you for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
What, do you feel, is the degree of danger of the compact fluorescent light bulbs? Do you feel the risk of mercury exposure (from breakage) is worth the benefit of energy efficiency?
Dear Dr. Hyman,
Besides 20 or so mercury fillings starting at age 11, I had acute mercuric chloride poisoning when an exterminator used Calo-Chlor (banned commercial fungicide) to kill carpenter ants in my house in 1997, and five years of subsequent mercury vapour. My bill says only “Pesticide for Carpenter ants.” From 1997 to 2002, I saw 18 different medical professionals trying to get a handle on my increasing symptoms. They were good at pushing antidepressants and “blaming the victim”– co-dependent, stressed, depressed, menopausal, self-absorbed–then kicking me out of their offices when their Rx didn’t work or caused significant adverse effects.
In 2002, I tripped into Dr. John Cline’s office and began healing.
Dr. John Cline is an integrative medicine specialist in Nanaimo, BC, Canada (clinemedical dot com). He gave me a chelation challenge and discovered I had the highest mercury level he’d seen to date, as well as lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals. I had my remaining fillings removed, started DMPS chelation and changed my diet with slow but steady improvement in my health.
Mercury affected every part of my life.
First, it made me crazy with mood swings, extreme irritability, memory problems and brain fog. I lost friends, family, self-esteem, self-confidence, and my ability to learn new things and interact sanely with others.
Next, it destroyed my physical health: fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, systemic Candida. . .
And now, I’m electrically hypersensitive, easily affected by wifi/cell/microwave/cordless phone radio frequencies, electromagnetic radiation, dirty electricity from fluorescent lights and electronics. . .the list goes on. Apparently mercury (and other heavy metals) made me an antenna and I re-radiate whatever electrical energy is around me. (For more info, see magdahavas dot com and rewire dot me.)
If you have any EHS-specific health advice, I’d love to hear it (other than move to another planet, that is!).
The good part is I’ve become very efficient at recognizing mercury poisoning in others, saving some lives in the process. Thanks to Dr. Cline, I feel much better than I did in 2002. I’ve learned more than I ever wanted to know about house repairs and health, and still wouldn’t wish mercury poisoning on anyone.
Your book (UltraMind Solution) has become a part of my wellness library. Thank you for a most informative website.
Hi- Great post. Thanks. I was also mercury poisoned, among other environmental assaults, and came back to health through via a slow detox and years of holistic medicine- which is very similar to functional medicine. I now write about it (with humor) on my website Organic Janet
And in response to Elisa looking for a holistic dentist who safely removes mercury/amalgam fillings in Atlanta. Dr. Roberta Cann is terrific. She removed mine and was mercury toxic herself so she totally gets it.
Can you refer me to a doctor who will use proper lead and Hg free glassware to sample both blood and post challenge Hg and Pb urine levels? Sarasota FL area/and or Montclair New Jersey. Symptoms are hypertension, fatigue, depression. Thank you, MLM
Thank you for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Yes ! You can improve health by detoxification.
http://www.blog.parkinsonsrecovery.com/heavy-metal-toxicity-and-parkinsons-disease
If you have any EHS-specific health advice, I’d love to hear it (other than move to another planet, that is!).
THanks for your post!
Is there a trusted dentist in or around Central North Carolina that can properly remove mercury fillings?
Thanks you sincerely,
Christy
Thank you, Christy, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation. They may be able to suggest a dentist for you.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
If you need to find a dentist trained in how to properly remove silver fillings look for them on the IAOMT website. This is a group of bio-friendly dentists who are trained in how to do it.
I regret not taking the advise of my Dentist to have my mercury fillings removed from my mouth. He said they would eventually leak and I’d had them for nearly 20 years then. I thought to myself, yea, yea, yea…….. another way for the dentist to make $ money.
I learned the mercury was leaking in my mouth when my child was very young. Who knows how much mercury I had in my body when this child was developing? Recently my child was diagnosed with Autism and I wished I would have taken my dentists advise and allowed him to removed it before having a baby. I will always believe the mercury fillings are the reason, combined with all other mercury we are exposed to.
Dental Mercury should be banned, period. No further explanation necessary.
I recently took my 2 yr old daughter to get a filling. I assumed it would be white because I always got white as a child and I thought they automatically do white because no one asked me. Well all of a sudden the dentist hopped some silver stuff in there and I asked him why he used that and he said it’s stronger and faster for young kids. What bothers me more is that he said she had te start of another cavity and so he drilled that one and hopped it with silver too. I couldn’t even see a cavity there and neither could the assistant. So now of course I am worried about my poor 2 yr old who is being exposed mercury as I type. She doesn’t have any symptoms of anything but it still is on my mind all the time. And removing them seems like not such a great idea either. I’m in a catch 22. I’m so mad that I wasn’t given a choice of silver or white. I know her teeth will fall out when she’s like 10 (top molars) but that 8 yrs of mercury exposure. What should I do??? Should I get them removed and put white in? I’ve heard there’s BPA and formaldehyde in those ones.
Thank you, K, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Very informative post. I’ve heard more about mercury toxicity in people I know lately, so am interested in learning more on this subject.
My Doctor tested my blood for mercury and he said there is no evidence (I’ve asked for the protocol). What other tests can I have, and where is it likely to have traveled from dental amalgams? I understand swallowing and the mercury vapors are damaging…..but what part of the body.
I EVENTUALLY had mercury removed from my gums (lower both sides) and JAWBONE – I could not believe it, that was painful recovery too.
My regular Dentist ignored my curiosity at the dark marks on the xrays for YEARS, “oh don’t worry dear it’s just an amalgam tattoo”. Finally I got wise went to a Holistic Dentist and first thing he listed was removal of mercury tattoos!!!!
I know this is an emotional reaction but I now hate regular Dentists, I’ve never ‘hated’ people, thought they were bad but never ‘hated’ – look what I’ve been living with………..all these years, and this now explains other health issues!
Appreciate your help.
Sincerely,
Jeanne
Many thanks for this article! I was mercury loaded – a combination of unrecognised/undiagnosed build-up over years and an overdose courtesy of careless dental practices. Fortunately, after a detox, which continues still, I feel much better and I am very thankful to the person who was able to correctly diagnose what was troubling me as the doctors and dentists I’ve been seeing for about 30 years have not recognised what was happening or, worse, have chosen not to offer an appropriate diagnosis and course of treatment. Since being contacted by me with what I found via other sources, they have (surprise?) been in denial …. and so I continue to write to healthcare providers, politicians etc. in Austria … as this is where I currently live, although my story started in the UK and I also spent time (and was given partially incorrect advice) in Germany too …
Somehow I have the feeling that there’s big business and someone’s profits behind the unwillingness of healthcare providers to actually promote health for people … There are so many studies … and yet they are not being implemented into healthcare provision. Why?
If there are any healthcare providers out there who wish to prove me wrong, … please go ahead and ban the use of amalgam fillings and give the go-ahead for detox programmes for all patients/insured persons, not just those who can afford to purchase private healthcare and be treated privately by doctors/dentists.
Medical schools – change the training of dentists/doctors related to mercury. Educate them regarding nutrition and the effects of environmental toxins.
To (y)our good health! Dr Hyman – thank you! Please continue your work …
I totally agree with you. I have tried several detox solutions, getting rid of metals in my body through enemas using colloidal silver, had 13 fillings removed and replaced, and was suffering with stiff muscles, severe fibromyalgia, allergies and chronic bronchitis. I never knew that it is still ok to place mercury/metallic fillings in the mouth, but you cannot toss them in the garbage. Something doesn’t quite fit here.After about a year of this, I was blessed to feel and see the difference. I would love to be a part of researching info, or anything I can do here in Colorado to help spread the word and help people to heal themselves so they can live a long productive enjoyable life.
God Bless you,
Sincerely,
Lisa Vandenberg
I think the drug rehab programs that work the best are the long-term, residential ones. Getting out of a toxic environment into a healthy one gives the person a chance to pause and change his life.
I think the drug rehab programs that work the best are the long-term, residential ones. Getting out of a toxic environment into a healthy one gives the person a chance to pause and change his life.
I worked one summer for the government in about 1982. Out in the shop we had mercury for manometers. Somehow we dropped or spilled quite a bit (a cup or two maybe?) onto the concrete shop floor and it went everywhere – we swept it up with brooms and dust pans. I doubt we got it all out of the concrete floor. Don’t remember what we did with it after gathering it up. I think we played with it in our hands for one thing!!
I don’t remember how long I worked there after that, or even how many times it happend, or how much time I spent in the shop – I don’t think it was a lot over the summer.
Anyway, now I’m in my 50s, I’m still functioning but have some symptoms: depression, memory loss, difficulty concentrating and thinking (seems to be getting worse), always tired (probably from staying up until 2 am on the internet!).
I now eat tuna a few times per week.
Could these symptoms be caused by the mercury inhalation 31 years ago? Which is more likely to cause damage – tuna now or inhalation then?
Later, about 1987, at another job I had the opportunity to breathe high concentrations of 1,1,1 Trichloroethane (Methy Chloroform) used in degreasers. I did that for just a few hours per day for a few days I think. Not sure if that could be affecting my thinking power.
What should I do? Should I tell my doctor to do an MRI and see if I have any brain left?! I don’t tell this stuff to the doctor otherwise it could affect getting life or health insurance. You know how it goes, corporate greed and all……
Please answer on this forum, not via email since I gave a fake email address.
Thanks for any advice.
I asked my Doctor if he could do a mercury toxicity test. His reply.”I never heard of such a thing.’Sad but true.
I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome as a teenager. Nobody could tel me why. Over the many years since I have lost iq points. I have a mouth full of mercury-silver fillings starting at age 11or12 . This makes sense. My husband loves to eat fish, but fish such as swordfish has always made me sick. I would also have terrible headaches after eating. Thanks for the insight.
I tested extreme for mercury and lead. Off the page high. I already take iodine (150 mg, 5 days a week) because I work in a brominated, chlorinated, flourinated pool. To this, we have added Prophra-Zyme 7 days a week as well as Taurine and physphytidal choline every day. Once a week I am taking 250 mg of DMSA. This has resulted in improvement in cognitive function and energy…sometimes. It has also resulted in more crashing, infections, and virus set backs including shingles. If you have any suggestions on how to even things out so I don’t have these huge swings (crashing), I would love to hear them. I know I can’t quit but honestly, I may end up losing my job with the way things are going….
Thank you, Karen, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dr Hyman, As I am sure you are aware, there is a website that specifically blasts the Drs data lab for the post challenge urine mercury levels test. The website says that there is no norms established for a challenge mercury level, especially if the test is only over 6 and not 24 hours. It further says that virtually everyone who does this challenge test for just 6 hours will have elevated levels of mercury. Do you have anything to share with your readers to refute this websites data or is there an alternate test for mercury levels with well established norms? Thanks, Cathy
My sister is 2002 generation,and that was the year when,by mistake,many vaccines with mercury were given to the newborns here in Bosnia.Soon she’ll be 9,and she’s not talking.She was a little bit late with her first steps too,she started to walk in 12th month,I think.And that is late.She’s also very hyperactive.She can’t hold still for a second,and she’s also violent when we have visitor, or when we visit someone. The authorities won’t talk about it,and they say it’s just a rumor,but I know many other families have similar problems with their children.And now we’re on our own.Can you please help me?I’m desperate.
Thank you, lost, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dear Sir:
Excellent informations about mercury toxicology. My congratulations by the great collboration teaching us how to defense our health against mercury aggression. What i not understand is by what reason mercury is not prohibited in all the countries around the world in questions as mercury uses in denistry. Already are published many good papers showing the reality of this problem of human health. Will be possible you explain to me the real situation
Sorry by the trouble. but I thanks very much your kind attention
My daugther gets her urine test -polymorphins-sent to france and stool with doctorsdata, and I can see the results, finally after putting her on DMSA she is getting some of the mercury out, and by the way she is talking and acting better, yes she has austism, pls continue to educate people so they will know why they are ill
hopefully traditional medicine will catch up and not deny the truth
Hello Dr. Hyman,
I am so grateful for The Daniel Plan with Saddleback Church and all that I am learning from you. Thank you so very much!
Please let me know how to safely remove mercury. I have high levels as well as lead. I became not well after having several silver fillings from mouth removed with the exception of one within just a couple of weeks. I went in to have the last one removed and I could not handle going forward with it as I had started to feel very badly. It is now 3 years later and I am now feeling well.
Warmest regards,
Debra
I have some information about a couple of suggestions in the article:
1. Removing mercury by clearing out mercury fillings from you teeth: though this works for some, for many others, it can do irreparable harm unless it is shortly (about 1-2) followed up with a detox process called chelation (See yahoo groups on chelation, in particular, the Dr Andy Cutler chelation protocol (Cutler is not a medical doctor but a PhD in biochemistry who has extensively studied mercury detox)
2. Dr Andy Cutler believes that the DMPS challenge tests (Doctors Data) are unreliable and potential v. harmful. See also dmpsbackfire.com
On both the above points, I speak from personal experience. Not having chelated in time, and having taken the DMPS urine challenge tests, I am suffering inordinately at this time.
Dr Hyman,
Can we detox by taking MSM supplements? In general how long does it take to rid mercury or excess copper from the body viz detoxification?
Thank you.
To properly detoxify, I recommend you follow the protocols in The UltraSimple Diet http://store.drhyman.com/Store/Show/Books/761/The-UltraSimple-Diet-Book-Kickstart-Your-Metabolism-and-Safely-Lose-Up-to-10-Pounds-in-Seven-Days.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dear Dr. Hyman:
I am the mother of 15 year old boy with Autism, I am convienced the cause was the mercury in his vaccines. Is it too late to get a detox for him? Is the detox, as I have heard, dangerous?
Thank you
Hello,
The author asked to comment if mercury toxicity is a real health concern and I am here to say unequivocally YES! My story is long, so I’ll break it down to relevance.. 3 years ago I noticed a problem with my coordination. I could never find the cause of it, then last December of 2010 my speech became impaired. I started slurring like I had been drinking.
I became extremely concerned at this point, and went to see a neurologist to make sure I wasn’t having a stroke, or the onset of a disease like MS. My symptoms were very much like MS, that was my biggest concern. During this past January I had an MRI, bloodwork and a nerve test done. At the end of the month I met with the neuro and he said everything checked out fine. My brain was fine, as was my blood, and whatever it was I had did not cause nerve damage.
While this was a major relief of course I still didn’t have an answer to exactly what was wrong with me. Thru online research (google) I found that my symptoms were also indicative of mercury toxicity. I asked my holistic Dr. if I could be tested and he said sure, c’mon in. He tested me with a DMPS challenge as described in this article.
He called me back two weeks later with the results and said I spit out a LOT of mercury. He had me come in for additional testing, including elctro-dermal screening. Turns out we finally nailed it, it was indeed mercury, and the source was from my six amalgam fillings from when I was a kid (I am a 48 year old male).
In March I had all my amalgams removed and replaced with a composite by a specialist, and am now undergoing a mercury detox/chelation with my doctor, who ironically turns out had the same thing. His symptoms were different, mostly immune system problems which I do not have, but he chelated himself and returned to normal. He says it took him about 9 months to feel better. I’m sure everyone is different so there is no telling how long mine will take, but I can’t WAIT to be normal again. I had/have other symptoms too.. chronic fatigue is the most noticeable. It has gotten better, but somedays it is still there. I also had a metallic taste in my mouth. This was getting worse, and a few weeks before I had the almgams out it was really bad, sometimes causing me to gag. After amalgam removal though I am happy to say that at least is completely gone.
It is late May 2011 as I write, I had my fillings out in mid March and have been in my detox now for going on 3 months. I take a lot of supplements that help loosen the mercury and I go in for a shot of DMPS once monthly to hopefully excrete more and more. That is the short version of what I am doing. If someone undergoes this process it is important to learn as much as possible, which is tricky because there is a lot of disinformation out there.
But to repeat my original comment, yes, mercury poisoning from dental amalgam DEFINITELY exists, and is more probably more prevalent than is talked about. It is difficult to diagnose and mimics the symptoms of a lot of other diseases, particularly MS and fibromyalgia. My sincere sympathy goes out to anyone that is being treated by a misguided Dr. for a disease they do not have that is actually mercury poisoning. They are probably making things worse if they are being improperly medicated.
One last thing.. to say that I’m pissed off about this is an understatement. My condition was completely avoidable, and was done to me as a child when me and my parents trusted a ‘professional’ with my care. He chose to fill my mouth with one of the most toxic substances known to man. I have read that the amount of mercury in two average size fillings is enough to close a ten acre lake. When mine were removed the dentist had to wear an oxygen mask and had to dispose of the amalgams as toxic waste. Yet apparently it is safe enough to put in a child’s mouth. For life. Unbelievable..
I will end by saying good luck, seriously, to anyone trying to get this crap out of their body.
Damian
Hi,
What, do you feel, is the degree of danger of the compact fluorescent light bulbs? Do you feel the risk of mercury exposure (from breakage) is important since I have been exposed in the beginning of May and I had health issues from it, I thought it would go away on its own, but after a few days I had to see a doctor which did not really help but after a saw a naturopath (I leave in Montreal, Quebec province), my english is not perfect, but I thought I would write to get your opinion on this. My eyes are still swollen in the morning which makes me sleep more and it seems my skin is darker on top of my eyes and feel sensibility. I wonder if I should take some tests but here in Quebec, I don’t know what would be better, do you recommend something for me? Thanks
linda@gestion-zorteck.com
Thank you, Linda, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Hi! Yes, I truly believe in mercury toxicity…I am being treated myself from a Naturpath and am wondering just how long it really takes to get rid of. Also, I am on Zeolite and Chlorella. Do you know how affective these are really? I did some research online but would love to hear from another live source if I could!! When i take the Zeolite, it seems to keep me up at night with bad sleep. Very frustrating. Thanks, Sara
Dear Dr.Hyman,
Thank you for this important and true article about Mercury. I am a professional skin therapist in the Netherlands and I am for several years aware of the danger of Mercury in dental fillings. 1,5 year ago I let my 12 mercury fillings removed by a bio-friendly dentist, so I was sure of safe removing. Because of my physical problems (allergy, lost of energy, problems with memory and emotions) I took the stap to say goodbye to this poison in my mouth. Since then – after a while – I have less problems, more energy and slowly I recover from bad health. Now I am writing a book about skin problems and skin therapy and I surely will use your advice in my book, so I want to thank you again for bringing out these kind of important health information.
Kind regards from the Netherlands,
Marcelline Goyen
skin therapist, BHS
Being always a very practical,down to earth Brit, i never had much time for alternative therapies. I, believed the body usually had it’s own way of sorting out problems and if not, conventional medicine did the trick.
Two years ago,without dramatising,became a descent into hell,starting with innocent looking sores around the mouth.there followed all the descriptions of what, with a friends help on the net, i came to know as “morgellons” including the fine strands from the skin.
Two years on, and i am convinced that this phenomenon and mercury poisoning, are one and the same.
Without going into boring detail, and trying not to become consumed by the horrendous nature of the condition,i am doing my best to sensibly contend with it every day.
What i do not know(apart from myriad other things related to the affliction and why it isnt recognised) is, how long does it take to eliminate the mercury from the system,will i notice a gradual improvement having had the amalgam removed and taking supplements, or as i suspect,is it so variable as to not be worthwhile wondering this, and just try to get through each day?
This is my first time communicating over the internet, and only desperation has forced me.My GP maintains that “these conditions are internet generated”, a position commonly held.
I only hope the future will prove this profoundly wrong and sufferers are finally vindicated.Until such time, i suffer in relative silence.
Hi Carmel, thank you for your comment and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s website. It is wonderful that you reached out and wrote about your condition, we hope you find some relief in the other comments on the site as well as other articles Dr. Hyman has written on this topic. Please read this article for additional infomation: http://drhyman.com/blog/conditions/how-to-rid-your-body-of-mercury-and-other-heavy-metals-a-3-step-plan-to-recover-your-health/.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
I have had mercury filling for 25 years now and I think I do feel it in my brain…so you are saying that just pulling them out is not a good remedy? I ahve had a few pulled out, so what do you think have been the effects? Can I detoxify myself even without testing the levels? What is a good way to detoxify? Is Chlorella a good remedy even if I am taking Iron for anemia?
Hi Sarah, thank you for your interest in Dr. Hyman’s website and for writing to us. Please take a look at : http://drhyman.com/blog/conditions/how-to-rid-your-body-of-mercury-and-other-heavy-metals-a-3-step-plan-to-recover-your-health/ for assistance with detoxification.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
I had 14 amalgams removed 6 years ago because my doctor thought they were connected to fetid scalp odor. Since that time I have chelated with everything you could possibilty imagine and the odor remains. The post above said it takes 18 years to excrete mercury. I wonder if it means naturally without chelation?
I recently read of the Huffington Post that there is a condition they call Smelly Scalp syndrome. I believe there is a direct correlation btw amalgams and this condition. The question is how do you remove it from the brain? Interestingly enough I can only smell the odor when I am eating or touching cilantro, an herb that mobilizes but does not help the body to excrete mercury. It is usually taken in tandem with chlorella which moves it out through feces. I have followed this protocol along with ALA, DMSA, DMPS injections, neural therapy, but no break yet. Anyone know what to do about this condtion?
This article was a waste of time. He just kept rambling about mercury toxicity , but never got to the point of “how to get ride of it ” !
So if you already have cancer or Parkinsons is it safe to chelate? Where in Atlanta can I find a functional medicine doctor?
Thank you, Ella, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. We cannot give medical advise over the Internet, please consult a physician for answers.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Hi. I only became aware of mercury poisoning from researching allergic reactions after having a reaction myself to tuna. I have been eating large quantities of fish (mainly tuna, salmon and sushi) all my life and could not work out how i reacted so badly to tuna steak this one time. My immediate symptoms after ingestion included pressure in my head, extremely hot, red skin with white blotches, nausea, severe diarrhea and shaking until my teeth clattered.
symptoms i have experienced for couple years which i suspect might be linked to heavy metal poisoning and candida, which i heard go h and diarrhea; and in hand in(which i thought were normal!!):
halitosis (despite thorough oral hygiene); tonsil stones; white coated tongue; abdominal pains; constipation and diarrhea; feeling achey in muscles and joints; random twitching especially in left eye; lethargic; irritable; unsociable; brown patches on skin; bad acne; headache; dizzy. Does this sound like mercury poisoning to you? Does it make sense to have an allergic reaction to mercury even if mercury is already building up in my body? Please advise, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Lisa, we cannot advise you regarding a medical condition online. Please consult your physician and consider a test for mercury levels.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Hi Lisa I read your post and thought your symptoms were interesting. I too suffer from strange various symptoms very similar to what you have. I suffered from diarrhea, constipation, muscle twitches, headaches, acne, light headedness, eczema, bloating, and multiple food sensivities( I can only tolerate 10 iteams total). To this day I still suffer from most of these symptoms the only thing that has improved is the diarrhea/constipation. I have been taking a probiotic which has helped with those symptoms and has allowed me to add a couple of new foods to my diet. I am planning on removing my amalgam filling in a couple of wks and starting dmsa. I plan on trying this for a year to see if my syptoms improve any. I’m sure some of your symptoms will improve with a quality probiotc( one that needs refrigeration and doesn’t contain a bunch of added junk). It will probably be somewhat expensive, but it is worth it. Hope this helps and good luck with finding a cure!
Sorry, i forgot another symptom which has been an on-and-off bother for many years. Problems with heart beat, sometimes ill have palpitations for no apparent reason and sometimes it will randomly beat irregularly, missing or adding a beat here and there. I should add that Im 21 years of age and have been on birth control pills since 16 (yasmin, Dianette and microgynin) andtook antibiotics for my acne at 15/16. Hope to hear from you soon, Lisa
Hi Lisa, thank you for your message. Your symptoms indicate you should consult with your physician.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Hello,
I was recently diagnosed with Grover’s Disease. I have been an avid exercise enthuisist for over 20 years, I am a vegan, and I eat very well. I was shocked to read that mercury could be the main cause of the Grover’s. I’ve been experiencing symptoms for about a year now, including a horrible rash that itches, burns, and hurts, insomnia, mood swings. and decreased libido. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with this. I think I need to get tested. Is there anything you can suggest to me at this point?
Thank you for your very informative article,
Michelle
Hi Michelle, thank you for your message. It sounds like testing would be a good first step.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
AI have been suffering nausea every day for the past 6 months and often get stomach aches, I have also had tremors and twitches in my body for the past 6 months. Each day i a battle with a basic weak feeling which I can only describe as having no substance to my muscles-although I can push myself to do things, I am also getting night sweats..is that one of the symptoms I wonder of mercury poisoning?. I am a strong muscular guy but am slowly seeing myself becoming a shadow of what I was. A week ago I actually couldn’t walk for one day as my legs just went to jelly and had no strength in them. I suffer sugar dip type feelings which can last days and weeks. As i have a young son of 3 i have to keep positive and push myself for him but its hard to do. I have amalgam filings mostly small but I also have some deep root canal fillings, my usual dentist tells me removing these may be a problem!!! mmmm desperate to get back to being healthy again, this blog was really interesting to read. I’m absolutely convinced I have Mercury poisoning, but am trying to find a dentist i feel confident in to remove root canals and other amalgams, also have a crown that has gold in it, apparently this makes amalgam fillings work against you even more! Any advise is great fully received. Am in the UK
Hi Terry, please take a look at the website http://www.iaomt.org which is the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology for assistance in your area.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Hello Dr. and thanks for your informative and extensive article. I have an eight year old son who has autism. he does not eat fish of any type nor does he have fillings. However, I did have a flu shot when I was pregnant with him. Could this have been the source of the mercury?
Also, I have read and heard that the ratio of autism in boys is four times higher than girls. Have you do.e any research in this area?
Thank you.
Deanna
Hi Deanna, thank you for your comment. It is hard to say if your flu shot was a source of mercury. We do not have research that we can share on the rate of autism in boys versus girls.
Wishing you good health,
Dr. Hyman Staff
Hey Doc, My son is type 1 diabetic. I have researched this constantly since he was diagnosed at the age of nine. He is now 15. We have tried a lot of homeopathic remedies which have really helped. Probiotic, enzymes, alpha lipoic acid, goldenseal, amino acids to name some. What i kept coming back to is that he constantly needed probiotics and enzymes to lower blood sugar and to feel better. After reasearching i came upon mercury toxicity and heavy metals in general. I had all of his dental amalgams removed. He improved some. With supplements that detox heavy metals his blood sugar quickly goes down. I found an article that says heavy metals inhibit alot of enzyme activity which in turn cause a whole host of problems on its own.
My son is adopted but i have obtained medical records since birth. The show severe allergies, gastrointestinal distress, rashes, protein in urine and fungal infections. His biological mother said she had a lot of amalgam fillings and has since had them removed.
He was dignosed with ADHD and neurocardigenic syncopy. He has spells of
rapid heart beats, teeth grinding, head aches, stomach aches and his gums stay inflammed although he brushes and uses mouth wash.
Looking back this looks like it could have all started from heavy metal toxicity. What do you think.
Hi, I inhaled elemental mercury (approx 550mL) that had spilt in my chemical cabinet over possibly 3 days. My cabinet wasn’t closed and my laboratory is only small (and my office is linked to it via a door that is kept open). I spend 7-8 hours a day in my laboratory.
I became aware of the mercury on Tuesday and the last time I looked in my cabinet was Thursday. I’ve had a blood and urine test which have come back normal but I know this doesn’t really show the true extent of my mercury levels. Do you know what the best test for me to undergo is?
Thanks for your time.
Hi Tiria,
Yes- please look into a functional med practiitoner to get the best local care. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation
You will want to inquire about a DMPS test to assess total mercury. However there are many small steps you can do right now to start detoxifying your body of any presumed mercury. Start here: http://drhyman.com/blog/conditions/how-to-rid-your-body-of-mercury-and-other-heavy-metals-a-3-step-plan-to-recover-your-health/
In good health
Thank you Dr. Hyman!! This explains a lot of what I had thought. I have just been diagnosed with Graves, I have six of the merury fillings from my teenage years. In addition I have the genetic defect MTHFR, which has the malabsorbtion of essential folate and vitamin B along with the inability to dispose of heavy metals (low glutathione), nothing to latch onto to get out of the body. I have began taking glutathione and I have noticed improvments. Wonderful article, this has allowed me to further piece this sick puzzle together.
I had all the mercury fillings removed from my mouth last year in hopes of getting rid of Wegener’s granulomatosis. I had a lot and much of it was under crowns. The first benefit I realized was no more chronic fatigue. It was great. The Wegener’s has flared again recently, but it has been two and one-half years since the last flare and this one is only a mild one without the awful joint pain. Just a bit of respiratory issues and high creatinine in my kidneys. Perhaps in time, Wegener’s will not be a part of my life anymore.
I have been extremely allergic to fish sense THE day I became pregnant with my first born. (18 yrs.ago) First it was warm water fish (cat fish) that closed up my throat, throwing up, huge welts ect…..and put me in the hospital. Soon after I was unable to eat salmon. I miss it terribly!! Shell fish seem to be fine, thank goodness. It just seems weird and a litle unfair.(((
Thanks for this info. I was discovered to be high in heavy metals and was undergoing chelation therapy for a number of months but have recently heard that by simply donating blood every 6-8 weeks I can significantly reduce my levels of heavy metals. Is this a protocol you’re familiar with? It seems like such an easy fix.
Thanks for this information. II was found to have high concentrations of heavy metals in my blood and underwent a series of Chelation treatments which brought down my levels. However, due to financial reasons, I stopped. I recently learned that the easiest way to reduce the amount of heavy metals in the blood is to donate blood regularly. This seems to make sense: out with the bad, make some more good, right? Have you heard of this method? Could it be that simple? You mention that blood donors are healthier people, but I’m guessing that has more to do with their lifestyles. Your thoughts. Thanks.
Hi There,
The best way for you to work with your body is by elevating the quality of your diet by increasing foods which naturally work with your own detoxification system. Foods, supplements and lifestyle can truly have a major improvement in the way you let go of heavy metals, especially if finances are tough! Here are some ideas:
1. Choose several servings of organic cruciferous vegetables daily (brocooli, broccoli sprouts, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, bok choy, kale, cabbage, watercress etc.)
2. Choose sulfur containing compounds such as garlic and onion
3. Build Your Glutathione: Exercise, Whey Protein ( bioactive, non-denatured and only if you tolerate dairy!), Supportive Supplements (NAC, ALA, Selenium, B12, folate, B6, Vit C, Vit E, and an herb called Milk Thistle)
4. Sauna Therapy
Unfortunately donating blood is not a sustainable treatment approach as mercury is lodged in the tissues of our brain and organs. The blood and urine do not reflect what is actually going on inside the body. But this is a clever idea, if only it could be that simple!
How do you know which mercury treatment is right for you? There seems to be a lot of conflicting thoughts on supplementation and drugs.
Hi Gayle,
Mercury toxicity runs the gamut from moderate to heavy. Treatment is dependent upon the severity of one’s toxic load. The best way is to assess your symptoms (see the blog to check yours against those listed by Dr. Hyman) and go from there. If they are minimal to moderate you might do well with the diet and lifestyle recommendations stated in the blog. however, if needed you might need a more aggressive approach only provided by a educated practitioner. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation.
I got diagnose with MS and my doctor had my blood checked for toxins and i was extremly high on mercury and aluminium and she demand i get the silver fillings out of my mouth and get healed and finish dissolving my lesions in my brain which they are already but i have to get that done but I am scared of the pain i found a doctor that will put me to sleep and take all 13 out do you think that a good idea.
Hi Seloa,
We are sorry for the MS troubles you are going through and want to see you recover well. We suggest that the practitioner you see is from a functional med background as we can’t provide such specific advice here. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation
In good health
Should I take iron supplements if I have constant fatigue?
Hi There,
You should only start a supplement with the advice of a trained medical practitioner. Especially iron as too much of this metal can be toxic. If you are concerned with your fatigue it is best you work with a trained practitioner. For a local functional med physician, go to http://www.functional medicine.org and scroll down to locate a practitioner, put in your zip code and choose the best option suited for your needs.
In good health!
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Hello, As of recently i’ve started having several health issues and i’m trying to pinpoint it to something to figure out what is wrong and what i can do to fix it. i’ve had anxiety, headaches, foggy headedness, decreased concentration, cramps and soreness in places all of my body, a metalic taste in my mouth, and loss of appitite all for about the last 2 or 3 months. are these common symptoms of mercury poisoning? i haven’t had any tests done just yet, and i do have 5 silver fillings that i have had for about 8 or 9 years. i’m only 19 and i can’t imagine living like this the rest of my life. is it possible that my fillings are causing this, and where should i begin to help fix this if it is mercury poisoning?
Hi Curt,
Thank you for sharing your health story. We want you to get the best care needed and think you would be best off if seen in person so your symptoms can be evaluated by a trained physician. Go to http://www.functionalmedicine.org, scroll down to locate a practitioner and enter your zip code. Select the practitioner best suited for your needs. We ruly hope you seek some help! In the meantime, if you are not on a high quality multivitamin with at least 15mg of zinc, it would be a good idea to start. Of course we recommend talking to your phsycician before starting or stopping any health plan.
In good health!
Lizzy
I am writing to let you know of Dr. Savely Yurkovsky (Chappaqua NY). His work in mercury & EMF toxicity is supurb. He is healing autistic children, Parkinsons, Lou Gehrigs and many other chronic conditions. I have been a patient (Lyme/Morgellons) for a year and am having amazing results. I strongly urge Dr. Hyman to contact him and I have forwarded Dr. Hyman’s website to Dr. Yurkovsky.
Thank you so very much for focusing on this, our #1 health risk.
HI Deborah,
Thank you for your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work! This doctor sounds like he is doing some pretty great work with people as well which is so nice to hear. Glad you are feeling better too. Dr. Hyman’s schedule is very busy at the moment and he might have to look into Dr. Yurkovsky when his time opens up a bit. Thank you for sharing!
In good health!
Hello,
My father has recently been diagnosed and treated for mercury poisoning. Several family members and my fathers work colleagues have noticed severe memory loss along with many other common symptoms, He is now on his second cleansing. After his first cleanse the results showed a decrease in mercury. If this second cleansing does not decrease the mercury significantly should there be reason for concern? Also is there a way to tell how long you have had mercury poisoning and can there be irreversible effects if it was not caught and treated in time?
And last, can you recommend a specialist in Ohio?
Thanks,
Joe
HI Joe,
Thank you for writing in with your concerns about your dad. We hope he does indeed have a productuve second round. I think this article (towards the end) will be of big help to you: http://drhyman.com/blog/conditions/how-to-rid-your-body-of-mercury-and-other-heavy-metals-a-3-step-plan-to-recover-your-health/ Also, if you need referral for a functional med doctor who can assist your dad, go to http://www.functionalmedicine.org and scroll down to locate a practitioner, enter your zip and choose the practitioner most suited for your dad’s needs.
In good health!
Lizzy
I’ve worked in the neon sign game for 24yrs,and have carried out what’s known in the industry “mercury repairs “and anyone who knows they are not supposed to be done, anyway I would appreciate your advice on how/where I can get tested and what types of test would suit me best,I live in the United kingdom(London)…..cheers!
Hi Justin,
Thank you for your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. There are practitioners abroad who also work in the funtional medicine paradigm. Go to: http://www.functionalmedicine.org and proceed accordingly. Best wishes!
In good health,
Lizzy
Hi,
My son has tourettes and suffers with tics. His first tic started after a set of injections. I ate copious amounts of tinned salmon when I was pregnant with him. Is there a link between mercury and tourettes?
Thanks.
Lesley
Hi, I have 3 amalgam fillings that I was told need to be replaced. My husband and I want to get pregnant with our second child. Is it ok to have them removed then get pregnant or are we better off waiting until after?
Thank you for your response.
Meghann
P.S. I read all of your articles! The information you provide is so helpful and wonderful. Thank you.
To Whom It May Concern,
Thank-you for letting the public know of these dangers unfortunately, I have 10 of these babies in my mouth and have gum disease. I was also told I should get an implant done by one dentist. Then told by another that I have too much bone loss for that. Is the titanium as bad for your health as the mercury is? Because a third dentist wants to do implants on me. But I do not want to switch out from one poison to another. Could you tell me your thoughts on this I am not asking for professional advice just your thoughts thanks sooo much for your time.
Gina
Hi There,
My mom was a dentist before she retired 5 years ago in Xi’an , China. She has been suffering bad headache, high blood pressure, lose sleeping , nausea(sometimes) since then. She said she had been exposed to mercury a long time during working period, she believed that these symptoms were caused by mercury.
She trys to check it in hospital, but they would not tell once they know she works for national dentistry. It can’t believeable!
Do you have any practitioners in China? Would you please give me information if it is possible? My mom really need help, i couldn’t bear to see her sufferring everyday.
Thanks for your time!
Lilly
HI Lilly,
Thank you for sharing your moms concerns with mercury. To locate a doctor who practices functional medicine like Dr. Hyman, go to http://www.functionalmedicine.org and scroll down to where it says “locate a practitioner” and enter your zip. Progress accordingly from there.
We truly hope she gets the care she needs soon!
In good health
Lizzy
Hi Lizzy,
Thanks for your information. I have found two practitioners both in HK which is too far from Xi’an. My mom lives in mainland of China, do you have another hospital or practioner information which locates in Xi’an or close to ?
I am appreciate what you done for us ! Thanks again!
Lilly
Thanks for all the mercury info. I am in a tough spot and not sure what is best. I recently had two hair tests from two different labs and both indicated mercury overload (4.55 ppm and 11 ppm). I don’t have fillings but I was eating lots of canned tuna to keep my protein up during pregnancy and after to help lose weight. I was stupid and didn’t believe the tuna/mercury connection – but now I do! Anyway, I am still nursing my 10 mo old baby. I have the option of doing the DMPS for a day and pumping and dumping my milk for a day (so the MD recommends) or wait another 6-8 months when I wean her and then do DMPS. I am afraid of taking ALA and other supplements b/c I don’t want to overload my breastmilk with mercury to get rid of it. The MD stands to profit from my treatment so I am not sure he is the best person to ask. Any recommendations?? I am not sure what is best for me and my baby. BTW she is healthy and shows no signs of mercury toxicity.
Hi Joyce,
Thank you for writing in and sharing about your mercury issue. First of all you are not an idiot, just a mom trying to provide the best! Congrats on becoming a mom by the way.
We do not recommend using DMPS as a therapy protocol, more as a way of assessing and diagnosing. If the doc recommends you do a 1 day treatment with a pumpp and dump than this is probably fine. However if it multiple days that we suggest waiting the 6-8 months so your baby doesnt get the DMPS. Toxins are stored in fat and there is a nice amount of healthy fat in breast tissue so your baby will get what you have. That is why it is important to keep baby away from as much toxic input, as best as you can. Do not stress yourself over this too much as that wont help either! Just do the best you can to eat a whole foods diet, rich in antioxidants, healthy bacteria, omega 3 fatty acids and fiber to help with proper elimination. And of course endure adequate hydration status so that you have enough energy and water to provide for baby. Make sense?
In good health
Lizzy
For a very long time, I have wondered why I have memory failure. I began to ask myself this question over and over again. My conclusion was chocolate. Since I was very young, I would eat chocolate almost everyday, up until the present day. I heard that corn syrup/corn ingredient derivative (which is found in almost all chocolate sold at the store) was found to contain mercury. I am in shock.
Brilliant Blog and youtube videos – keep up the good work ! I have been touched by this myself and i am also still suffering with some health issues. The more exposure mercury poisoining gets the better. What are you recomendations for chelating out the mercury ?
Paul.
Hey Paul,
Great question. Have you seen this article where Dr. Hyman explains what his approach would be? Please check it out and tell us what you think. http://drhyman.com/blog/conditions/how-to-rid-your-body-of-mercury-and-other-heavy-metals-a-3-step-plan-to-recover-your-health/
I work with a great many adults on the Autism Spectrum. At a health conference last week, the presenter stated that autism is actually mercury poisoning of the brain and that most mental health disorders are due to mercury poisoning as well. With the epidemic of Autism Spectrum disorders, I would certainly think this is a serious health concern. I am certainly going to ask my doctor about mercury at my next visit.
Thank you for your previous book, The Ultramind Solution. I did detox myself and recouped my memory about 95%… Mercury was involved but also fluoride… I was an anesthesiologist and anesthetic gases are fluorinated. We have cases of memory loss after a general anestethic. I do not have the Alzheimer’s gene… You raised so much of the awareness I needed to realize we have so much dementia because water and tooth paste are fluorinated…! Thanks.
Is there any down side to detoxification, especially if you are unsure as to whether or not you have high levels of mercury? Will the process remove heavy metals that might be necessary to your health and well-being?
On the flip side, will this remove other toxic heavy metals?
Hi Carlene,
These are important questions and we are glad you asked. ALL chelation should be supervised by a qualified doctor. To learn more about proper removal of metals you can join the community (free) and access information under Downloads!
Also, you can work with Dr. Hyman’s nutrition coaching team: http://store.drhyman.com/Store/List/Coaching-Programs
Thank you, Dr. Hyman. About the same time I found you and your web site, I was led to a Functional Medicine M.D. in my local area. Between the two of you, I have learned SO much. After many years of digestive problems, profound fatigue, weakness, imbalance, brain fog, my allopathic drs.recommended synthetic steroids. I took the script but woke next morning to know it was not the right approach for me. My dentist had found my last two amalgam fillings were cracked and ‘leaking’, and because of this pending appt. I decided to not fill the prescription for steroids. He did remove them but gave me an oxygen mask to wear, and was very careful during the process. I began to feel better after a year of being in a very long, dark tunnel. I was happy I had the intuition to wait until I had the dental work done before starting the steroids. I will be having the DMSA testing for heavy metals this week with the FM dr I mentioned before. He believes I have underperforming adrenals and thyroid most likely due to the heavy metal toxicity. He also talks about people who are under-methylators. Is this similar to what you describe as a gene polymorphism? I am curious to know about the mercury light bulbs we are now forced to purchase since incandescant light bulbs are no longer in existence. Keep up your good work…you are helping many.
Hi Sherry,
Glad to hear you are receiving good care. Please look here to learn more on methylation: http://drhyman.com/blog/conditions/maximizing-methylation-the-key-to-healthy-aging/