AFTER MY PREVIOUS BLOG ON MERCURY, I’m sure many of you are depressed and discouraged about mercury and its toxic effects. The bad news is today I am going to review more of mercury’s toxic effects and expand on what I learned at the medical conference on mercury I mentioned in my last article on mercury …
But the good news is I will provide you with a clear, three-step plan to help your body detoxify from mercury and other heavy metals and recover your health. I have used this same plan successfully and safely with hundreds and hundreds of patients over the last 10 years — and it’s the same process I used myself to overcome mercury toxicity!
But first, let’s look at the data presented at “The Impact of Mercury on Human Health and the Environment” conference.
Mercury and Autism: Part One
In my last article on mercury toxicity, I talked a little bit about the link between mercury fillings and autism. Now I’d like to discuss mercury’s effects on this condition in greater detail.
Boyd Haley, Ph.D., from the University of Kentucky Medical Center, is a vociferous opponent of dental amalgams. The toxicology literature and decades of his own research fuel his fervor.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded his research for 25 years until he began to seriously call into question the safety of dental amalgams, the use of thimerosol (another form of mercury) in vaccines, and their correlation with autism.
His work is now funded by the private Wallace Foundation, run by the son of President Truman’s vice-president, Henry Wallace, who died of ALS and who had been frequently exposed to mercury-containing fungicide on grain.
Dr. Haley believes that fish is not as big a contributor to mercury toxicity in humans as amalgams because methylmercury is generally excreted quickly while mercury vapor from amalgams is not.
At the conference he reported on the dramatic rise in autism rates. The numbers were stunning — over 900 percent in less than a generation in California and 714 percent nationwide. The dramatic increase in autism rates in California was due in part to the introduction of the hepatitis B vaccine in 1990 and an increase in the overall vaccination schedule.
In 1999, thimerosol was removed from these vaccines as parents gained increased awareness of the danger it poses. You see, thimerosol is quickly converted to ethyl mercury in the body, where it moves rapidly from your blood to your brain. In the first three quarters of 2004 — five years after thimerosol was removed from vaccines — the data showed a decline in the incidence of autism in California for the first time.
Recently the vaccine court, a special branch of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims established to handle claims of injury from vaccines ruled that there was no connection between vaccines and autism. We must remember that judicial opinion is not scientific proof. Statistics and data can be manipulated and construed in differing ways depending on who does the analysis. Often what is hidden or between the lines obscures the real data, we have seen this over and over in scientific research. Studies funded by drug companies or food product companies on balance show positive outcomes compared to independently funded studies on the same products whether it is analyzing the benefits of chemotherapy, anti-depressants, blood pressure medication and even the health benefits of dairy or soft drinks. Following the money is a good rule in assessing the objectivity of scientific data.
Mostly doctors and scientists have ignored the fact that up to 95 percent of autistic children have intestinal problems, especially big swollen bellies. How can their belly problems destroy their brains, interrupt their language, and lock them in their own private world?
For example, one of the main studies quoted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) used to disprove the connection between vaccines and autism is the Danish study showing an increase in autism rates after thimerosol was removed from vaccines. However what was NOT reported in the study was that at the same time as the mercury was removed for vaccines, the Danish government mandated reporting of autism and offered free clinics and increased services for those with autism. And, suspiciously, the lead author on that study who has worked closely with the CDC recently absconded with $2 million in research grants. The Danish police are searching for him.
How the Lancet and The New York Times Got it Wrong on Dr. Wakefield’s Research
The recent retraction of the Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s publication in the Lancet showing intestinal inflammation and vaccine strains of measles virus (proven by DNA analysis) in the intestinal tracts of autistic children seemed more about inquisition and less honest scientific inquiry. He never claimed that autism was caused by vaccines, but simply made a scientific observation. That should be the impetus for further open scientific inquiry and investigation, not excommunication from the church of science. Science should not be about beliefs, but about questions. And because of the economic and public health implications of questioning the safety of vaccines we have chosen to close the door to open scientific debate, rather than inquire about increasing the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, one of the most important public health advances in medical history.
Let’s look at little more closely at the work of Dr. Wakefield and the questions it raises and direction it provides.
Mostly doctors and scientists have ignored the fact that up to 95 percent of autistic children have intestinal problems, especially big swollen bellies. How can their belly problems destroy their brains, interrupt their language, and lock them in their own private world?
Dr. Wakefield asked why. He happened to notice inflammation (or lymphoid nodular hyperplasia), in the bowels of some children with autism. Could this observation be brushed off as coincidence? Dr. Wakefield dug deeper and discovered this is common in autistic children.
In a study of 148 children with autism compared to 30 normal controls (children without autism), 90 percent of autistic children showed inflamed bowels on biopsy compared to only 30 percent of controls (which makes me wonder if many non-autistic children have bowel inflammation from poor diet and allergies as well).(i)
He also noticed the inflammation was much more severe in autistic children. Food allergens, bacteria, viruses, and toxins (such as mercury), could all be the cause. These same things are the common causes of all disease and create imbalance in every key system of the body — toxins, infections, allergens, poor diet, and stress.
Making Sense of Measles Vaccine Controversy
Other studies have linked the live measles virus from vaccinations to the inflamed gut. Living measles viruses have been identified in people with inflamed guts. How does this happen? And how does it relate to autism?
Normally when you get a vaccine, even with an “inactivated” live virus, it just stimulates the body’s own immune system to create antibodies which will defend you in the event of a real infection. But sometimes, as in the case of autistic children, their weakened immune systems can’t handle this “inactivated” live virus, and can’t fight it off. So the live virus hangs around in the body creating inflammation on a low-grade level — both in the gut and the brain.
In fact, a study of children with developmental delay found that 75 of 91 patients with autism and inflamed bowels had live measles virus detected in samples of their intestinal tissues. Only 7 of the 70 normal patients (or controls) were found to have the measles virus in their gut.(ii)
In another study DNA analysis was performed on the measles strains found in autistic children and compared them to non-autistic children with inflamed bowels. The shocking finding was that the DNA of the measles virus in autistic children came from vaccine strains of measles (the ones made specially for vaccines), not wild types (the type of measles virus that comes from a community acquired infection).(iii)
This doesn’t mean that ALL children who get vaccinated have problems, but for some reason autistic children are unable to handle the live measles viruses used in immunizations, and it triggers an inflammatory response in the gut, and the brain. These children can’t handle the vaccine (maybe because mercury suppresses their immune system) and then the normally benign live measles virus in the vaccine takes root in the body and sends these kids into an even deeper spiral of brain dysfunction.
What is even more alarming is that vaccine strains of measles virus seem to migrate into the brains of children with autism. That means it may not be only gut related inflammation that is causing the problems, but the measles virus may take root in the brain itself. How this all happens is not clear, but the trail from vaccine to the gut to the brain is smoking hot. Vaccine measles strains have been isolated from the spinal fluid of autistic children.(iv)
Large-scale population studies show no connection between MMR or measles vaccine and autism.(v) That’s because in such large populations, the effect on children susceptible to MMR is “washed out”. If you study large groups of people, you won’t pick up small effects on genetically or biochemically unique individuals. Looking at the problem using this kind of statistical analysis is unhelpful for treating individual patients.
Oddly, in the major study “disproving” this connection, the authors noted an increase in the diagnosis in the six months after the MMR vaccine but dismissed it as unimportant because “this appeared to be an artifact related to the difficulty of defining precisely the onset of symptoms in this disorder.” If your child had autism or autistic behaviors you would you know it and/or when it started! This is yet another example of conventional science seeing what it believes, instead of believing what it sees.
Potential sources of early exposure in fetuses or infants include maternal amalgams, fish consumption, eardrops, and nasal drops. But vaccines may be more problematic than all of these.
The vaccine probably only affects a few genetically susceptible children who are biochemical and immunological train wrecks because of toxic overload. The methods of these larger population studies are not designed to ferret out the uniqueness of individuals. If they looked at all the genetic subgroups in the population, then there could be meaningful data. If they did intestinal biopsies and spinal fluid examinations on affected and unaffected kids like Dr. Wakefield, then we might get some meaningful information.
But in the absence of that we are duped into a false sense of security by studies that are destined to fail because of how they were designed. You only get the answers to the questions you ask. Don’t ask the right questions and you won’t get clear answers.
Roger Williams, the author of Biochemical Individuality said that, “Nutrition [(and medicine]) is for real people. Statistical humans are of little interest. People are unique. We must treat people with respect to their biochemical uniqueness.”
The research shows that autism is a complex, heterogeneous disorder that has multiple causes. Vaccines and mercury, when the data is examined objectively, raise enough of a question to bear further, independent and objective research. The book is not closed as many would want to have us think.
Now back to Dr. Haley.
Dr. Haley has observed that the lowest level of mercury is found in the birth hair of the most severely affected autistic children (vi).
Interestingly, the 4 to 1 ratio of autism in males to females may, in part, be due to the effects of testosterone on mercury excretion. Antibiotics also prevent excretion of mercury, and antibiotic use is higher among autistic children.
Dr. Haley also reported on data showing a synergistic effect of heavy metals. For example, the dose of lead and mercury that would cause death in 1 out of 100 people is magnified when you are exposed to both lead and mercury, leading to a lethal dose 100 percent of the time when combined, even at low levels. You can find more information on this at Dr. Haley’s website.
As compelling as Dr. Haley’s presentation was, it is only the beginning of the story that connects mercury exposure to autism…
Mercury and Autism, Part Two
Jane El Dahr, M.D., is the Chief of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology at Tulane University Health Sciences Center. She also discussed the possible link between thimerosol in vaccines and autism. (The data she presented is available at Safeminds.org). In California, rigorous standards for reporting autism have been put in place because social benefits are tied to accurate diagnosis — so the increases there are very likely to be accurately recorded.
During the first 25 years this reporting was put in place, 6,527 cases of autism were reported. But then the rates skyrocketed. It took only 3 years during the 1990s to add another 6,596 cases. From 1987 to 1998 there was a 273 percent increase in autism cases in California!
In response, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Autism released an “Autism Alarm” stating that 1 in 166 children in the US have autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Currently, one-sixth of all children under the age of 18 have a developmental disability. That means nearly 20 percent of the population may suffer from this problem and may not be able to be productive members of society as a result.
Much of this could be due to mercury toxicity.
That’s not just a guess — it’s based on the analysis of the actual doses of thimerosol received by children after the change in the vaccination schedule mentioned above. In people with a genetic susceptibility, such as a defect in the enzymes responsible for detoxifying heavy metals, prenatal and early postnatal exposure to mercury leads to neurologic damage resulting in autistic symptoms (vii).
Acrodynia, or “pink baby syndrome,” from exposure to calomel or mercury in teething powder has similar symptoms to autism, providing us yet another link between mercury exposure and autism.
Other potential sources of early exposure in fetuses or infants include maternal amalgams, fish consumption, eardrops, and nasal drops. But vaccines may be more problematic than all of these. They present a significant source of mercury exposure in Rho-gam, influenza vaccines during pregnancy, and childhood immunizations.
It has been found that the maximum exposure from these vaccines in the first six months of life is 187.5 micrograms of mercury — far exceeding limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Dr. Cave reported on the increased incidence of autism in the last 30 years — up from one out of 10,000 children to one out of 150 children and one of just 30 males in the United States.
According to the EPA, the “safe” daily level of mercury exposure for a five kilogram, two-month-old infant is 0.5 micrograms or 0.1 micrograms per kg. But these limits are set for methyl mercury primarily from fish, not for ethyl mercury from vaccines. The typical two-month vaccination schedule for a baby includes DTP, Hib, and HepB. Combined, these vaccines contain 62.5 micrograms of mercury.
That’s a whopping 125 times the EPA limits for a single day exposure!
Like lead, there may be NO safe level — and children are more susceptible to toxic effects than adults.
Dr. El Dahr said that there appears to be correlation between immune system malfunctioning in both autism and mercury toxicity. These specific immune abnormalities have been found in 30 to 70 percent of autistic children.
So what do we do about all of this mercury in our children and the resulting health problems?
Mercury in Children: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Stephanie Cave, M.D., is on the clinical faculty of Louisiana State University Medical School, and since 1996 has treated over 2,300 children with autistic spectrum disorder. Her recent book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations, outlines the data and debate in this highly charged field.
Dr. Cave reported on the increased incidence of autism in the last 30 years — up from one out of 10,000 children to one out of 150 children and one of just 30 males in the United States.
The major toxicity from mercury that contributes to this epidemic, she said, is its ability to severely inhibit enzyme function and structural integrity.
At the conference, Dr. Cave critiqued a well-publicized study in the Lancet, which concluded that there was no toxic effect from thimerosol. She pointed out numerous problems with this study, including the fact that it used various amounts of thimerosol exposure and only involved 33 people.
Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association also reported no increased risk of autism with thimerosol (viii). But the problem with this study was that the authors were affiliated with the state-run Statens Serum Institute. Eighty percent of the Institute’s profits are from vaccines! The methodology was also called into question because of inconsistencies in their reporting system (ix).
Yet another study had even more ominous findings. A case control study of 221 children with autism and 18 controls found that after a DMSA challenge test, vaccinated autistic children had THREE times the level of mercury in their urine compared to controls (x).
The question that remains is how these kids with ASD should be treated. Dr. Cave reviewed her approach …
Besides taking a developmental history, she does a thorough laboratory evaluation, testing for numerous things. Her treatment protocols include casein- (from dairy), gluten-, allergy- and seafood-free diets, removal of amalgam fillings, and detoxification support.
Key to the treatment is careful detoxification of heavy metals after repletion of cellular nutrients, repair of gut dysfunction, and enhancement of liver detoxification chemistry. Supplements and treatments may include multivitamins and minerals, essential fatty acids, magnesium, digestive enzymes, Coenzyme Q10, and antioxidants like selenium, zinc, and vitamins C, E, and A.
She also suggests bowel ecology restoration which may include anti-fungal drugs, antibiotics, herbs, probiotics, and glutamine.
Enhancement of liver detoxification is facilitated by Epsom salt baths, magnesium sulfate creams, and oral, intravenous, or topical glutathione.
Mercury and other heavy metal detoxification is achieved after a DMSA provocation challenge of 20mg/kg with a 10-hour urine collection. DMSA is given at a dose of 10mg/kg every eight hours for three days, with 11 days off. The cycle is repeated four times, followed by another provocation challenge test.
The results of this protocol were impressive. Dr. Cave presented a number of cases where these treatments showed significant benefit and reductions in autistic symptoms!
But autism isn’t the only disease related to mercury toxicity. There are many others.
Mercury and Adult Illness: From Alzheimer’s to Heart Failure
We’ve now seen the devastating effects that mercury toxicity can have on kids. The effects on adults are no less severe.
Robert Nash, M.D., is a practicing neurologist and the Chairman of the American Board of Metal Toxicology. At the conference, he reviewed mercury-associated diseases, mechanisms, controversies, and therapeutic options.
He suggests the toxic effects of mercury spread across a broad spectrum of diseases including autism, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, neurodevelopmental diseases, nephrotoxicity, and cancer.
The mechanism of mercury toxicity in the adult brain may be related to proteins involved in mercury excretion, including glutathione, glutathione transferase, metallothionine and ApoE. Mercury depletes glutathione and ascorbate (vitamin C), and inhibits thiamine (B1) and pyridoxine (B6).
Mercury can also affect the central nervous system by concentrating in the spinal fluid, and the kidneys by reducing concentrating capacity. And it inhibits nerve growth, and passes easily through the placental barrier. The chemical can also reduce nerve function and communication, which can lead to the development of neurofibrillary tangles — a common feature of Alzheimer’s. In fact, recent findings suggest that the gene Apo E 4 may increase the risk for Alzheimer’s because it has an impaired ability to bind with mercury and transport it from the brain.
Dr. Nash suggests that most, if not all, abnormal biochemistry in the Alzheimer’s brain can be mimicked by mercury. He further concludes that, biologically, the case of mercury as a cause of Alzheimer’s disease is more complete than that for thimerosol-related causation of autism.
According to Dr. Nash mercury toxicity and retention is enhanced by factors found in the diet, antibiotics, other toxicants such as cadmium and lead, and genetic susceptibilities. So no level of mercury exposure from amalgams can be considered without risk!
In addition to the compelling evidence linking Alzheimer’s to mercury toxicity, research shows it may also be linked to cardiovascular disease.
Two studies have reported increased risk of heart attack while another has shown no risk. And the data presented on heart failure from unknown causes is very compelling as well. Biopsy samples found 22,000 times the level of mercury in people with heart failure from unknown causes compared to controls whose heart failure was caused by virus, heart attacks, or high blood pressure (xi).
One of my patients had this exact problem. She had no reason for heart failure — but at 62, she was facing a heart transplant. When I discovered that she had mercury toxicity and treated her, she began to thrive again. Her cardiac function dramatically improved by 130 percent!
Despite all this bad news about the effects of mercury, Dr. Nash concluded on an optimistic note …
First, he suggested that there appears to be a subset of the population that cannot effectively excrete mercury and is at greater risk than the general population. This susceptibility is likely due to genetic differences, diet, exposure to other toxicants, antibiotic use, etc.
Given that susceptibility, he argued that mercury is a risk factor in many diseases — but can be safely measured. And he said that the body can be detoxified of mercury, mitigating some of its toxic effects. Of course, more studies should be done to shed light on this important topic. But we are on our way to finding answers to this important health concern.
I know some of what I have reviewed in these articles on mercury was pretty science heavy. But I wanted to take the time to share this fascinating research with you because I believe it’s so important. I want people to know that just because this topic is mostly ignored by conventional medicine and dentistry, it isn’t any less critical or relevant to our health or our children’s health.
More importantly: It CAN be treated!
In my practice, I have seen the benefits of detoxifying from mercury. My patients have recovered from dementia, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, heart failure, diabetes, obesity, multiple sclerosis, depression, autoimmune diseases like colitis and rheumatoid arthritis, and many other problems. Of course, that doesn’t mean that mercury is THE cause of these conditions, but simply one of the many causes that has to be considered.
So now that you understand the powerful effect mercury can have on your health, let’s review how you know if you have mercury toxicity, and then how to treat it.
Diagnosing and Treating Mercury Toxicity
The first thing to understand is that identifying mercury problems and detoxifying from them (or any other kind of heavy metal poisoning) has to be done VERY carefully and under the supervision of a physician trained in the techniques of metal detoxification, but it can be done safely and effectively with an educated doctor’s assistance.
What follows is a three-step plan to find out if you are suffering from mercury poisoning and detoxifying from it. Understand that this approach has to be done carefully and systematically to make sure you get your body ready for removing the metals.
Step 1: Getting Ready for Detoxification
This process can take a few months, and I can’t stress enough how important this preparation step is. It is accomplished by optimizing your nutritional status and detoxifying ability. Once this is done you will begin mobilizing and binding the metals in your body and excreting them through your urine, bile, stool, and sweat.
Here is what I recommend to my patients.
- Optimize your gut function. Eliminate the common food allergens (dairy, gluten, corn, eggs, etc.), taking probiotics and enzymes for one to two months before detoxifying.
- Optimize your nutritional status for detoxification. Use healthy fats (omega-3 fats, olive oil, and flax oil), amino acids (which boost all your liver’s detoxification capacity), and minerals, particularly zinc and selenium (which help your body detoxify metals).
- Enhance your liver’s detoxification pathways. Take folate and vitamins B12 and B6 and eating sulfur-containing foods such as broccoli, collards, kale, daikon radish, garlic, onions, and omega-3 eggs.
- Start sauna therapy. Make sure you take adequate electrolyte and mineral replacements to prevent dehydration and mineral loss from the sweat.
- Optimize elimination routes for metals including your urine, stool, and sweat. Use fluids, fiber, and saunas.
Step 2: Integrate Additional Steps to Support Detoxification
At this stage you can integrate the following to support your liver detoxification pathways even more:
- Alginate from seaweed (this binds to metal in the gut)
- Selenium, zinc, n-acetylcysteine, lipoic acid, milk thistle, and garlic
Step 3: The Metal Detoxification Period
- Find a biological dentist to evaluate the extent of your mercury fillings and options for replacing them.
This can be done slowly over time, but must be done VERY carefully and only under a trained biological dentist’s supervision to avoid burdening yourself with more mercury during the removal process.
- Get a test to assess your total body load of mercury. This is called a challenge or provocation test. This is done with a doctor’s prescription and under a doctor’s supervision. The easiest and safest way to do this is to take 500 mg of DMPS in one dose first thing in the morning after emptying your bladder, followed by a six-hour urine collection. DMPS is a prescription drug and is not FDA-approved in the US, although it has been approved and used for decades in Europe.
- The other option is to use DMSA, which is FDA-approved. It pulls out a lot less mercury and needs to be taken at a dose of 30 mg/kg for the challenge test. I find this is not as effective to get a true reading on what is in the body.
- Use binding agents to pull the mercury out of your body. There is a lot of controversy about the best way to do this. But after helping people detox from heavy metals for 10 years, I’ve found the safest and most effective treatment is oral DMSA. It is taken as follows: One 100 to 250 mg capsule of DMSA orally three times a day before meals. Take it for three days. Then take 11 days off. Do this for six months. Then recheck your level of mercury through the challenge test.
- Do saunas daily — especially on those days when doing DMSA.
- Consider getting intravenous vitamins and antioxidants for three months while undergoing this process this to administer glutathione, phospholipids, vitamin C, and B vitamins to boost detoxification. This is harder to get, but can help the process work better and help you feel better throughout the process.
- Drink enough filtered water and fluids to make urine clear.
- Make sure you have bowel movements twice a day. This is very important or you will reabsorb mercury from the gut. You can add ground flax seeds to shakes or foods, or take one to two 150-mg magnesium citrate capsules twice a day if you are not going regularly. You can also try even stronger laxatives if you have to such as senna or cascara.
- Consider whey protein to boost glutathione if you are not allergic to dairy.
Understand that I am simply sharing my experience and knowledge with you here. I recognize this is a controversial area. Unfortunately, there are no large controlled studies looking at this problem. I am working on getting studies on this and other areas of systems medicine and functional medicine funded so we can have better answers. For now, we have to go with what we know and the experience and knowledge of many physicians over many years of doing this.
Realize that we DO know how to help you detoxify effectively and deal with the effects of low level mercury toxicity! While it may be difficult you MUST find a doctor skilled at dealing with heavy metal toxicity to undergo the protocol above safely.
What I have outlined in this blog are only my guidelines. They may be the same or similar to what you find others are using. What is essential is that you get assistance. I DO NOT recommend you detoxify from mercury without a doctor’s supervision!
But I DO recommend you find out if mercury toxicity is a problem for you. It is an essential step to achieving lifelong vibrant health.
Now I’d like to hear from you…
Are you surprised by the links between mercury and conditions like Alzheimer’s disease?
Do you agree with childhood vaccinations? Why or why not?
Have you tried detoxifying from mercury? What was your experience?
Please let me know your thoughts by adding a comment below.
References
(i) Wakefield AJ, Ashwood P, Limb K, Anthony A. The significance of ileo-colonic lymphoid nodular hyperplasia in children with autistic spectrum disorder. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005 Aug;17(8):827-36.
(ii) Uhlmann V, Martin CM, Sheils O, Pilkington L, Silva I, Killalea A, Murch SB, Walker-Smith J, Thomson M, Wakefield AJ, O’Leary JJ.Potential viral pathogenic mechanism for new variant inflammatory bowel disease. Mol Pathol. 2002 Apr;55(2):84-90.
(iii) Kawashima H, Mori T, Kashiwagi Y, Takekuma K, Hoshika A, Wakefield A. Detection and sequencing of measles virus from peripheral mononuclear cells from patients with inflammatory bowel disease and autism. Dig Dis Sci. 2000 Apr;45(4):723-9
(iv) J.J. Bradstreet, M.D.; J. El Dahr, M.D.; A. Anthony,  M.B., Ph.D.; J.J. Kartzinel, M.D.; A.J. Wakefield, M.B. Detection of Measles Virus Genomic RNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Children with Regressive Autism: a Report of Three Cases. J. Am . Phys. Surgeons 9 no. 2 (2004) 38-45
(v) Taylor B, Miller E, Farrington CP, Petropoulos MC, Favot-Mayaud I, Li J, Waight PA. Autism and measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine: no epidemiological evidence for a causal association. Lancet. 1999 Jun 12;353(9169):2026-9.
(vi) Holmes AS, Blaxill MF, Haley BE. Reduced levels of mercury in first baby haircuts of autistic children. Int J Toxicol. 2003 Jul-Aug;22(4):277-85.
(vii) S Bernard. Autism: A novel form of mercury poisoning. Medical Hypothesis. 2001:56 (4): 462-471.
(viii) Hviid A. Association between thimerosal containing vaccine and autism. JAMA. 2003; 290: 1763-1766.
(ix) Rimland B, Bernard S. Letters. JAMA. 2004; 291:180-181.
(x) Bradstreet J. A case-control study of mercury burden in children with autistic spectrum disorders. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. Volume 8 Number 3 Summer 2003.
(xi) Frustaci A, Magnavita N, Chimenti C, Caldarulo M, Sabbioni E, Pietra R, Cellini C, Possati GF, Maseri A. Marked elevation of myocardial trace elements in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy compared with secondary cardiac dysfunction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1999 May;33(6):1578-83.
My 11 year old daughter and I both have extremely high mercury levels. She also has high aluminum. Her symptoms include asthma, allergies, stomach issues and fatigue. Mine are varied – heart racing, flucuation in body temperature, mood swings, buring sensation in mouth and in the nerves of my arm, muscle weakness, ringing in the ears and more. It has taken me ten years and ten different doctors to finally get a diagnosis. Doing research, it seems there many different opinions on the best/safest way to detox. It’s very discouraging. Thank you for getting the word out about heavy metals. I’m wondering about the high level of aluminum. We know our daughter was not exposed to the typical causes (deoderant/cooking pans) and wonder about the sugar dextrose IV solutions given in hospitals. I have been told that these solutions contain aluminum. She was a premie and has been in the ER about seven or eight times for dehydration and once for pneumonia. She has had IV’s just about every time. She also has had most of the recommended vaccinations. Is there a connection?
What about using Chlorella as a heavy metal chelator? Studies have demonstrated it’s effectiveness, especially when coupled with high doses of Organic cilantro. It’s been shown to be especially effective when taken in alternate doses (ie 1 tsp cilantro at 9 AM, 1500 mg Chlorella at 11AM, 1 tsp cilantro at 1PM, 1500 mg Chlorella at 3PM…). The cilantro draws the heavy metals out of the fat and the Chlorella chelates them. The cilantro alone does little to Chelate. It draws the metal out but does not give it a method to exit the body. The Chlorella can only bind what metals are readily available to be bound but not draw them out.
Thoughts?
Love Your Articles Dr. Hyman! And, thank you for caring! I had stage 2 breast cancer 6 years ago, went through lumpectomy surgery, chemo and radiation, 6 months after that I was in a really bad vehicle accident. I could not work, so I sifted articles after articles on how to get myself “better”……my secret to life now is, Wheatgrass. I grow my own, and juice it, it has brought me back to life, I swear by it…..it combated : internal scar tissue, fibromyalgia, headaches, post traumatic stress syndrome, chronic fatigue, brain fog, cancer, terrible pain, and I thought I was going to have to have surgery on my ankle it was so bad, ligament damage from the accident and now I don’t have a problem with it much at all. So I now add barley grass to my regiment as well. Please look into wheatgrass, and barley grass, there are many ways to take it, pill, juicing, etc, but well worth it, if you want to get better. I buy hard red organic wheatgrass seeds.
Good Luck to you all!
I was severely ill for 4 yrs with Epstein Barr Virus and no one knew why I kept getting Mono over and over- I was labled with Chronic Fatigue syndrome but I honestly knew there was a cause. I felt like I had fever and flu for all those years- just without the outward measureable symptoms. I was offered anti depressants! Ha what a joke. Anyway I finally took a heavy meta challenge and was found to have high levels of mercury and lead. I had my dental fillings all replaced (Had them for 30 years) and took dmps and dmsa for 9 months- feeling dramatically improved with every round of medicine- but sadly I broke out in hives on both meds and never was able to fully rid my body of these two metals. Now I do glutathione and EDTA IVs and many supplements from my integrative doctor. I am 90% well, but still troubled by mild relapses of EBV once or twice a year.
Hi. I was recommended to look at your website. 2 months ago I was diagnosed (after hair mineral analysis) that I have a VERY high level of mercury in my body. I suffer from so many symptoms and feel so sick, my life is on hold on and I am just trying to struggle and keep going. I was suggested to do first a natural detox strengtening my body and gut and use chlorella and cilantro for example. Then they suggest me to do I.V treatments with C vitamin, DMPS and Glutathione 6-8 times. Then after that continue with oral DMSA for approx 2 months. Now I have read really bad things about DMPS and some about DMSA. What are your thoughts? Thank you!
I was extremely ill back in 2003 and through my nurse practitioner, I met a doctor who practices integrative medicine. It was this doctor who tested me for heavy metals and found my mercury levels off the charts. I believe dental amalgams started my mercury toxicity but after removing them in 1990 (my reasons having nothing to do with mercury as I knew nothing about it at that time), my high consumption of fresh-caught tuna put me over the top. Since my diagnosis in early 2004, I have gone through several bouts of chelation therapy using DMSA. My levels would drop and so I believed it was safe to eat fish again. Not for me. I am one of those people who is having a very difficult time getting rid of mercury. I enjoyed this blog and will be sure to include the supplements you recommended that I am not taking. In the meantime, I still suffer from symptoms involving balance, gut health, chronic fatigue, a “gagging” sensation that occurs without reason and my brain has definitely been altered a bit (I don’t remember having social anxiety and I don’t laugh as easily as I used to). Thank you for all that you do to bring attention and advice to those of us who just don’t feel good because of mercury and other heavy metals.
please be careful of DSMA. I started taking it because of heart problems, only 450mg daily,but to my horror,after three weeks my Amalgam fillings started to fall out, so I now have three fillings to replace.I am also taking eight grammes of ascorbic acid a day,four grammes of L-Lycene,two grammes of L-Proline,plus 400 mg of magnesium. This has not only helped my heart but completely stopped my chronic asthma,which I have had for 72 years. Magic
I am currently at war within myself. I have a four month old boy who I have yet to vaccinate. I’ve done a lot of research and I don’t know which path is the right one… the consequences seem so dire on both sides and I’m stuck here, unable to make a decision and commit to it.
As we are losing our herd immunity, diseases like polio are resurfacing. That is a nasty disease and I do not want my child to contract it. However, I am very concerned by what is in our vaccines (no more thimerosol in Canada unless you’re talking flu vaccination) and the fact that the Canadian government protects the proprietary rights of the vaccine manufacturers rather than the right of its citizens to know what they are injecting into our children. We do not have a full list of the components in the vaccines.
I don’t know what to do. I have some friends who have not vaccinated their kids and they say the children have never even been sick, let alone had any major issues. Then I talk to my Neurosurgeon friend in Seattle and he says that vaccination is a must as he’s seen the kids who have not been vaccinated and how messed up they are. It makes me want to cry, I wish there was some alternative to mainstream vaccines.
What I want to know is this: why do we have to vaccinate at such a young age? What is the deal with 2-phenoxyethanol (used as a replacement for thimerosol)? Is there a safer alternative I can use to protect my child? Where do I purchase a bubble for my child to live in? Argh.
Hi Johanna, thank you for your comment and interest in Dr. Hyman’s website. Dr. Hyman cannot offer medical advise online, but we could advise you to consult with a funtional practioner if you are interested at http://www.functionalmedicine.org/findfmphysician/index.asp.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Love the education I am getting from reading your articles. My problem is that I work from home for a hospital transcribing medical dicatation in Idaho and starting this year, we are required to get vaccines as part of a requirement to keep our job. I do not work in the hospital setting and do not go there to do any part of my job. I keep myself healthy by eating natural foods and supplementing and washing my hands after being out in public and wear gloves when necessary. I am totally against vaccines–have never heard anything good about them. Would you have any information that I could use to prevent me from having to get vaccinated to keep my job? Thank you again for all the education you are providing the public.
Hi Dr. Hyman,
I suffered for years before learning I have mercury poisoning. I found it was responsible for all kinds of health problems.
I’ve followed your articles, bought your materials, but I have to tell you that the most in depth research in how someone should treat for mercury removal is from Dr. Andy Cutler, and his published work “Amalgam Illness.” He strongly discourages challenge tests and says that a highly toxic person can take as long as 3-4 years to get it all out. I followed his book and everything he writes is backed by clinical data. Dr. Cutler was also mercury poisoned and researched his own cure. He also advises avoiding sulfur based foods like broccoli and garlic during the treatment phase as they can cause redistribution.
I’m on my third year of treatment and although the disorders I suffered with have gradually cleared up, I still deal with sometimes intense sickness during chelation–an unfortunate but unavoidable process.
Dr. Cutler’s protocol differs from yours in some ways, but is much more in depth–it may be beneficial for you to link up with him.
Good morning Dr. Hyman,
Just wanted to share a little input here. The dynamics are more complicated in the average person’s body than just dealing with heavy metal toxins such as mercury, lead, etc. The level of chemical toxins in a new born just scratches the surface at 300 due to the limitations of the testing medium. Many of the symptoms people are attributing to mercury toxicity may actually be due to environmental chemicals, pesticides, surfactants, detergents, and emulsifiers. Take for instance what is allowing heavy metals such as mercury to breech the blood brain barrier? Detoxifcation protocols to help excrete heavy metals are not necessarily effective in addressing chemical toxins that are part of our daily intake of food, air and water.
I would suspect that many who are still dealing with health issues after repeated efforts using physician assisted detox protocols are experiencing symptoms associated with years of accumulated environmental chemicals. The average adult in America has literally thousands of chemical toxins stored in their viceral (belly) fat along with daily circulation of chemicals in their blood and intestinal track.
I have been suffering with Autoimmune thyroid disease since 2008 (diagnosed then but suffered with symptoms for several years before that). I have gone to MD and many alternative type Dr over the years….was on Armour thyroid, then Synthroid and Cytomel…they relieved some of the symptoms but I was determined to find out what was Causing this in the first place. Even a Holistic Dr I went to ended up giving me Synthroid! That was it!
Then last month on October 6th I went to a chiropractor a friend had told me about. She said this women does Nutrition Response Testing. NRT…I had not heard of it before. Well it is a very simple non invasive method of testing the body to find out if you have blockages that are causing illness. Applied Kinesiology….With in 15 minutes of testing my Dr told me I have very high levels of Mercury in my body! aha! I had asked Doctors for years to do a Mercury test on me but none would. I had had mercury fillings removed improperly back in 2005 and was quite sick afterwards……….when this whole nightmare began. The mercury was everywhere in my body including my brain, joints, liver, kidneys, heart, eyes,nerves and even my underarms!
I am now taking Metal Free and Dr Mercols’ Chlorella to remove the mercury It is very simple and is slow, safe way to remove it from my body, then I can begin healing all that it has effected over the years. I stopped taking the Synthroid but still take Cytomel for now. If you have ANY illness at all you should locate a person who does Nutrition Response Testing….taught by Dr Ulan. It can improve your health dramatically and perhaps even save it! It is a no brainer!
I think we have the right to know if we can remove mercury from our brains! Claims are made, but I see no evidence. Cutler says Ala and DMSA do it, but do they? Dr. Hyman where is the evidence?
Are there verifiable studies or tests to show if mercury can mobilize out of the brain, WITHOUT harming the patient?
You never address this problem, and frankly taking high sulfur foods, makes many people on yahoochealtion forums very sick, so I’m talking hundreds got SICK from eathing cillantro, chollera, as they mobilize the mercury in the bodies fatty tissues.
How about you address the concern of removing mercury from our brains, and if so is it more harmful than just living with it in there providing we get the amalgams out?
My question is similar to Devon’s. I have read that DMSA can actually increase mercury in the brain, depending on how much mercury is in the body. When I take DMSA, my cognitive function are very negatively impaired and the negative neurological impact is palpable. Green smoothies with cilantro, kale, broccoli, and lemon have been slightly helpful. I don’t see that sauna’s have helped the brain either. So, the question is — how do we safely remove mercury from the brain?
Hi Gena,
Thank you for writing in with your concerns about detoxing effectively and with as little discomfort as possible. The best way to use DMSA is to first thoroughly support your body with detoxifying foods and supplements (see the article for what Dr. Hyman recommends!). Increasing fiber, greens (like you noticed), clean water and anti inflammatory proteins/fats will also help support your system. This is part is as important as the medication itself and to be effective, comfortable and achieve sustainable results you can’t do one without the other!
In good health
I have a question about mercury and prostate problems. Have recently read a lot of on-line anecdotes about people who have had long-term prostatisis, which subsided as they rid their bodies of mercury. Is there any medical truth to this?
Personally, I have had prostatisis for five years now (starting at age 24!). Recently began chelation treatment with chlorella, vitamins, and plenty of cilantro. Have noticed a significant improvement in prostate, which feels better than it has in years, as well as my allergies.
I have two questions regarding mercury fillings.
Can the challenge test be performed on a person with mercury fillings?
Can I use a FIR sauna with mercury fillings?
After having 4 of my 11 mercury filling removed (using a rubber dam for protection) I became extremely sensitive to dark leafy greens and chlorophyll. I get severe insomnia, up to 4 days at a time, with negative thoughts racing through my mind. I am afraid to proceed with any more filling removals and I was told I can not detox with the fillings in. Is there a book or paper I can reference to investigate this?
I had all of my amalgam fillings removed at once at the advice of my chiropractor 7 years, began having concerning neurological symptoms soon afterwards. Did a urine challenge test years later after being diagnosed with PD. Urine test showed Mercury, Lead and Uranium off the charts. Did DMSA Protocol several times, only to find my symptoms got worse. Have been to countless ND’s only to have them push their own products. I recently did a voice profiling that told me my voice frequencies showed high metal toxicities in lead, mercury and uranium, so after all of these years of detoxing, there was no improvement. I was told to do a week of eating white navy beans and sea vegetables. After the week, another voice print was taken and in just one week, my metal levels were cut in half. Obviously white beans and seaweed are a powerful metal detox. I bought your “Ultra Mind” set of CD’s and followed your heavy metal detox advice with little success. I guess we are truly all different in what our bodies respond to. I also bought a sauna and did it faithfully for 5 years. Hope others might benefit from seaweed and beans as well.
I have been detoxing from Mercury overload together with other heavy metals since Aug. 2011 and do believe I began chelating too fast, altho, anything less might have been fatal. This has been a demanding process and recently, in hindsight, w/ continuted research I am certain I have been in a “healing crisis” aka Jarish-Herxheimer Syndrome for most of the time in that the “die-off” of bad bacteria, namely yeast – which binds to Mercury, was faster than I could eliminate and I read that dead bacteria in our bodies (of magnitude) releases a toxin all it’s own that can also deliver more Mercury into the system temporarily. I have been so sick and would not have survived this phase without the support of colonics and other symptom reduction options referenced in the following website: http://www.earthym.net/ref-herxheimer.htm While I’m under the care of a heavy metal detox clinic, some things feel as tho they were left to chance and it’s been important to continue reading and researching in advocating for myself. Thank you for sharing your knowledge w/ clarity. It is very hard to advocate for ourselves when especially in that we are so sick and often without practical support. I’ve yet to figure out how to manage the dental aspect of this. I paid $300 for a bio-dentists opinion and was told I had one “silver” filling, an inordinate amount of work done over the years and referred out to have a root canal. I’ve read conflicting information re: removing Amalgam first, or chelating first. I wasn’t well enough to withstand ANY dental work and it’s taken 6 months to become quasi-functional. The level of toxicity and illness as I know it would have disabled me out of work had I not been retired. The trouble is, it seems standard health care providers and insurance carriers are clueless and will quickly write off symptoms to disease and send patients down a conveyer belt. I could go on and on because everything connects for the good or the bad. With that, I’ll close with a measure of positive news I heard: UCSF is proposing to “card” (I.D. 17+) those who purchase candy bars or sodas. Finally! How does sugar play into all of this? Sugars (especially refined) is a catalyst for the early stages of addiction, disease & toxicity which interfere w/ making healthy informed choices.
As I read this article my eyes well with tears. God gave me my only precious son to care for and protect. I have failed him. I just listened to everyone telling me that it was much worse not to immunize him than take the very small to almost non existent chance that something could happen to him. The day after his 6 month immunizations he went COMPLETLEY mute with no facial expressions. They told me it was a fluke. In no way could the shot have harmed him. He is 34 months now. 2 surgeries later, Rosefin shots, antibiotics along with his recent diagnosis of SID make me physically ill. For the last 28 months my son & I have lived our lives in a slow hell. I pray that all the medical professionals that have taken my son from me have an excellent answer when they at the end of their lives have to stand and be accountable for all the people and children they harmed while in this life.