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.
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.
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
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
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 Michelle, thank you for your message. It sounds like testing would be a good first step.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Hi Lisa, thank you for your message. Your symptoms indicate you should consult with your physician.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
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!
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
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.
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.
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
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
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/how-to-rid-your-body-of-mercury-and-other-heavy-metals-a-3-step-plan-to-recover-your-health-523/
In good health
Should I take iron supplements if I have constant fatigue?
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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!
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/how-to-rid-your-body-of-mercury-and-other-heavy-metals-a-3-step-plan-to-recover-your-health-523/ 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,
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 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/findfmphysician/index.asp and proceed accordingly. Best wishes!
In good health,
Lizzy
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/findfmphysician/index.asp 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
Wondering if pulling the teeth out, is as serious as drilling them out. What kind of protection do I need to get the fillings out safely? I had known for years that they were not healthy, and should be removed. Just not sure how to do it-
Lizzy,
Thanks for responding. I just want to make sure I understand….I thought a one day treatment of the DMPS would get rid of lots of mercury. Is that right? One big concern I have is that I might get pregnant again right away (before weaning) and then I won’t be able to do the DMPS. I see only two options: do a one time DMPS now while pumping and dumping milk or just eat well and avoid methylmercury like the plague b/c I may not be able to do the DMPS later. Which is the best option in your opinion?
Thanks,
Joyce
Hi Lizzy,
I was a part-time dental assistant in high school….back then OSHA didn’t exist and we didn’t wear masks (or gloves!) so the mercury vapors must have been abundant. The dr’s main assistant developed Lupus at the age of 28. I developed irregular heart beats, extreme fatigue, and tremors but was too young and naive to make a correlation. After being away at college for a year, my symptoms totally disappeared. After college, I went back to dental assisting for 6 years. By my 2nd year I was losing hair, developed skin problems. By my 4th year I had debilitating fatigue, chest pain, foggy brain, and more heart rhythym irregularity. I was such a mess that I eventually had to quit work. I couldn’t work for 2 years and no doctor could figure out what was wrong with me. I never thought about Mercury Poisoning!! Duh! I’ve suffered symptoms all these years until now, and just started researching mercury because now I’m having kidney issues and nausea! I can only imagine how many dental assistant have no idea they are poisoning themselves (and not just from mercury but all the other toxic chemicals that are used in dental offices and labs.). My previous employers should be paying for all my doctor bills, not to mention permanent disability…..I am really sick!
Any ideas how to make them accountable? I want to help other assistants before they get sick to the degree I have!
Many thanks,
Sandy
Hi there, I have been having a lot of neuro symptoms for nearly two years now that arose shortly after I had my gallbladder removed. These are mostly tingling/vibrating in legs and feet and periodical numbness in face/foot that comes and goes. I was diagonsed with Lyme disease a year ago through Igenex Labs however, one year before all these crazy symptoms started, I had 14 (yes, 14!) amalgams replaced. I did it at my regular dentist office and was not aware of the dangers! I’m sure I inhaled a toxic dose of mercury!
When my symptoms started, I had an MRI and I have 20 lesions on my brain, but they are not typical of MS and I’ve had every test under the sun done including two more follow-up MRI’s showing no changes. I am now wondering if it is possible that the mercury caused these lesions and if my symptoms are more mercury related than Lyme related?
My nutritionist is starting me on the Andrew Cutler mercury removal protocol. I am a little discouraged about how long it is going to take though. I’m really worried about this and am seriously hoping that any damage to my nerves can be reversed by chelation. Can you tell me:
1. Andrew Cutler protocol is good?
2. Will my tingling/vibrating/numbness go away eventually after I chelate the mercury?
3. Do you think it’s possible that my lesions are from the mercury after my fillings were unsafely removed?
4. Am I at a greater risk for dementia or alzheimer’s because of this?
I had a hair test done about a year ago and it did show elevated mercury levels.
Thank you so much and I hope that you can answer some of my questions.
Dear Doc,
I am 44. By age 7 my mouth had teeth growing where they shouldn’t. Multiple teeth in one socket (more than three). Dentists never seen a mouth like mine. One was even growing backwards. I looked like the poster child for the elephant man. Later another grew in as a ball. Real messed up. My mother took me to a Mount Holly, New Jersey dentist. They pulled out tons of teeth and filled some with silver-type material.
I had special classes in school to help with a learning disability that only came after the dental visit.
Just two days ago I had one of those fillings removed. My dentist just called it a “bad filling” – she’s from Columbia and hard to understand. But I like how comfortable she makes me feel.
The next day my mouth hurt and my head felt heavy with pressure not like other times I had been given fillings. She gave me Vicodin (however that’s spelled). I’ve taken Vicodin before and never had a problem with it. BUT last night I had an “episode”. Real angry, mean, frustrated, out of nowhere. I stayed away from everyone but could feel it building. I went to sleep and had a CRAZY dream inside of a dream. Woke up like wtf was that?!
I was burning up too. With a slight fever that felt worse than it was. Took some headache medicine and it is starting to work right now.
My question to you…
On a psychological level — will my body react wacky now that I had it removed? It feels like I threw it off balance after getting it out. Have you heard of this and what can someone do to avoid this bodily trauma?
Please respond.
Thank you.