Study proves mercury fillings affect your thyro... - Thyroid UK
Study proves mercury fillings affect your thyroid function
Very useful article. One to show my dentist I think! LB
Am I right in thinking, from this study, that it's only worth changing your fillings if you're hypersensitive/allergic to mercury? Seems to be worth testing for this before embarking on removing the fillings.
Hampster
Very sensible suggestion, given PD01's response below 
I'm not having my one amalgam filling removed. It's all that's holding that tooth together! 
I visited a dentist today to investigate amalgam removal. He did say that the test was not definitive as I had thought about having it done. Every single tooth in my mouth is filled and has been since I was a child. This may be another piece for the jigsaw.
Me too, from childhood, I'm 68 now. At boarding school had to go for very regular Checkups and when I lived at home, every time we moved and changed dentists, out came the old, in went the new Mercury fillings. Dentists always wNt to prod and poke fillings.
Consequently when I had my 2 boys, I only took them to a dentist twice in their lives, due to toothache, so if 1 went I made appts for both to have checkups. Both now in 40,s so don't know, but on starting at Uni, 1 had no fillings and good teeth, other had 2 8 think!
my motherinlaw died in her late 70's in the 70's, with no fillings in her mouth! Just looked after them all her life. My gran used to clean my teeth with soot when I was 7! I remember it well!
mmm ONLY "if you're hypersensitive/allergic to mercury?"
er... isn't it the 2nd worst poison on the planet? yet they STILL put it in your mouth (never sets & gives off toxic vapour, for ever.. btw) ... sorry, I have a strong aversion to this practice... yet they stopped sheep dip as cruel to sheep (off topic I admit, but they also did an experiment giving a sheep fillings - cruelty again! & showed how it progressed to the stomach etc etc.....)
meanwhile - my daughter had her's removed as the last one/straw resulted in lichen planus (& replaced them with composite - just as hardy but not common NHS practice...) - all removed gradually & properly with fans & dams etc.(Manchester) still it came out as 'spots' on her jawline & neck (it's a heavy metal!) took awhile to detox, (helped by Dr M's paleo) I think/know she's still affected after several years....she lost 2 stone and still fighting to be well... etc etc.....J x
Oh, here's a symptom list of Mercury poisoning.... (just had a spat of googleitis)....
mercurypoisoned.com/symptom...
I was actually just commenting on the study posted, which pertains only to the reduction in thyroid antibodies, as that was it's focus.
Of course mercury is a poison, and who knows what else these fillings are doing to some of us, and of course I wouldn't have them in my children's mouths. But the upshot is a lot of us have them and have to live with them, or decide to remove them if we can (which can expose us to even more mercury than if we'd let them be).
There are many many bad things that have been done over the years in the name of medicine and dentistry that seemed like a good idea at the time, and who knows, in 20 years time all these supplements we're taking to make us well could be found to be extremely harmful...
100 years ago I wouldn't of had any mercury fillings, but then I probably wouldn't have any teeth left either! I may also have been working down a mine with a life expectancy of 40, so hey, I'm going to count myself lucky for the time being and try and concentrate a bit more on the positives 
Just wanted to add that I think the NHS simply can't come out and say yes, we made a mistake, and we're liable for replacing these fillings. The cost would be horrific, not to mention the liability from people who have been harmed. So the cynical side of me knows this is why this will never happen, even if it should. And yes, I've come across the sheep fillings study before, horrific.
H x
That was what the study was about, impact of amalgam removal in sensitive patients with thyroid abs. Apparently it did not show an impact in non-sensitive patients, but this was not looking at the long term effect of cumulative build up of mercury. I agree it is a serious toxin, and best out safely if possible, but the study was very focussed on a particular issue - thyroid abs. NHS have a lot to answer for - evidence against has been stacking up for years, like tobacco, but vested interests and paradigms resist.
Hamptser is correct, study showed those sensitive to mercury were affected, and not the others.
However, to me, mercury is similar to smoking. Smoking is bad for your health, causes a drain on resources, eg uses up daily RD of vit C, but you may not die of cancer, and may indeed live to a ripe old age. If you want to increase your chances of so doing, though, you would kick the habit if you were able to.
Same with mercury, it is proven to leach out as mercury from your fillings, esp after eating, or hot drinks, or acidic food. Palate is very absorbing, just cms from the brain. Gut also absorbs, and body then has to detox a very toxic metal. All studies show mercury is toxic, dental literature claims it is safe - yet amalgam is treated as toxic in the dental office, until it is in your mouth. It is toxic to the environment, yet it is safe in your mouth. EU are trying to ban it, Sweden, Norway and Denmark have banned it - Sweden over health concerns. EU ban is apparently over environmental concerns, yet it is still safe in your mouth? Good ole US and UK are fighting the ban!! We are advised not to eat too much tuna due to mercury in large fish, but 10 or 15 mercury fillings are perfectly ok. It has been shown that mercury enters all the main organs a short while after placement of amalgam fillings. Mercury strongly attacks sulphur bonds, which make up many proteins, and also has been show to destroy neuron endings in the brain.
It has been shown that some people are less able to detox than others, so some end up being sensitive, unable to remove the mercury load, and systems breakdown. However, this can happen at any time, is cumulative, and other stress triggers can bring about system collapse - I think my FM was a case in point. I have been shown to have mercury sensitivity, it is damaging my energy pathways, and some serious stress probably was the last straw to cause the FM.
As with smoking, taking in the toxin mercury, causing the body to detox mercury, and giving mercury the opportunity to knock out essential proteins, is going to lessen the body's overall ability to heal, and to be well. It therefore makes sense to me to have them out, whether or not you are sensitive, as mercury is a serious toxin, not just some slightly unhealthy option, and particularly later on when you get older, and the body weakens, it could be the difference between getting eg dementia or not, just as the older you get whilst smoking, the more likely you are to get cancer, or gangrene.
***NB: If you do have amalgam fillings replaced, it is advised that you have it done by a mercury removal+mercury free specialist dentist. Normal dentists do not appreciate the hazards of mercury removal, and the British Dental Associaton advise against wholesale removal, because at least in this they are correct, done without proper protective procedures, the release of mercury can overload your system, and make you permanently worse (as was Mercola when he had it done).
For a basic protocol list: iaomt.org/safe-removal-amal...
For dentists see:
the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, Huddersfield, on (01484) 514451
or iaomt.org
the British Society for Mercury Free Dentistry, London, on (0208) 7461177 - they have a list
Some info I have just found: keytoxins.com/helpyourselft...
mercuryremoval.org/ inc protocols
Munro-Hall (UK dentist) and Huggins (US non practising now) both have sites with info. A lot is good, some maybe not so good, but their basic info seems sound. I have had my fillings replaced eventually, and hope this coupled with detox, and thyroid support will enable some form of recovery.
NB: It is not just the removal that is important, this removes the continual source of toxic mercury and probably nickel (strong carcinogen). There is then the detox afterwards to get the mercury out of the body, and slow and gentle is the way to go, can take years.
Thanks for this info, this is something I'm researching at the moment (mouth full of amalgam). I recently had a stainless steel retainer removed as I found out it contained nickel (wouldn't wear it next to my skin, so don't want it in my mouth). The instant relief when they took it off was surprising, though I admit could have been psychological.
H x
You are welcome - all trying to find a bit more light! You are not the first to say they experienced instant relief on removal of metals from the mouth. I have heard of such from my dentist, and also read of such responses. I am interested to hear of someone who actually felt something different - I did not. Also some patients experience loss of tinnitus on removal, and some experience return to normal body temp within days of removal. Again, I did not. I am hoping that having had amalgams replaced, and now learning about support for the thyroid and adrenals, and then going for a gentle detox, has a good chance of bringing about some response.
Two years ago my hygienist noticed a white mark inside my cheek and it sat perfectly alongside an amalgam filling that is sideways in a tooth. They sent me to have a biopsy taken of it and the result was that it's not cancer etc. but must be something so they believe I'm reacting to my amalgam fillings. The mark which was cut away back then has since returned and I also developed one at the other side of my mouth against another sideways sitting amalgam filling - if this doesn't indicate a reaction to my fillings I don't know what does! I was diagnosed three years ago with hypothyroidism and started taking Levo so I believe this has come about because of changes in my body that only came about once it was jolted out of it's sluggishness which had been apparent for years.
The NHS will NOT however accept these findings no matter what my dentist and the one in the hospital say but next week I'm finally going to have both of those fillings replaced with white ones - my old amalgam fillings are at least 20 years old but I don't feel I should hang on to them anymore now. I have some other amalgam fillings in my teeth but can't afford to replace all just yet so we're starting with the two that seem to be causing the biggest trouble - it seems the school of though also worries that these reactions can also hide other nasties that might eventually decide to manifest themselves so we'd rather get rid of these then they can keep an eye on my cheeks in case anything else happens. Of course, I have to pay for all of this as it's not recognised except in some (actually quite large and respectable) circles.
That is crazy that they are not acknowledging the evidence that you are reacting to your fillings! What a scare to go through! I hope you filling removal is successful and that it helps
Hi, Mudruffin - I had thought that if there was proven mercury sensitivity/allergy, the NHS would replace the fillings, but they had to prove the reaction. It might be worth checking this out. Apparently they do a dermal patch test.
I hope it goes well for you - it is best, if possible, for amalgam removal to see a specialist, as they take mercury seriously, and take proper precautions, but if that is not possible, try swallowing some activated charcoal before and after, and immediately after swish your mouth with it. Also chlorella is good for mopping up mercury - but start off a few days before with a small dose and build up. Vit c immediately after and for the days after also, as this helps. Some specialists give IV vit c during removal, and it certainly seemed to do the trick for me. Some also use Toothcap to cover the tooth - I had no bits left in my mouth. Make sure you do not swallow any bits, and swill out good and proper. Also good general supplementation (a quality multi). Dentist says do not take oral vit c before on the day as it may reduce anaesthetic!
It`s all very well for people who can afford to get amalgam fillings removed, but what are people on benefits supposed to do? all these scares about amalgam are not helpful, when there`s nothing that can be done about them.
I know what you mean, but for those who can get theirs removed perhaps it is helpful, particularly if they have had problems with fillings or they are particularly deep. I don't know that they are bad for everyone though. I know plenty of people who are very fit and healthy with theirs, but they are not teeth grinders nor have they had issues with their fillings. I guess we just have to be sensible and weigh up all the pros and cons. My thyroid is pretty much shot anyway so I'm not going to have my one filling removed. Can't afford it anyway! I'm not sure I'd want to get it removed as it's the only thing holding that tooth together. 
Also see PD01's response above. It only seems to apply to those sensitive to mercury anyway
Carolyn x
Hi, CarolynB - I did point out the study was about those sensitive to mercury and response by thyroid abs to removal of amalgam. I did also point out that mercury is a serious toxin, not to be messed with, and likely to be up to no good - much like tobacco. A very few people live to 100 smoking like a chimney, but the stats are against it. So I would think it worth considering seriously, as any extra load on the body of that nature is better off dealt with, particularly if there are other serious health problems - again, like tobacco, except it was put in our mouths without genuine informed consent, unlike tobacco, which is a daily life choice.
I can't really afford to get these fillings replaced to be honest but the dentist will let me pay in installments so that's how I'm going to get round it. I've decided I've simply got to get on with it now. I truly think the NHS should start to take note of these findings though and assist those who wish to do something about their fillings. My dentist will NOT use amalgam but she does openly admit that those types of filling are stronger - she then goes on to ask though whether that's a good enough reason to be putting these metals near our gums, bloodstream etc.
Hi, Mudruffin! - Good for your dentist! You might be interested to know that composites have improved a lot over the last few years. They are considered now to be a much closer match to amalgam for wear - which is the only thing the establishment are interested in. The best composites are said to be almost equivalent for wear, some of which have good approx to tooth hardness.
However, there are other structural issues:
1. Composites stick well to the tooth and hold the tooth together, so giving extra strength to the body of the tooth, effectively acting more like normal tooth.
I have been given to understand from several sources (dentists) that amalgams do not stick well to the tooth, and the dentist has to undercut the hole to keep the amalgam in. This in itself can weaken the tooth considerably more than needed if a large hole/cavity.
2. Composites do not expand. Amalgam can expand with age, and this can lead to it splitting the already weakened tooth. I have 3 split main molars, all of which had large amalgam fillings. One of these is split across the base, and dentist says it now needs a crown, which can itself kill the tooth, as it is very invasive - loss of a fairly large layer of enamel all round. This tooth had a corner crack off the large filling also.
So just from a structural point of view, modern composites are much better - but not perfect.
Then there is the issue of galvanic currents generated by the different metals in the amalgam and the saliva. This is of the order of a 1000 x the currents in the brain. This could be the reason why some people experience relief when they are removed.
Amalgam also leaches mercury continually, especially after chewing, or drinking hot drinks.
All round, not very nice ... so if the possibility arises, getting them out safely with precautions can only be a good thing.
Can I politely pick you up on your comment 'it's all very well for people who can afford to get amalgam fillings removed' ?
I can't afford it, have been unemployed since I became hypo and have now sold my house to survive. My life has been an existence, am on my own and have now reached the stage where I can't actually carry on feeling so rubbish. I'm doing this as I am desperate, as so many are on here.
So, actually, it's not 'all very well' and far from it. Please don't make assumptions.
Hi, Cinnamon girl! - I think that what you are saying seems to be what HF was saying - "It's all very well for people who can afford to get amalgam fillings removed ... but what are people on benefits supposed to do" - which is just your same point. He is not saying it is all very well generally ...
Maybe worth reading these freely available papers as well:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/212...
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/218...
Rod
Hey, Rod - what a cracker that first one is! The second is a bit too much for me at present!
I have heard of a couple of dentists (Huggins, and can't remember the other, a bit more staid than Huggins) who said they had asked the American Dental Association for specific studies that showed amalgam was safe. ADA had put out in their literature that studies showed it was safe. They were unable or unwilling to give the studies they referred to.
Where did you pull that one from? Would be interested in how you found it.
Cheers,
Philip
Dead simple.
Blue daffs' orginal post has a PubMed ID on it.
I visited PubMed (actually, simply searched for "PMID: 16804512" in Google) and got to this page:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/168...
On the right of the page look for Cited by 1 PubMed Central article - and underneath you see papers that cite the first paper.
Click on that 2011 paper and you see two papers that cite the 2011 paper.
PubMed has some very powerful tools working behind the scenes.
Ages ago I wrote a very brief introduction to PubMed - available on this link:
dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u...
Rod
Thanks very much for that, Rod, link read and saved! It will take a bit of getting used to it, I guess.
Is the journal article link now top left? And the free link now seems to underneath?
eg see your link
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/212...
Or have I got this wrong?
Cheers,
Philip
The Free PMC article (below the abstract) and Free in PMC link (top right) take you to the same page in PubMed Central. The journal link (left of Free in PMC) takes you to the article on the journal's own site.
Does that answer what you asked?
Thanks Rod - just realised the links you mentioned in your article are actually the fancy rectangles at the top right - was looking for an ordinary link! Cheers
Philip
As soon as I read that I understood what you meant!
PubMed and its friends (PubMed Central, MeSH, PubChem, and on and on) are the most amazing resources on the planet. But it is not easy to find your way around and understand. Definitely targeted more at people who know what they are doing. I.e. not me.
The Jury is still out - but the question remains - why is toxic mercury STILL put in our mouths? (there ARE alternatives just as durable) Crazy since a long long time, (er me too, but I meant the process) yes 'cumulative' is a good excuse... like I asked at my last x-ray, just cumulative... depends how much you can stand and get rid of, 'normal' folks can, of course... up to a point? my thinking is... how much toxin can we handle? fluoride too! and lovely gold fillings on top? I will stop now as wittering... J xx
My husband's mother gave him flouride tablets as a child to strengthen his teeth - imagine that now!
guilty of that... the dentist gave them me for free for the kids......sigh... we all have bad teeth (except one son - who still has 2 baby teeth front bottom as others didn't appear) hubby too, and I was always shamed that I gave them soft drinks/sweets etc - untrue! (my mum was told off too) however I was praised for the quality of tooth brushing! and there's us keeping them in business! meanwhile daughters and myself have not needed the usual maintenance treatment last year, 18 months actually - no pain or crumbling since supplementing Vit D - yay!
Thanks PD for the post/info - but my take is 'better out than in' whether allergic or not, there are hardy alternatives now (not cheap NHS amalgum) but I suppose it depends how many you have (or teeth left at all!) We have a lot, I wouldn't worry about one or two! as a child my family went to the notorious Mr P*cock (I know no names.... but his reputation went before him) he had a pair of pliers and one big drill ...... being 'gat-toothed was she' I was fair game ...and I've spent 40 odd years of regular 6-monthly dentist appointments repairing the damage, luckily 3 teeth don't have fillings! I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't gone? I seemed to get fillings every visit whether I needed them or not! (not to mention the 'cumulative' x-rays). I even got a NHS letter questioning if all my treatments were necessary???? I changed dentists..
btw - I think my daughter had the offending one removed on the NHS - the new one causing the white tongue rash (lichen planus) as diagnosed by the (east european) dentist who put it in, she then had a cheek lump & biopsy as dentist worried - strangely when she went back, it said nothing on the notes - so she went to Manchester for proper removal of others (yep - bank of mum, can't afford to get mine out though! lol!) She was really poorly for a while (had charcoal biscuits etc)... I did post at the time so can't remember now. Sorry J x
Oh I also have some 'pets' living in my gold crown for about 30 years (when preggers) - the notes display them in red, very reassuring they are being watched! not! (this results in a permanent abscess, no pain as nerve's been twizzled, amalgum root filling I suppose - seems they don't mind mercury!) dentists' loathe to remove it or give antibiotics (apparently they can topically inject them instead of pills now). Luckily I can't taste 'em or is that the reason why I have no sense of taste/smell? I call 'em numskulls.(beano et al) x
Thank you for putting on the link to this study. I am hoping that having my amalgams taken out will help my health, as I am in the middle of having it done at the moment. I have been tested and I do have problems with mercury, and I am hypothyroid.
Can't say I am finding it easy as there is only one dentist in the whole of Cornwall that I have found who does this removal with safe equipment. I have no car, and it's taking me a 3 hr round trip to get it done. I must admit that the treatment is pretty tiring and stressful (and costly of course!), but as I have 11 of them, and have Lichen Planus, I thought it was worth a try.
I have the support of a private Dr for doing the chelation afterwards too so I am just hoping that it's one more little thing in the jigsaw of getting my health back.
Hope it goes well for you - I would consider it worth the effort. I have been told that detox is better slow and gentle, so don't rush it - moving too much mercury around can cause problems.
Thank you PD. I will bear that in mind. I have some sheets that the Dr I see has produced on the subject but will discuss carefully with him at the time.
What I was trying to say is that it`s pointless & unfair of some experts to condemn amalgam out of hand just because some peeople are sensitive to the ingriedients that they contain. Even if I could afford to have mine removed, some of them are so big that the tooth containing it would have to be crowned, & as Iv`e already had to have several caps put on my back teeth because of broken down fillings, I know that it would be a long & complicated process.
Hi, HairyFairy - you might be interested to see my post to Mudruffin re composites. They actually stick to the tooth well, which amalgam does not, so add to the tooth strength much more than amalgam does. I have had 7 molars done, 4-5 of which were large fillings, only one of which does need a crown as the tooth is cracked along the base. Also, amalgam can expand with age and crack the weakened tooth, so it might be worth it from that perspective.
The study refers clearly to having selected a group of people with hypersensitivity/allergies to mercury.
Quite what that means and how it relates to the very well known basic toxicity of the stuff I don't know - but it very clearly doesn't doesn't require an 'allergy' to present a very significant risk.
This is a sobering video on the neurologic aspects of the topic: youtube.com/watch?v=BtFsy0r...
It's known to mess with the processes involved in using thyroid hormone in the body, and to be a trigger for auto immune disease. Since the effects are often downstream of the thyroid (leading to e.g. increased levels of reverse T3) the stock blood tests don't necessarily detect anything.
Some more randomly picked out links:
evolvedental.com.au/amalgam...
environmentalhealthnews.org...
naturalendocrinesolutions.c...
I'm another that had my fillings removed (and made sure that our kids didn't get any) and (a) had a pretty strong negative reaction immediately after the process despite all care being taken, and (b) after subsequent chelation therapy (i tested as having quite high mercury levels) did see a definite but very gradual improvement.
There's mountains of solid information out there - including stuff that suggests that (as usual the lure of the $ won out) the use of mercury in dentistry was frowned upon in the late 1800s, and that its toxicity was well known - but that the rapid and easy installation of amalgam fillings (tolerance of less than perfect tooth preparation, high turnover of patients, minimal comebacks) led to whatever scruples the profession may have had being overwhelmed.
These days its de facto another no go area - like fluoride in drinking water - and thyroid medicine. Mountains of research based evidence that it's seriously damaging to health and the environment - but a subject the system it seems won't quickly address - perhaps for fear of triggering enormous class action law suits. The profession seems meanwhile to be phasing it out on the quiet....
ian
I would agree, Ian - thanks for that. The evidence is solid, as far as I can see. The EU are trying to ban it (for environmental reasons!) but US and UK are fighting the ban. Safe in the mouth, but not the environment?
I was interested to hear you improved on chelation. I am only doing a very gentle chelation at present, not full blown, as I had problems with getting the teeth done - only just finished, and crown/partial crown still to do, and now trying to sort the thyroid, as this might well be the second key for me, as I just do not seem to respond to supplementation. Dentist was v concerned about me in that respect. If thyroid can be improved, I hope it will enable better detox.
What chelation therapy did you use? For how long?
PD - may I just say thanks for your posts and links, will be checking them out as they look most interesting.
You are welcome! - see also Vajra's posts here - he seems to be further down the road than I am. I understand the concerns, it is expensive, the NHS is not fulfilling its responsibilities, and it can be very hard work. A good mercury removal specialist might be willing to make a deal with instalments of payments, or suggest splitting the work if he considered it safe to do so - better out all at once by a specialist, but maybe better out in stages by the same specialist than in. You would need to check this out. I am fortunate to still have a job, though it is a low end, low paid office admin job which is presently not as safe as once was, and I live with my parents - we support each other, the bonus of which is that it enables me to try and sort out my health, but it is still a real burden. It might be possible to make it the priority and gradually save up for the removal, and use basic supplements, then when able later, do the chelation, which can be done naturally, and gently, over years.
Until then, I would be taking chlorella to mop up any mercury in the gut - start gradually to make sure you have no reaction. Chlorella EU, and Chlorella World eg. And a good quality multi. Vit C is also good for helping deal with mercury. IV C is an effective protection whilst having amalgams removed.
Good point, but the fact remains that I simply do not have the money to undertake the task of getting rid of my old amalgam fillings. It`s not a pleasant thought that I`m being poisoned, & there`s not a thing I can do about it!
Hi, HF - it is difficult, and unfair. The NHS put it in, and the dental assocs have been fighting tooth and nail, just like the tobacco industry, in denial, and the NHS, as I understand it will only take it out if there is a proven mercury sensitivity - they do a patch test.
There are things that can be done whilst unable to get the fillings replaced:
1. Ask for a test for mercury sensitivity - thyroid is susceptible to mercury, so may be an indicator, and GP might do it? - just an idea. If they find you sensitive, then I understand NHS will undertake removal, but it might not be as safely as a specialist removal. I would up the supplements, and take mega vit C afterwards, if the NHS did the removal.
2. Take a good multi for the system, and chlorella to mop up mercury in the gut. (see post to C girl above)
3. Take care with food. Amalgams give off much more amalgam after eating, hot drinks and acidic foods, and brushing. I stopped chutneys, pickles and sweet and sour, well before I managed to get my fillings replaced, and eased off brushing my molar surfaces which were mainly amalgam.
4. You used to be able to take an EDTA mouthwash to get rid of some of the oral mercury - eg after a meal. One supplier said a cx felt much better doing this. Should still be available?
5. Ask a mercury specialist about possible payment terms or treatment options. If done, it is much better by a specialist. Then might it be possible to make it a priority, and put a little by as and when able, instead of other things? - I do not know your circumstances. Easier for me as I had an unusual upbringing in India, and did not have usual social or personal expenditure. Fortunately I still have a job (just), albeit a low end, school leaver admin job, and came back to live with my parents, but it has been a hard grind.
Anyway, the chlorella, and care with what you eat, and how often, should help.
Take care,
Philip
Sorry HF, I didn't mean to be prescriptive on the topic.
I went for ages too before finding the means to get my teeth done. I even comtemplated heading for eastern Europe at one stage where dentists are cheap and i was very ill with hypothyroidism - there's agencies running hook up services/trips here.
There seems to be quite a bit of variability in terms of who mercury affects - in the short term anyway. Many it seems experience little by way of symptoms until the longer term effects (cardiovascular, neurological etc. if we're to believe what we read) - while other rather more quickly experience stuff like thyroid and other immune etc responses.
The issue with mercury is reputedly that the liver can extract it from the body, but the gut re-absorbs quite a lot of it from the bile or whatever it is that gets dumped back into the gut in. Once the loadings get high enough the body starts to look for places/tissues (fats etc) to safely stash the stuff in.
There's natural chelation agents that supposedly can make use of this effect to increase our rate of elimination of mercury - stuff like spirulina. It might be interesting to dig a little on the topic.
If it works its not going to eliminate the source (e.g. the teeth), but by binding to the mercury and enabling its faster elimination these milder natural chelation agents may over time help reduce levels in the body. My dentist (who figures he needs to do something since despite early on having had his amalgam filllings removed he is exposed to mercury in his work) places a lot of store in this approach anyway.
He had meanwhile long before run into trouble with reactions to mecury and associated poor health/fatigue while still at dental school - hence his commitment to offering the service of removing amalgam. It's professionally quite risky - dentists in some countries for a while were being hauled over the coals by their professional bodies in a manner similar to thyroid doctors prescribing hormone outside of the stock blood values. That may have eased by now.
One thing is for sure. I'd be very slow to take much notice of official positions on the topic. The stakes are far too high - especially in countries where public health system doled out amalgam fillings. So much so that I don't think we can rely on the system admitting any error. Even if the health consequences are significant.
It seems too that dental mercury is a big part of the environmental mercury problem. It seems according to one piece i read) that major cities like e.g. NY dump very significant quantities of mercury into rivers going into the sea in treated sewage effluent. That's supposedly mainly as a result of individuals expelling quantities they have absorbed from tooth fillings. Industry used to be the big problem, but these days it's supposedly fairly well controlled.
It wouldn't totally surprise me if it turned out that the EUs pursuing an environmentally driven strategy might not be a roundabout way of tackling the public health issue without admitting it.
A final point on full-on chelation therapy using the more aggressive (and somtimes intravenous) prescription only agents. (most were developed to treat patients exposed to acute metal poisoning) I'm no expert, so this isn't advice - but it seems that caution is advised and research desirable. This because if a person has a lot of mercury stashed in tissues it can be mobilised by the therapy, and bring on a very nasty reaction. There's differing views on the better chelation agents, and it seems right and wrong ways to administer them to stay safe.
Mine was done by a local GP whose wife had become very ill as a result of her sensitivity to mercury. I experienced no problems i'm aware of.
What i don't know is whether or not slower/longer term natural oral chelation using agents like the spirulina can eventually do the same job......
ian
Chelation is potentially very dangerous. One of the problems is that a chelating agent is not uniquely directed at one element - e.g. atoms of mercury only. It will be able chelate a significant range of elements so can end up causing severe depletion of the things that we need.
Great care is required.
Rod
I would agree, Rod - if the more aggressive chemical chelation is chosen, then there should be mineral supplementation with it. There are now gentle forms of the EDTA, and I would now be more willing to consider them - Lifeglow, and Biochelat are a couple. I would not have used the intravenous full blown version. Detoxpeople.eu have a lot of basic and less basic supplements and aids - eg bentonite clay for gut and baths.
Hi, Ian!
Thanks for the further info again - could you tell me what chelation therapy you used, and how was it done? I am interested to come across someone who actually had it done, and improved. It is not that I think they do not exist, it is just that I have only read about them!
As to your query, as I understand it, there are safe natural chelators available which are relatively slow, but can be increased to up the ante (one person on a forum had done this). Ideally they would be supported with good supplementation, possibly specific such as lipo glutathione and vit c.
1. Chlorella
2. Cilantro - care needed, need to take chlorella to mop up. This seems to bind to heavy metals in preference, and does not reduce minerals. It can remove from the brain, but needs the chlorella to bind it.
3. "Heavy Metal Detox" product - chlorella extract and cilantro extract + factors
"Natural Defence Factor" - said to be the original before HMD, similar make up.
4. Klinghardt protocols - he uses Cilantro and Chlorella plus other things
klinghardtacademy.com/image...
5. Zeolite - a safe one seems to be ACZ by Results RNA EU. This apparently binds heavy metals very securely, and tends to leave other useful ions alone. I do have questions as to long term safety, but many people seem to be using it to good effect.
6. Lipoic acid - a la Cutler protocol, he is not very open to other approaches, but he did heal himself using his approach. Again care needed, as it can mobilise mercury, into as well as out of the brain.
7. Pectin - Pectasol
Hope you can let me know about your chelation process.
Thanks,
Philip
It's interesting to know about how amalgam doesn't stick or bind to the tooth and cand expand. During the time I was having the biopsy done for my smaller, sideways filling, one of my rear molars cracked it's amalgam filling of approximately 20 years. At that point I also read about a cracked amalgam filling being more dangerous than general so chose to have it replaced with a white filling as my "tester". It did cost a lot as the majority of that tooth is filling (£90) but the tooth itself hadn't cracked fortunately and it appears two years down the line to be fine and strong!
Thanks for emphasising that again Rod. The synthetic chelation agents (e.g. DMSA and the like) used for treating metal toxicity are definitely not to be messed with - there have been fatalities.
Some are massively over selling the process as a sort of do everything clean up.
There are defined protocols that need to be followed. It can presumably be appropriate in the case of high levels of mercury, but no respectable doctor will prescribe chelation without formal/lab testing having first determined the high levels of metal toxicity that necessitate the treatment.
This Wiki piece sets out one take on the picture (and the risks) in some detail: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chela....
ian
Mercury fillings and autoimmunity
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