Heavy Metal Poisoning and The Mad Hatter
One of the best illustrations of the dangers of heavy metal toxicity is the origin of the phrase “mad as a hatter.” Of course, most people immediately think of the Mad Hatter character from Lewis Carroll’s famous story, but the idea of the mad hatter came from a real occurrence in 19th century America. Back then, hat makers used a mercury solution to treat fur and turn it into felt. They couldn’t help but inhale the fumes, which led to widespread mercury poisoning among hatters. They developed neurological problems and, in severe cases, became psychotic. This was really the first time that metals like mercury were recognized as being toxic, and although we’ve come a long way since the late 1800s, it’s still a concern. Mad Hatter Syndrome is still used by doctors today to describe mercury poisoning, even though the exposure comes from different sources.
This brings me to my trip I took a couple of weeks ago to College Station, Texas to see a chiropractor that was not your typical chiropractor. He was your push the envelope out the box sort of Doctor. He actually did lots of things with ozone in treating health conditions. Of course any of you Texas Longhorn fans are probably saying anything out of College Station might be a little strange.
As I begin to have a conversation with this out of the box chiropractor, I learned he treated heavy metal poisoning which I was personally interested in because through the last 4 years have had many amalgams fillings removed and still have more. The first two of the ones I had removed were from a conventional dentist who gave me no protection during removal and I remember feeling so tired the week after I couldn’t get back to my normal energy level.However, I have read even when they are removed the proper way with a rubber damn and patient with oxygen that mercury can still cause health issues albeit not as much as with no protection taken.
In talking with Dr. Fredericks in College Station he has patients from all walks of life and of course one likely candidate was a dentist he was treating who had very high mercury poisoning. Tongue and cheek, I am wondering if it the first dentist who removed my mercury fillings and argued with me about the safety of amalgam fillings. What I find strange is that when the mercury is in your mouth it is perfectly safe until they remove them. Suddenly these old fillings that were safe are now a bio-hazard.
One interesting point that Dr. Fredericks made is that when a person is first tested and this is done with a urine test where they give you he ‘provocation’ test involves taking effective detoxification agents (DMSA & glycine) and collecting urine over a timed period (6 hours).The first test may show high amount of one metal and then as the person continues to detox from metals then another heavy metal may show high that did not show high originally. (As an aside when looking up how this test is given…up pops Quack watch. Do not believe all you read on quack watch…the guy Stephen Barret is a debarred psychiatrist that writes these articles–he is a disinformation specialist on anything alternative. While I don’t believe all alternative cures on the web …this guy is a disinformation specialist to the fullest degree on all anything alternative)
If you remember your chemistry class there was a chart on the periodic table. This table represented chemical properties. Elements are listed in order of increasing atomic number (i.e., the number of protons in the atomic nucleus) So as you continue to move to larger number then they represent a heavier weight. So as you start the removal of heavy metals the lighter ones are the first to go and the heavier ones like lead and mercury are the last and therefore may not show up as high when you first take the urine test to determine what metal is highest.
I am wondering just how common heavy metal poisoning is. While all of us do not necessarily have amalgam fillings other ways that we are exposed to heavy metals such as Lead, Cadmium, Mercury etc . Heavy metals may enter the human body through food, water, air, or absorption through the skin when they come in contact with humans in agriculture and in manufacturing, pharmaceutical, industrial, or residential settings. Industrial exposure accounts for a common route of exposure for adults.
What diseases and health problems are associated with heavy metal poisoning?
| – cardiovascular problems | – sensory abnormalities | – physiological impairment |
| – renal and hepatic problems | – nerve dysfunctions | – motor disorders |
| – respiratory system problems | – physical disturbances | – immune system deficiencies |
| – reproductive issues | – cogitative impairment | – psychiatric disturbances |
Detoxification is extraordinarily complex, but essentially involves enzymes that make the toxic waste sticky enough to adhere to the agents that can safely eliminate them before they cause us harm. It’s like the workers in a nuclear reactor who painstakingly collect and dispose of nuclear waste so that it doesn’t contaminate the surrounding countryside. Unless handled efficiently, any spillage in the process can prove more dangerous than the toxic waste was to begin with.
The extent to which each of us can handle this delicate operation has to do with an extraordinary number of factors: what we were born with, what we eat and where we live, both indoors and out. Yet, nearly half of us lack the genetic code for efficient garbage disposal, and a large proportion of us are so overwhelmed by our toxic environment that our detox systems have virtually shut down. In other cases, we may be eating food that hampers our ability to detoxify.
In other words, our detox status is rather like a fingerprint—unique, and treatable only on a case-by-case basis—but, happily, there’s a host of natural methods proven to work. Detoxification should always be viewed a little like a case of CSI-style forensics—something that inevitably requires a focus from the general towards the particular.
Here are a couple of ways that Heavy Metals are Eliminated
The most common solution is the EDTA Chelation Therapy. The chelation therapy is a treatment that involves repeated intravenous administration of a synthetic amino acid solution called ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, or EDTA, to pull toxins from the bloodstream. A single chelation treatment usually lasts from two to four hours and costs between $50 and $100. In the first month, patients usually receive from five to 30 treatments (with 30 being most common). Patients often are advised to continue preventive treatment once a month. EDTA isn’t totally safe as a drug though. Some of the side effects can be damage to bone marrow, very low blood pressure, fast heart rate, increased risk of bleeding or blood clots, bacterial blood infections, seizures, allergic or immune reactions, heart rhythm abnormalities. That is why this must be done with a professional Doctor who is schooled in heavy metal removal.
Other people think that products such as Kelotox which are suppositories of EDTA are less expensive and just as effective. However if one has a low calcium blood level this may be an issue unless calcium is supplemented generously. Again working with a health care professional is advised.
One product that found that does not have the side effects of EDTA and is very inexpensive is Humifulvate WITH NO SIDE EFFECTS, Humifulvate® acts as a heavy metal detoxifier by attaching itself to any toxic heavy metals (such as Lead, Cadmium, Mercury or Aluminum) and removing them as waste. Humifulvate® possesses none of the negative and potentially dangerous side effects of EDTA. The treatment with Humifulvate takes 12 weeks taking 1 tablet on an empty stomach preferably at night time before you go to bed.
Other products commonly used for metal detox and doesn’t seem to have the side effects as EDTA is zeolite and something called Pectrosol that is make from Citrus Pectin. I mentioned the Pectrosol to Dr. Brouse and he felt it didn’t get rid of all the metals. And of course an effective product for mercury is cilantro. I understand the best type of cilantro is called bioactive cilantro that contains corriander, yellow dock in a tincture form. The yellow dock removes mercury from the connective tissues.
Of course as you remove anything you need to make sure that you body can remove things effectively. Even if you are not ready for heavy metal detox keeping your liver clean improves digestion. One way to start cleansing is a liver and Gallbladder cleanse and continually using a product like Shaklee DTX. This is combination Helps maintain bile flow and contains Milk thistle extract standardized to 80% silymarin plus Reishi mushroom, turmeric, and Schizandra chinensis have antioxidant properties.
