A-Z heavy metal detox Articles

Chelation therapy involves the use of oral or IV substances that bind (or chelate) metal ions, making them inactive or impairing their ability to react with other elements or ions so they can be excreted from the body. Heavy metal toxicity can have several detrimental effects on health. Among other pathologies, it is thought to play a role in Atherosclerosis and Heart disease, Autism, Allergies, Rheumatoid arthritis, Candida, MS, Lupus, Leaky gut, Anxiety and Depression. EDTA sodium supplement therapy is a chelator specific for the removal of such elements as Ca, Mg and Aluminium. EDTA Calcium is used primarily for the chelation of lead.

Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus are considered major minerals because you require a significant amount for many essential processes within your body. Other minerals which are also essential in smaller amounts, also known as trace minerals/elements, include iron, copper, chromium, iodine, manganese, fluoride, molybdenum, selenium and zinc. When any of these elements are overly abundant in the body, pathology ensues. Some of the more commonly encountered "bad" heavy metals, which can be found in high amounts in the body and can seriously compromise health, include arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, aluminium and iron, this is where chelation therapy comes in. 

Understanding Your Body's Natural Chelation Process

Under normal circumstances, your body will try to eliminate lead via glutathione from the liver. The problem with your natural chelation process is that the bond between glutathione and lead is not very strong. If an individual has anything less than optimal digestive functioning, the lead-glutathione complex is much more likely to break apart in the gut. The lead is then reabsorbed, the glutathione excreted and the liver is forced to use up more of its essential glutathione stores to attempt to remove the lead again. This ineffective cycle continues and significantly lowers your liver's glutathione stores, as well as allowing lead to build up in the system. EDTA waits in the gut and binds to free lead (broken up from glutathione) or the lead-glutathione complex to ensure excretion from the body.

When Is An EDTA Supplement Recommended?

An EDTA sodium supplement is used by alternative medical practitioners primarily for the treatment of atherosclerosis. The mechanism of action is poorly understood, although it is generally accepted that sequestering calcium and, therefore, lowering the serum calcium level, forces calcium to be released from plaques in the blood vessels, breaking up the plaque in the process. One of the concerns with EDTA is that the rapid removal of calcium can lead to arrhythmia or respiratory arrest. 

Since calcium is an element that is essential to many vital processes within the body, there is also some concern with EDTA removing too much of a good thing. Deaths have been reported due to cardiac arrest caused by hypocalcemia (lack of/insufficient calcium in the blood). Practitioners must also be careful not to overwhelm excretory routes when dealing with any kind of chelation therapy. Kidney functioning must be monitored closely. 

Main Cautions & Concerns With EDTA Supplement Therapy

EDTA, like any form of chelation therapy, must be administered by a healthcare professional slowly and steadily to prevent injury to the kidneys. The potentially dangerous side effects of chelation therapy have certainly made this form of complementary medicine one of the more controversial.

Types of EDTA Supplements Administered By Healthcare Practitioners

EDTA can be found in both an oral form and can be injected via IV by certified parenteral therapists. The oral form of EDTA is both less expensive and less harmful, but unfortunately also much less effective and may be recommended more as a preventative or an adjunct to a set of IV treatments.

n today's environment, exposure to toxins can come from a variety of everyday sources, making it more important than ever to support your body's natural detoxification processes. Over time, certain substances may accumulate and place added stress on overall health and well-being. A heavy metal detox helps the body eliminate unwanted metals and restore balance. In this article, we'll explore natural strategies to support detoxification and help you feel your best. 

What Are The Health Implications of Heavy Metal Toxicity?

Often overlooked, Mercury toxicity can play a large role in the development of common disorders. Sub-clinical mercury toxicity occurs when there is enough mercury in the body to aggravate a number of symptoms or other disorders, but not high enough to meet the clinical definition of toxicity by this heavy metal.

Complicating matters further for the treatment of moderate mercury toxicity is that different people will generally tolerate different levels of mercury in their bodies. Common health concerns aggravated by even moderate levels of mercury include: candida, allergies, MS, Lupus, adrenal stress, depression, anxiety, fatigue, leaky gut and others.

What is Mercury?

Mercury is a highly toxic substance that is found throughout our environment. We take in small amounts of the metal from our water and food supply, especially when we eat fish. Everyday products like cosmetics, fabric softeners, batteries, plastics and paints also contain trace amounts. The primary source of mercury exposure is through mercury dental fillings. Mercury from dental amalgams can slowly enter the bloodstream each day. The body then stores it in tissues.

How Does Mercury Impact Your Health?

Mercury goes into the central nervous system and brain, where it tends to deposit in the pain center. It can also cause kidney, cardiac and respiratory problems. Excess mercury may contribute to asthma, arthritis, depression, hyperactivity, dermatitis, dizziness, and fatigue. It may also cause gum disease, hair loss, nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, headaches, memory loss, muscle weakness, slurred speech, and increased salivation.

Heavy Metal Detox Tips

Supporting Detox Organs While Removing Heavy Metals

Mercury detoxification involves dietary, supplemental, and physical interventions. It focuses on ways to safely move the mercury out of storage, through the circulation and out of the body.

It is essential that the main organs of detoxification, the liver, kidneys, and bowels, are working properly so that the mercury does not redeposit in other areas. Once the body is functioning optimally, it is time to remove mercury from the system.

Removing Mercury

A dentist trained in mercury removal should remove dental amalgams. Proper removal helps prevent additional mercury exposure.

Intravenous chelation therapy can help remove mercury and other heavy metals from the body. Contact a healthcare professional who does chelation therapy to discuss if this is an option for you.

Supplements That Support Heavy Metal Detox

A number of different nutritional supplements can provide support if you suspect mercury is having a negative effect on your health.

• NAC: NAC chelated heavy metals, including mercury, by binding them to amino acids for elimination through natural detoxification pathways. It is generally well tolerated and rarely causes detox symptoms. Clinicians often use NAC during amalgam removal to reduce mercury reabsorption. NAC supports liver detoxification and boosts glutathione production, which mercury often depletes. It also increases blood glutathione levels more effectively than glutathione supplementation alone, improving overall heavy metal detoxification support.
• Vitamin E & Selenium: These two nutrients are potent antioxidants that work together to fight the effects of mercury toxicity. They help the body manufacture an enzyme (glutathione peroxidase) that enables the body to deal with toxins like heavy metals effectively. Higher levels of mercury increase the body’s need for this important enzyme, which it quickly depletes.
• Brain Boosting Antioxidants: Mercury causes significant free radical damage, especially in the brain and nervous system. This damage contributes to depression, poor concentration, and fatigue. Antioxidants like vitamin C and beta-carotene support overall function. Grape seed extract and ginkgo biloba provide brain-protective polyphenols. Additional support includes alpha-lipoic acid, methionine, zinc, carotenoids, pycnogenol, chlorella, and green tea, which help reduce oxidative stress and support mercury detoxification.
• Detox Supplements: like milk thistle, dandelion, garlic, burdock, fibre, and oxygen supplements can offer support for mercury detoxification in a secondary way because they all support different organs or systems involved in the general processes of elimination and detoxification in the body. Milk thistle supports the liver, dandelion the kidneys and urinary tract, garlic and burdock the blood, and fibre the intestines. Supporting detoxification organs and systems helps reduce toxin reabsorption during mercury detoxification.

Diet & Lifestyle Tips

Eat the following foods to help the body process mercury: sulphur-containing foods (beans, onions and garlic), fibre (oat bran and apple pectin), cilantro, fresh fruits and vegetables. Alfalfa sprouts contain nutrients that help the body eliminate toxins. Drink 2L of steam-distilled water daily. Eat fish in moderation. The fatty tissue contains most of the toxins, so always broil fish to remove as much fat as possible. Avoid packaged or fast foods, coffee, black tea, chocolate, alcohol, white sugar, salt, condiments, tobacco, dairy products, fried food, preservatives and artificial sweeteners.

To help your body eliminate toxins, there are some changes you can make and activities you can do. Increase circulation by performing regular, moderate exercise. Overall stress levels should be reduced to free up your detox organs to remove toxins. Another way to stimulate circulation as well as the immune system is to brush your skin with a fibre brush toward your heart. Hydrotherapy will strengthen your immune system and help to remove toxins; alternate hot and cold water a few times at the end of your shower for 30-60 seconds. If you will be using a sauna to increase detoxification, be sure to increase fluid intake so as to avoid dehydration.