Alternative Options - Heavy Metal Toxicity

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Alternative Options - Heavy Metal Toxicity JoAnn Guest Jun 10, 2005 14:42

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Alternative Options for Heavy Metal Toxicity

 

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Metals that have no " safe " amount in the human system, may accumulate

within the body (fat cells, central nervous system, bones, brain,

glands, and hair) and may have negative health effects.

 

Any level of these toxic metals is not normal.

 

The levels usually need to rise above the established safety ranges to

actually manifest in health problems.

 

However, there is individual variation, and high normal levels may

aggravate one person and not another.

 

Symptoms:Wide variety of possible symp-toms. In general, a harmful

(above safety index range) amount of any toxic metal is a stress on the

entire body and can manifest in a wide array of seemingly confusing

symptoms or in the individual's weakest physical link.

 

Symptoms that manifest depend on the type of metal toxicity, the age of

the individual (children are more susceptible to toxic metal damage),

the extent of the exposure, and the presence of antagonist/protective

elements that inhibit absorption, binding, and effects of the toxic

metals. For example, calcium deficiency aggravates lead toxicity, and

normal levels of calcium that are in the body act to protect the system

against lead toxicity.

 

The most common heavy metal toxicities are lead, cadmium, mercury, and

nickel.

 

Aluminum is not a heavy metal, and is absorbed and removed from the body

by different mechanisms.

 

All may be associated with a metallic taste in the mouth. Possible side

effects of each are the following.

 

Lead: Lead toxicity may be associated with poor bone growth and

development, learning disabilities, fatigue, poor task performance,

irritability, anxiety, high blood pressure, weight loss, increased

susceptibility to infection, ringing in the ears, decreased cognitive

functioning and concentration and spelling skills, headaches,

gastrointestinal problems, constipation, muscle and joint pain, tremors,

and overall general decreased immune functioning.

 

 

Cadmium: Cadmium toxicity may be associated with fatigue, irritability,

headaches, high blood pressure, benign (noncancerous) enlargement of the

prostate (male sex) gland, increased risk for cancer, hair loss,

learning disabilities, kidney disorders, liver disorders, skin

disorders, painful joints, and decreased immune functioning.

 

Mercury: Mercury toxicity may be associated with cognitive problems,

memory problems, irritability, fatigue, insomnia, gastrointestinal

disorders, decreased immune response, irrational behavior, numbness,

tingling, muscular weakness, impaired vision and hearing, allergic

conditions, asthma, and multiple sclerosis related to dental amalgams.

 

Nickel: Nickel toxicity may be associated with fatigue, respiratory

illnesses, heart conditions, skin rashes, psoriasis, fatigue, and

headaches.

 

Aluminum: Aluminum toxicity may be associated with headaches, cognitive

problems, learning disabilities, poor bone density (osteoporosis),

ringing in the ears, gastrointestinal disorders, colic, hyperactivity in

children, and ataxia (an abnormal walking pattern).

 

It's possible role in poor memory or Alzheimer's disease is speculative

at this time but also worth noting.

 

Possible routes of exposure to and contam-ination from the above metals:

 

Lead: Cigarette smoke exposure, eating paint that is lead based (in

children especially in poor housing or older housing),

 

eating and cooking foods in ceramic glazes that are lead based, leaded

gasoline,

 

eating liver that may be contaminated with lead,

 

living in the inner city that may have elevated lead air levels,

 

contaminated water,

 

canned foods (especially fruit in which the lead-soldered cans may leach

out into the food),

 

certain bone meal supple-ments,

 

and insecticides.

 

Cadmium: Possible contamination from cigarette and pipe smoke, instant

coffee, nickel-cadmium batteries,

 

contaminated water,

 

some soft drinks,

 

refined grains,

 

fungicides, pesticides,

 

and some plastics.

 

Mercury: Possible contamination from mercury-based dental amalgam

fillings,

 

laxatives that contain calomel,

 

some hemorrhoidal suppositories,

 

inks used by some printers and tattooers, some paints,

 

some cosmetics,

 

and many products that may contain small amounts of mercury such as

fabric softeners,

 

wood preservatives, solvents,

 

drugs,

 

and some plastics.

 

Nickel: Many pieces of jewelry have nickel and wearing next to skin

creates some absorption. Some metal cooking utensils have some nickel

added to them, even stainless steel which is mostly a problem when

cooking acidic foods.

 

Cigarette smoke,

 

hydrogenated fats (as nickel is the catalyst for the reaction to create

them),

 

some refined foods,

 

and fertilizers contain nickel.

 

Aluminum: Aluminum-containing antacids,

 

many over-the-counter drugs and douches that contain aluminum such as,

to name a few,

 

Amphojel, Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil,

 

Arthritis Pain Formula,

 

Bufferin,

 

Massengil, Summer's Eve,

 

aluminum cookware and aluminum foil,

 

especially when preparing and storing acidic foods,

 

aluminum containing underarm antiperspirants,

 

most commercial baking powders,

 

and contaminated water.

 

 

 

Antagonist/ " protective " minerals for each

 

toxic metal:

 

Lead: Calcium, vitamin C, amino acids (L-lysine, L-cysteine, and

L-cystine), iron, zinc.

 

Cadmium: Zinc, vitamin C, amino acids (L-methionine, L-cysteine, and

L-lysine).

 

Mercury: Selenium, vitamin C, amino acids (L-glutathione, L-methionine,

L-cysteine, and L-cystine).

 

Nickel: Iron, zinc, vitamin C.

 

Aluminum: Calcium, magnesium, vitamin B complex, vitamin C .

 

 

 

Heavy Metal Toxicity

" Alternative " Treatments

 

 

 

Refer to alternative therapy chapters for more information before

evaluating or applying any treatment. Some conditions, including yours,

may require a physician's care.

 

Diet:

 

Whole foods diet with emphasis on apples, garlic, onions,

beans, seeds, whole grains other than wheat, fresh fruits and

vegetables, and lots of filtered water, at least eight glasses a day,

throughout the detoxifying process.

 

Fermented products such as organic

yogurt and kefir are also very good.

 

William L. Cowden, M.D., recommends a diet of organic vegetables,

fruits, seeds, grains, and nuts.

 

He adds that a small percentage of the population whose ancestors lived

in the very Northern latitudes cannot tolerate this diet.

 

Symptoms of intolerance would be fatigue, sometimes muscle weakness,

difficulty with memory and concentration, and feeling low-grade flulike

symtpoms.

 

If these symptoms occur as a result of the dietary changes, test for

urine pH (acid-base balance).

 

If urine is too alkaline, add some organic meats and/or organic

dairy products if no allergies to dairy are present.

 

Nutritional Therapy:

 

Detoxification program with vitamin C to bowel tolerance;

 

detox products should contain the amino acids mentioned on previous

page.

 

Folic acid

Liver glandular

Protective nutrients as mentioned in prevoius paragraphs per metal in

question

Vitamin B complex

Multivitamin

 

If metal toxicity and symptoms are severe, detox can occur with an

 

intravenous chelation

 

program at a doctor's along with this oral program.

 

 

 

Heavy Metal Toxicity

Self-Care

 

Self-Care

 

 

 

The following therapies can be undertaken at home under appropriate

professional supervision.

 

Fasting

 

Ayurveda:

 

Pancha karma for seven days, dashamoola basti, yasti madhu vaman, brahmi

ghee nasya, shatavari rasayana, aloe vera gel two tablespoons three

times a day, tikta ghee, one-half teaspoon three times a day on an empty

stomach.

 

Juice Therapy:

 

To support liver, kidneys, and skin: carrot, celery, burdock, beet,

garlic, and organic flaxseed or currant oils.

 

 

 

Heavy Metal Toxicity

Professional Care

 

Professional Care

 

 

 

The following therapies should only be provided by a qualified health

professional.

 

Homeopathy

 

Naturopathic Medicine

 

Orthomolecular Medicine

 

Traditional

 

Oxygen Therapy:

 

Ozone therapy in conjunction with intravenous chelation therapy has

proven to be effective in treating heavy metal toxicity.

 

Chelation Therapy:

 

Chelation therapy can be an effective way of clearing the system of

accumulated metals.

 

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JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

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