Metal Toxicity and Metal Sensitivity

Essential Mineral Toxicity

Metal toxicity is a condition in which there is an elevated level of essential minerals or heavy metals in the body. Essential minerals include calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc, copper, molybdenum iron, phosphorus, chromium, vanadium. and boron. Metals classified as heavy metals are lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, aluminum, uranium, strontium, and thallium.

Problems which exist with essential minerals can exist in ratios of essential minerals to each other such as copper to zinc, calcium to magnesium, sodium to magnesium, sodium to potassium and calcium to phosphorus. Some toxicity is due to specific disease processes, and others are due to excessive exposure or intake of the mineral. Manganese can be too low or toxic if too high. Problems arise when a specific mineral which needs to be in an exact ratio to another becomes in excess creating imbalances leading to toxicity issues and unwanted symptoms.

Any essential mineral can have toxic effects on the body if excess amounts are ingested in supplements, food, and water. These effects can be seen in arteriosclerosis, skin irritations and ulcers, fatigue, liver damage, kidney damage, central nervous system problems, cardiac arrhythmias, and in the body’s enzyme detoxification system.

Treatment of Essential Mineral Toxicity

Toxic levels of essential minerals and imbalance in ratios with ensuing health implications can usually be eliminated through proper ratio supplementation with regular blood mineral monitoring. Other mineral toxicity can be reduced by diet, chelating nutrients, deep heat chamber chemical detoxification, oxygen therapy and specific chelating substances.

Heavy Metal Toxicity

Heavy metal toxicity is an excessive build-up of specific metals in the body. Metal toxicity usually refers to excessive amounts of lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and sometimes manganese in the body.

Why does this happen and where do we get the exposures?

Heavy metals are part of the earth’s crust In addition they are part of our homes and lifestyle as we find them in paint, dental amalgams, food, food and drink containers, near landfills, in cigarettes and in second hand smoke, and in different office and industrial environments..

Some persons are genetically predisposed to metal toxicity. Those with chronic health conditions find the excretion of heavy metals difficult. Others who have an APO-E 4/3 and 4/4 proteins abundant in the cerebral spinal fluid surrounding the brain are more likely to become ill from exposure to neurotoxic metals. Their ability to excrete heavy metals is limited or absent. Also if exposure to heavy metals occurs in conjunction with another heavy metal, a synergistic toxicity is experienced.

Persons with metal toxicity can exhibit gastrointestinal problems, central nervous system problems manifested in dizziness, visual disturbances, brain fog, mood swings and depression. Other symptoms related to metal toxicity are tingling and a burning sensation throughout the body, food allergies, fungal infections, liver and kidney problems, cardiac arrhythmias, vascular dysfunction, and fatigue.

Treatment of Heavy Metal Toxicity

Treatments prescribed to reduce heavy metal toxicity are the chelating agents DMSA, DMPS, EDTA and DMSO. Problems can arise because of the patient’s weakened condition, dysregulated immune response, imbalanced or inefficient detoxification mechanism, and hypersensitivity to the specific chelator or chelators.

What alternative treatments are available which protect the health of the fragile patient and enable treatment of the hypersensitive?

The Environmental Health Center-Dallas offers:

  • IV supplementation with detoxifying nutrients and antioxidants
  • Oral supplementation with food-derived chelators such as apple pectin,
  • Deep heat chamber detoxification,
  • Small amounts of a chelating agent shown through intradermal testing to be acceptable for use with the patient. This treatment is provided at prescribed intervals which rotate
    with mineral and nutrient therapy
  • Careful monitoring of liver, heart, and kidney function
  • Regular monitoring of essential and toxic metals in the body.

If you suspect metal toxicity, the Environmental Health Center-Dallas can:

  • Perform hair, blood and urine tests to determine the toxic body burden of minerals
  • Perform intradermal skin testing to determine if a depurating agent is acceptable to the patient
  • Perform immune studies and liver and kidney evaluations to evaluate whether standard chelating agents are the best treatment modality for the patient
  • Determine and prescribe oral, transdermal, or rectal depurating agents
  • Performs tests to evaluate the detoxification system of the patient. This information points to proper nutrient therapy
  • Provide a special oxygen therapy program which can assist in detoxification and aid tissue healing
  • Understand and design specific depurating protocols to fit the total health needs of the patient.

Heavy Metal and Mineral Hypersensitivity

In addition heavy metal and mineral hypersensitivity is a common issue. Many persons have sensitivity to nutrients and nutrient sources. Persons can also exhibit sensitivity to the heavy metals and essential minerals in their body.

If oral ingestion of the chelating substance or balancing nutrient is a problem for the patient, or the patient is experiencing hypersensitive reactions to the essential and toxic heavy metals in their body, the Environmental Health Center can offer:

  • Intradermal skin testing and treatment of minerals and heavy metals
  • Different routes of delivery
  • Changes in diet and water
  • Changes in environment.

If you have developed mineral or heavy metal toxicity or hypersensitivity, or if you experience unexplained symptoms, let the Environmental Health Center-Dallas perform the definitive tests and accomplish the correct treatment to fit your specific toxicity needs.

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