What is Heavy Metal Toxicity?
Heavy metal poisoning is the accumulation of heavy metals in toxic amounts, in the soft tissues of the body. It is caused when the build-up of heavy metals such as aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury disrupt the normal biochemical process is the body.
Heavy metal toxicity may damage the central, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. It can also affect the lungs, kidneys, liver, bones and endocrine glands.
What are the sources of heavy metal toxicity?
Aluminum: Aluminum is found in soda cans, cookware, deodorants, automobile exhaust, dental amalgams and vaccinations.
Arsenic: Arsenic is present in some drinking water, pesticides, mushrooms, pressure treated lumber and poultry.
Cadmium: The main source of cadmium is cigarette smoke but it is also present in coffee, steel cooking pans, fertilizers, batteries, copper refineries, pesticides and processed foods.
Copper: Copper is found in hot tubs, swimming pool chemicals, cookware, jewellery, piping, fungicides, dietary supplements and multivitamins/mineral.
Lead: Lead is found in dyes, airplane fuel, lead-based paint, old plumbing, tobacco smoke, textiles, and car batteries.
Mercury: A main source of mercury is amalgam fillings which leak into the mouth and then into the body. Other sources include fish (especially tuna), cosmetics, plastics, fabric softeners, floor waxes/polishes, tattoos, hair dyes and batteries.
Common Heavy Metals
The most common heavy metals that humans are exposed to are aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. A build-up of these common heavy metals can lead to a person being labelled with heavy metal toxicity.
What are the Symptoms of Heavy Metal Toxicity
Symptoms of heavy metal toxicity are very varied and unless a practitioner is really informed about the threat to health which heavy metals pose, heavy metal toxicity may be overlooked as the root cause of the condition. Lack of energy, poor circulation, weight gain, high blood pressure and unexplained aches and pains are some of the symptoms of heavy metal toxicity. Other symptoms of heavy metal toxicity include:
- Allergies
- Fatigue
- Cold hands and feet
- Insomnia
- Digestive problems
- Joint pain
- Frequent colds and flu
- Hypothyroidism
- Loss of memory
- Depression
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Chronic headaches
- Mood swings
- Night sweats
- Parasites
- Skin problems
Can the body burden of heavy metals be lowered?
Yes, a detoxification treatment programme is administered. The program includes the use of diet, vitamin C and oral or intravenous Heavy Metal Chelation and sauna sessions. Close inspection of current environmental conditions are advisable and as required changes are often recommended.
Heavy Metal Toxicity Treatment Options
The primary heavy metal toxicity treatment option is Chelation Therapy, using EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). EDTA is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a heavy metal treatment option and is considered safe and routinely used for that purpose. This therapy should also be supported by ozone sauna sweat programs. These treatments should be supervised by a Medical Doctor.
Heavy metals have been shown to relentlessly accumulate in human tissue over a lifetime. The removal of these metals with Chelation Therapy helps to normalize biochemical activity thereby improving circulation and energy. It is important that anyone suffering from a serious health condition is tested to find out what their heavy metal levels are because they could be the underlying cause of the condition.
What is Heavy Metal Chelation?
Heavy Metal Chelation is a detoxification procedure whereby heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and others are flushed out of the body by the means of a chelator.
Chelation comes from the Greek word “chele” meaning claw. A chelating compound binds and removes heavy and other toxic metals from the body. The result of this binding is water-soluble and the kidneys excrete the toxins harmlessly.
History of chelating agents
Chelating agents were used in response to the use of poison gas in World War I. After World War II, chelation was used to treat navy personnel who suffered lead poisoning from working in the hulls of ships. Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic-Acidic (EDTA), a man-made chelating agent was used at that time. Currently, Calcium-disodium EDTA is the chelating agent most frequently used.
Protocol for Heavy Metal Detoxification
To optimize the results of the detoxification, preparation steps, under the care of a medical practitioner, are essential.
During the chelation, environmental modifications and diet changes must be made. A high protein and lower carbohydrates diet should be followed. A large intake of spring water or is essential. (preferably not stored in plastic bottles)
Further, you will be put on specific nutritional supplements. An intake of abundant minerals, especially magnesium, is important.
The following are some tests that have to be administered before commencing the detoxification:
- A chelation challenge test to measure your levels of toxicity.
- Hair analysis for levels of toxic and nutritional minerals.
- Blood tests for kidney function, blood cell levels and liver enzymes.
Chelating agents are then administered either orally or intravenously according to the results of the challenge test.
How often and how long are the treatments needed?
Usually, intravenous chelation program consists of twenty to thirty treatments which are administered by the results of repeated urine challenge tests. Several vitamin, mineral and plaque infusion will be prescribed to support your body in the sometimes exhausting process. The infusions take between one-half and two and a half hours depending on the type of metals to be removed. Both the intravenous and oral chelating agents are terminated when an acceptable level of urine heavy metals is reached.
Are there side effects?
Side effects, if any, can be minimized by careful monitoring of kidney and liver function and altering the dose, duration and frequency of treatments.
Please contact Urban Integrative IV and Detox Clinic at (416)463-2911 to book an appointment.