Heavy Metal Toxicity: Mercury
October 2008
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Sources of toxic mercury are numerous: dental amalgams, fish such as tuna and swordfish, contaminated drinking water, and medications such as diuretics and Preparation H. Many children are now born with mercury toxicity and more mercury can be passed from the mother to the baby through the breastmilk.

Mercury needs to be removed from the body in order for the body to properly function. For example, mercury compounds interfere with enzymatic activities that the body uses to make energy. Mercury degenerates nerve fibers and interferes with adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary function. Mercury is thought to contribute to hyperactivity, depression, nervousness, and mood swings.

Detoxifying from mercury and other heavy metals can be crucial for both adults and children in optimizing health. However, a proper approach to the process of detoxification is essential to bringing about better health. Unfortunately, it is all too easy to make yourself sicker in the name of removing mercury if the wrong approach is taken.

The most important consideration in mercury detoxification is that your adrenal glands must be optimally functioning to healthfully remove mercury from your body. If the adrenal glands are exhausted, or even in any of the alarm stages of stress, your body will not be able to handle detoxifying mercury and you are likely to make yourself sick.

To learn more about optimizing your adrenal health, read our #1 Health Tip. Also consider using both a liquid adrenal tonic herb like liquid Licorice Root and a liquid adaptogenic herb like liquid Ashwaganda.

A whole food vitamin C will also be supportive because the main storage gland for vitamin C is the adrenals. Vitamin C also acts as a gentle chelator to mercury, and it supports the immune system during detoxification. Do not use a synthetic vitamin C in place of a whole food vitamin C.

Always make certain that any heavy metal detox is accompanied by a comprehensive bowel program of daily bowel movements and colon cleansing and coffee enemas.

Sources of mercury and symptoms of mercury toxicity are cited from "Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis" by Lawrence Wilson, M.D.

Supplemental recommendations are cited in part from Lang Integrative Health Seminars, "Gentle Toxic Metal Protocol" and "Adrenal Protocols, Liquid Herbs."