Polly: Once the source of the mercury poisoning has been identified and removed, the mercury in the body’ s soft tissue must be eliminated. If it is an accidental or acute poisoning, chelators should be used immediately to mop up the mercury in the body. If it is a chronic source of mercury poisoning (like from dental “silver” fillings), a much slower removal program is warranted because the body has had time to incorporate the mercury into its enzymes and other biologically active chemicals. If the poisoning is due to dental amalgams, usually the chelators are not employed until several months after removal of the fillings. During these months, the body will remove the easily mobilized mercury pools. Afterwards, a chelator is often employed to remove the more deeply seated pools of mercury.

Chela, the prefix of the word chelation, comes from the Greek word for the claws of a lobster or crab. To chelate literally means to grab-hold using claws. Chelators have a chemical configuration with two nearby extensions (claws) that attach or grab onto another substance. A chelator holds onto other materials very tightly between its claws. The common mercury chelators are DMSA (2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid), DMPS (Sodium 2, 3 - dimercaptopropane-1- sulfonate) and EDTA (ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid). People don’ t agree on whether lipoic acid is a true chelator or not. It may fall into the category of just a substance that helps remove mercury. There are many other substances that also remove mercury. Yet they are definitely not chelators in the true sense of the word, and they do not grab onto the mercury as tightly as a true chelator would. Examples are vitamin C, MSM sulfur, cilantro, chlorella, glutathione, whey and cysteine. (Whey contains cystine and glutylcysteine. Glutathione contains cysteine.)

One might assume that it is simple to remove mercury. All that appears necessary is to infuse or ingest one or more of these chelators or mercury removal agents. However, that is only part of the answer. The manner in which these mercury removal substances are employed is very important. Here are a few thoughts on the subject.

1) Correct the levels of antioxidants, minerals, sulfates, hormones, pH, flora, amino acids and as many things as possible before starting the chelation.

2) When the mercury is removed from enzymes and other active biological sites, another metal must take its place. The mercury does not release easily if the mineral balance and stores are poor. Thus mineral status is very important. Since chelators can also remove/deplete metals like copper, zinc, magnesium and selenium from the body, mineral status is doubly important. Agents like DMSA do not irreversibly bind to mercury or other metals. Hence the mineral supplements may be taken during the time when chelation is being done as well as inbetween campaigns. In fact, Andy Cutler recommends that you do not stop taking mineral supplements while chelating.

3) The agents must be used at proper doses and in a proper schedule of administration. Isolated one dose protocols are probably not appropriate. The chelation agent must not only dislodge the mercury, but must be administered over a long enough period to usher the poison out of the body as safely as possible. (However, there are those who disagree on this point, and feel that such precautions are not necessary.)

4) The most appropriate mercury removal agent must be used. Whether to use glutathione, whey, DMPS, DMSA, EDTA, cysteine, or lipoic acid is controversial. The non-chelator agents are more likely to let go of the mercury and allow it to redeposit in the body. This constant shifting of the location of the mercury within the body is harmful. Therefore many people suggest that a person only use the true chelators like DMPS, DMSA, or EDTA. Others contend that most chelators are so strong that it is easy to stir up too much mercury. Thus they contend that it is more dangerous to use the true chelators.

5) Removing the mercury too quickly has harmed a significant number of people. This reaction to a chelator is called a “backfire.” We do not know why this happens to some people and not others. Yet it might depend in some manner on how sick the person was initially. (Eg, animals weakened by heavy metal toxicity were more likely to succumb to very high dose DMPS than healthy animals. [1]) Of the true chelators, DMPS seems to carry the most risk. Even a DMPS challenge is dangerous because DMPS dumps a large portion of the heavy metals in the first three hours. This can damage the kidneys. It is very important that anyone undergoing mercury chelation pay close attention to their body’ s reaction. If neurological, immunological or other suspicious symptoms develop, the protocol must be changed. Ignoring developing adverse reactions can lead to severe longterm consequences.

6) Other substances are required to minimize the shock to the body of the mercury removal. Vitamin C is often employed. Sometimes glutathione is also given to minimize the reactions of the body. Glutathione is needed to protect the nervous system. However, glutathione itself has the ability to move mercury around, and some people cannot tolerate this addition

Polly: Once the source of the mercury poisoning has been identified and removed, the mercury in the body’ s soft tissue must be eliminated. If it is an accidental or acute poisoning, chelators should be used immediately to mop up the mercury in the body. If it is a chronic source of mercury poisoning (like from dental “silver” fillings), a much slower removal program is warranted because the body has had time to incorporate the mercury into its enzymes and other biologically active chemicals. If the poisoning is due to dental amalgams, usually the chelators are not employed until several months after removal of the fillings. During these months, the body will remove the easily mobilized mercury pools. Afterwards, a chelator is often employed to remove the more deeply seated pools of mercury.

Chela, the prefix of the word chelation, comes from the Greek word for the claws of a lobster or crab. To chelate literally means to grab-hold using claws. Chelators have a chemical configuration with two nearby extensions (claws) that attach or grab onto another substance. A chelator holds onto other materials very tightly between its claws. The common mercury chelators are DMSA (2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid), DMPS (Sodium 2, 3 - dimercaptopropane-1- sulfonate) and EDTA (ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid). People don’ t agree on whether lipoic acid is a true chelator or not. It may fall into the category of just a substance that helps remove mercury. There are many other substances that also remove mercury. Yet they are definitely not chelators in the true sense of the word, and they do not grab onto the mercury as tightly as a true chelator would. Examples are vitamin C, MSM sulfur, cilantro, chlorella, glutathione, whey and cysteine. (Whey contains cystine and glutylcysteine. Glutathione contains cysteine.)

One might assume that it is simple to remove mercury. All that appears necessary is to infuse or ingest one or more of these chelators or mercury removal agents. However, that is only part of the answer. The manner in which these mercury removal substances are employed is very important. Here are a few thoughts on the subject.

1) Correct the levels of antioxidants, minerals, sulfates, hormones, pH, flora, amino acids and as many things as possible before starting the chelation.

2) When the mercury is removed from enzymes and other active biological sites, another metal must take its place. The mercury does not release easily if the mineral balance and stores are poor. Thus mineral status is very important. Since chelators can also remove/deplete metals like copper, zinc, magnesium and selenium from the body, mineral status is doubly important. Agents like DMSA do not irreversibly bind to mercury or other metals. Hence the mineral supplements may be taken during the time when chelation is being done as well as inbetween campaigns. In fact, Andy Cutler recommends that you do not stop taking mineral supplements while chelating.

3) The agents must be used at proper doses and in a proper schedule of administration. Isolated one dose protocols are probably not appropriate. The chelation agent must not only dislodge the mercury, but must be administered over a long enough period to usher the poison out of the body as safely as possible. (However, there are those who disagree on this point, and feel that such precautions are not necessary.)

4) The most appropriate mercury removal agent must be used. Whether to use glutathione, whey, DMPS, DMSA, EDTA, cysteine, or lipoic acid is controversial. The non-chelator agents are more likely to let go of the mercury and allow it to redeposit in the body. This constant shifting of the location of the mercury within the body is harmful. Therefore many people suggest that a person only use the true chelators like DMPS, DMSA, or EDTA. Others contend that most chelators are so strong that it is easy to stir up too much mercury. Thus they contend that it is more dangerous to use the true chelators.

5) Removing the mercury too quickly has harmed a significant number of people. This reaction to a chelator is called a “backfire.” We do not know why this happens to some people and not others. Yet it might depend in some manner on how sick the person was initially. (Eg, animals weakened by heavy metal toxicity were more likely to succumb to very high dose DMPS than healthy animals. [1]) Of the true chelators, DMPS seems to carry the most risk. Even a DMPS challenge is dangerous because DMPS dumps a large portion of the heavy metals in the first three hours. This can damage the kidneys. It is very important that anyone undergoing mercury chelation pay close attention to their body’ s reaction. If neurological, immunological or other suspicious symptoms develop, the protocol must be changed. Ignoring developing adverse reactions can lead to severe longterm consequences.

6) Other substances are required to minimize the shock to the body of the mercury removal. Vitamin C is often employed. Sometimes glutathione is also given to minimize the reactions of the body. Glutathione is needed to protect the nervous system. However, glutathione itself has the ability to move mercury around, and some people cannot tolerate this addition