What are Heavy Metals: Some examples of heavy metals include aluminum, arsenic, antimony, cadmium, chromium, copper, gold, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, silver, tin, titanium and zinc.
General Symptoms: Symptoms of heavy metal toxicity vary widely because these metals can enter every type of cell in the body: the brain, lungs, lymph, thyroid, heart, liver, pancreas, gall bladder (contributing to formation of gall or kidney stones), kidney, small and large intestine, joints, muscles, nerves and reproductive organs.
Heavy metals overload the immune system, making it more susceptible to a range of invaders, including viruses and parasites. Toxic metals are reported to be one of the factors consistently present in people with cancer and those with chronic diseases.
The types of symptoms usually reflect the degree of exposure, including exposure over time. Adults often report the first symptoms begin with generalized muscle weakness and fatigue. These symptoms are probably due to the way heavy metals act to ‘short out’ the electricity in our cells.
Other symptoms include headaches, feeling irritable, and inability to concentrate. If toxicity progresses, these are followed by numbness and tingling sensations around the lips, fingers, and toes (called paresthesia). A stumbling gait and difficulty in articulating words is the next progressive symptom, along with a constriction of the visual fields, ultimately leading to tunnel vision and impaired hearing. In severe cases, tremors or jerks are present. If toxic exposure continues, neurological effects of toxic metals can result in coma and death.
Nervous System Symptoms: Heavy metals affect both the voluntary (central) and involuntary (automatic or autonomic) systems. Someone experiencing heavy metal toxicity may feel anxious, nervous, irritable and hyper-reactive emotionally. Inorganic mercury is capable of producing symptoms which are indistinguishable from those of multiple sclerosis. Aluminum toxicity has been implicated in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and in mental retardation.
A study focusing on a group of dentists was led by Joel Butler, Ph.D. of the University of North Texas. Dr. Butler reported sub optimal neurological functions evident in the ability to shift tasks, attention span, ability to concentrate, recent memory deficits, visual recall, control dyspraxia (painful functioning), tremor and perceptual accuracy in judgment. Psychological problems included irritability, impatience, tension, frustration, and conflict. For years some dentists used amalgam fillings which contain mercury in their practice and much more are still using these toxic fillings; potentially putting themselves and their patients at risk.
Symptoms in Women: Women under the influence of toxic metals may be infertile. They may have symptoms of wildly fluctuating hormone levels that are actually due to toxic metals. Their unborn children download heavy metals from their pregnant mothers, which may be why female dental personnel, exposed to mercury vapor in their work, have a higher incidence of spontaneous abortion, premature labor, and prenatal mortality. Recently, pregnant women have been advised to limit consumption of tuna to twice a week for this very reason - that heavy metals concentrate in the developing fetus and mercury levels now contained in these fish are dangerous.
The FDA also advises pregnant women and women of childbearing age who may become pregnant also to limit their consumption of shark and swordfish to no more than once a month. Fetuses are susceptible to the toxic effects of high methyl mercury exposure levels especially in the first trimester because their developing nervous systems are so sensitive. Because methyl mercury easily crosses the placenta, the mercury concentration in the baby’s red blood cells can rise to 30 percent higher than in those of its mother.
Toxic metals, and not actual hormone deficits or excesses can also be at the root of women’s hot flashes.
Symptoms in Men: In addition to general toxic metal symptoms, men may experience symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) with all its inherent fear and discomfort. Additionally, toxic metals can produce male infertility, due to heavy metals in their prostate.
Symptoms in Children: The neurological symptoms of lead poisoning have long been known as children have eaten lead paint. Recently, studies of a poisoning incident in Iraq have provided limited data about what effects low levels of methyl mercury exposures to the fetus have on the infant. In the fall and winter of 1971-72, wheat seed intended for planting--and which had therefore been treated with an alkyl mercury fungicide--was mistakenly used to prepare bread; more than 6,500 Iraqis were hospitalized with neurological symptoms and 459 died. The vast majority of the mothers experienced exposures that resulted in hair levels greater than the lowest levels associated with effects in adults. One effect, for example, is lateness in walking.
To see whether or not you have symptoms that could be from heavy metal toxicity, you can use the following checklist, compiled by toxic metals specialist David Minkoff, M.D.:
• Persistent hot flashes that seem impossible to control
• Subacute thyroiditis
• Acne, eczema, psoriasis
• Asthma
• Allergies
• Autism
• Weakened connective tissue, fascia, and ligaments
• Numbness and tingling beginning in the fingers and toes and moving centrally
• Difficulty thinking/ learning disorders
• Tremors
• Loss of balance and or coordination
• Ringing in the ears
• Kidney stones
• Arthritis
• Mood swings
• Disorientation
• Inability to concentrate
• Skin rashes
• Fatigue
• Memory loss
• Attention deficit/ behavioral disorders
• Digestive difficulties
• Foul intestinal gas (the metals can kill off the friendly flora in your gut)
• Irritability
• Brittle bones/ osteoporosis (toxic metals are stored in bones, where they knock out calcium and magnesium)
• Menstrual pains
• Low I.Q.
• Retarded growth
• Weakened heart or even cardiovascular disease
• Dementia/ Alzheimer’s
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Bone pain
• Gout
• Seizures
• Hyperactivity
At Healing 4 Soul, we utilize CEASE Therapy to help children and adults detoxify from heavy metals. Contact us at 310-738-8878 to find out more and to schedule an appointment.