| Mercury is the name of a planet, a Roman god, and a | | | | subject of dental professionals' use of mercury in |
| make of automobile. Most people are generally familiar | | | | amalgam fillings has attracted mercury its most public |
| with each of those three, but it is the mercury included | | | | attention in recent years. |
| in the periodic table of elements that demands more | | | | According to information in the Alternative Medicine |
| human understanding. For if modern society placed | | | | Guide to Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia and |
| more of an emphasis on the grave dangers of | | | | Environmental Illness, "Every year, more than 100 million |
| mercury exposure, perhaps fewer people would be | | | | mercury amalgam fillings are put into the mouths of |
| afflicted with devastating illnesses and diseases. | | | | U.S. dental patients, despite the fact that, in 1988, the U. |
| Mercury is the most toxic non-radioactive element on | | | | S. Environmental Protection Agency declared scrap |
| Earth, and the World Health Organization has declared | | | | dental amalgam a hazardous waste...Evidence now |
| that no level of mercury can be considered to be safe. | | | | shows that mercury amalgams are the major source |
| The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | | | | of mercury exposure for the general public, at rates |
| (CDC) concluded in a 2001 study that one in every 10 | | | | six times higher than mercury from fish and seafood." |
| American women of childbearing age is at risk for | | | | The book continues, "Since mercury vapors are |
| having a baby born with neurological problems due to | | | | continuously released from amalgam fillings, as long as |
| mercury exposure. | | | | you have mercury dental fillings, you inhale mercury |
| There are three important types of mercury, and each | | | | vapor 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The resulting |
| type poses a serious health hazard to humans. | | | | level of mercury in the body has serious health |
| The first type, elemental mercury, is a liquid that gives | | | | consequences. Research has demonstrated that the |
| off mercury vapor at room temperature. This vapor | | | | body's tissues, especially in the brain, kidneys, jaw, |
| can be inhaled into the lungs and passed into the | | | | lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and liver, absorb and store |
| bloodstream. Elemental mercury can also enter the | | | | mercury." |
| bloodstream by passing through the skin. | | | | As the public has become aware of such research |
| Inorganic mercury compounds, the second type, can | | | | findings, some people have begun insisting that their |
| also be inhaled as well as pass through the skin. Unlike | | | | dentists use composite fillings, also known as "white |
| elemental mercury, however, inorganic mercury | | | | fillings" as a non-toxic alternative to amalgam fillings. As |
| compounds can also be absorbed through the | | | | well, some dental patients are demanding that their |
| stomach if swallowed. Elemental mercury, if | | | | existing amalgam fillings be removed and replaced with |
| swallowed, is not absorbed and usually passes out of | | | | composite fillings. |
| the body without harm. Many inorganic mercury | | | | In her book Detoxify or Die, Dr. Sherry A. Rogers |
| compounds are irritating or corrosive to the skin, eyes | | | | writes, "Autoimmune disease, heart disease, high |
| and mucus membranes. | | | | cholesterol and triglycerides, chemical sensitivity, |
| The third type of mercury, organic mercury | | | | allergies, antibiotic-resistant infections, depression, |
| compounds, can enter the body through all three | | | | schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, leukemia and just |
| routes - lungs, skin and stomach. | | | | about any symptom you can think of have improved |
| Exposure to any form of mercury on a repeated | | | | once sufficient accumulated mercury was removed |
| basis, or even from a single, very high exposure, can | | | | from the teeth and body." |
| lead to chronic mercury poisoning. According to the | | | | Yet, as Dr. Daniel Royal, member of the Nevada State |
| New Jersey State Department of Health, there are | | | | Board of Homeopathic Medical Examiners, points out, |
| three main symptoms of chronic mercury poisoning: | | | | "While removal of amalgam fillings stops further |
| Gum problems. The gums get soft and spongy, the | | | | poisoning from mercury fillings, you still need to detoxify |
| teeth get loose, sores may develop, and saliva | | | | the body to eliminate the residual effect from mercury |
| production may increase. | | | | that remains behind in the body. After all, it has been |
| Mood and mental changes. People with chronic | | | | accumulating for as long as you've had amalgam |
| mercury poisoning often have wide mood swings, | | | | fillings." |
| becoming irritable, frightened, depressed or excited | | | | Dr. Royal calls the sauna a useful adjunct to safe |
| very quickly for no apparent reason. Some people | | | | mercury removal because it induces copious sweating. |
| may become extremely upset at any criticism, lose all | | | | And, he notes, "You will derive immediate benefits |
| self-confidence, and become apathetic. Hallucinations, | | | | from sauna detoxification, such as mental alertness, a |
| memory loss and inability to concentrate can also | | | | sense of inner cleanliness, and enhanced well-being." |
| occur. | | | | The far infrared sauna is the sauna of choice for |
| Nervous system impairment. The earliest and most | | | | many health professionals who routinely prescribe |
| frequent symptom of chronic mercury poisoning is a | | | | sauna detoxification or sauna therapy. One reason is |
| fine tremor of the hand. Tremors can also occur in the | | | | that far infrared saunas can effectively function at |
| tongue and eyelids. Eventually, a person with chronic | | | | temperatures lower than those typically found in |
| mercury poisoning may experience trouble balancing | | | | traditional hot Finnish saunas. Another reason can be |
| and walking. | | | | found in the quality of sweat produced in a far infrared |
| In the book What Your Doctor May Not Be Telling | | | | sauna. |
| You About Autoimmune Disorders, Dr. Stephen | | | | The sweat of the people who used a far infrared |
| Edelson and Deborah Mitchell call mercury "one of the | | | | sauna as part of a recent U.S. study consisted of less |
| most common poisons to which we are exposed," | | | | water and more toxic material than the sweat of the |
| noting its presence in our drinking water, the air we | | | | participants who bathed in a conventional sauna. In the |
| breathe, the fish we eat, and our dental fillings. | | | | perspiration of the people using the far infrared sauna, |
| Edelson and Mitchell write that "once it is in the body, | | | | the non-water portion consisted of cholesterol, |
| mercury affects both the immune and nervous | | | | fat-soluble toxins, toxic heavy metals like mercury and |
| systems by damaging neurons and the transmission of | | | | aluminum, sulfuric acid, sodium, ammonia, and uric acid. |
| signals in the brain, causing symptoms such as loss of | | | | The findings of this study seem to indicate that far |
| sensation, vision problems, muscle weakness, loss of | | | | infrared saunas are simply better detoxification |
| coordination, loss of memory, chronic fatigue and | | | | devices than traditional hot saunas. |
| tremors." The authors further state that mercury | | | | Before you begin a sauna detoxification program, or if |
| toxicity has been linked with rheumatoid arthritis, | | | | you suspect that you suffer from mercury poisoning, |
| Alzheimer's disease, autism, depression, attention deficit | | | | you should discuss your thoughts and concerns with a |
| hyperactivity disorder, and many other conditions. | | | | qualified health professional. And if you decide to |
| While mercury can also be found in such commonly | | | | purchase a far infrared sauna for any of its many |
| used products as waterproof mascara, contact lens | | | | therapeutic properties, be sure to thoroughly research |
| solution, and fabric softener, it can be argued that the | | | | the various options available to you. |