Heavy Metal Toxicity: A Guide to Metal Detoxification

Heavy metals are what one might call “the unknown killers” since these probably cause and aggravate most health conditions in our bodies. These tiny pieces of metals, easily embedded inside body tissues, are inside the human body as a result of the toxic environment we live in now.

Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt in his article “A Comprehensive Review of Heavy Metal Detoxification and Clinical Pearls from 30 Years of Medical Practice” explained that heavy metals are neurotoxins, absorbed by nerve endings and travels inside the neuron to the cell body. The body is constantly trying to cleanse these neurotoxins through a natural body cleansing process using the available exit routes: the liver, kidney, skin and exhaled air and detox mechanisms include acetylation, sulfation, glucuronidation and oxidation.  The liver is a most important organ in these body cleansing processes since most elimination products are expelled with the bile into the small intestine.

Metal Detoxification: Learn the Facts about Heavy Metals

Before proceeding with a metal detoxification program, it is primarily important to know what you are dealing with.

Some metals are extremely toxic, even in the minutest dose. Others have very low toxicity even in high doses. A metal detoxification helps cleanse the body from their toxicity.

Most metals serve a physiological function in the body. Selenium is needed in the enzyme that restores oxidized glutathione back to its functional form as reduced glutathione. It is also a powerful antioxidant against cancer.

Other metals like mercury, lead, and aluminum don’t have physiological function and causes negative physiological effects even in the smallest amounts.

People reaction to heavy metals varies as well, due to people’s biochemical individuality. Some people may develop a severe chronic illness after exposure of a few molecules of mercury while others may be resistant to it.

First Step of Heavy Metal Detoxification:  Find the Root Cause

When trying to do a body cleansing and detoxification from heavy metals, knowing the root of the problem is a must – know the different sources of heavy metals.

Mercury, lead, cadmium, iron, manganese and aluminum are the most common heavy metals found in the body. Mercury can be acquired from seafoods like sharks and king mackerels and from dental amalgam fillings.  Cadmium can be acquired from car fumes, cigarette smoke and pigment in oil paint. Lead was commonly acquired through residues in earth and food chain from time when lead was used in gasoline and aluminum could be obtained from contaminated drinking water and cookware.  Metals such as nitrogen and sulfur are produced by living cells or organisms.  Formaldehyde, insecticides and wood preservatives are also sources of the toxins. Heavy metals are also acquired from food preservatives, excitotoxins and cosmetics such as diet sweeteners, MSG and food colourings. Even dietary supplements or organically grown foods are amongst the possible culprits in metal toxicity.

Get Rid of Heavy Metal Related Illnesses! Do a Metal Detoxification!

A lot of illnesses can be caused by or exaggerated by neurotoxins. Some examples are neurological problems such as insomnia and autism. It can also cause mental problems such as memory loss and loss of intelligence. Heavy metals can also aggravate emotional problems such as inappropriate fits of anger and rage, bipolar disorder and psychotic behavior. Cardiovascular problems and cancer can also be triggered by heavy metals as well as impotence and infertility.

Undergoing a metal detoxification can help speed up the body’s cleansing process of these toxic metals.

Heavy Metal Detoxification and Its Side Effects

Heavy Metal Detoxification is the removal of toxic substances, particularly heavy metals from the body and according to Dr. Klinghardt, every detox patient can be affected in two ways when undergoing a heavy metal detoxification body cleansing process:

1. Through their non-specific toxic effects
2. Through the system’s allergic reactions to the neurotoxins.

Operant conditioning, a physiological mechanism may make a metal detox patient temporarily allergic to the various substances that help carry out the toxins during a detoxification process. Every time the detoxing substance is given, mercury emerges and becomes detectable by the immune system but the detoxing substance’s mistaken as the enemy and the immune system now starts to react to it. The reaction is typically resolved after six weeks of not using the detoxing agent in question. This conditioning reflex can also be treated by giving the detox substance in a homeopathic dilution for a few days.

There are various detoxification methods to cleanse the body from heavy metal such as the intake of drugs specifically developed for heavy metal detoxification or going on a detox diet which we’ll discuss further on the second part of the heavy metal detoxification article.

This is the end of part 1. Please read part 2!