Posted by holymama on June 19, 2006, at 17:29:11
In reply to Re: Hair Analysis, toxic levels of mercury » holymama, posted by Larry Hoover on June 19, 2006, at 16:35:16
> What is truly unexpected is that he asked me to have a hair analysis done and the results were surprising. The test cost $30, and tests for lots of things, so I did it. My nutritionist gave me my test results today, which show quite a few things, including low calcium levels, low magnesium, low selenium, low zinc. The most concerning were HIGH blood levels of mercury and aluminum, suggesting toxicity.
I can't answer your questions because you're speaking of two different things. You said you had a hair analysis, yet you mention high blood mercury and aluminum. Did they make your head bleed before they collected the sample?
I didn't mean to say 'blood' -- I had a sample of my hair tested. :)
High compared to what? You can't interpret a test without knowing the methodology, and the standardization. What level are they calling high, and why are they calling it high?
Larry, I don't have the levels in front of me -- I have a print out of their 'findings', but the actual levels were in my nutritionsist's copy. I didn't ask for a copy of that, because it doesn't mean much to me. I did see on my nutritionist's copy that my mercury level was not just in the high range of normal; it was outside of normal range.
> All of this is a bit overwhelming, but the toxic level of mercury (he doesn't normally do anything about high aluminum levels. !)Aluminum is not relevant. That's why.
Why is aluminum not relevant?? I thought there may be a correlation between aluminum and alzheimer's, and isn't it at least interesting to note that my levels are outside normal range?> is something I can do something about, including trying to take selenium (which can help get rid of mercury in the body), and if that doesn't help, do chelation-therapy (sp??).
Your low selenium is likely *caused* by the mercury. I bet you have silver fillings. Tricked you, the dentists did. Silver fillings are approximately 50%, by weight, liquid mercury. The other metals crystallize in the liquid mercury, and you get a self-setting alloy, called amalgam.
I used to have quite a few amalgam fillings, but have had all but two removed over the last 4 years.You should immediately begin supplementing selenium. You have all the information you need, to prove that.
The low zinc, magnesium, calcium.....doesn't surprise me one bit. Most Americans don't even come close to proper intake of those.
> I realize this last procedure is controversial, but I'm not sure why (I'm also not sure how to spell it!), but I am a tad bit excited to see if lowering my mercury levels could help with my mood instability.
You spelled it right. But I do not endorse it. Not unless you just had an acute mercury exposure. Like, you inhaled mercury vapour from a laboratory accident. Do not do chelation. The yield is almost entirely other minerals. Mercury is darned hard to chelate, and you'll lose what little minerals you do have.
> Does anyone have any experience with this stuff??
>
> ~Autumn~You didn't get all unbalanced in one day. Please, show some patience, as you start to get the balance back. There are adjustments to be made, along the way.
Lar
Thanks for the info Larry, and I think I will have a second hair analysis done (with another company) to see if the results are the same. But I am concerned...I have been actually pretty conscious of this stuff over the years, having my mercury fillings removed, eating organic foods, no chemicals in the house...etc.. not having the typical american diet or lifestyle in many ways. But we do live downwind of a coal-burning, mercury-producing electrical plant, (now that someone mentioned it)...one that my husband has been concerned about. For good reason, I guess...
poster:holymama
thread:658684
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060601/msgs/658819.html