You will need to see the doctor to get started on your chelation program. The necessary laboratory tests vary from patient to patient, but there are a few tests everyone will need. These tests include:

• CBC
• Chem Screen (plus magnesium for some individuals)
• Creatinine clearance may be required, especially renal patients
• RBC strongly suggested or Hair Analysis
• *We require informed consent to receive EDTA or DMPS chelation.

Other tests may include a pre- and post-provocative challenge for heavy metal toxins, and rarely ordered is an EKG or doppler study. An EDTA challenge is an actual treatment with urine collection for six hours that is sent to a laboratory for evaluation. Some test will be periodically repeated, usually every tenth chelation. You can help by completing all medical history forms and supplying a current list of medications you are taking. Also, it is helpful for you to send for any pertinent medical records.

The nature of chelation therapy results in the removal of important micro and macro nutrients necessary in protecting the body's antioxidant defenses. These will need to be replaced. Nutritional evaluation is required to make sure replacement needs are being met. Re-evaluation of nutritional status occurs every tenth chelation. Depending on a patient's nutrient deficit and length of time between chelation treatments, the addition of vitamin/mineral I.V.'s may be necessary. Following the guidelines of the American College of Advancement in Medicine (ACAM), estimates are at least 500,000 patients have received over 10,000,000 treatments without a single fatality attributed to EDTA. This cannot be said about surgical procedures or even taking aspirin.

HOW MANY CHELATION TREATMENTS ARE REQUIRED?

Chelation for vascular problems vary from 20 to 30 EDTA treatments and some people as many as 50. Chelation for heavy metals is monitored and re-evaluated after 10 chelation treatment intervals. While treatment may require up to 30 treatments or more, each treatment is beneficial unto itself. Always, it is much less expensive to practice prevention!!!

Each patient's program can be individually tailored to meet a variety of needs. Our team includes a Patient Coordinator who is available to help you explore your options.

NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES

All patients should eat a substantial meal before each treatment composed of complex carbohydrates -- such as grains, raw vegetables, fruit and protein - such as non-processed meat, nuts, and allowable fats.

To get the most benefit from your therapy, you should limit stress, engage in regular aerobic exercise or walk three or four times a week. Drinking large quantities of fluid, preferable 6-8 glasses minimum of filtered water daily is recommended. This volume may include natural juices and herb tea.

On the day of chelation, you should not consume any dairy products, calcium supplements, alcohol, high fat or fried foods, sugar products, soda pop, coffee or black tea. Except for calcium, take your recommended nutritional supplements before, during, and after treatment. Do not restart calcium until 24 hours after a chelation treatment unless instructed by the doctor. Do not change your supplement program without communication with a medical team member. Take only those medications that have been evaluated by the doctor. Decaffeinated products may be used if approved by the doctor. Eliminating the use of all tobacco products, as demonstrated by clinical experience, improves results. Smoking increases free radical pathology.

MERCURY DETOXIFICATION
DENTISTRY AND RELATED HEALTH EFFECTS

SILVER AMALGAMS: NO LONGER A CONTROVERSY

For years the use and safety of mercury in dental amalgam "fillings" has been at the forefront of discussions related to modern-day dentistry. The American Dental Association (ADA) defends mercury's safety record, all the while permitting in its publications only research that defends this position. It contends that mercury is safe because it has been used in dentistry for over 150 years. However, there are many conscientious dentists who have studied this issue and do not agree. Deciding that such substances may be or are definitely harmful to their patients, staff and themselves, they choose not to place or restore mercury fillings. By offering amalgam-free offices they provide a more healthful environment. They use products that have the appearance and strength of natural teeth, some stronger than others. The Scandinavian countries, as well as Germany, Austria, and Japan, among others, have banned or restricted the use of dental amalgam.

It is important to realize that sometimes it is politics within the scientific and medical communities that determines what information is provided to the consumer. The World Health Organization states that exposure to mercury from dental amalgam is greater than from all other sources of environmental exposures, while the ADA states that mercury is harmful only when vaporized. However, research shows that mercury vaporizes from fillings through the normal process of chewing food, drinking hot beverages, brushing teeth, and polishing teeth during a routine dental visit. Also, constantly changing conditions in the mouth cause corrosion of dental materials.

There are many ongoing arguments about the use of mercury in dentistry. Some points, however, cannot be argued. For example, transfer of mercury from dental fillings to body tissue is proven and the amount of mercury found in body tissues is proportionate to the number of fillings present. Also, electric, galvanic currents are always present in amalgam fillings due to the mixture of several dissimilar metals. Of concern to expectant mothers, in animal studies, mercury from amalgam fillings has been shown to accumulate in fetal tissues and maternal milk. In the State of California, dentists must post a warning that placement of mercury containing fillings during pregnancy may cause spontaneous abortion. It may well be that public demand will be the only economical way for amalgam fillings to become obsolete.

WHAT IS MERCURY?

Pure metals are chemical elements that cannot be broken down into other elements. Of over 100 known chemical elements about 80 are identified as metals. Some metals, such as chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc, have important uses in body metabolism. Others, including mercury, cadmium, and lead are known to be highly poisonous to humans. No known metabolic mechanisms are dependent on any of these metals, even in the minutest amounts. Mercury, a silvery-white poisonous element, is liquid at room temperature, and is the second most toxic metal to man after cadmium. It is relatively stable in dry air, but when vaporized and inhaled mercury is the only cumulative highly toxic vaporizing poison.

HISTORICAL USES OF MERCURY

Mercury has long been known as an environmental toxin. The phrase, "mad as a hatter," refers to the 19th century occupational disease of mercury poisoning that resulted from prolonged contact with the metal in the manufacturing of felt hats. More recently, mercury poisoning came to public attention in 1969 when some children in New Mexico were made sick by mercury toxicity after eating pork. The animals had been fed mercury-treated seed. In 1970 tuna and other large fish at the top of the food chain were found to contain significant levels of the metal. One research project demonstrated that mercury by ingestion of canned tuna could be directly correlated to levels accumulated in the hair within a two-week margin. (See below: Storage Of Mercury In The Human Body.

Mercury is used in thermometers, barometers, vapor lamps, some types of switches and batteries. Mercury has also been used in the preparation of some chemical pesticides although many of them have been removed from the market. Some skin medications and eye preparations contain mercury. In the past, it was also used in paint. Mercury is most commonly used, however, in dental amalgam. Derivatives are also found in vaccines.

THE RIGHT CHOICE - ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS

When placed, silver amalgam fillings typically contain 50% mercury, 35% silver, 13% tin, 2% copper, and traces of zinc. Mercury fillings are weak and cannot be properly placed using a thin layer. In 1908 G.V. Black developed the procedure still in use today in which the dentist must drill deeply into the softer dentin area of the tooth, undercutting into the healthy tooth where there is no disease. As the result of this kind of filling, the tooth is secure but weakened by 75%. Because mercury expands once fillings are placed, they eventually fracture. The broken tooth may then require a root canal, crown, or extraction.

Technical advancement in composite material has resulted in superior products that are far less damaging to the healthy part of the tooth. One new system, called indirect composites, combines the best of the composite with the strength of the natural tooth. Only minimal natural tooth area removal is needed in the majority of initial composite fillings. The teeth are strengthened by the filling, rather than weakened.

Other restorative materials available such as gold or porcelain may provide a stronger, better fitting and longer lasting material than composite. Many dentists prefer using gold strengthened by alloys. While the cost is greater than all other materials, it provides a strong surface that does not break down easily. Clinical observations indicate, however, that if a person has a tendency towards depression gold fillings may increase the condition. Some Biological Dentist agree and do not promote gold in their business.

STORAGE OF MERCURY IN THE HUMAN BODY

Mercury stores in soft tissues, including nerve clusters, called nerve ganglia. The nerve ganglia line the entire spinal column and are found throughout the head and intestinal track. The function of glands and organs are dependent upon these nerve clusters working correctly. Also, the blood stream carries mercury to such organs as the kidney, adrenal glands, pancreas, and the main target organ: the brain. Because mercury is a poison, it can suppress the immune system. It may also affect the respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiovascular, genitourinary systems, and the skin. When hair analysis show mercury storage, it represents a chronic exposure to mercury. In some patients mercury toxicity may lead to mental and emotional disorders. Research has been done which indicates a possible link between mercury and Alzheimer's disease. Aluminum is believed to have some association to Alzheimer's disease.