Mercury is added to products to stop things from growing. Mercury was commonly added to exterior house paint until the late 1990's to keep mold from growing on the paint. Exterior paint is designed to "powder-off" instead of cracking and peeling, so the mercury enters the environment as a fine powder. (I highly recommend that you filter the air coming into your environment.)

Mercury is added at even higher levels to marine paint for ships. The object here is to keep barnacles off the hull. The solvents used in these paints continues to "out-gas" for many months, and are very good at carrying mercury into the body via the respiratory tract.

Mercury is also used in ammunition and many explosives, especially military types. Studies have shown that toxic levels of lead can be detected in blood samples, after only a couple of hours of indoor target practice, in a poorly ventilated room. This study failed to measure mercury levels, but there is a direct relationship between the amount of lead absorbed and the amount of mercury absorbed by human bodies. More information here.

Dietrich Klinghardt M.D., Ph.D. Nine Steps For Detoxification
9 Steps to Detox from Mercury Fillings
Prescribe for Yourself – You Must Learn To Be Your Own Best Doctor.

Eight amalgams in a single mouth can release 3–17 mcg of mercury per day.

1 mcg of mercury contains 120,827,403,000,000,000,000 atoms.
Each mercury atom can potentially destroy a nerve cell or lymphocyte blood cell.
Lymphocytes are the "back-bone" of our body's immune system.

While removal of amalgam fillings stops any further poisoning, you still need to detoxify your body to eliminate the residual effects of mercury.

Mercury is a toxic heavy metal and the chronic health problems associated with its use in dental fillings is very well documented in the scientific literature.

If you are planning to have your fillings removed, there are steps you can take to speed the mercury detoxification process, says Dietrich Klinghardt, M.D., Ph.D., an expert in mercury toxicity. Dr. Klinghardt and Louisa Williams, D.C., have developed a detoxification protocol to accompany the removal of mercury dental amalgams by a trained professional.

Preparation — Two months before the removal of the fillings, obtain a hair analysis to assess your mineral levels and supplement any minerals that are low. "Pay special attention to your levels of sodium and chloride, which typically are low in mercury–toxic patients," says Dr. Klinghardt.

Chlorella — The main agent used in the detoxification process is chlorella algae, which have been proven to bind with and remove toxic metals from the body. Take it at your highest comfortable tolerance level, advises Dr. Klinghardt. Chlorella supplementation can range from half a capsule to a maximum of 14 capsules daily, depending on individual tolerance. Too high a dose will cause symptoms of nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, and headache. For the first eight days, take the chlorella with meals at your maximum tolerance level, dividing it into small doses throughout the day. On days nine and ten, take ten times your usual dose, but not more than 60 capsules in a single day. Days 11 and 12 are a "rest" period and no chlorella should be taken on these days. The following day, begin the 12–day cycle again.

Garlic — Garlic contains compounds called sulfhydryl groups, which aid in the detoxification process by transporting mercury through the body, especially the kidneys, according to Dr. Klinghardt. For proper garlic supplementation, you must first determine your highest tolerance level for the herb. Dr. Klinghardt suggests using the "smell detection level" as a general guide: If you can smell the garlic on your breath, you're taking too much. As with chlorella, garlic should be taken in divided doses, with meals.

Cilantro — Studies have shown that cilantro or coriander ( Chinese parsley ) can help move mercury and other toxic metals out of the central nervous system for excretion through the urine or feces. To increase your intake of cilantro, Dr. Klinghardt suggests making this "pesto" to increase your intake of cilantro:

Start with fresh, organic cilantro and wash it thoroughly. Place the cilantro in blender, along with water, sea salt and olive oil. Blend the ingredients until creamy. Dr. Klinghardt recommends taking 1–3 tbsp of this cilantro pesto, three times daily with meals. For those suffering from neurological problems, such as Alzheimer's or brain "fogginess" and difficulty concentrating, the pesto may be taken more often, he says.

High–protein diet — "A high protein diet is essential to mercury detoxification," says Dr. Klinghardt.

Colonics — Have a colonic irrigation once weekly, as this helps in the elimination of mercury via the feces. When doing the protocol in conduction with chelation therapy ( see below ), increase frequency to twice weekly.

Additional supplements — Other helpful nutritional supplements include vitamin C and magnesium, which shorten the amount of time it takes for feces to pass through the bowel ( this prevents excreted mercury from being reabsorbed by the body through the intestine ); vitamin E; thioctic acid; and N–acetyl–cysteine.

On the day of mercury amalgam removal, take 20 capsules of chlorella immediately before the procedure. Following removal, open an additional two capsules and sprinkle the contents directly on your teeth, Dr. Klinghardt instructs. Keep the chlorella in your mouth for about ten minutes, to absorb any metal residues; after ten minutes, spit out the chlorella and rinse your mouth with water. Repeat this step that night as well. The following day, resume the regular program,

Eight amalgams in a single mouth can release 3–17 mcg of mercury per day Chelation — As a final step in eliminating residual mercury from the cells, chelation therapy is required to bind up the mercury and carry it out of the body. Dr. Klinghardt recommends that the chelating ( "binding" ) agent DMPS be used as soon as possible following mercury amalgam removal. The assistance of a professional dentist is required for this step.

This detoxification protocol should be continued until all symptoms of mercury toxicity have been eliminated, says Dr. Klinghardt. In some cases, this may take up to three or four years, although many have successfully completed the detoxification process in a shorter period of time.

Energizing Soak — This stimulating herbal bath is especially good for an energy boost after a long day.

3 tbsp dried nettle

3 tbsp dried red clover blossoms

2 tbsp dried peppermint

5 drops peppermint essential oil

5 drops rosemary essential oil

1 tsp distilled witch hazel

Place the dried herbs in the center of a piece of cloth like a cotton handkerchief. Gather the corners of the cloth together and tie with a piece of string, making a loop large enough to fit over your bathtub faucet.

Hang this herbal "teabag" from the faucet so that the bathwater runs through it. While you wait for the tub to fill, dilute the essential oils with the witch hazel to prevent any skin sensitivity to the concentrated oil. When the tub is full, add the essential oil mixture. ( Oils will dissipate too quickly if added while the hot water is still running. ) Swirl the water around with your hand to disperse the oils. Place the herbal teabag in the tub.

Dry–Brush Your Body — To enhance the effect of the bath, Vukovic recommends dry brushing your entire body before you step into the bathtub. Once you have entered the tub, soak for 15–20 minutes, adding additional hot water as needed to maintain a constant water temperature. For an increased energizing effect, follow this bath with a cold shower.

Contact:   Dietrich Klinghardt, M.D., PhD.,

American Academy of Neural Therapy,

Phone: 206–749–9967, fax 206–723–1367

On the day of amalgam removal, vitamin C should not be taken until after the procedure otherwise, it may interfere with anesthesia.

Heavy metal–related symptoms, such as joint pains, depression, burning sensations, digestive–related problems, and fatigue can be temporarily aggravated as DMPS removes toxins from the cells. The symptoms may change, but this is a transient occurrence. The routine use of intravenous DMPS is not advisable for patients who still have silver amalgam fillings. This is because DMPS may appear in the saliva and act to dissolve the surface of the existing amalgam fillings. The potential outcome is acute toxicity from heavy metal injury to the lining of the gut.