determining the source of heavy metals

[Guest guest]

Agreed.

 

One interesting point is that the rate of mercury exposure from filling

diminishes quite quickly as they age. I read a study few years ago that

suggested 50% of the mercury was released in he first five years and 80% in ten.

 

I know for myself, all my fillings are at least 20 years old and I doubt

I am receiving any appreciable amount from them anymore. I would be more

concerned about fish at his point than my fillings.

 

I heard an interesting comment just this morning that Pres Reagan had his

mercury fillings removed not long before he started having Alzheimer's

symptoms. It is important to have them taken out by a dentist who knows what

they

are doing.

 

Lastly, although the majority of concern form silver fillings seems to be

from mercury, they also, IMHO contribute to blocking channels in some people.

I would suggest this is a potential reason for people who have old fillings

taken out feeling immediately better.

 

TAFN,

 

Chris

 

In a message dated 2/23/2005 1:15:01 PM Eastern Standard Time,

writes:

One more note that is critical to add, and I don't believe has been

mentioned in this discussion: As important as it is to chelate out heavy

metals, once they have been determined to be present and in toxifying

quantities, THEIR SOURCE NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED AND CUT OFF! If the

heavy metal is mercury, of course, the most suspicious source would be

silver amalgam fillings in teeth. Now for those who are not aware of it,

removal of amalgams, if not done properly, can be more volatile than

slow, insidious leakage from fillings! It is critical that appropriate

precautions are taken, and that a dentist familiar with removal

prophalactic and sequential procedure be used.

 

sincerely,

 

Yehuda

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

One more note that is critical to add, and I don't believe has been

mentioned in this discussion: As important as it is to chelate out heavy

metals, once they have been determined to be present and in toxifying

quantities, THEIR SOURCE NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED AND CUT OFF! If the

heavy metal is mercury, of course, the most suspicious source would be

silver amalgam fillings in teeth. Now for those who are not aware of it,

removal of amalgams, if not done properly, can be more volatile than

slow, insidious leakage from fillings! It is critical that appropriate

precautions are taken, and that a dentist familiar with removal

prophalactic and sequential procedure be used.

 

sincerely,

 

Yehuda

 

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 09:08:47 -0800 Yehuda L Frischman <

writes:

>

> I couldn't agree with you more. Another MAJOR problem with our

> society

> is the addictive behavior that people display, even in eating. You

> tell

> someone that a substance is good for them, and they consume

> imbalanced,

> unnaturally high amounts of it. Sometimes we miss the forest for

> the

> trees, and I would admit that I did here. The fact is that seaweed

> from

> pure sources IS a wonderful natural chelator. BUT, as

> practitioners, we

> have the obligation to posit with our patients the caveat that too

> much

> of it is NOT a good thing. One other thing, also to remember, I

> think,

> is to think twice before recommending it to patients suffering from

> neuro-degenerative diseases.

>

> Thanks, and your wisdom is appreciated.

>

> Yehuda

>

> On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 13:16:13 +0000 " mike Bowser "

> <naturaldoc1 writes:

> >

> > In the end it comes down to balance. We need to take a serious

> look

> > at the

> > modern diet as we no longer are consuming natural foods. Our

> > commercial ag

> > system has a lot to do with the changing of nutritional profiles

> of

> > our

> > food. We are getting more and more screwed up food. Glutamate as

> > an

> > additive known as MSG is problematic (different chemical) in food

> > but I

> > still do not see enough other concern for the amino acid

> glutamate,

> > which is

> > important for our well being.

> > Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

> >

> > >Yehuda L Frischman <

> > >

> > >

> > >Re: excitotoxins, glutamine, glutamine and the

> Blood

> > Brain

> > >Barrier

> > >Tue, 22 Feb 2005 00:57:03 -0800

> > >

> > >

> > >Dear Mike, George and alon,

> > >

> > >I did some research in respect to your concerns, particularly as

> to

> > the

> > >distinction between glutamine, which as a major fuel source for

> the

> > brain

> > >and and body(as a matter of fact, is the most abundant Amino Acid

> > in the

> > >body), readily crosses the Blood Brain Barrier, as George

> > mentioned, and

> > >glutamate, which does not easily cross the Blood Brain Barrier.

> > And even

> > >if you want to dispute the glutamine/glutamate cycle, glutamate

> has

> > >other ways of getting into the brain anyway! There are several

> > areas

> > >that normally do not have a barrier system, called the

> > circumventricular

> > >organs. These include the hypothalamus, the subfornical organ,

> > organium

> > >vasculosum, area postrema, pineal gland, and the subcommisural

> > organ. Of

> > >these, the most important is the hypothalamus, since it is the

> > >controlling center for all neuroendocrine regulation, sleep wake

> > cycles,

> > >emotional control, caloric intake regulation, immune system

> > regulation

> > >and regulation of the autonomic nervous system. Glutamate

> actually

> > is an

> > >important neurotransmitter in the hypothalamus. But careful

> > regulation of

> > >blood levels of glutamate is critical, since high

> > bloodconcentrations of

> > >glutamate increase hypothalamic levels as well, and exposure to

> MSG

> > >damages an area of the hypothalamus known as the arcuate

> > nucleus.This

> > >small hypothalamic nucleus controls a multitude of neuroendocrine

> > >functions, as well as being intimately connected to several other

> > >hypothalamic nuclei. Furthermore, high concentrations of blood

> > glutamate

> > >and aspartate ( from foods) can enter the so-called " protected

> > brain " by

> > >seeping through the unprotected areas, such as the hypothalamus

> or

> > other

> > >circumventricular organs.

> > >

> > >Another interesting observation is that recent studies have shown

> > that

> > >chronic elevations of blood glutamate can even seep through the

> > normal

> > >blood-brain barrier when these high concentrations are maintained

> > over a

> > >long period of time. This would be the case when individuals

> > consume, on

> > >a daily basis, foods high in the excitotoxins - MSG (seaweed) ,

> > aspartame

> > >(Nutrasweet) and L- cysteine(food additives). Though

> experiments

> > cited

> > >by defenders of MSG safety were conducted to test the efficiency

> > of the

> > >BBB acutely, these did not explore the chronic, long term

> > bombardment of

> > >the BBB by them . In nature, except in the case of metabolic

> > dysfunction

> > >(such as with ALS), glutamate and aspartate levels are not

> normally

> > >elevated on a continuous basis. Sustained elevations of these

> > >excitotoxins are peculiar to the modern diet, and to the

> traditional

> > >Oriental diet as well, but certainly not in as high

> > concentrations.(I

> > >would be glad to cite the references if anyone requests)

> > >

> > >Furthermore, studies have shown that not only can free radicals

> > open the

> > >blood-brain barrier, but excitotoxins can as well. In fact,

> > glutamate

> > >receptors have been demonstrated on the barrier itself. In a

> > carefully

> > >designed experiment, researchers produced opening of the

> blood-brain

> > >barrier using injected iron as a free radical generator. When a

> > powerful

> > >free radical scavenger (U-74006F) was used in this model, opening

> > of the

> > >barrier was significantly blocked. But, the glutamate blocker

> MK-801

> > >acted even more effectively to protect the barrier. The authors

> of

> > this

> > >study concluded that glutamate appears to be an important

> regulator

> > of

> > >brain capillary transport and stability, and that overstimulation

> > of NMDA

> > >(glutamate) receptors on the blood- brain barrier appears to play

> an

> > >important role in breakdown of the barrier system. What this also

> > means

> > >is that high levels of dietary glutamate or aspartate may very

> well

> > >disrupt the normal blood-brain barrier, thus allowing more

> > glutamate to

> > >enter the brain, creating a vicious cycle.

> > >

> > >

> > >Yehuda

> > >

> > >

> > >On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 17:56:57 +0000 " mike Bowser "

> > ><naturaldoc1 writes:

> > > >

> > > > This edition was published in 2005 and shows a very interesting

> > > > relationship

> > > > between plants/bacteria that produce glutamate and animals that

> > > > consume this

> > > > and change it into glutamine. Their is a cycle here. This

> > reminds

> > > > me of

> > > > glucose or oxygen and that plants produce it and we consume

> it.

> > I

> > > > guess we

> > > > have a need for them after all.

> > > > Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

> > > >

> > > > >George Mandler <gmandler

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >Re: excitotoxins and glutamine vs glutamine

> > > > >Mon, 21 Feb 2005 08:12:32 -0500

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >On Feb 21, 2005, at 12:37 AM, mike Bowser wrote:

> > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Something here does not seem right. In my biochem text

> it

> > is

> > > > > > mentioned

> > > > > > (4th ed of Principles of Biochemistry by Lehninger) that

> > > > pathways are

> > > > > > discussed for glutamine production from glutamate.

> > > > >

> > > > >Yeah but that textbook is probably circa 1999?? so our bodies

> > now

> > > > work

> > > > >differently in 2005 and the later textbooks reflect these

> > > > physiological

> > > > >changes. ;-) ;-)

> > > > >

> > > > >No glutamine/glutamate is a cycle. One gets converted to the

> > other

> > > > and

> > > > >vice versa. I don't think you can get glutamate across a

> > membrane,

> > > > so

> > > > >glutamate is used intracellulary and glutamine

> extracellulary...

> > > > >

> > > > >--george

> > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >> Yehuda L Frischman <

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> excitotoxins and glutamine vs glutamine

> > > > > >> Sun, 20 Feb 2005 15:14:44 -0800

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Yehuda

> > > > > >> Are you saying that glutamate (i.e. the salt of

> glutamine)

> > is

> > > > more

> > > > > >> harmful than glutamine? Glutamine in the major source of

> > > > nutrition for

> > > > > >> the gut and is a necessary excitatory amino acid for the

> > brain.

> > > > We

> > > > > >> need

> > > > > >> both excitatory and inhibitory systems and precursors.

> Very

> > high

> > > > > >> doses on

> > > > > >> glutamine are often recommended in nutritional medicine

> both

> > > > for the

> > > > > >> gut

> > > > > >> and brain.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Dear Alon,

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Rather than answer your question personally, let me defer

> > to Dr.

> > > > > >> Russell

> > > > > >> Blaylock, board certified neurosurgeon, whose major work

> on

> > > > > >> excitotoxins

> > > > > >> I mentioned in an earlier post and who is quoted on the

> > site:

> > > > > >> http://www.mercola.com:

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Is

> > > > Glutamine

> > > > > >> Supplementation Helpful or Harmful?

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Dr. Mercola's Comment:

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Glutamine is an amino acid that makes up the majority of

> our

> > > > skeletal

> > > > > >> muscle. There is some controversy over whether oral

> > glutamine

> > > > > >> supplementation is toxic or helpful to healthy people. In

> a

> > past

> > > > > >> article,

> > > > > >> Dr. Robert Crayhon expressed the view of many natural

> > medicine

> > > > > >> experts,

> > > > > >> " After reviewing the literature, I am unconvinced that

> > > > high-dose oral

> > > > > >> glutamine supplementation is toxic to neurons in healthy

> > > > persons. "

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> However, Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board-certified

> > neurosurgeon

> > > > and

> > > > > >> author

> > > > > >> of the highly recommended Excitotoxins: The Taste that

> Kills

> > > > wrote in

> > > > > >> to

> > > > > >> me with another viewpoint and his response is below.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > >

> >

> ----

> > > > > >> ---

> > > > > >> -------

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> By Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.

> > > > > >> Advanced Nutritional Concepts, LLC.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Dr. Robert Crayhon posted comments on this site

> indicating

> > that

> > > > I was

> > > > > >> terribly mistaken in my caution concerning the use of

> > glutamine

> > > > and

> > > > > >> that

> > > > > >> he had consulted several " cell biologists " who were also

> > > > concerned

> > > > > >> with

> > > > > >> my statements on glutamine safety. In fact it was stated

> > that I

> > > > > >> apparently did not understand that glutamine was not an

> > > > excitotoxin

> > > > > >> and

> > > > > >> was not converted into an excitotoxin.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Of course, I never stated glutamine was an excitotoxin,

> but

> > I

> > > > do state

> > > > > >> that it is converted into the excitotoxin glutamate within

> > > > neurons.

> > > > > >> Numerous recent studies as well as Siegel’s Basic

> > Neurochemistry

> > > > > >> textbook

> > > > > >> emphatically state that the major source of glutamate is

> > from

> > > > > >> glutamine

> > > > > >> in the brain. Normally, when the brain finishes using

> > glutamate

> > > > for

> > > > > >> chemical communication between brain cells at the synapse

> > the

> > > > > >> glutamate

> > > > > >> is taken up by surrounding glial cells and changed by the

> > enzyme

> > > > > >> glutamine synthease into glutamine, where it is stored.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> The Problem With Excitotoxins

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> The glutamine is then transported to the neuron and by the

> > > > enzyme

> > > > > >> glutaminase, it is converted to glutamate--the potential

> > > > excitotoxin.

> > > > > >> I

> > > > > >> say potential because unless it accumulates outside the

> > brain

> > > > cell it

> > > > > >> is

> > > > > >> harmless.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> This is the major source of glutamate within the brain.

> > > > Excitotoxins

> > > > > >> are

> > > > > >> usually amino acids, such as glutamate and aspartate.

> These

> > > > special

> > > > > >> amino

> > > > > >> acids cause particular brain cells to become excessively

> > > > excited, to

> > > > > >> the

> > > > > >> point they will quickly die. Excitotoxins can also cause

> a

> > loss

> > > > of

> > > > > >> brain

> > > > > >> synapses and connecting fibers. Food-borne excitotoxins

> > include

> > > > such

> > > > > >> additives as MSG, aspartame, hydrolyzed protein and soy

> > protein

> > > > > >> extract.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> In two recent studies it was found that the amount of

> > glutamine

> > > > in the

> > > > > >> brain could predict the brain damage seen both in

> pediatric

> > > > brain

> > > > > >> injuries and brain damage secondary to seizures. Adding

> > large

> > > > amounts

> > > > > >> of

> > > > > >> glutamine to the diet increases significantly brain

> levels

> > of

> > > > > >> glutamine

> > > > > >> and, hence, glutamate. Another study found that by adding

> > > > glutamine to

> > > > > >> the diet of animals exposed to another powerful

> excitotoxin

> > > > called

> > > > > >> quinolinic acid, brain cell damage was increased

> > significantly.

> > > > > >> Quinolinic acid is known to accumulate in the brain in

> most

> > > > cases of

> > > > > >> viral brain infection as seen with HIV dementia and viral

> > > > > >> encephalitis.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Glutamine and Liver Toxicity

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Individuals with liver toxicity tend to accumulate

> ammonia

> > in

> > > > their

> > > > > >> blood

> > > > > >> and brain. Until recently, it was assumed that it was the

> > > > ammonia that

> > > > > >> caused liver disease-associated brain injury and that

> > glutamine

> > > > was

> > > > > >> protective.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Newer studies indicate that actually it is the glutamine

> > that is

> > > > > >> causing

> > > > > >> the brain’s injury. Increasing glutamine in the diet would

> > > > > >> significantly

> > > > > >> aggravate this damage.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Free Radicals in the Brain

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Glutamine accumulation has also been found in Alzheimer’s

> > > > disease,

> > > > > >> Huntington’s disease and high levels of brain glutamine

> have

> > > > been

> > > > > >> associated with a worse prognosis in Lou Gehrig’s disease.

> > > > Likewise,

> > > > > >> recent studies have shown that high brain glutamine levels

> > > > increase

> > > > > >> brain

> > > > > >> levels of free radicals and impair the ability of brain

> > > > mitochondria

> > > > > >> to

> > > > > >> produce energy. When the brain produces low energy,

> > > > excitotoxins,

> > > > > >> such as

> > > > > >> glutamate, become even more toxic. It has been shown that

> > the

> > > > reason

> > > > > >> for

> > > > > >> glutamine toxicity under these conditions is because it is

> > > > converted

> > > > > >> to

> > > > > >> the excitotoxin--glutamate.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Glutamine and Multiple Sclerosis

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Of particular concern is the finding that people with

> > multiple

> > > > > >> sclerosis

> > > > > >> have increased levels of the enzyme glutaminase (the

> enzyme

> > that

> > > > > >> converts

> > > > > >> glutamine into glutamate) in areas of nerve fiber damage.

> > High

> > > > levels

> > > > > >> of

> > > > > >> glutamine in the diet would increase glutamate levels

> near

> > these

> > > > > >> injured

> > > > > >> areas magnifying the damage. It has been shown that

> > > > excitotoxicity

> > > > > >> plays

> > > > > >> a major role in multiple sclerosis by destroying the cells

> > > > > >> (oligodendrocytes) that produce myelin.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Glutamine and Pregnant Women

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Another area of concern would be pregnant women. Glutamine

> > > > passes

> > > > > >> through

> > > > > >> the placenta and may actually be concentrated in the

> baby’s

> > > > blood,

> > > > > >> producing very high levels. Glutamate plays a major role

> in

> > the

> > > > > >> development of the baby’s brain. Excess glutamate has been

> > > > shown to

> > > > > >> cause

> > > > > >> significant impairment of brain development in babies and

> > can

> > > > lead to

> > > > > >> mental retardation.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> When to Use Glutamine

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> The major use for high-dose glutamine would be to repair

> > > > > >> gastrointestinal

> > > > > >> injury. In such cases, I would recommend short-term use

> > only.

> > > > Those

> > > > > >> with

> > > > > >> a history of the following conditions should avoid

> > glutamine,

> > > > even for

> > > > > >> short-term use:

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Stroke

> > > > > >> Neurodegenerative disease

> > > > > >> Pregnancy

> > > > > >> Malignancy

> > > > > >> Recent vaccinations

> > > > > >> ADHD

> > > > > >> Hypoglycemia

> > > > > >> Autism

> > > > > >> Multiple sclerosis

> > > > > >> Other neurological disorders

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Glutamine has recently been shown to produce extreme

> > > > hypoglycemia,

> > > > > >> even

> > > > > >> more so than leucine, which is known to produce fatal

> > > > hypoglycemia in

> > > > > >> infants.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> The reason Chinese Restaurant Syndrome is not seen with

> > > > glutamine

> > > > > >> challenge is that the glutamate receptors in the lungs and

> > > > esophagus

> > > > > >> are

> > > > > >> stimulated by glutamate, not glutamine. The glutamine

> must

> > be

> > > > > >> converted

> > > > > >> first and this occurs primarily in the brain.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> The only safe situation for glutamine use is in the

> vigorous

> > > > athlete.

> > > > > >> Glutamine is used as a muscle fuel, so that vigorous

> > exercise

> > > > will

> > > > > >> consume most of the glutamine before it can accumulate in

> > the

> > > > brain. I

> > > > > >> would still avoid long-term use in high doses. I would

> > caution

> > > > > >> readers to

> > > > > >> avoid excess glutamine, especially in the above named

> > > > conditions and

> > > > > >> situations.

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> Yehuda Frischman

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> " When you see someone doing something wrong, realize that

> > it was

> > > > > >> brought

> > > > > >> before

> > > > > >> you because you did something similar. Therefore, instead

> of

> > > > judging

> > > > > >> him, judge yourself. "

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >> The Baal Shem Tov Hakodesh

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

> > > > > >>

[Guest guest]

My father was a dentist who passed away from a combination of

Parkinson's/Alzheimer's. He did his own lab work during this time which

included working with mercury. Mercury is toxic and remains so as long as

it is in your body. I have taken the following from a website, please read

the rest of this artilce at your leisure, go to

http://www.harmonikireland.com/print.php?topic=amalgams

 

 

" A " silver filling " is a euphemism for an amalgam restoration, which a

dentist places in a patient's tooth after a cavity is created by drilling

out decay. Amalgam restorations consist of mercury, silver, tin, copper, and

a trace amount of zinc. The dental amalgam has two fundamental flaws that

adversely effect a patient's health. The first fundamental flaw is that all

amalgam metals are cations. The net result of the tendency for covalent,

ionic and metallic bonding and van der Waals forces between amalgam cations

is a weak repulsion. So there is a sustained release of mercury and other

metals from the amalgam into the body. Researchers have measured a daily

release of mercury on the order of 10 micrograms from the amalgam into the

body. Mercury is a toxic metal; the most minute amount damages cells. "

 

 

" The second fundamental flaw is that there are five dissimilar metals in the

amalgam. Galvanic action between these metals is inevitable (the dissimilar

metals form a battery). Galvanism produces electricity that flows through

the body. The electric currents produced by the amalgam typically are

between 0.1 and 10 microamps, compared to the body's natural electric

current of 3 microamps. "

 

 

" The mercury challenges systemic functions of every individual and of

developing fetuses, so it can lead to health problems and fetal

malformations. Mercury leakage and its subsequent pathophysiologic effects

are most often slow, insidious processes. So health problems caused by

dental mercury poisoning are perceived many years after the amalgams are

placed. "

 

I truly hope this helps us to better understand this terrible toxic problem.

There can be no middle ground with this one.

Later

Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

 

>Musiclear

>

>

>Re: determining the source of heavy metals

>Wed, 23 Feb 2005 16:45:31 EST

>

> Agreed.

>

> One interesting point is that the rate of mercury exposure from

>filling

>diminishes quite quickly as they age. I read a study few years ago that

>suggested 50% of the mercury was released in he first five years and 80% in

>ten.

>

> I know for myself, all my fillings are at least 20 years old and I

>doubt

>I am receiving any appreciable amount from them anymore. I would be more

>concerned about fish at his point than my fillings.

>

> I heard an interesting comment just this morning that Pres Reagan had

>his

>mercury fillings removed not long before he started having Alzheimer's

>symptoms. It is important to have them taken out by a dentist who knows

>what they

>are doing.

>

> Lastly, although the majority of concern form silver fillings seems to

>be

>from mercury, they also, IMHO contribute to blocking channels in some

>people.

> I would suggest this is a potential reason for people who have old

>fillings

>taken out feeling immediately better.

>

> TAFN,

>

> Chris

>

>In a message dated 2/23/2005 1:15:01 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> writes:

>One more note that is critical to add, and I don't believe has been

>mentioned in this discussion: As important as it is to chelate out heavy

>metals, once they have been determined to be present and in toxifying

>quantities, THEIR SOURCE NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED AND CUT OFF! If the

>heavy metal is mercury, of course, the most suspicious source would be

>silver amalgam fillings in teeth. Now for those who are not aware of it,

>removal of amalgams, if not done properly, can be more volatile than

>slow, insidious leakage from fillings! It is critical that appropriate

>precautions are taken, and that a dentist familiar with removal

>prophalactic and sequential procedure be used.

>

>sincerely,

>

>Yehuda

>

>

>