Do you suffer with vague complaints but never find out the cause or get a definitive diagnosis? Do you have major health challenges yet your healthcare providers don't have answers? Maybe it's mercury toxicity?

So how do you know if you have toxic levels?

Some people have gotten exposure through mercurochrome. This was a topical antiseptic used since President Harding's administration till it was banned by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1998. This over-the-counter product was used on countless children and adults for all types of scrapes and wounds. If you remember having this red colored liquid painted and dabbed on skinned knees and elbows or anywhere else, you've had mercury exposure.

First, understand mercury is found naturally but also as an introduced contaminant in our environment. The toxic effects are dependent on its chemical form and route of exposure. Methyl mercury is the most toxic form. Exposure to methyl mercury comes from eating contaminated fish, where it gets concentrated in the fish's muscle tissue and therefore cannot be cooked out. Younger, smaller fish tend to have less concentration than older, larger fish. Elemental mercury, such as is used in thermometers, although a less toxic form, is still damaging. Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL's) also contain mercury. If a bulb breaks in your home or anywhere inside buildings, vapors will be released and specific measures need to be taken for safety. The bulbs need proper disposal and can contaminate soil around homes or any other area if discarded improperly.

Mercury is a toxic metal. It can cause permanent damage to kidneys, heart, and respiratory function. But many don't know it can be an underlying cause for a long list of other health issues. It can be a cause of arthritis, both osteoarthritis and autoimmune Rheumatoid Arthritis. It can also cause depression, dermatitis, immune dysfunction, dizziness, fatigue, gum disease, hair loss, insomnia, headaches, slurred speech, memory loss and muscle weakness. It will damage genetic and enzyme systems. Mercury toxicity can also mimic multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) and cause other neurological dysfunction disorders and symptoms. Food and environmental allergies may be caused by mercury toxicity. Mercury toxicity is linked to neurological damage, lowered intelligence, and delayed development in infants if exposed in utero. Just inhaling mercury vapors has been documented by the Environmental Protection Agency to cause menstrual disorders and miscarriages. These are just a few of the health issues that mercury toxicity can cause.

One of the biggest sources of mercury exposure though is from mercury amalgam dental fillings. Fillings that are silver in color contain approximately 50% mercury, 25% silver and 25% other metals, such as copper, tin, or nickel. Mercury vapor is released from amalgams and combines with other chemicals in the mouth to create toxic methyl mercury. Chronic Candida (a fungal / yeast overgrowth infection), muscle spasms, recurring infections, immune disorders, and chronic fatigue have been known to clear up for some people after their dental amalgams are removed. Hal A Huggins, D.D.S. writes about the dangers of dental amalgams in his book It's All in Your Head linking mercury toxicity to many debilitating degenerative, neurological and autoimmune diseases. Dr. Steve Markus is another champion against the use of mercury in amalgams. You can find numerous articles and links on the dangers of mercury amalgams on his website: www: Cent4Dent.com. He also stresses the absolute necessity to use a knowledgeable dentist for proper removal of mercury dental amalgams.

Again, you may be wondering if you have mercury toxicity and how do you find out?

Before I discuss how you can assess the levels of mercury in your body, consider another source of exposure - vaccines. The controversy over whether to vaccinate or not continues to be a hot topic for debate. Not only are there many organizations and individuals opposed to toxic laden vaccines for children, but also many refuse annual flu vaccines for the same reason- toxic mercury in the flu shot. I am one who refuses annual flu vaccinations. I and many of my clients use a specific annual protocol. If you are interested you may contact me about that also.

Mercury is not the only heavy metal to cause health problems, whether your issues are vague or severe. Other heavy metals like arsenic, lead, aluminum, and cadmium can also accumulate in the body. These toxins are found in our drinking water, fish and vaccines as I mentioned earlier, pesticides, preserved wood, antiperspirants and building materials. Blood and urine testing is not the way to test for heavy metals but hair analysis is. However it is equally important to have a knowledgeable practitioner interpret your results. In his work Hair Test Interpretation: Finding Hidden Toxicities, Andrew H. Cutler Ph.D, P.E. stresses the importance of understanding whether mineral transport is deranged or not before stating a test is normal. Mercury causes derangement of the body's ability to transport and handle essential and other elements. Hence unless the person interpreting the test is familiar with deranged mineral transport, and can apply Dr. Cutler's rule when reviewing the results, misdiagnosing toxicity is the result.

By now you may be thinking that finding out your levels is the best way to proceed. You see how exposure is possible from many sources. You may or may not be aware that some of your complaints which are never explained or resolved are from mercury toxicity or other heavy metals, so testing would be a major benefit to you.

I perform hair analysis testing in my practice. I am familiar with Dr. Cutler's work and can recognize deranged mineral transport. The lab I use tests for mercury and also the other heavy metals along with essential mineral and their ratios. If you suspect you have an issue and would like to find out if mercury toxicity or other heavy metal toxicity is the cause, contact me. The testing is very simple. I supply the instructions and kit and all you have to do is submit a hair sample to me. I will review the results and then discuss them with you in your follow up consultation, along with sending a copy of the results to you.

Don't continue to wonder if your issues are related to mercury or heavy metal toxicity. Get the answers so that you can move forward with your goals for health and well being.