Here are a few samples of toxicity reactions to mercury/amalgam dental fillings and/or improvements after removing the fillings. I found these post and email on the Internet. The names have been removed to protect confidentiality, but many of these posts can be found in various archives and WWW search engines. Please not that this is only a small percentage of adverse reactions to mercury amalgams that have been posted to the Internet over the last several months. The adverse reactions posted to the Internet are only a very small percentage of the total adverse reactions reported to various groups. There are no official lists of adverse reactions as far as I know. Please join the AMALGAM mailing list and see the dental links and files on my home page for more information. - Mark mgold@holisticmed.com http://www.holisticmed.com/ HOW TO USE THIS LIST -------------------- The list is now in *reverse* chronological order such that the newest adverse reaction is at the top. If you are reading the list for the first time, please print out the whole list and *read from the bottom up.* For updates, *read from the top down* until you reach an adverse reaction that you have read before. I will be updating this every week or so until aspartame is banned. -------------- Subject: Re: Mercury Poisoning from Dental Amalgams Date: 1996/06/30 Newsgroups: sci.med.dentistry I have had IBS since childhood. I have been sick constantly with rashes, hair falling out, etc. The IBS cleared up 24hrs after amalgam removal. I have had no more rashes. You may call this anecdotal, but I feel healthy for the first time in my life. That is proof enough for me. To all of you thinking of getting them replaced, if you can afford it - do it!! -------------- Re: Amalgam Removals Date 15 May 1996 15:07:54 GMT Newsgroups misc.health.alternative Message-ID <4ncs0a$2am@news.accessone.com> Hi, 7 years ago I had my dental fillings replaced with plastic composites that have lasted beautifully. For years I suffered from an array of environmental, chemical, dust, food, and you name it allergies and sensitivities and associated problems. My life was a living HELL! I lost my job ultimately because of it - couldn't function well. The fillings were a very large part of the problem and if I hadn't had them removed I know that I would not be alive today. So, I am very thankful to the "quacks" such as a kinesiologist/nutritionist, an MD "environmental medicine (ecology)" specialist, and a licensed naturopath who helped me with the diagnosis and recovery. -------------- Re: Mercury remedies From pwinke@tincan.tincan.org (Peggy Winkel) Organization The Inland Northwest Community Access Network Date Sat, 4 May 1996 20:39:19 GMT Newsgroups misc.health.alternative Message-ID <1996May4.203919.17681@tincan.tincan.org> I have felt better since I had all the mercury amalgam fillings and tattoos (migrating mercury in soft tissue) removed. Mercury is a remedy for having a living, healthy body to inhabit, but I am sure it is not a good way to go either.^^^^^^^^^^^Peggy -------------- America Online/Mental Health Issues/Chronic Depression Subj: Re:DENTAL FILLINGS/MORE INFO Date: 96-02-19 22:13:08 EDT From: Shelby4034 I have bipolar type II and one year ago had mercury ama;gam fillings removed and am dramatically improved. Lab showed only 3 - on 1 to 10 scale - and I only had 6 fillings (they only replace visible fillings - not those under crowns). Must have a Clifford lab test ($225 ) 1st as there are over 1100 dental materials you must be tested on before you have the work done so as to not replace one harm with another. Also, even as lg. as Atlanta is, there are only 2 dentists here who specialize in this. I would not go to just anyone. Even the filling removal only takes 40% or less out of your body - but, at least every time you bite down you will not be releasing more mercury vapors into the bloodstream. Must follow-up with another substance to remove mercury from tissues. I am so glad I did this. They can only do one quadrant of your mouth at a time. More energy, ability to focus, dep. is down, am finally losing weight, can sleep better,..... -------------- America Online/Mercury Reaction (Self-Help & Support/CFS) Subj: Re:Mercury Fillings Date: 96-02-22 15:42:07 EDT From: CHANTHU I had all of my mercury removed and it really helped. It is very important to find a dentist that: 1. Believes that it is important 2. Has a mercury free office. It is also important to have it done in stages. I suggest that you look a a few books on the subject. I know that they are out there, can't remember the name right now (sheepish CFIDS grin). -------------- Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 12:49:51 -0400 Subject: Re: Symptoms and Thoughts om Amalgam To: Multiple recipients of list AMALGAM subject: dystonia & torticollis In 1982 I was diagnosed with spasmodic toricollis( neck spasms& tremors). This followed many amalgam fillings and gold caps. I developed a very weakened immune system with many symptoms. This problem exacerbated with the addition of a Maryland bridge concurrent with a 2year Staphyloccus infection. We now know dental mercury can convert to methyl-mercuryin the presence of certain mouth bacteria. I belong to a S.T.support group and many relate to having recent dental work done and infections before the torticollis set in. My son had a severe whiplash injury inwhich he fractured a posterior amalgam filled tooth, it reacted like a toxic time bomb. He developed an irregular slow pulse,feeling of dizziness and syncope, graying out of vision, blood sugar fluctuations, and weakened leg muscles. He had only 6 amalgam fillings- 24 years old. append: My son recovered considerably after having his fillings removed. He detoxified mostly with sweat therapy, because he re- fused to do anything else. -------------- med:Experience with amalgam removal Date Fri, 22 Mar 1996 00:21:41 GMT Newsgroups alt.med.cfs Message-ID <4isrql$joe@ixnews3.ix.netcom.com> I think that this is an appropriate time to report in with my 12 year experience with CFIDS. Starting several years ago through attrition, I began to replace the many amalgams I had with alternate materials. I finished last July with removal of the last two big ones. The scenario that followed is both revealing and perplexing. In five days the four biggy symptoms of a deep sore throat, daily brain fog, 3:00 P.M. fever, and sleep disturbances just stopped. It was just like a light switch had been thrown. I could read through the LA TIMES in one sitting and understand what I had read. I actually started to dream again. What followed is the perplexing part. After several weeks every muscle in my body became weak and sore to a point of near disability. It has taken nine months for this condition to wane and is nearly gone as of this date. This condition has taken from me over a decade of my life so I am not sure what normal is but I think that it is getting there. Because the change in my condition came within days of the amalgam removal, I make an association. Amalgams must have been involved in some way with my 12 year ordeal. I believe it is a good bet that the particular properties of long term low level mercury poisoning combined with body tissue storage and highly variable mercury an ion release sets the stage for the many and disparate symptoms and why it has been so hard to unravel the mystery. We have been part of a world wide unintended clinical trial. The human species has a penchant for using mercury compounds. A few endearing attributes are that it is fluid at room temperature, its compounds have pretty colors, kills things like bacteria and fungi, is quite chemically active, and sets up to a soft solid when combined with other metals (called amalgams) in a convenient working time measured in minuets. A FEW PAST USES (1) In the 1920s baby's teething powder contained mercury and is now in disfavor since the late 40s'. (2) The expression "Mad as a hatter" came from the common use of mercury compounds in making felt. (3) As a colorant in paprika in Pakistan-tons taken off the world market last year (all of it I hope). A FEW PRESENT USES (1) Latex paint as a fungus inhibitor (sick building?) (2) A common hemorrhoid cream (3) Flu shot preservative (4) Eye drops preservative (5) Amalgams in tooth fillings (6) Tooth braces I believe The last two are intriguing because the source of mercury is in the mouth and completely immersed in a conductive electrolyte (saliva). This brings up anew the specter of electric blankets and power lines as a source of mercury release. Long term body tissue storage in muscle and fat is also a real complication in assessing cause-and-effect. INTERNAL MOUTH MECHANISMS (1) A plain dissolution in a solute, i.e., distilled water has dissolved in it some of the container material. (2) Battery action of dissimilar metals, i.e., mercury, silver, gold, and numerous other metals are immersed in an electrolyte (saliva). EXTERNAL MOUTH MECHANISMS FROM FARADAY INDUCTION (1) Low frequency time varying magnetic fields, i.e., power lines, electric blankets, and arc welding equipment etc. (2) High frequency Faraday induction from hand held transmitter telephones and the like. Note that circuit path lengths in the mouth are of the same order of magnitude as the wave length of the carrier used in these devices. This is a setup for efficient current induction. (3) As an aside an interesting and instructive, but not very common, situation is the short but intense burst of electromagnetic radiation following an atomic explosion. It has been an experience of observers to have a metallic taste in their mouth after such a blast-no doubt mercury release from amalgams. -------------- Date: Mon, 19 Feb 1996 21:54:45 -0500 (EST) Subject: amalgams/hypoglycemia/detox To: immune@weber.ucsd.edu I had the last of my amalgams removed two weeks ago -- if you recall I wrote on this user group about getting a bio-compatibility report from the Huggins Diagnostic Clinic to determine what type of composite to use. The day after the last one was removed I felt pressure in the stomach area - not painful. And, I can tell my digestion is changing. I have had hypoglycemia for many years and have keep it under control with a macrobiotic diet and Cell Tech's digestive enzymes and algae. But, I feel more grounded now. I can sleep later in the morning without feeling weak when I get up -- in fact I don't feel weakness when hungry. It's still too early to tell what all the changes will be. I still feel the pressure in the stomach area, and think that I will probably feel it for weeks/months to come -- I think that's healing. The pressure has recently traveled to my lower abdomen area. Well, that's all for now - any amalgam/hypoglycemia or amalgam with any other condition stories are welcome. -------------- Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 18:21:40 -0500 Subject: Amazed by imporvement after amalgam fillings removed To: Multiple recipients of list AMALGAM I am relatively new to this list (a couple of weeks). I have an interesting story of my own to tell about amalgam removal. Approximately six month ago I came down with a very bad case of the flu. I was at work one day and someone gave me a packet of alka seltzer plus. About an hour and a half after taking the alka seltzer plus I started feeling a bit lightheaded but decided to go out and get something for lunch. I was driving in my car when all of a sudden I experienced what everyone was telling me was a Panic Attack. My vision became very abnormal (tunnel vision), my tongue started burning so bad it felt like cayenne pepper was all over it, I was extremely dizzy and disoriented, my whole body was trembling, I had extreme dry mouth and sinus, and was extremely weak (I will call this combination of symptoms "episodes" for the remainder of this post.) I drove myself to a nearby clinic to see what was wrong. The doctor did an examination and told me that I had the flu and prescribed antibiotics. He paid very little attention to my other symptoms, but told me that maybe I had a reaction from the alka seltzer plus and that I'd feel better soon. I drove myself back to work and had to be driven home by someone. I continued to have these episodes approximately every fifteen minutes to an hour for the next three weeks. Each episode would last for approx 1 to 2 hours. I saw three more doctors & two psychotherapists, each of which told me (some not so politely) that I was having anxiety attacks. Amazing! I began exploring my conscious and subconscious mind to try to find out what was causing these anxiety symptoms. I kept coming up with that I was experiencing much more than just anxiety. After about a month, and employing relaxation techniques, the episodes started to decrease in frequency, but I thought I was loosing my mind because I was experiencing constant (NON STOP) dizziness, and extreme brain fog, along with many other symptoms (constant diarehia, hot/cold flashes, burning tongue, extreme fatigue, anxiety, etc). I thought I had somehow developed alzheimers disease, a brain tumor, "and" cancer (ha!). I decided not to do the conventional doctor thing any more. I began seeing an acupuncturist who uses kinesiology and is a homeopath. The biggest things that I was diagnosed with were anxiety, hypoglycemia, and a hormone imbalance. I was put on herbal medicines to rebalance my system which have helped to varying degrees. During the examination, the kinesiology also showed that I was leaking mercury from my amalgam fillings, but I paid little attention to this since I wasn't well versed on the symptoms of mercury toxicity, and have had a mouth full of amalgam fillings for as long as I can remember (I am 37 now). My acupuncturist did use some sort of light in an attempt to seal the leakage and I was put on a detox program for the mercury. After about 4 1/2 months of non stop (all waking hours of the day) dizziness and brain fog, I began grabbing at straws for an answer. I was on the internet one day and thought I'd so a search on amalgam. Well, I found a ton of information. What I found very interesting was that there were symptoms listed that I had been experiencing for many years and just passed them off as not feeling good (examples: chronic heart burn, chronic fatigue, mild to mid anxiety, headaches, metal taste in mouth, burning tongue, my attention span was very small, etc.) I recently made a decision to have all of my amalgam fillings removed from my mouth to see if that would help. I found a mercury free dentist who takes precautions such as using the rubber dam, oxygen up my nose, high suction, etc. To my amazement, two weeks ago, after having one quadrant of fillings removed (2 very large fillings) my dizziness disappeared! and my brain fog started dissipating dramatically. I was still a little nervine tho but the nervine didn't turn into an anxiety attack. The horrible metal taste in my mouth also disappeared. I still have burning on the lower left side of my tongue and fatigue tho. Today I had three amalgam fillings removed from another quadrant. I can't say that I feel drastically different today but I definitely feel like something shifted in me. Almost as if I feel clearer/lighter or something (can't really explain it too good). I have three more fillings coming out next thursday and three more coming out after that. In closing, I personally feel that amalgam fillings being removed from my mouth is directly responsible for the healing of my chronic dizziness and brain fog. -------------- Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 08:29:20 -0700 Subject: Re: composites,ME To: Multiple recipients of list AMALGAM .... It's interesting that right after I had extensive dental restorations done in late 1987 (seven amalgam-filled teeth ground down for crowns; they were almost entirely amalgam and no special precautions were taken to reduce mercury exposure), I developed severe disabling ME and chronic intractable pain. When I compare the sets of symptoms today, they are almost identical! It definately makes me wonder if I ever really had ME back then or not. [continued information in another post on another group] Re: Mercury toxicity Date 7 Feb 1996 05:15:03 GMT Newsgroups alt.med.fibromyalgia As a fellow FM sufferer and one who has had her mercury amalgams removed and gone through the detoxification process, I can honestly say what a world of difference! I still have some remaining problems but compared to before I'm a lot better. I'm pretty sure some of the problems left to resolve are due to the different metals (and two mercury-filled root canals) I still have remaining in my mouth and which biocompatibility tests showed I was sensitive too so I still have hope for a complete cure. -------------- Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 13:09:25 -0800 Subject: Minnesota movement To: Multiple recipients of list AMALGAM I was diagnosed with colitis at age 43 in February 1991. By sheer dumb luck, or perhaps by cosmic design, I saw the 60 Minutes report on the amalgam debate two months earlier (Dec. 16, 1990). I was astonished to learn at age 43 that my silver fillings were half mercury, and even more astonished to learn that mercury-free dentists were being "cut off at the knees," as CBS reporter Morley Safer put it in the 60 Minutes report. I scrambled to find more info on the question of amalgam safety, and in the spring of 1991 had 14 amalgams removed. By July 1991 the colitis was gone and has never returned. (Colitis means your intestines are bleeding due to chronic inflammation. I am positive the inflammation was due to 3.5 decades of exposure to mercury fillings.) Nearly every other symptom I had suffered from over the previous three decades improved or disappeared. -------------- Date: Thu, 7 Mar 1996 16:29:58 PST Subject: composites,ME To: Multiple recipients of list AMALGAM I regularly follow the debate on the amalgam list and wonder how many of the people who subsribe are or have been ill with mercury poisoning. I have been ill for about 5 years but since having 90% of my amalgam fillings replaced with pertac composite I have dramatically improved my health. The same has occurred with a friend who had been very ill for 20years since having 12 amalgam fillings put in at 18 years of age. I ask the question because it has been my experience that when you are ill you feel like death and life really doesn't seem worth the effort at times. The emotional side is worth talking about. I wonder how many ill people contemplate or do commit suicide? I know that people need to have a debate about the dangers of all filling materials, but to be honest if you are very ill this becomes rather academic. Composites it is speculated may cause cancer in the future. Wow- when you're ill you dream of a future! Composites have given me my life back. When you're dead now you'd give anything to be given even a 15 year window before you get another illness! I'm worried that speculation as to the dangers of composites may convince people who have amalgams and who are ill that they might as well stick with the amalgams. Get them out! A rider on this is that if you are to get them replaced do it as safely as possible. Unprotected replacement can I believe make people even iller than before. I believe a minimum is a rubber dam a water cooled drill an air extractor, cotton wool over the eyes, a mask over the nose with a pipe well away from the ozone, a nutrition regieme (selenium and multivitamins to build up for the removal) and a good 10 week break before each removal session (judging how many to remove at once is also important - no more than two at a time? I think advice form merc free dentists on other protective measures could help a lot. I'm interested in the CFS / ME debater as regards amalgam. Is it a convenient mystery virus that the medical profession (NHS) is glad to have around as a convenient lable for those who may well be amalgam poisoned? This is not to say ME is not an illness in its own right, but that it's a useful heading for people who are ill for other more politically sensitive reasons! I was diagnosed as having ME this is a diagnosis of exclusion not a positive diagnosis as you cannot test for ME. Your'e not ill form anything standard and testable therefore you have ME. Do any other people have similar suspicions? I remove my amalgams I no longer have ME! The ME association and Action for ME both tend to dismiss the amalgam debate. People who have had their amalgams removed are still ill therefore amalgam is not the cause of the illness. Well of course it depends how you have them removed, and I must say I find removeall accentuates my illness for at least three months afterwards and it probably takes a long time until you start to feel better anyway. You need to chelate the mercury out too. Others say some people with no amalgam fillings at all are ill with ME. These I beleive are genuine ME cases in that case. -------------