Chelation therapy can help remove excess mercury from your body.
Mercury poisoning can cause severe health problems. If you have excess mercury in your body, then a procedure called chelation therapy may help. Chelation involves the consumption of a chelating, or binding, agent that binds to the mercury in your body. Upon excretion, both the chelating agent and the bound mercury exit the body. Dimercaptosuccinic acid and dimercapto-propane sulfonate are the substances that are most commonly used as mercury chelation agents, although neither are approved for that use by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Consult a qualified medical professional before starting any treatment, including chelation therapy.
Chelation with DMPS
Dimercapto-propane sulfonate (DMPS) is a chelating agent that is commonly used in cases of mercury poisoning. Each day of treatment, up to one milligram of mercury attaches to the sulfur component of DMPS and is excreted through the renal system.
The most common side effects of DMPS chelation include allergic reactions and skin rashes. Other reactions include agitation, burning of the eyes, mouth and throat, chest constriction, headache, nausea, tingling of the extremities and vomiting.
Rare but serious side effects of DMPS use include seizures, cardiac arrhythmia and severe fatigue.
Chelation with DMSA
Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is another chelation agent frequently used to eradicate mercury from the body. DMSA is often used in conjunction with DMPS late in the mercury elimination procedure.
The most common side effects of DMSA use are fever, nausea, skin rash and temporary loss of consciousness. Adverse effects are most likely in patients with limited renal functioning.
A recent report from Cornell University indicates that DMSA is associated with impaired immune function in rats, although it is not known whether the same immune effects are found in humans.
Chelation with natural substances
Several other natural substances have been proposed as effective mercury chelation agents. These substances include cilantro, chlorella, fresh garlic and antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Some clinicians believe that these substances may aid in chelating mercury, particularly in conjunction with DMSA or DMPS.
These substances have few side effects aside from the potential for an allergic reaction. The exception is chlorella, which is not tolerated by about one-third of patients and can cause gastrointestinal distress.
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