"Mercury, I believe (because of the hundreds of patients I have seen with mercury toxicity), is one of the most serious threats to our brain, and is responsible for or contributes to much of the modern epidemic of autism, ADHD, depression, dementia, and other versions of broken brains. Finding it and getting rid of it in my patients is one of the most effective ways I have to improve mood, attention, and memory." Mark Hyman, M.D., The UltraMind Solution, page 72.
Mercury is the second-most toxic substance known to human biology, after plutonium.
"Throughout the centuries, several incidents of mercury toxicity have been reported. Mercury has been found in Egyptian tombs, indicating it was used as early as 1500 BC. In the late 18th century, anti-syphilitic agents contained mercury. It was during the 1800s that the phrase "mad as a hatter" was coined because of the chronic mercury exposure that the felters (hats were made of felt) faced because mercury was used in hat making. (Think of the "mad hatter" character in, Alice In Wonderland.)
In the 1940s and 1950s, mercury became known as the product that caused acrodynia, also known as pink disease. Manifestations of acrodynia include pain and erythema (abnormal redness of the skin resulting from dilation of blood vessels as in sunburn or inflammation) of the palms and soles, irritability, insomnia, anorexia, diaphoresis (perspiration: the process of the sweat glands of the skin secreting a salty fluid), photophobia (a morbid fear of light), and rash.
Some of the more recent occurrences include exposures in Minamata Bay in Japan (1960) from toxic dumping into the ocean, mercury contaminated fish in Canada (1960), methylmercury treated grain in Iraq (1970) mercury was applied to prevent spoilage of grain used for planting, but the grain was eaten by accident, and in the United States (1996), a beauty cream product from Mexico called "Crèma de Belleza-Manning.
For centuries, mercury was an essential part of many different medicines, such as diuretics, antibacterial agents, antiseptics, and laxatives. Mercury poisoning is usually misdiagnosed because of the insidious onset, nonspecific signs and symptoms, and lack of knowledge within the medical profession."
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/819872-overview
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/819872-overview
Depression?
Not only does mercury poison affect the brain adversely as in Alzheimer’s disease, as well as affecting the heart, thyroid and immune system, it may also be the cause of emotional and behavioral problems: Depression, mood swings, irritability, fear, extreme anger, insomnia, ADHD and loss of energy – there is a long list of symptoms of possible mercury poisoning.
Who should be more concerned about mercury poison?
Who should be more concerned about mercury poison?
Some groups of people are susceptible to mercury poisoning more than others:
• Dentists and those who work in dental offices
• People with silver dental fillings
(for a directory of dentists providing safe removal of mercury fillings, click here)
(for a directory of dentists providing safe removal of mercury fillings, click here)
• People who live in the vicinity of coal-fired power plants
• Workers in environments that use mercury for: barometers, neon lights, explosives, insecticides, and paint
• Film developers
• People who eat fish grown in fish farms
• Mirror makers
• Embalmers
• Dye and ink makers
• Jewelers
• Cosmetic makers"
• Cosmetic makers"
Mercury is toxic in low doses as in dental amalgam fillings, vaccines, and environmental exposures. The largest environmental exposure is from consumption of large fish contaminated with mercury such as tuna, swordfish, shark, tilefish, and sea bass, as well as nearly all river fish. Large fish eat smaller fish and toxins bio-concentrate up the food chain. The bigger the fish, the higher dose of mercury you are likely to get. So eat only fish that are small enough to fit in your frying pan. (Information taken from, The UltraMind Solution, by Mark Hyman, M.D. pages 72 & 73)
Very interesting article about Abraham Lincoln:
By Melissa Lee Phillips
Neuroscience for Kids Consultant
July 10, 2002
Neuroscience for Kids ConsultantJuly 10, 2002
In the years before he became president, Abraham Lincoln exhibited many behaviors inconsistent with his dignified image. According to writings of some of his friends and acquaintances, Lincoln was prone to highly unpredictable moodiness, to fits of extreme rage, and to unexplained bizarre actions. Most of these behaviors stopped soon after his inauguration. Researchers, led by medical historian and retired physician Norbert Hirschhorn, published a report in 2001 hypothesizing that Lincoln suffered from mercury poisoning for years prior to his presidency.
For many years, Lincoln took pills referred to as "blue mass." The main ingredient in blue mass was elemental mercury. In the 1800s, these blue pills were commonly prescribed for a wide variety of conditions, including worms, tuberculosis, toothaches, and cholera. They also were often prescribed for "hypochondriasis," a very general medical term that was used to describe many different physical and mental problems. Lincoln was said to have suffered from one condition often attributed to hypochondriasis: melancholia or depression. It is likely that a physician recommended that Lincoln take these blue pills for his depression.
Physicians in the 1800s did not know that mercury is a powerful neurotoxin. Once ingested, mercury binds to molecules in the central nervous system and can cause behavioral problems. Common symptoms of mercury poisoning are irritability, anxiety, hostility, depression, insomnia, memory loss, nerve damage, tremor, and problems with dexterity. Lincoln apparently suffered many of these symptoms during the time he is believed to have taken mercury pills. Fortunately, many of the toxic effects of mercury are reversible. If mercury consumption stops, eventually some of the adverse symptoms stop too. A friend of Lincoln's wrote that Lincoln stopped taking blue pills about five months after the presidential inauguration. Lincoln felt that the pills made him "cross." After that, Lincoln's behavior changed: the rage attacks ceased, he remained calm in stressful situations, and the deep melancholy seemed to subside."
I am wondering if mercury poisoning could be a part of the depression symptoms tormenting me?
