Alternative Treatment of Heavy Metals

Heavy metal toxicity is a potentially dangerous condition. Initial symptoms include mental confusion, dizziness, muscle pain and headaches; if untreated, heavy metal poisoning is potentially fatal. In severe cases, heavy metal toxicity is treated by chelation treatment. In less severe cases, or if you suspect that you have a slight heavy metal toxicity, a change in diet, herbal supplements, homeopathy and preventing the introduction of heavy metals into your system can alleviate your symptoms.

Chelation

The most common treatment for heavy metal toxicity is chelation. Chelation is the process of injecting the synthetic protein ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) into the bloodstream. EDTA enhances the stickiness of platelets in the bloodstream and enhances blood circulation. The platelets then combine with heavy metals in your system and convert them into chemically inert forms that can be excreted by the body. Chelation has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in cases of heavy metal poisoning. However, chelation is sometimes administered without urine tests to assess a patient's heavy metal toxicity. Treatment in this case can be unsafe, and there are reported fatalities when disodium EDTA was used rather than calcium EDTA.

Diet

One way to lower the traces of heavy metals in your system is to alter your diet. You should eat mostly, if not only, vegetables and avoid processed and fried foods, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, too much fat and dairy products. Exposure to pesticides and other chemicals can introduce heavy metals into your system so eating organically when possible is recommended. Eat lots of high-fiber foods to cleanse the digestive tract. The chelation effect may be achievable naturally by eating foods high in pectins, polysaccharides found in the cell walls of plants, like apples and pears. It is also recommended to eat foods high in antioxidants. Avoid foods that are high in heavy metals like fish, shellfish and factory farmed chicken eggs.

Herbal and Homeopathy

There are many herbs that contain antioxidants and have detoxifying effects, like milk thistle and burdock, which can help detoxify your body of heavy metals. Other herbs, like spirulina and certain types of sea algae can be beneficial because they help rebuild the digestive system. Detoxifying therapies have also been shown to alleviate high concentrations of heavy metals. The most common is chelation therapy. However, many have reported success by fasting, visiting sweat lodges and colonics.

Prevention

The best thing you can do is avoid heavy metal poisoning all together. Keep your diet balanced and avoid taking supplements high in heavy metals that you are already getting plenty of from your diet. If you work in an environment where you come into contact with heavy metals that can be inhaled easily, like metal dust or toxic fumes, always wear protective gear. Other sources of heavy metals include vehicle exhaust, lead based paint and contaminated soil.