Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neurological disease in Canada, affecting anywhere from 60, 000 to 80,000 individuals.
The disease is more common in women than men and peaks at age 20 to 40.
MS symptoms are unique to each patient and range from mild neurological impairments to debilitating loss in motor, cognitive and visual function.
MS is believed to be an autoimmune response within the central nervous system, resulting in demyelination (essentially a de-insulation of the nerve cell, slowing down brain-to-body communication) and axonal injury.
Inflammation and demyelination occur in relapsing forms of MS, whereas neurodegeneration dominates in progressive forms of the disease.
There is no definitive cause or cure for MS, but research does support genetic and environmental influences. One environmental toxin implicated is mercury.
A 2007 meta-analysis review of articles published from 1996 to 2006 showed an increase between mercury amalgam use and risk of MS.
Also, serum mercury levels were correlated to MS in the general population in Iran.
Some 74 patients with MS were compared with 74 age-matched controls.
Serum mercury level in MS patients was significantly higher than controls, revealing that high mercury levels in serum might enhance MS development in susceptible individuals.
There is one published case of a patient with MS undergoing heavy metal urine testing with EDTA revealing elevated aluminum, lead and mercury in the urine. After undergoing EDTA chelation treatments twice a month (60 treatments in all), the patient’s symptoms of MS improved.
Mercury is toxic to the developing brain. If you’re not convinced, just Google “University of Calgary” and “brain toxicity” via You Tube and watch brain cells die.
Mercury blocks the natural formation and migration of nerve cells and alters brain growth and development.
The human fetus is most vulnerable and the reason why health Canada advises no more than one serving of salmon or tuna (and other seafood) a month for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
The principle sources of organic mercury are exposure from dental amalgams and fish consumption.
Dental amalgams have a 50 per cent mercury composition and are illegal in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
Every time you chew gum, drink hot/cold beverages or brush your teeth, you are releasing more mercury vapour than your body can metabolize.
Since you can’t clear it all, the excess mercury is easily deposited into tissues—lungs, kidneys, thyroid, red blood cells and across the blood brain barrier, to name a few.
If you have mercury fillings, remove them with a biological dentist (see iaomt.org).
There are a number of potential causes for MS such as genetics, smoking, vitamin D deficiency, varicella and Epstein viruses, hormone imbalance, stress and environmental toxins.
The source of MS is multifactorial with further evidence linking MS to oxidation, inflammation and free radical damage.
New research has opened the door to explore integrative therapies such as botanicals, antioxidants, amino acids, fatty acids, diet, chelation therapy, etc.
See your naturopathic physician for the prevention of chronic diseases like MS or for an integrative approach to managing the disease.
