Mercury Poisoning

Allopathic treatment

A person diagnosed with mercury poisoning may be prescribed a drug that binds the mercury, and thus helps the body excrete it quickly. The body naturally excretes mercury in the urine even without treatment. A doctor may recommend that a person diagnosed with mercury poisoning avoid eating any fish or shellfish. Further monitoring of blood and urine can determine whether mercury levels are falling. The nervous system, mouth, lungs, eyes and skin, target organs for exposure, should also be periodically checked.

Expected results

For adults, mercury poisoning is usually a reversible problem. The body can rid itself of mercury if the exposure to mercury is halted. Symptoms such as fatigue and memory problems seem to go away as mercury levels fall. However, for children and developing fetuses, mercury poisoning can cause long-term neurological problems. Mercury exposure before birth has been linked to lower intelligence and delays in learning motor skills.

Prevention

Avoiding mercury is the best way to prevent mercury poisoning. Folk remedies that may contain mercury should not be consumed or rubbed on the skin. People should follow local guidelines about eating fish caught in local waters, and should follow federal guidelines for consumption of commercial fish. Much of the scientific literature on long-term exposure to mercury from fish is still mixed. Eating fish has many health benefits, and one reason the FDA revised its fish guidelines several times was that it was afraid to scare people into avoiding fish altogether. In general, larger species of fish are more of a risk for high mercury levels. Canned tuna has less mercury than tuna steaks, because canned tuna comes from smaller fish. For the same reason, light tuna is also generally lower in mercury than white tuna. Common fish and shellfish that are considered low in mercury are shrimp, catfish, pollock, salmon, and light tuna.

BOOKS

Clark, Hulda Regehr, Ph.D., N.D. The Cure for All Diseases. California: New Century Press, 1995.

Null, Gary, Ph.D. Ultimate Anti-Aging Program. New York: Broadway Books, 1999.

Content licensed from:

Author Info: Ruth Ann Carter, The Gale Group Inc., Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, 2005

This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the care and information received from your healthcare provider. Please consult a healthcare professional with any health concerns you may have.