Mercury in the environment can become a health hazard when you eat fish that live in polluted waters and concentrate mercury in their tissues. Mercury is also present in some household appliances such as fluorescent bulbs, thermostats and gas ranges. Mercury exposure can cause respiratory and nerve disorders. A variety of supplements can help your body process and eliminate mercury.
DMSA
Dimercaptosuccinic acid, also known as DMSA, is a chelating agent -- a compound that attaches to mercury and other metals and carries them out of your body. DMSA is available as an oral supplement. Most DMSA supplements start at 25 milligrams. For safest use, nutritionist Roy Mankovitz, author of "Nature's Detox Plan: A Program for Physical and Emotional Detoxification," recommends taking a low dose of 5 milligrams every few hours for several days at a time and separating your days of DMSA use with two-week breaks. You may need to divide 25 milligram capsules or tablets to achieve this low dose. Side effects of DMSA include intestinal upset, often related to fungal overgrowth. Always consult a health care practitioner before taking DMSA.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
The antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid, or ALA, is an effective chelating agent for mercury detoxification. Its advantages are that it is soluble in both water and fat and is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and enter your brain, where it can help protect brain cells and remove mercury. Alpha-lipoic acid has blood-sugar-lowering properties and may affect your levels of thyroid hormone. If you have high levels of mercury in your body, you may not tolerate apha-lipoic acid well, and it may be necessary to start with low doses or use another chelating supplement, at first. Always consult a health care practitioner before taking ALA.
Detoxifying Herbs
A variety of medicinal herbs offer cleansing and mercury detoxification benefits. These herbs work well when taken in groups, as their effects often complement one another. A morning and evening routine also makes the best advantage of medicinal herbs for mercury detoxification. Nutritionist Brenda Watson, in her book "The Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps," suggests taking herbs such as artichoke, burdock, garlic, horsetail, nettle and wormwood in the morning for their ability to pull mercury out of tissues where it is stored. In the evening, a combination of buckthorn, marshmallow root, rhubarb, slippery elm and triphala promote healthy bowel function and efficient elimination of mercury. Always consult a health care practitioner before taking medicinal herbs.
Kidney Effects
Your body responds to the presence of mercury by excreting magnesium and calcium, possibly in an attempt to achieve a balance of minerals. Loss of these nutrient minerals occurs by filtration through the kidneys. Kidney damage can occur in some instances of mercury toxicity. Supplementation with a compound called magnesium glycinate may help restore healthy levels of magnesium and calcium while encouraging removal of mercury and preventing kidney damage, according to Dr. Carolyn Dean, author of the book "The Magnesium Miracle."
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