Anyone tried using Pectasol? (Modified Citrus Pectin) I read that it can gently reduce the levels of mercury. Anyone? :-)

Hello, I am brand new to this forum and this is my first post. I am in the process of amalgam removal now...my last removal is scheduled for Wednesday!

I've been taking Pectasol around each removal appointment on the advice of my doctor. What she said is that it "binds" with the mercury that may be floating around at removal time, so that it gets excreted out of the body. She wants me to take it for a few days around each of the removal...like about 5 days.

I must say though, that she is not a specialist in mercury toxicity. I did, however, do some Internet research and saw some favorable things regarding it. It doesn't seem to be very popular though.

Yeah I saw the trial by Dr. Eliaz

http://dreliaz.com/abstracts_detail.php?result_set=1&ingred=30&abs=1363

They said in a week it increased the urinary excretion of heavy metals by a statistically significant amount (in "normal" people). They also said one person in their study who took it for 10 months showed a 63% decrease in body burden of mercury confirmed by a DMPS challenge test. http://dreliaz.com/news-room-article.php?id=23 They are recruiting people who have confirmed high levels of heavy metals (ie not "normal" people) for a second study. It is interesting to note that they now seem to be combining it with Alginates. I in no way have anything to do with this Dr. or the company that developed this product, it just looked pretty intriguing to me, esp since they are doing human trials on it (I found the study in pubmed).

The other thing I am curious about with "DMPS challenge confirmation of efficacy" is that a "DMPS challenge in and of itself decreases the body burden of mercury. So... one would think you'd have to compare the body burden before and after of people who both took, and didn't take the substance. Who's to say the follow up challenge test didn't show a lower level because the first DMPS challenge decreased the body burden by that amount. I guess I'm not expert enough to answer that question.

In any case, did it seem to help you when you took it? Did you have bad symptoms after removal? Does your Dr. want you to take it after all your amalgams are out continuously? Just curious about this stuff...

Thank you for the links...I think I had come across the first one in my searches, but I don't know that I saw the second one. The second one is very interesting.

My doctor didn't say anything about long term usage, I'll need to ask her about that. The 4 month thing is very encouraging.

I've also been considering seeing a mercury specialist, who actually might know more about it, although after reading your links, it seems my doctor knew at least enough, lol.

I'll ask my dentist on Wednesday as well. I know he recommended selenium, but I HAVE seen some negative things about that.

As far as feeling well...so far I've felt fine after each removal. I had 11 or 12 amalgams all except for two of which have been redrilled at least twice and had gold crowns over 5 amalgams. My dentist decided to remove them in quadrants, so I've had 3 quadrants out so far. Two in November, the third a couple of weeks ago, and the last one coming up on Wednesday.

I start the pectasol the day before the removal and continue for 4 or 5 days afterwards.

Oh, I did want to add that I DID get sick in December after returning from 15 days of traveling. I'm not sure if that was in any way connected to the removal or just that in general my body is run down...I have adrenal fatigue, H.Pylori & Klebsiella infections and then in December got a sinus and ear infection.

There is selenium in the Mutlivitamin and Multimineral supplement I am taking. It doesn't have any negative effects on me. Some people can't tolerate it. Selenium in and of itself is toxic in high enough doses, but in normal levels its used to help make glutathione, the body's own defense against metals and many free radicals. I'd say if it doesn't bother you, its probably good to take it as it may help your body detox on its own. Anyhow, keep us updated on how you are doing...

Thank you! I'm still not quite done, lol. For some reason he didn't want to do the tiny filling I have in my front tooth, so that will be done when I see him for the permanent crowns. Other than that, I am NEARLY amalgam free!

This dentist also recommended selenium, but other than what is in my vitamins I haven't taken any yet.