There has been a lot of negative reports on the results of clay baths from people on the internet, in general. As far as I am concerned clay will draw mercury out through the skin and out of the body but in order to recover with clay baths a bit more needs to be done.

As most of us are aware mercury becomes lodged in the brain, and associated glands, the pituitary and hypothalamus. I believe that the majority of mercury poisoning symptoms come from the mercury that resides in the brain and these two important glands.

In order to remove mercury from the brain we first should detoxify our body of mercury as best we can with upwards of 30 clay baths, more is better. Next we have to take something that allows the mercury to cross the blood-brain barrier (while continuing clay baths), namely ALA or maybe cilantro if you trust it. I have no experience with ALA but I find cilantro to work well for me. From what I have read the dosing of ALA is a sensitive issue, look into Andy Cutler's protocol.

I think that like DMSA alone, clay baths alone is an incomplete treatment for mercury poisoning. Neither clay or DMSA will remove mercury from the brain on their own but will remove mercury from the body once it is crosses the blood-brain barrier with ALA or cilantro.

ALA and cilantro can further poison the brain with mercury if taken incorrectly or before the body is sufficiently detoxified of mercury.

I believe that full clay baths, clay foot baths and simply applying hydrated clay to your skin are all effective at removing mercury.

-Colin