I know this is a fairly long post, but I felt that given the gravity of your situation, I wanted to be as thorough as I reasonably could to offer some information that might be of help. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

You may find it interesting that mercury poisoning is linked to both ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and MS (multiple sclerosis), as well as Autoimmune diseases, Environmental illness, Multiple chemical sensitivity, and Yeast syndrome. In fact, Dr. Andrew Cutler mentions all of these conditions (and others) on the front cover of his book Amalgam Illness: Diagnosis & Treatment.

If you have any silver (mercury amalgam) fillings, then I personally would definitely suspect mercury poisoning is the cause of your health problems (MS or not), and may very likely have been the cause of your mother's problems if she had fillings. In fact, many older people I know have very large "silver" fillings that actually cover the entire tooth, right down to or even below the gum line. Of course, these same people are suffering from arthritis, diabetes, obesity, heart problems, respiratory problems, allergies, digestive problems, etc. (these are all on the front of Cutler's book too!).

Mercury lowers immune function making an individual much more easily susceptible to illness and infections (bacterial, viral AND fungal). My business partner couldn't get rid of a candida yeast rash under his arms for about the last year before his fillings were all removed. Once the fillings were gone, the candida rash disappeared and has never come back!

In the meantime, to naturally combat the fungal infection, I would highly recommend trying Bifidophilus Flora Force (this is a probiotic or "good bacteria" supplement to help balance the bacteria levels in the body), along with Olive Leaf Extract (to help kill the fungi).

You may also want to take fairly high doses of Vitamin C (at least 4-6,000 mgs per day with bioflavonoids). I personally use Citrus Bioflavonoids and I can definitely feel the effects, unlike other brands of vitamin C I've tried. Remember, the RDA for vitamin C is very low...only enough to keep rats from dying (not keep humans healthy!).

Vitamin E with Selenium is also important, for numerous reasons. In fact, it is the 3rd most important supplement I take for mercury poisoning, behind Citrus Bioflavonoids and Algin (which I'll get to in a second). Here's an information sheet on Vitamin E with Selenium that explains why it is one of the most popular and very necessary dietary supplements.

If you do have silver fillings or suspect you have mercury poisoning from other sources (fish, environmental pollutants, vaccinations, etc.), then I would highly recommend you try Algin. This natural, non-digestible fiber has a special affinity for heavy metals and will bind to mercury and pull it out of the body via the colon. I would start with perhaps 3-4 capsules at least once a day. Depending on your symptoms, you may notice a difference in your symptoms and the way you feel very quickly, especially if you take the capsules without food. Of course, everyone is different, but based on the testimonies of several of the people who have been contributing on this forum, I would think you would notice a difference within at least the first few days. Bear in mind that "IF" you have MS or MS-type symptoms, since MS is a neurological disorder, you may need to take more Algin than someone who has "less severe".

One other thing I thought of...since MS involves demyelination (the breakdown of the myelin sheathing that protects the nerves), taking a supplement that would help the body to better rebuild the myelin may help someone with MS or MS-like symptoms. Research indicates that "Fatty alcohols are necessary for the synthesis of myelin (the insulation around nerves), as well as other important substances in the body." "Fatty alcohols are converted to fatty acids and vice-versa. The beneficial fatty acids in fish, for example, are made from...long chain fatty alcohols." (Source: HART Master Reference)

According to an article entitled "Multiple Sclerosis and Nutrition" published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis - February 2005, "Epidemiological studies imply that unsaturated fatty acids may have a positive effect on the course of MS." If you'd like me to mail or fax you an information sheet on Omega-3 Fatty Acids which explains more about them and what researchers and clinical studies have found, just email me at laura@herballure.com (I don't have the information sheet available in electronic form at this time, sorry).

I hope this information is helpful to you. I definitely agree with you that the simplest explanation is often the answer. Unfortunately, I don't think they teach that in medical school. Rather, I believe they teach something like...if you have this symptoms, prescribe this drug, etc. If you read Dr. Cutler's Amalgam Illness book, you may very well find the answers you've been searching for.

Please keep us posted on your progress and let us know if you have any questions. We have a lot of wonderful contributors on this forum who have been through or are going through similar experiences. We're all here to help each other! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />