Heavy Metal Toxicity

Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, iron, and aluminum occur naturally in the environment, and very limited exposure typically does not cause disease or harm to humans. Long-term exposure to low levels of heavy metals, however, can result in an accumulation of these toxins in your body. We use the term “biotoxicity” to refer to the build-up of toxins in your body tissues that cause digestive problems and joint pain, and we use the word “neurotoxicity” when these toxins affect your nervous system and cause neurological disorders, including headaches, sleep disturbances, depression, and cognitive difficulties.

We can be exposed to heavy metals through the inhalation of air pollutants and through the consumption of food, drink and other consumer products such as household and personal care products that have been contaminated.

The painful symptoms of heavy metal toxicity are similar to the symptoms of a variety of other medical conditions. These conditions include fibromyalgia, migraine or chronic headaches, depression, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Lyme Disease, chronic sinusitis and asthma that is unresponsive to conventional therapy. Biotoxicity symptoms also can mimic those of certain autoimmune diseases, such as psoriatic arthritis, Celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The problem is, if an underlying cause of your pain or illness is heavy metal toxicity and your treatment plan does not include a detoxification regimen, your overall recovery is very likely to be incomplete and far slower than it needs to be.

How We Can Help

At the Kaplan Center, our physicians have years of experience treating patients with heavy metal toxicity, and we completely reject the notion that “you just have to live with it.”

We offer a multitude of effective treatment options, including:

• Biotoxicity/Neurotoxicity Protocol
• Nutritional Counseling
• Acupuncture
• Intravenous Supplementation
• Osteopathic Manual Medicine
• Sleep Evaluation & Management
• Meditation Training
• Prescription Medication
• Herbal Remedies & Nutritional Supplements

At your first visit, your Kaplan physician will take time exploring the onset of your condition, the specific nature of your symptoms and the overall status of your health. You’ll also be asked about the medications and therapies you’ve tried in the past, and what has and hasn’t worked for you. To gather additional information about your condition, specialized diagnostic laboratory testing may be necessary.

After reviewing all of the factors contributing to your condition, your physician will spend time talking with you about your diagnosis and working with you to create a customized and multi-dimensional treatment plan that addresses not only your immediate pain but also any possible underlying or co-existing conditions that may be causing or aggravating your symptoms.

Many patients find that addressing the toxicity disorder has alleviated or resolved their longstanding medical problems.

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Additional Resources:

Research study: Managing Radiation Therapy Side Effects with Complementary Medicine
Publication: Toxic Metals By the Occupational Safety & Health Administration