Wellness for the World: The Marraige of Yeast and Mercury

by Glen Depke

Whether I am using a tool such as Traditional Chinese Medicine tongue analysis or more conventional methods such as urine testing, it is relatively common for clients to have some level of mercury toxicity. Understand that another significant issue for many clients is a chronic yeast challenge. But look at this a bit further and you'll understand that yeast can be an immune response to mercury poisoning. You see, yeast eats its weight in mercury and by doing so it binds the mercury from entering the blood stream. That's why this is so relevant.

If you have too much mercury in your body you're going have too much yeast, plain and simple. So if you do have this problem you're not going to be able to get rid of the yeast until you get the mercury under control.

Let's first understand where we are typically getting these high mercury levels:

Breathing airborne mercury vapors often due to the burning of coal
Eating food (usually fish or shellfish) contaminated with methylmercury
Drinking water contaminated with mercury (a relatively rare cause of poisoning)
Release of mercury from dental work and medical treatments
Many dental fillings contain mercury
Vaccines containing thimerosal

So for those that have been exposed to mercury over their lifetime, you are likely not only dealing with the mercury but also a yeast overgrowth.

Symptoms of a yeast overgrowth are:

General Symptoms-fatigue, drowsiness, achy muscles, swollen or tender joints, weakness, tension, dizziness, loss of coordination, water retention, burning, tingling, numbness
Respiratory Symptoms-wheezing, cough, tightness or pain in the chest, shortness of breath
Skin Symptoms-rashes, itching, ringworm, psoriasis, athlete's foot, toenail or fingernail fungal infections
Nasal/Sinus Symptoms-headache, post-nasal drip, congestion, itching in the nose, burning or itching eyes, tearing eyes, ear pain, ear congestion, recurrent ear infections, sore throat, chronic sinus infections, visual changes
Gastrointestinal Symptoms-diarrhea, constipation, bloating, belching, flatulence, bad breath, esophagitis, mucus in stools, food allergies, "spastic colon"
Psychological Symptoms-mental fogginess, difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, depression, anxiety, mood swings, irritability
Genitourinary Symptoms-genital irritation, itching, or burning, mucus-like or white discharge, pain during intercourse, menstrual cramps, burning during urination, urinary urgency, endometriosis, impotency, prostatitis
Other Symptoms-Craving for/intolerance of alcohol, craving for sugar and bread, sensitivity to tobacco smoke, perfumes, or other strong smells, worsening symptoms when in damp, muggy areas, mold allergies, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia

Why is this so important to recognize?

One of the main factors is due to the high number of individuals that are on anti-yeast programs. Of course I have nothing against getting rid of chronic yeast, but you want to also address the mercury issue. If you do not, this can lead to many other challenges with your health and wellness.

If you are reducing the amount of yeast in your system and that yeast happens to be bound to mercury, where do you think the mercury goes? If you guessed your blood stream, that is right on. So what happens to the mercury from this point? If you have a strong blood/brain barrier this may not be much of an issue for you. If your blood/brain barrier is weak, this will allow the mercury to pass this barrier and enter your brain. From here the mercury (a known neurotoxin) can create a whole host of issues.

Toxic Effects of Excess Mercury

Cardiovascular System

Excessive ingestion of Mercury can cause Angina.

Ears/Hearing

Mercury toxicity can be an underlying cause of Tinnitus.

Excretory System

Mercury accumulates in and damages the Kidneys.

Immune System

Mercury weakens the Immune System by depressing Helper T-Cells.

Excessive exposure to Mercury causes Hodgkin's Disease (a form of Lymphatic Cancer).

Metabolism

Exposure to Mercury (or its vapors) can cause Fatigue.

Mercury stimulates the production of Free Radicals.

Mercury damages the Liver.

Musculoskeletal System

Mercury increases the risk of Arthritis.

Exposure to Mercury can cause Muscle Tension.

Nervous System

Exposure to Mercury causes impairment in Abstract Reasoning ability.

Exposure to Mercury can cause Aggressiveness.

Exposure to Mercury can cause Anxiety.

Exposure to Mercury can cause Apathy.

Exposure to Mercury can cause decreased Attention Span.

Mercury concentrates in and damages the Brain:

Mercury damages the Blood-Brain Barrier.

Mercury concentrates in and damages the Cerebral Cortex.

Exposure to Mercury can cause impairment of Concentration.

Exposure to Mercury can cause Depression.

Exposure to Mercury can cause Drowsiness.

Mercury can cause Epilepsy.

Exposure to Mercury can cause Hallucinations.

Exposure to Mercury (or its vapors) can cause Headache.

Exposure to Mercury (or its vapors) can cause Insomnia.

Exposure to Mercury can lower Intelligence.

Exposure to Mercury (or its vapors) can cause Irritability.

Exposure to Mercury can cause impairment of Learning ability.

Exposure to Mercury (or its vapors) can cause Memory impairment.

Mental Retardation can occur as a result of excessive exposure to Mercury.

Exposure to Mercury is associated with poor (“bad”) Mood.

Mercury can cause Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Exposure to Mercury can cause Nervousness.

Mercury can cause Numbness.

Exposure to Mercury can cause Speech Impairment (in the form of slurred Speech).

Exposure to Mercury can cause Tremor.

Respiratory System

Mercury concentrates in and damages the Lungs.

Sexual System - Females

Exposure to Mercury during Pregnancy increases the risk of Birth Defects.

In wrapping this up, I want you to understand that yeast and mercury challenges very often go hand in hand. If you want to address these in the most comfortable process possible, follow these steps below:

Focus on your fundamentals of health
Balance adrenal function
Strengthen the blood/brain barrier
Remove any continued mercury contamination such as silver fillings and high risk seafood consumption (please have the fillings safely removed by a quality holistic dentist)
Now address the yeast issue while supporting your systems of detoxification, all while assisting your body's removal of mercury