Do you know where the phrase “mad as a hatter” came from?

It is not just a phrase, it has a real meaning. In Britain, between 1600 and 1800, makers of felt hats used mercury, which is nitrate of mercury, to make hats. It was a carefully guarded trade secret.

The only problem, of course, is that the people who wore these hats went, well, crazy as hatters. They developed poor memory, inappropriate behaviors, and even tremors that became known as “the hatter’s tremors.”

Woof! Talk about being mad as a hatter! Can you say heavy metal poisoning? So far the “trade secret”.

Before we knew about mercury poisoning and its effects

Unfortunately, many people were adversely affected by mercury poisoning before scientists discovered that this heavy metal caused many health problems. In the past, mercury was used in many medications, especially those used to treat syphilis. Doctors even injected mercury directly into people and applied mercury ointments directly.

Worse still, many dentists continue to use mercury amalgam fillings today, although the negative effects of mercury are well documented. What does mercury do to the body? Here is a short list:

• generates cell damage by free radicals and cell death
• inhibits many antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase (SOD)
• delays in brain development
• accelerates the development of diabetes, hypertension, strokes and cardiovascular diseases
• causes muscle weakness, includes chronic fatigue syndrome

… and that’s just the short list! Mercury poisoning can also lead to arthritis, depression, dermatitis, dizziness, gum disease, hair loss, and insomnia.

What to do if you suspect you have mercury poisoning

If you’re concerned about mercury poisoning, whether it’s from dental fillings, eating a lot of shellfish, or external sources of contamination, fortunately there are steps you can take to help your body get rid of mercury.

To help your body get rid of mercury, you need to eat foods and supplements rich in:

• chlorophyll
• enzymes
• antioxidants

All of these will support the cleansing process, especially at the cellular level, as well as the liver and kidneys. Research shows that the richest food in all these substances is the blue-green algae AFA. According to Dr. Jeffrey Bruno,

“The use of algae has stimulated the excretion of some pollutants … lead and mercury are also excreted without the detrimental effects associated with conventional chelation therapy.”

Other herbs that support mercury detoxification include coriander, yellow dock, milk thistle, dandelion, red clover, burdock, razor, marshmallow, and licorice.

I have successfully helped myself and other nutrition counselors to successfully detoxify their bodies from mercury. Of course, the first step is to eliminate any possible source of mercury poisoning, including excess shellfish and dental fillings made from mercury amalgam.

So usually I suggest people take AFA blue green algae, enzymes, acidophilus, and bifidus. For an added boost, I also suggest wheat sprouts, as concentrated wheat sprouts have a very strong antioxidant effect on the body.

So … consider trying this approach if you feel the negative effects of mercury poisoning, or are just feeling a bit pissed off as a hatter.