As I promised in my last week’s article about mercury, I will talk about natural methods to clear mercury and other dangerous toxins from the body. The intrinsic properties of natural healers detoxify the system and offer cures and energy without leaving harmful effects.

The cleansers I will discuss today are the simple herbs (mint, thyme, rosemary, lemongrass, verbena), greens, roots (ginger, turmeric), and aromatic seeds (cumin, anize, fennel, fenugreek, caraway), which have been used for healing for thousands of years by the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Indians, Greeks, and Arabs. They are also the once-sought-after spices that fetched gold in past centuries. Nowadays, they come at affordable prices and can be stored in your kitchen cabinet. Whether fresh or dried, they add flavor to dishes with their special aromas and make healthy warm or cold beverages. Unfortunately, mainstream medicine does not recognize their healing qualities.

Their powerful properties relieve digestive and respiratory problems, too. Their oils, extracts, and essential oils have therapeutic effects. In all their forms, they are healing, but essential oils are the most potent, but they should be approached with great care and used in tiny doses with the knowhow of an alternative medicine expert.

Whole organic plants, especially leafy greens and herbs have a way of cleansing and eliminating toxins from the body. They produce potent detoxifying, nourishing, and curing effects on the blood, cells, organs, systems, brain, and body. Their multipurpose, nutritional and cleansing vitamins, minerals, enzymes, anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, and antioxidants work synergistically to neutralize free radicals and infections, cleanse toxins, cure disease, relieve pain and symptoms, and give energy.

Dandelion, kale, wheat and barley grasses, cilantro, parsley, and microalgae (chlorella, spirulina) also eliminate toxins from the blood, liver, and body. Wheatgrasses can be grown at home from whole grains in a small pot. Once the grass becomes a few inches long, cut and add it to fresh vegetable juice. Kale is a detoxifying green that can be added to salads and juices. Kelp (Japanese kombu) and microalgae offer cleansing potency, especially to the thyroid after radioactive poisoning.

Aromatic seeds, turmeric, and ginger are powerful detoxifiers when steeped or infused with herbal drinks. Verbena, gingerroot, and fennel seed infusions offer cleansing properties that clear toxins. Fenugreek (hulba in Arabic) is a powerful cleanser (infections, inflammation, pathogens) used by the ancient Egyptians for diabetes and other disorders. After birth, new mothers are given fenugreek to cleanse their system and increase breast milk. The Indians use cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, and other aromatic seeds to detoxify, energize, and boost immunity. The Arabs take Aloe arobescens (sibr) and Myrrh (murrah) for healing and cleansing.

Most organic non-starchy vegetables and whole fruits offer powerful detoxifying phytochemicals against free radicals and inflammation. Greens and deep pigment vegetables when juiced become a cleansing powerhouse as they work simultaneously to detoxify and rebuild cells and blood, energize the brain, and fortify the body.

Due to their abundance in nutrients, enzymes, and phytocompounds, the cruciferous family (cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts), dark leafy greens (spinach, dandelion, parsley, cilantro, arugula, grain grasses, sea algae, kelp, microalgae, alfalfa), and the squash family energize the cleansing process.

Here are recommendations from nutritionist Phyllis Balch:

• Because of their sulphuric contents, organic whole foods like legumes, kale, cruciferous family, onions and garlic detoxify and protect against toxins and yeast and bacterial infections.

• Steam-distilled water is important along with fresh vegetable juices. A detoxifying recipe is the juice of beetroot, green apple, carrots, and lemon with the white pulp, plus a little ginger.

• Soluble and insoluble fiber are found in whole grains (oat bran), legumes, and whole fresh fruits and vegetables. Fiber and apple pectin supplements cleanse the digestive tract, but they should not be taken with other supplements and drugs. They prevent their absorption.

• Eat non-contaminated fish twice a week. While broiling, steaming, and oven baking are hygienic ways to cook, frying, charring and barbecuing increase toxins. Big fish (albacore tuna, shark, swordfish) may contain mercury. Smaller fish and seafood (salmon, shrimp, catfish, and sardines) from unpolluted waters are safer. Fish have anti-inflammatory properties and special compounds like alkylglycerols, which eliminate mercury and toxins. Due to sewage and industrial dumping in coastal areas, fish have become contaminated. My physician, who was contaminated with mercury, recommends cutting off fish and shrimp heads before cooking. Mercury accumulates close to the head.

• Supplements of glutathione and the detoxifying amino acids, L-methionine and L-cysteine should be taken on an empty stomach with water or juice, not with milk. They clear toxins. Vitamins B6 (5mg) and C (100mg) increase their absorption.

• Selenium, 200 mcg, in two doses, neutralizes mercury potency.

• Vitamin E, 200IU, helps selenium to counteract the heavy metal. D-alpha-tocopherol is the bioavailable type.

• Sulphur in garlic supplements (Kyolic from Wakunga) eliminates poisonous compounds.

• Alfalfa (barseem in Arabic) or kelp (sea algae), as greens and in supplement form, act on the detoxifying systems and clear mercury.

Chelation with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) helps detoxification. By introducing certain compounds intravenously that bind to toxic metals in the bloodstream, chelation therapy eliminates mercury.

Chelation is also used to remove artery plaque, improving blood from in the vascular system. Due to their natural chelating and anticoagulant effects, nutrients like zinc, chromium, and vitamin B-complex should be taken along with the dietary supplements of onion, garlic, and legumes. Chelation may displace certain minerals. Alfalfa, kelp, zinc and a natural form of iron are needed to replace them. Chelation should only be done with the supervision and approval of the treating physician.

Body massage and vigorous aerobic exercises (walking, running) along with water intake releases toxins.

Before I end, I would like to warn against products that contribute to poisoning. Since mercury is present everywhere, I shall expose certain dangerous aspects.

Industrial waste containing mercury and other products (plastics, chemicals, sewage sludge, heavy metals…) get dumped in the sea and near fresh water bodies. Environmental microorganisms transform the inorganic mercury into the organic form, methylmercury, which gets consumed by sea creatures that are eaten by fish. Through the environment, water, and contaminated fish, people get infected.

Furthermore, amalgam dental fillings in our mouths release vapors through heat and abrasion. To avoid spilling or inhalations, a specialized dentist should carefully remove amalgam fillings. The enlightening website below shows dangerous vapors, emanating from an amalgam filling, dangerous to the dentist, assistant, and patient. You can watch the documentary ‘You Put What in My Mouth?’ by filmmaker and director Randall Moore.

Due to their uncompleted growth, fetuses absorb toxic substances through mothers. Mercury is a neuro-toxin that causes brain abnormalities and developmental deformities to the fetus. Fillings should NEVER be removed during pregnancy! Couples, considering reproduction, should avoid large fish unless they are sure of their safety in order to protect their sperm and eggs. They should also take supplements and correct their lifestyles months before the conception period, the time of procreation.

People are warned against inhaling mercury like azogue. Certain ethnic and religious groups sprinkle mercury in their homes. It is a dangerous custom; mercury should be carefully discarded.

Women should be very careful with their choice of cosmetics, which sometimes contain a form of mercury. Even high-end brands add lead, another toxic metal, to pencil eyeliners. Kajal or kohl eyeliners made in India or the Middle East can contain lead. This applies to locally concocted or unauthorized and counterfeit medicines from the Far East, which may contain lead oxide or other toxins.

I would like to correct myself as I misstated the title of Freya Koss in part 2 of this series on mercury. It is: Public Relations, Outreach, International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), and she is president and founder of PA Coalition for Mercury-Free Dentistry.

I am grateful to those who contributed to enriching my knowledge and research. Together, we should rally to protect our health and environment and strive for a better and greener world.

Individuals with medical conditions or on medication should consult their physicians when they decide to introduce anything new in their diet, even if it is natural.

The previous Health Solutions articles are located at

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