What is the relationship between mercury poisoning and Candida overgrowth and how can you pull it from the body? A visitor asks the following question:

Cynthia, I have been told that Mercury and Candida have a synergistic relationship and to control Candida its necessary to remove Hg..

Can you confirm this and how do you suggest one can get rid of Hg and especially the deeply buried Hg?

Also if Hg is bound/buried then I assume wouldn’t that this Hg would never show up in a urine test or hair analysis. Is there a way to check for the total body Hg load?

I know these are weighty questions but I have Candida problems and so far have not been successful in eliminating it.

Kind regards, John

Hi John,

Yes, it is believed by most experts in the Candida field that it has a synergistic relationship with mercury poisoning. There are a few different theories that include the following:

• For some it is believed that Candida eats mercury for it’s own survival, just like it eats everything else.
• Others believe that because low level mercury toxicity suppresses the immune system, it allows yeast to proliferate.
• Another theory tells us that mercury works like an antibiotic when it enters the body and wipes out all the healthy bacteria which allows Candida to take over and upsets the gastrointestinal tract.
• The most prevalent theory, is that Candida overgrowth develops as a defense mechanism as the body struggles to cope with mercury and other heavy metals. When mercury and other heavy metals are in the body, the cell walls of Candida bind to mercury and other heavy metals and prevent it from entering the blood stream. It is like a sponge soaking up the mercury. It’s the bodies own protective mechanism. So as long as there is mercury or other heavy metals in the body, then yeast is going to proliferate.Some people believe that die off also known as the herxheimer response with Candida overgrowth is partly due to the fact, that when you kill off the yeast, it then releases the mercury back into the system.

I would say that all four of these theories are likely to be true. Regardless, where you find one, you usually find the other. As you probably know we are all exposed to mercury and other heavy metals in a many different ways in our daily lives.

The most common sources of contamination are found in pollution in our air, our water, acid rain, talc powder, fish, shellfish, shark, swordfish, broken thermometers, batteries, tuna, king mackerel, vaccinations, diuretics, suppositories, wood preservatives, adhesives, floor waxes, tattoos, fabric softener, hair dies, paint, plastics, chlorine bleach, laxatives, dental fillings, pesticides, fluorescent light bulbs – even the so called energy efficient CFL light bulbs — to name a few.

Mercury poisoning and other heavy metals is believed to be linked to a variety of health conditions besides Candidiasis, especially Autism, Depression, memory problems, Alzheimer’s, thyroid disorders, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, adrenal disorders, heart disease, infertility, kidney malfunctioning, as well as many more. In the brain, mercury inhibits proper functioning of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, adrenalin, resulting in a variety of mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and loss of motivation.

Mercury is one of the most toxic substance found in our environment and is toxic in any amount whatsoever to the tissues and cells of the body. It accumulates in and damages all the major organs of the body as well as the endocrine system, the brain and the nervous system. It is particularly toxic to children, pets and pregnant women.

It depends on who you talk to on what is believed to be the best way to test for or eliminate mercury and other heavy metals. Some of the popular methods of removal include chelation, cilantro paste, chlorella, glutathione, zeolite and clay baths.

A hair analysis can detect mercury when you are in the process of detoxing, because when detoxing, it is pulled out and active, but it may not pick it up otherwise, if it is deeply embedded. A urine analysis that uses provocative testing with an oral chelator is considered effective by many, because the chelator pulls it out to be detected. I recommend the following test because it is considered very reliable and its quite affordable in comparison to other tests out there.

Click Here for Recommended Heavy Metal Testing

To remove mercury I recommend two products. One is taken orally and is called Bio-Chelat and the other is clay baths. They can be used together to enhance effectiveness for people who are at least semi-healthy. For people who have poor health it may be too hard on them to take the oral preparation so the clay baths alone may be the best route. Foot baths are recommended for people with extremely poor health. The clay baths will not only pull out mercury and other heavy metals, but it will also pull out pesticides, bacteria, radiation and other contaminants that accumulate in our bodies. The clay will pull mercury and other chemicals from tissues and organs while the oral chelator will get metals that are stuck on a deeper level including the brain and the nervous system.

Click Here to Learn More About Bio-Chelat and Clay Baths

It is also believed that balancing the bodies pH level is an essential component of removing mercury and other heavy metals. A pH level that is too acidic creates a body that holds onto metals.

Click Here to Learn More About pH

You can find a lot more detailed information on Candida overgrowth, mercury poisoning and toxicity on the pages I have suggested above. As always, you should consult with your health care provider prior to using any of these methods, especially if you have a heart condition, take prescription drugs, have high blood pressure or are pregnant.

Okay, John, hope that helps clear things up.

Best
Cynthia Perkins, M.Ed.