Effect of naturally magnetized water on increasing mercury excretion post removal of amalgam fillings and iv-dmps treatment (2002)
Michael Galitzer, M.D., The American Health Institute, Los Angeles, CA,
Harold Ravins, D.D.S., Center for Holistic Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA,
Yoshitaka Ohno, M.D., Ph.D. and Howard Reminick, Ph.D., Ohno Institute on Water and Health, Cleveland, OH
INTRODUCTION
The field of biological dentistry is rapidly gaining acceptance as an alternative to traditional, mainstream dentistry because of its sound health principles and practices, and attention to toxicology. Although it has made inroads among a more informed public, it still maintains the reputation as "new age" and controversial, due to the resistance from the established dental industry and the political pressure of the American Dental Association. Two controversial areas practiced in biological dentistry which draw criticism from mainstream dentists are removal of mercury amalgam fillings and chelation. With more and more studies under way to provide sound, scientific evidence on the value of these two practices, leaders in the field will soon be able to establish guidelines and policies, leading to its acceptance as an equal provider of mainstream dental care.
In order to add to the body of knowledge which exists in biological dentistry, this study was conducted to investigate whether a natural substance, Nariwa naturally magnetized water, known for its ability to detoxify tissues, promote assimilation and transportation of nutrients into the cells, and increase cell hydration can complement the chelating effect of DMPS (di-mercaptopropane sulphonic acid), a sulfur- containing chelating agent used to promote the excretion of mercury from the body after the removal of dental amalgams.
Previous to this study, through the interest and curiosity of Dr. Harold Ravins, a biological dentist in Los Angeles, Nariwa water was provided to a few of his patients to drink after an IV-DMPS chelation treatment, following an amalgam removal procedure. Although this was not a controlled study, consistently better results on urinalysis was reported with this small patient sample than had been seen in urinalysis of patients who had not had access to this water. It was hypothesized, therefore, that a controlled study with a larger sample could provide data with more statistically significant results.
To support the significance of conducting this study, a brief description of biological dentistry and chelation is presented in order to offer a position for their validation as sound, clinical procedures, and a rationale for Nariwa water as the experimental treatment in this study.
Biological Dentistry and Mercury Detoxification
1. The Dental Amalgam Issue: Dental amalgam, a mixture of mercury and a silver-dominated alloy, has been the most widely used dental filling material for over a century. Amalgam, more commonly known as "silver fillings", is made from 50% mercury, 35% silver and 15% tin, or tin mixed with copper and a trace of zinc. The toxic effects of mercury exposure have been known for a long time, but not until about 1980 was serious consideration given to the possibility that mercury vapor escaping from amalgam fillings might be seriously affecting health. There is clinical evidence from environmentally ill patients that the heavy metals from dental fillings and multiple chemical exposures act in unison to toxify and stress the patient, causing disease.
There are over 125 known symptoms of mercury toxicity. Although most reports are vague and nonspecific, there is much evidence to support the role of mercury toxicity in heart disease, multiple sclerosis, and even Alzheimer's disease. The official position of the American Dental Association on amalgam is that not enough mercury is released to pose a hazard, despite hard evidence to the contrary. Dental schools have long taught that when mercury is bound to silver in the amalgam, it does not escape to create toxicity within the body.
Unlike the United States, however, Germany has produced guidelines for limiting the use of amalgam fillings, and Sweden is phasing out amalgam fillings entirely. Many other countries have begun reducing its use. These same countries are calling for studies which can lead to international public health policies on this highly controversial area.
The process of removing amalgam fillings exposes the patient to localized concentrations of mercury dust and vapor. It is not uncommon for illness to occur following removal of amalgams. Dentists must take precaution when removing these fillings in order to limit the patient's exposure to the debris and vapor from this process. It is becoming highly desirable to include an IV chelation treatment following this procedure.
2. The Dental Chelation Issue: In order to achieve lasting benefit from removal of mercury from fillings, it is also necessary to remove accumulated mercury from tissues. To achieve this, mercury must bind to a chelating agent. Mercury and certain other metals, such as arsenic and antimony bind to sulphydryl groups. Of the chelating agents available, DMPS (di-mercaptopropane sulphonic acid) has been most successful when administered with IV infusion. Also used successfully is DMSA, an oral chelating agent. Another, EDTA, is also used by many doctors.
These chelating agents are used to excrete mercury from the body via measurements of urine mercury after dosing. In order to test the effect of chelation, a six-hour Urine Provocation Test is commonly done. This test reveals the effect of DMPS in promoting the excretion of a large amount of mercury. All "potentially toxic elements", such as mercury, are reported as /g creatinine. This reduces the margin of error which can be introduced by variation in urine sample volume. Hair analysis can also be used to determine overall body loading with mercury.
Early signs of mercury contamination include: decreased senses of touch, hearing, vision and taste, metallic taste in the mouth, fatigue or lack of physical endurance, and increased salivation. Symptoms may progress with moderate or chronic exposure to include: anorexia, numbness, and paresthesias, headache, hypertension, irritability and excitability and immune suppression. Advances in mercury toxicity include tremors and incoordination, anemia, psychoses, manic disorders, autoimmune disorders and renal dysfunction or failure.
Very recent research has shown the presence of mercury in myocardial muscles of patients suffering from cardio-myopathy. The concentration of mercury was found to be over 10,000 times greater than that of heart muscles of control patients. These abnormal results correlated with the severity of the heart failure and electrical instability. Comparative studies show that urine mercury concentration has a 60 times greater increase after DMPS is administered to patients with amalgams, a 30 times increase in urine of dental personnel without amalgams, and a 10 times increase in those people who have amalgams removed, followed by chelation. This indicates that there are higher levels of mercury retained in the tissues of people who have amalgam fillings. It is also an indicator of the efficacy of DMPS chelation.
3. Bio-Magnetic Hydrology – The Interactive Effect of Water and Bio-Magnetism:
A Rationale for Nariwa Water as a Detoxifying and Hydrating Agent:
For maximum detoxification to take place, two physiological premises must be considered: 1) the body's water must be capable of providing an internal environment to allow for homeostasis, and 2) there must be adequate magnetic influence to allow the water to activate the body's energy and physiology, required for the detoxification process.
Does magnetization do anything to change the physical properties of water? Magnetized water exhibits a change in the strength with which water molecules are able to bond with one another. This bonding ability tends to change the way water molecules interact with each other and could possibly produce major changes in the strength of their activity within the cells.
Magnetized water has been shown to be effective in breaking down, dissolving and flushing mineral and salt build up. Russian and Indian magnetotherapists have reported that this has occurred with patients with kidney and gall stones who have been treated with magnetized water.
All of the body's chemistry is conducted in water. Any chemical exchange must be activated by bio-magnetism. Bio-magnetism allows the water to be more active in ionic exchange, thus promoting greater metabolic functioning. By applying the findings of several studies on water and bio-magnetism as an interactive force in creating a better internal environment by detoxifying and hydrating tissues, as well as increasing bio-activity, it seems reasonable to expect the process of bio-magnetic hydrology to be effective in complementing the chelation effect of DMPS in mercury excretion.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of the study was to test the efficacy of drinking Nariwa water following the first IV-DMPS chelation treatment of patients who had completed removal of their mercury amalgam fillings, on increasing mercury excretion, as measured by a six- hour, accumulated urine analysis following the procedure.
SUBJECTS: N=40
Age Range X Age
Experimental Group – N=20: 33-77 49.25
Control Group – N=20: 33-59 42.40
Sex:
Experimental Group: Male = 9 Female = 11
Control Group: Male = 13 Female = 7
The study spanned a period of six months, January to July, 2002, until 40 Subjects were tested.
METHODS
Procedures:
- Dental Amalgam Removal and Replacement
Subjects were patients of Dr. Harold Ravins, a biological dentist in Los Angeles, and were among those who had mercury amalgam fillings removed and replaced with direct light cured composite. The amalgam filling is removed under a controlled environment for the main purpose to prevent the inhalation of the inorganic mercury vapors by the patient and treating staff. The following are the procedures used on all the patients for this study.
Patient is placed in a ionically air sterilized operating room.
2. The tooth in which the filling is removed is isolated with a rubber dam.
3. Pure oxygen is given to the patient to inhale during the entire operation.
4. Dental acupuncture is administered for stress management.
5. High powered suction is used during the amalgam removal.
6. All cavities after removal of amalgams are washed with a solution of an antioxidant
and Nariwa water.
7. Fillings were replaced with direct light cured composite.
Following this procedure, 40 Subjects were alternately assigned to the Experimental Group ( 20 Subjects given .5 liters of Nariwa water to drink after chelation, and to the Control Group (20 Subjects given commercial bottled water to drink after chelation),
and sent to Dr. Michael Galtizer for an IV-DMPS chelation treatment.
- IV-DMPS Chelation Treatment
All Subjects in the study received a dose of DMPS, 150 mg IV push over a three minute span after completion of amalgam removal and replacement. DMPS (di-mercap- topropane sulphonic acid) is an antidote for treatment of acute and chronic toxic metal toxicity. It is a substance with low systemic and local toxicity and is generally well tolerated with long term use. Animal studies indicate that it does not cross over the blood brain barrier. Efficacy studies have been reported in Environmental Health Perspective, 106(4), 1998, as well as in several other scientific journals.
After the chelation treatment, each Subject collected a six-hour urine sample, which was sent to Doctor's Data for analysis of mercury excretion. Results were sent to Dr. Galitzer and data was computed and analyzed. - Six-Hour Accumulated Urine Provocation Test
Urine toxic element analysis is a valuable tool for the diagnosis and confirmation of toxic elements and monitoring detoxification therapy. A post-provocation urine elements analysis involves a urine collection following a chelation treatment. Provoked urinary levels of heavy metals such as mercury, to which chelation agents can bind, provides valuable information as to the efficacy of the provocation.
For increased convenience, urine toxic metal results are reported in standardized units that allows ease of comparative tests. A post-provocation 6 hour collection will be reported in units per mg creatinine (an element in urine used as a comparative standard in measuring excretion values). The increased excretion in the urine of toxic metals are usually used for assessing the clinical efficacy for chelating agents.
EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT – Nariwa Water
As a result of the many years spent researching the interactive effect of water and magnetism in the body, the Ohno Institute on Water and health coined a term, bio-magnetic hydrology. This seems to express this field of study and allows for theories to be formulated regarding the difference between the naturally magnetized water used as the experimental treatment in this study and other water sources, including those that are magnetized with devices. This water is named Nariwa, for the remote village in Japan where the source of this water exists. Its uniqueness is due a mountain which was formed by an active volcano, bombarded by a huge meteorite shower millions of years ago. The mountain's environment is magnetic, which creates the ionization of the minerals found in this water. The water is bottled and sealed at its source and shipped to the United States.
For the past four years, the Ohno Institute has been conducting clinical testing and analyses with doctors and other health care practitioners throughout the United
States with this water. These studies have revealed four consistent outcomes among patients suffering from a variety of chronic and serious diseases: 1) detoxification of tissues, 2) increased cell hydration, 3) greater assimilation and transportation of nutrients into the cells, and 4) maintaining pH balance in blood and tissues.
Results of trials suggest that Nariwa improved symptoms related to illnesses, as well as increased bio-energy and organ function. Analysis of this water has shown that as a result of its magnetic influence, its minerals are permanently ionized. This allows the water to enter the cell wall more easily and increase conductivity, simulating a "chelation effect by attracting and flushing out waste materials and helping to control pH acidity.
During the past four years, Nariwa water has been tested by doctors throughout the U.S. with their patients. Since many of these clinical tests reported increased cell detoxification when the subjects drank Nariwa over time, the question most frequently asked was, "Could Nariwa be used as a hydrating agent to enhance the effects of both IV and oral chelation therapy?" Based on what has been learned about the interaction of water and magnetism in the body, as well reports from studies on Nariwa water, this is a feasible assumption.
Numerous studies on DMPS as a chelating agent in removing mercury from the body have been reported. However, no studies similar to this one using a selected water as a complement to a chelating agent have been reported in the literature.
RESULTS
_
Experimental Group N=20 Raw Score X = 55.50
Subject
1 96
2 32
3 18
4 49
5 46
6 51
7 71
8 76
9 81
10 1
11 85
12 61
13 100
14 74
_
Experimental Group N=20 Raw Score X = 55.50
Subject
15 41
16 23
17 34
18 46
19 48
20 59
_
Control Group N=20 Raw Score X = 30.40
Subject
1 45
2 47
3 10
4 16
5 17
6 14
7 66
8 14
9 11
10 45
11 10
12 87
13 59
14 47
15 24
16 18
17 13
18 22
19 14
20 29
The Mean Score for the Experimental Group (Nariwa water) was 55.50.
The Mean Score for the Control Group was 30.40.
Mean Score Difference = 25.1 greater for Experimental Group versus
Control Group.
Percent Difference = 83% greater mercury excretion level for Experimental
Group versus Control Group
DISCUSSION
The addition of drinking .5 liters of Nariwa water to an IV-DMPS chelation treatment showed an 83% greater mercury excretion effect for 20 Subjects over a sample of 20
Subjects who had chelation without drinking Nariwa water. This is consistent with preliminary, uncontrolled trials conducted with small samples of patients from the same dental practice (Dr. Harold Ravins), who had urinalysis after having mercury amalgam fillings removed and drank Nariwa water after chelation. According to the physician and Primary Investigator of this study, patients in this sample showed higher levels of mercury excretion than had been seen in patients previously tested who had not had Nariwa water after chelation treatments. This served as the basis of conducting the larger, controlled study reported here.
After the study was completed, an interesting case was reported and is worthy as a footnote. A patient received an IV-DMPS chelation treatment after removal of mercury amalgam fillings and drank .5 liters of Nariwa water. The results of the six- hour urine provocation test showed 390 /g creatinine excretion. The report from Doctor's Data stated, "This individual's urine mercury exceeded over twice the maximum expected level". According to the attending physician, the extreme level of mercury found in the urine seems indicative of the symptoms presented by the patient. However, this is far over the levels seen in past patients. The only difference may be due to the chelating effect of the Nariwa water.
Results of previous studies with Nariwa water, conducted by the Ohno Institute, have reported consistent positive effects of cell hydration, as measured on the Biological Impedance Analysis; cell detoxification, as measured by the Biological Terrain Analysis, and an increase in bio-energy of body meridians and organ systems, as measured by Electric Acupuncture according to Vol (EAV). A study done with Alzheimer's residents in an assisted living facility showed a statistically significant difference between subjects who drank Nariwa water for 24 weeks versus subjects who drank a municipal water source on memory retention, as measured on the Combined Blessed-Folstein Test on Cognitive Functioning.
The Ohno Institute has gathered data from 235 patient trials by physicians throughout the U.S., who reported that over 80% of those who drank Nariwa water showed improvement on various health factors, as measured and reported by their attending physicians. Additional information on findings regarding Nariwa water can be found by logging on to www.ohno.org.
DMPS is being used as a chelating agent by a growing number of physicians who are concerned about the dangerous effects of heavy metals in the body and their relationship to many chronic, intractable diseases. It is being dispensed in both IV solutions and orally by compound pharmacists. Other chelating agents such as DMSA and EDTA are also becoming popular chelating agents. One of the pioneers and leaders in chelation therapy is Dr. Gary Gordon, who developed chelation protocols over 30 years ago, and whose protocols are widely used by physicians who practice chelation treatment.
Dr. Gordon has consistently reported through his studies that chelation does remove heavy metals such as mercury. The Primary Investigator of this study has incorporated chelation, which has shown to enhance patient outcomes, as an integral part of his practice.
For the past four years, the Primary Investigator has given Nariwa water to patients as a health supplement and has seen positive results in symptom changes. Although there is not sufficient evidence to make any claims regarding cause and effect, there are strong, noticeable indicators that show that Nariwa water does have therapeutic value. Since mercury has an affinity for the urinary tract, and since DMPS causes mercury to be excreted via the kidneys, it would be ideal to add a hydrating substance such as Nariwa water that stimulates kidney drainage. Nariwa water has been shown by the Investigators to improve kidney function, as measured by the parameters of first morning urine pH and Resistivity (R) in Biological Terrain Analysis. More studies of this type need to be conducted.
As a result of the data reported in this study, Nariwa water has the potential to increase the effect of an IV-DMPS chelation treatment in excreting mercury from the body. Based on the results of this study and evidence from other studies, Nariwa water should also be considered as an adjunctive treatment with oral chelating agents for mercury detoxification.
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