Toxic metals are present in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the smoke some of us choose to inhale.  They can also be absorbed into the body through the skin from sources like treated wood used to make decks as well as paints or solvents.

Some people genetically don't clear metals well, and will get sick from them even if the other members of their family with the same exposure seem to have no related problems.

Common medical problems involve:                                                                               1. Disturbances of the nervous system such as depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders and learning or behavior problems in children, anxiety, poor concentration, epilepsy, peripheral neuropathy and others.                                                        2.  Immune system  dysfunction such as multiple environmental sensitivities or allergies, autoimmune diseases (lupus, MS, raynaud's, CREST, MCTD, rheumatoid arthritis), skin rashes such as eczema, recurrent respiratory or yeast infections and many other problems.                                                                                                                                    3. Hormonal problems such as hypothyroidism, infertility, hot flashes, adrenal insufficiency manifesting as fatigue, low libido, early menopause with severe symptoms, menstrual problems and many other possible hormone-related symptoms.                                      4. Energy-related problems such as fatigue, learning disabilities, poor wound healing and muscle weakness.                                                                                                        5.  Gastrointestinal problems like chronic nausea, diarrhea, trouble swallowing, acid reflux, gas and bloating.                                                                                                6.  Cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis in the heart or other vessels, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, CHF, high blood pressure and others.                             7.  Other common problems include Fibromyalgia, unexplained kidney disease, obesity with difficult weight loss, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, unexplained anemia, and many cancers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    It is actually very easy and inexpensive to test for these metals, and the best test is a 'provoked' urine collection using a chelation agent.  Hair and blood testing is extremely inaccurate at assessing the total body burden of metals in a patient and is therefore not useful.

It is likely that over 30% of adults in the U.S. have toxic levels of one or more of these substances as well as many of our children.  It is an extremely important and unfortunately largely unrecognized public health problem which we are devoted to treating at Mat-Su Integrative Medicine. 

If this is part of your problem, you have almost no hope of getting better without detoxification.  Most patients will tolerate treatment extremely well and be very pleased with their improvement.