Epilepsy/Seizures
B
Windham(ED)
I.Introduction
Seizures
are a result of sudden, brief electrical changes or disturbances in the
brain. Epilepsy is where there are
chronic, recurrent seizures. Some seizures are as a result of metabolic or
chemical imbalances, alcohol or drug use, cardiac disease, infectious disease,
toxic neurological effects, etc. Syncope
involves losing consciousness, but for non-epileptic reasons such as reduced blood flow
to the brain, hypoglycemia, insulin resistance, etc. Epilepsy affects about 2
million people in the U.S., with a higher incidence of seizures. (41)
The central nervous system has 2 major
divisions- central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system has 2 divisions,
somatic and autonomic. The autonomic
nervous system exercises control over automatic and involuntary functions of
the body such as heart rate, respiration, etc.
Seizures involve a complex interaction between the autonomic nervous
system and the central nervous system.
Seizures are often preceded by a partial seizure or aura having varied
characteristics, which can warn those susceptible to seizures of an imminent
seizure. Some can actually control or
prevent actual seizures by preventive or biofeedback measures (41). Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs)
are commonly used to control seizures but sometimes are not effective and sometimes
have adverse long-term health effects, including inducement of birth
defects/congenital conditions in use by pregnant women or infants.
Seizure triggers include low blood sugar,
dehydration, fatigue, lack of sleep, stress, temperature extremes, depression,
flashing lights, allergens, caffeine, alcohol, aspartame, pesticides, toxic metals. The
most common allergen triggers are wheat, milk, and petrochemicals (41).
Identification and avoidance of such triggers usually reduces effects. Caffeine causes release of adrenaline which
has blood sugar effects that can trigger seizures. Similar for alcohol, and aspartame an excitotoxin
that has trigger effects especially on those subject to depression or mood
disorders. Similar for
MSG, another common exicitotoxin (42). As will be documented exposures to mercury
from dental amalgams and toxic metals can also commonly trigger and be factors
in seizures and epilepsy, with improvement after amalgam replacement and
detoxification.
II.
Mercury exposure and chronic health effects
Dental
amalgam is the largest source of both inorganic and methyl mercury in most
who have mercury amalgam fillings 1.
Those with several amalgam fillings have on average at least 10 times as
much mercury exposure as those without amalgam fillings. After replacement of
mercury amalgam fillings, the level of mercury in saliva and excretion declines
approximately 90%. Prior to
vaccinations, the largest source of
mercury exposure of a fetus or infant is from the mother’s dental amalgam
2. Over the last decade, most
vaccinations contained high levels of mercury and were the largest source of mercury exposure in
most infants and young children 3.
Amalgam
dental fillings produce voltaic
electrical currents in the teeth which push high levels of mercury into the gums and oral mucosa 4,
increase mercury vapor release into oral air and saliva 1, where it
is distributed throughout the body and causes significant harmful effects. These currents are measured in micro amps,
with some measured at over 4 micro amps. The central nervous system operates on
signals in the range of nano-amps, which is 1,000
times less than a micro amp 4.
These
voltaic currents and the resulting high levels of mercury exposure are
documented to often have significant neurological
effects.39 Negatively charged fillings
or crowns push electrons and mercury into the oral cavity since saliva is a
good electrolyte and cause higher mercury vapor losses.5. Mercury
and other metals accumulate in the gums and oral mucosa at the base of teeth
with amalgam fillings or metal crowns over amalgam, and is
called mercury tattoos 4. Patients with autoimmune neurological conditions
caused by mercury 38,39- like MS,
depression, epilepsy, etc. are often found to have a lot
of high negative current fillings 5.
In addition
to its extreme neurotoxicity and
immunotoxicity, mercury
commonly causes autoimmunity
which can also be a factor in conditions like epilepsy, MS, lupus, etc.22,
8,38,39 Prenatal exposure to mercury has been
found to predispose animals and infants to seizures and epilepsy. 6, 7,2
A major factor in epilepsy has
been found to be essential mineral
deficiencies and imbalances- such as magnesium, zinc, calcium,etc.13-18 Mercury is well documented to cause cell membrane permeability changes,
mineral efflux from cells, leaky gut, and enzyme blockages that commonly
result in essential mineral deficiencies and imbalances 14-20,8.
Mercury causes significant destruction of stomach and intestine epithelial
cells, resulting in damage to stomach and intestinal lining which along with
mercury’s ability to bind to SH hydroxyl radical in cell membranes alters
permeability 14-16, 3 and adversely alters bacterial populations in
the intestines causing leaky gut syndrome with toxic incompletely digested complexes
in the blood 14-20,3,as
well as poor nutrient absorption 14-20.
Some of the main mechanisms of toxic
effects of metals include cytotoxicity;
changes in cellular membrane permeability; inhibition of enzymes, coenzymes,
and hormones; and generation of lipid peroxides or free radicals- which result
in neurotoxicity, immuno toxicity, impaired cellular
respiration, gastrointestinal /metabolic effects, hormonal effects, and immune
reactivity or autoimmunity 14-23,2-9,39. Also mercury binds with
cell membranes interfering with sodium and potassium enzyme functions, causing
excess membrane permeability, especially in terms of the blood-brain barrier.14-16 Less than 1 ppm mercury in
the blood stream can impair the blood- brain barrier.
Mercury’s forming strong bonds with and modification of the-SH groups of
proteins causes mitochondrial release of calcium 18,14,16,3,40, as
well as altering molecular function of amino acids and damaging enzymatic
processes 15,16,3,40, resulting in improper cysteine
regulation 19,20, inhibited glucose transfer and uptake 15,14,
damaged sulfur oxidation processes 19,20,40, reduced glutathione
availability 14 (necessary
for detoxification), and neurological effects 22,18,38,23. The essential mineral deficiencies and
imbalances have been found to be a major factor in Epilepsy, and correcting
mineral imbalances has been found to cause significant improvement in epilepsy.13,5,6
A
large epidemiological study by the National Institute of Health, the nation's
principal health statistics agency,
found a significant correlation between having a larger number of
amalgam fillings and people suffering from conditions such as multiple sclerosis
and epilepsy 24. Fewer of those with these conditions have zero
fillings than those of the general population while more of those with the
condition have 17 or more amalgam surfaces than in the general population. Other
studies have found similar connections between vaccinations containing mercury
and epilepsy.23,3,25
A doctor with extensive experience in
researching and treating mercury toxicity has found that blocked nerve
ganglions are a
common cause of seizures, migraines, and other chronic neurological problems.6 Based on his experience Dr. Klinghardt has found that the majority of such conditions
are due to dental metals and toxins related to root-canaled
teeth or improperly healed tooth extraction sites(cavitations). He finds that after treatment to unblock the
ganglions and mercury detox or cavitation
treatment, most patients rapidly recover from such conditions. Numerous other
doctors whom he has trained through seminars and courses have had similar
experience.
Other doctors treating autism, including seizures which are
common in autism, found that mercury and other toxic metals disable the metallothionein function that has several major metabolic
and neurological functions. This results in inability to excrete toxic metals,
accumulation of mercury and other toxic metals, inability to detoxify mercury
and other toxic metals, significant imbalances in zinc/copper levels in the
brain and G.I. tract, and major neurological and digestive system effects. 30
Another
researcher 28 who has developed test equipment and tested
epilepsy/seizure patients has found the following commonly present in epilepsy/seizure
patients: Ascaris (pet hookworm) larvae in brain,
bacterial infections, viruses, dental metals, vanadium(natural gas leak), and
other toxins including PVC, titanium, zirconium, asbestos, lead, solvents,
ergot(mold). She also finds that malvin can provoke seizures: the coloring in grapes,
blueberries, strawberries, plums, etc.- and which is
also found in chicken and eggs. After
determination of the factors involved for a given patient and treatment she
says most patients are cured. The main treatments are recommended for most
cases: dental metal and cavitation checks and
cleanups, avoidance and detox of environmental
toxins, parasite
cleanse and kidney/liver cleanses. Other doctors have likewise found
that patients with toxic exposures and weakened immune systems are more
susceptible to parasites and biological invaders which must also be treated.29
III. Alternative
Treatments of Epilepsy and Seizures
Most
patients with epilepsy recovered or had significant improvement after amalgam
replacement 5,6,8-12,26-29 and likewise for many with autism and seizures who were treated
for mercury toxicity by treatment clinics.30
For reasons previously documented and
further documented by medical studies and clinical experience in references
cited, supplementation alternatives are often beneficial in treatment of
seizures and epilepsy. B vitamins,
essential minerals, some herbal products, some amino acids and essential fatty
acids are often beneficial. Vitamin B6 plays an important role in the
conversion of glutamic acid to GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA is the principal inhibitory
neurotransmitter in the brain.
Impairment of GABA neurotransmission processes has been found to often
be a factor in seizures. B6 deficiency
can result in reduced GABA production. (41) Other B vitamins also are necessary
for proper brain function. B13 also has
been found to reduce seizures in some. Vitamin D and Vitamin E have also been
found to be beneficial in reducing seizures and seizure severity. Magnesium deficiency has been shown to
increase seizures in some and be a factor in some seizures; manganese aids in
sugar metabolism, selenium deficiency can result in deficient glutathione peroxidase which can be a factor in some seizures.
Supplementation of these as well as zinc and calcium have been found to reduce
seizures in many. (41,etc.) Diet measures including avoidance of obesity
and insulin resistance, along with certain amino acids and essential fatty
acids have been found to reduce seizues in many. Taurine is an inhibitory amino acid and like GABA has been
found to be effective in reducing seizure activity in some. Evening primrose oil has been found to reduce
seizures in some. Regular exercise has also been found to reduce seizures in
most and to improve general well-being. The herbs Black Cohosh,
Lobelia, and coleus forshkohlii extract have been
found to be beneficial in some (41).
Relaxation techniques such as yoga and biofeedback techniques have been
found helpful by some.
References:
(1) Dental amalgam is the largest source of both inorganic and organic mercury in most who
have amalgam fillings; DAMS Fact Sheet with peer-reviewed documentation, www.flcv.com/damspr1.html
(2) Prenatal and Neonatal Mercury Exposure and Related Health Effects, B. Windham (Ed),
(3) Mercury from Vaccinations is responsible for a major epidemic of developmental conditions
during the past decade, Annotated Bibliography, B. Windham(Ed), (over 200 peer-reviewed studies) www.flcv.com/kidshg.html
(4) "Oral galvanism: the battery in your mouth," B.Windham (Ed.), 2002, (over 100 peer
reviewed studies) www.flcv.com/galv.html
(5) (a)Huggins HA, Levy,TE, Uniformed Consent: the hidden dangers in dental care, 1999,
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
Inc; & (b) Hal Huggins, Its All
in Your Head, 1997; & (c) Toxic Elements Research Foundation, Colorado Springs
Colorado, “Survey of 1320 patients being treated
for heavy metal toxicity”,
2001. 800-331-2303
(6) D.Klinghardt(MD),
“Migraines, Seizures, and Mercury Toxicity”, Future Medicine Publishing, 1997, & Migraines,
Seizures, and Mercury Toxicity; Klinghardt
D. Alternative Medicine Magazine, Issue 21 Dec, 1997 / Jan, 1998. http://www.healingartscenter.com/Library/articles/art10.htm
(7) Szasz A, Barna B, et al; "Effects of continuous low-dose exposure to organic and inorganic mercury during development on epileptogenicity in rats." Neurotoxicology. 2002 Jul;23(2): 197-206. szente@bio.u-szeged.hu
(8) MELISA
Medical Labs, www.melisa.org & Stejskal J, Stejskal V.
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& Semczuk
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(24)
National Institute of Health,
NHANES III Study
(National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey) http://www.mercola.com/article/mercury/no_mercury.htm
(25) Case
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251-262; & M.M. Van Benschoten and
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(38) Neurological effects of mercury toxicity, Review, B. Windham(Ed),
(39) Immune and autoimmune effects of mercury exposure, Review, B.Windham (Ed),
(40) Mechanisms by which mercury from dental amalgam is documented to cause over 30 chronic health conditions, and documentation of over 60,000 cases of recovery or significant health improvement from those conditions after amalgam replacement,
B. Windham(Ed), over 4,000 peer-reviewed or Gov’t studies cited,
(41) Life Enhancement Foundations (MDs), Disease Prevention and Treatment, Expanded Forth Edition, 2003 , http://www.life-enhancement.com/
(42) Overcoming Depression, Dr. Russell
Blaylock, The Blaylock Wellness Report, Vol 5, No. 3,
March 2008, & Food Additives, What you eat can kill you, Vol 4, No. 10, http://www.blaylockreport.com/
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dr. Ward Dean’s nutritional program for seizure disorders:
He recommends using a nutritional "shotgun" therapy, which includes:
Hal Huggins(35)
says he has a lot of clinical experience that mercury causes epilepsy and
replacement often cures it. Others such as Dr. Noel Campbell, Dr. Hulda Clark(485), and ElectroDermal Screening testers with considerable clinical
experience say likewise.
|
Causes seizures,
convulsions |
Seizures; epilepsy |
|
Causes subtle, low
amplitude seizure activity |
|
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=83&i=305
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine examined
newborns for birth defects related to anticonvulsant drugs. Each newborn
belonged to one of three groups: newborns exposed to anticonvulsant drugs in
the womb; newborns of mothers with epilepsy who did not take anticonvulsant
drugs; and newborns of mothers without epilepsy or a history of seizures.
Results showed birth defects were more frequent in infants exposed to
anticonvulsant drugs (20% of infants exposed to one drug had birth defects and
28% of infants exposed to two or more drugs had birth defects). However, the
infants of mothers with epilepsy who were not treated with anticonvulsant drugs
were at no greater risk of birth defects then infants of mothers without epilepsy.
Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide
http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/Darchive/diseases.1101.shtml
This study suggests birth
defects are caused by anticonvulsant drugs and not by epilepsy itself. A
separate, earlier study based on data from a number of different countries
identified the types of birth defects associated with common anticonvulsant
drugs. Some of these findings are summarized below:
Side
Effect Warning for New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug, Remicade
(Infliximab)
All drugs have side effects, but some of them
don't become apparent until after the drugs have been approved and in use for
some time.
Remicade (infliximab), a powerful new drug for rheumatoid arthritis, has been found to worsen congestive heart failure. The drug was actually being tested to see if it would help patients with congestive heart failure. Instead, the opposite was seen in a trial involving 150 people with moderate to severe congestive heart failure. Of the 101 subjects treated with Remicade, 7 died. In contrast, no fatalities occurred in the 49 patients being treated with the sugar pill placebo.
Some 2 million Americans suffer from
rheumatoid arthritis, while 5 million have congestive heart failure. So an
undetermined number must have both illnesses. As a result, Centocor,
the company making Remicade, after consultation with
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has sent letters to doctors urging that
patients with both rheumatoid arthritis and congestive heart failure not be
treated with their drug.
November 2001
Update
This new information, comes straight from the National Institute of Health, the NHANES III Study (National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey), a study that according to the mission statement of National Center for Health Sciences "is to provide statistical information that will guide the actions and policies to improve health of the American people. As the Nation's principal health statistics agency, NCHS leads the way with accurate, relevant, and timely data."
A recent statistical analysis of this data was done to see if there were any links to dental fillings and adverse health conditions.
Their initial figures revealed that
while 78% of the American public have dental fillings, 95% of the people with
International Classification of Disease Codes 340-349: "Disorders of the
Central Nervous System", which include MS, Epilepsy, Paralysis and
Migraines, have dental fillings.
National Institute of Health, NHANES III Study (National Health and Nutritional
Examination Survey) http://www.mercola.com/article/mercury/no_mercury.htm
Prenatal Mercury Exposure Raises Blood Pressure |
|
|
|
Exposure to mercury before birth may lead
to increased blood pressure in childhood, reports an international team of
researchers. The islanders consume a diet rich in marine products, such as
pilot whale meat, which expose them to mercury, according to the
investigators. Blood pressures increased by about 14 points as blood mercury
concentrations at birth increased from 1 to 10 micrograms per liter. The
report indicates that 10 micrograms per liter corresponds to the upper limit
of mercury exposure recommended by the German Commission on Human Biomonitoring, indicating that blood pressure can be increased
by exposure to mercury levels below recommended limits. Children with lower
birth weights experienced blood pressure increases about 50% higher than
normal birth weight children having similar mercury levels. The investigators
cite evidence that mercury toxicity can cause high blood pressure that
persists long after the mercury exposure has been removed, resulting in a
significant risk for diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Epidemiology
July 1999;10:370-375 |
the prestigious New England Journal
of Medicine published an editorial (12
) calling mercury fillings the chief source of mercury exposure to the US
population
Salonen JT, Nyyssonen K, Salonen
R. Fish intake and the risk of coronary disease. N Engl J Med. 1995 Oct 5;333(14):937
Effects
of continuous low-dose exposure to organic and inorganic mercury during
development on epileptogenicity in rats.
Szasz A, Barna B, Gajda Z, Galbacs G, Kirsch-Volders M,
Szente M. Neurotoxicology.
2002 Jul;23(2):197-206.
Department of Comparative Physiology, University of Szeged, Hungary. szente@bio.u-szeged.hu
The effects of chronic, low-dose fetal and lactational
organic (MeHgCl) and inorganic (HgCl2) mercury
intoxication on epileptogenicity were investigated
and compared in rats. The main observations after both mercury treatments were
a facilitated seizure expression and propagation evoked by 4-aminopyridine
(4-AP). The seizure susceptibility of the offspring seemed to be in a parallel
relation to the mercury concentration in the cortical tissue, which was
significantly higher in treated animals as compared to the controls. While MeHgCl enhanced the number of ictal
periods, HgCl2 facilitated the duration of seizure discharges in younger
animals. HgCl2 intoxication seemed to be more permanent than MeHgCl. Changes in the summated ictal
activity--which is an indication of epileptogenicity--were
observed in the opposite directions in the two treated groups with increasing
age. The amplitudes of seizure discharges were smaller in both mercury-treated
groups than in the controls, which could be a consequence of a depressed
proliferation of neurons or enhanced cell death in the neocortex.
In summary, we observed that adult rats exposed to organic or inorganic mercury
chemicals during their embryonic life, are more prone to epilepsy than control
rats given only 4-AP.
“THIMEROSAL ANALYSIS”
From: Verstraeten,
Thomas, U.S.
CDC
Sent: Monday, November 29, 1999
11:45 AM
SUMMARY (II)
The results of the Generation Zero
analyses are striking and more supportive of a causal relationship
between vaccine mercury exposure and
childhood developmental disorders (especially autism) than
any of the results reported later
• Relative risks of autism, ADD, sleep disorders
and speech/language delay were consistently
elevated relative to other disorders and
frequently significant. Disease risk for the high
exposure groups ranged from lows of 1.5X-2
times to as high as 11 times the disease risk of
the zero exposure group.
• Many other outcomes showed no consistent
effect, while a few appeared to show a
protective effect from vaccine mercury
exposure (most likely children with these diagnoses
were immunized later).
• The strongest effect was for the highest levels
of mercury exposure at the earliest time of
exposure, consistent with the idea that
infant brain development is most sensitive to the
earliest exposures.
• The elevated risk of autism for the highest
exposure levels at one month ranged from 7.6 to
11.4 times the zero exposure level. This increased risk level
corresponds to the tenfold
increase in autism rates seen since vaccine
mercury exposures increase starting in 1990.
Diagnoses with
elevated risks
399.0 Autism
307.0 Stammering
307.2 Tics
• 307.20, tic disorder, unspecified
307.4 Specific disorders of sleep of
non-organic
• 307.45, phase shift disruption of 24 hr. sleepwake
cycle
• 307.46, somnambulism or night terrors
314.0 Attention deficit disorder
• 314.00, ADD without mention of hyperactivity
• 314.01 ADD with hyperactivity
315.3 Developmental speech or language
disorder
• 315.31, developmental language disorder
• 315.39, other developmental speech or language
disorder
315.4 Coordination disorder
583 Nephritis and nephropathy, not acute
or chronic
• 583.9 nephritis and nephropathy, with
unspecified pathological lesion in kidney
http://www.safeminds.org/Generation%20Zero%20Pres.pdf
