Chris.Brown@f113.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Chris Brown) (01/09/91)
Index Number: 12758
If ever there was an argument against self-regulation in
the medical professions it is the American Dental
Association's position on Mercury amalgams (fillings).
These are known to cause illness in persons sensitive to
mercury. Hundreds of people who have had chronic health
problems have experienced improvement once mercury
fillings have been removed - people with a variety of
symptoms similar to those experienced by persons with
other chemical sensitivities.
Yet the ADA, which represents the interests of dentists
who are causing millions of dollars damages to people
with mercury sensitivity, denies the problem is real.
They are protecting the interests of their members at the
expense of people sensitive to mercury.
(There was a program on Sixty Minutes today, but this is
only the most recent exploration of the issue by those
not invested in protecting dentists reputations.)
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!113!Chris.Brown
Internet: Chris.Brown@f113.n163.z1.fidonet.orgChris.Brown@f113.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Chris Brown) (01/09/91)
Index Number: 12770
There is definitely something to this, but only for some people. The
thing that confuses some doctors about these kinds of problems is that
people are not machines. Most research published by medical journals,
and most of the "understanding" of science that doctors have is based on
the idea that human beings are more or less the same as each other. They
think this way about chemical sensitivities, even though they usually
have a lot of experience with drug sensitivities, and should know that
unique sensitivities are the norm, rather than the exception. Everyone
, at least almost everyone, has sensitivites to some substances, whether
the problem produces only mild discomfort, or a real and severe
disability. The problem with a lot of discussion on this dtopic is that
medical associations, such as the American Dental Association, are given
scientific credibility, when usually their prime motivation is the
promotion of the interests of their members. The information regarding
mercury outgassing fromdental fillings is decades old, just like the
information about aluminum affecting people's health in certain
circumstances. The problem people who are affected have is that not
everyone is affected. It's sort of like smoking. Not everyone who
smokes gets lung cancer. Some pople get other cancers, and some don't
get cancer, they get degenerative heart disease, or some other problem.
There are even a few rare souls who don't seem to be affected by tobbacco
smoke. But most studies are based on a statistical analysis that
obliterates finding any effect if only a small per centage of persons get
one specific problem as a result of being exposed to either a toxin, or a
another substance they are individually sensitive too.
Several members of the Allergy and Environmental Health Associatin of
canada have experienced improvement when their mercury amalgams have been
removed. These improvements have often seemed to be a reduction in
destructive auto-immune attack on organ tissue. In somecases they are
poepl who have previously been diagnosed as having MS. But there is no
way of determining, amongst people who have chronic health problems, who
would benefit by avoiding any particular substances, except trial and
error, and, in some per centage of cases, by some tests which have a
limited accuracy. Some poeple who have their amalgams removed do not
experience an improvement in their chronic health problem. Some do. Our
organization recommends a comprehensive approach to chronic health
complaints, including internal medicine, neurology, psychology,
immunology, toxicology (including mercury removal and detoxification of
metals in the body), and environmental medicine. Out national health
department is about to release a report suggesting the same approach to
chronic health problems, and they have even stated that chemical
xsensitivities should be ruled out BEFORE extensive psychiatric analysis
and rtreatemnt is embarked on, which could cover up the symptoms of
sensitivities.
I personally think a wise consumer checks out all his/her options, and
does not get tangled in the medical politics that have been so
destructive for people with epilepsy (possessed by the devil), MS,
chronic fatigue, post-polio, lower back pain, stress, chemical
sensitivites, and so on. Doctors have not demonstrated a high degree of
professionalism when discussing that which they know very little about.
health consumers don't demonstrate, usually, as much wisdom when
considering health options as we do when making other purchases of less
significance.
Mercury is a known toxin. Amalgams release mercury. Some people will be
more sensitive than other people. Symptoms of toxin-related health
problems are often non-specific, that is, unique to some people. use
your own judgement, and be aware that dentists have a vested interest ins
tating that mercury is no problem.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!113!Chris.Brown
Internet: Chris.Brown@f113.n163.z1.fidonet.orgGary.Bewell@f424.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Bewell) (01/10/91)
Index Number: 12788
On 16 Dec 90, Chris Brown wrote to Nadine Thomas
CB> If ever there was an argument against self-regulation in
CB> the medical professions it is the American Dental
CB> Association's position on Mercury amalgams (fillings).
CB> (There was a program on Sixty Minutes today, but this is
CB> only the most recent exploration of the issue by those
CB> not invested in protecting dentists reputations.)
Hi Chris,
I disagree.
I'll address your second statement first.
10 years ago I took a friend to Dr Vimy. She had a
cavity in one of her rear molars. What I saw and heard while I
sat in the waiting room gave me the impression that he was in
dentistry for the money, not the good of his patients.
This became more evident when Julie came out having only had her
teeth cleaned. He presented her with his suggested course of
treatment. She was told that the tooth couldn't be filled. She
would have to have a root canal at a cost around $1000. It was
ironic that the amount was nearly the same as the cost of the
stereo he was planning to buy. Coincidence?
Since we both felt she was being conned, I accompanied her to another
dentist. He looked at the tooth and said she didn't need a root
canal. He filled the tooth and charged her around $100.
Patient and tooth are still doing well.
Back to the first.
There are abuses in any self-regulating organization--for example,
medical, dental, governmental and media.
I am very leery of any research done by the University of Calgary.
There tends to be lack of scientific method. (This comes from
being at both ends of the research--subject and researcher.) The
MS Clinic, for instance, refused to acknowledge that there could
be pain in MS for years. I was told by both the head nurse and
head of the clinic that there was no such thing as pain in MS and
that they didn't have any patients with pain from MS. When a
doctor in the States published research that there was pain in MS,
there was a dramatic increase from no pain to around 33% of
patients having pain.
It's also very difficult for us to know how thorough the research
is. My questions are ones like: 1) if mercury fillings affect the
kidneys, why aren't the hospitals filled with patients with kidney
problems?; 2) if breathing in the vapor is so serious, why aren't
the hospitals filled with dentists with kidney problems?; 3) if
amalgam fillings are so bad, why would a dentist risk having them
put in his own mouth or the mouths of his loved ones?
The number of subjects in this study was too small and as far as
I know there wasn't a control group. ie. use of sheep twins--one
having fillings and the other not having fillings.
I also have a question about the side effects of the resin
fillings that are being used instead of the almalgum ones. How
safe are they? Would we be changing from one poison to another?
Or how about the 'poisoning' effect of having all your amalgum
fillings removed and replaced? If the research is true, removal
would result in a drastic increase in mercury in the body. This
would also cause a dramatic increase in mercury in the dentist's
body ie. Dr Vimy.
On the sensitivity side, anything going into our bodies might
cause an adverse reaction. We are all complex beings. Drugs that
work for you might kill me. Percentage-wise amalgum fillings
reactions are probably similar to my reaction to drugs in the
valium family. A couple of us have these reactions while the
majority don't.
Here is a response to the show from the head of the Multiple
Sclerosis Research Clinic. It shows how ignorant medical
researchers in Calgary can be. If you have MS like me, sit back
and take a valium if your not allergic to them.
"It doesn't matter what you do to an MS patient, if you do it with
enough conviction, 50% of then will get better temporarily."
Gary, the cynic
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!104!424!Gary.Bewell
Internet: Gary.Bewell@f424.n104.z1.fidonet.orgFrank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Frank Whitney) (01/11/91)
Index Number: 12818 >You may disagree, but you are opposed by the world health organization, >health and welfare, the canadian human rights commission, and hundreds of >people around the world who have experienced an improvement in chronic >disablities after having amalgams removed. An absence of scientific >information is not reason to question the legitimate experience of human >beings, at least not in free countries, such as Canada. You may disagree, >but you don't know what you're talking about. You have your feelings and I have mine. I believe that this whole thing has been blown out of proportion. I might be able to buy that some people are sensitive to mercury but I believe that you're dead wrong when it comes to MS. In addition, I would love to be a dentist during this witch hunt. I'm sure that I'd make a bundle of money being able to replace all of those fillings especially with a product that doesn't last as long as the one that I'd be replacing. Frank. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Frank.Whitney Internet: Frank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org