Chelation Heavy Metal Toxicity Herbicides, pesticides, chemical cleaners, water pipes, soil contamination, food, air all of these things expose your body to toxic elements every day. What happens if your body cannot eliminate them? In 3 Months- Improving Allergies Sleeps >6 Hours Per Night Good Concentration No Fatigue Issues Rare Hot Flashes Exercising Daily Joint Pain Is Better Initial Symptoms- Allergies Insomnia Poor Concentration Chronic Fatigue Hot Flashes Joint Stiffness/Numbness Arthritis Thinning Hair Cancer Remission With our industrial society, it s impossible to avoid all exposure to toxic elements. However, avoiding the use of heavy duty cleaners and chemicals at home, mixed with a safe, doctor monitored chelation program might help prevent problems from exposure. -Dr. Van D. Merkle Patient Profile: 06-04-08 51 year old female patient presented with a past history of breast cancer - HER2 (which promotes the growth of cancer cells) strongly positive 3+; invasive carcinoma and multifocal tumor.2-.7 cm; DCIS tumor was 2.1 cm + microscopic focus determined possible vascular invasion. The patient underwent six months of chemotherapy and 36 radiation treatments. Her most recent CA27.29 (tumor marker) test was 30. At the time of her diagnosis in April 2003, doctors gave her 3-5 years to live. The day she presented, patient weighed 125lbs at 5 5 and her blood pressure was 118/64. She expressed concerns over cancer recurrence and also other symptoms such as allergies, insomnia, poor concentration, chronic fatigue, thinning hair and arthritis. The patient mentioned these problems did not exist prior to her cancer diagnosis. Based on her health history, I ordered a comprehensive blood panel with a CA27.29 marker, hair test to determine toxic element loads and nutrient deficiencies and toxic urine challenge which will show the levels of toxins she is able to eliminate on her own and any toxins which are lingering in the body, perhaps causing other health disruptions. Chemotherapy contains many toxins and toxins can inhibit the immune system, so this is an essential test for any patient in remission who does not have acute cancer or other serious health problems such as critical illnesses, liver disease, kidney disease or advanced anemia. Summary results of these tests are below. GFR PAGE 1
Results of Initial Blood Test: Results of Tissue Mineral Analysis: CHELATION PAGE 2
Results of Tissue Mineral Analysis Continued: Results of Toxic Urine Challenge: Doctor analysis: Despite this patient s previous cancer diagnosis and doctor predicted 3-5 year remaining life span, she is doing remarkably well. Her blood test results were pretty good with just minimal signs of a weakened immune system (WBC and Vitamin D) and a slightly elevated CA27.29. Looking at the hair test, it appears that she has mostly optimal levels of toxic elements in the hair. This may seem good, however considering the toxic elements in our environment today we have more concern when see virtually no toxic elements being eliminated in the hair. In addition, when we look at the essential elements, we see slightly elevated levels of CHELATION PAGE 3
calcium and magnesium. Toxic elements can be expelled from the body by attaching to calcium and magnesium atoms. When we see high levels of calcium and magnesium in the hair sample, yet low levels of toxic elements, it may mean that toxic elements aren t being efficiently eliminated and are getting stuck in the body. This will cause a disruption in the way the body utilizes and absorbs nutrients. Essentially, there are toxic elements that the body is not eliminating properly which are causing metabolism errors. We see more evidence of this problem in the Urinary Toxic Element Challenge. In the prechallenge, the patient collected urine for 6 hours. This results show that the patient is excreting very little of the toxic elements tested. It s commonly understood that we re exposed to these elements environmentally, yet hardly any are being expelled in the urine of this patient. On the test results in the DMSA column, the patient took a chelator (DMSA) and again collected urine for 6 hours. Results show very high amounts of lead suddenly appearing in the urine. The DMSA draws out toxic elements according to molecular weight and body load. Lead and mercury are the heaviest so they will typically be expelled first. These test results clearly show that the patient is not able to efficiently excrete toxic elements on her own but we can use the chelator (DMSA) to slowly and safely help her body remove those stored toxic elements. To improve the patient s immunity, we started her on a series of immune boosting nutrients: CoQ10 Vitamin C Fish Oil Monolaurin Vitamin D Germanium It was also essential to begin a chelation program to safely remove toxins, while creating the least amount of stress on her body. DMSA quickly and easily removes toxic elements; however it also draws out valuable elements like Calcium and Zinc. It was recommended that the patient begin with daily therapy using the following chelators. EDTA (ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid) excellent for removing lead without causing renal stress; targets aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead and nickel Chlorella is especially helpful at removing mercury from the soft tissues; targets aluminum, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, and uranium PCA-Rx a clathration agent which finds and encloses toxins in a 3-dimensional matrix thus neutralizing it and prohibiting it from attaching to any other body tissues; targets aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead and mercury Other nutrients such as calcium, glucosamine, b-complex, turmeric, magnesium, b12 a multiple vitamins were also utilized based on deficiencies seen in her test results. Patient assessment: 09-15-08 A follow-up blood test three months later showed good improvement with liver function, LDH and vitamin D levels. The CBC on the whole got a little worse which is common during chelation therapy; however her CA 27.29 improved which is the most important test. CHELATION PAGE 4
Results of 2nd Blood Test: 09-18-08 The results of the second toxic urine challenge showed increased mercury, nickel and arsenic levels and a decrease in lead. This is good. As levels of heavier toxic elements are eliminated, lighter elements will show increased elimination. We will continue with immune boosting nutrients and daily oral chelation. Results of 2nd Toxic Urinary Challenge: 10-09-09 As we continued with chelation therapy, we monitored both the tissue mineral analysis (hair test) and toxic urine test to check on levels of toxic and essential elements. In the hair, we can see that higher levels of toxins are CHELATION PAGE 5
being excreted and many essential elements are beginning to move into optimal ranges. You ll notice the Calcium went from more than 1,000 to just 506 despite the fact that the patient supplemented with 750mg of Calcium daily. Lead displaces calcium. Her body was so bogged by toxins that instead of allowing the calcium to be absorbed and utilized by the bones, teeth, etc, it was pushing the nutrient out of her body. Summary Results of 2nd Tissue Mineral Analysis: 05-06-11 It s important to remember that removing toxic elements from the body takes time. Lead is preferentially stored in the bones and thus it can take the body up to 12 years to eliminate. Chelation simply speeds the process. Below you can see the patient s progress after utilizing chelation and supplementation from 2008 to 2012, her immunity has improved, the CA27.29 has minimally risen, and her toxic element levels are starting to come down. We ran a follow-up CA27.29 on March 2, 2012 which was 32.9. Considering the doctors told her she wouldn t live past 2008, this is amazing! Results of Comparative Blood Test: CHELATION PAGE 6
Results of Comparative Blood Test Continued: 08-30-12 The lab added a few tests to their toxic urine challenge panel and you can see that these are elements the patient is readily eliminating. Remember, as heavier toxic elements such as lead and mercury are removed, lighter elements like aluminum will be expelled at higher rates. Results of Comparative Toxic Urinary Challenge: CHELATION PAGE 7
Dr. Merkle s Final Thoughts: Many cancer patients come to my office after being told they have just years to live. They feel defeated and helpless. But, I remind them, they are not helpless. We make choices every day that affect our health the food we eat, the places we live, the water we drink, etc. I remind my patients that the doctor has calculated remaining years based on the treatments he/she has been trained to provide. If you do the chemo and radiation as they suggest, given their past experience patients typically will survive x numbers of years. Is that good enough? Absolutely not. We can help patients take charge of their health with guidance in diet, supplementation, and chelation using objective testing methods to monitor progress. In doing this we also give patients hope and a sense of empowerment. Both of these along with faith are essential to recovery. This patient developed cancer and chose to complete chemo and radiation as recommended by the oncologist. She then took charge of her health and sought out nutritional care to avoid a recurrence. By doing this she has extended her life far beyond medical doctor s predictions. It s well documented that toxic elements like mercury, lead, arsenic and other metals can lead to illnesses and exacerbate existing diseases. If she had not undergone chelation, purged her body of toxins and supplemented with essential nutrients and immune boosters, would she be with us today? Would her body have remained healthy enough to fight against cancerous cell growth? Fortunately we don t know the answer. Chelation therapy, when done safely under the guidance of a trained provider, can be an essential tool on the road to better health. -Dr. Van D. Merkle Dr. Van D. Merkle is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist and a Doctor of Chiropractic who has practiced in the Dayton, Ohio area for 25 years. A Diplomate on the American Chiropractic Board of Nutrition and a Diplomate on the Chiropractic Board of Internists, he is also a member of The International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists. Dr. Merkle earned a patent for his innovative diagnostic computerized program which takes into account hundreds of numeric data and their roles, combinations and inter-relationships as related to disease diagnosis. To set up your consultation and get started on the road to better health, please call the Back To Health Center at (937) 433-3241 or email mail@bk2health.com. CHELATION PAGE 8