Heavy metals play a more and more important role concerning our health in the modern industrial society. Among these, Mercury, Hg, is the most common toxic metal.  Besides that, Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium, Aluminum and other rarer heavy metals could be the cause of chronic health problems of some people.    

Since human beings have been confronted with heavy metals in bigger amounts during “only” some 250 years, evolution has not yet prepared us properly for handling and disposing of them. In order to find out the exact amount of heavy metals which load our bodies, we need the help of substances (“Chelates”) which bind (or “chelate”) the heavy metals and divert them out of the body. Different chelates bind different heavy metals with different degrees of strength.

The International Board for Clinical  Metal Toxicology (IBCMT) recommends recommends a provocation test, in which first DTPA then DMPS is given. DTPA is an effective chelate which binds and extracts heavy metals from nervous tissues, especially the brain. The mobilized toxic metals will then be excreted in the urine through DMPS given 15 minutes later.  For reproducible results we follow the protocol of the IBCMT exactly with respect to the dosage of the chelate, the time plan and amount of fluid intake. An optimal intake of fluids after the end of the test ensures further excretion of the toxic heavy metals.

Which heavy metals would be analysed depends on the complaints and the medical history. Most often only the levels of mercury and copper, but sometimes also those of other heavy metals are examined. The test results provide a basis for the often necessary detoxification treatment which follows.