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Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal *

Dr.med.dent. Paul Engel

Lyss-Strasse 24, 2560 Nidau

Switzerland

Introduction

From 1972-1993 (5 years internship and 16 years
of my own practice) amalgam was by far the
most prevalent dental filling material used by me
(in the side tooth area). Different reasons led me
to abandon use of this material in the spring of
1994. An amalgam-critical work which had
appeared in the FASEB journal in 1989 (Hahn et
al.) was certainly an important reason for my
decision. Moreover, some of my own earlier
observations (e.g. with Pat. No 2 and Pat. No 73)
and the fact that alternatives to amalgam were
widely available, were equally important reasons
for me to discontinue using amalgam, a material
I had considered highly reliable before.
From the 1800 patients whom I had treated in the
last four years, roughly 90 wished to have their
partially intact amalgam fillings -often done by
me - replaced by another material (mostly
composites and compomere). Predominantly,
these were patients with certain health problems,
who had been influenced by an acquaintance or
via different media and had learned of the
possible toxic effect of mercury from amalgam.
On the one hand, I wanted to find out which
symptoms existed before amalgam removal had
taken place. On the other hand, I wanted to
record health modifications which patients had
described after the removal.
Results
In the table 1, symptoms indicated by the patients
were listed. Qualitative health improvements
were des cribed in each case with the terms
"much better", "better", "somewhat better", "no
improvement", "worsening". In the diagram
wider below gender and age distribution of
patients are differentiated.
Discussion
52 women and 23 men (i.e. approx. 4% of the
patients treated by me in the last 4 years), mostly
over 30 years old, complained of chronic
symptoms such as migraine (36x), headache
(32x), gastro-intestinal disturbances (27x), neck
tension (25x), paraesthesia (19x), dizziness
(18x), allergies (13x), vision disturbances (13x),
back pain (12x), mental disorder (12x), joint pain
(10x) and shoulder/arm pain (10x). After
removing the amalgam, 68% of the patients
believed their health had become "much better",
12% "better", 9% "somewhat better", 7% had
experienced "no improvement" whatsoever, and
1% "worsening".
Certainly this is an amazing, almost
unbelievable result. Had the patients or had the
dentist embellished the results? I do not believe
this.
Do the patients described belong to a
particularly "amalgam-sensitive" group? On the
following graph, based on the " Kieler Amalgam
Gutachten 1997 " the distribution of the
differently sensitive groups of a population is
represented:
General population divided into groups
of different sensitivities
Whereas a large majority of the population feel
little or no disease characteristics during a certain
toxic agent impact, those 10% at the lefthand
side of the graph already display acute-toxic
symptoms.
I do not know whether the large part of the 75
patients described can belong only to such a
particularly mercury-sensitive group. Connected
with this is also the question of the importance of
the estimated number of unknown cases. For
example, patient No 41 had been treated by me
for many years without ever once mentioning
that he had constantly suffered from severe
migraine. How many undiscovered patients with
similar health problems as described above could
be among the other patients of mine?
On the following diagram: the age specification
is related to the year 1997. No conclusions can be
made concerning the actual beginning of the
symptoms. Why did more than as twice as many
special dose (e.g. gram/kg,
gram of a substance X per kg
body weight)
acute
toxic
effect
chronic
toxic
effect
detoxication-
or eliminationreaction
of
the body
n.o.e.l
(no observed effect level)

Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
2
women than men have their amalgam fillings
removed? Are they more sensitive at a certain
age than men to amalgam questions or are they
simply more often ill than men?
Conclusion
Certainly it will be necessary to pursue further
investigations and to observe health
modifications with the patients who have already
been examined. Will their health continue to
improve? Henceforth, in any case, I will pay
more attention in future to the health
modifications after amalgam removal than
before. Patients would have to be asked more
systematically about the time frame of the origin
of their disease and its development as well as
the point in time when amalgam removal was
undertaken. Above all, however - and that is
probably the main purpose of this work - I would
like to know whether other colleagues have made
any similar observations.
General methodical observations
In order to protect the patient - and the dentist -
from mercury vapor, the " Clean Up" suction
system (Scania Dental AB Sweden) was used.
This allows mercury vapor in a patient's mouth to
be reduced by a factor 100. The rubber dam was
sealed with " Oraseal " (Ultradent Products). As
filling material composites (direct fillings and
inlays) and also compomere were applied. In
general, two fillings per session were replaced.
Despite preventive measures, some particularly
sensitive patients reacted strongly to the
amalgam removal (e.g. Pat. No 30, 29,72) with a
temporary aggravation of their symptoms. In
such cases, a longer break of about a month
between the individual sessions had to be
allowed for.
Empirical data of 75 patients
Usually the patients appeared after one year for
"recall". Their state of health was always
inquired about. The last statements were attached
into the table. It was interesting that sometimes
together with other positive feedback
disappearing symptoms were refered which had
not ever been mentioned before. This concerned
above often "neck tension", which was noticeable
to me only after many recalls. And also the
improvement of symptoms such as "mental
problems", "fatigue", "concentration difficulties,
and "memory problems" were often only
mentioned explicitly afterwards by patients.
It was remarkable how often symptoms such as
"headache" and (above all) "migraine" had
substantially improved or even completely
disappeared even before all the amalgam fillings
had been removed.
Even the complete disappearance of a very
strong Neurodermatitis (Pat. No 63), i.e. a
symptom, which nobody else had ever mentioned
was indeed impressive.
Just as amazing was the disappearance of
shoulder / arm pain (e.g. Pat. No 20, 69, 67, 50,
27), persisting for many years, which had
completely disappeared. Something similar can
be reported also with the " allergies " (e.g. Pat.
No 37).
Whereas the symptoms of "migraine",
"dizziness", "neck tension, "sight impairment"
and "paraesthesia" improved seemingly fast or
even totally disappeared after amalgam removal,
this did not seem to be the case with patients
suffering from "stomach / intestine" disorder
symptoms.
Finally, a significant improvement could be
observed in one case (Pat. No 17) with "MS"
diagnosis.
Literature
L.J. Hahn, R. Kloiber, M.J. Vimy, Y. Takahashi,
and F.L. Lorscheider: "Dental "silver" tooth
fillings: a source of mercury exposure revealed
by whole body image scan and tissue analysis".
FASEB journal 2640 vol. 3 Dec. 1989.
Kieler Amalgam Gutachten 1997, available from
GZM, Seckenheimerstr.111, 68239 Mannheim
* English translation of "Beobachtungen über
die Gesundheit vor und nach
Amalgamentfernung", Schweiz. Monatschr.
f. Zahnmed. (Vol 108: 8/1998)
by S. Dodd.

Helath Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
Patient initial
Patient number
Birthdate
Women
Men
Number of amalgam fillings
First amalgam remove
Last amalgam remove
Sensitive to weather changes
Muscle atrophy
Whiplash injury
Sensitivity to electromagnetic fields
Neurodermatitis
Immune system problems
Lymphnode swelling
Dizziness
Circulation problems
Low blood pressure
Articular pain
Neck tension
Vestibular disorders
Disturbances of vision
Wright loss
Tinnitus
Headache
Migraine
Asthma
Allergic rhinitis
Paraesthesia
Allergies
Gastro-intstinal disturbance

Before amalgam removal 52 female patients

Table 1 left side (to study print this page and the next and connect
them)
3
Helath Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
Hair loss
Fatigue
Invalidity
Hearing trouble
Nausea
Sinusitis
Gynecological problems
MS
Neurologic problems
Nausea
Backpains
Mental disorders
General well-being problems
Myalgic rheumatism
Arthritis
Sleep disorders
Speech disturbances
Paralytic manifestations
Heart troubles/Arrhythmias
Sore throat
Skin problems
Memory problems
Concentration power problems
Pharyngitis
Diabetes
Light sensitivity
Rheumatism
Shoulder/arm pain
Metal taste
Neuritis
Last control date
Much better
Better
Somewhat better
No improvement
Worsening
No assessment

Table 1 right side (to study print this page and the precedent and
connect them)
and 23 male patients complained of the following symptoms Their
health assessment after
amalgam removal
4
Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
5
Empirical data of 75 patients
Patient No. 1 R.M., male 1954
symptoms: dizziness, low blood pressure, joint pains
13 amalgams, 1st filling removed 5.93, last 5.94
11.96: practically no dizziness left, stable blood pressure
2.98: all mentioned symptoms in order
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 2 S.M., male 1955
symptoms: headaches, neck pains, balance impaired, night blindness,
double vision (sometimes sees
"double" road dividing lines), peripheral vision flickering
12 amalgams, 1st filling removed 12.92, last 9.93
6.96: no more dizziness, occasional headaches, no double vision
neck pains 70% better
11.97 continuing heath improvement
own health assessment: much better
Patient. No. 3 H.H., male 1951
symptoms: acute joint pain, "tennis elbow" related pain, forced to
abandon career as a carpenter
13 amalgams, 1st filling removed 9.85, last 4.86
6.97: health improved with less pain
own health assessment: better
Patient. No. 4 N.U., female 1963
symptoms: constant sickness, dizziness, hearing problems, sudden
weight loss and gain, frequent nasal and
sinus infections, gynecological problems, hair loss, joint pain,
exhaustion, allergies, paraesthesia
14 amalgams, 1st filling removed 6.95, last 5.96
5.96 considerable health improvement
7.97: health still improved, no hair loss, no joint pain, work
reassumed
4.98 health improvement, psychic stability, decrease in shyness,
Tinnitus better, hearing better, no more
joint or neck pain, no more exhaustion symptoms, 70% work capacity
(previously near complete work
incapacity), continued gastro-intestinal disturbances and low blood
pressure
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 5 B.R., female 1964
symptoms: MS, numbness in lower body, difficulties with equilibrium
12 amalgams, 1st filling removed 6.95, last 8.95
5.96: no improvement
5.97: no improvement
9.97: deterioration of symptoms
own health assessment: worsening
Patient No. 6 W.H., female 1951
symptoms: neck tension, sudden severe headaches from the neck to the
head, head pains like "lightning
flashes", migraines, repeated feeling of sickness, extreme nausea,
back pains, difficulties with equilibrium,
day and night eye pain , ice cold hands and feet, weakness and
stiffness in knees and legs, tingling in
extremit ies, taste of metal, gastro-intestinal disturbances,
sensitive to weather changes, rheumatismal
pains, feeling down mentally, feelings of despair (no organic causes
found medically therefore assigned as
"psychosomatic" although the patient feels this is not the case, can
no longer think properly, skull seems to
"explode", almost fully work impaired
15 amalgams, 1st filling removed 10.94, last 10.95
10.95: walks better, less weakness in legs
8.96: equilibrium much better, headaches improved, psychically much
more motivated,
occasional tingling in hands, no more stomach sourness, no more
nausea
10.97: janitorial work resumed, back pain improved, no more
uneasiness, has not been feeling better in
years, steady health improvement
7.98: further corporal and psyc hic improvement, less depressive than
before, "has a new life"
own health assessment: much better
Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
6
Patient No. 7 R.H., female 1952
symptoms: numerous headaches and migraine, sinus infections
15 amalgams, 1st filling removed 2.93, last 6.94
5.95: headaches much better
11.96: headaches with nausea connected to pylorus problems
2.98: in July 1997 hospitalized due to severe colon infection,
continuing
gastro-intestinal disturbances, compared to before far fewer
headaches (last 5 weeks before)
own health assessment: better
Patient No. 8 K.M., female 1946
14 amalgams, 1st filling removed 6.91 last 11.95
severe headaches after each amalgam removal
1.96: still numerous headaches
3.97: same
3.98: headaches somewhat better, but neck problems still remain
own health assessment: somewhat better
Patient No. 9 S.F., female 1957
symptoms: migraine
12 amalgams, 1st filling removed 1.92, last 7.96
10.96: practically no more migraine
7.97: same
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 11 K.G., male 1934
symptoms: severe, recurrent migraine
11 amalgams, 1st filling removed 12.94, last 10.96
already after removal of half the fillings far fewer migraine
6.97: no more migraine
4.98: no more migraine for two years
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 12 R.K., male 1943
symptoms: frequent headaches, gastro-intestinal disturbances
13 amalgams, 1st filling removed 12.93, last 11.96
12.93: piece of amalgam removed from former alveole
due to fewer headaches, patient wishes to have all fillings removed
11.96: headaches continue, but less severe and often
digestion problems continue, but no more acid stomach
2.98: feels much better, no more headaches
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 13 V.L., female 1937
symptoms: migraine
9 amalgams, 1st filling removed 6.95, last 10.95
7.96: migraine less often and less severe
11.97: migraine almost gone
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 14 M.J., female 1963
symptoms: stomach / intestinal problems
16 amalgams, 1st filling removed 6.95, last 11.96
11.97: intestines much better, stomach still bad
own health assessment: somewhat better
Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
7
Patient No. 15 F.M., female 1949
symptoms:
10 amalgams, 1st filling removed 1.95, last 11.95
12.96: fewer and pains
5.97: fewer pains, use of hands returns
1.98: all pain fully gone, plays the piano again
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 16 M.M., female 1963
symptoms: migraine and headaches before menstruation, dizziness,
gastro-intestinal disturbances
6 amalgams, 1st filling removed 12.94, last 1.97
9.95: migraine, headache and dizziness gone
10.97: same
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 17 P.T., female 1948
symptoms: MS, 7 years before neuritis on optical nerve (first colors
perceived wrong then in periphery
opaque spots, improved after 5 months of cortisone treatment, MS
diagnosis made by lumbar puncture,
different sensitivity to heat in hands, feelings of having
a "spiderweb" in her head, physical effort
accompanied by an "electric shock" from head to toes ("coup de
l'ermite"), headaches, migraine
10 amalgams, filling removed from 1995-6
1.98: paraesthesia completely disappeared, current neurologist doubts
previous MS diagnosis, fewer
headaches and migraine
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 19 S.D., female 1941
symptoms: headaches, migraine, allergies
12 amalgams, 1st filling removed 3.91, last 3.92
9.92: patient feels much better healthwise
7.95: Mamma Ca operation with radiation
1.97: practically no more headaches, no more migraine
1.98: since 12-97 headaches a bit more often, possibly caused by
heavy medication, allergies better
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 20 Z.E., male 1929
symptoms: hip and hernia pain, unaccountable shoulder / arm pains
(muscle inflammation), cannot lift
arm, no strength in arm, stomach problems
12 amalgams, 1st filling removed 7.95, last 2.96
12.95: fewer pains, cortisone discontinued
7.96: no more shoulder problems
10.97: same, full strength regained in shoulder
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 21 S.M., female 1950
symptoms: neck tension, arthritis in fingers, paraesthesia
16 amalgams, 1st filling removed 5.95, last 12.95
12.95: no more arthritis in fingers, slight neck tension
7.96: no more arthritis, paraesthesia
7.97: steady improvement
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 23 R.G., female 1949
symptoms: exhaustion, eye problems (double vision at cinema,
flickering) stomach / intestinal problems,
migraine, neck tension, depression
11 amalgams, 1st filling removed 6.93, last 8.97
8.97: continued gastro-intestinal disturbances, health considerably
better, no more neck tension,
considerably less headaches, no more eye problems, mental stability
4.98: stomach / intestinal problems better, exhaustion disappeared,
mental improvement
own health assessment: much better
Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
8
Patient No. 24 D.D., female 1934
symptoms: migraine originating in the neck, rheumatism, insomnia,
depression, stomach / intestinal
problems
13 amalgams, 1st filling removed 9.95, last 5.96
5.96: fewer headaches and migraine, less depression
11.96: headaches much better, less tired, insomnia improved,
depression much better
6.97: health much better except for gastro-intestinal disturbances
4.98: further health improvement, less tired, better sleep, no more
stomach burning, mentally more stable
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 25 T.G., female 1950
symptoms: migraine, speech impaired, partial paralysis
19 amalgams, 1st filling removed 9.95, last 5.96
1.97: far fewer migraine
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 26 R.U., female 1950
symptoms: dizziness, headaches, migraine, heart trouble (arrhythmia),
paraesthesia in arms, stomach
/intestinal problems, "inner nervousness", penicillin allergy
9 amalgams, 1st filling removed 9.95, last 10.96
9.96: fewer headaches, less paraesthesia, less dizziness
11.96: gastro-intestinal disturbances, less nervous
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 27 T.M., female 1957
symptoms: neck tension, pain when lifting arm, hair combing
impossible, back pain, neurological eye
problems (ground or floor appear closer than in reality), dizziness,
hand trembling, paraesthesia in hands,
flatulence
10 amalgams, 1st filling removed 9.95, last 5.97
11.95: Healthwise better, ability to move arm, dizziness gone
3.96: dizziness gone, paraesthesia disappeared, no more pain, less
stomach problems
1.98: practically all health-related problems gone
6.98: no more back problems, can go camping with children
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 28 B.C., 1948
symptoms: paraesthesia mostly in hands, frequently severe sore
throat, tiredness, joint pain, digestion
disorder
16 amalgams, 1st filling removed 10.95, last 3.96 (titanium implant
47 removed)
11.96: continued throat pains, fewer joint aches, continued digestion
problems (diarrhea, gas)
continued paraesthesia in hands as well as feet
4.98: continued joint pain, but no as good as a year before
own health assessment: somewhat better
Patient No. 29 Z.K., 1957
symptoms: stomach / intestinal problems, joint complications
(rheumatism inflammation in iliosacral
region) numerous sore throats, weight gain, very large lymph nodes,
frequent earaches, multiple allergies,
severe back problems for 6 years, previously very fit, very low blood
pressure, psychic problems,
continuous feeling of sickness
13 amalgams, 1st filling removed 2.96, still 4 fillings undone
3.96: health deterioration after amalgam removal
11.96 and 1.97: repeated serious reaction to amalgam removal, wishes
to wait for the removal of the last 4
amalgams, fear of recurring reaction
4.98: decision to have the four remaining fillings removed
Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
9
Patient No. 30 G.R., male 1962
symptoms: headaches, back pains
11 amalgams, 1st filling removed 11.95, still 5 fillings undone
12.95: severe headache reaction to the removal of 3 fillings
8.97: far fewer headaches
9.97: repeated severe reaction to the removal of another filling,
decides to wait in fear of a
renewed reaction to an amalgam removal
Patient No. 31 N.P., male 1960
symptoms: sight impairment, larynx pains, skin rash, acute diarrhea,
insomnia, neck tension, migraine,
paraesthesia, memory disorder
9 amalgams, 1st filling removed 11.95, last 3.9
10.96: no more depression after 2-3 months of single treatment, after
filling removal no more headaches,
larynx pains gone, skin rash gone, vision disturbances, insomnia
improvement, continued migraine but less
frequent, paraesthesia gone, memory still irregular
own health assessment: somewhat better
Patient No. 33 K.P., female 1932
symptoms: gastro-intestinal disturbances (colon) . Stomach to back
pains leading to leg pain, joint
problems in fingers, nausea in the morning, paraesthesia in legs and
head, pains, ocular problems, joint
problems, continuous uneasiness
8 amalgams, 1st filling removed 11.95, last 6.96
6.96: no more head throbs or uneasiness
11.96: much less paraesthesia, fewer gastro-intestinal disturbances
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 34 E.G., male 1974
symptoms: allergies, severe headaches, migraine with signs of
paralysis (cannot walk, speak or hear),
dizziness, ocular and ear trouble, uses solvents (formaldehyde) at
work
3 amalgams, 1st filling removed 2.96, last 2.96
2.96: less frequent migraine, continuously severe headaches
9.96: less dizziness, less severe migraine without any signs of
paralysis
4.97: more frequent headaches and increased dizziness, but health
improved overall
own health assessment: better
Patient No. 35 B.S., male 1957
symptoms: headaches, nose always stuffy (liquid secretions), sleep
interruptions, bad concentration,
memory loss
10 amalgams, 1st filling removed 1.96, last 4.96
1.96: severe shoulder /neck pain after first amalgam is removed
2.96: same
4.96: far better health, no headaches, more energy, even less
shoulder pain, no more stuffed up nose, better
concentration
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 36 G.K., male 1951
symptoms: migraine, strong headaches, unaccountable losses of
consciousness since 1990 (resulting from
whiplash injury after a head-on collision)
9 amalgams, 1st filling removed 3.96, last 8.96
8.96: significantly fewer headaches
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 37 H.H., male 1944
symptoms: severe allergy in arms, legs and throat with danger of
suffocation (always carries cortisone
spray) several times a year, shoulder pain when carrying postal
parcels (doctor thinks it is "wear and tear")
12 amalgams, 1st filling removed 1.94, last 12.95
1.97: allergies disappear
4.98: no more shoulder pains whatsoever
own health assessment: much better
Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
10
Patient No. 41 M.W., male 1940
symptoms: severe and long-lasting migraine, dizziness, paraesthesia
mainly in arms, extreme vomiting
spasms, back pains, neck tension
7 amalgams, 1st filling removed 6.96, last 3.97
12.97: no migraine, paraesthesia or dizziness whatsoever,
feels "reborn"
6.98: no more migraine whatsoever, feels much more stable mentally,
says that neck tension and back pain
have disappeared, feels "like 20" again
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 42 H.M., female 1962
symptoms: many migraine and dizzy spells
10 amalgams, 1st filling removed 4.96, last 1.98
1.98: less migraine, dizziness gone
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 43 R.C., female 1964
symptoms: pharyngitis, laryngitis, frequent angina, tension headaches
3 amalgams, 1st filling removed 8.96, last 10.96
1.97: less frequent but still severe headaches, pharyngitis and
laryngitis improved
own health assessment: somewhat better
Patient No. 44 G.H., male 1960
symptoms: MS
10 amalgams, 1st filling removed 9.96 last 1.97
1.97: no improvement
own health assessment: worsening
Patient No. 45 C.R., male 1942
symptoms: gastro-intestinal disturbances, migraine
18 amalgams - some under crowns - 1st filling removed 8.96, last 1.97
1.97: no improvement
own health assessment: worsening
Patient No. 46 S.W., male 1924
symptoms: inexplicable fatigue, diabetes
10 amalgams, 1st filling removed 6.96, last 1.97
1.97: patient feels better and has more energy
3.98: patients feels more tired
own health assessment: worsening
Patient No. 48 S.J., male 1948
symptoms: very frequent head pains, stomach trouble (acidity), skin
problems, paraesthesia
15 amalgams, 1st filling removed 3.93, last 2.97
9.97: no more head pains or stomach problems
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 49 H.R., female 1946
symptoms: headaches, migraine, dizziness, eye trouble, hand
paraesthesia, neck tension, feels uneasy
12 amalgams, 1st filling removed 12.93, last 2.97
4.97: health greatly improved, hardly any migraine
8.98: migraine practically gone, health improvement "like day and
night"
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 50 S.E., female 1953
symptoms: migraine, dizziness, tension, unaccountable strong pain in
shoulder area, tennis ball-size lump
("no doctor can tell me what it is")
13 amalgams, 1st filling removed 9.96, last 6.97
11.96: stomach / intestine much better, hardly and migraine
11.97: chest pains completely gone
7.98: further health recovery
own health assessment: much better
Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
11
Patient No. 51 M.S., female 1943
symptoms: chronic colds, allergies, asthma, headaches, migraine,
fatigue
3 amalgams, 1st filling removed 5.96, last 7.96
12.96: fewer colds, less asthma but continued headaches and migraine
2.97: same
own health assessment: somewhat better
Patient No. 52 S.E., female 1941
symptoms: polyarthritis, migraine (from lower rear skull and temples
to behind the eyes)
5 amalgams, 1st filling removed 3.96, last 7.96
7.97: a bit less migraine, monthly instead of weekly before
1.98: same
own health assessment: somewhat better
Patient No. 53 W.L., female 1936
symptoms: headaches, allergies, sinusitis
10 amalgams, 1st filling removed 5.96, last 9.96
9.96: fewer headaches, sinusitis inflammation but still has allergies
own health assessment: better
Patient No. 54 T.K., female 1947
symptoms: dizziness (medical diagnosed as Meniere disease), double
vision, migraine
tooth 27 removed in 11.92, less dizziness since then
7.96: less dizziness
11.97: continued recovery, practically no more dizziness
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 55 S.H., female 1963
symptoms: migraine, sensitive to light, pressure behind eyes, nausea,
gastro-intestinal disturbances,
dizziness
14 amalgams, 1st filling removed 2.96, last 11.96
1.97: much less often migraine is more like a headache. gastro-
intestinal: can once again tolerate certain
food which was previously unbearable
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 57 M.S., female 1931
symptoms: stuffy nose, allergies, inexplicable fatigue, swollen lymph
glands from behind the head to
throat, stomach ache, takes cortisone, eczema on hands and feet
12 amalgams, 1st filling removed 5.96, last 6.97
6.97: minimal health improvement
3.98: eczema disappeared, continued stuffy nose, continued asthma,
much less tired, mentally far better off
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 58 S.H., male 1937
symptoms: migraine, tingling in legs, Tinnitus for 18 years
15 amalgams, 1st filling removed 5.95, last 10.96
1.96: migraine and paraesthesia considerably better, continued
Tinnitus
1.98: same
own health assessment: better
Patient No. 59 V.J., male 1944
symptoms: asthma, backache, neck tension, migraine, metal taste
5 amalgams, 1st filling removed 6.96, last 12.96
4.97: less migraine, asthma still not good
9.97: not more migraine, asthma still not good
1.98: recurrence of backache, migraine and asthma
own health assessment: somewhat better
Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
12
Patient No. 60 H.S., female 1943
symptoms: MS
6 amalgams, 1st filling removed 7.94, last 6.96
3.97: no improvement
own health assessment: worsening
Patient No. 61 D.C., female 1979
symptoms: has had strong migraine with nausea for 1-2 years, 4
occlusal fillings by us 8 years before
4 amalgams, 1st filling removed 5.96, last 7.96
7.96: migraine weaker but still some dizziness
5.97: migraine and neck tension disappeared
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 63 J.F., female 1956
symptoms: neurodermatitis (severe and painful itch on face, throat,
chest and underarms (somewhat
alleviated by cortisone cream)
11 amalgams, 1st filling removed 12.95, last 3.96
3.96: no more neurodermatitis
11.96: no more allergies
2.98: no more neurodermatitis whatsoever (cortisone discontinued over
a year before)
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 64 E.C.
symptoms: low blood pressure, headaches, frequent vocal chord
troubles
8 amalgams, 1st filling removed 10.96, last 3.97
7.97: fewer headaches, continued vocal chord trouble
own health assessment: better
Patient No. 65 W.R., male 1943
symptoms: after whiplash injury concentration, memory and hearing
problems, sensitive to
electromagnetic fields, forced to reduce to part-time work, Tinnitus,
headaches, joint trouble
9 amalgams, 1st filling removed 1.97, last 4.97
4.97: generally feels better
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 67 M.H., female 1940
symptoms: joint pains, neck tension, shoulder /arm pains
6 amalgams, 1st filling removed 7.87, last 7.87
3.97: overall health improvement
3.98: joint pains and neck tension disappear, no more shoulder /arm
pains
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 68 H.M., male 1960
symptoms: headaches, migraine, gastro-intestinal disturbances (Crohn
related?)
6 amalgams, 1st filling removed 6.96, last 1.97
2.97: no more migraine, far fewer headaches
2.98: previous migraine in 12.97 (frequent then , no more now),
continued gastro-intestinal disturbances
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 69 K.E., female 1954
symptoms: hair loss, left shoulder pain radiating to the front of the
arm and chest, psychic difficulties
(fear), stomach burns,
15 amalgams, 1st filling removed 6.96, last 11.96
11.96: no more shoulder pain
2.97: much less hair loss
9.97: no more stomach burns, no hair loss, psychically better
own health assessment: much better
Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
13
Patient No. 71 K.J., female 1935
symptoms: cardiac dysrhythmia, paraesthesia in arms and legs,
dizziness, headaches
4 amalgams, 1st filling removed 4.96, last 4.96
2.97: headaches done, noticeable "hole in the head" feeling gone,
paraesthesia
3.98: continued improvement
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 72 J.N., female 1970
symptoms: light sensitivity, ocular problems (cannot tolerate
sunlight), back pains, onset of paralysis
(numbness, radiating to elbows, then to shoulders, and finally
knees), speech impairment severe memory
loss (total loss after two minutes in remembering
what she had eaten, what train she was on and in what direction
15 amalgams, 1st filling removed 9.95, last 5.96
3.96: less dizziness, no more speech impairment, less paralysis
4.96: severe reaction after amalgam removal (trouble moving arm)
5.96: repeated severe reaction after amalgam removal
7.96: no more paralysis in arms, short-term memory better, when tired
still problems finding words,
continued severe back pains, much less sensitive to light, fewer
ocular trouble, less hay fever
3.97: overall health much better
3.98: continued health improvement ("lives again")
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 73 V.A., female 1943
symptoms: "buzzing" in whole body, slight trembling whole body,
dizziness, back tension, migraine, heart
murmurs
9 amalgams, 1st filling removed 5.89, last 4.95
9.91: less dizziness and fewer heart murmurs, shorter
migraine, "buzzing" in body completely disappeared
1.98: all symptoms practically gone, no more heart murmurs
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 74 K.H., female 1930
symptoms: dizziness (medical diagnosis: Meniere disease), muscle
pain, migraine, nausea
13 amalgams, 1st filling removed 11.95, last 6.96
4.96: far less dizziness and nausea
4.97: steady health improvement
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 75 J.K., male 1937
symptoms: headaches (this his doctor believes comes from his neck
vertebra), sensitivity to changes in
weather
7 amalgams, 1st filling removed 7.95, last 6.97
5.97: sensitivity to changes in weather, no more headaches, no more
dizziness
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 76 K.B., female 1960
symptoms: allergies, fatigue, stomach /intestinal problems, sight
impairment
7 amalgams, 1st filling removed 8.95, last 6.97
6.97: skin less dry, much less tired, less sight impairment, fewer
gastro-intestinal disturbances, general
feeling of well-being
8.98: no more sight impairment, skin and stomach much better
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 77 F.A., female 1957
symptoms: neck tension, frequent migraine, stomach problems, hair
loss, sinusitis
18 amalgams, 1st filling removed 6.95, last 8.97
8.97: much less migraine, general feeling of well-being
own health assessment: much better
Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
14
Patient No. 78 F.M, female 1955
symptoms: neck tension, back pain, migraine, headaches, gastro-
intestinal disturbances, mental imbalance
10 amalgams, 1st filling removed 3.97, last 10.97, possibly another
amalgam under the 4 crowns
10.97: overall health improvement
1.98: continued migraine and neck tension, stomach /intestines
better, depression gone, general feeling of
well-being, less "fogginess" in the head, strong taste for life like
before
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 79 I.C, female 1958
symptoms: hayfever, neck tension, migraine
6 amalgams, 1st filling removed 12.95, last 6.96
11.96: continued severe migraine believed to be closely connected
with smoking
8.97: somewhat fewer migraine, far fewer allergies, no more hay
fever, neck improved
own health assessment: better
Patient No. 80 M.A., female 1938
symptoms: neck tension, migraine, headaches
13 amalgams, 1st filling removed 3.95, last 6.96
9.97: migraine disappeared, much less neck tension, only occasional
headaches
7.98: further health improvement, no more neck problems (can back up
while driving again),
very occasional headaches, no more lower back pain at all
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 81 H.M., female 1949
symptoms: chronic headaches, frequent numbness in right hand
15 amalgams, 1st filling removed 2.96, last 10.96
10.96: less paraesthesia in hand, far fewer headaches
1.98: headaches during menstruation, less numbness in hand, feels
much better than ever before
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 82 G.E., male 1925
symptoms: arthritis in fingers, paraesthesia
17 amalgams, 1st filling removed 3.96, last 1.98
1.98: much less arthritis in fingers, much less swollen and deformed
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 85 M.C., female 1958
symptoms: exhaustion, digestive trouble, neck tension
17 amalgams, 1st filling removed 2.96, last 7.97
5.97: strong reaction to amalgam removal (exhaustion symptoms)
7.97: same
1.98: much less neck tension, digestion improved, less exhausted,
less "fogginess" in head
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 86 M.M., female 1938
symptoms: back pains, shoulder problems (periarthritis), neck tension
13 amalgams, 1st filling removed 8.92, last 1.93
3.97: claims to feel better and to be less mentally distressed
1.98: continued back and shoulder problems, less neck tension
own health assessment: much better
Patient No. 87 S.A, female 1967
symptoms: migraine
4 amalgams, 1st filling removed 7.97, last 9.97
1.98: believes migraine to be milder and only when menstruating
own health assessment: better
Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal
15
Patient No. 88 R.S, female 1963
symptoms: very strong hay fever, burning sore throats, severe neck
pain, shoulder pains (unable to carry
handbag on shoulder), migraine
7 amalgams, 1st filling removed 1.95, last 7.96
7.96: no more migraine, less neck tension
4.98: no neck tension whatsoever, no more migraine, no more hay fever
for two years,
no more sore throats, no more shoulder problems
own health assessment: much better
1
Appendix
The preceding paper was the basis for the editorial and the report
which appeared in PULStipp
magazine (No 11, 6 November 2001, Zurich):
Suspicious dentist now believes patients
Editorial
By Urs P. Gasche
Headaches, migraine, neck tension and gastro-intestinal ailments had
disappeared in almost all of
52 female and 23 patients. Some also felt as if all joint or back
pains, allergies or visual
disturbances after having the amalgam fillings removed from their
teeth had been blown away..
For Paul Engel, a Swiss dentist from Biel, this is "an almost
unbelievable result". Never would he
have expected such an outcome after having treated his patients with
amalgam for twenty years.
He had considered the use of amalgam fillings before as "highly
reliable".
Therefore, he remained extremely skeptical when some of his patients
wished to have their intact
amalgam fillings replaced with composits. All these patients suffered
from health problems. But
they had heard from friends or in medical broadcastings
(e.g. "Kassensturz" in Swiss TV) that
mercury vapors from amalgam fillings could have toxic effects by
certain patients. The
suspicious dentist agreed remove their amalgams but decided to keep a
exact record of these
patients' health.
Today there is no doubt for him that amalgam fillings had been
responsible for headaches,
migraine, neck tension, gastro- intestinal problems and other
ailments as well. Even soon after
amalgam removal 60 out of the 75 women and men were feeling "much
better" or at least
"better". Today - several years later - the lost aches and pains have
not reappeared. New patients
with resembling experiences – up to 160 total - have come to similar
conclusions concerning
their health improvement (see the following report by Claudia
Peter) . In the meantime, Paul
Engel is convinced that amalgam not only accounts for 5 percent of
people's sicknesses. With
much concern he asks himself "How many with similar health problems
are there in my other
patients?"
2
Amalgam was guilty
Our teeth may be the cause of chronic disease
Report
by Claudia Peter
A dentist from Biel would not believe it for a long time. He followed
the health record of 160 of
his patients with skepticism. However, it has become increasingly
clear for him: in retrospect,
dental amalgam was responsible for many persistent chronic diseases.
At the age of nine Ursula Mueller lost her long, blond hair. It fell
out patch by patch. Splitting
headaches soon followed. Sometimes the child fainted at school. At
age twelve, she was
diagnosed with rheumatism and arthritis. Frequently she felt
profoundly sick. She could hardly
eat. Almost every cold ended in sinusitis, a chronic inflammation of
her nasal sinus. In addition,
she was plagued by psychic problems. As an adult Ursula Mueller still
suffered from severe
depressions. "No doctor could help me", she remembers. "Each symptom
was treated separately.
And no one ever had the idea that all of my complaints might have a
common cause."
Ursula Mueller became female patient number four in the study of the
dentist Paul Engel. She is
one of more than 160 patients whose amalgam fillings were removed
under dentist Engel's care
during the last eight years. Engel followed their state of health
closely after the removals. The
result: one year later four fifths of the patients qualified their
state of health as "much better" or
"better". These results shows clearly: amalgam removal can
permanently heal or greatly improve
a wide range of physical and psychic disorders.
Patients' concrete stories forced Engel to change his view.
Ursula Mueller feels healthy today. Eight years ago her doctor
diagnosed her with "amalgam
intoxication" and wrote a certificate stating she was partially
unable to work. And today? Ursula
Mueller works full time as a primary school teacher again. "My whole
body is rid of mercury
from amalgams" she says proudly. The complaints which had been
troubling her more than
twenty years are a thing of the past.
Dentist Engel has published the detailed case histories of Ursula
Mueller and his other amalgam
patients in the Swiss monthly dentist publication SSO. For a long
time he shared the belief of
most of his professional colleagues that doubts towards amalgam were
simply "hysteria". But
these patients' case histories modified his opinion radically. Today
he is convinced: "Amalgam
does not belong in the mouth. It can poison the body slowly, but
chronically."
This is concurrent with recent scientific findings. Veterinary
research has shown that mercury can
rapidly move into sensitive organs. Canadian researchers put amalgam
fillings into the teeth of
sheep and apes. Only one month later they discovered mercury deposits
in the stomach, intestine,
kidneys and gums of these animals. The kidney function of mercury-
burden sheep was reduced
by half.
In humans mercury gradually builds up in the brain, the central
nervous system and kidneys. This
has been seen in autopsies. The more amalgam fillings doctors found
on a deceased person, the
greater the quantity of mercury in his or her organs.
3
Deceased Alzheimer patients show a substantially higher concentration
of mercury in their brains
than other humans. Two Swiss scientists from Basel, Hannes Staehelin
and Gianfranco Olivieri
have found through laboratory researches that mercury does in fact
play an important role in the
development of Alzheimer's disease. The same is feared with other
diseases such as Parkinson
and multiple sclerosis.
Mercury damages the health of unborn child ren and nursed infants.
The more amalgam fillings
there are in a mother's mouth, the greater the mercury concentration
that can be found in her
placenta and milk.
If mercury, which evaporates from amalgam fillings, is really that
dangerous, why don't more
humans fall ill? This question has been pursued by a German
toxicologist, Gustav Drasch, in the
Philippines. On behalf of the UN, Drasch examined workers in
mountainous gold mining areas.
These humans come into daily contact with mercury from the
mines. "Nobody can dismiss them
as amalgam cranks", declares Drasch. The disease symptoms these
workers suffered were very
different from each other. Some of them could hardly stand up
straight, others went about their
work as usual, even thought Drasch found high mercury concentrations
in all their bodies.
"There is no limit, below which mercury can't cause ailments" ,
concludes he. "Some humans are
healthy despite increased concentration of mercury in their body –
whereas other fall ill at the
slightest trace of the metal".
This was case of Swiss school boy Tin Curtins. A single amalgam
filling threw him completely
off course. The previously healthy boy experienced severe
migraine. "I had to come home from
school and go straight to bed, so I could lie down until the pain
faded", he recalls. This occurred
up to three times a week. A holistic doctor, who treated the boy,
said Tin showed clear
symptoms of mercury intolerance. She recommended he should have his
lone amalgam filling
removed.
But after Engel had removed the filling, Tin's migraine intensified
instead of disappearing. The
dentist consoled the desperate boy: "These things happen. The process
of removing a filling can
temporarily increase a patient's mercury burden even if the dentist
is carefull". He told Tin not to
give up hope. Today, more than a year after treatment, the teenager
is completely free of any
major health problems.
In spite of these evident health improvements after amalgam removal
Swiss dental experts have
expressed reservations. Professor Adreian Lussi, amalgam expert at
the University of Berne,
misses a control group in Engel's study. "An appropriate control
would have been a group of
patients with amalgam fillings and the same health problems, who
refused removal", he explains.
"A comparison of the two groups would have shown whether it was
actually the amalgam
removal which improved patients' health."
Professor Jakob Wirz of the University of Basel is convinced that the
complaints Engel's
patients expressed were mainly caused by their psychic condition and
their environment.
"Amalgam only serves as a scapegoat here", he criticizes. "It is
still the best and most extensively
examined material used in dental medicine."
A comparative study is long overdue.
"I am a dentist, not a scientist", Engel responds. "I published my
observations, nothing more. The
rest I must leave to the professors". Engel is surprised why none of
the Swiss dental faculties ever
published such a comparative study with amalgam patients, even
thought Adrian Lussi clearly
states: "Amalgam does release mercury. This much we are sure of."
Scientist at Swiss universities have nevertheless always contested
that mercury in the body
causes widespread organic damage. At most, they contend, only a few
people should be fall
victims of this condition.
As for patient Georges Krattinger, he never believed he could
possibly belong to the amalgamsensitive
people. "15 years ago I watched a television broadcast on amalgam",
he remembers. "I
simply laughed at it". Therefore, it never occurred to him that his
chronic migraine might be
caused by his amalgam fillings. In due course, Engel removed several
of his amalgam fillings and
replaced them with composites - without telling him that amalgam
could have something to do
with his complaints. Later Engel inquired about his patient's health:
Krattinger reported that his
migraine attacks had decreased. The time frame corresponded exactly
with the period after the
fillings had been removed.
Now Krattinger wanted to know whether his 66- year-old wife Jeanette
suffered from chronic
mercury poisoning as well. At age 30 she had developed heartbeat
rhythm- and blood circulation
disturbances. Later dizziness occurred frequently. So Jeanette
Krattinger had her fillings removed
as well. In fact: her state of health improved likewise - slowly, but
steadily. Today her dizziness
attacks and heartbeat irregularities have decreased "considerably".
Jeanette Krattinger states: "An
amalgam filling will never enter my mouth again". Her husband now
opted for the radical cure
and had Engel remove all his remaining amalgam fillings. Result:
Georges Krattinger no longer
suffers from migraine attacks at all.
"Amalgam is by far not the only cause of a patient's health problems,
Engel thinks. "But it plays
an important role, probably more frequently than we would like to
think."


Download full size medical articles concerning the MELISA® test

----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

The role of metals in autoimmunity and the link to neuroendocrinology
Jenny Stejskal MD., Vera Stejskal PhD., Neuroendocrinology Letters,
1999
Current literature indicates a risk for metal-induced autoimmunity in
man. Metal pathology may be due to toxic or allergic mechanisms where
both play a role. The main factors decisive for disease induced by
metals are exposure and genetics which determine the individual
susceptibility to metals. This paper reviews the possible mechanics
which may play a role in metal-induced autoimmunity with the emphasis
on multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthrisis (RA) and amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS). We also discuss the role of inflammation-
induced changes in the hypotalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as a
possible explanation of fatigue, depression and other psychosomatic
symptoms observed in these diseases.
[169 kb] Download article
Metal-specific lymphocytes: biomarkers of sensitivity in man
Vera Stejskal, PhD., et al., Neuroendocrinology Letters, 1999
The MELISA® test has been performed in more than 3000 patients
suffering from various oral and systemic symptoms (resembling chronic
fatigue) often in combination with metal intolerance. Nickel was
found to be the most common sensitizer followed by inorganic mercury,
gold, cadmium and palladium. Replacement of amalgam and other dental
metals resulted in health improval in a majority of patients and in
the decrease of positive MELISA® response.
[398 kb] Download article

Health observations before and after amalgam removal
Dr.med.dent. Paul Engel, Lyss-Strasse 24, 2560 Nidau, Switzerland
From the 1800 patients whom I had treated in the last four years,
roughly 90 wished to have their
partially intact amalgam fillings -often done by me - replaced by
another material (mostly
composites and compomere). Predominantly, these were patients with
certain health problems,
who had been influenced by an acquaintance or via different media and
had learned of the
possible toxic effect of mercury from amalgam.
[129 kb] Download article
[233 kb] German version

Mercury and nickel allergy: risk factors in fatigue and in
autoimmunity
Ivan Sterzl, MD., et al., Neuroendocrinology Letters, 1999
This study examined the presence of hypersensitivity to dental and
environmental metals in patients with clinical disorders complicated
with chronic fatigue syndrome. 22 patients with autoimmune
thyroiditis, 28 fatigued patients free from endocrinopathy and 22
fatigued professionals without evidence of autoimmunity were studied.
As controls, a population sample of 13 healthy subjects without any
evidence of metal sensitivity was included. To evaluate the relevance
of positive in vitro findings, the replacement of amalgam with metal-
free restorations was performed. At a six-month follow-up, patients
reported considerably alleviated fatigue and disappearance of many
symptoms previously encountered; in parallel, lymphocyte responses to
metals decreased, as well. We suggest that metal-driven inflammation
may affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) and
indirectly trigger psychosomatic multisymptoms characterising chronic
fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other diseases of unknown
etiology.
[153 kb] Download article