Beyond the Pain: How Heavy Metals Contribute to MS and Fibromyalgia

A Significant Environmental Toxin

Heavy metals are difficult to avoid in our modern era as they are persistent in our air, soil, food, and water. As an environmental toxin, they are found in industrial pollutants, paint, conventional farming, fuel, fireworks, pesticides/fungicides/rodenticides, amalgam dental fillings, and household chemicals. Once lodged in the body, they are difficult to flush out — especially if your detoxification pathways are impaired with an MTHFR mutation. Heavy metal toxicity can cause a wide range of health issues, including cancer, anemia, organ damage, brain fog, fatigue, miscarriage, chronic infections, and sleep disorders. And now, researchers have discovered two additional conditions: multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia.

The Missing Link For MS?

An autoimmune disorder that attacks the central nervous system and triggers progressive demyelination through chronic inflammation, multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological disorders today. While the root cause is unknown, scientists believe the disease arises from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, along with lifestyle and dietary habits that influence its progression. As toxins are known to disrupt the neurological system, researchers have looked to heavy metals as a possible culprit.

What they have found is that four of the most common environmental heavy metals, arsenic (As), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd), contribute to free radical formation, cell membrane disruption, enzyme inhibition, and induction of autoimmunity.¹ What’s more, additional studies have discovered exposure to these neurotoxins accelerate the progression of MS.^2,3,4,5,6

“As environmental factor, Pb plays an important role in the etiopathogenesis of MS through a multi-action process, including the production of free radical species, deactivation of antioxidant sulfhydryl pools, inhibition of enzyme activity, blocking the physiological absorption of essential trace elements, and induction of auto-antibodies production against myelin proteins. … Another significant neurotoxin with a possible role in the pathogenesis of MS is Hg, which is involved in the inhibition of myelin production and decreases the nerve conduction velocity”.⁹

However, arsenic presents the highest toxicity for the human neurological system as it encourages “production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in neuronal cells, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein, all of which lead to axon injury in MS.”^7,8,9

Cadmium has also been shown to cause neurological abnormalities, cerebral hemorrhage, and neonatal cerebral edema in animal models. Furthermore, it is associated with the “formation of reactive radicals and interferes with antioxidant enzyme activity.”⁹

Additionally, a study published in the journal Scientific Reports found those with MS had widespread metal toxicants in their brains, including aluminum, compared to the controls, leading the researchers to suspect environmental toxins play a significant role in the development of MS.¹⁰

Heavy Metals and Fibromyalgia

Another condition now linked with heavy metal toxicity is fibromyalgia, which is characterized by deep and widespread pain, depression, fatigue, brain fog, gastrointestinal issues, and sleep problems. It is also associated with chronic fatigue syndrome, tension headaches, migraines, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Research published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy notes that “an elevated total burden of toxic metals, such as cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg), may induce worsening of diverse muscle pains with different etiologies in humans.”¹¹ Likewise, a controlled clinical trial found “[t]he reduction of metal exposure resulted in improved health in the majority of metal-sensitized patients. This suggests that metal-induced inflammation might be an important risk factor in a subset of patients with FM.”¹² In another study, the team found metal-induced oxidative stress decreased the level of essential minerals, such as magnesium and zinc, which they suspect contributes to the severity of fibromyalgia.

Detoxifying heavy metals should be done under the guidance of a skilled healthcare practitioner as dislodged metals can migrate to other parts of the body and cause significant damage. To learn more about lifestyle tips and foods for a gentle, long-term approach, see my post: “You Asked, I Listened: Best Practices for Natural Detoxification.

Powerful Herbal Support for MS and Fibromyalgia

Since multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia involve significant systemic inflammation, herbal remedies are an outstanding option for managing both. In fact, I use our Mushroom FOURtress Bundle every day for my MS. It contains concentrated, dual-extracted tinctures of cordyceps, lion’s mane, reishi, and turkey tail. These unique, research-backed medicinal mushrooms calm inflammation, reduce stress, boost brain function, stimulate Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), improve energy, and much more.

Cordyceps Mushroom

• Improves memory, learning, and reduces oxidative damage to cells.
• Combats fatigue
• Fights chronic inflammation
• Neuroprotective
• Boosts athletic performance
• Improves brain function

Lion’s Mane Mushroom

• Anti-inflammatory
• Boosts cognitive function
• Lessens insomnia, anxiety, and depression
• Improves energy by improving blood oxygen levels, reducing muscle fatigue, and lowering lactic acid accumulation.
• Shown to help reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Parkinson’s.
• Helps to repair damaged nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain by encouraging Nerve Growth Factor (NGF).
• Studies have shown that lion’s mane has a unique ability to stimulate the growth of brain cells.

Reishi Mushroom

• Fosters quality sleep, alleviates adrenal fatigue, and encourages healthy immune function.
• Strengthens the body against the negative effects of stress, including: hormonal imbalances, high cortisol, fatigue, brain fog, and low energy
• Relieves autoimmune diseases and leaky gut through anti-inflammatory action and immune system modulation.
• High in beneficial beta glucans, glycoproteins, and triterpenes to support gut and metabolic health.

Turkey Tail Mushroom

• Leaky gut and candida overgrowth
• Reduces the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome
• Calms internal and external inflammation
• A known immune modulator, turkey tail is an effective medicinal herb for autoimmune conditions.

Has Helped Me Significantly

 

“I take the Mushroom FOURtress every day. I have more energy, fewer aches and pains. My overall health has improved and I’m less susceptible to viruses.” -Vicki

If you suffer from an autoimmune condition or fibromyalgia, stop by my apothecary today and experience the difference our herbal remedies can make!

Nicole Apelian

Nicole’s Apothecary Products in this Post

References

1. Juybari KB, Ebrahimi G, Moghaddam MAM, Asadikaram G, Torkzadeh-Mahani M, Akbari M, et al. Evaluation of serum arsenic and its effects on antioxidant alterations in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2018;19:79–84
2. Siblerud RL, Kienholz E. Evidence that mercury from silver dental fillings may be an etiological factor in multiple sclerosis. Sci Total Environ. 1994;142:191–205
3. Attar AM, Kharkhaneh A, Etemadifar M, Keyhanian K, Davoudi V, Saadatnia M. Serum mercury level and multiple sclerosis. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2012;146:150–153
4. Pachner AR. A primer of neuroimmunological disease. Boston, MA: Springer Science & Business Media; 2012
5. Ghoreishi A, Mohseni M, Amraei R, Alizadeh A, Mazloomzadeh S. Investigation the amount of copper, lead, zinc and cadmium levels in serum of Iranian multiple sclerosis patients. J Chem Pharm Sci. 2015;8:40–45
6. Razavi Z, Jokar M, Allafchian A, Hossinpour Z, Berenjani L, Nejad VS. The relationship between blood lead levels and clinical features among multiple sclerosis patients in Isfahan, Iran. Iran J Health Saf Environ. 2016;3:412–420.
7. Ratnaike RN. Acute and chronic arsenic toxicity. Postgrad Med J. 2003;79(933):391–396
8. Dangleben NL, Skibola CF, Smith MT. Arsenic immunotoxicity: a review. Environ Health. 2013;12(1):73
9. Sarihi, S., Niknam, M., Mahjour, S., Hosseini-Bensenjan, M., Moazzen, F., Soltanabadi, S., & Akbari, H. (2021). Toxic heavy metal concentrations in multiple sclerosis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EXCLI journal, 20, 1571–1584. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2021-3484
10. Pamphlett, R., Buckland, M.E. & Bishop, D.P. Potentially toxic elements in the brains of people with multiple sclerosis. Sci Rep 13, 655 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27169-9
11. Geir Bjørklund, Maryam Dadar, Salvatore Chirumbolo, Jan Aaseth, Fibromyalgia and nutrition: Therapeutic possibilities?, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 103, 2018, Pages 531-538, ISSN 0753-3322, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2018.04.056.
12. Stejskal, V., Ockert, K., & Bjørklund, G. (2013). Metal-induced inflammation triggers fibromyalgia in metal-allergic patients. Neuro endocrinology letters, 34(6), 559–565.
13. Shukla, V., Das, S. K., Mahdi, A. A., Agarwal, S., Alok, R., Ansari, J. A., & Khandpur, S. (2021). Metal-induced oxidative stress level in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and its contribution to the severity of the disease: A correlational study. Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation, 34(2), 319–326. https://doi.org/10.3233/BMR-200102