Protecting Children and Unborns Against Thimerosal

There has been a great deal of debate around vaccines in recent years, with many cases of infant autism linked directly to thimerosal. Thimerosal is a substance that has been added to child vaccines and also flu vaccines that has recently undergone governmental bans in several European countries, yet is still legal in the US. Thimerosal is basically an antiseptic preservative that contains 49.5% ethyl mercury, a substance that is highly toxic to brain cells, especially the vulnerable, developing ones of a young child. In certain documented cases, the consequences have been tragic.

Mercury is exceptionally toxic to the human body, disrupting many physiological processes, and grabbing essential nutrients. Because of an affinity with thiols, it ends up stripping the cells of the most important protective ingredient: glutathione. In this respect, mercury causes damage in some very similar ways to HIV. Yet our government still allows this substance to be injected into children, the elderly, and those seeking immunization against the flu.

The brains of infants and fetuses are most at risk. Researchers at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas*, studied the neurotoxic effects of ethyl-mercury (thimerosal.) Two types of brain cells were studied: neuroblastomas and glioblastomas. The research team found that glioblastoma cells, which have higher basal levels of glutathione, suffered less damage from mercury than neuroblastomas. In other words, the mercury in the vaccines will damage brain cells and strip off the glutathione. But, if we can increase the levels of glutathione in the body, we can also protect these cells from being damaged by the mercury.

How To Protect Against Thimerosal in Vaccines

Interestingly, many of the same supplements that are useful in protecting the immune systems of HIV+ people, are also effective in protecting fetuses, infants and also adults against thimerosal. How so? By directly increasing cell levels of glutathione (intracellular GSH.) How is this done? By supplementing with any or all of the following natural substances, each of which works to increase levels of GSH: oral N-Acetyl-Cysteine, Selenium, and oral Glutathione. Additionally, oral chelators such as two top quality zeolite products (ACZ nano and Zeogold.)

These protective and preventive strategies are of tremendous value for pregnant mothers, infants, the elderly, and also anyone receiving flu shots. More in depth information about the dangers of mercury can be found on the health topics page of this site, under Detox.

* Report published in NeuroToxicology online 26 (2005) 1-8.