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The recently aired “Diagnose Me” (found at: http://www.amazon.com/Covered-in-Bugs/dp/B00ZIGACS6 ) episode prompted me to once
again communicate with Dr. Omar Amin; in it, Dr. Amin is portrayed as having
diagnosed me with mercury toxicity. I wrote him to see if I could get
clarification of his understanding of Morgellons Disease in relation to mercury
exposure. I’d like to share what I wrote
and the response…but first, let’s go back seven years.
I had recovered from Morgellons Disease symptoms and had
moved on. One day within the first year of recovery, I reviewed Kellett’s 1935
article titled “Sir Thomas Browne and the Disease Called The Morgellons” (http://penelope.uchicago.edu/letter/kellett.html). I recognized patterns in historic cases of Morgellons Disease (my background in research is as an archaeologist) which suggested mercury
exposure. I took an entire summer to research these patterns primarily by
sifting through medical libraries in London and archival collections in
Montpellier, France. I wrote up my findings and it was accepted for publication
in Explore! a peer-reviewed medical journal for professionals. https://www.academia.edu/1645874/Patterns_in_Early_Morgellons_Disease_Considered_as_Effects_of_Mercury_Exposure
In response to my request to share his thoughts on my published
research Dr. Amin responded with,
Oct
22, 2008
“Joe
…your and my writings conflict if you believe that ‘early cases cannot be connected to dental
adhesives.’ Your subsequent statement is highly speculative and not supported
by facts or my research. Compatibility findings are the only test for the effect
of specific toxins (including drugs), on the expression of symptoms,
neurological or other. I am glad that you managed to publish the results of
your library research, which I supported. This, however, is a far cry from
having done the actual work with hundreds of patients over many years of
testing. Your ‘theory’ is only as good as the facts that back it up. Well, you
asked for my thoughts.”
Dr. Omar M. Amin, Director, Parasitology Center, Inc. (PCI)
Of course, the early cases most certainly weren’t connected to
dental adhesives; they did not exist in these historic time frames. As for my theory of Morgellons Disease being a
form of mercury poisoning, the number of people represented from approximately
1550- 1776 over the Languedoc area of France would far exceed the number of
patients Dr. Amin has worked with- I think the patterns I discovered merits the
full attention of the medical world.
Let’s flash back to the present. After watching the
Discovery/ Life show related to my recovery (partial fact/ partial fiction), I
decided to contact Dr. Amin to get a better understanding of his take on the
role of mercury in developing Morgellons Disease symptoms. Anyhow, I figured I should write and,
assuming Dr. Amin now sees these symptoms as connected to mercury, suggest in a
kind fashion he simply point sufferers in the direction of someone who specializes in
mercury detox.
Here is my letter-
June
16th, 2015
Dear Dr. Amin,
I hope this note finds you well. I had mixed feeling about
the final version of the Discovery/ Life Channel's version of my story/
recovery from MD symptoms and wanted to ask about your current understanding.
Do you presently understand MD as a form of mercury toxicity? If so, do you
have any publications reflecting on this?
As you well know, my research certainly has been directed
toward bridging our understanding of MD and mercury; many people with this
understanding have asked me for direction. Dr. Chris Shade and his associates
at Quicksilver Scientific (https://www.quicksilverscientific.com/ ) have the
best understanding of mercurial speciation and internal migration, so I have
been directing sufferers in their direction.
Please know I have the greatest of respect for you as a
parasitologist, but feel mercury toxicity is complex and should be handled with
the greatest of care by those who specialize in it. I hope this makes sense to
you.
Sincerely,
Joe Keleher
His response on the same day was-
“Hello Joseph. Thanks for writing and for your kind words.
Glad to know that the "thing" aired because we tried to find it
everywhere but failed. So I have no idea what transpired. Do you have an
account of this program that you can share with us?
I share your opinions re MD and Mercury. However, my
research and the examination of over 1000 patients over about 10 years have
demonstrated that Morgellons/NCS is basically an allergic reaction to chemical
toxins, mostly dental but not exclusively so. Mercury is only one part of the
total slue of dental chemical. Yes, I have many publications on the subject but
not exclusively on mercury. Please find these if you click on
"publications) on our web site and down load to your heart's desire. With
best regards.
Omar”
Dr. Omar M. Amin, Director
Parasitology Center (PCI) and Institute of Parasitic
Diseases (IPD)
My reason for sharing these communications are several.
First, I would certainly like to thank Dr. Amin for his assistance in the
recovery of some who have/had symptoms from the Morgellons Disease Spectrum. He
is a very well respected Parasitologist and his work showed- 1) these symptoms
are not due to a parasitic infestation and 2) patients may need to have dental
work remediated. He should pass his findings on to those who qualify to assist
sufferers in detoxification.
Dr. Amin does not qualify to act as a toxicologist. I wish
he would write a short piece for the lay audience to assure them that symptoms
are not parasitic in nature, but relate to toxicity (he could provide a list of
names and contact information for qualified medical professionals). My opinion
is he should not be making money off from other people’s suffering.
My clearest reason for writing this piece and sharing my
communications with Dr. Amin are to assure sufferers- I DO NOT RECOMMEND
VISITING DR. AMIN (sorry about the caps, but I want this to be very clear).
Over the years it has been a continual frustration that somehow people think
Dr. Amin and I have worked together and are on the same page. Again I thank him
for helping me in finding my way along a dangerous health path, but think it is
time for him to pass patients on to those who qualify for such work.
I hope to see more and more people recover.
To Your Health,
Joe
