How to Help Patients Get the Most Out of Autumn Detox Protocols

FallIn traditional Asian medicine, detoxification cleanses are often undertaken at seasonal transitions, since those are the times that energetically correspond to the natural cycles of change—both in nature and within our bodies.

This idea has certainly entered modern thinking about health and wellness. Many health-conscious people now engage in Spring or Fall detox programs. As we enter the Fall season, odds are, some of your patients are experimenting with detox strategies—whether or not they tell you about them!

It is important for anyone interested in detoxification to understand a bit about the body’s various detoxification pathways, and the ways in which specific herbs and nutrients can support these processes.

Understanding the Detox Cycle

Traditional Asian medicine, like conventional allopathic medicine, defines the detoxification cycle as consisting of two distinct phases.

In Phase I, toxins are discharged from the organs and tissues in which they are stored. Fat-soluble toxins are chemically changed into intermediary metabolites. Since the intermediary metabolites are often more toxic than the original fat-soluble toxins, they must go through Phase II to become less toxic and to be expelled from the body.

During Phase I detoxification, specific nutrients are needed for support:

  • B vitamins (B2, B3, B6, B12)
  • Folic acid
  • Glutathione
  • Flavonoids (such as catechins, found in green tea)

Phase II is the excretion phase. During Phase II, specific molecules are conjugated onto the intermediary metabolite. This process makes them nontoxic and water-soluble, so they can be eliminated through the urine or stool.

If a detoxification protocol is not done correctly, an imbalance can occur between Phases I and II. The result is that toxins are discharged into the circulatory system faster than the body can excrete them. This leads to significant short- and long-term side effects.

Many people experience this “healing crisis” and incorrectly believe it to be a healthy and inevitable aspect of the detox process. But that need not be the case.

By taking the detox slowly, and supporting the process with research-backed nutrients, patients can avoid this so-called healing crisis. Instead, we can create “healing spaces,” making room for the body’s natural process of cleansing and regeneration.

The Role of Biofilms & Galectin-3

A key aspect of detoxification is to address the accumulation of biofilms–collections of microbial cells enclosed in an extracellular polymeric matrix. Biofilms create hiding places not only for bacteria, but also for fungi, parasites, and toxins, and they thwart removal of these harmful substances.

By binding and incorporating toxic compounds and heavy metals, biofilms interfere with elimination and nutrient absorption, promote and protect co-infections, create arteriosclerotic plaque, and give cancer cells a place to hide.

Biofilms are built upon galectin-3–a β-galactoside-binding protein expressed by a variety of human cells. Galectin-3 is the only known “chimera” galectin: it has a very unique structure consisting of a single carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) and a disordered sequence at the amino-terminal end of the protein.

It’s this N-terminal domain that allows galectin-3 monomers to link and form pentamers, which then create lattices with glycoproteins and glycolipids on the outside of the cell. A biofilm is built upon this lattice structure.

Galectin-3 is upregulated in the initial response to a bacterial infection, but subsequently, it becomes a driver of chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and immune suppression.

Elevated levels of galectin-3 are associated with a three-fold increase in all-cause mortality in a large epidemiological study (de Boer RA, et al. J Intern Med. 2012;272(1):55-64). It is also linked to cardiovascular, kidney, and liver disease (de Boer RA, et al. Ann Med. 2011;43;1:60-68. Shah RV, Chen-Tournoux AA, Picard MH, et al. Eur J Heart Fail. 2010;12;8:826-832). Research also suggests elevated levels may be linked to systemic sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease (Koca SS, et al. Clin Rheumatol. 2014;33:215-220. Wang X, et al. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2015;30(8):729-732).

Galectin-3 is also involved in the formation, proliferation, and metastasis of cancer, including the extracellular modulation of tumor progression and metastasis (Nangia-Makker P, et al. Am J Pathol. 2000;156:899-909. Zhao Q, et al. Cancer Res. 2009;69;17:6799-6806 ). It is pro-inflammatory, it promotes macrophage survival, and it leads to macrophage recruitment (Liu FT, Hsu DK. Drug News Perspect. 2007;20:455–460).

Given its role in harboring toxins, and raising various health risks, galectin-3 needs to be a target of any successful detoxification strategy.

Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP)

Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) breaks down the pentamers and lattice formations created by galectin-3. It is solidly proven to be a very effective galectin-3 blocker. MCP is created from the pectin found inCitrus the white pith of citrus fruit peels.

In its natural state, citrus pectin is too large to be digested or absorbed by the intestinal tract (Niture SK, Refai L. Amer J Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2012;8(1):9-19). MCP is pectin that has been modified to smaller, less complex soluble fibers through an enzymatic process. The resulting substance has lower esterification (<5%) and low molecular weight (<15 kDa), which enables intestinal absorption into the circulatory system and increases bioactivity (Courts F. PharmaNutrition. 2013;1(1):22–31).

MCP can safely remove heavy metals without depleting essential minerals—a common problem associated with many other detox agents (Eliaz I, et al. Forsch Komplementmed. 2007;14:358-364. Zhao ZY, et al. Altern Ther Health Med. 2008;14:34-38). One study showed that patients reduced their toxic metal load significantly in as little as 6 days using MCP, as indicated by increased urinary excretion of lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. But there was no negative effect on essential minerals or any side effects (Eliaz I, et al. Phytother Res. 2006 Oct;20(10):859-864).

It has been used to great benefit in treating children with lead exposure. Hospitalized kids with serum lead levels over 20 μg/dL were given 15 g of MCP daily in 3 divided doses. After 28 days, the MCP-treated kids showed dramatic decreases in blood serum lead levels (P=0.0016; 161% average change), with no adverse effects (Zhao ZY, et al. Altern Ther Health Med. 2008;14(4):34-38.

One paper presented case study data from 5 patients, all of whom had documented toxic heavy metal levels, were free of dental amalgams, had ongoing unresolved clinical issues, and had suspected toxin exposure.

The patients received PectaSol® MCP either alone or in combination with low-molecular weight alginates (PectaSol Metal Detox (PMD).

Three patients also took a formula called Detox Complete (Clinical Synergy Professional Formulas) comprised of vitamin C, zinc, selenium, and extracts of: Chinese Smilax stem, Astralagus root, Chinese Salvia root, Oregon Grape root, European Goldenrod flower and leaf, Dandelion leaf, Sweetflag stem, Garlic, cysteine, MSM, NAC, Cilantro leaf, alpha lipoic acid, L-carnitine, Milk Thistle, Ginkgo leaf, and L-glutathione.

All 5 patients saw a significant decrease in their toxic heavy metal loads, as well as an improvement in clinical symptoms. No side effects were reported (Eliaz I, et al. Forsch Komplementmed. 2007;14:358-364).

In one patient, who took PMD (3 capsules twice daily), MCP at 5 g per day, lead levels decreased by 49% by the end of 3 months. Another, who took only PMD (2 capsules twice daily) for 6 months, went from highly toxic to undetectable lead levels, with an added benefit of mercury levels dropping by 83%.

Two of the patients took PMD (3 or 4 capsules twice daily) for 6 months. After 2 months, they added the Detox Complete formula (4 caps daily, in divided doses). Mercury levels decreased by 80% and 58%, respectively.

The last patient took MCP alone (5 g thrice daily) for 12 months. Mercury dropped by 73% during that time.

Alginates

Alginate, found in the cell walls of seaweed is another superb detoxifier. A preclinical study showed that low-molecular-weight alginates act as anti-biofilm therapy (LC, Sowedan A, et al. Biofouling. 2013;29(4):413-421). Whereas MCP enters the bloodstream to clear toxins and heavy metals from circulation, alginates absorb heavy metals in the GI tract, which prevents reabsorption.

In one study of patients who ingested the herbicide paraquat, an alginate formula slowed the absorption of this toxin and allowed other treatment components to have a better effect. Mortality was significantly reduced with use of the alginate-containing preparation (Wilks MF, et al. PLoS Med. 2008 Feb;5(2):e49).

Another study found that adding alginate had prophylactic properties following exposure to the radioactive isotope cesium-137 (Sukhanov BP, et al. Gig Sanit. 1994;(8):24-26).

MCP and alginate in combination provide a comprehensive approach to detoxification by supporting both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the detox cycle.

Milk Thistle

Milk ThistleSilymarin is the extract of Milk Thistle seeds (Silybum marianum). It is a bioflavonoid complex that has hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity. This is attributed to its ability to inhibit free radicals produced from metabolism of toxic substances (Vargas-Mendoza N, et al. World J Hepatol. 2014;6(3):144-149).

Through multiple mechanisms, Silymarin, protects hepatocytes by blocking the penetration of toxins and oxidative intracellular free radicals (Kostek H, et al. Przegl Lek. 2012;69(8):541-3).  

Silibinin, the main active constituent in silymarin, strengthens and stabilizes cell membranes, inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, and promotes liver regeneration by stimulating protein synthesis and growth of new hepatocytes.

Whether seen as a seasonal undertaking or as an ongoing effort to reduce the body’s toxic burden, detoxification can be aided by the addition of the extensively researched ingredients MCP, alginate, and selected botanicals, including milk thistle seed extract.

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