Supporting Liver Detoxification

Symptoms of Poor Liver Detox (Liver Stagnation or Congestion)

• Lethargy, fatigue (especially upon arising)• Insomnia, difficulty getting to sleep at night• Headaches, migraines• Skin problems: acne, boils, rashes• Digestive bloating, stuffiness, nausea• Constipation• Poor concentration and memory, brain fog• General lack of wellbeing, malaise• Excess body fat, fatty liver, gallstones• Moodiness, irritability, depression, anxiety• Poor physical balance and fine motor skills, trembling

Nutrition and Detoxification

• Liver enzyme systems require nutrients to function

• Repeated exposure to toxins depletes those nutrients, resulting in a backlog of toxins

• Most people today have a poor diet with a high exposure to toxins which leads to a host of liver-related health problems

Basic Nutrients Needed for Liver Detoxification

• Vitamins: B-complex, C and E• Minerals: magnesium, zinc, selenium,

manganese• Amino acids: methionine, taurine, cysteine,

glycine and others• Essential fatty acids• Antioxidant nutrients from fresh fruits and

vegetables

Liver Detoxification

Phase One Detox

• 50-100 cytochrome P-450 enzymes• Oxidize, reduce or hydrolyze toxins, which break them into

smaller, electrically-charged substances• This process generates free radicals• Excessive exposure to toxic chemicals increases (induces)

phase one detoxification, causing it to become overactive• This generates excessive free radicals overloading the body’s

antioxidant systems and phase two systems• This gives rise to inflammation and liver damage

Phase One Inducers

• Caffeine• Alcohol• Saturated fats• Organophosphate

pesticides• Paint fumes• Exhaust fumes• Heavy metals

Signs of Phase One Problems

• Sluggish– Effects of caffeine and alcohol

are long lasting– General symptoms of liver

congestion

• Overactive– Multiple chemical sensitivities– Toxemia in pregnancy– A healing crisis

Phase One Enhancing Nutrients• Carotenoids: betacarotene• Vitamins: E, B1, B2, B3, C• Minerals: Selenium,

magnesium, iron• N-acetyl-cysteine• Cruciferous vegetables• Indole-3-carbynol• Limonene: oranges,

tangerines, caraway, dill• Bitter herbs: milk thistle,

dandelion, artichoke

Photo by Stephen Foster

Milk Thistle• Helps protect the liver

against chemical toxicity• Stimulates phase I and

phase II detoxification• Can be helpful for people

undergoing chemotherapy or taking other toxic drugs

• Helpful for cirrhosis of the liver and alcohol poisoning

• Stimulates bile flow and helps to clear liver congestion

Photo from Wikipedia

Blessed Thistle• Also helpful for clearing the

liver• Congested and swollen

liver, with flu-like chills, yellowish complexion, jaundice, hepatitis

• Frontal lobe headaches associated with the liver and digestion

• Lack of appetite with a weak stomach, mucus in the stomach, fermentation, gas and indigestion.

Photo from Wikipedia

Phase One Inhibitors

• Substances from foods and herbs– Naringenin (grapefruit juice)– Curcumin (turmeric)– Quercetin (onions)– Capsaicin (capsicum)– Eugenol (cloves)

• Drugs: benzodiazepines, antihistamines, drugs that block stomach acid secretion and others

• Toxins from inappropriate bacteria in the intestines• Phase one detoxification also declines with age, which

makes drugs and chemicals more toxic to the elderly

Antioxidants and the Liver

• Intermediate metabolites and the process that creates them have the potential to cause free radical damage

• The liver requires adequate quantities of antioxidant nutrients to protect itself in the detoxification process

Liver and Eye Health

• In TCM the liver and eyes are connected, so eye problems are as sign of liver problems

• Most serious eye problems are due to a lack of antioxidants, so a depletion of antioxidants in the liver will increase the risk of eye problems

• Many liver herbs “clear vision” in TCM

Sour Fruits to Aid the Liver

• Lycium (wolfberry, gogi)• Black cherry juice• Unsweetened lemon water• Schizandra berries• Mangosteen fruit and

pericarp• Blueberries, blackberries,

raspberries

Phase Two Detoxification

• Six detoxification pathways– Glutathione conjugation– Methylation– Sulfation– Acylation/Glycation– Acetylation– Glucuronidation

Glutathione Conjugation

• Glutathione is an intracellular antioxidant• It is synthesized from the amino acids cysteine,

glutamic acid, and glycine. • Glutathione conjugation is used to eliminate toxins

through the lungs, intestines and kidneys, as well as the liver.

• Exposure to high levels of toxins and heavy metals deplete glutathione faster than it can be replenished

Glutathione Helps Eliminate

• Fat soluble toxins: solvents, herbicides, fungicides, hydrocarbons and lipid peroxides

• Heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead)

• Nicotine and toxins from tobacco smoke

• Alcohol• It also recharges other

antioxidants

Nutrients for Glutathione Conjugation

• Cruciferous vegetables • Vitamin C• Alpha-lipoic acid• Raw whey protein• N-Acetyl-Cysteine• Milk Thistle• Amino acids: glutamine

and methionine

N-Acetyl-Cystine

• Precursor to glutathione, aiding glutathione production and glutathione conjugation

• Also aids sulfation• Helpful for heavy metal detoxification, detoxification

in acetaminophen toxicity, alcohol poisoning and chemotherapy

• Also helpful for lung detoxification in bronchitis, emphystema, pneumonia, tuberculosis and smoker’s cough

• Has also been used in programs for cancer and AIDS• Ingredient in Heavy Metal Detox, Milk Thistle

Combination and Perfect Eyes

Alpha Lipoic Acid• Plays a role in the Krebs cycle to help energy

production• Water and fat soluble antioxidant• Helps regenerate glutathione to aid glutathione

conjugation; aids heavy metal detoxification• Helpful for regulating blood sugar in metabolic

syndrome and diabetes• Helpful for diabetic neuropathy• Ingredient in Cellular Energy, Brain Protex

w/Huperzine A, Heavy Metal Detox and Super Antioxidant

Methylation• Methylation conjugates toxins to methyl groups,

particularly the amino acid methionine• It occurs in every cell of the body• Methylation is involved in many other body

processes besides detoxification, including:– Immune function– Maintaining DNA– Energy production– Mood balancing– Controlling inflammation

Methylation Detoxifies

• Hormones: estrogen, melatonin

• Neurotransmitters: Epinephrine and norepinephrine, dopamine, histamine, serotonin

• It converts pyridine, sulphites and hypochlorites into compounds excreted through the lungs

Disorders Associated with Poor Methylation

• Cardiovascular disease• Cancer• Diabetes• Brain and nerve disorders: Alzheimer’s disease,

adult neurological conditions, autism and other spectrum disorders, mood and psychiatric disorders

• Immune problems: allergies, chronic fatigue• Reproductive problems: miscarriages, infertility,

PMS and problems in pregnancy

Nutrients for Methylation

• Amino acid: methionine• B-Vitamins: B6, B12, Folic acid• Choline• SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine)• Bentaine (from beets)• The activity of the methyltransferase enzyme

is dependent on magnesium

Methylation Nutrients

• B vitamins: B6, B12, Folic acid

• Choline• Magnesium• Zinc• Methionine• SAMe

(S-adenosylmethionine)

SAM-e

• Major methyl-donor for liver detoxification and other methylation processes

• Helpful for liver diseases such as: cirrhosis of the liver, alcoholic liver damage, toxic chemical exposure, NSAID-liver damage and environmental chemical hypersensitivity

• Can also be helpful for depression, elevated homocysteine and inflammatory disorders (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, joint injuries and osteoporosis)

Sulfation• Conjugates toxins to sulfur compounds• Sulfation requires sulphate and is limited by the

amount present in the body• Sulphate may be ingested from food, but is also

produced by the action of the enzyme cysteine dioxygenase on the amino acid cysteine

• Sulfoxidation, a final stage of methylation, transforms toxic sulfites into sulfate

• Sulfites are used to preserve food and can cause respiratory problems in some people

Sulfation Detoxifies

• Some drugs: acetaminophen• Some food additives: aspartame• Hormones and neurotransmitters:

cortisol, thyroid, steroidal• Toxins from intestinal bacteria• Various environmental toxins• Xenoestrogens• Phenolic compounds

Disorders Associated with Poor Sulfation

• Neurological disorders: – Parkinson’s disease– Alzheimer’s disease

• Environmental illness• Estrogen-dependent cancers (from xenoestrogens)• Poor sulfoxidation causes sensitivity to sulfates,

producing respiratory allergies and difficulty breathing

Sulfation Nutrients

• Amino acids: methionine and cysteine

• Sulfur-rich veggies• B vitamins: B1, B2, B12• Magnesium• Zinc• MSM• N-Acytel-Cysteine• Indole-3-Carbinol• Note: Excess B6 or molybdenum

inhibits sulfation

Indole-3-Carbinol

• Enhances both Phase 1 and Phase 2 Detoxification

• Helps break down estrogens (including xenoestrogens)

• Cancer preventative (breast, prostate, cervical)

• Glutathione conjugation support

MSM

• MethylSulfonylMethane • Crystalline derivative of DMSO• Organic sulfur compound found in

vegetables, fruit, meat and diary products• Aids sulfation in the liver• Has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect• Ingredient in EverFlex, MSM/Glucosaine

Cream, Everyflex Pain Cream

Amino Acid Conjugation

• Also known as acylation• Attaching toxins to amino acids glycine, glutamine and

tuarine• Attaching toxins to glycine is also known as glycination• Taurine and glycine reactions require an alkaline pH: 7.8-8.0• Disturbed acylation by toxic overload decreases bile in the

gastrointestinal tract (may affect as high as 5% of the population)

Disorders Associated with Poor Acylation/Glycination

• Hepatitis• Alcoholic Liver Disorders• Carcinomas• Chronic Arthritis• Hypothyroidism• Toxemia in pregnancy• Excessive Chemical Exposure

Glycination Detoxifies

• Benzoate (widely used as a food preservative)

• Salycilates (aspirin)– Glycine is administered

to treat aspirin overdose

• Toluene (popular industrial solvent)

Acylation/Glycination Supplements

• Protein-rich foods• Amino acids: glycine,

taurine, glutamine, arginine, and ornithine

Acetylation

• Attaches acetyl co-A to toxins• Poor acetylation prolongs the life span of

drugs and other toxic chemicals in the body, thus enhancing their toxicity

• As high as 50% of the population are slow acetylators, 80% among those who are chemically sensitive

Acetylation Detoxifies

• Neurotransmitters: histamine, serotonin

• Salicylic acid• PABA• Sulfa drugs• Environmental toxins:

tobacco smoke, exhaust fumes

Nutrients for Acetylation

• Pantothenic acid (B5)• Vitamin C• Thiamine (B1)• Liberal consumption of

fresh fruits and vegetables

Glucuronidation

• Glucuronic acid is a metabolite of glucose• Glucuronidation attaches glucuronic acid to

toxins• For most individuals glucuronidation is a

supplementary detoxification pathway, a secondary, slower process than sulfation or glycination

Disorders Associated with Poor Glucuronidation

• Gilbert’s syndrome: elevated serum bilirubin levels

• May affect as high as 5% of the population• May have no serious symptoms, but

symptoms include: loss of appetite, malaise, fatigue

• Yellowish tinge to the eyes and skin may be a symptom of poor glucuronidation

Glucuronidation Detoxifies

• Food additives: aspartame, vanillin (synthetic vanilla), menthol, preservatives

• Metabolic byproducts: retinoids, bile acids, bilirubin• Bacterial toxins and some fungal toxins• Steroidal hormones: androgens, estrogens,

mineralcorticoids, glucocorticoids

Nutrients to Assist Glucuronidation

• L-glutamine• Aspartic acid• Magnesium • B-Vitamins: B3, B6• The monoterpene

limonene (found in citrus, dill and caraway EO) increases activity of this pathway

Elimination of Toxins

• Once conjugated toxins must be flushed from the body via the bile (colon) or kidneys

• Adequate bile flow is important for detoxification, as is fiber to bind toxins in colon and water to flush toxins from the system

Milk Thistle Combination

Vitamin A (beta carotene) 14,000IU

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 480mg

Choline (bitartrate) 110mg Inositol 110mg Milk thistle seed extract N-acetyl-cysteine Dandelion root

Aids phase I and phase II liver detoxification pathways

Helps glutathione production

Protects liver cells from damage from toxins

Helpful for people who work around chemicals, hangovers, cirrhosis of the liver, fatty liver disease, gall stones and liver congestion

Liver Balance

Bupleurum root, peony root without bark, typhonium rhizome, cinnamon twig, dang gui root, fushen sclerotium with root, scute root, zhishi fruit, atractylodes rhizome, ginseng root, ginger rhizome, licorice root

Helps decongest the liver (relieves “constricted liver qi)

Harmonizes the function of the body

Reduces feelings of irritability, stuffiness under the rib cage and other symptoms of liver congestion

Helpful for gall stones, hangover, toxemia, PMS Type A and hepatitis

Heavy Metal Detox

Vitamin B6 5mg. Cilantro leaf Sodium alginate Apple pectin N-acetyl-cysteine L-methionine Magnesium (citrate) Kelp leaf and stem Alpha lipoic acid

Aids glutathione conjugation, methylation and sulfation

Helps the liver detoxify heavy metals and other chemicals

Helps bind heavy metals and toxins in the digestive tract

Comments, Questions and Answers

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