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Activating Detox pathways / heavy metals
I am working through a heavy metals detox program and am experiencing some side effects – dryness of skin, skin pigmentation etc
1. I recognize the info I’m sharing is limited- but is it fair to say that if I go through any detox program without “activating my detox pathways” properly , the detox program won’t go as smoothly as planned and/or experience symptoms
2. What are some of the detox pathway activation protocols I can consider.
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10 Replies
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Hi Mohamed, I just read your question. I know you will get an detailed response from Bernadette/ Daniel. But when I think of skin issues, I think of the liver. Specifically liver and bile ducts.
You can google “drainage funnel”. And make sure that before any detox all your pathways are open.
Else the toxins will recirculate in the body.
In general you should be able to sweat daily, go 2-3 times daily, hydrate, sleep hygiene, and support liver, kidney. -
great insights!
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Yes, you are correct in that if someone’s detox pathways aren’t optimized, they will experience worse detox or Herxheimer reactions.Our main detox routes are the liver/gallbladder (through bile flow), the skin (through sweating), bowels (through stool), kidneys (through urine), the lymph (through vertical movement), and the lungs (breathwork/exercise).
With that in mind, which pathways do you suspect need the most support so I can offer more targeted recommendations?
Below are some general recommendations for each pathway:
• Liver/gallbladder: here’s a handout with liver supportive foods you can incorporate more of into your diet like cruciferous veggies. Castor oil packs and coffee enemas can be helpful therapies as well. In terms of supplements to support phase 1 and 2 detox, I like Integrative Therapeutics Detoxification Factors. For more targeted gallbladder support, I like Seeking Health’s Gallbladder Nutrients or Pure Encapsulations Digestion GB. And here’s the video on liver/gallbladder support that discusses different food therapy/supplement options for different circumstances like biliary tract congestion, bile synthesis and bile flow.
• Lymph: exercise and vertical movement are key to move lymph. You can also look at dry brushing and regular lymph massages if this is a weak pathway for you. Contrast showers (alternating between hot and cold showers, and ending on cold), acupuncture, and compression therapy like https://ballancerpro.com/ are also helpful. This is available at By Formation in Dubai. CellCore has a great supplement called LymphActiv to support the lymph with botanicals here.
• Kidneys: hydration is key for kidney health. If you’re sweating regularly, make sure electrolytes are added to your water as well. Parsley is a great food for kidney health (hello tabouli!) .
• Bowel Movements: ensure you’re having 2 well formed BMs per day. If not, please let me know and I can direct you to the correct video inside the Gut Health Masterclass. Colonics are invasive, but can be a helpful treatment for some. Enemas are gentler.
• Skin: dry brushing and sweating, either through exercise or sauna therapy
• Lungs: breathwork with deep breathing exercises (checkout RESPeRATE which is clinically proven to lower blood pressure naturally through guided breathing – powerful!), exerciseWorking on opening up your detox pathways will surely help alleviate detox reactions, however so can taking appropriate binders to help mop up and excrete metals and endotoxins. Are you currently taking any?
Supporting glutathione production with NAC, selenium, methylated B vitamins (its cofactors) or supplementing with liposomal glutathione directly can also be helpful when detoxing heavy metals, since glutathione get excreted along with metals and do not get recycled, so we can deplete our stores pretty quickly. Alpha lipoic acid is also a powerful antioxidant that helps recycle glutathione and can act as a chelator as well.
Hope this is helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions.
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thank you
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thank you- this is very helpful. A responses and queries below:
1. In terms of which pathways do I think I would need more support with- given I’m on an IV chelation protocol I would assume liver / kidney support2. I looked up the two supplements you recommended (pure encapsulation digestion GB and seeking health gallbladder nutrients) and compared it with the one I have (Pure encapsulations GI Detox support) which seem to also have very targeted nutrients for liver detox; shall I consider substituting or can I stay on this? Is it also worth adding Pure Encapsulation glycine ? I will also be adding NAC as well. Will all this be sufficient to open up detox pathways or do I need to consider something else ?
2. Noted on kidney, lymph and bowel movements
3. Binders/ yes I just shifter from a pure activated charcoal to the quick silver binder which has other binding agents . I will also try and do glutathione infusions instead of oral
4. Alpha lipoic- should I consider that in addition to all the liver and kidney support functions or can I assume that the liver detox supplements is a sufficient substitute for the alpha lipoic supplement .
Thank you!
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Bernadette Abraham thank you- this is very helpful. A few responses and queries below:
1. In terms of which pathways do I think I would need more support with- given I’m on an IV chelation protocol I would assume liver / kidney support2. I looked up the two supplements you recommended (pure encapsulation digestion GB and seeking health gallbladder nutrients) and compared it with the one I have (Pure encapsulations GI Detox support) which seem to also have very targeted nutrients for liver detox; shall I consider substituting or can I stay on this? Is it also worth adding Pure Encapsulation glycine ? I will also be adding NAC as well. Will all this be sufficient to open up detox pathways or do I need to consider something else ?
2. Noted on kidney, lymph and bowel movements
3. Binders/ yes I just shifter from a pure activated charcoal to the quick silver binder which has other binding agents . I will also try and do glutathione infusions instead of oral
4. Alpha lipoic- should I consider that in addition to all the liver and kidney support functions or can I assume that the liver detox supplements is a sufficient substitute for the alpha lipoic supplement .
Thank you!
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Hey ,
I love what and said. I don’t know exactly what kind of detox program you are following. Perhaps sharing details of your program can help us to give you more targeted advice!
It would also be great to learn what motivated you to do the detox and share if you had any symptoms before you started the detox.
With detox programs, we free up toxins that are stored in our bodies. These toxins can be stored in the more ‘safe’ spaces of the body to protect the more vulnerable organs for example.
Before toxins are excreted they enter the circulation where they can do more harm. I usually recommend my clients to slow down detoxification when many complaints start to present. All the tips above will optimize for detoxification, but removing toxins is an intense process for the body.
Toxins, once they went through phase 1 detoxification, are in an intermediate state. They are ready for phase 2 detoxification, but in this phase, they are often more reactive, not less.
I mentioned phases 1 & 2 detoxification which primarily happens in the liver. In phase 3 detoxification the toxins are excreted for example through the stool. Bernadette’s tips are mainly to help you with this phase.
Although we explain detoxification often by explaining first what phase 1 detoxification is, then phase 2 detoxification and then phase 3 detoxification, in a program, we approach it exactly the other way: first optimize phase 3, then phase 2 and 1
I often recommend by checking if phase 3 goes well. For example, with my clients who don’t have 1 bowel movement per day, I don’t start detoxification. If this goes well, I will support the next 2 phases.
Phase 2 detoxification needs nutrients like glycine, taurine, glutamine, NAC, and cysteine. In my opinion, having a well designed detox program should therefore contain some form of protein. Does your program have this? These specific amino acids that I mentioned could also be in supplements that came with your detox program. Other things that support phase 2 detoxification are glutathione (Like Bernadette mentioned), sulfur (which you can find in cruciferous vegetables), methyl folate and B12.
To offer better protection against the intermediates I was talking about earlier you will need anti-oxidants as Bernadette mentioned. These intermediates are often free radicals and antioxidants neutralize free radicals.
Long story short:
• Slow down detoxification if the symptoms that present are too much.
• Support first phase 3, then phase 2 and 1.I hope you feel better soon!
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Thank you for your detailed reply.
1. The motivation behind the program is elevated levels of heavy metals which came about through testing ; the topic of detox came about in context of ensuring I support my body whilst I go through my heavy metal chelation protocol to ensure my body is supported
2. The symptoms I describe came off the back of the chelation protocol which is why I wanted to inquire about ensuring I open up my detox pathways to relieve myself from these symptoms and ensure my body is supported
3. Regarding the protein I am taking and other Supplments to support detox – I mention them above in response to
‘s feedback . The one thing I also take which I didn’t mention in my earlier response is a methyl folate/B12 supplement (Thorne methylprotect)4. When you talk about Ph1 vs Ph 2 detox pathways ; should I consider specific protocols which I introduce in sequence for each of the two phases (ie do a Ph1 protocol for a period of time and then start Ph2 activation protocol)or can I think about it in a way where I take all the relevant nutrients and Supplments described collectively for both phases in 1 go (or it doesn’t work like that)?
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it’s best to check with your doctor to see if the addition of alpha lipoic acid, NAC and glycine are appropriate for you since they’re working with you 1-1.
Detoxification Factors has the addition of B vitamins which helps with Phase 1 detox, as well as amino acids for Phase 2. Liver-GI Detox focuses on Phase 2 primarily and some liver/GI repair support.
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With supplements I usually don’t differentiate. But some lifestyle factors can stimulate phase 1 detoxification:
• Coffee
• Alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases (enzymes that that catalyse the oxidation of aldehydes)
• Smoking (this effect is caused by flavin monooxygenases in sigarette smoke)
• Stress (the enzyme monoamine oxidase is also goes through liver detoxification)
• half of all pharmaceutical drugs are metabolized via just five CYP enzymes: CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A4. I’m not saying stopping medications by the way, but if phase 1 goes faster as phase 2, free radicals tend to build up.
• There are genetic factors involved as well
• Some supplements influence phase 1. St. John’s Wort induces CYP2C9.
• Detoxification should also be done from a place of strength in your life. If you are for example struggling with inflammation, disease or stress, this can cause strong reactions of the body.
• Charred meat can upregulate phase 1
• High insulin…I know the list is long (and perhaps a bit late), but perhaps you can pick out some stuff you can use!
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