Detoxification Secrets & the Shocking Truth About Toxins

Are you trying to detox from Lyme Disease or other illnesses? Sure, you are following a strict natural protocol, bent on detoxifying and ridding your body of toxins associated with the die off of Lyme and other tick bacteria and parasites. But did you realize that those very same toxins can be re-absorbed, then re-circulated, causing even more serious side effects or illness? So how come no one ever told us? In fact, it has been clear to healthcare practitioners because they have been recommending natural agents like Chlorella and Red Marine Algae, like Dulse and Nori, that actually bind the toxins in order to draw them out of the body. If you have ever had a life-threatening Herxheimer reaction, it is likely due to a massive influx of toxins that the body cannot eliminate, quite possibly started after taking large doses of anti-microbials.

What is a toxin?
Technically, a toxin is a substance that is produced by a living organism (other things that have been included under the umbrella of "toxin" are produced by non-living agents, like heavy metals, pesticides, etc. For the purposes of this article, we will address the ones produced by living organisms). These substances are poisonous at low concentrations, and they are able to be absorbed (and re-absorbed) by the body tissues. One way they do this is by binding to cell receptors and interacting with enzymes. The damaging toxins referred to when treating Lyme Disease are termed neurotoxins. In The Klinghardt Neurotoxin Protocol, presented as a lecture by Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD., neurotoxins are described as substances that act on the nerve cells. He states, "They are absorbed by the nerve endings and travel inside the neuron to the cell body, (where they) disrupt vital functions of the nerve cell."¹ This explains why Lyme patients often exhibit neurological symptoms such as brain fog, confused thinking, paralysis, depression, MS-like symptoms, and other serious problems.

Where do the neurotoxins come from?
Spirochete neurotoxins are produced in three main ways. 1. Living bacteria normally excrete metabolic wastes as well as other substances. 2. Killed bacteria dump their cell contents into the body. 3. Our own body releases poisonous natural toxins in response to infection. All three create problems.

Why can't the body naturally detoxify Lyme neurotoxins?
Klinghardt states that the body detoxifies mainly through the skin, liver, kidneys, skin, and lungs. When the neurotoxins move through the liver, they are removed with the bile into the small intestine. Here is the skinny on what happens next: Since the neurotoxins have an affinity for nerve tissue, and the small intestine is lined with nerves, most neurotoxins are then re-absorbed and are then re-circulated!²

What happens to the neurotoxins once they are re-absorbed?
Klinghardt says that they can take four primary paths back into the body. 1. Nerve cells transport the toxins into the spinal cord and brain. 2. Veins take the toxins back into the liver. 3. The lymphatic system picks them up and dumps them back into a major vein. 4. Bowel bacteria and intestines pick them up.³

Why do some people heal quickly from Lyme Disease, but others continue to get sicker and sicker?
There is recent evidence that genetics play a pivotal role in whether one is seriously affected by neurotoxins. In her e-article, New Theory links Neurotoxins with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lyme, MCS, and Other Mystery Illnesses, Patti Schmidt looks for answers to her own chronic fatigue through the research of Ritchie Shoemaker, MD and Neurotoxicologist Hilton Kenneth Hudnell, PhD. Her interview with Dr. Shoemaker reveals some startling things, namely, up to 10 million Americans cannot naturally eliminate neurotoxins, which results in chronic illnesses.⁵ In researching Post-Lyme Syndrome, Shoemaker and Hudnell saw that patients had something in common - they shared two gene types that are risk factors for neurotoxin-related illness. Evidence suggests a genetic susceptibility to specific neurotoxins that sets the stage for chronic illness. This can explain why some people seem to heal from Lyme Disease, and others continue to suffer.⁶

Shoemaker, in his paper A New Diagnostic Tool And A New Drug Therapy Provide Major Weapons Against The Surging Epidemic of Post-Lyme Syndrome, posted on his website www.chronicneurotoxins.org, gives this explanation: "Borrelia bacteria likely manufactures a nasty suite of neurotoxins which circulate in human fatty tissues, such as those found in nerve, muscle, brain, lung and bile, rather than in the bloodstream (as happens with more common illnesses such as pneumonia). Because these bacterial poisons are moving through the body's fat storage system and bile, they cannot be reached by the "antibodies" that search out and destroy invading microorganisms in the bloodstream. Instead, they continue to travel throughout the tissues for years at a time, triggering such classic symptoms of Lyme Disease as fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, joint aches and short-term memory impairment."⁷

The role of inflammation
Shoemaker says that toxins not only affect the nervous system, but can trigger serious inflammation in the body, which can affect virtually any tissue or organ. The symptoms from this inflammation appears to mimic the same symptoms of the infectious agent.⁸ (This explains one reason why anti-inflammatories are so often recommended in Lyme protocols and the some of the controversy in the reasoning of avoiding long term use of antibiotics.)

As a response to the toxins present and to the substances that the bacteria release, the body's own immune system cells release powerful cytokines (pro-inflammatory substances). Cytokines that address neurotoxins come from the body's fat cells. Apparently, the response of these particular cytokines may continue to cause havoc because they do not turn off when the infectious agent is removed. Therefor, the body's own response can create inflammatory illness.⁹

Bind toxins and stop the re-absorption
Allopathic agent: Cholestyramine (CSM) is a prescription medicine that is now being prescribed by the more Lyme literate doctors. This is a resin that binds to bile acids in the small intestine, which in turn trap toxins. These trapped toxins are not re-absorbed and are eliminated via the feces. Shoemaker recommends that chronic, Post-Lyme patients be treated with Cholestyramine for at least 4-8 weeks. In one study treating over 200 Post-Lyme Syndrome patients with CSM, Shoemaker reported a 92% improvement in symptoms.¹⁰ Interestingly, lower grade Herxheimer was reported during treatment. (This medicine causes side effects and is contraindicated with several medications and conditions, including some thyroid conditions.)

Natural agents: In his paper, Lyme Disease, A Look Beyond Antibiotics, Klinghardt outlines the following natural supplements that have been shown to bind and remove neurotoxins and help mobilize them:¹¹
1. Mucuna bean powder/ Cilantro/Chlorella taken together. (Allergy Research Group markets "KingChlorella," a top notch product that comes in small aspirin sized pellets, which enables you to chew it or take many at the same time. 10 pellets equal 2,000 mg.)
2. Beta-Sitosterol
3. Forskolin
4. Propolis powder
5. Apple pectin
6. High fiber ground veggies

Final notes - How to start
Klinghardt recommends doing a heavy metal cleanse prior to treating with binding agents. Why? Heavy metals seem to work synergistically and compound trouble with neurotoxins.¹² There is also strong support for preliminary intestinal and parasite detoxification using a colon cleansing program. There are two detox prgrams on the market, Colonix and Toxinout, both from www.drnatura.com that work together to remove parasites and heavy metals and other toxins. Co-infections like parasites are common with Lyme Disease. It stands to reason that if the intestinal tract is low functioning or even clogged with debris and if there are parasites present that are producing toxins, a full detox is sensible. Both Colonis and Toxinout are designed to work together and the ingredients are powerfully therapeutic. Pages of success story testamonials are posted on the website.

The natural treatment of Lyme Disease is complex, as it affects us on so many body levels. Look for more articles on the natural treatment of Lyme Disease. Go to my profile to learn where to buy natural items at a discount.

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References:
1, 2, 3. Klinghardt, Dietrich, MD, PhD. (October, 2002/January 2006).The Klinghardt Neurotoxin Protocol, www.neuraltherapy.com.
4,5,6,8. Schmidt, Patti. (November, 2002). New Theory links Neurotoxins with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lyme, MCS, and Other Mystery Illnesses,www.immunesupport.com.
7, 9, 10. Shoemaker, R. A New Diagnostic Tool And A New Drug Therapy Provide Major Weapons Against The Surging Epidemic of Post-Lyme Syndrome, www.chronicneurotoxins.com.
11, 12. Klinghardt, Dietrich, MD, Phd. (January, 2005, January, 2006). Lyme Disease, A Look Beyond Antibiotics,www.neuraltherapy.com,

Webpage References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorella; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_marine_algae; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dulse; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nori; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxin; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_receptor; http://www.neuraltherapy.com/NeurotoxinProtocol040406.pdf; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytotoxic_T_cell; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholestyramine; http://www.neuraltherapy.com/LymeALookBeyond6.pdf; http://www.chronicneurotoxins.com/learnmore/lymedisease.cfm; http://www.drnatura.com/toxinout_program.php; http://www.allergyresearchgroup.com/proddesc/discuss/KingChlorellaPDFProductSheet083006.pdf; http://www.colonix.info/ ; http://www.drnatura.com/toxinout_program.php