I mentioned Phase I liver enzymes and PST above. Your liver changes chemicals in your body (that come in from food and from the environment, or that your body makes) into other chemicals that can be disposed of. This is called biotransformation. Biotransformation is broadly broken into Phase I and Phase II pathways.
The Phase I enzymes are mostly of the Cytochrome p450 family. These combine oxygen with the toxic molecule and use the reduced form of nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NADH) as cofactor to add a reactive group (i.e., hydroxyl radical) to the substrates and oxidize it, allowing disposal via the kidneys. This is bioactivation, and it generates lots of free radicals. Sometimes, the result of this reaction is the generation of a reactive molecule, which is often more toxic than the parent compound. Unless this intermediate is further metabolized, it may react with and cause damage to proteins, RNA, and DNA within the cell. To rid itself of poisons that are produced by Phase I bioactivation, the liver employs a Phase II system in which the oxidized chemicals have some other substance attached to them making them soluble so they can be excreted readily by the kidneys. This is the preferred action, but if the load on the liver is high, or if the toxins are present in large amounts, or if the Phase II enzyme systems are not working well (PST), or if there are insufficient numbers of Phase II enzymes or of their necessary substrates (sulfate, glutathione) one of three negative possibilities may occur instead. There may be tissue damage, such as toxic liver damage, or it may react with a cell protein forming an antigen. The antigen may lead to a negative immunological reaction; or, finally, the toxin may bind with DNA causing a mutation that can lead to cancer.
Individuals with immune, CNS, and endocrine disorders often present with complex xenobiotics (foreign chemicals) involving disturbances in the cytochrome p450 super family of liver enzymes that parallels disturbances in peroxisomal function. The cytochrome p450s are responsible for the biotransformation and excretion of endogenous compounds including fatty acids, steroids, estrogen, body alcohols, Retinoic acids (vitamin A), glycine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, many drugs and vitamins, as well as the detoxification of exogenous compounds resulting in substantial alterations of p450s as xenobiotics may turn off or greatly reduce the expression of these constitutive isoenzymes. Low protein intake has been found to increase markedly the toxicity of a number of xenobiotics. Excessive histidine, however, increased liver cytochrome P-450, whereas excessive tyrosine markedly decreased liver cytochrome p450. P450 production may be inhibited or substantially used up by H2 blockers, some antacids, SSRIs (Prozac™, Paxil™, Zoloft™, etc.), and perhaps one fifth of all medications. In this manner, these drugs have the potential to worsen, or even create, a susceptibility to many common chemicals, Chemical Sensitivities/Environmental Illness, and related syndromes. Prozac™ also loads the body with fluoride. The oddness of some of these symptoms may prompt some doctors to prescribe SSRIs, thus making the situation worse!
Long-term inhibition of heme (a deep red iron
containing pigment found in hemoglobin) synthesis due to p450
insufficiency may cause anemia. This, and the resulting metabolic
reductions, may cause reductions in the body’s ability to maintain
itself, showing up as a wide variety of health problems similar to those
of
The balance between Phase I and Phase II is critical, however, and stimulation of Phase I in absence of stimulation of Phase II reactions is dangerous. When toxins are high, we want to enhance Phase I and Phase II together so there is a smooth passage of these toxic products from Phase I to Phase II and out of the body. Sluggish action of Phase II due to low sulfate/glutathione levels, or to low PST enzyme activity, can lead to increased concentrations of toxic neurotransmitter amines, peptides, steroids, bile acids, GAGs, and phenol amines, and to prolonged effects on the central nervous system.
Accumulation of toxic substances depends on an individual’s quantity and quality of immune and enzyme detoxication responses along with his age and overall health. Newborns and very young children have detoxification reaction rates that are much slower than adults. Accumulation may also occur with constant exposures that allow no time for clearing. The nutritional state needed to maintain good health is depleted by this toxic exposure. Overload of pollutants can increasingly tax the detoxification systems, eventually resulting in depletion of nutrients, system/organ malfunctions, and susceptibility to illness. Among the most insidious toxic metals are the sulfhydryl-reactive metals, which include mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As). The pro-oxidative effects of the metals are compounded by the fact that they inhibit antioxidative enzymes and deplete intracellular glutathione. The metals have the potential to disrupt the metabolism and biological activities of many proteins due to their high affinity for free sulfhydryl groups. In addition to promoting lipid peroxidation, depleting GSH, and inhibiting antioxidative processes, the sulfhydryl-reactive metals disrupt the structure and function of numerous important proteins through direct binding to free sulfhydryl groups. Intact sulfhydryl groups are critical for the biological activities of virtually all proteins. Since all these metals are sulfhydryl reactive, the presence of more than one is cumulative in their effects.
Chemical sensitivity is one of the major manifestations of environmentally triggered disease involving Phase II enzymes. It is an adverse reaction(s) to ambient levels of a toxic chemical(s) contained in air, food, and water. The nature of these adverse reactions depends upon the tissue(s) or organ(s) involved, the chemical and pharmacologic nature of the substance(s) involved (that is, duration of time, concentration, and virulence of exposure), the individual susceptibility of the exposed person (nutritional state, genetic makeup, and toxic load at the time of exposure), and the length of time and the amount and variety of other body stressors (total load), and the synergism at the time of the reaction(s).
Chemical allergies are a small but significant part of the overall spectrum of chemical sensitivity. They may involve both allergic (immunologically mediated mechanisms including all of the four types of hypersensitivity reactions) and toxic (nonimmune mechanisms) responses. They involve the mechanisms of the IgE class of immunoglobulins. An example of chemical allergy is the IgE-mediated toluene diisocyanate antigen/antibody reaction that frequently manifests itself as asthma or some other form of respiratory or vascular dysfunction. Other immune mechanisms such as IgG, cytotoxic response, immune complexes (IgG + complement), or T- and B-cell abnormalities are often involved in chemical sensitivity, although these reactions are frequently secondary responses following an initial enzyme detoxification response. Failure of enzyme detoxification appears to be the prime mechanism in chemical sensitivity. Regardless of the mechanisms involved, clinical manifestations of chemical sensitivity may be the same. For example, rhinitis may occur either as an IgE response to toluene diisocyanate, or it may be an enzyme detoxification system response to formaldehyde, or it simply could be a zinc deficiency.
Chemical sensitivities may arise in several ways. Individuals who survive near-fatal exposures to toxic substances often experience lowered resistance to disease as a result of the depletion of their nutrient pool brought on by the exposure. They may then develop chronic symptoms of ill health. If these people are later exposed to ambient doses of toxic chemicals, they may experience additional and/or enhanced symptoms. Numb, tingling hands and face are typical of people who are working in contaminated buildings. “Spreading”, which can involve both new organ systems and increased sensitivities to additional substances, may occur. For example, an individual working in a chemical plant may be exposed to high doses of xylene after an explosion. He immediately develops headaches and flu-like symptoms that become chronic. Weeks later, after ongoing ambient exposures in the workplace and at home, this person develops asthma and sensitivity to ambient doses of various toxic and nontoxic (e.g., perfume) substances. Of the chemically sensitive patients seen at the EHC-Dallas, 13% relate the onset of their sensitivity to a severe, acute exposure.
These credited quotes express well the problems faced by MCS sufferers, and point to a protocol.
“One reason that (Autism and) Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) can be such a stubborn problem is that it involves so many of the body’s interlocking systems, and lying at the center of it all is an adrenal deficit in enzymatic detoxification. For this reason, doctors are finding it maddeningly hard to minimize or eliminate the symptoms of MCS, thwart unwanted pain and inflammation, and stop carcinogenesis. Lifestyle changes aren’t enough. For the nation’s major diseases to be controlled, doctors must learn how to unlock tensed, energetic streams that govern healing and repair via adrenal energetics and physiology (the adrenal influence on detoxification enzymes).
“Increasing worldwide pollution coupled with overcrowding, contaminated water and food, and indoor air contaminants has between 15 and 37% of the American population complaining of sensitivities or allergies to chemicals, car exhaust, tobacco smoke, air fresheners, and the scents of many common household cleaning agents and body care products. Indoor air contaminants (synthetic cleaning agents, synthetic colognes, perfumes, body care products, and air fresheners) wreck havoc with detoxification functions and the chemistry of the whole body goes awry. These pollutants act as stressors that infiltrate and damage the body and rapidly deplete the nutrient precursors and co-factors required by the body. Moreover, these pollutants throw off the calibration of the body’s stress defense mechanisms, propelling the body into a vicious cycle of stress-driven reactions that allow stagnant energy to build up in the upper abdomen.
“The best way to understand what MCS is - and what it is not - is to observe how it affects the lives of people who have it. MCS has serious implications and social effects that demand more public and professional understanding. MCS sufferers experience personality changes--becoming angry, depressed, irritated, anxious, fearful, and lethargic--acute heart symptoms, brain and nervous system reactions, paralysis, an inability to breathe or a feeling of suffocation, intense headaches, dizziness, brain fog, short-term memory losses, muscle and joint pain, and convulsions when exposed to certain chemicals.
“Most sufferers find it impossible to live a normal life. Shopping and the normal social routines of life become impossible making isolation and withdrawal the only option to avoid a chemical exposure that could trigger a serious or near fatal neurological reaction. When they seek professional help, they are labeled as “psychosomatic” or misdiagnosed with psychiatric disorders, cognitive and neurological impairment, allergies, migraine headaches, sinusitis, or asthma. Sadly, the real cause (enzyme detoxification deficits and the deferral of repair routines due to undetected hypoadrenia) remain obscure and are masked by commonly prescribed antihistamines, decongestants, anti-inflammatory drugs, megavitamins (especially B-complex and vitamin C), herbs, and cortisone.
“Detoxification in Individuals with Impaired Enzymatic Detoxification is Contraindicated and Dangerous.”
“Effective detoxification protocols for MCS (and PST) patients must address sulfoxidation deficits, specifically the impairment of the enzyme cysteine dioxygenase (CDO). The fact that CDO is the primary enzyme deficit in MCS, (Down’s, and autistic) patients and that it’s not adequately identified by the acetaminophen challenge test, the urinary-sulfate-to-creatinine-ratio, and the plasma cysteine-to-sulfate ratio make it an exceedingly bad idea to employ detoxification strategies that do not conjugate or disarm volatile and inflammation-producing toxins. Indeed, impaired CDO activity has been linked to Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Parkinson’s Disease, MCS, and neurological diseases.”
“The abnormal expression (lack) of CDO (and glutathione) breaches the body’s primary metabolic barrier against the systemic entry of xenobiotics. Since the lungs are the first point of contact for airborne toxins, it makes sense that their entry and access to other tissues before being detoxified by the liver has the potential to cause many of the neurological and organ symptoms of MCS, (Autism), and other diseases. In contrast, orally ingested xenobiotics undergo the hepatic first-pass effect. Therefore, it is possible that, without the potential for CDO (and glutathione) detoxification within the alveolus, many carcinogens or potential carcinogens would enter into the systemic circulation unimpeded, without detoxification, as strong electrophiles (electron-deficient molecules - that is, free radicals). (Never use Tylenoltm for any reason as it destroys all glutathione in both lungs and liver.) Electrophiles react with electron-rich DNA causing mistranslations, mutations, defective DNA repair mechanisms, and chronic maldigestion. In these cases, boosting nutrient uptake with new carrier protein-co-transporter technologies may be necessary to nourish these patients and supply the necessary nutritional support to the adrenals and detoxification organs of the body.” (As spelled out in this paper.)
“Rather than pursuing aggressive detoxification strategies, practitioners need to make sure that detoxification enzymes (CDO, GSH, PST) are functional and can safely disarm and excrete toxins in a natural fashion and appreciate the fact that innate healing mechanisms repair these damaged enzymes at the acupuncture-energetic juncture.”
“Hypoadrenia causes chronic and prolonged infection and unwanted inflammation which lies at the root of heart disease and other disorders. A buildup of stagnant energy in the liver and diaphragm inhibits enzymatic detoxification triggering a wide spectrum of reactive and pro-inflammatory symptoms.”
“After decades of using different clinical approaches, I have concluded that natural therapies should never stimulate the adrenals and never force detoxification unless CDO (needed to produce sulfates) is functional. While stimulation may result in the disappearance of many symptoms, it will eventually backslide as it goes against innate intelligence and acupuncture-energetic physiology. What types of natural therapies stimulate and evoke stress response? Nutritional approaches that advocate the use of B-vitamins, vitamin C, stimulatory herbs, expansive or contractive inorganic minerals, DHEA, pregnenolone, and synthetic vitamins. Even acupuncture, without detoxification, may be viewed as a stressor to the body. Dr. Seem states ‘... in line with modern stress theories, acupuncture serves as a minor stressor to activate the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). In doing so it activates the adrenals (the mother of the Liver in acupuncture energetic physiology)....’“
“The adrenals connect to SNS nerves at the medulla cells which secrete epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) with SNS stimulation. The SNS, involved in the preparation of the organism for “fight or flight” in emergency situations, inhibits the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS) and anabolic processes, thereby acting as an inhibitor of gastrointestinal function. The common use of digestive enzymes enforces (supports?) the SNS-dominant pattern, keeps the adrenals in a perpetual state of stimulation, and fails to address core issues underlying maldigestion and malnourishment. Rather than stimulate, our goal is to nourish and strengthen weak physiology in a manner that restores disrupted energetic patterns.” (As outlined elsewhere in this paper. Magnesium down regulates SNS and potassium upregulates PSNS.)
“The duality of nourishment, physically and energetically, allows the body to keep itself in equilibrium and to balance itself when that equilibrium is disrupted. The body’s restorative secrets are intrinsically linked to its ability to expand and exploit its myriad resources at these frequencies. Enhancing quantum coherence synchronizes adrenal-energetic functions, making one highly resilient to stress. In nutritional applications, this coherent, amplified, crystalline resonant field propels nutrients deep into cells, providing a plausible scientific theory on how to regulate the entire organism while shielding it from EMF-microwave stressors that weaken the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The body needs nourishment from healthy resonances that are woefully missing in today’s polluted environment. Plus, the naturopathic goals of enhancing electron transfer functions and stabilizing molecular defenses to reduce oxidative stress are supported in the sub-molecular realm where homeopathy has already shown us powerful methodologies to control and regulate biochemical reactions.”
“Once the adrenals are functioning optimally, both physically and energetically, the body can adapt to the stresses and strains of everyday living without distress. Detoxification is without effort and without harm to the body. Healing energies are not hindered by stress overload (daily doses of unwanted toxins or interferences from electromagnetic pollution) because they operate coherently and with functional unity.
“Clinically, I use a wide array of botanicals to strengthen adrenal function which, in turn, boosts detoxification enzymes and facilitates the destruction of reactive electrophiles and oxidants into innocuous, excretable metabolites. However, a strong word of caution: a high percentage of supplements we tested were toxic and presented a serious challenge to MCS sufferers. A high percentage of natural supplements are irradiated (nearly all imported herbs) or contain toxic ingredients that trigger MCS reactions. These toxic ingredients silently suppress immunity, weaken and stress the adrenals, and make MCS patients more toxic.” - Hypoadrenia: a causative factor in MCS and impaired enzymatic detoxification Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Feb-March, 2005 by Paul Yanick, Jr.
“If you have a strong immune system, you don’t have environmental illness. If by heredity, you have a weakened (imbalanced—WSL) immune system, or your immune system has been damaged by chemicals (and vaccines—WSL), then you are apt to develop allergies, cancer, and all kinds of terrible problems. So, one of the things we have to do is to strengthen (balance) the immune system. You are only as strong as each cell in your body and, if all the cells lack magnesium, or manganese, or copper, or some other essential nutrient, you will not be well. If the immune system is damaged, then the endocrine system and all the other systems go out of balance and you’re in serious trouble. The immune system can be enhanced or improved by certain nutrients”—Dr. Doris Rapp, MD, Allergy specialist. Those nutrients are enumerated in this paper.
Remember that chemical sensitivity requires multiple factors, one of which is that the person must be deficient in certain nutrients that are necessary for the detoxification pathways to operate normally. Once the deficiencies in these pathways are corrected, many times, the chemical sensitivity is corrected. For example, a 33-year-old lab technician for years could not tolerate shopping malls, auto exhaust fumes, and many businesses because of chemical sensitivity. She felt confused, suffered from headaches, and became weak and tired when she breathed the higher levels of chemicals commonly encountered in these environments. Copper is present in superoxide dismutase, an enzyme that is useful in protecting us from developing chemical sensitivity. When we found that she had a copper deficiency and corrected it, within one month, she was no longer as chemically sensitive, and could tolerate these exposures without symptoms. In cattle affected by Cu deficiency induced by Molybdenum, neutrophils were impaired in their ability to kill ingested Candida albicans (Boyne and Arthur, 1986). Copper deficiency reduces at least two neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine (O’Dell, 1984). The best test for copper deficiency is intracellular, or red blood cell (RBC), while serum or plasma copper tests are too insensitive, and hence not worth obtaining.
The enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD), which declines with age, plays a role in the retarding of arthritis, general body deterioration, and aging. In fact, in nearly all diseases, lower than normal levels of SOD are found. For example, people with colitis were found to have much lower levels of SOD in the bowel, and people with Alzheimer’s disease were found to have much lower levels of SOD in the brain. Finally, and inexpensive SOD supplement is available from Life Extension Foundation. Ask for SODzyme with GliSODin™.
It seems quite clear that the chemicals act synergistically. In one 1976 study, a scientific team used three chemicals on a group of rats. The chemicals were tested one at a time on the rats without ill effect. When the scientists gave the rats two at a time, a decline in health was noted. When the rats were given all three chemicals at once, they all died within two weeks. (Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide, by The Burton Goldberg Group).
In addition to phenol in foods, there is another toxic content to some foods that may play heavily in Autism. It is malonic acid or malonate found in alfalfa sprouts, apricots, all kinds of beans, broccoli, butternut squash peel, carrots, chaparral (dry), chocolate, ginger root skin, grape jam (commercial), dark green zucchini, kombo (seaweed), limes, mangos, onions (purple), oranges, papaya (Mexican), parsnips, passion fruit, persimmons (Fuji, regular), radish (daikon), red skin of peanuts, Tamari soy sauce, tomatoes, turnips, rutabagas, and wheat grass. This acid is highly toxic if not excreted properly. Some of the things affected read like a list of autistic symptoms:
The body detoxifies unwelcome substances by methylation. This is costly to the body’s resources, requiring large amounts of vitamins B6, B12, folic acid, methionine, betaine, glycine, taurine, cysteine, lecithin, and vitamin C.
Migraine patients without aura had lower levels of Phenol-sulfotransferase enzymes in platelets, with the P-forms being more severely involved. This, coupled with a lack of sulfates, will create toxic levels of phenols and amines, and possibly heavy metals, in particular. This may necessitate avoidance of high content amine foods, to enable the body to keep amines within limits to avoid headache and other symptoms. One should first “unload the donkey” and supplement sulfates before avoiding amines or phenols in foods. Should foods need to be eliminated to lower amines enough to eliminate headache, these foods are very high in amines: sauerkraut, spinach, butternut, any dried, pickled, salted, or smoked fish or meat, anchovies, beef liver, fish roe, pies and pastries, processed fish products (fingers, cakes, and pastes), salmon, sausage, canned tuna, virtually all cheeses, dark chocolate, hydrolyzed protein, miso, tempeh, yeast extracts, chocolate drinks, colas, orange juice, tomato juice, and all vegetable juices.
These foods are high in amines: avocado, banana, fig, grapes, lemon, pineapple, plum, raspberry, aubergine, gherkin, mushroom, tomato, pecans, walnut, bacon, hotdogs, frozen fish, gravy, ham, canned mackerel, meat juices, meat loaf, offal, pork, canned sardines, milk, cheeses, meat extracts, soy sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, cocoa, milk chocolate, white chocolate, and all fruit juices.
Histamine is a biogenic amine found in many foods, often in the form of the amino acid, histidine. If the body doesn’t clear it efficiently, problems can arise. This can happen when there is a deficiency of the enzyme diamine oxidase needed to metabolize histamine and tyramine. Alcohol and many, many drugs inhibit this essential enzyme leading to a build up of histamine in the system. Should this enzyme be inhibited, in addition to migraine, one may become suicidally depressed. It may be necessary to restrict certain foods containing histamine and tyramine. Histamine sensitivity can produce allergy-type reactions that no test will detect. One form of Schizophrenia is marked by high histamine, and it too can be benefited by avoiding these foods: all cheeses, especially blue, camembert, cheddar, emementhal, gouda, harzer, mozzarella, parmesan, provolone, Roquefort, Swiss, and tilsiter, anchovy, herring, mackerel, sardine, tuna, all dried or cured meats, aubergine, pickled cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, beer, champagne, red and white wines, sparkling wine, tamari, and soy sauce.
The above foods vary widely as to content of histamine, and some may be tolerated dependent upon the content and your individual tolerance. Additionally, egg whites, crustaceans, chocolate, strawberries, tomatoes, and citrus fruit don’t contain significant amounts of histamine, but are reported to trigger a histamine release.
It is vital to remember that water, lots of water, is the best antihistamine known to man, with no side effects. Further, calcium triggers mast cells to release histamine, so the problem may relate to a lack of magnesium to balance the calcium and guard the calcium channels into the cells. Methionine (amino acid) methylates histamine and removes it from the body. This should be supplied by an adequate intake of protein rather than by a single amino acid supplement unless supervised by a knowledgeable natural practitioner. There are some potential dangers in single amino acid therapy.
Phase I liver enzymes detoxify aromatics, such as benzene-ring containing chemicals, aldehydes, epoxides, organic volatiles, and if you develop nausea/poor feeling from these chemicals, you have impaired Phase I liver activity that causes these toxins to accumulate. The reaction comes from the exposure raising the levels of these chemicals too high due to impaired Phase I activity. It is noteworthy that of 20 cases examined, 100% showed liver detoxification profiles outside of normal. An examination of 18 autistic children in blood analysis showed that 16 of these children showed evidence of levels of toxic chemicals exceeding adult maximum tolerance. If there is a vitamin B6 deficiency, aldehydes will accumulate, and serotonin levels could be impaired, thus causing poor sleep and other neurotransmitter disruptions. Phase II liver enzymes detoxify such things as acetaminophen, nicotine, organophosphates, aspirin, sulfonamides, amines, phenols, and morphine.
These are some of the things to avoid: Aromatic oils; Azole antihistamine: cimetidine (Tagamet™); Azole antifungals: fluconazole (Diflucan™—it is fluoride based); and ketoconazole (Nizoral™), Itraconazole (Sporanox™) (among the reportable side effects of these three antifungal drugs are dark urine and pale stools indicating kidney or liver problems, respectively); Azole antiparasitic drug: metronidazole (Flagyl™); and all porphyrics. The main risks of Flagyl™ is the impairment of Phase I, cytochrome-p450, liver enzymes (in fact, all these impair Phase I liver detoxification especially that of aldehyde—Candida die-off—oxidation), and possible liver damage called “megamitochondria” that other “Azole-class” drugs, that Flagyl™ is part of, have caused. Flagyl™ has also failed to work in a number of cases. All these drugs are meant for short-term use only. The liver must be checked for elevated liver enzymes when using these antifungals, however, it should be noted that high amounts of vitamin B6 will harmlessly elevate AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT).
Azole antifungals work by inhibiting the fungal cytochrome p450 enzyme that catalyzes C-14 alpha-demethylation in the production of ergosterols. The equivalent human enzyme is much less sensitive to inhibition by azoles, but is affected somewhat. This inhibition may become clinically significant when given with another compound that is metabolized by that enzyme. This is probably the action that prompted the observance that Nizoral (Ketoconazole) caused some male patients to develop breast tissue and a more feminized apparence. Ketoconazole interefers with metabolism of sex hormones! Specific drug interactions have been reported with rifampin, coumadin, phenytoin, cyclosporine, theophylline, oral hypoglycemics, terfenadine, cisapride, and astemizole. Cimetidine antihistamine and Fluconazole antifungal have caused such damage, so one has to be careful when Phase I liver enzymes are impaired already, for the risk is then higher. Vanillin (synthetic vanilla) greatly inhibits dopamine sulfation (Phase II) allowing a toxic buildup. Another possible source of excess dopamine with reduced norepinephrine is the presence of clostridia overgrowth.
Many popular herbs inhibit Phase I enzymes, and they should not be used by anyone suspected of having impaired Phase I function: black cohosh, blue cohosh, chaparral, boneset, buchu, comfrey, cyani, elecampane, fever few, Gotu Kola, bitter orange, grapefruit and grapefruit seed extract (Citricidal™), grapeseed extract or Pycnogenol™, and barberry (these and other anthocyanidins also provide phenolic compounds), Irish moss (red seaweed), juniper, Kava Kava, mistletoe, mullein, nettle, periwinkle (Vinpocetine™), pokeweed, Quercetin, Reishi and Shitake mushrooms, Rosemary, Seneca, Una de Gata (cat’s claw), excessive tyrosine, cranberry juice, and valerian root are ones that I know of. Valerian is also reported in long-term use to decrease adrenal function, leading to dizziness, fatigue, headache, irritability, extreme blood sugar levels, and other problems. These children already have decreased adrenal function! H2 Blockers also inhibit or substantially deplete Cytochrome p450 enzymes. Curiously, Rosemary is said to enhance Phase II function. It is possibly a good choice if PST
Using these herbs long term will lead to a buildup of Phase I toxins, for example, benzene-aromatic rings such as found in gasoline vapors; 1,4-dichlorobenzene such as found in mothballs and room deodorizers; xylene such as found in deodorants, room fresheners, gasoline, and paint vapors (do you get a headache?); dioxin such as found in herbicides, auto exhaust, and wood treatment; styrene such as found in Styrofoam cups and on carpet backing (fumes); ketones (fat waste products); aldehydes (formaldehyde, furfural) a major source of which is aspartame, a phenolic compound (Nutrasweet™ type sweeteners); various perfumes (most are made with petroleum chemicals, phenyl-acetaldehydes, not with flower scents), and Candida yeast toxins (acetaldehydes). These children must be kept away from these substances some of which are found in aerosols and room fresheners that have been shown to contribute to headache and depression in adults, and to ear infection and diarrhea in children. Additionally, these inhibit release of steroids, estrogens, body alcohols, prostaglandins, retinoic acid (vitamin A), fatty acids, and glycine, and can cause a toxic buildup of various drugs.
In 1984, Prof Rochlitz created the RADH--the Rochlitz Aldehyde Dyslexia Hypothesis--which stated that the Candida toxin, acetadehyde (even more toxic than its cousin formaldehyde), from the Candida overgrowth of the mother, could cross the placental barrier and later result in dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, balance and behavioral problems, and other mental problems. These problems can last a life-time, or they can be quickly corrected with the Rochlitz-HEBS methods at any time in life. Rochlitz found that the environmentally ill (toxic) person (allergies, Candida, parasites) is dyslexic to some extent. There are learning or memory problems (names) or reading problems, though not fully dyslexic.
The dyslexic, when tested, has severe allergies (and therefore addictions), Candida, parasites, and similar problems. Dyslexia and environmental illness, then, are closely related. The Rochlitz-HEBS methods address the problems simultaneously with the corrective, energy-balancing techniques as well as the ecological testing and restoration. These methods not only correct dyslexia, they powerful enough to help severely brain damaged people. The Doctor reports that he helped a brain-damaged boy who was said to be completely “brain dead” who is now a spelling champion in his school!
In 1979, Dr. Robert Gardner, a very allergic person,
hypothesized that his allergies were caused by sensitivity to some aromatic
compounds found naturally in all plants. He acquired some of these pure
aromatic compounds, made dilutions, started sublingual tests and monitored
changes in pulse rates upon applications. There were reactions to various
extracts, and neutralizing doses were found for each compound. He found that
neutralizing doses of these compounds would neutralize allergic reactions to
specific foods. Dr. Joseph J. McGovern, an allergist in
Progressive neutralization of these aromatic compounds has led to vast improvements in the majority of patients. Neutralizing these compounds results in disappearance of arthritic pains, decreased abdominal bloating, improved bowel function, decrease of recurrent canker sores, and less anxiety. School performance improves noticeably, and this has been noted in most children treated. The treatment has been particularly successful with infants and children, with excellent results in autism, mental retardation, hyperactivity, dyslexia, insomnia, enuresis, respiratory allergies, headaches, abdominal pains, and asthma. Results with adults have been as exciting with remissions achieved in many chronic problems including migraine, fatigue, depression, asthma, arthritis, colitis, hypertension, menstrual disorders, dermatological problems, chronic constipation, and arrhythmias.
A phenolic compound may cause a variety of different symptoms in various individuals. When a suspected phenolic is given to a person, exactly the same allergic symptom occurs over and over. Some people begin crying for no apparent reason, become depressed, or have any of their usual symptoms. When a neutralizing dose is given to stop the reaction, they start smiling, laughing, joking, and their allergic symptoms disappear. Instead of desensitizing to several foods containing the same phenolic compound, you would desensitize the one chemical that is in all of the foods. Since these chemicals are often repeated throughout nature, desensitization to a few main chemicals could reduce most of the symptoms caused by foods, pollens, and environmental chemicals.
Regarding ketones, these accumulate, leading to ketoacidosis (ketosis) leading to a loss of calcium, magnesium, and potassium into the urine. This could relate to liver insufficiency due to a vitamin A deficiency—common among autistics. The early signs are nausea and a faster rate of breathing. Increased thirst, excessive urination, abdominal pain or vomiting, listlessness, and eventually sleepiness can follow this. If not recognized and dealt with, this acidosis will lead to coma. The build up of ketones in the blood for a few days, or even a few hours, can be life threatening. If you are not feeling well, or you are showing excessive amounts of sugar in the blood, you must test for ketones (Use Acetest™ tablets or Ketostix™ dipsticks). The use of L-carnitine as a therapeutic supplement (1000 to 3000 mg daily) can enhance the metabolism of fats, and prevent ketones, triglycerides, and cholesterol from building up in the blood. Those using high fat diets to produce a ketosis to control seizures must supplement magnesium, potassium, and calcium, and consider using carnitine to ensure adequate energy production. Remember that carnitine also burns essential fatty acids. So, when supplementing carnitine, ensure adequate Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are provided. When carnitine is used, one must ensure that adequate calories are taken in also. A failure to do so can produce seizures. Vegetarians are apt to be lacking in carnitine due to a diet low in lysine, and the absence of meat. Additionally, vegetarians lack zinc, CoQ10, and alpha lipoic acid as well as vitamin B12, unless they are supplementing these things.
Mono-functional inducers of liver activity, such as polycyclic hydrocarbons from cigarette smoke and aryl amines from charbroiled meats, result in dramatic induction (increase) of the activity of Cyp1A1 and Cyp1A2 (cytochrome p450) enzymes, leading to a substantial increase in Phase I activity, with little or no induction of Phase II enzymes. Similarly, glucocorticoids and anti-convulsants induce Cyp3A4 activity, and ethanol, acetone, and isoniazid induce Cyp2E1. Induction of these activities without co-induction of Phase II activities may lead to an uncoupling of the Phase I and Phase II balance of activity and, therefore, a higher level of reactive intermediates, which can cause damage to DNA, RNA, and proteins. In other words, you will be phenol and amine toxic with lots of free radicals.
When Phase I is under high stress, additional antioxidants are needed to help the Phase I system act smoothly, and to ensure there is no oxidative damage occurring in the liver, impairing its function. The best antioxidants to help the liver with no toxicity to the liver or Peripheral Mononuclear Blood Cells (immune cells) and no adverse effect on Phase I are Ambrotose AO™ and Phyt•Aloe® by Mannatech™, and Green Tea Extract (found in Ambrotose AO™) (however, the high content of both aluminum and fluoride in tea is cause for great concern when drinking green tea, as aluminum greatly potentiates fluoride’s effects on G-protein activation, the on/off switches involved in cell communication and of absolute necessity in thyroid hormone function and regulation). Other helps recommended by natural healers are the hormone pregnenolone (25 mg), phosphatidylcholine, Milk Thistle, and Turmeric.
Pregnenolone enhances Phase I liver function by
conserving the cytochrome p450 enzymes. Its use could be considered when the
EPA/DHA levels are excessively high in relation to GLA, but I think it more
basic to look to support the thyroid and adrenals that are likely sluggish.
More than two decades of clinical trials indicate that phosphatidylcholine
(PC) protects the liver against damage from acetaldehydes from alcohol and
Candida, pharmaceuticals, pollutant substances, hepatic viruses, and other
toxic influences, most of which operate by damaging cell membranes. The
human liver is confronted with tens of thousands of exogenous substances.
The metabolism of these xenobiotics can result in the liver’s detoxicative
enzymes producing reactive metabolites that attack the liver tissue. Dietary
supplementation with PC (a minimum 800 mg daily for adults, with meals)
significantly speeds recovery of the liver. PC is fully compatible with
pharmaceuticals, and with other nutrients. PC is also highly bioavailable
(about 90% of the administered amount is absorbed over 24 hours), and PC is
an excellent emulsifier that enhances the bioavailability of nutrients with
which it is co-administered. PC’s diverse benefits and proven safety
indicate that it is a premier liver nutrient (Alt Med Rev
1996;1(4):258-274). Even when milk thistle failed, PC was successful in
improving the liver. Long-term intakes of certain of the antiepileptic
drugs, especially phenytoin (Dilantin™), pose a high risk of liver damage.
Hisanaga and collaborators (1980) in
Milk thistle assists the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) (a Phase II enzyme that adds a glutathione group to Phase I products) activity by increasing glutathione production up to 35%, but it does not directly stimulate the enzyme. Silymarin also causes liver regeneration, but milk thistle is dangerous for one with impaired sulfation (PST) for it also enhances cytochrome p450 (Phase I) activity. Other herbs and foods best supply the glutathione it supplies. Rosemary and sage are sometimes recommended because they contain an antioxidant and inhibit the bioactivation of certain toxins that combine with DNA, but Rosemary inhibits Phase I while enhancing Phase II activity (Shaw says it enhances both pathways) and Sage is toxic to liver and immune cells. Turmeric enhances Phase I and Phase II activity, but is toxic to the liver and immune cells (An Invitro Screening Study of 196 Natural Products for Toxicity and Efficacy by Dr. Darryl M. See, MD, JANA, Winter 1999). These four herbs should not be used except under direction of a competent herbologist. These may not have a deleterious effect in the short run, but to stimulate Phase I activity for long periods (unless testing proves it needs stimulation) will be detrimental for it will clear many necessary body substances at a higher than normal rate and produce deficiencies in fatty acids, estrogen, steroids, body alcohols, Prostaglandins, retinol, and glycine, and it reduces the effectiveness of many drugs. It would also overload a deficient Phase II system (PST). Similarly, to inhibit this pathway will build these substances to unnatural and unwanted levels. Good herbalists would not recommend one of these herbs for long periods, but would suggest Dandelion, Ambrotose®, and Phyt•Aloe® to enhance glutathione. These would work well with a combination of antioxidants and Phase I/Phase II enhancers such as Schizandra and Phyt•Aloe.
Glutathione-S-transferase T1 (GST T1), the enzyme that forms glutathione, displays a genetic polymorphism. Due to this polymorphism about 25% of the individuals of the Caucasian population lack this activity (“non-conjugators”), while 75% show it (“conjugators”) (Hallier, E., et al., 1993). Using our newly developed HPLC-fluorescence detection assay (Muller, M., et al., 2001) we have profiled the kinetics of enzyme inhibition in erythrocyte lysates of two individuals previously identified as “normal conjugator” (medium enzyme activity) and “super-conjugator” (very high enzyme activity). For the normal conjugator we have determined a 2.77 mM thimerosal concentration to inhibit 50% of the GST T1 activity. In the case of the super-conjugator a 2.3 mM thimerosal concentration causes a 50% inhibition of the enzyme activity. It is of interest to note that some lack the gene to form Glutathione S-transferase M1 that detoxifies environmental chemicals, and are more susceptible to certain cancers, particularly bladder cancer. A Polymerase Chain Reaction test can determine if this gene is missing.
A study published in “Lancet” reports that St. Jude researchers determined that children who received the antiseizure medicines phenytoin (Dilantin™), phenobarbital, and carbamazepine (Tegretol™), which potently increase the amount of drug-metabolizing enzymes in the liver, have lower chances of event-free survival than those who did not receive such medicines. The Phase I liver enzymes are responsible for clearing many clinically-used medications from the body, so that the use of these antiseizure medicines, by enhancing Phase I, is comparable to lowering the doses of the antileukemic chemotherapy and many drugs. These Phase I enzymes also deplete the substances listed two paragraphs above. Additionally, Dilantin™ depletes the body of biotin, folic acid, vitamins B1, B12, D, and K, and the mineral calcium, and Tegretol™ depletes albumin (needed to detoxify), biotin, folic acid, vitamin D, carnitine, zinc, selenium, and copper while diminishing IgG, and platelets. It prevents conversion of vitamin B6 to its active form, P5P. It also decreases alpha-ketoglutarate thereby increasing toxic ammonia levels—“Drug-induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook” by Pharmacists Pelton, LaValle, Hawkins, and Krinsky. Conversely, several human pharmacokinetic studies have shown that vaccination may deserve full consideration as a cause of inhibited hepatic drug metabolism. Influenza vaccination impaired theophylline elimination with a 122% increase of its half-life, and it inhibits aminopyrine metabolism markedly. Some medicines can give falsely low thyroid blood test results, especially Tegretol™ (carbamazepine).