Author: Diogenes II

I am not a doctor in any way, shape or form — I’m a health enthusiast and an avid researcher! I try to do more in-depth research than anyone else on nutrition, supplements and health. I believe TRUTH is superior to facts — because facts change, but truth always stay the same. Science might come out with a double-blind placebo research study stating how great supplemental resveratrol is. That’s a fact! Then 10 years later, a researcher like me may come out with the TRUTH that supplemental resveratrol is a waste of time, money and health! ⚓🚦🟥🟥🟥0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟

The Golden Era of Sea Buckthorn Oil

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

 

Sea Buckthorn oil has very specific qualities: high in vitamin A and E, and in possession of the rare omega 7 and omega 9 fatty acids. With these glaring qualities, there are specific benefits: to the eyes, skin and mucosal membranes throughout the body. Of note, is its specific ability to lubricate vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women! There is also a specific plant sterol that constitutes much of this oil, called beta-sitosterol, that may confer cardiovascular benefits to individuals with abnormal or high cholesterol levels. Let us discuss these benefits.

Because of their ideal cold-temperate and semi-arid regions, more than 90% of the world’s natural sea buckthorn habitat is found primarily in China, then Mongolia and Russia. The two forms of oil extracted by man lay within the seed and berry (pulp). They differ in nutrient status and how they affect the body. The seed oil is extracted from the seeds, and is light, both in color and weight, and rich in essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6, making it a good external daily moisturizer. The berry oil is extracted from the fruit pulp, and is thick, dark red, and contains much higher levels of omega-7 and carotenoids, making it ideal as an oral supplement for skin repair, hydration and anti-aging.

 

Vitamin A and E

Unlike cod liver oil which focuses on a high vitamin A and vitamin D content, sea buckthorn (berry) oil focuses on a high vitamin A and E content. Vitamin A is beneficial for the eyes, skin and immune system. Vitamin E helps oxygenate internal tissues, and helps prevent blood clots.

Sea buckthorn (berry) oil contains vitamin A precursors in the form of carotenoids—specifically β-cryptoxanthin, β-carotene (abundant), lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin (the most abundant). β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene can be converted by the body into retinol (vitamin A). In contrast, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin do not convert to vitamin A but instead act primarily as antioxidants.

Lycopene is being studied for potential benefits in supporting prostate health, including possible protective effects against prostate cancer.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are the only known dietary carotenoids that selectively accumulate in the retina, forming a protective layer of macular pigment. They may help protect the eyes by filtering high-energy blue light and supporting overall retinal function.

Omega 7 and Omega 9 Fatty Acids

Omega-7, found primarily in the berry oil, as in macadamia nuts, helps maintain moisture and elasticity in skin and mucosal tissues (eyes, mouth, and vaginal lining). Commonly used for dry eye and vaginal dryness.

Omega-9, found also in olive and avocado oil, may improve cholesterol metabolism in the body. May also improve glucose metabolism.

Dry Eyes

The eye contains a mucous membrane called the conjunctiva, which can become dry. The conjunctiva is a thin, clear tissue that covers the front of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. It helps keep the eye moist by producing the mucus layer of the tear film. Sea Buckthorn Berry oil supplementation has proven beneficial for reversing dry eye conditions.

Vaginal Dryness

Also called vulvovaginal atrophy or genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), vaginal dryness causes thinning of and decreased elasticity of the vaginal and vulva tissues as estrogen levels decrease during menopause. Sea Buckthorn Berry oil supplementation has proven beneficial for reversing dry vaginal conditions.

Skin Protection and Rejuvenation 

Sea Buckthorn seed oil is moisturizing to the skin, and may regenerate damaged skin tissue on a cellular level and improve elasticity. Also good as a sunscreen with other carrier oils, such as coconut oil, reducing sunburn. Has been used to treat skin burns. The oil was used to help treat the skin of burn victims in the aftermath of the 1986 nuclear accident in Chernobyl, Ukraine. Russian cosmonauts also use[d] it for protection against radiation exposure in space. 

May also help treat wrinkles, acne, rosacea and eczema.

Other Benefits 

There may be mild cardiovascular protection from the flavonoids and other antioxidants in sea Buckthorn. The plant-sterol it contains — beta sitosterol — may compete with and replace cholesterol numbers in the human intestines. Whether or not this is a plus, is an ongoing research. There is research that indicates that increased plant sterols may actually increase the risk of adverse coronary events! There may, however, be mild lowering of triglycerides and blood sugar levels while using this oil.

 

How to Use Sea Buckthorn Oil

Berry oil may be taken orally for systematic dryness: dry mouth, dry eyes and vaginal dryness. May also be taken orally to enhance cholesterol and glucose metabolism.

Seed oil may be taken topically for dry skin, sunburn or general skin burns. Both the seed and berry oil can be combined for enhanced topical benefits.

 

Precautions

  • Sea Buckthorn oil may be for occasional use only, instead of a daily supplementation routine.
  • If you have any heart condition, and are on heart medications or blood thinners, use caution when taking sea buckthorn, which is considered a blood thinner. Stop taking if any unusual symptoms develop.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women should probably avoid this oil since interaction is relatively unknown.
  • People with existing allergies to the Elaeagnaceae plant family should be aware and on alert for any unusual symptoms.

Could Oxalates be the Root Cause of Your Pain?

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

 

It seems ironic that oxalates can be found mostly in what we would term as healthy foods: spinach, rhubarb, swiss chard, beet greens, almond/flour, soy, cacao, okra, chia seeds, black raspberries, star fruit, sweet potato, and others. But I guess these healthy foods are smart foods, since oxalates are their natural defense mechanism to protect them from predators, including human predators! If you have been unknowingly (or knowingly) consuming these foods in excess, you may have been also noticing strange symptoms throughout your body. In this article, I will discuss what oxalates are, where they come from, where they’re going, and if they could be the root cause of your pain.

We do not need to only worry about the oxalates in food we consume — our liver also produces oxalates as a byproduct, from a non-essential amino acid called hydroxyproline, that is derived primarily from collagen. That is the same collagen made up of protein, and that we consume in our diets. Those who are consuming excess animal products, collagen and gelatin powder, should also be aware. That hydroxyproline, which when broken down, may produce endogenous oxalates that may exceed even your exogenous oxalate intake.

And there are other things that may contribute to the buildup of high oxalate production in the body — most notably, ascorbic acid, from vitamin C supplementation.

Oxalates come from an acid, oxalic acid, that binds to minerals. So oxalates are oxalic acid combined with mineral(s). Oxalic acids chelate to minerals, and may deplete these minerals from our body. The most famous chelated mineral is calcium. But oxalic acid chelates other minerals, such as magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Calcium oxalates are famous because they are the most abundant and hardest form of oxalates and are most associated with kidney stones.

In fact, oxalates can be harder than tooth enamel and dentin — this is the case, specifically with calcium oxalates. When these oxalates accumulate and bond together, they form hard crystals, described as “razor-sharp edges” or “tiny shards of glass”, i.e., when examined under a microscope. This explains why having kidney stones is such a painful experience.

Types of oxalates 

Oxalates exist in both soluble and insoluble forms. Generally speaking, sodium oxalates and potassium oxalates are considered soluble, while calcium oxalates and magnesium oxalates are considered insoluble. Soluble and insoluble are exactly what they sound like: soluble oxalates dissolve in water, and can thus travel around in blood easily. Insoluble oxalates do not dissolve, and are more susceptible (precipitate) to form stationary crystals. However, in the case of magnesium oxalates, it may share characteristics close to soluble oxalates.

A convenient way to guess whether or not a food-source is (mostly) soluble oxalates is simple: if it is plant leaves, it is most likely soluble. If it carries a high water content, that may be another clue it contains mostly soluble oxalates. Young, tender plant leaves often accumulate potassium salts (soluble). Root vegetables and seeds, on the other hand, often contain more calcium oxalate crystals, which are insoluble.

What happens when we consume high oxalate foods?
 
If it’s soluble, oxalates will readily absorb through the intestinal lining into the bloodstream. If insoluble, it should stay within the digestive system for excretion, unless the gut is compromised — such as the case with leaky gut.
 
If the microbiome in the gut is properly maintained, bacteria will help break down oxalates and use them as a source of energy. This is particularly and specifically the case with a certain bacteria called: oxalobacter formigenes.
 
If there is excessive oxalates coming in, more than the kidneys can process, a build up of oxalates, especially insoluble calcium oxalates may form in the kidneys, eventually leading to painful kidney stones.
 

As high as 50-60% of soluble oxalate from food can be absorbed if no mineral binding occurs. Less than 5% (typically 1-2%) of insoluble oxalates is absorbed through the gut. The greater the gut dysfunction rate, the greater the insoluble oxalate rate of absorption.

 
Which is worse, insoluble or soluble oxalates?
 
While insoluble oxalates, such as calcium and magnesium oxalates generally reside in the gastrointestinal region and can ideally be excreted, soluble oxalates made of potassium and sodium can travel throughout the bloodstream. These soluble oxalates are not particularly concerning, since they don’t form hard crystals like calcium oxalates do. However, once in the bloodstream, these soluble oxalates can be hijacked by calcium ions and then turn into insoluble oxalates! These oxalates can then wreak havoc and settle everywhere throughout organs and tissues in the body in crystalized form.
 
So to answer the question which is more dangerous, soluble or insoluble oxalates(?): 
  • Insoluble oxalates are generally considered more dangerous if they are not being excreted, since they form hard crystals.
  • But soluble oxalates can also be dangerous since they travel to more locations and can be hijacked by calcium ions to become insoluble oxalates.
 
So now you may have pain in the joints that may resemble classical arthritis. Now there might be skin rashes and itching. Now you may have muscle ache or fibromyalgia-like symptoms. Now you may have pain in the eyeballs and impairment of vision. Now you may have pain in the vagina (vulvodynia) and not know why. Now you may have stomach bloat and other digestive issues resembling IBS. Now there may be severe mineral and vitamin deficiency throughout the body.  There may be fatigue and irritability. And of course, there may be the classical symptoms that oxalates are associated with: kidney stones and kidney dysfunction.
 
 
What causes oxalates to build up in the body?
 
– High dose vitamin D may increase calcium buildup up, thus calcium oxalate build up
 
– Taking excess ascorbic acid — though considered an antioxidant — may act as an oxidant when small proportion is metabolized in the liver, forming oxalic acid
 
– Consuming foods high in oxalates, especially without properly boiling and rinsing them may cause exogenous oxalate build up. These include: spinach, rhubarb, swiss chard, beet greens, almond/flour, soy, cacao, okra, chia seeds, black raspberries, star fruit, sweet potato, potato, cashew, and peanut. Even some herbs are high in oxalates, like turmeric, milk thistle and black elderberry extract!
 
– A low fiber diet will lack the necessary microbiota to degrade oxalates, most notably a lack of the bacteria oxalobacter formigenes.
 
– Excess use of antibiotics will disrupt the microbiota.
 
–  A high-protein diet, particularly one rich in animal protein, can increase oxalate levels because the amino acid hydroxyproline, found in collagen, is metabolized into oxalates in the liver.
 
– Certain genetic disorders, such as primary hyperoxaluria, may predispose someone to building excess levels of oxalates.
 
How to prevent oxalosis (i.e., the buildup of oxalate crystals in the blood and body):
 
– See above ⬆️: [What causes oxalates to build up in the body?]
 
Congratulations — you have decided to decrease oxalates from your diet and expel the excess from your body! There is a problem though. It is colloquially called “oxalate dumping”. If you suddenly decrease oxalates from your diet, you may have withdrawal symptoms. Typically, our kidneys only excrete 50 mg of oxalates per day. However, if your prior intake was much more and you suddenly stop, there may be excess oxalate dumping, that may be traumatic to the kidneys. This is especially true if you add things to expel oxalates from your body. It is therefore advised you thread slowly in the effort to rid excess oxalates from your diet and from your body. 
 
– To maintain proper oxalate levels, your vitamin B1 and B6 levels must be sufficient, to increase proper liver function and metabolism of endogenous oxalates 
 
– Consuming lemon water will increase citric acid, which may bind to calcium in the urine — forming soluble calcium-citrate complexes instead of insoluble calcium-oxalate crystals and their aggregation
 
– Consuming certain herbs may help dissolve or break up oxalates: namely, chanca piedra, sambong and corn silk
 
– Avoiding the highest oxalate foods completely should be considered: especially spinach, rhubarb, swiss chard, almond, soy and star fruit.
 
– Avoid consuming excess animal products, collagen and gelatin powder, which may cause your liver to produce excess endogenous oxalates 
 
– Consider increasing your magnesium intake since magnesium oxalates, though technically an insoluble oxalate, may be less insoluble than calcium oxalates, helping to move and excrete excess out of the body
 
– Stay properly hydrated

Choosing the Best Fiber for Gut Health

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

 

Because of carbon’s ability to form diverse and flexible bonds with other things, it is considered the building block for all organic, living organisms on earth. Carbohydrates are hydrated carbons, or rather, carbons that are hydrated, hence the term, ‘carbo’-‘hydrates’. Carbohydrates could have easily been also called, “carbo-oxy-hydrates”, since they consist of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Carbohydrates are used for energy and to store energy, both for plants, animals and other living organisms. These carbohydrates consist both of simple and complex sugars and are divided into: simple sugar, starch and fiber. In this article, I will be discussing the fiber constituent of carbo-hydrates, the best forms, specifically that of soluble fiber. As an added bonus, I’ll also be discussing resistant starch, and the beneficial short chain fatty acids that can also be derived from them.

Carbohydrates include both fiber and starch. Fiber is divided into soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and may form a gel. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. Insoluble fiber is not recommended for regular use, since it is harsh on the digestive system and does not feed the probiotics soluble fiber and resistant starch are known for doing. Insoluble fiber is therefore for temporary use only, for severe constipation. 

In simple terms, the best fiber for gut health, is soluble fiber! This is beneficial for maintaining gut mobility, keeping the microbiome healthy and sufficient, blood sugar balance, cholesterol lowering, the removal of toxins, weight management and cancer prevention.

 

Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber might help you to move your bowel more efficiently, but that’s probably not its main job. Its main job is to provide nourishment and fuel for your gastrointestinal microbiome, and to manage blood sugar levels.  

There are many forms of soluble fiber. Some are frankly, better than others. If psyllium husk, Metamucil, Citrucel, and inulin come to mind when you think about soluble fiber, keep in mind there may be safer options. Keeping it short and simple, think the best forms of soluble fibers might be pectins, acacia gum and beta-glucan.

Pectins: Pectins are found in fruits like apples and citrus peel, including the “modified”, Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP). 

Modified Citrus Pectin is an altered form of pectin where large pectin molecules are broken down into smaller, low-molecular-weight fragments. This modification makes it water-soluble and bioavailable, creating a higher absorption rate within the body, and for use as a detoxification agent by binding to bile acids and heavy metals.

Acacia (Senegal) gum: Also known as gum arabic, this can be found from the sap of the Acacia senegal tree and is sold as a powder; shown to be particularly beneficial for constipation patients with IBS.

Beta-glucans: A type of polysaccharide found in grains, particularly oats and barley. The “best” form of beta-glucan depends on the health goal, with yeast and mushroom-derived beta-glucans being superior for immune support, while oat and barley-derived beta-glucans are most effective for lowering cholesterol and blood sugar. Yeast and chaga beta-glucans, for instance, have shown stronger immune-modulating effects in studies compared to grain-derived versions.

 

Resistant Starch 

Some types of starches are resistant to digestion, hence the term resistant starch. Resistant starch acts like insoluble fiber in the stomach and small intestine. But don’t let that discourage you. In the large intestine, it acts like soluble fiber — fermented by gut bacteria as a food source. This fermentation process produces beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) — particularly butyrate — that promote gut health and other physiological benefits. Resistant starch is also known to produce even more beneficial butyric acid than regular soluble fiber; and by specifically bypassing other cells to travel to and seek out colon cells, it offers unique benefits there, like reduced inflammation, and potential protection against colon cancer. 

Perhaps the best sources of resistant starches are from green bananas and green plantain. 

 

Food-source fiber

Perhaps the best sources of food-derived fibers are simply from beans, specifically adzuki beans and black beans. These beans should be soaked for about 12 hours, then thoroughly rinsed, before boiling. Do not expect that these food-derived fibers will resolve constipation!

 

Daily Recommendation 

The current RDI for daily fiber intake for male and female are about 30 and 25 grams, respectively. I find this an impossible number to achieve. Most food-source fiber is only 2 or 3 grams per serving, such as carrots. Furthermore, soluble vs insoluble fiber was not distinguished in the RDI data. 

Instead of 30 grams of fiber to create peristalsis (bowel movement), I think it would be more practical to focus on increasing vitamin B1 intake, which actually helps create peristalsis.  And I may prove it. The same things often mentioned for increasing fiber, are the same things needed to increase B1: [black] beans, green peas, oats, [sesame] seeds, [sunflower] seeds , etc.

 

What to do!

If you are confused about which is the best fiber to take for your particularly situation, think soluble fiber is your best bet. If your goal is to manage IBS, think Acacia Senegal (fiber). If your goal is to detoxify heavy metals from your body, think pectin, especially MCP. If your goal is to build your immune system, lower inflammation and prevent cancer, think beta glucan.

Resistant starch may also be more beneficial than soluble fiber for feeding the microbiome of the colon.

Insoluble fiber — such as wheat bran, flaxseed, quinoa and chia seeds — should serve as your last resort for stubborn and chronic constipation. Consider supplementing with vitamin B1 for a few days instead, as chronic constipation is often more of a muscular coordination disorder rather than a direct, digestive problem.

The Proper Way(s) to Hydrate Your Body

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Congratulations — you have decided to add adequate water to your daily hydration routine! If someone simply recommends for you to drink five, six or eight glasses of water per day to hydrate your body, don’t listen to them! Hydration entails much more than that. I 100 percent (%) agree that hydration should equal both clean water mixed, with minerals. And when I say minerals, I’m not just talking about salt, like some people are. Ultra-pure water is very corrosive — the same corrosion that happens when the power of river-water breaks up rocks into sand particles, over time. Ultra pure water strips away things — like the delicate mucus membrane that lines the wall of the stomach and intestines, while also depleting the body of minerals it already has. Ultra pure water also acts like a bleach, making things so clean, that it dissolves the color of the surface it comes in contact with. In this article, I will therefore discuss the best ways to hydrate or rehydrated the human body, and without all those ill-effects.

Many people falsely believe they have found the Holy Grail of hydration by adding reverse osmosis (RO) or distilled water to their hydration routine. These methods remove toxins, but also remove necessary minerals out of the water, with reverse osmosis using a semipermeable membrane to filter out contaminants, and distillation involving boiling water to evaporation, leaving dissolved solids behind. Though these processes of removing contaminants from water is worthy of praise, the additional removal of needed minerals should raise the alarm; and calls for a plan B. That plan B involves properly replacing these needed minerals.

If you think you have nothing to worry about drinking ultra pure water, such as RO or distilled water, and you will continue to do so without worry or regret, you are sadly mistaken. The human body runs on minerals. These are what keeps us alive. The heart runs on minerals like potassium and magnesium. If your body runs out of these minerals, then the cells that depend on them will not only run out of energy — they will run of of life and die.

Our blood mimics ocean water?

I’ve been hearing this argument about blood mimicking the electrolyte balance of the ocean. That sounds good on paper. But the reality is the ocean is four times saltier than human blood. That is why we can’t drink ocean water — it will dehydrate us quickly, while destroying our kidneys!

Yet some companies offer hydration drinks called hypertonics, heavily and disproportionately mixed with sodium.

Since salt keeps water outside of the cells, and potassium encourages water into the cells, potassium would therefore be the preferred mineral for hydration. Sodium/salt has a tendency of holding onto water; plus a tendency of causing edema and high blood pressure, and potassium loss.

I find coconut water very hydrating, with a potassium/sodium ratio of 10:1, meaning potassium is 10 times higher!

Like I said, I am a little skeptical about the argument of blood mimicking ocean water — we cannot drink ocean water because it’s too salty.
I would prefer the less sexy argument that mimics the sodium -potassium pump — where sodium ions are pushed out of the cells during ATP to make room for potassium ions into cells. And that is what hydrates cells!

In simple terms, if all of this is confusing, it is potassium that is needed to hydrate cells.

So — though a good start and heading towards the right track — probably the view of hydrating the blood is too broad to talk about in terms of hydration — so maybe we should talk about hydration within cells, where real hydration ultimately takes place.

Main minerals needed for hydration:

As previously mentioned, potassium is the main mineral needed to hydrate within the cells. Other important minerals are: magnesium,  chloride and copper. Magnesium helps keep potassium in place or to stay in place (to hydrate cells), and chloride — which is 60 percent of salt — works with sodium, to maintain the correct pressure between cells and the surrounding fluid. Copper is needed to ignite the electrical (electrolyte) system within each cell. And sodium is needed for extra-cellular hydration.

Be careful with electrolyte drinks!

Science defines three types of dehydration: isotonic, hypertonic and hypotonic.

Isotonic dehydration involves a mineral plus water loss that is equal to each other. Hypertonic dehydration involves water loss greater than mineral loss. And hypotonic dehydration involves a mineral loss greater than water loss. The common denominator used as a mineral is usually sodium.

Using these as examples, companies tailor drinks that maintain water retention by increasing particular electrolytes, especially sodium, to curtail hypertonic dehydration. This may be useful for someone who has just lost a lot of water through heavy exercise and sweat — but not useful (even dangerous) for the common person, who didn’t dehydrate from sweat loss.

Electrolyte drinks are also heavy on sugar, which increases energy, but in the long term, may also increase cellular dehydration.

What water is best for hydration?

The safest way to rehydrated your body is to consume water that comes already with natural electrolyte balances. It is called spring water.

Another natural way to rehydrate is with pure coconut water, with no sugar added.

If there are concerns about the containers these water sources comes in, consider plastic bottle alternatives, such as plant-based carton or glass.

Another way to hydrate is to filter and boil for 20 minutes, tap water. The clock begins as boiling starts!

Adding sea buckthorn berry oil occasionally as a supplement will help hydrate the mucus membrane of your internal tissues, like that of the stomach, intestines and vaginal area.

In simple terms:

If you are confused about what this article is suggesting for you to do, simply start adding spring water or coconut water to your hydration routine. Or if you’re using RO or distilled water, simply start adding mineral drops — particularly potassium and magnesium — to buffer the ill-effects of ultra-pure water. You may also filter and boil tap water for 20 minutes. And occasionally add sea buckthorn berry oil as a supplement to hydrate your internal mucus membrane.

So, how much water should we drink per day?

The amount of water needed for each adult person must be tailored to each individual need. What may work for one person, may be too much or too little for another. Using common sense, drinking gallons of water per day may be a dangerous routine for anyone to follow; and also making it a habit of drinking only one glass of water per day may be dehydrating for anyone and everyone. If I must give a number, I’d guess on average if you’re 100 pounds, somewhere around 4 to 5 cups of water may be necessary; and if you’re around 200 pounds, 6 to 8 cups of water may be necessary. As a visual guide, if your urine is too clear, you may be over-hydrating; if it is too dark (yellow), you may be under-hydrating.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome May Be Both a Chemical and Mechanical Issue

Posted on by Diogenes II

When doctors narrow down and label your gastrointestinal issues as IBS, what they are really saying is, they don’t know what’s wrong with you! You cannot really blame them for being idiopathic — just the small and large intestine alone can stretch out to 27 feet! Finding what is causing your gastrointestinal issues can sometimes be like looking for a needle in a haystack! In this article, we will look at the chemical and mechanical processes that may lead to IBS, and find that needle in the haystack!

Why it’s so hard to heal gut issues?

The gastrointestinal complex is one big hole with a tube from the mouth to the anus. This hole is exposed to the outside world more than any other organ because, we have to constantly put things in it (including toxins). So it’s like a conveyor belt in a manufacturing facility that never gets a rest. To make things more complicated, this conveyor belt has two main hot regions — the stomach (acid) and the cecum. To make things more complicated, hot “lava” a.k.a. stomach acid, often infiltrate the beginning of the small intestine (the duodenum), and food tends to get stuck in the region between the end of the small intestine and beginning of large intestine (the cecum). Furthermore, the door that opens to the cecum often gets stuck, causing waste product to rot at the entrance of the doorway a.k.a. ileocecal valve.

Gastrointestinal issues such as IBS do not start in the colon — they start in the mouth. It starts with what you put in your mouth and the pH of your mouth. If your saliva is too acidic (5.5) or too alkaline (7.5), there goes your problem. The gram-positive bacteria in your mouth cannot protect your stomach if your saliva pH is not ideal!

The food that enters your stomach cannot be broken down properly if your stomach pH is not acidic enough (less than 2.5). There are certain proteins, enzymes and factors in your gut that will not be released or will not work properly if your stomach is not acidic enough. These include the intrinsic factor that binds to vitamin B12 in the stomach, then releases it into the small intestine; and the enzyme pepsin that helps break down proteins in food. Taking alkaline water or antacids like TUMS for acid reflux may make you feel better, but will surely deplete your stomach acid, leaving you vulnerable to bacterial infections and incomplete digestion of food.

As this broken down food moves down further the gastrointestinal tract, it encounters chemicals. One of the first chemical is bile from the gallbladder, used to alkalinize the acidity from the food coated with stomach acid. Bile release is activated by the existence of stomach acid. Thus low stomach acid equals low bile release. The next is sodium bicarbonate from the pancreas, also used to buffer food blessed with stomach acidity. Pancreatic enzymes, from the pancreas, are also released to further break down food, namely protease, to help break down proteins further; lipase, to help break down fats, and amylase, to help break down carbohydrates.

Now this processed food or chyme now enters the first, second and third parts of the small intestine, called the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, respectively. There, an extraction process goes on, releasing minerals, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, fatty acid and other nutrients into the bloodstream through Intestinal finger-like projections called villi.

The remaining undigested food is welcomed at the door of the large intestine, called the ileocecal valve. Sometimes this door (that leads to the cecum) does not open all the way. This fully unopened door can sometimes make undigested food feel a little unwelcomed, causing some of it — because of waiting too long — to rot at this junction. This cascade of ileocecal valve dysfunction may lead to all manner of evil: abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation and the birth of bacterial overgrowth.

This ileocecal valve dysfunction may also lead to a specific ileocecal valve incompetence — which is actually a real term. From this incompetence, the door of the cecum inappropriately stays open, allowing the movement of waste from the colon to backflow back into the small intestine, from whence it came — leading to all manner of evil: bloating, infections, vitamin C deficiency, emotional instability, diarrhea, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

The food that gets by a properly working ileocecal valve on a timely fashion enters the acidic cecum. Some label the cecum (the beginning part of the the large intestine) as a second stomach, because of the high heat and acids it produces as food travels up the ascending colon.

In the colon, bacteria ferment undigested proteins, carbohydrates and fiber, producing the release of many gases, including hydrogen, carbon dioxide, sulfide, methane and ammonia. Much are recycled, while others are treated as waste product to be excreted.

Bacteria primarily in the colon also break down fiber from carbohydrates to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) — including acetate, propionate, and butyrate  — that nourish and keep colonic cell wall heathy and functional. Other less beneficial SCFA’s include formate, valerate, and hexanoate that are produced in lower amounts.

Water is also extracted from this undigested food and recycled back into the body. If there is some type of dehydration, for whatever reason, the result may become a mechanical issue, known as constipation!

Constipation

Diarrhea should not be labeled as the opposite of constipation — it may actually be a dramatic form of constipation, resulting from watery stool flowing pass impacted stool (or fecal impaction) too hard to move. The closest, official name for this diarrhea system may be called: paradoxical diarrhea. Diarrhea may also be due the ileocecal valve incompetence.

There is acute constipation and there is chronic constipation. Acute constipation only lasts a short period of time throughout one’s life. But chronic constipation may persist for years, even decades. Chronic constipation can lead to other mechanical digestive malfunction, even after the initial constipation situation is resolved.

The devastating effects of chronic constipation:

During chronic constipation or even after it is resolved, almost permanent damage may be done to certain muscular system throughout the colon. It is called anismus aka dyssynergic defecation, specifically paradoxical puborectalis contraction (PPC). What all this means is the muscles of the rectum don’t work — they are unrelaxed and stiff. All of this appropriately falls under an umbrella term called: paradoxical puborectalis syndrome (PPS).

Paradoxical puborectalis syndrome

At the base of the rectum is the control center that regulates all gastrointestinal and urinary activity. It is called the pelvic floor muscles, with a huge sling-like muscle called, the puborectalis.

Many people who suffer from gastrointestinal issues from chronic constipation may have a tight, stiff puborectalis, and not even know it.

Paradoxical puborectalis syndrome encompasses not only a dysfunction of the puborectalis, which is the involuntary contraction and tightening of this muscle when it should be relaxing to allow bowel movement, but also the associated symptoms like bloating, straining, incomplete (stool) evacuation, tenesmus, rectal discomfort and self consciousness caused by this dysfunction.

Treatment for paradoxical puborectalis syndrome:

First, to confirm PPS, you must see a pelvic floor specialist at the PELVIC PHYSIOLOGY CENTER and perform what is known as Anorectal Manometry and/or a balloon expulsion test (BET). If PPC is confirmed, then a series of EMS Biofeedback training may be implemented to retrain and relax the puborectalis muscle and anal sphincter muscles. Additionally, a pelvic floor physical therapist may be recommended to teach relaxation and stretching techniques which target the pelvic floor muscles.

The success rate of the aforementioned techniques is either unknown or very low!

May Be Better Options for PPS:

PPS like most syndromes may be hard to figure out and treat. But these are the recommendations I’ve personally seen and studied success in:

  1. Intimate Rose Vibrating Pelvic Wand
  2.  Sea Buckthorn Oil suppositories 
  3.  Heather’s Tummy fiber
  4.  Various herbs: Andrographis, Punarnava and Bhumi Amalaki

An extreme medical procedure for PPS:

Upon medical request, Xeomin injections into the puborectalis muscle, must be done by a qualified practitioner of botulinum toxin type A — with sufficient hours of experience.

Simply put, this procedure temporarily weakens or paralyzes puborectalis muscle by blocking the release of acetylcholine. This, in turn, relaxes that muscle, and makes bowel movement easier and more complete.

Xeomin® is a purified form of botulinum toxin type A, which lessens the chance of allergic reactions, compared to BOTOX®, which is composed of a mixture of proteins.

Xeomin is considered a neurotoxin, derived from the bacteria that causes botulism. Please read safety studies: click here and here.

Stunt Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Forever

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Understanding gastrointestinal issues is in its infancy stage for BOTH medical doctors AND functional medicine. My gastroenterologist told me it may take another decade before her profession gets a grasp of it. And that includes bacterial overgrowth, specifically Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). In this article, I will discuss what SIBO is, how and why it is formed, current methods used to treat it; and what we need to do to stunt it, forever!

How is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth formed?

The three macronutrients the human body needs to maintain structure and energy are: protein, carbohydrates and fats. Of these three, one stands out in terms of SIBO development. When the gastrointestinal system cannot break down this certain nutrient in the intestines — in simple terms — it rots! That nutrient is called: protein — specifically, animal protein, like beef, fish and eggs. If the small intestine cannot break down these proteins into smaller digestible molecules called amino acids, then these undigested proteins leave the small intestine, then pile up in the large intestine. The body cannot do anything with these undigested proteins and is forced to either expell them through feces or break them down into a more desirable component. That is where bacteria comes in to play. The more abundant the protein pile up, the more the bacteria needed. If these proteins become unmanageably large in accumulation, then bacteria in the large intestines will proliferate. If these proteins back up into the small intestine, from whence they came, then bacteria is forced to follow. This sequence of events is what has become known as: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth!

Why is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Formed?

If there were no bacteria in the intestines, mankind would cease to exist. Intestinal bacteria has a strange way of keeping us alive. When the large intestine breaks down the protein we consume, nitrogen is released in the form of ammonia as a byproduct. It takes ammonia/nitrogen to build protein — and it takes the release of ammonia/nitrogen to free protein into its smaller amino acid component. This ammonia under ideal circumstances is then transported to the liver via the portal vein, to be processed.

The liver then uses a process called the urea cycle to convert ammonia into urea, which is then processed by the kidneys and excreted in urine.

However, this process does not always go as planned.

If the liver is damaged, it cannot effectively process and turn ammonia into urea, leading to a buildup of ammonia in the blood — a condition that can lead to severe ammonia accumulation, called hyperammonemia. A build up of this ammonia can actually lead to brain injury, and even death!

Now comes Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth to the rescue! Bacterial Overgrowth is actually a defense mechanism the body uses to prevent injury or death from high ammonia! Instead of being called Bacterial Overgrowth, it may be more appropriately called Bacterial Necessity!

This then causes hydrogen and methane gases to raise in the small intestine and colon, to buffer excess ammonia. In fact, there are three common tests to check for SIBO:

Hydrogen dominant SIBO

Methane dominant SIBO (n.k.a. Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth [IMO])

Hydrogen sulfide SIBO

As these names imply, hydrogen, methane and sulfide gases are produced and increased in the intestines due to bacterial, methanogen and even fungal activity. In fact, there is even Small Intestinal and Large Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth (SIFO/LIFO).

There is always a balance between bacterial and fungal ratio in the intestines just as there is in our soil.

So hydrogen is produced in the colon, but instead of being recycled back into the rest of the body as an antioxidant — which is what it should be doing — much of it is being used to fuel hydrogen dominant bacteria. Sulphate-reducing bacteria ((SRB) will use bile from the gallbladder and sulfur from our diet to produce hydrogen sulfide. Methanogens (anaerobic archaea, not bacteria) both in the small intestine and colon — often associated with bloating and constipation — turn existing carbon dioxide into methane. All of these gases are interchangeable!

Then doctors identify these excess hydrogen and methane production in the intestines to diagnose SIBO. It is called the hydrogen breath test — such as the trio-smart breath test — which introduces glucose or lactulose into the gut to stir up and determine if the levels of these gases rise unusually high.

How do doctors and functional medicine treat SIBO?

If you are diagnosed with SIBO, doctors will quickly try to treat the symptom rather than the cause. A combination of antibiotics is introduced — the most popular being Rifaximin and Neomycin. They may also prescribe Metronidazole, which systematically affects the microbiome not only of the gastrointestinal tract, but of the entire body. They may also prescribe medication such as Fluconazole to treat fungal overgrowth — a medication known for causing liver damage.

Functional medicine is not much different — they use a combination of natural antibiotics to treat the symptom rather than the cause. These include: allicin, oil of oregano, caprylic acid, monolaurin, grapefruit seed extract, pomegranate husk and a product called Atrantil, specifically designed for methane dominant SIBO.

How to stunt Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth forever?

Before even thinking about restoring microbiome, we must first make sure the back door is opened! That back door has a simple name — it is called, the anus. 

If you are chronically constipated, stunting  SIBO would be next to impossible. This is where peristalsis, the migrating motor complex (MMC) that pushes food from the small intestine to the large some every 90 minutes during fasting, and fiber, come in to play.

If your liver is damaged, stunting SIBO will also remain next to impossible, since a proper functioning liver is needed to turn ammonia into urea, for excretion by the kidneys and bladder.

If there is any congestion or chronic inflammation of the intestine, colon, urinary tract system or reproductive system (such as endometriosis), stunting SIBO permanently will also be next to impossible.

If you have chronic constipation, see: Healing Chronic Constipation, Choosing the Best Fiber for Gut Health and Irritable Bowel Syndrome May Be Both a Chemical and Mechanical Issue.

If there is liver damage (just assume there is!), see: Deflate Fatty Liver disease.

If there is inflammation and/or congestion, see: Out Ulcerative Colitis Fire Forever, Histamine Intolerance Defused and, other topics soon-to-be announced.

Out Ulcerative Colitis Fire Forever!

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Science defines ulcerative colitis as an incurable, autoimmune, chronic, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). I have no idea what they are talking about — do you? I do agree that it is an inflammatory condition, often affecting different parts of the colon — but I have no idea what the phrase “autoimmune disease” means, and neither do they! In this article however, I will discuss that UC is much more than that and the ways to out the fire forever!

Ulcerative colitis is a devastating condition — when you hear inflammation of the rectum and colon, what that really means for some people is pain all over, abdominal cramps, loss of appetite, fever, fatigue, weight loss, bile duct scarring and intermittent bloody diarrhea! Some in desperation have tried fecal transplant from healthy donors in order to restore their own healthy microbiome. What ulcerative colitis really is is stress on fire — your stress level is so high, it’s setting the colon on fire. This could be physical, emotional or metabolic stress. When it is metabolic stress, combined with physical stress, HCL, stomach acid, is leaking into the intestines without being diluted by the bile from the gallbladder and the sodium bicarbonate from the pancreas. Both bile and sodium bicarbonate neutralizes stomach acid because they are alkaline. But in the case of ulcerative colitis, this process is greatly compromised, creating an abnormal acidic environment.

To heal ulcerative colitis is like healing histamine “intolerance “. Even microwave food may cause flare ups. Fermented foods will definitely cause flare ups. Cabbage juice will most likely cause flare ups. Eggs, dairy, onion, garlic and black pepper will cause flare ups. Even taking certain supplements will cause flare ups. Of course, toxins from hot plastic bottles and forever chemicals will cause flare ups. Vegetables should be mostly cooked…fruits should be taken away from other foods to prevent fermentation.

The hydrogen/sulfur connection

Ulcerative colitis can happen when there is a dysregulation of hydrogen and sulfur. We don’t hear about hydrogen being talked about often, nor sulfur. But hydrogen is everywhere — in stomach acid, in water, food and particularly in the colon, where it interacts with fiber and short chain fatty acids and is recycled back into the body. A dysregulation causes hydrogen to turn into the inflammatory hydrogen peroxide. Sulfur is also needed for cellular metabolism and waste clearing. There is even a medication called sulfasalazine used in UC.

So Ulcerative colitis can be compared to a volcano. The primary gases in a volcano are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), various forms of hydrogen, like hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) — essentially the same gases involved in UC. When there is a pressure build up of gases within the crater, then there is a volcanic eruption 🌋 When there is a pressure build up of gases from toxins in the colon, then there is an Ulcerative colitis “eruption”!

A dysregulation of hydrogen and sulfur is caused by a dysfunctional gut, liver, spleen and pancreas, not able to metabolize nutrients in food properly. Thus calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc and iron become nothing more than toxic metals, rather than the minerals they are suppose to be. Now we have inflammation of the colon and bloody diarrhea.

To heal, we need to fix the gut, liver, spleen and pancreas, and we need to make nutrients act like nutrients again.

This may be done by introducing controlled and pure hydrogen back into the body or the things that supports hydrogen production. It also includes adding sulfur without making it turn into the dreaded hydrogen sulfide.

Five great products I will recommend to do all these things are:

– Hydroxocobalamin (a B12 that contains hydrogen). It also turns hydrogen sulfide back into sulfate. For temporary use only!

– Hydra Shot by Healthy Hydration (a water machine that generates hydrogen while simultaneously removing toxins).

– Sulfur. But not just any sulfur — it must be 99.9% pure organic sulfur crystals (MSM).

People are afraid of sulfur because of sulfur sensitivity, but that is due to being low on molybdenum to break down sulfur properly. Foods high in molybdenum that you can include are: black beans, roasted sesame seeds, organic oats and durian.

– Clostridium butyricum (a bacteria that turns into SCFA, like butyrate, in the colon). UC patients’ microbiome diversity is decreased by some 25% compared to healthy control. Butyrate from the bacteria listed above is the main source of energy in colonic epithelial cells, acting as a short chain fatty acid that feeds all microbiome in the colon.

– Anaerobityricum hallii (another butyrate producing bacteria, providing nourishment to the colonic cell wall and microbiome). May break down acetate, lactate and glucose which then creates butyrate and hydrogen as the final byproducts for the colon.

 

Ulcerative Colitis is not a digestive issue

Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) is actually more than digestive disorders. In fact, they are not digestive disorders at all.

Hidden in the literature of science is that fact that all IBD affect somewhere else, or even started somewhere else. It is called:

Extraintestinal Manifestation (EIM)

What does “extraintestinal-” means? Now what does “Manifestation” means? In the case of UC, it means:

Blood!

Yes, Inflammatory Bowel diseases are blood issues — not digestive issues. That is why Ulcerative colitis is associated with anemia. Yet UC is manifested in an explicit way in gastrointestinal terms — but that does not mean it’s a gastrointestinal issue.

Ayurveda knew this all along!

That is why they emphasize herbs, to purify the blood.

It is this toxic and acidic blood, filled with micro-plastic, glyphosate, unbound iron, heavy metals and other things that are passing through many organs. That is why there is joint pain, resembling rheumatoid arthritis (or is it?); that is why there is inflammation and enlargement of the spleen, inflammation of the pancreas, liver, skin and eyes; scarring of the gallbladder and lungs. And that is why there is inflammation of the colon! An Ulcerative colitis colon can be 1000 times more acidic than normal!

There are at least six herbs ayurveda emphasizes to heal Ulcerative Colitis, namely:

Punarnava: very effective for UC and cleansing the blood and entire body

Andrographis: Andrographis paniculata acts as a bitters, which helps free the liver of stones and sludge. Gallstones are a major cause of UC.

Guduchi: reduces uric acid, and both alkalinize and detoxify the body

Manjistha: an Ayurvedic herb, will prevent the stomach from spilling undiluted HCL into the colon. It also helps alkalinize an overly acidic colon.

Turmeric: an ayurvedic herb that helps reduce unbound iron, and reduces inflammation.

Ginger: enhances the effectiveness of these other herbs.

 

Frozen or freeze dried Spirulina

As if all that wasn’t enough (or was it?), we have to add Spirulina! Spirulina acts like a sponge, mopping up toxins and anything undesirable that would foster the conditions necessary for UC to exist. While there is limited studies, Spirulina contains phycocyanin, a compound with strong anti-inflammatory effects, which may help reduce intestinal inflammation, a hallmark of UC. For temporary use only!

Where can you get frozen or freeze dried Spirulina?

SpiraVeg Spirulina

 

Raw Living Spirulina 

 

Tests to confirm Ulcerative colitis include: colonoscopy or (the less invasive) sigmoidoscopy, with tissue sample. Another reliable test is: stool calprotectin. All of these will examine and confirm the level of inflammation.

Deflate Fatty Liver disease!

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Many people have fatty liver and don’t even know it. When someone says, “fatty liver”, most people don’t know what that means — including the person saying it! To my understanding, it means everything: fatty acids, like triglycerides, phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol esters, bilirubin, dead red blood cell remnants, iron waste and water! In other words, it means lots of junk is building up in the liver! But the biggest junk is probably triglycerides filled with toxins, which is the main source of fat storage and fat accumulation — hence the term, fatty liver.

Anyone who has fatty liver needs to look at their ferritin. My ferritin level was once over 280.

Yes, I have had fatty liver!

I have had fatty liver since fatty liver was not even in style — back in the 1980’s when I was 10 years old! I was blood poisoned (I believe) by painful injections in the buttocks, to supposedly manage my asthma condition!

 

Ferritin affects liver health:

To be clear, ferritin protein is where the body first stores excess iron. Do you know how much ions of iron one single ferritin complex carries? Up to 4500! So if your ferritin level is 50, multiply that by 4500 irons!
Now if your ferritin is 280, multiply that by 4500 iron ions!

Do you know what fatty liver is?: so much ferritin, that it turned into hemosiderin! Hemosiderin is the antarctic of iron waste. It is a graveyard of iron and dead lysosomes stuck in the south pole — actually, I meant, liver! In other words, when the body can no longer store excess iron in the ferritin complexes, it is forced to store it in this second option: hemosiderin. This hemosiderin storage system is hard on the body, especially the liver. And, it is hard to get rid of excess iron once it’s stored as hemosiderin.

Don’t get me wrong: low ferritin can also be distressing: it means the spleen is not recycling iron properly! But that can be simply resolved by consuming copper or wholefood vitamin C!
Does anyone know how to get out of the antarctic?

 

Enzymes affect liver health:

When doctors talk about liver enzymes, they are not only talking about the familiar AsT and ALt — they are also talking about such hardly ever tested enzyme(s) as GGT [Gamma-glutamyl transferase]. Actually, most doctors probably don’t even remember what GGT is! Often high when there is toxins in the blood such as from medication or alcohol or when there is hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatic obstruction or bile flow obstruction, GGT insures delivery of amino acids that make the powerful antioxidant glutathione. These amino acids include: glutamate, cysteine (cystine) and glycine.

 

Protein affects liver health:

What we also need to talk about is not only the liver enzymes, but also, the proteins produced by the liver. They also tell a lot by their too high or too low levels — such proteins as serum albumin and globulins! Abnormal numbers of these proteins may signal🚦 some type of dehydration, or worse, liver dysfunction. Chronic liver disease is characterized by a fall in serum albumin concentration and a rise in serum globulins.

 

Gallbladder health is affected by liver health:

Another thing needs mentioning is not only the liver — that very large organ, but its pipeline: the gallbladder!

Many people have liver issues because the gallbladder is stuck with sludge or gallstones! Can you imagine your kitchen sink pipe clogged with chewing gum? Many people nowadays are listening to their doctors recommend having their gallbladders removed, as if gallbladder surgery was an ice-cream treat! Removing your gallbladder is the same thing as removing the sac that holds bile that is needed to digests fats.

That’s why I also look at bilirubin levels — specifically direct bilirubin, to make sure gallbladder is opened (3mm) and working properly. Too high bilirubin (a “compound” from heme, produced in the liver) means gallbladder is clogged! That’s why I use chanca piedra or bhumi amla to unclog the gall-pipe!

 

The history of fatty liver:

There was once a time when doctors would only entertain the term fatty liver if someone consumed alcohol. If you did not fit that category and still complained that you may have fatty liver, then these doctors would say, “Oh, you don’t know what you’re talking about! Stop complaining and enjoy life!” It was only after repeated and vehement complaints that science then began to realize there is fatty liver beyond alcohol fatty liver disease. They investigated, and labeled this new awareness (or acknowledgement): nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD.

As time went by, NAFLD untreated became a more severe form of liver disease progression known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH. As more time went by, NASH became obsolete, and led to a new term: metabolic dysfunction -associated steatohepatitis or MASH (from the less severe metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)) in 2023 because, “nonalcoholic” and “fatty” seemed too stigmatizing and trivializing the disease, thought those wise minds. In other words, science still could not make up its mind about what fatty liver disease is!

And to complicate things even more, we have another term — i.e., liver disease caused from environmental toxins: toxicant-associated fatty liver disease (TAFLD), which can then lead to the more severe: toxicant-associated steatohepatitis (TASH).

Now, to end all the confusion, all we probably need to know is that MASLD and the severe form, MASH, are the newest terms that aim to encompass all forms of liver disease.

 

Liver disease progression:

To simplify things for the purpose of this article, there are three grades of fatty liver: mild, moderate and severe, with up to 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 of fat deposit and fat accumulation, respectively. And there are progressive stages to fatty liver:

– Simple fatty liver (fat only)

– Steatohepatitis (fat accompanied with inflammation)

– Fibrosis (chronic inflammation) 

– Cirrhosis (widespread scarring that greatly impairs liver function).


Much of this is fixable, yes. But severe fatty liver disease with cirrhosis is going to need a lot of work. Be optimistic, but do not be fooled if someone tells you, “the liver is the only organ that regenerates itself and if you cut off a part of it, it will simply grow back!” Welcome them to the real world 🌎 — the liver won’t do anything good unless you work hard enough to fix it!

 

Reverse fatty liver disease:

Luckily, nature has provided ways to accelerate reversing fatty liver disease. It is called herbs! I have studied for years and tried to find the best answers to what the best things to reverse fatty liver disease are. And I think I’ve found them.

It is not milk thistle. Milk thistle is good for liver that is already healthy. It is not burdock root either — though that can be helpful. It is not artichoke extract or swedish bitters either. Yet those can be helpful. 

The herbs that I like to focus on at reversing fatty liver are from ayurveda: kutki, Bhumi amla and amla!

Kutki is a bitter herb that works like a mechanic, going into liver cells, and bringing them back to life. Bhumi amla is like a drainage plunger, unclogging gunk out of the gallbladder. Amla a.k.a Indian gooseberry is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that may help stimulate the regeneration of liver cells,  and facilitate in the repair of damaged tissue. 

But there are other things necessary to accelerate reversing fatty liver disease. They are: choline and  IP6-inosotol.

Choline helps remove fat from the liver, while IP6-inositol helps remove excess iron from the liver. Excess iron is a major cause of fatty liver disease and liver inflammation! Phlebotomy through blood donation can also relieve the body of excess iron in the blood.

 

And of course, eat healthily and properly:

If you have fatty liver disease, junk food and excess sweets are a no no. Excess alcohol is a no no. Eating excess amounts of animal meat is a no no. Animal protein may raise insulin levels to intolerable levels. Excess dairy and eggs are a no no. And foods high in oxalates is a no no. I have compiled a list of the safest, most nutritious foods! If you have fatty liver, you need to load up on B vitamins, as with the choline previously mentioned, but also particularly vitamins B2 (riboflavin) and B5 (pantothenic acid) — found in organic bee pollen — to accelerate the healing process of a damaged liver. Other nutrients include magnesium, copper and phosphorus.

 

Sugar, sugar substitutes, and sugar alcohol may also contribute to fatty liver disease:

When someone says something like too much sugar causes fatty liver, I think one detail in that means, too much high fructus corn syrup and the nasty Maltodextrin that usually comes with it, contributes to fatty liver! So does aspartame. If you like sweet things, look for pure organic honey, coconut sugar, palm sugar, molasses, or even plain old cane sugar. These other sugars, such as sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners are destroying peoples’ livers! Monk fruit (sugar) is up for debate, since it is usually combined with other sugar alcohols to make it taste like sugar.


So, what should you do?:

– If possible, get an ultrasound for the liver.

– Get a blood test checking for:

– Ferritin: should be less than 75

– Ast and ALt should be less than 20

– GGT: should be less than 30

– Serum albumin: should be between 4.1 and 4.8

– Globulin: should be between 2.2 and 2.8

– Direct bilirubin: should be less than 0.3

Herbs:

– Kutki 

– Bhumi amla

– Amla

Supplements:

– Choline 

– IP6- Inositol 

Procedure:

– Phlebotomy (blood donation)

Foods

Eat healthy, limiting alcohol, sweets and excess animal protein. Pay special attention to food containing vitamins B2 and B5. Also magnesium, copper and phosphorus rich food are beneficial to help heal a fatty liver.

The Other Herbs I Love

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Five years ago, I wrote about nine of my most cherished herbs. Now, I will list eighteen more.

 

Bhumi Amalaki: I previously wrote about herbs good for the liver, like kutki, eclipta alba and guduchi. Now I’ll add another ayurvedic herb, Bhumi Amalaki. This herb goes well with kutki, in rejuvenating a dying, fatty liver. In Peru, it’s known as chanca piedra — the stone breaker. If you want to protect your gallbladder from gallstones or surgery, think Bhumi Amalaki. It is also protective of the kidneys — removing excess oxalate crystals. These features will also relieve chronic abdominal pain and painful urination.

Bhumi Amalaki may also be useful for those suffering from diabetes, Hepatitis B, and HIV.

Other names: phyllanthus niruri, Bhumi amla

 

Jiaogulan: an herb originating from Southern China, this is known as the “Immortality herb”. People who drink this herb as a tea, seem to live longer, healthier lives. Containing 82 saponins called gypenosides, it is extremely useless for those with both pre-diabetes and diabetes. May also reduce visceral and subcutaneous fat.

Other names: Gynostemma Pentaphyllum, Southern Ginseng

 

Bitter Melon (Bitter Gourd): a bitter fruit very good for liver ailments, including fatty liver. Has a chemical that acts like insulin to help reduce high blood glucose level. May help ameliorate lipid disorders such as hyperlipidemia and normalize cholesterol numbers. Relatively high in vitamin A and C, which may help boost the immune system. Contains compounds that may lower high blood sugar markers, like fructosamine and Hba1c. Downside(s): extremely bitter and high in oxalates. Not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Other name(s): Momordica charantia

 

Astragalus: this herb shares certain similarities with Jiaogulan — also sharing anti-aging characteristics, presumably by keeping the telomeres of cells healthy. Astragalus is famously known as a kidney cleanser, reducing protein loss, while increasing excretion of unwanted uric acid. This consequently improves blood pressure and heart function.

 

Andrographis: known as the “King of bitters” for a reason: because it is a very bitter herb. This bitterness helps make everything else sweet: improving arthritic conditions, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Its immune system regulator and strengthening abilities help improve many conditions: asthma, flu, common cold, bronchitis, COPD, COVID, TB, Lyme disease and even malaria. The key is to taking this herb at the onset of these conditions — preferably within 72 hours.

There is also credible evidence that andrographis may show improvement of the hard to treat inflammatory bowel disease Ulcerative colitis.

There is also credible evidence that this herb may show beneficial for certain cancers!

Other names: Andrographis paniculata, Green chiretta, Kalmegh

 

Pau d’arco: from the Amazon rainforest of South America and the inner bark of the tabebuia tree, while improving immune system function, this herb is famous for relieving candida overgrowth in women. Containing compounds known as naphthoquinones, it is known for being anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and maybe even anti-cancer!

Do not consume in high doses!

Other names: Tabebuia avellanedae, Taheebo and Lapacho

 

Neem: like andrographis, an extremely bitter herb from ayurveda. For temporary use only — may dry the body and skin. Not for pregnant or breastfeeding women, as may cause spontaneous abortion. Very antiparasitic, antiviral, antibacterial, antiseptic,  antifungal and anti infection. Purifies the blood and may reduce blood sugar.

 

Punarnava: like andrographis, may be good for Ulcerative colitis due to its anti inflammatory properties. May also be helpful for Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Literally meaning “the one that renews”, punarnava has a whole body cleansing effect, including as a diuretic. May also be helpful for weight loss and those with Rheumatoid arthritis.

Other names: Boerhaavia diffusa

 

African Geranium: from South Africa, very antibacterial and antiviral and proven exceptionally effective for upper respiratory tract infections: common cold, laryngitis (voice box), pharyngitis (sore throat), rhinosinusitis (sinuses); and even lower respiratory tract infections: acute bronchitis; tuberculosis.

Other names: Pelargonium sidoides, South African geranium, Umckaloabo (a brand name)

 

Mullein: like African geranium, helps with inflammation and infections of the lungs. As an expectorant, may reduce mucus. Very useful and effective for those suffering from sleep apnea. May also be helpful in treating other inflammation and infections throughout the body, including ear infections.

 

Pomegranate peel (organic): may be even more effective for heart conditions. Powerful polyphenol compounds called ellagitannins, punicalagins and anthocyanins may reduce inflammation throughout the body. These and other polyphenolic compounds may reduce blood pressure, plaque buildup and chest pain.

Other name(s): Punica granatum (peel)

 

Arjuna: from ayurveda and from the bark of the Terminalia arjuna tree, this herb contains triterpene glycosides that may improve heart function and reduce chest pain. Other compounds have been isolated like arjunetoside, oleanolic and arjunic acids, that may contribute to improvement of the left ventricle of the heart, thus improving blood flow throughout the entire body.

 

Dan shen: like Arjuna, a Chinese (TCM) herb that may improve heart function by reducing excess platelets in the blood. Excess platelets causes congestion in the blood and make blood flow harder. As a consequence of this herb, blood becomes thinner and blood vessels become wider. All of this manifests as reduced chest pain, blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

Other names: Salvia miltiorrhizao, Chinese Red Sage

 

Hawthorn: like Dan shen, hawthorn is good for the heart. Flavonoids like rutin and quercetin may help heart muscle contract better, increasing blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle. This may thus decrease chest pain or irregular heartbeat. May also be a credible option for those suffering from the beginning stages of heart failure.

The most effective part of this herb for improving heart conditions is the flowers. Leafs and berries can also be used but are less effective.

 

Blue Vervain: this is the herb for anxiety, depression and insomnia. Known for its calming effect on the nervous system, the verbenalin, an iridoid glycosides, in blue vervain may increase sleep onset and duration. One side effect may be strange dreams or nightmares.

Blue vervain may also be effective against epilepsy, including the classic tonic-clonic seizures.

Other names: Verbena hastata, American vervain

[Should not be confused with its sister plant, common vervain — the European plant version (aka Verbena officinalis).]

 

Dragon’s Blood: a natural red resin (from tree sap), often used in rituals, extracted from a variety of tropical trees called Dragon trees, primarily, Croton lechleri. Commonly used for digestive issues including internal ulcers. Has antimicrobial properties and can help heal receding gum if used as a mouth rinse. Also used for external ulcers, and other skin wound to accelerate healing. May reduce arthritic pain when used topically.

If used internally, for short term use only — about one week at a time.

Other names: Sangre de Grado

 

Persian Saffron: known as the sunshine spice and the most expensive spice in the world. Effective for anxiety and depression, this spice is known for providing relief of PMS symptoms in women, even by just inhaling the herb. It may also improve sleep quality, reduce cravings, and manage diabetes. May also lubricate sex organs and increase sexual desire.

Pregnant women should not use this spice!

Saffron has many fake competition, so it is important to do research to make sure you’re getting authentic saffron. Look for saffron from Persian or Iranian origin.

Even though saffron may show beneficial in tackling certain degenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and also in certain cancers, it is important to remember that saffron is a spice, and should only be used safely in small amounts, at about 15 mg twice per day.

Other names: Crocus sativus

 

Fenugreek: like saffron, may also increase sexual desire in both sexes, by balancing hormones like estrogen and testosterone. May manage blood sugar and diabetes by slowing sugar absorption in the stomach and stimulating insulin more effectively. Increases milk supply in breastfeeding women. High in iron, excess may cause gastrointestinal issues.

 

Caution should be taken while using herbs with any medication, if pregnant or breastfeeding and two weeks before surgery. Typical side effects — though rare — may include: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, stomach upset, skin rash, anemia, constipation and/or diarrhea.

Histamine Intolerance Defused

Posted on by Diogenes II

Do not be fooled — our body needs histamine.  We need histamine to help secrete stomach acid, to contract the lungs, gut wall and uterus, to dilate blood vessels so as to manage blood pressure and nutrient distribution. Histamine is involved in the sleep-wake cycle, to keep us up and alert. We also need histamine to act as a neurotransmitter [message communicator] for the brain and to improve all brain function. And we need histamine to activate and regulate the immune system to facilitate tissue repair and wound healing. Histamine is like a fire — the problem with it though is when it is lacking its deactivator, such as DAO and HNMT enzymes, to out the fire. Here, we will discuss the bad and the ugly of this histamine intolerance. We will also discuss the ways to put out the fire.

Histamine is a neurological messenger that awakens your immune system. It reacts to infections and pathogens first, then tells your immune system to do something. How does it work? It alerts cells responsible for distributing water throughout the body of places where there is dehydration. It does this by raising the temperature of the certain region\tissue, thus causing heat and regulated inflammation. This regulated inflammation then causes the body to rush water/hydration to the infected area. Thus you may develop diarrhea if it’s in the colon, runny nose if it’s in the sinuses, and swelling of the brain (aka migraine) if it’s in the head. Being histamine causes dilation of the blood vessels, you may also develop flushing, skin rashes; and also other unspecified uncomfortable reactions, such as gastrointestinal issues and irregular periods.

There may be no such thing as histamine intolerance. The body loves histamine, and could not survive without it. Calling it histamine intolerance is like calling too much water in the body “water intolerance”. What it really should be called is histamine overload or histamine dysregulation. After histamine is activated, certain enzymes are suppose to clear it out (DAO, HNMT, MAO) to prevent it from building up. DAO works extracellular with minerals to clear excess histamine from food and the tissues. HNMT works on an intracellular level, clearing histamine that the body produces from within the cells. MAO may work as a backup to the HNMT enzyme. When these enzymes are defected, then histamine overload or dysregulation is the result.

But where does histamine comes from?

Histamine is found ready-made in certain foods or is created from an essential amino acid also obtained through the diet called histidine, to create L-histidine. This histamine is then formed and stored in a type of white blood cell called mast cell, found in tissues. It is also stored in another type of white blood cell called basophil, found in the blood. These mast cells are found in connective tissues throughout the body and awaken to allergens, infections or tissue damage. When these mast cells burst, they release their capsule-like, granule-filled content, including: tryptase, heparin, cytokine and histamine.

The three main causes of histamine to be overly-activated in the body is most likely from:

1. chronic dehydration

2. toxins building up 

3. pathogenic proliferation.

Causes of chronic dehydration may be from:

➡️ Kidney malfunction, not excreting metabolic waste, causing excess chloride production. This may be due to inadequate potassium and magnesium in the cells and excess sodium outside of the cells, causing a loss of both intracellular and extracellular fluid. This then causes widespread dehydration throughout the body, including mineral loss

➡️ Kidneys, small intestine and thymus THEN does not produce enough DAO to clear out excess histamine

Causes of toxins building up may be from:

➡️ Fatty liver, accumulating stones, thus unable to clear out toxins. Then cholesterol gets stuck in the liver from a lack of hydration, and from a lack of the hydrating fluid bile. This then causes gallstones to develop, congesting the gallbladder.

Causes of pathogenic proliferation may be from:

➡️ Heavy metal toxicity within all systems, especially unbound iron, aluminum, mercury and lead, providing a feeding ground for bacteria from food and within the gut

Thus we develop an overproduction of hydrogen peroxide, which creates more inflammation and a sensitivity to certain high histamine (or histamine liberator) foods, including those susceptible to bacteria:

➡️ Eggs

➡️ Dairy (such as milk and aged cheese)

➡️ Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kombucha and kefir

➡️ Certain fruits like avocado, tomato, eggplant, strawberries, citrus, kiwi, banana, pineapple, papaya and even dried fruit

➡️ Certain vegetables, like cauliflower and spinach

➡️ Certain grains, seeds and beans, like corn, peanuts, kidney beans and soy

➡️ Leftover food

➡️ Spoiled seafood like fish

➡️ Alcohol such as red wine and beer

In fact, many people who suffer from small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may actually be suffering simultaneously from histamine overload,  causing a rise in hydrogen dominant SIBO from excess hydrogen peroxide production. This is because SIBO consumes the DAO enzymes layered on the intestinal wall, causing the inevitable proliferation of histamine.

Taking antihistamine (H1 and H2-receptor antagonists) stops the inflammation caused by histamine, which if done habitually, may be a dangerous thing. If your body wants something to be inflamed, it is doing so for a good reason. Stopping that process may lead to malignancy in the years to come. Antihistamine also causes dehydration, including drying of the mucus on the  membrane — the very thing histamine is trying to correct. Another reason is that antihistamines (particularly first generation) make us drowsy because histamine is involved in the sleep-wake cycle, and depleting histamine in the brain by taking antihistamine, disrupts that process.

Natural antihistamines include stinging nettle and food-source quercetin.

So what will defuse histamine overload?

The number one reason why histamine is activated is because of dehydration and a lack of supporting nutrients. Simply hydrating properly with the right minerals and vitamins should correct the symptoms quickly. But there may be other issues, such as liver congestion, toxins and bacterial proliferation. These other issues will take time to correct.

Being that histamine raises inflammation, that means the body is low in certain minerals and vitamins, like magnesium and vitamin B6 (P5P). Vitamin B6 is an important co-enzyme of the DAO enzyme. It also increases magnesium’s absorption into the cells. Magnesium helps do the job for histamine without the need of raising histamine, like widening blood vessels, to remove toxins and increase nutrient absorption. Furthermore, other food sources high in the other B vitamins help P5P do its job better. Natural vitamin C found in acerola or amla will also speed up internal healing of damaged tissue; and it contains copper too, which is a fantastic healer of damaged cells.
To clear the body of excess toxins, you may try IP-6 with inositol, along with a good brand of modified citrus pectin, in the morning on an empty stomach, or at night, on an empty stomach, away from food, for a few weeks or months. (IP-6 should be used with care. Modified citrus pectin binds to toxins, and takes them out of the body, through the intestines.)
To help speed up healing of the liver, Bhumi amla and kutki will do the trick.
You may also try DOA enzyme supplements, 15 minutes before meals, to deactivate histamine overload.

So in summary, to fix histamine overload, try:

➡️ Drinking more nutrient dense fluid such as pure, sugarfree coconut water, or mineral water such as spring water

➡️ Magnesium (glycinate/malate/taurate)
➡️ Vitamin B6: P5P
➡️ Natural B vitamins: Organic bee pollen/Nutritional yeast
➡️ Natural vitamin C: Acerola or amla

To remove toxins, try:

➡️ [IP-6 with inositol

➡️ modified citrus pectin, (such as Pectasol) on an empty stomach, away from food, day or night]

To decongest the liver and gallbladder, try:

➡️ Bhumi amla

➡️ Kutki

To deactivate histamine overload, try:

➡️ DAO supplement

To help eliminate pathogens, try:

➡️ Organic Pau darco (tea) — inner bark only

➡️ Avoid spoiled or leftover food

Additionally, you may try:

⏺ one ounce of grass fed kidney and liver (from chicken or beef) per day for the DAO, vitamin A and copper content.
⏺ pycnogenol to distribute fluid evenly throughout the body
⏺ Natural antihistamines include stinging nettle and food-source quercetin.