Binders, Bentonite and Psyllium

Hi tickonboard -

The sauna can sometimes increase sx because of the heat. I could not tolerate any level of heat for years leading up to the beginning of my treatment and during. My flares were so bad (including migraines) I haven't tried any heat since and I've almost wrapped up the main part of my treatment...one of these days I'll jump in again.

But until I'm ready - I avoid heat but it's a very, very good way to detox so if/when you try sauna again, just spend less time in the sauna, less frequently, maybe lower the heat if you can.

CHLORELLA
Regarding binders - please be careful with the chlorella - it's a very good chelator (extracts heavy metals) so if you know you don't have a heavy metals issue, it's very safe to use but if you are unsure, please start very carefully with low doses and titrate up slowly along the way. If you leach heavy metals too quickly and are unable to eliminate them quick enough it's possible the mtls can get reabsorbed into your tissues.

BENTONITE CLAY
For those just starting out who might not know their heavy metals situation, you might be better off with bentonite clay. I like the liquid - I think it might pose a little less of an issue with constipation but any binder needs to be taken with a lot of water before, during and after taking the binder.

PSYLLIUM HUSK
Psyllium husk is also a great binder but probably not for anyone with GI issues (leaky gut, yeast/fungal overgrowth or any other issue that might also include damage to the mucusal lining - the husks are just too rough for the digestion process, which is already difficult with these issues that need the mucosal lining to heal).

CHOLESTYRAMINE
My favorite binder and one of the most impactful components of my entire treatment is PURE cholestyramine. It's expensive but I can't live without it. It has so many other benefits (at least that I've experienced - it's different for everyone) AND is also an expert binder.

I had a lot of GI issues and given the cost, it might not be necessary for those who just need a general binder but wanted to throw info about it into the mix - here are the other benefits I've experienced:

- A whole other "level" of detoxing, particularly when I chase the CSM w/ a bentonite clay--always at night after my meals/last supps/last abx dose and then I wait for a couple hrs, take my probiotics and head to bed to "heal".

- Once I started the CSM at high doses I had a downtick of symptoms, less GI cramping/distended belly/inflammation/diarrhea/constipation.

- I became super regular (like small BMs a couple hrs after each meal kind of regular... I've never experienced that in my life. I think keeping things moving can solve a lot of problems, since the longer fecal matter remains in our intestines, the more toxins are leached from them and the longer leaky gut has an opportunity to let toxins enter the bloodstream, etc...

- The BMs were also well-formed and "normal" - I had no idea they could be like that. And no longer had a lot of odor (although regular odor is not a bad thing--just that I was going so regularly that things were really moving, which is also much a critical way to detox.) LOL TMI, I know - sorry.

- I'm also a believer in the gut-brain connection and have experienced fewer psycho-neuro herxing that skyrocketed as I started treating bart again, and the CSM has helped me hold on to what little sanity I have left. I think this can be the binding action --or can be due from simply keeping things moving.

- I also experimented to see if the CSM could be effective with clearing yeast/fungal overgrowth and/or keep it in balance. I don't think it it has any anti fungal properties but it has allowed me to go off all antifungal Rx - for now, at least. Maybe it's preventing anything new from growing and/or settling in the gut maybe because it quickly removes it before it can get established.

I was Y/FO-free when I started it, then I went off all antifungals a couple wks later. Then right at the beginning of the year I had a huge flare up when I started busting biofilms and sure enough, the yeast/fungal issues cambe back. I went back on Ketoconazole and Nystatin, which helped, but it was the CSM that got be back in balance within days. I'm off the antifungals again with the help of CSM.

- I've had an uptick in energy, which could be due to a couple of things but noticed it around the time I started the CSM.

- I have also started sleeping better and more soundly since starting the high doses of CSM I dare say I might have even had a couple of dreams--I stopped dreaming when lyme & co entered my life.

- Also, when I get a head-ache or feel brain fog or "neurotransmittery" or "crazy" tick up I take the CSM - that plus Pinella/Burbur can sometimes kill the headache and I know it helps with the crazies.

Only busting biofilms brought back my appetite yet---nothing has been touched that but it has helped in every other aspect of GI suffering.

Other info:
If you can't get your hands on the PURE cholestyramine I would skip it altogether and stick with the OTC binders. The lesser cholestyramine products like Welchol or Questran are manufactured versions of the raw cholestyramine and contain unnecessary and sometimes disruptive fillers and sugars or sugar substitutes and very little quantity of the cholestyramine, in fact, you probably have to take so much of the manufactured version to get the full benefit you’re getting too much of the fillers and sugars and might as well use the other OTC binders.

PURE CSM is just that—the raw ingredient and nothing else (although you can also get it with stevia for improved taste). It can be expensive (appx $185 for 60-day supply obtained via Rx through a compounding pharmacist--let me know if you need contact info). But I would go w/out other components of my protocol before I'd stop the CSM.

I started very slow but worked up to my optimal dose of 6 grams at night.

Again, not everyone has GI issues like I do, so that is certainly a personal thing and the important info here is that binders are a really great way to detox.

Hope this is helpful -

-p

Yes, any MD can prescribe it - just have to see if he will. The thing about MDs is they are a lackey of the pharmaceutical industry. They are educated by pharma for nearly every drug they prescribe (literally - there is a pharmaceutical representative on staff for every region of the country - it's a whole industry tied in with the universities, etc...) and know little about anything else available.

So, if a particular manufactured drug is not something that was or is being peddled by the industry, MDs often have little interest (partially because they are busy and whether it's Lyme or a new drug/remedy, llearning about something new requires effort.) Also because, well, some like to think they're all-knowing... but these MDs get kickbacks from Pharma.

Anyway, cholestyramine is an ingredient in other manufactured versions, which make pharma a LOT more money than they make on the pure form because there is so little of the actual drug in the product - they're mostly fillers and crap (just like Nystatin, if you've ever seen my rant on Nystatin products). But the pure drugs have no other fillers and ingredients, they're cheaper (generally except insurance often won't cover the pure version, go figure), easier to control dose and more effective for various reasons.

You will need to find a compounding pharmacy to fill the prescription - there is probably one near you but they can also be found online. I have one I use that I like but I bet you can find it a little cheaper elsewhere - don't know that for sure but it's in Los Angeles, and, well...

-p

Post Edited (Pirouette) : 6/6/2017 12:26:04 PM (GMT-6)

I use Great Plans Yerba Prima - bought mine at the local health food store - it's the clay suspended in water.

There are many different brands you can use - just as long as they are food-grade (some are used in gardening).

-p

Hi BKS -

My GI woes did not include weight loss - just the opposite - weird, rapid weight gain, distended belly, despite barely eating becauss of low appetite, nausea. I was on a liquid diet multiple times over the past 10 yrs, never lost an ounce. Until I started busting biofilms - then my appetite came back and weight is falling off (slowly) it's like my metabolism has returned.

Yes, CSM helped heal my gut by dragging gunk out that I think contributes to damage, keeping me regular and probably boosting GI function since it's a bile sequestrant.

Yes, pure CSM and the cheap manufactured versions require an Rx. I haven't looked on foreign pharmacy sites (that have an MD "on staff" and don't require Rx but I do have those sources - email me if you're interested.

-p