Liver Health

[RobinN]

Ammonia and the Liver

Liver failure is associated with high ammonia levels. A wide range of the toxic substances produced in a toxic bowel is sent on to the liver, which is the body’s primary detoxification site.

During the digestion of proteins, a number of harmful bacteria, including Clostridia, Eubacteria, and Peptostreptococci, produce toxic ammonia in the gastrointestinal tract. It is the result of a perfectly normal process. A healthy liver detoxifies the ammonia by turning it into urea, which is passed out of the body into the urine. When leaky gut syndrome is present, the ammonia remains unprocessed and enters the bloodstream, invading the central nervous system.

This is the causal factor of many dangerous symptoms, such as minimal hepatic encephalopathy and the brain is affected. In children on the autism spectrum we see these signs of excess ammonia; lethargy, seizures, ataxia, unclear thinking, extreme sleepiness, “Spinning Thoughts” i.e. repeating thoughts, OCD type behavior, forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, confusion, and agitation.

Multi strain probiotics are helpful in treating an unhealthy liver by preventing the absorption of ammonia from the colon; once again indicating the strong relationship between the liver and the gut.

When probiotics reach the intestines, they are welcomed by the friendly bacteria as a good food source. Through fermentation, the bacteria turn probiotics into lactic and acetic acids. This has the natural effect of reducing the pH level of the large intestine, making it far more acidic.

When a high level of acidity is present in the intestines the ammonia remains in its ionized form. In this form, it is not passed on to the liver or diffused into general circulation through the blood. This reduces the toxic load on the liver and reduces ammonia levels throughout the body,including the brain.

http://bioraynaturaldetox.com/upload...Connection.pdf

[jyearta]

thanks so much for all your work and profiding this information.

I have appt. at 3:00 to go and have blood work done on my liver.

I am trying to find out what is going on with my body.

It just fells like something is wrong, but noone has been able to find it.

[epileric]

I've taken quite a few biology courses & in all my medical books I've never seen any reference to detoxification except to describe what the liver does. Now I know why.

Unless someone is very severely ill, the elimination of toxins is most efficiently being taken care of by various organs – for instance, the liver, kidneys, skin, lungs and the gut. In a healthy person, the function of these systems is already optimal. No improvements are needed or can be achieved by detox therapies.

Proponents of alternative detox have never been able to demonstrate that their treatments actually decrease the level of any specific toxin in the body. Yet such studies would be very simple to conduct: name the toxin, measure its level before and after the treatment and compare the readings. Why do such studies not exist? I suspect it is because the promoters of detox treatments know only too well that their results would not confirm their assumptions. And that would, of course, be bad for business.

The concepts of detox are not just wrong but also dangerous. They imply that a person can happily over-indulge, ie poison his/her "system" with toxins, and subsequently put everything right again by applying this or that detox method. This message might prompt people to live unhealthy lifestyles in the belief they are causing no harm to themselves. A recent study concluded that "dietary supplement use may create illusory invulnerability, reducing the self-regulation of smoking". In this trial, 74 smokers were randomised in two groups. One lot were given pills to take and told accurately that they were placebos. The other group were given the same pill but told it was a dietary supplement with positive health effects. Those volunteers thinking they were taking the supplement smoked more as a result. A further experiment then demonstrated that the effect was due to people feeling a higher degree of "invulnerability" when taking a "healthy" supplement.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/bl...rm?INTCMP=SRCH

[RobinN]

thanks so much for all your work and profiding this information.

I have appt. at 3:00 to go and have blood work done on my liver.

I am trying to find out what is going on with my body.

It just fells like something is wrong, but noone has been able to find it.

I hope that the blood work gives you some answers. In my daughters case, the simple traditional tests that they give, did not give me much to work with. I could compare from test to test, but was often told that there are far too many factors to judge one from another.

Have you tried an elimination diet for a period of time?

[RobinN]

Lemon juice in water is not a harmful detox. Eliminating additives in food sources is not a harmful detox.

[jyearta]

I hope that the blood work gives you some answers. In my daughters case, the simple traditional tests that they give, did not give me much to work with. I could compare from test to test, but was often told that there are far too many factors to judge one from another.

Have you tried an elimination diet for a period of time?

Since all test would come back OK. I changed my whole diet in Feb. along with exercising, think it's something I'm doing wrong.

well I did lose 39lbs, which sent me into toxicity on my dilantin, but no dr. told this was what was happening, I read a tread somewhere in this forum that prop me to doing some research and discover that is what was happening.

My neur. did order blood work and found that I was not anemia, and that I'm very low in Vit. D and folic acid.

I have asked her to please allow the compunding Phar to go ahead and make these vit. for me. However she refused, saying that she 1st. wants me seizure free for 3 weeks by adding a 3th medication.

So far she has presc. 3 diff. medic. and I have a bad reaction to and can not take.

I don't understand when my seizures used to be bad, and now that they under control for the most part, or sould I say, I can live with this and the side effects of the medic. I'm on.

I have an appt. on Fri. and I plan on asking her WHY does she insist on adding a 3th medic. and that I need to be seizure Free when the quality of life I have now is something I can live with.

[epileric]

If you look at the published articles, they don't say much about how they're publushed:

Published in the peer-reviewed Explore Magazine.

http://www.bioraynaturaldetox.com/ar...-articles.aspx

If you look at Explore magazine it is an outdoor magazine. When someone claims that their study is peer reviewed then it implies their peers are medical peers, not outdoorsmen.

I'd be very suspicious of anyones "medical" claims if they are trying to sell me something like these people are at BioRay but when they claim to be "peer reviewed" and aren't I have trouble believing anything they say.

Keep a lookout for studies that have been published in MEDICAL journals.

After some research, I found that BioRay even made the paper as a company that lacks science or proof. As well, at least 2 of the 3 authors of the study are not doctors.

It might sound like the world's best apothecary, but neither Timothy nor Stephanie Ray is a licensed medical doctor or pharmacist. There's no strong scientific evidence that their products work or that they are safe. In BioRay's online forum, customers have linked its products to fever, rashes, boils, heart palpitations and more.

Their Liver Cleanse was condemned by specialists so be careful with it.

Medical experts who were asked to look at some of BioRay's product claims expressed concerns. Dr. Daniel Ganger, a liver specialist, said he worried that people would opt for products like Liver Life, which BioRay's website said can "normalize liver enzymes," instead of getting medical attention.

"It's a joke," said Ganger, associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

They even have a disclaimer saying not to use their site as medical information.

The website also has a disclaimer noting, in part, that its products and content have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and that "no action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well being."

Supplements lack science, safety proof
Medical experts say they're concerned with claims by BioRay

I would definitely take any advice from this site with a grain or 2 of salt.

[epileric]

I found this in the paper today.

Taking slightly too much acetaminophen over time to relieve pain can cause dangerous and potentially deadly liver failure, British researchers warn.

In a study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Dr. Kenneth Simpson and his co-authors reviewed data on 663 patients who were admitted to hospital for liver injury from paracetamol — sold in North America as acetaminophen and under the brand name Tylenol.

They found that 161 patients in Scotland had taken a "staggered overdose" — repeatedly taking a little more of the drug than they should, usually to relieve abdominal or muscular pains, headache or toothache.

Acetaminophen overdoses over time risky for liver

[epileric]

Another study but on how the liver protects itself from acetaminophen

In the new study, researchers found an abundance of dendritic cells in the liver can protect the organ from acetaminophen damage while low levels of dendritic cells in the liver are associated with exacerbated liver damage, liver cell and tissue death, known as centrilobular hepatic necrosis, and acute liver failure from acetaminophen

Dendritic Cells in Liver Protect Against Acetaminophen Toxicity; Possible New Therapeutic Target for Acetaminophen Induced Acute Liver Failure

[RobinN]

I use BioRay products. I have found them to be an upstanding company.
Information and journals written by those that have used their products with success, was a testimony that guided my decisions.

They have a disclaimer on their site because the FDA forces them to do so. As it does with any product that has not either had the funds to go through the proper testing.
They have been open and honest with me whenever I have had the need to contact them.

The FDA has evaluated many products, and there have been deaths from such products. They are also known to pass products with their stamp of approval, which never been tested. I use the FDA information with careful consideration. It certainly is not a perfect science. It is a huge bureaucracy that has many known faults and should not be playing God in my health options.

Everyone should be allowed to make decisions for themselves.

[epileric]

I am so glad you have not had any problems with their products but be careful because they have deleted the journals that claim adverse effects as was mentioned in the article.

In BioRay's forums, customers have linked company products to rashes, boils, cold and flu symptoms, canker sores, heart palpitations, high fever, itching, aggressive behavior, constipation, headaches, brain fog, reduced energy, coughing and insomnia

I agree that just because something has the FDA approval does not guarantee it to be safe 100% but if they cannot even pass the basic testing done then does that not say something? BioRay is a big company that is part of a 25 Billion dollar industry so I would be hard pressed to believe that they don’t have FDA approval for lack of finances.

Not having the FDA approval means that they are under no obligation to test their products to see how they might effect people for better or for worse. I don’t say FDA approval is a guarantee but it does mean that at least tests showing safety had to be done & that’s better than not having to show them.

I don’t see the FDA as playing god with your decisions because you are allowed to use BioRay. I do agree we should make our own decisions however I do think that everyone should make informed decisions and telling lies such as having their studies “peer reviewed”, claiming to be doctors when they are not, shutting down their public forums where people complained about adverse effects when they were questioned by media, and making false medical claims (like how dead bacteria proliferate good bacteria in the gut) do not properly inform people. All these things were mentioned in the article.

There's no evidence that dead or parts of dead bacteria have anything to do with proliferation of good bacteria," said Dr. Allan Walker, a probiotic expert and director of the Mucosal Immunology Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital. There's no proof they can push pathogens out or correct microbial imbalances either, he said.
After questioning by the Tribune, BioRay removed these claims from its website.

BioRay sent the Tribune 23 references to scientific studies it said support its product claims. Most of the references were small preliminary studies performed on mice, rats or in test tubes or petri dishes. None of the studies involved placebo-controlled testing of any ingredient in BioRay products in human beings.

[RobinN]

I would disagree that Bio-Ray is a "big" company.
You are so misguided on the subject. I was on that forum and you do not speak from authority on the subject, nor do the articles.
It is evident that you do not like alternative therapies. Point taken.

[hootie]

Jyearta...

It may not be a bad a idea to stabilize and then add one supplement at a time to see how your body responds before adding another. You can obtain additive-free "clean" supplements cheaper than getting them compounded. If you want names of brands just ask.

Also, you would want to use folinic acid instead of folic acid since it is the natural form that does not need to be converted. Folic acid is the synthetic form that requires enzymes in order to convert to the active form in the body. Sometimes that pathway can be stressed/ inefficient due to other meds or genetic factors.

Hopefully you get some answers from your doc about the med addition.

[epileric]

You are so misguided on the subject.

I have only gone where the facts guided me. So far you have given nothing but opinions & I have given nothing but facts which I have cited. I think you should reconsider which of us might be misguided.

It is evident that you do not like alternative therapies. Point taken.

I'm sorry you see it that way. I don't hate alternatives (everything was an alternative at some point). I just believe that all research & known facts should be considered before using any type of therapy. Who would not want all studies & research to be taken into consideration when discussed? Especially the proven research.

I would disagree that Bio-Ray is a "big" company.

They were asked to return 22.5 million dollars in net profit and return $87 million. That was 109.5 Million just from their ionized bracelet scam alone. That doesn't take into consideration the numerous other "health" products.

The court also found that the defendants deceptively advertised their refund policy. Although the court has not yet issued a final judgment order, it stated that it will require the defendants to turn over $22.5 million in net profits and pay up to $87 million in refunds to consumers

Court Rules In FTC's Favor In Q-Ray Bracelet Case

Actually, if you check Lead411 you'll see that they profit between 1/2 Milllion & a Million annually. Since they only have to support 5 employees I'm sure they can afford the FDA testing.


Jyearta...

Do be careful because some studies show that folic acid can hard your liver.
A new study brings fresh evidence that it is indeed possible to have too much of a good thing.

Writing in today’s edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of South Alabama find that most people who take folic acid supplements probably shouldn’t.

Supplements are popular, but they often wind up boosting levels of unmetabolized folic acid in the bloodstream and in tissues. Recent studies have linked high levels of unmetabolized folic acid to decreased activity of natural killer cells in older women, and they may make it difficult to detect deficiencies in B12. Too much folic acid also appears to boost the progression of some types of cancer. (For more, see this L.A. Times story from May.)

Folic acid can overwhelm the human liver

[hootie]

Epileric is right, folic acid is the synthetic form...avoid it. The reason why I keep pushing folinic acid. Also, too much can cause problems so work with your doc to find the optimal dose for you. All B vitamins work together so it is good to take them all together as a multi B or a multivitamin.

[Chaz1]

seriously interesting stuff..reading all info/opinions and making up my own mind 