Battle of the Binders

You have mold toxicity and you want to feel better sooner rather than later. Which product of the many orderable from your favorite online stores actually the best option? Let’s answer this question in a ‘battle of the binders’ so that you don’t waste any more time. Will the victory trophy be handed over to GI Detox, Binder Plus, Mycopul, cholestyramine, or another product?

When mold toxins are causing you to miss out on life, at least an enjoyable life, you need to deal with them quickly and comprehensively. Neither of these goals is easy, but, while the second one is possible for everyone, the first is easier said than done. Which product will optimize both of these without its detox process making you miserable along the way?

Answers

In this article, you get the foundation of choosing the binder for you—and at the end, you’ll get the most important binder-therapy insight of all.

First, what are binders anyway? ‘Binders’ are supplement or prescription therapies which can grab and drag mold toxins, among others, out of your body, helping get rid of the poison so that you can heal. There are several to consider in this article, first from a single ingredient standpoint, then from a combo standpoint.

Here are a few single ingredient binders:

Zeolite Clay

Zeolite clay comes from volcanic or synthetic origins as crystalline aluminosilicates. Their 3-dimensional and negatively charged structure enables them to trap positively charged molecules, including some toxins. The clay’s structure otherwise does not react with food or body fluids, making this option rather safe. Since studies have not been performed in pregnant women, we limit or avoid their use during that time, but otherwise, they have rare side effects, besides some constipation. At most, they may trigger some detox reactions as they help the body to release stored-up toxins.

Bentonite Clay

Bentonite Clay as a natural internal or external remedy has been around for centuries. As an aluminum phyllosilicate clay, extensive literature (Afriyie-Gyawu et al 2005, Afriyie-Gyawu etal 2008, Wang et al 2005, Elmore 2003, and Mitchell 2014) demonstrates its safety through topical use or ingestion. Its negatively charged surface attracts positively charged molecules, similar to the effects of zeolite clay. Carson and Smith 1983 demonstrated its binding of T-2 mycotoxin in rats. Several studies cited in Moosavi 2017 listed studies demonstrating the binding of aflatoxins by Bentonite Clay as well as other studies demonstrating benefits with other toxin exposures.

Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal comes from organic material (wood or other plant material) that is strongly heated with minimal oxygen before being pulverized and activated by pyrolysis. Pyrolysis removes volatile substances and expands the surface area of the charcoal massively, exposing more of the millions of microscopic pores in its structure (Karaman 2014). Having been used in ancient cultures for medicinal uses and in recent years by the medical establishment, it is recognized as an effective absorbent for many but not all toxins. It is not recommended for corrosive toxins (like acids), for iron or heavy metals, for organic solvents, or for cyanide.

Activated charcoal works when ingested; the toxic substances enter the millions of pores in the charcoal and are trapped by electrostatic attractions in those pores. The charcoal continues through the GI tract, holding onto the toxins, and is eliminated in the stool. This method is effective when the toxin ingestion is recent or if the toxin is eliminated by bile excretion from the liver. It is considered relatively safe at various dosages when used short term. The main concern is when used in acute toxic ingestions, during which the patient might vomit and aspirate the charcoal into their lungs, or when a corrosive toxin can allow the charcoal to pass through into the abdominal cavity. It is otherwise considered safe in pregnancy and during breastfeeding years, when used short term (Natural Medicines). In one study, it appeared safe after 3 years of use (Gao et al 2019).

Chitosan

Chitosan was originally sourced from shellfish, but with newer extraction techniques, a more sustainable source can come from mushrooms, especially oyster mushrooms. Besides mycotoxin removal, this substance is used in a variety of medical and cosmetic processes and products. It possesses impressive fat-binding and water binding capacities, allowing it to absorb large amounts of fatty substances or water. A Pubmed search will bring up a list of studies showing how it binds various mycotoxins in the food processing industry.

Fulvic and Humic Acids

Fulvic and humic acids occur naturally as a product of decomposing lifeforms, mainly vegetable materials (Carrasco-Gallardo et al 2012). Humic and fulvic acids are found together both in nature and in different supplements, but the two organic compounds act differently in the GI Tract. We do not absorb humic acid into the bloodstream, so its effects are primarily to block the absorption of toxins in the GI tract. Fulvic acid, on the other hand, does absorb into the bloodstream and may exert anti-inflammatory and other effects throughout the body (Carrasco-Gallardo et al 2012). It may chelate metals for detoxification. Fulvic acid does have some safety studies but has not been tested safely in breastfeeding and pregnancy, and therefore we discourage its use for those patients (Natural Medicines, Natural Medicines).

Silica

Silicon resides in our bodies as the third most abundant trace element. In our cells and tissues, we find it in silica or silicate forms, bound strongly to oxygen. Some combination products use monomethyl silanetrienol (MMST) silica, a stable organosilicon, monomeric form different from the naturally occurring inorganic form. This synthetic form offers the benefits without the inorganic form’s potential contaminants.  When combined with water, a gel forms that provides a very large surface area that can absorb considerable toxins. This gel plus toxins can then be eliminated in the stool. MMST appears safe in studies (Jugdaohsingh 2013).

Fibers

Several fibers from plants also act as milder binders and help keep the bowels going regularly so that the more constipating binders can be continued on a daily basis without interruption.

Pectin in general is a soluble fiber. As such a fiber, it helps maintain bowel regularity that might be hindered by activated charcoal binders. This fiber also feeds colonic bacteria, allowing them to produce short chain fatty acids for colonic health. Pectin can also bind some heavy metals such as lead and mercury (Kohn 1982). Dietary amounts of pectin are safe and a study of 6 months of 10grams twice a day was well tolerated without serious adverse events (Kang et al 1988). It appears to be safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding (Natural Medicines).

Glucomannans come from the roots of Konjac plants. We often combine this with other binders, but a few things have to be kept in mind. Glucomannans, when mixed directly in water can create a jelly ball. Mixing before swallowing only works if in a large volume of fluids like a smoothie. Then, if the capsule opens up during swallowing before the stomach, that jelly ball can be very uncomfortable. We recommend a good glass of water. Beyond that, taking too many glucomannans can give a bloating sensation and decrease food intake. The bloating is not fun, but some appreciate a little help with weight loss.

Okra Pepsin comes in as another helping binder for children, whether it’s the scooped powder (Mycobind) or a parent opening capsules into liquid. It works just like the pectin and glucomannans, with similar benefits in preventing constipation.

Probiotics

There are a few different fungi and bacteria which can help us deal with mold toxins. These work well in children who do not always tolerate the stronger binders as easily. Saccharomyces boullardii (a yeast) is the most commonly used fungi. This yeast is actually used in agriculture, with billions of dollars of freeze-dried Saccharomyces being added to the feed of pigs and cattle to help with the effects of mold.

Besides this yeast, some lactobacillus are known to metabolize mycotoxins and neutralize them. This can lower exposure from food and lower the reabsorption from the liver’s bile excretion. Obviously, probiotics benefit the GI tract in other ways as well.

Glutathione

Glutathione is considered to be a binder by some but not by others. Instead of working in the GI tract primarily, this 3-amino-acid peptide serves as a master antioxidant in our bodies. On one hand, it can lower the oxidative stress damage which many of the mold toxins create in our bodies. On the other hand, our detoxification systems can use it in a ‘conjugation reaction’ to detoxify the mycotoxins directly. Our system directly attaches the glutathione to the chemical structure of the toxin to prevent it from causing further harm. This alteration also helps the kigneys remove the conjugated toxin and excrete it in the urine.

Side note: some research indicates that those with gliotoxin, a somewhat common mycotoxin, should not take glutathione as it could worsen rather than alleviate oxidative stress in this situation. We have not seen this in our clinic but are watching for reactions to all binders, ready to adjust if a problem arises.

Prescription Binders

Cholestyramine

Cholestyramine, known as CSM for short, stands out as our first pharmaceutical/ prescription binder. You will find this as a foundational binder in certain protocols, particularly what has become known as the ‘Shoemaker’ protocol. This works very well for ochratoxin A, one of the more common and more impactful mold toxins. It will detox other mold toxins also, but not as effectively as for ochratoxin A. Like the other GI based binders, it binds the toxins which are excreted into the stool from the bile and holds on until they exit in your next bathroom visit.

Colosevalam

Colesevalam, or trade name Welchol, comes in as our second prescription binder. It is known to be moderately effective for a number of mold toxins, but not as strong as Cholestyramine. Some like this binder as it seems less constipating and requires less timing precision around meals.  Like others, it binds toxins in the stool and holds on until…

Combination Binder Products

We use or have used a number of combination products over the years for different patients (which may give away the punchline). Each has pros and cons, and different patients do better with one binder or binder combination than another at times. While those adhering to the Shoemaker protocol will be guided away from combos (if not ridiculed for taking them), we have found each of them helpful at different times. They take the non-prescription options above and combine in proprietary products ready for use.

Examples

Binder Plus^TM from Nutramedix offers the benefits of Zeolite clay, bentonite clay, charcoal, Aloe, inulin, chitosan, and fulvic acids in one capsule.

GI Detox from Biocidine Botanicals has zeolite clay, charcoal, aloe, silica, pectin, and humic/fulvic acid.

Mycopul from Researched Nutritionals has Humic/Fulvic powder blend with trace minerals, Activated Charcoal, G-PUR® purified Zeolite Clinoptilolite, Microchitosan, Silica (from Bamboo Extract)

There are others out there that we have not used as frequently.

Punchline

You are still asking (and patiently waiting to know) which of these is best for you. The bad news is that without knowing which mycotoxin you have stuck inside you, I can’t answer that question definitively. However, your takeaway is that unless you are the rare person with only one mycotoxin (most of our patients have at least two show up in their urine tests), you probably need more than one binder.

Even then, the ‘perfect’ detox combo for your individual set of toxins can sometimes have intolerable side-effects. That’s when we will guide you to try a different combo or even single ingredient binders. With that in mind, know your toxins, and listen to your body when it tells you that it doesn’t like a binder. Sometimes the issue is just a detox reaction to push through, but at other times, your body needs you to stop and try something else.

 

 

 

References:

Part 1

Karaman R. Novel Modified Bentonite-Montmorillonite and Activated Charcoal Complexes for Detoxification. International Journal of Clinical Toxicology.2014;2(2):37-41

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Professional Monograph: Activated Charcoal. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=269/. Accessed 12/08/2021.

Gao Y, Wang G, Li Y, Lv C, Wang Z. Effects of oral activated charcoal on hyperphosphatemia and vascular calcification in Chinese patients with stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease. J Nephrol. 2019;32(2):265-72.

Part 2

Mills S, Bone K.The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety.Philadelphia, U.S.A.: Churchill Livingstone; 2005.

Braun L, Cohen M.Herbs and Natural Supplements an Evidenced Based Guide.Vol 2. 4th ed.Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier Australia; 2015.

Bone K, Mills S.Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine.Second ed: ChurchillLivingstone, Elsevier; 2013.

Jugdaohsingh R, Hui M, Anderson SHC, Kinrade SD, Powell JJ. The silicon supplement ‘Monomethylsilanetriol’ is safe and increases the body pool of silicon in healthy Pre-menopausalwomen.Nutrition & metabolism.2013;10:37-37.

 

Kohn R. Binding of toxic cations to pectin, its oligomeric fragments and plant tissues.Carbohydratepolymers.1982;2(4):273-275.

Kang JY, Tay HH, Guan R, Math MV, Yap I, Labrooy SJ. Dietary supplementation with pectin in themaintenance treatment of duodenal ulcer. A controlled study.Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology.1988;23(1):95-99.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Professional Monograph: Pectin. 2018;http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed 30/08/2018.

Carrasco-Gallardo C, Guzmán L, Maccioni RB. Shilajit: A Natural Phytocomplex with PotentialProcognitive Activity.International Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.2012;2012:6741

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Professional Monograph: Humic Acid. 2018;http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed 30/08/2018.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Professional Monograph: Fulvic Acid. 2018;http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed 30/08/2018.

 

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Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.