We received a lot of questions after we published the blog post “Why Toxin Binders Are Essential For Healing” with guest author Amy Southorn last week.
Amy (@holistichealingwithamy) kindly took some time to sit down and answer all of your questions, in the hopes that it can help you gain some clarity about how to successfully introduce binders in your healing protocol.
Disclaimer: this blog post is for informational and educational purposes only and must not replace professional medical advice. It is important to seek out a holistic doctor or detoxification specialist to find the best individualised treatment for you.
General questions
A binder is a substance that binds onto toxins in the gastrointestinal tract and carries them safely out of the body for elimination. You can think of them like a strong magnet that has an affinity for various toxins due to their net charge and various molecular bonds. Many work because their negative charge is attracted to the positive charge of various toxins. Binders are essential because of the enterohepatic circulation of toxins. Once the liver has processed toxins, they are excreted from the gallbladder with bile into the small intestine. If there are no binders present, these toxins are reabsorbed and continue to put a massive strain on the liver, kidneys and the body as a whole.
There are many different types of binders, these include zeolites, clays, silica based binders, algaes, activated charcoal, modified citrus pectin, seaweeds, humic and fulvic acids.
You can find the whole list with more info on this blog post: Why Toxin Binders Are Essential For Healing.
The highest quality binders can be found here.
The binder I recommend for this purpose is zeolite. It is broad spectrum, meaning it binds to many different toxins. I highly recommend only buying a high quality zeolite tested for purity. My favourites are Zeolith, Toxaprevent and Zeobind.
I always recommend beginning with a high quality zeolite tested for purity either alone or with a nano zeolite.
All of the binders listed on my blog post are the safest and highest quality. The binders that are the best to begin with would be a zeolite followed by activated charcoal, calcium bentonite clay, silica based binders and chlorella.
Yes, some people experience constipation when taking heavier weight binders such as activated charcoal, bentonite clay and zeolite powder. It is important to have the bowels moving prior to binding. Diet, herbs, mineral supplementation, enemas and colonics can help. Some people also experience a mild detox reaction initially, this occurs because once the gastrointestinal tract has been cleaned up significantly of toxins, the body begins to cleanse on a deeper level.
I personally believe it is best to rotate many different binders for the best results because they have an affinity for different toxins. My first choice would be a high quality zeolite powder plus introducing a nano zeolite very slowly. Vitality Detox Drops makes a claim that their zeolite fragments binds to Lyme spirochetes. I haven’t seen any evidence to prove this but I know first hand that their product is powerful.
The main elimination pathways that our body eliminates toxins from are the lymphatic system, skin, lungs, kidneys and colon. Move the lymphatic system with movement, dry body brushing, hot and cold showers, a high raw, high fruit and low fat diet, herbs, rebounding and massage. I like to open my pores and clean my skin with gua-sha and scrub my body with a paste made from a high quality sodium bicarbonate and ACV (apple cider vinegar). I also love scrubbing with sand after swimming at the beach. Using a near and/or far infrared sauna is extremely effective at detoxing through the skin. A high raw, high fruit diet assists in kidney filtration. Check your urine for filtration. I highly recommend self administered enemas to assist the colon in elimination as well as colonics, herbs and a high raw, high fruit and low fat diet. Deep breathing assists detoxification through the breath.
If you have major gut issues I would recommend starting with a light weight binder such as a nano zeolite, humic and fulvic acid, activated silica and if you can tolerate it a zeolite powder. Some people find activated charcoal helps their bloating but for others it is too constipating.
Make sure you drink binder powders with lots of water. For example ~ I often make a binder cocktail with 1 litre of water, 1/2 tsp activated charcoal, 1/2 tsp zeolite and 1/2 tsp of bentonite. Specific herbs for the bowel and supplemental minerals can help as well as enemas. Eating a less obstructive diet is also very important. A high raw, high fruit and low fat diet is very helpful. Fat and protein in excess will slow gut motility.
I included this chart in my first blog post. It shows you how different binders have an affinity for different mould mycotoxins. Zeolite appears to be the most effective but I personally used zeolite, bentonite and activated charcoal for mould detox.
Binders and supplements
No, it is best to take supplements away from binders. Binders are most effective taken alone or combined with other binders.
Certain binders like activated charcoal and clays will bind to some vitamin and minerals if they are taken at the same time as food and supplements. This is why it is important to take them 1.5 – 2 hours before food and suppIements or 3 hours after.
This is not necessary. If you do take probiotics, space them away from binders.
Binders and food
The fibres in fruits and vegetables do have a sweeping effect on the bowels and potentially bind some toxins such as endotoxins. Unfortunately they do not bind many of the man-made chemicals and heavy metal we are exposed to.
It absolutely does make sense. Any positive change is an upgrade and is moving you in the right direction. It takes time to transition and you will eventually have no desire for junk food.
Definitely not. Anyone will benefit from binding toxins in the gastrointestinal tract. A high raw, high fruit and low fat diet will assist in elimination and is the most detoxifying diet there is. Not everyone is ready for this approach though and some people need to take the transition onto fruits very slowly.
Binders will bind onto toxins regardless of your diet. But if healing is a priority a therapeutic diet and detoxification protocol is crucial to see results long term.
I highly recommend the protocols and approaches developed by Dr Robert Morse, Arnold Ehret and Anthony William. A high raw, high fruit and low fat diet will give you the best results. Focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, juices and smoothies.
Indications and contraindications
They are but it’s crucial to space them away from food and supplements. I would also begin with the lighter weight binders and nutritional binders such as chlorella, humic and fulvic acid and activated silica.
Yes a high quality and safe herbal laxative can be helpful if constipation is an issue.
Yes it is. They can be very helpful for diarrhea. Particularly activated charcoal, bentonite, zeolite and Enterosgel.
Taking heavy weight binders would not be an option for someone who has had parts of their bowels removed. Certain binders are not safe for pregnant women because they mobilise metals intracellularly and from tissues and organs. I do not believe nano zeolites are safe for pregnancy.
Yes they can. Toxicity is at the very core therefore binders are extremely helpful when combined with a holistic healing protocol.
I would advise you to address the constipation first and if it doesn’t resolve begin with light weight binders such as nano zeolite, activated silica and humic and fulvic acids.
Binders can help along with making sure elimination pathways are open. Are you sweating, deep breathing, are you having regular bowel movements and are your kidneys filtering? Hair loss is usually linked to physical and emotional stress but heavy metals could also play a role. In this case they could be helpful.
Begin with only light weight binders and you should not have any issues. These include nano zeolite fragments, humic and fulvic acids, microsilica and activated silica. Chlorella may be tolerated too. Avoid the heavier weight binders that can be more obstructive including activated charcoal, bentonite and zeolite powder. Eventually smalls amounts of these binding powders may be tolerated, begin with 1/4 tsp in one litre of water.
Yes they are. I personally believe every human being needs a maintenance binding protocol to thrive in the modern world. Binders will bind the toxins you are exposed to on a daily basis and the toxins you have accumulated over your life that cause disease.
Try gentle binders such a humic and fulvic acid and activated silica. You may tolerate one spray or drop of a nano zeolite. Try them diluted and slowly increase the dose over time.
Yes you do. Regardless, many man-made toxins are only eliminated if they are tightly bound to high quality binders in the gastrointestinal tract to avoid reabsorption.
I highly recommend this yes. You might like his GI Broom that contains bentonite and activated charcoal.
Only gastrointestinal binders should be taken during pregnancy and with caution. Dr Klinghardt highly recommends high doses of chlorella during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This contradicts the teachings of Medical Medium so do what feels right for you and seek the help of a professional with experience in assisting pregnant women. I like this approach because it is a nutritional binder. Humic and fulvic acid would also be helpful. Avoid nano zeolites because they can travel intracellularly.
I recommend a default binding protocol for life because we are exposed to toxins every day in this modern world. Your use of binders is going to vary greatly depending on what you are treating and whether it is for acute or chronic toxicity. There will be times when more binders are needed when you are chelating heavy metals, diving deep into detox and awakening a lot of toxins or actively killing pathogens. It is wise to rotate binders and experiment with different kinds to see how you respond.
Yes I highly recommend trialling different types to see how you feel. Different binders have an affinity for different toxins. Zeolite is the most broad spectrum binder. I like to make binder cocktails so that I can bind the most toxins I can. I also rotate certain binders.
I personally believe first thing upon waking after our body has been working hard to detox during sleep. This is also most convenient for many people. Some people take binders once per day and others 2 or 3 times per day in between meals and prior to bed. I also like the approach of Dr Chris Shade, he developed the PUSH & CATCH protocol where you take bitter herbs to stimulate the gallbladder to dump bile and toxins into the small intestine, you then follow this with binders to catch the toxins.
It is highly individual. Some people prefer to take them once per day whilst others will take up to 3 times daily. Your use of binders will vary depending on how you are a feeling. It is wise to up the dose and frequency of intestinal binders if you are detoxing heavily, experiencing a herxheimer reaction, chelating heavy metals and killing pathogens.
Start with 1/4 of a tsp of powder in lots of pure water if you a very sensitive.
Start with one spray or one drop of nano zeolite. Some people even dilute their nano zeolite to a ratio of 1/6. 1 dose of liquid zeolite for 5 doses of distilled or filtered water, and start from there, monitoring the symptoms you’re experiencing and increasing the dose when you feel comfortable.
I highly recommend taking binders immediately before having a sauna then it is important to rehydrate after. Taking them before means they are already in your system during the sauna. Taking them after is also helpful too if you forget to take them prior.
Activated charcoal, Clay and GI broom
It depends on the dosage. High doses of activated charcoal are helpful for acute poisoning and during a healing crisis. This should only be taken for a few days. Smaller dosages such as the amount found in Dr Morse’s GI Broom can be taken more frequently as long as it is taken away from food and supplements. I still recommend taking a break and rotating with other binders.
I genuinely love the work of Anthony William, but I also follow the work of other great healers including Dr Robert Morse and Arnold Ehret. Many respected detoxification specialists recommend clays and activated charcoal because they are very effective. Medical Medium does have a recommended supplement on his website that contains activated charcoal.
You could try starting with a small amount of zeolite powder.
Yes the GI Broom contains activated charcoal and bentonite which are binders.
Yes they can if they are not mixed properly into water (never with a metal spoon). It is crucial that they are taken with a lot of water and to eat a high raw diet with water rich fruits and vegetables.
Yes, you can. Mix calcium bentonite clay (here is my favorite brand) with apple cider vinegar (or with filtered water), apply on your skin (face, neck, armpits, back, chest) and then go in the sauna right away. The heat will open up your pores and the clay paste will attract toxins deep in your skin.
For external use, this calcium bentonite clay from Aztec Secret is great.
For internal use: Bentonite MED by the same company that offers Zeolith Zeolite and is tested for purity. I also like Biopure Calcium Bentonite
Heavy metals
It should not be mixed in with the HMDS but it would be effective taken 1.5 to 2 hours prior to any food, drink or supplements. The binder will bind onto nutrients in the smoothie if mixed together.
I assume you mean a mobiliser like cilantro? Some products do contain both a metal mobiliser and a binder like zeolite. I personally think they should be taken away from one another.
You will know if it isn’t enough. Many people with a high body burden of heavy metals will experience an increase in symptoms after consuming the HMDS. If this is you, I highly recommend taking zeolite. If you do not notice anything or start to improve, then it is enough.
Zeolite
Yes the zeolite fragments in TRS both mobilises toxins from cells but also binds to them so they can be safely eliminated.
From my own research it is one of the best. I also like Results RNA and Vitality Detox Drops.
Dr Klinghardt has raised concerns about this. From my own research it appears that this would be highly unlikely. TRS is made in a lab and is not from naturally mined zeolite.
This is how TRS is made ~
“Aluminum is converted to alumino with oxygen, silica and
magnesium along with pure water. This form of alumino is
biologically inert and does not migrate into the body. The purity
is known by the assay from the manufacturer of what goes into
the clinoptilolite zeolite. All of the ingredients are food grade
or better in purity.”
It is certainly worth experimenting with this.
I haven’t heard Medical Medium say this but regardless I don’t agree.
Zeolite is my favourite binder but only if it is from a reputable source as it can contain too much aluminium. I only recommend particular brands of clinoptilolite zeolite that have been tested for safety and purity. To be effective the zeolite must contain a high silica to aluminum ratio, ideally more than 5 silica to 1 aluminum molecule.
Zeolite binds to heavy metals, mycotoxins from mould, radioactive materials, fluoride, viruses, some pathogenic bacteria, histamine and ammonia – which is needed for H.Pylori to thrive (Zeolite has been shown to inhibit the growth of h.pylori). If these are triggering your acne then yes!
It is best to take a binder away from herbs. For zeolite you could take it half an hour prior but for activated charcoal and clays it needs to be spaced further away. Approx 1.5 – 2 hours.
Yes you can. I personally like to take zeolite with bentonite and activated charcoal (found in the GI Broom). Just remember to take breaks and rotate binders.
Others
No. All forms of Glutathione (the body’s master antioxidant) increases the mobilisation of toxins. Some people will experience an increase in symptoms due to this. It is important to take a binder if you are taking glutathione.
They are very different forms of silica. Enterosgel is Polymethylsiloxane, Quicksilver IMD/MicroSilica is a highly purified silica with covalently attached thiolic (sulfur) metal-binding groups and Biosil is made from Choline-Stabilized Orthosilicic Acid (ch-OSA). They all have an affinity for different metals and chemicals. Biosil is a strong aluminum binder whilst MicroSilica is the best mercury binder there is.
Yes chlorella is a binder but it isn’t the best heavy metal binder. Dr Klinghardt has said that high doses are best so that any metals that are mobilised by the chlorella are also bound. Potentially it is mobilising too many toxins. I’m unsure why else this would occur. You could trial increasing the dose and adding in zeolite to your protocol.
I don’t have experience with these but feel free to comment below if they were helpful for you!
1 Comment on “Toxin binders: all your questions answered”
Bonsoire Julie, excusez moi de vous déranger mais je me situe en plein doutes vis à vis de ma santé et des effets possibles positifs de l’alimentation. J’ai un défilé thoraco brachial billatéral, plus simplement : une compression de mes nerfs importante au niveau des membres supérieurs (Cervicales, premières côtes, clavicule etc) je suis suivie par une neurologue et mes examens ne sont pas concluant, la conduction nerveuse est donc mauvaise et cela me provoque de grosses douleurs chroniques. La difficulté aujourd’hui est qu’il est compliqué de savoir ce qui se passe à l’intérieur de notre corps et pourquoi ça se manifeste… on propose une opération très invasive : ablation de la première côte, puis retrait total des muscles du cou… je me demande si la méthode de Médical médium par exemple peut me convenir ? ok j’ai des douleurs neuropathiques mais celles-ci d’après ce que me dise les médecins sont dues à cette compression nerveuse. Qu’en pensez vous ? une alimentation peut-elle m’aider ? je n’en peux plus vraiment…. c’est un appel de désespoir. Par avance un énorme merci pour votre retour. Belle soirée, Charlène.