Choosing Binders for Detox – Direct Elimination Method Series Part 3
In this article, I will go over how to choose toxin binders for the Direct Elimination Method. Please see part 1 of the Direct Elimination Method series for an explanation of the method, and part 2 for instructions on how to perform a toxin binder enema.
Disclaimers:
- The information and content in this blog, or linked materials, are for informational purposes only. I am not a medical professional. This content is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, and is not a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. If you or any other person has a medical concern, you should consult with your healthcare provider or seek other professional medical treatment. Do not disregard professional medical advice or avoid seeking it because of content you have read on this blog or any linked materials.
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What binder(s) do I use?
Your choice of binders will depend on the toxins most present in your body. Each binder is effective for certain types of toxins. You may even require different binders, to address different toxins.
How do you figure this out? Consider your known toxic exposures and history. For example, are you just coming out of a moldy water-damaged home? Do you live near a farm or golf course with heavy herbicide/pesticide usage?.
Certain sets of symptoms also suggest certain toxic exposures. However, that is a complicated subject that justifies additional articles. A qualified healthcare practitioner trained in functional or environmental medicine can work with you to identify which toxins are most present in your body and the best binders to use. Click the links for practitioner finder maps. Later parts of the Direct Elimination Method series will go over specific applications for certain binders and toxins.
The most important thing is that the binder be non-absorbed.
This means the binder should not be able to cross the tissues that line internal body cavities (such as the rectum). In contrast, absorbed binders can cross these linings, and enter the blood.
What’s wrong with absorbed binders?
After all, if they enter the blood, they should be more effective, right? The problem is – absorbed binders have trouble leaving the body. They stay in the blood, circulating in the body. This can lead to two things:
- Toxin redistribution: After entering the blood, absorbed binders can move their bound toxins around. They can eventually let go of these toxins. This causes redistribution in the body tissues. If this happens, you’re no better off than before in terms of reducing toxic load. Redistribution can actually cause additional symptoms.
- Organ stress: Certain absorbed binders require processing by detox organs such as the liver and kidneys before the binder and toxin can be excreted. Remember, we are trying to minimize the workload on these organs.
Meanwhile, non-absorbed binders in the rectum are still in contact with the body’s whole supply of circulating blood. The binders capture toxins in the blood while remaining in the rectum. Then once the rectum empties, both the binders and the toxins instantly leave. There’s less risk of redistribution or organ stress.
What are common absorbed binders to avoid?
- Cilantro
- Modified citrus pectin
- EDTA
- DMPS and DMSA
- Some zeolites – Biopure Zeobind* is a good non-absorbed product
A note on zeolite
*I mention Biopure Zeobind because it’s what I use and is easily available in the United States. But the key is that the zeolite be based on clinoptilolite (a zeolite subtype). Other good brands include Ki science (United Kingdom), ZeolithMED (UK), and BioPractica Toxaprevent (Australia).
Toxin categories and non-absorbed binders to address them:
I find that this order of toxin types has been the order in which my body started eliminating different toxins. High mold toxicity impairs elimination of heavy metals, and so on.
Within each category I have listed binders from most to least effective for that type of toxin, based on my own and others’ experience. I have also included links to published scientific papers discussing these binders.
Mold toxins
- Cholestyramine1 (ideally compounded with no additives)*
- Ultra Binder
- Activated charcoal powder2
- Zeobind3
- Non-modified citrus pectin (or apple pectin, if not allergic)3
*Cholestyramine is a prescription medication. Please consult with your physician if you wish to use this.
Chemical toxins
- Activated charcoal powder4
- Ultra Binder
Heavy metals
- Purified silica5 such as Biopure Microsilica
- Zeobind6
- Ultra Binder – purified silica is an ingredient
Aluminum
- Zeobind6
- Grapefruit pectin7
- Non-modified citrus pectin (or apple pectin, if not allergic)
Herbicides/pesticides (including glyphosate)
What if I don’t know what types of toxins I have?
Since the activated charcoal and Zeobind are the most broad spectrum binders available, it may be a good idea to start out with those. Try each one out and see how you feel. Ultra Binder is another good broad spectrum binder but is more expensive.
Can I mix binders?
It’s best to avoid mixing different binder types. Different binders may have different chemical charges, and bind to each other instead of to toxins. But I and others have found that it is okay to mix activated charcoal and zeolite without them interfering.
How much binders do I use?
There’s no single answer to this question. Experiment with what works best for you. I find that one half to one dose that you would normally take orally (what’s on the bottle label) is a good starting point, but your experiences may vary. It is better to under-dose and have to do another enema, than to overdose and cause toxin mobilization (which could aggravate symptoms). In part 4, I will explain this concept in more detail.
What about the brand Zeolite Pure on Amazon? Can you tell me if this is a good alternative to Zeobind?
Hi Jesse,
The label photos on Amazon don’t give much info on this product. I’d want to know if it is clinoptilolite or another form of zeolite. Also based on the description it seems like it can be absorbed into the blood which is not as desirable for the DE method.
Sorry for the late reply. I took some time away from blogging due to school responsibilities.
I really enjoy reading your articles. They are an easy read, very thorough with a pinch of humor. Please keep up the great work!!
Nice blog/website. I just made one myself and will be talking about mold and my journey on getting better from it.
I just wanted to say that I think you should add Alpha Lipooc Acid to the list of binders NOT to use. It would probably burn badly anyways. Lol
Good call Nicole – ALA does get absorbed into the blood and can redistribute metals. But I like to use a small amount (~1/50 of a 100 mg capsule) in enemas with chelators to help get metals out of the brain. RLA (the active enantiomer form of ALA) does not burn, but ALA that includes both RLA and SLA does.
Andrew could you tell me what brand of RLA you use? I do not see one that does not add the SLA to the formula. I would like to use it for the DE Method. Thank you for all that you have shared here. The DE Method is helping me tremendously.
Hello Ellyse,
I’m glad to hear the DE method is helping you! I use Thorne’s RLA product (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/37D4D9W
This one does not have any SLA. One time I ordered their ALA product by mistake, which has both RLA and SLA.
Regards,
Andrew
Thank you Andrew. I hope that school is going well for you, and that as an M.D., you will have an online consulting business someday. I have started the Shoemaker protocol and my CSM arrived today. I plan to use Welchol orally in the mornings and then use CSM with the DE Method.
1. Did you also take CSM orally each day?
2. Did you use CSM every day and then follow with another one of the binders you listed?
3. Do binders interfere with each other if you use them one after the other using the DE Method?
I am a Functional Medicine Coach and teach TFT. I plan to get certified with the Shoemaker Protocol, as soon as me brain function improves.
Thank you so much for your help.
Ellyse
Yes, I took it orally. Would follow iwht other binders if needed. If you excrete the binders from the rectum after each dose, then interference between different types should be minimal.
*Lipoic
Hello, thank you for this information. I would like to know any reference you can provide for this statement you made: It’s best to avoid mixing different binder types. Different binders may have different chemical charges, and bind to each other instead of to toxins.
I can find no such information elsewhere. Several reputable binder products on the market contain more than one ingredient. ???
I don’t have any references off the top of my head but it comes down to chemistry. For example, cholestyramine is a positively charged molecule that binds negatively charged bile acids (you can verify this by searching online). Many chelating agents are negatively charged molecules that bind positively charged metal cations. So if you were to combine the two there’d be potential for an interaction.
How do you feel about the brand TouchStone Essentials Colloidal Zeolite Suspension(oral spray), it was recommended by a functional medicine doc? I also need to detox excess estrogen, can you give me any information on how to do that?
Sorry but I am not familiar with that brand. But in general I am skeptical of colloidal or nanoparticle products because I am still unsure how effectively they leave the body.
I’m not aware of any binders for estrogenic compounds. But estrogen is mainly excreted through the liver and bile, so improving flow of these through things like colonics could potentially be helpful. Also try limiting xenoestrogen exposures (plastics, certain mycotoxins, etc) and reducing inflammation (which leads to aromatization of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen).
I bought a German zoolite Hepter Opfen – from UK – that is clinoptiolite from Norway volcanic powder. But the plastic container was slightly damaged so it would have been exposed to oxygen, not sure what else. I’m in isolation and hard to get mail and so am unlikely to get it replaced so is it viable to use?
Also, my kid with multiple infections, hard metals, gut dysbiosis, Lyme etc has psychosis and mast cell disorder. So he can’t be without an antipsychotic right now ( clozapine). What binder or means of taking them would be least likely to make the long half life messed up in terms of levels as it would mess terribly with his brain receptors and neurotransmitters to have blood levels fluctuate up and down. He tested ( do muscle and pendulum) positive for modified apple pectin and for red algae ( modifal) but nothing much for clay and charcoal and zoolite at all. WhT do you think? His liver is really burdened so first I know we need liver and kidney and skin swearing to lower biotoxins. Then binders. Many thanks! Great blog! Angie
Hello Angela, so sorry I didn’t see this until now. Just recently got off from my summer break from which I was avoiding much technology use.
Exposure to oxygen shouldn’t be a problem.
Rectal binders may help your child with the liver burden/congestion. Unfortunately I don’t know about drug interactions between various binders and antipsychotics. A drug is considered to be effectively eliminated from circulation after 4-5 half lives. So you may think about that in terms of timing binder doses.
Apple pectin and modifilan (not to be confused with modafinil!) are good binders but I generally use them orally as they are messy to use in an enema.