Primary Biliary Cholangitis – Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissue. PBC is an overlap syndrome in which a disease in the bile ducts in the liver alongside hepatitis or Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.
However, like all autoimmune conditions diet, viruses, cellular imbalance, environmental toxicity, stress and mental/emotional health all play a major role in the development of these conditions. This is good news, because with time, proper knowledge and guidance, with diligence and some hard work you can reverse these conditions and restore health and function to the bile dusts and more importantly the liver!
Symptoms of Primary Biliary Cholangitis
If the condition is left untreated, or if the patient turns to steroids, medications and immunosuppressants certain symptoms may subside for a time but the root cause of the condition will simply be ignored which will lead to increasing damage and complications which include:
- Itchy skin
- Fatigue
- Dry eyes and mouth
- Swollen spleen
- Pain in liver (upper right abdomen)
- Skin hyperpigmentation
- Bone, muscle or joint pain
- Edema
- Jaundice
- Fatty deposits on the skin around the eyes, eyelids or in creases of palms, soles, elbows, knees
- Osteoporosis
- Hypothyroidism
- Unintended weight gain
- Diarrhea
SPECIALISTS
- Functional Medical Doctor
- BioEnergetics Practitioner
- Naturopathic doctor
- Chinese Medicine Doctor
- Holistic Nutritionist
BLOOD TESTS
- Blood tests: cholesterol, antibody, and liver enzyme levels (akp)
- Muscle Testing
- Biofeedback Analysis: a natural health screening method
MEDICATIONS
- Natural therapies
- Immunosuppressive Drugs
- Steroids
Primary Biliary Cholangitis Treatment
The conventional approach for all autoimmune conditions is usually the same, drugs, steroids & immunosuppressants. These medications may mask certain symptoms for a time but they do nothing to address the root cause of the condition which means the condition will continue to progress.
The medications also come with a host of side effects and any drug taken long term becomes a toxic poison to the body that further breaks down and stresses the liver… and thus the bile ducts are also effected.
Again, diet, viruses, acute infections, allergies, cellular imbalance, environmental toxicity, stress and mental/emotional health all play a role in the development of autoimmune conditions just like this one.
Below we will walk through holistic methods that can help restore balance, reduce inflammation and address the root causes of autoimmune conditions.
Natural Treatment Options for Primary Biliary Cholangitis
BioEnergetics Balancing: This is an incredibly effective practice that uses energy to balance the cells of the body, re-establishing homeostasis. As disease sets in, the polarity (or the charge) of cells change which creates inflammation, contributes to deficiencies, imbalances and malfunction. Using energy, you can restore the polarity or balance to the cells and help the body naturally correct itself and combat invaders.
Natural Antiseptics: to combat any organism that may be causing infection and hiding in the liver and nervous system.
- Manuka honey
- Elderberry
- Black cumin seed
- Lemon balm
- Propolis
- Tea tree
- Olive leaf extract
- Raw garlic
- Echinacea
- Goldenseal
- Neem
- Pau d’arco
- Oil of oregano
Rife Machine: Using electromagnetic frequencies to target and kill specific microorganisms, reduce inflammation and help support liver and gallbladder function.
Detoxification: Low grade, chronic toxicity is at the heart of almost all disease today in this toxic 21st century world. From the moment you wake up you are exposed to thousands of chemicals and toxins… all day, all night. Toxins can overwhelm and confuse the body, many can cross the blood brain barrier and affect the brain and nervous system, others are hormone disruptors. The liver is responsible for catching, filtering and eliminating these toxins by dumping them into the bile and expelling them from the body. Detoxification is a very critical part of restoring function and health to the liver and the entire body. But detoxification is often misunderstood, there are many different methods but faster is never better.
Nutritional Therapy: One of the most effective forms of ‘detoxification’ or cleansing is a plant-based diet that removes all preservatives, toxins, additives etc. When dealing with the liver this is crucial… but reducing fat consumption is also a vital part of the process as the liver’s cleaning and maintenance jobs are stalled when the liver is forced to digest dietry fat. A holistic nutritionist can walk you through the steps to help heal and cleanse the blood and liver, reduce inflammation and restore proper function. They can also help identify specific food allergens or environmental toxins that are creating an inflammatory response in the body and resulting in allergies, as well as chronic illness and and autoimmune conditions.
Eliminating/ Reducing These Inflammatory Foods:
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Eggs
- Meat
- Rancid Oils
- Sugars
- Flour/ refined grains
- Fish (except wild)
- Preservatives
- Additives
- Trans fats & junk foods
Nutrients to support the liver, cleansing and important enzymatic processes:
- All the B vitamins
- Omega 3 fatty acids: needed to reduce inflammation and provide vital nutrients for the nervous system and other body systems.
- NAC (is incredibly effective at raising glutathione levels… the enzyme used by the liver to neutralize and eliminate toxins from the body through your bile)
- Magnesium: this mineral affects the activity of hundreds of enzyme in the body and low levels in the blood are linked impairment of antioxidant defence, and reduces the level of glutathione in red blood cells.
- Zinc (needed to balance copper levels, detoxify heavy metals and balance emotional behaviour and mood disorders)
- Zinc and Vitamin D: lack of these two nutrient impair intestinal barrier function contributing to leaky gut, which quickly “dirties” the blood and overwhelms the liver leading to autoimmune conditions.
- Antioxidants (to combat oxidative stress and support the liver)
- Probiotics (your gut health determines your overall health, correcting microbiome imbalances is a critical part of restoring immune function)
Heavy Metal Toxicity: Heavy metals are a specifically dangerous part of todays world that contribute to overall toxicity. They are one of the leading causes of neurological disfunction, and nervous system disorders, as well as memory and behavioural issues. But they also feed viruses and get stored in the liver when the liver becomes too overwhelmed with building toxins from food and the environment. This means the toxins such as dangerous heavy metals spill out into the blood and get continuously recirculated and distributed in other ares of the body. The liver is forced into a continuous uphill battle of trying to cleanse, while still performing it’s other duties, which leads to a sluggish liver, digestive issues and autoimmune conditions. Having heavy metals levels checked by the appropriate health care professionals can shed some much needed light on what is causing your autoimmunity, from there you can work with a specialists to remove heavy metals and environment toxins from your body.
Heavy Metals Detoxification Tools:
- Zeolite
- Cilantro
- Celery Juice
- Spirulina & Chlorella
