You might be wondering, why would you want to detox in the first place?
Our bodies are exposed to more chemicals now than ever before. Every day new chemicals are added to our personal environments via food, pollution, plastics, furniture, food containers, cookware, carpets, electronics, personal care products, and more.
Some of these chemicals are newly created and their effects on the human body are entirely unknown. Others are only a few decades or even a couple of years old and we are still learning about their impacts.
Possibly the most concerning factor behind all these chemicals is that there are few to no barriers in the process which allows chemicals to be used in everyday items. Meaning your body is slowly taking in small amounts of new chemicals and toxic buildup over time.
It’s a war of attrition.
This constant chemical bombardment your body is fighting each day just to keep you healthy is why you should be interested in detox.
I’m not talking about a harsh detox that can sometimes put the body under more pressure and stress than necessary. Juice cleanses and powerful liver detoxes can backfire because they deprive your body of nutrients or place overwhelming stress on detox pathways.
We need to reduce our toxic burden wherever possible, support our body’s natural detox pathways, and incorporate detox binders into our health routine.
I want to focus on this last strategy – using binders for detox – because I’ve seen binders work well in my personal practice and I want to share them with you. Binders work by:
- Clearing out toxin buildup
- Inducing biofilm removal in the gut
- Alleviating gas and bloating
- Preventing acute poisonings
Detoxing to support your health
There are some toxins we should be worried about more than others. Some of the worst offenders are mold toxins, heavy metals, and bisphenol-A (BPA). When it comes to ridding our bodies of these chemicals, I’ve found there are two binders work particularly well:
GI Detox and Upgraded Coconut Charcoal are two effective binders that help you with daily detox from mold, heavy metals, and other toxins. They are also strong enough to use in more targeted therapies such as mold exposure treatments.
GI Detox
GI Detox is made from two binders – it consists of 75 percent Pyrophyllite clay and 25 percent activated charcoal.
Pyrophyllite clay a very rare clay that has been used medicinally for thousands of years. It’s richer in silica and quartz than other clays (such as bentonite) and works through both adsorbing (to bind to) and absorbing (to ‘swallow’ up) chemicals.
Phyrophyllite clay is negatively charged and binds readily to endotoxins from Gram negative bacteria, by-products of yeast and bacteria, and heavy metals. This process assists in restoring gut microbial balance and is recommended as an effective detox strategy that is also gentle enough to use daily.
Activated charcoal is one of the most effective binders known to man. Considered more effective than stomach pumping in poisoned patients, charcoal effectively rids the body of unwanted toxins. This is why I recommend using is on its own as well as in the GI Detox.
For normal use, I recommend taking one to two capsule of GI Detox once a day on an empty stomach – an hour before eating or two hours after.
Upgraded Coconut Charcoal
Activated charcoal works by binding to toxins through adsorption. Adsorption is different from absorption because the chemicals are trapped in the little holes of this porous substance rather than being soaked up. The charcoal isn’t absorbable by your body so it passes through the GI tract while taking unwanted toxins with it.
You can order Upgraded Coconut Charcoal here. For normal use, take Upgraded Coconut Charcoal with other binders on an empty stomach. You can also take your activated charcoal with food you know to be low quality.
Using Binders for Mold Detox
You can use both GI Detox and Upgraded Coconut Charcoal to fight daily toxins or in a mold treatment protocol. The toxins produced by toxic mold are called mycotoxins and ridding your body of these takes a comprehensive plan that lasts between six months to a year.
GI Detox – Take one to two capsules twice daily with Upgraded Coconut Charcoal.
Upgraded Coconut Charcoal – Take 1000 to 1500 mg (2-3 capsules) twice daily with water, GI Detox, and on an empty stomach.
For more specifics on mold detox protocol, you can read my Mold Exposure Treatment Guide.
Do binders interfere with nutrient absorption?
Because of the effectiveness of binders in their absorption and adsorption of chemicals, it’s a completely logical concern to think they would also bind with beneficial nutrients. In general, we need more research on this subject but preliminary animal studies have found that adding charcoal to sheep’s diets did not decrease their nutrient levels. Also, toxins are predominantly positively charged, which is how the negatively charged binders are readily attracted to them.
You can reduce the chance your binders will work on the wrong particles through taking them on an empty stomach. All binders should be taken at the same time and either one hour before or two hours after medications and supplements.
Other Detox Strategies Worth Considering
We live in a time where we are exposed to more chemicals than ever before. Learning about detox strategies is now as important as learning to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Other detox strategies worth learning more about include:
- Infrared saunas
- Exercise
- Glutathione – Love this brand…. Bulletproof Liposomal Gluathione Force
- Calcium D-Glucarate
Each of these can be used on their own or together for a compounding effect. Also, each of these are included in my Mold Exposure Treatment Guide.
Add Detox to Your Daily Routine
Toxins are a part of our daily lives. Fortunately, there steps you can take to reduce their overall impact on your health. I recommend incorporating GI Detox and activated charcoal into your daily health routine.
If you’re healthy, take both the GI Detox and Upgraded Coconut Charcoal to deal with daily toxins.
If you’ve been exposed to mold, you can take GI Detox and Upgraded Coconut Charcoal to help with a comprehensive Mold Exposure Treatment. Remember, these two binders are only part of a mold treatment protocol.
I recommend adding detox strategies to your daily routine to combat the unprecedented number of chemicals that bombard us each day.
Resources:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/01/health/everyday-chemicals-we-need-to-reduce-exposure-to/index.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3521259
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1676641/pdf/bmj00002-0006.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1306980/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6499964
Wanting to work on detoxifying, I tried an infrared sauna about one year ago. While I really enjoyed the relaxing experience, afterward I was not able to fall asleep – AT ALL – for 48 hours! Something was triggered which induced a severe insomnia. Have you heard of this before or have any thoughts on why this might have happened?
Yes, anytime you mobilize toxins quicker than you can eliminate them you will have symptoms…
DrJill where may I purchase the GIDetox & Upgraded Coconut Charcoal at? Thank you.
just added links for you
Hi my name is Lisa, I have been sick for 6 years. I had parotid gland cancer in 1996, which ruined my Thyroid, due to Radiation treatments. I started getting sick 6 years ago and thought it was my Thyroid. I have seen various conventional and 3 naturopath drs. 2 of them said I had lyme’s 1 put me on antibiotics and another on IV treatments which did not work. I started thinking it could be mold, cause I have all the symptoms. I took a urine test and was positive for mold. the molds are Sterigmatocystin 0.399 and Aflatoxin-m1 7.86. With my armour thyroid can I take any active form of charcoal, and how many mg’s and how often? I read you have to take it 4 hours prior or after taking the thyroid medication. Is this safe to do and any other suggestions.
You may take charcoal or prescription binders 4 hours away from thyroid
Is it safe to begin taking activated charcoal for mold exposure before I’m able to leave the moldy environment?
yes
does chlorella and bentonite clay work as well ? I thought chlorella binds to toxins to eliminate them. please clarify thanks:)
yes, these are good binders as well
Is it safe to use charcoal and other detoxifiers if you have been diagnosed with stage 3-4 liver fibrosis? I have been told my liver is fully compensated and working just fine. Would like to try to regenerate or help reduce further damage. My condition is not due to alcohol use. Thanks.
Charcoal is not absorbed by the body so likely safe for you to use
For some reason I feel severely, deathly, MORE ill during my cycle? (I feel more ill than normal, if that’s even possible….) Is there a possibility that mycotoxins or biotoxins could gather in the uterus? And then during a womans cycle as they are being released or flushed out it causes severe ill feeling? If so, is it a good sign? Is the body getting rid of the toxins during the uterine lining shedding?
Thank you in advance for your response
Hormones can absolutely affect detoxification because the compete with toxins in the liver
Hi. I’ve heard about using different binders through the day. Any recommendations for use of multiple binders? Great combos? Combos to avoid?
Yes, almost any binder can be combined and that is typically how I prescribe them…
Thanks for answering my question about combining binders. Just to be clear, do you mean that almost any binder can be combined as in taking two binders at once? Or do you mean staggering different binders through the day? Sorry. Just trying to get the best effect.
Yes, you may combine multiple binders in the same dose
Stunning article you have shared with us and it will be very valuable for me to increase my skills. I really impressed by your blog because you have good knowledge of activated charcoal. I really thankful to you.
Dr. Carnahan,
Thank you for the article. I am wondering if the following scenarios are possible or are very common:
1. The patients who has mold/fungus living in them and creating mycotoxins rather than someone just being sick acutely when exposed to an environment full of mycotoxins. For example, is it common to have mold living in deep sinuses (say ethmoid) and therefore such a person has a factory of mycotoxin producing mold? even after leaving the mold site years later. In this case would an anti-fungal treatment be the first step rather than binding the toxins? Would using binders alleviate the symptoms even if the infection is not cleared?
2. Could a person “not” have a mold infection but instead they are full of mycotoxins and have symptoms for years even after leaving the mold infested site?
Thanks!
MB
Mold is not an “infection” it is usually an exposure
Dr. Carnahan,
Thanks for clarifying this. So then, would fungual overgrowth living in the sinus be able to produce these mycotoxins and therefore induce CIRS? or is it just that the patients with CIRS have an overload from chronic environmental/home exposure and these toxins are stored in the body and released slowly?
Thanks
MB
Hi there!
Can you please tell me the best binder for mold detox but also have bad acid reflux issues?
Thank you !!
Probably clay or charcoal
You say that ‘G.I. Detox’ contains Phyrophyllite clay; however, the Bio-Botanical Research Inc. webpage that shows the product for sale states very clearly that they use Zeolite clay, which is a distinctly different clay. So, I am confused. I do understand that both are equally effective binders. I am just curious how a professional such as yourself could make such a glaring, obvious mistake:
“Ingredients
Proprietary Herbal Blend: Zeolite clay, Activated Charcoal, Aloe Vera, MMST Silica, Apple Pectin, Humic / Fulvic Acid”
They changed the formula since I wrote the article
Can you recommend anything to help “detox” after exposure to radiation such as a CT scan with contrast? Would these same types of detoxification agents be effective for this as well?
Yes, IV glutathione and binders, possibly chelating agents under medical supervision
Hello,
I’ve been suffering now for 3 years with odd symptoms which I’ve newly learned is mold toxicity along with parasites, gut issues, EBV and other things. My brain has been severely compromised by this and it’s given me cognitive and mental issues. I’ve tried so many detox methods and have found no relief. I’ve started this GI detox supplement and just wondering if it’s so strong to give me odd brain/cognitive/mental. I’ve found no relief from the bizarre mental and cognitive.
I enjoyed your article it was very informative. My apartment flooded a few years back and the carpet wasn’t changed. I used to have a lot of energy but, since that happened I have been sick and, probably for that first year could hardly get out of bed. I have Activated Charcoal in powder form so, how much would I need to take? I have been taking a tsp. a day and, I’m thinking maybe it’s not enough since your recommendation is 1000-1500mg. in capsule form. How much is that in powder form. Thank you for the great information and your time.
Diana
you are welcome, Diana
Charcoal dosing varies from 1000-2000mg twice daily
I have been sick for almost 2 years now. I just recently found out that I have 3 different mold toxins in my system, Ochratixin A (level 61.95), Mycophenotic Acid (level 12.84) and Zearalenone (level 74.04). My naturopathic dr started me on Activated charcoal, Olive leaf extract and a sinus cleanse. It has been 4 weeks. I recently started my own diet of trying to get off sugar, gluten and dairy. I have also been taking a probiotic, B12 and vitamin C for months now. I know this process takes time but I was wondering if you had any advise on anything that can help with fatigue? That is one of my biggest struggles. I haven’t had caffeine in 12 years, it has given me heart palpitations and jitters (which is one symptom that has gotten better from the mold.)
Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🙂
Thank you.
Hi Kristin,
The process is slow and as you clear toxins you may at first feel worse… check out my free guide here
warmly
Dr. Jill
Hi. Most other articles I’ve read about using binders include psyillium husk or some other fiber as being pertinent to help transport toxins out. I don’t see that as being recommended in your article. Is there any particular reason you don’t recommend it? Thanks
Yes, while psyllium and other fibers are essential to bowel regularity and overall health, I don’t know of specific binding affinity for mycotoxins
Hi Jill. Thanks for this great article and your work. I’m interested in using binders as opposed to a colon hydrotherapy. Touching on a point made previously, I thought binders were meant to be used long with something like psyllium husk in order to reach the deep pockets in your colon? i.e. the places where impacted fecal matter and such is found. Without something like psyllium husk I thought binders could not reach those hard to reach places. Do you have any thoughts on that? Thanks if you can help.
Psyllium husk is a great fiber for colon health. I am not aware of any data on it “getting to the deep pocket of colon” or that this is necessary.
I have some concerns about the nutrient absorption from the use of binders. Is my thinking correct in that any nutrients you eat will be bound to the binders UNTIL you have a bowel movement? As in, things you eat (nutrients) are going to bound to the binders until the binders are out of your system?
yes, binders may also bind nutrients in food if taken with meals
Dr. Jill, are the GI Drtox and Coconut Charcoal safe for children ages six and eight to take (they have been exposed to mold toxicity). Should the dosage recommended be cut in half or more? Thank you!
Hi Chasya
Generally binders are safe in children in lower doses but I do not give to children under 4y/o
warmly
Dr Jill
I’m glad you shared this step by step process for effect detox. we can try this when we feel full
When taking the GI Detox and Bulletproof Activated Charcoal, do you take them both at the same time of day? And do you recommend taking a probiotic while doing this? If so, do you like a particular one? And should there be a time gap between the probiotic and the binders?
Yes, all binders may be combined
Dr. Jill can you confirm whether the following statement is something you have heard of and if so how could I be tested for it? About 25% of Americans also carry a gene called HLA-DR (human leukocyte antigen) that makes it more difficult for them to excrete mycotoxins, toxic metabolites produced by a variety of different molds.
Yes, there is a subset of the population that is at increased genetic risk of having more trouble eliminating mycotoxins from the body and thus more prone to inflammatory response.
Jill,
Have you ever hear of Okra Pepsin E3 being used as a binder? Also, is the binder used according to what mold you have in your house?
yes, different binders have different affinities for molds and mycotoxins. I have not used Okra pepsin E3
Thank you for sharing this information. Is a binder meant to be taken indefinitely or is there a length of time I should be using it for or an indicator for when I no longer need to take it?
when symptoms have resolved and VCS is normal you may discontinue binders
Thank you, Dr. Carnahan!