PRACTITIONER VOICE
Copper The above case study illustrates how excess copper accumulation can congest the gallbladder , not with calculi , but sludge . Bile sludge cannot be seen on ultrasound . A young woman , like Susan , will begin to experience a variety of gut symptoms , diagnosed by exclusion as IBS . At this point of the patient ’ s life , treatment is relatively straightforward , as in Susan ’ s case . If the gallbladder and liver are not cleared , and copper continues to accumulate , she is likely to develop endocrine disturbance and oestrogen-driven neoplastic tissue : endometriosis , fibrocystic breast disease and possibly malignancy later in life .
Treatment Susan ’ s digestive symptoms , which were diagnosed as IBS , are just the beginning . The toxic mixture of oestrogenic chemicals , copper accumulation , low zinc , and maybe natural oestrogen dominance , creates a complex symptom picture .
First fix the liver It is vital to open the biliary channel of excretion , as , in my opinion , this is where all the symptoms lie . Ninety-five per cent of copper is excreted through the liver , congesting the biliary tree and producing the picture of nausea , flatulence and diarrhoea , diagnosed as IBS . This is almost always corrected by Greater Celandine , Chelidonium maj , given in herbal liquid extract , 5 to 15 drops per dose , before food (= three doses daily ). If the patient has chronic constipation , they may need the stronger dose of six doses per day taken before and after food . Those with nausea , like Susan , or with diarrhoea , will require less : three doses per day , and lower drop doses .
The patient is likely to experience symptom improvement from the first few days and that will continue until the end of treatment . I mostly use the herbal extract because it seems to work for everyone , although in rare cases a very sensitive patient would do better with an attenuated dose , prepared in the homeopathic method of succussion and dilution , Chelidonium 3x or 6x . The medicine often requires continuation for several months . Encapsulated versions of this herb do not work as well as liquid doses .
Also attend to the oestrogen excess
At the same time , it is important to neutralise and excrete the excess oestrogens . I use the homeopathic remedies described here . When those oestrogens are exogenous , that is they come from sources outside that patient , most commonly from the OCP , Folliculinum 30c , one dose every second day for 6 weeks , works well . Sometimes I need to go up to the 200c potency if symptoms persist . In other cases , a new symptom picture may emerge , indicating the need for a new medicine , often Sepia , sometimes Cimicifuga . In all cases , I expect to see rapid improvement in the IBS .
To standardise this treatment , we have our own formula , known as Protocol 3 ( Xenoestrogens ) ( available from the Melbourne ( Australia ) Homeopathic Pharmacy : Martin and Pleasance ) which contains homeopathic potencies of parabens , food grade plastics , the homeopathic remedy Folliculinum , and other xenoestrogenic substances . Given once every second day over several weeks , this formula provides an adequate detoxification of accumulated xenoestrogens . Patients who take this detox may report ‘ hormonal ’ symptoms , such as hot flushes , or breast tenderness , all of which are transitory , indicating that the medicine has initiated detoxification .
Other supplements to facilitate detoxification of xenoestrogens :
• Indole-3-Carbinol or Diindolylmethane ( DIM ), an active ingredient from cruciferous vegetables .
If the pre-existing load of copper is very high , and this is demonstrable on a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis or Oligoscan test result , it may take many months to bring down that high load . At all times , the anxiety and depression cycle should be improving each month , otherwise the diagnosis , or the treatment , is incorrect .
At this stage of the treatment , I give copper chelate ( sold in Australia by BioResearch : called CU Met ; or available in homeopathic stock from Martin and Pleasance ), a specially formulated potency chord of Cuprum Metallicum , combined with a zinc supplement , which will reduce the high copper in male and female patients . I give this medicine once every second day , sometimes in conjunction with the patient ’ s indicated medicine based on totality of symptoms .
Zinc
Most of these patients will be zincdeficient and it is important to give this supplement because it will aid in the chelation of copper ( and xenoestrogens ) as well as help to re-establish balance between the patient ’ s oestrogen and progesterone cycle .
Advice to the patient
Susan will need no recommendation to stay away from the OCP . She already knows how it affects her body . Many women are not aware because they experience no clear side effects from the OCP ; they do not associate their IBS symptoms with their use of the OCP . Women particularly sensitive to oestrogen excess may develop :
• Breast lumps
• Abdominal fat accumulation or overall weight gain which no amount of exercise can shift
• Other oestrogen-driven neoplastic cell growth
• Vaginal thrush
• Mood swings , particularly swinging from depression to anxiety depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle .
JATMS | Spring 2023 | 147