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PRIMARY BILIARY CIRRHOSIS (PBC)

What is it?

This is an inflammatory condition of bile ducts resulting in narrowing and obstruction of the flow of bile causing damage to the liver cells. The bile ducts within the liver become inflamed.

The disease more commonly affects middle-aged women. The onset of symptoms is gradual, most commonly with fatigue and itching skin as the first symptoms.

Long-standing bile obstruction is believed to lead to liver cirrhosis. This is an autoimmune condition and is often associated with other autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Raynauds syndrome, CREST syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis. The incidence is 3 to 15 cases per million per year.

Excerpt from "The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book"

"This disease has many similarities to sclerosing cholangitis and essentially the dietary and supplement program is the same for both diseases.

As with sclerosing cholangitis, excellent results and long term control of this disease can usually be achieved with nutritional medicine. High doses of vitamin E (1000 IU twice daily) should be taken to reduce liver scarring. A powerful liver tonic containing natural synergistic nutrients to support liver function should be taken long term. This is available in capsule or powder form."

What are the symptoms of PBC?

The Symptoms include:

itching
jaundice
enlarged liver
abdominal pain
fatty deposits under the skin
soft yellow spots on the eyelids
fatty stools

Tests

The tests that are performed that diagnose this condition are a liver biopsy and mitochondrial antibodies blood test (positive in about 95% of cases).

Recommended books

General recommendations

Avoid ALL margarines and similar type spreads
Avoid deep fried and fatty foods.
Avoid all dairy products and gluten (found in wheat, rye, oats and barley). This is essential in order to improve the immune system.
Limit chicken and turkey that is not free range, as this contains artificial growth hormones, antibiotics and steroids that increase the liver's workload.
Avoid ALL alcohol.
Drink 2 liters (8 - 10 glasses) of filtered water each day.
Avoid artificial sweeteners - see www.dorway.com
Vitamin A, Vitamin K and Vitamin D replacement therapy adds fat-soluble vitamins lost in fatty stools.
Follow the principles of "The Liver Cleansing Diet" by Dr Cabot. Make these principles a way of life.

Recommended supplements

LivaTone^® Plus Capsules/Powder

A specific liver tonic which contains the clinically proven dose of the herb Milk Thistle to provide 420mg of pure Silymarin daily. This liver tonic should also contain synergistic nutrients such as sulphur bearing amino acids, antioxidant vitamins and minerals to improve the liver's ability to detoxify and burn fat.

Selenomune Designer Yeast Powder

Selenium is a powerful antioxidant mineral that works synergistically with other antioxidants to assist in protection against further damage to liver cells. You would need to consume 200mcg daily. Selenium has been found to be effective in reducing liver inflammation and is essential for a healthy immune system.

MSM Plus Vitamin C

MSM (Methyl-Sulphonyl-Methane) is an organic form of sulphur, which may assist in softening and preventing further scar tissue. Sulphur is also a vital component of healthy bile. Sulphur is needed to produce the powerful antioxidant called glutathione. Vitamin C will neutralize free radicals generated during the phase 1 detoxification pathway in the liver and reduce toxic damage and chemical overload. Toxic chemicals are far less dangerous if there is plenty of vitamin C in the liver. It also helps the liver to regulate cholesterol levels and improves immunity.

Organic Flaxseed oil

High doses of flaxseed oil are essential for improving liver function. Flaxseed is an excellent, vegetarian source of essential fatty acids beneficial for damaged liver cell membranes and assists in reducing inflammation. Some people find the flaxseed oil capsules much easier to consume than the cold pressed flaxseed oil liquid.

Natural Vitamin E

At least 1000 IU daily of vitamin E is required to protect liver cell membranes from free radical damage and possibly reduce and prevent scarring. Make sure you use vitamin E supplements which are natural (d-alpha-tocopherol); synthetic forms (dl-alpha-tocopherol) are derived from petrochemicals and are not well utilised by the body.

Any powdered supplements could be stirred into fresh raw vegetable juices containing carrot, celery and beet made with a juice extracting machine. Dr Cabot's book ""Raw Juices Can Save Your Life"" is an excellent source of juice recipes for various conditions.

Other supplements that may be used on occasion:

Olive Life Tablets

Olive Leaf is a traditional remedy used as a natural and effective antiviral and antibiotic.

Raw Juices

Dr Cabot has known about the incredible healing power of raw juices from a very young age. Her grandmother's life was saved by raw juicing back in the 1930s. Raw juices are an incredibly powerful healing tool and can improve the function of the liver, bowels and kidneys. This increases the elimination of toxins and waste products from the skin.

Appropriate juice recipes include:

• ‘Liver Tonic Juice'
• ‘Liver Cleansing Juice'
can be found on p116 of Dr Cabot's ""Raw Juices Can Save Your Life"" book.

Orthodox medicine

Cholestyramine (or colestipol) may reduce the itching by reducing blood levels of bile acids, and clearance of bile acids in the skin. Ursodeoxycholic acid (or actigall) may also improve clearance of bile from the blood stream. Liver transplant for primary biliary cirrhosis prior to liver failure has been successful.

"THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FDA AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT OR CURE ANY DISEASES"

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