Table of Contents
By Jill Stansbury, ND
Heavy metals are well known to produce neuropathy and should especially be considered when other conditions have been ruled out. They are a likely cause when lassitude, skin lesions, or liver or renal issues accompany neuropathy, or when a person is involved in a high-risk occupation such as welding, taxi driving, painting, or other situations with high toxin exposure. Lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and other heavy metals may cause motor and sensory polyneuropathy symptoms.
Some chemicals—such as carbon disulfide, chlorophenoxy compounds, and tetanus toxin—and some pharmaceutical drugs, including colchicine, lithium, and disulfiram can also induce polyneuropathy. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a sensory neuropathy due to a genetic mutation causing abnormal production of gangliosides in cell membranes, leaving neurons susceptible to chemical-induced inflammation. Nerve conduction studies can help to identify nerves involved, and heavy metal testing can help identify the presence of metals in the body.
Natural Solutions
Sulfur-containing glutathione and metallothionein are natural chelators of toxic elements in the body, binding to heavy metals and forming insoluble molecular complexes. Plants and nutrients that support these compounds may boost detoxification pathways. Supplementation with the sulfur-containing amino acids cysteine, methionine, and selenomethionine supports the synthesis of endogenous glutathione and metallothionein; Allium thiols and cruciferous vegetable isothiocyanates are sulfur-containing molecules credited with anticancer and detoxifying effects.
Many plants can pull heavy metals out of the soil that they are grown in, referred to as phytoremediation in toxic cleanup sites. It is unknown whether the chelating molecules still have a binding affinity for metals in the human body, once dried and orally ingested. For example, an enzyme called ?-glutamylcysteine dipeptidyl transpeptidase, found in Silene vulgaris (also known as S cucubalus), has been referred to as phytochelatin synthase because of an ability to be activated in the presence of cadmium, silver, bismuth, lead, zinc, copper, mercury, and gold in the soil. Such phytochelatins enable a plant to bind heavy metals, rendering them less active and less able to damage the plant.
It is possible that fresh juices of celery, tomatoes, cilantro, cucumbers, and other plants known to contain phytochelatins could bind heavy metals, or they might simply support the innate renal elimination pathways. Agents that support the liver’s ability to pull toxins from the blood include the well-studied Silybum and Curcuma. Melissa officinalis [lemon balm] has shown some neuroprotective effects against manganese. Agents that act as renal depurants, helping the kidneys pull heavy metals and minerals into urine, might also be appropriate and include Apium, Cilantro, Equisetum, and Petroselinum.
Anthocyanins in Euterpe oleracea (acai berry) may protect neurons from heavy metal–induced inflammation. Some natural antioxidant compounds in plants, such as luteolin, lycopene, resveratrol, and cysteine may attenuate damage induced by heavy metals in various tissues, but less is known about how to use herbal medicines to remove heavy metals from the body. Intravenous chelation therapy is the gold standard and is the only procedure known to remove toxic metals from human organs and tissues. The chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) may help treat neurodegeneration, and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is another option, particularly for lead toxicity. Agents that promote glutathione, such as N-acetylcysteine, would be worthwhile to supplement and complement herbal formulas.
Sulfur Supplements for Heavy Metals Detoxification
Glutathione and metallothionein both contain sulfur and are natural chelators of toxic elements in the body, binding to heavy metals and forming insoluble molecular complexes. Plants and nutrients that contain sulfur may support the body’s production of these compounds and may boost detoxification pathways. Thiol compounds in Allium sativum (garlic) may also react with arsenic and other metals in the body and create stable chemical complexes that reduce their toxicity. Glucosinolates in cruciferous vegetables contain sulfur and are believed to support tissue detoxification, to support the metabolism of hormones, and to have preventive effects against cancer.
Powders prepared from broccoli, cauliflower, and other crucifers, or especially their sprouts, may support liver detoxification pathways and clearance of heavy metals. One of the most common glucosinolates, sulforaphane, is a potent liver phase II enzyme inducer including the glutathione S-transferase enzymes, which are required for the detoxification of various environmental toxins. Furthermore, glucosinolates have displayed neuroprotective activities. Those with heavy metal toxicity may employ crucifers and these sulfur-containing supplements to support clearing metal ions as one aspect of treating toxin-induced neuropathy.
Crucifer sprouts and/or powders, Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) capsules, Garlic capsules
Take 2 capsules of each item, 3 times per day. Heavy metal panels can be carried out before starting the supplementation and again after 3 months of therapy to evaluate efficacy. When using crucifer sprouts, simply include them in the daily diet where possible by adding them to salads; using them as a topping on stir fries, burritos, or casseroles; putting them in sandwiches; or blending them into smoothies.
Crucifer powders that are most readily available include radish or maca, which could be encapsulated to consume several capsules at a time 3 times a day. Some herb suppliers offer dehydrated broccoli and cabbage flakes, which could be used in the daily diet by adding to soups and stews, using in salad dressings and homemade sauerkrauts and ferments, and in numerous casseroles and vegetable and meat blends and dishes, along with the actual vegetables themselves.
Sprouts for Heavy Metal Toxicity
The sulfur-containing amino acids cysteine, methionine, and selenomethionine support the synthesis of glutathione and metallothionein to act as heavy metal chelators. Garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables such as radish, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflowers, and collards provide sulfur compounds and support the detoxification pathways.
Crucifer sprouts often contain greater concentrations of sulfur compounds than the mature vegetables do, and sprouts are easy to grow at home. When growing crucifers in the garden, amending the soil with sulfur salts, such as Epsom salts, may boost the levels of the sulfur-containing glucosinolates of the vegetables. Epsom salts may support the sulfur content of sprouts started in water as well. There is more discussion of the detoxifying effects of glucosinolates, in Chapter 2, Volume 3 of Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals.
1) Place 1 teaspoon of cabbage, broccoli, or radish seeds in the bottom of a quart-sized canning jar or special sprouting apparatus. If using a canning jar, replace the lid with a wire mesh screen or a cheesecloth, to be held in place with the canning lid ring.
2) Place 1 teaspoon Epsom salts in 1 quart of water and heat on the stovetop until dissolved.
3) Once the solution cools, pour just enough of the liquid into the jar to cover the seed. Place the jar in a dark cupboard and leave the seeds to soak for 24 hours.
4) After 24 hours, drain off the water from the jar and rinse the seeds 3 times per day using plain tap water. After each rinsing, cover the seeds again in Epsom saltwater and return the jar to the cupboard.
5) Repeat Step 4, rinsing 3 times per day until the first sprouts emerge from the seeds, in roughly 3 to 6 days.
6) Place the jar in a sunny window to allow the sprouts to grow, leaf out, and turn green, continuing to rinse the sprouts 3 times per day.
7) When the first tiny leaves are fully green and developed, remove the sprouts from the jar and store them in the refrigerator.
Consume the sprouts promptly over the span of 5 to 7 days while starting the next batch.
—
Well Being Journal adapted this article from Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals, Volume 4 copyright 2020 by Jill Stansbury, and it is used with permission from Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction, Vermont, 802-295-6300; www.chelseagreen.com. Referenced and indexed.
Jill Stansbury, ND, is a naturopathic physician with 30 years of clinical experience. She served as the chair of the Botanical Medicine Department of the National University of Natural Medicine for more than 20 years and, in 2019, was awarded Order of the University for Excellence in Herbal Medicine. She remains on the faculty, teaching and leading ethnobotany field courses in the Amazon. Dr. Stansbury lives in Battle Ground, Washington, and is the medical director of Battle Ground Healing Arts. She also runs an herbal apothecary featuring many of her own custom formulas.
