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Archives for September 2020

The liver/thyroid/serotonin and liver/GABA/progesterone connections: The Anxiety Summit 6

September 30, 2020 By Trudy Scott 10 Comments

liver thyroid serotonin

Dr. Ameet Aggarwal is one of my guest experts on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections!
and our topic is Liver Function and Bile: Anxiety, Detox, the Gut and Hormones. Here is some of what we cover in our interview:  

  • The liver/anxiety connections: thyroid/serotonin, microbiome and GABA/progesterone
  • Foods and nutrients like NAC, triphala, turmeric, taurine and lycopodium
  • Gilbert’s syndrome and schizophrenia; misophonia; family constellations therapy; giving and endorphins

and much more.

ameet aggarwal

We discuss a number of the mechanisms as to why poor liver function affects your mood. There is the liver/thyroid/serotonin connection, and the liver/GABA/progesterone connection.

In the discussion on the liver/thyroid/serotonin connection and anxiety, Dr. Ameet shares from this paper – The Relationship between the thyroid gland and the liver (paraphrased as I don’t yet have transcripts):

  • Thyroxine and tri‐iodothyronine are essential for normal organ growth, development and function
  • These hormones regulate the basal metabolic rate of all cells, including hepatocytes, and thereby modulate hepatic [liver] function
  • The liver in turn metabolizes the thyroid hormones and regulates their systemic endocrine effects.
  • Thyroid dysfunction may perturb liver function
  • Liver disease modulates thyroid hormone metabolism.

The catecholamine and thyroid interrelationship is well recognized but less is known about the serotonin and the thyroid. Dr. Ameet shares the synergy between the thyroid hormones, serotonin and mood:

  • animal studies shows that the thyroid economy has a modulating impact on the brain serotonin system
  • studies in hypothyroid patients have shown that thyroid replacement therapy improves serotonin production

In summary, if we have compromised liver function and/or low thyroid function this may impact serotonin levels and lead to increased anxiety.

Here is a snippet from our discussion on the liver/GABA/progesterone and anxiety:

  • We often think about mental health as being neurotransmitters alone but it also depends on hormones. Progesterone affects how GABA works in the brain.
  • GABA is your anti-anxiety neurotransmitter but it requires progesterone to work well in your brain and your liver metabolizes all your hormones through phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification
  • If your liver is compromised then you’re likely to have lower progesterone levels and estrogen dominance.
  • With low progesterone GABA won’t work as well as well in the brain, leading to anxiety and insomnia.

Again, if we have compromised liver function this may impact progesterone levels, having an effect on how GABA works and causing increased anxiety.

If you recall, I shared this GABA/progesterone snippet a few weeks ago before the site was ready and now it’s ready for you to register.

This interview is one of the registration gifts so you can listen to it right away as soon as you register (there will also be a complimentary transcript made available as soon as it’s completed.)

ameet interview

Here is a little about the summit… as you know, anxiety can be related to your daily life experiences BUT it can also be triggered by:

  • foods you eat and what you drink (like wheat, oxalates, alcohol and more)
  • environmental toxins (like lead, plastics, fragrances, insecticides, fluoride and more)
  • many types of medications (like the birth control pill, acne medication, fluoroquinolone antibiotics and more) and/or
  • chronic infections (like Lyme disease, PANDAS, parasites, candida and more).

Once you identify the root causes and understand anxiety’s mechanisms you can support the liver/gallbladder, detox, address infections, implement targeted and supportive solutions, and get relief!

WHY ATTEND?

This is my 6th Anxiety Summit, featuring all new topics and the latest research related to anxiety and toxins, medications and infections.

I’ve also experienced many of these health challenges myself – lead and mercury toxicity, gluten issues and candida – and I’m currently dealing with chronic Lyme disease and dietary oxalate issues. You’ll hear some of my healing journey and my solutions in a few interviews too.

anxiety summit 6

WHAT SETS THIS ONLINE EVENT APART?

What sets this apart from other events on toxins and infections is being able to make the many connections to GABA (the main calming neurotransmitter) and serotonin (a happy and calming neurotransmitter) AND how to use  the amino acids GABA and tryptophan to ease your anxiety right away while you are dealing with the other underlying root causes – which take longer to address.

You will see this woven into each of the expert interviews (just like this one with Dr. Schaffner) and also addressed in detail in my 3 interviews where I do a deep dive into specific applications.

For example, in my toxins interview, I share how GABA reverses fluoride-induced anxiety and hypothyroidism, and how tryptophan and vitamin C ease anxiety symptoms associated with lead toxicity  (I’ll be sharing more about this in the future so stay tuned….)

Over the course of the next 6 weeks you’ll be seeing frequent emails from me with snippets and highlights from various interviews – like this one. I do hope you continue to enjoy them and get excited about the summit! Please do share if you know someone who has anxiety!

It’s been wonderful to get all the emails saying how excited you are and seeing so many of you signing up. These last few months have been full-time on research and interviews and I’ll shortly get to share it all with you!

You’ve heard me say the Anxiety Summit has been called “a bouquet of hope!”  My wish for you is that this summit is your bouquet of hope!

I hope you’ll join me and these incredible speakers, be enlightened and find YOUR solutions!

Here’s to no more anxiety and you feeling on top of the world again!

Register here

 

If you’re already familiar with some of this information and practice some of this already please share how it’s helped you. That way we can all learn.

If you’d like to ask a question, please post in the comments below.

I’d also love to hear from you once you’ve listened to this interview. Please do come back and comment about some of the highlights of this interview and what changes you plan to make.

Even if you already receive my newsletters and signed up some time ago to be notified about the upcoming Anxiety Summit 6, you will still need to register at the new link here, because Health Talks Online is doing the production and backend work for me.

If you don’t register you won’t get access to the daily summit emails with all the interviews.

You will however, continue to get these emails from me.

This is my 6th Anxiety Summit and it is all new content!

The content is research-based and practical, and is geared to anxious individuals who are health-savvy and to practitioners who work with anxious individuals.

If you are totally new to functional medicine and nutritional solutions for anxiety, you will still learn so much so just take in what you can and know you’ll get all this eventually.

Filed Under: Anxiety Summit 6 Tagged With: Ameet Aggarwal, anxiety, GABA, liver, progesterone, serotonin, The Anxiety Summit 6, thyroid

GABA alleviates anxiety caused by phthalates (found in plastics & fragrances)

September 28, 2020 By Trudy Scott Leave a Comment

Are you aware that GABA alleviates anxiety caused by phthalates, found in plastics and fragrances? I share more about this in one of the registration gifts for the Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections: Top 10 Surprising Nutrients for Toxin Support and Anxiety Relief eGuide

GABA, the calming amino acid is one of my favorite amino acids, personally and with my anxious clients.

ANXIETY: GABA supplementation eases physical anxiety and tension

Low levels of GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid), an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the body and brain, is well documented in anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety, panic and post-traumatic stress disorder/PTSD.

GABA is also an amino acid that is calming when used as a supplement. It eases anxiety, physical tension and worry, and induces relaxation. In one study it was reported to work effectively within 1 hour, also allowing better focus and concentration. It also enhanced immunity under stressful conditions such as when crossing a suspension bridge. A significant increase in salivary IgA (immunoglobulin A) was observed 90 minutes after GABA intake.

Clinically, I have found GABA to be most effective for easing anxiety when used sublingually (you’ve heard me say this many times).

TOXIN: GABA supplementation alleviates phthalate-induced anxiety

What may be surprising, is the role toxins such phthalates play in anxiety and how GABA may actually offer some protection.  Phthalates are chemicals that make plastics soft and are also found in personal care products as fragrances.

Recent research shows that high levels of urinary phthalates have been found to be associated with an increase in anxiety, depression and stress in Chinese university students.

In a recent animal study, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate/DEHP, one of the most widely used phthalate esters, was shown to cause anxiety. The study concludes that the anxiety effects caused by phthalates could be alleviated by GABA supplementation.

As you may know I use GABA all the time with my anxious clients and having dug into the research for this summit, I am fascinated by how protective it is against toxins too. You’ll learn about this and how GABA also supports immunity in many of the summit interviews. 

====> Get The Top 10 Surprising Nutrients for Toxin Support and Anxiety Relief eGuide (it includes all the references and a mini cross-reference to certain summit interviews)

Some questions for you?

  • Do you have any guesses as to what the other 9 nutrients/herbs are? (no peeking until you have your list!)
  • What are your favorites for both anxiety and protection against toxins?
  • Any guesses what the herb is on the cover? And are you aware it helps with detox AND also anxiety? (I’ll share more about this one in another email)

You’ve heard me say the Anxiety Summit has been called “a bouquet of hope!”  My wish for you is that this summit is your bouquet of hope!

I hope you’ll join me and these incredible speakers, be enlightened and find YOUR solutions! When you download the eGuide you’ll get automatic access to the summit. 

Get The Top 10 Surprising Nutrients eGuide

 

REGISTER FOR THE ANXIETY SUMMIT 6

 

Even if you already receive my newsletters and signed up some time ago to be notified about the upcoming Anxiety Summit 6, you will still need to register at the new link here, because Health Talks Online is doing the production and backend work for me.

If you don’t register you won’t get access to the daily summit emails with all the interviews.

You will however, continue to get these emails from me.

This is my 6th Anxiety Summit and it is all new content!

The content is research-based and practical, and is geared to anxious individuals who are health-savvy and to practitioners who work with anxious individuals.

If you are totally new to functional medicine and nutritional solutions for anxiety, you will still learn so much so just take in what you can and know you’ll get all this eventually.

Filed Under: Anxiety Summit 6, The Anxiety Summit Tagged With: 10 nutrients for anxiety, anxiety summit 6

Glymphatic system for brain detox: The Anxiety Summit 6

September 25, 2020 By Trudy Scott Leave a Comment

Dr. Christine Schaffner is one of my guest experts on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections!
and our topic is: The Glymphatic System for Brain Detox

  • The astrocyte as the brain pacman for lead and mercury
  • Tonsils, aquaporins, lymph drainage, PANDAS, anxiety and OCD
  • GABA, sleep, anxiety and high-dose neuroprotective melatonin

and much more.

christine schaffner

Here is a snippet from our discussion on the glymphatic system, lead, astrocytes, GABA and aquaporin channels (paraphrased as I don’t yet have transcripts).

In case you’re new to the glymphatic system it is

a recently discovered macroscopic waste clearance system that utilizes a unique system of perivascular tunnels, formed by astroglial cells, to promote efficient elimination of soluble proteins and metabolites from the central nervous system.

Besides waste elimination, the glymphatic system also facilitates brain-wide distribution of several compounds, including glucose, lipids, amino acids, growth factors, and neuromodulators. Intriguingly, the glymphatic system functions mainly during sleep and is largely disengaged during wakefulness.

I’ve been dying to interview Dr. Schaffner since I first heard her present on this topic AND because it’s a relatively new discovery.

During the interview I ask her this question: We know lead (one of the heavy metals) can increase anxiety and cause panic attacks. How does lead adversely impact the glymphatic system?

Dr. Schaffner shares this:

Yes, lead is a neurotoxin and loves fat tissue. Because of this it impacts the health of the astrocytes (a sub-type of glial cells) and the flow of lymph around neurons. Lead can also compromise the blood brain barrier. The astrocytes act like a pacman to take up lead in the brain but they are also impaired by lead. This has an effect on GABA which is calming. GABA also helps the aquaporin channels work better which improves flow of lymph in the brain and helps with detox.

How incredible is this – I share how big a fan I am of GABA:

I’m a big fan of GABA.. .GABA used as a supplement helps to raise GABA levels (of the brain chemical GABA) so it’s calming and helps with sleep. And now we know it helps keep the aquaporin channels open and helps with detoxification of toxins like lead!

This is one of the registration gifts so you can listen to it right away as soon as you register (there will also be a complimentary transcript made available as soon as it’s completed.)

christine schaffner interview

Here is a little about the summit… as you know, anxiety can be related to your daily life experiences BUT it can also be triggered by:

  • foods you eat and what you drink (like wheat, oxalates, alcohol and more)
  • environmental toxins (like lead, plastics, fragrances, insecticides, fluoride and more)
  • many types of medications (like the birth control pill, acne medication, fluoroquinolone antibiotics and more) and/or
  • chronic infections (like Lyme disease, PANDAS, parasites, candida and more).

Once you identify the root causes and understand anxiety’s mechanisms you can support the liver/gallbladder, detox, address infections, implement targeted and supportive solutions, and get relief!

WHY ATTEND?

This is my 6th Anxiety Summit, featuring all new topics and the latest research related to anxiety and toxins, medications and infections.

I’ve also experienced many of these health challenges myself – lead and mercury toxicity, gluten issues and candida – and I’m currently dealing with chronic Lyme disease and dietary oxalate issues. You’ll hear some of my healing journey and my solutions in a few interviews too.

anxiety summit 6

WHAT SETS THIS ONLINE EVENT APART?

What sets this apart from other events on toxins and infections is being able to make the many connections to GABA (the main calming neurotransmitter) and serotonin (a happy and calming neurotransmitter) AND how to use  the amino acids GABA and tryptophan to ease your anxiety right away while you are dealing with the other underlying root causes – which take longer to address.

You will see this woven into each of the expert interviews (just like this one with Dr. Schaffner) and also addressed in detail in my 3 interviews where I do a deep dive into specific applications.

For example, in my toxins interview, I share how GABA reverses fluoride-induced anxiety and hypothyroidism, and how tryptophan and vitamin C ease anxiety symptoms associated with lead toxicity  (I’ll be sharing more about this in the future so stay tuned….)

Over the course of the next 6 weeks you’ll be seeing frequent emails from me with snippets and highlights from various interviews – like this one. I do hope you continue to enjoy them and get excited about the summit! Please do share if you know someone who has anxiety!

It’s been wonderful to get all the emails saying how excited you are and seeing so many of you signing up. These last few months have been full-time on research and interviews and I’ll shortly get to share it all with you!

You’ve heard me say the Anxiety Summit has been called “a bouquet of hope!”  My wish for you is that this summit is your bouquet of hope!

I hope you’ll join me and these incredible speakers, be enlightened and find YOUR solutions!

Here’s to no more anxiety and you feeling on top of the world again!

Register here

 

If you’re already familiar with some of this information and practice some of this already please share how it’s helped you. That way we can all learn.

If you’d like to ask a question, please post in the comments below.

I’d also love to hear from you once you’ve listened to this interview. Please do come back and comment about some of the highlights of this interview and what changes you plan to make.

Even if you already receive my newsletters and signed up some time ago to be notified about the upcoming Anxiety Summit 6, you will still need to register at the new link here, because Health Talks Online is doing the production and backend work for me.

If you don’t register you won’t get access to the daily summit emails with all the interviews.

You will however, continue to get these emails from me.

This is my 6th Anxiety Summit and it is all new content!

The content is research-based and practical, and is geared to anxious individuals who are health-savvy and to practitioners who work with anxious individuals.

If you are totally new to functional medicine and nutritional solutions for anxiety, you will still learn so much so just take in what you can and know you’ll get all this eventually.

Filed Under: Anxiety Summit 6 Tagged With: aquaporin channels, brain, brain detox, GABA, Glymphatic, glymphatic system, lead, lymph flow, The Anxiety Summit 6

Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins, Medications and Infections – Products

September 22, 2020 By Trudy Scott Leave a Comment

This blog is your go-to for the nutrients and products discussed on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections,  Nov 2-8, 2020 and mentioned in the summit eBooks. 

Top 10 Surprising Nutrients for Toxin Support and Anxiety Relief

These are the nutrients listed in the ebook: Top 10 Surprising Nutrients for Toxin Support and Anxiety Relief  [click here to download the PDF copy and read the research] 

#1 GABA supplementation eases physical anxiety and tension, and alleviates phthalate-induced anxiety

Learn more about GABA for easing anxiety and protection against other toxins in these interviews on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections  

  • GABA and Tryptophan: Anxiety-Toxin Connections – Trudy Scott
  • Vagus Nerve Infection and Anxiety – Eva Detko
  • SSRIs, Benzodiazepines, Alcohol and Amino Acids – Hyla Cass
  • Fluoride: Neurotoxicity, Anxiety, Acne and Hypothyroidism – Melissa Gallico
  • GABA and Serotonin: Anxiety, PMS, Meds and Infections – Trudy Scott

#2 Tryptophan eases mental anxiety, worry and ruminations, and alleviates lead-induced anxiety/aggression

(Note: Both tryptophan and 5-HTP can be used to support low serotonin levels. Some folks do better with tryptophan and some do better with 5-HTP)

Learn more about tryptophan (and 5-HTP) for easing anxiety and offering protection against lead and other toxins in these interviews on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections  

  • GABA and Tryptophan: Anxiety-Toxin Connections – Trudy Scott
  • SSRIs, Benzodiazepines, Alcohol and Amino Acids – Hyla Cass
  • 5-HTP: Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia and Liver Protection – Michael Murray
  • GABA and Serotonin: Anxiety, PMS, Meds and Infections – Trudy Scott

#3 Probiotics (psychobiotics) improve mood, reduce anxiety and improve cognition. And a spore-based probiotic reverses the liver-toxic effects of acetaminophen.

Learn more about probiotics for easing anxiety and offering protection against acetaminophen (and other adverse effects of acetaminophen) in these interviews on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections  

  • 5-HTP: Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia and Liver Protection – Michael Murray
  • Acetaminophen, Spore-based Probiotics and the Liver – Kiran Krishan
  • Drainage in Anxiety and Autism – Luminara Serdar
  • GABA and Serotonin: Anxiety, PMS, Meds and Infections – Trudy Scott
  • Vagus Nerve Infection and Anxiety – Eva Detko

#4 NAC is a precursor of glutathione and promotes detoxification. And NAC also reduces compulsive hair pulling/trichotillomania.

Learn more about NAC for detoxification, helping with compulsions and easing anxiety in these interviews on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections  

  • Your Brain on Food: Anxiety, OCD and PTSD – Uma Naidoo
  • GABA and Serotonin: Anxiety, PMS, Meds and Infections – Trudy Scott
  • Loss of Chemical Tolerance and Glutathione Recycling – Datis Kharrazian
  • Liver Function and Bile: Anxiety, Detox, the Gut and Hormones – Ameet Aggarwal

#5 Melatonin improves sleep and reduces anxiety after traumatic brain injury. Melatonin also removes toxic proteins via the brain glymphatic system

Learn more about melatonin for sleep, anxiety and the glymphatic system in these interviews on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections  

  • The Glymphatic System for Brain Detox – Christine Schaffner 
  • GABA and Serotonin: Anxiety, PMS, Meds and Infections – Trudy Scott
  • Fluoride: Neurotoxicity, Anxiety, Acne and Hypothyroidism – Melissa Gallico
  • Red Light Therapy: Anxiety, Toxins and Benzodiazepines – Ari Whitten

#6 Triphala improves gut health and reduces noise-induced stress (and sometimes misophonia). Triphala may also help prevent and reverse radiation-induced DNA and intestinal damage.

Learn more about triphala for anxiety, gut health and misophonia in these interviews on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections  

  • Liver Function and Bile: Anxiety, Detox, the Gut and Hormones – Ameet Aggarwal
  • PANDAS/PANS: The Brain on Fire – Elisa Song
  • Body Burden: Environmental Toxins, Tattoos and Wheat – Tom O’Bryan (noise pollution) 
  • GABA and Serotonin: Anxiety, PMS, Meds and Infections – Trudy Scott

#7 TUDCA improves LPS-induced cognitive impairment and neurotoxicity. TUDCA also eases depression caused by chronic unpredictable stress. 

Learn more about TUDCA and taurine for depression/anxiety and bile production in these interviews on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections  

  • Impact of Toxins on Lyme Disease and Infections – Jay Davidson (TUDCA) 
  • SSRIs, Benzodiazepines, Alcohol and Amino Acids – Hyla Cass (taurine)
  • GABA and Tryptophan: Anxiety-Toxin Connections – Trudy Scott (taurine)
  • Liver Function and Bile: Anxiety, Detox, the Gut and Hormones – Ameet Aggarwal (taurine)

#8 Rosemary shows benefits for stress, anxiety, depression and pain. It’s also protective when it comes to electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

Learn more about rosemary and EMFs in these interviews on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections  

  • EMFs: Anxiety, Insomnia, ADHD and Headaches – Lloyd Burrell
  • Lyme: a Herbal Approach for Pain, Anxiety and Brain Fog – Darin Ingels
  • GABA and Tryptophan: Anxiety-Toxin Connections – Trudy Scott 
  • The Glymphatic System for Brain Detox – Christine Schaffner
  • Mold Toxicity: Anxiety, Depression, Panic and Psychosis – Margaret Christensen

#9 Oral lavender (as Silexan) is as effective for anxiety as the benzodiazepine lorazepam.  And lavender essential oil reduces LPS-induced inflammation via HSP70.

Learn more about lavender, benzodiazepines and LPS in these interviews on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections  

  • Psychiatric Medications in Children and Teens – Nicole Beurkens
  • SSRIs, Benzodiazepines, Alcohol and Amino Acids – Hyla Cass
  • Body Burden: Environmental Toxins, Tattoos and Wheat – Tom O’Bryan (NF-κB and Toll-like receptor 4)
  • Disconnection Syndrome, Immunity and Awe – David Perlmutter
  • GABA and Tryptophan: Anxiety-Toxin Connections – Trudy Scott 
  • Benzodiazepines: Short-Term Benefits, Long-Term Harms – Catherine Pittman

#10 Milk thistle is liver-protective and enhances glutathione production. It is also beneficial as an antidepressant for OCD.

Learn more about milk thistle, glutathione, the liver, alcohol and acetaminophen in these interviews on The Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins/Meds/Infections  

  • SSRIs, Benzodiazepines, Alcohol and Amino Acids – Hyla Cass 
  • GABA and Tryptophan: Anxiety-Toxin Connections – Trudy Scott 
  • Liver Function and Bile: Anxiety, Detox, the Gut and Hormones – Ameet Aggarwal 
  • Acetaminophen, Spore-based Probiotics and the Liver – Kiran Krishan
  • Loss of Chemical Tolerance and Glutathione Recycling – Datis Kharrazian

Stay tuned for additional information, products and resources all the summit interviews.

Let us know which are your favorites or which similar products you have used with success – and how they have helped you.

Feel free to also post your questions in the comments below 

DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE

 

REGISTER FOR THE ANXIETY SUMMIT 6

 

Filed Under: The Anxiety Summit Tagged With: 10 nutrients for anxiety, anxiety summit 6

Willow’s survival story: Easter Lilies cause acute renal failure in cats and Peace Lilies cause oxalate issues

September 11, 2020 By Trudy Scott 3 Comments

willow lilies oxalate

Be aware that Easter Lilies (pictured above) can cause acute renal failure in cats and Peace Lilies (pictured below) can cause calcium oxalate issues.

Lindsey Warnock shared these pictures and the story of her kitty Willow on Facebook and kindly gave me permission to share this on my blog as a caution for anyone with cats:

On Thursday Willow played with lilies in my office. She didn’t eat anything. She only batted at them and got the pollen all over her before I shooed her away. We laughed initially but thank God something in my head told me to google it.

I read, “All parts of the lily – including the stem, leaves, petals, stamens and pollen – are poisonous to cats. Even minor exposures (cat chewing on a leaf or getting pollen on his or her haircoat or whiskers) can be fatal.”

“Cats typically do not survive, even with aggressive therapy (such as dialysis).” [from this site noliliesforcats.com]

I freaked out. Threw her in the shower (that wasn’t fun) and immediately took her up to Blue Pearl Emergency & Specialty Hospital. Due to covid, they came and took her from my car and after her exam the ER doctor called me. She said her prognosis was very poor because they found the pollen around her mouth and on her tongue. She even said, “in my experience I’ve never seen a cat survive lily poisoning. Most owners only realize there’s an issue when the cat is sick and by that point it’s just too late”

Insert hysterical crying here. She said that her only saving grace may be that we sought treatment quickly but realistically she might not make it through the night. They made her throw up, gave her activated charcoal and aggressively treated her with fluid therapy and other meds.

Thank God after 2 days in the hospital, she pulled through!!! We will go for a recheck soon but her doctors are confident her organs didn’t suffer any long term damage from the poisoning.

I can’t tell you the intense guilt I felt and still feel for buying those stupid flowers. I felt like a murderer, terrible fur mom, terrible person. I’ve had cats my entire life and have never heard of lily poisoning. The vet’s response to that was “most people only find out the hard way” The doctors, technicians and staff at Blue Pearl really are the best! They saved our baby.

Please SHARE this with your friends. I would hate to see anyone go through this!! Thank you all for your support during that gut-wrenching 2 days. We’re thankful our girl is back home! No. More. Flowers. Ever.

This was a few weeks ago and when I checked in I see that Willow is still doing well!

This article, Toxic Plants by Tina A Wismer, DVM, DABVT, DABT, shares the toxic effects of the lily (pictured above) Willow brushed up against:

Lilies of the Lilium and Hemerocallis sp.have been shown to cause acute renal failure in the cat. Some examples include: Easter lilies (L. longiflorum), tiger lilies (L. tigrinum), rubrum or Japanese showy lilies (L. speciosum, L. lancifolium), and day lilies (H. species). The toxic principle is unknown, but is known to be water soluble. Even minor exposures (a few bites on a leaf, ingestion of pollen, etc.) may result in toxicosis, so all feline exposures to true lilies should be considered potentially life-threatening and should merit aggressive clinical intervention.

Peace lilies are also an issue for cats and dogs – due to oxalates

Peace Lilies are also harmful for cats and dogs because they contain calcium oxalate crystals. Fortunately they are not deadly.

peace lilies

This Toxic Plants article also lists common houseplants – including Philodendron spp. and Spathiphyllum spp. or Peace Lily – that contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, describing how they are also harmful for cats and dogs:

The calcium oxalate crystals look like needles, and when the plant is damaged these crystals embed themselves in the oral cavity. Clinical signs include hypersalivation, vomiting and possible swelling of the pharynx (obstruction is rare). Treatment includes milk or water to rinse mouth. Clinical signs usually resolve within 24 hours with no lasting effects.

Here is an image of calcium oxalate crystals called raphides. You can see why these needle shaped calcium oxalate crystals found can inflict pain and cause harm. There are many different shapes of calcium oxalate crystals and this is just one example.

Raphides
Raphides purified from kiwifruit. Raphides, needle shaped calcium oxalate crystals, were collected from kiwifruit homogenate through heavy media separation using a dense CsCl solution. (A) The SEM image of purified raphides (x400). Shared from: Synergistic Defensive Function of Raphides and Protease through the Needle Effect via Creative Commons.

This article, Easter Lilies and Cats do not Mix! shares more about the two different groups of lilies, “true” lilies (like Easter Lilies) and “benign” lilies (like Peace Lilies). Author, Karen Christopherson, DVM, CVA says “It is best to skip lilies altogether in households where cats live.”

Be sure to read the entire Toxic Plants article for a list of all plants that are harmful and severely toxic to cats and dogs. I had no idea there were so many!

I am not a vet and am not an expert on any of this so please do check in with your own vet.

Oxalate questions I have

With regards to oxalates I have these questions I’d love to know the answers for:

  • Do all cats and dogs have an inborn ability to tolerate calcium oxalate crystals like those found in the Peace Lily?
  • Would cats and dogs also have issues (especially severe pain in their joints, bladder issues and increased anxiety) if they were to ingest high oxalate foods like spinach, beets, sweet potatoes, soy and kiwi fruit?
  • Given that there are some human “antidotes” for helping with acute exposure symptoms after ingestion of high oxalate foods (like spinach, rhubarb, nuts, kiwi fruit etc) in susceptible individuals, I am curious to know if some of these could be used with cats and dogs too: calcium citrate, magnesium citrate, vitamin B6 and/or an epsom salt bath?
  • Do humans with dietary oxalate issues have problems working with some of these indoor plants (like Peace Lilies) when planting them, pruning and even getting pollen on the skin?

Are you aware of these harmful effects of plants for cats and dogs? Let us know if you experienced something similar to what happened to Willow or with a plant like the Peace Lily. What advice did your vet share with you and how is your cat or dog doing now?

If you have answers to any of the above questions please do share too.

Feel free to post your questions here too.

We appreciate Lindsey for letting me share this and say well done for your quick thinking!

Read all posts in this series:

  • Coronavirus and vitamin C for immune support: new pain or more severe pain due to oxalate issues? (part 1)
  • Oxalate crystal disease, dietary oxalates and pain: the research & questions (part 2)
  • Vitamin C causes oxalate formation resulting in pain, anxiety, and insomnia (when there is a defect in ascorbic acid or oxalate metabolism)? (part 3)
  • Willow’s survival story: Easter Lilies cause acute renal failure in cats and Peace Lilies cause oxalate issues (part 4)

Filed Under: Anxiety, Oxalates Tagged With: Calcium oxalate crystals, cats, dogs, Easter lily, harmful, hypersalivation, lilies, lily, mouth, needles, oral cavity, oxalates, Peace lily, raphides, swelling, vomiting

Vitamin C causes oxalate formation resulting in pain, anxiety, and insomnia (when there is a defect in ascorbic acid or oxalate metabolism)?

September 4, 2020 By Trudy Scott 4 Comments

vitamin c and oxalate

Supplemental vitamin C has many exceptional health benefits and causes no issues for a large majority of individuals. However if you have dietary oxalate issues, doses of vitamin C above 100mg to 250mg per day may be problematic and trigger pain, anxiety, insomnia, bladder issues and more. This blog, Coronavirus and vitamin C for immune support: new pain or more severe pain due to oxalate issues?, is part 1 of the series  which sets the scene and is a fact-finding article. Part 2, Oxalate crystal disease, dietary oxalates and pain: the research & questions (part 2), covers the research behind oxalate crystal disease.

Today we look at some of the research on vitamin C/ascorbic acid being a possible trigger for the formation of oxalates in certain instances. This paper, No contribution of ascorbic acid to renal calcium oxalate stones, has a good summary:

Even though a certain part of oxalate in the urine derives from metabolized ascorbic acid, the intake of high doses of vitamin C does not increase the risk of calcium oxalate kidney stones due to physiological regulatory factor: gastrointestinal absorption as well as renal tubular reabsorption of ascorbic acid are saturable processes, and the metabolic transformation of ascorbic acid to oxalate is limited as well.

But in the large-scale Harvard Prospective Health Professional Follow-Up Study, those groups in the highest quintile of vitamin C intake (> 1,500 mg/day) had a lower risk of kidney stones than the groups in the lowest quintiles.

This paper does however have this precaution:

Recurrent stone formers and patients with renal failure who have a defect in ascorbic acid or oxalate metabolism should restrict daily vitamin C intakes to approximately 100 mg.

My proposed interpretation of this

I’d like to propose an interpretation of this, based on what we know about oxalates. These are the individuals who should restrict daily vitamin C intakes to approximately 100 mg per day (or up to around 250mg per day – more on the range below):

1) If you are someone who is a recurrent stone former or is in renal failure with a defect in ascorbic acid or oxalate metabolism

2) If you are someone with dietary oxalate issues i.e. you have similar symptoms when consuming vitamin C as you do when consuming high oxalate foods. Could we consider that you be classified as having “a defect in ascorbic acid or oxalate metabolism?” I would say yes.

I’ve added #2 above because we need to keep in mind that many individuals who have issues with dietary oxalates are not necessarily stone formers and nor do they have renal failure.

Research is also lacking in this area as you can read in Oxalate crystal disease, dietary oxalates and pain: the research & questions (part 2).

An omission of the 100mg per day restriction

I would like to point out that the study mentioned above was referred to in an article on Dr. Andrew Saul’s site but for some reason the section about the 100mg daily restriction was omitted from the article. It may have something to do with the fact that the author firmly believes that no-one has oxalate issues with any dose of vitamin C. In fact, he even jokingly makes this comment in the article:

Is some clown still trying to tell you that vitamin C is somehow dangerous? Or that you shouldn’t take more than 200 mg/day?

If you are someone who does experience pain when consuming vitamin C (like I do), I’m pretty sure you don’t find this comment amusing.

Vitamin C intake leading to pain, anxiety, insomnia, low mood and bladder issues

Here is some additional feedback from a question I posted on Facebook. This is the question I posted:

I’ve been sharing here about vitamin C being an issue for some folks who have oxalate issues and seeing an increase in pain. I’d love to hear if you upped your vitamin C intake for immune support and saw your mood take a dive or your anxiety increase or your sleep get worse? Vitamin C typically helps because it’s a cofactor for making neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA and tyrosine but too much of a good thing is not good! Did you also have increased or new pain (as well as anxiety, low mood and insomnia)?

Here are some of the responses from folks who shared about pain, anxiety, insomnia, low mood and bladder issues:

  • Fay shared this: “Yes increased pain, insomnia and anxiety with increased C and mouth sores to boot. Taking liposomal C and Ester C to boost antioxidants for health reasons and pain in elbows and knees. Not sleeping well at all either.”
  • Lica shared this: “Yes increased anxiety…never thought of it before…felt a bug coming on and took c for a few days…yup anxiety.”
  • Nicola shared this: “Increase in body pain, burning bladder, sleep affected and low mood ( not something I usually suffer with). I was taking liposomal C then increased the dose and also added Ester C as I had symptoms of covid. I was taking 1-2g a day of liposomal previously as a preventative and increased to 4g plus 4g of Ester. Only did it for a couple of days. Stopped three days ago and pain is starting to subside but no sleep last night. So I will continue with a break for now and add a very low dose again perhaps of Ester C and see how I go.”

I really appreciate these women sharing their experiences so we can all learn!

What is the upper limit of vitamin C for individuals with dietary oxalate issues?

I’m sure you’re wondering about the various dosages mentioned: the study mentions 100mg per day,  Dr. Andrew Saul’s clown comment says 200mg per day and Susan Owen’s TLO Facebook group recommends no more than 250mg per day. You’ll need to figure out what the upper dose of vitamin C you can tolerate – by trial and error.

The big disconnect is always the mention of kidney stones

This is one of many similar studies on the topic of ascorbic acid/vitamin C and oxalates. There are also many studies and articles stating that vitamin C does NOT play a role in the formation of oxalates and cause kidney stones. The big disconnect is always the mention of kidney stones. The missing piece – in the research and in many articles – is that you can have issues with dietary oxalates AND vitamin C when there is no kidney disease/no kidney stones.

I have a number of additional oxalate blog posts planned so please let me know what else you want to hear about.

Here are the 2 previous blog posts on this topic of oxalates, vitamin C and pain:

  • Coronavirus and vitamin C for immune support: new pain or more severe pain due to oxalate issues? (part 1)
  • Oxalate crystal disease, dietary oxalates and pain: the research & questions (part 2)

Please also share your vitamin C oxalate story and how you figured it out (and if you react in a similar way to dietary oxalates).

Let us know what your ideal dose is (and which dose caused issues) and what form of vitamin C and product name you use/used. Feel free to share if you also have a history of kidney stones.

Feel free to post your questions here too.

Read all posts in this series:

  • Coronavirus and vitamin C for immune support: new pain or more severe pain due to oxalate issues? (part 1)
  • Oxalate crystal disease, dietary oxalates and pain: the research & questions (part 2)
  • Vitamin C causes oxalate formation resulting in pain, anxiety, and insomnia (when there is a defect in ascorbic acid or oxalate metabolism)? (part 3)
  • Willow’s survival story: Easter Lilies cause acute renal failure in cats and Peace Lilies cause oxalate issues (part 4)

Filed Under: Anxiety, Oxalates Tagged With: anxiety, ascorbic acid, Coronavirus, defect, depression, insomnia, kidney disease, low mood, oxalate crystal disease, oxalate formation, oxalate metabolism, oxalates, pain, renal, serotonin, vitamin C

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