Hi everyone. My time is currently very limited due to just returning from a trip to California and having a backlog of studying and assignment deadlines for my degree course. I didn't want to leave another week "blogless" however so I thought I'd just draw your attention to a potentially powerful therapy known as 'phospholipid exchange' which Helen64 posted a question about in the forums this week.

 Read the forum thread on phospholipid exchange therapy

To explain the principal of the therapy we first need a little bit of biochemistry. Basically, cells in the human body have a cell membrane made up of fatty substances called phospholipids along with fatty acids. These fatty substances give the cell membrane a level of fluidity that allows them to efficiently allow nutrients to enter the cell and toxins to be expelled amongst other important functions such as maintaining the structure and shape of the cell.

A physician by the name of Richie Shoemaker M.D. determined that environmental illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, autism, and multiple chemical sensitivity were the result of an initial exposure to neurotoxins; be it from viruses, bacteria, parasites, mercury poisoning, or any other source. According to Shoemaker this leads to the breakdown in the integrity of the cell membrane due to disturbances in phospholipid and fatty acid metabolism and this leads to increased inflammatory processes, toxicity, and environmental illness.

Phospholipid exchange therapy is a means to restore the integrity of the cell membrane thus reducing inflammation and toxicity and restoring health.

The therapy involves the administration of phospholipids (predominantly phosphatidylcholine) intravenously along with supporting treatment to achieve the restoration of cell membrane health. Once this is achieved the body is in a position to heal itself as inflammation is reduced and toxins are more efficiently dealt with.

The work of Shoemaker has been built on by a number of doctors and researchers who developed The Detoxx System which incorporates phospholipid exchange along with IV glutathione (the body's major antioxidant), essential fatty acid supplementation, special dietary measures, and other supporting therapies.

Learn more about phospholipid exchange therapy and The Detoxx System:

Article: The Detoxx System: Detoxification of Biotoxins in Chronic Neurotoxic Syndromes

Book: The Detoxx Book

As always, please let us know if you have had experience or are knowledgeable about the therapy discussed by leaving a comment below.

Best of health!