Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC)

by Dr. Sandra Cabot

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 due to unknown cause.

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

Long-standing bile obstruction is believed to lead to liver cirrhosis. The disease may be associated with autoimmune disorders (hypothyroidism, Raynauds, CREST syndrome, arthritis). The incidence is 3 to 15 cases per million per year.

Excerpt from "The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book" by Dr Cabot
"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 (1000i.u. 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 eyelid
• fatty stools

Tests

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

Recommended Dr Cabot's books:

"The Liver Cleansing Diet"
"The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book"
"Raw Juices Can Save Your Life"

Treatment

General Recommendations

• If you want to improve liver function you must avoid ALL dairy products - dairy foods contain high levels of antibiotics, steroids and artificial growth hormones as this is what the herds are treated with in today's high tech dairies to prevent disease and boost milk production. As with humans where substances go through into breast milk it is the same for
cattle - only they neglect to tell you this in the advertisements when they are telling you how great milk is. If you need further info on this please visit www.notmilk.com

• Avoid ALL margarines and similar type spreads

• Avoid deep fried and fatty foods.

• Limit chicken and turkey that is not free range as this contains artificial growth hormones, antibiotics and steroids that increase the livers 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 with fatty stools.

Diet

Follow the principles of "The Liver Cleansing Diet" by Dr Cabot. Make these principles a way of life.

Dr Cabot's recommended supplement program for Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

• "Livatone Plus"
1/2 tsp 2 x day in raw juices - this combination of synergistic mix of herbs, vitamins and minerals stimulate the phase 1 and 2 detox pathways in the liver - therefore it supports the liver function.

• "Selenomune"
1 tsp 2 x day in fresh vegetable juices - powerful antioxidant mineral works synergistically to assist in protection of further damage to liver cells

• "MSM Powder Plus Vitamin C"
This is an organic sulphur food powder. Sulphur may > assists in preventing further scar tissue

• "Flaxseed Oil and Cod liver Oils caps"
- 2 of each twice a day- source of essential fatty acids to replace and repair damaged liver cell membranes and assist in reducing inflammation

• "Natural Vitamin E"
1000iu daily - protects liver cell membranes from free radical damage and reduces and assists in prevention of scarring.

* The powder supplements should be stirred into fresh raw vegetable juices containing carrot, celery and beet made with a juice extracting machine.It is also recommended to take a calcium supplement assist in prevention of osteomalacia.

Other supplements that may be used on occasion

• "Olivelife caps"
"Olivelife" can be used from time when infections are a problem. Take 2 capsules with every meal -. These contain olive leaf extract which is a safe natural and effective.

Juice

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 incredible 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.