Recovery from Organophosphate Poisoning
Recovery from organophosphate poisoning can take from 2-3 weeks or up to 5 years depending on how the patient approaches their recovery process, whether they are re-exposed to organophosphates, whether they’re exposure is chronic or acute, and what types of medicinal agents are used to overcome organophosphate poisoning. In other words, a full recovery can take weeks or years, but if you begin working on organophosphate detoxification, you’ll likely begin to see progress quickly.Organophosphate Detoxification
Atropa Belladonna
Atropa Belladonna is an herb that can be used to treat a variety of health issues, though it must be used with caution because of its effects on acetylcholine. It is an anticholinergic that blocks the acetylcholine receptors to cause a parasympatholytic effect (sleepiness, reduced memory function, anesthetic effects etc.).
Atropine is a synthetic medicine that is derived from the Atropa Belladonna plant. It was first manufactured in 1901. Prior to that time, it was used as an anesthetic and to dilate the pupils to make women visually more attractive to men.
Today, atropine is still used to treat the following:
- Bradycardia
- Supraventricular dysrythmias
- Organophosphate exposure
The Atropa Belladonna plant contains atropine. This plant is a member of the nightshade family and it can be found growing wild in certain parts of the world. It produces dark-colored, purplish berries that can cause Anticholinergic Toxidrome Symptoms that include the following:
- Temperature elevation
- Dilated pupils
- Mucosal dryness
- Confusion, delirium, hallucinations
- Skin redness due to vasodilation
- Urinary retention
So this is a plant medicine that must be handled with great care even as an herbal treatment for organophosphate toxicity. It is not widely available commercially because its toxicity, but it is possible to work with homeopathic belladonna products.
Boiron Belladonna 30C Homeopathic Medicine for Fever - 80 Pellets
Probiotics / Yogurt
Lactobacilli are bacteria in the gut that function as beneficial microorganisms. They are a genus of Gram-positive bacteria found in the following functional foods:- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Sauerkraut
- Pickles
Lactobacilli are found primarily in fermented foods and they have the potential to remove organophosphates and degrade them in a safe way. In other words, though Lactobacilli can remove organophosphates or set them apart from human tissues, but they don’t seem to be able to metabolize the organophosphates, or reduce them down to smaller parts. By removing the organophosphates from human tissues, Lactobacilli can decrease intestinal absorption when the body is exposed to organophosphates, but according to studies, they do the most good if they’re taken prior to and during organophosphate exposure rather than after exposure to organophosphates.
The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus has already been studied for its ability to reduce the bioaccumulation of arsenic and mercury in children and pregnant women by reducing inflammation, improving gastrointestinal barrier function, and by modulating the metabolism of xenobiotics in the host. Because of their ability to prevent the bioaccumulation of certain heavy metals, scientists are interested in whether or not certain Lactobacillus species can prevent the bioaccumulation of other things like organophosphates. As such, scientists have studied how Lactobacillus bacteria in the gut can reduce the absorption and toxicity of organophosphate pesticides like parathion and chlorpyrifos. Some of the Lactobacillus strains that have been studied have shown abnormal growth as a result of organophosphate exposure, but Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG and Lactobacilus rhamnosus strain GR-1 were able to remove organophosphates from a solution within only 24 hours. As such, both of these strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus can be used to reduce the absorption of parathion and chlorpyrifos in the intestines.
Scientists have speculated that Lactobacillus rhamnosus taken prior to exposure to organophosphates may help reduce toxicity of organophosphates in humans through passive binding.
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