Phosphatidylcholine Therapy
Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is a fat found in each of the body’s cell membranes. It is responsible for maintaining the cell’s shape and allowing each cell to communicate with other cells. As cells age, the proportion of membrane fat composed of PC tends to decline in favor of other fats, including sphingomyelin and cholesterol, that don’t work nearly as well as PC. Cells are more likely to die as the amount of PC declines.
Studies have shown using PC in an intravenous form can be effective for treating toxicity of the nervous system, or neurotoxicity. Symptoms of neurotoxicity can include severe fatigue, weakness, chronic muscle aches, memory problems, unclear thinking, confusion, headaches, dizziness, and blurred vision. Some causes of neurotoxity may include environmental toxins and heavy metal poisoning. Well-known illnesses that are beginning to be linked to neurotoxins include Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome. Several of these illnesses have shown benefit from trials of intravenous PC therapy. The way PC works is not exactly understood, but most likely has to do with the fact that toxins seem to have affinity for attaching to fats in the cell membrane. By giving the body a continuous resupply of these membrane fats, the process of toxin attachment to the cell surface can be reversed and the cells can regain their former vitality.
Other beneficial effects of PC therapy from animal studies include improved heart and lung function, increased longevity of life, and increased male fertility. PC also seems to have a blood thinning effect which can be helpful in illnesses such as heart disease. PC is the main ingredient in Plaque-X, a new intravenous therapy which is becoming more popular as a companion to chelation for heart and vascular disease patients. Finally, PC has been noted to be cleansing to the liver and gall bladder, two main sites of the body where toxins can be held and stored.
Intravenous PC treatments are given as a fast infusion over about 5 minutes. A sample of blood is drawn up in a syringe, mixed with PC, then reinfused over 2-3 minutes back into the same vein. This treatment may then be immediately followed by a fast infusion of glutathione, which further helps PC detoxify by working directly on the liver. Please review our handout on Glutathione Therapy. A companion Detoxx Diet is also encouraged for neurotoxicity patients. PC may work best if used on a twice weekly or more basis, similar to the way it was given in the medical studies. It may take from 20-40 treatments before full benefit is seen, but significant improvement is often noted after only a few treatments. Your doctor most likely will monitor blood tests to assess its beneficial effect on your body. It is also important to continue periodic treatments, perhaps once monthly, as PC levels have been found to decline significantly within a few months of stopping therapy.
We at Northampton Wellness Associates are excited to be able to provide this new therapy to our patients. We continue to search the medical horizons for promising and safe new treatments for our patients suffering from chronic illnesses for which conventional medicine may have no answer.
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