Description
A potent combination of traditional ingredients supporting biotransformation of toxins, environmental pollutants and chelation of heavy metals in the body.
What Does our AcuCleanse Formula™ Contain?
Our AcuCleanse Formula™ is made of:
- Cilantro extract (standardised to 30:1 concentration) – 100mg
- Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) extract (20% Sitosterol) – 100mg
- Milk Thistle extract (80% Silimarin) – 100mg
- Fulvic Acid (50% Shilajit) – 100mg
- Chlorella/Spirulina extract – 100mg
- Scutellaria Root extract (90% baicalin) – 75mg
The capsules are made from cellulose and are suitable for vegans.
Like our other nutraceuticals, our AcuCleanse Formula™ is free from allergens such as gluten, soy, fish, lactose, milk, meat and wheat.
What Is the Recommended Daily Dosage?
We recommend 1 capsule per day or as advised by your healthcare professional. It can be consumed with meals.
What Does the Science Say?
Cilantro
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) may cause controversy in the kitchen but has very exciting medicinal properties:
- For one, it has the power to clear heavy metals, the ability to clear free radicals and protect DNA from oxidative damage [1].
- For another, its intake in the form of cilantro leaf extract can contribute to a powerful resistance to oxidative stress in the kidneys (probably due to decreased concentration of heavy metals) [2].
A study on mice demonstrated prophylactic efficacy of Coriandrum sativum in preventing lead-induced changes in organs [3]. Indeed, lead exposure may result in the decrease of anti-oxidative enzymes (such as SOD, CAT, GSH) and total proteins whilst increasing the activity of enzymes AST, ALT, LPO as well as higher cholesterol levels. Administration of Coriandrum offset these, suggesting its potential to support against oxidative stress.
Stinging Nettle
The Stinging Nettle is, contrary to it’s unpleasant name, a plant that can be very kind. Called Urtica dioica in Latin and belonging to the Urticacea family, it has been used for centuries in traditional medicine in many countries. It is naturally rich in ligands and plant sterols.
There is a wide body of scientific research suggesting Urtica dioica shows significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties [4].
It has also been observed to support chelation of metals. A study on Wistar rats, fed a high mercury and Stinging Nettle diet did not show any symptoms of mercury intoxication or any significant damage to vital organs compared to placebo [5].
Other studies have shown Urtica diocia had promising results as a supporting agent to the treatment of genitourinary diseases and prostate cancer [6].
Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle (Sylimarin marianum) is one of the most researched herbal remedies, having been used for millenia in many traditional and folk medicines for treatment of liver and gall bladder problems.
Sylimarin is renowned for its hepatoprotective, detoxifying, anti-fibrotic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [7].
It can protect the liver from many toxins, including poisonous mushrooms and alcohol poisoning. It can also be a powerful scavenger of free radicals by increasing glutathione concentration in the liver. Milk Thistle is also widely used as support in hepatic liver cirrhosis and NAFL disease.
In animal model studies, Sylimarin showed protective characteristics against hepatotoxic effects of certain medications used in chemotherapy and the treatment of tuberculosis [8].
Many pharmacological studies have accepted Silymarin as a very safe herbal remedy.
Fulvic Acid & Shilajit
Fulvic Acid is a subclass of diverse compounds called humid substances that are produced in the process of organic degradation of the plant matter by microorganisms over thousands of years.
Shilajit is a substance found in the Himalayas and has been used as a medicinal remedy by Ayurveda and other traditional medicines. It is a potent antioxidant, heavy metals scavenger and immune system modulator and can have anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive and hypoglycemic effects [9]. Historically, it has been used as a treatment for genitourinary problems, jaundice, digestive issues, enlarged spleen, epilepsy, chronic bronchitis, anemia and many other disorders.
A German study of 14 healthy volunteers taking fulvic acid orally for 35 days revealed profound positive changes in the gut microbiota, and a particularly significant improvement in the colonic fermentation process [10].
Many other studies suggest Shilajit’s potential in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other cognitive ailments. Patient’s with AD supplementing Shilajit noticed an improvement in cognition (it turns out Shilajit was able to block the tau-proteins self-aggregation into pathological philaments, thus slowing down the progress of cognitive decline) [11].
Shilajit is also one of the best sources of minerals and trace elements necessary for the normal function of the body’s processes. Absorbency of trace elements from Shilajit is more efficient than absorption from most known sources because of its ability to increase permeability of the cells’ membranes.
Chlorella & Spirulina
Chlorella is a green, unicellular freshwater microalga. It is rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. Research studies have demonstrated Chlorella harbors many health benefits, including:
- Anti-bacterial & anti-viral support
- Antioxidative properties
- Balancing of the immune system
- Chelation of metals (including arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury)
A study on rats illustrates the chelating properties of Chlorella, where rats fed a high cadmium and Chlorella diet were able to excrete the metal in feces and urine more efficiently in comparison to placebo (Chlorella increased the synthesis of MT-like binding proteins in the cell to stimulate metal excretion and increase synthesis of metallothionein the liver and kidneys) [12].
Other clinical trials suggest that the intake of Chlorella could be beneficial to conditions such as ameliorating hyperlipidemia, hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress and the reduction of chemotherapy-induced toxicity.
Spirulina, also known as Arhtrospira, is a blu-green alga consisting of microscopic and filamentous cyanobacteria (abundant in fresh and marine waters). Spirulina is very easy to digest and has been used as a food source in many coastal communities. Similarly to Chlorella, it can also support the chelation of metals (e.g. arsenic [14]) and is therefore often combined together to co-enhance their beneficial properties.
Many clinical studies have confirmed Spirulina’s potential benefits in the treatment of allergies, chronic fatigue syndrome and neurodegeneration [15].
Scutellaria baicalensis
Skullcap (Scutellariabaicalensis Georgi) is an herb with very potent anti-inflammatory properties. It has since long been extensively applied in Traditional Chinese Medicine as an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory remedy.
Baicalein, one of the many active alkaloids of Scutellaria baicalensis showed a positive effect on liver function affected by exposure to toxicants like Acetaminophen in a study on mice [16]. The study confirmed that pre-treatment with baicalein effectively alleviated Acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury and inflammatory responses
The antioxidant and the anti-inflammatory properties of baicalein were related to the regulation of the MAPK and JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathways. In addition, baicalein also mediated Acetaminophen-induced autophagy via the AKT/mTOR signalling pathways.
Scientific References & Relevant Research
[1] Harsha SN, Anilakumar KR. In vitro free radical scavenging and DNA damage protective property of Coriandrum sativum L. leaves extract. J Food Sci Technol. 2014;51(8):1533-9.
“The extracts of Coriandrum sativum leaves showed metal chelating power, with IC50 values, 368.12 μg/ml where as that of standard EDTA was 26.7 μg/ml”
[2] Nishio R, Tamano H, Morioka H, Takeuchi A, Takeda A. Intake of Heated Leaf Extract of Coriandrum sativum Contributes to Resistance to Oxidative Stress via Decreases in Heavy Metal Concentrations in the Kidney. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2019;74(2):204-209.
[3] Sharma V, Kansal L, Sharma A. Prophylactic efficacy of Coriandrum sativum (Coriander) on testis of lead-exposed mice. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010;136(3):337-54.
[4] Kanter M, Coskun O, Budancamanak M. Hepatoprotective effects of Nigella sativa L and Urtica dioica L on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems and liver enzymes in carbon tetrachloride-treated rats. World J Gastroenterol. 2005;11(42):6684-8.
[5] Siouda W, Abdennour C. Can Urtica dioica supplementation attenuate mercury intoxication in Wistar rats?. Vet World. 2015;8(12):1458-65.
[6] Konrad L, Müller HH, Lenz C, Laubinger H, Aumüller G, Lichius JJ. Antiproliferative effect on human prostate cancer cells by a stinging nettle root (Urtica dioica) extract. Planta Med. 2000;66(1):44-7.
[7] Karimi G, Vahabzadeh M, Lari P, Rashedinia M, Moshiri M. “Silymarin”, a promising pharmacological agent for treatment of diseases. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2011;14(4):308-17.
[8] Freitag AF, Cardia GF, Da rocha BA, et al. Hepatoprotective Effect of Silymarin (Silybum marianum) on Hepatotoxicity Induced by Acetaminophen in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:538317.
[9] Winkler J, Ghosh S. Therapeutic Potential of Fulvic Acid in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Diabetes. J Diabetes Res. 2018;2018:5391014.
[10] Swidsinski A, Dörffel Y, Loening-baucke V, et al. Impact of humic acids on the colonic microbiome in healthy volunteers. World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(5):885-890.
[11] Carrasco-gallardo C, Guzmán L, Maccioni RB. Shilajit: a natural phytocomplex with potential procognitive activity. Int J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;2012:674142.
[12] Shim JY, Om AS. Chlorella Vulgaris has preventive effect on cadmium induced liver damage in rats. Mol. Cell Toxical. 2008;4(2):138-143.
[13] Sears ME. Chelation: harnessing and enhancing heavy metal detoxification–a review. ScientificWorldJournal. 2013;2013:219840.
[14] Misbahuddin M, Islam AZ, Khandker S, Ifthaker-al-mahmud, Islam N, Anjumanara . Efficacy of spirulina extract plus zinc in patients of chronic arsenic poisoning: a randomized placebo-controlled study. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2006;44(2):135-41.
[15] Karkos PD, Leong SC, Karkos CD, Sivaji N, Assimakopoulos DA. Spirulina in clinical practice: evidence-based human applications. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:531053.
[16] Zhou HC, Wang H, Shi K, Li JM, Zong Y, Du R. Hepatoprotective Effect of Baicalein Against Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice.Molecules. 2018;24(1):131. Published 2018 Dec 31. doi:10.3390/molecules24010131
