SIBO and Hydrogen Sulfide with Dr Greg Nigh

Dr Greg Nigh co-founded the Immersion Health Centre in 2014
after completing the Naturopathic Doctor program, and the Master
of Science and Oriental Medicine Program.  During his early
years of work, he developed his interest and passion for
researching and implementing alternative cancer therapies. 
Dr Nigh has spoken several times at the annual convention of the
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and the National
Conference of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians
on cancer cell metabolism.  Dr Nigh is a prolific reader,
researcher, and writer and has also contributed a chapter to the
upcoming two-volume Foundations of Naturopathic Medicine
textbook.


 


Recently Dr Nigh and Dr Jacobi both presented on the SIBO SOS
Summit.  Dr Jacobi loved Dr Nigh’s talk on hydrogen sulfide
and has invited him on the show to discuss sulfur metabolism and
his unique ideas about hydrogen sulfide and sulfur imbalances.


 


Topics discussed include:


How did Dr Nigh come to specialise in sulfur?

All about sulfur metabolism.

Sulfur chelates so well that it can get bound up in our
bodies with toxic things.

The GAPS diet, how it has high sulfur content, and why some
patients may not feel well on the GAPS diet.

Sulfur issues as the ‘canary in the coalmine’ of toxicity
issues in general.

How the demand for sulfur is higher due to increased exposure
to pollutants in modern life, and the impact this has on sulfur
binding throughout the body and not just in phase 2 liver
detoxification.

How does endogenous sulfur processing, and sulfur production
and reduction by certain gut bacteria, connect?

Sulfur exposure is all dietary, and is metabolised to sulfate
in the body.

Sulfate is required in the body in a constant supply, and
sometimes the metabolism of sulfur to sulfate is hindered.

Heparan sulfate - every surface is in the body is lined with
this.

Elements that sulfur is used to build in the body.

The primary, and alternative, pathway/s of sulfate
production.

Cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) pathway, what it generates
(hydrogen sulfide)

PAPS - the activated form of sulfate, and the pathways the
body uses to get it.

When people are reactive to sulfur or sulfur containing foods
or thiols, they are not having an efficient process that ends up
in PAPS - what are they reacting to in the pathway?

If people cannot get the end product PAPS, then people can
overgrow the sulfur fixing bacteria so that they produce higher
levels of hydrogen sulfide and sulfide, which can be directly
oxidised into sulfate by the mitochondria in the body.

Dr Nigh’s view is that the overgrowth of hydrogen sulfide
bacteria can be seen as an adaptive overgrowth.

How to reduce desulfovibrio with diet.

Reasons why sulfate production can be shut down, one being
glyphosate - a direct hit to sulfate production in the body,
chelation of minerals that are needed for sulfur production,
interference of specific amino acids involved in the sulfur
cycle, and more.

The impact of glyphosate on the sulfur production in the body
is profound.

Glyphosate - a toxic herbicide, the active ingredient in
roundup.

Glyphosate chelates molybdenum.

We need tiny amounts of it, and if we only need tiny
amounts it does not take much to chelate and use it up.



Dr Nigh’s view on testing.

Patient symptom red flags that point to sulfur issues, for
example:

Hydrogen sulfide is a vasodilator, so has links to
orthostatic hypotension.

Any gut issues - warrants sulfur issue suspicion.

Alcohol sensitivity

Red, hot presentation

Brain fog



Histamine and sulfur overlaps.

Histamine issue symptoms.

Dr Nigh’s protocols for enhancing sulfate production from
sulfide.

Taking the patient off sulfur foods for a week then
gradual reintroduction.

Detoxification protocols

Infrared sauna



Molybdenum supplementation

Biotics Mo-Zyme Forte - food based tablet based on
sprouted lentils

150mcg molybdenum

Tablet chewed 2 times per day



For those with bloating or gut issues

Biotics

Bio HPF - bismuth, demulcents, and others.

Bismuth reduces hydrogen sulfide production in
the gut.



Butyrate

The most underrated gut nutrient that there is.

Biotics

Butyric-Cal-Mag



Apax EnteroVite



Digestive enzyme

Hydroxocobalamin injections or sublingually to lower
hydrogen sulfide in the blood.

Zinc acetate as a binder for hydrogen sulfide

Glyphosate strongly chelates zinc.



Detox support, coffee enemas, colonics, epsom salt
baths (magnesium sulfate) - increasing sulfate
transdermally, adrenal support if indicated

Epsom salts (4 cups per bath) - a way to get sulfate
in without the reactivity of digestion.

Sensory deprivation tank option.



Dr Yarnell’s low sulfur diet

Thiols and Dr Nigh’s opinion on their reactivity for
people.

Red meat is the highest dietary source of sulfur and
yet does not seem to have many people reacting to it,
whereas garlic does. Why is this?

Foods to watch - eggs, onion, kale, garlic, cabbage,
brussel sprouts, cabbage, brassica family.

Kale accumulates the heavy metal thallium (from
waste-water used for crops).

Do Allicin extracts still elicit issues in people
with sulfur issues?

Highly important to include any sulfur food items
that are tolerated for the sulfur content (required by
body).

Dr Nigh’s sulfur protocol and his success with SIBO
patients.

What is the connection between Dr Nigh’s success with
methane dominant SIBO clients and the sulfur protocol?

How might glyphosate toxicity play into this?



Methanobrevibacter smithii - not a pathogen, why?

SIBO bacteria - why do we only grow certain bacteria?

Dr Nigh’s sulfur metabolism nuggets.







 


Resources


Dr Greg Nigh

Immersion Health Portland, Oregon

drnigh@immersionhealthpdx.com



SIBO SOS Summit

Dr Yarnell

Naturopathic Foundations of Gastrointestinal Diseases?



Foundations of Naturopathic Medicine

Biotics Research

Mo-Zyme Forte

Bio HPF



Apax EnteroVite