July 21, 2025 • 20 mins
Looking for quick relief from pain, many of us reach for Tylenol without a second thought. After all, it's marketed as gentle and safe—pediatricians recommend it, dentists prescribe it, and it's available in every drugstore. But there's a reason functional medicine practitioners give this common medication major side-eye.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol's active ingredient) holds a disturbing distinction as the number one cause of acute liver failure in the United States. With over 500 deaths annually and 30,000 hospitalizations each year from overdose—many accidental from routine use—the statistics tell a sobering story. Even taking just two to three times the recommended daily dose over several days can lead to liver failure, while therapeutic doses elevate liver enzymes in 40% of patients.
The problem lies in how your body processes acetaminophen. While most is safely metabolized, 5-10% converts to a highly toxic intermediate called NAPQI. Your body neutralizes this toxin using glutathione—your master antioxidant that protects every cell from oxidative damage. When glutathione stores run low (as they do in people with certain genetic variants, chronic illness, or compromised immune function), NAPQI accumulates, damaging liver cells and mitochondria. Beyond liver concerns, acetaminophen also interferes with neurotransmitters, potentially reducing emotional reactivity and empathy.
Rather than routinely suppressing symptoms, functional medicine offers alternatives that support healing: magnesium, omega-3s, curcumin, and CBD for pain; proper hydration and immune support for fevers; and targeted protocols that address root causes rather than mask discomfort. If you do need Tylenol, consider pairing it with NAC or liposomal glutathione to mitigate depletion, avoid alcohol, and use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time.
Next time pain strikes, ask yourself: am I soothing my body or silencing important signals? Your symptoms are valuable communication, and addressing underlying causes leads to lasting wellness rather than temporary relief at the cost of your liver health.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is
to provide comprehensive,affordable, integrative care
that addresses the root cause ofhealth issues.
At the Hub, the focus is onindividual patient journeys.
I strive to optimize health,vitality and longevity,
fostering a community where eachperson can thrive in body, mind
and spirit.
(00:21):
Today I want to talk aboutsomething that is probably
sitting in your medicine cabinetright now Tylenol, also known
as acetaminophen, also known as.
(00:42):
I'll just pop a few of these tofeel a little bit better.
It's marketed as safe, it'shanded out like candy.
Pediatricians recommend it,dentists prescribe it.
And yet in the world offunctional medicine, tylenol
gets major side eye, and for alot of good reason.
So what is the big deal?
I want to break it down todayso we can talk about it.
(01:03):
So Tylenol is the brand namefor acetaminophen.
If you're outside of the UnitedStates, it's called paracetamol
.
It's not an NSAID likeibuprofen, so it works a little
bit differently.
Mainly, it inhibits COX enzymesin the central nervous system
and alters the brain'sperception of pain and
(01:24):
temperature.
So Tylenol does not reduceinflammation systemically like
NSAIDs, which is why it'sconsidered more gentle on the
gut.
But I'll argue that the labelignores what it does to your
liver, your mitochondria andyour antioxidant systems.
Tylenol is primarilymetabolized in the liver, where
(01:46):
90 to 95% is conjugated viaglucuronidation and sulfation
pathways, but 5 to 10% getsconverted into a highly toxic
intermediate.
It's known as NAPQI orN-acetyl-P-benzoquinone amine.
That's not easy to say fivetimes fast, but here's the catch
(02:06):
.
Glutathione, known as GSH, iswhat your body uses to detoxify
that NAPQI.
Without adequate glutathione,napqi accumulates and it causes
oxidative damage to your livercells and your mitochondria.
So, for plain English, if yourglutathione stores are low which
is almost everybody, tylenolmay increase cellular damage
(02:30):
instead of helping you heal.
All right, if we want to talkabout some numbers and look at
the dark side of acetaminophen,it is the number one cause of
acute liver failure in theUnited States.
Okay, it's responsible for over50% of acute liver
hospitalizations.
That's been published since2005 in hepatology.
500 plus deaths annually arefrom acetaminophen toxicity.
(02:56):
That's posted on the CDC.
And 30,000 hospitalizationseach year in the United States
are from overdose, many of whichare accidental, just due to
chronic use.
Just two to three times arecommended daily dose, taken
over multiple days, can resultin liver failures, and studies
do show that even therapeuticdoses of Tylenol or
(03:17):
acetaminophen can result inelevated liver enzymes in 40% of
patients.
You may not know, but my veryfirst job as a nurse
practitioner was with solidorgan transplant.
We did liver, pancreas andkidneys and let me tell you,
nothing prepares you for theharsh reality of liver failure
until you see it up close.
I was responsible for patientswho were young, relatively
(03:39):
healthy, and whose lives werederailed by toxic liver injury,
many from medications that theythought were harmless.
Tylenol was often part of theirstory.
I watched people battleexcruciating ascites.
That's where your belly blowsup like a balloon.
Jaundice, they were the colorof highlighters.
Encephalopathy was probably theworst that they were showing
(04:03):
and just unrelenting fatigue.
So I did watch families grievewhile waiting for a transplant
that might not come in time.
There is no backup for yourliver in your body.
I saw firsthand how painful andirreversible liver disease
could be, and it was eye-opening.
I feel like that started myjourney of where I am today, and
(04:24):
it's one of the many reasonswhy I transitioned into
functional medicine.
Prevention is so powerful,supporting the liver before
crisis hits even more powerful.
And do you know what else?
Acetaminophen messes with yourneurotransmitters, so
acetaminophen can interfere withthe endocannabinoid system.
If you don't know what thatsystem is.
(04:45):
You may want to go listen to myPICO CBD IV podcast, but it
reduces emotional reactivity anddulling social connection.
I read a study from 2016 thatshowed that people who took
Tylenol were less empatheticwhen witnessing others in
physical or emotional pain, andthat was by Mischkowski in the
(05:09):
social, cognitive and affectiveneuroscience.
So if you feel emotionally flatwhile you're on Tylenol, it's
not in your head, it's yourbiochemistry, and you know.
It didn't stop there.
When I worked in the ICU duringCOVID, I was always questioned
or straight up laughed at fornot reflexively ordering Tylenol
(05:30):
when someone's temperature was99 degrees Fahrenheit.
Instead of suppressing thebody's natural fever response,
I'd have nurses try other things.
You know ice packs under thearms, or I had a lot of tricks
up my sleeve and I was laughedat and you would think I asked
the nurses to chant by moonlight.
But I stood my ground because Iknew even then that a low grade
(05:55):
fever is your body'sintelligent, smart response, not
something to squash at thefirst sign of warmth.
And I knew that every dose ofTylenol came with a cost to
glutathione and detox capacity.
So let's give glutathione itsflowers, shall we this
tripeptide?
It's made of glycine, cysteineand glutamate.
It is your body's masterantioxidant.
(06:16):
It protects every cell in yourbody and supports so many
systems, but Tylenol it burnsthrough your glutathione like
gas on a bonfire.
People with poor detox capacityare at very high risk for
glutathione depletion andoxidative injury.
This includes people with MTHFR, gstm1, or COMT gene variants,
(06:41):
people with chronic illness,mold illness, lyme, autoimmune
diseases, ebv or even adrenaldysfunction, anybody with fatty
liver or alcohol use, anyone onmultiple medications that burden
the liver, and babies, children, the elderly they're all
glutathione deficient by default.
Liver, and you know, babies,children, the elderly they're
(07:03):
all glutathione deficient bydefault.
If you've ever felt run down,battled chronic inflammation or
struggled with detoxification,glutathione may be your body's
unsung hero.
It's known as the masterantioxidant.
It's critical in defending yourcells from oxidative stress and
harmful free radicals, whichcan wreak havoc on your health.
But here's the thing yourbody's ability to produce
(07:25):
glutathione declines with age,with every illness you have or
exposure to environmental toxins, especially heavy metals, and
it leads you more susceptible todamage.
Glutathione plays several vitalroles in the body and I'm going
to talk about those here.
So the first is antioxidantdefense.
It neutralizes free radicals,which are unstable molecules
(07:48):
that damage cells and leads tochronic disease.
It leads you to age andinflammation, so that's very
important.
Next, it plays a big role indetoxifications.
Glutathione binds to toxinsthis could be heavy metals, it
could be alcohol.
You're drinking pollutants andhelps eliminate them through the
liver and the kidneys.
Then we have our immune supportsystem, because glutathione
(08:11):
helps optimize the function ofyour white blood cells.
These are very important infighting infections and diseases
.
Let's not forget mitochondrialhealth.
It supports your mitochondria.
This is the powerhouse of yourcells, enhancing energy
production and overall vitality.
Then there's cell repair andregeneration.
Glutathione promotes the repairof damaged cells, encouraging
(08:35):
faster recovery from physicalstress and injury.
If you don't have adequatelevels of glutathione, your
body's ability to fight offinfection, neutralize toxins and
repair cellular damage can bevery compromised.
This is why maintaining optimalglutathione levels is essential
for long-term health, and thereare many ways to ensure your
(08:55):
body has the amount ofglutathione it needs.
My favorite is the liposomalglutathione.
This is a breakthrough insupplement form, because it
enhances the absorption of theantioxidant.
Traditional oral glutathionesupplements often don't pass
through the digestive systemvery effectively.
A lot of it gets damaged byyour gut, but liposomal versions
(09:17):
are encased in fat-solubleparticles which help them
penetrate your cells moreeffectively.
One of the leading voices in thedevelopment of liposomal
glutathione is Dr Nayam Patel.
He is the author of GlutathioneRevolution.
It's an amazing book whichexplains how liposomal
glutathione offers superiorbioavailability, which means
(09:38):
your body can absorb and use itmuch more effectively than
conventional oral glutathione.
He patented the skin version.
It's transdermal.
You put it on your skin.
He shrunk down the molecules ofglutathione.
It's a game changer forimproving your antioxidant
defenses.
The book is remarkable and Imight be a little bit biased.
(10:01):
Dr Nayan Patel did teach me alot about bioidentical hormones,
but this product is a lifechanger.
So it supports detoxificationand it gives your body the tools
it needs to fight oxidativedamage.
So Orthomolecular does have aliposomal oral version.
That is pretty spectacular, butit Aura Wellness is Dr Nayan
(10:24):
Patel's company.
It is a spray that you put ontwice a day just four sprays,
and it is top of the line.
You can also get a quick boostof glutathione using shots.
It's a great way to go.
The direct injection ofglutathione bypasses the
digestive system entirely andprovides a fast-acting, potent
dose of the antioxidant.
(10:45):
Glutathione shots can be in thefat tissue, it could be in the
muscle and if you're dealingwith chronic fatigue, liver
dysfunction or need an immuneboost, it's great.
At Harmony Hub Health I alsohave glutathione infusions.
This is for the longer-lasting,higher doses.
It's a very popular option.
I love to give it after someozone treatments or after an
(11:06):
immune boosting infusion and itgoes in your IV.
It delivers high concentrationdirectly into your bloodstream.
It allows your body to absorbthe full benefits without the
barriers of the oral supplements, and it is so amazing for
detoxification, for your skinhealth, for supporting
mitochondrial function andimproving your overall wellness.
(11:28):
I love all of these treatmentsfor detoxification.
Glutathione helps bind andeliminate toxins, including
those heavy metals, anyenvironmental pollutants and any
byproducts of cellularmetabolism that need to go.
If your liver is struggling toprocess toxins effectively,
glutathione infusions can assistin boosting liver function and
(11:50):
enhancing that detox.
And again, it's a good skinlightener and helps with skin
pigmentation.
So you're getting that addedbonus by getting that healthy
glow and it can reduce theappearance of fine lines and
wrinkles.
So glutathione is a staple inany anti-aging regimen as well.
And infusions do helprejuvenate your mitochondria, so
(12:10):
it improves cellular energyproduction and boosts your
overall energy levels.
And when you need to give yourimmune system a fighting chance.
Glutathione can help optimizethat white blood cell function.
Remember, if you're dealing withpersistent fatigue or
inflammation, glutathione helpswith reducing oxidative stress.
I know I sound like a brokenrecord, but that oxidative
(12:32):
stress is often the root causeof a lot of fatigue and a lot of
inflammation.
And glutathione is much morethan just an antioxidant.
It's a very critical player inmaintaining overall health,
vitality and longevity.
By incorporating glutathione toyour health routine, whether
through liposomal supplements,shots or infusions, you are
(12:54):
supporting your body's naturaldetoxification, your immune
function and cell repairprocesses.
Now I know I've talked aboutglutathione in many of the other
podcasts and I'm pretty surethere is even a
glutathione-dedicated one.
You can look back to season one.
So there are some functionalmedicine alternatives to Tylenol
.
We'll go back to the main point, and sometimes I do get it.
(13:16):
You know pain is real.
Headaches suck, but there aremore gentle options to support
your body rather than deplete it.
Headaches Many people that haveheadaches.
Peppermint oil is a good one.
How about good old hydration?
Okay, magnesium, glycinate andriboflavin these are all great
to treating headaches that don'tinvolve acetaminophen.
(13:39):
If you're taking Tylenol forjust joint pain.
You know omega-3s is a greatanti-inflammatory.
It's good for inflammation.
Curcumin with biopairing I loveOrthomolecular's Choices, even
Boswellia.
They're all good functionalalternatives for joint pain,
people with muscle aches youknow that's when I bring in the
(14:00):
magnesium malate, the CBDwhether it's good quality CBD
oil or my Pico CBD infusions orjust good old Epsom salt baths.
I know I bring that up toalmost all of my pain patients
and they look at me like if Icould just take a bath and have
my pain gone, I wouldn't need topay your consultation fee.
(14:22):
But then as we incorporate thatinto their treatment plan,
things change right.
Inflammation if you're takingTylenol because you are hurting
from inflammation, that is aband-aid that is not helping you
.
So we do the diet cleanup, wedo my functional medicine
protocols.
We can add in turmeric for that.
(14:44):
And then cryotherapy is anotheramazing one that I hope to have
in the future someday in myclinic is a good cryotherapy,
one of those that your wholebody goes into.
It's amazing.
But sometimes just bolsteringyour immune system and fighting
the inflammation at the core iswhat you need, not a dose of
(15:05):
Tylenol.
And if you have a feversometimes you need better
hydration, better rest.
There's a lot of utility invitamin C, zinc especially NAC
and immune support.
And if you absolutely must takeTylenol, you want to pair it
with NAC or liposomalglutathione.
(15:25):
You want to avoid alcohol, youwant to support your liver with
milk, thistle or dandelion rootand you want to use the lowest
dose for the shortest amount oftime.
And while I'm not a fan ofTylenol in many scenarios, there
are times when it's necessary.
I am not advocating for theroutine use of Tylenol for every
fever or minor ache, but thereare certain clinical situations
(15:48):
that it has its place.
Tylenol can be a lifesaver whenyou need to manage pain or
reduce fever in a case of acuteillness, especially when it's
critical to bring down adangerously high temperature.
Nobody wants to deal withfebrile seizures or
fever-induced seizures, whichcan occur when the body's
temperature spikes rapidly.
In young children, tylenol canhelp stabilize fever and prevent
(16:11):
such severe complications.
But the real issue is when it'soverused or when it's used
inappropriately, leading toliver stress and depleting your
glutathione, which is yourbody's master major antioxidant.
I've had some patients tell methey've been taking Tylenol
around the clock for 10 plusyears and just that subtle
(16:32):
change and they feel so muchbetter and can't believe that it
was this one thing this wholetime.
You know Tylenol is so easy tograb.
You can get it from almost anydrugstore, any store.
But in functional medicine wewanna play the long game.
If you're constantlysuppressing symptoms and you're
not giving your body theopportunity to speak or to heal,
(16:56):
it just turns into a chronicissue.
Glutathione is gold and whenyou deplete it your body becomes
more vulnerable to oxidativedamage, immune dysregulation and
hormone imbalances andespecially chronic fatigue.
So the next time you reach forTylenol you want to ask yourself
am I soothing or silencing?
Okay, at Harmony Hub Health Ido functional lab testing like
(17:20):
HTMA, which is hair tissuemineral analysis, the organic
acids test, known as OATS.
We can even check your serum,glutathione and liver enzymes I
love the three by four geneticsto look at that MTHFR, gst and
COMT to map out unique detoxcapacity and antioxidant
reserves.
Okay, so that's a wrap fortoday's episode where we talked
(17:43):
about Tylenol and its effect onglutathione and why.
This is a classic example ofthat band-aid approach you know
in conventional medicine.
While Tylenol may offertemporary relief, it doesn't
address the root cause of whyyou're needing it in the first
place, constantly relying onTylenol to mask symptoms,
whether it's pain or a fevermight be doing more harm than
(18:04):
good, especially when it'sdepleting your body's
glutathione levels and impairingyour natural detoxification
processes.
In functional medicine, I don'twant to treat the symptoms.
I want to dig deep andunderstand the why behind the
issue.
If you're using Tylenolregularly, it's time to ask
what's the root cause of thispain, what's the root cause of
this discomfort?
(18:25):
And if I have inflammation, anutrient deficiency or something
else, that's causing your bodyto react in that way, why?
Let's look at the why and treatthat.
So next time you reach forTylenol, think about how it's
impacting your body's ability toheal itself and whether there's
a deeper issue to address Ifyou're looking for more
(18:46):
sustainable health solutions.
Functional medicine is allabout root cause resolution, not
just symptom suppression.
Thanks for tuning in and if youfound today's episode helpful,
please be sure to subscribe,like, share with a friend and
leave a review and, as always,feel free to reach out with any
thoughts or questions.
You can find me atwwwharmonyhubhealthcom.
(19:08):
You can email me directly atMichelle, that's M-I-C-H-E-L-E
at HarmonyHubHealthcom, and youcan find me on Facebook at
Harmony Hub Health.
So let's focus on healing fromthe inside out.
The information shared in thispodcast is for educational
purposes only and should notreplace professional medical
(19:29):
advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Always consult with yourhealthcare provider before
making any changes to yourmedication or supplement regimen
, especially if you do haveexisting health conditions.
This episode reflectsfunctional medicine principles
and the personal experiences ofme.
Individual results may vary.
Be safe, thank you.
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is
to provide comprehensive,affordable, integrative care
that addresses the root cause ofhealth issues.
At the Hub, the focus is onindividual patient journeys.
I strive to optimize health,vitality and longevity,
fostering a community where eachperson can thrive in body, mind
and spirit.
(00:21):
Today I want to talk aboutsomething that is probably
sitting in your medicine cabinetright now Tylenol, also known
as acetaminophen, also known as.
(00:42):
I'll just pop a few of these tofeel a little bit better.
It's marketed as safe, it'shanded out like candy.
Pediatricians recommend it,dentists prescribe it.
And yet in the world offunctional medicine, tylenol
gets major side eye, and for alot of good reason.
So what is the big deal?
I want to break it down todayso we can talk about it.
(01:03):
So Tylenol is the brand namefor acetaminophen.
If you're outside of the UnitedStates, it's called paracetamol
.
It's not an NSAID likeibuprofen, so it works a little
bit differently.
Mainly, it inhibits COX enzymesin the central nervous system
and alters the brain'sperception of pain and
(01:24):
temperature.
So Tylenol does not reduceinflammation systemically like
NSAIDs, which is why it'sconsidered more gentle on the
gut.
But I'll argue that the labelignores what it does to your
liver, your mitochondria andyour antioxidant systems.
Tylenol is primarilymetabolized in the liver, where
(01:46):
90 to 95% is conjugated viaglucuronidation and sulfation
pathways, but 5 to 10% getsconverted into a highly toxic
intermediate.
It's known as NAPQI orN-acetyl-P-benzoquinone amine.
That's not easy to say fivetimes fast, but here's the catch
(02:06):
.
Glutathione, known as GSH, iswhat your body uses to detoxify
that NAPQI.
Without adequate glutathione,napqi accumulates and it causes
oxidative damage to your livercells and your mitochondria.
So, for plain English, if yourglutathione stores are low which
is almost everybody, tylenolmay increase cellular damage
(02:30):
instead of helping you heal.
All right, if we want to talkabout some numbers and look at
the dark side of acetaminophen,it is the number one cause of
acute liver failure in theUnited States.
Okay, it's responsible for over50% of acute liver
hospitalizations.
That's been published since2005 in hepatology.
500 plus deaths annually arefrom acetaminophen toxicity.
(02:56):
That's posted on the CDC.
And 30,000 hospitalizationseach year in the United States
are from overdose, many of whichare accidental, just due to
chronic use.
Just two to three times arecommended daily dose, taken
over multiple days, can resultin liver failures, and studies
do show that even therapeuticdoses of Tylenol or
(03:17):
acetaminophen can result inelevated liver enzymes in 40% of
patients.
You may not know, but my veryfirst job as a nurse
practitioner was with solidorgan transplant.
We did liver, pancreas andkidneys and let me tell you,
nothing prepares you for theharsh reality of liver failure
until you see it up close.
I was responsible for patientswho were young, relatively
(03:39):
healthy, and whose lives werederailed by toxic liver injury,
many from medications that theythought were harmless.
Tylenol was often part of theirstory.
I watched people battleexcruciating ascites.
That's where your belly blowsup like a balloon.
Jaundice, they were the colorof highlighters.
Encephalopathy was probably theworst that they were showing
(04:03):
and just unrelenting fatigue.
So I did watch families grievewhile waiting for a transplant
that might not come in time.
There is no backup for yourliver in your body.
I saw firsthand how painful andirreversible liver disease
could be, and it was eye-opening.
I feel like that started myjourney of where I am today, and
(04:24):
it's one of the many reasonswhy I transitioned into
functional medicine.
Prevention is so powerful,supporting the liver before
crisis hits even more powerful.
And do you know what else?
Acetaminophen messes with yourneurotransmitters, so
acetaminophen can interfere withthe endocannabinoid system.
If you don't know what thatsystem is.
(04:45):
You may want to go listen to myPICO CBD IV podcast, but it
reduces emotional reactivity anddulling social connection.
I read a study from 2016 thatshowed that people who took
Tylenol were less empatheticwhen witnessing others in
physical or emotional pain, andthat was by Mischkowski in the
(05:09):
social, cognitive and affectiveneuroscience.
So if you feel emotionally flatwhile you're on Tylenol, it's
not in your head, it's yourbiochemistry, and you know.
It didn't stop there.
When I worked in the ICU duringCOVID, I was always questioned
or straight up laughed at fornot reflexively ordering Tylenol
(05:30):
when someone's temperature was99 degrees Fahrenheit.
Instead of suppressing thebody's natural fever response,
I'd have nurses try other things.
You know ice packs under thearms, or I had a lot of tricks
up my sleeve and I was laughedat and you would think I asked
the nurses to chant by moonlight.
But I stood my ground because Iknew even then that a low grade
(05:55):
fever is your body'sintelligent, smart response, not
something to squash at thefirst sign of warmth.
And I knew that every dose ofTylenol came with a cost to
glutathione and detox capacity.
So let's give glutathione itsflowers, shall we this
tripeptide?
It's made of glycine, cysteineand glutamate.
It is your body's masterantioxidant.
(06:16):
It protects every cell in yourbody and supports so many
systems, but Tylenol it burnsthrough your glutathione like
gas on a bonfire.
People with poor detox capacityare at very high risk for
glutathione depletion andoxidative injury.
This includes people with MTHFR, gstm1, or COMT gene variants,
(06:41):
people with chronic illness,mold illness, lyme, autoimmune
diseases, ebv or even adrenaldysfunction, anybody with fatty
liver or alcohol use, anyone onmultiple medications that burden
the liver, and babies, children, the elderly they're all
glutathione deficient by default.
Liver, and you know, babies,children, the elderly they're
(07:03):
all glutathione deficient bydefault.
If you've ever felt run down,battled chronic inflammation or
struggled with detoxification,glutathione may be your body's
unsung hero.
It's known as the masterantioxidant.
It's critical in defending yourcells from oxidative stress and
harmful free radicals, whichcan wreak havoc on your health.
But here's the thing yourbody's ability to produce
(07:25):
glutathione declines with age,with every illness you have or
exposure to environmental toxins, especially heavy metals, and
it leads you more susceptible todamage.
Glutathione plays several vitalroles in the body and I'm going
to talk about those here.
So the first is antioxidantdefense.
It neutralizes free radicals,which are unstable molecules
(07:48):
that damage cells and leads tochronic disease.
It leads you to age andinflammation, so that's very
important.
Next, it plays a big role indetoxifications.
Glutathione binds to toxinsthis could be heavy metals, it
could be alcohol.
You're drinking pollutants andhelps eliminate them through the
liver and the kidneys.
Then we have our immune supportsystem, because glutathione
(08:11):
helps optimize the function ofyour white blood cells.
These are very important infighting infections and diseases
.
Let's not forget mitochondrialhealth.
It supports your mitochondria.
This is the powerhouse of yourcells, enhancing energy
production and overall vitality.
Then there's cell repair andregeneration.
Glutathione promotes the repairof damaged cells, encouraging
(08:35):
faster recovery from physicalstress and injury.
If you don't have adequatelevels of glutathione, your
body's ability to fight offinfection, neutralize toxins and
repair cellular damage can bevery compromised.
This is why maintaining optimalglutathione levels is essential
for long-term health, and thereare many ways to ensure your
(08:55):
body has the amount ofglutathione it needs.
My favorite is the liposomalglutathione.
This is a breakthrough insupplement form, because it
enhances the absorption of theantioxidant.
Traditional oral glutathionesupplements often don't pass
through the digestive systemvery effectively.
A lot of it gets damaged byyour gut, but liposomal versions
(09:17):
are encased in fat-solubleparticles which help them
penetrate your cells moreeffectively.
One of the leading voices in thedevelopment of liposomal
glutathione is Dr Nayam Patel.
He is the author of GlutathioneRevolution.
It's an amazing book whichexplains how liposomal
glutathione offers superiorbioavailability, which means
(09:38):
your body can absorb and use itmuch more effectively than
conventional oral glutathione.
He patented the skin version.
It's transdermal.
You put it on your skin.
He shrunk down the molecules ofglutathione.
It's a game changer forimproving your antioxidant
defenses.
The book is remarkable and Imight be a little bit biased.
(10:01):
Dr Nayan Patel did teach me alot about bioidentical hormones,
but this product is a lifechanger.
So it supports detoxificationand it gives your body the tools
it needs to fight oxidativedamage.
So Orthomolecular does have aliposomal oral version.
That is pretty spectacular, butit Aura Wellness is Dr Nayan
(10:24):
Patel's company.
It is a spray that you put ontwice a day just four sprays,
and it is top of the line.
You can also get a quick boostof glutathione using shots.
It's a great way to go.
The direct injection ofglutathione bypasses the
digestive system entirely andprovides a fast-acting, potent
dose of the antioxidant.
(10:45):
Glutathione shots can be in thefat tissue, it could be in the
muscle and if you're dealingwith chronic fatigue, liver
dysfunction or need an immuneboost, it's great.
At Harmony Hub Health I alsohave glutathione infusions.
This is for the longer-lasting,higher doses.
It's a very popular option.
I love to give it after someozone treatments or after an
(11:06):
immune boosting infusion and itgoes in your IV.
It delivers high concentrationdirectly into your bloodstream.
It allows your body to absorbthe full benefits without the
barriers of the oral supplements, and it is so amazing for
detoxification, for your skinhealth, for supporting
mitochondrial function andimproving your overall wellness.
(11:28):
I love all of these treatmentsfor detoxification.
Glutathione helps bind andeliminate toxins, including
those heavy metals, anyenvironmental pollutants and any
byproducts of cellularmetabolism that need to go.
If your liver is struggling toprocess toxins effectively,
glutathione infusions can assistin boosting liver function and
(11:50):
enhancing that detox.
And again, it's a good skinlightener and helps with skin
pigmentation.
So you're getting that addedbonus by getting that healthy
glow and it can reduce theappearance of fine lines and
wrinkles.
So glutathione is a staple inany anti-aging regimen as well.
And infusions do helprejuvenate your mitochondria, so
(12:10):
it improves cellular energyproduction and boosts your
overall energy levels.
And when you need to give yourimmune system a fighting chance.
Glutathione can help optimizethat white blood cell function.
Remember, if you're dealing withpersistent fatigue or
inflammation, glutathione helpswith reducing oxidative stress.
I know I sound like a brokenrecord, but that oxidative
(12:32):
stress is often the root causeof a lot of fatigue and a lot of
inflammation.
And glutathione is much morethan just an antioxidant.
It's a very critical player inmaintaining overall health,
vitality and longevity.
By incorporating glutathione toyour health routine, whether
through liposomal supplements,shots or infusions, you are
(12:54):
supporting your body's naturaldetoxification, your immune
function and cell repairprocesses.
Now I know I've talked aboutglutathione in many of the other
podcasts and I'm pretty surethere is even a
glutathione-dedicated one.
You can look back to season one.
So there are some functionalmedicine alternatives to Tylenol
.
We'll go back to the main point, and sometimes I do get it.
(13:16):
You know pain is real.
Headaches suck, but there aremore gentle options to support
your body rather than deplete it.
Headaches Many people that haveheadaches.
Peppermint oil is a good one.
How about good old hydration?
Okay, magnesium, glycinate andriboflavin these are all great
to treating headaches that don'tinvolve acetaminophen.
(13:39):
If you're taking Tylenol forjust joint pain.
You know omega-3s is a greatanti-inflammatory.
It's good for inflammation.
Curcumin with biopairing I loveOrthomolecular's Choices, even
Boswellia.
They're all good functionalalternatives for joint pain,
people with muscle aches youknow that's when I bring in the
(14:00):
magnesium malate, the CBDwhether it's good quality CBD
oil or my Pico CBD infusions orjust good old Epsom salt baths.
I know I bring that up toalmost all of my pain patients
and they look at me like if Icould just take a bath and have
my pain gone, I wouldn't need topay your consultation fee.
(14:22):
But then as we incorporate thatinto their treatment plan,
things change right.
Inflammation if you're takingTylenol because you are hurting
from inflammation, that is aband-aid that is not helping you
.
So we do the diet cleanup, wedo my functional medicine
protocols.
We can add in turmeric for that.
(14:44):
And then cryotherapy is anotheramazing one that I hope to have
in the future someday in myclinic is a good cryotherapy,
one of those that your wholebody goes into.
It's amazing.
But sometimes just bolsteringyour immune system and fighting
the inflammation at the core iswhat you need, not a dose of
(15:05):
Tylenol.
And if you have a feversometimes you need better
hydration, better rest.
There's a lot of utility invitamin C, zinc especially NAC
and immune support.
And if you absolutely must takeTylenol, you want to pair it
with NAC or liposomalglutathione.
(15:25):
You want to avoid alcohol, youwant to support your liver with
milk, thistle or dandelion rootand you want to use the lowest
dose for the shortest amount oftime.
And while I'm not a fan ofTylenol in many scenarios, there
are times when it's necessary.
I am not advocating for theroutine use of Tylenol for every
fever or minor ache, but thereare certain clinical situations
(15:48):
that it has its place.
Tylenol can be a lifesaver whenyou need to manage pain or
reduce fever in a case of acuteillness, especially when it's
critical to bring down adangerously high temperature.
Nobody wants to deal withfebrile seizures or
fever-induced seizures, whichcan occur when the body's
temperature spikes rapidly.
In young children, tylenol canhelp stabilize fever and prevent
(16:11):
such severe complications.
But the real issue is when it'soverused or when it's used
inappropriately, leading toliver stress and depleting your
glutathione, which is yourbody's master major antioxidant.
I've had some patients tell methey've been taking Tylenol
around the clock for 10 plusyears and just that subtle
(16:32):
change and they feel so muchbetter and can't believe that it
was this one thing this wholetime.
You know Tylenol is so easy tograb.
You can get it from almost anydrugstore, any store.
But in functional medicine wewanna play the long game.
If you're constantlysuppressing symptoms and you're
not giving your body theopportunity to speak or to heal,
(16:56):
it just turns into a chronicissue.
Glutathione is gold and whenyou deplete it your body becomes
more vulnerable to oxidativedamage, immune dysregulation and
hormone imbalances andespecially chronic fatigue.
So the next time you reach forTylenol you want to ask yourself
am I soothing or silencing?
Okay, at Harmony Hub Health Ido functional lab testing like
(17:20):
HTMA, which is hair tissuemineral analysis, the organic
acids test, known as OATS.
We can even check your serum,glutathione and liver enzymes I
love the three by four geneticsto look at that MTHFR, gst and
COMT to map out unique detoxcapacity and antioxidant
reserves.
Okay, so that's a wrap fortoday's episode where we talked
(17:43):
about Tylenol and its effect onglutathione and why.
This is a classic example ofthat band-aid approach you know
in conventional medicine.
While Tylenol may offertemporary relief, it doesn't
address the root cause of whyyou're needing it in the first
place, constantly relying onTylenol to mask symptoms,
whether it's pain or a fevermight be doing more harm than
(18:04):
good, especially when it'sdepleting your body's
glutathione levels and impairingyour natural detoxification
processes.
In functional medicine, I don'twant to treat the symptoms.
I want to dig deep andunderstand the why behind the
issue.
If you're using Tylenolregularly, it's time to ask
what's the root cause of thispain, what's the root cause of
this discomfort?
(18:25):
And if I have inflammation, anutrient deficiency or something
else, that's causing your bodyto react in that way, why?
Let's look at the why and treatthat.
So next time you reach forTylenol, think about how it's
impacting your body's ability toheal itself and whether there's
a deeper issue to address Ifyou're looking for more
(18:46):
sustainable health solutions.
Functional medicine is allabout root cause resolution, not
just symptom suppression.
Thanks for tuning in and if youfound today's episode helpful,
please be sure to subscribe,like, share with a friend and
leave a review and, as always,feel free to reach out with any
thoughts or questions.
You can find me atwwwharmonyhubhealthcom.
(19:08):
You can email me directly atMichelle, that's M-I-C-H-E-L-E
at HarmonyHubHealthcom, and youcan find me on Facebook at
Harmony Hub Health.
So let's focus on healing fromthe inside out.
The information shared in thispodcast is for educational
purposes only and should notreplace professional medical
(19:29):
advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Always consult with yourhealthcare provider before
making any changes to yourmedication or supplement regimen
, especially if you do haveexisting health conditions.
This episode reflectsfunctional medicine principles
and the personal experiences ofme.
Individual results may vary.
Be safe, thank you.
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