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The Enterohepatic Cycle: A Key to Detoxification in Horses

Updated: Oct 9

The health of our horses is closely tied to the complex processes within their bodies, particularly their detoxification mechanisms. One crucial system playing a significant role in this is the enterohepatic cycle, also known as the liver-gut cycle. Understanding this cycle is essential for anyone looking to support their horse's health, especially when using natural supplements and herbs.


What is the Enterohepatic Cycle?


The enterohepatic cycle is a brilliantly designed system by nature that ensures horses can thrive even in challenging environments by optimizing the utilization of absorbed nutrients. This recycling process helps maximize available resources, reduce waste, and retain vital nutrients.

The process begins in the gut, where various nutrients from food are absorbed into the bloodstream. These nutrients travel through veins along the digestive system and eventually accumulate in the portal vein, which leads directly to the liver. The liver acts as a "gatekeeper," deciding what enters the body and what is held back. If certain nutrients are not immediately needed or are not in a usable form, the liver releases them into the bile ducts and bile, returning them to the small intestine. There, they are reabsorbed, sent back to the liver, and the cycle begins again. After several rounds, the unused nutrients are eventually excreted through the feces.

This recycling process is not only efficient but also essential. For example, bile salts crucial for fat digestion are reused rather than being produced anew each time. This system ensures that the horse makes the most of limited nutrients, especially in nutrient-poor environments.


The Double-Edged Sword: Toxins in the Enterohepatic Cycle


As efficient as this system is, it also has a downside: it does not distinguish between beneficial nutrients and harmful toxins. Medications, mycotoxins, and other harmful substances entering the body through food can also become part of the enterohepatic cycle. When the liver is overloaded or there is an excessive amount of toxins, these harmful substances can continuously circulate between the liver and the gut, placing a significant burden on the liver.

Certain medications, such as phenylbutazone (a painkiller) or theophylline (a bronchodilator), are designed to remain in the body longer through this cycle. However, this extended presence also increases the liver's burden. Additionally, heavy metals are known to linger particularly long in this cycle, making their elimination challenging.


Supporting Detoxification: The Role of Toxin Binders


If you intend to support your horse's liver and kidneys with natural herbs, understanding the enterohepatic cycle is crucial. These herbs help mobilize stored toxins, which then enter the liver-gut cycle. To prevent these toxins from re-entering the cycle and overburdening the body, the use of a toxin binder is highly beneficial.

Toxin binders work by binding toxins in the gut and facilitating their excretion through feces rather than allowing them to re-enter the liver. In cases of suspected or diagnosed heavy metal exposure, algae are often used as toxin binders to effectively remove these metals from the liver-gut cycle.

Even without active liver and kidney support, using a toxin binder can relieve the liver by preventing toxins from re-entering the cycle.


Herbitality's Recommendation: The Complete Set of LiverCleanse, KidneyCleanse, and Toxibind


At Herbitality, we recommend not only Toxibind but also the complete set consisting of LiverCleanse, KidneyCleanse, and Toxibind. This comprehensive set supports your horse's detoxification on multiple levels:


  • LiverCleanse: Promotes liver detoxification and supports its natural cleansing processes.

  • KidneyCleanse: Helps support kidney function and the elimination of toxins.

  • Toxibind: Binds toxins in the gut and promotes their safe excretion from the body.


This combination ensures that detoxification processes are optimally supported and prevents toxins from remaining in the circulation. To ensure that your horse does not lose important nutrients during detoxification, it is crucial to provide a high-quality mineral supplement. A high-quality mineral supplement—rather than a balancer—should ideally be part of your horse’s diet at all times, not just during detoxification. This practice helps maintain optimal health and supports the body's natural processes. Get your Set here!


Conclusion


The enterohepatic cycle is a remarkable system designed to maximize nutrient utilization. However, it also highlights the importance of thoughtful feeding and detoxification practices. By understanding this cycle and using our complete set of LiverCleanse, KidneyCleanse, and Toxibind, you can better support your horse’s health and ensure that toxins are effectively removed from the body without impairing the absorption of essential nutrients.

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