Licorice and Liposomes or the Cytotoxicity of nanoparticles.

Our body is not designed to remove nano-size particles. Pomegranate peel helps clump them into larger clusters the body can remove.

The Lipid Nanoparticles used for the MRNA injections will likely be dangerous no matter what is carried in them. They are a risk, not just the chimeric spike genetics. Nanoparticles are too small for our white blood cells to recognize as something foreign needing to be removed. (Khalili Fard, Jafari and Eghbal, 2015) The process of making our cells produce a foreign protein is also likely dangerous no matter what the foreign protein might be as it is attached to the cell surface where it marks the cell as foreign instead of self and then autoimmune reactions are a risk.

Nanoparticles can be a risk to human and marine life especially at lower concentrations. Larger concentrations have a tendency to clump together and the body’s toxin removal systems are more likely to be able to remove the clumps while a few small nanoparticles tend to be absorbed deeper into the body from the lungs or digestive system. Smog is a major source of nanoparticles of heavy metals and other volatile chemicals that increase inflammatory health risks - lengthy section near the end on the topic of smog and things that might counteract the negative chemicals.

Nanotech is also increasingly in use for human cybertechnology and connectivity to the internet. A Systematic Review of Bio-Cyber Interface Technologies and Security Issues for Internet of Bio-Nano Things, (Zafir, et al., 2021) via a comment by 1:40:08, johnlukach on ZuckChan on Huberman?! -- 23 Oct 2023 -- Gigaohm Biological High Resistance Low Noise Information Brief. (Twitch.tv) Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have started a foundation to fund science with a goal of ending all disease. They are working on turning cells into sensing devices that can tell us about the body - picturesquely described as a turning cells into a microscope within the body. J.J. Couey has some things to say about their ideas. *If it were a book, I would call it a page-turner.

Biotech enthusiasts always are optimistic and expect great things rather than complexity that throws a wrench in the works. Enthusiasts of mRNA injection technology have also talked about ending all infections by making a super antigen of all cold/flu virus for example and injecting it in us so our cells make a super antigen of all colds and flus. Thanks, but not for me, no way.

Nano = one-billionth of a meter.

“Just how small is “nano?” In the International System of Units, the prefix "nano" means one-billionth, or 10-9; therefore one nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.” “

• A strand of human DNA  is 2.5 nanometers in diameter

• There are 25,400,000 nanometers in one inch

• A human hair is approximately 80,000- 100,000 nanometers wide

• A single gold atom is about a third of a nanometer in diameter” (nano.gov)

Size of the Nanoscale. (nano.gov)

Nanoparticles of gold and silver are cytotoxic to infectious pathogens and less harmful to the human host, so potentially useful antimicrobial agents.

Nanoparticle preparations of silver, gold and zinc have been found to have antimicrobial properties - dangerous to microbes too. An active phytonutrient in licorice has also been used to make a medicinal nanoparticle pharmaceutical. Pomegranate peel and some other herbal products have been used to help form nanoparticle preparations - lavender and zinc, pomegranate and gold or silver. Nanoparticles of licorice have been found helpful against COVID19. (Zhao, et al., 2021)

A related post ends with “*Time for a licorice pudding break - so delicious, so gut happy.” (The licorice pudding post.) I had not realized pledges can include comments and one was appreciative of the following post - having someone put it in writing that the weird clots are real and something we should be treating preventively was empowering for them - late Dec. 2022. Chronic fibrotic clotting leads to scar tissue if not reversed early enough in traditional inflammatory disease. I include my CoV documents for self care at the end of this post:

Licorice may help adrenal exhaustion, indigestion, and has been used to form nanoparticles with potency against SARS-CoV2.

I shared the last repost from GreenMedInfo because it included licorice among the indigestion remedies. The nutrition screening guide by Dicken Weatherby included licorice as an herbal remedy that can help promote cortisol when at a stage of adrenal exhaustion. It can be unclear when looking at gene allele guidance what is recommended versus not. I have used licorice for years and thought of it as helpful but had stopped with my recent health confusion over salicylates/sulfates and bad bloating and gassy symptoms. Dr. Weatherby suggested digestive symptoms might be from adrenal exhaustion. He recommends 2 licorice capsules three times a day. I restarted at two capsule twice a day and it seems helpful rather than a problem for me.

Licorice candies. Black licorice has real licorice. Red licorice is a cherry flavored product that may not have real licorice. Licorice candy would likely be made with DGL licorice. Photo by The Nix Company on Unsplash

“This misunderstood herb [licorice] has been shown to promote and help sustain healthy normal adrenal hormone activity, optimize cortisol, help balance sex hormones, reduce negative effects of stress on immune function, enhance sugar metabolism for energy production, and help balance mood.” (icahealth.com)

There are two forms available as supplements which are discussed in the following link. I use the non-DGL - the full herb form for my health needs. Deglycyrrhized (DGL) licorice has had the glycyrrhizin removed. It is a medicinal phytonutrient but can add to high blood pressure and edema problems.

“Licorice root has been used for 1,000 years and contains varied compounds that help heartburn, leaky gut, adrenal fatigue and more.” […] “The licorice plant’s namesake and cause of the sweet flavor in the root is the triterpenoid glycyrrhizin. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory, mild natural laxative and expectorant, among other benefits.. 

Glycyrrhizin has been noted to create side effects when overused, such as increased blood pressure, reduced potassium levels, edema (swelling) and other issues. Because this would exclude people with blood pressure, liver and kidney issues, as well as pregnant women, licorice supplements can be standardized to remove this compound — known as deglycyrrhized licorice.” (draxe.com)

Example product: Acid Block Chewable Tablets - Rx Vitamins

DGL licorice is used in a chewable tablet designed for ‘acid indigestion’ that is fairly low in calcium (30 mg) - so safer than standard Rolaids type anti-acids. It includes 250 mg of DGL licorice and 50 mg of Slippery Elm which is mucilaginous and soothing to the gut lining.

Alginic acid and Sodium alginate: “Alginic acid, also called algin, is the polysaccharide form of bio-based materials found in the cell walls of brown algae. Due to its hydrophilic nature, it is usually found in a hydrated form as a viscous gum or in the form of neutralized sodium or calcium salt, which is called alginate.” and “At present, it is approved for use only in combination with antacids. Alginic acid can absorb 200-300 times its weight in water and solutes at low pH yielding a high viscosity, high pH gel. This forms a physical barrier floating in the gastric acid contents, reducing acid reflux into the esophagus. It is useful for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease and indigestion.” (viewable at ScienceDirect)

Acid Block Chewable Tablets - Rx Vitamins - SRP $24.99, 60 chewables

For Temporary Relief of Occasional Indigestion* As a dietary supplement, chew one to two tablets after meals or before retiring. For best results, drink a glass of water after chewing tablets. Serving Size: 1 Chewable Tablet
Amount Per Serving
Calories ... 10
Total Carbohydrate ... 2g
Sugars ... 2g
Calcium Carbonate ... 30mg
Alginic Acid ... 450mg
Licorice (DGL) (Glycyrrhiza glabra root) ... 250mg
(standardized <2% [<10mg] glycrrhizin)
Sodium Alginate ... 50mg
Slippery Elm (bark) ... 50mg
(standardized 20% phytosterols)

Other ingredients: Fruit sugar, proprietary chicory root and mung bean extract, stearic acid.

Contains no: yeast, dairy, eggs, gluten, corn, wheat, starch, artificial colors or preservatives

This product and three other example products are in a new protocol and can be ordered on Fullscript -

Click: Indigestion/Heartburn when you enroll as a client under my account. You can browse the entire catalog and make purchases with a 20% discount. I also copied the information to a document - first draft. (pdf in my Dropbox)

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Liposomes form spontaneously in watery solutions when there are phospholipids present.

Lipid nanoparticles are like an M&M candy, kind of. They have a lipid based shell that protects the interior and may be called liposomes. They are a little like an exosome or virus in that there is a membrane which may contain genetic material. The gene instructions may be able to be taken up by a cell if there are surface proteins that the cell recognizes and allows entry/upload of the contents into the cell’s interior.

Leaves and pomegranate peel have phospholipid content which helps form liposomes. Licorice pudding made with Gumbo file powder likely has liposomes within the creamy texture. Gumbo file is powdered sassafras leaves. Bay leaves may also be adding phospholipid content to a soup broth. Pomegranate peel has hydrolyzable tannins (*humic acid is similar to fulvic acid) that also add to the thickening of soup broth or jam and jellies. Hydrolyzable tannins are healing to the gut in moderation and an irritant in larger amounts.

Excerpt: Liposomes form spontaneously from phospholipids in water.

Phospholipids as a soup or sauce ingredient may increase bioavailability of nutrients by forming liposomes around some of the phytonutrients during the simmering and stirring of the broth. Bay leaves cooked in a soup broth may be adding phospholipids to the soup in addition to the phytonutrient artecanin, potentially active against SARS-CoV-2, (#21 on the list) and other terpenes - and the phospholipids from the leaves may be forming some liposomes within the broth. 

Liposomes coat a water soluble chemical in a bilayer membrane that is absorbed into the body as a lipid instead of being digested further within the watery environment of digestive fluid. Sometimes an oil droplet is encased in a single layer with lipid ends towards the fat and phospho- ends forming the exterior membrane that would be soluble in water. Oil rich seeds and nuts may have lipid droplets encased in a single layer membrane formed from phospholipids and proteins called oleosomes. (image, 14)

Liposomes are formed from Phospholipid bilayers; watery interior. (4)

Oleosome; oil droplet interior, (image, 14)

• The liposome excerpt is from this document which is about a large molecular docking study assessing phytonutrients for SARS-CoV2 potential therapeutics - it has the numbered reference list. Arcatinin from bay leaves and delphinidin from chicory were the two phytonutrients thought to be most drug-like in their properties in addition to being potent against SARS-CoV2 proteins.

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The following excerpt/slight rewrite, is from a post on my earth-ocean.info site about nanoparticles in smog. Heavy metal contaminants found in smog have been found in pharmaceuticals made in regions with smog and less stringent processing requirements. Smog increases respiratory and other health risks. Elderly and chronically ill people are more at risk from bad air quality.

Information about smog and potential negative health risks:

• Causes and Effects of Smog, (conserve-energy-future.com),

• Nanoparticles in polluted air, smoke & nanotechnology products have serious impact on health, Trinity College Dublin, June 11, 2012 (ScienceDaily.com).

• Deadly Air Pollution Can Get Into the Bloodstream, 'Smoking Gun.' Study Suggests, Ian Johnston, April 26, 2017, The Independent, (independent.co.uk).

• Smog induces oxidative stress and microbiota disruption, by Tit-Yee Wong, Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 25:2, April 2017, pp 235-244, (sciencedirect.com).

• Smog Eating Paint Does More Harm Than Good, Harriet Fletcher, Sept. 4, 2017, (ChemistryWorld.com).

Nanomaterials and nanoparticles: Sources and toxicity, Cristina Buzea, Ivan I. Pacheco, and Kevin Robbie. Biointerphases 2, MR17 (2007); https://link.springer.com/article/10.1116/1.2815690. (Buzea, Pacheco, Robbie, 2007)

“What would happen if we could arrange the atoms one by one the way we want them?" - Richard Feynman, credited with the concept of nanotechnology, at a Dec. 1959, American Physical Society meeting. (Buzea, Pacheco, Robbie, 2007)

Nanotechnology involves purposeful creation of tiny particles of various shape and function. The nano sized particles are similar in size to virus and some internal parts of the cell such as the diameter of the DNA spiral. Nanoparticles occur naturally or are created in wildfires or in evaporation of ocean spray. Some may be beneficial to health while other types have been found to be harmful. The very small size (below 1 micrometer) or small size in combination with a thread like shape can make the particles able to enter the body through the lungs or digestive system and then lodge in areas where they can cause damage. Their small size and/or long thread like length makes them difficult for white blood cells to remove as other foreign material can be removed from the body.

The Environmental Protection Agency monitors "particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide" as regulated in the Clean Air Act and has proposed that fine particles below 2.5 micrometers in size also be monitored for the Air Quality Index. (page 26/MR41, Buzea, Pacheco, Robbie, 2007)

Cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancers, lung disease, and autoimmune conditions have been associated with increased levels of nanoparticles in the air. The health damage is often due to an increase in oxidative stress and adequate antioxidant rich vegetables and fruits with nutrients such as the antioxidant vitamin C may be protective against damage caused by nanoparticles. (page 29/MR44, Buzea, Pacheco, Robbie, 2007)

• (For symptoms of vitamin C deficiency & food sources see: Vitamin C, for beautiful skin inside and out.)

Nanoparticles in greater quantities/greater concentration tend to clump together and then may be able to be removed by the white blood cells. Small doses may have increased risk due to their being able to be absorbed into the body instead of being removed by the defense mechanisms of lung tissue or by white blood cells. (If oxidative stress is a primary cause of damage then phytonutrients that increase Nrf2, a protein that helps us increase our own antioxidant production, would also likely be protective.

• For foods and phytonutrients that may help increase Nrf2 see: G10: Nrf2 Promoting Foods. - yes it helps

• Reduction of oxidative damages induced by titanium dioxide nanoparticles correlates with induction of the Nrf2 pathway by GSPE (grape seed procyanidin extract) supplementation in mice - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28780322/

Nrf2 promoting phytonutrients could also help fish -

"The Nrf2-Keap1 system is present not only in mammals, but in fish, suggesting that its roles in cellular defense are conserved throughout evolution among vertebrates." Molecular Mechanisms Activating the Nrf2-Keap1 Pathway of Antioxidant Gene Regulation, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15706085/

Role of the Nrf2-heme oxygenase-1 pathway in silver nanoparticle-mediated cytotoxicity, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22036727/ -- Nrf2 protects against DNA damage and cell death that can be caused by silver nanoparticles.

Too much Nrf2 activation isn't good though, as it can tip the antioxidant balance too far. Silica nanoparticles seem to cause damage by increasing Nrf2 and other pathways. (Guo, et al., 2015)

• Guo C, Xia Y, Niu P, et al. Silica nanoparticles induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction in vitro via activation of the MAPK/Nrf2 pathway and nuclear factor-κB signaling. Int J Nanomedicine. 2015;10:1463-77. Published 2015 Feb 20. doi:10.2147/IJN.S76114

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4345992/

Ion plasma fields - electrically active atoms of oxygen and nitrogen in a gaseous form - are being used experimentally to promote wound healing. It seems to help by (i) modifying the redox-mediated tissue response, (ii) increasing the Nrf2 pathway and (iii) stabilizing the structure of the healing tissue. (Schmidt, Bekeschus, 2018)

• Schmidt, A.; Bekeschus, S. Redox for Repair: Cold Physical Plasmas and Nrf2 Signaling Promoting Wound Healing. Antioxidants 2018, 7, 146. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/7/10/146

• Nanoparticles, human health hazard and regulation. Seaton A, Tran L, Aitken R, Donaldson K., J R Soc Interface. 2009;7 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S119-29. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2843982/

• Filtration of Nanoparticles from Traffic Should Become a Key Criterion of Building Ventilation, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland, Nov. 16, 2017, (phys.org).

• Chapter Two: Natural Sources of Nanoparticles, Nicolae Strambeanu, Laurentiu Demetrovici, and Dan Dragos, from Nanoparticles’ Promises and Risks, M. Lungu et al. (eds.) Springer International Publishing, Switzerland 2015, (pdf). - Dust storms and volcanic smoke are natural sources of nanoparticles which can be carried by wind from as far as Asia across the Pacific Ocean to North America

• Impacts of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on Marine Organisms, (ScienceDirect).

Possible preventative health strategies to potentially reduce risk from smog:

• Having adequate B vitamins which are important for all aspects of metabolism and energy production in the body may help reduce the harmful health effects of breathing smog-laden air: (Could a Daily Vitamin Curb Smog’s Health Effects? webMD.com)

Banning indoor smoking helps a lot. Some states have banned indoor smoking in all public places but some still allow. I’m updating this post in a location that allows it in a section of the building and the odor is obvious to me throughout the main area of the building. It is a health risk that may be worse for people who have deficiencies or metabolic differences in B vitamins such as folate and B 12 which are discussed in more detail later. Other tips for reducing formaldehyde are discussed in this post: formaldehyde-health-risks-and-environmental-and-dietary-sources/

Formaldehyde is a common chemical in polluted or smoky air and folate is needed to help the body detoxify and excrete formaldehyde. It may be an underlying factor in risk for autism development as housing with poor air circulation and/or some types of new vinyl flooring is associated with a greater risk for autism in the family. Other pollutants that may effect children are included in this post: environmental-toxins-and-neurodevelopmental-disorders-in-children/

Genetic screening might be helpful for people living in smog areas -methylation differences can leave people unable to use the common supplemental type of folate called folic acid or vitamin B12. Methylated forms of both are available or both can be found in some typically used foods but if you did have a genetic difference in ability to methylate then it is better to avoid using the supplemental folic acid or un-methylated B12. It is like filling the body with puzzle pieces that fill the receptor spots that are open but which then can’t connect properly to other pieces. The unusable forms compete with any methylated vitamin that was available from dietary sources of B12 or folate that had been eaten that day. (Selfpay, for research purposes only, genetic screening panel that I have used - meaning it isn't approved as a diagnostic tool that you could get your health insurance to cover or doctor to prescribe.) We need to try new strategies if we hope to get different results.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes within guidelines of Fair Use and is not intended to provide individual health guidance.

Reference List

(Khalili Fard, Jafari and Eghbal, 2015) Khalili Fard J, Jafari S, Eghbal MA. A Review of Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Toxicity of Nanoparticles. Adv Pharm Bull. 2015 Nov;5(4):447-54. doi: 10.15171/apb.2015.061. Epub 2015 Nov 30. PMID: 26819915; PMCID: PMC4729339. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4729339/

(Zafir, et al., 2021) Zafar, S., Nazir, M.K., Bakhshi, T., Khattak, H., Khan, S., Bilal, M., Choo, K.R., Kwak7, K., & Sabah, A. (2021). A Systematic Review of Bio-Cyber Interface Technologies and Security Issues for Internet of Bio-Nano Things. IEEE Access, 9, 93529-93566. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/A-Systematic-Review-of-Bio-Cyber-Interface-and-for-Zafar-Nazir/066eee69896bc084d9f68a733c29b94fccc11447

(Zhao, et al., 2021) Zhaoyan Zhao, Yuchen Xiao, Lingqing Xu, Ye Liu, Guanmin Jiang, Wei Wang, Bin Li, Tianchuan Zhu, Qingqin Tan, Lantian Tang, Haibo Zhou, Xi Huang, and Hong Shan, Glycyrrhizic Acid Nanoparticles as Antiviral and Anti-inflammatory Agents for COVID-19 Treatment, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2021 13 (18), 20995-21006, DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c02755 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.1c02755