Tag: copper

Copper: the Great [Trace Mineral]

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Though all trace minerals are important and incremental to health, copper is perhaps the most powerful and versatile one of them all! Copper is the spark plug of the human body that keeps the cells energized and reinvigorated. Many ailments, from amenorrhea, lethargy to Alzheimer’s,  will see improvement quickly by just adding a little bioavailable copper to the diet, daily. Yet many people associate this trace mineral with a negative connotation: copper toxicity. In this article however, you will see that when the right type and dose of copper is added, health problems of all type will see improve dramatically.

But what is copper and what makes it so important?

Copper is that metal that is used as a conductor of electricity — second in effectiveness only to silver. But copper is also used as a trace mineral to electrify the cells of the human body, of course in a more bioavailable form. If there is no copper, there is no life. Magnesium is the fire, but copper is the match that lights and guides the fire! When you awaken from sleep, don’t think cortisol did that — think, copper did that. Cortisol’s active ingredient is copper. Your will power to step out of bed literally contains copper.

But how does it work?

Copper is like a baby that needs to be carried and cared for by its mother. It needs motherly guidance,  else it may go rogue and cause chaos wherever it lay — hence the negative connotation some people associate with copper. This association can be real though.

When copper enters the body, it is first transported by a transport protein called transcuprein (a macroglobulin). This protein is involved in the initial distribution of copper entering the blood from the digestive tract. There is a balance between transcuprein and another transport protein called albumin in blood plasma, creating a proper copper ratio. An imbalance of this ratio may signal disease. There is eventually an exchange between transcuprein to albumin for the eventual carriage and storage to the liver and kidneys.

But the great execution of copper distribution to the organs and tissues throughout the body happens with a large transport protein made in the liver, called apoceruloplasmin. When up to six copper atoms fits into this transport protein for distribution, it is now called ceroluplasmin. In fact, ceroluplasmin carries arguably more than 95% of total copper in healthy human plasma. The rest may be accounted for by other proteins called macroglobulin and albumin.

So how is copper beneficial?

When copper is properly transported by its transport proteins like ceroluplasmin or macroglobulin, it emits a host of benefits:

– Helps build collagen

– Helps build melanin

– Maintains proper nerve and brain function

– Helps create and protect myelin sheath

– Maintains proper immune function

– Maintains proper blood

– Helps burn glucose efficiently and completely

– Helps create ATP (cellular energy)

– Helps dispose of cellular exhaust

– Awakens powerful enzymes

– Decreases excess cholesterol

– Turn saturated fats into monounsaturated fats

– Creates proper hormonal balance

– Helps conserve body water

So what does this all mean for our health?

– Helps build collagen: prevents bone demineralization like osteoporosis, and speeds up wound healing through connective tissues

– Helps build melanin: prevents premature hair graying, eye discoloration and skin discoloration, like vitiligo. Acts as a natural sunscreen and helps prevent sunburn 

– Maintains proper nerve and brain function: May reverse degeneration diseases like Alzheimer’s,  Parkinson’s disease, and even Epilepsy

– Helps create and protect myelin sheath: may slow or reverse multiple sclerosis or any neurological disorder 

– Maintains proper immune function: prevents infections and fights all types of diseases more efficiently

– Maintains proper blood: keeps proper blood pH, prevents BOTH iron anemia and copper anemia. Absorbs iron and prevents toxic iron buildup in tissues

– Helps burn glucose efficiently and completely: may prevent insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and diabetes

– Helps create ATP (cellular energy): energizes the heart muscle, lungs and all other organs, thus preventing lethargy 

– Helps dispose of cellular exhaust: acts as an antioxidant against free radicals and turns hydrogen peroxide back into water through SOD and other enzymatic activities 

– Awakens powerful enzymes: speeds up all cellular activity. Keeps the river of metabolism in constant flow

– Decreases high cholesterol: may reduce excess LDL particles and its cholesterol and may increase HDL particles 

– Turns saturated fats into monounsaturated fats: may reduce complicated fatty acids (stearic acid) into a more simple form (oleic acid), as found in olive oil

– Creates proper hormonal balance: beneficial for those with low testosterone, estrogen dominance, excess cortisol, menstruating and menopausal women and all other hormonal imbalances

– Helps conserve body water: may prevent dehydration and create the right environment for electrolyte balance 

Great! So where can we get copper in our diet?

Like most things in life, if we want the good stuff, we have to search out for it. What makes whole  food vitamin C so powerful? Probably because it contains a copper in enzymatic form called tyrosinase. What makes beef liver, shiitake mushrooms, amla, acerola, sesame seeds, and oysters so powerful and important? Probably because they also are all sources high in copper!

But what depletes copper in the body?

Not only must we be mindful to supply our body with proper copper level, but we must also be mindful not to be depleting our bodies of copper. High zinc intake is legendary for causing copper depletion. Both zinc and copper share the same receptor sites in the gut. Metallothionein — the protein that binds heavy metals in the intestine — binds copper 1000 times more than it does zinc, often said by health expert, Morley Robbins. This means copper can be much more easily lost than zinc can.

But there are other things that deplete copper that we may take for granted, like ascorbic acid, high fructose corn syrup,  things with excess calcium, phosphorus,  manganese, molybdenum and iron. Glyphosate is a very dangerous chelator of copper. So is certain medications,  even over the counter medications,  like antacids and histamine blockers.

If your digestive system or liver is not working properly,  copper status may be compromised. Those with leaky gut, low stomach acid, fatty liver, obstructed bile flow, celiac  disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome should all keep an eye on their copper status! Copper level in the body should average 100 mg — about the size of an American penny.

Furthermore, there are inherited, genetic disorders that may cause a depletion or dysregulation of copper in the body, namely, Menkes disease and its mildest form, occipital horn syndrome. These conditions are rare, and will thus not be discussed here.

But what is this copper toxicity?

Surprisingly,  much of what we think we know about copper toxicity may not be copper toxicity at all. Yes, contaminated water sources from defected copper pipes and copper cookware may instigate what we may know as copper toxicity. But these are rare examples. The main problem with copper toxicity may come from a more sinister source: organ failure — namely, gallbladder stones and obstructed bile flow, that causes all manner of evil. Since excess copper is excreted through bile, it is this obstructed bile flow that causes a backup of excess copper in the liver that should have otherwise been excreted through the alimentary canal. So, to prevent copper toxicity from building up in the liver, do whatever it takes to maintain proper bile flow, thus adding bitters, such as kutki,  bhumi amla, artichoke extract and bitter melon. Tudca, a water soluble bile acid, may help as well.

As is with copper depletion, there is also the antithesis to that: copper overload. Wilson’s disease is perhaps the most popular genetic disorder, that causes copper toxicity to build in the liver and nervous systems. This disorder is not caused by the accumulation of copper in tissues — that is merely the result. The cause of Wilson’s disease is lack of the transport protein ceroluplasmin that holds copper, or the inability of copper to fit into ceroluplasmin. Copper toxicity is also caused, as previously mentioned, by the liver’s inability to expel excess copper into bile for excretion.

So, how should we take copper?

Mother nature knows best. The safest way to take copper is in a complex, that also contains zinc. Though zinc and copper may seem opposing to each other, they also need each other and may actually be monitoring [not opposing] each other to make biological processes work. A ratio of 10:1 or 10:2 zinc to copper may be ideal. The body is very picky about how much copper it needs, and quickly tries to get rid of the excess. Soley supplementing on copper may be risky for those with a compromised gallbladder, since an efficient gallbladder is needed to expel excess copper through bile.

Osteoporosis: The Root-Cause

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

A condition whereby the bone becomes brittle and weak, developing tiny holes, and causing the potentiality of fracture — that is osteoporosis. This is the dis-ease that works silently and stealthily — causing no pain — until suddenly, there is a fracture! I have found osteoporosis, and its forerunner osteopenia, are caused by the most fascinating of reasons. And it’s not a need for more dietary calcium, as is widely believed amongst allopathic practitioners.

Our liver is the singular, largest organ within our body. Its priority is to store, to detoxify and to produce bile. This bile is stored in the gallbladder, ready to be triggered into the bile duct when especially fat is ingested. If the bile provided for fat breakdown is insufficient, then the fat remains undigested, causing a cascade of malfunction initiating in the small intestines, then in other parts of the body. When fat is not absorbed, a mineral like calcium is not absorbed either. This is because the body needs fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin D, to adequately absorb calcium. When there is no fat to absorb vitamin D, then there is no vitamin D to adequately absorb calcium! The blood then seeks its necessary requirements of calcium from the bones. This cascade is the birth of osteopenia!

But what causes the liver to malfunction and minimize its production of bile, thus creating the consequences of undigested fat, inadequate vitamin D metabolism; and the ultimate lack of calcium absorption? It is stones formed — intrahepatic stones and gallstones, made up of (the same) calcium deposits, cholesterol and heavy metals, clogging the liver from performing its natural duty. Among the heavy metals, unbound iron is often the greatest offender.

The elderly tend to be set and stubborn in their ways. A stubbornness towards  taking calcium is no exception. Someone they love and trusts told them calcium was the best thing for bone and osteoporosis. Be patient with them — I too use to think calcium was the Holy Grail of minerals. But of course, it’s not — I was wrong.

Anyone taking high doses of calcium supplements may soon suffer from depression. They will suffer from depression not because of their osteoporosis, but because an increase in calcium decreases magnesium, and that creates a magnesium to calcium ratio imbalance. A magnesium- calcium imbalance is the root of depression. We should be taking magnesium to regulate calcium, and NOT calcium supplements to regulate anything.

But what is bone?

Bone is a living tissue, breaking down and regenerating itself on a microscopic level at any given moment. It is highly made of protein collagen. Protein collagen is soft, but made harder and flexible by calcium and other minerals.  The hardest structure of bone however is mainly made of calcium and phosphorus (phosphate) in a separate mineral combination form called hydroxyapatite. This inorganic hydroxyapatite is what people usually think of when they think of bone.

But even more, what is inside bone?

Bone marrow!

What minerals are in bone marrow?

Vitamin A, vitamin K2, copper, manganese, magnesium, silica, selenium, iron — correct?

Collagen protein and bone marrow are made of many things — the least of which is calcium.

Silica is more important than calcium for bone health, and is needed for bone density, flexibility and even for calcium absorption. Silica, or its more absorbable form — orthosilicic acid — needs stomach acid to work. To those who are taking antacids, beware. Antacids neutralize stomach acid and mineral absorption!

The mineral boron is also well known by science to play an important and critical role in both bone and joint health and proper functioning. Boron activates cells known as osteoblast, which are responsible for creating new material to build new bone.

The main culprit for osteoporosis is an iron toxicity in the liver, wreaking havoc on bile production. Unbound iron may also be leaching into bone marrow and the bone itself, puncturing little holes and making bones brittle. Our diet should only consist of 1 mg of iron per day. Look around the elderly’s kitchen — don’t be surprised to see stuff loaded with enriched wheat flour, which basically means, synthetic iron and synthetic B vitamins. To get rid of this excess iron, you need ionic boron!

Menopausal women are susceptible to osteopenia and osteoporosis due to hormonal levels dropping significantly. Men with low testosterone are also vulnerable to osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Contrary to popular belief, milk may not make the bones strong from calcium. Milk contains phosphorus. Phosphorus competes with calcium for absorption — phosphorus often being in the winner. Be careful with the over-consumption of phosphorus. All forms of sodas are culprit.

So what have we learned? To fix osteoporosis:

We need to fix the liver to jump-start the adequate production of bile again

We need to remove gallstones and intrahepatic stones

We need to stop taking calcium and things that contains synthetic iron such as breakfast cereals.

For liver health and revitalization, an ayurvedic herb called Kutki has been renowned for rejuvenating a dying liver. A bile acid supplement called TUDCA can increase bile flow.

Start taking magnesium (glycinate or malate), vitamin K2-MK7 in the trans form, bioavailable boron (such as Vibrant Health Super Natural Boron), bioavailable silica (such as bamboo extract or Florasil) and something with natural copper in it (like black sesame seeds). These are the critical nutrients needed to build strong bones again. Natural vitamin C contains copper. Acerola or amla are excellent sources.

Though vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption, I recommend obtaining this vitamin naturally, by exposing your bare skin to sunlight around noon — for 20 minutes for light skin people, and up to 1 hour for darker skin. You may also obtain vitamin D from rich food sources, like mushrooms exposed to sunlight, salmon and lichens. Interestingly, taking magnesium will automatically increase your vitamin D absorption — thus calcium absorption!

Restless Leg Syndrome: The Cause and the Correction

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a condition whereby there is an irresistible urge to move the legs due to dis-ease of the legs and feet. This simple act of moving the legs, or similar body part, effectively causes temporary relief of symptoms — an itch you cannot scratch, the feeling of tiny creatures crawling in your legs. The RLS condition most often occur at rest, and often at night, thereby preventing the person from being able to rest or sleep. Medical science has termed this condition as idiopathic, meaning of unknown cause.

I speculate the origin of this dis-ease may reside in the world of liver and gallbladder malfunction, leading to:

– heavy metal toxicity, mainly unbound iron toxicity disguised as iron anemia, caused by a lack of especially bioavailable copper to regulate the iron

– a lack of vitamins, namely certain B vitamins, especially thiamine (B1) and folate (B9),

– a lack of natural vitamin C that would otherwise maintain collagen, prevent bleeding and balance other minerals, and

– a lack of absorbable magnesium to buffer inflammation and toxicity. (Some people have claimed spraying magnesium on their legs and feet gave them almost instant relief.)

This liver and gallbladder malfunction then lead to neurological effects, and disturbances of the magnetic field of the body. Some people have even reported a relief of symptoms just by rubbing dry soap on their calf area and feet. Could it be the ingredients in soap are acting like a buffer to the magnetic disturbances — could it be a grounding effect to static electricity?

When the body becomes acidic, inflamed and heated, this attracts not only cholesterol (oxidized or otherwise), but also pathogens to the area site. The affected area literally becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses or fungi, caused by said toxicity and chronic lack of nutrients.

If you are having restless leg syndrome, then you are most likely suffering from a liver problem to some degree. The liver is not metabolizing the nutrients out of the foods you eat properly, and the bile from the gallbladder is not properly binding toxins to be expelled out of the body. This then leads to a build up of toxins, and clogging of the gallbladder with stranded toxic bile.

Many of us have liver congestion due to the fact that the gallbladder is filled with gallstones — not allowing bile to flow and recycle properly to digest and metabolize our foods.
There are two ayurvedic herb, namely, kutki and guduchi, that heal most liver problems, gallbladder dysfunctionality and even spleen and pancreatic malfunctions.
A defected liver causes a mineral deficiency of every kind. Vitamin B deficiency is surely partly due to the fact that your liver is not working properly.
I recommend taking natural vitamin B found in either of these two forms:
1. Bee pollen
2. RNA/DNA (RNA/DNA is made from brewer’s yeast, which contains natural B vitamins.)

In addition I recommend taking:
P5P: This is the co-enzyme form of vitamin B6 which is involved in more than 200 metabolic processes. It is the most absorbable form of vitamin B6. It also aids with magnesium absorption.
I also suggest taking:
grass-fed butter, which will provide you with natural vitamin B12.

So in summary, your restless leg syndrome may be caused by a defected liver, clogged gallbladder, heavy metal toxicity, iron build up, mineral deficiency, acidity, inflammation, and pathogenic infection. For these, take:

• Kutki for the liver (1/4 teaspoon), or

– Guduchi for the liver (1/4 teaspoon)

• Ionic or chelated copper to help regulate unbound iron (1.5 mg to 2.5 mg)

• Bee pollen for the B vitamins, or

– RNA/DNA for B vitamins

• P5P for extra absorbable B6 (25 – 50 mg)

• Grassfed butter for B12

• Acerola or amla for natural vitamin C

• Magnesium glycinate or malate (400 mg or more), and

• Natural antibiotics, such as olive leaf extract, pau d’arco and oil of oregano to destroy pathogens.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: What It is and What to do About It

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

If you have recently been experiencing gradual pain in your hands and feet, morning stiffness, dry eyes and tingling, numbing sensations (carpel tunnel syndrome) in certain fingers and hands, then you are not simply getting old. You may be experiencing a condition known as Rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is manifested as inflammation of the synovium (synovial membrane containing synovial fluid) in the joints, that acts as a source of lubrication to the joints. White blood cells activated by the adrenals are sent into the synovium for some strange reason. This process causes inflammation and swelling to said spots. Science defines rheumatoid arthritis as an autoimmune disease in which the body is attacking mainly joint areas of the body. But what really is rheumatoid arthritis, and what is causing it?

In truth, rheumatoid arthritis is your adrenal glands attempting to get rid of toxins and primarily unbound iron that is stuck in and hijacking the cells surrounding your joints and other areas! It — RA — is a symmetrical condition that causes internal heat, and pain all over. It can also be accompanied by fever, especially at night. Sitting, relaxing or remaining inactive does not make the condition better; in fact, it makes it worse. People suffering from RA are encouraged to keep mobile, and take hot baths to help alleviate symptoms. RA also displays conditions that may appear to be anemia. But in reality, though it may constitute being a blood problem, it has nothing to do with anemia.

There is a protein connection to Rheumatoid arthritis. Contrary to popular belief, the stomach acid in the human body is rather weak, only capable of digesting max 40 to 45 grams of animal protein per day. It really doesn’t matter if it’s grass-fed or not. So, if you consume a typical serving of steak, only about 15 percent of that will be digested, while the rest is expelled, or stored in the blood vessel walls and connective tissue as collagen fiber. If these storage places are saturated, then the body has no choice but to turn the excess undigested protein into various acids, namely, nitric, sulfuric and phosphoric, similar to auto battery acid. These acids often require minerals to buffer them in preventing the body from becoming too acidic. This mineral requirement depletes the rest of the body of minerals needed elsewhere.

Another acid, usually associated with inflammation of the big toe, a.k.a. gout — may be a hidden conspirator in the onset of RA. That acid is uric acid, made from purines, which in itself is created from the proteins, alcohol and yeast in our bodies. When there is excess uric acid higher than can be excreted by the kidneys through urine, all manner of evil wreak havoc on our biological system. One of those evils may very well be RA. An excellent herb to reduce uric acid comes from ayurveda, called Guduchi. Combining Guduchi with a little ginger will enhance its effectiveness in reducing uric acid.

There is an iron connection to Rheumatoid arthritis. Our body runs on about 25 milligrams of iron every day — ONLY about 1 mg should come from the diet, while the other 24 mg should be recycled by the body, from within the body. There are many breakfast cereals offering 8 to 18 mg of iron filings in just ONE cup serving! We are suffering from iron overload and toxicity from the wrong form of iron, not anemia.

An easy way to manage excess iron in the body from becoming oxidative stress — a fancy term for rust — is to consume natural products that contain bio-available copper. Copper regulates iron in the body. Natural vitamin C found in Amla or acerola is the way to go! Organic bee pollen is another good choice. Pollination does not occur without copper, meaning, bee pollen contains natural copper. Also, grass-finished liver contains both copper and retinol. (Copper needs retinol to be itself metabolized properly). One ounce every other day would be ideal.

An extreme option to getting excess unbound iron out of your body would be to donate one liter of blood every six months to a year, which is equivalent to ridding your body of 250 mg of iron, each session. Still another option would be to use IP-6, on an empty stomach, away from food and supplements. IP-6 a.k.a. phytic acid, will help chelate unbound iron out of your body. This product also chelates other important minerals, such as calcium and zinc. So you would want to replace these minerals with food-rich sources.

There is a toxins and heavy metals connection to Rheumatoid arthritis. For example, glyphosate, which is a herbicide and drying agent sprayed on crops to keep weed away is a potent example. Glyphosate disrupts mineral metabolism in the body, causing a depletion of mineral homeostasis. The usual process to make decaffeinated coffee also causes various toxins to accumulate in the final product, thus many people are developing rheumatoid arthritis from consuming decaffeinated coffee. All of this can be mitigate or even avoided by consuming only organic foods (or certified organic even better) and by avoiding known products — like cigarettes and pharmaceuticals — that are made with or exposed to toxins.

And there are also herbs to cleanse toxins from the body — a most notable one being Punarnava. Literally meaning “the one that renews”, Punarnava helps renew the body and blood from old toxins. Another herb, called Andrographis, can add a cleansing effect to the liver, purging it and reinvigorating it from old toxins.

 

Reversing RA will surely involve managing your blood’s production of acids, namely, nitric-, sulfuric- and phosphoric- acids that developed from a high animal protein/dairy diet. Uric acid is also highly suspected in RA onset, and Guduchi with ginger should be implement to reduce said acid. Removing unbound iron out of the cells through fasting and with herbs such as Turmeric with coconut oil, which actually helps get rid of iron. You also need bio-available copper to manage iron! You also need to watch out for any food or product that may expose you to toxins and heavy metals.  And you need to maintain a healthy colon through daily bowel movements — thus limiting the possibility of any toxic build-up of iron, or any other toxins and heavy metals.

So in summary, to reduce the effects of or prevent rheumatoid arthritis:

– Minimize animal protein intake

– Take Guduchi with ginger to reduce uric acid

– Practice occasional intermittent fasting

– Minimize synthetic iron intake

– Increase bio-available copper with amla, acerola, or organic bee pollen

– Eat one ounce of grass-finished liver EVERY OTHER day

– Donate 1 liter of blood or use IP-6 to chelate unbound iron out of your body

– Take Punarnava to renew the body

– Take Andrographis to renew the liver

– Take small amounts of Turmeric with coconut oil to excrete unbound iron

– Eat organic foods only and avoid any product that may have a hint of toxins or heavy metals

– Move your bowels daily

Note that the six prime herbs listed to alleviate rheumatoid arthritis are: Guduchi, Ginger, Amla, Turmeric, Punarnava and Andrographis.

 

Fibromyalgia: This Pain Must Stop!

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Fibromyalgia — often accompanied with fatigue and irregular sleeping patterns — is a widespread inflammation of muscle tissue throughout various parts of the body, causing pain and tenderness. Currently medical science has classified its origin of unknown cause. In this article, we will examine more closely the possible core cause of fibromyalgia, and natural remedies to alleviate its symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome, which means it’s like putting many puzzle pieces together to conclude what it is. It is not simply diagnosed with a blood test or any single test at current. Totaling up tender-points that trigger pain is the main method used to determine whether or not someone has this condition. Many people who are diagnosed are actually not suffering from this condition. Simply increasing certain minerals, like iodine and selenium, have corrected symptoms that appeared to be fibromyalgia. Simply decongesting the gallbladder has given pain relief to some who taught they had incurable fibromyalgia.

If you have fibromyalgia, it was initiated by some type of stress trauma you may or may not be aware of. That stress is what is keeping a fight or flight hormone on high 24 hours a day, when really it should almost never be on high. That hormone is adrenaline.  That hormone is also dehydrating your body. Your critical concern should be on knowing how to hydrate your tissue cells — not just your body — but specifically tissue cells. Did you know that inside your brain cells consist of about 85% water/fluid? The reason why your cells are dehydrated is because they are corrupted with toxic deposits, such as heavy metals, including unbound iron, making them unable to “breathe”/function properly. A quick way to fix this dehydration problem is by sipping water — not just any water: hot water. One or two sips of hot water every half an hour throughout the day will cleanse and rehydrate your tissue cells. It will also make you lose excess weight safely. (Water should be boiled for 20 minutes, then stored in a stainless thermos to keep/remain hot.)

Additionally, you should be consuming at least four (4) cup of regular — preferably spring — water throughout the day. Stay away from caffeine; and even decaffeinated coffee. Decaffeinated beans can be more acidic than caffeinated. This can create the onset of a host of health problems, including quadrupling the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Instead, drink Ojibwa tea — hot. Research this tea — this alone can significantly improve the conditions created by fibromyalgia.

Turmeric with coconut oil will help remineralize your cells, as well as re-oxygenate them. Turmeric is particularly full of rich macronutrients, such as magnesium, and micronutrients, such as copper, which makes it work so well. You may also want to add magnesium in a concentrated form by taking magnesium malate. This form of magnesium works particularly well for those suffering from fibromyalgia.

There are studies showing CoEnzyme Q10 (or its reduced form, Ubiquinol) reducing levels of lipid peroxidation and pro-oxidative markers in the serum of the blood; in addition to reducing fatigue, pain and soreness. CoEnzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone) and its reduced form, Ubiquinol, are molecules naturally produced in the body, known to have antioxidant effects on a cellular, mitochondrial level. It helps in creating ATP, thus boosting systematic overall energy.

Pau d’arco and olive leaf extract are also two of the most effective natural antibiotics in the world, destroying a plethora of pathogens (beware of the Herxheimer-reaction though, which may last less than one week or up to two weeks).

Consider also getting more vitamin D naturally by exposing much of your skin to the sun at least at the right time. Sunrise or sunset are great times to expose your naked eyes to the sun, while between the hours of 10:30 AM and 3 PM are the best times to expose your skin, including chest and stomach, to the sun’s UV-B rays. Consider also supplementing vitamin D found naturally in mushrooms and lichens.

It will not hurt also to increase your intake of natural vitamin C found particularly in amla (berries) or acerola (berry) — my two favorite sources. Natural vitamin C helps heal inflammation, thereby reducing oxidized LDL cholesterol. Natural vitamin C also contains an enzymatic form of copper, which gives our bodies an electrical boost. Centenarians are known to have high levels of copper.

Avoid aspartame, tobacco (products), fish oil, flaxseed (oil), gluten, chia seeds, iron supplements, high-fructose corn-syrup, ascorbic acid and any type of pharmaceutical medicines (if you can): these all exacerbate fibromyalgia.

So in summary, to help alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia:

– sip hot water

– drink more spring or filtered water

– avoid caffeine and decaffeinated coffee

– drink Ojibwa tea

– take turmeric with coconut oil

– add magnesium malate

– take a good brand of Ubiquinol

– try pau d’arco and olive leaf extract

– find sources of natural vitamin D, including sunlight, mushrooms and lichens

– try natural vitamin C found in amla or acerola berry and

– avoid harmful products.

 

 

 

Epilepsy: Correcting the Tonic-Clonic Seizures

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by “abnormal” electrical discharges in the brain. It is triggered from the brain not getting enough oxygen and disparately agitating the nerves to supply more. Symptoms of the classic epilepsy include sudden, unpredictable or “unprovoked” seizures and other health issues, that occur on a chronic basis. Thus the difference between epilepsy and the many dozens of other seizures is that epilepsy happens repeatedly. To heal epilepsy, high dose vitamin D3 is often recommended to actually seeing visible signs of improvement! The Ketogenic diet has also been used to curb symptoms of epilepsy in children. Here, I will dig deeper, by dealing with what I believe is the core instigator of epilepsy: too much unbound iron in the blood and tissues, too little oxygen in the cells that carry oxygen, too little magnesium and the co-enzyme B vitamins, too little natural sunlight and the benefits of natural sunlight, including vitamin D, a lack of bio-available copper, and especially a lack of sleep.

There are two distinct categories of epilepsy: Generalized onset and Focal onset. Generalized onset occurs apparently all over the brain at once, while focal onset occurs at a specific region, on one side of the brain. The most familiar form of seizure occurs under generalized onset, under the subcategory: tonic-clonic seizure. This is the most extreme form of epilepsy and involves loss of consciousness and  violent muscle contractions.

There is perhaps another category of seizure categorized as Unknown onset, that may initiate outside of the scope of the brain.

Allopathic medicine often treat epilepsy with medication, surgery or neuromodulation (nerve stimulation). In the case of medication, one, two or three anti-epileptic drugs would be initiated if the patient’s condition is receptive to such. In the case of surgery, resective surgery or laser ablation surgery would be implemented to remove a small amount of affected brain tissue or heat brain tissue, respectively. In the case of nerve stimulation, neuromodulation equipment is used to stimulate the vagus nerve in the neck, officially known as vagal/vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), or equipment is used to stimulate the brain directly where seizure occurs, officially known as responsive neurostimulation (RNS). At BIOinvigoRATE however, we always seek to exhaust all natural forms of healing before implementing allopathic methods for chronic diseases!

That free, unbound iron that is not attached to hemoglobin or anything may in fact oxidize and rust vital organs of the body, including the brain. To heal epilepsy, this rogue iron which has built up in all the wrong places and has reached the brain, needs to be eliminated from the body. One such way of doing this would be to donate blood once every six months to one year. Also using IP-6 on an empty stomach, away from food and other nutrients will help chelate and eliminate this form of destructive iron out of the body. By doing this, the brain should automatically have an increase in oxygen. (Be careful with IP-6, as it also chelates other minerals such as zinc and calcium out of the body.)

Another way to decrease iron and inflammation throughout the body is by increasing absorbable magnesium. Seek out leafy greens and other foods high in this mineral. Also supplementing would be beneficial. Magnesium glycinate or malate have a high absorption rate. Also increasing your intake of vitamin B6 in the form of P5P will automatically increase your magnesium absorption. Magnesium is very effective at decreasing whole-body inflammation. P5P will aid magnesium along that effort, along with other sources of natural B vitamins — such as found in bee pollen. It is worth emphasizing that the B vitamins are very effective toward increasing magnesium absorption and additionally, stabilizing neurological disorders!

The sun too is a wonderful healer of epilepsy, providing balance and homeostasis of all the minerals in your body, while increasing the vitamin D level naturally as well, to ideal levels. There are foods also that will aid in increasing your vitamin D level. These include irradiated mushrooms and lichens. Vitamin D turns into a hormone in the body, and is a powerful aid in regulating the immune system — thus regulating your general health to optimum performance.

Other methods that may aid in the healing of epilepsy include earthing and “tree hugging.” Earthing — exposing your bare feet to moist/wet grass (or soil/sand) is said to be very beneficial in balancing your body’s natural electrical charge. The underneath of our feet is very porous — and is susceptible to the benefits of nature and its healing powers, including the earth’s electrons. Tree hugging also rearranges your inner life forces and balance from one organism to the next — that being plant revitalizing life and homeostasis to human.

On speaking of electrical charge, the human body is operated by electricity. The mineral most responsible for this is copper. With the element carbon, and the micro-mineral copper, there is electricity. Knowing how to increase bio-available copper will also increase the electrical power of your body. Oysters and grass-fed/grass-finished liver would be excellent and appropriate sources of copper. Bio-available copper can also be obtained by supplementation. A bioavailable, chelated or ionic copper supplement may be an excellent source, temporarily.

Perhaps the greatest trigger of epilepsy is a lack of proper sleep. A lack of sleep increases stress and malfunctions the vagus nerve — that large nerve responsible for “rest and digest”. There has been one particular herb that has shown promise in utilizing the vagus nerves, thus bettering sleep, thus reducing stress; thus reducing outbreaks of epilepsy. That herb is called blue vervain. (Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, the “anemic” and those on blood thinners should avoid this herb however.)

In summary, epilepsy is not a permanent disease in which there is no hope. You may find relief with the right protocol. Decreasing unbound iron, increasing magnesium with P5P and other (natural-sourced) B vitamins, increasing sunlight and other natural sources of vitamin D, being out in nature, earthing and tree hugging; increasing bio-available copper, and improving sleep quality with the herb blue vervain are the most natural and effective ways I’ve discovered thus far in the quest to fight against epilepsy!

Ovarian Cyst: What Culprit is Behind it?

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Cysts are sac-like fluid formed on the ovary/ovaries. Differing in types and specific location, the most common forms of ovarian cysts are follicle cysts. Cysts in general develop as a result of severe lymph congestion. Example, ovarian cyst form when there is lymphatic congestion in the cysterna chyli vessels located in the abdominal cavity. Cysts are formed to protect the nearby organ/tissue from the acidity caused by the unhealthy toxins produced by foods being digested/metabolized, namely dairy, eggs, vegetable-oils, trans-fats like margarine, and the highly praised omega 3 fatty acids.

If you have a cyst, then most likely there is congestion of your liver and gallbladder with gallstones also. To effect healing your body, we will need to start with what we believe are the most important, to least important.
1. Cleanse your liver and gallbladder.
a. Eat one orange (or more) per day around 9-11 am. This clears excess estrogen. Oranges are most digestible in the mornings at this time period.
b. Use TUDCA after meals. This bile acid will help clear the gallstones/gall-sludge.
c. Take the ayurvedic herb called kutki. It will process healing your liver.

2. Decongest your lymphatic system. Either Red Root or Manjistha are good for unclogging the lymphatic system.

3. Clear your body of excess sulfur. Excess sulfur causes your body to hold unto heavy metals. Molybdenum will clear excess sulfur. Take 6 times the normal dose for about two weeks. (Keep in mind that molybdenum can interfere with copper absorption, so you will need to make sure you’re getting enough copper-rich food, like oysters; or you’re supplementing with ionic copper.)

4. Clear your body of heavy metals. Modified Citrus Pectin will bind to these heavy metals, increasing the body’s ability to eliminate them through the digestive tract.

5. Destroy pathogens. Pau d’arco tea and olive leaf extract are excellent natural antibiotics to destroy pathogens, including resistant bugs.

6. Reduce bloating. P5P — the active co-enzyme form of vitamin B6 — will reduce edema.

7. Clear congestion and infection in your head. A few drops of 3% food-grade hydrogen peroxide in each ear once or twice per year will aid in this effect.

8. Boil water for 20 minutes. Put in thermos, and take hot one or two sips every half an hour, throughout the day, to cleanse your internal organs/tissues on a cellular level.

Ovarian cysts are most often caused by consuming dairy — specifically milk products, such as milk itself, cheese and ice cream. This then thickens mucus. This then clogs the lymphatic system, which is responsible for draining and removing metabolic wastes and dead cellular debris. It’s interesting to note that all milk contains pus.
Sea kelp is good for this condition as well. Also is detoxified iodine temporarily. If you have hyperthyroidism, you should avoid iodine to prevent your thyroid from swelling. In this case, you will want to add more food-sourced selenium and natural vitamin C. To speed up healing, we must emphasize:

1. Avoid dairy. This may prevent ovarian cysts in the first place.

2. Manjistha — as mentioned — is an ayurvedic herb that will unclog the lymphatic system, thereby eventually dissolving the cyst, and other ailments, caused by congestion.

3. Increase your copper intake. Most female problems are initiated by insufficient copper levels. Copper regulates hormonal balance. Good sources of natural copper include organic bee pollen, amla or acerola berry, oysters, and organic grass-fed/ grass-finished liver.

Vitamin D Toxicity

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

You will not overdose on vitamin D from the sun — it just will not happen. The sun regulates not only the cholecalciferol (vitamin D) formed from cholesterol in your skin; but it also regulates everything else: your vitamin A, B, C, E, K, Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium and other minerals and trace minerals. The sun is not just doing one thing — it’s doing and providing many things.

It is dangerous to be taking high doses of vitamin D3 supplements isolated without a complete supplement profile. Even taking  D3/K2 -mk7 is still not good enough. Too much vitamin D3 will automatically lower your vitamin A level. Look up symptoms for a vitamin A deficiency. Furthermore, when vitamin A becomes deficient because of the over-using of vitamin D3, then the stored mineral copper becomes depleted/dysregulated in the liver. Copper is the spark plug of the body. Even some auto-engine spark plugs are made with copper. Even vitamin C is made up partially with an enzymatic copper-carrier, called tyrosinase. Vitamin C, which is most abundant in the adrenal glands, will not work without copper. Thus you have thyroid and hormonal dysfunctionality thinking that it’s an iodine deficiency, when really it’s a copper deficiency, traced back to taking too much supplementation D3. Many women are taking HRT or bio-identical hormones, when all they really need is 2 mg of copper daily.

Taking cod liver oil — which contains both vitamin A and D — will prevent this cascade somewhat because of the retinol (vitamin A) content of cod-liver oil. However, cod liver oil has its own problems, and retinol in supplement form is a poison toxin, that should only be taken for a short period of time, if at all.

Vitamin D is indeed good and necessary for many biological functions — such as helping to regulate the immune system and keeping white blood cells healthy and active. Low vitamin D levels are associated with inflammation and bone pain. I personally supplement with lichens or mushrooms to achieve a healthy vitamin D status. And of course, I try to get as much sunlight as possible and as needed. These are all natural ways to increase vitamin D levels in the body gently, and without trauma.

Some health professionals are saying that the only toxic effect of too much supplement vitamin D is that of raising calcium levels in the blood, leading to a condition known as hypercalcemia! (This also increases the risk of developing kidney stones.) Wait! But there are other issues. The process of turning cholecalciferol into hormone D — a.k.a. vitamin D — is a complicated process, that requires a lot of energy. That energy is spelled: m.a.g.n.e.s.i.u.m. That means a lot of magnesium is being sacrificed to accommodate the complex process of making active vitamin D that is useful to the body. That burning up of magnesium causes calcium to proliferate, since magnesium is needed to regulate calcium.

That complicated process involves turning cholecalciferol (“vitamin D”) into calcidiol by the liver, which is then turned into an active hormone D form, calcitriol, primarily by the kidneys, which then binds to what is called the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which binds to what is known as the retinoid X receptor (RXR), which then binds to vitamin A (retinol). Vitamin D is not really active and is essentially useless without vitamin A.

As previously mentioned, too much vitamin D supplementing reduces retinol (vitamin A) in the liver. Retinol is needed to activate ceruloplasmin — the protein that transports bio-available copper. If retinol is reduced, then bio-available copper is reduced. If copper is reduced, then unbound iron builds up in the blood, since copper controls/regulates iron. If unbound iron builds up, then there is inflammation and rusting of the organs, especially the liver, spleen, stomach, heart and even brain. Don’t believe me?

I ask that anyone who has been taking high doses of vitamin D3 10,000 IU (even with K2-mk7) or more, get a ferritin test. If the test shows over 100, you have a problem. If it shows over 300, you have a serious problem: way too much unbound iron wreaking havoc and causing inflammation, and even autoimmune diseases: the birth of autoimmune diseases!

Should We Be Taking Zinc Supplements?

Posted on by Diogenes II

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Zinc is an important trace mineral that serves both  as an antioxidant and an oxidant. It is also an essential mineral in which you can easily overdose on. If your body is having difficulty absorbing it, then it is no longer a trace mineral, but an irritant poison. Zinc is not one of those trace minerals that does wonders on its own. It serves as a structural support alongside other minerals. It is needed to help boost testosterone, sex drive, brain function; strengthen gut lining and immune system boosting. It is a helper and needs help helping.

Alas! If you have a zinc deficiency you have a mineral deficiency of every mineral in your body. Interestingly, too much zinc also depletes all minerals in your body. Zinc’s role is also a stealer of other minerals.
If you are planning on taking zinc as a supplement, beware. Those sexually active men need zinc; the standard American diet depletes zinc — but too much isolated zinc can in men cause prostate cancer. If you are taking 25 mg to 50 mg of zinc per day, beware. Copper is needed to regulate zinc and too much zinc depletes copper in the liver. This copper loss can lead to liver damage. If you have a zinc deficiency, then you have a zinc deficiency not because you need more zinc but because you need more of every single mineral that the human body requires.

Zinc is one of those mineral that is easy to lose if you are not getting enough from the diet. However, using synthetic supplement is a no no for wisdom’s sake.  I was once taking a supplement called Oysterzinc, made from real oysters obtained in the Atlantic waters on along Ireland’s coastline. But apparently, that supplement is no longer available. Now I’ve found some other zinc supplements — stated to come from real food.  One such supplement is from a company named Food Research. Their zinc product is called Zinc Complex. Another company named Nutrigold has a zinc product called Zinc Gold. Their product statement is: “Plant-based zinc from non-GMO verified, organic foods to support immune, reproductive, cognitive, gastrointestinal, and eye health.” Food Research contains 18.75 mg of zinc per capsule, while Nutrigold contains 15 mg per capsule. Since the recommended dietary intake (RDI) of zinc is only 8 mg  for women and 11 mg for men, I think the milligrams offered on these supplements are too high. So I only supplement trice per week on Food Research Zinc Complex — or the same with Nutrigold; rather than everyday. I think you should too!

So do we need to supplement on zinc? The answer is: unless it is food-based, no! This reality took months for me to personally accept. We should not be taking zinc supplements [avoid zinc oxide and picolinate especially] unless it is derived from food or whole-food supplements. It is one of those trace minerals that needs to form in the body naturally from natural things rather than be taken with artificial components. Taking high doses of isolated zinc can wreak havoc on our body’s metabolic state and deteriorate our body’s general homeostasis. Zinc is a helper trace mineral, that needs help helping!

Magnesium: The King Of Minerals

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

As we age, unbound, free iron increases in our body while magnesium decreases. For healthy living, it should be the other way around. Increased magnesium automatically keeps potassium from depleting. There lies the heart connection. Magnesium is not involved in over 300 enzymatic processes — it’s more like over 3000! If you know about methylation, you will know the power of magnesium, and P5P, and copper, and zinc, and manganese, and molybdenum! The number one thing that is depleting magnesium in health conscious people today is taking too much Vitamin D3. If you are taking D3/K2-MK7 without adding magnesium, it would be better had you not taken the former(s). Vitamin D3 depletes retinol (vitamin A), which then depletes ceruloplasmin (a protein needed to transport copper), which then depletes bioavailable copper, which then causes unbound iron buildup and rusting of the blood and organs — because copper regulates iron. Which then causes a great depletion of magnesium!

I’ve seen statistics estimating that 60 percent of the population is deficient in magnesium; and I’ve seen others raising it to 85 percent. In reality though, I believe the entire human race is deficient in magnesium! Yes, even 100 percent of all people are deficient in this important mineral. Even those eating the healthiest foods in the world are deficient. Even those supplementing in high doses are deficient. Magnesium is very easy to lose, like water vapor is very easy to dissipate. Even stress depletes magnesium. Even thinking too hard depletes magnesium. Heat depletes magnesium in our body. Cold depletes magnesium. Exercise depletes magnesium. A sedentary lifestyle depletes magnesium. Consuming the wrong type of magnesium depletes magnesium. Too much or too little of any other mineral or vitamin depletes magnesium. Inflammation anywhere in the body uses magnesium like gasoline, depleting it. Just being alive depletes magnesium.

Magnesium is so important for so many things and is needed in so many things. Our cell’s mitochondria needs magnesium to work at all . The enzymes used to create energy during ATP, from cellular respiration, need magnesium. Potassium and sodium depend on magnesium. Progesterone and all other hormones need magnesium as a co-factor. If you have low progesterone, you have low magnesium. To even sleep properly, you need magnesium. Serotonin, dopamine and melatonin depend on magnesium.

Supplementing magnesium via vegetables is surprisingly not easy. Supplementing it with chlorophyll is also impractical. What is chlorophyll — what does it look like? If you think it’s that green liquid thing you see in bottles, you are sadly mistaken. Chlorophyll does not come in liquid form! Currently, I am taking magnesium glycinate/malate combination, about 500 mg, per day — because they are among the most absorbable forms of magnesium. If you think something like magnesium oxide is absorbable, you are sadly mistaken. You would be lucky to receive even a rate of 4% absorption.

There are other absorbable forms of magnesium besides glycinate and malate, that can be taken — such as magnesium citrate, found in Natural Calm Canada. I personally would rotate between the different forms of absorbable magnesium rather than stick to just one brand. And there is mineral water. Spring water has an affinity to magnesium— it loves this mineral. Decocting or infusing herbs in hot water extracts the magnesium into the water.

You could get magnesium from such herbs as turmeric, guduchi, fenugreek, eclipta alba, saffron, olive leaf extract and many more. However, herbs are designed to be used sparingly— typically 1/4 teaspoon per day, or less.

People’s bodies are not aged by time, but by a depleting of magnesium (and others), an increase in unbound iron; and the build-up of toxins and heavy metals in our cells and tissues, and even by the oxidation of fatty acids.

But what if you can’t tolerate magnesium?

If you cannot tolerate magnesium, that means you cannot tolerate oxalates, which means you are eating too much high oxalate foods or your liver is producing too much oxalates. We have heard of calcium oxalates — but we hardly ever hear of magnesium oxalates.
Furthermore, if you cannot tolerate too much magnesium, that means you are low in potassium as well, and there is a severe electrolyte imbalance.
Solution simple: AVOID high oxalate foods such as soy, raspberries, nuts, seeds, spinach, swiss chard, okra, beet greens, chocolate, etc.
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INCREASE your potassium with yam, coconut water, etc.
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Take magnesium in more absorbable forms, such as cream, spray and Epsom salt baths, bypassing the liver and kidneys.
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The glycine in magnesium glycinate can aggravate the condition. So consider a more tolerable form, like magnesium malate. The malate, or malic acid, in magnesium malate actually helps neutralize or gently excrete oxalates.
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Drink spring water, which contains natural magnesium.
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Do a liver and kidneys cleans with artichokes and dandelion root.
Suggestions on quality magnesium brands:
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