 Germanium & Silicon
|
|
Both elements share left / right-sided cell receptors and are considered essential to human health. Silicon is
|
usually supplemented in the form of Silica (silicon dioxide) in capsules from horsetail extract, and it can be
|
taken either internally or applied externally as silica gel.
|
Silicon can also be obtained by taking clay internally, where some forms of the clay contain more than 60%
|
SiO2. Possible side effects from the (internal) use of silica gel include skin rash or stomach irritations, while
|
silica from horsetail extract is usually well tolerated, although pustule-like skin changes may develop on rare
|
occasions when very high amounts are supplemented. With clay generally having a constipating effect when
|
used internally (it needs to be taken with sufficient amounts of water), it may benefit those suffering from
|
diarrhea, colitis, and Crohn's disease.
|
|
Silicon (Si) is present in more than one fourth of the earth's crust and is widely distributed in the soil, plants
|
and water. In the body, silicon is found in highest concentrations in connective tissues such as collagen, ten-
|
dons, cartilage, the trachea, blood vessels (particularly the aorta), eyes, dental enamel, bone, hair, and skin,
|
specifically the epidermis. Silicon-deficient diets resulted in retarded growth, poor bone development, and
|
more atherosclerotic arterial plaques in animal studies. Silicon has a similar healing potential on cartilage
|
and joint degeneration as sulfur, so both can be helpful for various types of arthritis.
|
|
Next to Bioflavonoids, silicon (or silica) are helpful in keeping blood vessel walls healthy, and it has been
|
found that silicon concentrations of the thymus, skin, aorta and other arterial vessels decrease with increasing
|
age and with the onset of atherosclerosis, which is reversible to some extent with oral or intravenous doses of
|
silicon. Silica promotes the union of bone after a fracture, in contrast to calcium, which can actually slow
|
the healing process or interfere with it altogether, especially when calcium levels are on the high side.
|
|
Years ago, Germanium (Ge) used to be readily available around the globe, but it was taken off the shelves
|
in many countries after some practitioners, and patients themselves, started using it to treat cancer, and after
|
reports of kidney damage surfaced from using germanium dioxide (not germanium lactate / citrate), follow-
|
ing its supplementation.
|
However, the organo-germanium form, bis-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide (Ge-132), developed by
|
Kazuhiko Asaia of Japan in 1967, is a safe and effective compound that can be used for a variety of medical
|
problems ranging from viral infections to cancer, which require improved oxygenation and immune support.
|
GE-132 is further known to enhance the immune system by stimulating the production of natural killer cells
|
and lymphokines such as IFN (Y), interferon, macrophages and T-suppressor cells.
|
|
Both, germanium and silicon have somewhat of a blood thinning effect: Germanium, by inhibiting calcium and
|
increasing phosphorus, - and silicon, by inhibiting magnesium and increasing sodium retention. Individuals
|
who most benefit from extra germanium (provided its levels are below-normal) are those who would generally
|
also benefit from the blood-thinning effect of alcohol, but for whatever reason will not, or cannot consume any.
|
They include people with either very high VLDL triglyceride levels, low protein and/or phosphorus, very high
|
calcium, and/or those suffering from poor peripheral circulation due to atherosclerosis.
|
|
Blood thinners, omega 3 EFAs, and alcohol (the only "simple carb" exception) increase germanium uptake,
|
while all other simple - but not complex carbs - lower its levels, and as mentioned above, there is typically an
|
inverse relationship between low germanium, and raised VLDL triglycerides.
|
|
With some variation, the same principle of what applies to germanium also applies to silicon. Blood thinners
|
and alcohol increase silicon levels, however, instead of an omega 3 EFA / germanium inter action, there is an
|
omega 6 EFA / silicon interaction, where one helps raise the other (and vice versa), while saturated fats and
|
transfatty acids (but not poly or monounsaturated fats) inhibit silicon. There is also an inverse relationship
|
between low silicon levels and raised LDL cholesterol.
|
|
Calcium is the most potent germanium antagonist, with phosphorus being synergistic with germanium, while
|
magnesium is the most potent silicon antagonist, with sodium being synergistic with silicon. This mutual
|
calcium-germanium and magnesium-silicon antagonism however only takes place at close to normal levels.
|
As calcium levels become excessively high, they will progressively inhibit germanium absorption to a point
|
where supplementation of even larger amounts of germanium will no longer result in increased levels, neither
|
will germanium be able to lower calcium any longer.
|
|
Likewise, excessive magnesium intake will increasingly inhibit silicon absorption, no matter how much silicon
|
is supplemented, and at which point silicon will no longer be able to lower magnesium. Only by raising sodium
|
or phosphorus levels (and decreasing magnesium and/or calcium intake) is it possible to raise germanium or
|
silicon levels again, following the inhibiting action of phosphorus on calcium, and/or sodium on magnesium.
|
|
Provided levels match requirements, Leg Ulcers may respond to (internal) silicon / silica supplementation
|
when used for right-sided occurrences, and germanium supplementation may be used for left-sided cases.
|
Unless caused by an infection or blood clot, some people find Silica Gel helpful for swollen, burning or painful
|
veins when applied topically (rubbed into the skin), although other home remedies such as Vicks VapoRub,
|
Hand Sanitizer Gels used to kill germs, or - in acute cases - plain Honey may be equally effective. ¤
|
