From the January 2008 Idaho Observer:


Aluminum Toxicity: A misdiagnosed epidemic (Part 2)
by Ingri Cassel

Aluminum, which appears as #6 on the periodic table, is a pervasive metal that is present in the air we breathe through our military’s "chemtrail" project, in public water supplies through the use of aluminum sulfate as a flocculating agent, in medications/vaccines, in toiletries, in the soil and, therefore, in our food and drinks (fruit juice pouches and soft drinks).

The problems associated with aluminum toxicity have been known for a number of years as evidenced by the January 15, 2008 posting on the internet of the article "Aluminum Toxicity in Infants and Children" in Pediatrics magazine, March 1996. The article cites the high amounts of aluminum premature infants on intravenous therapy and infant formula receive as well as the high levels of aluminum in soy-based formula (500-2400 µg/L).

Much of the article focuses on the use of aluminum-containing phosphate binders that are administered to children with chronic renal failure. The article concludes that many infants may show signs of aluminum toxicity such as encephalopathy (brain swelling disorders) and fracturing osteomalacia (bone softening due to poor mineral absorption) and further recommends elimination of the use of aluminum in infant medications and formula. However, it is clear from recent research that this advice has not only been ignored but the amount of aluminum infants (and the rest of us) are exposed to has actually increased over the last decade since the report was published.

Aluminum toxicity is generally associated with memory loss that can progress to Alzheimer’s if aluminum intake isn’t reduced and the existing aluminum stored in the body gradually eliminated. But the condition affecting the brain that is literally epidemic and is directly associated with aluminum toxicity is "hypersensitivity." The most common symptoms are heightened sensitivity to light or darkness; abnormal sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures; an aversion to noise, touch, movement, odors, etc.; unexplained feelings of apprehension or uneasiness; feelings of inferiority, embarrassment or shame and; feelings of irritability, agitation or annoyance. While most of us experience these feelings at times, it is when these feelings are constant and not resolved by counseling that aluminum toxicity is the likely culprit.

The problem begins in the womb. Because aluminum crosses the placenta, babies can be exposed even before they are born. Some are born with serious brain disorders that can be directly attributed to the mother’s diet or habits. When hypersensitive infants appear to be healthy, their symptoms are diagnosed as colic. Aluminum also enters breast milk, so even the nursing infant is at risk.

Depending upon the level of toxicity in their mothers’ diets, these children are born mentally handicapped. These are the children who display hyperactivity, attention deficits and aggressive behaviors from a very early age. If their mothers are not educated about the dangers of aluminum, these children will continue to be given aluminum-containing products, leading to more frequent temper tantrums and outbursts of violence.

For clarity on the physical symptoms associated with aluminum toxicity, the physical side-effects are breathing disorders, bowel and urinary dysfunction (incontinence), cardiac complications (including congestive heart failure), fatigue (extreme exhaustion), eye disorders, ear disorders (including hearing loss), imbalance, immune dysfunction, motor tics (involuntary muscle twitches), muscle weakness, pancreas and thyroid disorders, Parkinsonian symptoms, sleep disorders, rickets and osteoporosis (aluminum blocks calcium assimilation.)

There are many methods for removing aluminum from the body. Some have an excellent track record and are less expensive than methods commonly used by the medical community, and others that have serious toxic side effects, such as the intravenous administration of Deferoxamine. Most of these methods were covered in the Sept., 2007, Back to Basics column, "How to remove mercury and other heavy metals from your body – safely and inexpensively".

Since this topic is so huge in my mind and is so critically pervasive throughout our population—from prenates to seniors—we have decided to continue this discussion next month with a focus on herbs for metal detoxification and the importance of modified fasting and cleansing regimens.