A brief note from the author: this article was created to share what I learned from digging into the scientific research of this gland, as well as my experience & logic behind using the pineal decalcification methods described. It was also product of my own frustration seeing an immense amount of misinformation throughout the internet on the topic.
What is the Pineal Gland?
The pineal gland is a pinecone-shaped endocrine gland located in anatomical center of brains, about the size of a grain of rice. It is the least understood gland of the endocrine system, and was also the last one to be discovered. It plays many major roles in our physical & mental well-being, far beyond just controlling our sleep and wake cycles.
The pineal gland has been regarded as spiritually sacred by many ancient cultures and philosophical minds, referred to as the "third eye", "eye of shiva", "eye of horus", and "seat of the soul." Some researchers estimate over 60% of people have a calcified pineal gland, which is related to various environmental toxins accumulating there, which disrupts it's function. Read on to find out how to remove those toxins, and decalcify the gland!
What does the Pineal Gland do in the body?
The main thing the pineal gland is known for is releasing melatonin in the brain, which controls our sleep & wake cycles. However, people don't realize just how special of a molecule melatonin is!
Melatonin has been shown to:
demonstrate strong antioxidant and neuroprotective properties [1]
be present in every single cell of the body [2]
regulate nighttime brain detoxification through the glymphatic system [2]
be an anti-viral, anti-parasitic, and anti-fungal agent [3]
exert anti-aging properties [4]
protect against many environmental toxins such as mercury, lead, and arsenic [5, 6, 7]
a very strong anti-cancer agent, both by itself and when paired with chemotherapy [8]
improve mitochondria function, which enhances cellular energy production [1]
and much much more.
The pineal gland has also been shown to release DMT, a psychedelic compound. [2] This compound is associated with mystical & near-death experiences, and is the main psychoactive compound in ayahuasca, the South American hallucinogenic brew. The pineal also releases dozens of other hormones such as serotonin, 5-HTP, norepinephrine, tryptophan, pinoline, various peptide hormones [2].
How the pineal gland works: an electromagnetic antenna? The center of light in the brain?
The pineal gland is actually a composite of crystals, known as calcite crystals. They are piezoelectric, which means they respond to mechanical stress (such as through breathing and movement of CSF) by creating electromagnetic fields, and vice versa. It is also capable of piezoluminescence, meaning it can produce it's own light! [9]
The pineal gland has been shown to be sensitive to light & electromagnetic fields; even solar flares can impact it's function [9]. Some researchers speculate that this in tantum with it's piezoelectric quality and ability to release psychedelic compounds are key reasons why the gland is associated with access to "spiritual worlds."
Dr. Joe Dispenza believes it is a sort of biological antenna, receiving information in the form of light & electromagnetic fields and translating that into biochemistry. Could it be that it picks up on thoughts forms and mental imagery as well? [10]
How common is pineal gland calcification?
A recent meta-analysis estimated about 61.25% of people worldwide have a calcified pineal gland [11]. Â Some countries such as Iran & parts of South Africa had levels as high as 76%. One study in the University of Connecticut School Of Dental Medicine incidentally found pineal calcification of 58.8% in people going in for dental implants therapy. Another found it in 70% of Americans sampled [13].
What damages and calcifies the pineal gland?
Although many environmental toxins impact the pineal gland, partly because it is not within the blood brain barrier, making it more suspectable, there are a couple of toxins that are noteworthy:
Fluoride - A study from 1997 discovered that the pineal gland is primary place for fluoride accumulation. When examining the elements of the gland, they found very high levels of fluoride in portions that were calcified, vs parts that weren't [9].
Aluminum + Glyphosate - In 2015, research by Dr. Stephanie Seneff discovered that the pervasive pesticide glyphosate chelates aluminum, allowing ingested aluminum to bypass the gut barrier. This leads to anemia-induced hypoxia in the brain, promoting neurotoxicity and damaging the pineal gland. Both glyphosate and aluminum disrupt cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are involved in melatonin metabolism. Furthermore, melatonin is derived from tryptophan, whose synthesis in plants and microbes is blocked by glyphosate. [14] I dive deeper into glyphosate toxicity in this article.
Other things that impact pineal gland function
Blue light at night - blue light from artificial lighting & technology has been shown to suppress pineal activity and reduce melatonin production. [15] Blue light blocking glasses are a great investment for this reason (I personally use RA optics & TrueDark.)
Caffeine - A study found lifetime coffee-drinkers vs non-coffee drinkers had pineal glands that were about 20% smaller. Caffeine has also been shown to suppress melatonin production. [16]
Man-Made Electromagnetic fields - cell phones, wifi, microwave-emitting devices, and 60 hz fields (common in today's technological world) have all been shown to suppress pineal function. [9] Reducing exposure wherever possible, such as limiting unnecessary cell phone usage and turning off wifi at night, can be beneficial for this reason.
Symptoms of a calcified pineal gland [2].
Impaired sleep duration & quality
Memory & concentration issues (brain fog)
Mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and ADHD
Diminished intelligence
Heavy metal toxicity - melatonin is an extremely important detoxifying agent for the brain
Accelerated aging
Increased risk for neurogenerative diseases
How to decalcify your pineal gland.
The following supplements not only help you decalcify your pineal gland, but also have a many other benefits.
Iodine - supplemental iodine has been shown to increase fluoride excretion as well as other toxins such as mercury & bromine [17]. It also increases intelligence and thyroid function [18]. Kelp is the form I generally recommend my clients, although people with more robust health can consider detoxadine.
Boron - supplemental boron is fascinating for a variety of reasons, such as improving the bodies usage of testosterone, estrogen, & vitamin D, enhancing cognitive performance, increasing glutathione, & being a great solution for arthritis [19].
It is described as an antidote to fluoride, massively increasing excretion. It helps the parathyroid also use calcium properly, reducing calcification across the entire body, not just the joints and pineal gland [20].
Fulvic-Humic Acids - fulvic/humic acids help detoxify metals & pesticides, as well as support proper utilization of nutrients. It has been shown to detoxify glyphosate. [21] One of my favorite products is Ion*Biome, which is also great for healing the gut lining.
Silica - promotes excretion of aluminum [22]. Helps hair, skin, nails, and connective tissue, as well as reduces inflammation and improves memory due to aluminum detoxification. [23] My favorite forms are silica rich-waters like Acilis, horsetail tincture, or BioSil.
Zeolite - zeolite (specifically Clinoptilolite) is a volcanic clay with phenomenal toxin binding properties. It binds to various heavy metals & pesticides, and is one of the few binders with affinity to fluoride, making it useful for pineal detoxification [24]. Zeobind is more of a gut focused zeolite (and therefore more gentle,) while Cytodetox is a liposomal form better at removing intracellular toxins (use only under the guidance of a practitioner.)
Supplemental Melatonin - supplementing melatonin is actually a very powerful way to detoxify the brain. It has been shown to protect against the damage of aluminum, fluoride, and electromagnetic fields [25, 26, 27]. It also supports proper glymphatic drainage, which is the brain's main way of detoxifying at night. Bulksupplements offers extremely cheap, lab-tested melatonin. One can also consider liposomal melatonin, which massively boosts absorption in the brain (this product can create strong detoxification reactions, only use under the guidance of a practitioner.)
Benefits of decalcifying & activating your pineal gland.
The most common reports I get from people are deeper sleep, vivid + lucid dreams, and improved cognitive function. Generally, improving it's function is a long-lasting way to heal brain fog. However I have had some clients share with me more "spiritual" experiences that have resulted from this form of cleansing.
Benefits potentially include [2]:
Improved memory & concentration
Deeper more restful sleep
Improved ability to access mediative states
Improved mood & mental energy
Reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases
More access to "spiritual experiences"
One step beyond - Full body detoxification & remineralization
Decalcification is just one part of eliminating your body burden of environmental pollution. Detoxifying the brain, cleansing the liver, healing the gut microbiome, enhancing cellular energy production, restoring adequate mineral levels, etc, are all different parts that need to be considered to achieve optimum health.
This free guide covers the fundamentals in detoxification & remineralizing the body. It's a fantastic place to start for people interested in this style of healing.
If you want to learn what approach would be best for you to achieve your health goals / resolve your health challenges, schedule a free 1 on 1 strategy session here (worst case, you walk away with more free advice.)
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