Ibogaine Therapy

The purpose of this document is to provide information. Treatment providers and patients are solely responsible for their actions.

Manual for Ibogaine Therapy

Screening, Safety, Monitoring & Aftercare

Second Revision

by

Howard S. Lotsof & Boaz Wachtel

Contributing Authors
Marc Emery, Geerte Frenken, Sara Glatt
Brian Mariano, Karl Naeher
Martin Polanko, Marko Resinovic
Nick Sandberg, Eric Taub
Samuel Waizmann, Hattie Wells

© 2003

correspondence

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Second Edition
Preface
Treatment
Intake and Safety Issues
Dose and Effect
Opioid Withdrawal

Opioid withdrawal tables
Post Ibogaine Treatment Therapy
Discussion
Overview
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Treatment Regimen and Dose
Product Identity
Post Ibogaine Therapy
Invitation to Contributing Authors
Appendices
Selections NIDA Draft Ibogaine Protocol
Related Protocol Bibliography
Additional Document links

Introduction to the Second Revision

The Second Revision of the Ibogaine Manual follows a year and a half after the publication of the First Revision providing new information to the field.

This revision of the manual offers additional information on ibogaine therapy as well as, differing philosophies of ibogaine providers and their approaches to therapy. There is consensus as to the benefits of post ibogaine therapy but, no agreement that any one therapy offers benefits over others to a majority of subjects. Many authors feel the exclusion criteria indicated in the draft protocol of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) are not realistic to allow treatment of today’s chemically dependent drug users who may be depressed or display other psychiatric disorders nor does it allow for the prevalence of HCV and/or HIV to allow those individuals to be treated with ibogaine. The authors review broader ibogaine dose regimens and their advantage than were presented in the First Revision of this manual. The new material is principally found in the Discussion Section that may be referenced from the links of the Table of Contents above though some changes and corrections have been made throughout the text as a whole. Opinions of authors remain diverse.

Links to a medical encyclopedia as well as, both the home edition and Centennial/Professional edition of the Merck Manual are included in the Additional Documents section. "The Merck Manual, the textbook of medicine most widely used by health care professionals provides vital information about diseases, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment." The Ibogaine Manual now also contains a link to a redacted version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) to allow better understanding of mental disorders that may be concurrently seen in persons who are chemically dependent.

Though the Internet allows rapid publication it also has a component of rapid disintegration with web pages linked to the manual being withdrawn from the web by original authors. Therefore the authors of this manual have included where possible multiple links to any particular subject in the appendices so as to maintain information access for the reader.

All links that will take the reader outside of the Ibogaine Manual will highlight on mouseover with most but, not all browsers. These links are found only in the Additional Document section. Links that will take the reader outside of the Ibogaine Dossier web page will appear in separate windows with the Manual remaining visible in the background.

Preface

Ibogaine therapy has emerged in the last twenty years as a viable option for motivated chemically dependent individuals who wish to cease their dependence. The extremely costly regulatory approval process and the reluctance by major pharmaceutical firms to pursue regulatory approval in the West has led to the formation of non-medical ibogaine treatment movements in many countries. This document is intended for medical doctors as well as, for lay-healers who have little or no medical experience, but who are nevertheless concerned with patient safety and the outcome of Ibogaine treatments. The NIDA draft clinical protocol, however, may be useful to researchers in formal drug development.

It is the responsibility of those treatment providers to safely conduct the procedure despite possible limitations of clinical knowledge, patient compliance, money, time etc. The safety of Ibogaine treated patients is the primary objective of this document. Reported Ibogaine-related problems or fatalities might very likely be avoided if simple screening, dosing and monitoring guidelines are adhered to. However, this must be taken in some context as, in 1999 there were 116,000 drug related fatalities in United States hospitals associated with FDA approved medications.

This manual includes selected portions of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Draft Ibogaine Clinical Protocol obtained under a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Selections are principally directed towards safety issues. Aspects of the therapeutic sessions from the NIDA protocol are included as well as, bibliographical citations relevant to the sections from the protocol. More recent reports providing updated information are included in the Additional Documents section.

Any comments of the author(s) within the selected protocol text are indicated by "[ ]" brackets. The "*" asterisk is used to indicate tests procedures or surveys not included in NIDA’s 1993, draft protocol but, suggested either in discussion with the FDA or by later publication.

In a memorandum dated March 10, 1995, Dr. Curtis Wright, Medical Review Officer, Pilot Drug Evaluation Unit, FDA wrote, "I think that ibogaine research will be propelled forward by its advocates, as it will be very hard to make a case that it is unsafe to take a drug into man when there is such substantial documented human experience. I agree with the speaker [March 1995, NIDA Ibogaine Review Meeting] that it is a risk-benefit analysis, but all such development decisions are finally reduced to this basis. The Development question is if ibogaine can be given safely, and if so, will it provide some benefit."

Ibogaine has been propelled by its advocates since then, and administered in many countries often outside the medical establishment. Unfortunately, safety issues are not frequently addressed or evaluated properly. Our objective is to provide basic guidelines and improve patient safety with information. This information is made available for the benefit of the treatment provider and their patients.

Treatment

Intake and Safety Issues

Needless to say, it is evident that most persons outside of a research institution would not be able to undertake the testing presented in the NIDA ibogaine protocol. The primary issue the authors are attempting to address is that no medical testing is the norm for many persons receiving ibogaine therapy. This leaves both providers and patients at risk. Risk cannot be eliminated but, as inferred by Dr. Curtis Wright in the introduction to this article, risks must be weighed against benefits. It is apparent from the actions of both ibogaine providers and chemically dependent persons who seek treatment that the benefits are significant. However, with no less than three documented ibogaine-related fatalities, so are the risks. Having safety procedures in effect are not for the benefit of the majority of the patients who will go through ibogaine therapy with no problems but, to assure the survival of a small minority of the patients who may experience some form of adverse medical event that may be life threatening.

One of the recorded fatalities was reported to have taken place in 1989 in France. The patient, a forty year old woman was provided a dose of 8 mg/kg of purified ibogaine for purposes of psychotherapy from which she died approximately four hours after administration of ibogaine. The dose given was the lowest dose associated with an ibogaine related fatality that has been recorded and the autopsy found significant blockage of the main arteries to the heart. It was indicated that the patient had a history of cardiovascular disorders that may not have been investigated. This immediately indicates two areas that should be given priority attention by ibogaine providers: 1) A medical history and 2) an electrocardiogram (EKG).

The most common form of a medical history is usually a questionnaire required of every patient visiting a doctor for the first time and your doctor’s office is an excellent source of such a document. Among the information required on such forms are issues relating to heart disease and these questions if honestly answered will provide an alert to the existence of a cardiac disorder. As, previously stipulated because medical conditions may not be known to the patient an electrocardiogram (EKG) should be included in any basic intake for ibogaine therapy. Information on electrocardiograms can be found in documents #6 and #7. Any history of heart attacks should be a reason not to treat a patient with ibogaine.

Whether in a hospital or outside of a medical environment the patient’s safety can be best provided for by continuously observing the patient. A nursing assistant or other trained person should observe the patient continuously for 48 hours or longer if the patient response to ibogaine requires it. During this period pulse and blood pressure should be monitored at regular intervals and at any time that patients indicate discomfort or the observer has concern. The regular intervals may be as short as 30 minutes for the first four hours or until blood pressure and pulse are stable and then at time points of 1 hour to 4 hours thereafter.

Observers should have training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and be prepared to call a hospital or emergency medical services should the patient’s pulse drop below 50 beats per minute. If you are not prepared to call for emergency medical help you should not be providing ibogaine therapy. A hospital should be called at any time if a patient loses consciousness. The emergency number to be called should be available to all provider personnel at all times. Observing the patient is more work then one person can realistically accomplish. In a hospital setting nursing staff would normally rotate on 8 to 12 hour shifts.

The evaluation of blood chemistry is a standard means of assessing the health of a patient and is often used in medical evaluations of patients during annual physicals or to determine the health of a patient at any time for any purpose. The SMA-20 (a series of tests to evaluate blood chemistry) along with a CBC (complete blood count) with differential now appear to be the tools of choice to provide a wide range of information relating to blood chemistry that includes a liver profile but, does not include a hepatitis or HIV screen. Excellent resources concerning the SMA-20, CBC and definitions to allow an understanding of the associated terminology can be found in #3, #4, and #5 of the document section.

The second recorded fatality was that of a woman in her mid twenties in the Netherlands who received 29 mg/kg in a split dose of 23 mg/kg and an additional 6 mg/kg approximately 3 hours later. The patient died 16 hours after the administration of ibogaine. The autopsy did not determine the cause of death. The unanswered question of the cause of death brings us to another important safety issue. Ibogaine has been shown to increase the effects of opiates as well as opiate toxicity. Ibogaine may also increase the potency and toxicity of stimulants. Therefore patients should be warned that concurrent drug use during ibogaine therapy may be fatal. It does not mean that concurrent drug use will always be fatal as an early report of an ibogaine experience, Reflections on an Ibogaine Experience found in document #8 of this manual indicates concurrent heroin use that did not result in a fatality. It must be recognized that the response to drugs is individual and that each patient may present a dramatic or not so dramatic distinction in how they respond to ibogaine or other drugs. Ibogaine providers should attempt to minimize danger to the patient by eliminating the use of unauthorized drugs by the patient while under the influence of ibogaine. Good luck on that matter in circumstance where you are treating experienced and dependent drug users. This is why it is very important to let the patient know that drug interaction may be fatal.

The third fatality of record occurred in 2000, in the UK. The patient was a 38 year old male who was administered a total of 5 or 6 grams of a 15% total iboga alkaloid extract over a period of six hours. The patient appeared fully recovered, had eaten breakfast, gone to the toilet and suddenly died approximately 38 hours after the administration of the plant extract. The patient had hepatitis C but, exact data on the state of the disease is not available. The subject had been using heroin for 15 years. The most troubling issue relating to this fatality is that it occurred after the apparent recovery of the subject and quite suddenly. The extract has been widely used and there appears to be no greater fatality-related issues associated to it than to purified ibogaine.

NIDA in its draft protocol and the FDA in the protocol it approved in 1993, excluded patients with hepatitis C. One of the authors believes this was not so much a safety issue but, one that would allow a determination of the transformation of ibogaine into its metabolites by the liver and the associated plasma levels to be validated in pharmacokinetic studies within ranges that would be normal and not to have them skewed by a diseased liver. It is reported that the St. Kitts facility excludes HCV and HIV patients. NDA International, Inc. in its work in The Netherlands and Panama accepted HCV and HIV that were not symptomatic for the diseases. As many chemically dependent drug users test positive for HCV and as there has been no known correlation of fatalities with HCV, it does not seem that this is a reasonable exclusion criteria in the real world of chemical dependence. Non-symptomatic HIV patients have also been treated without apparent medical events. NIDA chose to exclude patients with liver enzyme values exceeding 400% above normal from a later study design. A decision to follow NIDA’s footsteps on this matter may be reasonable until more information is available.

Ibogaine appears to be a very safe drug in terms of psychiatric events. One of the authors is aware of a single event from a report where a patient apparently regressed, acted in a childlike manner and urinated in bed for a period of two days, thereafter recovering. An early patient who had been hospitalized on a number of occasions for glue-sniffing related psychosis became paranoid during his first treatment and exhibited behavior distinct from any other ibogaine patient during a second treatment episode. Ibogaine providers should be aware that chemically dependent or not, many persons are going to come to them with underlying and in some cases significant underlying psychiatric disorders. NIDA’s exclusion criteria for "patients with a history of active neurological or psychiatric disorders, such as cerebellar dysfunction, psychosis, bipolar illness, major depression, organic brain disease or dementia, that require treatment", may be well thought out and these patients should be avoided by persons not having professional skills in psychiatry and psychopharmacology. These matters are further reviewed in the Discussion section of this manual.

Anything that can be learned about the patient prior to treatment is valuable. And, anything learned before treatment will most likely allow a greater interpretation of events after treatment. To this end the Beck Depression Inventory, document #9, linked in the Additional Documents Section may be valuable as may the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) document #10. The tests are generally only available to persons who are professionally involved in psychology or testing who then provide them to patients. Once provided with a diagnoses it is necessary to understand those disorders. To that extent the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th. Edition, better known as the DSM-IV, document #11 is published by the American Psychiatric Association is a standard in the field.

Taking this broad ranging discussion to a brief conclusion, every ibogaine patient should receive an SMA-20 and CBC blood test and an EKG. These discussions are made in the hope of initiating greater associations between non-medical ibogaine providers and medical professionals who can assist them in increasing the safety of ibogaine treated patients. Questions coming out of the London Ibogaine Conference held in December of 2001, concerned the required testing, how to obtain it and how to understand it. The International Coalition for Addict Self-Help (ICASH) in their work in the late 1980s and early 1990s faced the same problems. Their solution was to have the patient walk into an emergency room or community health service with a friend and to have the friend inform the staff that the person with them had a pain in the chest and passed out and when unconscious appeared to go into convulsions. This usually resulted in the patient obtaining a blood chemistry, an EKG and EEG to investigate the possibility of epilepsy and cardiovascular disorders. ICASH would then obtain a written authorization to obtain the medical records from the patient and request the tests results and reports of the results from the hospital where the patient was evaluated indicating that the patient was to be included in a research program. The tests and reports were then usually reviewed by a doctor who had some interest in ibogaine therapy. In any case, with the basic medical testing accomplished there is at least a place to begin in offering safe ibogaine therapy. Patients who could afford to pay for testing and did not want to indicate their chemical dependence would inform a doctor that they were going on a trek in some physically taxing geographical location and that medical testing was required to participate.

Dose and effect

After years of review of reports of hundreds of ibogaine patient treatments, the effective dose for the treatment of chemical dependence, including opioid dependence, has been seen to be between 15 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of ibogaine. It has been reported by some researchers that lower doses are effective but, this has been disputed. Effects of ibogaine generally will make themselves evident within 45 minutes to as long as, three hours after administration. In most cases opioid withdrawal signs will be reduced within 45 minutes of ibogaine administration. Ibogaine is usually administered in place of what would be the next scheduled dose of narcotics. This would provide for an ibogaine administration schedule 8 hours after the last dose of heroin, morphine or demerol and 24 hours after the last dose of methadone. It is expected that the patient would be exhibiting minor withdrawal signs at the time of ibogaine administration. There is no experience with ibogaine in the treatment of LAAM dependence.

Another issue pursuant to dose is that of dose increases, should anticipated effects including the diminishment of opioid withdrawal not be seen. Modification upwards of ibogaine doses have been used occasionally within medical environments and commonly by some lay providers as well as, within the African religious context. The issues remain of ability to respond to medical emergencies and of the experience of the provider to determine the safety at any time of the patient. It may be prudent to allow the primary dose of ibogaine to run its course and then provide a second dose a week later if required. That is, if the patient is still chemically dependent or exhibiting drug craving?

Once ibogaine has been administered, effects follow. The patient will usually want to lay prone and should be encouraged to remain still as nausea and vomiting as well as, being systemic have been seen to be motion related. The skin tends to become numb. Patients will report an initial buzzing or oscillating sound. A period of dream-like visualization lasting for 3 to 4 hours in most but, not all patients is considered to be the first prominent stage of ibogaine effects. This stage ends abruptly should it occur at all. Another aspect of ibogaine effect that is common are random flashes of light that appear everywhere with eyes open. This may last for hours or days. Visualization on the other hand is most common with eyes closed.

The second stage that follows visualization has been described as one in which the subject principally experiences cognitive evaluation or a review of issues that are important to the subject. These may cover every possible scenario from early childhood experiences to current health issues. This period may last for as few as 8 hours or for 20 hours or longer.

The third or final stage of ibogaine effects is that of residual stimulation. This stage, because it tends to leave the subject/patient exhausted is somewhat uncomfortable. Subjects may remain awake for two or more days. Most patients will sleep within 48 hours of ibogaine administration. Some within 24 hours of administration. Usually, there is a long term long term diminishment of the need for sleep over weeks or months. Some patients may require or request sedation. Sedatives that have been used include benzodiazepines, barbiturates and melatonin.

The effects herein described are those of single administration high dose ibogaine regimens. Ibogaine has also been given in regimens of small daily doses of 25 mg to 300 mgs/day and in small daily doses where the dose is increased on a daily basis until the desired interruption of drug dependence is accomplished. These low dose modalities have not been validated for efficacy to the same extent as have the full therapeutic doses of ibogaine. However, these low dose regimens can be traced back some decades to the work of Leo Zeff who in the case of a single patient provided ibogaine on an "as needed" basis via nasal administration to a cocaine dependent patient to substitute for his cocaine use. Lines of ibogaine were somewhat equivalent to lines of cocaine and the patient ceased cocaine use after a week of this daily self-regulated ibogaine regimen. Additionally, reports from Canadian sources indicate multi-week low dose ibogaine therapy 20 mg/day following a therapeutic dose of ibogaine in the treatment of cocaine dependence. Further, reports throughout the ibogaine provider community indicate the use of multiple dosing of varying strength doses over varying time periods in the treatment of opioid dependence. As with all determinations in medicine, decisions must be made on observations of the patient and knowledge of the disorder(s) and the medication(s) used.

Opioid Withdrawal

An issue that all ibogaine providers treating opioid dependent patients will have to address is discomfort due to opioid withdrawal signs, real or imagined by the patient. To this end it may be helpful during a patient intake interview to ask what withdrawal signs the patient has had in previous withdrawal experiences. During ibogaine therapy this information will be more useful if the provider has had experience observing opiate withdrawal signs as well as, observing patients given ibogaine who were not opiate or chemically dependent. The reason being that certain effects of ibogaine may mimic opiate withdrawal. These signs may include inability to sleep, nausea, a feeling of being cold or vomiting. It is the skill of the provider that will enable the provider to determine whether withdrawal signs are real or imagined and to assist the patient in understanding the difference. It must be recognized that elimination of withdrawal signs are not necessarily isolated ends in themselves to heroin or other opioid dependent patients. Being sick is a rational justification for relief and the simple presentation by the patient that they are exhibiting opiate withdrawal to a significant other or peer or other person in their environment has probably been used by the patient to obtain opiates or the money to do so. The conditioned response of obtaining gratification and/or attention by exhibiting opioid withdrawal signs or claiming to exhibit opiate withdrawal signs has been a successful behavioral mechanism for some patients and should be expected. Generally, if the complaint of withdrawal is made it can be expected between the 14th and 24th hour of treatment and may continue through recovery from ibogaine effects.

Two useful surveys that should be included in ibogaine therapy are the Objective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) and the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS). Examples of these diagnostic tools follow.

***********

Objective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (OOWS)

---

Instructions: Rate the patient on the basis of what you observe during a timed 10-minute period.

Date:_________________ Time: _________________

***********

Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS)

---

Instructions: Answer the following statements as accurately as you can.

Circle the answer that best fits the way you feel now

Date:_____________________ Time:________________

To assist in an understanding of the comparative effects of ibogaine and opioid withdrawal effects, the reader should review Alper et al., #12 of the Additional Document section as well as, the findings from Ibogaine in the Treatment of Narcotic Withdrawal (document #13) by Lotsof, Della Sera and Kaplan presented during the 37th International Congress on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, University of California, San Diego, (1995). The relevant table from that paper is found below.

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Objective Opiate Withdrawal Signs and Ibogaine Signs:
Human Observations

Post Ibogaine Treatment Therapy

The principal effects of ibogaine treatment that are reviewed in Lotsof’s Clinical Perspectives (document #14), Frenken’s An Ibogaine Treatment Protocol (document #15) and Sandberg’s Introduction to Ibogaine (document #16) will usually run their course within two days. There are exceptions with some patients recovering in as little as 24 hours while others may require an additional day or even have to be coaxed out of bed four days after treatment. Thereafter, the patients are left with the rest of their lives to accomplish and with the majority of individuals needing some form of assistance to figure out how to go about moving forward. Some patients will have a fear of going into withdrawal. This is not a realistic expectation on their part. More realistic is the fear of relapse to drug use and except in rare instances this should be anticipated particularly after only the first treatment with ibogaine.

Addiction has been viewed as a chronic relapsing condition. Ibogaine’s value is not only the interruption of withdrawal but, by mechanisms not fully understood to assist the patient in changing learned behavior and becoming more aware of their behavior in order to change it. After ibogaine therapy many patients become more agreeable to change. Thus, ibogaine provides a unique opportunity. The question to the ibogaine treatment community is how to best make use of that opportunity?

A fundamental question remains. Is any form of adjunct therapy to the administration of ibogaine more advantageous than any other form of post ibogaine treatment therapy? The question becomes more diverse where in the absence, in many cases of the possibility of additional treatment with ibogaine, opiate dependent patients who have relapsed have made good use of methadone maintenance as an effective intermittent therapy so that methadone must also be included in the mix of therapies that have been effectively used by ibogaine treated patients to eventually free themselves from addiction. Thus, we see patients making use of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy both individual and group of varieties as distinct as the persons who provide such therapies, methadone maintenance, and associations such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous. What does appear evident is that contact with non-addicted persons is generally beneficial for patients and that continued contact with users of drugs that cause dependence is detrimental to a goal of abstinence if that is the endpoint desired. This is not distinct from the findings observed in non-ibogaine environments.

Many ibogaine patients themselves indicate that they have a need for and want some form of therapy or support. The issues become more complex in patients whose long term addiction has left them without the skills or education to function outside of a drug user context. Providing ibogaine is a relatively easy short term goal. The time needed to heal patients of trauma they have experienced and to address deficits in the patient’s life is more time consuming and a more long term goal. In many cases the patient’s lack of financial ability to obtain assistance for therapy, education or occupational training will require societal assets or private donations to be made available.

Only recently have agencies such as the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the National Institute on Drug Abuse in the United States recognized that the prejudice shown towards drug users is harmful in itself and detrimental to patients seeking treatment. A growing number ofindividuals question whether prohibition is the greatest harm of all while a greater number of persons are calling for a harm reduction philosophy wherein the minimalization of the level of harm to drug users and society is viewed as a priority over any immediate requirement of abstinence.

Discussion

OVERVIEW

The Second Revision of the Manual for Ibogaine Therapy continues to focus on safety issues while expanding the discussion of dose regimen and forms of ibogaine that include purified forms of the chemical as well as, total alkaloid extracts of varying strengths. These matter are important as ibogaine treatments are taking place in a growing number of countries and under diverse circumstances. Some ibogaine providers in research facilities provide testing as complex as that indicated in the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) ibogaine protocol. Others in non-medical environments, apartments, hotels or chapels may not include any medical testing at all. This Discussion Section contains viewpoints of all of the authors.

One author in addressing the safety issues of ibogaine states, "The drug is dangerous and shouldn’t be compared to other tryptamines. People definitely have died and there may be more fatalities unrecorded. You need to check liver and heart and be able to assess the results. You need to know resuscitation procedures and be prepared to call emergency medical assistance if necessary." These statements bring us to central issues: key tests and the ability to understand them. While the authors recognize that virtually every drug product may have associated fatal reactions, the issue with ibogaine is, as it is with all drugs, that the responsibility is not only that of the patient/subject but, that of the provider. That alone should be reason for providers to screen for indicated health disorders.

Safety evaluations may be viewed in terms of an optimal screening/testing protocol and a non-optimal screening/testing protocol. The optimal being as complete and far reaching as possible including medical history, laboratory tests, evaluations by physicians as to general, neurological and psychological health including a broad range of questionnaires to allow such determinations. An excellent questionnaire to begin a structured case history on patients can be found in the the Guidelines for Psychiatric Evaluations of Adults, document #17. Instruments to assist in assessments can be found in The Catalogue of Diagnostic Questionnaires, document #18 and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, document #19. Non-optimal testing would include the bare necessities to investigate areas of medical concern that have been raised in ibogaine literature. These include cardiovascular, metabolic and absorption concerns. Additionally, reports from ibogaine treatment observations also indicate respiratory depression may be an issue as one patient was reported to have stopped breathing before then being revived.

It should be noted that female subjects might be more sensitive to ibogaine due to higher blood levels of ibogaine and/or its principal metabolite (noribogaine) than are seen in male subjects. One, of an excellent series of articles published in The Scientist, The Inequality of Drug Metabolism, concerns itself with this matter, document #20. While absorption and metabolism factors are not distinct to ibogaine and are common to many drugs, individual patient responses to dose and particularly sensitivity of females to ibogaine must be recognized. Obviously, further research is required and the authors request the participation of ibogaine providers to supply relevant reports and data for future revisions of this manual. The FDA in their approval of ibogaine clinical studies in 1993, excluded women. This was in conflict with Institute or Medicine (IOM/United States) guidelines that indicate women should be included in the earliest research testing of drugs. The pharmaceutical industry, principally for issues of liability and cost, tests new drugs only on men in the majority of early clinical studies.

While the drug metabolism for ibogaine and for many pharmaceutical products may be better understood for distinctions between men and women, there is still no fundamental agreement on the responses of men and women to ibogaine. Wells in her very well thought out article, Notes for Treatment Providers, document #21, finds that women appear less responsive and more problematic as patients while Lotsof in his work finds women to be more responsive and less problematic as ibogaine patients. Hopefully, as more people are treated we will see a greater statistical understanding of the patient population.

One author suggests that medical testing should not be included when ibogaine is used as a religious sacrament and that under those conditions a religious exemption to medical testing should be considered valid. The author indicates that persons undergoing religious initiation are questioned at length to their health and not only are they questioned but, those who will accompany them during the initiation are also questioned and advised as to the possibility of death. The author indicates that once the possibility of fatalities are mentioned that usually more significant information is provided as to the health of the initiate. The author also indicates that women initiates are informed they may be at greater risk and are asked should they find the door that allows them to leave this life that they must not take that door as it would be destructive for everyone involved. These descriptions appear to be in keeping with the protocol or rites used within the African Bwiti initiations.

The primary question the authors must address is who may be administered ibogaine?

To that end we must present inclusion criteria for ibogaine therapy or initiation. The terms "therapy" and "initiation" are used, as ibogaine is available in paradigms that include religious initiation, treatment for chemical dependence and administration for psychotherapeutic or "exploratory" purposes.

 

INCLUSION CRITERIA

"Testing for sexually transmitted diseases is always important in the chemically dependent population," states an author, "so I would also include VDRL to test for syphilis."

1. Subject participation must be voluntary and not coerced.

2. Subject must sign an Informed Consent that indicates and understanding of the risks and benefits of ibogaine administration.

3. Subject must undergo a general medical evaluation by a doctor who will provide a report.

4. Subject must supply a copy of their medical history questionnaire (generally required upon the intake visit to a physician).

5. Subject must respond to a Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire.

6. Subject must obtain an EKG (electrocardiogram) and report.

7. Blood tests including:

* albumin: 3.9 to 5.0 mg/dl
* alkaline phosphatase: 44 to 147 IU/L
* ALT (SGPT): 6 to 59 IU/L
* AST (SGOT): 10 to 34 IU/L
* BUN: 7 to 20 mg/dl
* calcium – serum: 8.5 to 10.9 mg/dl
* serum chloride: 101 to 111 mmol/L
* CO2: 20 to 29 mmol/L
* creatinine: 0.8 to 1.4 mg/dl
* direct bilirubin: 0.0 to 0.3 mg/dl
* gamma-GT: 0 to 51 IU/L
* glucose test: 64 to 128 mg/dl
* phosphorus – serum: 2.4 to 4.1 mg/dl
* potassium test: 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L
* serum sodium: 136 to 144 mEq/L
* total bilirubin: 0.2 to 1.9 mg/dl
* total protein: 6.3 to 7.9 g/dl
* uric acid: 4.1 to 8.8 mg/dl

* RBC (varies with altitude): (male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcl) (female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcl)
* WBC 4,500 to 10,000 cells/mcl
* hematocrit (varies with altitude): (male: 40.7 to 50.3 %) (female: 36.1 to 44.3 %)
* hemoglobin (varies with altitude): (male: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dl) (female: 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dl)

8. Upon subject meeting all other inclusion criteria and not being excluded by exclusion criteria, subject will be administered a 100 mg (total) test dose of ibogaine. Should the subject not have an adverse or atypical response, a full therapeutic dose of ibogaine may be considered. See exclusion criteria #4.

9. Ibogaine providers following a medical model may require evaluation of cytochrome P450 enzymes activity. Particularly, P450 2D6 (CYP4502D6) plays a significant role in the metabolism of ibogaine to noribogaine, its active metabolite. Testing allows a determination of whether the patient will be a "poor metabolizer" (PM), "intermediate metabolizer (IM), extensive metabolizer (EM) or "ultra rapid" metabolizer (UM). This testing is now available through commercial laboratories.

 

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

In order to begin to address the safety of persons being treated with ibogaine, the following indications should exclude treatment with ibogaine. A discussion of these matters by various authors follow the list below.

1. Patients with a history of active neurological or psychiatric disorders, such as cerebellar dysfunction, psychosis, bipolar illness, major depression, organic brain disease or dementia, that require treatment.

2. Patients who have a Beck Depression Inventory score greater than or equal to twenty-four.

3. Patients requiring concomitant medications that may cause adverse ibogaine/other drug interactions (e.g., anti-epileptic drugs, antidepressants, neuroleptics, etc.)

4. Patients with a history of sensitivity or adverse reactions to the treatment medication.

5. Patients with a history of significant heart disease or a history of myocardial infarction.

6. Patients with blood pressure above 170 mm Hg systolic/105 mm Hg diastolic or below 80 mm Hg systolic/60 mm Hg diastolic or a pulse greater than 120 beats per minute or less than 50 beats per minute.

7. Patients who have a history of hypertension uncontrolled by conventional medical therapy.

8. Patients who have received any drug known to have a well-defined potential for toxicity to a major organ system within the month prior to entering the study.

9. Patients who have clinically significant laboratory values outside the limits thus specified by normal laboratory parameters.

10. Patients who have any disease of the gastrointestinal system, liver or kidneys, or abnormal condition which compromises a function of these systems and could result in a possibility of altered metabolism or excretion of ibogaine will be excluded. As it is not possible to enumerate the many conditions that might impair absorption, metabolism or excretion, the provider should be guided by evidence such as:

A. History of major gastrointestinal tract surgery (e.g., gastrectomy, gastrostomy, bowel resections., etc.) or a history or diagnosis of an active peptic ulcer or chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract, (e.g. ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis, Crohn’s disease or gastrointestinal bleeding).

B. Indication of impaired liver function.

C. Indication of impaired renal function.

11. Patients with active tuberculosis.

12. Pregnancy

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Regarding the manual I would disagree with some of the exclusion criteria," says one author. "By excluding patients that are depressed or bipolar you exclude a sizable portion of the addict population. Because ibogaine’s metabolites have been shown to have an antidepressant effect it would probably help these patients. Proper treatment for psychiatric conditions can be administered afterward. You will find below some of the experience we have had with patients taking antidepressants prior to ibogaine and since many patients have psychiatric conditions, we don’t consider it prudent or necessary to suspend psychotropics for longer than 24 hours before treatment. Below are presented three examples of such patients. All of these patients suspended their medications 24 hours prior to treatment and apparently had no different responses to ibogaine or any unexpected side effects."

1)   22 year old male on Prozac (fluoxetine) 20 mg for 14 months.
2)   38 year old male on Zoloft (sertraline) 100 mg for 2 years.
3)   36 year old female on Paxil (paroxetine) 40 mg for 1 year.

"Since most patients are depressed, a fast acting antidepressant can help in the days after ibogaine. We have found S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) to be useful. If necessary we also prescribe SSRI’s. These take about two weeks to start working. Another simple but effective therapy is DHA (omega-3 fatty acids). These reduce depression and stabilize mood."

Commenting on the exclusion criteria, another author states, "I don’t think depression should be taken as a contraindication. I’ve treated a lady with an extreme depression hoping it would help. It didn’t. The condition remained unchanged. Of course, one case – no case. People on Oxycontin often claim depression. No wonder – that’s what the interruption of oxycontin use usually leads to. Ibogaine is needed to eliminate the addiction. I suggest antidepressants be started immediately after ibogaine therapy under the supervision of a physician."

Further, an author indicates "that Crohn’s disease should not be an exclusion criteria as one patient diagnosed with Crohn’s disease had the disease placed in remission after ibogaine therapy." While other authors have not had such experience it should be noted that an early report from Dutch Addict Self-Help concerning Hepatitis C being placed in remission resulted in most providers, including then, NDA International, Inc. agreeing to treat patients with HCV whose liver enzymes were not greater than 400% above normal. It must be remembered that we are discussing an experimental medical procedure should that definition be accepted and that medicine itself is diverse in its effects, expectations or adverse events.

A number of authors indicate nonfatal adverse medical events in patients with stomach ulcers. Ibogaine may cause pain and/or bleeding in these patients. Whether this is a matter of irritation to the stomach lining or a more systemic effect is unknown at this time thus, it is unknown whether rectal administration rather than oral administration would ovecome this problem.

TREATMENT REGIMEN AND DOSE

Anticipating that the subject and provider have reached this point in discussion and or treatment, the subject will have met all inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria. This brings us to actual treatment requirements and dose.

1. The patient should be well rested.

2. All drugs that are not medically required and/or contraindicated should be stopped early enough to be cleared by the subject undergoing ibogaine administration.

3. In the treatment of opioid dependence, short acting opioid drugs should be stopped no less than eight hours before ibogaine administration. Methadone should be stopped no less than 24 hours prior to ibogaine administration.

4. The issue of sedation of the subject particularly in the treatment of opioid dependence is not uncommon. The question of whether sedation, post 30 hours should it be requested or required by the patient, would be beneficial or not to ibogaine therapy has not been answered. Some if not all providers feel that ibogaine effects would be best concluded without sedation. However, patient comfort is an issue and sedation may become a requirement in the treatment of any particular patient.

Ibogaine has been administered safely with various forms of sedation including benzodiazepines, barbiturates, melatonin, valerian and chamomile.

On an adjunct issue, one author comments, "benzodiazepines are useful before, during and/or after the ibogaine dose if there is anxiety. If there is considerable anxiety some days after detoxification buspirone is better because of its low liability for addiction."

5. A number of authors comment on the issue of hydration or in the inverse dehydration. "Post ibogaine the drinking of water is very important. Initiates are requested to drink at least 3 liters of water a day. This is not only for the purpose of avoiding dehydration but, as it is the feeling of this author that ibogaine loosens toxins in the body and, they are excreted during the initiation and afterwards. The only vehicle to accomplish this is pure water."

On an issue of safety , states an author, "I would also include avoiding dehydration. Many subjects don’t feel like drinking for some time after ibogaine and if not reminded they would not drink a drop of water for more than 24 hours. This can lead to dehydration even without vomiting. With vomiting I would view the loss of liquids as threatening."

Continuing, another author states, "I have received patient reports that IV hydration is commonly used at the St. Kitts facility. This is not out of keeping with standardized procedures of hydrating patients undergoing surgery or chemotherapy."

6. Emesis or vomiting is a patient condition known to all ibogaine providers. Whether a provider believes there is benefit to vomiting as part of ibogaine therapy or ritual is moot if enough of the drug cannot be absorbed to allow the therapeutic experience. To that end various providers have indicated the use of subtances as diverse as ginger tea, gravol/dramamine (dimenhydrinate), motillium (domperidone) and reglan (metaclopramide). This author participated in research involving all except ginger tea and upon reflection am uncertain if dimenhydrinate or domperidone had any effect above that of keeping the patient motionless. Metaclopramide 20 mg IV was the only medication that immediately stopped vomiting in ibogaine patients. No determination was made of whether oral metaclopramide administered prior to ibogaine would have as significant an effect as the IV administration of the drug. I anticipate this should be determined.

7. "As to dose," one author comments, "given the modest dose range given in the manual (and I agree a publicly presented manual should lend itself to caution), the 15 – 20 mg/kg of body weight will tend to leave 5 – 10% of the opiate withdrawal symptoms. I suggest a test dose of 2 mg/kg of weight be given with an antinauseant an hour before a dose of 13 – 16 mg/kg. The effect of the 2 mg/kg "test dose" will usually produce slight euphoria which lends to a person being more amiable to receive the next and largest dose. Whereas, years ago, during the first series of sessions, after giving the full amount of 18 – 22 mg/kg that followed the 1 mg/kg "test dose", we found that giving a smaller amount of 13 to 16 mg/kg allows for more comfort for a person who is obviously less traumatized by the intensity of the first stage and more open to receiving a booster of 6 – 8 mg/kg 5 to 8 hours later. On occasion, only when necessary, we administer an additional booster of 3 – 4 mg/kg with 24 hours of the beginning of the session, usually during the early morning hours before sunrise. I have written only a synopsis here as there are reasons, exclusions, etc., every step of the way according to the psycho-physical reactions of the individual as the session progresses."

8. The use of a multi-dose regimen of ibogaine, over time, particularly for methadone, is in keeping with literature in the field (Kosten and Kleber, Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 1984;10(2):249-66) indicating physical withdrawal signs to methadone may be precipitatated as long as 14 days after the administration of methadone by a narcotic antagonist drug such as naltrexone.

Included herewith, is a report of a dose regimen used to treat a patient who had been receiving 300 mg of methadone per day, the highest dose of methadone dependence yet treated with ibogaine says one provider.

We have recently used the following regimen to clear a methadone dependent person who was taking 300 mg of methadone per day.

At 52 hours after the patient’s last 300 mg. methadone dose, we gave him 5,200 mg Indra extract.

Over the next 72 hours, the patient has no physical withdrawl as per usual (in other words, no diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, running nose, pounding headache) but felt miserable.

72 hours after the first dose of Indra extract, we gave him 100 mg Ibogaine Hydrochloride.

96 hours after the first dose of Indra extract, we gave him 100 mg. Ibogaine hydrochloride.

120 hours after the first dose of Indra extract, we gave him 3,800 mg. Indra extract.

168 hours after the first dose of Indra extract, we gave him 100 mg. Ibo HCI.

192 hours after the first dose of Indra extract, we gave him 100 mg. Ibo HCI.

By his 11th day here (12 days from his last 300 mg. methadone dose), he was bright, sharp, lucid, no slurring, no signs of any methadone, no withdrawal or craving or discomfort of any kind. Patient said "I like the way I’m thinking now."

Patient ate little in the 12 days. Lost 25 pounds. Looks robust, healthy skin. "On methadone, I gained 110 pounds" he commented". The ibogaine is returning him to his regular body weight I feel.

"Something should be said about dose and product," states another author. "First, some new guides, new to the use of ibogaine, may be confused in dose distinctions between HCl and extract. It would be a very unpleasant death, I suppose, with 4 or more grams of ibogaine HCl on board. Second, in my opinion 29 mg/kg of HCl is too much. I experimented with dosages in the range of 13 to 22 mg/kg and came to the following conclusion – 15 mg/kg is for the first time the optimal dose. It is effective for withdrawal and craving and for the vast majority of patients is neither too weak or too strong. Then, from the second treatment on (which I prefer to administer not earlier than 3 or 4 weeks afterwards) the subject can easily cope with 20 mg/kg and does not feel it as stronger than the first treatment."

PRODUCT IDENTITY

The proposal of discussion of ibogaine product identity particularly for the benefit of new providers and patients is certainly legitimate as three principal forms of ibogaine of diverse purities are in use in ibogaine therapy. These substances may be, a highly purified form of ibogaine, an extract of T. iboga, that may be as low as 90% or as high as 99% in purity. Most examples of these products are 95% pure ibogaine. These products are available from commercial chemical manufacturers or by custom manufacturing by qualified chemists in university laboratories. Purified ibogaine may also be obtained by direct conversion from voacangine. This product when available had been assessed at 99.4% purity. The second principal form of ibogaine currently available is a crude total alkaloid extract and contains a reported 15% to 20% total alkaloids of which half is ibogaine. As the other iboga alkaloids contained in the total alkaloid products are active, this material should be viewed as having a potency of 15% to 20% ibogaine equivalency depending on source and batch. These total alkaloid extracts have been supplied by sources in Denmark and Canada. The third form of ibogaine material is the crude plant root bark. Depending on potency, this product may contain from 1% to 6% ibogaine. Most root bark will be in the 2% – 4% range. Any person taking ibogaine or providing ibogaine to another person should be certain of the identity of the substance as confusion of purified ibogaine and a less potent total alkaloid extract might cause a fatal reaction or not be sufficient as a dose to interrupt chemical dependence.

While the initial discovery and early research with ibogaine principally used single doses in the 15 mg/kg – 25 mg/kg range of ibogaine, the expanding base of data being presented by ibogaine providers throughout the world propose multiple dosing regimens. These dose regimens make use of purified ibogaine HCl, total extracts and root bark though principally, ibogaine HCl and total extracts except in the African religious model. Doses considered by a variety of providers to be full therapeutic doses may vary from 15 mg/kg – 25 mg/kg for ibogaine HCl and from 3 gram to 5 grams for total alkaloid extracts for the treatment of chemical dependence. For the purpose of this discussion a full therapeutic dose of ibogaine is one that will precipitate all three stages of ibogaine activity in most but, not all patients: 1) The waking dreamlike state, 2) the cognitive evaluation period and 3) residual stimulation eventually leading to sleep. Depending on circumstance and patient need, full therapeutic doses may be administered in a multidose paradigm a week to months apart.

Adjunct dose levels of ibogaine may be mediate or low. A mediate dose would be 300 mgs to 400 mgs of ibogaine HCl or possibly 1.5 to 2 grams of total extract while low doses may be in the range of 25mg to 50mg total dose range for ibogaine HCl and 100 mgs to 300 mgs of total alkaloid extracts. Mediate doses are generally used to boost a therapeutic dose should opiate withdrawal signs become evident or in the cases of some providers for a broader set of issues. Low dose regimens have been implemented for periods of ten to twenty days after recovery from a full therapeutic dose for antidepressant, antianxiety or antiwithdrawal applications. These regimens have been used in the treatment of both opiate and stimulant disorders in furtherance of the full therapeutic dose of ibogaine. It must be recognized that providing ibogaine is an art and a science and that ibogaine providers will use a multitude of doses individually determined on a patient by patient basis in accordance with the experience of the provider.

For additional information, comparative dose and strength tables from the chapter by James and Renate Fernandez found in Vol. 56 of The Alkaloids series published by Academic Press (2001) are shown below.

Alper et al.

Ibogaine dose to facilitate personal growth and change:
10 mg/kg

Ibogaine single dose in self-help network for addiction interruption:
20 mg/kg

Animal studies for neurotoxicity:

Alternate daily dose ibogaine over 60 days [no toxicity]:
10 mg/kg

Ibogaine dose associated with no evidence of toxicity [but decrease in drug self administration:
40 mg/kg

Ibogaine dose associated with cerebellar damage:
100 mg/kg

Lotsof
(personal communication in preparation for ibogaine conference)

Ibogaine dose causing modest psychoactivity with euphoria, altered perception of time:
90-120 mg

Amount of ibogaine ingested by adept that would allow remaining centered enough to assist in initiation ritual:
200 to 300 mg

Ratio of fresh root scraping to dry root bark:
15/1

Proportion of   iboga alkaloids in dry root bark (50% ibogaine):
2 to 3%

Rounded teaspoon of root bark:
3 to 4 g

Amount   iboga alkaloids in rounded teaspoon per above calculations:
60 to 120 mg

Fernandez

Pick-up dose ,   iboga alkaloid content of 1 rounded teaspoon of dry root bark:
60 to 120 mg

Large dose for initiation into Bwiti, gradual intake of fresh root scrapings, maximal dose observed:
1000 g [one kilo]

Dose recalculated as dry scraping [1000/15]:
67 g

Content of   iboga alkaloids of the above quantity of root scraping, assuming an average 2.5%  iboga alkaloid content:
1.675 g

Total maximal Bwiti iboga alkaloid dose calculated per kilo of body weighty in small initiate weighing 50 kilos [hence a high estimate]:
33.5 mg/kg

POST IBOGAINE THERAPY

There is no clarity that any form of adjunct therapy administered during the post ibogaine period following acute ibogaine effects is more efficacious than any other form of adjunct therapy in prolonging periods of abstinence and freedom from drug craving. This is also in keeping with the findings in chemical dependence treatment of non-ibogaine patients. It is the hope of the authors that findings of significance concerning efficacy or advantages of one form of therapeutic modality over another may be addressed in future revisions of the manual. Provider contributions are encouraged.

One author indicates, as for post-ibogaine therapy we have found that it is essential for addicts to quit smoking tobacco. Nicotine has proven to act on receptors that cocaine and other drugs also effect. Statistics show that 90% of addicts smoke and nicotine can cause craving for other drugs. Many patients find that cigarettes taste different after ibogaine and we encourage them to quit by using nicotine patches and Wellbutrin (bupropion HCl).

A second author adds, "With regard to the question of suitable post-ibogaine therapy, my opinion, from personal experience and reading Bwiti literature, is that bio-energetics or other body-based psychotherapies are most useful. The Bwiti dance constantly on iboga in the regular group sessions at the temple (not during the high dose "initiatory" session, you can’t move as I’m sure you’re aware!) and I’m sure this is for a reason."

"My personal opinion, based on my experience of doing ibogaine, doing quite a bit of therapy afterward, and observing others who’ve done ibogaine with or without therapy afterward, is that there is sometimes a real problem with integrating the ibogaine experience properly and not simply at an ego-level. The tendency towards developing a ‘need’ for alternative belief systems to avoid bodily integration of the experience is, in my opinion, particularly marked in ibogaine users. (ie the individual NEEDS to believe something is true as opposed to being able to simply take or leave an idea)"

"Therefore body-based and emotional release therapies like primal, bio-energetics and encounter are probably highly synergistic with the ibogaine experience, in my opinion. My personal recommendation would be Humaniversity therapy, available at the Humaniversity up on the Dutch coast, and available to addicts as the Residential Addiction Foundation Program (RAF Program) lasting 3-6 months or longer."

Another author adds, "I constantly emphasize that to take full advantage of a session it is imperative to follow through with therapy. If the 12 step programs appeal to a person then, by all means incorporate the meetings into the post session program. A couple of ingredients apply specifically to people compelled to consume drugs. One, is they do not want to experience any level of pain, i.e. physical, emotional pain is to be avoided at any cost. The second insight is that a percentage somewhere in the 90’s have experienced a deep level of physical and/or emotional abandonment from the same sex parent. Individual therapy, which necessitates finding a same sex therapist to establish the therapeutic relationship which includes transference of initial role model issues within the framework of the relationship is most healing so that by the time the metabolite washes out of the receptors from the session, the deep issues which created the addiction to begin with from the role model relationship in question has solidly begun to be actively addressed. This crucial type of therapy is, to say the least a challenge to create because of the threat it imposes to the very core ego structure. And so in the name of therapy most people will find a counselor who they are comfortable with and not at all intimidated by. This type of talk therapy will not be sufficient."

A fifth author comments, "It’s frequent that addicted clients think that if they still feel some withdrawal effects or craving after more than 20 hours after ibogaine intake, then it didn’t work out for them and they tend to search for a dose of their drug of choice. The treatment provider must be aware that ibogaine often needs some days to stabilize its effects and therefore should heighten his immunity toward the addict’s heartbreaking performances."

"It is important to understand the differences between treating addiction as only a physiological medical condition and treating addiction with its related psychological and social issues. In spite of the fact that ibogaine is not far from being a miraculous treatment tool, the way it is generally used is highly ineffective and wastes ibogaine’s potential. I am talking about overnight treatments that do not include an integrated treatment program. Ibogaine simply needs to be incorporated into already existing addiction treatment networks and then it will show its real potential. "

And, a sixth author: "Private therapy is somewhat hit and miss. There are brilliant practitioners out there but not many with any ibogaine experience (if any)." "… bodywork is extremely important." "So for people that are disillusioned by therapists and group counsellors various forms of bodywork can be extremely effective – acupuncture, rolfing, breathwork (rebirthing or Grofs), dance and movement therapy. Anything that reconnects you with the trauma lodged deep in your body. If you have been addicted for years the ibogaine may bring the reasons for the distress to the surface but that won’t necessarily release them – especially if they are lodged deep – which is why the previously mentioned practices help."

"I would also suggest that a support group is extremely beneficial. Unfortunately no matter how much I tried I couldn’t get the people that I had seen to form an ibogaine support group and I think this would really help. I have seen it help on the ibogaine list. People able to talk to each other about their experiences on line. Perhaps this is the only way to do it but it would be good for example to have a group… that met once a month to talk about things."

"To conclude, no three day recovery program in itself can correct years of substance abuse. It is therefore essential to arrange follow up care. The ibogaine experience itself leaves you open and enthusiastic about creating changes in your life. Post treatment bodywork/counselling is essential, as it will help maintain this positive transformation and facilitate a deeper understanding and release of years of abuse."

While still another reflects, "I think it is important we not only reach for the most significant endpoint in offering ibogaine therapy but, view what we are doing from a harm reduction perspective and a pro-patient perspective in that anything that benefits the patients, short or long-term, should be viewed as a valuable outcome. I think it is universally accepted that multiple ibogaine treatments over time provide better results in most cases than a single administration. This is not to say that a single administration is not dramatic in its ability to interrupt an out of control addiction syndrome. I think it would be fortunate if ibogaine were a legally available medication through both social and private medical insurance programs. Availability coupled with normalization of addiction into mainstream medical treatment will offer the best outcome in our society which is medically directed. Under other circumstance, a religion would do just as well, and that is not to exclude the self-help group or association concept. From what I see of the suggestions of many of the authors, a belief system and the ability to take some action, to allow a sense of power and accomplishment are important."

Invitation to Contribute

Many questions for which we seek answers remain: How do ibogaine providers best care for ibogaine patients? The primary authors continue to seek a consensus from ibogaine providers and patients as well as, others working in addiction medicine. Is a consensus possible? That remains to be seen but, with each revision of the manual we may come closer.

Submissions should be made to Howard Lotsof. Accepted work will be incorporated into the next revision of this manual and the authors indicated as contributing authors to this manual or not, at their discretion. Revisions shall be made periodically.

APPENDICES

***********

NIDA DRAFT PROTOCOL

Rising Dose Tolerance Study using Single Administration to Assess Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of Ibogaine for the Treatment of Cocaine and/or Heroin Dependency

Developed/Issued

by

MDD/NIDA

(10/19/93)

Introduction Safety and Exclusion Criteria
Preclinical Studies
Exclusion Criteria
Psychological Assessments
Neurological Assessments
Opioid Withdrawal Assessments
General Physical Condition
Assessments During Treatment

Safety and Exclusion Criteria
[ introductory statements ]

To date, there is no published data from a controlled clinical trial that has assessed the safety of ibogaine in the treatment of drug addictions. Information from the anecdotal reports indicates there is a mild transient increase in blood pressure and a minimal effect on pulse and respiration.

To date, there is no published data from a controlled clinical trial that was conducted to assess the preliminary efficacy of ibogaine in the treatment of drug addictions. The initial observations of effects of ibogaine was a narrative account (L.A.C., 1991) of the results of taking ibogaine in the mid 1960s by seven heroin addicts, five of whom several days later reported no signs of withdrawal, abstinence, and no desire to take heroin.

Of the 7 clients in the mid-sixties, 6 received one treatment of ibogaine and the effects were that 2 resumed heroin use 24 hours later, one resumed heron use 5.5 months later and the remaining 3 were drug-free 6 months after receiving ibogaine. One subject reported receiving ibogaine 5 times and reported abstinence from: heroin use for 3 years, cocaine use for 18 months and amphetamine use for 6 months.

Of the 18 clients in a contemporary group, 17 received one treatment of ibogaine and one received 2 treatments. After ibogaine, two clients continued to take heroin and one resumed heroin use 5 days later. Six subjects were drug-free from 2 weeks to 18 months, but contact was lost with them. Two subjects were heroin-free for six months and were awaiting retreatment with ibogaine. One subject was cocaine-free for 3.5 years. The remaining 5 subjects were drug-free for 2-10 months.

Preclinical Studies on Ibogaine

Safety Issues

The most salient safety issue is contained in the findings of (O’Hearn et al., 1993) that when rats were administered high doses of ibogaine (100 mg/kg i.p.) glial cells in the cerebellum were activated, thereby suggestive of neuronal damage which the authors hypothesized were most likely the purkinje cells. [see additional documents #1 and #2]

Other safety issues about the effects of ibogaine are contained in the reports of: increased blood pressure and heart rate in conscious dogs and decreased blood pressure and pulse rate in anaesthetized dogs (Gershon and Lang, 1962), decreased blood glucose (ibogaine 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg) and increased blood glucose with higher doses in rats (Dhahir, 1971).

Safety Measures – Cerebellar Functioning

Prior preclinical studies indicated that the major safety issue with the administration of ibogaine is the remote possibility of lasting damage to the cerebellum, especially the purkinje cells. The repeated neurological assessments of cerebellar functioning in our subjects will consist of an extensive neurological examination that assesses most of the readily measurable dimensions of cerebellar functioning. The neurological examination was adapted from the application of comprehensive preclinical work on the cerebellum that was summarized in a book by (Ito, 1984) to contemporary texts on neurological examinations (Kaufman, 1990; Scheinberg, 1981). The major neurological signs that indicate cerebellar damage are: dysmetria (inaccurate targeting of goal-directed behavior), delayed movement initiation and delayed reaction time, dysdiadochkinesia (inability to perform rapidly alternating repetitive tasks), hypotonia (reduced muscle tone), disturbances in gait and station, and intention tremor. The check-list for the Neurological Assessment Battery will consist of 12 behaviors that will be evaluated by the following discrete categories of impairment: none, mild, moderate and severe. In addition, while on inpatient status, PET scans will be conducted during the inpatient phase 3 days before and 3 days after the Ibogaine session and during the one-year follow-up assessment battery.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients with a history of active neurological or psychiatric disorders, such as cerebellar dysfunction, psychosis, bipolar illness, major depression, organic brain disease or dementia, that require treatment or that would make study compliance difficult.

2. Patients who have a Beck Depression Inventory score greater than or equal to twenty-four.

3. Patients requiring concomitant medications that may interfere with a clinical trial or evaluation (e.g., anti-epileptic drugs, sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants, neuroleptics, methadone, meperidine, etc.) [A significant number of patients treated in the last decade outside of this proposed research study have been dependent on methadone, meperidine or sedatives].

4. Patients with a history of sensitivity or adverse reactions to the treatment medication.

5. Patients with a history of significant heart disease or a history of myocardial infarction.

6. Patients with blood pressure above 170 mm Hg systolic/105 mm Hg diastolic or below 80 mm Hg systolic/60 mm Hg diastolic or a pulse greater than 120 beats per minute or less than 50 beats per minute.

7. Patients who have a history of hypertension uncontrolled by conventional medical therapy.

8. Patients who have received any investigational drug within 6 months prior to entering the study. [The authors received a report of concurrent use of ibogaine and 5 methoxy di isopropyl tryptamine (5meo dipt) that precipitated a medical event of near fatal proportions requiring over a week of hospitalization. Additionally the patient was diabetic and did not monitor blood glucose levels.]

9. Patients who have received any drug known to have a well-defined potential for toxicity to a major organ system within the month prior to entering the study.

10. Patients who have clinically significant laboratory values outside the limits thus specified by the investigators laboratories.

11. Patients who have any disease of the gastrointestinal system liver or kidneys, or abnormal condition which compromises a function of these systems and could result in a possibility of altered metabolism or excretion of the study medication will be excluded. As it is not possible to enumerate the many conditions that might impair absorption, metabolism or excretion, the investigator should be guided by evidence such as:

A. History of major gastrointestinal tract surgery (e.g., gastrectomy, gastrostomy, bowel resections., etc.) or a history or diagnosis of an active peptic ulcer or chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract, (e.g. ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis, Crohn’s disease* or gastrointestinal bleeding).

B. Indication of impaired liver function.

C. Indication of impaired renal function.

12. Patients who test positive for HIV virus.

13. Patients with active tuberculosis.

Psychological Assessments

1. Interviews

A. Addiction Severity Index (ASI)
B. Diagnostic Interview Scale (DIS)

2. Questionnaires

A. Visual Analogue Scale cocaine craving (VAS)
B. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
C. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2)*

Neurological Assessments

1. Electroencephalography (EEG)

2. Neurological Assessment Battery

A. Coordination/tremor
      a. Finger-to-nose
      b. Finger-to-finger
      c. Heel-to-shin

B. Coordination/tremor, Repeated rapid alteration tests

      a. Palm/back hand slap knee
      b. Prone/supine forearm

C. Coordination /ataxia

      a. Heel-to-toe walking
      b. Romberg test (feet together, eyes open/eyes closed)

D. Muscle tone/hypertonia

      a. Resistance to stretch

E. Reflexes

      a. Acoustical startle
      b. Pupilary light reflex
      c. Vestibulo-occular reflex

Opioid Withdrawal Assessments*

1. Objective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (OOWS)*

2. Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS)*

General Physical Condition

1. History and Physical

2. Electrocardiogram (EKG)

3. Laboratory

Blood Work

      a. CBC DIFF
      b. AST ALT
      c. Hepatitis screen
      d. Thyroid panel
      e. SMA-18 profile
      f. CHEM-25

Urine

      a. Routine urine analysis
      b. Toxicology screen (positive for target drugs)

1. cocaine
2. morphine (heroin)
3. cocaine
4. ibogaine

Dermal Tuberculin (if positive or previously immunized, then chest x-ray)

Breathalyzer

Vital signs with weight

HIV test and counseling

Support staff and design of environment

Generally, the session room should be pleasant and the social interactions with staff members supportive. Pastel-colored walls, comfortable hospital bed, soothing murals, paintings or pictures, a comfortable chair for the staff member or therapist to constantly observe the subject during the ibogaine experience. Dim lighting and quite setting. Dialogue should be initiated by the patient. Reduce the need for walking by having a patient lavatory nearby.

Within this context, allow the patient to sleep and rest peacefully ad lib. Otherwise, when the patient is in the talkative phase, the staff member should attentively and unobtrusively attend to but not initiate conversation.

Assessments [during treatment]

Cardiovascular – Apply ambulatory pulse and blood pressure apparatus that is programmed to obtain and record digital quantities q 30 min for a 24 h period. Apply device just before dosing.

Neurological – Observe for the onset (that is time from the administration of ibogaine) for drug-related changes in neurological functioning (e.g., the onset of changes in speech patterns, nausea and vomiting)

Psychological – Observe and record what patients spontaneously say, Record the onset and duration of the somnolent phase.

Related Protocol Bibliography

Dhahir. A comparative study of the toxicology of ibogaine and serotonin. Doctoral Thesis. 1971. return to chapter

Gershon S., Lang W.J., A psycho-pharmacological study of some indole alkaloids. Arc. Int. Phamacodyn. 85, 31-62, 1962. return to chapter

Ito, M. The cerebellum and neural control. New York: Raven Press, 1984, Pp. 353-465. return to chapter

Kaufman, D.M. Clinical neurology for psychiatrists (3rd Ed.). Philadelphia: W.B. Sanders Co., Pp 18-20, 1990. return to chapter

L.A.C. Can a psychedelic drug cure drug addiction? The ibogaine story. Drugs, Toxic Chemicals and Health 6, 1-2, 1991. return to chapter

O’Hearn E., Long D.B., Molliver M.E. Ibogaine induces glial activation in parasagittal zones of the cerebellum. Neruroreport. 4, 299-302, 1993. return to chapter

Scheinberg P. Modern practical neurology; An introduction to diagnosis and management in common neurologic disorders (2nd Ed). New York: Raven Press 1981. return to chapter

***End NIDA Protocol Selections***

Additional Documents

1. An evaluation of ibogaine neurotoxicity, including abstracts of relevant papers. Return to chapter

2. Daniel Luciano MD describes neurological observations of treatment with ibogaine. Return to chapter

3. What’s in a blood test? (SMA-20). You are about to find out. Return to chapter

4. A good place to learn the terms used in blood test reports, their meaning and the significance to health related issues. Return to chapter

5. A CBC or complete blood count along with a differential that indicates the breakdown in the types of white blood cells offers a comprehensive view of blood chemistry in conjunction with the SMA-20. Return to chapter

6. A general review of cardiovascular disorders can be found at The Open Directory Project and at The Medical Center Online. The topic is also well covered in Section 16 of the Merck Manual Return to chapter

7. Everything you want to know about electrocardiograms if you could think of the questions. Return to chapter

8. This early report, Reflections on an Ibogaine Experience, provides an excellent treatment overview that includes concurrent ibogaine/heroin use by the patient. The survival of this patient should not be taken to indicate the survival of other patients under similar circumstance. Return to chapter

9. A copy of the Beck Depression Inventory is available as an FDA document. This page automatically downloads the pdf file of the beck depression inventory to your computer. PDF files require adobe reader programs that are available at no cost from Adobe return to chapter

10. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory MMPI-2 may prove a valuable tool in assessing pre and post-treatment behavior of patients. Return to chapter

11. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th. Edition, better known as the DSM IV, offers detailed descriptions of broad ranging psychiatric disorders. Return to chapter

12. Treatment of Acute Opioid Withdrawal with Ibogaine. Alper et al.’s review article of ibogaine effects on opioid withdrawal signs of subjects from the United States, The Netherlands and Panama over a period of three decades is now available as a downloadable PDF file. In order to read a PDF file you will require an adobe reader program from Adobe. Return to chapter

13. The early paper (1995) Ibogaine in the Treatment of Narcotic Withdrawal by Lotsof, Della Sera and Kaplan provides useful information on the comparative effects of ibogaine and narcotic withdrawal. Return to chapter

14. Ibogaine in the Treatment of Chemical Dependence Disorders: Clinical Perspectives offers an overall view of ibogaine therapy and what may be anticipated during treatment. Return to chapter

15. Frenken, an early ibogaine researcher provides her views on ibogaine therapy in An Ibogaine Treatment Protocol providing a view of the Dutch ibogaine self-help movement. Return to chapter

16. Nick Sandberg presents a thorough review of ibogaine safety, effects and history in his original work Introduction to Ibogaine return to chapter

17. A good place to begin to gain an understanding of a structured report form. Guidelines for psychiatric evaluations of Adults.     return to chapter

18. Catalogue of diagnostic questionnaries.     return to chapter

19. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale.     return to chapter

20. The Sexual Inequality of Drug Metabolism. The Scientist 16[6]:29.     return to chapter

21. Notes to Treatment Providers by H. Wells gives a view of ibogaine treatment issues in the United Kingdom.     return to chapter

22. Always of value, a medical encyclopedia.     return to chapter

23. "Merck & Co., Inc., is proud to introduce The Merck Manual of Medical Information–Home Edition.. This all-new publication is based on The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, Centennial Edition , commonly referred to as The Merck Manual, the textbook of medicine most widely used by health care professionals in the U.S. and worldwide. The Home Edition transforms the language of the professionals’ version into commonly used English while retaining the vital information about diseases, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment." The reader should review both volumes to determine which best meets your needs. "The Merck Manual of Medical Information–Home Edition, like all the Merck manuals and The Merck Index, is published by Merck & Co., Inc., on a not-for-profit basis. Copyright © 1995-2001 Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved."     return to chapter

24. How to Safely Use Ibogaine, a public document of the Iboga Foundation, a not-for-profit group in Slovenia approaching ibogaine use from a religious perspective.

Review articles describing the NMDA-receptor

1. The psychopharmacology of hallucinogens. Abraham, H.D., Aldridge, A.M. and Gogia, P. Neuropsychopharmacology 14:285-298, 1996.

Abstract: The strychnine-insensitive glycine site on the N-methyl-D- aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex is a target for development of a host of therapeutic agents including anxiolytics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, anti-ischemics and cognitive enhancers. In the present experiments, the discriminative stimulus effects of (+)-HA-966 [R-(+)-3-amino-1-hydroxypyrrolid-2- one), a low-efficacy partial agonist of the glycine site, was explored. Male, Swiss-Webster mice were trained to discriminate (+)-HA-966 (170 mg/kg i.p.) from saline in a T- maze under which behavior was controlled by food. Other glycine partial agonists, 1-amino-1-cyclopropanecarboxilic acid and D-cycloserine, fully substituted for the discriminative stimulus effects of (+)-HA-966 despite known differences in other pharmacological effects of these compounds. The glycine site antagonist, 7-chlorkynurenic acid, did not substitute for (+)- HA-966. Likewise other functional NMDA antagonists acting at nonglycine sites of the NMDA receptor also did not substitute: neither the high (dizocilpine) or low affinity (ibogaine) ion-channel blocker, the competitive antagonist, NPC 17742 [2R,4R,5S-2-amino-4,5-(1,2- cyclohexyl)-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid], nor the polyamine antagonist, ifenprodil, substituted for (+)-HA-966. Although the full agonist, glycine, did not substitute, this compound fully blocked the discriminative stimulus effects of (+)-HA-966. In a separate group of mice trained to discriminate 0.17 mg/kg of dizocilpine from saline, (+)-HA-966 produced a maximum of only 50% dizocilpine-appropriate responses. These data suggest that the discriminative stimulus effects of (+)-HA-966 are based upon its partial agonist actions at the strychnine-insensitive glycine site. Furthermore, the lack of substitution of compounds with phencyclidine- like effects (dizocilpine, ibogaine and NPC 17742) or sedative properties (NPC 17742 and (-)-HA-966) suggests that these side-effects may not be part of the subjective effect profile of glycine partial agonists

2. Ibogaine block of the NMDA receptor – in vitro and in vivo studies. Chen, K., Kokate, T.G., Donevan, S.D., Carroll, F.I. and Rogawski, M.A. Neuropharmacology 35:423-431, 1996.

Abstract: 1. Ibogaine, a proposed anti-addictive agent, has been found to interfere with the acquisition of a weak morphine-induced place preference. The present series of experiments determined if ibogaine would interfere with the expression of a previously established morphine (5 mg/kg) place preference. 2. A single injection of 40 mg/kg of ibogaine 24 h, 12 h or 4 h prior to the preference test (Experiment 1) or 80 mg/kg of ibogaine 24 hr prior to the preference test (Experiment 3) did not interfere with the expression of a morphine conditioned place preference. 3. Furthermore two injections of 40 mg/kg of ibogaine 48 h and 24 h or 24 h and 4 h prior to testing (Experiment 2) did not interfere with the expression of a morphine place preference. 4. Ibogaine appears to be incapable of attenuating the expression of a previously established one-trial morphine place preference. [References: 27]

3. [New therapeutic possibilities with low-affinity NMDA receptor antagonists]. [Review] [German]. Kornhuber, J. and Weller, M. Nervenarzt. 67:77-82, 1996.

4. The Effect of Ibogaine on Sigma Receptor Mediated and NMDA Receptor Mediated Release of (H 3) Dopamine. Sershen, H., Hashim, A. and Lajtha, A. Brain Res Bull 40:63-67, 1996.

Abstract: The indole alkaloid ibogaine has been suggested to have potential for inhibiting dependency on stimulant drugs. Radioligand binding studies have suggested possible multisite actions of ibogaine: affinity at the kappa-opioid, NMDA, and sigma receptors, with effects on dopamine (DA) release. To further investigate the multiplicity of sites of action of ibogaine and the presynaptic regulation of the DA release, the effect of ibogaine on NMDA- and sigma-receptor-mediated efflux of [H-3]DA was measured in striatal tissue from C57BL/6By mice. Striatal tissue was incubated in vitro with [H-3]DA and the effect on DA release was measured. Both NMDA (25 mu M) and the sigma receptor agonist (+/-)-pentazocine (20 mu M) alone increased the efflux of DA. (+/-)-Pentazocine (100 nM) did not inhibit the NMDA-evoked release. MK-801 (5 mu M) completely inhibited the NMDA-evoked release and inhibited the (+/-)- pentazocine-evoked release by 49%. Ibogaine (10 mu M) itself increased the efflux of DA; at 1 mu M it was without effect. Ibogaine (1 mu M) inhibited the NMDA-evoked release of DA by 31% and inhibited the (+/-)-pentazocine-evoked release by 48%. In addition, the level of basal release of DA obtained after the NMDA- or (+/-)-pentazocine-evoked-release remained higher in the tissue exposed to ibogaine throughout. The results suggest that sigma receptors can regulate the release of DA, along with an action at the NMDA receptor. We previously reported action of ibogaine at the kappa-opioid site. The elevated basal release of DA in the presence of ibogaine after NMDA-or (+/-)-pentazocine- evoked release may reflect the ibogaine-induced removal of the tonically active kappa-opioid system that acts presynaptically to reduce dopamine release. The kappa-opioid system also appears to be inhibitory on both the NMDA and sigma receptors

5. The Effect of Ibogaine on Sigma Receptor Mediated and NMDA Receptor Mediated Release of (H 3) Dopamine. Sershen, H., Hashim, A. and Lajtha, A. J Neurochem 66:S59, 1996.

6. Antagonists of the NMDA receptor-channel complex and motor coordination. [Review]. Carter, A.J. Life Sci 57:917-929, 1995.

Abstract: Glutamate receptor antagonists with selective action at the N- methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor are promising agents for the neuroprotective and symptomatic pharmacotherapy of various neuropsychiatric disorders. Although NMDA receptor antagonists of the phencyclidine (PCP) type are precluded from clinical use because of their psychotomimetic properties, amantadine and memantine have been administered to human patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease and spasticity for many years without serious adverse effects. The mechanisms underlying these differences in psychotogenicity of different NMDA receptor antagonist are currently being discussed. Different affinity to the PCP binding site of the NMDA receptor, region-specific pharmacology, as well as different binding profiles to neurotransmitter receptors other than the NMDA type glutamate receptor, most likely play a role in determining whether an NMDA receptor antagonist drug will be tolerated clinically or not. [References: 22]

7. The N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists phencyclidine, ketamine and dizocilpine as both behavioral and anatomical models of the dementias. [Review]. Ellison, G. Brain Res Brain Res Rev 20:250-267, 1995.

8. Properties of Ibogaine and Its Principal Metabolite (12 Hydroxyibogamine) at the mK 801 Binding Site of the NMDA Receptor Complex. Mash, D.C., Staley, J.K., Pablo, J.P., Holohean, A.M., Hackman, J.C. and Davidoff, R.A. Neurosci Lett 192:53-56, 1995.

Abstract: The putative anti-addiction alkaloid ibogaine and its principal metabolite 12-hydroxyibogamine appear to act at the (+)-5 methyl- 10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheten-5-10 maleate (MK-801) binding site in the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)- receptor cation channel. This conclusion is based on findings that both compounds competitively displaced specific [H-3]MK-801 binding to membranes from postmortem human caudate and cerebellum and from frog spinal cord. Ibogaine was 4-6-fold more potent than its metabolite and both compounds were less potent (50-1000-fold) than MK-801 binding to the NMDA receptor. In addition, ibogaine (100 mu M) and 12-hydroxyibogamine (1 mM) blocked (85-90% of control) the ability of NMDA (100 mu M, 5 s) to depolarize frog motoneurons in the isolated frog spinal cord. The prevention of NMDA- depolarizations in frog motoneurons showed use-dependency and was very similar to the block produced by MK-801. In view of the abilities of MK-801 to affect the responses to addictive substances in pre-clinical investigations, our results are compatible with the idea that the ability of ibogaine and 12- hydroxyibogamine to interrupt drug-seeking behavior may, in part, result from their actions at the MK-801 binding site

9. Noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists with fast open-channel blocking kinetics and strong voltage-dependency as potential therapeutic agents for Alzheimer’s dementia. [Review]. Muller, W.E., Mutschler, E. and Riederer, P. Pharmacopsychiatry 28:113-124, 1995.

Abstract: Our current knowledge of the structure and function of NMDA receptors is expanding at a rapid pace; however, advances regarding regulation of the supply of glutamate and its co- agonist, glycine, have been slower. While the anatomical sources and metabolic compartmentation of glutamate have been studied, limited efforts have been dedicated to defining the dynamics and compartmentation of the co-agonist, glycine. In fact, most investigators have made the assumption that glycine is freely available, via diffusion, for synaptic transmission at NMDA-type synaptic clefts. This assumption ignores the intricate inactivation mechanisms potentially involved in regulating synaptic levels of this amino acid and the recent descriptions of high levels of endogenous D-serine, another potential agonist of the NMDA-associated glycine receptor, in the brain. In this review, the relevance of these data and pharmacological experiments pertinent to the question of whether the NMDA- associated glycine receptor is saturated in vivo or not, is presented. [References: 62]

10. Neuroprotective properties of the uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist remacemide hydrochloride. [Review]. Palmer, G.C., Cregan, E.F., Borrelli, A.R. and Willett, F. Ann NY Acad Sci 765:236-247, 1995.

Abstract: There is a growing body of evidence that disturbances of glutamatergic neurotransmission may underlie the pathomechanism and cognitive deficits of Alzheimer’s disease. This review describes the potential use of low affinity, noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists in the treatment of this disease using memantine as an example. Evidence is presented indicating that this class of compound is neuroprotective in preclinical models of subchronic glutamate toxicity without producing side effects characteristic for other classes of NMDA receptor antagonist. This is attributed to their fast blocking kinetics and strong voltage dependency. Memantine also produces symptomatological improvement of cognition in animal models. The mechanism of action of this effect is still unclear but might be related to an enhancement of AMPA receptor mediated neurotransmission. In patients with dementia syndrome of various aetiologies, memantine produces a rapid onset, clinical improvement in various symptomatological deficits. [References: 90]

11. NMDA Antagonist Properties of the Putative Antiaddictive Drug, Ibogaine. Popik, P., Layer, R.T., Fossom, L.H., et al. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 275:753-760, 1995.

Abstract: Both anecdotal reports in humans and preclinical studies indicate that ibogaine interrupts addiction to a variety of abused substances including alcohol, opiates, nicotine and stimulants. Based on the similarity of these therapeutic claims to recent preclinical studies demonstrating that N-methyl-D- aspartate (NMDA) antagonists attenuate addiction-related phenomena, we examined the NMDA antagonist properties of ibogaine. Pharmacologically relevant concentrations of ibogaine produce a voltage-dependent block of NMDA receptors in hippocampal cultures (K-i, 2.3 mu M at -60 mV). Consistent with this observation, ibogaine competitively inhibits [H-3]1-[1-(2- thienyl)-cyclohexyl]piperidine binding to rat forebrain homogenates (K-i, 1.5 mu M) and blocks glutamate-induced cell death in neuronal cultures (IC50, 4.5 mu M). Moreover, at doses previously reported to interfere with drug-seeking behaviors, ibogaine substitutes as a discriminative stimulus (ED(50), 64.9 mg/kg) in mice trained to discriminate the prototypic voltage- dependent NMDA antagonist, dizocilpine (0.17 mg/kg), from saline. Consistent with previous reports, ibogaine reduced naloxone- precipitated jumping in morphine-dependent mice (ED(50), 72 mg/kg). Although pretreatment with glycine did not affect naloxone-precipitated jumping in morphine-dependent mice, it abolished the ability of ibogaine to block naloxone- precipitated jumping. Taken together, these findings link the NMDA antagonist actions of ibogaine to a putative ”antiaddictive” property of this alkaloid, its ability to reduce the expression of morphine dependence

12. Excitotoxicity and the NMDA receptor–still lethal after eight years. [Review]. Rothman, S.M. and Olney, J.W. Trends Neurosci 18:57-58, 1995.

13. NMDA and D1 receptors mediate induction of c-fos and junB genes in striatum following morphine administration: implications for studies of memory. [Review]. Sharp, F.R., Liu, J., Nickolenko, J. and Bontempi, B. Behav Brain Res 66:225-230, 1995.

Abstract: Although it has been known for several decades that the administration of amphetamines to experimental animals produces damage to monoaminergic neurons, the mechanism(s) underlying this neuropathology is unknown. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that various N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists can prevent the damage produced by the amphetamines. The purpose of this communication is to review the evidence which demonstrates the role of NMDA receptors in the neuropathology of neostriatal dopaminergic neurons produced by the amphetamines and to discuss how the action of the amphetamines may potentially affect NMDA receptor function. [References: 27]

14. The role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in dopaminergic neuropathology produced by the amphetamines. [Review]. Sonsalla, P.K. Drug Alcohol Depend 37:101-105, 1995.

Abstract: Phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine can induce a model psychosis in drug addicts and exacerbate the symptoms of chronic schizophrenics. The model psychoses these drugs induce mimic a variety of schizophrenic symptoms, including flattened affect, dissociative thought disorder, depersonalization and catatonic states. These symptoms can persist for prolonged periods and chronic PCP and ketamine addicts have persisting memory deficits. Dizocilpine (MK-801) is a simpler drug than PCP or ketamine in its actions, but it shares with both the property of blocking in a non-competitive manner the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) ion- channel. Behavioral observations and drug-discrimination studies in animals indicate that PCP and dizocilpine are similar in their effects and they both have a neurotoxic effect on neurons in posterior cingulate cortex. Recent studies have indicated that both of these drugs, when given continuously for several days, further induce neuronal degeneration in other limbic structures. These include brain regions of rats related to olfaction, associated limbic structures such as piriform cortex and posterior regions of entorhinal cortex and in it’s projections, through the perforant pathway, to dentate gyrus and other cells in ventral hippocampus. These degenerative consequences may be excitatory neurotoxic effects, for these compounds also induce an elevation in glucose metabolism maximal in just those structures where degeneration is observed and the degeneration involves entire cells, with all of their processes. It has been suggested these non-competitive NMDA antagonists induce an increase in firing rate in a limbic circuit which includes the perforant pathway. At least some competitive NMDA antagonists induce the same pattern of degeneration and altered glucose utilization. There is anatomical and functional evidence that alterations in these same limbic structures are present in the dementia syndrome manifested by some schizophrenics and most Alzheimer’s patients. This suggests that these non-competitive NMDA antagonists may provide a more complete model of psychoses and memory disturbances than previously recognized, in that they can mimic both persisting symptomatology and neuroanatomical abnormalities. While the neurochemical underpinnings of this effect remain elusive, it appears to be both age and sex dependent. Further studies of the mechanisms by which NMDA antagonists induce increased glucose utilization and neurotoxicity in these limbic structures may clarify these alterations in this simplified Papez- like circuit. [References: 140]

15. Discriminative Stimulus Effects of R (+) 3 Amino 1 Hydroxypyrrolid 2 One, ((+) Ha 966), a Partial Agonist of the Strychnine Insensitive Modulatory Site of the N Methyl D Aspartate Receptor. Witkin, J.M., Brave, S., French, D. and Geterdouglass, B. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 275:1267-1273, 1995.

Abstract: The strychnine-insensitive glycine site on the N-methyl-D- aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex is a target for development of a host of therapeutic agents including anxiolytics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, anti-ischemics and cognitive enhancers. In the present experiments, the discriminative stimulus effects of (+)-HA-966 [R-(+)-5-amino-1-hydroxypyrrolid- 2-one], a low-efficacy partial agonist of the glycine site, was explored. Male, Swiss-Webster mice were trained to discriminate (+)-HA-966 (170 mg/kg i.p.) from saline in a T-maze under which behavior was controlled by food. Other glycine partial agonists, 1-amino-1-cyclopropanecarboxilic acid and D-cycloserine, fully substituted for the discriminative stimulus effects of (+)-HA- 966 despite known differences in other pharmacological effects of these compounds. The glycine site antagonist, 7- chlorkynurenic acid, did not substitute for (+)-HA-966. Likewise other functional NMDA antagonists acting at nonglycine sites of the NMDA receptor also did not substitute: neither the high (dizocilpine) or low affinity (ibogaine) ion-channel blocker, the competitive antagonist, NPC 17742 [2R,4R,5S-2-amino-4,5-(1,2- cyclohexyl)-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid], nor the polyamine antagonist, ifenprodil, substituted for (+)-HA-966. Although the full agonist, glycine, did riot substitute, this compound fully blocked the discriminative stimulus effects of (+)-HA-966. In a separate group of mice trained to discriminate 0.17 mg/kg of dizocilpine from saline, (+)-HA-966 produced a maximum of only 50% dizocilpine-appropriate responses. These data suggest that the discriminative stimulus effects of (+)-HA-966 are based upon its partial agonist actions at the strychnine-insensitive glycine site. Furthermore, the lack of substitution of compounds with phencyclidine-like effects (dizocilpine, ibogaine and NPC 17742) or sedative properties (NPC 17742 and (-)-HA-966) suggests that these side-effects may not be part of the subjective effect profile of glycine partial agonists

16. The co-agonist concept: is the NMDA-associated glycine receptor saturated in vivo?. [Review]. Wood, P.L. Life Sci 57:301-310, 1995.

Abstract: Many structurally different, centrally active antagonists of the NMDA receptor-channel complex induce phencyclidine-like side effects in mammals which include head weaving, body rolling, sniffing and disturbances of motor coordination. The ability of these compounds to cause disturbances of motor coordination correlates directly with their ability to antagonize the NMDA receptor-channel complex in vivo. Although noncompetitive antagonists increase motility in rodents, whereas competitive antagonists do not, both classes of compounds appear to induce schizophrenia-like psychosis in human beings, and cause similar changes in a variety of different biogenic amine neurotransmitter systems in the limbic and motoric areas of the brain. The complex spectrum of behavioural effects observed after the administration of antagonists of the NMDA receptor-channel complex probably reflects the intricate nature of the interaction with positive and negative feedback loops of the motor circuit. Recent research indicates that the site of integration of this interaction could be the striatal medium spiny GABAergic neuron. [References: 160]

17. Regulation by neuroprotective factors of NMDA receptor mediated nitric oxide synthesis in the brain and retina. [Review]. Akaike, A., Tamura, Y., Terada, K. and Nakata, N. Prog.Brain Res 103:391-403, 1994.

Abstract: The glutamate transmitter system provides several benevolent/malevolent paradoxes. Glutamate itself serves vitally important functions in the CNS but has enormous neurodestructive potential. NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists protect many neurons against glutamate neurotoxicity, while injuring or destroying certain other neurons and inducing psychotic symptoms and memory impairment. Therefore, the challenge in developing protective therapies against glutamate’s neurodestructive potential is to find benevolent agents that are not malevolent as well. There are two possible approaches. One is to develop neuroprotective agents that are free from neuropsychopathological side effects; the other is to use NMDA antagonists even though they have neuropsychopathological side effects, but to use them in combination with other agents that block the side effects without producing side effects of their own. [References: 79]

18. Assessing structural changes in the brain to evaluate neurotoxicological effects of NMDA receptor antagonists. [Review]. Auer, R.N. Psychopharmacol.Bull 30:585-591, 1994.

Abstract: This article serves as an introduction to the following two articles which describe the effects of drugs that interact with N- methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors on a number of behavioral baselines. The discussion in the subsequent articles focuses on detailed examination of performance on complex learning tasks, although effects of drugs affecting NMDA receptors on simple learned and unlearned behaviors are also mentioned. This article will provide a framework for interpretation of the results reported. To that end, a short primer on the principles of behavior is provided, followed by a description of a number of behavioral tests and discussion of issues important for the interpretation of results from such tests. The behavioral baselines discussed are, for the most part, the specific tasks from which data are presented in the following reports. A few additional descriptions have been included to illustrate specific points regarding data interpretation. The examples discussed are not necessarily representative of behavioral endpoints used routinely in the assessment of the behavioral effects of drugs. A number of reviews are available to the interested reader (Cabe & Eckerman 1982; Heise 1984; Rice 1990; Thompson & Shuster 1968; World Health Organization 1986). [References: 23]

19. [Neuronal protection in neurologic diseases?]. [Review] [German]. Bahr, M., Eschweiler, G.W. and Dichgans, J. Nervenarzt. 65:355-360, 1994.

20. Effects of NMDA receptor antagonists on the developing brain. [Review]. Constantine-Paton, M. Psychopharmacol.Bull 30:561-565, 1994.

Abstract: Electrophysiologic responses to the glutamate agonist analogue N- methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) are enhanced in the developing nervous system compared to responses in the adult. Neurotoxicity mediated by comparable amounts of NMDA and its endogenous analogue quinolinate is more than 50 times greater in the 7-day-old rat brain than in the adult. NMDA antagonist drugs reduce this neurotoxicity with the same spectrum of activity with which they prevent injury from hypoxic-ischemic damage. The greater vulnerability of the immature brain to NMDA mediated injury is probably related to the enhanced role that NMDA mechanisms play in long-term potentiation and activity-dependent plasticity during development. [References: 54]

21. The impact of NMDA receptor antagonists on learning and memory functions. [Review]. Cory-Slechta, D.A. Psychopharmacol.Bull 30:601-612, 1994.

Abstract: The c-fos and junB immediate early genes (IEGs) were induced in neurons of the medial and ventral striatum following administration of morphine. The striatal induction of c-fos and junB mRNA and Fos protein was blocked by naloxone, the D1 dopamine (DA) receptor antagonists, SCH23390 and SCH39166, and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist, MK801. SCH23390 and MK801 did not block morphine induction of c- fos and junB in septum. Since the pattern of the morphine induction of c-fos and junB in striatum and nucleus accumbens was similar to that observed with cocaine and amphetamine [2,18,45, 51], these data support current concepts that limbic striatum and nucleus accumbens are among the brain regions that mediate drug abuse [9,10,23,27,49]. If it is true that D1 receptors activate the CRE (cyclase response element) and NMDA receptors activate the SRE (serum response element) in the c-fos promoter [1], then this data suggests that serial activation of mu opiate, NMDA and D1 receptors on different neurons is required to induce Fos in striatal neurons with D1 Moreover, concurrent activation of NMDA and D1 receptors is required for Fos induction in striatal neurons. The Fos induced by this simultaneous activation of NMDA and D1 receptors should lead to long-term changes of gene expression that might also be involved in changes of brain circuits that could form the basis for ‘memories’ relating to prior exposure to addictive drugs. [References: 51]

22. Neuroprotective NMDA antagonists: the controversy over their potential for adverse effects on cortical neuronal morphology. [Review]. Hargreaves, R.J., Hill, R.G. and Iversen, L.L. Acta Neurochir.Suppl.(Wien). 60:15-19, 1994.

23. [The phencyclidine-N-methyl-D-aspartate theory of schizophrenia: clinical applications]. [Review] [Hebrew]. Heresco-Levy, U., Elman, I. and Javitt, D. Harefuah. 126:598-601, 1994.

Abstract: Several types of lesions of the mature central nervous system (CNS), such as craniocerebral trauma or spinal cord trauma, may initiate secondary cascades, which may cause damage to primarily uninjured neurons. The exact mechanisms which cause neuronal cell death are still unknown. It has been suggested that retrogradely transported target-derived neurotrophic factors which are necessary for neuronal survival might be lacking after certain types of lesions. On the other hand, neurons might be damaged by calcium-overload resulting from excessive release of excitatory amino acids (EAAs) after trauma. The present review summarizes current concepts of post-traumatic neuronal cell damage with a focus on the putative neuroprotective role of calcium channel blockers and their interaction with glutamate mediated cytotoxicity, neurotrophic factors and free radicals. [References: 50]

24. Pharmacological evidence for a role of long-term potentiation in memory. [Review]. Izquierdo, I. FASEB J 8:1139-1145, 1994.

Abstract: The focus of this article will be on toxic symptoms associated with blockade of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of the glutamate receptor. We have been studying two parallel phenomena: NMDA-antagonist neurotoxicity (NAN) in rats and NMDA-antagonist psychotogenicity (NAP) in humans. These phenomena have a common denominator–NMDA receptor hypofunction, which is putatively a mechanism operative in schizophrenia. We have found that the NAN reaction in rats can be prevented by specific drugs that prevent NAP in humans and by certain antipsychotic agents, including clozapine, that ameliorate symptoms in schizophrenia. By studying mechanisms by which clozapine prevents the NAN reaction in rats, we hope to gain insight into mechanisms by which clozapine or other atypical antipsychotics ameliorate symptoms in schizophrenia. [References: 26]

25. Developmental aspects of NMDA receptor agonists and antagonists in the central nervous system. [Review]. Johnston, M.V. Psychopharmacol.Bull 30:567-575, 1994.

Abstract: Like all pharmacologic agents known, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist compounds have side effects. It is expected that neuroactive molecules have effects, including side effects, in the central nervous system (CNS). With NMDA antagonists in rodents, these side effects are remarkably focal in the cingulate and retrosplenial cortex. The salient features of NMDA antagonist neurotoxicity which should be underscored are hypermetabolism, lactate accumulation, neuronal vacuolization in aldehyde fixed material, and neuronal death in older rodents. The scope of this phenomenon must urgently be determined in non-rodent species, specifically primates. This is important from both a regulatory and neurotherapeutic point of view, since effective molecules having potential in human disease states may also have NMDA antagonist properties. [References: 27]

26. Amantadine and memantine are NMDA receptor antagonists with neuroprotective properties. [Review]. Kornhuber, J., Weller, M., Schoppmeyer, K. and Riederer, P. J Neural Transm.Suppl. 43:91-104, 1994.

27. The glycine site on the NMDA receptor: structure-activity relationships and therapeutic potential. [Review]. Leeson, P.D. and Iversen, L.L. J Med Chem 37:4053-4067, 1994.

Abstract: Age-related changes of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors have been found in cortical areas and in the hippocampus of many species. On the basis of a variety of experimental observations it has been suggested that the decrease of NMDA receptor density might be one of the causative factors of the cognitive decline with aging. Based on these findings several strategies have been developed to improve cognition by compensating the NMDA receptor deficits in aging. The most promising approaches are the indirect activation of glutamatergic neurotransmission by agonists of the glycine site or the restoration of the age-related deficit of receptor density by several nootropics. [References: 40]

28. Laboratory basis of novel therapeutic strategies to prevent HIV-related neuronal injury. [Review]. Lipton, S.A. Res Publ.Assoc.Res Nerv.Ment.Dis. 72:183-202, 1994.

29. Current concepts of ethanol dependence. [Review]. Littleton, J. and Little, H. Addiction. 89:1397-1412, 1994.

Abstract: NMDA receptor-antagonists were tested in dose ranges that have previously been found to produce anticonvulsant and anticataleptic (antiparkinsonian) effects in rats. Non- competitive NMDA receptor-antagonists had strong psychomotor stimulating effects, the competitive ones were weaker in this respect when given systemically. However, when locally injected into the striatum or into the nucleus accumbens, also the competitive NMDA-antagonists induced psychomotor stimulation. If at all, NMDA receptor-antagonists have rewarding effects, then they seem to be elicited only by the non-competitive NMDA receptor-antagonists. In maze tests, sensitive for hippocampally mediated learning, NMDA receptor-antagonists impaired learning. While non-competitive NMDA-antagonists produced learning deficits over the whole dose range tested, competitive ones were only effective at higher dose levels. [References: 33]

30. Therapeutic potential of NMDA antagonists in neurodegenerative diseases. [Review]. McBurney, R.N. Neurobiol.Aging 15:271-273, 1994.

Abstract: Alcohol dependence is considered to be divisible into two types (although the divisions between these are indistinct). These are psychological dependence, in which the rewarding effects of alcohol play a primary role, and chemical dependence, in which adaptive changes in the brain initiate punishing effects on withdrawal of alcohol, and suppression of these becomes the primary motive for using the drug. The neurochemical basis for the rewarding effects of alcohol may be the potentiation of GABA at GABAA receptors (causing relaxation) and release of dopamine from mesolimbic neurones (causing euphoria). The adaptive changes which cause the alcohol withdrawal syndrome are not known for certain, but alterations in GABAA receptors, NMDA receptors and voltage-operated calcium channels all have a claim. However, it is distinctly doubtful whether these all contribute to the negatively reinforcing effects of alcohol that are important in chemical dependence, although they may be important in other pathological effects of alcohol abuse. Current research badly needs better communication between basic scientists and clinicians to establish research goals and to improve current models. [References: 75]

31. Molecular pharmacology of NMDA receptors: modulatory role of NR2 subunits. [Review]. Molinoff, P.B., Williams, K., Pritchett, D.B. and Zhong, J. Prog.Brain Res 100:39-45, 1994.

Abstract: Memory processes and long-term potentiation (LTP) are blocked at the time of their initiation by antagonists of glutamate NMDA or metabotropic receptors, by drugs that hinder the activity of carbon monoxide or the platelet-activating factor, and by GABA type A receptor agonists. In the next 2 h, memory and LTP are accompanied by an enhancement of the activity of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and of protein kinase C, and are blocked by inhibitors of these enzymes. At the time of expression, memory and LTP are blocked by antagonists of glutamate AMPA receptors. The effects of drugs on memory are seen upon their infusion into areas of the brain known to be responsible for the storage and retrieval of declarative memories (hippocampus, amygdala, medial septum, entorhinal cortex) and are both task- and structure-specific. When put together with other pharmacologic findings, with lesion and recording studies, and with data on transgenic animals showing deficits of both memory and LTP, the data reviewed here lend strong support to the hypothesis that LTP in these brain areas underlies memory processes. [References: 66]

32. Glutamatergic treatment strategies for age-related memory disorders. [Review]. Muller, W.E., Scheuer, K. and Stoll, S. Life Sci 55:2147-2153, 1994.

33. Biochemical analysis of glial fibrillary acidic protein as a quantitative approach to neurotoxicity assessment: advantages, disadvantages and application to the assessment of NMDA receptor antagonist-induced neurotoxicity. [Review]. O’Callaghan, J.P.Psychopharmacol.Bull 30:549-554, 1994.

Abstract: This overview describes two effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists that are not strictly speaking toxic: There are no signs that cells are dying. Nevertheless, these antagonists, if applied for prolonged periods in young children, could permanently cripple normal brain function. Disturbing the function of the NMDA channel during development can severely disrupt the wiring of defined neural circuits. It also can disrupt the developmental upregulation of the receptor protein itself and possibly many other molecular components of the synapse. [References: 49]

34. Efficacy of clozapine compared with other antipsychotics in preventing NMDA-antagonist neurotoxicity. [Review]. Olney, J.W. and Farber, N.B. J Clin.Psychiatry 55 Suppl B:43-46, 1994.

Abstract: It has been reported that several uncompetitive NMDA receptor ion channel blocking agents (phencyclidine, ketamine, dizocilpine, dextrorphan) cause transient reversible vacuolation in neurons in the posterior cingulate cortex of rats. Similar effects have also been observed with competitive glutamate antagonists such as CPP, CGS 19755 and CGP 37849. This transient morphological change has been noted to be coincident anatomically with brain regions showing hypermetabolism after administration of uncompetitive NMDA receptor ion channel blockers and competitive glutamate antagonists. These results therefore indicate that the functional consequences of NMDA receptor blockade with competitive glutamate and uncompetitive channel antagonists are ultimately the same. These changes do not appear to be a prelude to irreversible damage except after relatively high doses of the receptor ion channel antagonists but they have given rise to concern over the safety in use of NMDA antagonists as neuroprotective agents. In contrast, vacuolation has not yet been demonstrated with agents acting at the glycine (L-687,414) or polyamine (eliprodil) modulatory sites of the NMDA receptor complex suggesting that agents acting at these sites may have a greater potential therapeutic window. [References: 20]

35. Neurotoxicity of NMDA receptor antagonists: an overview. [Review]. Olney, J.W. Psychopharmacol.Bull 30:533-540, 1994.

Abstract: Hypertrophy appears to be a universal response of astrocytes, a central nervous system (CNS) cell type, to all forms of brain injury. The hallmark of this response, often termed "reactive gliosis," is the enhanced expression of the major intermediate filament protein of astrocytes, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Reactive gliosis traditionally has been examined qualitatively by immunohistochemistry of GFAP. But, the widespread availability of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) now makes it possible to quantify damage-induced expression of GFAP as a potential biomarker of diverse neurotoxic insults. To evaluate this possibility, we administered prototype neurotoxicants to experimental animals and then assessed the effects of these agents on the tissue content of GFAP, as determined by a recently developed sandwich ELISA. We found that assays of GFAP reveal dose-, time-, and region-dependent patterns of neural damage, often at toxicant dosages below those that cause light microscopic evidence of cell loss or damage. No false positives have been seen following exposure to a variety of pharmacological agents at therapeutic dosages. With respect to NMDA receptor antagonists, we find that MK-801 causes a large dose-dependent increase in GFAP that, within the cortex, appears to be restricted to the retrosplenial zone. Among the advantages of the CFAP-based approach re its simplicity, objectivity, cost and the fact that the assay can be automated. Among the disadvantages are the need to perform brain dissections and the requirement for a time-course analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) [References: 18]

36. The putative anti-addictive drug ibogaine is a competitive inhibitor of [3H]MK-801 binding to the NMDA receptor complex. Popik, P., Layer, R.T. and Skolnick, P. Psychopharmacology 114:672-674, 1994.

Abstract: Ibogaine is a putative anti-addictive drug with potential efficacy for the treatment of opiate, stimulant, and alcohol abuse. We now report ibogaine is a competitive inhibitor (Ki, 1.01 +/- 0.1 microM) of [3H]MK-801 binding to N-methyl-D- aspartate (NMDA) receptor coupled cation channels. Since MK-801 can attenuate the development of tolerance to morphine and alcohol as well as sensitization to stimulants in preclinical studies, the reported ability of ibogaine to modify drug-seeking behavior in man may be attributable to a blockade of NMDA receptor coupled cation channels

37. Introduction to principles and procedures in behavioral testing. [Review]. Rice, D.C. Psychopharmacol.Bull 30:593-599, 1994.

38. Behavioural effects of NMDA-receptor antagonists. [Review]. Schmidt, W.J. J Neural Transm.Suppl. 43:63-69, 1994.

Abstract: The pharmacological inhibition of excitatory amino acid neurotransmission has evolved to be a major topic in neuropharmacology since enhanced synaptic action of glutamate and possibly other related neurotransmitters has been suggested to play a role both in acute neurological conditions such as ischemia and epilepsy and in chronic degenerative neurological diseases including Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. While antagonists at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type glutamate receptors include psychotomimetic and neurotoxic agents such as phencyclidine and MK-801, the aminoadamantanes represent a class of drugs which may be largely free of such actions and which have already been used clinically as antiviral and antiparkinsonian agents. Multiple in vitro studies have recently delineated the neuroprotective properties of amantadine, and of its more potent congener, memantine, which appear to mediate neuroprotection via inhibition of NMDA receptor- dependent glutamate activity. Thus, neuroprotection targeting glutamate receptors does apparently not have to be associated with prominent psychotogenicity, and the development and evaluation of new neuroprotective drugs will have to performed in consideration both of the relative safety and of the good clinical effect of the already known and established aminoadamantanes. [References: 94]

39. Structural requirements for the development of potent N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonists. [Review]. Bigge, C.F. Biochem Pharmacol 45:1547-1561, 1993.

40. Antagonists of excitatory amino acids and endogenous opioid peptides in the treatment of experimental central nervous system injury. [Review]. Gentile, N.T. and McIntosh, T.K. Ann Emerg.Med 22:1028-1034, 1993.

41. Pharmacologic regulation of the NMDA receptor-ionophore complex. [Review]. Johnson, K.M., Snell, L.D., Sacaan, A.I. and Jones, S.M. NIDA Res Monogr 133:13-39, 1993.

Abstract: NMDA and non-NMDA (AMPA/kainate) antagonists have potential in the treatment of a diverse group of neurological disorders associated with excessive activation of excitatory amino acid receptors. Here Michael Rogawski reviews recent progress in the development of therapeutically useful NMDA receptor channel blockers and a new class of selective AMPA/kainate receptor antagonists, the 2,3-benzodiazepines. Research on these novel noncompetitive excitatory amino acid antagonists has opened promising new avenues for the development of drugs to treat epilepsy, ischaemia, neurodegeneration and Parkinson’s disease. [References: 60]

42. Prospects for clinically tolerated NMDA antagonists: open-channel blockers and alternative redox states of nitric oxide. [Review]. Lipton, S.A. Trends Neurosci 16:527-532, 1993.

43. Heterocyclic modulators of the NMDA receptor. [Review]. Pellicciari, R., Natalini, B., Costantino, G., et al. Farmaco. 48:151-157, 1993.

Abstract: Ethanol, acutely, is a potent and selective inhibitor of the function of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor in primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells. The effect of ethanol can be reversed by high concentrations of glycine, and nonequilibrium ligand binding studies in brain membrane preparations suggest that ethanol may act by decreasing the frequency of ion channel opening. After chronic consumption of ethanol by animals, the number of NMDA receptors (measured by ligand binding) is increased in many brain areas. Similarly, NMDA receptor function is increased in cerebellar granule cells exposed chronically to ethanol. In the intact animal, this receptor up-regulation may be associated with ethanol withdrawal seizures, which are attenuated by uncompetitive antagonists at the NMDA receptor. In contrast to ethanol, barbiturates have a greater inhibitory effect at the kainate subtype of glutamate receptor than at the NMDA receptor. After chronic barbiturate ingestion, kainate binding is decreased in certain brain areas, while ligand binding to the NMDA receptor is increased. Overall, the pattern of brain area-specific effects of barbiturates on NMDA and kainate receptor function is quite distinct from that of ethanol. [References: 50]

44. Therapeutic potential of excitatory amino acid antagonists: channel blockers and 2,3-benzodiazepines. [Review]. Rogawski, M.A. Trends Pharmacol Sci 14:325-331, 1993.

Abstract: Several acute and chronic neurological diseases might be mediated, at least in part, via stimulation of excitatory amino acid receptors, such as the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Antagonists of excitatory amino acid receptors ameliorate neurotoxic damage in several animal models of these disorders. This review focuses on the potential for clinically tolerated NMDA receptor antagonists, with emphasis on agents that have been in clinical use for other conditions and that recently have been shown to inhibit NMDA receptor activity by a mechanism of open- channel block or redox modification. [References: 69]

45. Subtypes of NMDA receptors. [Review]. Stone, T.W. Gen.Pharmacol 24:825-832, 1993.

Abstract: Trauma to the central nervous system can lead to primary injuries occurring at the time of impact as well as secondary or delayed injury processes that can result from cellular hypoxia, oligemia/ischemia, edema and swelling, and intracranial hypertension that are manifested over a period of hours to weeks after the initial event. Although the mechanisms underlying delayed tissue injury are poorly understood, they appear to be associated with endogenous neurochemical changes resulting from traumatic nervous system injury. These neurochemical changes may include excessive neurotransmitter release, deregulation of ion homeostasis, and the synthesis, release, or activation of various "autodestructive" neurochemical factors. Experimental studies over the past decade indicate that these alterations mediate important components of the neurochemical cascade leading to central nervous system injury. Furthermore, pharmacologic manipulations of these neurochemical changes have been reported to attenuate secondary central nervous system damage, ameliorate neuronal death, and promote functional recovery after central nervous system injury. This article focuses on the role of excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters, endogenous opioid peptides, and magnesium in the pathophysiology of central nervous system injury and on the therapeutic manipulation of these systems to improve functional outcome after central nervous system injury. [References: 85]

46. Ethanol, sedative hypnotics, and glutamate receptor function in brain and cultured cells. [Review]. Tabakoff, B. and Hoffman, P.L. Behav Genet. 23:231-236, 1993.

47. [NMDA agonists and antagonists]. [Review] [Japanese]. Toki, S. Tanpakushitsu.Kakusan.Koso. 38:1863-1872, 1993.

Abstract: 1. Beginning with electrophysiological evidence for two populations of receptors for N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) which did or did not respond to the agonist quinolinic acid, evidence has grown for such subdivision. 2. Data from binding studies is consistent with differences between three NMDA receptors in the striatum, thalamus and cerebellum with respect to their preferences for agonist or antagonist binding and the modulation of binding by dizocilpine, cations and polyamines. 3. The recent isolation and sequencing of several different molecular species of NMDA receptor supports the view that at least two pharmacologically distinct sites exist, with the cerebellar receptor being unique in the brain. [References: 62]

48. Prevention of post-traumatic excitotoxic brain damage with NMDA antagonist drugs: a new strategy for the nineties. [Review]. Bullock, R., Kuroda, Y., Teasdale, G.M. and McCulloch, J. Acta Neurochir.Suppl.(Wien). 55:49-55, 1992.

Abstract: The design of new heterocyclic derivatives as modulatory agents at EAA receptors is described. In particular, the potent and selective activity at the NMDA receptor of trans-4- hydroxypipecolic acid-4-sulfate, as well as the neuroprotective properties of substituted thiokynurenates, a new class of competitive antagonists at the glycine site of the NMDA receptor complex, are reported. [References: 20]

49. Naturally-occurring excitatory amino acids as neurotoxins and leads in drug design. [Review]. Krogsgaard-Larsen, P. and Hansen, J.J. Toxicol Lett 64-65 Spec No:409-416, 1992.

Abstract: The triad of rigidity, fever, and elevation of serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, labeled ‘neuroleptic malignant syndrome’ (NMS), is a dangerous complication of neuroleptic drug treatment. Amantadine was introduced for the pharmacological management of NMS because of its beneficial effects in Parkinson’s disease which were attributed to direct or indirect dopaminomimetic properties of amantadine. While the dopaminomimetic effects of amantadine are weak under experimental conditions, recent studies have confirmed that amantadine is an antagonist at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type of glutamate receptor. Two lines of evidence suggest that amantadine or other NMDA receptor antagonists could be effective drugs for the reversal of NMS symptoms. First, glutamate antagonists restore the balance between glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems when dopaminergic transmission has been antagonized by neuroleptic drugs. Second, by virtue of their effects against rigor and spasticity, NMDA antagonists may reduce increased muscle tone and prevent rhabdomyolysis. In conclusion, NMS may be considered an iatrogenic excitatory aminoacid syndrome which is amenable to NMDA receptor antagonist therapy. [References: 53]

50. Does modulation of glutamatergic function represent a viable therapeutic strategy in Alzheimer’s disease?. [Review]. Lawlor, B.A. and Davis, K.L. Biol Psychiatry 31:337-350, 1992.

Abstract: Excitotoxic mechanisms due to overactivity of the amino acid neurotransmitters glutamate and aspartate maybe responsible for brain damage after injury. In this review we examine ischaemia and shear injury, which are relevant to human head injury. The opportunities for treatment using glutamate antagonist drugs are discussed. [References: 36]

51. A rationale for NMDA receptor antagonist therapy of the neuroleptic malignant syndrome. [Review]. Weller, M. and Kornhuber, J. Med Hypotheses. 38:329-333, 1992.

Abstract: Although glutamate dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), it is unclear which direction a glutamatergic strategy should take in this illness. Increasing glutamate function may enhance excitotoxicity and neuronal death, whereas decreasing activity in this excitatory amino acid pathway may impair memory processes. Pharmacological modulation of the different NMDA and nonNMDA receptor sites, together with the concept of an agonist versus antagonist approach, are discussed in this review. It would appear that a glutamatergic approach may represent a new and exciting option to pursue in the experimental pharmacotherapeutics of AD. [References: 75]

52. Excitatory amino acids in epilepsy and novel anti-epileptic drugs. [Review]. Chapman, A. and Meldrum, B. Epilepsy Res Suppl. 3:39-48, 1991.

53. NMDA receptor agonists: relationships between structure and biological activity. [Review]. Ebert, B., Madsen, U., Johansen, T.N. and Krogsgaard-Larsen, P. Adv Exp Med Biol 287:483-487, 1991.

Abstract: Recent data on the aptitude of adamantamines to inhibit or to stimulate glutamatergic (NMDA) neuromediation, to display anti- GABAergic and antiglycinergic components (by blocking the Cl- channel), on the one hand, and on the opposition of the central glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems, on the other, could suggest that the glutamatergic (NMDA) or the anti-NMDA activity, exhibited by some adamantamines, could play an important role in the expression of their pharmacological profile. Anti-NMDA properties, for the adamantamines which exhibited them, could be, by themselves or by developing their anti-GABAergic or antiglycinergic components, the first cause of the hypermotility and dopaminomimetic activity induced by these molecules. Glutamatergic (NMDA) component, which could be displayed by some lipophilic or important steric obstruction on azote exhibiting adamantamines, could amplifie the excitating effects of their anti-GABAergic and antiglycinergic components on the limbic system’s brain structures (hippocampus, amygdala) and could contribute to the exhibition of hypomotility, fright, agressivity and convulsions. According to these data, which must be amplier confirmed and deeped, it would be possible to envisage the improvement of adamantamines against the Parkinson’s disease (when they exhibit anti-NMDA activity) or their use against the Alzheimer’s disease and the late stages of the Parkinson’s disease (when they exhibit NMDA activity). [References: 75]

54. N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease [see comments]. [Review]. Greenamyre, J.T. and O’Brien, C.F. Arch.Neurol. 48:977-981, 1991.

55. Competitive antagonism of glycine at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. [Review]. Huettner, J.E. Biochem Pharmacol 41:9-16, 1991.

56. Autoradiographic assessment of the effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists in vivo. [Review]. McCulloch, J. and Iversen, L.L. Neurochem Res 16:951-963, 1991.

57. Phencyclidine, NMDA receptor and schizophrenia. [Review]. Nishikawa, T., Tanii, Y., Umino, A., et al. Yakubutsu.Seishin.Kodo. 11:65-69, 1991.

Abstract: Current long-term treatment of Parkinson’s disease is inadequate, and improved symptomatic and neuroprotective therapies are needed. Recent interest has focused on the use of antagonists of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor in Parkinson’s disease. Abnormally increased activity of the subthalamic nucleus is postulated to play a central pathophysiological role in the signs of Parkinson’s disease, and NMDA antagonists may provide a means of decreasing this activity selectively. Like dopaminergic agonists, NMDA antagonists can reverse the akinesia and rigidity associated with monoamine depletion or neuroleptic-induced catalepsy. Very low doses of NMDA antagonists markedly potentiate the therapeutic effects of dopaminergic agonists. There is evidence that the beneficial effects of anticholinergic drugs and amantadine may be mediated, in part, by NMDA receptor blockade. Moreover, NMDA antagonists provide profound protection of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra in the MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine) and methamphetamine models of Parkinson’s disease. The clinical use of NMDA antagonists may prove useful in Parkinson’s disease to treat symptoms and retard disease progression. [References: 72]

58. Effects of quinolinic and kynurenic acids on central neurons. [Review]. Stone, T.W. and Connick, J.H. Adv Exp Med Biol 294:329-336, 1991.

59. [Action mechanism of adamantamines: do their activity on glutamatergic receptors intervene in the expression of their pharmacological profile?]. [Review] [French]. Vamvakides, A. Ann Pharm.Fr. 49:249-257, 1991.

60. Sites for antagonism on the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channel complex. [Review]. Wong, E.H. and Kemp, J.A. Annu.Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 31:401-425, 1991.

61. Measuring and controlling the extracellular glycine concentration at the NMDA receptor level. [Review]. Ascher, P. Adv Exp Med Biol 268:13-16, 1990.

62. Do NMDA antagonists protect against cerebral ischemia: are clinical trials warranted?. [Review]. Buchan, A.M. Cerebrovasc.Brain Metab.Rev 2:1-26, 1990.

Abstract: There is considerable interest in the development of NMDA antagonists as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of convulsant, neurodegenerative and anxiety disorders. Because the clinical use of phencyclidine (PCP) has been precluded by its psychotomimetic effects and abuse potential, there has been concern that other NMDA antagonists including those acting competitively might produce similar untoward effects. However, the studies in animals, reviewed here by Joyce Willetts, Robert Balster and David Leander, suggest that while there are certain similarities in the behavioral effects of PCP-like and competitive antagonists, there are also differences. These differences have implications for the development of NMDA antagonists with less likelihood for producing PCP-like side- effects. [References: 42]

63. Quinoxalinediones as excitatory amino acid antagonists in the vertebrate central nervous system. [Review]. Davies, S.N. and Collingridge, G.L. Int.Rev Neurobiol. 32:281-303, 1990.

64. CGP 37849 and CGP 39551: novel competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists with potent oral anticonvulsant activity. [Review]. Fagg, G.E., Olpe, H.R., Schmutz, M., et al. Prog.Clin.Biol Res 361:421-427, 1990.

Abstract: Perinatal cerebral asphyxia, which results in significant neurologic and cognitive disabilities in infants and children, remains a major health problem. Potential neurologic sequelae include cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and epilepsy. Over the next few years, neuroprotective agents that prevent asphyxial neuronal injury and death are likely to be developed. These agents may also be effective in prophylaxis and treatment of chronic neurologic disorders, including epilepsy and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington disease. [References: 50]

65. Results of N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists in perinatal cerebral asphyxia therapy. [Review]. Ford, L.M. Pediatr.Neurol. 6:363-366, 1990.

66. Therapeutic potential of NMDA receptor antagonists as neuroprotective agents. [Review]. Foster, A.C., Gill, R., Iversen, L.L., Kemp, J.A., Wong, E.H. and Woodruff, G.N. Prog.Clin.Biol Res 361:301-329, 1990.

67. The behavioral pharmacology of NMDA receptor antagonists [see comments]. [Review]. Willetts, J., Balster, R.L. and Leander, J.D. Trends Pharmacol Sci 11:423-428, 1990.

 

Documentary maker may film his own death

by admin on Tuesday, January 18th, 2011 | Comments Off

AN ACCLAIMED documentary maker has admitted that he is prepared to die while filming himself taking a powerful hallucinogenic drug that has been hailed as a cure for addiction but linked to a number of deaths around the world.

David Graham Scott, who is based in Glasgow, said that he will take the controversial drug, ibogaine, in a film that will form the final part of his trilogy on Scotland’s drugs culture. In the documentary, provisionally titled The Quick Fix, Scott intends to overcome his own methadone addiction, which he says has plagued him since he stopped using street heroin and prescribed drugs 15 years ago.

Under the supervision of colleagues who are working to set up an ibogaine clinic in London, and a recording team, Scott will be filmed next month undergoing an intense 36-hour hallucinogenic “trip”, from which he hopes to emerge free from his addiction. Although the substance is legal in the UK, where it is classed as an unlicensed, experimental drug, there are wider concerns over its safety. The drug has been banned in the US, Belgium and Switzerland and experts also say that in recent years ibogaine is known to have contributed to at least four deaths in Europe.

Last year, a 35-year-old woman died after taking 500mg of the drug during an informal ibogaine session in Germany. In 2001, an inquest in London into the case of JW, a 40-year-old heroin addict, ruled that the man had died principally from a fatal reaction to the drug.

But with advocates of the substance claiming it is a “magic bullet” for addicts, the Bafta-nominated film-maker says he now plans to put the claims to the test and undergo the treatment as an experiment to get himself clean.

He said: “There is always a chance that there could be some permanent damage or that it could kill you. But I think the positive factors outweigh the negative aspects. I have found methadone impossible to come off. I am doing this because I can’t stand being an addict anymore. This will be my personal story about taking ibogaine.”

The Quick Fix comes after two films in which Scott examined the issue of drugs and his own reasons for becoming embroiled in Britain’s drug culture in the 1980s. In Little Criminals, Scott spent 1999 filming a group of heroin addicts in and around Glasgow. The film, distributed internationally at film festivals by Scottish Screen, also won him a Bafta new talent nomination last year. Beyond The Highlands, screened by STV in 2002, attempted to answer the question of why Scott, originally from Caithness, turned his back on his rural upbringing and embraced Edinburgh’s underground heroin culture.

“This will be a film that shows how the daily routines that an addict has to face demeans them. I also want this to open up the debate about how society treats addicts and to ask questions about alternatives to the methadone programme,” explained Scott.

“There is ample evidence that ibogaine treatment works and that should be explored further. If I make this film and find that it does work there are serious questions that the government is required to answer about its current drug policy. If anything goes wrong, it will be my sole responsibility.”

Scott, now 41, said he first began researching the effects of ibogaine in the mid-1990s. However, with the only legitimate detox programmes available in a limited number of countries, including Panama, Costa Rica and Italy, and costing thousands of pounds, it was not a feasible option. His unofficial ibogaine detox will cost him just under (pounds) 500.

Once under the effects of the drug, extracted from the root bark of a west African plant and used in spiritual rituals in parts of Gabon, Scott hopes to re-evaluate his life experiences. Less than one gram of ibogaine is said to produce stimulant and aphrodisiac effects. Up to three grams produces a mellow euphoric trip during which the user may experience various hallucinations. Up to six grams, the maximum safe dosage, produces powerful near-death experiences.

Those taking the highest doses of ibogaine report that they first enter a dream-like phase that lasts several hours and consists of vivid visions of past memories. The second consists of high levels of analytical mental activity to comprehend the reasons why they drifted into drug-using.

However, Deborah Mash, a professor of neurology at the University of Miami, a world authority on ibogaine, warned of the dangers of taking the drug outwith a strictly regulated environment.

“It should only be taken in the presence of trained medical staff who can administer drugs or revive someone if they get into difficulty.”

 

SCIENCE

Ibogaine lab research
Ibogaine clinical research and experience
Seminars, conferences and presentations
Social sciences
Patents
Other articles

Ibogaine: The Book

• Following the New York University School of Medicine’s International Ibogaine Conference held in 1999, Drs. Kenneth R. Alper of NYU and Stanley D. Glick of the Albany Medical College edited submissions and additions of the proceedings now published by Academic Press.The Alkaloids, Volume 56 brings together the world’s experts on ibogaine. This book represents the state of the art. View the Table of Contents from where you can link to individual PDF files of each of the book’s 16 chapters and index.
• By special permission of Academic Press The Ibogaine Dossier presents A Contemporary History of Ibogaine in the United States and Europe. The chapter by Kenneth R. Alper, Charles D. Kaplan and Dana Beal portrays the amazing and exciting story of ibogaine development. This selection is of Chapter 14, Volume 56, The Alkaloids, Ibogaine: Proceedings of the First International Conference.

Ibogaine lab research

• The Ibogaine Dossier continues its historical document collection with the seminal literature review of ibogaine, opioid and stimulant interaction, providing a long unavailable copy of the 1984 Literature Report by Doris H. Clouet, Assistant Director, Testing and Research Laboratory, New York State Drug Abuse Control Commission, Brooklyn, New York. The 1984 Report was supported by a grant of the Dora Weiner Foundation to Dr. Clouet and reviews early literature not readily availale elsewhere. We therefore present The Clouet Report – 1984. The Clouet Report was the first document used to garner scientific support for the use of ibogaine in the treatment of substance use and dependence disorders. Clouet’s review includes thirty peer reviewed papers published between the 1950s and 1980s. The report is in PDF format.
• A Chronology of Selected Abstracts, Ibogaine: Rapid Method for the Interruption of the Narcotic Addiction Syndrome. The Chronology is an excellent collection of abstracts relating to the use of ibogaine in the treatment of narcotic dependence as well as, addressing safety issues. The document was originally presented at the 20th conference of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) held in Orlando in October 2004. It is also available as a downloadable PDF document file. PDF files require an Adobe Reader. I you don’t have one, a free version may be obtained from Adobe.
• An important paper by Stanley Glick and Isabelle Maisonneuve in PDF format Mechanisms of antiaddictive actions of ibogaine
• Pharmacology of Ibogaine and Ibogaine-Related Substances. A review by Piotr Popik and Phil Skolnick. Appeared as Chapter 3 in "THE ALKALOIDS", Vol.52, 1998.
• Selected abstracts 18-Methoxycoronaridine and some full-text papers. Review data on this synthetic iboga alkaloid congener developed by the Albany Medical College research group.
• Ibogaine is one of the psychoactive indole alkaloids isolated from the shrub, Tabernanthe iboga. Preclinical studies demonstrate that ibogaine reduces self-administration of both cocaine and morphine, as well as attenuates the symptoms of morphine withdrawal. Several anecdotal observations in humans seem to support the hypothesis that ibogaine may have antiaddictive properties.
  Now available online: a review article by Piotr Popik and Stanley Glick.
• Ibogaine a brief history. This easy to read review summarizes the qualities of Ibogaine. It includes research conducted in 1995 and 1996.
• An evaluation of ibogaine neurotoxicity, including abstracts of relevant papers.
• The Ibogaine bibliography. References to over 130 scientific articles, most with abstract. Now with coverage of NMDA-receptor review articles. The NMDA-receptor complex has been implicated in the ‘psychological dependence’ pathway.
• A number of articles have been selected to appear in our special abstracts section because of their thought provoking content.
• In continuation of the Ibogaine Dossier’s Historical Document Project we are pleased to present an English translation of the first paper published on the extraction and identification of ibogaine. The authors, in fact, named the alkaloid in their 1901 publication: Concerning Iboga, its excitement-producing properties, its composition, and the new alkaloid it contains, ibogaine by J. Dybowski and Ed. Landrin. Also available in PDF format. This article is presented for historical value and not scientific accuracy as much has been learned about ibogaine and its use since 1901.

Ibogaine clinical research and experience

• The Ibogaine Medical Subculture by Kenneth R. Alper, Howard S. Lotsof and Charles D. Kaplan is available in web page format. For your pleasure and information we present The Ibogaine Medical Subculture published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. The paper is also available in its original pdf format
• The first long-term study of ibogaine effects. Udi Bastiaans’ paper, Life After Ibogaine discusses the medical, psychological, social and legal history of patients treated with ibogaine. This report is in PDF format.
• A report by Howard Lotsof on dose and dose regimens for both ibogaine HCl and total alkaloid extracts in PowerPoint slide show format: Ibogaine Therapy: Forms and Dose Regimens
• Ibogaine therapy has emerged in the last twenty years as a viable option for the treatment of chemical dependence. The Manual for Ibogaine Therapy – Second Revision by Lotsof and Wachtel is intended for ibogaine providers who are concerned with patient safety and the outcome of Ibogaine treatments. The manual presents medical safety data and clinical discussions with links to additional resources. Now also available as The Ibogaine Manual in PDF format. Just click to download. Includes active links.
• Ibogaine, Trauma and Abreaction: The Treatment of Chemical Dependence.H.S. Lotsof, C.A. Smith F., J. Bastiaans; presented at 40th International Conference on the Prevention and Treatment of Dependencies, ICAA, Amsterdam, 1996.
• Sometimes the ability to understand a subject comes from being able to understand its beginnings. We are now able to provide a copy of Reaching a State of Wellness: Multistage Explorations in Social Neuroscience This paper by Charles D. Kaplan’s Erasmus University Rotterdam working group provides insight into the early Dutch addict self-help ibogaine scene with a comparison to traditional Tibetan medicine.
• Treatment of Acute Opioid Withdrawal with Ibogaine. Alper et al.’s review article of ibogaine effects on opioid withdrawal signs of subjects from the United States, The Netherlands and Panama over a period of three decades. A downloadable PDF file is also available.
• We are pleased to present Ibogaine: Fantasy and Reality , Claudio Naranjo’s chapter on ibogaine from his out of print book, The Healing Journey. A new Introduction by Naranjo as well as a Foreword by Lotsof are included.
• Long unavailable, Claudio Naranjo, M.D.’s paper, Psychotherapeutic Possibilities of New Fantasy-Enhancing Drugs is now available thanks to the Canadian Research Knowledge Network. Naranjo’s paper was the first to report outside of Africa of the psychotherapeutic benefits of ibogaine.
• A Preliminary Investigation of Ibogaine: Case Reports and Recommendations for Further Study. A peer reviewed Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment article.
• Daniel Luciano MD describes observations of treatment with ibogaine
• Ibogaine in the treatment of chemical dependence disorders: clinical perspectives (A Preliminary Review) H.S. Lotsof. The primary purpose of this paper is to provide general information to the clinician who will be using ibogaine in the treatment of addiction.
• Alexander Shulgin and Ann Shulgin’s description of ibogaine is scientific but engaged. "Here is an example of a most remarkable material that has allowed people to have some rather complex and dramatic experiences." An excerpt from their book Tihkal, the sequel to Pihkal, a Chemical Love Story.
• A fascinating account by Sarah Emanon, a psychotherapist who speaks about her own experiences with ibogaine – both as a facilitator and as an experiencer- and her plans to direct an ibogaine clinic in Central America. Interviewer is Primal Therapist Donald A. Allan.
• Deborah Mash answers Frequently Asked Questions about ibogaine research.
• Ibogaine in Drug Detoxification. From Preclinical Studies to Clinical Trials
  Deborah C. Mash, Ph.D.
• Phase I trial conducted at the University of Miami. Juan Sanchez-Ramos, Ph.D., M.D. and Deborah Mash, Ph.D.
• Ibogaine, een oplossing voor het verslavingsprobleem? A literature review in dutch.
• Stephen Snelders. Het gebruik van psychedelische middelen in de jaren zestig.
  Netherlands Hallucinogen Research (in dutch)
• Netherlands Hallucinogen Research 1950 – 1970
  (in english)
  Stephen Snelders
• Ibogaine in the treatment of narcotic withdrawal
  H. S. Lotsof, E. Della Sera, C.D. Kaplan
• Pharmacodynamics and therapeutic applications of iboga and ibogaine
  For the Frenchlanguage version. Robert Goutarel[Biographical notes]
• The Necessity of Addict Self-Help Involvement in Ibogaine Treatment Procedures.
  INTASH

Seminars, conferences and presentations

• A Calendar of ibogaine conferences, forums and meetings is now available. Conference presentations are listed immediately below.
  1. Kenneth R. Alper reviews the Significance of Unofficial Ibogaine Treatment Scenes.. A PowerPoint presentation.
  2. Rick Doblin’s presentation A Non-Profit Approach to Developing Ibogaine into an FDA-Approved Medication. An excellent how-to manual for drug development. A PowerPoint presentation.
  3. Comparative Development of Ibogaine, Methadone and Buprenorphine. H.S. Lotsof’s presentation from the NYC Iboga and Ibogaine Forum. A historical review of why the government backed the development of some medications and not others. A PowerPoint presentation.
  4. What does the future hold? One vision is 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC). Jon Friedlander provides his PowerPoint presentation 18-MC: A Review
• The Conference on Ibogaine will be held on November 5 and 6, 1999 at the New York University School of Medicine. It is the first meeting to be devoted to the subject of ibogaine to be held at a US academic medical center.
• The Lindesmith Center Drug Policy Seminars, Winter 1998. March 2: Ibogaine Treatment. The feasibility and effectiveness of ibogaine in treating chemical dependence.
• Innovative approaches for the treatment of substance abuse for the twenty-first century. U.S. Probation Symposium, New York, June 5, 1997.
• ICAA 1996 AMSTERDAM. Speakers & abstracts.
  The 1996 International Institute on the Prevention and Treatment of Dependencies Conference Ibogaine Sessions. Meet the researchers and listen to their most recent hypotheses.

  Social sciences

  • The Danish Drug Users Union (BrugerForeningen) hosted drug user advocates from around the world to celebrate International Drug Users Day and the Conference on Drug User Activism. Concurrent to these events were the General Assembly of the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD) and the fifteenth anniversay celebration of the Danish Drug Users Union. Among the presentations given during the conference was a unique ibogaine slide show directed towards those who would benefit most from ibogaine. Please see: The Ibogaine Community Worldwide – User to User.

  • While the majority of the people of Gabon are familiar with the Bwiti religon and its sacrament Iboga, very few are familiar with ibogaine science. Howard Lotsof, the discoverer of ibogaine’s antiaddictive effects now presents that information. The PowerPoint slide show is available both in english and french. Please see: Iboga and Ibogaine: From the Forest to the Laboratory or L’iboga et l’ibogaïne:  De la forêt au laboratoire

  • Sacrament of Transition (SofT) Protocol for Ibogaine Initiations, a report authored by Anže Tavčar presents information on this European ibogaine based religion not previously available. The report is provided in both a web page format and in a PDF format

  • Bwiti: An Ethnography of the Religious Imagination in Africa by James W. Fernandez contains a superb account of the ibogaine experience in the West-African Bwiti society. We are extremely happy to have the complete Chapter 18 available online.Introduction by Howard S. Lotsof

  • The Religion of Iboga or the Bwiti of the Fangs by P. Barabe, Chief physician, Professor of Tropical Medicine.

  • Pharmacodynamics and therapeutic applications of iboga and ibogaine Robert Goutarel [Biographical notes]     For the French language version of this article.

  • Georgio Samorini’s The Bwiti Religion and the psychoactive plant Tabernanthe iboga (Equatorial Africa). Originally published in Integration, 5: 105-114.

  Patents

  • Jurg Schneider’s Patent assigned to Ciba (PDF file) Tabernanthine, Ibogaine Containing Analgesic Compositions
  • Rapid Method for Interrupting the Narcotic Addiction Syndrome
  • Rapid method for interrupting or attenuating poly-drug dependency syndromes
  • Compositions for the treatment of hepatitis C – a patent application (PDF file)

  Other articles

  • A chronology of psycho-active substance use.

  

NYU Conference on Ibogaine Nov 5-6, 1999

T. iboga roots

Ibogaine Treatment

The philosophy of the editors of the Ibogaine Dossier is to offer a very diverse collection of ibogaine experience reports so that patients and providers as well as ibogaine researchers may gain a comprehensive understanding of the variety of ibogaine effects. We also suggest you read the experiences on other web pages in addition to our collection as those very positive reports also represent the ibogaine reality.

Those persons seeking technical medical information should read The Manual for Ibogaine Therapy.

The personal reports on this page have not been verified by The Ibogaine Dossier editors.

• Ibogaine Patients’ Bill of Rights What every patient should know.
• Daniel Luciano MD describes observations of treatment with ibogaine
• Ibogaine Trip Report Prepared For BrugerForeningen (Danish Drug Users Union).  The report presents up to date status on international cooperation between patients, doctors and user advocacy grougs.
• Ibogaine and an older couple.   A discovered love and an exploration of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Methadone and Ibogaine: A Patient in Transition, Part I.   A description of a self-administered ibogaine therapy.
• Another Chance, Part II.   The story continues.
• Ibogaine treatment: Diary of a Pain Patient An important develpment in ibogaine therapy expands the knowledge of the diversity of information exploring the utility of ibogaine in pain management.
• Methadone Patient Reports This patient report adds to our understanding of ibogaine effects in the treatment of methadone dependence.
• Some considerations about ibogaine treatment from the ibogaine mailing list.
• The "Third" Ibogaine Experience examines fundamental issues of patient rights to determine when, under what circumstances and how many ibogaine treatments should be administered.
• Who wants to be a junkie?" A magnificanet story of ibogaine treatment and adventure.
• A report of two self-administration experiences presented by one of the participants. An interesting description as to the distinct effects on each person and, as to the similarities.
• An infinity of graphical representations continue to show me knowledge, much of which I can but begin to grasp, even though my awareness has expanded a million fold.
• I took 1.67 grams of pure Ibogaine. I was looked after by someone who had administered about 17 treatments to drug addicts and spiritual seekers. The setting had no spiritual content which made me realize how important it is to provide some kind of spiritual/religious/meditative setting as a base of referral.
• I ingested the Ibogaine in the evening of December 1st, 1997. After 45 minutes the first wave hit. I had no nausea with the ibo coming on or through the entire journey. Then the second wave hit. The best way to describe the waves would be a freight train plowing through my energy field.
• It is Wednesday now, nearly 72 hours since I last took any Methadone. I feel very weak, but I am not experiencing any withdrawal symptoms
• I have never been addicted to any kind of opiates but I most certainly have had my trials with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and coffee. The way I heard about ibogaine was in my search for a REAL treatment of opiate addiction for my husband.
• Reflections on an ibogaine experience. "I heard about ibogaine from a friend in New York and then requested treatment for me and my boyfriend. We were the first people to be treated in Holland. My ibogaine treatment took place on October 25, 1989, in a hotel room in Amsterdam. My boyfriend had been succesfully treated the day before."
• I had a window of opportunity and I went through it. I was fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of the "Gift of Freedom" … Ibogaine.
• A fascinating account by Sarah Emanon, a psychotherapist who speaks about her own experiences with ibogaine – both as a facilitator and as an experiencer- and her plans to direct an ibogaine clinic in Central America. Interviewer is Primal Therapist Donald A. Allan.
• I am an alcoholic. It absolutely did not work. As for addicts, I was treated along with about 10 heroin addicts who also felt that it probably did not work for them.

18-Methoxycoronaridine

Synthetic iboga alkaloid congener

The ibogaine research team at Albany Medical College has developed a synthetic iboga alkaloid congener, 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC). Animal research shows that 18-MC shares ibogaine’s anti-addictive properties, possibly without ibogaine’s hallucinogenic effects, possibly not. View the molecular structure at bottom of page.

The most recent research indicates that 18-MC may have anti-HIV activity thus providing a very interesting perspective as a medication capable of treating two vector related disorders: Chemical dependence and HIV. We now await the testing of ibogaine and other iboga alkaloids and congeners to determine if they may also have such broad spectrum activity and to what degree.

The following is a list of selected publications.

1. Anti-HIV-1 activity of the Iboga alkaloid congener 18-methoxycoronaridine. Silva EM, Cirne-Santos CC, Frugulhetti IC, Galvao-Castro B, Saraiva EM, Kuehne ME, Bou-Habib DC. Planta Med. 2004 Sep;70(9):808-12. Abstract

2. Anti-addictive actions of an iboga alkaloid congener: a novel mechanism for a novel treatment. Maisonneuve IM, Glick SD. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003 Jun;75(3):607-18. Abstract

3. Metabolism of 18-Methoxycoronaridine, an Ibogaine Analog, to 18-Hydroxycoronaridine by Genetically Variable CYP2C19. Zhang W, Ramamoorthy Y, Tyndale RF, Glick SD, Maisonneuve IM, Kuehne ME, Sellers EM. Drug Metab Dispos 2002 Jun 1;30(6):663-669Abstract

4. Antagonism of alpha3beta4 nicotinic receptors as a strategy to reduce opioid and stimulant self-administration. Glick SD, Maisonneuve IM, Kitchen BA, Fleck MW. Eur J Pharmacol 2002 Mar 1;438(1-2):99-105 Abstract

5. Drug discrimination studies with ibogaine. Helsley S, Rabin RA, Winter JC. Alkaloids Chem Biol 2001;56:63-77 Abstract

6. 18-MC reduces methamphetamine and nicotine self-administration in rats. Glick SD, Maisonneuve IM, Dickinson HA. Neuroreport 2000 Jun 26;11(9):2013-5 Abstract

7. Pharmacological comparison of the effect of ibogaine and 18-methoxycoronaridine on isolated smooth muscle from the rat and guinea-pig. Mundey MK, Blaylock NA, Mason R, Glick SD, Maisonneuve IM, Wilson VG. Br J Pharmacol 2000 Apr;129(8):1561-8 Abstract

8. Synthesis of enantiomerically pure (+)- and (-)-18-methoxycoronaridine hydrochloride and their preliminary assessment as anti-addictive agents. King CH, Meckler H, Herr RJ, Trova MP, Glick SD, Maisonneuve IM. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2000 Mar 6;10(5):473-6Abstract

9. 18-Methoxycoronaridine (18-MC) and ibogaine: comparison of antiaddictive efficacy, toxicity, and mechanisms of action. Glick SD, Maisonneuve IM, Szumlinski KK. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2000;914:369-86 Abstract

10. Development of novel medications for drug addiction. The legacy of an African shrub. Glick SD, Maisonneuve IM. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2000;909:88-103 Abstract*

11. Acute iboga alkaloid effects on extracellular serotonin (5-HT) levels in nucleus accumbens and striatum in rats. Wei D, Maisonneuve IM, Kuehne ME, Glick SD. Brain Res 1998 Aug 3;800(2):260-8 Abstract

12. Effects of 18-methoxycoronaridine on acute signs of morphine withdrawal in rats. Rho B, Glick SD. Neuroreport 1998 May 11;9(7):1283-5 Abstract

13. Attenuation of alcohol consumption by a novel nontoxic ibogaine analogue (18-methoxycoronaridine) in alcohol-preferring rats. Rezvani AH, Overstreet DH, Yang Y, Maisonneuve IM, Bandarage UK, Kuehne ME, Glick SD. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1997 Oct;58(2):615-619. Abstract

14. Time-dependent interactions between iboga agents and cocaine. Maisonneuve IM, Visker KE, Mann GL, Bandarage UK, Kuehne ME, Glick SD. Eur J Pharmacol 1997 Oct 8;336(2-3):123-126. Abstract

15. 18-Methoxycoronaridine, a non-toxic iboga alkaloid congener: effects on morphine and cocaine self-administration and on mesolimbic dopamine release in rats. Glick SD, Kuehne ME, Maisonneuve IM, Bandarage UK, Molinari HH. Brain Res 1996 May 6;719(1-2):29-35. Abstract

Check Medline here to find out about the most recent publications.

Rome Burned, Will We? Were Smoldering

Rome Burned, Will We?

Ruling class accelerates planned economic implosion

Paul Joseph Watson & Alex Jones
Infowars.com
Tuesday, August 14, 2012

As America’s engineered economic implosion accelerates, the parallels with how the Roman empire fell are staggering. It is now abundantly clear that the ruling class is preparing for a planned economic implosion after which they will declare themselves the saviors.

A recent Reuters report highlighting how the Federal Reserve has been telling major banks in the U.S. to prepare for a “worst case scenario” financial collapse and that these banks would not be able to rely on government support underscores once again how the elite are positioning themselves to exploit the next leg of the orchestrated financial meltdown.

Just as happened in the aftermath of 2008, the ruling class is getting ready to offer the solution of more centralized control and more financial serfdom as the solution to the problem they created in the first place.

By making the public and industry beg for QE3, the Federal Reserve will once again try to manipulate the crisis to portray itself as the guardian of a fragile system and accumulate yet more power.

America is now ruled by a gaggle of completely corrupt financial terrorists who will stop at nothing to hollow out the country in pursuit of their own maniacal and selfish gain.

This precisely parallels Rome’s rapacious ruling Emperors and Senators of the fifth century who were so obsessed with seizing wealth and control that they ended up destroying their own culture, their own country and its empire in the process.

Just as in Rome, while the ruling elite got filthy rich, the people struggled and starved.

More than 100 million Americans are now on government welfare, a third of the entire country, and that figure doesn’t even include Social Security or Medicare.

22.3 million households and 46.5 million Americans have now entered technical poverty and live off food stamps.

Just as in Rome, where the need to constantly generate revenue to satisfy the cost of defense and a sprawling bureaucracy ultimately led to the country becoming bankrupt as Nero and subsequently emperors hiked up taxes and debased the currency, America is hurtling towards a similar fate.

Entitlement spending, military defense and a bloated federal bureaucracy has left the United States almost $16 trillion dollars in debt, and the prospect of QE3 threatens to sink the dollar as the world reserve currency for good.

Just as Romans found their currency becoming increasingly worthless, the U.S. dollar has lost almost 100 per cent of its value since 1900.

Just like Rome, America was once a Republic that has been hijacked and turned into an empire. Just as the Roman Empire crumbled under its rulers’ inability to afford its maintenance, America’s overseas presence (the U.S. has troops in a staggering 130 countries), is bankrupting the country.

Like America, Rome once had an influential middle class whose wealth allowed them to have a political stake in their country. Merchants and traders were able to prosper because taxes were modest and economic regulation was relaxed. However, beginning in the third century B.C., the Roman economy became more regimented and taxes were raised. This eviscerated and disenfranchised the middle class, just as has unfolded in America, where middle class neighborhoods are disappearing and income is polarized between a struggling downtrodden mass of people and a tiny rich elite.

When the economic collapse arrives, it could be more brutal than anything America has experienced in its history as a nation.

Consider the fact that during the ten years of the 1929 Great Depression, some 8 million Americans starved to death. And this at a time when 90 per cent of the population lived in rural areas and were at least somewhat self-sufficient. That number is now 50 per cent and many people who live outside major cities are not self-sufficient in any way.

Aside from economic factors, cultural and societal parallels can also be drawn between Rome and 21st century America.

Rome’s increasing use of illegal immigrants to do agricultural work its host population refused to undertake mirrors America in 2012. As Peter Heather writes in The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and Barbarians, “The Roman government allowed uncontrolled hostile immigration to dissolve the fabric of their civilization. Illegal and legal Immigrants grew more powerful while exercising their own character of their cultures. They did not adopt Roman ways. Second, vast blocks of once Roman lands became foreign held and even the Roman population, once outnumbered, was no match for hostile immigrants.”

“Factors that destroyed Rome now manifest in accelerating numbers in America. Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, New York City, San Francisco, Raleigh and all large cities suffer millions of illegal immigrants. Uncounted millions of them cannot and do not speak English. Millions work under the table without paying taxes. Millions use our hospitals without paying. They immigrate but do not assimilate. They colonize in ethnic enclaves separated from Americans. They fracture our country,” writes Frosty Wooldridge.

Just as Roman rulers created bread and circuses to distract their population from the fact that the country was collapsing, Americans are also enraptured by entertainment and sports, which in turn encourages them to lead superficial, meaningless lives.

As Roman poet Juvenal (circa 100 A.D.) wrote, “Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions–everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses.”

This loss of interest in civic duty and its replacement with an obsession for entertainment and folly is routinely cited by scholars as one of the primary reasons behind the collapse of Rome.

As Kyle Trottier writes, “In many modern books written about Ancient Rome and her people, the ancient Romans are often portrayed as people who enjoyed violence and thought it amusing to see people being injured and killed to the point of obsession. It is now common knowledge that, in Ancient Rome, people often attended (and enjoyed) gladiatorial fights to the death, wild beast hunts, naval battles and chariot racing. Some public thinkers today have suggested that “entertainment” today, as it was in ancient times of Rome, reflects the decline of culture, into a plethora of lust, greed, violence, selfish individualism and bad behavior. Some Scholars suggest that history is repeating itself and we are now in a reoccurring cycle of moral decay and social breakdown. From the excessive amount of glorified violence in Hollywood movies, video games, music and on the internet, one can easily see the downward spiral of decency.”

The moral decay of the Roman culture is also being aped almost precisely in America. While fertility and birth rates of the host population continue to plummet, sexual promiscuity and infidelity is lauded. As Dr. Carle Zimmerman’s 1947 book Family and Civilization documented, America shares the pattern of its moral decline with Rome. Zimmerman identified a number of behavior traits that signaled the decline of a civilization. These included “the breakdown of marriage and rise of divorce,” “acceleration of juvenile delinquency, promiscuity and rebellion,” “refusal of people with traditional marriages to accept their family responsibilities,” “a growing desire for and acceptance of adultery” and “increasing interest in and spread of sexual perversions and sex-related crimes.”

All of these traits have come to shape American society in the 21st century.

It does not take a crystal ball to see where all this is heading, and the planned economic implosion is going to be the trigger. Europe has already been rocked by riots over the past two years and federal authorities are already preparing for similar scenes in America only on a far bigger scale.

As Ron Paul has warned, the coming engineered financial breakdown is leading directly to domestic unrest which will inevitably lead to a state of martial law.

Riots prompted by food shortages, inflation, inequality and political corruption are inevitable should the ruling class continue to deliberately implode the economy – as is the brutal police state response that will come as a result.

Just as Rome burned when it was sacked in 455AD, the historical point which marked the formal end of the Roman Empire, America faces the same fate.

The only way to prevent or try to lessen the kind of collapse that could make the dissolution of Rome look like a cakewalk is to use the tools that ordinary Romans never had – the power of the modern alternative media.

Only by relentlessly emphasizing that the collapse is being deliberately engineered by those who seek to exploit it for their own gain can we hope to deflate the myth that the ruling class are our only saviors in the coming time of peril.

*********************

West Celebrates as Dark Age Descends over Egypt

Tony Cartalucci
Infowars.com
Aug 14, 2012

US State Department’s Voice of America boldly proclaimed “Egyptian Media: Military Shakeup ‘Revolutionary’,” airing proclamations from the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood that, “Egyptians have been “dreaming of a fair democratic system for more than 60 years.” It is unlikely that Egyptians have been “dreaming” of an end to their secular system of governance, or “dreaming” of a sectarian extremist political party coming to power, notorious for thuggery, violence, and for being a stalwart pillar of Western machinations.

 

 

Image: Mohamed Morsi – hardly a “hardline extremists” himself, he is the embodiment of the absolute fraud that is the Muslim Brotherhood – a leadership of Western-educated, Western-servingtechnocrats posing as “pious Muslims” attempting to cultivate a base of fanatical extremists prepared to intimidate through violence the Brotherhood’s opposition. Failing that, they are prepared to use (and have used) extreme violence to achieve their political agenda.

….

And already, Egypt’s “democratic dreams” are vanishing like the last wisp of morning mist as the ruling Muslim Brotherhood regime in Egypt begins rounding up critics amongst the media. AFP recently reported in their article, “Egyptian journalists to be tried for insulting Mursi,” that “television boss Tawfiq Okasha and newspaper journalist Islam Afifi will be tried for “incitement” and insulting Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi.”

Strangely, while similar actions around the world beget howling indignation from organizations including Freedom House, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and IFEX – not to mention the US State Department itself which underwrites each of these faux-human rights advocates – there is not only absolute silence regarding this assault on “freedom of expression,” but instead, a collective chorus of support from the Western media, hailing Morsi’s increasingly despotic dismantling of Egypt’s checks and balances through an increasing aggressive consolidation of power, as a “step forward for revolution.”

Morsi’s assault on Egypt’s press has coincided with “mysterious” sectarian extremist attacks on Egyptian security forces on the Sinai Peninsula, most likely the collective work of Israel and Hamas. Of course, Hamas, an affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, is a direct creation of Israel (and here), and like the Muslim Brotherhood, is a pillar of US-Israeli machinations throughout the region.

Morsi quickly used the convenient attacks as a pretense to sack various security officials, the momentum of which carried forward to the forced “retirement” of Egypt’s military leadership.

Fortune 500-funded think-tanks including the Council on Foreign Relations and the Brookings Institution would gush over Morsi’s move to extra-legally procure more power – with CFR’s Steven Cook declaring Morsi as “extraordinarily powerful.” Cook would concede however that “in theory,” this is a “more healthy place for Egypt to be in a democratic transition, but you have to raise questions about the democratic credentials of the Muslim Brotherhood.”

So What are the Brotherhood’s “Democratic Credentials?”

Raise questions about the Muslim Brotherhood’s “democratic credentials” indeed. The Muslim Brotherhood is a theocratic sectarian extremist movement, and not only that, but a regional movement that transcends national borders. It is guilty of decades of violent discord not only in Egypt, but across the Arab World and it has remained a serious threat to secular systems from Algeria to Syria and back again.

Today, the Western press has decried Egyptian and Syrian efforts to hem in these sectarian extremists, particularly in Syria where the government was accused of having “massacring” armed Brotherhood militants in Hama in 1982. The constitutions of secular Arab nations across Northern Africa and the Middle East, including the newly rewritten Syrian Constitution, have attempted to exclude sectarian political parties, especially those with “regional” affiliations to prevent the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda affiliated political movements from ever coming into power.

And while sectarian extremists taking power in Egypt and attempting to take power in Syria may seem like an imminent threat to Western (including Israeli) interests – it in reality is a tremendous boon.

Morsi himself is by no means an “extremists” or an “Islamist.” He is a US-educated technocrat who merely poses as “hardline” in order to cultivate the fanatical support of the Brotherhood’s rank and file. Several of Morsi’s children are even US citizens. Morsi will gladly play the part of a sneering “anti-American,” “anti-Zionist” “Islamist,” but in the end, no matter how far the act goes, he will fulfill the West’s agenda.

Already, despite a long campaign of feigned anti-American, anti-Israel propaganda during the Egyptian presidential run-up, the Muslim Brotherhood has joined US, European, and Israeli calls for “international” intervention in Syria. Alongside the CIA, Mossad, and the Gulf State despots of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Syrian affiliates have been funneling weapons, cash, and foreign fighters into Syria to fight Wall Street, London, Riyadh, Doha, and Tel Aviv’s proxy war.

In a May 6, 2012 Reuters article it stated:

“Working quietly, the Brotherhood has been financing Free Syrian Army defectors based in Turkey and channeling money and supplies to Syria, reviving their base among small Sunni farmers and middle class Syrians, opposition sources say.”

The Muslim Brotherhood was nearing extinction in Syria before the latest unrest, and while Reuters categorically fails in its report to explain the “how” behind the Brotherhood’s resurrection, it was revealed in a 2007 New Yorker article titled, “The Redirection” by Seymour Hersh.

The Brotherhood was being directly backed by the US and Israel who were funneling support through the Saudis so as to not compromise the “credibility” of the so-called “Islamic” movement. Hersh revealed that members of the Lebanese Saad Hariri clique, then led by Fouad Siniora, had been the go-between for US planners and the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood.

Hersh reports the Lebanese Hariri faction had met Dick Cheney in Washington and relayed personally the importance of using the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria in any move against the ruling government:

“[Walid] Jumblatt then told me that he had met with Vice-President Cheney in Washington last fall to discuss, among other issues, the possibility of undermining Assad. He and his colleagues advised Cheney that, if the United States does try to move against Syria, members of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood would be “the ones to talk to,” Jumblatt said.” –The Redirection, Seymour Hersh

The article would continue by explaining how already in 2007, US and Saudi backing had begun benefiting the Brotherhood:

“There is evidence that the Administration’s redirection strategy has already benefitted the Brotherhood. The Syrian National Salvation Front is a coalition of opposition groups whose principal members are a faction led by Abdul Halim Khaddam, a former Syrian Vice-President who defected in 2005, and the Brotherhood. A former high-ranking C.I.A. officer told me, “The Americans have provided both political and financial support. The Saudis are taking the lead with financial support, but there is American involvement.” He said that Khaddam, who now lives in Paris, was getting money from Saudi Arabia, with the knowledge of the White House. (In 2005, a delegation of the Front’s members met with officials from the National Security Council, according to press reports.) A former White House official told me that the Saudis had provided members of the Front with travel documents.” –The Redirection, Seymour Hersh

It was warned that such backing would benefit the Brotherhood as a whole, not just in Syria, and could effect public opinion even as far as in Egypt where a long battle against the hardliners was fought in order to keep Egyptian governance secular. Clearly the Brotherhood did not spontaneously rise back to power in Syria, it was resurrected by US, Israeli, and Saudi cash, weapons and directives.

Likewise, its rise into power in Egypt was facilitated by Western-backed and funded destabilization, sometimes referred to as the “Arab Spring.”

US-backed Sedition, Not Revolution Has Seized Egypt

In January of 2011, we were told that “spontaneous,” “indigenous” uprising had begun sweeping North Africa and the Middle East, including Hosni Mubarak’s Egypt, in what was hailed as the “Arab Spring.” It would be almost four months before the corporate-media would admit that the US had been behind the uprisings and that they were anything but “spontaneous,” or “indigenous.” In an April 2011 article published by the New York Times titled, “U.S. Groups Helped Nurture Arab Uprisings,” it was stated (emphasis added):

“A number of the groups and individuals directly involved in the revolts and reforms sweeping the region, including the April 6 Youth Movement in Egypt, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and grass-roots activists like Entsar Qadhi, a youth leader in Yemen, received training and financing from groups like the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute and Freedom House, a nonprofit human rights organization based in Washington.”

The article would also add, regarding the US State Department-funded National Endowment for Democracy (NED):

“The Republican and Democratic institutes are loosely affiliated with the Republican and Democratic Parties. They were created by Congress and are financed through the National Endowment for Democracy, which was set up in 1983 to channel grants for promoting democracy in developing nations. The National Endowment receives about $100 million annually from Congress. Freedom House also gets the bulk of its money from the American government, mainly from the State Department. “

It is hardly a speculative theory then, that the uprisings were part of an immense geopolitical campaign conceived in the West and carried out through its proxies with the assistance of disingenuous organizations including NED, NDI, IRI, and Freedom House and the stable of NGOs they maintain throughout the world. Preparations for the “Arab Spring” began not as unrest had already begun, but years before the first “fist” was raised, and within seminar rooms in D.C. and New York, US-funded training facilities in Serbia, and camps held in neighboring countries, not within the Arab World itself.

In 2008, Egyptian activists from the now infamous April 6 movement were in New York City for the inaugural Alliance of Youth Movements (AYM) summit, also known as Movements.org. There, they received training, networking opportunities, and support from AYM’s various corporate and US governmental sponsors, including the US State Department itself. The AYM 2008 summit report (page 3 of .pdf) states that the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, James Glassman attended, as did Jared Cohen who sits on the policy planning staff of the Office of the Secretary of State. Six other State Department staff members and advisers would also attend the summit along with an immense list of corporate, media, and institutional representatives.

 

Image: The Serbian Otpor fist… in Egypt? The same US organizations that trained & funded Serbians to overthrow their government in 2000, were behind the April 6 Movement and the Egyptian “Arab Spring.” Sun Tzu in the Art of War said, “all warfare is deception.” In fourth generation warfare, no deceit is greater than convincing people they are “liberating” themselves when in reality they are dividing and destroying their nation so that Wall Street & London’s network of already in-place NGOs can take over. This, while a suitable proxy is put in office as PM or president. In Egypt, these NGOswould already have a new constitution drafted and ready before the fall of Hosni Mubarak.

….

Shortly afterward, April 6 would travel to Serbia to train under US-funded CANVAS, formally the US-funded NGO “Otpor” who helped overthrow the government of Serbia in 2000. Otpor, the New York Times would report, was a “well-oiled movement backed by several million dollars from the United States.” After its success it would change its name to CANVAS and begin training activists to be used in other US-backed regime change operations.

The April 6 Movement, after training with CANVAS, would return to Egypt in 2010, a full year before the “Arab Spring,” along with UN IAEA Chief Mohammed ElBaradei. April 6 members would even be arrested while waiting for ElBaradei’s arrival at Cairo’s airport in mid-February. Already, ElBaradei, as early as 2010, announced his intentions of running for president in the 2011 elections. Together with April 6, Wael Ghonim of Google, and a coalition of other opposition parties, ElBaradei assembled his “National Front for Change” and began preparing for the coming “Arab Spring.”

 

Photo: From left to right, ICG members Shlomo Ben-Ami, Stanley Fischer, Shimon Peres, and Mohamed ElBaradei. Despite claims that Mohomed ElBaradei is “anti-Israeli” or “anti-West,” it is a documented fact that he is indeed an agent of the Wall Street-London corporate-fascist global oligarchy, and a member of the International Crisis Group which includes several current and former senior Israeli officials. The same charade is now taking place with Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.

….

An April 2011 AFP report would confirm that the US government had trained armies of “activists” to return to their respective countries and enact political “change,” when US State Department’s Michael Posner stated that the “US government has budgeted $50 million in the last two years to develop new technologies to help activists protect themselves from arrest and prosecution by authoritarian governments.” The report went on to explain that the US “organized training sessions for 5,000 activists in different parts of the world. A session held in the Middle East about six weeks ago gathered activists from Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon who returned to their countries with the aim of training their colleagues there.” Posner would add, “They went back and there’s a ripple effect.”

That ripple effect of course, was the “Arab Spring” and the subsequent destabilization, violence, and even US armed and backed warfare that followed. While nations like Libya and Tunisia are now run by a BP, Shell, and Total-funded Petroleum Institute chairman and a US NED-funded “activist” respectively, Egypt had managed to ward off and expose the US’ first proxy of choice, Mohammed ElBaradei, who’s own movement was forced to denounce him as a Western agent.

Photo: Mamdouh Hamza collaborated with Mohamed ElBaradei in executing the premeditated, US-engineered destabilization of Egypt in January 2011. Most likely to remove ElBaradei’s terminally infected public image, he has finally outed ElBaradei as a member of George Soros’ International Crisis Group and accused him of having “strong ties to Zionism.” Hamza himself, however, is just as compromised as ElBaradei, perhaps more so.

….

The Egyptian military would then strike at seditious Western-funded NGOs, seeking to undermine the source of destabilization, the conduit through which US money and support was being funneled through to “activists,” and expose the true foreign-funded nature of the political division that has gripped the nation for now over a year.

A February 2012 AP article reported that Egypt’s generals declared, “we face conspiracies hatched against the homeland, whose goal is to undermine the institutions of the Egyptian state and whose aim is to topple the state itself so that chaos reigns and destruction spreads.” Clearly, this was an accurate observation, not a political ploy to undermine “opposition” activists, with similar US-hatched conspiracies documented and exposed from Tunisia all the way to Thailand.

With the more “blunt” instrument of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood taking the reins in the wake of ElBaradei’s fall, the West will inevitably face a reckoning in the distant future after the Muslim Brotherhood has served its purpose. Until then, it seems to be doing a masterful job disassembling the institutions, checks, and balances of Egypt’s secular government. Egypt’s “revolution” has gone from a quasi-pliable proxy dictatorship, to one both more hardline and brutal domestically, and more pliable and willing in terms of serving Western interests abroad.

A Dark Age Descends Upon Egypt

For the average Egyptian, a dark age has begun to descend – one where freedom of speech is still curbed, the press still muzzled, an autocratic despot still holding the reins of power, but also one where the largest military in the Arab World is commanded by hardline theocratic sectarian extremists with regional ambitions and affiliations along with a proven track record of shedding blood within and beyond its own borders.

 

McCain (left) and Kerry (right) gesticulate as they explain Wall Street and London’s agenda within the confines of an Egyptian Coca-Cola factory. This was part of a trip surveying the effects of their US-funded opposition overthrowing Hosni Mubarak’s government. While war and destruction seem approaching over the immediate horizon, the final goal is global corporate-financier hegemony being extended over Egypt and its neighbors. Morsi will inevitably, but quietly prepare the grounds for the machinations described by McCain and Kerry in 2011.

….

With the NATO-created terrorist safe-haven of Libya to Egypt’s west, and the epicenter of Arab World despotism, Saudi Arabia to its east, a corporate-financier underwritten terrorist empire is rising from the barren north of Mali, to the oil rich shores of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

There is no revolution. Instead, a violent, extremist multinational front has been assembled, as it was planned since 2007, to array sectarian extremists against the collective influence and interests of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the government of Syria, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. By consequence, this brazen geopolitical conspiracy targets both Russia and China as well, setting the stage for even greater global conflict. It is a conspiracy that will be paid for with secular, moderate Muslim, and non-Muslim blood across the region, the destruction of ancient culture and traditions, and the regression of all social and economic progress made since the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

Tony Cartalucci is the writer and editor at Land Destroyer

25 Signs The Collapse Of America Is Speeding Up As Society Rots From The Inside Out

Michael Snyder
The Economic Collapse
Monday, July 9, 2012

The problems that America is experiencing right now are not just confined to the field of economics. The truth is that there are signs of deep decay wherever we look, and without question the United States is rotting from the inside out in thousands of different ways.

For a long time our debt-fueled prosperity has masked much of the social decay that has been festering underneath the surface, but now it is becoming increasingly apparent that the thin veneer of civilization that we all take for granted is beginning to disappear. For many Americans, it is easy to point a finger at a particular group or political party and blame them for all of our problems, but the reality of the matter is that our societal decay cuts across all income levels, all political affiliations and all regions of the country. We are being destroyed from within, and this decay can be seen on the streets of the most dilapidated sections of major U.S. cities and it can also be seen in the halls of power in Washington D.C. and on Wall Street. It is undeniable that something has fundamentally changed. The American people do not seem to possess the same level of character that they once had. So where do we go from here?

The following are 25 signs the collapse of America is speeding up as society rots from the inside out….

1. Homicides in Chicago are 38 percent ahead of where they were last year at this time. In fact, the Daily says that “homicide victims in the Windy City outnumber U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan this year”. Things are taking a turn for the worse in other major U.S. cities as well. Just check out the carnage that happened in New York City this past Friday night….

Across barely eight hours, at least seven New Yorkers were murdered and another 21 shot, stabbed or slashed across the city — with only three suspects arrested before the blood stopped flowing

2. Speaking of New York City, a teacher there recently posted the following on her Facebook page….

“Crupi and I survived a shootout today…Thank God we are ok…To all the wanna be gangstas of Staten Island (who say they are from Brooklyn but really aren’t), be grateful you have what you have and stop trying to live a lifestyle you will never understand.”

About a week later, her husband discovered her dead in a pool of her own blood in their apartment. She had been stabbed numerous times.

3. Reporter James Carlini recently discussed the growing problems that roaming gangs of youths are causing along the Magnificent Mile in Chicago….

There is an increase in problems at night with small gangs roaming around looking for the right prey.

Don’t bother looking for any cops, they are far and few between. Little perfume-size pepper spray canisters may be in vogue, politically correct and fit in a purse, but they are not practical. Forget about pepper spray, you’d need a gallon jug of it to stop five or six assailants.

Do you now need a .357 Magnum to walk down the Mag Mile? Maybe a compact .45 or a high-capacity 9MM “just to be on the safe side” is more what you should have. Even the police are telling each other that they better “carry large caliber” off-duty and not be caught unarmed.

4. Down in Florida, a lifeguard named Tomas Lopez was recently fired for attempting to saving a man that was drowning “outside his patrol zone“….

Lopez, 21, was hired by Jeff Ellis Management to monitor a portion of a public beach in Hallandale Beach, Fla. The company allegedly gave Lopez strict instructions to stay inside his patrol zone, ABC News reports.

But when Lopez spotted a man in distress outside his patrol zone Monday afternoon, he ignored those instructions and leapt into action.

By the time lifeguard Tomas Lopez got to the man, other bystanders had already pulled him to shore, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports. Lopez stayed with the man until paramedics arrived.

That valiant act was Lopez’s last as a lifeguard, as his employer fired him for straying 1,500 feet outside his patrol zone.

5. Authorities say that thieves are stealing identities and filing fraudulent tax returns on a scale never seen before….

With nothing more than ledgers of stolen identity information — Social Security numbers and their corresponding names and birth dates — criminals have electronically filed thousands of false tax returns with made-up incomes and withholding information and have received hundreds of millions of dollars in wrongful refunds, law enforcement officials say.

The criminals, some of them former drug dealers, outwit the Internal Revenue Service by filing a return before the legitimate taxpayer files. Then the criminals receive the refund, sometimes by check but more often though a convenient but hard-to-trace prepaid debit card.

In all, the IRS says that there were approximately 940,000 fake tax returns filed for 2010.

6. U.S. Secret Service agents are supposed to be “the best of the best” and are charged with guarding our top public officials. But even they have exhibited a consistent pattern of moral decay for many years according to one recent report….

Secret Service agents and officers have been accused of leaking sensitive information, publishing porn, sexual assaults, illegal wiretaps, embezzlement and drunkenness on duty, according to a 229-page log released yesterday.

After a prostitution scandal in April, when agents consorted with hookers while preparing for President Obama’s arrival in Colombia, Service Director Mark Sullivan apologized. But he said it was an isolated case, not a “systemic issue.”

However, the log, which the Service Service released yesterday after news organizations requested it under the Freedom of Information Act, shows a pattern of misdeeds dating back to 2003.

7. These days thieves will steal just about anything that is not bolted down and that they can sell for money. For example, three thieves recently broke into a Chicago beauty supply store and took off with hair extensions that were worth a total of $230,000.

8. Up in Minnesota, thieves are stealing Bronze Stars from hundreds of military graves, and down in Fresno, California thieves have actually been stealing metal crosses from churches.

9. According to one shocking new report, one out of every 10 Wall Street employees is a “clinical psychopath”. That is a rate about 10 times higher than the general population.

10. Even many police are going crazy these days. Over in Seattle, police zapped a pregnant woman with a taser three times just because she refused to sign a ticket.

11. Down in California, one man recently sliced off the ear of another man with a knife over an unpaid debt.

12. These days we are seeing senseless crimes being committed even in small towns in the heartland of America. Just check out what happened in Helena, Montana about a week ago….

Helena Police are working to identify two young men after what they call a random act of violence over the weekend. Helena Police found a 40-year-old homeless man badly beaten in an alley behind the Gold Bar around 2 a.m. Sunday morning.

Helena Police Detective Sergeant Richard Drysdale states,” The video shows two white males surrounding the victim as he was entering the walkway yelling at him and then knocking him down to the ground where they beat and kicked him until he was unconscious.”

You can find a video report about this incident right here.

13. One town in Connecticut was forced to shut down a beautiful new public fountain because too many people were using it as a toilet.

14. According to one very shocking study, the percentage of U.S. households that contain a married couple with children has fallen from 44.3% in 1960 to 20.2% today.

15. A huge brawl between parents erupted during one recent preschool graduation ceremony down in the Los Angeles area.

16. We continue to see “mob robberies” at retail establishments all over the nation. During one recent mob robbery in Detroit, thugs beat the living daylights out of one very unfortunate stock clerk.

17. Speaking of Detroit, nobody is immune to the spreading violence in that city. For example, just check out what happened recently to a 22-year-old pregnant woman….

A 22-year-old pregnant woman survived after being bound, driven to Detroit, set on fire and shot early Saturday morning.

The woman, who was nine-months pregnant, had returned from a movie with her boyfriend and dropped him off at his house in Warren when she was approached from behind, Warren police Sgt. Dave Geffert said.

The woman’s hands, feet and eyes were bound with duct tape. She was then forced into her car and driven to an unknown place in Detroit where she was doused with lighter fluid, set on fire and shot once in the upper back, he said.

18. Many families returned to their homes following the recent wildfires in Colorado only to discover that their houses had been robbed and looted.

19. One 33-year-old art teacher in Arizona was not satisfied with only having sex with one of her students. In fact, police have charged her with having sex with four of her male students.

20. Down in Florida, one man has actually been charged with biting the lips off of a kitten.

21. Over in Waco, Texas a 22-year-old man recently strangled and ate the family dog while he was high on drugs.

22. Of course most of us have heard of the recent outbreak of “zombie attacks” around the nation where criminals have actually been biting their victims and chewing their flesh. The following is another example of this phenomenon from a recent case in central New York….

A synthetic drug known as “bath salts” is blamed for some bizarre behavior in central New York.

The Utica Observer-Dispatch reports that police officers were called to Stanley’s Bar Saturday night to check out a woman described as emotionally disturbed. When an officer approached her, she lunged at him and tried to bite his face. Police say she screamed that she wanted to “kill someone and eat them.”

The woman was taken to St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Another very disturbing “zombie incident” took place down in Georgia recently….

Karl Laventure, 21, was believed to be high on bath salts when he tried to attack the officers in Lilburn, Georgia.

And after they had managed to subdue him he began threatening to eat them.

Laventure appeared out of some woods and was seen running naked around a golf range near Atlanta, swinging a club around his head and screaming.

Police said that it took several officers to subdue the man who had ‘super-human strength’.

23. All over America, people seem to be losing their minds. Just check out what one man in New Jersey did recently when police arrived at his home….

Officers got a call that morning when a witness said Carter was threatening to harm himself with a knife. Two cops responded, kicked in the door and found Carter in the corner, the station reported.

Carter allegedly ignored officers’ orders to put down the knife, and instead began stabbing himself in the abdomen, neck and legs.

An attempt to pepper spray the bleeding man had no effect, the Associated Press reported.

That’s when Carter — disemboweled but responsive — reportedly threw bits of his skin and intestines at the officers.

24. One woman in the St. Louis area was recently caught cooking meth in her purse inside a Wal-Mart store.

25. Anyone that believes that slavery has been abolished in America does not know what they are talking about. Every single night sex slaves are being horribly abused all over the United States. The following is from a recent Daily Mail article….

The FBI has rescued 79 teens held against their will and forced into prostitution from hotels, truck stops and stores during a three-day swoop on sex-trafficking rings across the country.

The sex slaves were aged between 13 and 17, although one said she had been involved in prostitution since she was just 11, authorities said.

During the sting operations across 57 U.S. cities – including Atlanta, Sacramento and Toledo, Ohio – 104 alleged pimps were arrested.

It is estimated that “100,000 children are victims of prostitution and trafficking each year” in the United States.

Are you starting to get the picture?

Sadly, there are dozens and dozens more examples like these. If you want to see more examples of how the collapse of America is speeding up, check out these articles that I recently published….

“70 Reasons To Mourn For America”

“20 Signs That Society Is Breaking Down And That America Has Been Overrun By Psychos”

The frightening thing is that this breakdown of our society is happening at the same time that our economy is completely falling to pieces.

This economic decline that we are experiencing is shredding the middle class and it is plunging millions of Americans into very desperate circumstances. The following is a brief excerpt from a recent Rolling Stone article….

Every night around nine, Janis Adkins falls asleep in the back of her Toyota Sienna van in a church parking lot at the edge of Santa Barbara, California. On the van’s roof is a black Yakima SpaceBooster, full of previous-life belongings like a snorkel and fins and camping gear. Adkins, who is 56 years old, parks the van at the lot’s remotest corner, aligning its side with a row of dense, shading avocado trees. The trees provide privacy, but they are also useful because she can pick their fallen fruit, and she doesn’t always­ have enough to eat. Despite a continuous, two-year job search, she remains without dependable work. She says she doesn’t need to eat much – if she gets a decent hot meal in the morning, she can get by for the rest of the day on a piece of fruit or bulk-purchased almonds – but food stamps supply only a fraction of her nutritional needs, so foraging opportunities are welcome.

Prior to the Great Recession, Adkins owned and ran a successful plant nursery in Moab, Utah. At its peak, it was grossing $300,000 a year. She had never before been unemployed – she’d worked for 40 years, through three major recessions.

You can read the rest of the article right here.

What would you do if you were in a similar situation?

Sadly, many more Americans will end up just like her. As I wrote about the other day, the U.S. economy is not going to be able to produce enough jobs for everyone anymore. In fact, the overall employment picture is going to keep getting worse for working Americans.

Things have gotten so bad that even many very highly educated scientists cannot find jobs in America right now. Almost everybody is hurting, and we haven’t even gotten to the next wave of the economic collapse yet.

The next time that there is a major spike in the unemployment rate, millions of Americans will lose all hope and will become very desperate.

And desperate people do desperate things.

The rot and decay that we are witnessing right now is just the beginning.

Things are going to get a lot worse.

So let us hope for the best, but let us also prepare for the worst.

An IN_DEPTH Look at The Biggest Cover-Up in Human History – Pineal Gland and Poison Sodium Flouride

 

Pineal Gland and Flouride: The Biggest Cover-Up in Human History

August 8, 2012 – The pineal gland (also called the pineal body, epiphysis cerebri, epiphysis or the “third eye”) is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. It produces the serotonin derivative melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and seasonal functions. Its shape resembles a tiny pine cone (hence its name), and it is located near the center of the brain, between the two hemispheres, tucked in a groove where the two rounded thalamic bodies join.
The Secret: What they don’t want you to KNOW!
Every human being’s Pineal Gland or The third eye can be activated to spiritual world frequencies and enables you to have the sense of all knowing, godlike euphoria and oneness all around you. A pineal gland once tuned into to proper frequencies with help of meditation, yoga or various esoteric, occult methods, enables a person to travel into other dimensions, popularly known as astral travel or astral projection or remote viewing.
With more advance practice and ancient methods it is also possible to control the thoughts and actions of people in the physical world. Yes, it is bizarre, but the United States, former Soviet Union governments and various shadow organization have been doing this type of research for ages and have succeed far beyond our imagination.
Pineal Gland is represented in Catholicism in Rome; they depict the pineal as a pine cone in art. The ancient societies like the Egyptians and the Romans knew the benefits and exemplified this in their vast symbologies with a symbol of an eye.
In the late 90′s, a scientist by the name of Jennifer Luke carries out the first study the effects of sodium fluoride on the pineal gland. She determined that the pineal gland, located in the middle of the brain, was a target for fluoride. The pineal gland simply absorbed more fluoride than any other physical matter in the body, even bones.
Pineal gland is like a magnet to sodium fluoride. This calcifies the gland and makes it no longer effective in balancing the entire hormonal processes through the body.
Various Researches every since have proved Sodium Fluoride goes to the most important gland in the brain? It’s the only thing that attacks the most important center of our gland in the brain. It’s prevalent in foods, beverages and in our bath and drinking water. Sodium Fluoride is put in 90% of the United States water supply. Water filters you buy in supermarkets do not take the fluoride out. Only reverse osmosis or water distillation. The cheapest way is to buy a water distiller.
Sodium Fluoride is in our water supply, food, pepsi, coke, to dumb down the masses, literally!. The fluoride was introduced into the water by the Nazis and the Russians in their concentration camps to make the camp population docile and do not question authority.

( via sott.net )

Sources and more information:

• Fluoridation makes us stupid and unhealthy

Duh! I have read so much about fluoride and its dangers and if you have been following me for a while, you will know that I have blogged about this before. This study is just as scary as the rest of what I have said. Read on…. “A recent Chinese study concluded that low dose sodium fluoride in drinking water diminishes IQ, especially among…

Read more: http://www.disclose.tv/news/Pineal_Gland_and_Flouride_The_Biggest_CoverUp_in_Human_History/85737#ixzz23KwSfM5z

WAKE UP — HITLER USED FLUORIDE AGAINST THE JEWS TO KEEP THEM PASSIVE, SEDATED, DOCILE AND EASY TO CONTROL.
The pineal gland is outside the blood brain barrier, it has the second highest blood flow in the body, second to the kidneys. There is more fluoride in the pineal gland than any other organ in the body.
When Luke had the pineal gland from 11 human corpses analyzed, she found the levels of fluoride in the apatite crystals averaged about 9,000 ppm and went as high as 21,000 ppm. The average level is as high as you would expect in the bones of someone afflicted with skeletal fluorosis.
THIS IS THE ANTIDOTE TO GET THE FLUORIDE OUT OF THE PINEAL GLAND AND CHELATE THE ALUMINUM, BARIUM, FLUORIDE, CADMIUM, LEAD, ETC OUT OF THE BODY AND RE-MINERALIZE THE BODY WITH ORGANIC MINERALS.
READ ABOUT SHILAJIT
http://www.jivaka.com/org/docs/paper/Ta … 0Paper.pdf
The fulvic acid in Shilajit makes elemental minerals more absorbable by complexing them (refines, purifies, combines and re-refines) into organic, ionic forms that are easily transported into and through membranes and cell walls. Once the nutrients meld into the fulvic acid complex, they become bioactive and bioavailable.
Consumption of Shilajit by humans for many years has shown that organic minerals will not build up in the body tissues as do metallic minerals. The following observations and theories describe the reasons why: Cells have the ability to accept or reject minerals, including aluminum, lead, arsenic, mercury, etc., at their discretion when presented as organic fulvic acid complexes.
The fulvic acid in Shilajit carries complexed minerals in “trace” amounts only, and should not be confused with metallic minerals. Fulvic acid has the ability to complex and remove toxic metals and other minerals from the system. After you consume one kilo of Shilajit you will be out of the matrix.
Want all the FACTS Buy the Book Shilajit in Perspective
http://www.amazon.com/Shilajit-Perspect … 184265313X
If your body is not Ph balanced, it will reject most minerals.
CHEMTRAILS ARE MASS MURDER
These dim-witted, unscrupulous, hedonistic dejected street urchins are Spraying the Entire Globe with Barium Oxide and Aluminum Oxide under the guise that scientists have figured out how to reduce global warming.
Barium Oxide is a systemic poison that competes with potassium in the nervous system. It causes severe irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, tightness in the muscles of the face and neck, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, muscular tremors, anxiety, weakness, labored breathing, cardiac irregularity, convulsions, and death from cardiac and respiratory failure. Barium damages kidneys, blood and blood forming organs and the brain.
Barium also Knocks Out the Immune System
Aluminum is a protoplasmic poison and a pernicious and persistent neurotoxin. Aluminum affects diverse metabolic reactions.
Aluminum is Toxic to Osteoblasts and Directly Inhibits Skeletal Mineralization
Fluoride Exacerbates Aluminums Inhibition of Mineralization
Fluoride Helps Aluminum Cross the Blood-Brain Barrier
Read more: http://www.disclose.tv/forum/the-antidote-to-get-the-fluoride-out-of-the-pineal-gland-t40666-20.html#ixzz23L0DFWsB

The soft tissue of the adult pineal gland contains more fluoride than any other soft tissue in the body – a level of fluoride (~300 ppm) capable of inhibiting enzymes.
“It is remarkable that the pineal gland has never been analysed separately for F because it has several features which suggest that it could accumulate F. It has the highest calcium concentration of any normal soft tissue in the body because it calcifies physiologically in the form of hydroxyapatite (HA). It has a high metabolic activity coupled with a very profuse blood supply: two factors favouring the deposition of F in mineralizing tissues. The fact that the pineal is outside the blood-brain barrier suggests that pineal HA could sequester F from the bloodstream if it has the same strong affinity for F as HA in the other mineralizing tissues. The intensity of the toxic effects of most drugs depends upon their concentration at the site of action. The mineralizing tissues (bone and teeth) accumulate high concentrations of F and are the first to show toxic reactions to F. Hence, their reactions to F have been especially well studied. If F accumulates in the pineal gland, then this points to a gap in our knowledge about whether or not F affects pineal physiology. It was the lack of knowledge in this area that prompted my study.”
SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 1-2.
Read more: http://www.disclose.tv/forum/pineal-gland-dmt-dna-tetrahedron-2012-t11760.html#ixzz23LAxjcW4

Metaphysics and philosophy
The secretory activity of the pineal gland is only relatively understood. Historically, its location deep in the brain suggested to philosophers that it possessed particular importance. This combination led to its being a “mystery” gland with myth, superstition and occult theories surrounding its perceived function.

René Descartes, who dedicated much time to the study of the pineal gland,[23] called it the “seat of the soul”.[24] He believed that it was the point of connection between the intellect and the body.[25] The relevant quotation as to Descartes’ reason for believing this is,

“My view is that this gland is the principal seat of the soul, and the place in which all our thoughts are formed. The reason I believe this is that I cannot find any part of the brain, except this, which is not double. Since we see only one thing with two eyes, and hear only one voice with two ears, and in short have never more than one thought at a time, it must necessarily be the case that the impressions which enter by the two eyes or by the two ears, and so on, unite with each other in some part of the body before being considered by the soul. Now it is impossible to find any such place in the whole head except this gland; moreover it is situated in the most suitable possible place for this purpose, in the middle of all the concavities; and it is supported and surrounded by the little branches of the carotid arteries which bring the spirits into the brain

Read more: http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewphoto/18370/harvard_university_pineal_gland/#ixzz23L2GbgD9

Solar Storms and the Pineal Gland – Riding the Wave

A very interesting read regarding solar activity and how CME’s affect us.
No doubt it has been discussed previously, especially the calcification of the pineal gland but never the less very informative.

By Adonai– July 14, 2012
According to study published in the New Scientist back in 1998, there is a direct connection between the Sun’s solar storms and human biological effects.
The conduit which facilitates the charged particles from the Sun to human disturbance — is the very same conduit which steers Earth’s weather —– the magnetic field. Animals and humans have a magnetic field which surrounds them — in the very same way the magnetic field surrounds the Earth as a protector.
From 1948 to 1997, the Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems in Russia found that geomagnetic activity showed three seasonal peaks each of those years (March to May, in July, and in October). Every peak matched an increased incidence of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and suicide in the city Kirovsk.
Electromagnetic activity from the sun affects our electronic devices and human electromagnetic field. We are physically, mentally, and emotionally altered by electromagnetic charges from the sun, our body can feel sleepy but also become highly energized.
Psychological effects of CMEs (coronal mass ejections) are typically short lived and include headache, palpitations, mood swings, and feeling generally unwell. Chaotic or confused thinking, and erratic behaviors also increase. Solar storms can drive our emotions and maximize it to both good and bad side – the point here is to be aware of it.
Pineal gland in our brain is also affected by the electromagnetic activity which causes the gland to produce excess melatonin, a hormone which can cause sleepiness but it’s also known that some people have opposite side effects, usually those that are aware of the effects.
Riding the power wave – pineal gland stimulation
Our pineal glands have excess melatonin production during solar storms – electromagnetic activity. Many biological effects of melatonin are produced through activation of melatonin receptors, while others are due to its role as a pervasive and powerful antioxidant, with a particular role in the protection of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.
Pineal gland is also referred as the third eye, and the third eye is also known as the inner eye. The third eye is a mystical and esoteric concept referring in part to the ajna (brow) chakra in certain dharmic spiritual traditions, in particular Hinduism. This concept was later adopted by Christian mystics and spiritualists as well as people from other religious faiths. It is also spoken of as the gate that leads within to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness. Among Christian mystics, the term is used in a broad sense to indicate a non-dualistic perspective. In New Age spirituality, the third eye may symbolize a state of enlightenment or the evocation of mental images having deeply personal spiritual or psychological significance. The third eye is often associated with visions, clairvoyance (which includes the ability to observe chakras and auras), precognition, and out-of-body experiences. People who have allegedly developed the capacity to utilize their third eyes are sometimes known as seers.
For the reasons most of you know – humans tend to have their pineal glands heavily calcified – sleeping.
Fluoride (found in tap water, toothpaste, processed foods…) is just one of the things that causes calcification of pineal gland. Fluoride is magnetically attracted to the pineal gland where it forms calcium phosphate crystals more than anywhere else in the body. How to decalcify pineal gland? One excellent link is here.
Third eye should be active, vibrant and strong… the process of decalcification sometimes includes headaches and sleepiness… – the same as they say for solar storms like the one in effect now.
Source http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2012/0 … ower-wave/

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought,
but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.
Albert Einstein

 http://www.disclose.tv/forum/solar-storms-and-the-pineal-gland-riding-the-wave-t75312.html#ixzz23L32d500

There has been some controversy over the activity of adding synthetic fluoride to municipal water supplies and elsewhere, but not enough. The seriousness of this issue is more than what most realize. Fluoridation ranks with GMO’s and tainted, forced vaccinations among the great crimes against humanity.
Understanding the Different Fluorides
There are two types of fluoride. Calcium Fluoride, which appears naturally in underground water supplies, is relatively benign. However, too much consumed daily can lead to bone or dental problems. Calcium is used to counter fluoride poisoning when it occurs. This redeeming factor indicates that the calcium in naturally formed calcium fluoride neutralizes much of fluoride’s toxic effects.
On the other hand, the type of fluorides added to water supplies and other beverages and foods are waste products of the nuclear, aluminum, and now mostly the phosphate (fertilizer) industries. The EPA has classified these as toxins: fluorosilicate acid, sodium silicofluoride, and sodium fluoride.

For this article, the term Sodium Fluoride will include all three types. Sodium fluoride is used for rat poison and as a pesticide. According to a scientific study done several years ago, Comparative Toxicity of Fluorine Compounds, industrial waste sodium fluorides are 85 times more toxic than naturally occurring calcium fluoride.
Health Hazards of Sodium Fluoride
Generally, most fluoride entering the body is not easily eliminated. It tends to accumulate in the body’s bones and teeth. Recently, it has been discovered to accumulate even more in the pineal gland, located in the middle of the brain.
This consequence of dental fluorosis, which seriously harms teeth, from daily fluoridation has been documented. Yet, the American Dental Association (AMA) continues beating a dead horse, promoting fluoride. There is a refusal to admit that instead of preventing tooth decay, fluoride causes even more dental harm.
The flood of sodium fluoride in water and food also creates other more serious health problems that are not widely publicized, even suppressed. Nevertheless, in addition to fluorosis, independent labs and reputable researchers have linked the following health issues with daily long term intake of sodium fluoride:
*Cancer
*Genetic DNA Damage
*Thyroid Disruption – affecting the complete endocrine system and leading to obesity
*Neurological – diminished IQ and inability to focus, lethargy and weariness.
*Alzheimer’s Disease
*Melatonin Disruption, lowers immunity to cancer, accelerates aging, sleep disorders.
*Pineal Gland, calcification, which clogs this gland located in the middle of the brain.
How Did We Get Stuck With Stuff?
According to investigative journalist Christopher Bryson, author of The Fluoride Deception, getting large quantities of sodium fluoride into the water and food system was a ploy of public relations sponsored by the industries who were saddled with getting rid of the toxic materials.
Fluoride was necessary for the processing or enriching of uranium. The pro-fluoride propaganda was started during the Manhattan Project to create the first atom bombs in the 1940’s. The spin was to convince workers and locals where the largest nuclear plant was located in Tennessee that fluoride was not only safe, it was good for kids’ dental health.
In the early 1950’s, the notorious spin master and father of advertising, Edward Bernays, continued the campaign for adding fluorides to water supplies as an experiment in engineering human consent! Then the AMA picked up on the dental issue and endorsed sodium fluoride’s addition to water supplies. The few dissenting health studies and reports were usually squashed. Those dissenting voices were dismissed as quacks regardless of their credentials.
Approximately 2/3 of the USA water supply is laced with sodium fluoride. Sodium fluoride is a common pesticide. So that residue is in some foods. Some sodas, packaged orange juices, and even bottled drinking water for babies contain fluoride additives. Buyer beware. Read your labels carefully.
Avoiding Fluoridation
Keep in mind that boiling only increases the concentration of fluoride to water more. But removing fluoride from tap water is not so difficult. Reverse osmosis works well for removing fluorides. If you own your home and can spring for the bucks, you can have one installed under the sink in your kitchen. That makes things very convenient for your fluoride removal from tap water.
If this is not your situation, grab a couple of large jugs and fill them up from reverse osmosis machines in health food stores, supermarkets, and other locations. There are several such machines around, usually labeled as using reverse osmosis, and they usually take coins. So it is the most accessible and cheapest way to go if you can’t install one where you live.
The Physiological Importance of the Pineal Gland
During the late 1990’s in England, a scientist by the name of Jennifer Luke undertook the first study the effects of sodium fluoride on the pineal gland. She determined that the pineal gland, located in the middle of the brain, was a target for fluoride. The pineal gland simply absorbed more fluoride than any other physical matter in the body, even bones.
Because of the pineal gland’s importance to the endocrine system, her conclusions were a breakthrough. Her study provided the missing link to a lot of physiological damage from sodium fluoride that had been hypothesized but not positively connected. A veritable root source for the chain reaction of blocked endocrine activity had been isolated.
Good news though. Frequent exposure to outdoor sunshine, 20 minutes or so at a time, will help stimulate a fluoride calcified pineal gland. Just make sure you take off your hat. This is more important than most realize, because the pineal gland affects so much other enzyme and endocrine activity, including melatonin production.
The 2012 Connection
First a bit about 2012, a date many have heard about. According to Carlos Barrios, anthropologist, historian, and investigator who was initiated as a Mayan ceremonial priest and spiritual guide, “Anthropologists visit the temple sites and read the inscriptions . . . but they do not read the signs correctly. . . . Other people write about prophecy in the name of the Maya. They say that the world will end in December 2012. The Mayan elders are angry with this. The world will not end. It will be transformed.”
Carlos Barrios goes on to say that the transformation will be both spiritual and physical. The transition started in 1987. He says that we are in a spiritual transition from the rule of materialism, greed, and enmity to a new period of cooperation and peace – but not without difficulty. The current oligarchy is happy with what they have and don’t want to give it up, and they are powerful. The Mayans claim that 2012 marks the end of the period of the fourth sun and the beginning of the fifth sun.
Carlos points out that adversarial revolution against the ruling class will not work. It is up to those who want this shift to connect with others of like mind and begin actively creating networks of real cooperation. The old will crumble. The new period will dawn with its growing pains, the severity of which depends on our ability to accept what is happening and go with the flow. This, he says, requires evolving to unconditional love, with an open and simple heart, forgiveness, and cooperation with less ego competition.
Connecting the Pineal Gland to This 2012 Matter
Well, what does all this have to do with the pineal gland? A lot. It is considered a portal to the inner or higher self by yogi masters, including Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. Psychics consider it to be the link for inter dimensional experiences. It is associated with what many call the third eye or sixth chakra, which is a doorway to higher consciousness and bliss.
And it is vital for supporting intuition, an ability that will be needed during hard times. So it is necessary to evolve spiritually in order to help create better understanding, acceptance of our fellow humans, and easier group cooperation. Meditation is a part of this evolving. That and a little sunshine, good rest and food, can cause a calcified pineal gland to loosen up and allow that portal to open.
An unusual psychiatrist, professor of medicine at University of New Mexico, and practicing Buddhist, Dr. Rick Strassman, MD, has written a book based on actual human studies of people under the psychedelic drug, DMT, titled DMT, The Spirit Molecule. He has discovered, among other things, that the pineal gland is a source of DMT production during birth and at death, and during near death or mystical experiences. This chemical approach corroborates the idea of the pineal gland as a portal, where the spirit passes through to other dimensions, either entering this physical realm or leaving it.
South American and Central American shamans use Ayahuasca, an herbal potion that stimulates DMT for psychological healing and spiritual initiation ceremonies. They have expanded their ceremonies with Ayahuasca by traveling throughout the world or opening their local facilities to non natives. They are doing this urgently in anticipation of 2012. Their desire is to jump start and expand individuals’ consciousness so the transition of consciousness will be facilitated and incorporate as many as possible.
This information is meant to link the physical realm’s pineal gland to higher states of awareness and other realms. The point is not to advocate or discourage psychedelic drug use, but to encourage health, meditation and spiritual growth by maintaining a fluoride free pineal gland. 2012 is approaching. Time to get in shape!
Sources:
Fluroide: Friend or Foe? By Devid De Santo (www.lewrockwell.com)
Germans and Russians Used Fluoride to Make Prisoners Stupid and Docile, by Devvy Kidd
(www.newswithviews.com)
Fluoride Accumulates in the Pineal Gland, by Sepp Hasslberger of Health Supreme (www.newmediaexplorer.org)
Transcribed interview of journalist Christopher Bryson: The Fluoride Deception: How a Nuclear Waste Byproduct Made Its Way Into the Nation’s Drinking Water http://www.democracynow.org/2004/6/...
Article by Ingrid Nairman highlighting Mayan lecture in Santa Fe, NM by Carlos Barrios
ingridnaiman.com/subscription_lists/email_index.html.
The Pineal Gland: Interface Between the Spiritual and Physical Planes?
(http://circleof12.blogspot.com)
The Fluoride Debate – (www.fluoridedebate.com)
Read more: http://www.disclose.tv/forum/how-to-keep-pineal-gland-fluoride-free-t18786.html#ixzz23LELup73

Ancient Egyptians and the Pineal Gland Connection

Blog by MistaPrimeMinista Blogging in Documentary

If you are unsure what the pineal gland is or what the chemical DMT is you should watch “The Spirit Molecule – DMT” first so that you can fully understand the contents of this video about Egyptians and the pineal gland. In short, DMT is a molecule found in every living organism but when consumed in higher doses or when someone is meditating, DMT stimulates a gland in the center of our brain called the pineal gland. Ancient Egyptians seemed to have picked up on that and knew much more about our consciousness than us. As always, do not believe everything you see and hear, research and question everything and everyone, including yourself.

http://photonichuman.50megs.com/whats_new_1.html

The pineal is a superconducting resonator. Ananda claims it potentiates DNA as a multidimensional transducer of holographic projection, through hadron toroids, and is implicated in staying youthful. 5meoDMT & DMT act on the T-RNA messengers which carry out the protein synthesis for the DNA, or the rebuilding of our our body image and organs.
Melatonin is exclusively made in the pineal gland, comprised of the same Tryptophane base materials as Pinoline. Melatonin induces mitosis. It does this, by sending a small electrical signal up the double helix of the DNA, which instigates an 8 HZ proton signal that enables the hydrogen bonds to the stair steps, to zip open, and the DNA can replicate.
The human Pineal gland not only produces the neuro-hormone Melatonin, one of the body’s most potent antioxidents, but the revolutionary Pinoline, 6-methoxy-tetra-dydro-beta carboline, or 6-MeO-THBC. Pinoline is superior to Melatonin in aiding DNA replication. Pinoline can make superconductive elements within the body. It encourages cell division by resonating with the very pulse of life – 8 cycles per second – the pulse DNA uses to replicate. This 8 Hz resonance was measured in healers by Andrea Puharich in the late 1970s.
Ananda implicates DMT in the hyperdimensional geometry or architecture operating in DNA through hadronic mechanics, a model of the 8 hz, or universal phase-conjugational force, that is also the most coherent Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and the DNA replication frequency. He relates this to the sacred geometry of the Merkabah, Flower of Life, Sri Yantra, Diamond Body, and Vector Equilibrium Matrix.
The living DNA in our bodies operates in hyperdimensions. The entire body holographic message is present in the single DNA molecule, in order to be capable of reproducing the entire whole. The local 8hz field component is a standard tetrahedron interlocked with a second tetrahedron representing the counter-rotary field that it is phase-conjugating with, and together comprising a “stellated cube.”
Ananda has also investigated Dark Room techniques for stimulating the pineal with Mantak Chia.. Ananda developed, researched, and has taught the Dark Room technology for endogenous Pineal Soma and DMT production (Endohuasca), since 1992, upgrading his technique with Mantak Chia in 2000. Isolated from external light, the third eye (pineal gland) overflows with certain neurotransmitters that awaken the higher brain, the ability to imprint the brain, reprogramming itself for an “instant experience of Being.” The retreat reopens the sourcecode of embryogenesis.
5-MEO-DMT acivates the whole spine, the whole tree of life (Djedi, the staff of Hermes, the Caduceus of the spine) becomes active to be reprogramed. This is the accessing and awakeing of the tree of life, the kundalini (which is a readout of the DNA, and the DNA is the tree of life in miniscal). So one can start to process the illusion of the dream from its binary code into the Unity Self.

Read more: http://www.disclose.tv/forum/pineal-gland-dmt-dna-tetrahedron-2012-t11760.html#ixzz23LHmpK1z

Fluoride: Calcifier of the Soul

Sayer Ji
Infowars.com
November 4, 2011

The Discovery

Research published in 2001 showed that fluoride (F) deposits in the pineal gland with age and is associated with enhanced gland calcification. Eleven aged cadavares were dissected and their pineal glands assayed:

“There was a positive correlation between pineal F and pineal Ca (r = 0.73, p<0.02) but no correlation between pineal F and bone F. By old age, the pineal gland has readily accumulated F and its F/Ca ratio is higher than bone.” Source

What Is The Pineal Gland?

The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain, and is sometimes called the “third eye” as it is a light sensitive, centrally-located organ with cellular features resembling the human retina.

One article describes the role of the pineal gland in more technical terms here:

“The role of the nonvisual photoreception is to synchronise periodic functions of living organisms to the environmental light periods in order to help survival of various species in different biotopes”  Source

The pineal gland is best known for its role in producing the hormone melatonin from serotonin (triggered by the absence of light) and affects wake/sleep patterns and seasonal/circadian rhythms. Like a tiny pea-sized pine cone it is located near the center of the brain, between the two hemispheres  and is a unique brain structure insofar as it is not protected by the blood-brain-barrier. This may also explain why it is uniquely sensitive to calcification via fluoride exposure.

More Than An Endocrine Gland

Technically the mammalian pineal gland is neural tissue, and the cells within the pineal gland – the pinealocytes – have characteristics that resemble the photorecetpor cells in the retina.

This has given rise to the opinion that it should be reclassified:

“In our opinion, the main trend of today’s literature on pineal functions–only considering the organ as a common endocrine gland–deviates from this structural and histochemical basis.” Source

The pineal gland has been a subject of much interest since ancient times. Galen described it in the 3rd century, and the philosopher René Decartes (1596-1650) identified the pineal gland as the “seat of the soul.” His explanation for this conclusion is quite interesting:

“My view is that this gland is the principal seat of the soul, and the place in which all our thoughts are formed. The reason I believe this is that I cannot find any part of the brain, except this, which is not double. Since we see only one thing with two eyes, and hear only one voice with two ears, and in short have never more than one thought at a time, it must necessarily be the case that the impressions which enter by the two eyes or by the two ears, and so on, unite with each other in some part of the body before being considered by the soul. Now it is impossible to find any such place in the whole head except this gland; moreover it is situated in the most suitable possible place for this purpose, in the middle of all the concavities; and it is supported and surrounded by the little branches of the carotid arteries which bring the spirits into the brain.” Source: Wikipedia

Decartes was one of the few philosophers who was experienced in vivisection and anatomy, and who righly pointed out the unique nature of the pineal gland’s location in the brain and blood supply.

The “third eye” is also a well known symbol in Eastern literature, and may be concretely grounded in the anatomical structure and function of the pineal gland.

Calcium Stones In the Brain

Pineal gland calcifications upon dissection resemble gravel, and are composed of calcite (calcium carbonate) and/or calcium hydroxylapatite, the latter of which is not unlike dentin or bone.  (Source)

Pineal gland calcification is associated with a number of diseases in the medical literature:

Alzheimer Disease
Bipolar Disease
Circadian Dysregulation
Hormone Imbalances: Low Melatonin
Insomnia
Low Back Pain
Parkinson Disease
Schizophrenia
Sleep Disorders
Stroke

Source: GreenMedInfo.com

Fluoride As A “Therapeutic” Neurotoxin?

Now that it has been established that fluoride (F) exposure contributes to the calcification of the pineal gland, the question remains: what are the subjective affects of these tissue changes to those who undergo them?

Prozac may represent an archetypal example of how fluoride affects the personality/soul. This drug (chemical name fluoxetine) is approximately 30% fluoride by weight and marketed as an “antidepressant,” even while a major side effect of its use and/or withdrawal is suicidal depression.  Modern psychiatry often treats depressive disorders – the “dark night of the soul” – as an organic disorder of the brain, targeting serotonin reuptake by any chemical means necessary. Fluoride and fluoxetine, in fact,  may accomplish their intended “therapeutic effects” by poisoning the pineal gland.  Animal studies confirm that when mice have their pineal glands removed they no longer respond to fluoxetine.  Source

Perhaps the primary reason why Prozac causes a favorable reaction in those who are treated (poisoned) with it, is that it disassociates that person from the psychospiritual conflicts that they must normally suppress in order to maintain the appearance of sanity and functionality in society, i.e. it is control and not health that is the goal of such “treatment.”

If Prozac and other sources of fluoride in our environment deposits within the pineal gland, accelerating the transformation of functional pineal tissue into calcification, is it possible that it works by dehumanizing and flattening the affect of those who are under its influence?

How Do We Prevent Pineal Gland Calcification?

Eliminating exposure to fluoride is the #1 priority.  We can start by being careful about surreptitious forms of fluoride in Teflon, foods and beverages produced with muncipal water, tap water, infant formula, fluoride containing drugs like Prozac, toothpaste, etc. We have collected a number of studies from the US National Library of Medicine on natural substances which mitigate fluoride toxicity here.  We also have a section on our database dedicated to finding substances which prevent or reverse other forms of pathological calcification which may have relevance for pineal gland calcification here. Lastly, there is research on the potential value of magnesium and phytate in reducing pineal gland calcification which can be viewed here

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View the Evidence: Ailments

Analysis: pineal gland calcifications are chemically similar to dentin and bone.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Ann Anat. 1995 Jul;177(5):413-9. PMID: 7645736

Article Published Date : Jul 01, 1995

Study Type : Meta Analysis

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

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Pineal calcification may contribute to melatonin deficiency and circadian timing irregularities.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Neuropsychopharmacology. 1999 Dec;21(6):765-72. PMID: 10633482

Article Published Date : Dec 01, 1999

Study Type : Meta Analysis

Additional Links

Diseases : Circadian Dysregulation : CK(518) : AC(8), Hormone Imbalances: Low Melatonin : CK(64) : AC(7), Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24), Sleep Disorders : CK(158) : AC(16)

Additional Keywords : Diseases that are Linked : CK(2162) : AC(265)

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Patients with gradual onset schizophrenia had pineal calcification size that was significantly larger than those with sudden onset.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Int J Neurosci. 1992 Nov-Dec;67(1-4):9-17. PMID: 1305641

Article Published Date : Nov 01, 1992

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24), Schizophrenia : CK(247) : AC(29)

Additional Keywords : Diseases that are Linked : CK(2162) : AC(265)

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Degree of pineal calcification (DOC) is associated with polysomnographic sleep measures in primary insomnia patients.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Sleep Med. 2009 Apr;10(4):439-45. Epub 2008 Aug 27. PMID: 18755628

Article Published Date : Apr 01, 2009

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Insomnia : CK(471) : AC(56), Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

Additional Keywords : Diseases that are Linked : CK(2162) : AC(265)

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Fluoride deposits in the pineal gland with age and is associated with enhanced gland calcification.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Caries Res. 2001 Mar-Apr;35(2):125-8. PMID: 11275672

Article Published Date : Mar 01, 2001

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Ectopic Calcification : CK(754) : AC(113), Fluoride Toxicity : CK(142) : AC(40), Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24), Pineal Gland Diseases : CK(10) : AC(1)

Problem Substances : Fluoride : CK(224) : AC(33)

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Physiologic pineal calcification is more common in children than previously reported.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Acad Radiol. 2006 Jul;13(7):822-6. PMID: 16777555

Article Published Date : Jul 01, 2006

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

Additional Keywords : Childhood Diseases : CK(10) : AC(1)

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Pineal calcification (DOC) might indicate a decrease of melatonin production, which consecutively might lead to a disturbed circadian rhythmicity in the sleep-wake cycle.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Psychiatry Res. 1998 Jun 30;82(3):187-91. PMID: 9754443

Article Published Date : Jun 30, 1998

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Circadian Dysregulation : CK(518) : AC(8), Hormone Imbalances: Low Melatonin : CK(64) : AC(7), Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24), Sleep Disorders : CK(158) : AC(16)

Additional Keywords : Diseases that are Linked : CK(2162) : AC(265)

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Pineal calcification and melatonin secretion may be linked to the pathophysiology of tardive dyskinesia and Tourette’s syndrome.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Int J Neurosci. 1991 Jun;58(3-4):215-47. PMID: 1365044

Article Published Date : Jun 01, 1991

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24), Tardive Dyskinesia : CK(40) : AC(6),Tourette Syndrome : CK(139) : AC(17)

Additional Keywords : Diseases that are Linked : CK(2162) : AC(265)

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Pineal calcification plays a possible role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Int J Neurosci. 1992 Jan;62(1-2):107-11. PMID: 1342008

Article Published Date : Jan 01, 1992

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24), Schizophrenia : CK(247) : AC(29)

Additional Keywords : Diseases that are Linked : CK(2162) : AC(265)

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Pineal calcification plays a role in relation to menopause in schizophrenia.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Int J Neurosci. 1992 Nov-Dec;67(1-4):1-8. PMID: 1305625

Article Published Date : Nov 01, 1992

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24), Schizophrenia : CK(247) : AC(29)

Additional Keywords : Diseases that are Linked : CK(2162) : AC(265)

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Pineal gland calcification has been linked with stroke incident.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Lik Sprava. 2007 Apr-May(3):47-50. PMID: 18271180

Article Published Date : Apr 01, 2007

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24), Stroke : CK(540) : AC(47)

Additional Keywords : Diseases that are Linked : CK(2162) : AC(265)

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Pineal gland calcification is higher in industralized societies compared with traditional ones.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Med Hypotheses. 2000 May;54(5):825-8. PMID: 10859694

Article Published Date : May 01, 2000

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

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Pineal gland calcification with calcium hydroxyapatite may be inhibited by magnesium.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper. 1991 Sep;67(9):837-44. PMID: 1725704

Article Published Date : Sep 01, 1991

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Substances : Magnesium : CK(827) : AC(116)

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

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Pineal gland calcification, lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and abdominal aorta calcifying atherosclerosis correlate in low back pain subjects: A cross-sectional observational CT study.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Bioorg Med Chem. 2003 Feb 20;11(4):483-8. PMID: 18215511

Article Published Date : Feb 20, 2003

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Aortic Calcification : CK(180) : AC(7), Low Back Pain : CK(234) : AC(24), Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

Additional Keywords : Diseases that are Linked : CK(2162) : AC(265)

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The degree of pineal gland calcification is significantly higher in Alzhemier’s disease patients vs. other types of dementia.

Click here to see the entire article

Pubmed Data : Neurobiol Aging. 2008 Feb;29(2):203-9. Epub 2006 Nov 13. PMID: 17097768

Article Published Date : Feb 01, 2008

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Alzheimer’s Disease : CK(609) : AC(160), Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

Additional Keywords : Diseases that are Linked : CK(2162) : AC(265)

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There appears to be a premature pineal calcific process in schizophrenics.

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Pubmed Data : Eur Psychiatry. 1999 Jun;14(3):163-6. PMID: 10572342

Article Published Date : Jun 01, 1999

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24), Schizophrenia : CK(247) : AC(29)

Additional Keywords : Diseases that are Linked : CK(2162) : AC(265)

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There is a meaningful association between the presence of enlarged pineal calcification and axial dyskinesias in bipolar patients.

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Pubmed Data : Int J Neurosci. 1990 Oct;54(3-4):307-13. PMID: 2265981

Article Published Date : Oct 01, 1990

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Bipolar Disorder : CK(157) : AC(18), Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24), Tardive Dyskinesia : CK(40) : AC(6)

Additional Keywords : Diseases that are Linked : CK(2162) : AC(265)

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The gerbil pineal gland form calcium concretions in response to stress.

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Pubmed Data : Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1998 Jun;110(3):237-51. PMID: 9593645

Article Published Date : Jun 01, 1998

Study Type : Animal Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24), Stress : CK(434) : AC(60)

Anti Therapeutic Actions : Stress : CK(2) : AC(1)

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Analysis: physical composition of pineal gland calcifications.

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Pubmed Data : J Inorg Biochem. 1993 Feb 15;49(3):209-20. PMID: 8381851

Article Published Date : Feb 15, 1993

Study Type : Review

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

Additional Keywords : Hydroxyapatite : CK(3) : AC(3)

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Parkinson’s disease may be a neuroendocrine disorder of circadian function involving dopamine-melatonin imblance and pineal calcification.

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Pubmed Data : Nutr Neurosci. 2009 Jun;12(3):135-40. PMID: 19145986

Article Published Date : Jun 01, 2009

Study Type : Review

Additional Links

Diseases : Circadian Dysregulation : CK(518) : AC(8), Parkinson Disease : CK(541) : AC(79), Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

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Pineal gland calcification may contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease and may reflect an absence of crystallization inhibitors.

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Pubmed Data : Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2007 Apr;37(3):276-85. PMID: 19666212

Article Published Date : Apr 01, 2007

Study Type : Review

Additional Links

Substances : Phytate : CK(9) : AC(9)

Diseases : Alzheimer’s Disease : CK(609) : AC(160), Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

Pharmacological Actions : Antioxidants : CK(3508) : AC(1292), Neuroprotective Agents : CK(922) : AC(466)

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Review: A preliminary study of human pineal gland concretions.

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Pubmed Data : Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper. 1990 Jul;66(7):615-22. PMID: 1964562

Article Published Date : Jul 01, 1990

Study Type : Review

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

Additional Keywords : Hydroxyapatite : CK(3) : AC(3)

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Review: comparative histology of pineal calcification.

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Pubmed Data : Histol Histopathol. 1998 Jul;13(3):851-70. PMID: 9690142

Article Published Date : Jul 01, 1998

Study Type : Review

Additional Links

Diseases : Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

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Schizophrenics may have pineal gland calcifications which contain flouride.

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Pubmed Data : Arkh Patol. 2004 Jul-Aug;66(4):13-6. PMID: 15449681

Article Published Date : Jul 01, 2004

Study Type : Review

Additional Links

Diseases : Ectopic Calcification : CK(754) : AC(113), Fluoride Toxicity : CK(142) : AC(40), Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24)

Additional Keywords : Hydroxyapatite : CK(3) : AC(3)

The pineal gland and anxiogenic-like action of fluoxetine in mice.

Uz T, Dimitrijevic N, Akhisaroglu M, Imbesi M, Kurtuncu M, Manev H.

Source

The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 West Taylor Street, MC912, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.

Abstract

Fluoxetine produces initial paradoxical anxiogenic effect in some patients. In an elevated plus-maze (EPM), fluoxetine triggers an anxiogenic-like effect in rodents. Behavioral responses to psychoactive drugs can be modified by the pineal gland. We assessed the actions of fluoxetine in the EPM in melatonin-proficient C3H mice, melatonin-deficient C57BL6 mice, and in sham-operated and pinealectomized mice. Mice were assayed 30 min after the first injection and on day 14. Protracted fluoxetine treatment reduced the time on the anxiogenic open arms and increased the entries into the safe closed arms in sham-operated C3H mice. Fluoxetine was ineffective in pinealectomized C3H or C57BL6 mice. It is possible that the pineal system contributes to the previously observed anxiogenic action of fluoxetine in humans.

Fluoride deposits in the pineal gland with age and is associated with enhanced gland calcification. – GreenMedInfo Summary

Abstract Title:

Fluoride deposition in the aged human pineal gland.

Abstract Source:

Caries Res. 2001 Mar-Apr;35(2):125-8. PMID: 11275672

Abstract Author(s):

J Luke

Article Affiliation:

School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. jenniluke@compuserve.com

Abstract:

The purpose was to discover whether fluoride (F) accumulates in the aged human pineal gland. The aims were to determine (a) F-concentrations of the pineal gland (wet), corresponding muscle (wet) and bone (ash); (b) calcium-concentration of the pineal. Pineal, muscle and bone were dissected from 11 aged cadavers and assayed for F using the HMDS-facilitated diffusion, F-ion-specific electrode method. Pineal calcium was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Pineal and muscle contained 297+/-257 and 0.5+/-0.4 mg F/kg wet weight, respectively; bone contained 2,037+/-1,095 mg F/kg ash weight. The pineal contained 16,000+/-11,070 mg Ca/kg wet weight. There was a positive correlation between pineal F and pineal Ca (r = 0.73, p<0.02) but no correlation between pineal F and bone F. By old age, the pineal gland has readily accumulated F and its F/Ca ratio is higher than bone.

Pubmed Data : Caries Res. 2001 Mar-Apr;35(2):125-8. PMID: 11275672

Article Published Date : Mar 01, 2001

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Diseases : Ectopic Calcification : CK(754) : AC(113), Fluoride Toxicity : CK(142) : AC(40), Pineal Gland Calcification : CK(198) : AC(24), Pineal Gland Diseases : CK(10) : AC(1)

Problem Substances : Fluoride : CK(224) : AC(33)

Ultrastructure and x-ray microanalytical study of human pineal concretions.

Nakamura KT, Nakahara H, Nakamura M, Tokioka T, Kiyomura H.

Source

2nd Department of Oral Anatomy, Meikai University, School of Dentistry, Saitama, Japan.

Abstract

We examined human pineal concretions and found them to exhibit a multi-layered concentric structure consisting of irregularly spaced dense and sparse zones containing fine crystals. The hydroxyapatite crystallites were shown to be irregularly outlined plate forms (measuring 11-70 nm in their longest dimension and 2-10 nm in thickness). At the center of each crystallite a central dark line was observed by means of high resolution electron microscopy. The structure and size of the crystals were similar to those of dentin and bone. The ground surface of the concretions was observed metallurgically by means of an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA). The surface zones of the concretions contained a higher concentration of zinc, which seems to play an important role during the mineralization process, whereas calcium and phosphorus exhibited higher concentrations at the center.

Pineal gland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pineal gland

Diagram of pituitary and pineal glands in the human brain

Latin
glandula pinealis

Gray’s
subject #276 1277

Artery
posterior cerebral artery

Precursor
Neural Ectoderm, Roof of Diencephalon

MeSH
Pineal+gland

The pineal gland (also called the pineal body, epiphysis cerebri, epiphysis, conarium or the “third eye“) is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. It produces the serotonin derivative melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and seasonal functions.^[1][2] Its shape resembles a tiny pine cone (hence its name), and it is located near the centre of the brain, between the two hemispheres, tucked in a groove where the two rounded thalamic bodiesjoin.

Location

The pineal gland is reddish-gray and about the size of a grain of rice (5–8 mm) in humans, located just rostro-dorsal to the superior colliculus and behind and beneath the stria medullaris, between the laterally positioned thalamic bodies. It is part of the epithalamus.

The pineal gland is a midline structure shaped like a pine cone,^[3] and is often seen in plain skull X-rays, as it is often calcified;^[4] calcification has been shown in one small study to correlate with the accumulation of flouride. ^[5]

Structure and composition

Pineal gland parenchyma with calcifications.

Micrograph of a normal pineal gland – very high magnification.

Micrograph of a normal pineal gland – intermediate magnification.

The pineal body consists in humans of a lobular parenchyma of pinealocytes surrounded by connective tissue spaces. The gland’s surface is covered by a pial capsule.

The pineal gland consists mainly of pinealocytes, but four other cell types have been identified. As it is quite cellular (in relation to the cortex and white matter) it may be mistaken for a neoplasm.^[6]

Cell type
Description

Pinealocytes
The pinealocytes consist of a cell body with 4–6 processes emerging. They produce and secrete melatonin. The pinealocytes can be stained by special silver impregnation methods. Their cytoplasm is lightly basophilic. With special stains, pinealocytes exhibit lengthy, branched cytoplasmic processes which extend to the connective septa and its blood vessels.

Interstitial cells
Interstitial cells are located between the pinealocytes. They have elongated nuclei and a cytoplasm which is stained darker than that of the pinealocytes.

Perivascularphagocyte
Many capillaries are present in the gland, and perivascular phagocytes are located close to these blood vessels. The perivascular phagocytes are antigen presenting cells.

pineal neurons
In higher vertebrates neurons are located in the pineal gland. However, these are not present in rodents.

peptidergicneuron-like cells
In some species, neuronal-like peptidergic cells are present. These cells might have a paracrine regulatory function.

The pineal gland receives a sympathetic innervation from the superior cervical ganglion. However, a parasympathetic innervation from the sphenopalatine and otic ganglia is also present. Further, some nerve fibers penetrate into the pineal gland via the pineal stalk (central innervation). Finally, neurons in the trigeminal ganglion innervate the gland with nerve fibers containing the neuropeptide, PACAP. Human follicles contain a variable quantity of gritty material, called corpora arenacea (or “acervuli,” or “brain sand”). Chemical analysis shows that they are composed of calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, magnesium phosphate, and ammonium phosphate.^[7] In 2002, deposits of the calcite form of calcium carbonate were described.^[8] Calcium, phosphorus^[9] deposits in the pineal gland have been linked with aging.

Miscellaneous anatomy

Pinealocytes in many non-mammalian vertebrates have a strong resemblance to the photoreceptor cells of the eye. Some evolutionary biologists believe that the vertebrate pineal cells share a common evolutionary ancestor with retinal cells.^[10]

In some vertebrates, exposure to light can set off a chain reaction of enzymatic events within the pineal gland that regulate circadian rhythms.^[11] Some early vertebrate fossil skulls have a pineal foramen (opening). This correlates with the physiology of the modern “living fossils,” the lamprey and the tuatara, and some other vertebrates that have a parietal organ or “third eye,” which, in some of them, is photosensitive. The third eye represents evolution’s earlier approach to photoreception.^[12] The structures of the third eye in the tuatara are analogous to the cornea, lens and retina, though the latter resembles that of an octopus rather than a vertebrate retina. The asymmetrical whole consists of the “eye” to the left and the pineal sac to the right. “In animals that have lost the parietal eye, including mammals, the pineal sac is retained and condensed into the form of the pineal gland.”^[12]

Unlike much of the rest of the mammalian brain, the pineal gland is not isolated from the body by the blood–brain barrier system;^[13] it has profuse blood flow, second only to the kidney.

Fossils seldom preserve soft anatomy. The brain of the Russian Melovatka bird, about 90 million years old, is an exception, and it shows a larger-than-expected parietal eye and pineal gland.^[14]

In humans and other mammals, the light signals necessary to set circadian rhythms are sent from the eye through the retinohypothalamic system to the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and the pineal.

Function

The pineal gland was originally believed to be a “vestigial remnant” of a larger organ. In 1917 it was known that extract of cow pineals lightened frog skin. Dermatology professor Aaron B. Lerner and colleagues at Yale University, hoping that a substance from the pineal might be useful in treating skin diseases, isolated and named the hormone melatonin in 1958.^[15] The substance did not prove to be helpful as intended, but its discovery helped solve several mysteries such as why removing the rat’s pineal accelerated ovary growth, why keeping rats in constant light decreased the weight of their pineals, and why pinealectomy and constant light affect ovary growth to an equal extent; this knowledge gave a boost to the then new field of chronobiology.^[16]

Melatonin is N-acetyl-5-methoxy-tryptamine, a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan, which also has other functions in the central nervous system. The production of melatonin by the pineal gland is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light.^[17]Photosensitive cells in the retina detect light and directly signal the SCN, entraining its rhythm to the 24-hour cycle in nature. Fibers project from the SCN to the paraventricular nuclei (PVN), which relay the circadian signals to the spinal cord and out via the sympathetic system to superior cervical ganglia (SCG), and from there into the pineal gland.

The compound pinoline is also produced in the pineal gland; it is one of the beta-carbolines.^{[citation needed]}

The human pineal gland grows in size until about 1–2 years of age, remaining stable thereafter,^[18][19] although its weight increases gradually from puberty onwards.^[20][21] The abundant melatonin levels in children are believed to inhibit sexual development, and pineal tumors have been linked with precocious puberty. When puberty arrives, melatonin production is reduced.

Calcification of the pineal gland is typical in adults, and has been observed in children as young as 2. Calcification rates vary widely by country and tend to increase by age, with calcification occurring in an estimated 40% of Americans by their 17th year.^[4]

Apparently the internal secretions of the pineal gland inhibit the development of the reproductive glands, because in cases where it is severely damaged in children, the result is accelerated development of the sexual organs and the skeleton.^[22] In animals, the pineal gland appears to play a major role in sexual development, hibernation, metabolism, and seasonal breeding.^[23]

Pineal cytostructure seems to have evolutionary similarities to the retinal cells of chordates.^[10] Modern birds and reptiles have been found to express the phototransducing pigment melanopsin in the pineal gland. Avian pineal glands are believed to act like the SCN in mammals.^[24]

Studies on rodents suggest that the pineal gland may influence the actions of recreational drugs, such as cocaine,^[25] and antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac),^[26] and its hormone melatonin can protect against neurodegeneration.^[27]

Conjecture

Dr. Rick Strassman, while conducting research on the psychedelic dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in the 1990s at the University of New Mexico, advanced the controversial hypothesis that a massive release of DMT from the pineal gland prior to death or near death was the cause of the near death experience (NDE) phenomenon. Several of his test subjects reported NDE-like audio or visual hallucinations. His explanation for this was the possible lack of panic involved in the clinical setting and possible dosage differences between those administered and those encountered in actual NDE cases. Several subjects also reported contact with ‘other beings’, alien like, insectoid or reptilian in nature, in highly advanced technological environments^[28] where the subjects were ‘carried,’ ‘probed,’ ‘tested,’ ‘manipulated,’ ‘dismembered,’ ‘taught,’ ‘loved,’ and even ‘raped’ by these ‘beings’ (one could note the strong similarities of these bodily tests/invasions in other psychedelic experiences throughout time, outlined in Graham Hancock’s “Supernatural”^[29]). Basing his reasoning on his belief that all the enzymatic material needed to produce DMT is found in the pineal gland (see evidence in mammals), and moreover in substantially greater concentrations than in any other part of the body, Strassman (^[28] p. 69) has speculated that DMT is made in the pineal gland.

Pathology

All tumors involving the pineal gland are rare; most (50% to 70%) arise from sequestered embryonic germ cells. They most commonly take the form of so-called germinomas, resembling testicular seminoma or ovarian dysegerminoma. Other lines of germ cell differentiation include embryonal carcinomas; choriocarcinomas; mixtures of germinom, embryonal carcinoma, and choriocarcinoma; and, uncommonly, typical teratomas (usually benign). Whether to characterize these germ cell neoplasms as pinealomas is still a subject of debate, but most pinealophiles favor restricting the terms pinealoma to neoplasms arising from the pineocytes.

A pineal tumor can compress the superior colliculi and pretectal area of the dorsal midbrain, producing Parinaud’s syndrome. Pineal tumors also can cause compression of the cerebral aqueduct, resulting in a noncommunicating hydrocephalus.

Pinelomas

These neoplasms are divided into two categories, pineoblastomas and pineocytomas,^{[citation needed]} based on their level of differentiation, which in turn, correlates with their neoplastic aggressiveness. The clinical course of patients with pineocytomas is prolonged, averaging 7 years.^{[citation needed]} The manifestations are the consequence of their pressure effects and consist of visual disturbances, headache, mental deterioration, and sometimes dementia-like behaviour.^{[citation needed]} The lesions being located where they are, it is understandable that successful excision is at best difficult.

Metaphysics and philosophy

The secretory activity of the pineal gland is only partially understood. Historically, its location deep in the brain suggested to philosophers that it possessed particular importance. This combination led to its being a “mystery” gland with myth, superstition and occult theories surrounding its perceived functions.

René Descartes, who dedicated much time to the study of the pineal gland, called it the “principal seat of the soul.”^[30] He believed that it was the point of connection between the intellect and the body.^[31] Descartes attached significance to the gland because he believed it to be the only section of the brain which existed as a single part, rather than one half of a pair. He argued that because a person can never have “more than one thought at a time,” external stimuli must be united within the brain before being considered by the soul, and he considered the pineal gland to be situated in “the most suitable possible place for this purpose,” located centrally in the brain and surrounded by branches of the carotid arteries.^[30]

Baruch de Spinoza criticized Descartes’ viewpoint for neither following from self-evident premises nor being “clearly and distinctly perceived” (Descartes having previously asserted that he could not draw conclusions of this sort), and questioned what Descartes meant by talking of “the union of the mind and the body.”^[32]

The notion of a “pineal-eye” is central to the philosophy of the French writer Georges Bataille, which is analyzed at length by literary scholar Denis Hollier in his study Against Architecture. In this work Hollier discusses how Bataille uses the concept of a “pineal-eye” as a reference to a blind-spot in Western rationality, and an organ of excess and delirium.^[33] This conceptual device is explicit in his surrealist texts, The Jesuve and The Pineal Eye.^[34]

The notion of an inner third eye (attributed mystical significance) also occurs in ancient, central and east Asian, and new age philosophies.

Immunocytochemistry and calcium cytochemistry of the mammalian pineal organ: a comparison with retina and submammalian pineal organs.

Vigh-Teichmann I, Vigh B.

Source

Neuroendocrine Section, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest.

Abstract

Morphologically the mammalian pineal organ is a part of the diencephalon. It represents a neural tissue histologically (“pineal nervous tissue”) and is dissimilar to endocrine glands. Submammalian pinealocytes resemble the photoreceptor cells of the retina, and some of their cytologic characteristics are preserved in the mammalian pinealocytes together with compounds demonstrable by cyto- and immunocytochemistry and participating in photochemical transduction. In our opinion, the main trend of today’s literature on pineal functions–only considering the organ as a common endocrine gland–deviates from this structural and histochemical basis. In mammals, similar to the lower vertebrates, the pinealocytes have a sensory cilium developed to a different extent. The axonic processes of pinealocytes form ribbon-containing synapses on secondary pineal neurons, and/or neurohormonal terminals on the basal lamina of the surface of the pineal nervous tissue facing the perivascular spaces. Ribbon-containing axo-dendritic synapses were found in the rat, cat, guinea pig, ferret, and hedgehog. In the cat, we found GABA-immunoreactive interneurons, while the secondary nerve cells, whose axons enter the habenular commissure, were GABA-immunonegative. GABA-immunogold-labeled axons run between pinealocytes and form axo-dendritic synapses on intrapineal neurons. There is a similarity between the light and electron microscopic localization of Ca ions in the mammalian and submammalian pineal organs and retina of various vertebrates. Calcium pyroantimonate deposits–showing the presence of Ca ions–were found in the outer segments of the pineal and retinal photoreceptors of the frog. In the rat and human pineal organ, calcium accumulated on the plasmalemma of pinealocytes and intercellularly among pinealocytes. The formation of pineal concrements in mammals may be connected to the high need for Ca exchange of the pinealocytes for their supposed receptor and effector functions.

PMID:

1351408

[PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Nonvisual photoreceptors of the deep brain, pineal organs and retina.

Vigh B, Manzano MJ, Zádori A, Frank CL, Lukáts A, Röhlich P, Szél A, Dávid C.

Source

Department of Human Morphology and Developmental Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. vigh@ana2.sote.hu

Abstract

The role of the nonvisual photoreception is to synchronise periodic functions of living organisms to the environmental light periods in order to help survival of various species in different biotopes. In vertebrates, the so-called deep brain (septal and hypothalamic) photoreceptors, the pineal organs (pineal- and parapineal organs, frontal- and parietal eye) and the retina (of the “lateral” eye) are involved in the light-based entrain of endogenous circadian clocks present in various organs. In humans, photoperiodicity was studied in connection with sleep disturbances in shift work, seasonal depression, and in jet-lag of transmeridional travellers. In the present review, experimental and molecular aspects are discussed, focusing on the histological and histochemical basis of the function of nonvisual photoreceptors. We also offer a view about functional changes of these photoreceptors during pre- and postnatal development as well as about its possible evolution. Our scope in some points is different from the generally accepted views on the nonvisual photoreceptive systems. The deep brain photoreceptors are hypothalamic and septal nuclei of the periventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-contacting neuronal system. Already present in the lancelet and representing the most ancient type of vertebrate nerve cells (“protoneurons”), CSF-contacting neurons are sensory-type cells sitting in the wall of the brain ventricles that send a ciliated dendritic process into the CSF. Various opsins and other members of the phototransduction cascade have been demonstrated in telencephalic and hypothalamic groups of these neurons. In all species examined so far, deep brain photoreceptors play a role in the circadian and circannual regulation of periodic functions. Mainly called pineal “glands” in the last decades, the pineal organs actually represent a differentiated form of encephalic photoreceptors. Supposed to be intra- and extracranially outgrown groups of deep brain photoreceptors, pineal organs also contain neurons and glial elements. Extracranial pineal organs of submammalians are cone-dominated photoreceptors sensitive to different wavelengths of light, while intracranial pineal organs predominantly contain rod-like photoreceptor cells and thus scotopic light receptors. Vitamin B-based light-sensitive cryptochromes localized immunocytochemically in some pineal cells may take part in both the photoreception and the pacemaker function of the pineal organ. In spite of expressing phototransduction cascade molecules and forming outer segment-like cilia in some species, the mammalian pineal is considered by most of the authors as a light-insensitive organ. Expression of phototransduction cascade molecules, predominantly in young animals, is a photoreceptor-like characteristic of pinealocytes in higher vertebrates that may contribute to a light-percepting task in the perinatal entrainment of rhythmic functions. In adult mammals, adrenergic nerves–mediating daily fluctuation of sympathetic activity rather than retinal light information as generally supposed–may sustain circadian periodicity already entrained by light perinatally. Altogether three phases were supposed to exist in pineal entrainment of internal pacemakers: an embryological synchronization by light and in viviparous vertebrates by maternal effects (1); a light-based, postnatal entrainment (2); and in adults, a maintenance of periodicity by daily sympathetic rhythm of the hypothalamus. In addition to its visual function, the lateral eye retina performs a nonvisual task. Nonvisual retinal light perception primarily entrains genetically-determined periodicity, such as rod-cone dominance, EEG rhythms or retinomotor movements. It also influences the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the primary pacemaker of the brain. As neither rods nor cones seem to represent the nonvisual retinal photoreceptors, the presence of additional photoreceptors has been supposed. Cryptochrome 1, a photosensitive molecule identified in retinal nerve cells and in a subpopulation of retinal photoreceptors, is a good candidate for the nonvisual photoreceptor molecule as well as for a member of pacemaker molecules in the retina. When comparing various visual and nonvisual photoreceptors, transitory, “semi visual” (directional) light-perceptive cells can be detected among them, such as those in the parietal eye of reptiles. Measuring diffuse light intensity of the environment, semivisual photoreceptors also possess some directional light perceptive capacity aided by complementary lens-like structures, and screening pigment cells. Semivisual photoreception in aquatic animals may serve for identifying environmental areas of suitable illumination, or in poikilotermic terrestrial species for measuring direct solar irradiation for thermoregulation. As directional photoreceptors were identified among nonvisual light perceptive cells in the lancelet, but eyes are lacking, an early appearance of semivisual function, prior to a visual one (nonvisual –> semivisual –> visual?) in the vertebrate evolution was supposed.

PMID:

11962759

[PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

What is it?

The pineal gland, the most enigmatic of endocrine organs, has long been of interest to anatomists. Several millennia ago it was thought to be a valve that controlled the flow of memories into consciousness. René Descartes, the 17th-century French philosopher-mathematician, concluded that the pineal was the seat of the soul. A corollary notion was that calcification of the pineal caused psychiatric disease, a concept that provided support for those who considered psychotic behavior to be rampant; modern examination techniques have revealed that all pineal glands become more or less calcified.

Pineal Gland Anatomy

The pineal organ is small, weighing little more than 0.1 gram. It lies deep within the brain between the two cerebral hemispheres and above the third ventricle of the spinal column. It has a rich supply of adrenergic nerve fibers that greatly influence its secretions. Microscopically, the gland is composed of pinealocytes (rather typical endocrine cells except for extensions that mingle with those of adjacent cells). Supporting cells that are similar to astrocytes of the brain are interspersed.

Pineal Gland Functions

Pineal Hormones

The pineal gland contains a number of peptides, including GnRH, TRH, and vasotocin, along with a number of important neurotransmitters such as somatostatin, norepinephrine, serotonin, and histamine. The major pineal hormone, however, is melatonin, a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan. Melatonin was first discovered because it lightens amphibian skin, an effect opposite to that of melanocyte-stimulating hormone of the anterior pituitary. Secretion of melatonin is enhanced whenever the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated. Of greater interest, however, is the fact that secretion increases soon after an animal is placed in the dark; the opposite effect takes place immediately upon exposure to light. Its major action, well documented in animals, is to block the secretion of GnRH by the hypothalamus and of gonadotropins by the pituitary. While it was long thought that a decrease in melatonin secretion heralded the onset of puberty, this hypothesis cannot be supported by studies in humans. It is possible that the pineal contains an as yet unidentified hormone that serves that function.
Melatonin is the major hormone secreted by the pineal gland. (The pineal gland is a tiny endocrine gland situated at the centre of the brain.) Melatonin was discovered in 1958 by Aaron B. Lerner and other researchers working at Yale University. Melatonin is produced in humans, other mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. It is present in very small amounts in the human body.
Melatonin was previously known to cause the skins of amphibians to blanch, but its functions in mammals remained uncertain until research discoveries in the 1970s and ’80s suggested that it regulates both sleeping cycles and the hormonal changes that usher in sexual maturity during adolescence. The pineal gland’s production of melatonin varies both with the time of day and with age; production of melatonin is dramatically increased during the nighttime hours and falls off during the day, and melatonin levels are much higher in children under age seven than in adolescents and are lower still in adults. Melatonin apparently acts to keep a child’s body from undergoing sexual maturation, since sex hormones such as luteotropin, which play a role in the development of sexual organs, emerge only after melatonin levels have declined. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that children with tumors of the pineal gland often reach sexual maturity unusually early in life, presumably because the pineal’s production of melatonin has been hampered. Melatonin also seems to play an important role in regulating sleeping cycles; test subjects injected with the hormone become sleepy, suggesting that the increased production of melatonin coincident with nightfall acts as a fundamental mechanism for making people sleepy. With dawn the pineal gland stops producing melatonin, and wakefulness and alertness ensue. The high level of melatonin production in young children may explain their tendency to sleep longer than adults.
In mammals other than humans melatonin possibly acts as a breeding and mating cue, since it is produced in greater amounts in response to the longer nights of winter and less so during summer. Animals who time their mating or breeding to coincide with favorable seasons (such as spring) may depend on melatonin production as a kind of biological clock that regulates their reproductive cycles on the basis of the length of the solar day.

Pineal tumors

Pineal tumors are rare, occurring most often in children and young adults. The most common of these are germ cell tumors (germinomas and teratomas), which arise from embryonic remnants of germ cells. These tumors are malignant and invasive and may be life-threatening. Tumors of pinealocytes also occur and vary in their potential for malignant change.
Pineal tumors may cause headache, vomiting, and seizures due to the increase in pressure within the head that results from the enlarging tumor mass. Endocrinologic effects may also be observed. Some patients may become hypogonadal with regression of secondary sex characteristics, while others may undergo precocious puberty because of secretion of chorionic gonadotropin. Diabetes insipidus is frequently associated and is usually due to tumor invasion of the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary. Invasion of the pituitary stalk may interfere with the ongoing inhibition of prolactin secretion by dopamine from the hypothalamus, resulting in elevated serum prolactin levels, a finding that may lead to a mistaken diagnosis of prolactinoma. Treatment consists of surgical relief of the increased intracranial pressure and X-ray therapy.

How to Clean Up the Pineal Gland

Cleaning up the Pineal Gland is useful for those wishing to develop their multidimensional perception. The Pineal gland will naturally make its own DMT when fully operational and we will be able to remain in a visionary state most of the time. An awakened pineal gland brings the ability to consciously astral travel, explore other dimensions, foresee the future and receive communications from loving dimensional beings.

DMT is a component of Ayahuasca – a plant medicine from the Amazon that brings profound physical and heart healing through its purgative effects and the perception of other dimensions. Those that use this medicine go into a period of “work” where issues come into awareness and can be healed with the insights that come from DMT consciousness.

The advantage of cleaning up our pineal gland so it makes its own DMT is that we can be in a continuous state of spiritual “work” and we are spared the purgative effects of drinking the ayahuasca. Thus we no longer need any medicines as an adjunct to our spiritual lives. DMT is a totally natural substance that the human body will manufacture and distribute when it is in a healed state. Thus it would appear human beings were intended to be visionary beings and be able to tap into the information in other dimensions. This dimensional perception transcends the ego and rapidly heals our sufferings, conflicts and thus karmas.
Here are some basics for pineal detox:
1. Mercury – this is really bad for the pineal gland. Its poison. Dont let this get into your body. Mercury tooth fillings are pineal toxins. Have them removed. All medical vaccines are also mercury tainted. Thimersal (a vaccine preservative) is methyl mercury and is very difficult to get out of the brain once its in there. Avoid eating fish and bottom feeders such as shrimps and prawns. Tuna and dolphin meat is particularly bad for mercury – the bigger the fish the higher the concentration of mercury in its body tissue.
Eco light bulbs – if one is smashed mercury vapour is released into the room and inhaled. Avoid at all costs breaking one indoors.
Mercury can be removed from the body by the daily use of chlorella, wheatgrass and spirulina. Cilantro herb taken daily can help remove mercury from brain tissue.
2. Fluoride – in toothpastes and tap water. Its another heavy duty poison. Avoid it at all costs. It calcifies the pineal tissue and basically shuts the gland down.
3. Organic foods – some pesticides are pineal toxins. Organic healthy food with a high ratio of raw is supportive to pineal detox. Meat is not helpful either. Some people who channel seem to not be affected but for many the toxicity and density of meat will pose challenges and we want to make the work easy if we can.
4. Alcohol + smoking. Naturally these need to go along with the emotional attachments to using them (usually boils down to self worth issues or unresolved trauma).
5. Heart Healing – raises the overal vibration of the being and heals fear – a useful advantage for when we start seeing other dimensions.
6. Other toxins – if something is toxic do not put it in your body. If you cant say its name its most likely bad. Toxins include artificial sweeteners (aspartame K) , refined sugar, phylenanine (in squashes), E numbers beginning with 1, deodorants, cleaning chemicals, dental mouthwashes (saltwater is suffice) and  air fresheners.
7. Raw chocolate. Raw cacao is a pineal gland stimulant / detoxifier in high doses because of the high antioxidant content.
Being disciplined with steps 1-6 for a year or so will certainly bring about pineal awakening. Step 6 is optional but very useful too.
Love and blessings,
Free Spirit.

Fluoride & the Pineal Gland

Summation – Fluoride & Pineal Gland:

Up until the 1990s, no research had ever been conducted to determine the impact of fluoride on the pineal gland – a small gland located between the two hemispheres of the brain that regulates the production of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate the onset of puberty and helps protect the body from cell damage caused by free radicals.

It is now known – thanks to the meticulous research of Dr. Jennifer Luke from the University of Surrey in England – that the pineal gland is the primary target of fluoride accumulation within the body.

The soft tissue of the adult pineal gland contains more fluoride than any other soft tissue in the body – a level of fluoride (~300 ppm) capable of inhibiting enzymes.

The pineal gland also contains hard tissue (hyroxyapatite crystals), and this hard tissue accumulates more fluoride (up to 21,000 ppm) than any other hard tissue in the body (e.g. teeth and bone).

After finding that the pineal gland is a major target for fluoride accumulation in humans, Dr. Luke conducted animal experiments to determine if the accumulated fluoride could impact the functioning of the gland – particulalry the gland’s regulation of melatonin.

Luke found that animals treated with fluoride had lower levels of circulating melatonin, as reflected by reduced levels of melatonin metabolites in the animals’ urine. This reduced level of circulating melatonin was accompanied – as might be expected – by an earlier onset of puberty in the fluoride-treated female animals.

Luke summarized her human and animal findings as follows:

“In conclusion, the human pineal gland contains the highest concentration of fluoride in the body. Fluoride is associated with depressed pineal melatonin synthesis by prepubertal gerbils and an accelerated onset of sexual maturation in the female gerbil. The results strengthen the hypothesis that the pineal has a role in the timing of the onset of puberty. Whether or not fluoride interferes with pineal function in humans requires further investigation.”

Online Papers – Fluoride & the Pineal Gland:

FULL TEXT – html: Luke J. (2001). Fluoride deposition in the aged human pineal gland. Caries Research 35:125-128.

FULL TEXT- pdf: • Luke J. (1997). PhD Thesis: The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland (298 pages)

EXCERPT – html: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford.

Articles of Interest – Fluoride & the Pineal Gland:

Fluoride & the Pineal Gland: Study Published in Caries Research IFIN Bulletin, March 2001

Fluoride & Oxidative Stress: Yet more evidence FAN Science Watch September 30, 2004

Summation – Fluoride & Pineal Gland: (back to top)

“The single animal study of pineal function indicates that fluoride exposure results in altered melatonin production and altered timing of sexual maturity. Whether fluoride affects pineal function in humans remains to be demonstrated. The two studies of menarcheal age in humans show the possibility of earlier menarche in some individuals exposed to fluoride, but no definitive statement can be made. Recent information on the role of the pineal organ in humans suggests that any agent that affects pineal function could affect human health in a variety of ways, including effects on sexual maturation, calcium metabolism, parathyroid function, postmenopausal osteoporosis, cancer, and psychiatric disease.”
SOURCE: National Research Council. (2006). Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards. National Academies Press, Washington D.C. p221-22.

“In conclusion, the human pineal gland contains the highest concentration of fluoride in the body. Fluoride is associated with depressed pineal melatonin synthesis by prepubertal gerbils and an accelerated onset of sexual maturation in the female gerbil. The results strengthen the hypothesis that the pineal has a role in the timing of the onset of puberty. Whether or not fluoride interferes with pineal function in humans requires further investigation.”
SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 177.

Fluoride & Pineal Gland – Never Studied before 1990s:(back to top)

“It is remarkable that the pineal gland has never been analysed separately for F because it has several features which suggest that it could accumulate F. It has the highest calcium concentration of any normal soft tissue in the body because it calcifies physiologically in the form of hydroxyapatite (HA). It has a high metabolic activity coupled with a very profuse blood supply: two factors favouring the deposition of F in mineralizing tissues. The fact that the pineal is outside the blood-brain barrier suggests that pineal HA could sequester F from the bloodstream if it has the same strong affinity for F as HA in the other mineralizing tissues. The intensity of the toxic effects of most drugs depends upon their concentration at the site of action. The mineralizing tissues (bone and teeth) accumulate high concentrations of F and are the first to show toxic reactions to F. Hence, their reactions to F have been especially well studied. If F accumulates in the pineal gland, then this points to a gap in our knowledge about whether or not F affects pineal physiology. It was the lack of knowledge in this area that prompted my study.”
SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 1-2.

Fluoride & Pineal Gland – Accumulation of Fluoride in Soft Tissue of Pineal Gland: (back to top)

“After half a century of the prophylactic use of fluorides in dentistry, we now know that fluoride readily accumulates in the human pineal gland. In fact, the aged pineal contains more fluoride than any other normal soft tissue. The concentration of fluoride in the pineal was significantly higher (p <0.001) than in corresponding muscle, i.e., 296 ± 257 vs. 0.5± 0.4 mg/kg (wet weight) respectively.”
SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 167.

Fluoride & Pineal Gland – Accumulation of Fluoride in Calcified Tissue of Pineal Gland: (back to top)

“In terms of mineralized tissue, the mean fluoride concentration in the pineal calcification was equivalent to that in severely fluorosed bone and more than four times higher than in corresponding bone ash, i.e., 8,900 ± 7,700 vs. 2,040 ± 1,100 mg/kg, respectively. The calcification in two of the 11 pineals analysed in this study contained extremely high levels of fluoride: 21,800 and 20,500 mg/kg.”
SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 167.

Fluoride & Pineal Gland – Analagous to Dental Fluorosis? (back to top)

“Fluoride is now introduced at a much earlier stage of human development than ever before and consequently alters the normal fluoride-pharmacokinetics in infants. But can one dramatically increase the normal fluoride-intake to infants and get away with it? The safety of the use of fluorides ultimately rests on the assumption that the developing enamel organ is most sensitive to the toxic effects of fluoride. The results from this study suggest that the pinealocytes may be as susceptible to fluoride as the developing enamel organ.”
SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 176.

“Alongside the calcification in the developing enamel organ, calcification is also occurring in the child’s pineal. It is a normal physiological process. A complex series of enzymatic reactions within the pinealocytes converts the essential amino acid, tryptophan, to a whole family of indoles. The main pineal hormone is melatonin (MT)… If F accumulates in the pineal gland during early childhood, it could affect pineal indole metabolism in much the same way that high local concentrations of F in enamel organ and bone affect the metabolism of ameloblasts and osteoblasts.”
SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 5.

“Any adverse physiological effects of fluoride depend upon the concentration at various tissue sites. Can pinealocytes function normally in close proximity to high concentrations of fluoride? One would predict that a high local fluoride concentration would affect pinealocyte function in an analogous way that a high local fluoride concentration affects: i) bone cells, since histological changes have been observed in bone with 2,000 mg F/kg (Baud et al, 1978); ii) ameloblasts, sincedental fluorosis develops following fluoride concentrations of 0.2 mg F/kg in the developing enamel organ (Bawden et al, 1992). The consequences are disturbances in the functions of bone and enamel, i.e., changes in structure (poorly mineralized bone and enamel). If the pineal accumulates fluoride at an earlier age than in previous decades, one would anticipate that a high local concentration of fluoride within the pineal would affect the functions of the pineal, i.e., the synthesis of hormonal products, specifically melatonin… The controlled animal study carried out in this study produce compelling evidence that fluoride inhibits pineal melatonin output during pubertal development in the gerbil.”
SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 168-169.

Fluoride & Pineal Gland – Earlier Puberty in Animals: (back to top)

“The section on the effects of fluoride on the physiological signs of sexual maturity in the gerbil was a preliminary, pilot study. There were not enough subjects to make any firm conclusions so an interpretation of the data is conjectural. However, the results do suggest that the HF (High-Fluoride) females had an accelerated onset of puberty as judged by several indices of pubertal development in rodents. At 7 weeks, the HF females were significantly heavier than the LF females (p < 0.004); as heavy as the HF males and LF males. The ventral gland in the HF female developed significantly earlier than in the LF female (p < 0.004). Vaginal opening occurred earlier in the HF female than in the LF female (p <0.03).”
SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 173-174.

Fluoride & Pineal Gland – Earlier Puberty in Humans? (back to top)

“The first step in assessing a health risk by a substance to humans is the identification of its harmful effects on animals. A health risk to humans is assessed using results from human epidemiological studies in conjunction with results from animal studies. The Newburgh-Kingston Study (Schlesinger et al, 1956) showed an earlier age of first menarche in girls living in the fluoridated Newburgh than in unfluoridated Kingston. The current animal study indicates that fluoride is associated with an earlier onset of puberty in female gerbils. Furthermore, more research was recommended on the effects of fluoride on animal and human reproduction (USPHS, 1991). This project has contributed new knowledge in this area.”
SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 177.

Fluoride & Pineal Gland – Mechanism of Action: (back to top)

“The most plausible hypothesis for the observed significant decrease in the rate of urinary aMT6s excretion by the HF (High-Fluoride) group is that fluoride affects the pineal’s ability to synthesize melatonin during pubertal development in the gerbil. Fluoride may affect the enzymatic conversion of tryptophan to melatonin. Although melatonin was the hormone investigated in this project, fluoride may also affect the synthesis of melatonin precursors, (e.g., serotonin), or other pineal products, (e.g., 5-methoxytryptamine). This would depend on the position(s) of the susceptible enzyme(s). For some unknown reason, pineal calcification starts intracellularly. Calcium has been demonstrated in pinealocyte mitochondria. Therefore, it may be a mitochondrial enzyme that is sensitive to the effects of fluoride, e.g., tryptophan-5-hydroxylase. Alternatively, fluoride may affect pinealocyte enzymes which require a divalent co-enzyme because such enzymes are particularly sensitive to fluoride.”
SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 172-173.

Fluoride & Pineal Gland – Discussion: (back to top)

“Fluoride is now introduced at a much earlier stage of human development than ever before and consequently alters the normal fluoride-pharmacokinetics in infants.

But can one dramatically increase the normal fluoride-intake to infants and get away with it? The safety of the use of fluorides ultimately rests on the assumption that the developing enamel organ is most sensitive to the toxic effects of fluoride. The results from this study suggest that the pinealocytes may be as susceptible to fluoride as the developing enamel organ. The possibility of a species difference between humans and gerbils does not allow the extrapolation of the gerbil data to humans. However, if increased plasma-fluoride levels cause a decline in the levels of circulating melatonin during early human development, significant physiological consequences may have already occurred. Changes in plasma melatonin concentrations are serious functional disturbances because melatonin has many functions in the organism. The pinealogists have not completely unravelled the mechanisms by which the pineal gland performs its tasks in the brain. The neurochemical phenomenon elicited by melatonin in CNS are unclear.

The first step in assessing a health risk by a substance to humans is the identification of its harmful effects on animals. A health risk to humans is assessed using results from human epidemiological studies in conjunction with results from animal studies. The Newburgh-Kingston Study (Schlesinger et al, 1956) showed an earlier age of first menarche in girls living in the fluoridated Newburgh than in unfluoridated Kingston. The current animal study indicates that fluoride is associated with an earlier onset of puberty in female gerbils. Furthermore, more research was recommended on the effects of fluoride on animal and human reproduction (USPHS, 1991). This project has contributed new knowledge in this area.

I do not intend to discuss the relative merits of the claims made by the anti-fluoridationists that chronic ingestion of low levels of fluoride has harmful effects on human health, i.e., increases the risk of cancer, affects the immune system, and hastens the aging process. These claims could be associated with the effects of fluoride on the pineal because the gland has been linked to oncogenesis, immunocompetence, and, in recent years, to the process of aging.

In conclusion, the human pineal gland contains the highest concentration of fluoride in the body. Fluoride is associated with depressed pineal melatonin synthesis by prepubertal gerbils and an accelerated onset of sexual maturation in the female gerbil. The results strengthen the hypothesis that the pineal has a role in the timing of the onset of puberty. Whether or not fluoride interferes with pineal function in humans requires further investigation.”
SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 176-177.

The Pineal Gland – The Bridge to Divine

 Consciousness

Part 1: Overview, Glands and Chakras

by Scott Mowry

INTRODUCTION
Although we often think of the organs in our bodies, such as the heart, lungs and kidneys, as the most important for our survival, yet our glands may play an even more crucial role when it comes to the interaction with the soul and consciousness.

Our bodies contain numerous glands within them. The glands are vital regulators of the body’s energy systems and as is now being discovered, they have a direct relationship to our Divine origins as spiritual beings.

Perhaps the single most important and essential gland in the entire body system is the pineal gland, so named for its shape, similar to that of a pine cone. David Wilcock’s in-depth research has uncovered some amazing functions of the this gland and its relation to our spiritual bodies.

The pineal gland is located within the precise geometric center of the brain. And although larger in children, as we age, it reduces in size to that of a pea as it undergoes a gradual calcification process. The optimum size of the pineal gland, when fully engorged and activated, is that of a grape.

GLANDS AND CHAKRAS

Glands are directly tied to the seven chakra energy points (pictured left) that begin at the groin area, move up through the body, and end at the crown of the head. The pineal gland is linked directly to the sixth chakra point, located between the eyebrows, which is commonly known as the “third eye.” French philosopher and scientist, René Descartesreferred to it as “the seat of the soul.” And for good reason.

What makes the pineal gland so important in terms of consciousness, is the vast amount of energy and blood that flows through it, more so than any other gland in the human body.

The pineal gland also is also the storehouse of imagination and creation. The very same rods and cones found within the eyes, can also be found within the composition of the pineal gland. With this similar type of physiology, the pineal gland allows us to visualize or imagine scenarios, fantasies, memories, dreams or any other visual constructs. Have you ever heard the expressions, “in the mind’s eye,” or “the third eye” or “the sixth sense?” These phrases are all referring directly to the function of the pineal gland.

The pineal gland is also responsible for secreting two extremely vital brain fluids related to our mental health. Those are,melatonin, which is the hormone that induces sleep, and serotonin, which is the chemical that helps to maintain a happy, healthy balanced mental state of mind, among other functions.

Anti-depressant drugs, such as Prozac and Zoloft, are often prescribed to raise the serotonin levels within the brain chemistry. While psychedelic drugs, such as LSD and DMT, (or Dimethyltryptamin, yet another natural tryptamine found in the brain), as well as, some shamanic substances, like peyote, ahuyasca and mushrooms, often mimic the chemical action of that of serotonin.

DMT is a natural substance found in many plant species and, although research is just in its initial stages, there is strong speculation emerging that DMT is produced naturally in the pineal gland, as well.

Hence, the “psychedelic,” hallucinatory or shamanic trips that are experienced when one takes these types of drugs or substances. The psychedelic journeys are all being accessed and experienced within the realms of the pineal gland.

As we grow older, the pineal gland begins to calcify from the numerous substances and hormones found in our foods including soft drinks, processed foods and refined sugars that contribute to this degenerative effect. There are even some who have uncovered scientific research that point to psyche drugs, anti-depressant, and fluoride in the water systems that may be causing irreparable damage to the pineal gland, as well.

(For products that assist to decalcify the pineal gland, see our Health and Wellness section Part 3.)

Within the last several years, there has been a growing suspicion that cell phones, with their dangerous radiation fields, may also be attacking the pineal gland and causing it great harm. Even computer wi-fi network routers are also being suspected as another harmful source to the brain and the pineal gland.

© 2009 MR, Productions, LLC

Part 2: History, Kundalini and the All-Seeing Eye

by Scott Mowry

THE PINEAL GLAND THROUGHOUT HISTORY
Given all of these conditions, it would appear as if there has been a concerted effort, throughout many years, to actively shut down the pineal gland and render it inert, due to its supreme importance in its connection to consciousness, and thus, awakening. And there is ample proof to discover that the pineal gland has been widely recognized throughout history by all ancient cultures and religions as being of great significance.

In his amazing video lecture, “The 2012 Enigma,” David Wilcock covers in great detail, many of the ancient cultures and religions that have prominently featured the pine cone in their symbolism and iconography. And the list is astounding.

These include the Sumerians, the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Hindus, the Romans, the Greeks, the Buddhists, the Meso-Americans and most particularly, the Catholic Church and the Vatican, among many others.

In fact, the Vatican has constructed an area within its grounds known as“the Court of the Pigna,” or “Court of the Pine” (pictured right) and is symbolized by an extremely large statue of a pine cone that dominates the entire space. This pine cone statue is thought to be the largest of its kind in the entire world! Perhaps the Vatican knows more about the function of the pineal gland than it has so far revealed.

THE PINEAL GLAND AS A TRANSMITTER
Research is now coming to light that the pineal gland contains within its structure a zirconium diamond, similar to that used in a radio, that can literally function as a transmitter device. In fact, it is now being widely reported that the cell phone industry is actively researching this very effect and may be attempting to harness its potential in future cell phone technology.

The zirconium diamond can be found in other animal species, as well. In birds, for instance, it acts as a sort of GPS device, that assists in the navigation process as they travel great distances in their migratory stages.

Is it possible that cell phones are or will be linking in to this zirconium diamond in the human brain when activated to create some sort of a super wireless transmitter? There is also a great deal of controversy regarding the mass construction of cell towers throughout the country that are contributing to the alarming levels of EMF (or Electromagnetic Field) pollution, along with the growing number of wi-fi networks.

KUNDALINI and THE ALL-SEEING EYE
As the serpent-like kundalini energy moves up through the body and climbs the ladder of the chakra points, it reaches its zenith at the third eye and the pineal gland. It is during this process that the super consciousness or Divine consciousness becomes activated. As this process unfolds, it opens up the third eye, or the mind’s eye, or the sixth sense, as it is known, which essentially is the all knowing, all-seeing consciousness. Again, we can clearly find the link between the eyes and the pineal gland.

This third eye opening would then explain the predominance of the symbolism

of the all-seeing eye, (also known as “the eye of Horus” from Egyptian mysticism), prominently featured on the United Statesdollar bill, (pictured right) as a prime example. A parallel connection can then be made to the symbolism of the ancient pyramids on the Giza plateau in Egypt, and other parts of the world, that often have missing capstones, also symbolized on the dollar bill.

The all-seeing eye, may well be making reference to the pineal gland as the key to awakening, while at the same time, the master of control.

Therefore, within the realms of the pineal gland may lie the secrets to anti-aging, time travel, teleportation, the astral plane, telepathy, etc., in addition to, the all-knowing, all-seeing consciousness. David Wilcock has even stated that the pineal gland may act as a personal stargate within us.

“We all have this stargate in our own brain which we access primarily through meditation and stilling of the mind,” he said in a recent audio interview with Project Camelot. “(By) allowing the obstructions to fall away so that we get this sort of natural, intuitive, bubbling-up, which most people think of is daydreaming, they don’t think it has any value.”

“But when you go in that meditative state where thoughts just naturally surface in your mind without really having to work for them, that is actually the feed from your sub-conscious, super-consciousness, that comes through the pineal gateway,” he added.

Part 3: The Sacred Mushroom, Enthogens and DMT

by Scott Mowry

THE PINEAL GLAND and THE SACRED MUSHROOM
Here is where the story gets even more interesting.

Believe it or not, there is a direct link of the pineal gland to the legends of Christmas, Santa Claus, Jesus and, once again, to the Vatican, and it all has to do with the magical powers of an amazing plant known as the Amanita Muscaria mushroom.

The Amanita Muscaria or the Flying Agaric mushroom is referred to as an entheogen, or, a sacred plant. An entheogen is defined as “a chemical substance, typically of plant origin, that is ingested to produce a nonordinary state of consciousness for religious or spiritual purposes.”

This particular species of mushroom (pictured right) is a strikingly beautiful, brilliant red in color with white polka dots on its cap, and a long white stem which features a skirt or veil about halfway down. Quite astonishingly, the image of the Amanita Muscaria mushroom can be found in religious and spiritual iconography throughout many ancient civilizations, just as the pine cone/pineal gland symbolism.

The Amanita Muscaria mushroom contains a very high concentration of DMT and is considered to be the most naturally potent forms to be found in all of nature. It has been used in ancient rituals for thousands of years to induce an altered state of consciousness, or a “psychedelic” experience.

DMT is found in thousands of other plant species and is also the main ingredient in other shamanic potions such as the aforementioned ayuasca and peyote.

In so-called modern times, a psychedelic experience has often been negatively associated with drugs such as LSD or “acid,” emanating from the Hippie Movement of the 1960’s, yet the more accurate definition has ancient origins. In Latin, “psyche” means “mind,” while “delic,” or “delos,” means to “make clear or visible.” Therefore, psychedelic literally means “making the mind clear or visible.”

These sacred plants have been used in mystical ceremonies and often administered by a shaman, or a medicine man, to activate the pineal gland and take one on a psychedelic, spiritual experience that can be consciousness expanding and life-altering for the participant.

“THE SACRED MUSHROOM AND THE CROSS”

British scholar, philologist, author and Dead Sea Scrolls researcher, John Marco Allegro detailed the secret powers of the Amanita Muscaria mushroom in his amazing, yet controversial, book, “The Sacred Mushroom and The Cross,”(pictured left) originally published in 1970. This book has been out of print since 1985, however, efforts are now being made to re-release it sometime in 2009.

“The Sacred Mushroom and The Cross” sought to closely examine the myths of Jesus, the Bible, Christianity and other religions, and the role that the mushroom has played within religious or spiritual traditions by dispelling the myths from the historical records.

It basically set forth the notion that Christianity was nothing more than an off-shoot of astrotheology, and that the origins of Christian myths date back to ancient drug and fertility cults that relied heavily upon the symbolic representations of the psychedelic powers of the Amanita Muscaria mushroom.

Mr. Allegro was roundly criticized and his scholarly career ruined by those who vehemently disagreed with his research, particularly from Christian organizations and the Vatican. Yet, there has been a new found appreciation of his pioneering work, thanks in large part to the efforts of an organization known as Gnostic Media.

Gnostic Media has created an excellent video reviewing much of the research uncovered in “The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross” that is entitled “The Pharmacratic Inquisition,” produced by the team of Jan Irvin and Andrew Rutajit.

There are two different versions of “The Pharmacratic Inquisition,” the first incarnation being a lecture format released in 2004, while the second, “The Online Edition,” is a more polished video production and was re-released in 2007. Both are highly recommended.

“The Pharmacratic Inquisition” pre-dates a similarly themed film, “Zeitgeist,” by two years, which has become an internet sensation in 2006 and also is highly recommended. In addition, the Gnostic Media team has written a companion book to “The Pharmacratic Inquisition” entitled, “Astrotheology and Shamanism: Unveiling the Law of Duality in Christianity and Other Religions.”

Jan Irvin also released his latest book in 2009 entitled, “The Holy Mushroom: Evidence of Mushrooms in Judeo-Christianity: A critical re-evaluation of the schism between John M. Allegro and R. Gordon Wasson over the theory on the entheogenic origins of Christianity presented in the Sacred Mushroom and the Cross”.

Part 4: The Legends of Christmas and Santa Claus

by Scott Mowry

AMANITA MUSCARIA and THE LEGEND OF CHRISTMAS
The correlation of the Amanita Muscaria mushroom to the story of Christmas and Santa Claus is a truly fascinating tale. The legend, or more accurately, the myth of Christmas, began very differently from what we have come to believe in today.

Saint Nicholas (270-346 AD), it was said, was a real person and widely recognized as an actual Christian saint. He has origins in Greece around the third century AD. Saint Nicholas,
(pictured left), became well known as the patron saint of sailors, and most especially, of children. His popularity became widespread throughout Russia, and, most particularly, Siberia.

It is purported that Saint Nicholas was perscecuted for his Christian faith by the brutal Roman Emporer Diocletian (284-305 AD). Yet, perhaps, the story of his oppression may be more about supporting the Christian myth, than to historical accuracy, simply due to the fact that this appears to be a common thread. Wherein there have been numerous distortions and outright falsehoods centered around the legend of Christmas.

Somewhere along the way, Saint Nicholas morphed into Saint Nick, and eventually, so we are told, he became the origin of our modern day version of Santa Claus. Again, this blantanly appears to be more Christian myth, than reality.

However, when you add in the birth of the Jesus Christ into the mix, then religion drastically blurs the facts to support the Christian dogma, as put forth most notably by the Catholic Church. Christian mythology tells us that the holiday of Christmas is to commerate the alledged birth of Christ on Decmber 25th. Yet many alternative scholars have pinpointed his actual birth at around August 8th.

The Christian version of the birth of Jesus; ie, born of a virgin, in a manger, attended by three wise men, etc., is one that is often repeated throughout history, and may actually be based upon paganism and the astrological movement of the planets, Sun and stars. The film, “Zeitgeist” offers futher perspectives on the astonishing similiarites of the life of Jesus, to that of other significant religious figures, such as Horus, Krishna, Dionysus, Mithra and others.

However, in parts of eastern Siberia, a much different tradition was honored at this momentous time of year we have come to know as Christmas. In these ancient villages, the tribal shaman or medicine man, would be the one to co-ordinate a celebration that was meant to mark an act of expanding consciousness.

During those times, it was a tradition for the shaman to venture out into the forest in search

of the Amanita Muscaria mushrooms, which were found growing primarily under pine or evergreen trees. The shaman would collect the mushrooms into a sack or satchel for all the people of his village, as part of this celebration. In keeping with the ritual, the shaman would be dressed in a red and white clothing,(pictured right), sometimes with white fur around the collar, to symbolize the colors of the Amanita Muscaria mushroom.

The people of his village all lived in yurts, which were tent-like structures covered with reindeer skins. In the winter time, the main entrance to the yurts would often become buried in deep, heavy snow. So, out of necessity, the shaman would have to enter the home through the secondary entrance, which would be found at the top of the roof or the smoke hole, which would be considered to be the chimney in a modern home.

The shaman entering through the chimney was seen as both a symbolic, as well as, a necessary gesture, as he came bearing his gifts of the sacred Amanita Muscaria mushrooms, as if descending down from the heavens. Hence the legend of Santa Claus entering the home by way of the chimney.

Once the shaman delivered his “presents” to his villagers, the mushrooms would then be hung to dry above the home fires or the fireplace, suspended from strings or stockings. The shaman himself, may have even have placed them on the pine trees to dry in the sun, as he gathered them in the forest. Thus, our tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace and placing brightly colored ornaments on the green Christmas tree.

The mushroom itself, (pictured below), could be seen as a symbol for the shaman (pictured above), or Santa

Claus, with its red and white cap (Santa’s hat), the long white stem with the hanging skirt (Santa’s beard) and the soiled black roots (Santa’s black boots).

To add even more irony to the story, it turns out that caribou, or reindeer, are also fond of eating the Amanita Muscaria mushrooms and just as humans, they too experience a psychedelic euphoria and may wander about high on a psychedelic experience of their own. Therefore, this is where the legend of Santa and his “flying” reindeer that pull his sleigh across the night sky on Christmas Eve comes into play.

So in essence, Christmas, at is

very incepetion, actually represents a celebration of expanding consciousness, as symbolized by the green pine tree/Christmas tree, aka, the pine cone, aka, the pineal gland. The pine tree also serves as symbology for the “Tree of Life”or the “World Tree”, while the lights or garlands we wrap around it represent the kundalini energy rising up the chakra ladder, or, the tree found within the human body.

While the colors of red and white would symbolize the shaman, (aka Santa Claus), or the gifts found under the tree, or in other words, the Amanita Muscaria mushroom that are found growing under the pine or evergreen tree.

In fact, it used to be traditional for the red and white mushroom to often be depicted in antique Christmas imagery (pictured below), such as cards, ornaments, elves, fairies, etc.

While the modern day image of Santa Claus (pictured left) that we have come to accept in this country, essentially was spawned in the marketing department of the Coca-Cola company in the 1930’s, as a ploy to sell more Coke to children. And as was noted earlier, soft drinks, such as Coca-Cola, are some of the main inhibitors in the healthy function of the pineal gland.

Coincidence? You decide.

So thus, the legend of Santa Claus, which was once strongly associated with a celebration of expanding consciousness in the pineal gland though the sacred mushroom and DMT, was rechristend by a soft drink company, whose ingredients are known to contribute to the calcification of said pineal gland.

Regardless, it is undeniable that the celebration of Christmas has lost much of its spiritual, and even to some extent its religious importance and has become completely overshadowed by its commercial significance. Once again, another common thread that now runs through all holidays such as Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s Day and even, to a lesser degree, our own birthdays.

The commercialization of religious holidays can be traced back to the implementation of the Gregorian calendar, which significantly altered the concept of time as was practised and followed by indigenous peoples around the world.

Particularly, the Mayan calendar, which were destroyed on orders by the Spanish King, who just happened to be the head of the Holy Roman Empire.

Part 5: Jesus and the Sacred Mushroom

by Scott Mowry

THE AMANITA MUSCARIA MUSHROOM and THE VATICAN
We have already seen how the Catholic Church has placed extreme importance upon the pine cone symbolism in their Court of Pine (found in Part 2) with their gigantic pine cone statue within the grounds of Vatican City. Well, as it so happens, the Catholic Church places equal significance upon the Amanita Muscaria mushroom, believe it or not.

As a matter of fact, just as Siberian shaman dressed in a clothing to resemble the sacred mushroom, so do the Cardinals and Bishops within the Catholic Church, and even on occasion, the Pope himself.

Their traditional style of dress includes a cap or beanie worn upon the top of the head, a red shawl or cape over the upper body, a white apron or skirt upon the lower body, and a pair black shoes to complete the ensemble. You can compare the Cardinal’s dress in the photo above with that of the mushroom and see how strikingly similar they are. Surely, this is not a coincidence.

What possible reason would a Catholic cardinal have to dress like an Amanita Muscaria

mushroom, of all things?

That question can be answered always the same, time and time again, when it comes to uncovering sacred knowledge: the clues are always strategically hidden in plain sight.

By dressing in this manner, the Vatican is symbolizing that it posseses the sacred powers of the mushroom, but would never, ever openly acknowledge these secrets to its followers, as it has kept hidden countless other great spiritual secrets of the world.

Afterall, the Vatican secret archives are proported to stretch some sixty miles of underground catacombs beneath Vatican City, which likely contain inumerable treasures that could free mankind of spiritual slavery.

In the latest film from the Da Vinci Code series, “Angels & Demons,” we are given just a glimpse of what could be stored within the massive underground chambers, which may soon be revealed to the people of the world, perhaps as early as the year 2012.

Yet the Vatican can blatantly display and mock their power over those who have no idea of these great secrets that can be found all around us. Sometimes as close as the nearby forest, to name but one. And it only takes the sacred knowledge to unlock those secrets.

But this is not the end of the mushroom symbolism for it continues on in the story of Jesus Christ, the Son of “sun” of God, as well.

JESUS AND THE HOLY MUSHROOM
In ancient religious iconography, the mushroom is often symbolized by a cross. In turn, the image of Jesus crucified on the cross is remarkedly similar to the compostion of the Amanita Muscaria mushroom.

From the top of the head of Jesus, where we find the crown of thorns, we see a similar image on the cap of the mushroom where white speckles remain from its separation from the egg stage as the mushroom grows.

Secondly, Jesus’ arms spread out on the horizontal section of the cross is representative of the veil of the mushroom. Moving down the body of Jesus we find a sash or cloth covering his pelvis, which is quite similar the the skirt that is found about half way down the stem of the mushroom.

Finally, as Jesus has been nailed to the cross with his feet on top of one another, this essentially portrays him standing upon one leg. This would be representative of the long stem of the Amanita Muscaria mushroom holding up the cap.

If we also examine the halo often found in religious art that surrounds the head of Jesus and other saints, these are commonly assumed to contain rays of the sun. Yet there is a striking similarity to the underside of the cap of the mushroom, which portrays an intricate spoke pattern within its wheel.

Therefore, it is not a stretch to believe that the halo is not reprensentative of the sun, but rather yet another symbol for the sacred mushroom.

Religion and psychedelic journeys of the mind –– not that distant of cousins afterall. And it is all there for you to see. Just check the ancient clues and you will find them.

© 2009 MR, Productions, LLC

The Pineal Gland

The pineal gland was called the “third eye” by ancient people. It was thought to have mystical powers. This may be why the French philosopher Descartes decided that the pineal gland was the seat of the human soul, the location of what we call the mind. The pineal does contain a complete map of the visual field of the eyes, and it plays several significant roles in human functioning.

Also called the pineal body or epiphysis cerebri, the pineal gland is important to this discussion for two reasons. First, it is the center for the production of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is implicated in a wide range of human activities. It regulates daily body rhythms, most notably the day/night cycle (circadian rhythms). Melatonin is released in the dark, during sleep. The recent melatonin craze sweeping through the health conscious community makes claims that the hormone slows the aging process (a defense against free radicals), prevents jet lag, is implicated in seasonal affective disorder, coordinates fertility, and allows for deep restful sleep patterns.

Melatonin is a very ancient hormone that is found throughout the animal kingdom. In reptiles and birds the pineal is close to the skin and needs no interaction with the eye to register day/night cycles (this is where the notion of the ‘third eye” comes from). In these animals, the pineal gland is the master clock. In mammals, however, the pineal gland is subordinate to the eye/SCN system. Light severely curtails the production of melatonin.

Melatonin has been shown to inhibit the growth and metastasis of some tumors in experimental animals, and may therefore play a role in cancer inhibition. Removal of the pineal gland and/or reduction in melatonin output have been implicated in the increased incidence of breast cancer in laboratory animals. Patients who have breast cancer have lower levels of melatonin in the blood. The hormone has also been shown to be protective against genetic damage, and it has a stimulatory effect on the immune system.

The anticancer role of melatonin in humans is not established yet, but in a study involving blind women, melatonin production was found to be higher at all times. This finding was associated with the finding that breast cancer in this study was correspondingly lower for these blind women compared to the general population.

The pineal gland has been implicated in a number of disorders including cancer, sexual dysfunction, hypertension, epilepsy, and Paget’s disease. The pineal gland calcifies with age and melatonin production correspondingly decreases. This decline in melatonin has been suggested to be a trigger for the aging process.

Environmental stresses affect pineal function, impacting overall body alertness, temperature levels, and hormone operation. Stresses that affect pineal function include unusual light and dark rhythms, radiation, magnetic fields, nutritional imbalances, temperature swings, high altitude, and overall daily stress patterns.

Melatonin, if any of these claims turn out to be substantial, is a powerful body chemical, with important implications for human functioning, especially (I would suggest) for blind and visually impaired individuals. If light inhibits melatonin production, then blind individuals lack a mechanism for balancing the melatonin levels in the blood.

Melatonin overload may be related to seasonal affective disorder, the depression some people feel during the overcast, short days of the winter months (when there is minimal sunlight). Are blind individuals more susceptible to depression because of a melatonin imbalance?

I’ve worked with enough blind children to know that their sleep patterns get all messed up. We usually tell parents that the reason is simply a lack of feedback about when day has set and night is here. We establish a routine for the blind students that replaces the natural rhythm. The role of melatonin may be important for these children. We may be able to help them sleep better and in a more balanced rhythm using medications to counter the excess melatonin in their blood streams. This is not an endorsement of drug therapy, only speculation as to whether its use would be helpful. For further discussion of sleep disorders associated with circadian rhythm interruption see the section on the hypothalamus.

Studies do show that partially sighted eyes may still maintain subconscious awareness of light or its absence. For these people, the circadian rhythms established by the pineal gland are intact. For totally blind individuals, with no subconscious feedback to the pineal gland, there may be periods of severe insomnia, or they may fall asleep at unusual times (like during math class).

The second reason for interest in the pineal gland is that it contains magnetic material in birds and other animals. It is a center for navigation. This, of course, is important for blind individuals. If the pineal gland turns out to contain magnetic material in humans (researchers are looking), then it may be involved in navigational processing. Magnetic processing is subtle and may be part of the bodies unconscious navigational system. Mobility specialists are aware of this possibility, but we have yet to use it to train students.

Studies done mostly with birds strongly suggest that the pineal gland is a center for navigation. Scientists believe that the pineal body is a magnetoreceptor, capable of monitoring magnetic fields, and helping to align the body in space. Changing the direction of magnetic fields around the heads of birds alters their ability to orient.

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) suppress the activity of the pineal gland and reduce melatonin production. EMF activity therefore disrupts the bodies circadian rhythms.

In lower vertebrates, the pineal gland has an eye like structure and it functions as a light receptor. The pineal gland may be the evolutionary forerunner of the modern eye. It is located within the third ventricle. It is large in children, but shrinks at puberty. It appears to play a major role in sexual development, hibernation in animals, metabolism, and seasonal breeding. In humans it affects circadian rhythms, sleep patterns (melatonin levels increase at night), and is implicated in seasonal affective disorder. The abundant melatonin levels in children is believed to inhibit sexual development. When puberty arrives, melatonin production is reduced.

There is a pathway from the retinas to the hypothalamus called the retinohypothalamic tract. It brings information about light and dark cycles to a region of the hypothalamus called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). From the SCN, nerve impulses travel via the pineal nerve (sympathetic nervous system) to the pineal gland. These impulses inhibit the production of melatonin. When these impulses stop (at night, when light no longer stimulates the hypothalamus), pineal inhibition ceases and melatonin is released. The pineal gland is therefore a photosensitive organ and an important timekeeper for the human body.

Retinal research done with hamsters demonstrates another center for melatonin production. Located in the retina, this center implies that the eyes have their own built in circadian timepiece. This retinal system is distinct from the brains body clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Biologists found that they could throw the retinal rhythms out of sync with other circadian cycles. They also found that they could set and reset the retinal clock even when the SCN was destroyed.

The retinal clock produces (stimulates the production of?) melatonin. Researchers are now looking for the exact location (s) of this clock in the human eye (and expect to find it). No one yet knows what the separate clock is for or how it relates to the SCN. One thing is clear: there is a melatonin craze right now. People are taking regular doses of the hormone. There is a question whether or not regular doses of melatonin may damage the eye over time. Melatonin could affect the timing of hormone peaks in the eye. High retinal melatonin levels combined with exposure to bright light might cause retinal damage. This is speculation (a caution) at this time.

The Pineal Gland and Melatonin

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The pineal gland or epiphysis synthesizes and secretes melatonin, a structurally simple hormone that communicates information about environmental lighting to various parts of the body. Ultimately, melatonin has the ability to entrain biological rhythms and has important effects on reproductive function of many animals. The light-transducing ability of the pineal gland has led some to call the pineal the “third eye”.

Anatomy of the Pineal Gland

The pineal gland is a small organ shaped like a pine cone (hence its name). It is located on the midline, attached to the posterior end of the roof of the third ventricle in the brain. The pineal varies in size among species; in humans it is roughly 1 cm in length, whereas in dogs it is only about 1 mm long. To observe the pineal, reflect the cerebral hemispheres laterally and look for a small grayish bump in front of the cerebellum. The images below shows the pineal gland of a horse in relation to the brain.

Histologically, the pineal is composed of “pinealocytes” and glial cells. In older animals, the pineal often is contains calcium deposits (“brain sand”).

How does the retina transmit information about light-dark exposure to the pineal gland? Light exposure to the retina is first relayed to the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, an area of the brain well known to coordinate biological clock signals. Fibers from the hypothalamus descend to the spinal cord and ultimately project to the superior cervical ganglia, from which post-ganglionic neurons ascend back to the pineal gland. Thus, the pineal is similar to the adrenal medulla in the sense that it transduces signals from the sympathetic nervous system into a hormonal signal.

Melatonin: Synthesis, Secretion and Receptors

The precursor to melatonin is serotonin, a neurotransmitter that itself is derived from the amino acid tryptophan. Within the pineal gland, serotonin is acetylated and then methylated to yield melatonin.

Synthesis and secretion of melatonin is dramatically affected by light exposure to the eyes. The fundamental pattern observed is that serum concentrations of melatonin are low during the daylight hours, and increase to a peak during the dark.

Examples of the circadian rhythm in melatonin secretion in humans is depicted in the figure to the right (adapted from Vaughn, et al, J Clin Endo Metab 42:752, 1976). The dark gray bars represent night, and serum melatonin levels are shown for two individuals (yellow versus light blue). Note that blood levels of melatonin are essentially undetectable during daytime, but rise sharply during the dark. Very similar patterns are seen in other species.The duration of melatonin secretion each day is directly proportional to the length of the night.

The mechanism behind this pattern of secretion during the dark cycle is that activity of the rate-limiting enzyme in melatonin synthesis – serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT) – is low during daylight and peaks during the dark phase. In some species, circadian changes in NAT activity are tightly correlated with transcription of the NAT messenger RNA, while in other species, post-transcriptional regulation of NAT activity is responsible. Activity of the other enzyme involved in synthesis of melatonin from serotonin – the methyltransferase – does not show regulation by pattern of light exposure.

Two melatonin receptors have been identified from mammals (designated Mel1A and Mel1B) that are differentially expressed in different tissues and probably participate in implementing differing biologic effects. These are G protein-coupled cell surface receptors. The highest density of receptors has been found in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary (predominantly pars tuberalis) and the retina. Receptors are also found in several other areas of the brain.

Biological Effects of Melatonin

Melatonin has important effects in integrating photoperiod and affecting circadian rhythms. Consequently, it has been reported to have significant effects on reproduction, sleep-wake cycles and other phenomena showing circadian rhythm.

Effects on Reproductive Function

Seasonal changes in daylength have profound effects on reproduction in many species, and melatonin is a key player in controlling such events. In temperate climates, animals like hamsters, horses and sheep have distinct breeding season. During the non-breeding season, the gonads become inactive (e.g males fail to produce sperm in any number), but as the breeding season approaches, the gonads must be rejuvenated. Photoperiod – the length of day vs night – is the most important cue allowing animals to determine which season it is. As you’ve probably deduced by now, the pineal gland is able to measure daylength and adjust secretion of melatonin accordingly. A hamster without a pineal gland or with a lesion that prevents the pineal from receiving photoinformation is not able to prepare for the breeding season.

The effect of melatonin on reproductive systems can be summarized by saying that it is anti-gonadotropic. In other words, melatonin inhibits the secretion of the gonadotropic hormones luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone from the anterior pituitary. Much of this inhibitory effect seems due to inhibition of gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus, which is necessary for secretion of the anterior pituitary hormones.

One practical application of melatonin’s role in controlling seasonal reproduction is found in its use to artificially manipulate cycles in seasonal breeders. For example, sheep that normally breed only once per year can be induced to have two breeding seasons by treatment with melatonin.

Effects on Sleep and Activity

Melatonin is probably not a major regulator of normal sleep patterns, but undoubtedly has some effect. One topic that has garnered a large amount of interest is using melatonin alone, or in combination with phototherapy, to treat sleep disorders. There is some indication that melatonin levels are lower in elderly insomniacs relative to age matched non-insomniacs, and melatonin therapy in such cases appears modestly beneficial in correcting the problem.

Another sleep disorder is seen in shift workers, who often find it difficult to adjust to working at night and sleeping during the day. The utility of melatonin therapy to aleviate this problem is equivocal and appears not to be as effective as phototherapy. Still another condition involving disruption of circadian rhythms is jet lag. In this case, it has repeatedly been demonstrated that taking melatonin close to the target bedtime of the destination can alleviate symptoms; it has the greatest beneficial effect when jet lag is predicted to be worst (e.g. crossing many time zones).

In various species including humans, administration of melatonin has been shown to decrease motor activity, induce fatigue and lower body temperature, particularly at high doses. The effect on body temperature may play a significant role in melatonin’s ability to entrain sleep-wake cycles, as in patients with jet lag.

Other Effects of Melatonin

One of the first experiments conducted to elucidate the function of the pineal, extracts of pineal glands from cattle were added to water containing tadpoles. Interestingly, the tadpoles responded by becoming very light in color or almost transparent due to alterations in melanin pigment distribution. Although such cutaneous effects of melatonin are seen in a variety of “lower species”, the hormone does not have such effects in mammals or birds.

A Fluoride-Free Pineal Gland is More Important than Ever

Tuesday, June 02, 2009 by: Paul Fassa

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/026364_fluoride_pineal_gland_sodium.html#ixzz23M17FfbH

(NaturalNews) There has been some controversy over the activity of adding synthetic fluoride to municipal water supplies and elsewhere, but not enough. The seriousness of this issue is more than what most realize. Fluoridation ranks with GMO’s and tainted, forced vaccinations among the great crimes against humanity.
Understanding the Different Fluorides
There are two types of fluoride. Calcium Fluoride, which appears naturally in underground water supplies, is relatively benign. However, too much consumed daily can lead to bone or dental problems. Calcium is used to counter fluoride poisoning when it occurs. This redeeming factor indicates that the calcium in naturally formed calcium fluoride neutralizes much of fluoride’s toxic effects.
On the other hand, the type of fluorides added to water supplies and other beverages and foods are waste products of the nuclear, aluminum, and now mostly the phosphate (fertilizer) industries. The EPA has classified these as toxins: fluorosilicate acid, sodium silicofluoride, and sodium fluoride.
For this article, the term Sodium Fluoride will include all three types. Sodium fluoride is used for rat poison and as a pesticide. According to a scientific study done several years ago, Comparative Toxicity of Fluorine Compounds, industrial waste sodium fluorides are 85 times more toxic than naturally occurring calcium fluoride.
Health Hazards of Sodium Fluoride
Generally, most fluoride entering the body is not easily eliminated. It tends to accumulate in the body’s bones and teeth. Recently, it has been discovered to accumulate even more in the pineal gland, located in the middle of the brain.
This consequence of dental fluorosis, which seriously harms teeth, from daily fluoridation has been documented. Yet, the American Dental Association (AMA) continues beating a dead horse, promoting fluoride. There is a refusal to admit that instead of preventing tooth decay, fluoride causes even more dental harm.
The flood of sodium fluoride in water and food also creates other more serious health problems that are not widely publicized, even suppressed. Nevertheless, in addition to fluorosis, independent labs and reputable researchers have linked the following health issues with daily long term intake of sodium fluoride:
*Cancer
*Genetic DNA Damage
*Thyroid Disruption – affecting the complete endocrine system and leading to obesity
*Neurological – diminished IQ and inability to focus, lethargy and weariness.
*Alzheimer’s Disease
*Melatonin Disruption, lowers immunity to cancer, accelerates aging, sleep disorders.
*Pineal Gland, calcification, which clogs this gland located in the middle of the brain.
How Did We Get Stuck With Stuff?
According to investigative journalist Christopher Bryson, author of The Fluoride Deception, getting large quantities of sodium fluoride into the water and food system was a ploy of public relations sponsored by the industries who were saddled with getting rid of the toxic materials.
Fluoride was necessary for the processing or enriching of uranium. The pro-fluoride propaganda was started during the Manhattan Project to create the first atom bombs in the 1940’s. The spin was to convince workers and locals where the largest nuclear plant was located in Tennessee that fluoride was not only safe, it was good for kids’ dental health.
In the early 1950’s, the notorious spin master and father of advertising, Edward Bernays, continued the campaign for adding fluorides to water supplies as an experiment in engineering human consent! Then the AMA picked up on the dental issue and endorsed sodium fluoride’s addition to water supplies. The few dissenting health studies and reports were usually squashed. Those dissenting voices were dismissed as quacks regardless of their credentials.
Approximately 2/3 of the USA water supply is laced with sodium fluoride. Sodium fluoride is a common pesticide. So that residue is in some foods. Some sodas, packaged orange juices, and even bottled drinking water for babies contain fluoride additives. Buyer beware. Read your labels carefully.
Avoiding Fluoridation
Keep in mind that boiling only increases the concentration of fluoride to water more. But removing fluoride from tap water is not so difficult. Reverse osmosis works well for removing fluorides. If you own your home and can spring for the bucks, you can have one installed under the sink in your kitchen. That makes things very convenient for your fluoride removal from tap water.
If this is not your situation, grab a couple of large jugs and fill them up from reverse osmosis machines in health food stores, supermarkets, and other locations. There are several such machines around, usually labeled as using reverse osmosis, and they usually take coins. So it is the most accessible and cheapest way to go if you can’t install one where you live.
The Physiological Importance of the Pineal Gland
During the late 1990’s in England, a scientist by the name of Jennifer Luke undertook the first study the effects of sodium fluoride on the pineal gland. She determined that the pineal gland, located in the middle of the brain, was a target for fluoride. The pineal gland simply absorbed more fluoride than any other physical matter in the body, even bones.
Because of the pineal gland’s importance to the endocrine system, her conclusions were a breakthrough. Her study provided the missing link to a lot of physiological damage from sodium fluoride that had been hypothesized but not positively connected. A veritable root source for the chain reaction of blocked endocrine activity had been isolated.
Good news though. Frequent exposure to outdoor sunshine, 20 minutes or so at a time, will help stimulate a fluoride calcified pineal gland. Just make sure you take off your hat. This is more important than most realize, because the pineal gland affects so much other enzyme and endocrine activity, including melatonin production.
The 2012 Connection
First a bit about 2012, a date many have heard about. According to Carlos Barrios, anthropologist, historian, and investigator who was initiated as a Mayan ceremonial priest and spiritual guide, “Anthropologists visit the temple sites and read the inscriptions . . . but they do not read the signs correctly. . . . Other people write about prophecy in the name of the Maya. They say that the world will end in December 2012. The Mayan elders are angry with this. The world will not end. It will be transformed.”
Carlos Barrios goes on to say that the transformation will be both spiritual and physical. The transition started in 1987. He says that we are in a spiritual transition from the rule of materialism, greed, and enmity to a new period of cooperation and peace – but not without difficulty. The current oligarchy is happy with what they have and don’t want to give it up, and they are powerful. The Mayans claim that 2012 marks the end of the period of the fourth sun and the beginning of the fifth sun.
Carlos points out that adversarial revolution against the ruling class will not work. It is up to those who want this shift to connect with others of like mind and begin actively creating networks of real cooperation. The old will crumble. The new period will dawn with its growing pains, the severity of which depends on our ability to accept what is happening and go with the flow. This, he says, requires evolving to unconditional love, with an open and simple heart, forgiveness, and cooperation with less ego competition.
Connecting the Pineal Gland to This 2012 Matter
Well, what does all this have to do with the pineal gland? A lot. It is considered a portal to the inner or higher self by yogi masters, including Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. Psychics consider it to be the link for inter dimensional experiences. It is associated with what many call the third eye or sixth chakra, which is a doorway to higher consciousness and bliss.
And it is vital for supporting intuition, an ability that will be needed during hard times. So it is necessary to evolve spiritually in order to help create better understanding, acceptance of our fellow humans, and easier group cooperation. Meditation is a part of this evolving. That and a little sunshine, good rest and food, can cause a calcified pineal gland to loosen up and allow that portal to open.
An unusual psychiatrist, professor of medicine at University of New Mexico, and practicing Buddhist, Dr. Rick Strassman, MD, has written a book based on actual human studies of people under the psychedelic drug, DMT, titled DMT, The Spirit Molecule. He has discovered, among other things, that the pineal gland is a source of DMT production during birth and at death, and during near death or mystical experiences. This chemical approach corroborates the idea of the pineal gland as a portal, where the spirit passes through to other dimensions, either entering this physical realm or leaving it.
South American and Central American shamans use Ayahuasca, an herbal potion that stimulates DMT for psychological healing and spiritual initiation ceremonies. They have expanded their ceremonies with Ayahuasca by traveling throughout the world or opening their local facilities to non natives. They are doing this urgently in anticipation of 2012. Their desire is to jump start and expand individuals’ consciousness so the transition of consciousness will be facilitated and incorporate as many as possible.
This information is meant to link the physical realm’s pineal gland to higher states of awareness and other realms. The point is not to advocate or discourage psychedelic drug use, but to encourage health, meditation and spiritual growth by maintaining a fluoride free pineal gland. 2012 is approaching. Time to get in shape!
Sources:
Fluroide: Friend or Foe? By Devid De Santo (www.lewrockwell.com)
Germans and Russians Used Fluoride to Make Prisoners Stupid and Docile, by Devvy Kidd
(www.newswithviews.com)
Fluoride Accumulates in the Pineal Gland, by Sepp Hasslberger of Health Supreme (www.newmediaexplorer.org)
Transcribed interview of journalist Christopher Bryson: The Fluoride Deception: How a Nuclear Waste Byproduct Made Its Way Into the Nation’s Drinking Water http://www.democracynow.org/2004/6/17/the_fluoride_deception_how_a_nu…
Article by Ingrid Nairman highlighting Mayan lecture in Santa Fe, NM by Carlos Barrios
ingridnaiman.com/subscription_lists/email_index.html.
The Pineal Gland: Interface Between the Spiritual and Physical Planes?
(http://circleof13.blogspot.com)
The Fluoride Debate – (www.fluoridedebate.com)

About the author

Paul Fassa is dedicated to warning others about the current corruption of food and medicine and guiding others toward a direction for better health with no restrictions on health freedom. You can visit his blog at http://healthmaven.blogspot.com
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/026364_fluoride_pineal_gland_sodium.html#ixzz23M0x5Efw

“One of the pineal gland’s most powerful hormones is the neurotransmitter melatonin. The secretion of melatonin starts between 9:30-10:30 p.m. (depending on age), inducing sleepiness. It reaches peak levels between 1-2 a.m. and drops to its lowest levels at midday. The pineal gland controls reproduction, sleep and motor activity, blood pressure, the immune system, the pituitary and thyroid glands, cellular growth, body temperature, and many other vital functions. All of these depend on a balanced melatonin cycle. By going to sleep late (past 10 p.m.”
– Andreas Moritz, Cancer Is Not A Disease – It’s A Survival Mechanism (Get the book.)

“He has written in his book The Sunfood Diet Success System that the body decalcifies the pineal gland on a raw food diet. The pineal gland is thought to be the source of the “third eye,” or psychic center of the body. Indeed, children who are raised on a 100% raw food diet have been known to be more psychic, as are animals in the wild. Wolfe has also made the comment, “The Bible says the body is the temple of the soul. Unfortunately, I used to treat mine like an amusement park.” Many of us could say the same.”
– Susan E. Schenck, The Live Food Factor: The Comprehensive Guide to the Ultimate Diet for Body, Mind, Spirit & Planet (Get the book.)

“Endocrine glands Pineal The pineal gland is a small gland about the size of a pea located near the center of the brain between its two hemispheres. It works in harmony with the pituitary and hypothalamus to control the body’s hormonal systems and 24-hour rhythms. The pineal gland is sensitive to different levels of light, produces melatonin, and governs our sleep-wake cycle. As such, it is the body’s internal clock, and is sometimes referred to as the “third eye”. It is also responsible for directing the body’s signals for thirst, hunger, sexual desire, and biological aging.”
– Ron Garner, Conscious Health: A Complete Guide to Wellness Through Natural Means (Get the book.)

“When the pineal gland in humans becomes calcified, it cuts down its production of melatonin (14). This, in turn, stimulates the production of estrogen, which causes an increased amount of breast cancer (15). Up to 60 per cent of Americans have calcified pineal glands when they are over 50 years of age (16). In Japan, only 9.9 percent (17), and in Nigeria 5.04 per cent (18) of persons beyond 40 have calcined pineal glands. Since the Percent of calcified pineal glands 60% 9.9% 5.04% Americans Japanese Nigerians over 40 over 40 over 40 Calcified pineal glands of different cultures.”
– Zane R. Kime, Sunlight (Get the book.)

“THE VEHICLE OF SPIRIT IN THE BODY The body makes what is known as the “spirit molecule,” which is believed to be produced by the pineal gland (from pinus because it looks like a pinecone), the gland that is responsible for the management of light in our bodies. N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is the only endogenous (produced in the body) chemical that has been found to have psychoactive properties. According to Rick Strassman, M.D., “the pineal gland produces psychedelic amounts of DMT at extraordinary times in our lives,” such as birth, death, and orgasm.”
– Pam Montgomery, Plant Spirit Healing: A Guide to Working with Plant Consciousness (Get the book.)

“It is now understood that the pineal gland governs parts of the hypothalamus, making the pineal gland another master gland. On a diet of processed food, the pineal gland calcifies and hardens. The brain becomes dense and obstructed with waste matter which would have distorted the cosmic receiver and blocked out the cosmic life energies. A diet of alkaline-plant food dissolves these obstructions and deposits, freeing the flow of energy. Thus we see that the cleaner your body, the greater your latent powers of mind.”
– David Wolfe, The Sunfood Diet Success System (Get the book.)

“Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, a gland in the brain that helps regulate circadian rhythm. It’s actually made along the same metabolic assembly line as serotonin. Both start out as the amino acid tryptophan, which then gets converted into 5-HTP and then to serotonin. Two more steps along the pathway and you’ve got melatonin. Natural Prescription for Jet Lag Melatonin: 3-6 mg at bedtime Note: The above dosages are daily dosages and in pill or capsule form, unless otherwise noted. Melatonin is stimulated by darkness and turned off by light.”
– Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth about What Treatments Work and Why (Get the book.)

“My face turns up to the sun allowing my pineal gland to revel in such direct contact. I feel the shifting inside as if some giant wheel is turning. The quiet dreamtime energy of winter is giving way 129 to a dynamic stirring. I face the east, the direction from which spring emerges, and give thanks for the faithful return of the sun and the healing gift of new beginnings the east offers. Journal Entry, March 2007 Foundational healing modalities are existing forms of healing that provide a framework within which to work with plant spirits.”
– Pam Montgomery, Plant Spirit Healing: A Guide to Working with Plant Consciousness (Get the book.)

“When your eyes stop seeing light as it is getting dark outside, your pineal gland will begin to produce melatonin, but stops secretion altogether when you switch on a light or watch television. As a result, the sleep-inducing effect of melatonin becomes inhibited, and you may not feel sleepy at all for several more hours. In fact, the stimulation by the light at this time of the night may actually prevent you from falling asleep and cause you to develop a permanent sleeping disorder. Sleep deprivation is a common condition that afflicts 47 million American adults.”
– Andreas Moritz, Cancer Is Not A Disease – It’s A Survival Mechanism (Get the book.)

“One of the pineal gland’s most powerful hormones is the neurotransmitter melatonin. The secretion of melatonin starts between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. (depending on age), inducing sleepiness. It reaches peak levels between 1 and 2 a.m. and drops to its lowest levels at midday. The pineal gland controls reproduction, sleep and motor activity, blood pressure, the immune system, the pituitary and thyroid glands, cellular growth, body temperature, and many other vital functions. All of these depend on a balanced melatonin cycle.”
– Andreas Moritz, The Liver and Gallbladder Miracle Cleanse: An All-Natural, At-Home Flush to Purify and Rejuvenate Your Body (Get the book.)

“If your pineal gland does not produce adequate melatonin early enough in the evening, both the quality and quantity of your sleep may suffer. Lack of melatonin may make it difficult for you to fall asleep, or may cause you to wake up too soon. Too much melatonin and you will feel yourself feeling exhausted, or “drugged” throughout the day. If secretion does not continue, you may wake up too soon. By taking melatonin instead of other so-called sleeping aids, rapid eye movement sleep (REM=dreaming) is not suppressed nor does it induce “hangover” effects when used as directed.”
– Jon Barron, Lessons from The Miracle Doctors: A Step-by-Step Guide to Optimum Health and Relief from Catastrophic Illness (Get the book.)
“Melatonin Melatonin is a natural hormone made in the pineal gland, a pea-sized gland located in the brain. Since its first discovery in 1958, melatonin has been studied extensively and has been shown to be widely beneficial to the body. As with all of the other hormones we’re discussing, melatonin levels decline significantly as we age. An interesting note on melatonin. The trigger for production of melatonin is darkness—total darkness.’ Any light in the room will inhibit production of your body’s melatonin.”
– Jon Barron, Lessons from The Miracle Doctors: A Step-by-Step Guide to Optimum Health and Relief from Catastrophic Illness (Get the book.)

“Some people place the pituitary here, but because this chakra is associated with light and the pineal gland controls light in the body, I believe that this is its proper placement. The seventh chakra is the crown, and it sits on the top of the head and has a purple or violet color. It corresponds with the nervous system and brain function, with integrity and wisdom as its pervading qualities. The endocrine gland associated with this chakra is the pituitary.”
– Pam Montgomery, Plant Spirit Healing: A Guide to Working with Plant Consciousness (Get the book.)

“Natural sunlight exposure stimulates your pineal gland which controls your sleep and waking cycles, seasonal affective disorder (the winter blues) and improves your mood. • Seek the support of a trusted friend, counsellor or your church. • Take 5HTP or 5-hydroxytryptophan. This is a precursor to serotonin and helps mood and carbohydrate cravings. This is not suitable for those taking antidepressants. • B complex helps with stress, mood and the nervous system. Typical dosage is 50 mgs per day. You can increase B6 by 100 mgs per day.”
– Heather Caruso, Your Drug-Free Guide to Digestive Health (Get the book.)

“What Melatonin Does for You Melatonin is the hormone of hibernation in animals and is produced in a tiny region of the human brain known as the pineal gland. Melatonin does all the things you would want to do if you were hibernating—it relaxes you, makes you sleepy, cools your body, and lets you sleep while entertaining you with interesting dreams. It is the only hormone affected by light, temperature, and electromagnetic fields. Melatonin controls the deep and dream phases of your sleep.”
– Phuli Cohan, The Natural Hormone Makeover: 10 Steps to Rejuvenate Your Health and Rediscover Your Inner Glow (Get the book.)

“The pineal gland controls reproduction, sleep and motor activity, blood pressure, the immune system, the pituitary and thyroid glands, cellular growth, body temperature, and many other vital functions. All of these depend on a balanced melatonin cycle. By going to sleep late (past 10 p.m.) or working the night shift, you throw this and many other hormonal cycles out of balance. The ongoing Nurse’s Study has shown that nurses working the night shift have a more than 50% higher risk of developing cancer, but have among the lowest levels of melatonin in the blood.”
– Andreas Moritz, Cancer Is Not A Disease – It’s A Survival Mechanism (Get the book.)

“Pizzorno Jr, ND GENERAL DESCRIPTION Melatonin (not to be confused with melanin, the compound responsible for skin pigment) is a hormone manufactured from serotonin and secreted by the pineal gland (see Fig. 97.1). The pineal gland, a small pea-sized gland at the base of the brain, has been a source of curiosity since antiquity. The ancient Greeks considered the pineal gland as the seat of the soul, a concept that was extended by the philosopher Descartes. In the 17th and 18th centuries, physicians associated “madness” with the pineal gland.”
– Michael T. Murray, ND, Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1
(Get the book.)

“It bioenergetically connects to the thalamus, pineal gland, medulla oblongata, and the arachnoid membrane (lining of the skull). It relates to the skull as a cavity and its role in the attraction and storage of Source energy, which, of course, has immense ramifications for brain function. Energetic Integrator 6 also has strong connections to the emotional self, so it is important in maintaining physical-emotional harmony. Energetic Integrator 6 generally adheres to the connections noted in TCM for the kidney meridian.”
– Peter h. Fraser and Harry Massey, Decoding the Human Body-Field: The New Science of Information as Medicine (Get the book.)

“It works in harmony with the pituitary and hypothalamus to control the body’s hormonal systems and 24-hour rhythms. The pineal gland is sensitive to different levels of light, produces melatonin, and governs our sleep-wake cycle. As such, it is the body’s internal clock, and is sometimes referred to as the “third eye”. It is also responsible for directing the body’s signals for thirst, hunger, sexual desire, and biological aging. Hypothalamus The hypothalamus gland is situated just above the pituitary gland.”
– Ron Garner, Conscious Health: A Complete Guide to Wellness Through Natural Means (Get the book.)

“His research indicated that the pineal gland had awakened, and the vibration has only gotten stronger over the years. Comedian-turned-raw-fooder Dick Gregory reported in Dick Gregory’s Natural Diet for Folks Who Eat, “As my body was cleansed of years of accumulated impurities, my mind and spiritual awareness were lifted to a new level. I felt closer to Mother Nature and all her children. I felt more in tune with the universal order of existence.”
– Susan E. Schenck, The Live Food Factor: The Comprehensive Guide to the Ultimate Diet for Body, Mind, Spirit & Planet (Get the book.)

“Some neurocardiology researchers claim the heart can communicate via these neurochemicals with the brain, immune system, pineal gland, thalamus, and pituitary gland, concluding that the heart has the capability to function as a center of emotion, learning, and memory. Because the Imprinter Driver field is linked to body-wide communication via the signals transmitted from your heart through your blood circulation, it is connected to an overall feeling of well-being on an emotional level as well as a physical level.”
– Peter h. Fraser and Harry Massey, Decoding the Human Body-Field: The New Science of Information as Medicine (Get the book.)

“In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, physicians associated “madness” with the pineal gland. Physicians in the early 1900s believed that the pineal gland was somehow involved with the endocrine system. The identification of melatonin in 1958 provided the first solid scientific evidence of an essential role of the pineal gland. It is now thought that the sole function of the pineal gland is to manufacture and secrete melatonin. The exact function of melatonin is still poorly understood, but it is critically involved in the synchronization of hormone secretion.”
– Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D., Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Revised Second Edition (Get the book.)

“As the light continues to fade, our body clock signals the pineal gland to convert serotonin into melatonin, and we become more lethargic. As melatonin and other sleep hormones increase, our temperature continues to drop, and we start thinking about withdrawing. It becomes difficult to stay awake or be active. This is the best time to fall asleep. And our body temperature continues to drop as melatonin is released into the bloodstream. Sleeping in a cool room reflects our body’s own natural rhythm of cooling for sleep. A sleeping temperature of 60?to 65?F.”
– Frank Lipman, Mollie Doyle, Spent: Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Feel Great Again (Get the book.)
“At night, if there is even the tiniest bit of light in the room, it can disrupt your circadian rhythm and your pineal gland’s production of melatonin and serotonin. Cover or move your clock, use dark shades or drapes on windows if they are exposed to light, or SLEEP BEAT wear an eye mask. There should also be as little light in the bathroom as possible if you get up in the middle of the night. Try keeping the light off when you go to the bathroom at night. Use a flashlight or night light.”
– Frank Lipman, Mollie Doyle, Spent: Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Feel Great Again (Get the book.)

“Melatonin Melatonin (not to be confused with melanin, the compound responsible for skin pigmentation) is a hormone manufactured from serotonin (an important neurotransmitter; see Depression for more information) and secreted by the pineal gland. The pineal gland, a small pea-sized gland at the base of the brain, has been a source of curiosity since antiquity. The ancient Greeks considered the pineal gland to be the seat of the soul, a concept that was extended by the philosopher Descartes. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, physicians associated “madness” with the pineal gland.”
– Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D., Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Revised Second Edition (Get the book.)

“It also has a strong endocrine association, especially to your pineal gland, which controls your sleep-wake cycle, and to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is a precursor to female hormones such as estrogens and progesterone, relating this Integrator bioenergetically to parts of the menstrual cycle. Trace minerals have an important link to Energetic Integrator 6, so this Integrator is involved bioenergetically in enzyme and hormone production and function. The thymus is also correlated to Integrator 6, making this Integrator important to your overall immune function.”
– Peter h. Fraser and Harry Massey, Decoding the Human Body-Field: The New Science of Information as Medicine (Get the book.)

“Melatonin and breast cancer Melatonin is a hormone, produced in the pineal gland at the base of the brain, during sleep. Close your eyes and a signal is sent to produce melatonin. Melatonin is known as the sleep hormone and is often used as a sleep aid for travelers crossing time zones. Its peak production occurs around 2 to 3: a.m. Melatonin is a strong antioxidant and influences the immune system. It is also known as a cancer-fighting hormone. [Pathological Biology 53: 265-68, 2005] Even low intensity light for short periods can reduce melatonin production at night.”
– Bill Sardi, You Don’t Have to be Afraid of Cancer Anymore (Get the book.)

“When light hits the eyes, it disrupts the sleep rhythm of the pineal gland and production of melatonin and serotonin. This is why it’s a bad idea to keep a nightlight burning in direct line-of-sight of the eyes. Besides ruining night vision, any amount of light while sleeping can keep you from getting sufficient rest! 5. Receive Regular Chiropractic Adjustments The human body is an intricate design made up of millions of nerves executing our every move. One group of vital nerves is located in the Lumbar Spine region.”
– Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, Health Begins in the Colon (Get the book.)

“During darkness, high levels of melatonin released by the pineal gland block the ability of tumors to take up linoleic acid and convert it to 13-HODE (a molecule called 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid). While exposed to light, however, melatonin levels are extremely low, and tumors are no longer protected by melatonin from the tumor-stimulating action of linoleic acid. In other words, exposure to artificial light when it is naturally dark, scrambles the molecular clocks in our brains. Light presented during the night will immediately turn off melatonin production and thus support tumor growth.”
– Andreas Moritz, Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation: Unleash The Natural Healing Power That Lies Dormant Within You (Get the book.)

“Upon awakening, as light enters the eyes the pineal gland at the base of the brain ceases production of melatonin. Melatonin inhibits cancer in many ways. First, it is a powerful antioxidant that increases the production of another antioxidant in the body called glutathione. Second, it calms the production of estrogen that spurs the growth of ovarian and breast cancer. Third, it boosts the immune system, elevating the production of natural killer cells. Four, melatonin inhibits omega-6 fatty acids (linoleic acid), such as from corn oil, from entering tumor cells.”
– Bill Sardi, You Don’t Have to be Afraid of Cancer Anymore (Get the book.)

“Suddenly, we may feel “out of sync” or shaky and become susceptible to developing an illness, which could include a simple head cold, headache, depression or even a cancerous tumor. The pineal gland controls reproduction, sleep and motor activity, blood pressure, the immune system, the pituitary and thyroid glands, cellular growth, body temperature, and many other vital functions. All of these depend on the regular melatonin cycle which, yet again, is controlled by our body’s ability to be in synchrony with nature’s rhythms.”
– Andreas Moritz, Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation: Unleash The Natural Healing Power That Lies Dormant Within You (Get the book.)

“On a diet of processed food, the pineal gland calcifies and hardens. The brain becomes dense and obstructed with waste matter which would have distorted the cosmic receiver and blocked out the cosmic life energies. A diet of alkaline-plant food dissolves these obstructions and deposits, freeing the flow of energy. Thus we see that the cleaner your body, the greater your latent powers of mind. After you go on a raw diet, and especially when you fast, moments of inspiration from infinite intelligence will drop into your mind, sometimes at random.”
– David Wolfe, The Sunfood Diet Success System (Get the book.)

“The function of the pineal gland and its cyclic secretion of melatonin (page 555) may be disturbed in people with migraine headaches.47 Preliminary evidence suggests that 5 mg pet day of melatonin, taken 30 minutes before bedtime, may reduce symptoms of migraine headache.48 Are there any side effects or interactions? Refer to the individual supplement fot information about any side effects or interactions. Herbs that may be helpful The most frequently used hetb fot the long-term prevention of migraines is feverfew (page 677).”
– Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D., The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions (Get the book.)
“Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, located within the brain. Levels of melatonin in the body fluctuate with the cycles of night and day. The highest melatonin levels are found at night. Melatonin is present in foods only in trace amounts.”
– Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D., The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions (Get the book.)

“The pineal gland secretes this hormone directly into the bloodstream, which makes it instantly available to all the cells in the body and tells them “what time it is” in nature, meaning, what position the Earth is in related to the sun. It also tells a specific gene in the DNA of every single cell when it is time for it to die and be replaced by a new cell. Without the timely secretion of melatonin, the timelines of normal cell-division become extended and cancer cells develop, according to the latest cancer research (Nurses’ Study 2006).”
– Andreas Moritz, Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation: Unleash The Natural Healing Power That Lies Dormant Within You (Get the book.)

“Physicians in the early 1900s believed the pineal gland was somehow involved with the endocrine system. The identification of melatonin in 1958 provided the first solid scientific evidence of an essential role for the pineal gland. It is now thought that the sole function of the pineal gland is to manufacture and secrete melatonin. The exact function of melatonin is still poorly understood, but it is critically involved in the synchronization of hormone secretion. The natural biorhythm of hormone secretion is referred to as the “circadian” rhythm.”
– Michael T. Murray, ND, Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1
(Get the book.)

“There is evidence that even a night light in the bedroom will alter the production of melatonin by the pineal gland. Researchers believe this may increase the risk for cancer. Sleeping in dark, unlighted bedrooms is recommended. An experiment simulated night-shift conditions with human subjects wearing goggles that filter out the blue portion of the light spectrum which shuts off melatonin production via ocular exposure. Subjects who wore the blue-filter goggles from 8am to 8pm maintained melatonin levels typically measured at night.”
– Bill Sardi, You Don’t Have to be Afraid of Cancer Anymore (Get the book.)

“Obtaining enough light is also of great importance to the pineal gland, a pea-sized gland situated in the brain behind the eyes. This gland is known to regulate both melatonin and serotonin and is considered to be a gland of the endocrine system. It is believed to be important in the role of sexual development in children and other hormonal functions in adults. Melatonin regulation is essential to a good night’s sleep. Serotonin is also involved in the sleep process but is known particularly to help us avoid depression.”
– Mary-Ann Shearer, Perfect Health the Natural Way (Get the book.)

“Likewise, upon entering the pineal gland in the brain, the different rays are chemically encoded in the brain and passed on to the organs and systems in the body. The vital organs of the body are dependent on specific colors of the light spectrum. For kidney cells to function properly, for example, they require red light. Heart cells need yellow light, and liver cells require green light. Light deficiencies in any of the organs and systems of the body can lead to disease. Regular sun gazing can help restore balance and efficiency to all cells in the body.”
– Andreas Moritz, Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation: Unleash The Natural Healing Power That Lies Dormant Within You (Get the book.)

“Melatonin, a hormone produced in the pineal gland, plays a major role in regulating the daily biological clock, sleep patterns, and core body temperature at night. Taking low doses of melatonin (1-3 mgtwo to three hours before bedtime) has been shown to be effective in treating SAD. 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is effective in increasing levels of serotonin in the body. Take 100-200 mg at night on an empty stomach or with a protein-free snack. Vitamin B6 is an important co-factor involved in the production of serotonin.”
– Marshall Editions, 1000 Cures for 200 Ailments: Integrated Alternative and Conventional Treatments for the Most Common Illnesses (Get the book.)

“We access those areas through internal purification, positive thinking, spiritual connection and by activating the glands (including the “spiritual” pineal gland, located in the mid-brain). When our nervous system is clear of toxicity, we can receive clear information and then take action. This is powerful information. The Sunfood Diet creates a whole new paradigm of possibility. Many, many people I have met have searched throughout the personal development, self-help genre of literature for a book on living foods and success.”
– David Wolfe, The Sunfood Diet Success System (Get the book.)

“SAD is associated with the pineal gland, which is sometimes called “The Third Eye” is esoteric circles. The pineal gland is located directly between your eyes on your forehead. When the amount of sunlight striking the pineal gland is reduced, it produces less of certain brain chemcials which help maintain your mood. Fixing SAD can be a simple as getting more sunlight. How do you do that during the dark days of winter? Well, just about any health care supply store, and some health food stores, stock lamps which produce the same kind of light radiation that the sun produces.”
– American Medical Publishing, Prescription Medicines, Side Effects and Natural Alternatives (Get the book.)

“These glands include the pituitary gland, pineal gland, hypothalamus, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, thymus, adrenal glands, ovaries (in females) or testes (in males), and islets of Langerhan’s in the pancreas. The main neural control center in the brain is the hypothalamus, also known as the “keeper of internal balance” or the “master switchboard.” The hypothalamus secretes hormones that cause other endocrine glands to secrete hormones. It directs the fight-or-flight response of the autonomic nervous system. Its main function is homeostasis, or maintaining the body’s balance.”
– David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes, Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief (Get the book.)

“Melatonin is a hormone that is made primarily by the pineal gland in the brain in response to darkness. During the daytime, the blood level is low, but at night melatonin climbs until it reaches its peak between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m. It is crucial for regulating sleep and wake cycles. Some extraordinary claims have been made for melatonin. Some proponents say that it can reverse aging, improve immune function, reduce the risk of cancer, control blood pressure, and lower cholesterol. The best-known use of melatonin is as a sleep aid.”
– Joe Graedon, M.S. and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., Best Choices From the People’s Pharmacy (Get the book.)

“Physicians in the early 1900s believed that the pineal gland was somehow involved with the endocrine system. The identification of melatonin in 1958 provided the first solid scientific evidence of an essential role of the pineal gland. It is now thought that the sole function of the pineal gland is to manufacture and secrete melatonin. The exact function of melatonin is still poorly understood, but it is critically involved in the synchronization of hormone secretion. The natural daily cycle of hormone secretion is referred to as a circadian rhythm.”
– Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D., Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Revised Second Edition (Get the book.)

“Affected by the absence or presence of light, the pineal gland is responsible for controlling such bodily functions as hormone production, body temperature, and the timing of sleep. Disturbances in the circadian rhythm can lead to depression as well as insomnia and other sleep disorders. The use of natural sunlight and various forms of light therapy has been effective in reestablishing the body’s natural rhythm. Natural sunlight contains the full wavelength spectrum needed for maintaining health. It triggers the impulses that regulate most bodily functions.”
– Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements (Get the book.)
“Melatonin The hormone melatonin is naturally produced by the pineal gland, a cone-shaped structure in the brain. The body’s pattern of melatonin production is similar to that of the other “antiaging” hormones, human growth hormone (HGH) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Throughout early life, melatonin is produced in abundance. It was thought for some time that the production of melatonin begins to drop at puberty, and then continues to decline steadily as we age. This may not be true, according to research done at the Harvard Medical School.”
– Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements (Get the book.)
“This is a natural hormone produced by the pineal gland that controls the body’s sleep/wake cycle. Caution: This supplement is not suitable for children. Multivitamin and mineral complex As directed on label. To maintain a balance of all necessary nutrients in the body. Proteolytic enzymes (Novenzyme from International Health Products) As directed on label 3 times daily, on an empty stomach. Aids in absorption of nutrients and reduces inflammation. Herbs Q Astragalus enhances the immune system.”
– Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements (Get the book.)
“The functioning of the pineal gland, which plays an important role in the regulation of metabolism, behavior, and physiological functions, is largely governed by sunlight. Q Never use hair dyes containing coal tar on the eyelashes or eyebrows; doing so can cause injury or blindness. Although coal tar dyes are legal, marketing them for the eyebrows and eyelashes is not. Q Be careful when using drugs, whether prescription or over-the-counter. Some may cause eye problems.”
– Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements (Get the book.)

“However, if your melatonin levels are significantly lower than expected during sleep, this can indicate that various lifestyle or dietary factors may be impairing the pineal gland’s ability to produce melatonin. In this case, your doctor may recommend melatonin supplementation or other therapies. experienced delayed pineal secretion of melatonin during the light exposure. The subsequent night, when the subjects resumed normal exposure to light and darkness, melatonin secretion was still delayed, this time by 1 hour.”
– Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac., Alternative Medicine Magazine’s Definitive Guide to Sleep Disorders: 7 Smart Ways to Help You Get a Good Night’s Rest (Get the book.)
“Because electric blankets are used at night, when the pineal gland is producing its highest amount of melatonin, they have the greatest chance of disrupting melatonin production and sleep.11 Another concentrated source of EMFs is the breaker box, where the electric power line enters your home. That fuse box—which connects the utility company’s line with the inside wiring—generates large amounts of EMFs on a continual basis. Another potential EMF source is the wiring in your home.”
– Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac., Alternative Medicine Magazine’s Definitive Guide to Sleep Disorders: 7 Smart Ways to Help You Get a Good Night’s Rest (Get the book.)
“With the help of another specialized enzyme, the pineal gland is able to convert NAS into melatonin.35 Melatonin and the Light Paradox Light plays a crucial—and seemingly paradoxical—role in sleep, as it both inhibits and promotes melatonin production. The enzyme NAT, necessary for melatonin synthesis, is mostly or completely inactivated by exposure to light.36 A 100-lux light (a 100-watt bulb from a distance of 5 feet) will inhibit melatonin secretion,37 and studies have shown that being exposed to even a fairly dim light at night can significantly reduce the synthesis of melatonin.”
– Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac., Alternative Medicine Magazine’s Definitive Guide to Sleep Disorders: 7 Smart Ways to Help You Get a Good Night’s Rest (Get the book.)

“This adrenal fatigue could then, in turn, overtax the pineal gland until it no longer produces enough melatonin to control the body’s internal clock. Compounded together, the results include the sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, and chronic pain associated with both CFS and FMS. Based on this research, one key to preventing both CFS and FMS is keeping your physical and emotional stress to a minimum.”
– Mike Adams, Natural Health Solutions (Get the book.)

“Melatonin description Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a neurohormone produced by pinealocytes in the pineal gland during the dark hours of the day-night cycle. Serum levels of melatonin are very low during most of the day, and it has been labeled the “hormone of darkness.”
– Thomson Healthcare, Inc., PDR for Herbal Medicines, Fourth Edition (Get the book.)
“Nyctohemeral rhythm in the levels of S-adenosylmethionine in the rat pineal gland and its relationship to melatonin biosynthesis. J Neurochem; 65(4): 1887-1894. 1995 Surac AJ, Gur A. Complementary and alternative medical therapies in fibromyalgia. Curr Pharma Design; 12:47-57. 2006 Tavoni A, Vitali C, Bombardieri S et al. Evaluation of S-adenosylmethionine in primary fibromyalgia: a double-blind crossover study. Am J Med; 83(5A):107-110. 1987 Vendemiale G, Altomare E, Trizio T et al. Effects of oral S-adenosyl-L-methionine on hepatic glutathione in patients with liver disease.”
– Thomson Healthcare, Inc., PDR for Herbal Medicines, Fourth Edition (Get the book.)

“As a flower essence, wood betony enhances pineal gland function, thus improving the user’s sense of well-being. It fosters a desire for higher principles and inner calm and can be useful for those who are dealing with excessive sexual energy. Edible Uses The young shoots and leaves of all Stachys species can be eaten raw or cooked. Other Uses The fresh plant can be made into a hair rinse yielding golden highlights. It also can be used to make a yellow dye for wool. The dried plant has been burned as a purifying incense.”
– Brigitte Mars, A.H.G., The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine: The Ultimate Multidisciplinary Reference to the Amazing Realm of Healing Plants, in a Quick-study, One-stop Guide (Get the book.)

“Asian art and literature often show or describe a third eye in the middle of the forehead; a life-giving symbol of the power and presence of the pineal gland. ically, a lack of sleep served as a warning signal of sorts; insomnia actually helped us survive. We’re restless when something’s on our mind, like a predator (you’d do your tribe no good if you were off snoozing in stage 5 while a woolly mammoth trampled through the village).”
– Mehmet C. Oz., M.D. and Michael F. Roizen, M.D., You: Staying Young: The Owner’s Manual for Extending Your Warranty (Get the book.)

“Melatonin is a hormone and a neurotransmitter secreted by the pineal gland. It regulates our circadian, or daily, body rhythm. Most of us know that we function better and worse at various times of the day, and these differences are related partly to our circadian rhythm. Melatonin levels normally increase toward nightfall, making us sleepy, and decrease toward morning. Taken as a dietary supplement, melatonin can help with sleep disorders and can speed recovery from jet lag, but the timing of supplementation is crucial.”
– Jack Challem, The Food-Mood Solution: All-Natural Ways to Banish Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Stress, Overeating, and Alcohol and Drug Problems–and Feel Good Again (Get the book.)

“A folic acid deficiency may impair the production of melatonin in the pineal gland. It is important for cancer patients with sleep disorders to take supplemental folic acid. [Journal Nutrition 132:2781-84, 2002] Non-steroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs (such as ibuprofen, aspirin and COX-2 inhibitors) suppress melatonin in humans. [Physiology Behavior 59: 133-39, 1996] Melatonin and chemotherapy side effects Melatonin also protects the heart from toxic side effects caused by chemotherapy.”
– Bill Sardi, You Don’t Have to be Afraid of Cancer Anymore (Get the book.)

“Neptune Neptune, considered cold and moist, corresponds to cerebrospinal fluid, the pineal gland, and the lymph system. It governs obscure, hard-to-diagnose diseases as well as addiction, alcoholism, and schizophrenia and other psychoses. Neptune-governed plants are mystical, sometimes psychoactive, and helpful in dreamwork, enhancing the imagination and helping to bring physical concepts to the next plane. They often grow in or near the ocean, such as algaes and seaweeds. Pluto Pluto, also known as Hades, is the ruler of the subconscious and underworld.”
– Brigitte Mars, A.H.G., The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine: The Ultimate Multidisciplinary Reference to the Amazing Realm of Healing Plants, in a Quick-study, One-stop Guide (Get the book.)

“Because disordered circadian rhythm is common in depression, the antidepressant action of SAMe may result from its ability to alter these rhythms through regulating melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland (Sitaram et al, 1995). Anti-Inflammatory Effects: The action of SAMe in relieving symptoms of primary fibromyalgia may result from its effectiveness in lessening the depressive state that can accompany fibromyalgia (Tavoni et al, 1987). SAMe also has antidepressive and mood-elevating effects in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (Koenig, 1987).”
– Thomson Healthcare, Inc., PDR for Herbal Medicines, Fourth Edition (Get the book.)

“SeOKCt SdlSOK The pineal gland, which senses when we’re exposed to light has cells that resemble those in the back of the retina and dictate our circadian rhythms. The human eye also receives the light and sends ft to the occipitalbrain area, which then relays ft to the pineal. FACTOIP Most Americans are too chronically sleep deprived to awaken without an alarm. Need for an alarm by definition signals some kind of danger. young animals quickens the aging process. Mice with new pineals lived 25 percent longer, but we’re yet unable to determine if the same statistics would be true for humans.”
– Mehmet C. Oz., M.D. and Michael F. Roizen, M.D., You: Staying Young: The Owner’s Manual for Extending Your Warranty (Get the book.)

“Cavallo A. The pineal gland in human beings: relevance to pediatrics. J Pediatr; 123(6):843-851. 1993 Claustrat B, Brun J, David M et al. Melatonin and jet lag: confirmatory result using a simplified protocol. Biol Psychiatry; 32(8):705-711. 1992 Cuzzocrea S, Constantino G, Gitto E et al. Protective effects of melatonin in ischemic brain injury. J Pineal Res; 29(4):217-227. 2000 Dahlitz M, Alvarez B, Vignau J et al. Delayed sleep phase syndrome response to melatonin. Lancet; 337(8750): 1121-1124. 1991 Deacon S, English J & Arendt J.”
– Thomson Healthcare, Inc., PDR for Herbal Medicines, Fourth Edition (Get the book.)

“The perfect environment for sleep: þ A cool, dark room: The temperature and darkness are signals to the pineal gland to kick up melatonin production and knock you out. þ No laptops, no TV: Ideally, the bed is used for two things and two things only. If you have any other type of stimulus, like work or a TV, you’re not sending your body the right message that it’s time for sleep. Need more incentive to kick Leno to the living room? People who don’t have a TV in the bedroom have 50 percent more sex than those who do. þ Add white noise.”
– Mehmet C. Oz., M.D. and Michael F. Roizen, M.D., You: Staying Young: The Owner’s Manual for Extending Your Warranty (Get the book.)

“It’s built out of the neurotransmitter serotonin, in a small gland in the brain called the pineal gland. This hormone is also a powerful antioxidant. It can be used in low doses (up to 3 mg) as a supplement to aid in deeper sleep or to naturally treat insomnia or jet lag. Melatonin is another option for preventing and treating tardive dyskinesia. In a double-blind trial, 10 mg of melatonin each night for six weeks in patients with TD reduced abnormal movements by 23.8 percent. Similar changes were seen in only 8.4 percent of the placebo (dummy pill) group.”
– Hyla Cass, M.D., Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know About Nutrition (Get the book.)

“Melatonin One way that many people have found to improve their sleep is to take the neurohormone called melatonin, which is released by the pineal gland from within the center of the brain when one is asleep. The pineal gland is influenced by the amount of light seen by our eyes each day, and production of the hormone is cyclical. Throughout early life, melatonin is produced in abundance, but shortly after puberty the production begins to drop and continues to decrease steadily as we age.”
– KC Craichy, Super Health 7 Golden Keys to Unlock Lifelong Vitality (Get the book.)

“SAD is associated with the pineal gland, which is sometimes called “The Third Eye” is esoteric circles. The pineal gland is located directly between your eyes on your forehead. When the amount of sunlight striking the pineal gland is reduced, it produces less of certain brain chemcials which help maintain your mood. Fixing SAD can be a simple as getting more sunlight. How do you do that during the dark days of winter? Well, just about any health care supply store, and some health food stores, stock lamps which produce the same kind of light radiation that the sun produces.”
– American Medical Publishing, Prescription Medicines, Side Effects and Natural Alternatives (Get the book.)

“You need to know that UV rays are essential for the pineal gland to work properly and rather than take medication or drugs to keep you awake during the day, help you sleep at night, and not feel depressed, take half an hour of naturalsunlight—it is free, has only positive side effects, and is not addictive! But as much good as the sun does, it is important not to go out in the periods between about 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., depending on the time of year and the cloud coverage.”
– Mary-Ann Shearer, Perfect Health the Natural Way (Get the book.)

“To live longer and healthier, you need to know about the pineal gland not because of an upcoming jeopardy appearance, but because it produces a substance called melatonin, which conducts the symphony of your hormones. Melatonin modulates menstruation, helps control desire for mating, helps lower heart rate and blood pressure, increases immune function, and helps decrease stress by blocking the body’s stress response. Plus, it helps regulate sleep. If you’re a trivia expert, you may remember melatonin as the neurotransmitter that helps bears hibernate.”
– Mehmet C. Oz., M.D. and Michael F. Roizen, M.D., You: Staying Young: The Owner’s Manual for Extending Your Warranty (Get the book.)

“One of the pineal gland’s most powerful hormones is the neurotransmitter melatonin. The secretion of melatonin starts between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. (depending on age), inducing sleepiness. It reaches peak levels between 1 and 2 a.m. and drops to its lowest levels at midday. The pineal gland controls reproduction, sleep and motor activity, blood pressure, the immune system, the pituitary and thyroid glands, cellular growth, body temperature, and many other vital functions. All of these depend on a balanced melatonin cycle.”
– Andreas Moritz, The Amazing Liver & Gallbladder Flush: A Powerful Do-It-Yourself Tool To Optimize your Health and Wellbeing (Get the book.)

“Melatonin Melatonin is a bodily substance produced by a tiny endocrine organ, the pineal gland, in the center of brain. The pineal gland responds to a large variety of inputs, in the form of light and dark, temperature, and even magnetism, and sends messages to the brain that affect behavior. It does this by converting noradrenaline into melatonin, a hormone that is structurally related to serotonin. Scientists think that the pineal gland is linked to the eyes either by nerves or through the action of the part of the brain known as the hypothalamus.”
– Mark Mayell, Off-the-Shelf Natural Health (Get the book.)

“Floating in this chamber on narrow stalks are the pineal gland, the body’s magnetic detector, and the pituitary gland, known as the conductor of the ‘endocrine gland’ orchestra. The round knob at the top of the staff of Hermes in our model of the caduceus is thought by some to represent our 3rd ventricle. Figure 16.”
– Robin, Dr. Kelly, The Human Antenna: Reading the Language of the Universe in the Songs of Our Cells (Get the book.)

“SAD is associated with the pineal gland, which is sometimes called “The Third Eye” in esoteric circles. The pineal gland is located directly between your eyes on your forehead. When the amount of sunlight striking the pineal gland is reduced, it produces less of certain brain chemcials which help maintain your mood. Fixing SAD can be a simple as getting more sunlight. How do you do that during the dark days of winter? Well, just about any health care supply store, and some health food stores, stock lamps which produce the same kind of light radiation that the sun produces.”
– American Medical Publishing, Proven Health Tips Encyclopedia (Get the book.)

“Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that is responsive to light. When darkness begins, blood melatonin levels start to rise leading to sleep. Melatonin production declines as we age, which could explain why sleepproblems are so common in the elderly. Melatonin has exceptional antioxidant activity, being both fat and water soluble. This permits it to cross into and protect the brain from free radicals. Melatonin also boosts the immune system by facilitating the action of helper T cells, which coordinate the immune response.”
– James A. Howenstine, A Physician’s Guide to Natural Health Products That Work (Get the book.)

“However, since the late 1970s it has been increasingly recognized that the pineal is a fundamental modulator of the entire neuroendocrine system. The pineal gland functions as a true biologic clock secreting its hormone melatonin in a circadian fashion. The pineal gland and melatonin are capable of translating environmental lighting information into signals that modulate reproductive, adrenal, and other neuroendocrine interactions as well as immune function. Melatonin levels rise after sunset and levels peak between 2 and 5 a.m.”
– Vincent Giampapa, Ronald Pero, and Marcia Zimmerman, The Anti-Aging Solution: 5 Simple Steps to Looking and Feeling Young (Get the book.)

“And balanced magnesium status is required to obtain efficiency of suprachiasmatic nuclei and the pineal gland.15 Examinations of the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) and of the endocrine system points to the involvement of the limbic-hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis because magnesium affects all elements of this system. Magnesium has the property to reduce the release of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and to affect adrenocortical sensitivity to ACTH.”
– Mark Sircus, Transdermal Magnesium Therapy (Get the book.)

“The pineal gland controls reproduction, sleep and motor activity, blood pressure, the immune system, the pituitary and thyroid glands, cellular growth, body temperature, and many other vital functions. All of these depend on a balanced melatonin cycle. By going to sleep late or working night shifts, you throw this cycle out of balance, and throw off many other hormonal cycles as well. Apart from making melatonin, the brain also synthesizes serotonin, which is a very important neurotransmitter/hormone related to our state of physical and emotional well-being.”
– Andreas Moritz, The Liver and Gallbladder Miracle Cleanse: An All-Natural, At-Home Flush to Purify and Rejuvenate Your Body (Get the book.)

“It’s built out of the neurotransmitter serotonin, in a small gland in the brain called the pineal gland. This hormone is also a powerful antioxidant. It can be used in low doses (up to 3 mg) as a supplement to aid in deeper sleep or to naturally treat insomnia or jet lag. Melatonin is another option for preventing and treating tardive dyskinesia. In a double-blind trial, 10 mg of melatonin each night for six weeks in patients with TD reduced abnormal movements by 23.8 percent. Similar changes were seen in only 8.4 percent of the placebo (dummy pill) group.”
– Hyla Cass, Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know About Nutrition (Get the book.)

“Melatonin Melatonin is a bodily substance produced by a tiny endocrine organ, the pineal gland, in the center of brain. The pineal gland responds to a large variety of inputs, in the form of light and dark, temperature, and even magnetism, and sends messages to the brain that affect behavior. It does this by converting noradrenaline into melatonin, a hormone that is structurally related to serotonin. Scientists think that the pineal gland is linked to the eyes either by nerves or through the action of the part of the brain known as the hypothalamus.”
– Mark Mayell, Off-the-Shelf Natural Health (Get the book.)

“DMT at extraordinary times in our lives,” such as birth, death, and orgasm. DMT is also released during high stress times, making me wonder if this is our body’s way of helping us to be in touch with spirit on a very physical level when we most need it. DMT itself is not of spirit necessarily, but it is the vehicle through which we may access spirit. It is also important to note that DMT can cause psychotic states in some individuals, which leads me to believe that the body reacts differently to different kinds of stress.”
– Pam Montgomery, Plant Spirit Healing: A Guide to Working with Plant Consciousness (Get the book.)

“Other animal studies found that fluoride accumulates in the pineal gland and interferes with its production of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the onset of puberty, thyroid functions, and numerous other basic physiological processes. In humans, fluoride has been found to cause arthritis, osteoporosis, hip fractures, cancer, infertility, Alzheimer’s disease, and brain damage. Until the 1950s, European doctors used fluoride to treat hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).”
– Andreas Moritz, The Liver and Gallbladder Miracle Cleanse: An All-Natural, At-Home Flush to Purify and Rejuvenate Your Body (Get the book.)

“When the melatonin-producing pineal gland is destroyed in animals, they become much more susceptible to cancer; malignant melanomas will grow larger and metastasize to more areas of the body in these animals than in those that have functioning pineal glands (13). In humans, the evidence that light is involved with cancer is coming into focus. When the pineal gland in humans becomes calcified, it cuts down its production of melatonin (14). This, in turn, stimulates the production of estrogen, which causes an increased amount of breast cancer (15).”
– Zane R. Kime, Sunlight (Get the book.)

“Melatonin Melatonin production by the pineal gland has nearly ceased at age 60. In an experiment on newborn rats using a drug that interfered with glutathione synthesis, cataracts were produced. Half the rats were given melatonin and only 6.2% of these rats developed cataracts, whereas all the untreated rats had cataracts. This gives another potential reason for taking melatonin daily. The common belief that sunlight (UV ultraviolet) causes cataracts may be incorrect. Cataracts are less common in the tropics where sunlight is plentiful.”
– James A. Howenstine, A Physician’s Guide to Natural Health Products That Work (Get the book.)
“These behavioral improvements are believed to be caused by decreased secretion of melatonin from the pineal gland in a light enhanced environment. Four percent of persons living in middle latitudes have the SAD disorder. There is a summer version of the problem called Summer SAD. This condition occurs in July and August and is characterized by agitation, insomnia and weight loss. Both types of SAD are most common in women aged 21 to 40.Winter SAD affects only 1.4% of persons in Florida whereas in New Hampshire, the incidence approaches 10%. Alaska also manifests a 10% incidence of winter SAD.”
– James A. Howenstine, A Physician’s Guide to Natural Health Products That Work (Get the book.)

“Melatonin (page 555) is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain. It is partially responsible for regulating sleep-wake cycles. Cognitive function is linked to adequate sleep and normal sleep-wake cycles. Cognitive benefits from melatonin supplementation have been suggested by preliminary research in a variety of situations and may derive from the ability of melatonin to prevent sleep disruptions.”
– Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D., The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions (Get the book.)

“The Effects of Fluoride on the Physiology of the pineal gland. PH.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. P. 176. Processed Cereals “Cereals processed in a fluoridated area had fluoride concentrations ranging from 3.8 ppm to 6.3 ppm…” -Warren J J, Levy SM. (2003). Dental Clinics of North America 47:225-43. “Infants who eat large quantities of dry infant cereals reconstituted with fluoridated water could ingest substantial quantities of fluoride from this source.” -Heilman JR, era/. (1997). Journal of the American Dental Association 128(7):857-63.”
– Dr David W Tanton, Ph.D., Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, And Stimulants – Dangerous Drugs on Trial (Get the book.)

“Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland, a small endocrine gland in the brain. Its release is dependent on the amount of light the body is exposed to. As light fades toward the end of the day, Darkness releases melatonin, melatonin is released. This mela- a powerful Sleep-enhancing tonin helps prepare the body for hormone and antioxidant. sleep by reducing alertness and slightly lowering body temperature. I find that my ability to get a good night’s sleep is closely tied to the natural production of melatonin in my body.”
– Brendan Brazier, The Thrive Diet: The Whole Food Way to Lose Weight, Reduce Stress, and Stay Healthy for Life (Get the book.)

“SAD is associated with the pineal gland, which is sometimes called “The Third Eye” in esoteric circles. The pineal gland is located directly between your eyes on your forehead. When the amount of sunlight striking the pineal gland is reduced, it produces less of certain brain chemcials which help maintain your mood. Fixing SAD can be a simple as getting more sunlight. How do you do that during the dark days of winter? Well, just about any health care supply store, and some health food stores, stock lamps which produce the same kind of light radiation that the sun produces.”
– American Medical Publishing, Proven Health Tips Encyclopedia (Get the book.)

“It would almost seem as if this influence is directly connected to the relationship of the physical body of the individual and that mysterious and intangible part known as the soul. The pineal gland is analogous to a radio antenna, receiving from the atmospheric environment the vital flow of cosmic energy acting like an electric current when it enters the body. Cosmic Energy is that infinite unfathomable power which permeates the entire universe holding the planets in their course and operating right into the very core of every atom in your body.”
– Matt Monarch, Raw Success (Get the book.)
“There is also much attention given to our pineal gland energy center, otherwise known as the 6th chakra or “third eye”. In my book, Raw Spirit, I wrote about the opening of my third eye. I had been Raw six months and decided to do the psyllium/bentonite 7-day cleanse by Bernard Jensen. Immediately following the cleanse, I experienced such terrific sensations in my forehead that I was spellbound. I’ve since come to recognize these sensations as: Progress. When addressing our emotional and spiritual health, it is important to understand that we are more than a dense physical body.”
– Matt Monarch, Raw Success (Get the book.)
“Like the current from one of the huge electric generating stations sending hundreds of thousands of volts through the wires to the 115 volt transformer near your home, so the universal cosmic energy enters the pineal gland with inexpressibly high voltage which would virtually burn up the body if the body were not equipped with a transformer to lower that cosmic energy to the voltage consistent with the needs of the individual.”
– Matt Monarch, Raw Success (Get the book.)
“Many people who understand this procedure classify the pineal gland as the spiritual gland in man. (Norman Walker: Vibrant Health, Pg. 74) 15 WATER What is the best water I can drink? Distilled water and water distilled by nature, a.k.a. juice. The Great Divide Arenas of health are often split by passionate opinions from various “experts” and laymen. The topic of WATER has not been spared from this division; there is no unified agreement about which kind is best. The only water that is only water (i.e. only H20X void of everything else, is distilled.”
– Matt Monarch, Raw Success (Get the book.)

“For example, melatonin is an important hormone secreted by the pineal gland, a small gland in the center of the brain. A melatonin supplement is one of the best aids for sleep. However, it appears that the sleep-promoting effects of melatonin are most apparent only if a person’s melatonin levels are low. In other words, taking melatonin is not like taking a sleeping pill. It will only produce a sedative effect when natural melatonin levels are diminished. A dosage of 3mg at bedtime is more than enough. We prefer products that are sublingual (under the tongue) or chewable tablets.”
– Michael T. Murray and Michael R. Lyon, Hunger Free Forever: The New Science of Appetite Control (Get the book.)

“SEROTONIN, SPIRITUALITY AND THE PINEAL GLAND: Chapter 15 addresses the religious aspects of increased serotonin. What I have learned on this subject since the first printing of the book is very interesting. One particular gland in the brain is responsible for metabolizing 50% of the serotonin. This gland is the pineal gland known in Eastern religions as the Third Eye and in many other religions as the “seat of the soul.” It is believed that this gland is how we have access to the spiritual.”
– Ann Blake Tracy, Ph.D., Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? The Rest of the Story on the New Class of SSRI Antidepressants Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lovan, Luvox & More (Get the book.)

“It is, again, interesting to note that the manna thought by some to be the mineral iridium (see Chapter 28) is thought, according to ancient teaching, to stimulate the activity of the pineal gland as the master communicator, which will then enhance our communication as a superconductor to the entire universe. Please understand that this is theory but it is backed by an increasing amount of science of a living field we are all part of, as an interconnected One.”
– Gabriel Cousens, M.D., Spiritual Nutrition: Six Foundations for Spiritual Life and the Awakening of Kundalini (Get the book.)
“The pineal gland in this context has control over what will and will not transmit to the rest of the body and what affects consciousness. We can almost think about the pineal as having certain granules like a crystal in a receiving set. Perhaps what is being activated by the shem-an-na, or the manna, are these granules. It is interesting, as a physician, noting that the Caduceus of Hermes has two wings representing the left and right side of the brain and it has a central pillar symbolic of the sushumna through which the awakened Kundalini travels.”
– Gabriel Cousens, M.D., Spiritual Nutrition: Six Foundations for Spiritual Life and the Awakening of Kundalini (Get the book.)
“The two serpents represent the ida and pingala, and in the center is a Light ball that represents the pineal gland and the merging of Shakti and Shiva into the One at the top. This balance with the two wings, two serpents, and the central pineal is known in some Yogic circles as the swan or pramahansa. The three columns (two serpents and central pole) also represent the three columns of the Tree of Life. It is the symbol that represents the fully Awakened Being.”
– Gabriel Cousens, M.D., Spiritual Nutrition: Six Foundations for Spiritual Life and the Awakening of Kundalini (Get the book.)
“The monatomic elements particularly affect the pineal gland, increasing melatonin production, as well as the pituitary gland, increasing serotonin production and activating the body’s junk DNA, therefore potentially activating unused parts of the brain. Researchers have shown that the PGMs comprise 5 percent of the brain by dry weight and are composed of these superconductor monatomic elements. One might theorize that the PGMs offer us human beings the power to further activate our Light body. The biochemistry laboratory at the U.S.”
– Gabriel Cousens, M.D., Spiritual Nutrition: Six Foundations for Spiritual Life and the Awakening of Kundalini (Get the book.)

“The analysis which is given in the twenty-third edition of Gray’s Anatomy (page 1,266) is as follows: “In our research work we find that the pineal gland produces and stimulates seven different minerals in the human body. Much of this action is carried out by the spinal column.” We know that the body is dependent on various phosphates, magnesium, calcium, etc., hence the importance of minerals. In experiments on the spinal column the spinal cord has been punctured and fluid has been extracted to determine the course of different ailments.”
– Jan De Vries, Life Without Arthritis: The Maori Way (Get the book.)

“However, the single most effective way of reaping the many health benefits of melatonin is to sleep normal hours, in total darkness, so that the pineal gland in the brain can produce its own melatonin, in just the right amounts that the body needs to remain healthy. As a side note, night workers are virtually assured of being dangerously Vitamin D deficient and should strongly consider being tested and taking a supplement containing Vitamin D3 and Vitamin A. The proper test is called 25(OH)D or 25-hydroxyvitamin D and is available at http://www.totalhealthtests.com and http://www.lef.org.&#8221;
– KC Craichy, Super Health 7 Golden Keys to Unlock Lifelong Vitality (Get the book.)

“At the same time it is true that we don’t yet know enough about the medical or physical aspect of the pineal gland. This gland, by means of acupuncture, can be balanced positively or negatively. When treating stress-related conditions, wor^ng on this particular gland can sometimes produce very rewarding results. The pituitary gland is said to be the key to the chemistry of the whole of the body. The pituitary hormones chemically affect the cell membranes, therefore the chemical reactions do not work properly when the pituitary gland is in any way impaired.”
– Jan De Vries, Life Without Arthritis: The Maori Way (Get the book.)

“Produced in the pineal gland, a peasized structure embedded deep within our brains, it controls the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal mechanism that tells us when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to wake up. Melatonin peaks during childhood, drops during adolescence when other hormones kick in, and continues to decrease as we age. By age sixty, our pineal gland is producing half the amount of melatonin it did when we were twenty. One of the most devastating effects of the loss of melatonin is disturbance of sleep patterns.”
– Earl Mindell, Earl Mindell’s Secret Remedies (Get the book.)

“This gland is the pineal gland known in Eastern religions as the Third Eye and in many other religions as the “seat of the soul.” It is believed that this gland is how we have access to the spiritual. If that gland is overloaded with serotonin does that impair thepineal gland and shut off access to the spiritual? Is this why so many patients say they can no longer feel spiritual feelings? Is this why so many leave their religions, no matter which religion they are? Is that why so many report feeling “possessed”?”
– Ann Blake Tracy, Ph.D., Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? The Rest of the Story on the New Class of SSRI Antidepressants Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lovan, Luvox & More (Get the book.)

“Walter Pierpaoli, one of the foremost researchers of melatonin and co-author of The Melatonin Miracle, says, We discovered that the pineal gland is to our bodies what the conductor is to the orchestra. The job of the pineal gland is to regulate and harmonize the functioning of a number of bodily systems. One of those systems is our endocrine system, which is made up of many glands that produce hormones that control our growth from childhood to adulthood. They also control our sexual development. Another of these systems is the immune system, which protects us against disease.”
– James F. Balch, M.D., The Super Anti-Oxidants: Why They Will Change the Face of Healthcare in the 21st Century (Get the book.)
“That may get the pineal gland really confused, which in turn creates havoc in the other systems it controls. This may be why we are more susceptible to diseases when we do not get enough sleep: In essence, our immune system has not received the right signals from the pineal gland. If that kind of crazy schedule is kept up for a long period of time, this can lead to some serious problems. Melatonin in Mid-Life One more thing: the pineal begins to cut back production of melatonin in mid-life, between the ages of forty and fifty.”
– James F. Balch, M.D., The Super Anti-Oxidants: Why They Will Change the Face of Healthcare in the 21st Century (Get the book.)
“It is called the pineal gland because it is shaped somewhat like a pine cone. Now we know that this little pine cone may be the most important gland in your body. The pineal controls the other glandular systems, and in doing so, controls the immune system, the reproductive system, sleep patterns, and most importantly, the aging process. This is all done through melatonin, a hormone that the pineal produces in almost undetectable amounts. Your Biological Clock You know that biological clock that people keep telling you is ticking? The pineal gland is it!”
– James F. Balch, M.D., The Super Anti-Oxidants: Why They Will Change the Face of Healthcare in the 21st Century (Get the book.)
“In addition to being produced by the pineal gland, it is also produced constantly in the digestive tract. This occurs independently of the pineal gland and establishes a baseline amount of melatonin for your body to use. Melatonin can be found virtually everywhere in your body, in every cell. For years, medical researchers knew it was there, but did not know what it did. It turns out that, ounce for ounce (or microgram for microgram in this case), melatonin is the most powerful antioxidant we have found!”
– James F. Balch, M.D., The Super Anti-Oxidants: Why They Will Change the Face of Healthcare in the 21st Century (Get the book.)

“In addition, a 2- x 4-inch, or 4- x 6-inch magnet, placed above the headboard, is used to bathe the pineal gland, which is a small but powerful gland in the center of the head. Among other things, the pineal gland is responsible for melatonin production, which helps us get restorative sleep. Magnets can also be placed on the site of the pain. During the day, magnets can be wrapped over an affected area. Another method sometimes advocated is to use 2- x 5-inch bar magnets or neodymium round magnets.”
– Gary Null, Ph.D., The Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing: A Comprehensive A-Z Listing of Common and Chronic Illnesses and Their Proven Natural Treatments (Get the book.)

“In fact, the Eastern concept of the “crown chakra” (the highest energy center) is generally believed to represent the pineal gland. Supporting the pineal gland, I believe, is preferable to taking melatonin supplements because it marshals the body’s own natural forces. Also, there has been some speculation recently that long-term melatonin supplementation might possibly have some negative side effects. While these side effects remain unproven, it’s still wise to be very cautious when using any medication. Now let’s look at the pituitary.”
– Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., Brain Longevity: The Breakthrough Medical Program that Improves Your Mind and Memory (Get the book.)

“Melatonin is secreted from a small gland in the brain called the pineal gland as daylight begins to decline. Melatonin is also a potent antioxidant that has protective effects against many types of cancer. As we age as adults, there is a tendency to produce less melatonin. Fortunately, there may be a better way to overcome serotonin and melatonin deficiency by providing the right sort of support to tryptophan metabolism.”
– Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods (Get the book.)

“The human spirit was supposed by Descartes to interact with the human brain in the pineal gland, in a manner that remained unexplained by him or anyone else. The pineal gland has now been replaced by the cerebral cortex as the supposed seat of consciousness, but the problem of “the ghost in the machine” is still with us today.18 Everything in nature worked entirely mechanically; in other words, everything was inanimate—except for human minds. Thus Descartes eliminated from the world all such disturbances as life, will, and intentions.”
– Rupert Sheldrake, The Presence of the Past: Morphic Resonance and the Habits of Nature (Get the book.)

“The pharynx is approximately 5 inches long and is part of two body systems—the respiratory and the digestive—as it is a highway for both air and food. 10?Pineal gland. The pea-sized pineal gland is located at the base of the brain. Although it is active metabolically, its actual function is unknown. 100 Pinna. The projecting part of the external ear that is shaped like the flared end of a horn. It is made of cartilage and covered with skin and helps capture sound waves for the ear. 110 Pituitary gland. A pea-sized gland located near the base of the brain.”
– Deborah R. Mitchell, The Home Healing Almanac: Solutions That Will Help You Make the Best Choices About Your Health and Safety (Get the book.)

“The identification of melatonin in 1958 provided the first solid scientific evidence of an essential role of the pineal gland. It is now thought that the sole function of the pineal gland is to manufacture and secrete melatonin. The exact function of melatonin is still poorly understood, but it is critically involved in the synchronization of hormone secretion. The natural daily cycle of hormone secretion is referred to as a circadian rhythm. The human body is governed by an internal clock that signals the secretion of various hormones at different times to regulate body functions.”
– Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D., Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Revised Second Edition (Get the book.)

“This unique clock keeps time by the metaphoric battery of the pineal gland, that tiny organ tucked deep in our brains. When it gets dark outside, the pineal gland secretes the hormone melatonin, which in a slow fade makes us sleepy?and provides us with that magical transition from the waking to the sleeping state. Taking melatonin supplements may help with the insomnia we all experience on occasion. It can be even more beneficial for those who travel frequently and cross time zones or for those who must sleep during daytime hours.”
– Brenda Adderly, The Complete Guide to Nutritional Supplements: Everything You Need to Make Informed Choices for Optimum Health (Get the book.)

“Diamond White Sapphire Aircrystal; forthe pineal gland, creativity; holds good or bad energy around itself, the bad cleansable in water. Dolomite Peach-colored stone; for inner peace, helpful for stomach or ulcer conditions; held during meditation. Emerald Heals the liver and thyroid; for intestinal dysentery (touch one and hold the other Emerald in the mouth); weight balance, energy; for back problems from emotional upsets; place in sunlight for recharging, and refract lightthrough it to heal cuts. Epidote Green Earth stone with orange spots; for self-love and healing.”
– Joseph E. Mario, Anti-Aging Manual: The Encyclopedia of Natural Health (Get the book.)
“ElectroMagnetic Fields (EMF) affect the pineal gland and central nervous system, causing al lergic reactions, convulsions, mob behavior, (chronic) fatigue, hypertension migraines, memory lapses, depression by releasingBrain cholinergic neuropeptides, spurring anxiety, and stress.”
– Joseph E. Mario, Anti-Aging Manual: The Encyclopedia of Natural Health (Get the book.)
“Sldmandlow-fatmilkhasmeanti-stifmessfactorremovedriskingcalcification of the joints, kidneys, or pineal gland; fed to animals caused testicle shrinkage and sterility. Cheese: Hardened milk, though somewhat nutritious, has poor absorption, ^08 All D;„k»o Da^^,,^A arterial sedimentation, and infl icts mucous al lergy and compromised Immunity like milk. Low-fat cheeses have from under 2 grams to 7 grams of fat per ounce.”
– Joseph E. Mario, Anti-Aging Manual: The Encyclopedia of Natural Health (Get the book.)

“Since the pineal gland (the body’s light meter) secretes melatonin as a way of cueing the organism about environmental light levels, it is obvious that melatonin has a profound effect on the reproductive physiology of any number of different animal species and most likely on that of humans as well. It is now recognized that human sexual physiology is influenced by the pineal gland.”
– Jacob Liberman O.D. Ph.D., Light: Medicine of the Future: How We Can Use It to Heal Ourselves NOW (Get the book.)

“The pineal gland Kriya Sit comfortably on the floor, with your legs crossed, or sit in a chair. Raise your hands above your head, with your fingers locked. Try to pull the hands apart, while you take long, deep breaths, for one to two minutes. (See illustration 1, Figure 12.) figure 12 This kriya tonifies and activates the pineal gland. It produces an enhanced state of awareness, clarity, and the ability to focus. Then bring your hands to your knees, and touch your index finger to your thumb, creating a small circle. This is called Gyan mudra.”
– Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., Brain Longevity: The Breakthrough Medical Program that Improves Your Mind and Memory (Get the book.)

“In certain circles it is believed that the pineal gland reacts to violet colours, the eyes to greenish-blue, the thymus gland to yellow, the gonads to red, and so on. Let me remind you of the significance of the number seven: there are seven endocrine glands, seven colours in the solar spectrum, and also seven layers of light receptors in the retina of the eye. Harmony in colour, or for that matter the lack of it, relates to a corresponding balance in our physical condition. Illness and disease are disharmony and in this context every aspect of health must be considered.”
– Jan De Vries, Life Without Arthritis: The Maori Way (Get the book.)

“Yes Drug class: Hormone Melatonin is a hormone produced in the human body by the pineal gland and secreted at night. In most people, the melatonin levels are highest during the normal hours of sleep. The levels increase rapidly in the late evening, peaking after midnight and decreasing toward morning. Jet lag: Some research studies have shown that taking melatonin before a flight and continuing for a few days after arrival at the destination helped control jet lagsymptoms of fatigue and sleep disturbances. Appears to work best after plane trips that crossed more than six time zones.”
– H. Winter Griffith, M.D., Complete Guide to Prescription and Nonprescription Drugs 2005 (Get the book.)

“In most people, melatonin reaches its peak (70 pg/ml) at approximately 2 a.m., then flattens for a couple of hours before beginning a dramatic drop to its lowest levels around 4 a.m. Production of melatonin not only varies during the 24-hour cycle, it also fluctuates during our life span. Although newborns usually sleep 16 to 18 hours a day, spread out over six to seven naps, they produce very low amounts of melatonin.”
– Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac., Alternative Medicine Magazine’s Definitive Guide to Sleep Disorders: 7 Smart Ways to Help You Get a Good Night’s Rest (Get the book.)

“The cause of SAD, from a Western perspective, is a deficiency of sunhght reaching the pineal gland, causing elevated levels of the hormone melatonin. How the pineal gland realizes that winter is here remains a mystery, however, since it is buried deep inside the skull and has no access to light. Ayurveda would use a simpler principle to explain SAD: When Kapha increases outside, it also increases inside. Certain people—those vulnerable to Kapha im- balance—will become sick from this added Kapha, leading to depression.”
– Deepak Chopra, Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide, Revised and Updated Edition (Get the book.)

“Melatonin This is a hormone produced by the pineal gland. Although melatonin is natural and available over the counter, this does not mean that it is without risk. My concern with any hormone is that although it might be quite safe when used within the body’s normal range, I worry about toxicity when people take more than the body would normally make. For most people, all it takes to restore melatonin to normal levels is 0.5 mg. The usual dose you find in stores, however, is 3 mg, which is six to ten times the dose that most people need.”
– Jacob Teitelbaum, Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now (Get the book.)

“Since the pineal gland seems to adjust the entire physiology of organisms to their environment, the physical size of this gland seems to vary according to where animals live. Thus, the pineal is relatively small in animals living at or near the equator, whereas its size increases proportionately the further north or south of the equator animals live. In certain species, such as the elephant seal, the pineal gland at birth occupies 50% of the brain.”
– Jacob Liberman O.D. Ph.D., Light: Medicine of the Future: How We Can Use It to Heal Ourselves NOW (Get the book.)

“Melatonin Description: Melatonin is a natural hormone produced in the brain’s pineal gland that regulates the body’s biological clock and sleep cycles. Melatonin is produced in response to darkness. This hormone has been shown to be helpful for insomnia, seasonal affective disorder, and other mood disturbances. It has potent antioxidant properties and also protects against radiation damage.”
– James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D., Prescription for Natural Cures: A Self-Care Guide for Treating Health Problems with Natural Remedies Including Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Bodywork, and More (Get the book.)
“Melatonin Description: Melatonin is a natural hormone produced in the pineal gland that regulates the body’s biological clock and sleep cycles. Melatonin is produced in response to darkness. This hormone has been shown to be helpful for insomnia, seasonal affective disorder, and other mood disturbances. It has potent antioxidant properties and protects against radiation damage.”
– James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D., Prescription for Natural Cures: A Self-Care Guide for Treating Health Problems with Natural Remedies Including Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Bodywork, and More (Get the book.)

“If we lay ourselves open to the negative influences of cosmic energy or we are chained to a word processor or television screen, we lower the efficiency of the immune system, as the pineal gland becomes affected and will in turn affect the immune system through its ally, the thymus gland. One school of thought favours the removal of the thymus gland, especially for the treatment of the condition affecting the muscles known as myasthenia gravis. At birth the thymus gland may be only the size of a pea, while by the age of about forty, it will already have decreased in size.”
– Jan De Vries, Life Without Arthritis: The Maori Way (Get the book.)

“Can perk you up, calm you down, or make you sleep like a baby (take at bedtime with Vitamins B6 and C), relieves insomnia (take with Carbohydrates; or substitute structurally-related pineal gland extract Melatonin). For chronic painintolerance, stress and tension reduction, calms the mind, relieves hallucinations, psychiatric problems; can replace Amitriptyline/imipramine drug for depression (with Tyrosine, take alone on an empty stomach with Vitamins B3 and B6). For Immunity, allergies. For addictions, with Tyrosine, and alcoholism.”
– Joseph E. Mario, Anti-Aging Manual: The Encyclopedia of Natural Health (Get the book.)

“This hormone is secreted by the pineal gland, a pea-size gland in your brain that helps control periods of sleepiness and wakefulness. The pineal gland releases melatonin into the bloodstream. At night, your body produces more melatonin, while the stimulus of light inhibits production. Between 2:00 and 4:00 A.M., production hits a peak. Then, toward dawn, it tapers off. Before taking supplemental melatonin, have your doctor check your natural levels of melatonin. If they are low, take up to one milligram at least two hours before you go to bed, suggests Dr. Meletis.”
– Gale Maleskey, Nature’s Medicines : From Asthma to Weight Gain, from Colds to High Cholesterol — The Most Powerful All-Natural Cures (Get the book.)

“Other animal studies found that fluoride accumulates in the pineal gland and interferes with its production of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the onset of puberty, thyroid functions, and numerous other basic physiological processes. In humans, fluoride has been found to cause arthritis, osteoporosis, hip fractures, cancer, infertility, Alzheimer’s disease, and brain damage. Until the 1950s, European doctors used fluoride to treat hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).”
– Andreas Moritz, The Amazing Liver & Gallbladder Flush: A Powerful Do-It-Yourself Tool To Optimize your Health and Wellbeing (Get the book.)

“Full Spectrum Light: Light stimulates T4 production through its action on the pineal gland and a reduction in melatonin production. þ Stress Reduction: Thyroid malfunction is epidemic in this century, possibly due to pesticides and chemicals ubiquitously found in our environment. Chronic emotional stress can be a causative factor as well. Thus, stress management techniques and the consumption of chemical-free whole foods should be encouraged.”
– Michael Friedman, ND, Fundamentals of Naturopathic Endocrinology (Get the book.)
“MELATONIN SYNTHESIS Melatonin is the primary substance secreted by the pineal gland, which modulates the adrenal (HPA) axis during clinical illness, the serotonergic system in psychiatric disease, and the body’s general response to stress. Melatonin is the major neuroendocrine modulator of annual and circadian biorhythms in the body, and has a far-reaching biological influence over most of the autonomic, hormonal, and behavioral functions of the human organism.”
– Michael Friedman, ND, Fundamentals of Naturopathic Endocrinology (Get the book.)
“CONVENTIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT The pineal gland and melatonin levels are generally not treated by conventional means, unless a rare pineal tumor is detected. NATUROPATHIC MEDICAL TREATMENT AND PREVENTION MELATONIN DEFICIENCY Lifestyle Melatonin production is increased by darkness; therefore, artificial light (or any type of electromagnetic radiation), after sundown should be minimized. Daytime exercise and light exposure will promote a regular circadian rhythm of melatonin.”
– Michael Friedman, ND, Fundamentals of Naturopathic Endocrinology (Get the book.)

“Reducing tryptophan will decrease the amount of NAD in the cells, decreases the amount of serotonin, and makes it more difficult for the pineal gland to make enough melatonin. The adverse reactions to these substances may be allergic or toxic. For every individual more than one substance will create these reactions with a synergistic effect. Dr Egger found that of 76 children 79 percent reacted to artificial colors and preservatives. But for these children, 48 different foods were found to cause symptoms.”
– Dr. Abram Hoffer, M.D., FRCP(C), Healing Children’s Attention & Behavior Disorders
(Get the book.)

“Discussion The pineal gland regulates the circadian rhythm, otherwise known as our 24-hour biological clock, with the secretion of melatonin. At night, the pineal gland becomes activated and begins secreting melatonin, peaking between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Light, sensed through receptors in the eyes, inhibits the production of melatonin. Therefore, any light sensed by the eyes will shut off the production of melatonin.1 Melatonin levels, along with DHEA (Chapter 5) and human growth hormone (Chapter 11), progressively decline as we age.”
– David Brownstein, The Miracle of Natural Hormones (Get the book.)

“It’s best to expose yourself to moderate amounts of sunlight regularly; if you wear glasses, remove them occasionally and, without looking directly at the sun, let the beneficial light pass through the optic nerve to the pineal gland, which regulates several endocrine functions, such as biological rhythm synchronization and the sleep/wake cycle. We now know that melatonin, an immunostimulatory neurohormone and powerful antioxidant, is secreted by the pineal gland.5,6 Spend time going for walks in the woods or away from traffic, breathing in the fresh, clean air.”
– Donald R. Yance, j r.,C.N., M.H., A.H.G., with Arlene Valentine, Herbal Medicine, Healing and Cancer: A Comprehensive Program for Prevention and Treatment (Get the book.)
“Melatonin Melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland, has gained popularity as a natural sleep aid without side effects. Melatonin levels are low during the day because light inhibits its production, but at night the pineal glandproduces melatonin and levels may go up as much as five to fifteen times. As a sleeping aid, it works well for some, but does nothing for others. The key element is to avoid exposure to light during the night because light exposure during sleeping time gready diminishes melatonin levels.”
– Donald R. Yance, j r.,C.N., M.H., A.H.G., with Arlene Valentine, Herbal Medicine, Healing and Cancer: A Comprehensive Program for Prevention and Treatment (Get the book.)

“In addition to their anthocyanidins, Montmorency tart cherries have been found to contain significant quantities of melatonin, a hormone produced in the pineal gland at the base of the brain that influences the sleep process and is also a very powerful antioxidant. While some other foods, such as bananas, also contain melatonin, the amount is too low to be effective, but, according to studies conducted at the University of Texas, Montmorency cherries contain 0.1 to 0.3 milligram of melatonin per serving. At this dosage melatonin has been shown to be an effective sleep inducer.”
– Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods (Get the book.)

“The human spirit was supposed by Descartes to interact with the human brain in the pineal gland, in a manner that remained unexplained by him or anyone else. The pineal gland has now been replaced by the cerebral cortex as the supposed seat of consciousness, but the problem of “the ghost in the machine” is still with us today.18 Everything in nature worked entirely mechanically; in other words, everything was inanimate—except for human minds. Thus Descartes eliminated from the world all such disturbances as life, will, and intentions.”
– Rupert Sheldrake, The Presence of the Past: Morphic Resonance and the Habits of Nature (Get the book.)

“Produced in the pineal gland, a peasized structure embedded deep within our brains, it controls the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal mechanism that tells us when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to wake up. Melatonin peaks during childhood, drops during adolescence when other hormones kick in, and continues to decrease as we age. By age sixty, our pineal gland is producing half the amount of melatonin it did when we were twenty. One of the most devastating effects of the loss of melatonin is disturbance of sleep patterns.”
– Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., Earl Mindell’s Secret Remedies (Get the book.)

“This hormone is secreted by the pineal gland, a pea-size gland in your brain that helps control periods of sleepiness and wakefulness. The pineal gland releases melatonin into the bloodstream. At night, your body produces more melatonin, while the stimulus of light inhibits production. Between 2:00 and 4:00 A.M., production hits a peak. Then, toward dawn, it tapers off. Before taking supplemental melatonin, have your doctor check your natural levels of melatonin. If they are low, take up to one milligram at least two hours before you go to bed, suggests Dr. Meletis.”
– Gale Maleskey, Nature’s Medicines : From Asthma to Weight Gain, from Colds to High Cholesterol — The Most Powerful All-Natural Cures (Get the book.)

“It is made in a small area of the brain called the pineal gland. As people get older the pineal gland shrinks, and less melatonin is made, meaning that older people become relatively melatonin deficient. Only a few studies have looked at the use of melatonin to help memory, but they suggest that this compound may help those who are having both sleeping and memory problems. Melatonin improves sleep and thereby reduces memory problems related to sleep loss. Whether or not it also has direct effects on memory functions is not clear.”
– Guy McKhann, and Marilyn Albert, Keep Your Brain Young: The Complete Guide to Physical and Emotional Health and Longevity (Get the book.)

“Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, a little cone-shaped structure in the brain that releases the hormone into the bloodstream. Darkness stimulates the pineal gland and causes it to produce more melatonin, which is why some call it the “hormone of darkness.” Light puts the brakes on production. During a normal night, production of melatonin peaks during the darkest hours—between 2:00 and 4:00 A.M. After that, production starts to decline, and it’s essentially switched off when you wake up. The longer the night, the more melatonin will be secreted.”
– Gale Maleskey, Nature’s Medicines : From Asthma to Weight Gain, from Colds to High Cholesterol — The Most Powerful All-Natural Cures (Get the book.)

“Melatonin Melatonin is not an amino acid, but it is a hormone that is manufactured in the pineal gland from the amino acid tryptophan. The pineal gland is a pea-sized organ that sits at the base of the brain. Melatonin is also available as a dietary supplement. It is the substance that appears to regulate the “body clock/’ the physiological changes that relate to day-night changes. Melatonin levels normally go up when it turns dark, and they are low during daylight hours. This hormone is also an antioxidant/free-radical scavenger that appears to slow the aging process.”
– Michael Janson, M.D., The Vitamin Revolution in Health Care (Get the book.)

“The optic nerves relay information about external light levels to the SCN, which in turn sends the light signals to several regions of the brain, including the pea-sized pineal gland. The pineal gland is instrumental in sleep, because it secretes melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone. breaths of air. There are three types of sleep apnea, according to Dr. Zimmerman: central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, and a combination of the first two types called mixed-type sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea refers to a defect in the central nervous system that affects the diaphragm.”
– Larry Trivieri, Jr., Alternative Medicine the Definitive Guide, Second Edition (Get the book.)
“EMFs interact with living systems, affecting enzymes related to growth regulation, pineal gland metabolism, regulation of the hormones melatonin and serotonin, and cell division and multiplication. MS patients typically show calcification of the pineal gland as well as decreased brain levels of melatonin and serotonin, according to Dr. Laibow. Melatonin is important in MS because it is a potent antioxidant that protects the brain and central nervous system from free-radical damage. ”
– Larry Trivieri, Jr., Alternative Medicine the Definitive Guide, Second Edition (Get the book.)
“MELATONIN LEVELS THROUGHOUT LIFE The pineal gland is roused into action in childhood. Newborn babies don’t produce melatonin, since the pineal gland has not matured at the time of birth. At six months, melatonin levels start to rise and three-year-olds have the highest levels. Between the ages of 11 and 35, melatonin production decreases gradually. From 35 to 50, melatonin levels actually increase, after which time levels plummet sharply. The elderly produce half as much melatonin as children.”
– Larry Trivieri, Jr., Alternative Medicine the Definitive Guide, Second Edition (Get the book.)

“The complicated music of these processes is organized by that orchestra conductor, the pineal gland, using melatonin as a kind of baton. HOW DOES MELATONIN PREVENT AGING? As we’ve seen, nature isn’t much interested in us after we’ve gotten too old to reproduce. One system after another starts to go, leaving us with lower levels of sexual functioning and a weakened immune system. This breakdown, too, is governed by the pineal gland, via its output of melatonin.”
– Ronald Klatz and Robert Goldman, Stopping the Clock: Longevity for the New Millenium (Get the book.)
“What they didn’t realize was that the two systems are interconnected—and that both operate under the direction of the pineal gland. The pineal gland is a small organ behind the eyes that in reptiles is literally a “third eye”—a light-sensitive organ covered with a shield of clear cartilage. In humans, the pineal is hidden within the brain, although Hindu philosophy refers to a “third eye” that sees more deeply and truly than the other two. Indeed, the pineal does “see” in a way, for one of its jobs is to respond to changes in light and dark.”
– Ronald Klatz and Robert Goldman, Stopping the Clock: Longevity for the New Millenium (Get the book.)
“Likewise, the pineal gland “tells” our endocrine and immune 80 70 iliter) o 1 50 >er co 40 E CO & 30 o o 3 20 c I 10 (0 S 2 0 2:00 P.M. 8:00 P.M. 3:00 A.M. 7:00 A.M. Time of day The 24-hour cycle of melatonin production. systems when and how to release key substances: growth hormones, sexual hormones, and antibodies. How does the pineal gland “tell” other systems what to do? Pierpaoli believes that the messenger is melatonin. Changes in our levels of melatonin tell the body to enter puberty and begin 140 Age (years) Melatonin levels through life. sexual development.”
– Ronald Klatz and Robert Goldman, Stopping the Clock: Longevity for the New Millenium (Get the book.)
“Animals who mate in the spring are responding to hormonal changes set off by the pineal gland, as are animals who migrate in the fall or hibernate in the winter. Women who menstruate every 28 days or so are also following a kind of seasonal rhythm, keeping time to the pineal clock. Indeed, researchers have noticed that women’s pineal glands are larger than men’s, perhaps because women need more internal time cues than men do, to help regulate their menstrual patterns. Immunologist Dr.”
– Ronald Klatz and Robert Goldman, Stopping the Clock: Longevity for the New Millenium (Get the book.)

“Reset Your Body Clock With Melatonin In Eastern traditions, the pineal gland, a tiny structure embedded in the center of the brain, is known as “the third eye”—an accurate description of a gland that responds to changes in light. When darkness falls, thepineal gland boosts its secretion of the hormone melatonin. Levels of melatonin peak between the hours of 1 am and 5 am, then gradually fall as the sun rises. As with other hormones, melatonin production declines dramatically with age. At the age of forty, the body produces approximately one-sixth the melatonin it did during the teen years.”
– Dr. Julian Whitaker, The Memory Solution (Get the book.)

“The mind and body interacted, he maintained, in the pineal gland deep within the brain. Thus for Descartes, the pineal gland functioned much like the radio in Grosso’s image above. As we explore Era III, let’s bear in mind how profoundly ignorant we are about the nature of consciousness. As philosopher John Searle has said, “At our present state of the investigation of consciousness, we don’t know how it works and we need to try all kinds of different ideas.” And philosopher Jerry Fodor observes, “Nobody has the slightest idea how anything material could be conscious.”
– Larry Dossey, Reinventing Medicine: Beyond Mind-Body to a New Era of Healing (Get the book.)

“Their moods are also often affected by the amount of light in the environment. The pineal gland in the brain, which evolved from the so-called third eye in birds, responds to light-dark cycles so that there is more serotonin made during daylight hours. Light directly stimulates nerve tracts from the eye to the pineal gland. When daylight hours become shorter during certain times of the year, serotonin levels drop, causing SAD, or seasonal affective disorder. Obesity and poor eating habits often combine to worsen seasonal depression in patients with carbohydrate craving.”
– David Heber, M.D., Ph.D., What Color is Your Diet? (Get the book.)

“Melatonin The hormone melatonin is secreted in tiny amounts from the pineal gland at the base of the brain. As each day draws to an end and darkness falls, melatonin gives us the hormonal signal that it’s time to rest for the night. Because we live in a culture that stays up long into the night, with lights blazing, our pineal glands can get a little confused. Night shift work, newborn babies, and crazy schedules also disrupt our natural circa-dian rhythms, and quality of sleep suffers. Melatonin production in the brain is important to a good night’s sleep.”
– Earl L. Mindell, RPh, PhD with Virginia Hopkins, MA, Bottom Line’s Prescription Alternatives (Get the book.)

“The synthetic sunlight made the difference, Lewy theorized, because of its effect on melatonin, a pineal gland hormone which has a tranquilizing effect. The pineal gland is often called the seat of our “biological clock,” “a gland that measures time,” and “a gland for all seasons”; Descartes regarded it as the seat of the human soul.”
– Richard Leviton, Physician: Medicine and the Unsuspected Battle for Human Freedom (Get the book.)

“The pineal gland controls reproduction, sleep and motor activity, blood pressure, the immune system, the pituitary and thyroid glands, cellular growth, body temperature, and many other vital functions. All of these depend on a balanced melatonin cycle. By going to sleep late or working night shifts, you throw this cycle out of balance, and throw off many other hormonal cycles as well. Apart from making melatonin, the brain also synthesizes serotonin, which is a very important neurotransmitter/hormone related to our state of physical and emotional well-being.”
– Andreas Moritz, The Amazing Liver & Gallbladder Flush: A Powerful Do-It-Yourself Tool To Optimize your Health and Wellbeing (Get the book.)

“Melatonin Melatonin is not an amino acid, but it is a hormone that is manufactured in the pineal gland from the amino acid tryptophan. The pineal gland is a pea-sized organ that sits at the base of the brain. Melatonin is also available as a dietary supplement. It is the substance that appears to regulate the “body clock/’ the physiological changes that relate to day-night changes. Melatonin levels normally go up when it turns dark, and they are low during daylight hours. This hormone is also an antioxidant/free-radical scavenger that appears to slow the aging process.”
– Michael Janson, M.D., The Vitamin Revolution in Health Care (Get the book.)

“The hypothalamus at the base of the brain is another vital regulator of the body and it works closely with the pituitary gland, the ‘master gland’ of the endocrine system, and the pineal gland, the so-called ‘Third Eye’, through which we manifest ‘psychic sight’. The endocrine glands connect the body to the chakra system and this network links our ‘physical’ reality with the wider universe of unseen energy. What are called psycho-active drugs – like ayahuasca – open us consciously to those areas of the brain and DNA that interact with these other realms.”
– David Icke, Icke David, Infinite Love Is the Only Truth: Everything Else Is Illusion (Get the book.)

“I am intrigued about the growing evidence suggesting that the pineal gland releases a neurotransmitter-like substance, dimethyltryptamine, that, if injected, often produces profound experiences that exactly parallel the now thousands of well-reported near-death experiences.20 However, discussing whether or not there is life after death is not the purpose of this book. Here, I am more concerned with whether or not there is life before death!”
– Patrick Holford, The New Optimum Nutrition Bible (Get the book.)

“Inside the brain, in an area called the pineal gland, the hormone melatonin is being produced to regulate your sleep-wake cycle as well as the rise and fall of certain hormones. Your blood levels of melatonin rise when it’s dark, peak early in the morning, and recede during the day. Or to put it another way, more melatonin equals more sleepiness. That’s why many people use this hormone to help them fall asleep, overcome jet lag, and adjust to shift changes (such as going from the morning shift to the graveyard shift).”
– Frederic Vagnini, M.D. and Barry Fox, Ph.D., The Side Effects Bible: The Dietary Solution to Unwanted Side Effects of Common Medications (Get the book.)

“Some scientists have gone so far as to suggest that the more the calcification, the lesser the capacity for physiologic function left within the supposedly atrophied and aging pineal gland. Medical research in the field of chronobiology has recognized the pineal as one of the body’s internal clocks. It also has hormonal control over the process of sexual maturation, and is influenced by the light cycles of day and night. The pineal gland controls our biological ascension from child to adult by inhibiting sexual maturation until the appropriate time.”
– Richard Gerber, M.D., Vibrational Medicine: The #1 Handbook of Subtle-Energy Therapies (Get the book.)
“The crown chakra is also closely linked with the pineal gland. For the crown chakra to be fully awakened there must first occur a balancing of body, mind, and spirit. In the individual who has an opened crown chakra, the seventh center is represented by an energy polarity between the pineal gland and the right and left cerebral hemispheres. Abnormalities in energy flow at the level of the crown chakra may manifest as various types of cerebral dysfunction, including psychosis. Sixth Chakra The sixth chakra is the brow chakra, sometimes referred to as the “third eye.”
– Richard Gerber, M.D., Vibrational Medicine: The #1 Handbook of Subtle-Energy Therapies (Get the book.)

“The role of the pineal gland in circadian rhythms regulation. Brastisl Lek Listy 1994; 95:295-303. 10. Sack RL, Lewy AJ, Blood ML, Meith LD, Nakagawa H. Circadian rhythm abnormalities in totally blind people: Incidence and clinical significance. J Clin Endocrinol Metabl992; 75(l):127-34. 11. Czeisler CA, Shanahan TL, Klerman EB, Martens H, Brotman DJ, EmensJS, etal. Suppression of melatonin secretion in some blind patients by exposure to bright light. N Engl J Med 1995;332(1):6-11. 12. Reiter RJ. Neuroendocrine effects of light. IntJ Biometeorol 1991;35(3):169-75. 13.”
– Michael Friedman, ND, Fundamentals of Naturopathic Endocrinology (Get the book.)

“From an evolutionary standpoint, it is interesting to note that in lower animals such as reptiles the pineal gland is still associated with a rudimentary third eye, complete with lens and retina-like photoreceptor. When the seventh chakra is activated, the sixth or brow chakra is represented by an energy polarity between the pituitary and pineal glands. When the seventh center remains unopened, the brow chakra is represented by the pituitary and the medulla oblongata (part of the brainstem).2 The third-eye chakra is the seat of intuition and the subtle organ involved in clairvoyance.”
– Richard Gerber, M.D., Vibrational Medicine: The #1 Handbook of Subtle-Energy Therapies (Get the book.)

“It seems likely, in the light of modern research, that the pineal gland is far from the vestigial organ it was once thought to be but is actually a master gland which regulates the body’s circadian rhythms. As befits the ‘Third Eye’, it is truly light-sensitive and once again the quality of light received is the crucial factor in maintaining the delicate impulses that regulate the fundamental balance of functions and maintain health. LIGHT TO THE TISSUES Light is of unquestionable value via the optical nerve route, as the growing body of scientific evidence and clinical experience shows.”
– Keith Scott-Mumby, Virtual Medicine: A New Dimension in Energy Healing (Get the book.)

“Melatonin Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland. In healthy humans, melatonin is secreted from the pineal gland in a diurnal rhythm, with the highest serum levels occurring during the evening. Melatonin influences a number of biological functions, the most studied of which is its ability to induce sleep. It is becoming increasingly popular as a nontoxic, nonaddictive remedy for jet lag and insomnia.”
– John Boik, Cancer & Natural Medicine: A Textbook of Basic Science and Clinical Research (Get the book.)

“It is surptising that a hotmone connected to sleep has a lot to do with skin health, but maybe not to those researchers who consider the pineal gland another endocrine gland. Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland. Prevention of Skin Aging and Cancer It seems reasonable to avoid midday sun when possible and avoid tanning salons. Use protective clothing, hats, and umbrellas during prolonged sun exposure. Apply and reapply sunscreen or use preparations that contain micronized zinc oxide or titanium oxide for more complete protection.”
– The Life Extension Editorial Staff, Disease Prevention and Treatment (Get the book.)

“FOR THE REST OF IT Melatonin is a hormone produced by a pea-sized structure called the pineal gland, located in the center of the brain. Interestingly, it was once thought that the pineal gland had no function. Today, we know that the melatonin released by this gland helps to set the rhythms of waking and sleeping. Taken as a supplement, melatonin has been used as a potent antioxidant as well. For some people, it reduces jet lag.”
– Mark Stengler, N.D., The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies (Get the book.)

“Melatonin is synthesized endogenously by the pinealocytes of the pineal gland. The essential amino acid L-tryptophan is a precursor in the synthesis of melatonin. In this synthesis, L-tryptophan first gets metabolized to 5-hydroxytryptophan from which 5-hydroxytryptamine, also known as serotonin, is made. 5-hydroxytryptamine is converted to melatonin in a two-step process, occurring mainly in the pineal gland. Melatonin is also known as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine and N-[2-(5-Methoxy-lH-indol-3-yl) ethyl] acetamide.”
– Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik, PDR for Nutritional Supplements (Get the book.)

“But that is not all, for the inventor states “You have heard of the pineal gland? …That gland is the great sense organ of organs -1 have found out. It is like sight in the end, and transmits visual pictures to the brain.”98 Through the rays that this device emits, people are able to see beings that live in another dimension or plane of existence. But years before Lovecraft painted his haunting picture, in 1882 a woman said to Keely: “You have opened the door into the spirit-world.” He answered, “Do you think so? I have sometimes thought I might be able to discover the origin of life.”
– Theo Paijmans, Free Energy Pioneer: John Worrell Keely (Get the book.)

“Melatonin The hormone melatonin is secreted in tiny amounts from the pineal gland at the base of the brain. As each day draws to an end and darkness falls, melatonin gives us the hormonal signal that it’s time to rest for the night. Because we live in a culture that stays up long into the night, with lights blazing, our pineal glands can get a little confused. Night shift work, newborn babies and crazy schedules also disrupt our natural circadian rhythms and quality of sleep suffers. Melatonin production in the brain is important to a good night’s sleep.”
– Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., Prescription Alternatives, Third Edition: Hundreds of Safe, Natural Prescription-Free Remedies to Restore and Maintain Your Health (Get the book.)

“Research has shown that our pineal gland, which produces serotonin and melatonin and may be at the core of our entire endocrine system, is affected not only by light, but also by magnetic fields. The seasonal light and dark cycles of each day appear to regulate our psycho-emotional being through our pineal gland. Many birds, insects, and reptiles daily use Earth’s natural magnetic influence of 10 hertz (this is the primary frequency of the brain in most animals) for their movement and instructural sense of direction. Subde changes in magnetism will alter their behavior.”
– Elson M. Haas, M.D., Staying Healthy with Nutrition: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine (Get the book.)

“Disorder of the pineal gland associated with depression, peptic ulcers, and sexual dysfunction. Southern Med J 1984; 77: 1516-1518 37. Wetterberg L. The relationship between the pineal gland and the pituitary-adrenal axis in health, endocrine and psychiatric conditions. Psychoneuroendocrinology 1983; 8: 75-80 38. Beck-Friis J, Kjellman BF, Aperia et al. Serum melatonin in relation to clinical variables in patients with major depressive mood and a hypothesis of low melatonin syndrome. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1985; 71: 319-30 39. Rubin RT, Heist EK, McGeoy SS et al.”
– Michael T. Murray, ND, Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1
(Get the book.)
“The identification of melatonin in 1958 provided the first solid scientific evidence of an essential role for the pineal gland. It is now thought that the sole function of the pineal gland is to manufacture and secrete melatonin. The exact function of melatonin is still poorly understood, but it is critically involved in the synchronization of hormone secretion. The natural biorhythm of hormone secretion is referred to as the “circadian” rhythm. The human body is governed by an internal clock that signals the secretion of various hormones at different times to regulate body functions.”
– Michael T. Murray, ND, Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1
(Get the book.)

“There is considerable evidence that pineal gland function is linked to osteoporosis. • Melatonin delays the aging process and certain aging conditions. • Melatonin secretion decreases sharply during menopause. • Melatonin opposes the osteoporotic effects of Cortisol. • Melatonin inhibits synthesis of prostaglandin E2, which is implicated in bone loss. • Melatonin secretion increases with exercise and decreases with immobility. • Osteoporosis is delayed with chronicsunlight exposure. Osteoporosis is accelerated during winter months.”
– Vincent Giampapa, Ronald Pero, and Marcia Zimmerman, The Anti-Aging Solution: 5 Simple Steps to Looking and Feeling Young (Get the book.)
“There is evidence of a bidirectional interaction between immune cells and the pineal gland in that certain immune modulators act on the pineal. Both melatonin and immune-protective IgA (immunoglobulin A) are elevated at night following daytime bright light exposure, suggesting nighttime is an important recovery period for the immune system.”
– Vincent Giampapa, Ronald Pero, and Marcia Zimmerman, The Anti-Aging Solution: 5 Simple Steps to Looking and Feeling Young (Get the book.)

“In the individual who has an opened crown chakra, the seventh center is represented by an energy polarity between the pineal gland and the right and left cerebral hemispheres. Abnormalities in energy flow at the level of the crown chakra may manifest as various types of cerebral dysfunction, including psychosis. Sixth Chakra The sixth chakra is the brow chakra, sometimes referred to as the “third eye.” The past mystical associations of this center with the pineal gland are well known.”
– Richard Gerber, M.D., Vibrational Medicine: The #1 Handbook of Subtle-Energy Therapies (Get the book.)

 

The Boy Who Cried Wolf: Is Predictive Programming Being Used To Weaken The Truth Movement?

Jurriaan Maessen
Infowars.com
June 19, 2012

As the Olympics approaches, premonitions of impending doom and mass terror-attacks will dominate a large part of the alternative media. Already the internet is abuzz with countless videos, pointing to a vast Illuminate plot climaxing into a disastrous false flag attack this summer. If you believe in Illuminati-driven predictive programming prefacing the Olympic Games of 2012, the following video created by a Chinese broadcaster will be an elaborate dish to fill the stomach:

“Whatever is disclosed to the public”, Alan Watt said, “is actually obsolete in a sense.” Knowing that people are animals of habit, the elite routinely weaves concepts into dramatic expressions, such as film, radio, and now the virtual reality online. In the case of the many announcements of impending doom prefacing the Olympics popping up all over the internet, I believe we are dealing with a very subtle strain of programming, largely distributed with the aim of preparing people not for any apocalyptic event unfolding but rather to raise expectations to such an unprecedented level that many well-meaning truth seekers will eventually hit themselves on the head, and subsequently disengage themselves from the arena. When the dreaded Games have come and gone with the stars unshaken and the sky unchanged- and rest assured they will be after the summer- another objective will have been accomplished: the inevitable anti-climax will do more damage to the truth than any apocalyptic event foreboded. A recent example of such “reversed predictive programming” is operation Blackjack.

Operation Blackjack

In January of 2009, the London Telegraph began featuring several graphics under the name operation blackjack. The images themselves are artistically inferior, depicting major ‘terrorist’ attacks both in Europe and the continental United States.

But the artistry- or lack of it- is less interesting than the intent. In the vulgar display we witness a plethora of horrific events across the globe, igniting not only utter chaos and devastation but also a “Union of North America” (UNA), created to combat the calamities and consolidate an Anglo-American government with extraordinary authority over its people. One aspect of the gallery that is especially intriguing is the abundance of Illuminate-symbols with which the pictures have been spray painted: several references to a “New Dawn”; a policeman wearing a Nazi-style eagle on his hat accompanied by the new flag under which the “Union of North America” (UNA) operates; the eye, the sun, a snake biting its own tale.

As to the identity of the “artist” responsible for the macabre series, journalists at the UK Telegraph remained strangely silent. Considering MI5 and MI6 are known for planting messages in the bloodstream of mass media, we may speculate that Blackjack was devised to pursue some kind of objective.

For those unfamiliar with operation blackjack, here’s a short summary of the playbook: beginning on June 21 (2009), a van with the ominous “New Dawn Presentations” painted on the side pulls up in front of a building. At the same time London police are put on high alert as they move to raid the homes of several “terror suspects”. On the early morning of the following day, it begins. Pandemonium. Nukes go of in every major city in the Northern hemisphere and a grim sequence of “attacks” commences. All major cities fall victim to exploding mini-nukes, leaving once familiar and thriving communities in utter ruin. One graphic shows two men bent over their desk gasping at the sight of the events unfolding and proclaiming their readiness to moving into “phase 2”. In the following weeks Martial Law is being implemented in both Britain and the United States, inevitably resulting in all-out tyranny. Finally, in the fifth episode of the curious mini-drama, the true perpetrators behind the attacks are exposed as the UNA-people themselves, false-flagging their way towards their endgame: global government.

At first glance the picture gallery seems to depict nothing but poorly illustrated mushroom clouds and other archetypal images of doom towering over familiar landmarks. As the months drew on, the story evolves as the emerging super state replaces the initial horror of the “attacks”. This also very meticulously follows the plausible storyline of problem-reaction-solution, where government creates the terror, the people demand action, and the state subsequently strips the last shreds of freedom from the people.

The operation blackjack hype is as intriguing as it is cunning: besides the obvious storyline- roughly following a 9/11-type scenario- mysterious messages are embedded within the picture show, instilling in the viewers a sense of being inside an action thriller- the lead character solving complex riddles as he races from phone booth to phone booth in an attempt to prevent anything apocalyptic from occurring. This sense of embarking on a grand quest combined with the need to figure out what on earth it all means is not altogether unexplainable or unfounded. It is true that major drills (also planned to prepare for the Olympic Games) could indeed be used to thicken the fog of war, deliberately confusing the participants to the point of paralysis- as they did on 9/11. Besides, the famous Lone Gunmen episode where a remote controlled plane attempts to crash into the World Trade Center building created a very real precedent of announcements of false flag operations to come. But why were the gruesome images of the blackjack-series being accompanied by such specifics: dates, places, names?

If it is indeed a case of predictive programming we were dealing with (or an obscure branch of the science) than its designers leave little for the imagination to chew on. Could it be, as some believe, a warning beforehand consistent with the tendency of the elite to throw out lengthening shadows on events to come? Assuming the Olympic Games will proceed without chaos erupting outside, there must be some alter motive behind all this apocalyptic prefacing, bringing your household predictive programming one step further into the bizarre. One may describe most of these Blackjack-premonitions, just like the current Olympic ones, as brilliantly constructed bear-traps, specifically devised by the elite as a vacuum into which a great part of genuine energy may be dumped to whither and die. It is a very dark science at its core, which has been perfected by social engineers throughout the centuries. The trap I am speaking of may be classified under the great and complex umbrella of predictive programming. But then again it’s hardly your household programming of the predictive kind, brought to you by the big foundations. Classic predictive programming is usually set in motion to desensitize a target audience to a concept, a possibility, or an event- so when an idea is finally introduced into society, or when an event actually occurs, they have been carefully foreshadowed, pre-programmed you might say, in the minds of people. In this case we appear to be dealing with a new and improved version of predictive programming, as the target audience is not so much desensitized to real events underway, but rather to the anticipated event not coming to pass.

Could it be a classic example of the boy-who-cried-wolf principle, where impending doom is being announced so many times without follow-up, that a warning of the real event goes completely unnoticed? From the elite’s perspective, it is a brilliant way to make sure people ignore their gut instincts when an impending false flag is actually underway. Mixing in the very real threat of false flag attacks- even exposing the real terrorists as blackjack does- makes the operation especially cunning. False announcements contaminate the truthful messages planted alongside them. As a result the baby (false flag ops) is thrown away with the bathwater (the specifics)- and the book is closed until the next real event occurs.

It is therefore more than likely that the entire blackjack hoax was a well-crafted psyop directed specifically at those who are already aware of the reality of false flag operations. Admitting that such operations do indeed exist, the operatives provide precise dates and places, inspiring their target audience to enter a forest of details like mice trapped in a maze. That’s why the operation is so elaborate in its details. The people who are being lured inside the maze find a fresh clue around every corner, directing them to the next clue and the next and so on, until he is so far in he can no longer discern the contours of the maze he is trapped in. The specifics therefore function as blinders for the truth seeker, obscuring the big picture and exhausting him in the process.

We have to hand it to the architects of the game. By every so often planting easily decipherable hexadecimal codes into the maze, and overloading the whole thing with an explosion of symbolic confetti, the elite keeps the viewers guessing as they grasp at every clue that is laid in front of them.

Desensitizing people to messages of apocalypse without it occurring, makes people understandably weary of making such predictions in the future. Those who will not idly postpone doomsday to some later date will chastise themselves for having been so credulous. They will certainly think twice before allowing themselves to be fooled again, and subsequently disengage themselves from the battle for liberty forever. In the end the viewers sit down underneath a tree, completely exhausted from their quest, and realize that the predicted date they focused on has long since past without anything occurring. As a result, they will think twice about following clues again lest they will embark on another such wild goose chase. And then, when a large part of the awoken has turned to other matters, the globalists can commence with their next false flag attack in full impunity.

So beware of voices saying the upcoming Games in London will be the scene of massive explosions by some activated al-Qaeda sleeper cell. Good chance you are lured into yet another trap by the social engineers.

NSA Refuses To Admit To Spying On Americans

Agency says it would “further violate” everyone’s privacy if it wasn’t a secret

Steve Watson
Infowars.com
June 18, 2012

The National Security Agency has refused to provide details on its clandestine domestic spying program, as requested by two prominent Senators, suggesting that to do so would violate the privacy of Americans.

Last month Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Udall of the intelligence oversight committee once againasked the NSA to divulge how many innocent Americans have had their communications monitored under the expanded Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, counterterrorism powers put into place four years ago.

The expansion of powers in 2008 eliminated the need for the NSA to have probable cause to intercept any American’s phone calls, text messages or emails.

Now Wired Magazine blog DangerRoom has acquired a letter (PDF) from the Inspector General of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which notes that “NSA leadership agreed that an IG review of the sort suggested would further violate the privacy of U.S. persons.”

The letter, written by I. Charles McCullough, also claims that the NSA, which has as many employees as the FBI and the CIA combined, does not have the man power to collate and reveal such details, and that to attempt to do so would jeopardize the program.

“I defer to [the NSA inspector general’s] conclusion that obtaining such an estimate was beyond the capacity of his office and dedicating sufficient additional resources would likely impede the NSA’s mission,” McCullough wrote.

Senator Wyden responded with a statement Monday, noting “All that Senator Udall and I are asking for is a ballpark estimate of how many Americans have been monitored under this law, and it is disappointing that the Inspectors General cannot provide it.”

“If no one will even estimate how many Americans have had their communications collected under this law then it is all the more important that Congress act to close the ‘back door searches’ loophole, to keep the government from searching for Americans’ phone calls and emails without a warrant,” Wyden added.

Describing the NSA’s response as “disappointing and unsatisfactory,” Legal secrecy expert Steve Aftergood, of the Federation of American Scientists, believes it is unacceptable for any intelligence agency to refuse to address such an “entirely legitimate oversight question.”

“If the FISA Amendments Act is not susceptible to oversight in this way,” Aftergood said, “it should be repealed, not renewed.”

Last year, the NSA tacitly admitted that it has an active domestic spying programwhen the general counsel testified to a Senate hearing, overseen by Wyden and Udall, that he believes the agency has the authority to track Americans via cell phones.

“There are certain circumstances where that authority may exist,” said Matthew Olsen the Director of The National Counterterrorism Center.

Wyden and Udall have been pressing the NSA for some time to reveal whether or not the agency is collecting sensitive data on Americans such as cell site data, which would allow for tracking the location of anyone using a cell phone in the US.

Along with Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R., Utah), Wyden introduced a joint bill last year that would force any government agency to secure a search warrant and show probable cause before tracking the location of any American.

Wyden has consistently expressed concern that the law relating to surveillance is unclear, and is being “secretly interpreted by the executive branch.”

Last week, Wyden blocked the Senate from a unanimous consent vote on a bill that would extend the FISA for a further five years. He was the only Senator to take action against the proposal, which was secretly approved for a floor vote last month, and would have otherwise passed through a virtually empty Senate chamber without objection.

In his statement, Wyden said he objects to the extension of the law because it does not contain protections against warrantless “back door” searches of Americans.

“I believe that there should be clear rules prohibiting the government from searching through these communications in an effort to find the phone calls or emails of a particular American, unless the government has obtained a warrant or emergency authorization permitting surveillance of that American,” he said.

As a candidate for president in 2008, Barack Obama promised to revisit and revise the rules of FISA to protect Americans’ rights, after he had voted for the bill as a Senator. However, as president, Obama has continued where president Bush left off in calling for extending the legislation and even actively preventing any judicial oversight of the wiretapping program.

The FISA provision, introduced in 2008, was merely a confirmation of activity that government spy agencies, including the NSA, have been engaging in for years.

The ACLU recently released an infographic (below) detailing  how the NSA’s warrantless wiretapping program has grown in gargantuan proportions and now intercepts 1.7 billion US electronic communications every single day. Those communications will soon all be funneled through the top secret $2 billion spy center in the Utah desert, which the NSA has refused to provide Congress with details of.

The surveillance dragnet just got a hell of a lot bigger, and rest assured that while the government says its official targets are “terrorists,” snoops are using these powers to go after Americans exercising their constitutional rights.

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Steve Watson is the London based writer and editor for Alex Jones’ Infowars.net, andPrisonplanet.com. He has a Masters Degree in International Relations from the School of Politics at The University of Nottingham in England.

Roid-Raging Cops An In-Depth Look Into STEROIDS

‘Roid-raging Cop Shoots Up Neighborhood: Get Ready for more “Gun Control”

William Grigg
lewrockwell.com
June 18, 2012

Richard Klementovich, the 42-year-old Clifton, Pennsylvania police officer who barricaded himself in the home of his ex-wife in nearby Doylestown and turned a quiet neighborhood into a free-fire zone, was apparently attempting to commit “suicide by cop.”An admitted steroid user, Klementovich – who was paid $114, 560 in 2011 — described himself as angry “at this job and law enforcement. And it’s them who I will take out my anger on.”

“They will do the job I couldn’t and take my life,” wrote the 14-year law enforcement veteran in a June 16 e-mail to his ex-wife wife, Jill Majors. “I hope whomever comes to our house is ready to die tomorrow because I will be Jill…. Tell the police I have a surprise for them, this is the way I want to die.” When police arrived at the home, they found a manila envelope containing a note in which Klementovich said that he had scoped rifles, a cache of 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and that he “was ready to die.”

After Klementovich fired on police vehicles, several SWAT teams and emergency response units converged on the scene. Local residents were ordered to seek shelter in a nearby police facility or in their basements. Despite the deployment of paramilitary operators and heavy weaponry – including a tank-like vehicle – the standoff ended in anti-climactic fashion. Displaying uncommon restraint, the police allowed one of their own to surrender to a negotiator and leave the home of “his own free will,” reports NJ.com.

Prior to June 17, Klementovich was part of New Jersey’s tax-subsidized elite: He reportedly was paid $114,560 in 2011, at least some of which was used to feed his steroid addiction — which most likely would have led to a prison term had he been a Mundane (or common citizen).

Steroid use – including the attendant psychological syndrome called “Roid Rage” is quite commonplace among cops. “Officer Jimmy,” an anonymous active-duty police officer, toldMen’s Health magazine that “Steroid use is very pervasive in law enforcement. I’d say, of the cops I know, 20 percent to 25 percent of them are using” steroids. “Jimmy,” who became a police officer in 2000, is a good representative of the “dominate-intimidate” mindset that defines contemporary law enforcement. He believes – or at least believed at one time – that police are under-utilizing an important tool: “What law enforcement needs is a little testosterone. Every cop should do a [steroid] cycle a year.”

A March 2004 pamphlet published by the DEA’s “Office of Diversion Control” underscores the reasons why steroids are so attractive to the likes of “Officer Jimmy”: “The idea of enhanced physical strength and endurance provides one with `the invincible mentality’ when performing law enforcement duties.”

If Klementovich had snapped and committed an act of violence against an innocent person while on duty, he most likely would be on “administrative leave” – that is, paid vacation – while his police union provided him with expensive legal help and unqualified support. The fact that he was able to walk away from the standoff, rather than being killed in a full-force military onslaught, is itself an illustration of the privileged position Klementovich continues to occupy: If he had been a mere Mundane, he would almost certainly be dead.

The siege in Clifton underscores another important and largely ignored point – namely, the asininity of the assumption that police officers, unlike Mundanes, can be entrusted with firearms. One of the tenets of the civilian disarmament catechism is that the same guns that are unacceptably dangerous when owned by private citizens are transmuted into instruments of civic amity when wielded by the State’s enforcement caste. Klementovich’s rampage is just the latest of numerous incidents demonstrating that the police are actually the most dangerous element of society.

********************

WAS this Cop (below) also a ROID RAGED WACK JOB AS WELL who knows but these kind of Cops that over abuse the uses violence on innocent Victims are all over North America and the numbers of incidences are alarmingly increasing. The real frightening trend is that these are exactly the type of individual that are being hired up by police forces across the continent at an alarming rate. We believe that Ex combat veterans should only be permitted police employment after certain condition have been met. Condition like say applying for hire only after 5 year have passed since combat service ended, and that a psychological evaluation of there mental health and state of mind must also be met. Steroid abuse by police officer must be made a felony crime if caught using on the Job and punishable with minimum 5 years and drug abuse and Steroid recovery programs during incarceration. Police Officers should be made to take MANDATORY regular once a month say and random spot check Urine Drug screening. They are our top line defense public servants and as such, they work for us the people. So it is in our opinion that to many of us are having our lives wreaked our bodies physically beaten and assaulted, object raped and yes even murdered by the wrong guy being giving authority. When you give authority and power to a compromised individual either by drugs or combat stress it’s a potentially dangerous cocktail that can as we can see have terrible consequences for completely innocent people.

When there is corruption at the very Top of an organization

Corruption will permeate down the whole organization

SWAT Cop’s Sucker Punch Puts Man in Intensive Care

Kurt Nimmo
Infowars.com
June 18, 2012

Brain Vander Lee is the latest victim of mindless violence by a violent cop. He was put in intensive care at a hospital in Minnesota after a Minneapolis SWAT team police officer sucker punched him in the face. Sgt. David Clifford (pictured above), a member of the Minneapolis SWAT team, attacked Vander Lee because he was talking too loud on his cell phone on the patio of a bar in Andover, Minnesota.

“He did a Superman punch,” Mike Archambault, a long-time friend of the victim, recalled. “Brian went back, feet up in the air, and the guy landed on top of him and his head bounced off the concrete.”

Vander Lee has undergone two brain surgeries for bleeding on his brain and remains in intensive care. If he lives, he will likely be traumitized for the remainder of his life.

Clifford eventually turned himself in. He is expected to be charged with third-degree assault.

An online biography of the cop reads:

“Sgt. Dave Clifford is the Executive Officer of the Minneapolis Police SWAT Unit. He’s a veteran of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and has served as team leader of Personal Security Detachments in both Kosovo and Iraq. He holds a B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota in International Relations. As a SWAT team member he’s participated in more than 350 high risk operations.”

Military “service” and his “tours of duty” have turned Clifford into a raging psychopath. Police Departments prefer to hire these “veterans” to deal with the public. The incident in Minnesota is the unfortunate result.

Citizens need to demand accountability from police. They also need to demand that soldiers who have “served” in war zones not be allowed to work as cops. Citizens are not Iraqi insurgents and should not be treated like prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

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Steroid Abuse by Law Enforcement Personnel

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A Guide For Understanding The Dangers Of Anabolic Steroids

March 2004

Anabolic steroid abuse, once viewed as a problem strictly associated with body builders, fitness “buffs,” and professional athletes, has entered into the law enforcement community. Law enforcement personnel have used steroids for both physical and psychological reasons. The idea of enhanced physical strength and endurance provides one with “the invincible mentality” when performing law enforcement duties. The short-term adverse physical effects of anabolic steroid abuse are fairly well known. However, the long-term adverse physical effects of anabolic steroid abuse have not been studied, and as such, are not known. In addition, this type of abuse may result in harmful side-effects as well as serious injury and death. The abuser in most cases is unaware of these hidden dangers.

This guide will help you to understand why anabolic steroids are being abused, and how you can educate law enforcement personnel and others about the dangers of these drugs. This guide will also discuss the dangerous medical effects associated with steroid abuse. By working together we can greatly reduce the abuse of anabolic steroids. It is important to recognize this problem and educate our co-workers in the law enforcement community.

What are anabolic steroids?

Anabolic steroids are synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male hormone testosterone. Both males and females have testosterone produced in their bodies: males in the testes, and females in the ovaries and other tissues. The full name for this class of drugs is androgenic (promoting masculine characteristics)anabolic (tissue building) steroids (the class of drugs). Some of the most abused steroids include Deca-Durabolin® , Durabolin ® , Equipoise® , and Winstrol® . The common street (slang) names for anabolic steroids include arnolds, gym candy, pumpers, roids, stackers, weight trainers, and juice.

The two major effects of testosterone are an androgenic effect and an anabolic effect. The term androgenic refers to the physical changes experienced by a male during puberty, in the course of development to manhood. Androgenic effects would be similarly experienced in a female. This property is responsible for the majority of the side effects of steroid use. The term anabolic refers to promoting of anabolism, the actual building of tissues, mainly muscle, accomplished by the promotion of protein synthesis.

Why are steroids abused?

Anabolic steroids are primarily used by bodybuilders, athletes, and fitness “buffs” who claim steroids give them a competitive advantage and/or improve their physical performance. Also, individuals in occupations requiring enhanced physical strength (body guards, construction workers, and law enforcement officers) are known to take these drugs. Steroids are purported to increase lean body mass, strength and aggressiveness. Steroids are also believed to reduce recovery time between workouts, which makes it possible to train harder and thereby further improve strength and endurance. As a result of these claims, others, including law enforcement personnel, have used steroids for personal and professional reasons.

The law enforcement profession is both mentally and physically challenging. As a result, law enforcement personnel seek remedies and solutions to perform their daily tasks more effectively. Anabolic steroids are a drug of choice because they are known for increasing the size and strength of muscles more quickly and easily, and increasing one’s endurance while performing physical activities. Some law enforcement personnel may believe that steroids provide them a physical and psychological advantage while performing their jobs.

Where do you get steroids?

Doctors may prescribe steroids to patients for legitimate medical purposes such as loss of function of testicles, breast cancer, low red blood cell count, delayed puberty and debilitated states resulting from surgery or sickness. Veterinarians administer steroids to animals (e.g. cats, cattle, dogs, and horses) for legitimate purposes such as to promote feed efficiency, and to improve weight gain, vigor, and hair coat. They are also used in veterinary practice to treat anemia and counteract tissue breakdown during illness and trauma. For purposes of illegal use there are several sources; the most common illegal source is from smuggling steroids into the United States from other countries such as Mexico and European countries. Smuggling from these areas is easier because a prescription is not required for the purchase of steroids. Less often steroids found in the illicit market are diverted from legitimate sources (e.g. thefts or inappropriate prescribing) or produced in clandestine laboratories.

How are steroids taken?

Anabolic steroids dispensed for legitimate medical purposes are administered several ways including intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, by mouth, pellet implantation under the skin and by application to the skin (e.g. gels or patches). These same routes are used for purposes of abusing steroids, with injection and oral administration being the most common. People abusing steroids may take anywhere from 1 to upwards of a 100 times normal therapeutic doses of anabolic steroids. This often includes taking two or more steroids concurrently, a practice called “stacking.” Abusers will often alternate periods (6 to 16 weeks in length) of high dose use of steroids with periods of low dose use or no drug at all. This practice is called “cycling.” The length of time that steroids stay in the body varies from a couple of days to more than 12 months.

Physical & psychological dangers

There is increasing concern regarding possible serious health problems that are associated with the abuse of steroids, including both short-term and long-term side effects. The short-term adverse physical effects of anabolic steroid abuse are fairly well known. Short-term side effects may include sexual and reproductive disorders, fluid retention, and severe acne. The short-term side effects in men are reversible with discontinuation of steroid use. Masculinizing effects seen in women, such as deepening of the voice, body and facial hair growth, enlarged clitoris, and baldness are not reversible. The long-term adverse physical effects of anabolic steroid abuse in men and in women, other than masculinizing effects, have not been studied, and as such, are not known. However, it is speculated that possible long-term effects may include adverse cardiovascular effects such as heart damage and stroke.

Possible physical side effects include the following:

• High blood cholesterol levels – high blood cholesterol levels may lead to cardiovascular problems
• Severe acne
• Thinning of hair and baldness
• Fluid retention
• High blood pressure
• Liver disorders (liver damage and jaundice)
• Steroids can affect fetal development during pregnancy
• Risk of contracting HIV and other blood-borne diseases from sharing infected needles
• Sexual & reproductive disorders:

Males

• Atrophy (wasting away of tissues or
  organs) of the testicles
• Loss of sexual drive
• Diminished or decreased sperm
  production
• Breast and prostate enlargement
• Decreased hormone levels
• Sterility

  Females

• Menstrual irregularities
• Infertility
• Masculinizing effects such as facial
  hair, diminished breast size,
  permanently deepened voice, and
  enlargement of the clitoris.

Possible psychological disturbances include the following:

• Mood swings (including manic-like symptoms leading to violence)
• Impaired judgment (stemming from feelings of invincibility)
• Depression
• Nervousness
• Extreme irritability
• Delusions
• Hostility and aggression

Laws and penalties for anabolic steroid abuse

The Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 placed anabolic steroids into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as of February 27, 1991. Under this legislation, anabolic steroids are defined as any drug or hormonal substance chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone (other than estrogens, progestins, and corticosteroids) that promotes muscle growth.

The possession or sale of anabolic steroids without a valid prescription is illegal. Simple possession of illicitly obtained anabolic steroids carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a minimum $1,000 fine if this is an individual’s first drug offense. The maximum penalty for trafficking is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if this is the individual’s first felony drug offense. If this is the second felony drug offense, the maximum period of imprisonment and the maximum fine both double. While the above listed penalties are for federal offenses, individual states have also implemented fines and penalties for illegal use of anabolic steroids.

Steroid alternatives

A variety of non-steroid drugs are commonly found within the illicit anabolic steroid market. These substances are primarily used for one or more of the following reasons: 1) to serve as an alternative to anabolic steroids; 2) to alleviate short-term adverse effects associated with anabolic steroid use; or 3) to mask anabolic steroid use. Examples of drugs serving as alternatives to anabolic steroids include clenbuterol, human growth hormone, insulin, insulin-like growth factor, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Examples of drugs used to treat the short-term adverse effects of anabolic steroid abuse are erythropoietin, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and tamoxifen. Also, diuretics and uricosuric agents may be used to mask steroid use.

Over the last few years, a number of metabolic precursors to either testosterone or nandrolone have been marketed as dietary supplements in the U.S. These dietary supplements can be purchased in health food stores without a prescription. Some of these substances include androstenedione, androstenediol, norandrostenedione, norandrostenediol, and dehydroepiandtrosterone (DHEA), which can be converted into testosterone or a similar compound in the body. Whether they promote muscle growth is not known.

Are anabolic steroids addictive?

An undetermined percentage of steroid abusers may become addicted to the drug, as evidenced by their continuing to take steroids in spite of physical problems, negative effects on social relations, or nervousness and irritability. Steroid users can experience withdrawal symptoms such as mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, and depression. Untreated, some depressive symptoms associated with anabolic steroid withdrawal have been known to persist for a year or more after the abuser stops taking the drugs.

Steroid abuse within the law enforcement community

Despite the illegality of taking steroids without a prescription and the known dangers of steroid abuse the problem continues to grow in the law enforcement community. In Minneapolis, a police sergeant was charged for possession of steroids. He admitted to being a user of steroids. In Miami, a police officer was arrested for the purchasing human growth hormone kits (HGH) from a dealer. The dealer had also informed Federal officials that the police officer had purchased anabolic steroids from him on four other occasions. In Tampa, a police officer was sentenced to 70 months in jail for exchanging 1,000 ecstasy tablets from police custody for steroids.

How can we curtail their abuse?

The most important aspect to curtailing abuse is education concerning dangerous and harmful side effects, and symptoms of abuse. Law enforcement officers must understand they can perform their jobs and have a great body without steroids. They should focus on getting proper diet, rest, and good overall mental and physical health. These things are all factors in how the body is shaped and conditioned. For additional information on steroids please see our website at http://www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov

Presented as a public service by:
Drug Enforcement Administration
Office of Diversion Control
Washington, D.C. 20537

It’s the “other” doping scandal, and we’re breaking it wide open

By Sabrina Rubin Erdely, Illustrations by Eddie Guy, Posted Date: September 19, 2005

Read more at Men’s Health: http://www.menshealth.com/health/scandals-cops-and-steroids?fullpage=true#ixzz1yEyxfKG6

JUICERS IN BLUE

Officer Jimmy (not his real name) knew his steroid use was paying off when, one day, the Ohio policeman needed to wrestle a suspect to the ground–and the guy crumpled like a piece of wet cardboard. “It took no effort at all,” Jimmy marvels. For Kevin, a military policeman, his steroid epiphany came as he was throwing a rowdy patron out of a Southern California bar: Kevin grabbed the guy by his belt and yanked him right out of his chair. “He landed about 2 feet behind me,” he remembers. Former Suffolk County, New York, officer Tom Foley had a steroid moment of a different sort when, while vacationing in L.A., he was pumping iron at Muscle Beach–with visions of his idol, Arnold, dancing in his head–and spectators started taking his picture.

“It was unbelievable!” Foley exclaims with a bashful smile, holding up a framed photo from that session: a shot of his shirtless back, an explosion of finely cut lats and traps. Foley, 33, is seated on the back porch of his girlfriend’s Long Island home, enjoying the simple pleasure of breathing free air. He’s on his very first week-end furlough from prison, where he’s nearing the end of a 3-year sentence. And while he’s stayed in excellent shape behind bars, he’s no longer Muscle Beach buff. “Yeah, it was amazing,” Foley says, peering nostalgically at the photo. “And that was on 200 milligrams.”

Just call them Juicers in Blue. With their rippling physiques and flair for battling bad guys, they call to mind a flesh-and-blood Justice League–or at least a casting call for a Van Damme movie. And these three men are hardly isolated examples. Cops have long been a hush-hush subset of anabolic steroid users, says Pennsylvania State University sports-science professor Charles Yesalis, Sc.D., author of The Steroids Game. “Most of the police officers I’ve known who have used these drugs consider them a tool of the trade.”

The phenomenon cuts across the country: In recent years, cops in nine states have been accused of steroid-related crimes. Like the four Norman, Oklahoma, police officers whose steroid use was uncovered during a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation last fall, and who were fired. Or the Tampa, Florida, cop who gave a drug dealer a thousand Ecstasy tablets from a police-impounded car in exchange for steroids and was sentenced to 2 years in 2003. Or the Pennsylvania officer who in 2002 pleaded guilty to steroid possession–and to selling ‘roids to two other cops.

Such incidents are sufficiently widespread that the DEA has published a pamphlet called Steroid Abuse by Law Enforcement Personnel, whose cover depicts two uniformed officers surrounded by floating syringes. Still, because juicing cops are a secretive subculture within a secretive subculture, experts have a hard time quantifying the problem. “Resoundingly, yes, I’ve heard many, many accounts of police officers taking steroids,” says Harvard steroid specialist Harrison Pope, M.D., author of The Adonis Complex. “But it’s impossible to put a number on it. Even if I got a federal grant to study this, I wouldn’t be able to get that number, because of the veil of secrecy.” Officer Jimmy, however, is less constrained. “Steroid use is very pervasive in law enforcement,” insists the 26-year-old cop. “I’d say, of the cops I know, 20 percent to 25 percent of them are using.”

Whatever the true tally, it raises the question of what this means for the average, mostly law-abiding civilian. The next time you’re pulled over, will you be hassled by an officer raring for a fight?
If a cop loses control in a fit of ‘roid rage, will your township get slammed with a brutality lawsuit? And, experts speculate, do steroids render cops less effective at their jobs, making you less safe?

“It hasn’t been studied enough, and we need to know more,” says Larry Gaines, Ph.D., chairman of the criminal-justice department at California State University at San Bernardino and the author of one of the very few research papers about cops on steroids. “We don’t have a sense of the scope of the problem. And it is a potential problem, because of the potential for violence.”

Officer Jimmy sees the matter differently. Although he professes to feel conflicted about juicing–it is, after all, a felony to take anabolic steroids without a prescription–he thinks ‘roids made him a better cop. “What law enforcement needs is a little testosterone,” he says. “Every cop should do a cycle a year.”

All the right reasons

When Jimmy first became a patrolman 4 years ago, he was in enviable shape: a former high-school quarterback with chiseled abs, who benched 225 in his thrice-weekly workouts. Even so, he couldn’t help but notice that his physique paled in comparison with those of some of his ripped colleagues. They were broad-shouldered, slim-waisted, and veiny, forever cracking their tree-trunk necks, and as big as action heroes as they cruised the streets. Jimmy learned through the grapevine that they had steroids to thank. “It was a big shock,” he recalls. “Not to sound naive, but we’re here to serve and protect, and we’re breaking the law.” But it got him thinking. At 5’6″ and 155 pounds, he wasn’t the most imposing presence; if anything, he felt puny and vulnerable when facing down suspects.

Curious now, Jimmy started doing some Internet sleuthing. Six months later–and despite his efforts, still no larger–he was ready to give ‘roids a try. A buddy hooked him up with a cocktail of Depo-Testosterone, Sustanon, Deca-Durabolin, and Anadrol. Mornings, Jimmy would lock himself in his bathroom and inject himself in the right butt cheek. Then he’d dress for work: blue uniform, holster, badge.

“I’m doing this for you,” Jimmy answered to his wife’s objections, “so I can come home safe to you.”

His anxiety over life and limb is common among cops today. Despite falling crime rates in many U.S. cities, officers say that their patrols are rougher than ever, with criminals who are bigger, badder, and more audacious. Which is why, some argue, police need steroids: They have to be even brawnier than the people they’re fighting. One former Maryland officer says he was scared into taking steroids after a suspect grabbed his radio off his belt during a tussle. “It easily could have been my gun,” he says. In higher-crime areas–where, experts say, steroid-using cops are more prevalent–suspects are sometimes so zooted on drugs that they’re nearly impossible to subdue. “We’ve had crack and meth users fight two to four officers,” says a 28-year-old Iowa cop, a former juicer who says he’s tempted to start again. “We recently had a crack user break his leg and disarm one police officer, while he was fighting two other cops.”

Complicating things further, the number of excessive-force complaints has spiked over the past decade, according to the National Police Defense Foundation (NPDF), making police worry that anytime they reach for their batons, tasers, or guns, they’ll be slapped with a brutality suit. “A police officer is supposed to use necessary force to overcome the person,” says a former Philadelphia cop. “So if they use fists, you use a nightstick. If they use a knife, you use a blackjack. But if you use them, you get sued. So you gotta be strong.”

The cops make a convincing enough case that many experts find themselves nodding along–so much so that when steroid specialist William Howard, M.D., founder of the Sports Medicine Clinic at Baltimore’s Union Memorial Hospital, was once asked by a police commander whether he thought a particular officer was on ‘roids, Dr. Howard replied that he had no clue–despite the officer’s inflated body. “Of course, I’m pretty convinced he was taking steroids,” Dr. Howard admits. “But this guy was on the worst beat. That’s why I covered for him. I’m not proud of it, and I don’t condone it, but I understood this guy.”

Others, however, are deeply skeptical of cops who invoke the survival defense to justify their juicing. “Any officers saying they need to take steroids to perform their jobs, I don’t buy it,” says NPDF executive director Joseph Occhipinti, who insists that with all the training cops receive, they’re well prepared for whatever comes their way–including knowing better than to charge into every situation like Braveheart. “If you need to subdue a guy, and he’s 6’2″ and 300 pounds, you request backup!” he says. Lt. Tom Easley, of the Norman, Oklahoma, police department, agrees. Even though the cops who were recently ejected from his force claimed they’d needed steroids for safety’s sake, Easley says, “it was a rationalization. I know that at least one was physically fit, ate well, and worked out, but he got stuck at a particular weight. And he wanted more.”

Maybe so, but Long Island–based police psychologist Dan Goldfarb, Ph.D., believes that cops who use steroids to make an already buff body bigger are actually the exception. “The reality is, police work is not geared toward good physical health: shift work, fast food, lots of time stuck in one place, high stress levels, low levels of exercise,” says Goldfarb, who has counseled cops who confided their steroid use to him. “They say to me, ‘I need big muscles and don’t have the time to work out.'” By using steroids, the cops get the image they’re gunning for–and then some–in a hurry.

In Officer Jimmy’s case, the transformation took just a few months. His bench press shot up 80 pounds in 2 weeks; by the end of his 6-week cycle, he was 25 pounds heavier. Walking the beat with his new, thick-thighed swagger, Jimmy truly felt like The Man. “I knew no one was going to mess with me. And if they did, I knew I could take ’em,” he says. “The confidence thing was huge.” Jimmy says his newfound self-assurance made him an even calmer officer, one whose judgment was never clouded by fear. While he appreciated the on-the-job benefits, however, Jimmy was also infatuated with his own ballooning frame. At 5’6″ and a hulking 185 pounds, Jimmy looked positively cartoonish. He loved the stares he attracted in public. When he was issued a larger uniform to accommodate his new bulk, Jimmy opted to wear his old, smaller shirt, to better showcase his biceps.

His colleagues noticed. Mum was the word on duty, of course. But during off-hours, the officers conferred: What’re you stacking? Which antiestrogens are you using? And Are my bitch tits showing through my uniform? When Jimmy developed a golf ball–size pus nodule on his butt, which popped during a house party full of cops, they just laughed and pointed at the wet spot seeping through his jeans; they’d all been there.

From a big body to the Big House

Former police officer Tom Foley’s steroid tale begins with an injury. It ends in Attica.

Foley was once a gung-ho officer, the kind who’d sprint into a burning building to rescue an unconscious civilian–which he actually did in 1999, earning him the title of Suffolk County Cop of the Month. All that changed a year later, when he tackled a fleeing DWI suspect on a dark roadside and heard his own wrist crack. “I have a titanium plate with screws in here,” Foley says, tracing a finger down a scar that slices the length of his forearm. Three surgeries and 2 years of physical therapy failed to restore full motion to his wrist, without which, his department determined, he couldn’t safely handle a gun. At age 29, he was urged to retire.

“I wasn’t ready to hang it up,” Foley recalls. He says that in 2002, his doctor prescribed him steroids in the hope of restoring flexibility to the ligaments. As a lifelong athlete and weight lifter, he “was always very against steroids,” but Foley was astonished at the pain relief they gave him–and was equally amazed at the gains he made at the gym. His doctor agreed to put him on a second cycle. But by this time, thrilled by his swelling muscles, Foley had his own ideas about which steroids he wanted to use. He found a supplier: another cop forced into retirement by injury, who’d also started on ‘roids in the hopes of keeping his job. Foley rationalized that he’d stop juicing once he was able to rejoin the force.

It’s a heartwarming story: the good cop led astray by his own good intentions. But when Foley was arrested later that same year, it wasn’t just for steroid possession. It was also for orchestrating a cocaine deal, to which he pleaded guilty. (He says he was set up, and copped a plea rather than risk a far lengthier jail sentence.) What’s most striking about the end to Foley’s saga is that it seems as though quite a few officers caught with steroids are actually nabbed for dealing other drugs. Take former Thomasville, North Carolina, cop Russell McHenry, for instance. According to court documents, Officer McHenry was a weight lifter and a steroid user. But after his ‘roid source was arrested in 2001, McHenry found a new dealer in the form of a crooked Davidson County vice cop named Lt. Scott Woodall, who sold off the drugs he seized from suspects.

Before long, McHenry began selling Woodall’s steroids to local bodybuilders, then branched out into pot, coke, Ecstasy, and ketamine. (McHenry served 2 years after cooperating with the feds; Woodall was sentenced to 27 years.) One wonders if, for some cops, steroids are a sort of gateway drug: whether, having corrupted their code–and having gotten away with it–they become more receptive to doing other illegal things.

Criminal-justice professor Gaines thinks it’s a possibility, although he feels that the steroid-using cops who are most at risk of turning to the dark side are those few who start selling steroids. “Steroids are inviting [for cops to deal in], because they know there’s not a lot of enforcement,” Gaines says. “But I think once a person makes that leap to dealing steroids, it’s not difficult to jump into dealing other types of drugs.”

When it comes to cops pickled in testosterone, on-the-job performance is another cause for concern. For instance, one problem for many juicers is that their nipples and testicles become hypersensitive. This might not seem like a big deal, except that in Officer Jimmy’s case, it meant that the slightest graze against his nips or ‘nads sent him reeling in pain; despite his Samsonian strength, he’d have been rendered helpless by a purple nurple. And, while before he’d been lithe and quick, Jimmy found his new bulk difficult to maneuver. “A powerlifter isn’t going to be a very good martial artist,” he observes. Not only that, but he could barely make it up a flight of steps without gasping for air. Jimmy’s muscles may well have proven useful in a fight–if suspects had been willing to stand still while he clobbered them.

The potential for aggression is another point to think about. Many juicers experience an intense rush called hypomania, which, says Dr. Pope, “can impair your judgment and inspire all manner of reckless behavior.” It doesn’t take much to imagine cops in this state jumping at the opportunity for a high-speed chase, or rushing into perilous situations without backup. Or worse. The prospect of a cop in the grip of that rare but real fury known as ‘roid rage also makes experts nervous. Dr. Howard says that in his 25 years of treating steroid users, he’s seen only one or two instances of ‘roid rage, but that even so, “it’s impressive when it does happen, because they can really cause some mischief. One case of ‘roid rage in a police officer is enough to merit concern.”

Penn State’s Yesalis, however, scoffs that ‘roid rage is so uncommon it’s barely an issue. “I’ll show you as much alcohol-induced rage in a football weekend in a college town!” he says. “I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, but I’m more concerned about, say, alcoholic cops. Or cops abusing street drugs.” Indeed, as far as anyone can tell, there is no record of steroids playing a role in a police-brutality case–although, as experts point out, that could be attributable to a lack of widespread testing. Nevertheless, Dr. Pope feels there’s reason for concern. “You could have someone who’s not particularly aggressive, who has no history of psychiatric disorders, and he goes on steroids and has a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality change. And, of course, a police officer in that situation could be quite dangerous.”

And yet, police departments aren’t doing much to prevent steroid use. Very few precincts screen for anabolics, in part because of the expense: At roughly $100 a pop, a steroid test is 10 times more costly than a run-of-the-mill drug test.

“It’s expensive, but it’s worth it for the deterrent effect,” argues Chief Gary Schira, of the Bloomington, Illinois, police, one of the handful of departments in the country that randomly test for steroids. Tom Foley concurs that the fear of testing positive would keep cops from juicing: “Right now, a guy who’s on the fence, thinking Should I or should I not do it?–it’s an easy decision, because he’s not worried he’s going to get caught,” he says. Still, there’s been no national call for mandatory testing, which means that nearly all departments are content to test only when there’s reason for suspicion.

It’s easy to speculate about why police departments might turn a blind eye: If they catch a ‘roided officer, they might feel compelled to fire him–and it’s a big hassle to replace a policeman. With all the training required, it takes a year before a new officer is out on the street, says Lt. Easley–which is why, even after his four juicing officers were outed by a DEA investigation, “it was a difficult decision to fire them,” he says. “They were good officers. And when you let go of four people all at once, everybody’s in a bind.”

For that reason, Gaines thinks that most instances of cops caught with steroids are handled privately. In his 1991 FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin study, he notes that nearly all the police personnel he interviewed denied encountering steroids on their force–but then later fessed up that they knew officers who’d gotten buff suspiciously fast. “My guess is, most police departments look at steroids as being less problematic than other drugs,” Gaines says. “So I suspect they counsel the individual officers and schedule future drug tests. And no one finds out about it.”

Epilogue

Officer Jimmy cycled on and off steroids seven times in 3 years. He’d probably still be doing it now if he hadn’t watched President Bush give the State of the Union address on TV in January 2004. In it, Bush announced, to thunderous applause, that the use of steroids in sports “is dangerous. . . . So tonight I call on team owners, union representatives, coaches, and players to take the lead, to send the right signal, to get tough, and to get rid of steroids now.” That was it for Jimmy. Although he still thinks that police officers would be well served by juicing every now and then, he’s decided it’s not worth the risk. “Here the leader of the free world is saying we’re going to crack down on steroids,” says Jimmy. “I don’t want to get caught. I’ve got too much to lose.” In the year and a half he’s been off steroids, Jimmy has lost some of his bulk, although he’s still big enough to make people do double takes.

“That’s all I ask,” he says, laughing.

The time he’s spent away from steroids has given Jimmy some room to reflect. And it’s led him to a surprising conclusion. Although he remains convinced that steroids made him a better cop, he now realizes that his improved job performance was really an unexpected benefit.

“At some point, I had to be real with myself,” he says. “I wanted to be big for personal reasons.” Not for survival or self-protection. Not to be some kind of superhero. “If I really wanted to be a great officer, I would go to the shooting range every week. But I don’t have time,” he explains. “Actually, last time around, I barely qualified in my shooting. But I still didn’t go to the range,” Jimmy adds, then jokes, “I was too busy going to the gym.”

Read more at Men’s Health: http://www.menshealth.com/health/scandals-cops-and-steroids?fullpage=true#ixzz1yEzbsqSG

Suffolk Says Drug Ring Involving Police Officers Was Informal but Lucrative

By BRUCE LAMBERT
Published: September 20, 2002

Four police officers from three New York-area agencies have been arrested on charges involving the sale and use of cocaine and anabolic steroids, Suffolk County authorities announced yesterday. Ten other people they associated with were also arrested on drug charges, officials said.

More officers may be implicated for failing to report illicit drug activity by colleagues, said the Suffolk County district attorney, Thomas J. Spota, during a news conference in Brentwood. Those cases may be handled with disciplinary proceedings rather than criminal charges, said the Suffolk police commissioner, John C. Gallagher.

Investigators characterized the operation as an informal arrangement among a network of acquaintances rather than as a major drug ring. But the sales were still profitable, the authorities said, although they did not give specific figures.

”They made it a lucrative business,” said Detective Lawrence Boyle of the Suffolk County police. ”They were essentially making a living selling drugs.”

The four arrested officers, two of whom are brothers, had parties together at their homes and on skiing trips, investigators said. They also described the defendants as being fanatical about physical fitness.

The investigation began with a tip about suspected drug activity involving one of the officers, Thomas Foley of the Suffolk County police, the authorities said.

To keep the inquiry secret, Suffolk officials said they went outside the county for help from the internal affairs staff of the New York Police Department. Wiretaps uncovered the involvement of three other officers, the authorities said.

The arrested officers are Officer Foley, 30, of Hauppauge; his brother, James, 25, also of Hauppauge and a state trooper in Stormville; Officer Michael Christy, 32, a state trooper based in Valley Stream; and Sgt. Robert Grettler, 34, of the New York Police Department, who lives in Medford.

Thomas Foley and Sergeant Grettler were arrested and arraigned on Tuesday. They were charged with felony counts of narcotics sales, which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. James Foley and Officer Christy were booked yesterday and charged with conspiracy to sell narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of three years.

The officers did not engage in crimes while on duty or use their positions to seize drugs from dealers or get confidential information about drug enforcement, officials said.

Among the civilians arrested were Thomas Newman, 29, the owner of the World Gym in Ronkonkoma and the Midnite Sun tanning salon in Bohemia, where investigators said some drug sales took places. Other sites included nightclubs, parties and homes, they said.

Thomas Foley, who was honored as a Cop of the Month by the Suffolk County Police Department three years ago, has been on medical leave because of a work-related injury. Sergeant Grettler has been on modified duty because of a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, city police officials said.

Officer Christy was suspended for 15 days earlier this year for fighting with another officer. All four officers are suspended from duty without pay, and they face departmental charges as well as criminal prosecution, the authorities said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/20/nyregion/suffolk-says-drug-ring-involving-police-officers-was-informal-but-lucrative.html

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STEROID USE

How to tell if the guy in the next squat rack is natural or artificially enhanced

Illustrations by Susan Gilbert, By Lou Schuler, Posted Date: December 7, 2004

SKULL:

Steroids may or may not increase the size of the skull; the effect is more often attributed to human growth hormone, which is sometimes taken in conjunction with anabolic steroids.

Skin:

Bodybuilders’ skin sometimes takes on a reddish glow, since steroids cause water retention, which raises blood pressure. One writer described ‘roided bodybuilders as resembling walking erections, “all veiny and red.”

Deltoids, Traps:

Supersized muscles surrounding the shoulders–trapezius, lats, pectorals, deltoids, biceps, and triceps–are a good clue that Mr. Needle has been introduced to Mr. Buttock. Even if the lower body is normal size, upper-body muscles tend to be inflated.

Chest:

One of the few consistent results of steroid-use studies is an increase in bench-press strength. When an experienced lifter makes sudden, dramatic strength gains, assume pharmacological intervention.

Back:

Upper-body acne is a common side effect in adults using steroids.

Nipples:

By any other name, gynecomastia is a bitch. Steroid-induced breast tissue can only be removed surgically.

Lats:

Lifters can increase muscle mass by up to 25 percent with 10 weeks of steroid use, so stretch marks on biceps and pectorals are common.

Forearms:

This is anecdotal, but some have observed that the best natural bodybuilders have a thick bone structure. When you see a guy with huge forearm muscles rising off relatively small bones, it’s a pretty good sign he’s been hitting the Vitamin S.

Biceps:

Another way to tell the difference between natural and unnatural lifters: The juicers look as if they have more muscle fibers as well as bigger fibers. Steroids seem to trigger a process called hyperplasia, in which the body produces new muscle cells.

Abs:

Steroids help reduce body fat even as they promote muscle growth. A guy who gains a lot of muscle quickly without steroids will also tend to add fat. Only a juicer can get substantially bigger in the chest and shoulders while losing fat from his waist.

Hands:

Sportswriters are fond of saying steroids won’t help you hit a fastball. But, since testosterone regulates the nervous system, steroids are thought to increase quickness by decreasing reaction time. Next stop, McCovey Cove.

Thighs:

Anabolic steroids don’t reduce inflammation, but they can help torn muscles recover their strength. On the other hand, corticosteroids, which are commonly used to reduce inflammation quickly, can cause damage to a muscle’s structure and tissue regrowth.

Knees:

Sports-medicine physicians have long suspected that steroids damage tendons and ligaments. Animal studies from the ’80s show that the damage to joints begins within a few days of steroid use, and that exercise combined with steroid use makes it worse. The lab animals ended up with stiffer, weaker tendons.

Testicles:

With artificial testosterone injected into your body, your testicles don’t need to make their own, so the assembly line shuts down, and the testes shrink.

Penis:

Waldo goes wild, even while his two nutty friends turn into shrinking violets. Steroid users often develop voracious sexual appetites (despite the fact that they’re actually producing less sperm), along with feelings of euphoria and boundless energy.

Read more at Men’s Health: http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/steroid-use-1#ixzz1yFGba1r5

SIDE EFFECTS OF STEROIDS

You know common side effects, but here are two more that’ll shock you

Expert Brian Haycock, Posted Date: December 7, 2004

Read more at Men’s Health: http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/side-effects-steroids#ixzz1yFLfsUmj

You’ve heard about many of the side effects of steroids–tiny testes, acne-pocked skin, male-pattern baldness (and that’s just the women). But here are two that were surprising, even to us.

Something to Chew On

It’s not uncommon to see a guy whose right biceps is a tad bigger than his left, but one bodybuilder walked into his doctor’s office with a lopsided jaw. Turns out he had chewed only on one side of his mouth while using steroids. So the chew-side grew out of proportion to the other.

Shrunken Testicles and Hiccups?

A steroid-using powerlifter decided to up his regular dose, figuring it would make him more competitive. Instead, it made him more repetitive. He started hiccuping, and couldn’t stop–a bit of a liability when you’re trying to squat three times your body weight. Once the steroids worked their way out of his system, the hiccuping stopped. (Doctors initially tried to scare him with pictures of the first guy’s hypertrophied jaw, but it didn’t work.)
Read more at Men’s Health: http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/side-effects-steroids#ixzz1yFL0uDTn

Men’s Health answers your questions about steriod abuse

Researched by David Schipper, By Lou Schuler, By Mike Zimmerman, Posted Date: December 7, 2004

Read more at Men’s Health: http://www.menshealth.com/health/roid-rage#ixzz1yFM004d8

With the allegations against ballplayers about steroids and human growth hormone, I’m curious: Which one is worse for your body? S.M., Toronto, ON

Overall, probably steroids. But that’s only because the steroid side-effect file is bulging by now: aggression, irritability, depression, acne, man boobs, elevated cholesterol. There isn’t as much research on illicit use of HGH yet. There is some evidence that it can burn off fat and build muscle without affecting a man’s overall weight, says Harrison Pope, M.D., a biological psychiatrist and steroid specialist at Harvard University medical school.

One long-term side effect: acromegaly, a.k.a. gigantism. “The only legitimate use of HGH is to help children with dwarfism or other growth problems. Even when it’s given to an adult, the body tries to grow more, creating a Frankenstein effect in the face, hands, and feet,” says Dr. Pope. Its price tag (thousands of dollars for a single cycle) keeps it out of the hands of the masses, but its real under-the-table value is that it’s hard to test for.

That’s also the appeal of the new designer steroid you’ve heard about: tetrahydrogestrinone, or THG, which disintegrates during the testing process. “Its safety and efficacy are unknown except for totally unsubstantiated claims emanating from the underground,” says Gary Wadler, M.D., a professor of medicine at the NYU school of medicine and an international expert on doping.

If you’re just an average guy like the rest of us, why risk your health—and an asterisk next to every personal best in your mental record book?

Is there any way to tell if someone is using steroids? Byron D., Lantana, FL

I can tell a guy’s on steroids if he can lift more than I can, or if he develops a Neanderthal forehead. These are more scientific signs:

• Rapid increase in strength and muscle mass, and a loss of body fat, in an advanced lifter. The price you pay for maximal size and strength is extra body fat . . . unless you give yourself the BALCO Boost.

• Outsized development of the muscles surrounding the shoulder girdle—the lats, trapezius, pectorals, and deltoids. Guys who aren’t on steroids can develop terrific physiques, but a natural lifter won’t end up with freaky shoulders.

• Impressive vascularity on really big muscles. Guys can get veiny and ripped, or they can get huge and kind of smooth, but they can’t get huge and veiny without some help.

What can I do about my man-boobs? R.B., FRESNO, CA

We love the look on women, oh yes, but man-boobs scare the breast jokes right out of us. Gynecomastia affects as many as 40 percent of men. Why so many? The condition can be brought on by obesity, excessive alcohol, pot smoking, and steroids—in other words, by simply acting stupid.

In many cases, however, there is no known cause. As for getting rid of them, drain that last tequila and stub out the blunt. If you’ve addressed all lifestyle causes, have lost weight, and still have a problem, you’re probably a candidate for breast-reduction surgery ($3,000). “The surgery can remove fat, breast tissue, and even extra skin in order to create a flatter chest,” says John A. Perrotti, M.D., a cosmetic plastic surgeon in Manhattan. “But you’ll want to lose extra weight first, because more fat removal may mean a larger scar.”

After surgery, there is swelling and bruising that gradually improves, but it may be as long as 6 months before you see the final result. If you’re skittish about scalpels, try the Male Compression Vest ($100 at designveronique.com), which can help give the appearance of a flat chest, yet is neither “bro” nor “manssiere.”

Read more at Men’s Health: http://www.menshealth.com/health/roid-rage#ixzz1yFM8rT6k

A new book says there’s even more to the Barry Bonds and steroids stories, but the pros aren’t the only ones who choose to use the juice

By Christopher McDougall, Photographs by Monte Isom, Posted Date: December 7, 2004

Read more at Men’s Health: http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/steroid-use-0#ixzz1yFNGjgGQ

Unless he changes his mind and makes a U-turn in the next 15 seconds, Bill is about to make the leap from average guy to federal felon.

A 45-year-old southern California sales executive, Bill has nearly a thousand dollars’ worth of illegal steroids bolted inside the armrest of his SUV, and only one car to go before the drug-sniffing dogs swarm around him at the Tijuana checkpoint. So does he wheel his vehicle around, dump his stash, and come home the law-abiding guy he was when he left the house this warm summer morning?

Or does he risk jail time and a rap sheet that could snuff his career and his marriage?

It’s worth it, Bill tells himself. He cranks up the air conditioner, eases his foot off the brake pedal, and glides up to the border patrolman and his choke-chained German shepherd.

“What were you doing in Mexico?” the patrolman asks.

“Just buying some presents for my wife,” Bill answers, holding up some handicraft jewelry he snuck out of his wife’s jewelry box. In fact, after making the drive to Tijuana, Bill bought steroids at a downtown pharmacy, then removed the four bolts that secure the SUV’s center console. He crammed the steroids inside, bolted the console back in place, and put a half-empty soda in the cupholder on top as camouflage.

“Are you carrying any prescription drugs?” the officer asks.

He knows, Bill worries. Why else would a muscular American businessman be making a 1-hour trip to Mexico during a workday?

“No,” Bill says.

“Pop your trunk,” the officer commands. Bill obliges, then stares straight ahead while the dogs snuffle frantically around his gym bag and spare quart of 40-weight. The officer returns to the driver’s side window, and Bill braces himself for the inevitable “Step out of the vehicle.”

But seconds later, he’s on his way, a freshly minted criminal with a grin on his face and just enough time, he realizes as he checks his watch, to make it back to his office before anyone realizes he’s gone. By the next morning, he’ll be injecting his way to a bigger, better body.

‘Roid Invasion

It’s no secret anymore that just about anyone who wrestles in a cage, flexes in a Speedo, or hits a heck of a lot more home runs than he did last year owes his extra power and thigh-size biceps to illegal anabolic steroids. But recently, another group has quietly joined the ranks of the ‘roided. They’re Wall Street brokers, cops, software developers–regular guys like Bill, in other words–who want to add muscle and melt fat, and don’t mind a little chemical help. They’re not out to be Smackdown champs or simulated Schwarzeneggers–they just want to look as good at age 30 or 40 as Mark Wahlberg did at 20.

“I call them ‘politely ‘roided,'” says Harrison Pope, M.D., a Harvard medical school specialist in steroid abuse and author of The Adonis Complex. “Steroids used to be the province of a certain small group, the people you’d think of as muscle freaks. That was in the ’70s and ’80s.” Over the past few years, however, the abuse has spread to mainstream men. They’re not the kind of guys who are bursting out of triple-X shirts, so they’re not so easily identifiable.

Dr. Pope is no envious, whining egghead. He’s been a gym rat himself for over 20 years, and it shows: With forearms bulging from his rolled-up sleeves, the 55-year-old doctor looks as if he could crank out a set of one-handed chinups in the doorway of his office. He started lifting at age 33 and became so “addicted,” he says, that he still slips out of his office nearly every midday for an hour or longer workout session.

So Dr. Pope knows what’s going on, despite the weight room’s mighty code of silence. And he estimates that as many as 1 million to 2 million Americans may have had juice in their veins at some time–a number that would ordinarily place steroid use in the epidemic category. But there’s no completely reliable data, because juicers have basically been overlooked, says Jack Stein, Ph.D., deputy director of science policy for the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “Unlike, say, crack addicts, the men who take steroids are basically healthy, clean-living people,” Stein explains. “We’ve been preoccupied with more immediate threats, like crack and heroin.”

Why It’s All the Rage

Studies are still continuing to verify estimates on adult steroid abusers, but Stein sees no reason to doubt Dr. Pope’s numbers. Lax law enforcement, America’s growing obsession with overgrown bodies, and the availability of steroids just across the border–and over the Internet–has created the steroid equivalent of a perfect storm. “In some of the gyms I’ve visited, I’ve been surprised by the sheer predominance of steroid use among men,” says Stein, who’s also a personal trainer. “People don’t see steroids as such a risk anymore.”

In fact, some see them as essential to a perfect body. Though health concerns compelled the U.S. Government to classify steroids as a controlled substance in 1991, they haven’t discouraged many body-conscious men–the very ones who would never smoke, drink, or allow chicken skin to pass their lips–from accepting steroids as little more than souped-up, fat-burning vitamins. “There’s a widespread belief that steroids are part of a healthy regimen,” confirms Dr. Pope, “like eating well and working out, and that they can be controlled through moderation.”

Is it just a gym rat’s fantasy, this idea that hormone-jangling drugs can actually be good for you? Not necessarily. There’s no question that large doses of steroids can cause any number of nasty side effects–from shrunken testicles to large breasts. What’s more, doctors have speculated that steroids may increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, liver disease, and prostate cancer, and lead to the superaggressive behavior known as ‘roid rage.

But the truth is, the medical community actually knows very little for certain about the long-term effects of steroid use–no one has done any large scientific studies. This is particularly true of the moderate doses favored by many of today’s casual users. And since steroids can be medicinal–doctors use them to treat certain types of anemia and several other conditions–there’s a growing belief in America’s gyms that a little bit of juice may be just what a body needs.

“In moderate dosages over the short term, can they be used safely?” asks Charles Yesalis, Sc.D., a Penn State professor of health policy and sports science, and author of The Steroids Game. “Probably, yes. The truth of the matter is that the majority of these performance-enhancing drugs have been cleared for medical use. So, clearly, they can be used safely.”

That’s not to say the long-term health concerns are false–it just means that no one has bothered to find out whether they’re true. Meanwhile, Arnold still strolls the Earth with a stogie in his hand and a smile on his face, a larger-than-life argument for steroids that no government agency has yet come up with the goods to refute.

One Man’s Obsession

While baseball’s steroid boom has been fueled by the quest for better numbers and bigger contracts, the average-guy juicing trend is less about performance than about looks. Take Bill. He’s also a recovering alcoholic, who became serious about bodybuilding 7 years ago, at age 38. (He figured that double sessions in the gym each day would keep his mind off booze.) Six months of intense lifting left his 6-foot, 5-inch frame looking better than it had in years. But one thing frustrated him: “I just couldn’t get any bigger,” he says. “Maybe it was an age thing–the body produces less testosterone as you grow older–but I maxed out at 212 pounds and couldn’t put on any more muscle.”

It didn’t take him long to find a solution. He’d never tried steroids before, but he quickly found a huge amount of information on the Internet, which in the past several years has become a vast, if not always reliable, repository for steroid data. Bill wavered for about a year before deciding to try his first “cycle,” a period of use (usually injections, pills, or ointments) that typically lasts 6 to 12 weeks, followed by downtime. First, however, he got a thorough physical. “I was pretty up front with my doc, and he was real cool about it,” Bill says. “He said as a doctor he couldn’t condone it, but he had a lot of patients on steroids. He didn’t try to talk me out of it.”

Bill’s new message-board buddies steered him toward a reliable supplier, a U.S-based black marketeer who demanded cash in advance but always delivered the drugs, by mail, within a week. Following another tip he’d gotten online, Bill had the package delivered to his doorstep, then “accidentally” kicked it into the shrubs and let it sit there a few days, thinking that would somehow fool the cops if he were being watched.

For his first “stack”–a combination of different steroids–Bill decided to go with the basics: two weekly injections to increase muscle mass, a shot of the hormone HCG to keep his testicles from shrinking too much while his body’s own testosterone was in chaos, and an oral dose of tamoxifen to help with enlarged breasts (“bitch tits,” as they’re commonly called). Steroids, after all, are basically synthetic testosterone: Flooding your bloodstream with them can fool the body into thinking it has enough of the real thing, so natural testosterone production shuts down.

Bill had never given an injection before, so at dawn one morning he sneaked out of bed before his wife was awake and practiced jabbing a needle into an orange. When he had the hang of it, he fitted a fresh needle onto the syringe and carefully sucked in 250 milligrams (mg) of Sustanon, a mixture of four different synthetic testosterones and a big favorite among juicers, since it’s widely available and known for fast muscle-mass gains. Bill swabbed a butt cheek with alcohol, braced himself, and plunged the needle home.

Damn! Good thing he’d been warned not to inject it into his shoulder; Sustanon can leave a nodule the size of a tennis ball. As soon as he stopped wincing, Bill followed the Sus with 200 mg of Deca-Durabolin, another favorite that helps the muscles absorb protein. One more shot to go: HCG, a natural hormone distilled from the urine of pregnant women.

And so, with a huge lump on his ass and pregnant-woman urine splashing around inside him, Bill headed off to the gym. “The first couple of days, I didn’t feel a thing,” he recalls. “If anything, I was a little tired and depressed.” But within 2 weeks, he felt a huge surge of strength, and after a month, his waist was shrinking and his chest expanding.

By the end of his 12-week cycle, Bill had added 80 pounds to his bench press, jacking it from 245 pounds to 325. His biceps had swollen from 16 inches to 18-1/2, and his waist had slimmed from a size 36 to a 34. In short, he’d given himself a radically larger, stronger, and leaner body in just 3 months. He was so big that his wife demanded to know what was going on. “She was freaked out at first,” Bill admits. “She insisted I go right out and buy more health insurance.”

The Pumping Iron Era

Despite his wife’s anxiety, Bill was ready to cycle again 8 months later. Since then, he has done at least one cycle a year for the past 6 years. He now weighs 265 pounds, with a very low, 12 percent body-fat ratio. He’s suffered no hint of ‘roid rage, he says, and his blood and liver enzymes are normal. “I got a little acne on my chest and back,” Bill shrugs. “Otherwise, I’m rockin’.”

Scientists have been searching for a magic, superman drug for more than 100 years, ever since a French researcher tried injecting himself with an extract of dog and guinea-pig testicles. The results of that experiment were disappointing–his special blend turned out to have no active hormones–but it didn’t prevent other scientists from continuing to search the scrotum for its secrets.

German scientists finally came up with a successful formula in the 1930s, when they found a way to chemically reproduce the original testosterone molecule. Early results were fantastic: The new _ber-hormones helped double the size of skeletal muscle and increased endurance and aggression. Some of these protosteroids were reportedly administered to Hitler’s troops in the 1940s, and later to Soviet athletes in the 1950s.

Soon after Iron Curtain powerlifters began annihilating their competition in the 1960s, anabolic steroids became the go-to drug for many elite athletes. Some negative side effects appeared, such as baldness, rampant acne, and plummeting sex drive. Even worse were the wild mood swings and frightening bursts of anger. Adolescents were suffering stunted growth, while female juicers saw their breasts flatten, their clitorises distend, and their faces sprout whiskers.

But there seemed to be little solid evidence, either then or in the decades that followed, that large numbers of ‘roided men were collapsing from strokes or other potentially fatal afflictions. On the contrary, some of the most prominent musclemen of the ’60s and ’70s–the heavily juiced Pumping Iron era–have passed into middle age with few discernible consequences of their track-marked youth. (Schwarzenegger’s 1997 heart surgery was to repair a congenital defect.) As for heart attacks and diseased prostates, to this day there’s no definitive link between these diseases and steroids. “We just don’t have the data,” says Dr. Yesalis. “Even though steroids have been epidemic in elite sports since the ’50s, we have yet to do the same epidemiological studies on them that we’ve done on tobacco, alcohol, and cocaine.”

Nor has law enforcement been trained to crack down on juicers. “When you look at what we have to deal with across the board, steroids are our responsibility but not our priority,” admits Will Glaspy, a spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

No wonder so many average guys are acting as if the liquor store was left unlocked. “Look, more than 60 percent of the American population is overweight,” argues Mick Hart, the British fitness guru whose steroid-promoting Web site, mickhart.com, has made him an Internet hero to thousands of American steroid users. “If they can burn fat and add muscle by combining hard work with a little ‘gear,’ what’s the harm?” To back his point, Hart even put his 23-year-old son, Chris, on steroids, transforming him from a lumpy young man into a grinning, flexing hunk.

Judging by subscription rates for No Bull, Hart’s online steroid newsletter marketed toward middle-aged men, the juice business is booming, especially among Boomers. Last May, No Bull signed on 3,000 new subscribers.

“I get more than 200 e-mails a day from men all over the world,” Hart says. “Know what they all say? ‘I can’t wait to get started.'”

Unrealistic Expectations

Francis, a member of various anabolic chat rooms, is a 35-year-old New Yorker who is about to begin his second cycle with his lifting partner, a 37-year-old Wall Street broker. Francis first tried steroids 2 years ago, when the clerk at a national supplement-store chain startled him by saying he was wasting his time with legal supplements. “I was about to buy a testosterone booster called 1AD,” Francis recalls, “and the guy said I’d have to take 10 to 15 doses a day, which would do far more damage than a proper cycle.”

“If you’re going to do this stuff,” the clerk told him, “you might as well do steroids.” Francis spent 4 years reading detailed analyses of steroid composition and its effects, and finally decided the gains were worth the risks. “I don’t drink or smoke, and there is no history of heart disease or liver problems in my family,” he explains. Same for his broker buddy. Plus, their goals were modest–each just wanted to add a few inches to his chest and arms–so they felt confident they could keep their steroid use under control.

“We’re not muscle freaks,” Francis says. “In 2 years, this is only my second 8-week cycle on steroids.” All he wants to do, Francis says, is bulk up just enough to fill out his 6’4” frame. “I’ve been lifting since I was 17 and taking every supplement under the sun, and I finally realized that at 220 pounds, I’d gotten as big as I could naturally.”

Two hundred twenty pounds on a six-four frame? And he’s worried that he’s not big enough?

That, believes Dr. Pope, is cause for concern. In some men, once that hunger takes hold, there’s no satisfying it. “These men feel they never look good enough, and begin sacrificing their relationships, their careers, their peace of mind–because they are never satisfied with their bodies.”

This obsession has become so common that Dr. Pope has come up with a term for it: Adonis Complex. What fuels it, he says, are the ridiculously outsized bodies purveyed by Hollywood, magazine covers, and even action-toy manufacturers (just check out the size of G.I. Joe these days). “One of the biggest lies being handed to American men today is that you can somehow attain by natural means the huge shoulders and pectorals of the biggest men in the magazines,” says Dr. Pope. “Generations of young men are working hard in the gym and wondering what on earth they’re doing wrong. They don’t realize that the ‘hypermale’ look that’s so prevalent these days is essentially unattainable without steroids.”

Steroids have become so common, in fact, that Dr. Pope believes most of us no longer recognize a steroid-enhanced body when we see one. They’re all around us, bulging with injection-enhanced muscle but posing as clean. Because there are certain dimensions that cannot be attained without chemical help, Dr. Pope adds, he can walk through the mall or grab a stack of magazines and swiftly pick out many of the steroid users. The numbers, he says, are astonishingly high: “I once grabbed six men’s magazines at random, and I’m certain that more than half of them had steroid-enhanced men on the covers.

“No one wants to reveal that much of his impressive body is due to injections,” he continues. “I have met guys who would sooner tell you they had knocked over a convenience store or raped a girl in her dorm room than admit they had taken steroids.”

The ‘Roid Rage

Tragically, too many steroid users are guilty of just those crimes, and worse. As both a psychiatrist and a steroid expert, Dr. Pope has consulted in numerous criminal cases in which normally peaceful men, with no history of psychiatric problems, have suddenly gone berserk after a few cycles of steroids. In one case, a frail and timid 14-year-old boy began taking steroids to bulk up. He started having fits of anger so extreme that his mother took him to the emergency room to be examined. Two years later, at age 16, he stabbed his 14-year-old girlfriend to death with a carving knife while on a cycle of steroids.

There have been no systematic studies on steroid abuse among adult males, however, so there is still debate about the exact prevalence of  ‘roid rage and no clear understanding of its causes. However, Dr. Pope has no doubt that somewhere there is a cause and effect between synthetic testosterone and heightened aggression. “I’ve seen far too many examples of  ‘roid rage for this to be a coincidence,” Dr. Pope says. Even in sedate lab studies, steroid users have had violent reactions; in one early clinical test at the National Institute of Mental Health, for instance, a volunteer who’d taken a dose lower than used by the average bodybuilder became so out of control that he asked to be placed in the ward seclusion room.

Granted, medical science has yet to determine the long-term physiological risks or explain the cause of psychological flare-ups. But in the meantime, is it worth becoming a self-appointed guinea pig just to add a few inches of unnecessary bulk?

“My fear,” Dr. Pope says, “is that one day, we’ll look back on this period in steroid history the way smokers are looking back on the 1950s, before the link to lung cancer was well understood. Sometime in the future, many steroid users could be in trouble from some unforeseen long-term consequences of these drugs and wishing they’d known more in advance.”

Bill’s wife still wants him to stop, but unlike in his drinking days, she hasn’t given him the ultimatum. Bill knows why. “If she did,” he says, “she’d lose.” Steroids, he feels, have changed his life. Alcohol was an escape; steroids are who he is. “This is the body I was meant to have,” he explains. “It just took a little help to get there.” Currently, he’s in the midst of a new cycle, this time experimenting with Dianabol and Equipoise, a veterinary steroid designed for horses.

“I’ve never been healthier in my life,” Bill concludes. There’s no denying the joy in his voice–but his final comment is a chilling echo of Dr. Pope’s warning about size obsession.

“I feel like an Adonis!” Bill thunders.

Lose the Juice

Bulking up naturally is the way to go. Men’
Read more at Men’s Health: http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/steroid-use-0?fullpage=true#ixzz1yFNixpfG

African One-Acre Island Home to Over 400 People

African One-Acre Island Home to Over 400 People

IF 1 JUST 1 Super Billionaire would step forward(unanimously) and Donate JUST $1 Billion(a Number) of there many $$Billions$$ and buy the people of  Makusa Island a real Island…Because this hard to look at puny disease infested, over populated, polluted and with(through no fault of there own) filthy living conditions ta boot (pictured below) that these people proudly call there homes. It is probably so unhealthy and will likely kill most of them prematurely and many are very very small children and infants. These proud people have nothing really and through no fault of there own, but they live as if they have everything they need and seem honestly happy and fulfilled with life as it is. For they live in conditions that one of you Super Billionaires or most of the rest of us in western society would not even survive a day in. They deserve a real half decent chance at there own society unhampered by  the dogma of today’s corrupt society because of there simple lifestyle and harmony in there selves and there contentment with what they have rare qualities in today’s prison world of greed.They are fisherman by lifestyle and should be able to fish in unpolluted waters they also require as all humans do, some land to actually be able to farm for there families to live and thrive. They are people of a simple lifestyle and if given the chance on another bigger island of there own that would first off give them some real actual land that free of pollution and disease, that these simple people with very little help to start of a new that they would thrive in the near future if left alone to live … They would possibly give the rest of us a good lesson on real life!!! Why should some unanimous BILLIONAIRE step up to the plate and donate JUST $1 billion(a Number) to these people???Because its 400-450 people in need but not asking for help in any way. Because who Else besides $$billionaires$$ could really do this??? Because if it happened and made the Mainstream News it would set a president to other Moral $$Billionaires$$ and would possibly compel others to do likewise in other really needy places around the Globe. Lastly, it would make the world of humanity a little better place to be for us all…

African One-Acre Island Home to Over 400 People

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-679805

By CharityD  |  Posted September 28, 2011  |  Entebbe, Uganda

     Makusa is an island located off the shores of Entebbe, Uganda, resting on the waters of one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, Lake Victoria. It is just about one acre in size, and is home to more than 400 people who live in tiny huts crammed together, one after the other. On the island, there is no running water, no electricity, only a few small bathroom structures, and hardly any grown food. Fishing is the main occupation, and the men use small, weathered banana boats to travel between islands and the mainland. Life is simple and restricted on this football-field-sized piece of land.

     In May 2008, Makusa suffered massive damage from a fire started by an accident with a candle. Nearly the entire island was burnt, leaving scores of people without homes and possessions. An article on AllAfrica.com stated, “The fire was reportedly caused by a candle, which came in contact with petrol when an unidentified woman tried to refuel a generator in a video hall…” It started at night, and spread within minutes, sending the entire island running for safety. Miraculously, no one was hurt. The Uganda Red Cross society said, “According to a June 1st, 2008 assessment by Entebbe Red Cross Action Team (RCAT), no person died but all property on the island was destroyed. The island has a population of 450 people.”

Much of the reason for such quick destruction was because of the island’s condition. Theirsmall houses were made of wood or polythene paper, and because of how closely they’re crammed, it caused the fire to spread easily. Red Cross donated materials for rebuilding, and as of now, there is no evidence of fire damage. Still, however, poverty is exceedingly present.

     Many of the residents had to rebuild since they couldn’t move back with families elsewhere, for lack of transportation and jobs. But even still, most of them chose to stay on Makusa Island. The fishermen want to stay near the deep waters, where fish are more present. From this island, they have easier and closer access to the water with their boats. A member from my team asked one man why he chose to live on the island. “Because the fishing is good!” he said. It’s hard to imagine such a harsh reality, especially realizing the conditions he and all the others are living under.

   I stepped onto Makusa Island on June 29th, 2011. I was with my missionary team from Believers World Outreach, and we were preparing to reach out to the community and help teach about sanitation. We had been forewarned that what we were about to see was difficult, but nothing could quite prepare us for the magnitude of what is there.

As we approached the island, I stared at the speck of land, wondering when it would get bigger, and trying to imagine the fact that 400 people live on it. The homes are fit together like Legos, dilapidated and seemingly sinking into the lake. Small fishing boats line the tiny shore. We were carried or carefully assisted onto land by the natives, avoiding the contaminated water that is laden with debris and bugs.

The brick or wooden huts are filthy, smelling of waste and garbage, which is made worse with the humidity and suffocating heat inside of them. Sometimes there is but a mere two feet in between the huts as you walk across the island.

Then finally, apart from the physical conditions, we focused on the people. As a photographer, I am greatly interested in learning and observing all around me. I soaked in the details, especially since it was my last day in Uganda. And as a missionary and girl personally passionate for the African community, I reached out to the people and learned as much as I could. They are poor and without adequate food. They lack medical care, schooling, and churches. The island is filled with disease and contamination, and clean water and sanitation is a stranger to them. Children are naked or wearing ripped clothing that is often too large for them. Men work hard at fishing and travel between islands or the mainland for business and supplies, and the woman take care of everything from cooking to laundry to cleaning. Its one community existing on one very small piece of land, but is not unlike so many areas in the villages and slums of Uganda.

     Entebbe itself is just one city inside a country that is starving for economic growth and political rest. It is a place of need and sorrow, but it is also a beautiful place. Many of the people are full of love and joy, and their lives illustrate a contentedness and patience that we Americans could only hope to imitate. They have nothing, but many of them live as though they had everything they need. The reality is both inspiring and convicting.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-679805

Remember!!! All you MORAL Super Billionaires($5Billion or more) of the world “You can’t take $it$ with You”… Ask yourself this??? How many $$Billions$$ do you really have to leave to your siblings for them to live quite luxuriously and comfortably for the rest of there lives???

Only a MORAL Super Billionaire could step up and do this… These people of Makusa Island don’t really need a $billion dollars just a bigger island of there own and enough to move start up on there own

It has to be an Island as they are all fishermen by trade and it has to be big enough to farm a little as man can’t live on fish alone It must also have a fresh water source of course. Not a hard job for  determined guys like say George Soros, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet or any of the British Space Boy Richie Branson types of the world Stepping Up to the plate. Or simply how about the VATICAN (that supposedly is so against poverty and preaches love for your fellow brother) with its $$BILLIONS$$ Stepping Up??? Next an Impossible one we know but what about the defacto biggest land owner on the planet old Silver Jubilee Babe Queen Liz II or any one of all the other Royal billionaires around the globe Stepping Up??? It will never happen!!! Why??? Because these Super Billionaire (not all but 90% of them) are not about stopping poverty or charity or helping people out in any way in general…In fact quite the opposite is true. They are self centered eugenic pigs with there main objective being one of culling the population by 95% and bringing in there one world totalitarian rule… A virtual Heaven on Earth for the criminal Cabal members and there Families (about 10% of 1% of humanity now) and a real HELL on EARTH for the few of humanity left alive to forever slave for these Gutless Cowardly In-Bread Psychopathic Megalomaniac Animal scum’s every single perverted wants and needs forever after. Believe it or Not?

So to the few moral humanist Super Billionaires left, Is there not 1 JUST 1 Moral $$$$ Guy who will help these people out. These people who live in such horrible poverty and disease stricken despair conditions in our Eyes but not in there’s they don’t see it and seem happy and say they have all they need. This is where with a little help they could live to become a very prosperous healthy happy people.

We would if we could but were not Super Billionaires not even Millionaires not even what you would consider rich were just average people with a little morality and compassion in our hearts. By spreading these TRUTH’s were trying to pull humanity up and out of the shit pile of Lies Deception Poverty and Greed which is technically forced on all the un-wealthy workers all the poor unemployed and all the others living in severe poverty in the western world to RISE AND SAY NO MORE…Or sorry to say Were all FKED and maybe we deserve to be???

From a Cashless Societies to Draconian Laws all part of the Grand Plan… Just fit the pieces of the puzzle Together. WARNING It’s a Big Puzzle With Many Pieces

Turn in Your Bin Ladens: What If Using Cash Becomes a Crime?

Infowars
April 28, 2012

Will the simple act of using cash to pay for things become a crime? Will it be labeled as suspected terrorist activity? Will cash be banned? We are being phased into a total cashless grid where payments and authorizations must be electronic; and the system has long been conditioning us to accept it and ditch ‘black market’ paper notes.

Let’s flashback to some rather open admissions in the media, in this case: CNBC pundits and Naval Postgraduate School white paper writers (Turn in Your Bin Ladens, Dec. 2010) They call cash the currency of terrorists, drug dealers and criminals. Yes, military figures are equating the use of cash with the War on Terror… that is a gross distortion and a bad sign.

Indeed, even paying cash for a cup of coffee has been branded suspicious by a series of memos put out by the FBI to breed a paranoid atmosphere around normal, everyday activities. Alex Jones parodied this bizarre new Communities Against Terrorism campaign in his documentary New World Order: Blueprint of Madmen (see it free here).

Meanwhile the biggest criminals are those who manipulate the currency, starting at the private Federal Reserve and top six mega-banks. Also to blame are the sectors on Wall Street who are engaged in various forms of looting via draconian crony-capitalist bailout deals, amassing new global powers and admittedly laundering massive amounts of money for drug gangs. Yet moves have been made to demonize and ban paying for “large” items in cash both in Europe and America, with ‘suspicious’ amounts set as low as 1000 or 2500 (*in dollars, euros, or etc.). Louisiana has gone so far as to ban cash in second hand transactions.

These policies are trending towards total control, not only at the individual level, but in an overall clamp down of society.

“THIS is the BEGINNING of the END of NORMAL SANITY’s Transformation into INSANITY” It’s a SAD DAY in America when “even paying cash for a cup of coffee has been branded suspicious by a series of memos put out by the FBI to breed a paranoid atmosphere around normal, everyday activities”  If you can’t see right through the BS of abolishing cash to supposedly stop terrorism, then your brain I’m sorry to say has been severely damaged by fluoride,aspartame,MSG or Chemtrails!!!And there’s no help for you… Come on people they are becoming so blatant in there acts of Tyranny and oppression there not even trying to hide it anymore. Buying a cup of coffee with cash is suspicious give me an F-ing break. The TRUTH is these Scumbags at the top of the Cabal see the awakening taking place and fear greatly for there own safety from us the people retaliating for all the crimes that they and there past family members have committed against humanity for centuries. And so now they must press on full speed to get there complete security-terror-control grid in place to suppress these masses of mad citizen’s(or as the corrupt government call them unruly homegrown Terrorist remember what they called and how they showed the occupy wall street everyday people on CNN as just degenerate homeless bums and lowlifes but the reality was they were just normal people who were all suffering because of there corrupt government actions and were standing up for there rights). You can see it happening everywhere. From the TSA outright sexually assaulting people on a daily basis, to ObamaSoetoroe signing the NDAA and by doing so right out committing a crime against the very people of the United States he swore to protect from foreign and domestic enemies and by not defending the Constitution of the United States as he also swore to do he has committed Grand Treason punishable by death in The United States of America  By taking away the right of due process (Hitler also did the same thing to the German people just before WWII) that is when people just start disappearing of the street never to be seen or heard of some times for month or years for national security and held in place like Guantanamo on just suspicion of being connected to or associated with whatever they want to say they kidnapped and are holding you in custody for. Guess what??? Your now a political prisoner and no one knows where you are or who’s even holding you in custody or if you are alive or dead. Because threw military red tape there simply is know one to hold directly accountable as to your whereabouts. Except for OBAMA himself and people must act now before this scenario really starts happening and American citizen start suffering the consequences of out of control power hungry monster that naturally develop in this kind of atmosphere of paranoia and fear with no checks and balances to stop it once put into motion. As of late police forces and especially private security companies like Halliburton-BlackWater have been hiring big time, and a lot of the hired would normally not be let’s just say even giving a foot in the door…These are the bottom of the barrel ex-convict convict avoiding jail by signing up and so on. And they are the ones who will turn out to be your monsters,the future enforcers for the system. The dumb ones just following the orders of there evil masters. We must hope that within the American forces there are some high up General’s with moral backbones to stop the insanity before it starts.

It’s the same in pretty much every other country under this Global Cabal. It seems today the Good guys are countries like the Russia China India Brazil group  who are not at war with any far away foreign countries or have base all over the globe either Unlike the UN NATO EU USA who are involved all over the Globe. Russia today is more democratic than either the USA or Canada. Canada is now one of the most policed states on the planet and most Canadians don’t even see it. Its well hidden in plain site right under there noses. I remember a time back in the late 70’s early 80’s when you were proud to backpack the globe with a Canadian flag on your backpack and you were well treated in  every country you travelled in. Not any more we are part of the NATO Cabal arm and disliked now in many country by many people. We are not proud Canadian’s any more If you believe like us that 911 was a LIE then all wars Canada has been in because of it are Illegal wars and we the people of Canada have to accept that because of this lie we are all guilty of murder and other wartime atrocities  and crimes. Especially lately in Libya in a few bombing raids gone bad.We the people of Canada are GUILTY as they are our troops doing the bidding of supposedly us the people. We at TT13 do not endorse the uses of force for any reason and dot not back the Corrupt Canadian Government  in any wartime measures of aggression. Our troops outside our borders were suppose to only act and be used in a peace keeping capacity or to bring Emergency aid. But they were corrupted and manipulated into an offensive aggressive wartime force during the first POPPIE BUSH’s illegal gulf war(the TRUTH we believe of that war was Kuwait was stealing Iraqi oil and Iraq was justified in attacking them to stop this billion dollar theft of Iraqi Oil. But the world then was not told this little tidbit) Canada was part of that coalition. After 911 it was Afghanistan. We did not go to Iraq in 2003 at least not publicly, but we took part in NATO’s disgusting bombing raids as of late against Libya. That’s 3 countries who have done absolutely nothing at all to the Canadian people. So We ask You As fellow Canadians are we or are we not War criminals by default of our corrupt criminal puppet government following the wolf(UN – NATO) in sheeoples clothing

The Following blog is a good view of how the NDAA could affect Canada and all Canadian

What Does the NDAA Mean for Canada?

http://www.canadianpreppersnetwork.com/2012/01/what-does-ndaa-mean-for-canada.html

This editorial is strictly the opinion of the author, and as such, is not endorsed by the Canadian Preppers Network in anyway.  ~  D. Luther

As his New Year’s gift to the United States, President Barack Obama ratified the National Defense Authorization Act on December 31.  This effectively makes the United States a war zone, allows indefinite detainment of her citizens, and eradicates due process, all with one sweep of the pen.
As the neighbours to the north, how will this effect us?
At this point, it’s all speculation, but here are some possibilities:
~  Due to the recent perimeter agreement between the US and Canada, the militaries have agreed to “help each other” during times of civil upheaval.  If active martial law goes into effect in the US, our troops could be deployed to assist in carrying out the orders.
~  Also regarding the perimeter agreement, the line is blurred for the military powers.  It is not beyond the realm of possibility that some parts of Canada could find themselves under martial law as well.
~  Crossing the border has just become a whole lot riskier.  Remember when people didn’t want to travel to places in Central America because they might get thrown in prison never to be seen again?  This is actually a legal behavior now in the United States.
~  We might become home to those seeking asylum from a government that takes political prisoners simply because they have a dissenting opinion.
~  A horde of refugees may cross our borders, looking to escape the new iron fist of the US government.  If food and money fall into short supply, the likelihood of this increases exponentially.
~  And the thing that terrifies me the most………………..there but for the grace of God go we.  How long before the Canadian government openly begins to vilify the people of Canada in order to change the rules of law that have governed us?  When will it become easier for Canada to fall into step with the US than to march to the beat of our own drum.
Politically speaking, 2012 is going to be a heck of a ride.

http://www.canadianpreppersnetwork.com/2012/01/what-does-ndaa-mean-for-canada.html

Well Put Daisy Luther

First off our Canadian government has done some drastic law changes for example Codex Alimentarius Bill C-36 and then there’s Hannibal Harpers new draconian tough on crime Bill C-10 when statistics in Canada as a whole show crime has decreased in the last ten years significantly  So why the new tougher on crime stance or is it tougher on the regular now suspected terrorist Joe Canadian citizen. I say it to fill the prison to the max then they will and are already outsourcing them as cheap slave Labor. This has been occurring for years but now that more and more Canadian become privatized and for profit prisons you can bet this Bill C-10 has something in its gut for this new slave labor force. Mandatory minimums guarantee lot of inmates and most will be like 3 plants in backyard mom and pop pot growers and people who otherwise would not be incarcerated. and the inmates have no choice because of jail house rules you need money to survive in jail. So when your asked to work in jail most probably jump at it, besides it also gets the inmate out of the walls of the jail for the 8to10 hours a day. So you see you don’t have to go to China to see slave labor. Its happening right here in Canada  right under our noses and has been for a while. We know of ex-inmates 20 years ago who would tell you about working at a meat plant while incarcerated and they were being paid .50cents an hour back then good money in jail but slave wages here in Canada. In plain site Right in your Face how long will Canadian put up with this blatant Criminal Government. Another government Crime is Privatization. Privatization from wikipedia – Privatization is the incidence or process (THEFT) of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency, public service or property from the public sector (the state or government)(really belong to the peoples of the country) to the private sector (businesses that operate for a private profit)(Foreign Cabal Bankers) or to private (Cabal Elites) non-profit organizations.

This basically puts it in a nice fashion because the people who usually buy these National(belonging to the people of Canada ) resources are rich foreign thief buying our resources that our corrupt criminal government had no right selling off in the first but somehow manipulated the laws of the time to be able to do so. This is all part of the Evil Cabals greater agenda of owning all resources on the planet and controlling who gets what how much and when… Sounds great EH!!! We won’t have to wait long to possibly(that’s if your one of the 500,00,000)live in that wonderfully oppressed society.  HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Harper’s ‘tough on crime’ bill could be a colossal mistake

http://thecord.ca/articles/51859

Lena Yang

Amelia Calbry-Muzyka discusses how more incarceration can overload and cripple our justice system

Amelia Calbry-Muzyka

February 29, 2012 6:04 AM

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In the past two decades Canada’s national crime rate has been declining, reaching its lowest level since 1973 in 2010. However, the current government is pushing a “tough on crime” agenda, with longer, harsher sentences being imposed more regularly. In 2010, the Truth in Sentencing Act was passed, which limited the credit that judges could grant for time spent in pre-sentencing custody.

An article in the Globe and Mail cited that this not only increased number of individuals held in Canada’s approximately 190 jails and prisons, but was also the main reason behind the increase of the Correctional Service of Canada’s budget to three billion dollars – a greater than 20 per cent increase from the previous year.

A new bill introduced by the Conservative party in September 2011 is pushing this trend even further. Bill C-10, titled The Safe Streets and Communities Act, is an amalgamation of nine smaller bills, which were all introduced and rejected during the Conservative minority government.

While each of the small bills have been somewhat altered from their present state, this fact alone is highly unnerving.

Bill C-10 rewrites laws on the production and possession of drugs, pardons, anti-terrorism, young offenders and numerous others. However, in most of these, the bill introduces or increases minimum sentencing for offences.

While some of these changes may bring more weight to important issues in the eyes of the criminal justice system, this bill will bring about more problems than it will solve.

The biggest problem with this is the imposition of minimum sentencing. While maximum sentencing can prevent judges from exercising irrationally harsh sentencing, minimum sentencing eliminates the opportunity for alternative justice solutions and will drive up the number of inmates held in Canada’s already overcrowded prisons and jails.

In an interview with Anna-Maria Tremonti on CBC’s The Current, judge Barry Stuart, a retired Yukon judge, spoke about Bill C-10, commenting on the ineffectiveness of jail sentences for some: “While the public is led to believe that jail is gonna make a difference, it does make a difference, but not the difference they expect.

“Rarely have I seen people who go off for a long period at jail come back in a much better way than they left a community.

“And we have to understand that, particularly in the North, the people that we send off to jail are coming right back to the same communities, more dysfunctional than they left.”

In 1999, the Supreme Court of Canada set the precedent for how judges should approach the sentencing process in R. v. Gladue, noting that Canada showed an over-reliance on incarceration as a response to criminal activity.

This case provided the first interpretation of s. 718.2 (e) of the Criminal Code of Canada, which states that “all available sanctions other than imprisonment that are reasonable in the circumstances should be considered for all offenders, with particular attention to the circumstances of aboriginal offenders.”

Bill C-10 directly contradicts this through its imposition of minimum sentencing by preventing judges from using alternative justice solutions, such as community work, when the circumstances permit.

According to a 2008 statistic, there are approximately 35 000 incarcerated adults on any given day. Canada’s jails and prisons are currently overflowing, with many already functioning above capacity.

The last thing Canada needs is for politicians to “get tough on crime” by locking more people away while disregarding the source of said crimes, such as poverty and family background.

As the Senate studies the bill, there is one thing it should keep in mind, which was articulated by Eric E. Sterling – a former counsel to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee: “When you start going down this road of building more prisons and sending people away for long periods of time, and you convince yourself that this is going to deter people, you’ve made a colossal mistake.”

http://thecord.ca/articles/51859

Like we in Canada have all heard many times before we are the Tail on the dog When the dog moves the tail does to. If the USA fell to Martial Law It highly plausible that corrupt criminal Hannibal Cannibal Harper & his DeFacto Canadian Government would take advantage of the situation and would follow suit. Not since PM P.E.Trudeau and the FLQ has the Army been used on Canadians but Hannibal Cannibal Harper is well on his way to being the  worst PM Canadian have ever had to live under a 3 time minority looser then pulls of a massive majority. We smell stink in the Great White North…and what a stink it is He Is A Treasonous Criminal and under Canadian election law was not allowed to even run for re-election for 5 year for even been accused of the crime of contempt of Parliament… In the past, people went to prison for being found guilty of contempt of Parliament, but they hid it away by having the Queen proroguing parliament for him and then sneakily getting a bullshit majority with less than a quarter of voters At that point in time Canadians were fed up with all parties and election  All concerned citizens should copy and send this same letter to the queen showing your concerns as well with enough she might just do something but remember that she is also a part of the Cabal and as the self appointed biggest land owner in the world She also has to be removed from any kind of hold over Canada and return all crow land in Canada Back to Canadian citizen’s to whom it really belongs and not the DeFacto Saxe Cobourg Gotha – Windsor self  anointed with there bullshit divine right to rule. This is why she will never act on behalf of Canadian She see’s us all as serf Goy Sheeople and nothing more. They the blue blood royals cant even breed with the majority of humanity. There Rh- Blood is incompatible with the other 99% of humanities Rh+. If for instance she were to get pregnant by an RN+ male her body would seek out the fetus and kill it as if it were an invading virus.So tell us what wrong with this picture.They can’t breed with us No wonder they inbreed There bloodline some believe is the bloodline of Satan or Lucifer’s. They believe it to be GODS- Jesus –Merovingian’s-Bloodline. This is where they get there pompous Divine right to be ASSHOLES from. They believe themselves superior to the rest of Humanity. We say it time to tell them goodbye because many say they are not even part of the human species as there your blood is Alien to the rest of humanity.So the BlueBloods are an invading Alien’s DNA who have used humanity throughout the ages.The Ancient Alien Theorist claim that they are the children of the fallen angels from the bible or the so called DemiGods half alien half human, breed down over the century to todays Rh- bloodline

Trailer for Amenstop Production’s new DVD release which answers the big questions – Who Are We? Where Did We Come From? Where Are We Going? Full film available at http://www.helpfreetheearth.com

But in time of need sometime you have to appeal to the Devil. So one way to PEACEFULLY remove Hannibal Cannibal Harper from power as Prime Minister of Canada Is by getting the Queen of England to do what she did for H.C.Harper himself on demand 3 times!!! Once to save his ASS, once to cover his ASS and once to protect his whole entire governments ASS. Now we the people of Canada want him removed and his ASSES uncovered and given Justice??? Think she will help??? We unfortunately don’t!!! Because what H.C.Harper is doing is right in line with the Cabals Agenda21. But that won’t stop us from doing anything peaceful we can to stop this insanity.  Thomas Jefferson once stated that “The tree of liberty must be refreshed every so often with the Blood of Patriots and the Blood of Tyrants Its Natural Manure”  or JFK’s stating  “ A Revolution is coming – a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough compassionate if we care enough, successful if we are fortunate enough – but a revolution which is coming whether we will it or not. We can affect its character, We cannot alter its inevitability”   The revolution is coming for sure…  Maybe sooner than we know JF Kennedy new and tried to tell the people the TRUTH in this now infamous speech warning us all of this Evil Cabal that has infiltrated every facet of human existence. Many people have said that he was not warning us on the Illuminati Cabal but of the real imminent cold war Communist threat but the thing that these people do not know is that by this time the USSR-Russia had been completely and totally compromised by the Illuminati which now recovered document show. There is absolutely no doubt who Kennedy was warning us about It was The Federal Reserve Cabal gang the same gang now today trying to bring in there completely controlled CASHLESS system. In another quote from another famous American fighting the same foe Abraham Lincoln said, “I have two great enemies, the Southern Army in front of me and the bankers(Federal Reserve Cabal) in the rear. Of the two, the one at my rear is my greatest foe.”Also to be noted here is that this Federal Reserve Cabal was also behind the starting of this civil war in the first place3 like every other war as well all the way back to the French Revolution…  This cabal is a Virus on Humanity A Cancer eating us from within. The Cure is simple “TELL ALL HUMANITY THE SIMPLE TRUTH of our REAL HISTORY” 

MANY A GOOD MAN HAS DIED ATTEMPING THIS

Speech originally entitled “President and the Press” (April 27, 1961). In this speech JFK refers to the secret societies which have infiltrated the United States

Canada is fighting this same enemy who in our country has taken the latest form of Hannibal Cannibal Harper and his Conservative Goons under Canada’s first cabal family the DESMARAIS. But the stink began long ago here a short view of how that stink turned into total STANK

Power and the pols

Early 1960s

Friendship of Desmarais family and three-premier Johnson clan begins while Daniel Johnson Sr. is Union Nationale premier-in-waiting.

1968

Paul Desmarais gets control of Power Corp.; Pierre Trudeau gets control of Ottawa. A brain-trust exchange begins: Michael Pitfield, Gérard Veilleux, Maurice Strong, Ted Johnson, Joel Bell

1971

Brian Mulroney, young lawyer protégé of Paul Desmarais, earns his stripes settling strike at La Presse

1973

Daniel Johnson Jr. and Paul Martin begin stints working for Paul Desmarias, the latter at Canada Steamship Lines

1976

Paul Desmarais is one of the first business leaders to engage the separatist PQ government; grudging friendship with René Lévesque develops

1981

After working for her father, André Desmarais marries France Chrétien. Paul Desmarais sells Canada Steamship Lines to Paul Martin, who makes his fortune with it.

1983

Mulroney wins Conservative leadership. As in Mulroney’s unsuccessful 1976 bid, Paul Desmarais is said to have bankrolled the campaign

1985-1988

Paul Desmarais befriends future PQ premier Lucien Bouchard while latter is ambassador to France

1990

Jean Chrétien’s winning Liberal leadership campaign is run out of John Rae’s Power office

1994

Brian Mulroney brokers Power Corp.’s entrée into China

1996

Power’s board, not atypically, includes polls: former Ontario premier Bill Davis and former federal finance minister Don Mazankowski; its international advisory board includes Trudeau and Mulroney

1997

Facing risky heart surgery, Paul Desmarais implores Bouchard not to break up the country

1998

Paul Desmarais persuades former employee Daniel Johnson Jr. to step down as Quebec Liberal leader in favour of Jean Charest

2000

John Rae masterminds last of three successful campaigns for Chrétien

2005

Brian Mulroney ensures Stephen Harper and Paul Desmarais are on friendly terms as Tories head to power. Desmarais connections in cabinet include Maxime Bernier and Peter Mackay

2006

John Rae runs brother Bob Rae’s campaign for federal Liberal leadership

Power Corp. of Canada –

POWER CORP OF DESMARAIS

is more like it!!!

A transatlantic empire

But not a Canadian Transatlantic Empire as the name would deceptively lead many to believe

Canada

Power Corporation of Canada owns 100% of Gesca and 66.4% of Power Financial

Power Financial owns 55.9% of IGM Financial and 70.6% of Great-West Lifeco

IGM Financial owns 4.2% of Great-West Lifeco and owns 100% of Mackenzie Financial and Investors Group

Great-West Lifeco owns 100% of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance and 100% of Great-West Life Assurance which in turn owns 3.5% of IGM Financial.

Great-West Life Assurance owns 100% of London Life Insurance and Canada Life Insurance.

Europe

Power Financial owns 50% of Parjointco which owns 54% of Pargesa Holding.

Pargesa Holding owns 26.8% of Imerys and 48% of Groupe Bruxelles Lambert

Groupe Bruxelles Lambert owns 26.2% of Imerys, 7.3% of Suez Energy, 3.4% of Lafarge, 3.8% of Total and 25.1% of Berteslmann

If you comprehend all the twist in Canada above then you will totally understand why queen Liz will never, not even if 1million people sent her back the letter below, would she act on it by doing the peoples bidding and booting Harper to the curb of justice that he deserves. We can try anyways right so join us in resending the following demand to the Queen

http://404systemerror.com/no-question-of-the-queen-dismissing-pm-harper/

Official Request, To Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II, For The Dismissal Of Stephen Harper As Prime Minister Of Canada

Montreal, December the 16th 2011.

Her Majesty The Queen
Buckingham Palace
London, UK   SW1A 1AA

Subject: OFFICIAL REQUEST, TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II, FOR THE DISMISSAL OF STEPHEN HARPER AS PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA

Your Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,

I’m addressing to Your Majesty as a citizen of Canada.  I have been watching and analyzing the situation in my country and it seems that nobody knows how to make our government work anymore.  Since Your Majesty is our ultimate Leader, I now have no other choice but to ask Your Majesty to help us, Canadians, to remove Stephen Harper from the office of Prime Minister of Canada because Canadian democracy is in jeopardy as never before in its history. The Canadian Constitution is being violated repeatedly by Stephen Harper’s government.

I started by looking up Wikipedia for the function of Prime Minister of Canada:

“is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or Viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the Constitution. Not outlined in any constitutional document, the office exists only as per long-established convention originating in Canada’s former colonial power, the United Kingdom, which stipulates that the monarch’s representative, the Governor General, must select as Prime Minister the person most likely to command the confidence of the elected House of Commons; this individual is typically the leader of the political party that holds the largest number of seats in that Chamber.”

When I read this definition, “the Governor General must select as Prime Minister the person most likely to command the confidence of the elected House of Commons”.  There is a problem right here.  The confidence of the elected House of Commons was lost in March 2011 for contempt of Parliament by the Conservative Party of Canada.  The Governor General, David Johnston, did not act on it.  He should have made the Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party of Canada step down from power and out of the House of Commons, at least for a certain period of time and, with shame even.  It was the first time in the Commonwealth’s history that a Government was being found guilty of such a disgraceful act.  I might remind Your Majesty here that it was not long before that the Governor General was appointed by Stephen Harper.  How do Your Majesty expect this person to be impartial in such important decision making so soon into his new career?

In the past, people went to prison for being found guilty of contempt of Parliament but now, when the entire Stephen Harper’s government is found guilty of the same offend, nothing is being done to protect Canadians in their constitutional rights.  That day, Stephen Harper even described his contempt of Parliament offence as “just a vote of the House of Commons“.  We understand here that Stephen Harper has no respect whatsoever for the Canadian Constitution, which he is supposed to be subjected to and, be defending with all the dignity required in such a privileged position.

As a Canadian, I was wondering when Your Majesty were going to step in to protect us, Canadians?  It did not happen.  How come I ask Your Majesty?  How could Your Majesty not do anything as Canada’s Leader?  It tarnished the Commonwealth’s history as well, didn’t it?

Talking about those 2011 elections.  They should not have included the Stephen Harper’s government after such a contempt of Parliament offence.  The strong majority he boasts about was obtained with not even one quarter of the votes of the population.  It does not make any sense to have such an electoral system where a doubtful majority would get such powers, at every level of Canada’s governance, and all in one man’s hands.

With the way our constitutional system is working right now, Stephen Harper is naming the person who should represent Your Majesty, which person should then be telling him what to do.  Such process leaves too much space for partiality.  Then Stephen Harper appoints Senators, first on the basis of their political allegiance and then, on their ability to rightfully defend Canadians’ rights and Constitution.  I’m not saying here that Senators are not doing a good job but I have my doubts on some of the rushed conservative appointments.

It is a known fact that the conservative majority Senate did not always go through the entire process required by our Constitution for accepting or rejecting law projects.  For example, conservative majority Senate took defiance of the House of Commons to a new level, by defeating a climate change bill without offering a word of debate or hearing from any witness.  Stephen Harper said that the bill, sponsored by New Democrat Party and passed with the support of all three opposition parties in the elected House of Commons, was “completely irresponsible,” would have shut down whole sections of the economy and thrown “hundreds of thousands and possibly million of people out of work.”  Stephen Harper despises his compatriots and only responds to the needs and greed of the Oil Industry, his previous employer, instead going green like the rest of the World.

Stephen Harper used Senators for his electoral campaigns, $341 000. worth for one Senator alone in the last election I read.  Senators could jump from one Chamber to the other without any respect for Canada’s legislations.  The Senate and the House of Commons are supposed to be independent from one another.  But not for Stephen Harper who appointed a Senator in 2010 and then when the 2011 election was called, this Senator decided to jump in the race.  He lost the election and, now he is back in the Senate.  Here again, I ask Your Majesty how could the Governor General not act on this serious matter?

In 2008, Stephen Harper shut down the legislature after only 6 weeks in session, in order to avoid a no-confidence vote already.  Stephen Harper prorogued the Parliament’s session with the approval of Governor General, Michaëlle Jean.  If Stephen Harper’s request had been rejected by the Governor General, he would have had to choose between stepping down or facing the no-confidence vote.  It’s the government’s job to always be prepared to face the House of Commons and to maintain its confidence.  Here again, I asked myself where Your Majesty were?  Not even a comment on the subject from Your Majesty’s part on the poor way your representative handled the matter.

Less than a year later but for a different reason, Stephen Harper prorogued the Parliament’s session with again, the approval of Governor General, Michaëlle Jean.  Official reason: to consult Canadians on economy.  Right there, another lack of judgement by Your Majesty’s representative.  Since when does a government has to prorogue Parliament in order to consult with the population?  Real reason though was to evade from being accountable to the people’s elected representatives through the Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan.  The prorogation shut down hearings investigating what government officials knew about the torture of Afghan detainees after they were handed over to the Afghan authorities by Canadian soldiers.  How convenient I should say.

Prorogation of Parliament twice within a year, how much did Canadian taxpayers had to pay for elected Members of Parliaments’ salaries for doing nothing?  I’m sorry here, it’s not for nothing because while the Parliament’s session was prorogued the first time, Stephen Harper was able to appoint 18 new conservative Senators.  I wonder if Canadian taxpayers awarded him with a Christmas bonus that year?

When elected Members of Parliament ask to get access to all government documents available on any given matter, as it is their right and duty to, they receive only partial information from Stephen Harper’s government.  This behaviour was part of the contempt of Parliament offence by Stephen Harper’s troop earlier this year and still, the Governor General is doing nothing to bring order back in the House of Commons.  As for access to information, there is a law ruling the process, and Stephen Harper’s office blocks this process every occasion it has.  When he does not want information to come out, Stephen Harper uses the Supreme Court to block it all at once.  This is very wrong for Canadian democracy and, costly for Canadian taxpayers.  Since Stephen Harper appoints judges to Supreme Court, it seems he is over-using the Institution.

Before Stephen Harper came into office, journalists had access to Members of Parliament as soon as they came out of the House of Commons.  Canadians then had the sense democracy was being exercised.  Since Stephen Harper is holding the office of Prime Minister of Canada, only the opposition Members of Parliament could be interviewed.  No information leaks out of Canada’s government unless it passes by Stephen Harper’s office, period.  Recently, it has been said that over a thousand people were being paid, by Canadian taxpayers’ money naturally, to control the way media talked about the Stephen Harper’s government.

Also, Stephen Harper, who used to work for the Oil Industry, denies climate change exists even though, he is not an expert on the matter and despite what all environment experts and studies say.  Just this week, Stephen Harper’s government made a unilateral decision to step out of the Kyoto Protocol and even called it “stupid”.  By saying so, Stephen Harper is telling the rest of the world, they are stupid to sign such a deal.  The Kyoto Protocol’s first draft was made in Montreal.  Why would Canada suddenly step out of its own ideal for a better world?  By all of his actions, Stephen Harper made Canada look as an environmentally retrograde nation, which Canada really is not.  As a Canadian, I feel ashamed and most of all, betrayed by my Prime Minister’s actions on the international scene which I’m certain my fellow Canadians did not approve of either.  The Canadian values are to have green energies, pure air and clean safe water for our children and for future generations.

Stephen Harper recently even participated in a war crime, they now call it, helping to kill Muammar Gaddafi. Remember Your Majesty, the dictator from Lybia?  According to the Geneva Convention, Muammar Gaddafi should have been accountable and judged for his actions in an international Court of justice.  Canada is not a country of war, it hypocritically makes loads of money from it though, but war is not a Canadian value.

Since Stephen Harper has accessed power, it seems that most Canadian taxpayers’ money is dilapidated in wars that are all Oil Industry related.  Right now, Stephen Harper is investing in useless war jets worth billions of taxpayers’ dollars and yet, the Stephen Harper’s government won’t even put a price tag on them.  How arrogant is this at a time of World economic crisis?  At a time when the Stephen Harper government is telling us he will have to cut in budget?

In 2006, there was a surplus in the budget, Canadians were breathing better.  Then came Stephen Harper into office, this genius in economy, he got Canada back to deficit before the World economic crisis even began!  Stephen Harper’s government has now managed to surpass Canada’s all-time-high 1996-97 debt load level.  Did Your Majesty know that Stephen Harper is the third highest paid Leader in the world after Obama and Sarkozy?  Your Majesty, Canadians can no longer afford Stephen Harper.

Stephen Harper has a growing habit of wasting Canadian taxpayers’ money.  Here is an other example.  One billion dollars were necessary to set up the Long Gun Registry.  It has been used efficiently by police forces all over Canada.  For no valid reason, Stephen Harper has decided to abolish it and now he even wants to destroy its data.  The result is that Canadians have to bring the Stephen Harper’s government to Supreme Court to save at least the registry’s data.  By doing so, just for my city, Montreal’s police force will loose trace of 60 000 guns!

The Stephen Harper government also spent over one billion dollars on the G8 – G20 summits weekend.  The Auditor General’s report on the event’s spendings even outlined that one of the conservative Member of Parliament got money for his circumscription, located about 200 Km away from the Summit.  Isn’t the waste of taxpayers’ money a crime for Members of Parliament?  Shouldn’t it be sanctioned?

This fall session, Stephen Harper also tried to illegally shut down the Canadian Wheat Board.  When he was told he could not close the CWB, he sent the case to Supreme Court of Canada, abusing power and process again.  Stephen Harper keeps on wasting Canadian taxpayers’ money on Courts because whenever he’s being told it’s not the procedure he turns to never before seen extreme measures, buying himself some time, each time.  Stephen Harper makes unilateral decisions, he imposes his partisan politics and makes decisions for the wealth of the Oil Industry.

An other example, there is a Canadian citizen who was used as a child soldier.  Instead of repatriating the boy like the Supreme Court ordered, Stephen Harper left the boy in Guantanamo, pretexting national security issues.  Naturally, this case went to Supreme Court, because logic could never apply with Stephen Harper, and then nobody is accountable on the government’s side.  This is a direct  violation of a Canadian child’s rights.

Stephen Harper also abolished mandatory long form census.  By doing so, many researchers are now deprived of their number one tool to accurately execute their jobs.  Even the government won’t be able to meet the needs of its population as efficiently because they won’t know just where concentrations of different social groups live, having each different needs to be met.

Just recently, we learned Stephen Harper’s government made a deal behind closed doors during the past year with the United States about security at our borders.  Now that this deal is almost signed, Canadians got leaked informations on the deal that demonstrates how it will make border crossing more difficult and intrusive.  The Stephen Harper’s government once again is hiding facts to Canadians and still abusing power and abusing process.  Transparency is clearly not a conservative value.

Stephen Harper is a threat to our democracy because he keeps on violating the rules and laws and yet, nobody could stop him.   There are many movements in Canada trying to remove Stephen Harper from office but it does not seem to be working either.  There was even a woman, who was a page at the Senate, she put up a sign that said “Stop Harper”.  The woman lost her job for doing so.  The part I don’t understand here is, how come nobody at the time questioned the legitimacy of Stephen Harper after his contempt of Parliament offence?  And nobody questioned a majority of seats in the House of Commons with less than one quarter of the votes?

Also, if I may, Your Majesty should suggest some changes to our electoral system such as mandatory voting for every eligible Canadian citizen voter, like in Australia where there is about a 94% participation rate.  Already, it would be a more significant vote and I would not have to write to Your Majesty.  If people decided not to do their Citizen’s duty, they just would have to pay a fine.  It’s a way of financing part of multiple elections we’ve been having.  Stephen Harper actually created a law for fixed date elections and he violated it himself by calling early elections to try to get a majority.  Here once again, I ask Your Majesty, how come the Governor General did not stop Stephen Harper’s early election call?  Talking about the majority for a party in Canada, it’s not representative because in the past election, 75% of the people did not vote for Stephen Harper’s party and yet, he brags about his majority every chance he gets.  And in the past week, the conservative party had abuse the majority concept imagining they were the greatest at what they were doing by brutally shuting off any Member of the Opposition.

It seems that when a person exercises a power related position, like a Premier or a Mayor, corruption tends to show up more after the second mandate.  Fixing to a maximum of two, the number of terms one individual can occupy this position, could also regulate Canadian politics at many levels of governance.

I ask Your Majesty, ultimate leader in Canada, to step into our Constitution to readjust the way Your Majesty delegates her power in Canada.  Senators and Governor General should be appointed by a neutral procedure instead of being appointed ultimately by only one person. It seems that Stephen Harper acts unconstitutionally every occasion he has or could.  He has been testing outrageously our democracy to a never before seen level.   This power, put in reasonable hands worked right in the past but for the first time in Canadian history, this power sadly came into the hands of an arrogant, anti-democratic and self-interested man.

On top, Stephen Harper likes his name so much that he sent a memo to every level of government ordering to replace Government of Canada byThe Harper Government in all official correspondence.  How big of an ego does a man has to have to want to change his country’s name for his own?  Canadians have never seen such an affront to their democracy nor, their intelligence.

I also read that a Prime Minister is entitled to be called, The Right Honourable, and that this privilege could be maintained for life?  With all your respect Your Majesty, Stephen Harper should be deprived of this privilege since he is not worth the title of Honourable.  Let’s not forget that Stephen Harper’s government was found in contempt of Parliament just this year and that this man has no respect for Canadian democracy and its great Institutions whatsoever.  He is even about to introduce a law that will allow unlimited spying on Canadians.  This is in direct violation to individual’s right to privacy which is supposed to be protected by our Charter of rights and freedoms.

Dictatorship sounds like a big word and yet, it is indeed, but it’s the only word applicable to Canada’s situation at this moment in time.  After verifying its meaning in the dictionary, I re-affirm my say.

Dictatorship:

1. a country, government, or the form of government in which absolute power is exercised by a dictator.

2. absolute, imperious, or overbearing power or control.

3. the office or position held by a dictator.

And a Dictator is:

“a person exercising absolute power, especially a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession.”

Right now Your Majesty, I’m afraid Canada is on the verge of a dictatorship led by Stephen Harper, and it will happen if nothing is rapidly done by Your Majesty.  Don’t Your Majesty have the duty to protect your subjects from dictatorship within the Commonwealth?  I demand Your Majesty that you intervene in Canada’s affairs to prevent further damage.  Before it is too late for major diplomatic mistakes to repair after the Stephen Harper’s government years.

Stephen Harper has a profound lack of judgement and respect for Canadian Institutions, proceedings, democracy and Canadians’ intelligence.  For all the above reasons and the ones I did not write about because the list would be too exhaustive, I expect Your Majesty have enough major reasons to be able to act upon the dismissal of Stephen Harper as Prime Minister of Canada, for betraying Canadians’ trust as well as Your Majesty’s.

If Your Majesty can not do anything about this serious issue, as a Canadian, I feel I am entitled to ask: What is Your Majesty’s role exactly in Canadian democracy then?  From everything I have read, our Canadian democracy ultimately depends on Your Majesty’s will and power.  Maybe this could be a great occasion to redefine Your Majesty’s role in Canadian democracy and maybe celebrate Your Majesty’s 60th year reign by making your mark in Canada’s history book.

I ask Your Majesty to act quickly upon the present request as it is well founded and the Parliament session is actually suspended for the Holidays.  I also thank Your Majesty in advance for taking this matter in hands and I hope Your Majesty will help her Canadian subjects in their quest to restore democracy as they knew it when Canada was theNumber One Country in the World…

I wish you have a great Holiday Season Your Majesty.  Sincerely.

Chantal Dupuis
Montreal, Qc

_________________________

http://404systemerror.com/no-question-of-the-queen-dismissing-pm-harper/

As we can see she won’t do it for concerned citizen but she can do it for Criminal HCHarper and 3 times ta-boot!!!

Please if you’re a concerned Freeman sovereign citizen of the land mass known as Canada or a real Voting Canadian citizen then its your duty to add your name to Chantal Dupuis excellent Factual letter demanding Hannibal Cannibal Harpers be removed as Prime Minister of Canada. We should also add a paragraph asking her to hold him accountable for his criminal actions in parliament as well. If enough of us resend the letter to the self appointed by divine right to rule the Royal Family one herself Queen Elizabeth II, we may possibly sway her to act.NOT!!! First we must tell you all that we here at TT13 don’t believe in any man’s higher authority over another’s. EVERY MAN-WOMAN on this planet ARE EQUAL  all have the same human rights in our view!!! We at TT13 have never sworn anything and never will swear any kind of Oath or anything else of subservience to her or any other member of the Saxe Cobourg Gotha Windsor family of England and do not recognize there self proclaimed authority or there self appointed divine right to rule BS over ourselves or our land mass known as Canada OURS(all people born citizen in Canada and all other full citizens of Canada) The Citizen’s  not hers.  To TT13 she’s just plain old LiZ from England. Nothing more… But unfortunetely she or her agent GovGENERAL acting on behalf of her by the false puppet Canadian Government stooges is the only one who can officially peacefully remove Hannibal Cannibal Harper the Treasonous Criminal from power!!!  We Free and non Free Canadian must peacefully Act by resending this ASAP  We Canadian’s must also talk to and tell everyone with whom we speak to about this

Queen dissolves Canadian Parliament for third time in 3 years

Infowars.com
April 3, 2011

In news that was alarmingly under-reported even in the alternative media, Queen Elizabeth’sGovernor General David Johnston approved Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s request todissolve Parliament on March 26 for the third time in 3 years. The move came after Parliament’s first ever vote of no confidence against Stephen Harper. Elections have been scheduled for May 2.

As the Times Columnist wrote on March 26:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit the Governor General today to dissolve Parliament, setting the stage for a federal election in early May.

The Harper government was defeated in the House of Commons on Friday on a non-confidence motion declaring the government in contempt of Parliament.

It is the first time in Canadian history that a government has been found in contempt.

From Wikipedia:
The governor general alone is also constitutionally mandated to summon parliament. Beyond that, the viceroy carries out the other conventional parliamentary duties in the sovereign’s absence, including reading the Speech From the Throne and proroguing and dissolving parliament.

For those in denial of the Queen’s power over her colony-states, here are previous occurrences:

Canadian PM winssuspension of Parliament

Randall Palmer and David Ljunggren
REUTERS
Dec 4, 2008

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper won a rare suspension of Parliament on Thursday, managing to avoid being ousted by opposition parties angry over the minority Conservative government’s economic plans and an attempt to cut off party financing.

Governor General Michaelle Jean — the representative of Queen Elizabeth, Canada’s head of state — agreed to Harper’s request to shut down Parliament until Jan 26. Parliament was reconvened just weeks ago after the October 14 election.

Proroguing Parliament is ‘routine,’ Tories say

CTV News
Dec. 31 2009

While opposition parties accuse the Conservative government of avoiding accountability by successfully requesting Parliament be prorogued for the second time in a year, Tory observers insist it’s nothing more than a routine procedure — and that the move will allow the government to return refreshed and re-focused on the economy in 2010.

The last time he asked Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean to prorogue Parliament was in December 2008 when he faced the threat of a coalition forming among opposition parties.

Canada’s Rogue Conservatives Prorogue Parliament

This is the second time the ruling party wants to shut down democracy

Michael Werbowski
Global Research
January 5, 2010

This week during the year’s slowest news period, startling reports from Ottawa have revealed that the Canadian conservative Prime Minster, Stephen Harper has prorogued or postponed the opening of parliament for at least a month. With the governor general’s blessings (who according to parliamentary procedure the authority to close down the legislature) he plans to proceed with this scurrilous plot and thereby undermine parliamentary democracy. If all goes according to Harper’s plan, then the House of Commons which is due to resume its New Year’s session on January 23rd will not sit until March 3rd or after the winter Olympics games to be held in February in Vancouver , B.C.

This Machiavellian move is designed to stave off opposition parties’ call for a full public inquiry, which would centre on the allegations of torture implicating the Canadian military, which surfaced during the last session of the House. On the home front, the prorogation of the legislature would also quell growing discontent in the country with the almost despotic tendencies of the current government. This is not the first time parliament has been shut down either. Back in December, 2008, Canada ’s Governor General Michaelle Jean granted the prime minister’s holiday wish and closed down the house just as the opposition sought to bring down the minority government with a non –confidence vote.

Corruption is all over.  Hannibal Cannibal Harper seems to be untouchable as still nothing is done no arrest!!! Just a Parliamentary Criminal getting re-elected to a grandiose mysterious majority government after 3 completely failed minority governments  this is what we have for our Prime Minister now. Welcome to Camp Canada one big prison Camp…  When there’s corruption at the Very Top there’s corruption all the way down and there’s lots of proof Canada is rampant with corruption at every level Judges Politician Cop corruption is everywhere.

Here’s an article by a very upset and right to the evil Harper point. All Canadian who care about our country and way of life read on

#OpProRogue Part X

April 28, 2012

By admin

http://404systemerror.com/opprorogue-part-x/

If I have any advice to my fellow Canadian citizens it is this: To be silent is to be complicit. Democracy, if it is to mean anything, requires our active repudiation of this government and all that it represents. Mr. Harper, I reject your vision of Canada and your attempt to bully Canadians by altering the way our democratic traditions and governmental structures function. I commit myself to doing all within my limited power to stop you from the hazardous policies that you espouse and with other like minded citizens, I pledge to help and protect those people who will be hurt and diminished by your neglect and misuse of power.

Excerpt from  The rise of Totalitarianism in Canada: A Time to Act  April 26 2012

Blair Gable/Reuters

Harper Conservatives win journalist’s award for most secretive government  April 29 2012 | Canadian Press

Stephen Harper’s Conservative government has won this year’s Code of Silence Award from the Canadian Association of Journalists.

The annual award recognizing Canada’s most secretive government or publicly funded agency was handed out in Toronto Saturday evening.

The federal government was named for keeping information out of public hands on files such as the F-35 program, avoiding questions at media events and for restricting both public and media access to contentious information.

Association president Hugo Rodrigues said the Harper government was the overwhelming choice of the CAJ’s 600 members across the country.

“The death grip on information has long frustrated journalists in this country, but it may now be reaching a point where the public at large is not only empathetic, but shares it,” he said.

The CAJ said federal government departments now deal with media almost exclusively by emails that often contain little, if any, of the information requested.

Oil firms aid federal Tories in selling EU trade deal  April 28 2012 | Postmedia

Cabinet ministers, senators and Conservative MPs fanned out across the country Friday, selling the merits of a CanadaEU free-trade pact in 18 different events, arguing that myths have overtaken the realities of the deal.

Minister of State for Finance Ted Menzies was in Calgary as part of a marketing blitz, emphasizing that Ottawa isn’t the only supporter of the agreement.

Canadian business, from fisheries to manufacturing will benefit from reduced import tariff under the trade agreement, Menzies said.

“We are getting rid of trade barriers and trade impediments so business like Trican can operate with the same regulations and same rules as the other countries they’re trying to do business with.”

Free-trade talks between Canada and the EU have been going on since May 2009. Critics of the deal on both sides of the Atlantic argue parts of the agreement could have effects on domestic jobs, make the privatization of public services a likelihood and increase the prices of consumer goods and pharmaceutical drugs.

Alberta pipeline plan advances quietly: Project avoids costly controversy  April 28 2012 | Postmedia

With most bitumen pipelines stirring up controversy these days, the $1-billion Access northeast expansion project is causing barely a ripple along its 297-kilometre route.

The “Great Dane” sized 42inch line will eventually carry more than one million barrels of diluted bitumen each day from the large SAGD (steam assisted gravity drainage) operations of Devon NEC Corp. and MEG Energy in the Conklin area, north of Lac La Biche.

It will largely follow the right-of-way of the still relatively new Access pipes, a 24-inch bitumen-blend line and a 16-inch diluent line, which start at the Access Sturgeon Terminal near Redwater, north of Fort Saskatchewan.

F-35 purchase had 2 sets of books, Page says: Conservative MP Rajotte denies government did anything wrong in jet procurement process  April 28 2012 | CBC

Canada’s budget watchdog says it appears the Conservative government kept two sets of books when it came to the costs of replacing Canada’s aging fleet of CF-18s with 65 F-35 stealth fighter jets.

In an interview airing on CBC Radio’s The House on Saturday, parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page spoke out on the issue for the first time since Auditor General Michael Ferguson delivered a report earlier this month lambasting the government and Department of National Defence officials over estimated costs of replacing Canada’s fighter jets.

Page told host Evan Solomon what bothered his office was that one set of books was available inside DND, while another “for communication purposes” was presented publicly, in which he said the government was “low-balling” the numbers.

Military hits reset button on $2B Close Combat Vehicle  April 28 2012 | Ottawa Citizen

Another of the Conservative government’s multi-billion dollar military equipment programs has gone off the rails and will have to be restarted.

Companies vying for the $2-billion Close Combat Vehicle program were told Friday that their bids had been rejected and they will have to submit new proposals.

It is the second time in less than a year that candidate vehicles, some of which are in service with allied nations in Afghanistan, have been rejected by the Defence Department.

Two-tiered wage system announced by Tories  April 28 2012 | Toronto Star

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has always vehemently denied bringing cheap foreign labour into Canada. Employers had to pay foreign temporary workers “the prevailing wage,” he pointed out.

That indeed is what the rules said – until Wednesday, when Human Resources Minister Diane Finley quietly changed them. Employers will now be allowed to pay foreign temp workers 15 per cent less than the average wage.

“We are taking action to ensure that the temporary foreign worker program support our economic recovery and effectively responds to local labour market demands,” she said at a manufacturing plant in Nisku, Alta.

Kenney chimed in from Ottawa. “Going forward our government will consider additional measures to strengthen and improve the program,” he promised.

Business leaders, eager to recruit low-cost workers abroad, were delighted. Immigrant support groups, already fighting to protect temporary foreign workers from exploitation, were heartsick. And labour leaders warned that the wage cut would bring down the pay scale for all workers and make it harder for Canadians to compete for jobs in their own country.

Tories had fears about F-35 costs last fall, notes show  April 27 2012 | Globe & Mail

The Harper government was privately concerned last fall about costs, delays and the quality of communication it was receiving on the U.S. F-35 stealth fighter project even as its chief spokesman on the file assured Canadians all was well.

Ottawa dispatched associate defence minister Julian Fantino to Fort Worth, Tex., to register its concerns about the F-35 Lightning – a trip Mr. Fantino took in early November, 2011, in his role as the government’s point man on military procurement.

A Sept. 30, 2011, National Defence briefing note, obtained under access to information law, indicates the Conservatives wanted to use the visit to Texas to register their unease with how the project was unfolding, while assuring the Americans they were still solidly supportive of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

It would be another six months before the Conservatives publicly acknowledged the problems with the F-35 procurement – after a damaging report from the Auditor-General – and froze spending on the program while carrying out an independent review of its costs and benefits.

Banking expert suspects Fantino bank documents are forgeries  April 27 2012 | Vancouver Sun

Bank documents that purport to show Caribbean bank accounts in the name of associate defence minister Julian Fantino have a number of problems, according to an American banking expert, which suggests the minister may be the victim of a forger.

Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson is reviewing the documents to determine if they constitute sufficient grounds for an investigation.

Fantino complained Thursday to the RCMP “about possible mistaken identity, or identity theft,” according to a spokesman.

RCMP Cpl. Lucy Shorey of A Division in Ottawa said Friday that the force could not confirm that it has launched an investigation.

“The RCMP acknowledges that it has received a complaint, and that we’re not in a position to respond further to the specifics,” she said.

The documents are three account statements from UBS Wealth Management in the Cayman Islands for three separate accounts credited to Fantino, containing a total of $321,978.59, and a record of a $50,000 wire transfer to a RBC Private Bank account in Grand Cayman.

National News: Budget Implementation Act is Gutting of Environmental Laws in Disguise  April 27 2012 | Northumberland

Most of Bill C-38 has nothing to do with fiscal matters or what a budget is supposed to do. Instead, it attacks environmental legislation, amending the Environmental Assessment Act, the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act, and repealing the Kyoto Implementation Act, along with cancelling the National Round Table on Environment and Economy.

The Koch Brothers – Exposed!  April 20 2012 | Rolling Stones

Charles and David Koch are the real deal. Over the past 30-some years, they’ve poured more than 100 million dollars into a sprawling network of foundations, think tanks, front groups, advocacy organizations, lobbyists and GOP lawmakers, all to the glory of their hard-core libertarian agenda. They don’t oppose big government so much as government – taxes, environmental protections, safety-net programs, public education: the whole bit. (By all accounts, the Kochs are true believers; they really buy that road-to-serfdom stuff about the the holiness of free markets. Still, you can’t help but notice how neatly their philosophy lines up with their business interests.) They like to think of elected politicians as merely “actors playing out a script,” and themselves as supplying “the themes and words for the scripts.“ Imagine Karl Rove’s strategic cunning, crossed with Ron Paul’s screw-the-poor ideology, and hooked up to Warren Buffett’s checking account, and you’re halfway there.

Chris Young/THE CANADIAN PRESS

BILL C-10 in Canada and the NDAA in the USA are both Draconian pieces of legislature and should both be burned at the Stake of justice and Liberty

  The NDAA is dangerous to All Canadian citizen as we see through certain situation It could be used by corrupt criminal politicians to detain an accused suspicious sovereign Canadian on Canadian soil without due process… Scary very scary. Just more proof our criminal government are out of control. So as Canadian we better have a closer look at just how bad the new NDAA act is  This next video & article explains it pretty well

http://tv.globalresearch.ca/2012/01/ndaa-just-one-more-link-chain-tyranny

The NDAA: Just one more link in the chain of tyranny

by grtv

With the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act into law, more Americans than ever before are wondering how the country could have descended so quickly into a police state. Far from a unique or isolated act, however, the NDAA is just the latest entry in a long list of steps toward the codification of outright martial law.

Find out more about the history of this agenda in this week’s GRTV Backgrounder.

TRANSCRIPT AND SOURCES:http://www.corbettreport.com/?p=3719

Each year, the United States Department of Defense budget and expenditures are approved by Congress, which must pass a National Defense Authorization Act in order to fund the DoD.

The most recent bill, however, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, shocked many by containing an extraordinary provision allowing for the indefinite detention without trial of anyone even suspected of providing support to individuals or groups identified as terrorists. Although this represents little change from the US government?s modus operandi in waging the so-called war on terror, many were amazed to discover that this provision specifically applies to American citizens, who can now be detained by American military personnel anywhere in the world, including on US soil, and held indefinitely without trial.

Perhaps it is not surprising that President Obama chose New Year?s Eve as the date to sign the NDAA, as the revelry of the holiday predictably distracted Americans from the event. Particularly remarkable is the fact that the legislation has been almost universally identified as an overt act of tyranny by commentators of all political stripes, perhaps most importantly from sources that have traditionally defended the actions of Obama and his administration.

Now, on the heels of the NDAA, a new bill is making its way through Congress: the Enemy Expatriation Act that would make the controversy about the NDAA null and void by simply stripping Americans of their American citizenship, should they be accused of associating with government-deemed terrorist organizations.

What the outrage over the NDAA and now the Enemy Expatriation Act, reveal, however, is not that Obama or the current members of the House are suddenly taking the American government in a startling new direction, but merely that they are in fact continuing to pursue a coordinated policy agenda that has persisted through administration after administration on both the left and right sides of the political aisle for decades.

In 1864, during the American civil war, Lambdin P. Milligan and four others were sentenced to death by a military court after they were found guilty of planning to overthrow the state governments of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The case reached the Supreme Court after the war ended, where it was found to be unconstitutional for US citizens to be tried in military tribunals as long as civilian courts were operating. This precedent remained in tact for almost a century, with the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 further delineating the boundary between the military and civilians by barring US military from engaging in civil police actions except by act of congress.

In 1942, however, the Supreme Court ruled on Ex Parte Quirin, a case involving the detention of eight German saboteurs during World War II and their trial as civilians in a military tribunal. The court ruled that the eight men, one of whom was a US citizen, could be tried as ?unlawful combatants? in the war, a status applying to civilians who engage in armed conflict during times of war.

Unsurprisingly, it is this Ex Parte Quirin decision allowing for the military detention of civilians, not the Ex Parte Milligan precedent, which both the Bush and Obama administrations have relied on to try to assert their authority to detain civilians as unlawful combatants in the so-called war on terror. In the immediate wake of the 9/11 attacks, Congress passed an Authorization for Use of Military Force which authorized the President to ?use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks.? Less than two months later, Bush invoked that authorization to issue a Military Order declaring that individuals detained in the war on terror be tried in military tribunals. The administration immediately began applying this order to detainees in Afghanistan, regardless of affiliation.

The practice of detaining these ?enemy combatants? at Guantanamo Bay and other military detention centers has been challenged repeatedly in the courts. When the Supreme Court finally ruled in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld that the detainees could not be held as unlawful enemy combatants but had to be held as prisoners of war in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, Congress passed the Military Commissions Act of 2006 specifically authorizing military commissions for the detainees.

In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled that Guantanamo prisoners were entitled to the US justice system, but in 2009, Obama Attorney General Holder and Solicitor General Kagan testified that they believed the government could detain combatants in accordance with the laws of war, thus sidestepping the issue of determining a prisoner?s status or their right to trial.

Now the NDAA of 2012 seems to extend all of these precedents and provisions to US citizens. This comes in addition to Peace Prize laureate Obama?s stunning declaration that he has the right to kill American civilians anywhere in the world, without so much as a trial.

Perhaps most worryingly of all, when Obama expressed reservations about the NDAA, it was not because he as a Constitutional scholar felt the idea of using the military to detain American citizens on American soil was an unconscionable abrogation of everything the US constitution and Bill of Rights stood for, but because he felt that the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force had already granted him this power as supposed Commander-in-Chief in the supposed War on Terror, which has never actually been declared.

Now, many are asking what can be done to prevent this seemingly inevitable slide into overt military control over American citizens and others around the globe.

One voice providing an answer to this question is Stewart Rhodes, a Yale Law graduate and constitutional law scholar who founded Oath Keepers, an organization dedicated to instructing American police and military personnel about the nature of their oath to uphold the constitution, and how that oath precludes them in participating in acts that clearly violate the constitution.

Stewart Rhodes appeared on Corbett Report Radio last week to talk about the history of the use of ‘enemy combatant status’ as a legal smokescreen to violate the Bill of Rights, and how citizens can work to reverse the damage that has already been done by the passing of this legislation.

http://tv.globalresearch.ca/2012/01/ndaa-just-one-more-link-chain-tyranny

Anothers view on the NDAA read the whole act yourself, as they say this requires your total due diligence

NDAA Pdf file   http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s1867pcs/pdf/BILLS-112s1867pcs.pdf

This is another well writing article about the NDAA showing that many people have grave concerns over this ACT of Tyranny and lets be Frank this is TYRANNY

The National Defense Authorization Act is the Greatest Threat to Civil Liberties Americans Face

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If Obama does one thing for the remainder of his presidency let it bea veto of the National Defense Authorization Act – a law recently passed by the Senate which would place domestic terror investigations and interrogations into the hands of the military and which would open the door for trial-free, indefinite detention of anyone, including American citizens, so long as the government calls them terrorists.

So much for innocent until proven guilty. So much for limited government. What Americans are now facing is quite literally the end of the line. We will either uphold the freedoms baked into our Constitutional Republic, or we will scrap the entire project in the name of security as we wage, endlessly, this futile, costly, and ultimately self-defeating War on Terror.

Over at Wired, Spencer Ackerman gives us the long and short of things:

There are still changes swirling around the Senate, but this looks like the basic shape of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act. Someone the government says is “a member of, or part of, al-Qaida or an associated force” can be held in military custody “without trial until the end of the hostilities authorized by the Authorization for Use of Military Force.” Those hostilities are currently scheduled toend the Wednesday after never. The move would shut down criminal trials for terror suspects.

But far more dramatically, the detention mandate to use indefinite military detention in terrorism cases isn’t limited to foreigners. It’s confusing, because two different sections of the bill seem to contradict each other, but in the judgment of the University of Texas’ Robert Chesney — a nonpartisan authority on military detention — “U.S. citizens are included in the grant of detention authority.”

An amendment that would limit military detentions to people captured overseas failed on Thursday afternoon. The Senate soundly defeated a measure to strip out all the detention provisions on Tuesday.

So despite the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of a right to trial, the Senate bill would let the government lock up any citizen it swears is a terrorist, without the burden of proving its case to an independent judge, and for the lifespan of an amorphous war that conceivably will never end. And because the Senate is using the bill that authorizes funding for the military as its vehicle for this dramatic constitutional claim, it’s pretty likely to pass.

I seriously don’t care if you’re a liberal or a conservative or a libertarian or a Zen anarchist. So long as you aren’t Carl Levin or John McCain, the bill’s architects, you can join the Civil Liberties Caucus. Spencer writes:

Weirder still, the bill’s chief architect, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), tried to persuade skeptics that the bill wasn’t so bad. His pitch? “The requirement to detain a person in military custody under this section does not extend to citizens of the United States,” he said on the Senate floor on Monday. The bill would just letthe government detain a citizen in military custody, not force it to do that. Reassured yet?

Civil libertarians aren’t. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) said it “denigrates the very foundations of this country.” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) added, “it puts every single American citizen at risk.”

This is what I mean: Give me Rand Paul and Al Franken any day of the week over the Levins and McCains of the Senate. We need more elected officials with the sensibility of Ron Wyden or Al Franken* on the left, or Rand Paul on the right. Right and left are such shoddy, ad hoc descriptors these days anyways.

What’s truly at stake when we start talking about Big Government and such is far more dangerous and preposterous than high marginal tax rates.

We’re talking about the stripping away of our most basic freedoms. We’re talking about a potential state that can call me a terrorist for writing this blog post and then lock me up and throw away the key.
What’s the line from Batman? The night is always darkest just before the dawn. I like to think that’s true, because times seem awfully dark these days.

* Update: Actually, Franken voted for the NDAA so never mind. He’s also sponsoring the PROTECT IP Act which would clamp down on free speech online.

Second Update (Dec. 17th): The National Defense Authorization Act passed. Senator Al Franken withdrew his support from the bill, stating:

“I voted against this bill because it contains provisions on detention that I find unacceptable. While I voted for an earlier version of the legislation, I did so with the hope that the final version would be significantly improved. And that didn’t happen.

“The bill that came before the Senate today still includes several troubling provisions, the worst of which could allow the military to detain Americans indefinitely, without charge or trial, even if they’re captured in the U.S. What’s more, provisions like these could ultimately undermine the safety of our troops stationed abroad. And just yesterday, FBI Director Robert Mueller testified in a Senate hearing that I attended about his deep concerns with the detention provisions and their potentially harmful effects on our counterterrorism efforts.

“Today is the anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights, and this wasn’t the way to mark its birthday.”

I will have a follow-up post to address this and other arguments surrounding the controversial legislation up soon. Please don’t hesitate to send me thoughts, tips, and feedback.

You can follow me on Twitter or Facebook. Read my Forbes blog here.

As we have seen above our leaders care not and serve us not and the move to a cashless society is just another angle and latest attempt of the takeover of our sovereignty by those who believe themselves to be our master .They are locking us down slowly into there global prison system grid in the making and with there ever increasing implementation of Draconian Laws eroding our freedoms and ever more limiting our ability to fight back legally and peacefully. And as the people get poorer and poorer and madder and madder  They are completely ready to totally quell any kind of mad violent uprising or any kind of say aggressive attempt at arresting the Cabal Leaders by the masses of people. There ready with overwhelming military might hidden right in today COP with high tech crowd control weapons like LRAD,rubber bullet, chemical weapons, and of course all out full force brutality. They have nice new special detainment facilities ready and waiting to hold all there so called “rioting pillaging decenters or maybe they’ll call them homegrown terrorist or insurgent or some other deceptive name on the Mainstream Lie to you CNN MSNBC ABC CBS BS Network Nightly News. We hope this look at what’s happening right in your face today, will help you decide that enough is enough for tomorrow

HOW HIGH WILL YOU LET THE PRICE OF GAS GO BEFORE YOU EXPLODE