Lead is a highly toxic and interesting mineral that was discovered thousands of years ago. It is still widely used in industry due to its unusual properties. It works well as a lubricant, and was used in printing, gasoline manufacture, dyes, paints, and hundreds of other applications.
A horror mineral, the mentally dull mineral, and a selfish mineral. We call lead the horror mineral because of its toxicity. It is also the mentally dull mineral because that is one of its major effects on intelligence. Some also call it the selfish mineral because it has a peculiar effect upon the nervous system that makes people more selfish.
A more “male” mineral. lead is also considered an older “male” mineral. This means that its effects upon the body are often structural and warming or more yang in Chinese medical terminology.
A structural toxin means that lead severely weakens the body structure. It replaces calcium in the bones, for example, weakening them and eventually causing a type of osteoporosis. It also replaces calcium in the blood cells, damaging the blood and causing a severe form of anemia.
It also goes to the brain and the entire nervous system, where it replaces calcium, magnesium and other vital elements there. It causes dementia, violence, criminality, drug use such as CBD to calm down, impure thoughts and many other mental problems as a result.
A persistent poison. A major problem with toxic metals, including lead, is they are persistent poisons. This means they do not break down or degrade naturally. They just remain in the environment for decades and longer.
SOURCES OF LEAD TOXICITY
Home products. These include the use of ‘Grecian Formula’ and ‘Youth Hair’ hair dyes, Suavecito hair pomade, and some lipstick, especially the more costly ones. Other sources are exposure to older lead-containing paint, cigarette smoke, colored inks, older ceramic glazes, older solder, and food cans soldered with lead. Fortunately, most cans are crimped today, not soldered.
Industry. Other sources are the manufacture of lead-acid batteries, working in the smelting industry and exposure to leaded gasoline,
Food. Other sources are contaminated drinking water, pesticide residues (lead arsenate, for example, especially in wine, grapes and other fruit), food contaminated with lead from the soil or from pesticide use, and occasionally water that has passed through lead-soldered water pipes.
Food supplements. Fulvic acid, humic acid and some colloidal mineral products may contain too much lead. A number of years ago, an employee at a mineral testing lab who was very careful was surprised when her mineral test revealed elevated lead. The problem turned out to be her colloidal mineral supplement.
CHILDREN AND LEAD
Babies and children have a serious problem with lead toxicity for a number of reasons that combine together:
- Congenital lead toxicity. Today, many, if not most American and European children are born with elevated lead. They get it through the placenta from their mothers. This alone can cause reduced intelligence.
It also contributes to today’s epidemics of autism, attention deficit disorder, birth defects, developmental delays, dyslexia, impaired or delayed muscle coordination, tooth decay, mild rickets and other bone disorders, slow growth, cancers and other problems of our children.
- Congenital low calcium. Many, if not most babies are also born low in calcium due to a deficiency in their mothers. This compounds the problem #1 above because low calcium in the body increases the absorption of lead.
- Fast oxidation and lead toxicity. All babies and almost all young children are in a state we call fast oxidation. This is a chronic fight-or-flight reaction.
This state of body chemistry causes a loss of calcium in the urine as part of the stress response. As a result, the need for dietary calcium is greater. When it is not met, these individuals are very prone to accumulate lead, which can replace calcium in the bones and elsewhere.
- Growth requires lots of calcium. Babies and young are also growing fast and need a lot of calcium for their bones and nervous systems.
- Breast milk. In addition, the breast milk of most mothers is deficient in calcium because most mothers’ diets do not contain nearly enough usable calcium. This means that babies get too much lead from the mothers both before and after birth.
Lead also gives breast milk a foul taste that babies do not like, and which may cause them to reject breast milk.
- Bottle-feeding. Even worse are babies who are bottle-fed. The reason is that pasteurizing milk reduces the biological availability of the calcium in the milk.
- Raw milk. The calcium in raw milk is more absorbable. However, today most cows are fed corn and hay, rather than their proper food of fresh pasture. As a result, most cows are low in calcium and their milk is low in calcium. This problem affects all milk.
- Oxides, carbonates and other biounavailable compounds of calcium. Another very important factor is that most soil today has too much calcium that is in biounavailable compounds. These find their way into all of our plant and animal foods.
Once in the food, these less usable forms of calcium compete for absorption in the digestive tract of the farm animals and that of all human beings. This serous problem further reduces everyone’s intake of biologically available calcium. The information applies to calcium, as well as other minerals today.
- Babies need sunshine. Most mothers are brainwashed by ignorant medical personnel and do not expose their babies to the sun every day for about 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the time of day and one’s latitude. Without this exposure, babies do not make enough vitamin D and this reduces their calcium utilization. This makes them even more prone to lead poisoning. Dark-skinned children have more of a problem in this regard because their skin absorbs less sunlight.
- Parents are fooled by milk product labels that say the product is “fortified with vitamin D”. The problem is that they contain a cheap, synthetic form of vitamin D (vitamin D2), that does not work well.
- All plant and animal products. In addition, lead has found its way into ground water supplies and even falls from the sky when it rains or snows. As a result, many pastures and fields are somewhat contaminated with lead, which in turn affects all the plants and animals raised on this land. As a result, much of the milk, meat and plant products are too high in lead.
- Pesticide use. In addition, lead is still used as a pesticide in almost every nation on earth. This just spreads more tons of lead all over the planet.
- Lead pollution from industry. America and Europe have cleaned up their industries that require lead. The same is not true elsewhere, particularly in China and other parts of Asia. Communist and socialist nations are notoriously lax when it comes to pollution because it is not in the interest of the government to clean up pollution.
- Stress. All of the above cause today’s babies to move deeper into fast oxidation right from birth or soon after. The babies are more irritable, more nervous, and more frightened as a result of their deranged body chemistry.
Moving into faster oxidation further depletes their calcium, magnesium and zinc and makes them even more prone to absorbing lead from their food, water and from the air.
Other important sources of stress for babies and children include daycare centers and then pre-schools and schools. All of these places are unclean, less safe and increase children’s stress level.
Another location that often increases the stress level of babies and children is eating at restaurants. Often they are too noisy, not clean enough, and the food quality tends to be worse than fresh, home-cooked meals.
Another activity that often increases the stress level of a baby or young child is riding in airplanes, buses, or trains. Problems can include a high noise level, electromagnetic stress from computers and phones and germs all over the seats and in the air.
Another stressor for babies and children is carpeting in homes. Babies spend a lot of time on the floor. Carpeting is quite toxic when it is new. It is also impossible to keep clean.
Other important stressors for babies and children are fire retardant used in mattresses, and the use of smelly soaps and shampoos. Children must also be around their parents or others’ smelly perfumes, lotions, skin creams, and deodorants.
Other stressors that affect many babies and children are exposure to many toxic chemicals found in products such as their mothers’ nail polish, household cleaners and other home products. All of these add to the toxic burden of our babies and children today.
The children and even babies then “burn out” at a younger age, which further impairs their digestion, further worsening the problems of calcium deficiency and lead absorption.
Another stressor today for babies and children are the new washing machines that do not clean clothes well, often leaving more smelly and toxic detergents in the clothing, bed sheets and other items children touch and wear.
- Sewage sludge is permitted to be used as fertilizer, even on organically grown food. The problem is it is often contaminated with lead and other toxic metals from the sources listed above.
- Vaccines and medical drugs. Giving babies and children vaccines and medical drugs such as antibiotics further weakens their digestion, in all cases. This makes the lead problem much worse.
- Eating fruit. Parents often feed children fruit, but fruit is a very low-calcium food that makes a calcium deficiency worse.
- Eating sweets. Parents often feed or allow children to have sweets or sugar such as candy, ice cream, cookies and cake. This upsets calcium metabolism and can worsen a calcium deficiency.
- Eating shellfish. Parents may give children shellfish such as shrimp and scallops. However, these foods are bottom feeders and caught near shorelines that are often contaminated with lead and other toxic metals.
- Eating refined flour and refined white rice. These foods have had their calcium, magnesium, zinc and other minerals stripped away, so this worsens vital mineral deficiencies and causes the body to absorb more lead.
- Reverse osmosis or distilled water. Some parents give their children water purified by reverse osmosis. It is called “purified water” or “drinking water” and widely advertised as the best water to drink. However, it is devoid of minerals, which worsens calcium and other mineral deficiencies. This causes babies and children to absorb more lead and other toxic metals.
- Soda pop. Cola drinks, in particular, contain phosphoric acid that binds calcium in the intestines and removes it from the body. This worsens a calcium deficiency, causing a child to absorb more lead.
- Bad medical advice. Medical personnel often do not advise parents to feed their children correctly, they rarely prescribe vitamins for children, and they sometimes tell parents that vitamins are a waste of money. This is not true and this serious problem tends to worsen calcium and other mineral deficiencies.
- Other toxic metals. Exposure to cadmium, for example, interferes with calcium metabolism and worsens a calcium deficiency. Many children are born with too much cadmium, mercury, nickel, aluminum and other toxic metals.
- Digestive problems of babies and children. These can be due to infections, vaccines, stress or medical drugs. Digestive weakness impairs calcium absorption.
These factors above combine today to cause a very serious problem for most babies and children.
ADULTS
Wine-drinking. In many areas, grapes will not grow properly without the use of at least a little lead arsenate or other lead-containing pesticide. Wine is actually the most toxic alcoholic beverage in terms of lead poisoning.
We do not even trust organically grown wines because the soil may still be contaminated and because some pesticide may be used that is not reported to the organic certifying agencies. We do not recommend any alcoholic beverages for other reasons, as well.
We also do not recommend grape and perhaps other fruit juices, as these can be contaminated with lead, as well.
Increased lead absorption. Diets deficient in calcium, magnesium, or iron increase lead absorption.
Two unusual cases of lead poisoning. Dr. Paul Eck told me of a client whose job was to refuel commercial jetliners. He touched and breathed lead fumes for years when jet fuel contained lead and contracted Parkinson’s disease.
He recovered with a healing program. Interestingly, during the program whenever he took a bath, a ring of lead was left in the bathtub that the man could scrape off with his fingernail.
The second case is that of a neighbor who makes his own bullets for shooting practice. He regularly melts lead in front of his house and then pours the lead into bullet molds. This man’s home contains too much lead, a residue to air pollution from heating lead close to the house.
DETECTION OF LEAD TOXICITY
Blood serum – This is excellent for acute lead toxicity only. This means that if a person is exposed to lead and one gets to a doctor quickly, a blood test will reveal it.
Blood tests are not nearly as accurate for chronic lead poisoning because most lead is removed from the blood within 30 days of exposure and stored in the tissues such as the hair.
Urine challenge tests. For this test, a person is given a dose of a chelating drug such as EDTA. Then one collects urine for 24 hours and measures the lead in the urine.
This test is definitely better to detect chronic lead poisoning than serum blood tests. However, it misses a lot of lead because the chelating agents only circulate in the blood and do not reach lead that is deeply stored in the bones and other body tissues.
Hair – The US Environmental Protection Agency review in 1979 showed hair to be an excellent method of testing for chronic lead poisoning. However, as with all toxic metal tests, hair mineral testing will also not detect lead that is stored deep in body tissues.
Hair testing only detects lead that is stored or being eliminated through the hair and skin at the time of the test. Hair testing will reveal much more lead if one retests the hair at regular 3-6-month intervals while one follows a corrective healing program. During these programs, the hair lead level often rises and then decreases several times as more lead is eliminated from the body.
HOW LEAD AFFECTS THE BODY
Blood – inhibits enzymes associated with hemoglobin synthesis, and increases the rate of destruction of red blood cells. End result is fatigue.
Bones – lead is incorporated into bone in preference to calcium. Lead can fool bone density tests because it is radio-opaque. This means that if one’s bones contain a lot of lead, the bones will seem to be dense on an x-ray, but they are weaker than normal bones and more subject to breakage.
Brain – can inhibit copper-dependent enzymes needed for neurotransmitters (dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine). The result is hyperactivity, mental dullness, a lowered IQ, violence and anti-social behavior.
Energy – inhibits copper and iron‑dependent enzymes in the Krebs cycle required for energy production. End result is fatigue.
Kidneys – lead can raise uric acid levels and impair kidney function. End result is gout.
Minerals ‑ lead displaces and can cause deficiency or bio‑unavailability of calcium, zinc, manganese, copper, and iron.
Thyroid gland – lead interferes with iodine uptake by the thyroid, and can inactivate thyroxin.
SYMPTOMS OF LEAD TOXICITY
Musculo‑skeletal system
arthritis, osteo
arthritis, rheumatoid
back pain, low
rickets
gout
Hematological
anemia
Nervous system
brain function, abnormal
blindness
convulsions
deafness
dyslexia
encephalitis
encephalopathy
epilepsy
fatigue
insomnia
multiple sclerosis
muscular dystrophy
Parkinson’s disease
vertigo
Cardiovascular system
arteriosclerosis
Digestive system
abdominal pain
colic
constipation
liver dysfunction
weight loss
Reproductive system
abortions, spontaneous
impotency
infertility
libido, diminished
menstrual difficulties
sterility
stillbirths
Glandular system
adrenal insufficiency
hypopituitarism
hypothyroidism
Excretory system
nephritis, other
Dental
pyorrhea, tooth decay
Psychological
anxiety
concentration, poor
depression, mental
hallucinations
hyperkinesis
memory impairment
mental retardation/lowered I.Q in children
mood swings
nightmares
psychotic behavior
schizophrenia
possibly criminality
LEAD ANTAGONISTS
These include certain forms of phosphorus, calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, iron, zinc, dietary protein, and vitamins C and E.
HAIR ANALYSIS NOTES
- Most people have excessive lead. In our experience with over 100,000 mineral tests, most people have too much lead in their bodies. Most people are born with some of it and may be exposed through their food, water and air. Lead in gasoline was stopped in the 1970s, for example. However, city streets, buildings, soil and older structures may still contain high levels of lead that is blown everywhere on earth.
- Ideal hair lead level. We use a lower normal or ideal lead level than most mineral testing labs use.
- Poor eliminator pattern. A very low lead reading in the hair indicates a poor eliminator or very poor eliminator pattern.
- Slow to be eliminated, at times. Lead does not leave the body rapidly.
- Very high readings. Hair dyes and hair products containing lead occasionally cause very high hair readings. Lead is easily absorbed into the scalp when these products are applied. Please avoid products such as Youth Hair, Grecian Formula, Suavecito Hair Pomade and other products that contain lead.
- Retracing problems with lead. Usually, when lead is eliminated, one does not experience annoying symptoms. At times, one may feel a new strength and flexibility in the bones and much better mental functioning.
A LEAD PERSONALITY TYPE
This description was given to me about a partner who had a lot of lead in her body, along with very low zinc. The person was stubborn, sluggish, tired, mean, cruel, nasty, tough (meaning thick or dense), sad, lonely, in a daze, and “adrift”. All of this went away as the lead was eliminated from her body over a period of about 6 years.