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Silica
Silica – the beauty mineral
Description
Silica’s key element silicon is vital and essential to building and maintaining living organisms. A mineral fashioned millions of years ago, the majority of which is found in its crystalline or grown form. Precious gems such as emeralds, aquamarine, tourmaline, amethyst, rose quarts, agate and jasper are all made from silica. Silicon usually occurs in oxygenated rocks, or in quarts, sand and clay. Silicon in its pure elementary form cannot exist on earth, it abounds however in bonded forms, and through that bonded process, changes its name. Silicon has a great affinity for oxygen which it easily combines with and together these two elements rule the world. Silicon makes up 40% of the formation of the earth’s crust, oxygen, the primary element of life, makes up the rest.
The most commonly found silicon compound is the oxide of silicon, called silicon dioxide (Si02), best known as quarts that is made up of 1 x silicon atom – bound to 2 x oxygen atoms in a 3 x atom molecule. This compound is generally called silica.
Silicon very seldom bonds in its simplest salt – like form, most often forming multi-nuclear structures known as oxocomplexes. It also forms the natural and technologically important silicates. The more complex silicates take on a more diamond like character, with quarts as its final link.
Quartz crystals are the hidden power objects in much of today’s technology.
Function
Silica is responsible for the production and renewal of the life giving oxygen.
It stimulates cell metabolism and cell formation.
Silica inhibits the aging process in tissues and younger peoples tissues always show higher amounts of silica content. Unsupported silica content decreases with age.
Silica is important for the functioning and structure of connective tissue increasing elasticity and firmness of blood vessels, helping to avoid diseases of the arteries resulting in the thickening and loss of elasticity of arterial walls (arteriosclerotic conditions). As the arteries elastic connective tissue is rejuvenated, or elasticized with silica, the arteriosclerotic de-swelling vanishes.
Silica is anti-inflammatory, disinfecting, absorbing and odour binding. As a foot powder, silica traps bacterial molecules eliminating unpleasant odours.
Silica stimulates the immune system activating immune function. This immune boosting effect, helps to create the matrix that enables the body to fight off infections and disease causing intruders and environmental toxins.
Medicinal and therapeutic Uses
Silica is especially important in pulmonary tuberculosis. It can prevent kidney stones and is advantageous for the treatment of kidney and bladder disorders and inflammation.
Useful in tonsillitis, gum disease, pharynx or air canal catarr, enlarged throat lymph glands, chronic pharyngitis and laryngitis, paranasal sinus, mastioditis, colds, middle ear catarrh and osteosclerosis. A benefical effect on the lymphatic system, reducing the swelling of lymph nodes in the throat.
Gastrointestinal catarrh, ulcers caused by bacteria, bloating, constipation, haemorrhoids, neuralgia, neuritis, migraine, discharge, abscesses and ulcers in the genital area and the cervix.
By way of structural regeneration, regenerating damaged and denatured protein, it can have a positive effect on cancers. It can inaugurate the synthesis of new albumin bodies.
Arteriosclerotic damage such as dizziness, headaches, buzzing in the ears and sleeping disorders can eventually disappear. Good circulation can be returned to aging circulatory systems. Can normalize blood pressure. Promotes artery in-permeability to harmful lipids. Influences the entire immune system increasing the production of phagocytes that kill germs and other foreign intruders, so is also beneficial to HIV sufferers.
Silica is also effective against itching, rashes, abscesses, boils, acne, calluses, warts, eczema, corns, benign skin sores, insect bites, bed sores, skin injuries, burns, frostbite, varicose ulcwers, pulled or stiff ligaments and damaged disks, flabby skin, brittle nails, hair loss, aging and aging disorders, preventing osteoporosis and brittle bones. Helps the proper absorption of calcium.
Deficiency Effects
Without silica, all life processes would slow down their metabolism after a short time. Protein synthesis would grind to a halt. Fat metabolism would increase and cells would fatten. This is similar to the fattening of cancer cells, because of oxygen starvation. Silicon deficiency is often related to arthritic conditions, poor eyesight, mental fatigue, infection, exhaustion, weakness of connective tissue, hair loss, cracked brittle nails.
Toxicity Effects
Likely safe in food amounts. Its safety as a medicine is unknown. However caution is recommended with horsetail. When gathering in spring, it is recommended to avoid the first spring growth as this is when silica in the plant is at its highest. To avoid overly abundant silica which could irritate the kidneys and sensitize the nerves, wait until mid-spring to pick horsetail when silica levels have reduced. Ref:book “Menopausal years” by Susun Weed.
Good Food Sources
Despite the over-abundance of silica in the soil. Much of silica-rich food is grown in mono-cultural commercial crops which are over-burdened with years of insecticide spraying and artificial fertilizers resulting in widespread deficiency of silica in soil. This must be replenished to continue to grow food.
High silica foods include: Oats, millet, barley, potatoes, whole wheat, nuts, seeds, rice polishing’s and the outer layer of fresh fruit and vegetables. Horsetail, oat-straw, corn silk, chickweed, Echinacea, eyebright, skullcap, liquorice, alfalfa, burdock, gotu kola, golden seal, nettles.
Silicon depleters are: fats, starches and sugars.
