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Pineal Gland/Third Eye Theory; Effects of Flouride on the Pinea

  • Posted by Serpent Rising March 15, 2011 - 846 views

    Only a few months ago I reunited with a very old friend. After a while of reminiscing, we began to talk a bit about politics. She began expressing her deep concerns about flouride in the water system. I was not particularly familiar with the concern. She suggested fluoridated water had been used by Nazis to subdue people, she claimed it has sedative properties. I thought it was interesting but never followed up with any research. Perhaps a month after that conversation, I began researching the pineal gland/seat of consciousness/third eye connections. Somewhere in my googling "pineal gland", I found an article that linked fluoride to supression of the pineal gland which seemed to be quite an interesting and serendipitous coincidence, since before chatting with this friend I can't recall ever having concern about fluoride.

    Below are two articles, one on the connection of the pineal gland with consciousness/the third eye, and the other on the effects of fluoride.

    Neither of the following were written by me, any indication of links will have to be accessed through the source website.

     

    1. Pineal Gland/Third Eye Theory

    Author unknown

    source: http://www.dhyansanjivani.org/pineal_gland_chakra.asp

    The pineal gland, a cone-shaped organ, which btw is how it got its name, is about the size of a pea and is located in a tiny cave behind and above the pituitary gland almost directly in the middle of the brain. It is attached to the third ventricle of the brain and produces the hormone "melatonin," which is secreted throughout the night with the absence of light.

    When light enters the retina of the eyes, this signal is sent through the optic nerve to a region of the hypothalamus called the suprachiasmatic nucleus. This pathway is called the retinohypothalamic tract. From the suprachiasmatic nucleus, nerve impulses via the sympathetic nervous system travel to the pineal gland and inhibit the production of melatonin. At night, these impulses stop (because no light stimulates the hypothalamus) and melatonin production ensues and is released into the body. As a result, it appears the pineal gland is a photosensitive organ. Or is it?     

    Melatonin is implicated in many human activities, and perhaps human behavioral disorders. Melatonin regulates the human daily body rhythms, most notably the day and night cycle, and perhaps the depression and tiredness some people feel during long periods of overcast skies and short days during the winter months is in response to an over production of melatonin? If this is true, I wonder how melatonin production effects blind people? Are blind people more susceptible to depression because of a melatonin imbalance?

    Melatonin can be found throughout the animal kingdom. In reptiles and birds, the pineal gland is found close to the skin; it needs no interaction with with the eye to sense whether it is day or night. Interestingly enough, this is where the term "third eye" originated. The pineal gland is therefore the master clock for these animals. For mammals, however, the pineal gland is subordinate to the eye and the suprachiasmatic nucleus because light severely stops the production of melatonin.

    Medical dissection has revealed that the front section of the pineal gland is equipped with the complete structure of a human eye. Since it grows/exists inside the human skull, it has been called a vestigal eye.

    Conventional theory has it that the rod and cone photoreceptors in the retina are responsible for transmitting all photoreceptive input, and that the suppression of melatonin (produced by the pineal gland) is also carried out via this pathway. But, since the pineal gland is concealed in the skull, how in the world is it possible for it to respond directly to light??

    Bottom line: The conventional visual pathway from the retina to the pineal gland via retinal photoreceptors or optic transduction does NOT seem to be the mode of communication. So then how does the presence of light reach the pineal gland?

    Talk of "unconventional photoreceptors" proposed non-rod and non-cone photoreceptors carrying non-image/non-visual optical signals. But evidence to support such a theory is absent.

    Another theory proposes that because the structure of the retina and pineal gland are similar, perhaps the pineal consist of a variety of genes that are only expressed in the eye; therefore, the pineal gland has photoreceptors and a complete system for optical transduction. In other words, there IS some light-communication highway to the pineal gland. But what is it??

    Ah-ha! Perhaps there is a secret, "unknown" (invisible?) passageway that allows the mammalian pineal to detect light directly!

    Imagine that!
    Before we go any further, please read below an interesting medical case you should know about:

    "Until a few decades ago, scant attention was paid to the pineal gland. Then came the case in which a child was brought to a German clinic suffering from eye trouble and headaches. He was five-years-old and very mature, and apparently had reached the age of adolescence.

    "He was abnormally bright mentally, discussing metaphysical and spiritual subjects. He was strongly group-conscious and only happy when sharing what he had with others. After his arrival at the clinic, he rapidly grew worse and died a month later. An autopsy revealed a tumor of his pineal gland."     - Berman, Lous, M.D., The Glands Regulating Personality


    Think about the above story. Other than the fact the pineal gland is effected by light and secretes melatonin, scientist and medical professionals really do NOT understand EXACTLY what the function of the pineal gland is! Okay, fine. But have any of you began to tie in the physical, bodily human death with this light funtioning gland? No? Not yet? Okay, no problem. Please read on :-)


    Now, there has been some confusion as to what the human "Third Eye" is and where it is located. This confusion seems to stem mostly from the location of the pituitary and pineal gland and the similarity of their names.

    The "magical" Third Eye and the Ajna chakra have been mentioned in many religions as dwelling between the eyes, eyebrows, center of the forehead, etc., and its association with light.

    In the 2nd century, Galen was the first to mention the Third Eye to the West. He believed it to be a valve that regulated thought.

    18th century French scientist and philosopher Rene Descartes believed it was the chief interpreter of vision and the "seat of the human soul."


    In 1644, Descartes' theory of vision and interaction with the pineal gland is expressed in this woodcut. He believed light particles interacted with the eyes and the image seen (the light particles themselves) were then transmitted to the pineal gland - the pineal gland being the nexus between the mind and the body.

    "In man, soul and body touch each other only at a single point, the pineal gland in the head."

    This drawing depicts an external stimulus being transmitted into an act of will by pointing, an act sent by the pineal gland.

    In 1918, Nils Holmgrenin, a Swedish anatomist, referred to the pineal gland as the "Third Eye" because he discovered cells that looked very much like retina cone cells in the tip of the gland in frogs and dogfish sharks. AND, recent discoveries have found that the pineal gland in the Western Fence Lizard contains a photo-receptive element scientist called a "third eye" that protruded from the top of its head. Interesting. - SOURCE: www.suneye.org
    Now let me ask you a very interesting question: While napping or just falling asleep, have you been able to see the room you are sleeping in, or room(s) of your house/apt while your eyes have been closed?! You feel, you KNOW your eyes are closed, yet you can see as if your eyes were open!!!??

    Are you with me?

    It has been said that the "Third Eye" is a direct doorway to your subconscious, or unconscious mind. This may be true. The Ancient Egyptians studied this gland and understood its paranormal power. The headdress with the cobra snake protruding from the forehead exemplifies this symbology. And it is said that the Eye of Horus and the Masonic Capstone on the top of the pyramid on the Great Seal of the U.S. dollar bill represents this understanding as well.

    When activated, the pineal gland opens our subconscious and 6th sense and becomes the window, or doorway to the higher planes (realms).

    It has been said that during the day, the pineal gland synthesizes amino acids into serotonin, which is converted into melatonin at night. The pineal gland also produces pinoline. When pinoline interacts with serotonin, we fall into the state of consciousness called the dream state. This occurs about 2 hours after going to sleep.

    Esoteric schools have long known that this area of the brain is the connecting link between the physical and spiritual worlds. Development of psychic abilities has always been closely associated with the pineal gland.

    The Crown Chakra reaches down until its vortex contacts the pineal gland. Prana is received, and with practice, the vibrational level of the astral body is raised and allowed to separate from the physical body. This is what is known as Astral Projection.

    Once you learn how to activate and use this wonderful "Third Eye," you will perceive higher dimensions that will astound you. In order for this to happen however, a proper relationship must be established between your pituitary gland (personality) and your soul (operating through your pineal gland ). Once this relationship is established, a magnetic field is created between the two glands, uniting the positive and negative forces to create the "light in the head." Once this "light in the head" is activated, the astral body can leave the physical body.

    It should be noted that you will never realize any of this until you have properly prepared yourself. This preparation takes time, effort and DESIRE. I offer many exercises that are designed simply to HELP you attain this higher level of spiritual education, so to speak, but the end result is and always will be completely up to you.

    For now, this is all I will say about that.

    http://www.dhyansanjivani.org/pineal_gland_chakra.asp

     

    2. Health Effects: Fluoride and the pineal gland

    Fluoride Action Network

    source: http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/pineal/

     

    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:

    Articles of Interest - Fluoride & the Pineal Gland:

    Summation - Fluoride & Pineal Gland:

    “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: 

    "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:

    "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:

    "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?

    "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, since dental 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:

    "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?

    "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:

    "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:

    "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.

    http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/pineal/