Can A Missing Mineral Make Us All More Sane?

Photos

lithium

see larger image

uploaded by JTony

• 

  uploaded by JTony | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Stephen John | add comment

• 

  uploaded by djloche | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Wade Helquist | add comment

Scientific Studies of Lithium Supplements

In a 1997 study, researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health
stated: “We found that long-term exposure to lithium chloride
dramatically protects cultured rat cerebellar, cerebral cortical, and
hippocampal neurons against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity… This
neuroprotection is long-lasting, occurs at therapeutically relevant
concentrations of lithium.” See Article Simply stated: “Taking long
term supliments of Lithium protects your brain cells from all kinds of
damage.” This has startling implications for the treatment of many
diseases like Alzheimers and other mental disorders. But, it also has a
huge potential impact on longevity and mental functioning.

Longevity Benefits

Dr Gregory J Moore G.L. in Lithium-induced increase in human grey
matter. (Lancet 2000) states, “Rodent studies have shown that lithium
exerts neurotrophic or neuroprotective effects … Grey-matter volume
increased after 4 weeks of treatment. The increases in grey matter
probably occurred because of neurotrophic effects.” This is an
indication that a brain with damaged cells can regrow them and even
increase in size. This is stated in another article below.

In “How To Enlarge Your Brain”, Dr. James Howenstine, MD. writes:
“Medical students are taught that there is a slow steady loss of brain
cells with aging culminating in gradual shrinkage of the brain. Lithium
has long been known to be an effective therapy for Bipolar Disorder
(manic depression) when taken in high doses. However, recent research
has shown that low doses of lithium preserve and renew[1] brain cells.
Eight of ten persons given lithium showed an increase in brain grey
matter of 3 % after only 4 weeks. By promoting brain cell regeneration
and increasing brain size lithium can function as an anti-aging
nutrient for the brain.”

Many other Benefits

Dr Howenstine also cites research stating, “Ten years of research by 27
counties in Texas disclosed that the incidence of homicide, rape,
robbery, burglary, arrests for drug possession, and suicide[4] were
higher in counties whose drinking water contained little or no lithium.
Counties whose drinking water naturally contained higher amounts of
lithium had significantly lower rates of all these crimes. These
counties with higher levels of lithium in their tap water experienced
fewer hospitalizations for homicides, mental illness[5], psychosis,
neurosis, schizophrenia, and personality disorder. Low dosage lithium
benefits alcoholism and mood disorders seen in heavy users of alcohol
and their relatives. This therapy is often obvious to family members[6]
when depression, premenstrual tension, temper flareups and irritability
cease affecting the individual. Lithium has been helpful in reducing
aggressive[7] behavior in children. High dosages of lithium helped two
adult women with severe anorexia nervosa[8] regain 26 and 20 pounds in
six weeks. Both women experienced improvement in behavioral problems.”

Should Lithium be added to drinking water?

Dr Howenstine thinks so, “The answer is yes, particularly for parts of
the country where lithium water levels are low. Placing lithium in the
water supply would almost certainly lower crime rates and would also
improve the productivity of many emotionally troubled persons.”

In conclusion, there are many things we can do to increase our
health and longevity. Most of them are much more difficult than others.
Taking a lithium supplement is not only simple, it is very low cost,
about $2 a month. I don’t see why everyone wouldn’t want to contribute
to making the world a better place by gaining a little mental health
edge. You can find a low cost source of Lithium at: World Wide Health

More Info at: Long Healthy Life