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Silicon is an essential mineral that is found throughout the body. Silicon is known for its ability to combine with Calcium, Potassium, and Phosphorus to build strong bones, nails, and teeth. It is also needed for maintaining a normal rate of hair growth.
Silicon is the second most abundant element on the earth (behind oxygen), and constitutes nearly 28% of the earth's crust. Physiologically, silicon deficiencies have been associated with aberrant metabolism of connective tissue and bone.
Source
Natural sources include green leafy vegetables, beets, onions, parsnips, oats, apples, strawberries, grapes, raw almonds, raw sunflower seeds raw flaxseed.
Silicon is also found in the following herbs: Alfalfa, bilberry, birch, black cohosh, black walnut, burdock, caraway, celery, chaparral, cornsilk, couch grass, dulse, eyebright, feverfew, gentian, ginseng, hawthorn, horsetail, jojoba, kelp, marjoram, nettle, oatstraw, oregon grape, parsley, peppermint, rose hips, sage, shave grass, stevia, thyme.
Silicon is readily available when pursuing a true vegetarian diet. Most synergistic formulated combinations of herbal medications contain Silicon.
While nutritional deficiencies are rare, silicon is often added to supplement products that are specifically intended for bone health or osteoporosis.
Antagonists include alcoholic beverages, tobacco (nicotine), cola drinks, most soft drinks (other than natural juices), coffee and tea (caffeinated and decaffeinated), chocolate (cocoa), inorganic mineral water (tap, well, spring), polluted air, refined sugar and refined sugar substitutes, overcooking foods, dairy products, refined and processed foods, polyunsaturated fats, radiation exposure, microwaving foods, synthetic estrogen, birth control pills, most all drug medications.
Function; Reasons For Use
Silicon is very beneficial in all healing processes, and protects the body against many infectious diseases, such as; upper respiratory infections (particularly the mucous membranes), tuberculosis, skin infections, etc. Silicon does indeed play a vital role in our health.
Silicon is essential for strong bones and teeth; it helps maintain healthy hair and nails; it is needed for protection against infectious diseases. Silicon influences bone formation and calcification, being concentrated in the active growth areas of the bone.
Deficiency symptoms include premature aging, wrinkles, brittle nails, alopecia (thinning hair), baldness, insomnia, retarded growth rate, osteoporosis, impaired bone structure. NOTE: If two or more of these deficiency symptoms are present then you may need therapeutic supplementation of Silicon.
Silicon may be useful in the treatment of:- BONES: Osteoporosis, Retarded growth rate.
- BRAIN/NERVOUS SYSTEM: Insomnia.
- HAIR/SCALP: Alopecia (thinning hair), Baldness.
- IMMUNE SYSTEM: Aging (premature).
- NAILS: Brittle nails, Paronychia.
- SKIN: Wrinkles.
- MISCELLANEOUS: Bone disorders, Nervous system disorders, Hair disorders, Immune system disorders, Nail disorders, Skin disorders.
Directions
You should always seek the services of a doctor that has been formally schooled and trained in the profession of natural health care before attempting to supplement Silicon therapeutically.
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Silicon / Silica can help with the following:
KEY | | May do some good |
GLOSSARY
Alopecia
Loss of hair.
Antagonist (Antagonists)
A chemical substance that interferes with the uptake, assimilation and/or physiological action of another, especially by combining with and blocking its nerve receptor.
Calcium
The body's most abundant mineral. Its primary function is to help build and maintain bones and teeth. The body also needs calcium to carry nerve signals, keep the heart functioning, contract muscles, clot blood and maintain healthy skin. Calcium helps control blood acid-alkaline balance, plays a role in cell division, muscle growth and iron utilization, activates certain enzymes, and helps transport nutrients through cell membranes. Calcium also forms a cellular cement called ground substance that helps hold cells and tissues together.
Estrogen (Oestrogen)
One of the female sex hormones produced by the ovaries.
Herbs (Herb, Herbal)
Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, teas should be made with one teaspoon herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Tinctures may be used singly or in combination as noted. The high doses of single herbs suggested may be best taken as dried extracts (in capsules), although tinctures (60 drops four times per day) and teas (4 to 6 cups per day) may also be used.
Immune System (Immune Response, Immunity)
A complex that protects the body from disease organisms and other foreign bodies. The system includes the humoral immune response and the cell-mediated response. The immune system also protects the body from invasion by making local barriers and inflammation. The process may involve acquired immunity (the ability to learn and remember a specific infectious agent), or innate immunity (the genetically programmed system of responses that attack, digest, remove, and initiate inflammation and tissue healing).
Metabolism (Metabolic, Metabolize, Metabolizes, Metabolizing)
The chemical processes of living cells in which energy is produced in order to replace and repair tissues and maintain a healthy body. Responsible for the production of energy, biosynthesis of important substances, and degradation of various compounds. Also defined as the sum total of changes in an organism in order to achieve a balance (homeostasis): Catabolic burns up, anabolic stores and builds up; the sum of their work is metabolism.
Mineral (Minerals)
Plays a vital role in regulating many body functions. They act as catalysts in nerve response, muscle contraction and the metabolism of nutrients in foods. They regulate electrolyte balance and hormonal production, and they strengthen skeletal structures.
Mucous Membranes (Mucosa, Mucous Membrane, Mucus Membranes)
The membranes, such as the mouth, nose, anus, and vagina, that line the cavities and canals of the body which communicate with the air.
Nervous System
A system in the body that is comprised of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, ganglia and parts of the receptor organs that receive and interpret stimuli and transmit impulses to effector organs.
Osteoporosis
A disease in which bone tissue becomes porous and brittle. The disease primarily affects postmenopausal women.
Phosphorus
The second most abundant mineral in the body, found in every living cell. It is involved in the proper functioning of both muscles and nerves. It is needed for metabolic processes of all cells, to activate many other nutrients, and to form energy-storage and energy-releasing compounds. The phosphorus content of the body is approximately 1% of total body weight. Phosphorus combines with fats to form phospholipids. Combined with calcium, it gives strength and rigidity to the bones and teeth.
Polyunsaturated
Polyunsaturated fats or oils. Originate from vegetables and are liquid at room temperature. These oils are a good source of the unsaturated fatty acids. They include flaxseed with added vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), sunflower oil, safflower oil, and primrose oil.
Potassium
A mineral that serves as an electrolyte and is involved in the balance of fluid within the body. Our bodies contain more than twice as much potassium as sodium (typically 9oz versus 4oz). About 98% of total body potassium is inside our cells. Potassium is the principal cation (positive ion) of the fluid within cells and is important in controlling the activity of the heart, muscles, nervous system and just about every cell in the body. Potassium regulates the water balance and acid-base balance in the blood and tissues. Evidence is showing that potassium is also involved in bone calcification. Potassium is a cofactor in many reactions, especially those involving energy production and muscle building.
Refined Sugar (Refined Sugars)
The term 'refined sugar' includes not only the "sugar" listed in ingredient listings, but also brown sugar, glucose, fructose and dextrose. Obvious sources include jams and jellies; hidden sources are often mayonnaise, ketchup, salad dressings and other condiments.
Silicon
A non-essential mineral. Tissues such as arteries, tendons, skin, connective tissue, cornea and sclera (white of the eye) contain relatively large amounts of silicon. Collagen, the protein glue that holds us together, contains silicon in silanolate form. While vitamin C functions only as a catalyst in the formation of collagen, silicon is actually a structural part of collagen. Silicon containing substances are found in all cartilage and in the material binding cells together. Silicon may be needed for proper bone structure and growth.
Synergistic
Having the property that the total combined effect of two or more factors exceeds the sum of their individual effects.
Tuberculosis
Also known as TB, Consumption or "The White Plague", tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, usually affecting the lungs but possibly also the brain, kidneys and bones. Patients may at first be symptom-free or experience a flu-like illness. In the secondary stage, there might be a slight fever, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue and various other symptoms, depending on the part of the body affected. Tuberculosis of the lung is usually associated with a dry cough that eventually leads to a productive cough with blood-stained sputum. There might also be chest pain and shortness of breath.
Vegetarian (Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian, Vegetarianism, Vegetarians)
A person who consumes no meat, fish or fowl (chicken, turkey, etc.), but who may consume animal products such as dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, etc.), eggs or honey.
Last updated: Apr 13, 2008
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