GERMANIUM: Oxygen deliverer

Found naturally in such foods as garlic, ginseng, chlorella and various mushrooms, germanium stirred up considerable excitement in the medical community back in the 1950s, when its discoverer; Kazuhiko Asai, PhD, demonstrated that it delivers more oxygen to body tissues. Though the mineral is officially nonessential, he and other investigators have since learned that the element might help treat cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, Candida albicans (yeast), AIDS and other viral infections. It may also accelerate wound healing and decrease pain.

I have been using germanium for a substantial number of cancer patients, who consistently report an improvement in overall well-being. Scientific research indicates why. It shows that germanium, especially the sesquioxide, boosts the immune system, wards off free radical damage, helps the body rid itself of immune-weakening toxins and generates oxygen production inside tissue cells. Each of these mechanisms represents a well-accepted approach for patients gaining the upper hand over the malignant process. Combine these effects with other natural, safe substances providing similar benefits, and you may begin to see how complementary cancer therapy achieves its many successes.

When we analyze the meaning of the word ‘sesquioxide’, we see that such a compound carries six oxygen molecules to whatever tissue it reaches. Now consider that oxygen is anathema to cancer cells; they demand an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment to multiply. Germanium is uniquely suited to favour the growth of normal tissue over the invasive malignancy.

SUPPLEMENT SUGGESTIONS

Eating more garlic, chlorella and medicinal mushrooms are some ways to get germanium, but they’re not the best. Supplements are the most reliable source, but not any bottle labelled ‘germanium’ will do. Consume only pure, organic germanium, at a dosage of 25-300 mg or more per day. The safest, most effective form of the nutrient is germanium bis-carboxyethyl sesquioxide-132, or Ge-132, for short. Germanium dioxide, germanium lactate citrate and other inferior versions are inexpensive and widely available – but potentially dangerous. They’ve been blamed for two deaths and have been linked to cases of kidney damage. Pure Ge-132 is expensive, but it has never been shown to cause adverse effects.