by Nancy Robbins
The Importance of the Pineal Gland
Your brain contains a small pine cone-shaped gland called the pineal gland. It’s about the size of a grain of rice. This gland is mysterious and powerful, and has been referred to as our “spiritual antenna,” the “seat of the soul,” and the “third eye,” because it has been said to provide us visibility into higher levels of consciousness. This gland produces the hormone melatonin, a derivative of serotonin that influences our patterns of sleeping and waking. For peak performance and psychological development, the pineal gland must remain healthy.
How Does the Pineal Gland Work?
This tiny gland serves as your body’s light meter. It receives light cues from the eyes, causing it to produce melatonin that sends several hormonal messages to the body. The pineal gland transmits information about the length of daylight, a concept known as circadian rhythm. In other words, it tells the body whether there’s light or darkness, the season you’re in, and the length of days. Research shows the pineal gland also helps in regulating body temperature.
Calcification of the Pineal Gland
Sometimes, the pineal gland develops calcium spots, also known as calcification. Unlike most of your brain, the blood-brain barriers don’t fully protect the gland from the rest of the body. Instead, it receives a significant amount of blood flow, second only to the kidneys. The gland is also surrounded by and immersed in cerebrospinal fluid. This causes it to camp out in a tiny area behind the pituitary gland. The pineal gland is not the only part of the body that can become calcified. The crystals can also form in the joints, heart valves and breast tissue. Sometimes, calcification impairs the functioning of the affected organ. In the case of pineal calcifications, the gland can become unable to produce melatonin leading to poor sleep, mood swings, depression, and anxiety. Good sleep is necessary for overall health. Pineal gland calcification has been a serious concern raised by many health authorities as a major risk factor for neurodegenerative disorders.
The various factors that contribute to calcification of the pineal gland are:
- Age
- Exposure to toxins and excessive quantities of certain hormones.
- Eating a high percentage of processed and refined foods.
- Eating too much refined sugar. Refined sugar causes toxicity and hormone imbalances that shut down the pineal gland. Included in this is drinking too much alcohol.
- Eating too much meat and fish.
- Fluoride in the water and toothpaste. Overexposure to fluoride in its toxic chemical form, especially from fluoridated water are suggested by many studies as one of the main causes of pineal gland calcification. Furthermore, the fluoride that is added to fluoridated water and toothpastes is not natural. It is usually an unwanted byproduct of aluminium, fertilizer, and iron ore manufacture. This form of fluoride is not the same as the naturally occuring fluoride found in small concentration in spring water.
Ways to Decalcify the Pineal Gland
- Get rid of processed foods: Watch labels and look for foods with additives, preservatives, GMO, chemicals, and pesticides which risk your health, and calcify the pineal gland. Look for organic and plant-based foods.
- Eyes and sunlight: Sunglasses may be needed for certain times of the day, but try to let your eyes be exposed to indirect sunlight, such as at dawn or dusk.
- Sleep in darkness: The pineal gland is activated not only by the sun but also by darkness – complete darkness. So, make sure your bedroom is as dark as possible during your sleep time. Keep alarm clock lights turned away and keep cell phones further away from where you sleep.
- Reduce Fluoride Exposure: Replace fluoridated water with natural spring water. Look for a water filter that removes fluoride from the tap water. Consider fluoride free toothpaste.
- Consider a Toxic cleanse: Look for a natural toxic metal cleanse, such as Zeotrex, that is organic with wild-crafted herbs.
- Eat your Greens: The green pigment chlorophyll in plants can support a healthy pineal gland function. Good sources include dark leafy greens, wheatgrass and algae, especially blue-green algae and chlorella.
- Try natural remedies: Each of these can decalcify the pineal gland and stimulate it: Gotu kola, boron, alfalfa sprouts, parsley, oregano oil, sea moss, neem oil, blue-green algae, spirulina, coconut oil, walnuts, chlorophyll rich foods, beets, apple cider vinegar, lemon water, MSM, turmeric, ginseng, and bentonite clay.
- Meditation: Meditation is linked to sharp increase of plasma melatonin by stimulation of the pineal gland. The increased melatonin may help to calm the mind and decrease pain during meditation. In meditation you also raise your body’s frequency as you quiet your left brain, and activate your right brain to move up into spiritual awareness. Sit in stillness and bring your focus to your third eye. As your physical eyes are closed, imagine that your third eye opens, and you are able to see out through the third eye (between the eyebrows). What do you see?
- Crystal Work: Placing a crystal over the third eye while lying down is said to work wonders on activating it. Crystals with indigo and violet hues are recommended – such as Amethyst, Azurite, Lapis Lazuli, Iolite, Sodalite, Purple Fluorite, Lepidolite, Tanzanite, Kyanite, Moonstone, Ametrine. Clear Quartz can also be programmed to clear your pineal gland and enhance your Brow Chakra.
- Use essential oils: The nose is a direct gateway to the brain and the pineal gland. To stimulate with aromatherapy bring spiritual states of awareness, try Sandalwood, Frankincense, Myrrh, Clary Sage, Helichrysum, Pine, and Mugwort.
- Change your lightbulbs: Fluorescent lightbulbs are both harmful to the health and hard on the eyes. Replace them whenever possible with full-spectrum lightbulbs, which are more consistent with natural light.
- Practice Kundalini Yoga: Specific movements are designed to raise the Kundalini energy up the spine from the base of the spine. This energy connects Earth energy from the root to Cosmic energy as it moves upward and will illuminate all the chakras, including the Brow chakra – Third Eye.