Although not officially classed as a "trace mineral", Germanium is one of the most important reasons why nutritional practitioners recommend natural foods, such as garlic.

Germanium seems to be particularly effective in enhancing the body's natural resistance to viruses. This led to it being used as a treatment for AIDS in the late 1980s, prior to some toxicity problems with one of the synthetic forms. If the same critical approach was applied to aids drugs, they would surely be taken off the market tomorrow (or even better, would never have even got there!).

Many disease states, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, immune system dysfunction and cancer have all been shown to respond to germanium therapy. It would appear that the reason for germanium's effectiveness is its ability to regulate the uptake of oxygen in the cells

In plants, this process helps protect them from infections by viruses, bacteria and fungi as well as increasing growth and protecting them from the cold. In humans, it seems the effects are both related to oxygen regulation and strong antioxidant activity.

Sources of germanium

Some of the important sources if germanium are

• Comfrey
• Ginseng
• Garlic
• Mushrooms (especially shitake)

It is no surprise that the dietary sources rich in germanium are those that are used routinely by traditional medicine, such as garlic, ginseng, comfrey and mushrooms. It is also a powerful analgesic, which enhances the effects of the body's own endorphins.

Benefits of germanium

It plays many important functions in the body though it is a trace element. Some of the important functions it plays in the human body are given below:

• Antiviral activity
• Powerful antioxidant
• Analgesic
• Anticancer properties
• Enhances oxygen supply to tissues
• May protect against osteoporosis
• Germanium seems to be particularly effective in enhancing the body's natural resistance to viruses.

Many disease states, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, immune system dysfunction and cancer have all been shown to respond to germanium therapy.

Deficiency symptoms of germanium

Although germanium deficiency per se is not recognized, a lack of germanium is associated with infection and immune disorders, heart disease and high cholesterol, arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer and many other conditions.

Daily requirement

Germanium is present in many natural foods, comprising around 1mg/day in an average western diet. High intakes of synthetic germanium (50-250mg/day) have been shown to be detrimental to health, although this seems to depend on the form taken.

Some other points

Whilst organic germanium (germanium sesquioxide) and germanium lactate citrate seem to be fairy safe, germanium dioxide has been associated with permanent kidney damage.

It was this knowledge that prompted regulatory bodies to ban ALL forms of germanium on a "tar them all with the same brush" approach that led to its withdrawal for the treatment of AIDS patients, despite the fact that the alternatives not only kill AIDS patients but they may even be responsible for it in the first place.

Germanium supplements are now not easily available and it should be sought through dietary sources.

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