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Do Additives in Health Food Supplement and Pharmaceutical Tablets Make us Ill?
Extracted from: Silicon-Induced Contracture Syndrome by Ivan Fraser
Taken fromIssue 33 of The Truth Campaign Magazine
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The following article explores the theory that silicon dioxide - a chemical excipient in most nutritional supplement pills and many pharmaceutical drug tablets – may be the cause of a range of symptoms, including forms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This article documents the author’s findings and his observations of how his own Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia symptoms directly correlated with his intake of supplements and pharmaceuticals containing silicon dioxide. The appendix is a detailed account of the progression of his symptoms. Whilst the case history is lengthy, it is necessary in order to illustrate many symptoms and events which would have been easily attributed to other causes, had the link not been realised, and the case history reassessed with this in mind. He has also made the simple, but perhaps important observation that, if the symptoms that he has experienced correlate closely with those women who became ill after their silicone breast implants leaked, then silicon dioxide – one of the main problematic substances that these implants contain - may have caused similar symptoms when eaten in a large enough quantity over a long enough period. Having experienced evidence that silicon dioxide was being released from his muscles and from the skin, and that it must have been there for a considerable length of time, he then began to investigate how and why it could possibly have gotten there in the first place. Although the author has experienced a specific set of symptoms - essentially those of fibromyalgia - others may well suffer similar or different symptoms with entirely different diagnoses; ranging from simple frequent headaches and migraines to arthritis, mood swings to neuroses, allergies and immune disorders that may all be either caused or exacerbated by the presence of silicon dioxide in their bodies. Silicon dioxide could well turn out to be a major iatrogenic cause of ill-health in the Western world, and anywhere else that tablets are taken regularly. Whilst the author himself believes that this may be the case, he is not a scientist – he is a former nurse with a general interest in health: conventional, alternative and complimentary - and has no direct scientific data to prove his case. He welcomes criticism from those in a position to test his theory. The following paper is a theory, and not to be taken as proven fact. Nor is it to be taken as medical advice. Any decision by the reader to alter their own medication is not endorsed by the author. Stopping certain medications can be disastrous, so the reader should always consult their medical practitioner rather than alter their own prescribed medication.
The Theory Over-exposure to mineral silicon dioxide can occur via ingestion of excipients found in common drugs in tablet form, health food supplement tablets, foods and the environment, as well as via the lungs. Mineral silicon dioxide is indigestible and is not bio-available, therefore will not be metabolised. Instead, tiny particles that are not excreted will be trapped in the tissues. Excess accumulated silicon dioxide in the body causes localised reactions: granulomas, fibroids etc. and overproduction of collagen, causing thickening and hardening of connective tissue. The body reacts against the presence of the silicon dioxide further by contracting connective tissue: fascia, muscle, tendons, ligaments etc., thereby causing either localised or widespread contraction of the fascia/muscle matrix over the skeletal frame. The consequences of this are many and varied; all of which can be intermittent, temporary or chronic. Pressure on connective tissue, nerves and ganglia interrupts neurological function, inhibits blood flow, inhibits proper metabolism, inhibits proper muscle function and inhibits proper and adequate healing responses, inhibits proper nutrition absorption and toxin elimination in tissues and can causes or exacerbate most disorders caused by such factors. Key factors include:
mechanical constriction of ganglia in the spine: sympathetic and parasympathetic disruption leading to excess acidity, metabolic disorders, fatigue, circulation problems, stomach problems, sleep disorders, anxiety states, depression, allergy, immune disorders etc.
mechanical constriction of blood vessels: reduced blood flow to the head causes headaches, earaches, dizziness, memory impairment, cognitive impairment, fatigue, depression, neurological disorders of various sorts, eye disorders, blood pressure problems, ultimately dementia in extreme cases etc. in CFS there can be reduced blood volume and shrinkage of pre-frontal cortex of the brain.
reduced blood flow to muscles and connective tissues causes pain, contracture, general deterioration, inflexibility, stiffness, joint disorders, excess free radical damage, irritable bowel syndrome, Raynaud’s syndrome, tendonitis, impaired healing of injuries etc., general reduced blood volume in CFS exacerbates these symptoms in chronic states.
Silicon dioxide may be transported through the tissues in blood, lymph, fats and trans-fats, possibly exacerbated by the presence of magnesium stearate that binds the insoluble and indigestible porous silicon and the water it contains with other bodily fluids. The effects of silicon dioxide on body tissues have been investigated following incidences of illnesses caused by silicone breast implant leakage. Many of the same disorders suffered by the women whose implants leaked or ruptured correlate with a myriad of symptoms experienced by sufferers of disorders generally not linked to silicone implants, nor noticed to be linked to ingestion or exposure to silicon dioxide. Chronic fatigue disorders are increasingly common and categorised according to sets of symptoms. Many non-CFS disorders share many commonalities with common diseases that are not classified as CFS disorders. A range of CFS disorders may be simply diagnostic subsets of the same disease caused by silicon dioxide, differentiated only by the defining markers of a specific list of symptoms in each case. Furthermore, many common ailments, from general back pain to arthritis, simple allergies to severe immunological disorders, benign cysts to tumours, could be exacerbated or even caused by the consequences of excess silicon dioxide in the body. This Silicon-Induced Contracture Syndrome (a term coined by the author) can go entirely unnoticed. The effects of silicon dioxide accumulation are gradual and can take from days to years before symptoms become apparent. It also mimics many aspects of the ageing process – musculoskeletal deterioration and brain-related deterioration such as memory problems, fatigue etc. The contraction of muscle and fascia around the rigid skeleton can also easily go unnoticed, despite a considerable generalised pressure being exerted upon it. Its progress can be so gradual that the individual becomes accustomed to many of the symptoms. Pain may be absent or so slight that it is attributed to general ‘everyday aches and pains’. Even where symptoms are obvious they are attributed to any number of a myriad of recognised disorders. The syndrome is exacerbated by the treatments for such disorders, as the usual therapies tend to include pharmaceutical pills and/or an increased consumption of health-food supplements in tablet form. Many - and in a great number of cases, most – of the tablets the individual consumes will simply add to the quantity of ingested silicon dioxide and thereby exacerbate the problem. The condition will be assumed to have progressed but the link with the medication or supplements may easily go unnoticed because the illness will gradually display an increase in severity of the same symptoms, whichever tablets are taken. Even if certain substances in the tablets are found to help the symptoms, they may contain silicon dioxide which prolongs recovery and does not allow the body sufficient time to detoxify and heal itself. Therefore cure is prevented and treatment remains symptom-based. This ‘revolving door’ syndrome may then continue for the remainder of the individual’s life. Whilst silicon dioxide is a relatively inert and non-toxic substance, and is therefore unlikely to cause fatal issues (except in the case of silicosis in the lungs), it can cause or exacerbate an enormous range of common and uncommon illnesses – some of which can be fatal – as a consequence of the way the body‘s defences deal with this irritant.
The Symptoms Having been a previously healthy person, fairly well-educated in health – a former nurse with an interest in alternative and complimentary health care - I was surprised to develop a range of symptoms over a period of six years that ultimately became debilitating. Not until fairly recently did I realise that I was suffering from Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS), one of the recognised syndromes under the broad banner of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This condition affects far more women than men but some of the symptoms are also experienced intermittently and in isolation from the others by both sexes, whether or not they are attributed to any form of ‘syndrome’. Recent experiences and observations have suggested to me that there may be a common factor linking these fatigue syndromes, as well as numerous other common and uncommon ailments, that may or may not include fatigue, chronic or otherwise. Many such syndromes may be found to be mere subsets of the same chemically-induced disease. The main symptoms of FMS are as follows: Pain - The
pain of FMS has no boundaries. People describe the pain as deep
muscular aching, throbbing, shooting, and stabbing. Intense burning may
also be present. Quite often, the pain and stiffness are worse in the
morning and you may hurt more in muscle groups that are used
repetitively. Chronic
headaches - Recurrent migraine or tension-type
headaches are seen in about 50% of FMS patients and can pose a major
problem in coping for this patient group. (List taken from the website of the Fibromyalgia Website at http://www.fmnetnews.com )
The symptoms developed so slowly, and mimicked normal everyday aches and pains, that I had initially put the symptoms down to a wide variety of convenient causes. I became accustomed to aches and tense muscles which lingered longer than usual, but could manage them by simply resting more often and stretching them. It was only when the fatigue and mood swings began to become evident in conjunction with the backaches, shoulder and neck aches and tensions that I began to realise that a syndrome was developing. Increasingly, the odd ‘off day’ would turn into ‘off days’ and ‘off weeks’. I had enjoyed a month or so of total remission in mid-2003 by employing a Scenar device (a biofeedback device with a strong record of curing musculoskeletal disorders), which had lifted the symptoms entirely. But the symptoms crept back throughout 2004. By the beginning of 2005, there were no more normal days to enjoy. I was constantly fatigued and unable to think with the kind of clarity I had enjoyed. This affected my work as a researcher and writer and ultimately led to a need to avoid work altogether when repetitive strain injury, caused by over work at the computer, led to muscle spasms and contractures that simply would not heal. A mild flu/heavy cold in March-April 2005 aggravated all of my symptoms and left me with an extended period of CFS, from which I am only now beginning to recover, seven months later. In addition to the classic fibromyalgia symptoms, I also noticed numerous small lumps under the skin and in many muscles in my upper body. Some of these were akin to ‘trigger points’ – areas of muscle spasm that can be released by direct pressure – and others were either hard and fibrous, or firm fatty/gel-like deposits. The more I looked for them, the more I found, and they could easily have gone unnoticed – especially the very small ones. Muscles across the shoulders, round the neck and throat and round my torso were so thickened and contracted that it pulled strongly on my neck and noticeably reduced the blood flow to my head. But it all had happened so gradually that I had barely noticed anything more than the sensations of tightness, aches and fatigue. This had become a norm that I had grown accustomed to over several years. When I realised that my thought processes had been severely affected, that my memory was erratic and a new symptom had appeared – a numbness in one of my toes – I began to take serious stock of my symptoms and examine myself very closely. (See Appendix for a detailed case history). At this point something had to be done. I could not continue like this and a radical change was required or I would soon be seriously ill. I didn’t realise then that I already was severely ill...
Read the full extensive article in The Truth Campaign magazine Issue 33 Source of this pages contents from above: http://www.ivanfraser.com/articles/health/sics.html *Added Material: I believe this article has helped me recover from symptoms of lupus. Silicon appeared to have sensitized me to soy: a possible co-factor which added the symptoms to qualify as Lupus. Adopting a soy free diet appeared to resolve that set of symptoms for me. People should investigate for themselves the many dangers of soy products. Soy or other irritants in make-up could explain the common butterfly rash of lupus. Soy marketing towards women could explain the 9 to 1 ratio of females to males being diagnosed. Soy can be in bedding, cars, and most processed foods. Silicon can be in many things other than pharmaceuticals and supplements such as cooking sprays, and chili powder, and is even commonly found in foods at restaraunts including Burger King. More information can be found regarding this in the forum, and at Ivan Fraser's website (banner link at top of page). Please share this information that is being actively suppressed on so-called health forums. Also, please share your testimonies in our forums. Praises by email don't help validate this information to others. -Thank you! My symptoms first started appearing over 5 years before I found this article. By the time I found it, I was taking far less pills (1-2/day) but still getting sicker and was anticipating dying. I quickly started hydration therapy and used cayenne to control GERD which I'd been taking Prilosec for. GERD can be aggravated by gluten. Today I feel I am 100% cured by this knowledge. I believe I have Ivan Fraser and findings on leaky breast implants to thank for that! Studies:
"Rats receiving silica flour, powdered sand or magnesium -http://www.inchem.org
A food-grade silicon dioxide is hypocholesterolemic in the diet of cholesterol-fed rats. *update 10/23/07 Although I've fully recovered, I do believe there may be other causes for the same or similar set of symptoms. Here's an alternate possible cause of SLE: "Three
organochlorine pesticides with estrogenic effects were
administered chronically to ovariectomized female mice, and we measured
the time to development of
renal disease, the principal clinical manifestation of lupus in this
model. Treatment with chlordecone, methoxychlor, or o,p prime
-dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (o,p prime -DDT) significantly
decreased the time to onset of renal impairment, as did treatment with
17b-estradiol used as a positive control. In an expanded study of
chlordecone, we found a dose-related early appearance of elevated
anti-double-strand DNA autoantibody titers that corresponded with
subsequent development of glomerulonephritis. Immunohistofluorescence
confirmed early deposition of immune complexes in kidneys of mice
treated with chlordecone. These observations are consistent with an
effect of these organochlorine pesticides to accelerate the natural
course of SLE in the mouse." from: JSTOR: Acceleration of Autoimmunity by Organochlorine Pesticides ... If this information has helped you, or you would like to add your thoughts on this or read other's, please share in our forum here and on Ivan Fraser's forum here. -Thank you!
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