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How to Detoxify your Pineal Gland

By Jodi Cohen

Your pineal gland performs several incredibly important functions for your health, including producing and secreting melatonin, a powerful hormone that helps you fall asleep, detoxify and anti-inflame.

Unfortunately, environmental toxins like metals, glyphosate and fluoride can damage your pineal gland and impair its ability to produce and secrete adequate levels of melatonin.

Impaired pineal gland function, also called pineal gland calcification, diminishes your natural ability to produce melatonin (known to play a key role in regenerating and healing the brain and nervous system) and has been correlated with degenerative diseases like Alzheimer disease.

When melatonin levels are optimal, melatonin binds to heavy metals like aluminum, cadmium, copper, iron, and lead, and reducing their toxicity by helping you dispose of them.  A damaged pineal gland cannot produce optimal levels of melatonin making you more sensitive to environmental toxins and other health issues including hormone imbalance, weight gain, mood disorders and heart conditions.

Essential oils can play a powerful role in helping to detoxify and activate your pineal gland for optimal function so you naturally restore melatonin levels.

What is the Pineal Gland?

Your pineal gland is a small pine cone shaped endocrine gland located in the exact center of the brain, level with your eyes. This proximity to your eyes allows your pineal gland to releases melatonin in response to light.  It’s interesting to note that dissected pineal glands reveal the presence of a photoreceptor, the structure that allows your eyes to respond to light. The pineal gland’s photoreceptor is actually activated by light reflected from the retina.

Your pineal gland sits on top of your hypothalamus and regulates many endocrine functions, sending out hormonal messages to the body in response to light information received from the eyes.  It is also known as the “third eye”, associated with higher states of spiritual awareness and intuition. It is thought to release bio-chemicals like Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) which is a catalyst for higher states of consciousness.

In producing and secreting melatonin, your pineal gland regulates your daily and seasonal circadian rhythms. Melatonin is the chemical in charge of our sleep cycles and the quality of our sleep, and it also regulates the onset of puberty. Melatonin is responsible for fighting against free radicals. A decline in melatonin triggers the aging process in the body. The pineal plays a major role in hibernation of animals, in metabolism and seasonal breeding.

Functions of the Pineal Gland

Your pineal gland is far more important than was previously known.  Acting as the “regulator of regulators”, it plays a major role in every aspect of your body’s function, including reproductive function, executive function, growth, body temperature, blood pressure, motor activity, sleep, mood, your immune function and longevity.

In addition to determining how much melatonin is synthesized and secreted, the pineal gland influences the secretion of neurotransmitters, endorphins and hormones like estrogen, progesterone and DHEA. By inhibiting the release of certain reproductive hormones from the pituitary gland, melatonin affects our reproductive organs.

In addition to supporting the release of melatonin and your sleep wake cycles, the pineal gland has been linked to a range of other functions. These include:

Bone MetabolismResearch suggests a decline in pineal gland function might affect bone metabolism.  As the pineal gland seems to decline with age and the risk of osteoporosis increases with age, it is believed that supporting healthy pineal gland function might help increase bone mass.

Sense of DirectionResearch has associated damage to the pineal gland with declines in the sense of direction. As the pineal gland lies in the exact center of the brain, it may play a role in spatial navigation.

Weight LossResearch found that the pineal glands in obese individuals are usually significantly smaller than that in a lean subject.

Mental health – There is a relationship between the pineal gland and mental disorders.  For example, Serotonin, the neurotransmitter or happy chemical responsible for our mood, is transformed into melatonin only in the pineal gland. Descartes considered the pineal gland to be “the seat of the human soul, controlling communications between the physical body and its surroundings, including emotions”. Research correlates the relationship between the size of your pineal gland and your risk for certain mental disorders.  For example, one study suggests that a lower pineal gland volume may increase your risk of developing schizophrenia and other mood disorders.

Hormone Imbalance – The pineal gland regulates female hormone levels, and it may affect fertility and the menstrual cycle. For example, there is some research that the pineal gland may help modulate the menstrual cycle.  Additional research found that reduced amounts of melatonin may also play a role in the development of irregular menstrual cycles.  The pineal also secretes more melatonin in children than adults, which is believed to inhibit premature sexual development. After puberty, the pineal shrinks and releases less melatonin.

Cardiovascular healthResearch correlates the pineal gland with a positive impact on cardiovascular health, including your heart and blood pressure.

What Causes Pineal Gland Dysfunction?

Your pineal gland is the most vulnerable part of your brain – any toxin, stressor, or electromagnetic field that is affecting you will more strongly affect your pineal gland, which then compromises melatonin production and with it your health.

The pineal gland is so sensitive to chemicals and it is hypothesized that exposure to modern toxins has shrunk the pineal. Indian Masters of the Vedic times were believed to have a pineal gland the size of a lemon. Today, our pineal gland is the size of small seed or pea.

Researcher Stephanie Seneff found that many neurological diseases, including autism, depression, dementia, anxiety disorder and Parkinson’s disease, are associated with abnormal sleep patterns, which are directly linked to pineal gland dysfunction.

How Environmental Toxins Impact the Pineal Gland

Unlike most of our brain, the blood-brain barrier doesn’t isolate the pineal gland from the rest of our body. Instead, the pineal gets a tremendous amount of blood flow, second only to the kidneys, making it highly susceptible to the following environmental toxins:

Aluminum, found in many food related and personal care products along with vaccines, is a toxic metal that is toxic to your brain, damaging your pineal gland and contributing to degenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Autism, depression, schizophrenia and ALS.

Toxic metals like aluminum and mercury can disrupt the pineal gland and its ability to produce melatonin. The pineal gland is particularly susceptible to aluminum and other heavy metals because it is not protected by the blood-brain barrier and has a very high blood perfusion rate. The pineal gland’s vulnerability to aluminum is illustrated in a 1996 paper showing that the concentrations of aluminum in the pineal gland were “consistently observed” and “markedly higher” than in other brain tissues examined.

It is believed that aluminum, and other toxic metals like mercury, impair your pineal gland’s ability to detoxify and eliminate the metals, creating a viscous cycle where metals are more easily absorbed into the brain.  Toxic metals also interfere with sulfate synthesis which results in accumulation of cellular debris.

Aluminum also synergistically combines with other toxins, like Glyphosate and Fluoride, to form unique chemical compounds that carry aluminum into the pineal gland, damaging it even further.

Fluoride, found in drinking water and toothpaste, is a toxic chemical byproduct of manufacturing that accumulates in and harms your pineal gland, bones and kidneys. Fluoride is a fat soluble neurotoxin and enzyme poison that accumulates in the pineal gland and destroys it.

This accumulation of fluoride forms phosphate crystals, creating a hard shell around the pineal called calcification.   Research finds pineal gland calcifications in up to 60% of the population and links pineal gland damage to low circulating levels of melatonin and endocrine disorders. In fact, research has found that fluoride can impair your ability to heal, grow, think, feel and behave. Studies have shown that pineal calcification jeopardizes the melatonin production and seems to have a direct influence on neurodegenerative diseases and aging

Aluminum fluoride is compound called that forms when you have fluoride in the drinking water. It goes in the tissues and impairs all aspects of your body, messing up your metabolism, growth, development, cognition, and behavior.

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup® is associated with low melatonin.  Glyphosate is believed to suppress melatonin synthesis by damaging the amino acid producing gut microbes, depleting melatonin precursors like tryptophan and serotonin.  Glyphosate also works synergistically with aluminum, making it much more toxic. For example, glyphosate chelates aluminum, allowing ingested aluminum to bypass the gut barrier.  It also promotes aluminum uptake by cells and increases aluminum toxicity by “caging” aluminum to promote its entry into the body. More specifically, glyphosate increases your calcium uptake by which allows aluminum to gain entry to your cells by mimicking calcium. Aluminum then promotes calcium loss from bones, contributing to pineal gland calcification.

Aluminum and glyphosate work synergistically to induce neurological damage. Glyphosate chelates aluminum, allowing ingested aluminum to bypass the gut barrier. This creates a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, promoting neurotoxicity and damaging the pineal gland. Both glyphosate and aluminum disrupt specific enzymes, known as cytochrome P450 enzymes that are involved in melatonin metabolism.

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) – The pineal gland is tuned at receiving condensed information of radiation that enters the top of our skull.  Research shows that melatonin levels are suppressed due to power-frequency electric and magnetic fields exposure.  It is suspected that the pineal gland is likely to sense EMFs as light which may therefore decrease the melatonin production.   Melatonin has been shown to be protective against EMFs, and helping the pineal gland create more melatonin output, helps to protect against EMF damage.

Symptoms of a Damaged Pineal Gland

A calcified or blocked pineal gland that is unable to produce the proper amounts of melatonin is often associated with the following physical or emotional symptoms:

  • Mental health issues, particularly seasonal symptoms, like seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Too much melatonin can make some people feel sad and sleepy, especially in the winter months. Research  found that the “pineal gland does play an important role in the etiology of mental diseases, especially affective disorders.  The study further notes that SAD symptoms can be reversed with exposure to bright, full-spectrum light which enhances pineal gland function and melatonin secretion.
  • Depression:  Research finds that people who suffer from depression, including major depressive disorder (MDD), have been found to have circadian rhythm dysfunction and sleep disturbance caused by pineal gland abnormalities.
  • Anxiety: Melatonin was found to be more effective than benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety drugs that include Xanax, Lorazepam, Valium) at alleviating preoperative and postoperative anxiety according to a  2015 systematic review.
  • Mood disorders, including paranoia, pessimism and anger: “Melatonin is essential for the control of mood and behavior”, according to a study that also suggests that compromised function of the pineal gland (and it’s link to melatonin production “has been suggested as the main cause for mood disorders.”  The research found melatonergic antidepressants, or a chemical which functions to directly modulate the melatonin system in the body or brain to be “superior to other common antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs) on various types of mood disorders.
  • Neurological disorders, including dementia, epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease:. Melatonin is known to inhibit the formation of amyloid plaques, so it may be effective in the prevention of Alzheimer’s.
  • Hormonal issues, including changes in fertility, menstrual cycle, or ovulation.  Melatonin serves as an antioxidant in the reproductive organs, protecting cells and tissues by binding to and neutralizing substances that cause cellular damage. A 2014 study found that melatonin levels are important for conception because melatonin protects eggs from oxidative stress.
  • Impaired circadian rhythms: sleeping too much or too little, feeling active and restless in the middle of the night, or feeling sleepy at unusual times. Detoxifying your pineal gland may also help reset your body’s circadian rhythm.
  • Not remembering dreams: Research found that melatonin triggers deep sleep where rapid eye movement (REM) occurs.  During REM sleep, melatonin releases a substance called vasotocin, which helps your brain erase memories while you’re dreaming. It’s during this time of your sleep cycle when you have the kinds of vivid dreams you remember most. Healthy pineal gland function increases melatonin production which boosts the amount of vasotocin in your brain, leading to longer periods of memory-erasing sleep that leave you with intense dreams.
  • Tendency to over-analyze: In addition to melatonin, your pineal gland releases Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) which helps you access your intuition.  The lack of insight and trust in your choices can lead to over-analysis.
  • Headache, nausea or vomiting: Research found that pineal cysts can be the cause of headaches, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and tremors. Calcification of the pineal gland and pineal cysts both lead to a deficiency in melatonin.
  • Difficulty with sense of direction: The pineal gland, and specifically melatonin, plays a role in spatial navigation. People with impaired pineal glands can suffer from a decline in their sense of direction. One study showed that melatonin improves spatial navigation memory in male diabetic rats.

Helping the Pineal Gland Release Melatonin Naturally

The pineal gland has been compromised, impacting your ability to produce melatonin, detoxify and heal.  To help return the body to balance, it is important to detoxify and heal the pineal gland.

Essential oils can help the pineal gland return to its innate intelligence and release more melatonin naturally.  Activating the pineal gland with essential oils can help prevent and potentially reverse the damage from fluoride exposure.

When your pineal gland returns to optimal function you start sleeping more deeply, dreaming again and remembering your dreams, your memory comes back, your mental clarity and vitality returns, and you make better decisions.  When proper levels of melatonin begin circulating in your system, it boosts your ability to detoxify and reverse chronic illness and the aging process.

By healing the pineal gland, you are helping the pineal gland increase melatonin production, which in turn helps speed up the excretion of toxic heavy metals like aluminum and help move illnesses and disease into remission.

Essentials Oils to Detoxify the Pineal Gland

The nose is a direct gateway to the brain and the pineal gland. To stimulate the olfactory passage to detoxify and activate pineal gland, you can either inhale Circadian Rhythm oil or place a drop in specific spots around the head – on the very top of the head, the very back of the head, on the skin above the ears.  The pineal gland is located in the exact center of the brain, so topically applying oils directly around the brain allows transdermal access.

 Circadian Rhythm™ blend can be applied around the base of the skull (apex of head, above ears and back of head) to help trigger the natural release of melatonin. The blend contains Lavender, one of the top oils to treat insomnia. A study published in Sage Journal found that “lavender oil displays similar therapeutic effects as melatonin.” Additional research on The effect of aromatherapy with lavender on serum melatonin levels  found that “blood melatonin levels significantly increased in the total population after the intervention with aromatherapy.”  Read more about Lavender essential oil for sleep HERE.

People often supplement with the melatonin hormone, which can help in the short term.  The challenge here is that the body, specifically the pineal gland, is supposed to make its own melatonin and external supplementation of the hormone sends the signal to the body that it is sufficient in melatonin production and actually reduces the body’s own production of the hormone.  In other words, it throws off the body’s own internal thermostat for self-regulation.  Topical or transdermal delivery of essential oils is more effective for activating the pineal gland to deliver melatonin.

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About The Author

Jodi Cohen

Jodi Sternoff Cohen is the founder of Vibrant Blue Oils. An author, speaker, nutritional therapist, and a leading international authority on essential oils, Jodi has helped over 50,000 individuals support their health with essential oils.