Health – Balancing copper

Copper is a fascinating mineral with respect to health as it affects so many processes in human physiology. Often, by rebalancing copper in the body, we can get great results. So, what problems can low copper stores in the body contribute to? The answer is anaemia, arthritis, lowered immunity, increased cholesterol, malignancies and even Parkinson’s disease, to name a few. But it is not just a matter of giving copper to a patient until it all comes right. The key with copper is balance. Too much copper can be even more devastating than too little. Too much can contribute to issues such as PMS, post-partum depression, gallstones, lowered immunity, yeast and fungal conditions, scoliosis, decreased mental function and even Wilsons disease. Moreover, copper must be in balance with other minerals – iron and zinc especially. Low copper relative to iron can lead to inflammatory issues. Low levels of copper relative to zinc can lead to an increase in the LDL component of cholesterol and a decrease in the HDL.

One of the most common ways we can be exposed to too much copper is by using plastic water tanks to harvest rain water for household use. Rain water is slightly acidic, so unless the acidity is corrected then it can leach copper out of the copper pipes in your plumbing.

This is often seen when porcelain baths and vanities go a bluish colour due to the copper sulphate content in the water. I recently had this problem and the team at Aquapure supplied me with an alkalising treatment that rebalances rain water. The same problems don’t occur with concrete tanks, as the calcium in the concrete neutralises the water.

When we are talking about human mineral levels, it should be noted that we are referring to the mineral levels in the body tissue, not just the blood. The mineral levels in the blood are often involved in helping the bloodstream maintain a healthy balance and are not necessarily a great representation of the levels actually in the tissues. Obviously, blood has a critical role in understanding mineral levels, but it is of much greater use if we understand what the levels in the body tissue are.

The best method for this is via Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis, which is a practice that has been used for over 50 years in science, research and in clinical practice. But in the last 10 years, the technology has transformed the accuracy and understanding to phenomenal levels. Equipment used in tissue mineral analysis is essentially the same thing that NASA uses to analyse minerals. So if you want to take your health to new levels, then using a tool such as hair tissue mineral analysis is a great way to begin.

Eugene Sims, Warkworth Natural Therapies
www.wnt.co.nz