Karl Hecht - Answers to 100 questions on the healthy effect of natural zeolite

Unfortunately, the times have not changed since Johann Wolfgang Goethe, our famous poet, as you can read in one of his famous wisdoms: “Truth must be repeated continuously, because error also is being preached all the time; and not just by the individual, by a large number of people. In the press and in encyclopaedias, in schools and universities – everywhere error holds sway! Feeling happy and comfortable – in the knowledge of having majority on its side.” (Johann Wolfgang Goethe 1749-1832)

In case of aluminium silicates, this is the truth:

•They do not have a toxic effect for the human body.

•They do not have anything to do with the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. On the contrary, they can even prevent it.

The scientific state of knowledge with regard to the aluminium silicates natural zeolite and montmorillonite briefly outlined.

As a matter of fact, aluminium silicates, e.g. in form of terra sigillata (medical clay), belong to the oldest and best practically proven remedies of mankind. They have been applied from the antiquity to the present without any documented undesired side effects during its application [Lange 2012].

In medicine, there is no other remedy than the aluminium silicates that has been applied practically and effectively, and tested for more than 2,400 years without any undesired side effects. Bentonite (Montmorillonite) has been applied for decades as a pharmaceutical remedy (adjuvant), detoxificant and sorbent in human medicine and veterinary medicine, especially in case of diseases of the digestive system. For this reason, also natural zeolite is added to medical drugs.

Natural zeolite, which is rich in silicon, protects against Alzheimer’s disease. A shortage of silicon dioxide and intake of sleeping pills cause senile dementia.

In the last 20 years, the silicates natural zeolite and montmorillonite have been applied more and more often in more and more countries (such as the USA, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Austria, Croatia, Italy, Spain, Monaco, Ukraine and Azerbaijan) with the intention to improve and maintain health, and as a basic therapy for the re-establishment of health and detoxification in a polluted environment.

In the USA, zeolites and aluminium silicates are permitted by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Zeolite registration number: 21(182.2727; aluminium silicate registration number: 21(182.2227. Apart from that, zeolites and aluminium silicates can also be found in the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) list [Deitsch 2005].

Several scientists like White et al. [2008] from the famous Cambridge research group found out that aluminium ions have a strong affinity (attraction) towards the SiO 2molecule with the result that they form very stable chemical compounds. What is more, silicon has a detoxifying effect with respect to aluminium. In general, it is not the amount of aluminium in aluminium silicates that plays a role but the ratio between silicon and aluminium. To put it in another way, if the ratio of silicon is higher than that of aluminium there is absolutely no danger of getting an aluminium intoxication. When zeolite and montmorillonite reach the human stomach the aluminium, which is released at a pH level of 4-6, is bound in the duodenum within a short period of time (6-10 minutes) at a pH level of > 8 as aluminate (e.g. antacids) or/and coupled firmly to the SiO 2molecule. In zeolites and montmorillonites, Si and Al are organised like tetrahedrons (SiO4 and AlO4). During the release in the stomach, colloidal SiO 2is formed (antacids = acid-binding agents, neutralisers). The US-American silicon researcher Edith Carlisle [1986] proved in experiments on rats that the toxic effect of aluminium can be totally eliminated and thus also the risk of a potential formation of plaque in the brain, which is often considered as a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, but only on condition that there is sufficient silicon in the brain. Montinaro et al. [2013] proved in an animal experiment that oxidative stress leads to the formation of plaque in the brain and that this process, and thus also Alzheimer’s, can be prevented with a permanent intake of natural zeolite, which is rich in silicon.

The French research group around Gillette-Guyonnet [2005] found out in an experiment with more than 7000 women older than 70 that the consumption of water that is rich in silicon improves the mental performance of older people and can prevent dementia. When low in silicon it increases the risk for dementia significantly. Drinking water containing silicon can remove accumulated aluminium from the human body.

8_You write that water containing silicon can remove aluminium from the body?

Yes, it can. The medical journalist Bert Ehgartner reports about it in the magazine Naturarzt [natural doctor] with the heading: Aluminium is an “alien” for the immune system.

Alien = extra-terrestrial being. He also writes about Al compounds in vaccines. In his interview Bert Ehgartner provides instructions, so to say, on how to protect oneself against an Al pollution and how to remove it from the body.

He comes to the following conclusion: “A removal of aluminium always makes sense. Up to present, there have only been a few relevant studies on the methods of removal. It is verified, however, that the consumption of mineral water that is rich in naturally dissolved silicon dioxide binds significant amounts of aluminium and removes them along with the urine. It cannot be confirmed, however, if aluminium can also be removed from sensitive organs like the brain, for example.”

Bert Ehgartner is a strong supporter of Al toxicity. As the heading of his interviews already suggests, he portrays it as a demon.

9_Are aluminium silicates not having a high percentage of aluminium?

According to the scientific state of knowledge, not the absolute amount of aluminium is significant for the assessment of the biological effect of Al silicates but the ratio between silicon and aluminium. In case of natural zeolite and montmorillonite, the ratio is usually Si:Al = 3:1 to 8:1. Normally, the percentage of silicon in natural zeolite and montmorillonite is 66-75 % and the percentage of aluminium 8-15 %. Due to the excess amount of silicon, aluminium silicates have a detoxifying effect in the organism of humans and animals, fight the Al there, are absolutely non-toxic and, above all, do not have any undesired side effects, on condition that the intake recommendations are always followed. In fact, this has already been proved by a larger research group in the field of human nutrition research in Cambridge under the direction of Prof. Ravin Jugdaohsingh.

Furthermore, both aluminium silicates, which have volcanic origins, have particular biological mechanisms of action in humans and animals.

This includes

•selective ion exchange,

•adsorption (binding of toxins),

•detoxification,

•silicon supply,

•mineral supply,

•catalyst effect as well as

•anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-mycotic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Al silicates have different bio-regulatory functions in the human body.

10_Natural zeolite rich in silicon, is it a possible means against aluminium strain?

Yes, it is. This question can be answered by the immunologist Dr. Erwin Walraph who ran an immunology laboratory in Neubrandenburg. Dr. Erwin Walraph sent me a written personal statement on the aluminium silicon problem in connection with natural zeolite, which I would like to quote in parts: “Aluminium has different affinities to the organs”(binding attractions). Due to the fact that it generates insoluble phosphates, this element is also called “bone seeker”. Bones and muscles have comparable tissue levels. In case of daily workers, not exposed to it for professional reasons, the lungs have the highest level of aluminium, the level rises, as it is in the case of the central nervous system, with increasing age. Apart from that, Al is also stored in the liver, heart and spleen.