The pineal gland produces melatonin and regulates our 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 ageing process in the body. Serotonin, the neurotransmitter or happy chemical responsible for our mood, is transformed into melatonin only in the pineal gland. The pineal plays a major role in hibernation of animals, in metabolism and seasonal breeding.
Scientific evidence supports the possibility that our third eye, or pineal, was once our first eye. Under the microscope, the pineal is made up of cells that have the same features as the rod-shaped light sensitive cells found in our retinas. The pineal gland receives signals that travel down the optic nerves. It seems the primitive third eye functioned as a sight organ before our current set of eyes. The pineal gland gives a perception of the world around us through our senses. It controls the action of light upon our body and is located beneath the cerebral cortex where the two hemispheres of the brain join. This is the place where the brain regulates consciousness and interprets the body’s sensory and motor functions.
According to theosophy, the pineal is an important psychophysiological center or chakra and is the source of clairvoyance and intuition. It has also been described as “the principal seat of the soul,” and the portal to the higher dimensions, as the pineal, or third eye, provides perception beyond ordinary sight. It’s also speculated, but not proven; that the pineal gland is linked to the production of DMT or dimethyltryptamine.
DMT is the most powerful psychedelic substance known to man. Scientific experiments have discovered DMT in the pineal gland of rats. It is believed that DMT is released during near death experiences, and this may explain the enhanced spiritual connection and awakening that takes place. DMT brings higher awareness and wisdom.
The pineal and third eye, when awakened enables us to open up to have visions, clairvoyance and other psychic gifts. It is vital to our spiritual growth and consciousness to keep our pineal gland clear and free of toxic substances. We don’t really know. It was first isolated as a chemical about 100 years ago in various plants. For example in ayahuasca, (a hallucinogenic brew from South America) the other chemicals that were isolated in a plant were named telepathine because users reported telepathic experiences. DMT was later found to be naturally occurring in the human body, found in large quantities in the cerebral spinal fluid. It’s thought to be produced in the lungs and in the eyes, including the pineal.
As we become more toxic and the pineal gland calcifies further, we lose our spiritual connection to higher energies and our oneness with all that is.
Why is our Pineal Gland blocked today?
Calcification is the biggest problem for the pineal gland. Fluoride accumulates in the pineal gland more than any other organ and leads to the formation of phosphate crystals. As your pineal gland hardens due to the crystal production, less melatonin is produced and regulation of your wake-sleep cycle gets disturbed. Research also reports fluoride hardening accelerates sexual development in children, particularly in girls. This is a serious problem as a study from 30 years ago reported 40% of American children under 17 were found to have pineal calcification in process. Since then, children, especially girls; experience the early onset of puberty.
It is also suppressed by electromagnetic fields (EMF) released by mobile cell phones and other wireless devices. The pineal gland is especially sensitive to fluoride in the water. Fluorides, and other chemical substances like chlorine, are bad for the pineal as they deposit on tissues rich in calcium, such as the pineal. The gland calcifies when it encounters fluoride – these calcifications are known as corpora arenacea, or brain sand, and are made up of calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, magnesium phosphate and ammonium phosphate.
Chemicals that are harmful to the pineal gland can come from everyday activities, for example, Fluoride is found in most toothpastes and tap water. Likewise, food laden with pesticides, preservatives and chemicals causes the pineal gland to become sluggish and lose its vitality and power. It is also believed that calcium supplements are detrimental to our health and that it is better to gain calcium through our diet and calcium rich foods, such as almonds, leafy green vegetables and tahini, (sesame seed).
It’s important to detox the body in order to decalcify the Pineal Gland. In today’s world, we are assaulted by an enormous range of chemicals, in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Our poor diets and contemporary lifestyle are the main causes of decalcification. The Pineal Gland is very sensitive to chemicals and it is said that due to modern lifestyles, the pineal has shrunk. 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. The primary goal of decalcifying your pineal gland is so that you can begin the process of pineal gland activation and awaken your third Eye.
Detoxification
This may require some lifestyle changes, the most important one being to drink pure water. Other lifestyle changes are to limit or stop the intake of sugar, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol, and to eat organic, natural whole food that is not laced with pesticides and genetic modifications.
Some ways to detoxify the pineal gland are by including chlorella, spirulina and wheatgrass in your diet. Oregano oil is also a wonderful way of detoxifying and encouraging pineal gland activation and clarity. Raw apple cider vinegar and pure cacao have a great effect on the pineal also.
Once we have cleared the pineal gland of toxins we can work on awakening the third eye. A simple way of activating the third eye is through meditation, especially meditating with your attention on the third eye area, which can be done in yoga practice and seated meditation.
Great Himalayan Masters practiced Surya Yoga by gazing at the rising sun with a silver coin placed between the eyebrows on the forehead. At dawn, the earth’s magnetic field is charged, making this the best time to meditate as it stimulates the pineal gland.
Sun gazing is perhaps one of the most controversial exercises you can do to activate the pineal gland. Here’s the basics of the practice: within the first 15 minutes of sunlight at the beginning of the day and then the final 15 minutes of sunlight at the end of the day, you gaze into the sun for a couple of seconds, but only a couple of seconds. Again, sun gazing has its risks. Simply getting out in the sun and having your eyes exposed to light indirectly can help stimulate the pineal gland without having to stare directly.
Here are some additional ways to activate the Pineal Gland:
- Spend time in the sunlight every day.
- Sleep in complete Darkness.
- Commit to a regular meditation practice as this will develop and enhance your pineal gland.
- Yogic practices are very potent methods for awakening the Pineal Gland. Inversions are particularly helpful as they increase blood flow to the pineal while you are upside down. The practice of Yoga Nidra or yogic sleep meditation also helps to awaken the pineal gland.
- Halides like fluoride, chlorine, and bromine accumulate in your tissue if you’re iodine deficient, which is an increasing problem around the world. If you’ve cut back on salt and don’t eat a lot of seafood, there’s a good chance you may be deficient. Symptoms of iodine deficiency include chronic fatigue, thyroid disease, feeling cold or a low body temperature, and hormone imbalance. To get more iodine, eat foods rich in iodine, or take a colloidal iodine supplement for the best result.
References
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Jennifer Anne Luke. The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Excerpts from pages: 1-9; 51-53; 167-177. 1997.
Zimmerman RA, Bilaniuk LT. Age-related incidence of pineal calcification detected by computed tomography. Radiology. 1982 Mar;142(3):659-62.
Mitchell DM1, Henao MP, Finkelstein JS, Burnett-Bowie SA. Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in healthy adults. Endocr Pract. 2012 Nov-Dec;18(6):914-23. doi: 10.4158/EP12072.OR.
Khandare AL1, Kumar P U, Shanker RG, Venkaiah K, Lakshmaiah N. Additional beneficial effect of tamarind ingestion over defluoridated water supply to adolescent boys in a fluorotic area. Nutrition. 2004 May;20(5):433-6.
Khandare AL1, Rao GS, Lakshmaiah N. Effect of tamarind ingestion on fluoride excretion in humans. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002 Jan;56(1):82-5.