The Blessing of Sleep – update

The Pineal Gland and more of the Word

Proverbs 3:24

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 

Photo 309120336 | Brain © Alunablue | Dreamstime.com

Last week’s Sunday Substack was on point with so many readers. Thank you so much for the engagement. I read all the comments, and I’m posting a consolidated list of recommendations, in no particular order. I don’t have a favorite or a “top recommendation” – these are summarized reader suggestions:

1. Create an “electrically quiet space” – no phones, tablets, or computers.

   1. I suggest looking into EMFSol. I have many of their neutralizers, one I travel with and one for my whole house.

2. Listening to Gregorian Chants (These are lovely and relaxing)

3. Generate white noise – such as the hum of a fan.

4. Listen to old-time radio programs.

5. Supplements recommended

   1. Melatonin

   2. Lemon balm

   3. Glycine

   4. L-theanine

   5. Inositol

   6. Natural ZZZs – From my store. Contains many of these supplements combined.

6. Irwin Naturals – CBD 50 mg

   1. Many CBD products can be tried at various dosages to see if they work. The endocannabinoid system (referred to as ECS) regulates and controls many of our most critical bodily functions, such as learning and memory, emotional processing, temperature control, pain control, inflammatory and immune responses, and eating. It is very important for regulating sleep. And remember how important sleep is for detoxing your brain.

7. Listen to Ericksonian hypnosis tapes that Dr. Lloyd Glauberman produced years ago using Hypno-Peripheral Processing. 

8. Overall wellness: Zone School of Healing

I started a new product this week. It is a patch made by Luminas.com called the Power Sleep Patch. I have tried MANY different patch products, and none have had any effect on me whatsoever, so I was skeptical. But I have been using the Luminas pain patches on my back that work quite well, so I decided to give their sleep patches a try. The package says,

“The patches contain no active ingredients and are charged with electrons captured from these natural remedies: 5-HTP, L-Theanine, melatonin, GABA, chamomile, lemon balm, omega-3, passion flower, Ignatia, L-tryptophan, bergamot oil, magnesium, and lavender.”

In addition to being non-toxic, non-invasive, and topical, the list covers almost everything suggested for better sleep. And it was a PATCH, not another pill!

The patches are about the size of a nickel. The instructions are to put one behind each ear about an hour before bedtime. The adhesive sticks well, but not overly so. Each night that I have used them, my sleep has gotten a little better. Last night, I slept five straight hours, the longest stretch of uninterrupted sleep I have had in the last six months. This is NOT an affiliate product and I don’t know if it will work for you, but based on my short experience, they might be worth a try.

Many of you resonated with praying and/or silently reciting scripture for sleep.  The Scriptures help you find sleep during a time of rest, allowing God's promises to permeate you, and you can often feel His presence. In addition to the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 23, I did a little research and found a few more scriptures you may want to memorize to help you sleep. As you recite these, expand on them with thoughts of praise and gratitude may ease you into sleep

• Matthew 11:28 (HCSB) - Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

• Philippians 4:6 (HCSB) - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

• Psalm 4:8 (HCSB) - In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

• Psalm 91:1-2 (HCSB) - Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Today’s Prayer

Dear Father, we need quality sleep. We need to be well rested and restored. Holy Spirit, come to use in our dreams and show us Your love, Your plan, and Your faithfulness. When we’ve had restful sleep, we can wake up strong to face another day. Thank You for always being with us, throughout our wakeful hours and as we sleep. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

A little more about sleep

I don’t usually write about medical information on my Sunday Substack, but this information supports our discussion.

There is an endocrine gland in your brain called the pineal gland. Located deep within the brain, the gland is shaped like a tiny pinecone, which is how it got its name (“pine”-eel gland). The pineal gland is the least understood gland of the endocrine system and was the last part of the system to be discovered.

Probably the first person to discover the pineal gland was Herophilos (325-280 B.C.), a famous anatomist at the University of Alexandria in Egypt. He was also the first to write about the soul being equated to the pineal gland. Fast forward 1,800 years to the Middle Ages when renowned anatomist, Rene Descartes (1596-1650), who is commonly cited as stating that the pineal gland is the seat of the soul. The theory that connected the pineal gland with man’s spiritual center was part of the explanation of its function for about 2000 years.

It wasn’t until the late 1800s that the pineal gland began to undergo rudimentary study of its anatomy, histology and embryological origins. The true function was not identified for nearly another 100 years, when Bargmann (1943) began to study the endocrine functions of the gland. The 1970s brought an acceleration of research through the advent of the electron microscope, which revealed its very complex anatomy, cytology (cell structure) and innervation, and its ability to interface or produce 5-HTP, serotonin, and melatonin.

An important part of the history of pineal research was the discovery of its relationship between light/dark periodicity and the body’s circadian rhythm. It has been discovered that the pineal gland interfaces with various by secreting indoleamine and polypeptides that interface with other segments in the brain in the following ways: (source)

1. Hypothalamus - generates vasopressin (blood pressure regulation) and oxytocin (effects organs of reproduction in men and women)   

2. Pituitary gland - generates stimulatory hormones (FSH, LH, TSH, ACTH, etc)

3. Endocrine organ - parathyroid glands, pancreas

4. Regulates sleep - regulates the circadian sleep cycle by being the primary producer of melatonin

The pineal gland has a very rich network of blood vessels. The blood flow to the pineal gland is only superseded by the blood supply to the kidneys. Because it is not protected by the blood-brain barrier, the pineal gland may accumulate significant amounts of calcium, cobalt, zinc, selenium and fluoride.

As recently as 2020, a review article was published in the Journal of Applied Sciences  entitled “Fluoride and the Pineal Gland.” Researchers noted that the pineal gland is most likely the most fluoride-saturated organ of the human body, noting that the range of recorded values was very wide but often similar or even higher than the levels observed in bones and teeth. The amount of fluoride in the gland exceeds the amount in other soft tissues, such as in muscles, by many times.

These authors (and others) believe that fluoride exposure may contribute to increased pineal gland calcification and which may lead to melatonin and other hormonal deficiencies, which in turn contributes to sleep disturbances.

Calcification of the pineal gland can also lead to Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, schizophrenia, and various forms of migraines.

How to remove fluoride from the pineal gland

The first and most obvious step is to remove it from your intake. Get a Britta filter or other type of water filter to remove fluoride and other chemicals from your drinking water. Get toothpaste without fluoride, and do NOT let a dentist convince you it is important to “protect” your teeth - or the teeth of your kids.

The discussion on “what water to drink” and “what filter to use” is beyond the scope of this article. Any filter is better than no filter.

There are many sites on the internet with suggestions for removing fluoride from your body and as it is eliminated from your body and your blood, your pineal gland may also be flushed out over time. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Do a liver and kidney cleanse – Clean your body’s filtration systems. Avocados, garlic, lemons, and limes are particularly beneficial to cleanse the liver. Chickweed and dandelion teas are great for flushing the kidneys. Cleaning out the parasites is good too!

2. Invest in a Far-Infrared Sauna - Saunas are known for their ability to quickly remove toxins and heavy metals from the body.  

3. Take Boron 3mg/day (supplement) - Boron is essential for teeth and bones; it strengthens bones to help prevent osteoporosis. Boron binds to sodium fluoride in the body so that it can be excreted through our urine.

4. Apple pectin, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D – All reported to remove fluoride.

5. Zeolite - Zeolite is effective due to its high detoxification and chelation abilities. This mineral is superior to others because of its crystalline core, where the honeycomb-shaped structure allows heavy metals and toxins to easily get trapped inside the cavities. This is what we recommend.

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(If you liked this scientific information join my Saturday Substack here. Yesterday’s Saturday Substack, on Happiness Hacks, can be found here.

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