Many studies have been done in regard to the heavy metal connection and substance abuse. According to research at the individual level, done through Dartmouth University, the uptake of heavy metals is associated with higher levels of learning disabilities, hyperactivity, substance abuse, violent crimes and other forms of anti-social behavior.

Because alcohol, cocaine and other drugs temporarily restore neurotransmitter functions that are abnormal, substance abuse may often be crude self-medication in response to the effects of the metal toxicity. As an example, lead downregulates dopamine and cocaine is a non-selective dopamine reuptake inhibitor, therefore lead toxicity could increase the risk of cocaine abuse.

Half a dozen people who were substance abusers were analyzed for mineral patterns. For this particular study, a hair analysis was used. The subjects came from different backgrounds, different ethnic persuasions and different types of substance abuse. In all cases, the cadmium levels were above the normal rate, which is less than 0.02mg%. In addition, all but one of the cases showed an elevated level of lead; the ideal being 0.1mg%

A doctor, who practices at a clinic in Nevada, finds this method of testing to be very revealing in regard to heavy metals. When testing an addict she was treating, it was determined that the patient was suffering from elevated aluminum, lead, nickel and beryllium levels.

Interestingly enough, cadmium may be present at birth, passed from the mother through the placenta. It may also be acquired from environmental sources, including tap water, processed foods and occupational exposure. A large contributor of cadmium is cigarette smoking.

Although the dangers of lead poisoning have been known for years, there are a substantial number of people who continue to suffer from lead exposure and symptoms above dangerous levels. Unfortunately, the children have suffered its health effects the most. Even today, there are still at minimum more than four hundred thousand children under the age of six who have too much lead in their blood.

The list of where one can contaminate themselves is lengthy: drinking water, hair dyes, cosmetics, ceramics, deteriorating paint, soil, and renovating and remodeling. Lead paint was commonly used on the interiors and exteriors of our homes until 1978. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, about 38 million homes in the US still contain lead paint that deteriorates and creates a lead-base paint hazard. Did you know that all it takes is the lead dust equivalent of a single grain of salt for a child to register an elevated blood lead level? Lets not forget the past use of leaded gasoline that has only recently been banned in this country. The lead produced by vehicle emissions continues even today to present a hazard from the soil where it was deposited over the years along our roads and highways.

Judy Phillips

Jash Botanicals is located in California, under Judy Phillips, Master Herbalist and Naturopath with over 25 years of experience and dealings in alternative healing and herbalism. Emerging from humble beginnings, Jash has been and always will remain family owned and operated. Our highest priority is integrity. We are dedicated to being a company with a conscience and our commitment includes using only the highest quality, most environmentally responsible product possible. We know that you are concerned about what you and your family use, so we want you to know what makes Jash Botanicals so special. We strive to provide accurate and up to date herbal information by searching the world over and bringing safe and effective herbal formulas to consumers that are looking for natural alternatives in the development of personal health and well-being.

Most commercial manufacturers use low-quality herbs imported from Third World countries, where they have been sprayed with pesticides. The herbs are again sprayed or irradiated upon entering this country because of U.S. Customs laws. By contrast, we use only high-quality organic herbs grown in this country and certified organic by the Oregon Tilth. In addition, our tinctures contain 4 to 6 times more herbs than the National Formulary Standard. We also use an aging practice that has been abandoned by most herb manufacturers in favor of more “efficient” and less costly methods. They press out their products in matter of days or, at most a couple of weeks. Lastly, our tinctures are hand crafted in small batches, not mass-produced by machines like most tinctures so that each batch may be given the proper care, agitated on a daily basis over a period over no less than 6 months.

We believe that our past, current and future successes come from a total dedication to excellent service to those who buy our products. Satisfying our customer and consumer needs in a superior way is the only reason we are in business, and we shall proceed with an obsession to give wholeheartedly to those who buy our products. Our clients and our customers have been, and always will be, our highest priority.