Boron for Prostate Cancer
Boron, a Marvelous Mineral
Jake Ames, MD, HMD
I have
been prescribing all of my patients the mineral boron my entire medical
career. In this blog I hope to convince
you that all of us need to take extra boron as a supplement.
Boron is
element number 5 on the periodic table.
It was discovered on June 30, 1808 by Joseph Louis
Gay-Lussac and Louis Jacques Thénard.
Since its discovery boron has been found to have many industrial and
medical uses. Boron is also an essential
plant nutrient. It’s purpose is to
maintain the integrity of cell walls. However, soil concentrations greater than
1.0 ppm lead to necrosis in leaves as well as poor overall growth performance.
The main uses of boron today are in
making fiberglass and high-strength, lightweight structural materials. In its very pure form it is used as a dopant
in semiconductors. It is used to make
neodymium magnets, and is used in the nuclear industry for shielding and as a
neutron absorber. It is used as a
fertilizer, insecticide and in laundry detergent. It has so many uses that I could write pages
on it. Today I will talk about its
biological use in humans.
My main
uses are boron are to keep my patient’s bones strong, reverse osteoporosis, treat
arthritis, and to help prevent and treat prostate cancer. I also prescribe it to help protect one from
radiation. Boron and Lugols iodine are accepted
treatments for radiation poisoning. I use it for intestinal, vaginal, and eye
yeast infections in the form of borax.
Sources of boron are red grapes,
non-citrus fruits, avocados, beans, legumes, nuts, red grapes, apples, pears,
and plums. If the soil is depleted of
boron, you will find little boron in your fruits and vegetables.
Scientists have not decided whether
boron is an essential mineral for humans and mammals. My colleagues and I believe that it is an
essential mineral, and I would not wait until there is a scientific
consensus to start supplementing
with boron. NASA has their astronauts
taking boron to protect them from ionizing radiation.
The largest known boron deposits are
in Turkey, the largest producer of boron minerals. Next is the United States.
Insecticide
Boric acid is more toxic to insects
than to mammals, and is routinely used as an insecticide. Boric acid is used as an insecticide, notably
against ants, fleas, and cockroaches.
Antifungal
Boric acid has antiseptic,
antifungal, and antiviral properties and for these reasons is applied as a
water clarifier in swimming pool water treatment. Mild solutions of boric acid
have been used as eye antiseptics.
Osteoporosis and Arthritis
Born supplementation at 3mg a day in
postmenopausal women reduces urinary
calcium excretion and elevates the serum concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol
and testosterone.
Where boron intake is low (<1-3
mg/day) in areas around the world there is more osteoporosis and arthritis
compared to 3-10 mg a day. I have my
severe degenerative osteoarthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis patients taking up to 20 mg a day of
boron. I also add gelatin, collagen,
copper, vitamin C, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, Bio Sil, and strontium
to this regimen. See my arthritis and
osteoporosis blogs.
Boron Toxicity
Boron is a very safe mineral to
supplement with. It has a LD50 (the
lethal dose of 50% of animals tested) of 6 grams per kilogram of body weight. Substances
with LD50 above 2 grams are considered nontoxic. I usually prescribe 12 mg a day. With prostate cancer patients or patients
with severe arthritis and osteoporosis I prescribe no more than 20 mg a day
Borax
Borax contains around 11%
boron. It is sold as a multipurpose
cleaner, and the word boron was coined from borax.
With low to medium-weight people use
1/8 teaspoon of borax powder and with heavier weight 1/4 teaspoon per litre of
water. One drinks the water spaced out during the day, and does this for 4 or 5
days a week as long as required.
Boric Acid
The type of boron we obtain from
food is primarily boric acid, B(OH)3, which is naturally present only in
plants.
Boric acid has antiseptic,
antifungal, and antiviral properties and for these reasons is applied as a
water clarifier in swimming pool water treatment.[108] Mild solutions of boric
acid have been used as eye antiseptics.
Congenital endothelial dystrophy
type 2, a rare form of corneal dystrophy, is linked to mutations in SLC4A11
gene that encodes a transporter reportedly regulating the intracellular
concentration of boron.[131]
Borax is the sodium salt of the weak
boric acid. Because sodium is more strongly alkaline, this makes a solution of
borax strongly alkaline with a pH between 9 and 10 (pH 7 is neutral). When
ingested, it reacts with hydrochloric acid in the stomach to form boric acid
and sodium chloride. The boron content of Borax is 11.3% while for boric acid
it is 17.5% or about 50% higher.
Prostate Cancer
Boron selectively kills prostate
cancer cells and is harmless to normal prostate gland cells. It can lower one’s risk of prostate cancer by
64% at adequate levels. No one knows the
optimal mg amount of boron to give to prostate cancer patients. I usually prescribe 20 mg a day to these
patients. It lowers PSA in my patients,
and decreases the size of the prostate gland in my patients with enlarged
prostate glands (BPH). I also use Lugols
iodine, vitamins D3, K2 (MK-7), selenium and zinc.
of boron from their diets were 64%
less likely to develop prostate cancer than those who consumed the least.
Increase in Brain Function
Boron increases concentration,
memory, and better motor control. It
increases more slow brain waves.
More health benefits are being
discovered yearly about boron. I
prescribe boron, Lugols iodine, selenium and other minerals to all of my
patients.
© 2017 Jake Ames, MD, HMD All Rights Reserved