Organic Germanium Facts and Benefits

Germanium is a trace element discovered by Clemens Alexander Winkler in 1886. The inorganic mineral is basically used in the electronics sector as a semiconductor of electricity. Since 1948, inorganic forms of industrial-grade germanium have been used commercially in the semiconductor electronics industry. The organic form of germanium occurs in certain plants. Experts, estimate daily intake for humans is between 0.1 and 4 mg. Like several minerals, germanium exists in different forms.

What is Germanium Ge-132?

Ge-132 is a compound that contains germanium, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Germanium sesquioxide contains a germanium carbon bond and is hence correctly classified as an organic form. Germanium dioxide lacks a germanium carbon bond and is consequently classified as inorganic. At the present time, the term Ge-132 is used interchangeably with the name organic germanium to indicate the compound bis-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide.

Dr. Asai of began investigating the biological properties of germanium after reading reports from Russia that said the mineral had enormous medicinal value. Dr. Kazuhiko Asai original research with organic germanium extracted from plant sources convinced him that it could result in important effects. But, it soon became apparent that extracting the amounts necessary to treat diseases was too costly. Nevertheless, Dr. Asai succeeded in developing a formula for producing an organic germanium, Ge-132, that was chemically identical to the form he had extracted from plants. The chemical name for this organic-germanium compound is bis-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide. In 1969, Dr. Asai founded the Asai “Germanium Research Institute”. (The research and clinical study by Dr. Kazuhiko Asai is summarized in his book Miracle Cure; “Organic Germanium”)

What is Organic Germanium Used For?

Germanium sesquioxide helps maintain the body’s natural production of gamma interferon and natural killer cells. Its medicinal attributes immune-enhancement, free radical scavenging, oxygen enrichment, analgesia and heavy metal detoxification. Organic germanium anti-viral and immunological effects, including the induction of interferon, macrophages, T-suppressor cells and augmentation of natural killer (NK) cell activity, suggest its possible efficacy in treating and/or preventing AIDS. According to Dr. Kazuhiko Asai, organic germanium has favorable effects on people with cancer of the lung, bladder, breast cancer, leukemia,  diabetes, hypertension, asthma, heart weakness, softening of the brain, myoma of the uterus, cirrhosis of liver.

Organic Germanium Facts and Benefits

Ge -132  stimulates the synthesis of gamma interferon in the body. Moreover allowing better supply of human cells with oxygen, according to a study reported in the journal “Journal of Interferon Research”, organic germanium  restores the normal function of T cells, B-lymphocytes and NK (Natural Killers) cell activities and numbers of antibody-forming cells.”The Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine” reported that germanium was found to be a stunning immunostimulant capable of raising immune functions and maintaining them within optimum ranges.

“Organic germanium restores the normal function of T cells, B lymphocytes, antibody-dependent cell toxicity, natural killer cell activity (NK), and numbers of antibody-forming cells. Studies indicate that this compound has unique physiological activities without any major toxic effects.” (The Journal of Interferon Research 4 -1984)

“Organic germanium-treated test animals showed an inhibitory effect against certain tumors in such a way that suggests that the effect is the result of macrophage activity.”(Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 12 November 1985: 2122-8 )

“As an example for further explanation, white rats were exposed to radiation until red and white blood cells were reduced by 50%. They were then injected with an organic germanium solution. Two weeks later, the number of red and white cells was completely recovered. Moreover, although the bone marrow, which makes blood, was destroyed by radiation, it also recovered its function.” (Japanese Radiation Medical Association Vol. 18 No. 11).

“Test animals were inoculated with carcinoma of leukemia cells, and then treated orally with organic germanium. The study demonstrated that the effect of the organic germanium works through the body’s defense mechanisms rather than attacking the cancer itself.” (Anticancer Research 5, Sept-Oct 1985:479-83)

Organic germanium facilitates the movement of oxygen across cellular membranes to deliver oxygen into the cells. Dr. Otto Warburg, Nobel prize-winning scientist, discovered that cancer cells do not metabolize oxygen properly. Malignant cells can not optimally use oxygen so they develop only in conditions without oxygen. Ge -132 s unique chemical structure may strongly attract and absorb  electrons.  In this manner, it may facilitate of oxygen as and “electron sink” necessary for energy-yielding electron transfer processes. In cells which cannot utilize oxygen, it is predictable that Organic Germanium’s presence as and “oxygen-catalyst” could have  harmful, effects on malignant cells and may, hence, demonstrate medicinal value.

Food Sources Organic Germanium

Trametes cinnabarina (800-2000 ppm), Garlic (754 ppm), Codonopsis Tangshen (257 ppm), Ginseng (from Shinano district, Japan-320 ppm), Trapajaponica Flerov (239 ppm), Symphytum Peregimum (152 ppm), Lithosemi Radix (88 ppm), Bandai moss (255 ppm), Aloe (77 ppm), Chlorella (76 ppm).

Organic Germanium Dosage

Dr. Kazuhiko Asai experimented with Ge-132, in doses ranging from 100-300 milligrams. Under medical control patients with a broad range of symptoms have been treated with organic germanium at doses from 500 to 1000 milligrams. It is recommended that patients who want to take organic germanium at higher medicinal doses do so under the control of a doctor. Good quality organic germanium products have a purity of 99.7 percent or greater. Wrong manufacturing procedures can result in impure organic germanium. Contamination of germanium sesquioxide with risky levels of inorganic germanium occurs just as a result of carelessness or a malicious behavior. A research conducted by the Food and Drug Administration found at least 31 cases of kidney failure linked to germanium products.