Essential Trace Copper

By Atom Bergstrom

Atom’s Blog

Re: What do we need copper for, Atom?

It would take an encyclopedia to answer that question.

As a partial answer, here’s an abridged and edited version of an entry in Butterflies Need No Taxidermist …

copper — (chemical symbol Cu), atomic element number 29 of the Periodic Table, one of the “56 trace elements” of Solar Nutrition Three.

Also known as cuprum, the “poor man’s metal,” the “ugly duckling of metals,” and the “metal of civilization,” this fourth period transition metal is used extensively in electrical wire, water pipes, roofing, copper utensils, and coins.

The slang terms “cop” and “copper” are derived from the copper uniform buttons formerly worn by “cops.”

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Turquoise (a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum) is high in copper.

Paint containing copper is used on ships to retard the growth of the marine organisms that foul the hull.

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Bronze is composed of copper and tin, binary brass is made of copper and zinc, German silver is made of copper, zinc, and nickel, and cupronickel is made of copper and nickel.

Hammering hardens copper.

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Copper carbonate is the blue-green protective coating (patina) that develops on copper when it’s exposed to the elements (a green ring around the iris indicates copper poisoning, which can be caused by drinking lemonade, orange juice, or any other acidic drink out of a copper pitcher).

The copper ion is probably the most versatile catalyst of all the elements.

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A stable photovoltaic device known as “CIGS” is made of copper, indium, gallium, and diselenide.

Japanese scientists claimed they split water into hydrogen and oxygen at room temperature by rapidly stirring a cuprous (copper) oxide catalyst into the water.

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A 511-nanometer (green) wavelength copper vapor laser removes liver spots, melanin birthmarks, and genital warts.

A 578-nanometer (yellow) wavelength copper vapor laser fuses and heals broken blood vessels on the skin of the face and body.

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Radioactive copper-64 is used to study the brain and to detect Wilson’s disease (copper accumulation in the brain and liver).

Radioactive copper-67 is used to kill cancer cells.

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Copper is used as a spermicide in the Copper “T” intrauterine device.

Copper ions kill viruses and bacteria, especially Legionella pneumophila, the bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease.

Crustaceans have blue blood because of copper-containing hemocyanin, while human venous blood is purplish-red due to iron-containing hemoglobin and human arterial blood is red due to oxyhemoglobin (hemoglobin plus oxygen).

Black sheep are the result of a molybdenum-enhanced diet, which creates a copper deficiency.

Alternating a high molybdenum diet with a high copper diet produces wool which is banded black and white.

A lack of copper and an excess of molybdenum can cause rickets or osteomalacia (the adult form of rickets).

Depending on the composition of the soil, some of the Astragalus genus of plants are either selenium, uranium, or copper-molybdenum accumulators.

Estrogen causes copper depletion in the liver.

Copper is a constituent of many crucial enzymes — ceruloplasmin, tyrosinase, lecithinase, superoxide dismutase, cytochrome C oxidase, dopamine mono-oxygenase, etc.

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A copper deficiency, either quantitative or qualitative, can be the cause of many medical syndromes.

Copper helps prevent heart attacks and ulcers, and, along with vitamin E, is therapeutic for varicose veins.

Copper helps convert triiodothyronine (T3) thyroid hormone into thyroxine (T4), another thyroid hormone.

Both T3 and T4 regulate protein synthesis and metabolic rate.

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A copper bracelet provides arthritis relief partly because the skin’s fatty acids convert the fat-soluble copper salts into copper soaps that penetrate into the body.

Highest concentrations of copper are found in the brain, liver (where it’s mainly stored), and heart, and it’s an essential component of collagen and elastin.

Copper helps convert tyrosine into the pigment melanin, which colors hair and skin.

Without copper, there’s no such thing as a “copper-toned tan.”

Gallium neutralizes the prooxidant effects of iron or copper.

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Copper is a MORNING Growth Zone One atomic element, and ORANGE is its single color spectral predominance.

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According to Adano Ley (Swami Nitty-Gritty) …

“Sexual trauma retains copper, causing too much electrical conduction, which, in turn, causes stroke. Also, phosphorus stays too dry.”

“Copper and aluminum repel each other. Wear a copper bracelet to phase out aluminum. Aluminum oxide causes the problem, not aluminum.”

“Wearing copper around the skin acts as an arthritic inhibitor.”

“Take copper for communication.”

“Copper is found in the bird’s pituitary.”

“Obtain copper from cashews, oysters, chick peas, sunflower seeds, and dark chocolate. You can get it from mung bean threads, carrots, or cactus. Also, eat grasshoppers for copper.”

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