"Many of the most prevalent metabolic dysfunctions of our time
are related in some way to a copper imbalance." ~ Dr. Paul Eck
What is Copper Toxicity? ...In Summary At a Glance:
- Copper Toxicity is a build up of stored bio-unavailable copper in the body. The liver is the primary storage location. The brain, a secondary location.
- Birth control pills, copper IUDs, vegetarian diets, copper piping, and estrogen are just some of the contributing factors that have made copper toxicity a growing epidemic.
- Though copper is an essential mineral, not all copper is ‘safe’. Copper sulfate used on crops for example is a known toxin. "Excess copper is poisonous to all forms of life, and copper overloading is responsible for several human pathologic processes"[66]. “Copper becomes toxic when it accumulates in the body's tissues in excessive amounts” (Pfeiffer, 1975; 1987)
- Copper is an essential nutrient and offers many health benefits at a 'healthy' level. This is the selling point for promoting copper. However, often ignored and poorly recognized are how the promoted benefits can reverse when excess copper accumulates. Energy turns to fatigue. Cognitive clarity turns to brain fog. Fungal control turns to candida. Positive emotions turn to depression and apathy. Other common symptoms include racing mind, insomnia, thyroid hypo-function, burn-out, depression, panic attacks, even Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and cancer [67] can all also be linked to copper toxicity.
- The higher the degree of copper accumulation, often the higher the degree of bioavailable deficiency.
- As detox often brings to the surface some of the worst symptoms, detoxing excess copper needs to be done slow and gently to avoid anxiety, panic and other uncomfortable reactions.
- A deficiency of bio-available copper is common, yet can exist at the same time as excess amounts are stored in the body. The answer is not always to supplement more copper, but rather support copper metabolism and the body's ability to utilize copper safely.
- Copper toxicity is one of the most widespread yet misunderstood epidemics of our time, and is a major factor in many of today's most prevalent conditions. It should therefore be a key route of investigation for any of the above mentioned symptoms.
A Health Epidemic Ignored by the Medical World
"Virtually all MDs, including psychiatrists, still have not heard of this health problem. They practice medicine and psychiatry with an incredible lack of awareness that such a serious health problem even exists. They claim to be practicing “evidence based medicine”, yet they are practicing without the most basic evidence – real laboratory data showing the presence of excess (toxic) copper that has a profound effect on both the physical and mental health of the vast majority of their patients. Ever since Carl Pfeiffer, MD, PhD first wrote about the devastating health effects of copper toxicity in 1975, it has been a challenge for him and others among us to get the message out to the public and health professionals. Until medical doctors and other “health” care practitioners begin to study the mind/body’s mineral system especially as it is reflected in HTMAs, the medical / mineral disconnect will remain. Without HTMA data, medical doctors will not recognize the epidemic nature of the copper toxicity problem. Today, the time is ripe for getting the copper toxicity message out to the public." ~ Dr. Malter, Ph.D.
Terminology
Copper toxicity may sometimes be referred to as hypercupremia, though it is a misleading term since hypercupremia literally translates to mean 'high copper concentration in the blood' even though blood levels are almost entirely irrelevant in assessing copper toxicity. Symptoms of copper toxicity can very much exist even when blood levels are normal or low. Another erroneously used term being used recently, copper dysregulation, while it eludes to the body's inability to regulate copper due to low ceruloplasmin, is a narrow-minded view that fails to address the bigger picture of why we have this epidemic in the first place, not to mention completely ignoring copper’s proven toxic attributes at high levels. Copper toxicity, as research has shown since the 1970s, is far more than just a dysregulation issue that can be ‘fixed’ by regulating ceruloplasmin. Our modern epidemic of copper toxicity is largely the result of ever increasing exposure to copper with each new generation over the past half century, a concept of paramount importance that is trivialized by using the term ‘dysregulation’. Copper toxicity, in the context of this site, differs somewhat from Pyroluria (a genetic condition in which the individual produces excess kryptopyrrole which in turn causes B6 and zinc deficiency). Copper toxicity, though sharing some similarities with Wilson's Disease, is different in that the latter is an inherited & rare genetic disorder which, like copper toxicity, causes copper to collect in the liver, brain and other body tissues, but has a more dire prognosis than copper toxicity, and for which a different treatment approach is required. As the majority of people have a copper imbalance, copper toxicity should not be seen as a black or white 'label' that defines a person, but rather is a progression to varying degrees of accumulation along a continuum.
Overview of Copper Toxicity
Copper Toxic Society - Dr Malter, PhD
Copper Toxic Society - Dr Malter, PhD
Copper Toxic Society - Dr Malter, PhD
Copper Toxic Society - Dr Malter, PhD
Copper Toxic Society - Dr Malter, PhD
Sections of This Site
Key Symptoms
Food Exposure & Digestive Effect
Estrogen / IUD / The Pill
List of key symptoms of copper toxicity and why often you'll have symptoms of both deficiency and toxicity
Estrogen / IUD / The Pill
Food Exposure & Digestive Effect
Estrogen / IUD / The Pill
The close connection between estrogen and copper, and how use of the Pill and IUD have contributed to rising copper levels.
Food Exposure & Digestive Effect
Food Exposure & Digestive Effect
Food Exposure & Digestive Effect
A look at certain diets which exacerbate copper toxicity, and how excess copper in turn affects digestive health.
Effect on Emotions & Relationships
Effect on Emotions & Relationships
Effect on Emotions & Relationships
Though sometimes referred to as a 'love mineral', this can be misleading as the opposite emotions of fear, apathy, and depression take hold as excess copper accumulates. As a result, copper toxicity can devastate relationships.
The Calcium Shell
Effect on Emotions & Relationships
Effect on Emotions & Relationships
An explanation of the emotional deadening effect of high tissue calcium ('shell') which forms as the body's ultimate defence against stress in the face of excess copper.
Cases & Stories
Effect on Emotions & Relationships
Cases & Stories
A collection of more than 100 experiences and stories shared by women affected by the IUD and/or copper toxicity.
Affect on Adrenal Health
Affect on Adrenal Health
Affect on Adrenal Health
Copper is both stimulating (initially) and exhausting (eventually) on the adrenals, leading to fatigue and possible burnout.
Testing
Affect on Adrenal Health
Affect on Adrenal Health
One reason copper toxicity is misunderstood is due to an over-reliance on blood testing, even though the blood level has almost no correlation to stored tissue copper. Learn here about testing methods.
Detoxing and Healing
Affect on Adrenal Health
Detoxing and Healing
Nutritional and copper detox considerations for safely addressing copper toxicity - and how attempting to detox too quickly can have damaging consequences.
Flowchart
Link to Alzheimer's
Link to Alzheimer's
This PDF presents the basic cause and effect flow as copper accumulates in the body.
Link to Alzheimer's
Link to Alzheimer's
Link to Alzheimer's
Despite all the "studies" out there trying to find the cause of Alzheimer's, it seems one link is fairly clear - copper!
Movie
Link to Alzheimer's
Movie
This full length educational documentary brings together several of today's leading experts in copper toxicity.
Support
Why Copper Toxicity Remains Unknown
Why Copper Toxicity Remains Unknown
If you think you might struggling with copper toxicity, this page provides a step-by-step overview for going forward and finding support.
Why Copper Toxicity Remains Unknown
Why Copper Toxicity Remains Unknown
Why Copper Toxicity Remains Unknown
A look at the existing environment that promotes false information on copper, suppresses awareness, and even blocks the public from receiving this information.
References & Resources
Why Copper Toxicity Remains Unknown
References & Resources
Additional resources for further reading and study, along with the list of references used on this site.