Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Pass the lithium

Yes, I have posted on the topic before, but another study seems to indicate the link between higher natural lithium intake (via the water supply) and lower suicide rates:
Professor Allan Young, Chair of Mood Disorders at King's College London, said: "This synthesis and analysis of all available evidence confirms previous findings of some individual studies and shows a significant relationship between higher lithium levels in drinking water and lower suicide rates in the community. The levels of lithium in drinking water are far lower than those recommended when lithium is used as medicine although the duration of exposure may be far longer, potentially starting at conception. These findings are also consistent with the finding in clinical trials that lithium reduces suicide and related behaviours in people with a mood disorder."

Professor Memon added: "Next steps might include testing this hypothesis by randomised community trials of lithium supplementation of the water supply, particularly in communities (or settings) with demonstrated high prevalence of mental health conditions, violent criminal behaviour, chronic substance abuse and risk of suicide. This may provide further evidence to support the hypothesis that lithium could be used at the community level to reduce or combat the risk of these conditions."
Hmm.  Somehow, I can't imagine those who freak out about fluoride in the water supply are going to take well the suggestion of adding lithium for its psycho-active benefits.

Update:  from a short article elsewhere, a brief history of lithium as an additive:
Until 1950, popular soft drink 7-Up2 contained lithium citrate and even beer3 was brewed with lithium-heavy water and promoted for its mood-enhancing abilities.

However, both the real and perceived health benefits of lithium were overshadowed when lithium was prescribed to patients with heart disease as a replacement for salt.4 The resulting overdoses and deaths led to the US banning lithium as an additive in 1950.
It seems there is nothing to stop people buying a lithium supplement in Australia, but I would be pretty cautious about it. 

First, would be good to know what the lithium level in the local water supply is, but Googling doesn't turn any pointers towards that information.  I mean, I did find this:

but no entry for lithium.  :(  That puts me in a bad mood, and in more need of lithium.



2 comments:

GMB said...

Yes so at some level depression is often a lithium deficiency disease. And notice how the medical scam merchants have made a drug out of this fact? When its lithium THE MINERAL that is the active ingredient. And making a drug out of the mineral makes it unnecessary damaging whereas in mineral form (I think its called lithium-orotate or something similar) it just goes in easily and no problems like any other mineral.

Next time you get stupid enough to move your fingers an jibber about HCQ just contemplate this Lithium story and understand that modern medicine is just this huge scam run by gangsters.

GMB said...

"It seems there is nothing to stop people buying a lithium supplement in Australia, but I would be pretty cautious about it. "

Let your heart not be troubled. The drug version can give people problems, but the mineral version is absolutely fine. It would be good even if people had it with their beer. No downsides at all. Just consider it a ubiquitous mineral deficiency. Virtually everyone would be happier if they topped up a little bit every now and then.