COPPER TOXICITY SYNDROME
by Lawrence Wilson, MD
Revised © April 2007
Do
you know anyone who suffers from headaches, fatigue, insomnia, depression, skin
rashes, spaciness or detachment, learning disorders or premenstrual
syndrome? These can be symptoms of
a copper imbalance.
Copper
is an essential trace mineral that is vitally important for both physical and
mental health. It has been studied
for years, including at government laboratories. However, its importance for health is still largely
unappreciated. The following
article is an introduction to the large subject of copper imbalance. The author is deeply indebted to Dr.
Paul C. Eck, an avid copper researcher.
COPPER'S ROLE IN THE BODY
Copper
is critical for energy production in the cells. It is also involved in nerve conduction, connective tissue,
the cardiovascular system and the immune system. Copper is closely related to estrogen metabolism, and is
required for women's fertility and to maintain pregnancy. Copper stimulates production of the
neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. It is also required for monoamine oxidase,
an enzyme related to serotonin production.
THREE COPPER IMBALANCES
It
is possible for a person to become copper-toxic, copper-deficient or to have a
condition called biounavailable copper. In the latter, copper is present, but
cannot be utilized. When copper is
biounavailable, one may have symptoms of both copper toxicity and copper
excess. This occurs because copper
is present in excess in certain organs and tissues of the body, but is not
usable in other key areas.
Biounavailability often occurs due to a deficiency of the copper-binding
proteins, ceruloplasmin or metallothionein. Without sufficient binding proteins, unbound copper may
circulate freely in the body, where it may accumulate primarily in the liver,
brain and female organs.
Copper
toxicity and biounavailability are seen most often. These occur almost always in people who are in a state
called slow oxidation. Copper
deficiency occurs most often in people who are in the state called fast
oxidation. This article uses the
words copper imbalance when more than one of the three types of copper
problems are possible.
DETECTING COPPER IMBALANCE
Blood,
urine, feces and hair testing are used to detect copper imbalance. Liver biopsy is also used on rare
occasions. Let us examine each method
from my experience.
Serum
copper levels are not considered a reliable way to detect copper imbalance
because copper may not accumulate in the blood. Serum ceruloplasmin may be more accurate.
Simple urine testing is also inaccurate
because copper is stored deep in organs such as the brain and liver. Urine challenge testing with
penicillamine, a strong copper chelator, is much better. With this procedure, one first gives a
dose of penicillamine and then collects the urine for 24 hours. However, this still will miss much
copper that is stored deep within body organs and tissues. Chelating agents primarily remove
minerals from the blood and arterial walls.
Liver
biopsy for copper is accurate, but costly, invasive and in my experience
unnecessary except perhaps in rare cases of Wilson’s disease.
Hair
is not a primary site of copper deposition. However, if one knows how to interpret the hair analysis,
one can often rapidly and non-invasively assess copper status.
COPPER ASSESSMENT VIA HAIR MINERAL ANALYSIS
The
following is accurate in my experience, based mainly on symptom correlation. Hair must not be washed at the
laboratory for accurate results. See the article entitled Hair
Analysis Controversy in regards to washing of the hair at the laboratory.
Assessing Low Copper. Following are
hair indicators for a need for copper supplementation:
1) A fast oxidation rate.
This is identified for you on tests from Analytical Research
Laboratories. The criteria are a
calcium/potassium ratio less than 4:1 and a sodium/magnesium ratio greater than
4.17;1.
2) When the sodium/potassium ratio is less than about 2.2-2.5:1, one often
needs copper in some amount.
Copper may be low or biounavailable.
Assessing Biounavailable Copper. When copper is present in excess, often it is
biounavailable as well. This may
give rise to a combination of symptoms of toxicity and deficiency. Primary indicators of biounavailability
include:
1) A copper level less than 1.0 in a slow oxidizer.
2) A sodium/potassium ratio less than about 2.5:1.
Assessing Copper Toxicity. Indicators include:
Slow
oxidation. Most slow
oxidizers have copper toxicity and often biounavailable copper. Slow oxidation is indicated on hair
analyses from Analytical Research Labs and Trace Elements, Inc. The basic criteria for it are a
calcium/potassium ratio greater than 4:1 and a sodium/magnesium ratio less than
4.17:1. Calcium/phosphorus ratio
above 2.5 is also used at times to assess a slow oxidation rate.
More
definite indicators in conjunction with slow oxidation are: a. calcium
/potassium ratio greater than 10:1.
b.
zinc less than about 12
c:
zinc/copper ratio less than about 6.
d:
sodium/potassium ratio less than about 2:1. This is specifically an indicator for biounavailable copper.
e.
copper level less than 1.0 mg%.
This is specifically an indicator for biounavailable copper.
Indicators
for copper toxicity that may be seen in both fast and slow oxidizers include:
1) A calcium level greater than about 120 mg%.
2) A potassium level less than about 4 mg%.
3) A mercury level of greater than 0.06 mg%. In the book I co-authored with Dr. Paul Eck, entitled Toxic
Metals in Human Health and Disease (1989), we wrote that the mercury
level needs to be 0.4 mg% for hidden copper to be present. I now believe the level is closer to
0.05-0.06.
CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH COPPER IMBALANCE
Physical
conditions associated with copper imbalance include arthritis, fatigue, adrenal
burnout, insomnia, scoliosis, osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, migraine
headaches, seizures, fungal and bacterial infections including yeast infection,
gum disease, tooth decay, skin and hair problems and female organ conditions
including uterine fibroids, endometriosis and others.
SOURCES OF COPPER
Today,
many children are born with excessive tissue copper. It is passed from high-copper mothers to their children
through the placenta.
Stress
from any cause contributes to copper imbalance. Stress depletes the adrenal glands and lowers the zinc level
in the body. Whenever zinc becomes
deficient, copper tends to accumulate.
Our soil is low in zinc.
Refined sugar, white rice and white flour have been stripped of their
zinc. The trend toward
vegetarianism reduces zinc in the diet, since red meat is the best dietary
source of zinc.
Copper
is found in many foods, particularly vegetarian proteins such as nuts, beans,
seeds and grains. Meats contain
copper, but it is balanced by zinc which competes for its absorption. Chocolate is high in copper. A desire for copper may help explain
chocolate cravings.
Another
source of copper is drinking water that remained in copper water pipes, or
copper added to your water supply.
During a recent dry summer, several Oregon cities added copper sulfate
to their reservoirs to reduce algae growth. Accident and disease rates increased.
Other
sources of copper are copper cookware, dental materials, vitamin pills,
fungicides and pesticides residues on food, copper intra-uterine devices and
birth control pills. Mrs. Robinson
and her 6-month-old, breast-fed baby both began to experience hair loss. The cause was a daily prenatal vitamin
containing 4 milligrams of copper, far too much for this high-copper mother.
THE COPPER PERSONALITY
There
exists a high copper personality.
Positive traits include a warm, caring, sensitive, emotional nature,
often with artistic orientation and a child-like quality. Often high-copper people are
young-looking. Many traditionally
feminine traits are associated with copper such as softness, gentleness and
intuitiveness. This may relate to
the qualities of metallic copper, which include softness, malleability and an
excellent conductor of electricity.
When
the personality is not fully integrated or the copper becomes too high,
negative traits show up. These
include spaciness, racing thoughts, living in a dream world, naiveté,
childishness, excessive emotions, sentimentality, a tendency to depression,
fearfulness, hidden anger and resentments, phobias, psychosis and violence. Artists, inventors and other high-copper
types often "live on the edge", in part due to their high copper
level.
The
copper personality tends to accumulate copper easily. Copper can function as a psychological defense
mechanism. It causes one to detach
slightly from reality. This
provides relief from stress for the sensitive individual. It works well as long as the copper
does not become too high. Very
high copper can cause a psychotic break from reality, a type of schizophrenia.
An
18-year old schizophrenic patient had a hair copper level of 41 mg% (normal is
2.5 mg%). She hallucinated and
attempted suicide twice while in the Scottsdale Camelback Mental Hospital. When her copper was brought back into
the normal range with a nutritional balancing program, her symptoms disappeared
and she has remained well ever since.
COPPER AND SOCIETY
Is
it possible that our mineral balance affects our attitudes? Copper is called the 'psychic' mineral,
the 'intuitive' mineral, and a 'feminine' mineral because it is so important
for the female reproductive system.
Its level generally parallels that of estrogen. While many factors influence our
attitudes and values, the rise in tissue copper levels in both men and women in
the past twenty years parallels renewed interest in feminism, in psychic and
intuitive knowledge, and 'nurturing' movements such as environmentalism.
COPPER AND SEXUALITY
Women
tend to have higher levels of copper than men. Women also have more symptoms related to copper
imbalance. These include yeast
infections, migraine headaches, adult acne, various menstrual symptoms and
depression.
Copper-toxic
women are often estrogen dominant.
They may benefit from progesterone therapy to help balance their
hormones. Women with
biounavailable copper are often low in estrogen. Their bodies are often more linear in shape. Of course, copper is not the only
factor affecting hormones. Some
pesticides, for example, mimic the effects of estrogen and can affect the
hormone balance.
Men,
by contrast, should be zinc-dominant.
Zinc, a 'masculine' element, balances copper in the body, and is
essential for male reproductive activity.
Today, however, many men have symptoms of copper toxicity including
depression, anxiety and other symptoms.
Homosexuality may be related to copper levels.
COPPER AND CHILDREN
Children
are born with high copper levels.
Young children are very sensitive and intuitive. They often lose some of their
sensitivity and 'psychic abilities' as their copper levels diminish around age
four.
However,
today persistently elevated copper levels in children are commonly seen. At times, the copper is hidden. This is disuc The problem often begins during gestation, when high-copper
mothers pass on excessive copper (and often low zinc) to the fetus through the
placenta. This is called congenital, rather than
genetic high copper. It can be
prevented by correcting one's copper metabolism before becoming pregnant. After birth, poor nutrition, stress in
the home, and overuse of prescription drugs can aggravate a child's copper
imbalance.
Copper
imbalance in children is associated with delayed development, attention deficit
disorder, anti-social and hyperactive behavior, autism, learning difficulties
and infections such as ear infections.
VEGETARIAN DIETS
Excess
copper interferes with zinc, a mineral needed to make digestive enzymes. Too much copper also impairs thyroid
activity and the functioning of the liver. If severe enough, a person will become an obligatory
vegetarian. This
means they are no longer able to digest meat very well. Conversely, if one becomes a vegetarian
for other reasons, most likely one's copper level will increase. Vegetarian proteins are higher in
copper, and lower in zinc.
At
times, the vegetarian orientation is health-producing. In many people, however, restricted
diets do not work well. Fatigue,
spaciness and other symptoms begin to appear. Many people, including the author, felt they were becoming
more spiritual on a vegetarian diet, when in fact it was just copper poisoning! The taste for meat often returns when
copper is brought into better balance.
Some
people with high copper dislike all protein. They crave high-carbohydrate diets. Protein feels heavy or causes other
symptoms. Eating protein
stimulates glandular activity.
This releases stored copper which causes the symptoms. However, these individuals usually need
to eat protein. The symptoms will
eventually disappear.
Copper-toxic
individuals may also be drawn to sweets or salty foods due to adrenal insufficiency. Some sea salt is often beneficial. Sweets, including fruit juices, provide
a temporary lift but may worsen the condition.
ADRENAL BURNOUT
Adrenal
burnout, characterized by chronic fatigue and other symptoms, is often related
to copper imbalance. Although
correcting emotional and other factors are necessary, improving the copper
imbalance, supporting the adrenals and releasing fearful thoughts go hand in
hand to restore optimum health.
COPPER AND ADDICTION
Compulsive
behavior may be related to copper and the adrenals. Exercise, for example, stimulates the adrenals. This helps keep copper available and
makes one feel better. If one stops
exercising, unbound copper builds up and one may feel fatigue, mood swings and
depression. In some people, this
can create a compulsive need to exercise.
Other ways to temporarily control copper toxicity include the use of
caffeine or other stimulants.
Part
of the appeal of cocaine, Ritalin and amphetamines may be their ability to help
lower copper temporarily by stimulating the adrenals. Cadmium found in marijuana and cigarettes drives copper back
into storage. These drugs may make
one feel better by affecting the copper balance.
COPPER AND YEAST INFECTIONS
Our
bodies use copper to help control the growth of yeast. This may be because copper favors
aerobic metabolism. Copper is
required for the electron transport system, where most of our cellular energy
is produced. Yeast organisms use
anaerobic metabolism.
Copper
sulfate is often sprayed on crops to kill yeast and fungus. Copper is also used in some swimming
pools and hot tubs to control yeast and bacterial growth.
When
copper is out of balance, our bodies cannot control yeast overgrowth. This often lead to chronic candida
albicans infections that are resistant to treatment.
COPPER AND CANCER
Copper
imbalance impairs the immune system. Research is underway investigating
the role of excess copper in tumor angiogenesis. Elevated copper on a hair mineral analysis, when the level
is above about 12 mg% and persists at this level, is often related to a
tendency for infections and even cancer.
COPPER AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Copper
is required for collagen formation. Copper deficiency is association with
atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular conditions. Excess copper or
biounavailable copper often cause connective tissue problems, interfering with
the disulfide bonds in connective tissue. Symptoms may include stretch
marks, tendon and ligament weakness, mitral valve prolapse, skin and hair
problems and other conditions affecting connective tissue.
BALANCING COPPER
The
author dealt with severe copper imbalance in himself and with many others for
the past 29 years. Seven methods can
be used at the same time to reduce copper in the tissues and are described
below. In most cases, however,
restoring adequate adrenal gland activity is even more important than applying
these methods. Therefore, this section is divided into method to
reduce toxic levels of copper and methods for improving the activity of the
adrenal glands.
Reducing
Copper In The Tissues. At least
several of the following methods should be used at the same time for best
results. This is often overlooked,
leading to temporary or incomplete restoration of health.
1)
Inhibit the sympathetic nervous system.
This is easier said than done.
Copper toxic individuals often complain of their mind racing. Turning off the sympathetic or
fight-or-flight nervous system can be a challenge. Methods that are helpful include electric light sauna
therapy, meditation, relaxation techniques, deep breathing, supplemental
calcium, magnesium, ox bile, pancreatin, kidney glandular and coffee enemas.
2)
Reduce exposure to sources of copper like copper intra-uterine devices,
swimming in pools and high-copper vegetarian diets.
3)
Antagonists such as zinc, manganese and iron compete with copper
for absorption and utilization.
Other antagonists include vitamins B6, folic acid and selenium. Research indicates copper may be
excreted by binding with glutathione and metallothionine which require these
nutrients.
5)
Enhance the eliminative organs, such as the liver, skin and colon.
6)
Balance body chemistry, enhance energy production and improve adrenal
gland activity. To support the
adrenal glands, avoid sweets, eat protein with each meal. Supplements that assist the adrenals
include vitamins A,C and E, manganese, zinc, adrenal glandular and B-complex
vitamins. Animal protein is very
helpful due to its higher content of zinc, B-vitamins and sulfur amino acids
including cysteine and taurine.
Adrenal glandular substance is also frequently helpful.
Note
that just taking copper antagonists and chelators may not work very well. This is because these, of themselves,
do not assist to rebalance body chemistry. In fact, they can make the overall balance of the
electrolytes worse. This is why a
complete program of balancing body chemistry with nutritional balancing science
is far preferable. I will assist
any practitioner who wishes to learn about this method of copper removal.
For
example, zinc, often used to correct a high copper, lower the hair sodium
level. Molybdenum, another
excellent copper antagonist and chelator, raises sodium. Vitamin C, when used in high doses,
tends to cause other imbalances because it can remove other metals besides
copper.
Each
vitamin and mineral affects overall body chemistry. For best results, I strongly recommend an integrated
nutrition, lifestyle and detoxification program based on a properly performed
and interpreted hair mineral analysis.
It is worth the extra time, cost and energy to get better results. It can also avoid the purchase of
unnecessary and costly supplements and other problems that come from their use. Also, be careful with chelating
methods, including natural products such as Metal Free, NDF and others. These are fine for a short period of
time but may remove other critical minerals from the body. This may cause long-term difficulties
in some instances.
Adrenal
Gland Restoration. Restoring the
adrenal glands is often absolutely necessary to prevent copper from
accumulating over and over again in the body. This is because the adrenal glands signal the liver to
produce ceruloplasmin, the principal copper binding agent in the body, along
with metallothionein. To restore
the adrenal glands, the following methods may be extremely helpful and
necessary in many instances.
1. Rest is number one.
Get at least 11 hours of sleep daily. This may be broken into night time plus a nap or two. A year of more of extra rest is often
needed.
2. supplements that support the adrenal glands include vitamin C,
vitamin B5 and other B-complex vitamins, zinc, manganese, selenium and
others. Adrenal glandular
substance from a bovine source is also helpful for many. Inhibiting the sympathetic nervous
system, as discussed above, can be critical for adrenal recovery. Using the adrenals all day can prevent
their recovery. Other methods are
discussed below. We do not use or
endorse these methods for various reasons that are mentioned below.
Homeopathic
adrenal may be helpful in a few cases but is not our preferred method. Herbs such as ginseng, licorice, even
caffeinated beverages are often given, but these can stimulate or replace
cortisol and are not our preferred methods for these reasons. Hormones such as DHEA, pregnenalone,
testosterone, progesterone and cortisone or cortisol in low doses may be given
for a period of time. I do not like
these methods and have seen many problems with them. They will, however, give temporary relief as they replace
adrenal hormone production.
COPPER DETOXIFICATION SYMPTOMS
One
of the difficulties in reducing excess copper are symptoms that arise during
the process of elimination. As the
body begins to mobilize excess copper from tissue storage sites, it enters the bloodstream
on its way to the liver and kidneys for elimination. While in the bloodstream, the copper can cause headaches, skin rashes, racing
thoughts, strange odors, digestive upset, mood swings and energy
fluctuations. In men, testicular
pain is not uncommon. Women’s
periods may be affected.
Certain
methods of lowering copper cause these symptoms more than others. Zinc, vitamin
C and manganese tend to cause more symptoms, perhaps because zinc and manganese
replace copper in the liver.
Molybdenum and sulfur compounds such as Russian black radish tend not to
produce copper elimination effects.
If
one knows what is occurring, it is possible to take measures to minimize these
temporary elimination symptoms.
Enemas, sweating, and drinking more water can help promote copper
elimination. Reducing the
nutrition program for a few days may also help slow the reactions and reduce
symptoms if they are severe.
Supplements of molybdenum, bile acids, laxative herbs and vitamin B6 may
also mitigate elimination symptoms.
A more complete article on copper elimination is available by clicking here.
ATTITUDES TO HELP BALANCE COPPER
Adequate
rest and sleep are important. Any
technique to help handle stress is also helpful. A simple but powerful technique for handling all negative
emotions is given in an excellent book, Emissary of Light, by James
Twyman. He suggests to feel our
negative emotions purely, dissociating them from thoughts. Feel them in the body. Then move the feeling to the heart
area, visualize a small door just in front of you, open the door and release
the emotion. Realize that all
feelings are just energies. They
can be transmuted, sent forth and used for good.
High
copper people are often sensitive, must acknowledge this and 'live their own
truth'. At the same time, a
careful look at one's attitudes, especially hidden fears, angers and
resentments, is very important.
Overcoming copper imbalance often involves overcoming deep fears.
Life
is not always easy for the copper-toxic person. One can become resentful or depressed at times. With understanding, a complete
nutritional balancing program based on hair mineral analysis and lots of
compassion for oneself, these obstacles can be overcome. Then the creative, intuitive and loving
qualities of the high-copper individual can shine through to the world.
Resources
1. Eck, P. and Wilson, L., Toxic Metals in Human Health and Disease, Eck
Institute of Applied Nutrition and Bioenergetics, Ltd., Phoenix, AZ, 1989.
2. Gittleman, A.L., Why Am I Always So Tired?, Harper San Francisco,
1999.
3. Nolan, K., "Copper Toxicity Syndrome", J. Orthomolecular
Psychiatry
4. Pfeiffer, C., Mental and Elemental Nutrients, Keats
Publishing, New Canaan, CT., 1975.
5. Wilson, L., Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis
6. Wilson, L., Sauna Therapy, L.D.Wilson Consultants, Inc., 2006.
7. Many technical articles on the sources, symptoms and correction of copper
imbalance are available on the world wide web. They are too numerous to list here. The books and articles mentioned above
contain more complete references.
Home * Hair
Analysis * Saunas * Books * Articles
Detoxification Protocols * Courses * About Dr.
Wilson