Ancient Chinese alchemists like Wei Boyang associated gold’s enduring lustre with longevity and health. Today, gold’s non-toxicity and resistance to corrosion make it invaluable in medical applications, from dental fillings to advanced cancer therapies.
Gold Nanoparticles: Frontier in Cancer Treatment
The scientific community is deeply engaged in exploring the potential of gold nanoparticles, which are smaller than red blood cells, for cancer treatment:
Research at Rice University and MD Anderson Cancer Center has led to the development of monatomic gold-wrapped spheres used in oncology. These nanoparticles accumulate in tumours and are activated by near-infrared
light to target cancer cells.
The nanoparticles absorb specific light wavelengths and convert the light into heat within the tumour, elevating temperatures to levels that cause cancer cells to deform and disintegrate.
Gold nanoparticles are being investigated as drug carriers, photothermal agents, contrast agents and radiosensitizers. They enable light-triggered neuron activation and precise tumour destruction.
Monatomic Gold: Health and Spiritual Claims
While gold nanoparticles show promise in cancer treatment, claims about monatomic gold’s health and spiritual benefits largely stem from historical texts rather than rigorous scientific study:
Monatomic gold, Ormus, the Philosopher’s Stone, manna, and the showbread, are claimed to enhance cognitive function, psychic abilities, and physical health. However, these claims lack empirical evidence.
“Monatomic gold” supplements sold with health claims are likely scams, as metallic gold is inert and has no nutritional effect, in contrast to potentially dangerous gold salts used historically.
Clinical Trials and Future Directions
Current clinical trials, including for head, neck, and lung cancers, show promising results with gold nanoparticle treatments. However, rigorous safety testing is still needed to ensure they are safe for widespread human use.
As research continues to explore and validate gold nanoparticles in cancer treatment, it offers new hope and innovative therapies in the battle against cancer. However, a gap remains between the ancient wisdom around monatomic gold and modern scientific understanding, presenting an opportunity for further interdisciplinary research.
In summary, while monatomic gold’s purported health benefits lack scientific support, using gold nanoparticles in cancer treatment, building upon gold’s inherent properties revered by ancient alchemists, represents an exciting frontier in modern nanomedicine. Rigorous research and clinical trials are still needed to realize their full potential.
What are the potential benefits of monatomic gold in cancer treatment?
Some preliminary evidence suggests the potential benefits of gold nanoparticles in cancer treatment, but the research on monatomic gold is explicitly limited and lacks rigorous scientific validation.
Key points about gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in cancer therapy:
AuNPs have unique properties like biocompatibility, low toxicity, and the ability to absorb infrared light, which makes them promising for medical applications.
AuNPs can be used for targeted drug delivery to tumours, as contrast agents for imaging and diagnosis, and in photothermal therapy, where they convert light to heat to destroy cancer cells.
Clinical trials have revealed no major safety concerns with using AuNPs, but more large-scale studies are needed. Some animal studies suggest the potential toxicity of very small AuNPs.
AuNPs show tumour-targeting capability and precise drug delivery to diseased tissues. They enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy.
However, regarding monatomic gold supplements specifically:
Claims about monatomic gold’s mental, physical and spiritual benefits lack credible scientific evidence and seem to rely more on historical and anecdotal reports.
One expert dismissed monatomic gold supplements as a “scam” with no proven benefits. They need to be better regulated.
A small study suggested that ingested gold foil may inhibit some blood enzymes, but it did not demonstrate clear health benefits.
In summary, while gold nanoparticles are a promising area of cancer research, monatomic gold supplements have not been scientifically validated as effective for health and their use is not supported by high-quality clinical evidence. More rigorous research would be needed to substantiate the claimed benefits of monatomic gold. Consumers should be cautious of unproven marketing claims.
