Question
Is silica the same mineral as silicon?
Silica is a trace mineral, as far as I know, so what is the maximum amount a person can have in a day? Should this maximum amount be broken up into twice a day?
Answer
Silicon is a chemical element that cannot be broken down without splitting its atoms while silica is the derivative of the combination of silicon and oxygen which form minerals known as silicates (e.g. quartz, feldspar).
There are no established dosages for silica as a trace mineral but suggestions of 5-20 mg have been made. I don’t recommend taking supplements because the thought that when taken by itself, it may not be adequately absorbed and used by the body, whereas when one gets it naturally in the diet with foods that contain other chemicals, enzymes and constituents, it is more readily absorbed.
The foods that are recommended include: whole grains, unrefined cereals, deep root vegetables, horsetail, red raspberry and alfalfa to name a few.
Please note that the information provided is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat medical conditions. Consult with your medical physician regarding appropriateness of using herbs in your healing process.
Contact
Contact Kay Hutchinson, CAMQ, CAMT at Aiki Healing today for a consultation for a custom herbal formulation.
