Organic Germanium (Ge-132™), not to be confused with its non-organic equivalent used in the semi-conductor industry, is a trace mineral found in the earth’s crust in relatively weak concentrations of 7 parts per million.
Organic Germanium has been studied most in Japan, where Dr Kuzihiko Asai discovered that certain medicinal plants such as ginseng, shiitake, garlic and chlorella contain naturally high concentrations of it, which would do much to explain their therapeutic properties.
Studies led by Dr Asai in the Institute he founded to develop the use of Ge-132™ have demonstrated the efficacy of doses of 100-300 mg a day in several diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, food allergies, hypercholesterolaemia, Candida albicans, chronic viral infections and cancer.
Organic Germanium is also often used in Japan for pain control.
Germanium seems to act through several mechanisms: it binds to oxygen to improve cellular respiration. It has a particular anti-viral and anti-fungal activity. It can activate macrophages and Natural Killer Cells. It also, and perhaps most importantly, increases natural production of interferon and thus proliferation of antibody-generating cells.
Current thinking among researchers is that organic Germanium acts mainly by stimulating the body’s own natural defences.
It’s also a safe product which is completely excreted by the body less than 48 hours after its absorption.