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Taking us to Chelsea in 2007. Live images from Chelsea on May 21st at 8pm.
Please tell your friends. No one else will.
Written
by Wally Richards. Gardening Articles for week ending 30th JUNE
2007 THE IMPORTANCE OF SULPHUR
IN PLANTS AND US Sulphur is a basic element of nature and is one of
the most abundant elements in the earth's crust. Like nitrogen, sulphur is an
essential component in the growth of all living things. Sulfur or sulphur (American
spelling and English spelling) is the chemical element that has the symbol S and
atomic number 16. It is an abundant, tasteless, multivalent non-metal. Sulphur,
in its native form, is a yellow crystalline solid. In nature, it can be found
as the pure element or as sulfide and sulfate minerals. It is an essential element
for life and is found in two amino acids, cysteine and methionine. Its commercial
uses are primarily in fertilizers, but it is also widely used in gunpowder, matches,
insecticides and fungicides. The recognition of the importance of sulphate
for plant growth and vigour and hence crop yield, as well as the nutritional importance
of sulphur for human and animal diets, has led to an increased emphasis on research
on the processes of sulphate uptake, transport and assimilation. After entry
into the plant, sulphate is the major form of transported as well as stored sulphur.
The delivery of sulphate into plastids for assimilation, sulphate storage within
the vacuoles, and the long-distance transport between organs in order to fulfil
the source/sink demands during plant growth require specific sulphate transporter
proteins. Sulphur is a building block of proteins, enzymes and vitamins and
is a key ingredient in the formation of chlorophyll. Crops which are sulphur deficient
typically show stunted or tall spindly growth, general yellowing of younger leaves
and reduced seed set. Recently I received an email from a reader that contained
an article by Patrick McGean, Director of Live Blood and Cellular Matrix Study,
Body Human Project; in the United States. The study was inspired by a fatal
type of breast cancer. This type of germ cell reproductive cancer had been reported
to respond to organic sulfur. While researching this cancer it appeared that the
sulfur cycle plays an important role in the regeneration of our cells. The Study
also discovered that it appeared that the use of chemical fertilizers had effectively
broken the sulfur cycle in those countries which use these fertilizers. The
article states; ‘Diseases we hadn't even heard of have become typical, cancer
has grown at an unprecedented rate, and the quality of our food has been greatly
diminished. Is there a correlation? Since 1954 all disease rates in the US have
gone up approximately 4,000%. In 1954 chemical fertilizers were mandated by our
government. Fertilizers such as ammonium nitrates and sulfates, which lack bio
available appear to have broken the sulfur cycle. This appears to have contributed
to the decline of our health, wealth, mental acuity, and our quality of life.
We believe when the Study has completed is work that this will clearly demonstrates
the connection of the lack of sulfur and the inability of cells to regenerate
in a healthy manner. Sulfur is known to bond with almost every other mineral.
Sulfur has demonstrated its ability to detoxify heavy metals in conjunction with
the transport of oxygen across the cell membrane, thus allowing regeneration.
Sulfur is also the key player as a precursor for the utilization of amino acids,
which are the body's building blocks. Of all of the amino acids some 70% are sulfur
based.’ There are two types of sulphur; elemental sulphur which we use in various
forms for gardening and organic sulphur (methylsulfonylmethane or MSM) which is
the sulphur derived from plants. MSM is found in some health type shops but
the study has found that these MSM’s packaged with anti-caking ingredients,
block the bio availability of sulfur to the cells. The same thing happens when
organic sulfur is released into the sea or evaporates and falls with rain, that
sulfur is bound up by the chemical fertilizers as sulfites and sulfates. This
meant that early studies with participants showed no change in their health. The
study then found a pure source of MSM and results started to happen to the participants. Organic
sulfur by comparison to commercially available MSM is a remarkable mineral for
arthritis, and produces the effects which have been reported. Those who had been
taking Organic Sulfur reported much less pain and increased motility. Many reported
the straightening of finger joints along with the resolution of internal scar
tissue around the joints. Gastrointestinal disorders including acid indigestion,
GERD, irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut, and chronic constipation have been
addressed with a dosage of organic sulfur at a 4% level of body weight twice daily. Skin
conditions including acne, psoriasis, rosacea, toe nail fungus, burns, liver spots,
and disorders associated with Lupus Erythematosus have been eliminated. Sulfur
can be used both internally and externally but the cells which demonstrate the
problem originate from the endothelial layer of the skin. The results which
were the most startling was the number of open heart procedures which had been
scheduled and were cancelled when the individual's EKG returned to normal. This
happened in as little as 6 weeks of ingesting Organic Sulfur. 54 cases have been
reported. Our blood vessels also regenerate and we believe that these cancelled
surgical procedures could be an example of such regeneration. The group has also
seen the reduction of scar tissue, high blood pressure and the breakdown of calcium
plaque in the arteries. Organic sulfur would therefore benefit Alzheimer’s’ sufferers. The
trial is taking place over many years as it takes seven years for all our body’s
cells to regenerate. In a nut shell we should be getting our organic sulphur
from the vegetables and fruit we eat but due to the extensive use of chemical
fertilisers this is not happening. But us home gardeners can easily rectify this
by firstly not using the chemical fertilisers and ensuring that there is sufficient
sulphur available to food plants in our gardens. Gypsum is an excellent source
of both Calcium and Sulphur - essential for both yield and grain quality
- but its benefits go much further. It also helps improve soil structure and balance
the soil by both adding Calcium and displacing harmful Sodium. I have always
been a strong advocate for Gypsum especially in the way it breaks up clay type
soils, making them workable for gardening. Two or three applications a year to
your vegetable and fruit gardens will assist in obtaining a natural plant source
of sulphur in your food chain. For those readers that are interested in reading
the full article mentioned and have email access, send me an email and I will
forward the article to you. You can also participate in the study if you would
like to and the contact details will be made available with the article. I
have already done so and have imported a shipment of pure MSM from the States
for my personal use. Note that pure MSM is a food not a drug.
Problems ring me at 0800 466 464 (Palmerston North 3570606)
wallyjr@gardenews.co.nz Email
Web site www.gardenews.co.nz
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