Unbekoming
Dec 25, 2024
This recent paper by Pollack rings true to me.
Put simply, Pollack is making the following points:
Instead of
breathing in oxygen gas molecules as we've always thought, Pollack
suggests our lungs are actually stealing electrons (electrical charges)
from oxygen in the air. Think of oxygen as a delivery truck carrying
valuable electrons. When we breathe, our lungs don't take the whole
truck (oxygen molecule) - they just unload the cargo (electrons).
These
electrons are then picked up by our red blood cells, which act like
delivery vans distributing the electrons throughout our body where cells
need them for energy. This explains why fish can live in deep water
with very little oxygen - they've figured out how to get electrons
directly from water instead of air.
It's a bit like the difference
between having to transport gasoline (oxygen molecules) versus just
transmitting electricity (electrons). Pollack thinks our bodies work
more like electrical systems than chemical ones, making breathing a way
to harvest electricity rather than collect gas.
This obviously makes me think about childhood vaccines.
Childhood
vaccines often include small amounts of aluminum compounds as
adjuvants, which “help” the immune system mount a stronger response.
From a bioenergetic perspective, aluminum can bind to red blood cells
(RBCs) and neutralize some of the negative charge they need to repel
each other and efficiently transport electrons. Disrupting this charge
balance may slow blood flow and reduce the delivery of both electrons
and oxygen to tissues.
Aluminum can also bind with enzymes
and proteins, leading to potential changes in how RBCs manage electron
transfer. Over time, this electropositive influence can place extra
strain on detoxification pathways and increase the overall demand for
electrons in the body. Research on aluminum’s accumulation and toxicity
(Shaw CA, Seneff S, et al. “Aluminum in the central nervous system
(CNS): Toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and
autoimmunity.” Immunologic Research (2013)) underpins concerns that even small amounts, when repeatedly introduced, may disrupt normal bioenergetic processes.
With thanks to Gerald Pollack.
Think
of your body as a massive collection of tiny electronic devices,
similar to cell phones that need constant charging. In the traditional
view, we thought of breathing like filling up gas tanks with oxygen -
moving actual gas molecules around the body to power these devices.
However,
this new theory suggests that breathing works more like a wireless
charging system. Just as your phone doesn't need the actual electricity
from the power plant to flow into it (it just needs the energy
transfer), your body might not need actual oxygen molecules to travel
through it. Instead, the lungs act like a charging station, extracting
electrons (electrical charge) from oxygen molecules in the air. Your red
blood cells work like little battery packs, collecting these electrons
in the lungs and distributing them throughout your body where needed.
This
explains why fish can survive in deep water with little oxygen -
they're essentially using a different "charging adapter" that can pull
electrons directly from water instead of air. It's like how your phone
can charge from different power sources (wall outlet, car charger,
portable battery pack) as long as it gets the electricity it needs.
Just
as you don't have to understand the complex physics of electricity to
charge your phone, your body doesn't need to move actual oxygen
molecules around - it just needs the electrons that oxygen can provide.
This new perspective suggests we're not so much air-breathing creatures
as we are electron-harvesting beings.
Gerald Pollack Paper
862KB ∙ PDF file
Fundamental Challenge to Traditional Model:
The conventional understanding of respiratory gas exchange cannot
adequately explain why oxygen passes through alveolar membranes while
nitrogen, despite being smaller and more abundant, cannot. This paradox
suggests our basic understanding of respiration needs revision.
Alternative Mechanism:
Rather than transporting oxygen molecules, the respiratory system may
primarily function to extract electrons from oxygen. This explains the
selective nature of gas transport and provides a more direct connection
between respiration and cellular energy needs.
Hemoglobin's True Role:
Instead of carrying oxygen molecules, hemoglobin may function as an
electron carrier, switching between positively charged
(electron-accepting) and negatively charged (electron-loaded) states.
This explains its color changes and oxidation tendencies.
Capillary Design Purpose:
The seemingly inefficient design of capillaries being narrower than red
blood cells serves to ensure tight contact for electron transfer, while
their sparse distribution around alveoli is sufficient for electrical
rather than gas transfer needs.
Deep-Sea Evidence:
The survival of deep-sea fish in oxygen-poor environments through
electron extraction from water, rather than oxygen usage, provides
compelling evidence that electron transfer, not oxygen transport, is
fundamental to respiration.
Seawater Experiments:
Quinton's dramatic experiments showing survival after blood replacement
with seawater suggest that electron availability, rather than
oxygen-carrying capacity, is crucial for maintaining life.
Blood Substitute Insight:
The effectiveness of perfluorocarbon blood substitutes can be explained
by their high electronegativity rather than oxygen-carrying capacity,
supporting the electron transfer model.
Cellular Water Structure:
The discovery of EZ (exclusion zone) water in cells provides a
mechanism for storing and utilizing electrons, creating a direct link
between respiratory electron delivery and cellular function.
Phase Transitions:
Cellular work is powered by phase transitions involving electron
movement, suggesting a direct connection between respiratory electron
delivery and cellular activity.
Natural Examples:
Fish gill function and the presence of nitric oxide in exhaled breath
provide natural evidence of electron-based respiratory processes.
Experimental Validation:
The theory can be tested through specific experiments measuring
electrical charges in expired air and examining plasma oxygen content,
offering clear ways to validate or refute the hypothesis.
Broader Implications:
This model suggests biological systems function primarily as electrical
rather than chemical machines, potentially revolutionizing our
understanding of physiology and medical treatment approaches.
Gerald
Pollack’s theory suggests that atmospheric oxygen serves as a direct
source of negatively charged electrons for red blood cells (RBCs). In
this view, each oxygen molecule donates two or more electrons, which
RBCs then transport throughout the body. The oxygen itself remains in
the lungs, and the oxygen exhaled carries a more positive charge than
what was inhaled. This perspective ties into bioenergetic medicine by
emphasizing that our bodies are continuously harvesting electrons not
just from inhaled oxygen, but also through the skin (grounding) and
intestines (food). The goal is to maintain a balanced negative charge
(approximately -25 millivolts, or a pH near 7.44) to support optimal
cellular function.
A core element of Pollack’s idea is that
RBCs require a strong negative charge to repel from endothelial
surfaces, ensuring efficient blood flow. When carbon monoxide donates
only one electron, it may neutralize RBCs instead of fully charging
them. The result is a collapse of this zeta potential
and a buildup of traffic in capillaries, potentially explaining why
carbon monoxide is so deadly. If alveoli become clogged or lose
function, the continuous supply of electrons from the lungs would
diminish, weakening overall energy delivery to cells.
Lung
capacity emerges as a primary indicator of overall health by governing
how much negative charge RBCs can acquire and transport. As lung
function declines, so does the body’s total energy supply, accelerating
chronic conditions. There are proposals that an implanted electrode
could supplement the body’s negative charge, bypassing the lungs if
necessary and theoretically preserving blood pH. This technology, if
successful, might reduce dependence on oxygen intake and even open the
door to underwater respiration without scuba gear.
Grounding, structured water,
and bioenergetic devices (such as Tennant’s Transducer) all tie into
this concept of restoring or maintaining adequate negative charge.
Pollack’s work resonates with earlier ideas (such as Tilden’s
notion of “nerve energy”) by reframing much of biology and medicine
around the simple yet powerful concept of electron flow. Sources that
explore these concepts include Gerald Pollack’s investigations into
water structure (Pollack GH. The Fourth Phase of Water: Beyond Solid, Liquid, and Vapor.
Ebner & Sons, 2013) and Dr. Jerry Tennant’s discussions on voltage
in healing. This perspective champions a bioenergetic foundation of
health and suggests that maintaining strong electron flow is critical
for longevity and vitality.
Question
1: Why does the traditional understanding of respiratory gas exchange
face challenges in explaining selective gas passage?
The
conventional model struggles to explain why oxygen can pass through
alveolar membranes while nitrogen, despite being smaller and more
abundant, cannot. This selective passage presents a paradox, as certain
toxic gases larger than nitrogen, such as fluorine and chlorine, can
also pass through these membranes, indicating that molecular size alone
cannot explain the selective nature of gas transport.
The
diffusion-based explanation faces further complications when considering
that gases form bubbles in liquids, raising questions about how these
bubbles could pass through continuous membranes. The dissolution of
oxygen in membrane water has been proposed as an alternative, but the
extremely low solubility of oxygen in water (approximately 10 molecules
per million) makes this mechanism quantitatively insufficient to support
life.
Question 2: How does the electron transfer hypothesis differ fundamentally from the conventional oxygen-based respiration model?
Instead
of whole oxygen molecules passing through alveolar membranes, the
electron transfer hypothesis proposes that only electrons extracted from
oxygen molecules make the journey. These electrons are then transported
by hemoglobin through the bloodstream directly to tissues where they
support metabolism. This mechanism eliminates the need to explain how
gas molecules physically traverse membrane barriers.
The proposed
model suggests that oxygen serves primarily as an electron donor rather
than a respiratory gas. This fundamental shift in understanding
transforms the respiratory system from a gas exchange mechanism to an
electron harvesting system, where oxygen's high electronegativity makes
it an ideal electron source, but not the essential component itself.
Question 3: What role does electrical charge play in the proposed new model of respiration?
Electrical
charge serves as the primary driver of respiratory function, with
oxygen's high electronegativity making it an excellent electron donor.
The model suggests that positively charged hemoglobin draws electrons
from oxygen molecules across the alveolar-capillary interface, creating a
direct electrical transfer rather than a gas exchange process.
This
electrical mechanism explains various observed phenomena, including the
selective nature of gas passage and the requirement for tight contact
between red blood cells and capillary walls. The transfer of electrons
rather than molecules provides a more streamlined explanation for how
respiratory products reach their cellular destinations and support
metabolic processes.
Question 4: Why can't nitrogen pass through alveolar membranes despite being smaller than oxygen?
The
inability of nitrogen to pass through alveolar membranes, despite its
smaller size and greater atmospheric abundance, challenges traditional
size-based diffusion models. In the electron transfer hypothesis, this
selectivity makes sense because nitrogen lacks oxygen's strong
electronegativity and thus cannot participate in the electron donation
process that characterizes true respiratory function.
The fact
that nitrogen remains excluded even during deep breathing, when alveolar
pores would presumably be more open, further supports an electron-based
rather than size-based selection mechanism. This observation aligns
with the idea that respiratory gas selection depends on electrical
properties rather than physical characteristics.
Question 5: How does the proposed electron-based mechanism explain the passage of toxic gases?
The
electron-based mechanism explains toxic gas passage through the
alveolar membrane based on the gases' electrical properties rather than
their size. Halogens like fluorine and chlorine, despite being larger
than nitrogen, can pass through because they interact with the electron
transfer system, potentially disrupting normal electron flow patterns.
This
electrical interaction explanation provides a more consistent model for
understanding why certain gases can traverse the alveolar barrier while
others cannot. Rather than relying on physical characteristics like
molecular size, the model suggests that a gas's ability to participate
in electron transfer determines its passage through respiratory
membranes.
Question 6: What are the two distinct states of hemoglobin and how do they relate to electrical charge?
Hemoglobin
exists in two well-documented forms: the T form, associated with low pH
and positive charge, and the R form, associated with high pH and
negative charge. These states correlate with hemoglobin's ability to
first attract electrons from oxygen and then deliver them to tissues,
creating a cycle of electron acceptance and donation.
These
distinct charge states enable hemoglobin to function as an electron
carrier rather than merely an oxygen transporter. The positive T form
attracts electrons from oxygen at the alveolar interface, while the
resulting R form carries these electrons through the bloodstream until
they can be delivered to tissues, whereupon the molecule returns to its
positive T state.
Question 7: Why are capillaries narrower than red blood cells, and how does this support the electron transfer theory?
Capillaries
in healthy young adults measure only 3-4 micrometers in diameter,
notably smaller than the 6-7 micrometer diameter of red blood cells.
This forced squeeze ensures intimate contact between red blood cells and
capillary walls, creating optimal conditions for electron transfer
across the alveolar-capillary interface.
The energy expenditure
required to force red blood cells through these narrow vessels, rather
than being an inefficient design, serves a crucial purpose in the
electron transfer model. The tight contact eliminates potential
insulating gaps and maximizes electrical conductance, particularly
through the highly conductive surfactant layer lining the alveolus.
Question 8: How does hemoglobin's oxidation tendency support the electron transfer hypothesis?
Hemoglobin's
natural tendency to oxidize, often considered problematic for blood
storage, actually supports its proposed role as an electron carrier.
This oxidation tendency demonstrates hemoglobin's ability to readily
release electrons, a crucial characteristic for delivering electrons to
tissues after acquiring them from oxygen at the alveolar interface.
The
preference for losing electrons in pairs rather than singly aligns with
the observation that toxic electron-donating gases like hydrogen
sulfide cannot substitute for oxygen. This suggests that the respiratory
process requires the transfer of multiple electrons simultaneously, a
capability that oxygen possesses but single-electron donors lack.
Question 9: What explains the color difference between arterial and venous blood in the electron model?
The
distinctive color difference between red arterial blood and purple
venous blood reflects hemoglobin's different charge states rather than
oxygen content. The color change corresponds to hemoglobin's transition
between its electron-rich and electron-depleted states as it performs
its electron transport function.
This interpretation challenges
the traditional explanation of color differences being due to oxygen
saturation levels. Instead, it suggests that the color changes directly
reflect hemoglobin's electrical state, providing visible evidence of its
role in electron transport rather than gas transport.
Question 10: Why is the sparseness of capillaries around alveoli significant to the proposed theory?
The
relatively sparse distribution of capillaries around alveoli, which
seems inefficient for gas exchange, makes more sense in an electron
transfer model. Since electron transfer can occur more efficiently than
gas diffusion, fewer points of contact between capillaries and alveoli
are needed to achieve adequate electron harvesting from oxygen.
This
apparent design limitation in the traditional gas exchange model
becomes a logical feature in the electron transfer hypothesis. The
arrangement provides sufficient electrical contact points while
minimizing the energy cost of maintaining extensive capillary networks,
suggesting an optimized rather than compromised design.
Question 11: How do deep-sea fish survive with limited oxygen, and what does this suggest about respiration?
Deep-sea
fish thrive in oxygen-poor environments by extracting electrons
directly from water rather than relying on dissolved oxygen. When water
passes through their gills, it becomes more acidic (positively charged)
upon exit, indicating that the gills have extracted negative charges
(electrons) from the water molecules.
This mechanism explains why
fish cannot survive in air despite abundant oxygen - they lack the
machinery to extract electrons from oxygen gas, having evolved to obtain
electrons from water instead. This alternative electron-harvesting
strategy supports the broader hypothesis that respiration fundamentally
involves electron transfer rather than oxygen transport.
Question 12: What significance do Quinton's seawater experiments have for the electron transfer theory?
Quinton's
experiments demonstrated that dogs could survive after having their
blood replaced with seawater, despite the dramatic reduction in
hemoglobin concentration. These dramatic findings suggest that the
critical respiratory component isn't oxygen-carrying capacity but rather
the ability to deliver electrons to tissues, which the negatively
charged components of seawater could provide.
The dogs' recovery
from near-death states following seawater infusion indicates that
traditional oxygen transport via hemoglobin may not be as essential as
previously thought. Instead, the electrically conductive properties of
seawater might have provided an alternative electron delivery system to
sustain cellular function.
Question 13: Why do perfluorocarbons work effectively as blood substitutes according to the new theory?
Perfluorocarbons'
effectiveness as blood substitutes can be explained by their high
electronegativity, which exceeds even that of oxygen. Their strong
electron-attracting properties make them capable of serving as electron
carriers in the absence of hemoglobin, suggesting that their success
isn't due to oxygen-carrying capacity but rather their ability to
participate in electron transport.
This interpretation aligns with
the electron transfer hypothesis by demonstrating that substances with
strong electron-attracting properties can substitute for hemoglobin's
function, regardless of their gas-carrying capabilities. The focus
shifts from gas transport to electron management as the critical factor
in maintaining tissue viability.
Question 14: How does the fish gill mechanism support the electron transfer hypothesis?
Fish
gills demonstrate a clear electrical component to respiration, as
evidenced by the pH changes in water passing through them. The exit of
more acidic (positively charged) water indicates that gills extract
negative charges (electrons) from water molecules, establishing a direct
electron harvesting mechanism that operates independently of oxygen.
This
gill function provides a natural example of electron-based respiration
that doesn't require oxygen gas, supporting the broader hypothesis that
electron transfer, rather than oxygen transport, is the fundamental
respiratory process. The fact that fish can't survive in air despite
abundant oxygen further supports this interpretation.
Question 15: What does exhaled nitric oxide suggest about the respiratory process?
The
presence of nitric oxide in exhaled breath suggests that inspired
oxygen undergoes electrical changes during respiration. After oxygen
molecules donate their electrons, the resulting positively charged
oxygen can react with nitrogen to form nitric oxide, providing evidence
that oxygen's role involves electron donation rather than simple gas
transport.
This observation helps explain what happens to oxygen
molecules after their electrons are extracted, completing the picture of
the respiratory cycle. The formation of nitric oxide serves as a
natural byproduct of the electron extraction process, providing
observable evidence of the proposed mechanism.
Question 16: What role does EZ (exclusion zone) water play in cellular function?
EZ
water, formed adjacent to hydrophilic surfaces within cells, creates a
negative charge separation that contributes to cellular electrical
potential. This structured water fills much of the cellular space and
maintains a sustained negative electrical potential, providing a
reservoir of electrons for cellular functions.
The presence of EZ
water supports the electron-based respiratory model by providing a
mechanism for storing and utilizing electrons within cells. Its ability
to maintain charge separation helps explain how cells can sustain their
electrical potential and utilize electron energy for various cellular
processes.
Question 17: How does cellular electrical potential relate to the proposed respiratory mechanism?
Cellular
electrical potential, maintained by negatively charged EZ water,
represents stored electron energy that cells can utilize for various
functions. The respiratory system's delivery of electrons helps maintain
this potential, creating a direct link between respiration and cellular
energy storage.
This electrical system provides a more direct
pathway for energy transfer than traditional metabolic models, with
electrons from respiration directly supporting cellular electrical
potential. The maintenance of this potential becomes a primary function
of respiration, linking respiratory electron delivery to cellular energy
states.
Question 18: What is the relationship between electron transfer and cellular phase transitions?
Cellular
phase transitions, involving the conversion between EZ water and
ordinary water states, along with protein conformational changes,
represent the expenditure of stored electron energy. These transitions
power cellular work, including contraction, secretion, and nerve
conduction, directly linking electron availability to cellular function.
The
system requires a constant supply of electrons to restore the
high-energy state after each transition, creating a direct connection
between respiratory electron delivery and cellular work capacity. This
mechanism provides a more direct link between respiration and cellular
function than traditional metabolic pathways.
Question 19: How does water splitting in cells support the electron-based theory?
Water
molecules near hydrophilic surfaces split into positive and negative
components, with the negative component forming EZ water. This natural
charge separation process provides a mechanism for storing and utilizing
electrons delivered by the respiratory system, supporting the idea that
electron management is central to cellular function.
Laboratory
studies have confirmed that direct electrical current can convert
ordinary water to EZ water, demonstrating the feasibility of
electron-based water structuring. This provides experimental support for
the role of electrons in maintaining cellular water structure and
function.
Question 20: Why is the surfactant layer's conductance important in this model?
The
high conductance of the alveolar surfactant layer facilitates efficient
electron transfer from oxygen to hemoglobin. This conductivity provides
a crucial pathway for electron movement across the alveolar-capillary
interface, supporting the proposed electron transfer mechanism.
The
surfactant's conductive properties, combined with the tight contact
between red blood cells and capillary walls, creates optimal conditions
for electron extraction from oxygen. This arrangement explains why the
respiratory system's structure is optimized for electrical conductance
rather than gas diffusion.
Question 21: How can the electron transfer hypothesis be experimentally validated?
The
hypothesis can be tested by measuring the electrical charge of expired
air to detect positively charged oxygen molecules, providing direct
evidence of electron extraction. Additional experiments could examine
whether direct electron transfer can convert hemoglobin between its
different states, and analyze plasma oxygen content to confirm the
absence of molecular oxygen transport.
These proposed experiments
focus on detecting electrical changes rather than gas movements,
offering clear ways to distinguish between traditional gas transport and
electron transfer mechanisms. The results could provide definitive
evidence for or against the electron transfer model.
Question 22: What does oximeter function reveal about the proposed mechanism?
While
oximeters are commonly thought to measure oxygen saturation, they
actually detect structural differences between arterial and venous
hemoglobin through light absorption. The device cannot distinguish
whether these differences result from oxygen binding or electron
transfer, making its measurements compatible with either model.
The
oximeter's function therefore doesn't contradict the electron transfer
hypothesis, as it simply detects hemoglobin state changes without
revealing their underlying cause. This interpretation suggests that
common medical devices may be measuring electrical states rather than
oxygen levels.
Question 23: Why can't gases like hydrogen sulfide substitute for oxygen despite being electron-donors?
Although
gases like hydrogen sulfide can donate electrons, they lack oxygen's
capacity to donate multiple electrons simultaneously. Oxygen's multiple
oxidation states (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2) allow it to participate in
multi-electron transfers, while single-electron donors cannot support
the natural two-electron oxidation preference of hemoglobin.
This
limitation explains why not all electron-donating gases can support
respiration, providing a logical framework for understanding gas
toxicity based on electron transfer capabilities rather than traditional
gas exchange properties.
Question 24: How does this theory establish a direct link between respiration and metabolism?
The
electron transfer theory creates a direct connection between
respiratory function and cellular metabolism by showing how electrons
move from inspired oxygen directly to cellular components. This direct
transfer eliminates the need for complex intermediate steps, providing a
more streamlined explanation for how respiratory activity supports
cellular function.
The model shows how respiratory electrons
directly maintain cellular electrical potential and power phase
transitions, creating a clear pathway from respiration to cellular work.
This direct connection helps explain the immediate effects of
respiratory disruption on cellular function.
Question 25: What broader implications does this theory have for understanding biological systems?
The
electron transfer hypothesis suggests that biological systems function
primarily as electrical rather than chemical machines, with electron
movement serving as the fundamental basis for physiological processes.
This perspective unifies various biological phenomena under a common
electrical framework, from neural function to cellular metabolism.
This
electrical paradigm could lead to new approaches in medical treatment
and biological research, focusing on managing electron flow rather than
chemical processes. The theory suggests that many biological processes
might be better understood and manipulated through their electrical
properties rather than their chemical characteristics.
VIDEO: We Breathe Electricity Not Oxygen - Dr Tom Cowan
Source: https://unbekoming.substack.com/p/breathing-electrons
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