Considering the Powerful Pineal Gland
In a fascinating article, writer Andy Murphy expounds upon several methods to awaken the pineal gland. How fascinating, the pineal gland is not a body part we hear about on a daily basis — like the heart, lungs, spinal cord, or even the brain itself. But still, this little pea-sized gland in the human brains’ center is of critical importance. It is responsible for regulating melatonin, the compound that helps us sleep at night and also remain wakeful during the day. Among the methods to help the pineal gland thrive are meditation and breathing exercises.
Philosopher Rene Descartes speculated that the pineal gland contained the human soul. This premise quickly fell under intense criticism, however, as Descartes never was able to develop a final framework for how the soul interacted with the human body. Additionally, aren’t any discussions regarding the human soul ultimately mysterious and insuperable anyway? Other religious traditions and many spiritual thinkers also held the pineal gland at high value, nicknaming it the “third eye” that could bind the physical mind and spirit. Although medical practitioners and scientists may not place much credence in such frameworks today, is not the fact of the gland’s immense significance as another part of the magnificient human brain just as mind-boggling and even numinous?
Today much still remains unknown about the pineal gland. How can such a small gland having only .1 g average mass perform such a crticial function of regulating the human body’s level of melatonin? Evidence shows melatonin released from the pineal gland also plays a part in regulating women’s menstrual cycles, and also that optimum levels of melatonin can help reduce the risk of the degeneration of neurons related to conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Certainly, this makes Murphy’s suggestions for helping maintain optimum pineal gland health all the more important.
