Information is difficult to obtain on sources, deficiencies and toxic effects. This table is in no way comprehensive. Where no information on effects is listed this does NOT mean that none occurs. The information under possible toxic effects in italics is taken from Hulda Clark’s book.
Code | Mineral | Non-food sources | Possible deficiency effects | Possible toxic effects |
CM 1 | Aluminium | aluminium cooking pans; aluminium foil; table salt & baking powder; aluminium cans; antacids; bleached flour; mains water treatment (aluminium sulphate); some food additives; deodorants; acid rain leaches aluminium out of the soil and into the ground water | | contact dermatitis; skeletal demineralisation; slow learning; interference with calcium and phosphorus metabolism |
CM 2 | Beryllium | light structural material; beryllium oxide is used in ceramics | | reduces stores of magnesium; reduces organ function; shortness of breath; coughing; lung inflammation; tinnitus; alcoholism |
CM 3 | Boron | enamel and glass; light weight components | arthritis | |
CM 4 | Cadmium | cigarette fumes; galvanised iron; pesticides; plastics; fertilisers; tyres; plating; component in alloys and solders; PVC stabiliser, pigments, paints, pottery | | anaemia; kidney damage; probably carcinogenic; high blood pressure; lung damage; atherosclerosis; rat studies show it mimics effect of oestrogen; leg pain in children & adults; arthritis; Alzheimer’s |
CM 5 | Calcium | preparation of other metals; calcium oxide important in chemical industry | reduction in peak bone mass; increased risk of osteoporosis in later life; nerve sensitivity; insomnia; chronic depression; synthesis and release of neurotransmitters | depressed nerve function, drowsiness, extreme lethargy, calcium deposits, kidney stones |
CM 6 | Chromium | dental work; metal plating & anodising aluminium ; stainless steel; leather tanning; paints; dyes; explosives; cement | diabetes; hypoglycaemia; alcohol intolerance; irritability; weakness | lung disease |
CM 7 | Cobalt | dental work; alloys; cobalt compounds used in paints and varnishes | anaemia | goitre; hypothyroidism; heart failure; tremors; polycythemia |
CM 8 | Copper | copper water pipes (particularly in soft water areas); some medicines; pesticides; fungicides; blood copper levels raised by the contraceptive pill; brake linings; wiring; some contraceptive devices; dental amalgam; coins | rheumatoid arthritis; cardiovascular disease; impaired immune system; affects bone & blood formation in infants; possible role in cardiovascular disease; rheumatoid arthritis | rheumatoid arthritis; cardiovascular disease; gastrointestinal irritation (similar to deficiency signs) schizophrenia; cancer |
CM 9 | Gold | dental alloy; jewellery; gold salts for treating rheumatoid arthritis | | mouth ulceration; itching; eczema; seborrheic dermatitis; alopecia; inflamed gums; gastritis; colititis; blood abnormalities; kidney damage (from the effect of gold salts) |
CM 10 | Iron | metal for building; steel, toner for photocopiers and printers | anaemia; fatigue; cracking at corner of mouth; recurrent mouth ulcers; sore tongue; poor hair growth; brittle nails; generalised itching | abdominal pain; arthritis; loss of libido; damage to liver, heart and pancreas; people with certain neuro-degenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and dementia show excessive accumulation of iron in the brain |
CM 11 | Lead | leaded petrol fumes; old water pipes; leaded paint; lead plumbing; solder; improperly glazed pottery; cigarette ash; pewter; lead crystal ware | | loss of appetite; constipation; headache; weakness; blue or black line on gums; anaemia; irritability; vomiting; poor co-ordination; unsteady gait; visual disturbances; delirium; paralysis; kidney failure; mainly deposited in bones and teeth; leg pain in children; arthritis; tinnitus; seizures; schizophrenia; autism; cancer |
CM 12 | Magnesium | alloys; batteries; glass; ceramics; fillers; flocculating agents; magnesium sulphate used in sugar refining | muscle dysfunction; irritability & tension; fatigue; PMS; apathy | muscle weakness; fatigue; sleepiness; hyper-excitabilty |
CM 13 | Manganese | textile bleaching, glass manufacture, fertilisers, compounds used in unleaded petrol and pesticides, pottery glazes | joint pains; dizziness; schizophrenia | lethargy; involuntary movements; impairment of voluntary movements; changes in muscle tone |
CM 14 | Mercury | dental amalgam; pesticides; fungicides; emissions from coal-burning power stations, contaminated fish, vaccines | | tremor; muscle instability; sensory disturbances; gastrointestinal symptoms; dermatitis; liver and kidney damage; anaemia; mental deterioration; blue line on gums; arthritis; MS; Alzheimer’s; cancer |
CM 15 | Nickel | Dental alloys; stainless steel; water boiled in a kettle with an element; clasps; jewellery; spectacles; buckles; keys; coins; diesel fumes; can be in flour as a result of milling; a catalyst for hydrogenating vegetable oils | may activate certain enzymes and play a role in stabilizing chromosomal material in cell nuclei but at the moment no known diseases are associated with a nickel deficiency | may be a factor in lung cancer; frontal headaches; vertigo; nausea; vomiting; chest pain; cough. Dermatitis from skin contact with nickel in sensitive people; prostate problems; carcinogenic |
CM 16 | Palladium | road dust from catalytic converters; dental work; electrical components | | possibly carcinogenic |
CM 17 | Platinum | road dust from catalytic converters; high quality glassware; dental alloys | compounds have anti-tumour activity | |
CM 18 | Selenium | anti-dandruff shampoos; steel and glass additive | possible links with some forms of cancer & development of coronary heart disease; premature ageing | hair loss, nail changes and loss, fatigue, irritability, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, joint inflammation, “garlic breath”, dental caries; skin depigmentation; irritability |
CM 19 | Silver | dental amalgam; jewellery; E174; electrical components; silver compounds used in photography | | argyria (blue-grey/ashen grey darkening of the eyes, nose, throat, skin and nasal septum), kidney damage |
CM 20 | Sodium | | muscle cramps; fatigue; nausea | hypertension; fluid retention |
CM 21 | Thallium | byproduct of zinc & lead production; optical lenses; jewellery; dyes; pigments; catalyst in organic synthesis; recreational drug contaminant | | polyneuritis; fatigue; weight loss; possibly reduced immunity; leg pain in adults; arthritis; MS; Alzheimer’s; people in wheelchairs |
CM 22 | Tin | dental amalgam; canning; solder in iron & copper pipes; compounds used in fungicides and glass coatings | | nausea; colic; headache; weakness; fever; muscle pain; joint pain; tinnitus |
CM 23 | Titanium | dental work; surgical metal in hips etc.; jewellery; E171, mascara | | seizures |
CM 24 | Zinc | galvanised iron; brass; solder; die-casting; tyres; zinc oxide is used in paints, rubber, textiles and plastics | persistent leg ulcers & pressure sores; red, greasy skin on face; skin problems, poor hair growth; dandruff; night blindness; brittle nails; white spots on nails | impaired copper & iron absorption; gastro-intestinal disturbances; mask-like fixed expression; difficulty in walking; slurred speech; hand tremor; involuntary laughter |
