What is the pineal gland?
Your pineal gland, also called the pineal body or epiphysis cerebri, is a tiny gland in your brain that’s located beneath the back part of the corpus callosum. It’s a part of your endocrine system and secretes the hormone melatonin. Your pineal gland’s main job is to help control the circadian cycle of sleep and wakefulness by secreting melatonin.
The pineal gland is shaped like a tiny pinecone, which is how it got its name (“pine”-al gland). However, it is pronounced “pin-ee-uhl.”
The pineal gland is the least understood gland of the endocrine system, and it was the last part of the endocrine system to be discovered.
What is the endocrine system?
Your endocrine system is a network of several glands that create and secrete (release) hormones.
A gland is an organ that makes one or more substances, like hormones, digestive juices, sweat or tears. Endocrine glands release hormones directly into your bloodstream.
Hormones are chemicals that coordinate different functions in your body by carrying messages through your blood to your organs, skin, muscles and other tissues. These signals tell your body what to do and when to do it.
The following organs and glands make up your endocrine system:
Hypothalamus.
Pituitary gland.
Thyroid.
Parathyroid glands.
Adrenal glands.
Pineal gland.
Pancreas.
Ovaries.
Testes.
What is melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone that’s mainly produced by your pineal gland. The importance of pineal melatonin in humans is not clear, but many researchers believe it may help to synchronize circadian rhythms in different parts of your body.
Circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. These natural processes respond primarily to light and dark.
Your pineal gland releases the highest levels of melatonin when there’s darkness and decreases melatonin production when you’re exposed to light. In other words, you have low levels of melatonin in your blood during the daylight hours and peak levels of melatonin during the nighttime.
Because of this, melatonin has often been referred to as a “sleep hormone.” While melatonin is not essential for sleeping, you sleep better when you have the highest levels of melatonin in your body.
Melatonin also interacts with biologically female hormones. Research has shown that it helps in regulating menstrual cycles.
Melatonin can also protect against neurodegeneration, which is the progressive loss of function of neurons. Neurodegeneration is present in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
FUNCTION
What does the pineal gland do?
The main function of your pineal gland is to receive information about the daily light-dark (day-night) cycle from the retinas in your eyes and then produce and release (secrete) melatonin accordingly — elevated levels at night (during dark hours) and low levels during the day (during light hours).
Can a person live without a pineal gland?
Yes, you can live without your pineal gland. However, your body may have a difficult time with sleeping patterns and other physiologic functions related to the circadian rhythm without a pineal gland due to a lack of melatonin.
In very rare cases, a person with a pineal tumor may need surgery to remove their pineal gland. This is known as a pinealectomy.
ANATOMY
Where is the pineal gland located?
Your pineal gland is located deep in the middle of your brain. It sits in a groove just above the thalamus, which is an area of your brain that coordinates a variety of functions related to your senses.
What is the pineal gland made of?
Your pineal gland consists of portions of neurons, neuroglial cells and specialized secreting cells called pinealocytes. The pinealocytes create melatonin and secrete (release) it directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that flows in and around the hollow spaces of your brain and spinal cord, which then takes it into your bloodstream.
How big is the pineal gland?
Your pineal gland is a tiny, cone-shaped gland that’s only about 0.8 centimeters (cm) long. In adults, it weighs about 0.1 grams.
CONDITIONS AND DISORDERS
What conditions and disorders affect the pineal gland?
Your pineal gland’s function and ability to release melatonin can be affected by the following conditions and situations:
Pineal gland tumors.
Injuries that affect the pineal gland.
Pineal gland calcification.
Pineal gland tumors
Pineal gland tumors are very rare, and there are several different types of them.
They’re more likely to affect children and adults younger than 40.
Pineal tumors aren’t always cancer, but they still cause problems as they grow because they press against other parts of your brain. They can also block the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which is the fluid that surrounds and cushions your brain. This blockage raises the pressure inside your skull, which is dangerous and requires treatment.
Injuries that affect the pineal gland
Damage to your pineal gland can cause it to work improperly. Approximately 30% to 50% of people who experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI) have issues with at least one endocrine gland in their brain, which includes the pineal gland and pituitary gland.
A traumatic brain injury can happen when there is a blow to the head. The injury can be penetrating, like a gunshot wound, or a non-penetrating injury, like being struck in the head during a car accident. Concussions are the most common type of TBI.
Pineal gland calcification
Calcification of the pineal gland is quite common. In fact, it’s so common that healthcare providers often use a calcified pineal gland as a landmark on x-rays to help identify different structures of the brain. Calcification happens when calcium builds up in body tissue, causing the tissue to harden.
Your pineal gland tends to calcify as you age. While some calcification is normal, excessive calcification can prevent your pineal gland from functioning properly. Some studies have revealed that the degree of calcification of the pineal gland is higher in those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. There’s a loose link between pineal gland calcification and some migraine and cluster headaches.
More studies need to be done to determine the exact effects of pineal gland calcification.
What are the symptoms of pineal gland problems?
If you have a pineal gland tumor, which are rare, you may experience the following symptoms:
Seizures.
Memory issues.
Headaches.
Nausea and vomiting.
Vision changes.
What are common tests to check the health of the pineal gland?
Healthcare providers can look at your pineal gland with imaging tests,
such as an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or a CT (computed tomography) scan.
Providers use these imaging tests to help determine if you have a pineal tumor or cyst.
Providers may also use X-rays to check for pineal gland calcification.
Your provider can also check your melatonin levels with a blood test.
How are pineal gland conditions treated?
Pineal gland tumors may be treated with one or more of the following therapies:
Surgery: Surgical removal of a pineal tumor is difficult due to its location in the middle of your brain. Because of this, it’s not a common treatment. In some cases, a surgeon might remove the entire pineal gland (pinealectomy).
Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy focuses on strong beams of energy to destroy cancer cells and prevent them from growing.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells and prevent them from growing.
If you have a condition that causes your pineal gland to secrete less-than-normal levels of melatonin, your provider may have you take an over-the-counter melatonin supplement.
CARE
What can I do to keep my pineal gland healthy?
Researchers and scientists still don’t fully understand the pineal gland and melatonin
and their functions. Because of this, there are no known ways to keep your pineal gland healthy.
Why is the pineal gland called the “third eye?”
Since the pineal gland was the last of the endocrine glands to be discovered — and scientists still aren’t fully sure of all of its functions — the pineal gland has long been a “mysterious” organ. The pineal gland was commonly called the “third eye” for many reasons, including its location deep in the center of the brain and its connection to light via the circadian rhythm and melatonin secretion. Many spiritual traditions believe it serves as a connection between the physical and spiritual worlds.
Chakras are prominent in certain forms of Hinduism and Tantric Buddhism.
The third eye chakra is considered to be the sixth chakra in your body.
It’s believed to be linked to perception, awareness and spiritual communication and
linked to the pineal gland. While there’s no scientific evidence to support these claims,
many forms of spirituality and cultures emphasize the importance of the third eye chakra and the pineal gland. _ PEMF AND THIRD EYE ACTIVATION – Search (bing.com)
Why is the pineal gland called the “third eye?” – Search (bing.com)
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Your pineal gland is a tiny but powerful gland when it comes to your body’s circadian rhythm. While pineal gland tumors are rare, it’s important to talk to your provider if
you’re experiencing symptoms such as memory issues and nausea.
Imagine finding a specific body part that transmits information beyond the five senses. This would give us another realm to explore and understand existence through another lens. Out of body experiences, flashes of insight, “miracles”, and synchronicities would
be explainable. Better yet, they’d become inducible.
While early humans approximated the location of this special brain part, Dr. Joe Dispenza has uncovered the mechanisms of how the Pineal gland works. And it’s function?
“A door to higher dimensions and shifting your perception so you can see beyond the veil or see reality in a nonlinear way”.
In other words, the Pineal gland is the master signal transducer that connects the physical Newtonian world of matter to the energy.
Why does this matter?
Under the right circumstances, your brain’s pineal gland alchemist transforms common neurochemicals into special hormones & metabolites.
Activating your pineal gland, or “third eye”, is the first step to mystical, surreal “downloads” of insight and infallible intuition.
What is the Pineal Gland?
The pineal gland is a cone-shaped brain structure the size of a rice grain. It produces a variety of neurochemicals, most notably the feel-good chemical serotonin and the sleeping hormone melatonin. Humans have praised the pineal gland for thousands of years. The Egyptian Eye of Horus represented power, protection, and good health. Not to mention that it closely resembles its shape. Even earlier, 5,000-year-old Ayurvedic texts called it the third eye chakra (Ajna in Sanskrit).
Pineal Gland, The Eye of Horus in the Egyptian mysticism, is the biological correlate of Ajña Chakra which is the prānic confluence of Īdā & Pingalā pathways. Pineal activation is one of the aims of yoga leading to dimensional shifts in perception and euphoric states of ecstasy.
Left: pineal gland. Right: Egyptian Eye of Horus. The pineal gland is considered the doorway to a higher dimension. It’s the structure responsible for humans seeing beyond everyday linear reality. Intentionally activating your pineal gland (or third eye) tunes you into a reality beyond the five senses.
In other words, it’s the connection between physical matter and immaterial energy (sometimes called the quantum).
Your third eye exposes the interconnectedness of life. Put practically, it’s essentially
your sixth sense. Your intuitive self, that perceives things before they occur.
Scientifically, when stimulated it produces some fascinating mind-altering molecules.
Pineal Metabolites
For years science relegated the pineal to melatonin and serotonin production.
But then why did our ancestors regard it so highly?
According to Dr. Joe Dispenza, the brain can transform those two chemicals.
The four primary pineal metabolites he discovered include:
DMT: the world’s most powerful hallucinogen.
Phosphorescent bioluminescent chemical: paranormal color perception
outside the visible light spectrum.
Benzos: suppresses survival emotions like fear, anxiety, depression, or anger.
Pinolines: strong antioxidants.
Building these metabolites requires raw materials. I recently wrote about one in particular. L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid only available through diet or supplement.
An activated Pineal gland supplied with the right raw materials can transmute L-tryptophan from food or supplement into the same chemical found in ayahuasca. CLICK TO TWEET
The body chemically transforms it into intermediate metabolites on the way to becoming either DMT, phosphorescent bioluminescent chemical, one of several benzos, or pinoline.
DMT induces the highly sought-after hallucinogenic experience, theoretically similar to the “white light” reported in near-death experiences.
Pinolines quell free radicals, making the experience deeply healing and anti-aging.
Benzos and phosphorescent bioluminescent chemicals upgrade the experience and make it more neurochemically desirable and euphoric.
This requires a healthy pineal gland, which is becoming increasingly rare.
Having all the raw materials is a prerequisite, but not enough.
Decalcifying, Healing, and Activating the Pineal Gland
Pineal decalcification sounds like a woo-woo conspiracy theory. Self-proclaimed spirituality gurus throw out this phrase left and right, draining it of meaning.
Luckily, the scientific community has weighed in. Dr. Jack Kruse openly admits to regularly encountering calcified pineal glands during autopsies.
But what is calcification?
Modern lifestyle can coat the pineal gland in a crust. Age begins the process. Ubiquitous chemicals like fluoride, daily stress, and aging all invariably contribute to the layer of plaque (calcification) forming around your pineal. Calcified pineal glands cannot transmute melatonin into the coveted and powerful metabolites.
Calcifications normal but reversible.
To decalcify the pineal gland, first cut out exposure to environmental chemicals.
Start with a quality water filter (see why I chose the Aqua Tru) and air filter.
Awakening your third eye takes deliberate care.
PEMF THERAPY and the Pineal Gland – Search (bing.com)
My favorite third eye decalcification techniques include:
Meditation
Breathwork
Eliminating toxicant exposure
Peptides
Practice meditation right after waking and again before sleeping.
Focus on the energy flowing through the center of your head. Use visualizations.
Take control of your breathing pattern. “Pranic breathing” is an ancient technique used to activate your third eye. A great meditation enhancer, activity for your daily walk, while reading or working, or even watching TV. Pranic Healing has specific instructions. Start by resting your tongue on the top of your mouth to distribute energy throughout the body. Then breathe to a 6-3-6-3 tempo:
6 counts: Inhale through your nose.
3 counts: Hold your breath.
6 counts: Exhale through your nose.
3 counts: Hold your breath.
In his book Becoming Supernatural [Amazon] (see the BSN review here)
Dr. Dispenza also outlines a special meditation designed to rebalance the body’s energy centers (also called chakras). Aside from feeling clear headed and relaxed, I had never truly felt meditation until I regularly followed his “Blessing the Energy Centers” practice. Thirty days later, I paired an elevated emotion (gratitude) with an energy center, and for the first time felt a powerful tingling reverberate through my body. The sensation followed each energy center I focused on. I left the meditation elated.
Lastly, in extreme cases peptides can heal the pineal gland.
As I explained in my post on the future of biohacking, peptides are
tiny sequences of aminos acids with profound regenerative abilities.
They’re considered the next frontier of medicine.
One popular anti-aging peptide called Epitalon is used to lengthen telomeres,
bring the body back into alignment, reduce mortality, and most relevantly,
heal the pineal gland from calcification or structural damage.
Common Pineal Gland & Third Eye Questions
Why is the pineal gland known as Third Eye?
The pineal gland is called the “third eye” because it is like your sixth sense.
It’s the origin of your intuition and perception.
The third eye is your bridge into the unseen world, energies, and “vibes”.
It’s how you sense something will happen before it does.
What stimulates the pineal?
To stimulate the pineal gland, record your dreams, meditate regularly
(Especially in the early morning and late evening), practice Pranic breathing,
use visualizations, and engage in creative expressions like art and music.
How do you cleanse your pineal gland?
Cleansing the pineal gland is a three-step process.
Remove endocrine-disrupting chemicals from your daily routine and living space.
Get in touch with your imagination by practicing visualization.
Consume adequate L-tryptophan.
What hormones does the pineal produce?
Your pineal gland transmutes the dietary amino acid L-tryptophan into 5-HTP,
from there into serotonin and eventually melatonin.
Finally, healthy pineal glands can convert melatonin into 5-HTP, phosphorescent bioluminescent chemical, pinolines, DMT, and benzos.
Activate the Pineal Gland to Tap into Universal Intuition
Science uncovers the secrets of the body’s inner workings every day. But we’re overlooking functions that humans discovered millennia ago.
Pineal Gland is your Eye to the Soul – Search (bing.com)
The pineal gland is our cosmic antennae. We use it to transmit and receive energetic information beyond the five senses. It’s the doorway to dimensions above our 3D world.
You might already benefit from this gland without realizing it.
“Vibes”, intuition, and strong unexplainable hunches originate from the pineal.
Considered the brain’s alchemist, our third eye can transform melatonin into other perspective-changing analogs.
Activate it to download information from a pool beyond the typical human experience.
Don’t take my word. Look into it the pineal gland for yourself.
Recommended resources:
Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work and book Becoming Supernatural – Search (bing.com)
Dr. Joe Dispenza’s works and book Becoming Supernatural [Amazon]
Pineal Gland: A Pleasure Greater Than Anything You’ve Known.
The Impact GMOs has On the Pineal Gland – Search (bing.com)
Ayurvedic third eye chakra (Ajna in Sanskrit).
Egyptian Eye of Horus – Search (bing.com)