Update On A Landmark Scientific Meeting on Chlorine Dioxide: Streaming Worldwide Dec 6–7

Yesterday, I posted about the symposium, which starts at 8 a.m. EST on Saturday. Register at this link .

 However, I failed to mention that the registration fee is $100 (I was not aware; sorry). The organizers had to commit a significant amount of funds to pay for translators and A/V support, so I ask that anyone who can support please do so.

 For those who register, this will allow you the opportunity to watch the recorded talks a single time after the conference.

 Announcing the 2nd Intercontinental Symposium on Biooxidative Applications
 A Global Scientific Forum on the Evidence, Mechanisms, and Future of Chlorine Dioxide Research
 December 6–7, 2025 — Beginning at 7:00 a.m. EST
 Virtual Event (Zoom) — Hosted from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
 Every so often, a scientific meeting comes along that gathers a group of researchers and clinicians who have spent years—sometimes decades—working on a subject the rest of the world has barely begun to understand.
 This December, such a gathering is happening again.
 The 2nd Intercontinental Symposium on Biooxidative Applications will bring together leading biomedical researchers, chemists, clinicians, and public health experts from across five continents, each specializing in the study of chlorine dioxide (CD) , sodium chlorite , and related oxidative compounds in biological systems.
 This is not a theoretical or political gathering. It is a meeting of scientists—many of whom have generated the very data, chemical analyses, and clinical observations that form the modern understanding of chlorine dioxide’s biological behavior.
 And for the first time, the entire conference will be open to the public via Zoom.
 Why This Symposium Matters
 Despite the controversy surrounding chlorine dioxide in the media and regulatory spaces, the scientific story has continued to evolve quietly in laboratories, chemistry departments, and clinical settings around the world.
 The scientists presenting at this conference are the ones who have been doing that work.
 Collectively, they represent:
 Decades of chemical, biochemical, and pharmacologic study

 Multiple lines of lab-based, biochemical, and clinical inquiry

 Cross-national collaboration from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, the UK, South Africa, Costa Rica, India, Colombia, Argentina, and more

 The only international cohort of researchers actively mapping the mechanistic pathways of chlorine dioxide

 If you want to understand what the science actually says—beyond talking points, headlines, and noise—this is the place to hear it.

 Featured Speakers
 The speaker list reads like a “who’s who” of scientists and physicians who have actually studied chlorine dioxide firsthand.
 Among them:
 Thomas Henshaw (USA)
 Chemical synthesis of chlorine dioxide by various methods
 One of the foremost experts in the laboratory chemistry behind CD generation and stability.

 Raúl Pineda Aquino (Mexico)
 Biochemical properties and mitochondrial redox mechanisms of CD & SC
 A leading researcher on redox biology and cellular energetics.

 Richard Chiara (Bolivia)
 Phase 3 clinical trial in humans
 Documented one of the only large-scale clinical datasets involving CD derivatives.

 Alastair Jessel (United Kingdom)
 The practical use of chlorine dioxide
 Longtime analytical chemist and investigator of biooxidative reactions.

 Mitchell Liester, MD (USA)
 Endocrinology and clinical use of CD in metabolic conditions
 Known for precise mechanistic mapping of redox effects.

 Carlos Orozco (Costa Rica)
 Experience with CD & SC in pediatrics

 Susan Raj (India)
 Our cellular capacity for detoxification

 Freddy Torres (Colombia)
 Integrating CD with nutrition and orthomolecular practice

 Charl du Randt (South Africa)
 Thirty years of experience using CD

 And yes—
 I’ll be presenting as well.
 My talk explores my own medical and scientific journey into the chlorine dioxide literature , what I found, what I learned, and how that research shaped my perspective on oxidative biochemistry. Oh yeah, and I will probably mention my book (s), can be bought for pre-sale here

 Pre-order From Volcanoes to Vitality , my grand mineral saga, shipping before Christmas.

 Conference Details
 📅 Dates: December 6–7, 2025
 ⏰ Time: Begins at 7:00 a.m. EST each day
 🌍 Location: Santa Cruz, Bolivia (virtual Zoom broadcast worldwide)
 🎧 Language: Presentations in English and Spanish
 This event is hosted by:
 Doctors Federation for the World (DFW)

 Sociedad Científica de Investigación Biomédica (SCIB)
 with support from participating scientific organizations across multiple nations.

 Why You May Want to Attend
 If you are a scientist, clinician, researcher, or simply someone who wants to understand the real scientific work behind chlorine dioxide—its chemistry, redox behavior, mitochondrial interactions, clinical observations, and potential diagnostic implications—this is the only global forum where experts in the field present their data without censorship or political filtering.
 This conference does not make treatment recommendations.
 It does not promote medical use.
 It does not offer medical advice.
 It is a scientific meeting.
 Full stop.
 But if you care about the underlying science—if you want access to the researchers themselves, their methods, their findings, their biochemical models, and their unanswered questions—there is nowhere else in the world where these conversations are happening openly.

 How to Attend
 Registration link is here
 Because this is a scientific symposium, attendance is free and open to the public, though seating in the Zoom room may be limited.
 If you want to understand the real science—not the talking points—you will not want to miss this.
 More updates soon.
 — Pierre

 If you value the late nights and deep dives into all the other “rabbit holes” I write about (or the Op-Eds and lectures I try to get out to the public), supporting my work is greatly appreciated.
 Subscribe now
 See below for program and description of talks:

 \

 P.S. If you’re curious about the volcanic-mineral water purification product that I helped develop, you can find it at Aurmina.com . See below for the number of contaminants it can remove from your water.

 Contaminants : If you’ve read Chapter 19, “ What’s Really in Your Water, ” you already know how critical purification and remineralization are in an increasingly industrial world. Based on extensive testing, below is a list of some of the 250 pollutants and toxins that Aurmina removes (a sight to behold):

Summary: The fee for the Chlorine Dioxide Symposium is $100, which covers the organizers’ costs for professional translators and the audio–visual infrastructure required to stream the event worldwide.


A Landmark Scientific Meeting on Chlorine Dioxide: Streaming Worldwide Dec 6–7

Before I forget, symposium starts at 8 a.m. EST on Saturday - Register at this link .
 My new book, “ The War On Chlorine Dioxide , ” is available for pre-sale here (shipping after Christmas).

 Announcing the 2nd Intercontinental Symposium on Biooxidative Applications
 A Global Scientific Forum on the Evidence, Mechanisms, and Future of Chlorine Dioxide Research
 December 6–7, 2025 — Beginning at 7:00 a.m. EST
 Virtual Event (Zoom) — Hosted from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
 Every so often, a scientific meeting comes along that gathers a group of researchers and clinicians who have spent years—sometimes decades—working on a subject the rest of the world has barely begun to understand.
 This December, such a gathering is happening again.
 The 2nd Intercontinental Symposium on Biooxidative Applications will bring together leading biomedical researchers, chemists, clinicians, and public health experts from across five continents, each specializing in the study of chlorine dioxide (CD) , sodium chlorite , and related oxidative compounds in biological systems.
 This is not a theoretical or political gathering. It is a meeting of scientists—many of whom have generated the very data, chemical analyses, and clinical observations that form the modern understanding of chlorine dioxide’s biological behavior.
 And for the first time, the entire conference will be open to the public via Zoom.
 Why This Symposium Matters
 Despite the controversy surrounding chlorine dioxide in the media and regulatory spaces, the scientific story has continued to evolve quietly in laboratories, chemistry departments, and clinical settings around the world.
 The scientists presenting at this conference are the ones who have been doing that work.
 Collectively, they represent:
 Decades of chemical, biochemical, and pharmacologic study

 Multiple lines of lab-based, biochemical, and clinical inquiry

 Cross-national collaboration from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, the UK, South Africa, Costa Rica, India, Colombia, Argentina, and more

 The only international cohort of researchers actively mapping the mechanistic pathways of chlorine dioxide

 If you want to understand what the science actually says—beyond talking points, headlines, and noise—this is the place to hear it.

 Featured Speakers
 The speaker list reads like a “who’s who” of scientists and physicians who have actually studied chlorine dioxide firsthand.
 Among them:
 Thomas Henshaw (USA)
 Chemical synthesis of chlorine dioxide by various methods
 One of the foremost experts in the laboratory chemistry behind CD generation and stability.

 Raúl Pineda Aquino (Mexico)
 Biochemical properties and mitochondrial redox mechanisms of CD & SC
 A leading researcher on redox biology and cellular energetics.

 Richard Chiara (Bolivia)
 Phase 3 clinical trial in humans
 Documented one of the only large-scale clinical datasets involving CD derivatives.

 Alastair Jessel (United Kingdom)
 The practical use of chlorine dioxide
 Longtime analytical chemist and investigator of biooxidative reactions.

 Mitchell Liester, MD (USA)
 Endocrinology and clinical use of CD in metabolic conditions
 Known for precise mechanistic mapping of redox effects.

 Carlos Orozco (Costa Rica)
 Experience with CD & SC in pediatrics

 Susan Raj (India)
 Our cellular capacity for detoxification

 Freddy Torres (Colombia)
 Integrating CD with nutrition and orthomolecular practice

 Charl du Randt (South Africa)
 Thirty years of experience using CD

 And yes—
 I’ll be presenting as well.
 My talk explores my own medical and scientific journey into the chlorine dioxide literature , what I found, what I learned, and how that research shaped my perspective on oxidative biochemistry. Oh yeah, and I will probably mention my book (s), can be bought for pre-sale here

 Pre-order From Volcanoes to Vitality , my grand mineral saga, shipping before Christmas.

 Conference Details
 📅 Dates: December 6–7, 2025
 ⏰ Time: Begins at 7:00 a.m. EST each day
 🌍 Location: Santa Cruz, Bolivia (virtual Zoom broadcast worldwide)
 🎧 Language: Presentations in English and Spanish
 This event is hosted by:
 Doctors Federation for the World (DFW)

 Sociedad Científica de Investigación Biomédica (SCIB)
 with support from participating scientific organizations across multiple nations.

 Why You May Want to Attend
 If you are a scientist, clinician, researcher, or simply someone who wants to understand the real scientific work behind chlorine dioxide—its chemistry, redox behavior, mitochondrial interactions, clinical observations, and potential diagnostic implications—this is the only global forum where experts in the field present their data without censorship or political filtering.
 This conference does not make treatment recommendations.
 It does not promote medical use.
 It does not offer medical advice.
 It is a scientific meeting.
 Full stop.
 But if you care about the underlying science—if you want access to the researchers themselves, their methods, their findings, their biochemical models, and their unanswered questions—there is nowhere else in the world where these conversations are happening openly.

 How to Attend
 Registration link is here
 Because this is a scientific symposium, attendance is free and open to the public, though seating in the Zoom room may be limited.
 If you want to understand the real science—not the talking points—you will not want to miss this.
 More updates soon.
 — Pierre

 If you value the late nights and deep dives into all the other “rabbit holes” I write about (or the Op-Eds and lectures I try to get out to the public), supporting my work is greatly appreciated.
 Subscribe now
 See below for program and description of talks:

 \\\

 P.S. If you’re curious about the volcanic-mineral water purification product that I helped develop, you can find it at Aurmina.com . See below for the number of contaminants it can remove from your water.

 Contaminants : If you’ve read Chapter 19, “ What’s Really in Your Water, ” you already know how critical purification and remineralization are in an increasingly industrial world. Based on extensive testing, below is a list of some of the 250 pollutants and toxins that Aurmina removes (a sight to behold):

Summary: Two days. Multiple continents. Real scientists presenting real data on redox biology and chlorine dioxide. A rare, uncensored scientific forum featuring global experts in chlorine dioxide research.


The Aurmina Chronicles And Your Step-by-Step Water Guide - The Mother of all FAQ's

Cyber Monday Sale!
 Aurmina is flying off the shelves, and the messages you’re sending inject joy into our group chats! So here it is: 25% off every bottle. No limit. Stock up. Code: CYBERMONDAY
 Buy too much. Your cells deserve it. With ridiculous gratitude (and zero marketing department),
 Pierre, Lisa & Scott
 Today’s Substack post is a mix of story and how-to. If you’re here for the “ just tell me what to buy and how to set it up ” version of purifying, structuring, and mineral-balancing your home water, I wrote a much more concise guide the other day. You can find it at this link.
 And suppose you’re the type who likes to read every detail before touching a new product. In that case, Aurmina’s FAQ page is essentially our attempt to answer every question imaginable — right up until someone emails us a question we forgot to include.
 One more thing on the “housekeeping” side: for those interested in joining the Aurmina family as an affiliate marketer or wholesaler, go to affiliate enrollment or wholesaler registration .
 Inside Aurmina: A Week of Chaos, Gratitude, and Two Lisas
 Welcome to our start-up, where the chaos is real, and the gratitude is loud

 Lisa (her other website is here )— as many of you now know — is not only my wife, but also the newly anointed CEO of Aurmina®. These last few months have been a whirlwind, and this week felt like the peak of it: Scott, Lisa, and I are thrilled, exhausted, grateful — and mildly concussed. When your company is in its infancy and its “team” consists of three as-yet-unpaid employees (two of whom ‘moonlight” as busy clinicians and writers), job titles lose all meaning.
 My mineral guide and advisor in this venture, Matt Bakos, is someone who has quickly become one of the most important (and cherished) people in my life. The reason is that, although Matt and I are not directly connected business-wise, we have become partners on a spiritual, literary (the book would and could never have been written without Matt), and global mission-driven level. I want to say here that the amount of support the Bakos’ have given the Korys’, Scott, and Aurmina has been extraordinary and unremitting.
 Despite the support, our intrepid CEO currently wears more hats than a Broadway costume department. At Aurmina , her title means: Congratulations — you are now responsible for absolutely everything.
 In the span of a few months, Lisa has gone from zero to juggling every possible dimension of a start-up: engaging trademark and legal firms, hiring and interacting with consultants for supplement and biostimulant regulatory pathways, creating business entities, setting up bank accounts, building multiple Shopify websites from scratch, wrestling with the unholy QuickBooks–Shopify integration (days of calls, emails, and tears), and recently — with inexplicable enthusiasm — setting up our HR system. And that’s just the “executive” work.
 Meanwhile, I get to play the “distracted writer,” shut up in my office, not to be disturbed (although I am constantly), wrestling with my magnum opus, with some days more evocative of Jack Nicholson in The Shining (but don’t tell Lisa K that).
 Anyway, there is also the part of business most CEOs outsource immediately — customer service. Watching her handle it has impressed me to no end and given me a whole new appreciation for the phrase “labor of love.”
 Lisa hates bad customer service with a passion and refuses to inflict it on anyone else. “ I hate companies with bad customer service. You can’t do that to people ,” she keeps saying, more recently and more often after receiving horrific customer service from yet another company we’ve had to deal with while building ours. (Truly — the irony is brutal.)
 There’s also a funny little subplot here. Matt and I share several strange congruities — Hungarian fathers, a borderline-religious devotion to reggae and the Grateful Dead, as well as deeper, more uncanny connections that show up later in the book.
 Naturally, we also each have a wife named Lisa. So my Lisa has officially been rechristened “Lisa K” in our household, because Matt’s wife — “Lisa B” — has also been in the mineral world for more than twenty years.
 As mentioned earlier, the Bakos’s have been an extraordinary support to us — spiritually, intellectually, practically. Matt’s mineral knowledge is savant-level; Lisa B’s operational and business experience in this space seems to cover every blind spot. Their guidance has been constant, generous, and indispensable. Scott Marsland , my partner at the Leading Edge Clinic (who is also leading Primora Bio , our biostimulant division), will tell you the same thing.
 The result is that in every conversation between Matt and me — and there are usually at least two per day, none under an hour — one of the Lisas comes up within thirty seconds. A question to ask them, a task they’re handling, or some historical knowledge only they possess. Referring to “Lisa” no longer works. Thus: “Lisa K,” “Lisa B”… all day long. Why explaining that required so many paragraphs, I have no idea. That is my brain on minerals, I guess.
 Anyway, what was the point? Ah, yes: to explain that, on top of doing the work of five departments, Lisa K is also drowning in customer service. As interest in Aurmina has grown, so has the flood of emails, support tickets, affiliate inquiries, distributor requests, and general chaos. She now spends hours hunched over her laptop, clicking and typing like she’s playing some high-stakes video game.
 People from all over the world write in: credit cards failing, weird Shopify error messages, questions about dosing, misunderstandings about international ordering (F.Y.I. - you need to email info@aurmina.com for that — her new inbox), or messages announcing that “Aurmina is sold out” (it’s not; that’s just Shopify being Shopify).
 Yesterday’s highlight was a person who wrote: “How much does a bottle cost with the discount?” Which means our website is still failing at its one job: showing… the price. Excellent.
 Meanwhile, the Kory household is buzzing like a beehive. I’m preparing to submit the final-final-final version of my manuscript — leaner, sharper, more coherent, and infinitely stronger than the version I serialized on Substack. It had crept up to 100,000 words at one point, and putting it on a forced diet was one of the most agonizing but ultimately rewarding things I’ve ever done. It is now lean, mean, and ready to go.
 This chapter of life — the company-building, the book-finishing, the two Lisas, the three-person start-up sprint — is chaotic, hilarious, stressful, and oddly beautiful. It feels like the early days of something with real momentum. And the best part is that the people doing it with me are the kind you would choose if you ever had the chance.
 More updates coming soon — including a glimpse into the global interest pouring in, the biostimulant project Scott is building, and the quiet revolutions happening behind the scenes.
 For now, know this: Aurmina is growing. The mission is expanding. And at the center of everything, the two Lisas are keeping this whole thing standing upright — one email, one website fix, one late-night strategy session at a time.
 Stay tuned. The fun is just beginning.

 Aurmina and Adya Clarity Water Purification, Structuring, and Mineral Balancing Products
 Aurmina and Adya Clarity are the two modern expressions of Shimanishi’s work. Add them to water, and they do what nature has always done: bind impurities, clarify, structure, and restore charge. Contaminants settle out, the water reorders (structures) itself, and what remains is cleaner, more coherent, and electrically balanced — the way natural water behaves.
 Although these solutions contain a broad spectrum of ionic minerals, most exist only in trace amounts (ppm or ppb). They are not dietary supplements, nor are they meant to supply minerals. Their role is purely functional: purifying and rebalancing water.
 Separately, we are now developing higher-concentration mineral supplementation formulations ( Aurviva) . And at Leading Edge Clinic, we’ve begun an IRB-approved study evaluating Aurmina’s ability to bind and support the excretion of heavy metals.
 Setting Up A Purification and Structuring Process For Your Home
 OK, now, on to the real point of this post (what the nostalgic intro was trying to get to): to provide some guidance that will hopefully take the strain and burdens off our CEO in a significant way. So let’s walk through how to integrate Aurmina into your (and your family’s) daily life — mostly so Lisa can stop serving as the unofficial global Aurmina help desk. (Half joke, half plea).
 Water Purification For The Home
 To get a feel for how to purify water from different sources with Aurmina, let’s start with water of unknown purity and then move to less suspect sources. The principle is simple: the cleaner the water source, the quicker and easier it is to produce pure, mineral-balanced, and structured water full of vitality.
 Now, for those with R.O. filter systems on countertop distillers, the items needed and the process involved are much simpler than those below; you can scroll down if that is all you are interested in.
 Municipal and Well-Water Sources
 Let’s start with the average household, like ours - we drink the municipal water in Sarasota, FL. First, you need a “set-up.” By that I mean: 1) containers for water undergoing treatment with Aurmina, 2) a water filter system, and 3) a container for treated water to be dispensed from, for drinking or cooking purposes.
 The Kory “Ham-Hock” Method
 My long-time readers will be familiar with the term “ham-hock” from t his prior Substack pos t, which pictorially detailed the history of my ham-hocked home improvement and/or child entertainment projects.
 Here I will share my specific ham-hocked “set-up” for water purification that I put together for our home. Below are three 5L “water treatment” containers with a spigot at the bottom (available at this link ). The stand that the containers rest on can be found at this link . Both were purchased from Lisa’s favorite store, IKEA (with her being Swedish, this should not come as a surprise):

 An important point about the “treatment process” is that you need more than one container. You see, the one furthest to the right is the one that has been treated with minerals the longest (I shoot for 48-72 hours); thus, it has the most sediment at the bottom. The left-most one was just emptied, refilled, and treated this morning.
 As I empty “the most ready/fully treated” container into our gravity-fed ceramic filter set-up (shown below), I then fill it up with water, move it to the “back of the line above,” and then add Aurmina. Easy enough, no?
 Now, I will introduce you to our bad-ass ceramic gravity filter system (similar to a Berkey, or you could use this water bucket filter ). The one below comes from Korea and is no longer available here in the U.S, but there are many other options on Amazon or Google (or see this post I wrote the other day, which provides links and options for treatment containers, gravity filters, etc).

 I pour the water that has been treated the longest into the top chamber of the above filter system, where it slowly (and I mean slowly) drips down through the ceramic filter into the collection/storage chamber below. The spigot at the bottom hangs over our sink edge and thus provides us with the water we drink and cook from. Viola!
 Now, no offense to all you R.O. and distilled water people, but I personally prefer my “ham hock method” because,
 1) I somehow like doing the chore, “preparing and purifying our drinking water”
 and,
 2) It makes me feel useful around the house because it is literally the only chore Lisa lets me do.
 You see, “Lisa K” has determined that I do not know how to do laundry correctly, and she has never trusted a kitchen I cleaned without her supervision. More accurately, every time I clean the kitchen by myself, I then find her spending 30 minutes repeating everything I did, but better. So I stopped. She has never complained.
 Treatment of Potable Water From Municipal or Well Sources
 Dose of Aurmina/Adya: 1-2 tsp per gallon, based on local water quality

 Treatment Time: 24 - 72 hours, also depending in local water quality (and patience).

 Filtration Step: Pour through any gravity-fed water filter or Brita-type filter

 Note: If you notice a slight lemon-like flavor, reduce the amount to ½ teaspoon per gallon to achieve a more neutral, balanced taste.
 Reverse Osmosis (RO) And Distilled Water Systems
 In ideal conditions, both distilled and RO water are pure or nearly pure, but buildup in pipes or filters of an RO system can reduce quality. To evaluate how well your R.O. system is currently functioning, do the following “test”:
 Add 1 teaspoon per gallon of Aurmina, stir well, and let sit overnight.

 If visible sediment falls to the bottom, it may be time to service or replace your RO filters.

 If the water remains clear, you can just fill a drinking container with your R.O. or distilled water, add the usual amount of Aurmina, and shake or stir; the water is ready for use within minutes.
 The R.O. and Distilled Water “Quirk” With Aurmina
 Sometimes, even when the R.O. filter system and pipes are clean and/or the countertop distiller is working correctly, the water still turns yellow, albeit without significant precipitate settling. What gives?
 1) RO and Distilled Water Are “Chemically Empty” and Hyper-Reactive
 In chemistry, RO/distilled water is “hungry”—with no ions or buffering, it reacts instantly. So when you add Aurmina, its minerals have nothing to compete with, and it responds immediately. Think of RO/distilled water as a blank canvas where every brushstroke shows.
 “Hungry” water has almost no buffering capacity which means that pH can swing wildly with just a few drops of anything ionic. Since Iron (and other trace ions) are extremely sensitive to pH, slight shifts can oxidize ferrous iron (Fe2+) into ferric iron (Fe3+), which is yellow to rust-colored . This oxidation can happen even if the absolute amount of iron is tiny — parts per billion.
 2) Trace Metals Can Precipitate Even in Pure Water When pH Changes
 In tap, well, or spring water, there are plenty of dissolved minerals and buffers that keep metals stable and invisible. In RO/distilled water:
 There’s nothing to stabilize trace metals.

 The minerals in Aurmina have no competition and therefore readily form micro-particles, flocs, or oxides.

 Sometimes they fully precipitate. Sometimes they remain suspended and produce a uniform yellow tint.
 3) The Glass Itself Can Participate in the Reaction
 This part surprises people. Glass is not chemically inert — especially in low-mineral, low-pH-buffer environments. RO/distilled water + ionic minerals = the perfect scenario for:
 Adsorption (minerals sticking to the glass surface),

 Micro-abrasion points accumulating oxidized minerals,

 Light scattering that enhances the appearance of yellow/brown staining.

 Different glass types (borosilicate vs. soda-lime) will behave differently, too. This staining is harmless and does not affect water safety or quality . It can be removed with a vinegar soak, using either plain vinegar or a 1:1 water-to-vinegar mixture.
 Solution for yellow tint : here, you will have to join the municipal and healthy water crowd by adding 10% municipal water to the R.O. or distilled water, treat the water with Aurmina for 24 hours, then run it through a filter. Now you are good to go.
 Home Distilled Water - The “Marsland Method”
 My Leading Edge Clinic partner, Scott Marsland, in all his brilliance, advocates buying a home water distiller and distilling your tap water. Modern distillers like his can distill a gallon in about 3 hours. Once you distill the water, all you have to do is add the black mica minerals, and you are ready to drink and/or cook with it!

 From Scott: “We have been distilling our drinking water for 30 years and have tried many different brands, but the WaterWise distiller was the best - super reliable, fast, and American-made, lasting over 15 years with excellent support if an issue arose. Our current WaterWise 3200 produces a gallon in three hours.”
 Scott loves that thing so much he never shuts up about it (a joke - sort of :). Thus, he tried to get an affiliate link for me to use in this post, but was unsuccessful. So, know that his recommendation comes free of any COI :)
 Conclusion
 For a short, focused version of the information contained in this post, the “ just tell me what to buy and how to set it up ” version of purifying, structuring, and mineral-balancing your home water, see this more concise guide I wrote the other day.
 And if you’re the type who likes to read every detail before touching a new product, go to Aurmina’s FAQ page , which is essentially our attempt to answer every question imaginable — right up until someone emails us a question we forgot to include.

 More Stuff (pre-order books etc):
 If you value the late nights and deep dives into all the other “rabbit holes” I write about (or the Op-Eds and lectures I try to get out to the public), supporting my work is greatly appreciated.
 Subscribe now
 P.S. If you’re curious about the volcanic-mineral water purification product that I helped develop, you can find it at Aurmina.com . See below for the number of contaminants it can remove from your water.

 Contaminants : If you’ve read Chapter 19, “ What’s Really in Your Water, ” you already know how critical purification and remineralization are in an increasingly industrial world. Based on extensive testing, below is a list of some of the 250 pollutants and toxins that Aurmina removes (a sight to behold):

 3) Upcoming Book Publications
 Yup — not one, but two books are dropping from yours truly (at the same time? What?)

 If, instead of (or in addition to) this Substack version, you prefer the feel of a real book—or the smell of paper—or like to give holiday gifts, pre-order From Volcanoes to Vitality , my grand mineral saga, shipping before Christmas.

 And if you want to read (or gift) another chronicle of suppression, science, and survival, grab The War on Chlorine Dioxide —the sequel you didn’t see coming—shipping mid-January. On this one, I say: “Buy it before they ban it.” Hah!

 This chapter is original material and protected under international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.

Summary: Part startup confessional, part practical handbook: two Lisas, one mineral mission, and everything you need to set up Aurmina in your home without emailing our CEO at 2 a.m.


Cyber Monday Sale Is Live Right Now
 Aurmina is flying off the shelves, and the messages you’re sending us are injecting joy into our group chat. So here’s the biggest discount we’ve ever done:
 25% off every bottle. No limit. Stock up.
 Code: CYBERMONDAY
 (Works right now through the end of the day Monday — beats even the old bundle pricing)
 Buy too much. Your cells deserve it.
 With ridiculous gratitude (and zero marketing department),
 Pierre, Lisa & Scott

 The Line I Swore I’d Never Cross — And Why I Stepped Over It Anyway
 For most of my professional life, I kept one rule so firmly in place that it almost became part of my identity: I was not going to make money from selling products related to human health (expertise, yes, products no).
 No supplements, no miracle powders, no detox kits, no cleverly branded protocols with my name stamped on them. It wasn’t because I believed all of that was inherently unethical — some of it isn’t — but because I understood how medicine works, how trust works, and how quickly credibility evaporates when people think you’re personally benefiting from the thing you’re recommending. So, emulating an early mentor who was maniacal about this issue, I drew a line early, and I made it bright. I would teach, write, study, and treat. I would not sell.
 There was something comforting about that clarity. It made my work clean. If I said something, no one had to wonder whether some company was hiding behind my lab coat or whether my conviction was rooted in the size of an affiliate link. I liked the simplicity of that arrangement. If anything, I clung to it. And even now, part of me wishes I could have stayed in that neat, uncomplicated moral arrangement forever.
 Yet here I am, writing the very piece I hoped I’d never have to write — explaining why I crossed the line, how I fought with myself about it, and why, after a long stretch of uncomfortable self-interrogation, I’m at peace with the decision.

 How It Actually Started (and Why It Had Nothing to Do With Business)
 When I stumbled onto the mineral story — the collapsing mineral environment, the bizarre patterns in modern physiology, the agricultural freefall that no one seemed to recognize as a mineral collapse — I wasn’t thinking about starting a company.
 It was just another rabbit hole that my Leading Edge Clinic ’s insanely complex, idiosyncratic, difficult-to-treat Long Vax/Long Covid patient population has been forcing me to jump down for three and a half years now. Why, you ask? Because, although we have helped many immensely, it is only the few who truly “get back to baseline” after being destroyed by the Covid jabs or Covid infection.
 So, our work is what forces Scott and me to constantly be on the lookout for another therapeutic option or approach to trial on our patients (at last count, we had trialed over 35 different medicines, therapies, and nutraceuticals over these past years). We would drop those that either did not perform well or were subsequently outperformed by a later discovery.
 Here, though, I got blindsided by identifying something foundational to health (or lack thereof): the disappearance of the elements life had quietly depended on for millions of years.
 Then two people showed up who shifted everything.
 The most influential was Matt Bakos, a man who had been quietly safeguarding Shimanishi’s volcanic mineral extract — Themarox — in the United States for decades, supplying farmers, Amish communities, and a tiny network of people who understood what it could do. The other was Kacper Postawski , who had tried to bring Themarox to the consumer world through Adya Clarity, only to watch it get torn apart by a coordinated hit job that nearly erased the product and its history (covered in this recent post) .
 Spending time with each of them, and eventually together, forced me to look past the noise and the accusations and to see something almost embarrassingly simple: rock and water. A specific rock, from one particular geological environment, interacting with water in a way that altered both. And a meticulous Japanese chemist — Asao Shimanishi (the most popular chapter of my book so far)— who spent his life trying to understand those interactions well enough to bring them into modern use.
 The more I studied his work — the chemistry, the water tests, the early agricultural trials, the odd consistencies in clinical observations, the old lab reports, the attempts to suppress it all — the clearer it became that this wasn’t a “health product.” It was a technology with implications for water systems, soil systems, food systems, and, eventually, human physiology. It challenged categories I didn’t even realize were categories.
 Once I saw that, pretending not to see it wasn’t an option.
 What Survived the Disinformation Campaign
 You’ve probably read parts of this story in the book: Adya Clarity made an impact, drew attention, and then became the target of a campaign that almost wiped it off the map. The internet did what the internet reliably does.
 Kacper moved on (until he returned to it earlier this year when we connected). But Matt kept bringing in the raw mineral complex, quietly supporting the people who still depended on it — no campaigns, no marketing, no drama—just persistence.
 By the time I appeared, the brand was battered, the reputation was misshapen, but the mineral itself — the underlying science, the chemistry, the effects in water and soil — had not changed. And as I kept digging deeper, reading obscure reports, interviewing long-time users, reviewing ICP-MS tests, and piecing together the historical and scientific mosaic, one thought kept rising to the surface.
 “If I tell this story honestly — if people learn what this mineral complex actually does — the demand is going to explode.”
 That was when the thought I didn’t want to have finally surfaced: “I want in.”
 I didn’t like thinking it. I didn’t say it out loud. But it was there, and the more I tried to pretend it wasn’t, the more it pressed against the edges of my conscience.
 Why “I Want In” Felt Like a Problem
 Again, for years, I’ve criticized the exact dynamic I was now tiptoeing toward: doctors financially tied to the products they promote, clinical “experts” on company payrolls, guideline authors with royalty streams from the very drugs they champion, oncologists who get reimbursed the more chemo they disburse, cardiologists with a yachts paid for by stenting anything that had a heartbeat. It always felt dirty to me, and it still does. The last thing I wanted was to look like one of them.
 On top of that, I’m not wired as a salesman. My natural habitat is teaching, pattern recognition, explaining, and writing. I’m comfortable in a debate. I’m comfortable advocating for patients. I’m comfortable in the mess of clinical uncertainty. But selling a product tied to human health? That has always made my skin crawl.
 And yet there was a deeper current running under all that discomfort — the part of me that had already become enthralled by what this mineral complex could do in the context of water purification, soil restoration, and environmental detoxification, along with the health of my patients. The more I learned about its interactions with heavy metals, organic pollutants, and depleted soils, the more obvious it became that this was an environmental tool with the potential to help far beyond the “health product” frame.
 That’s when my mind started drifting toward places that had nothing to do with business at all. I started thinking about communities’ drinking water that no filtration system could affordably fix. About regions where groundwater arsenic is a daily threat. About farmers battling soils so depleted and metal-laden that even basic crops struggle. About whether there was a responsible way to get this technology into those settings without turning it into yet another inaccessible, overpriced “wellness product.”
 Here is where my thin skin around this issue starts to prickle - I received what was, for me, a nightmare email - an irate reader who berated me with the following:
 “Aurmina!! A product for the wealthy. Way to go Kory. Unsubscribed and blocked.”
 I gotta say, after dealing with trolls for 5+ years, I learned long ago never to engage or respond. But I just had to with this one. My reply:
 “ Not that it matters, but I can’t help countering false accusations with facts - one bottle of the product supports a household of two for over 6 months, which comes out to less than $12 a month per person for around-the-clock, purified, structured, mineral-balanced water. Just sayin.”
 Anyway, once I started thinking about how much I could help, my old rule started feeling less like integrity and more like avoidance.
 Reconciling Who I’ve Been With What I’m Doing
 I spent days arguing with myself about this. I kept circling the same question as to whether going into business made me less trustworthy — or more honest..?
 On one side, I could already hear the critiques. The minute I put my name on a product, some people would never take me seriously again. They’d assume the entire book was a sales funnel. They’d assume everything I observed clinically was financially motivated. They wouldn’t care that my interest in the mineral complex long preceded any business involvement.
 On the other side, hiding my involvement would be an ethical catastrophe. I’ve spent years telling the truth about conflicts of interest in medicine. I’m not about to become the kind of physician who tucks his own conflict into a footnote and hopes no one notices. So I did what I often do when I’m stuck: I looked backward at how I’ve actually behaved throughout my career.
 Anything that’s ever mattered to me — from FLCCC protocols to my textbook on ultrasound — had no financial angle driving it. During COVID, I worked ICU shifts, wrote protocols, taught, lectured, took heat, and tried to keep people alive for essentially no compensation beyond my normal salary. I’ve always been motivated by the mission, not the margin.
 Once I reminded myself of that, the question shifted. It wasn’t “Am I selling out?” It was “Can I be transparent, and can I structure this in a way that reflects the values I keep claiming to care about?”
 How We Built an Ethically Defensible Structure
 Lisa and I spent many evenings sitting with this — talking, arguing, revisiting the dilemma from different angles. We spoke with Matt. We talked with Kacper. We sketched out versions that didn’t feel right or realistic.
 Eventually, three truths stood out:
 This mineral technology matters too much to remain fringe, misunderstood, or inaccessible.

 If I was going to be involved, it had to be openly and structurally transparent.

 Ethical guardrails had to be built in from the start, not retrofitted once things went wrong.

 Our conversations with Kacper made it clear that, while we respected each other, we disagreed on tactics for moving forward in ensuring wide dissemination. We thus came to a simple and sane agreement: he would continue under his brand, and Lisa and I would make a separate, identically formulated version under a different name. No one owns the story. No one controls the mineral. More access is better for everyone.
 I even suggested that I would, once publicly launched (beyond my paid subscribers), “promote both brands.” So, I am doing so now and ask you also to support his product (especially given the damages he suffered back in 2010 with the smear campaign- go to adayclarity.com).
 Thus, Aurmina came into existence — a water purification product derived from the same volcanic mineral complex Shimanishi spent his life perfecting, in its EPA-regulated form. The source didn’t change. The composition didn’t change. Only my role did.
 Let me state it plainly, because I know how this works:
 Yes, I have a financial stake in Aurmina.
 Yes, if you buy it, my company benefits.
 No, that stake is not why I believe in the mineral.
 If anything, it was the belief that dragged me into the discomfort of taking on the stake. If someone else releases a well-sourced, transparent, high-quality equivalent tomorrow, I’ll celebrate it. This was never meant to be a brand story. It’s a mineral story.
 Why I’m Telling You All of This
 I’m writing this for one reason: I don’t want there to be any gap between what I tell you I care about and the choices I actually make. I care about honesty in medicine. I care about restoring context to human health. I care about the mineral environment collapsing beneath our feet. And I care about the way contaminated water, degraded soil, and rising environmental toxicity are reshaping human physiology in ways we barely understand.
 If I had quietly bought into a mineral company and never disclosed it, I would not deserve your trust. If I had written this book as a disguised marketing setup, you’d be right to ignore everything I say. But the sequence was the opposite: the story came first, the conviction came first, the conflict came next, and the business came last.
 I’m not asking you to cheer the fact that I crossed a line I once drew. I’m asking you to understand the logic behind the step — and to hold me accountable to the standard I’m stating here: if my financial involvement ever begins to distort my scientific judgment or my clinical ethics, I walk.
 The Real Reason I Stepped Over
 In the end, profit wasn’t what moved me most (but it was close). What drove me was the sense that something this important — a mineral complex with the ability to clean water, remediate soil, bind heavy metals, and bring a neglected piece of the natural world back into circulation — didn’t belong on the margins anymore. It belongs in the world.
 And if I am going to spend the next phase of my life writing about this, speaking about it, and trying to understand its implications, then stepping into a role that helps shepherd it responsibly into public view felt less like ambition and more like alignment.
 So yes, I crossed the line I swore I’d never cross. I tied part of my livelihood to a product connected to human health. But if you know me, you know this:
 If I ever start sounding like a salesman instead of a clinician trying to make sense of what he found, I trust you’ll call me on it. Loudly.
 And I’ll deserve it.

 If you value the late nights and deep dives into all the other “rabbit holes” I write about (or the Op-Eds and lectures I try to get out to the public), supporting my work is greatly appreciated.
 Subscribe now
 P.S. Although redundant to this chapter, if you’re curious about the volcanic-mineral water purification product that I helped develop, you can find it at Aurmina.com . See below for the number of contaminants it can remove from your water.

 Contaminants : If you’ve read Chapter 19, “ What’s Really in Your Water, ” you already know how critical purification and remineralization are in an increasingly industrial world. Based on extensive testing, below is a list of some of the 250 pollutants and toxins that Aurmina removes (a sight to behold):

 3) Upcoming Book Publications
 Yup — not one, but two books are dropping from yours truly (at the same time? What?)

 If, instead of (or in addition to) this Substack version, you prefer the feel of a real book—or the smell of paper—or like to give holiday gifts, pre-order From Volcanoes to Vitality , my grand mineral saga, shipping before Christmas.

 And if you want to read (or gift) another chronicle of suppression, science, and survival, grab The War on Chlorine Dioxide —the sequel you didn’t see coming—shipping mid-January. On this one, I say: “Buy it before they ban it.” Hah!

 This chapter is original material and protected under international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.

Summary: I never wanted to sell anything. Then the mineral story forced my hand. How a doctor who spent his career avoiding conflicts of interest ended up walking straight into one — eyes open.


Aurmina®: Implementing A System For Home Drinking Water Purification, Structuring, and Mineral Balancing

Below is the simple, reliable, three-part system we recommend for most households. This setup gives you purified, structured, mineral-balanced water using affordable equipment available online.

 🔧 The Three Components
 1. Treatment Containers – where you dose, stir, and let Aurmina do its thing
 2. Gravity Filtration System – the “polisher” - filters out precipitants
 3. Collection Chamber and Dispenser – holds and dispenses your purified, structured water for drinking and cooking

 🧊 1. Treatment Containers
 How Many Containers You Need (approximate)
 To keep a continuous supply of fully treated water, you need a minimum of two containers (one is for water undergoing treatment, and one is for post-treated water that you will pour into your filter system, followed by refilling and treating with Aurminia.
 2-person household → two 2.5 gallon containers (Lisa and Pierre use t hree 5-liter containers ≈1.3 gal each)

 3-person household: two to three 2.5-gallon containers or four to five one-gallon containers

 4 or more people: At least three 2.5-gallon containers

 Tip: The above supports a 48-hour treatment cycle, which is ideal for municipal water.

 Choosing Your Containers
 Option A — Glass (Best for Countertop / Aesthetics)
 Great if the containers will be visible in your kitchen or living areas.
 Examples:
 IKEA glass beverage dispensers and stands (like Lisa and Pierre)

 Google search: “large, pretty glass beverage dispensers.”

 Optional: Add wooden or metal stands for easy pouring.
 What Pierre and Lisa’s Set-up looks like:

 **The one furthest to the right holds water that has been treated with Aurmina the longest; thus, it has the most sediment at the bottom (they shoot for 48-72 hours). The left-most one was recently treated. As they empty “the most ready” container into their ceramic gravity filter system below, they fill it with tap water, add Aurmina, and move it to the back (left-most) of the line of containers above.

 Option B — Plastic (Best for Budget or Pantry Storage)
 If containers will be hidden or cost-sensitive:
 Search: “2.5 gallon water jugs”
 These are lightweight, durable, and very inexpensive.

 Combined Treatment + Filtration Systems
 These units are in their own category, because you do not have to buy storage/treatment containers and a filter system separately. It is a single integrated setup (bucket-style):
 Example: Adya Water two-bucket system
 To find similar or cheaper models, search:
👉 “ceramic water filter candle kit bucket.”

 💧 2. Gravity Filtration System (“The Polisher”)
 After Aurmina flocculation, the gravity filter removes:
 Fine particulate

 Microbial load

 Residual chemical/metal traces

 Where to Look
 Search: “Gravity Water Filter Systems” on Google or Amazon.
 🫙 3. Choose By Collection Chamber Size
 Choose a reservoir size in the above systems that matches your daily consumption.
 Example:
 Lisa and Pierre use this ceramic gravity filter system with a large, 3.5-gallon chamber . Their system is from Korea, but is no longer available ( we are thinking about importing it):

 Tier 1 — Higher-End Systems
 These use ceramic elements that can be scrubbed clean , making them ideal after flocculation.
 Berkefeld / Doulton (Ultra Sterasyl)

 Culligan MaxClear 3 Gallon

 Tier 2- Middle-Tier Systems
 PureWell

 ZenWater

 Culligan MaxClear 2.25 Gallon

 Tier 3 — Budget-Friendly Systems
 Good for single users or light usage:
 Honko Funsoon

 Little Luxury Crystal

 Ultra-Low Cost Option (not ideal but works)
 Filter Pitchers
 OK as a final polish

 Filters clog fast with sediment

 Best for one person with low particulate load

 🔄 How to Transfer Aurmina-Treated Water Into a Gravity Filter
 Here is the correct sequence to prevent clogging and maximize filter life.

 1. Let Aurmina Fully Complete Its Reaction
 Add dose

 Stir

 Wait for full contact time (24-72 hours, depending on water source)

 You should see:
→ Clear water (supernatant) on top
→ Settled floc at the bottom

 2. Decant — Don’t Dump
 Pour or siphon only the clear upper water into your gravity filter

 Leave the settled floc behind

 Do not pour heavy sediment directly onto a ceramic filter

 This is the #1 cause of premature clogging.
 Suggested illustration:
🖼 Diagram showing “clear upper water” being poured off, while floc stays below.

 3. Use the Gravity Filter as a Polisher
 Its role now that the water has been decanted without the floc :
✔ Catch fine particulates
✔ Reduce microbes
✔ Capture chemical/metal traces
 It is not meant to handle sludge ( that is why you don’t dump the floc in the pre-filter chamber ).

 4. Clean Your Ceramic Elements Regularly
 When flow slows:
 Remove ceramic filter candles

 Rinse with water and use your hand to get any floc off the filter.

 If the dripping seems to be much slower than normal, use the green scrub to remove a small surface layer to restore the filter. (Only when first method fails)

 Rinse with running water

 No soap

 This restores flow and removes accumulated floc film.

 5. Keep Spare Ceramic Candles
 Especially if you:
 Treat turbid water

 Use it heavily

 Recommended spares:
 Filterway (these are excellent)

 Although not pertinent to this post - if you value the late nights and deep dives into all the other “rabbit holes” I then write about (or the Op-Eds and lectures I try to get out to the public), supporting my work is greatly appreciated.
 Subscribe now
 1) Aurmina
 If you want to learn more about the water purifier we made from Shimanishi’s volcanic-mineral complex, go to Aurmina.com .

 2) Upcoming Book Publications
 Yup — not one, but two books are dropping from yours truly (at the same time? What?)

 If, instead of (or in addition to) this Substack version, you prefer the feel of a real book—or the smell of paper—or like to give holiday gifts, pre-order From Volcanoes to Vitality , my grand mineral saga, shipping before Christmas.

 And if you want to read (or gift) another chronicle of suppression, science, and survival, grab The War on Chlorine Dioxide —the sequel you didn’t see coming—shipping mid-January. On this one, I say: “Buy it before they ban it.” Hah!

Summary: Guidance for customers whose drinking water source is either municipal or well water.


The Water We Thought Was Safe: Why Purity Isn’t Enough

Today is Chapter 19 of my serially published Book on Substack, “ From Volcanoes to Vitality. ”

 Black Friday Sale for Aurmina : Lisa, Scott, and I just learned that tomorrow is something called Black Friday—a day when even remotely competent businesses offer nice discounts to their customers. We are new at this, so we’re not entirely sure whether the tradition is about generosity, psychology, or not-so-gentle “arm-twisting.”
 Our intentions, for what it’s worth, are simple: gratitude!
 Aurmina is taking off, people are sending the kindest messages in appreciation of the product, and we’re honestly just thrilled (and not entirely shocked) that this little company we built is helping people.
 So we’re offering 25% off every bottle , with no limit on how many you can purchase.
 Now get this: The marketing geniuses at Aurmina are starting something called “ Thankful Thursday, ” which begins today, runs through Black Friday, and continues through Cyber Monday! Enjoy.
 Discount codes: THANKFULTHURSDAY, BLACKFRIDAY, CYBERMONDAY (can use any)
 Note, the discount is better than those included in the 3-pack and 6-pack bundles we were selling before we realized how any of this works. So please take advantage, my purified, structured, mineralized water-loving friends.
 And in the spirit of complete transparency—and humor—if there were any chapter in this book that might look like a psychological trick to get you to buy a water purification and structuring product… it would be this one .
 Fun fact: a draft of this chapter was written before we even created Aurmina. So if it’s a marketing scheme, it’s the most accidental one in publishing history.

 Ok folks, we’ve now examined the growing crisis in our soils: widespread trace-mineral depletion combined with rising heavy-metal burdens. Now we turn to something even more concerning: our drinking water.
 Yes, it gets worse. But don’t despair. This book isn’t about doom—it’s about solutions, and this chapter is where they start to become visible.
 The Problem
 Testing of U.S. aquifers has detected thousands of different chemicals in drinking water. More than 100,000 chemicals are used today, with over 1,000 new ones added each year. The range of substances that end up in our water is staggering — from heavy metals and industrial byproducts to pharmaceuticals and microplastics.
 Municipal water treatment plants remove many of these pollutants to varying degrees, but substantial gaps remain , especially for “contaminants of emerging concern” that aren’t routinely tested or regulated.
 How Polluted Drinking Water Sources Have Become
 Globally, over 1.7 billion people rely on drinking water sources contaminated by feces and other pathogens, and an overall 26% of people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water.
 In the US, millions depend on sources contaminated with excessive heavy metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) —a large family of man-made chemicals used since the 1950s for their nonstick, water- and grease-repellent properties (think nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, firefighting foams). They’re nicknamed “forever chemicals” because the carbon-fluorine bond makes them extremely persistent in the environment and in our bodies.
 Other major contributors include untreated wastewater, industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, and deteriorating infrastructure. Up to 80% of the world’s wastewater returns to the environment without proper treatment . Oof.
 Commonly detected contaminants include arsenic, lead, uranium, PFAS, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, nitrates, fracking fluids, disinfectant byproducts, microplastics, pathogens (bacteria, protozoa, viruses), and more.
 What Water Treatment Removes—and What It Doesn’t
 Conventional municipal water plants typically remove 85% + of solids, most pathogens, some heavy metals, nitrates, and disinfect most bacteria. Advanced treatments, such as carbon filtration, ozonation, reverse osmosis, or advanced oxidation, can reduce specific “contaminants of emerging concern” (CECs) and micropollutants (like pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and some pesticides).
 Still, removal rates vary from <50% to ~99% depending on substance and plant technology (Editor note: you might want to call your local plant to see how “high-tech” they are - or you can just “take matters into your own hands” and purify it yourself using Aurmina ).
 Many toxins—including endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, microplastics, and some industrial chemicals—are only partially removed or pass through most plants .

 Pollutants/Toxins Not Routinely Tested For
 Despite water safety laws, thousands of chemicals found in the water supply are not routinely monitored or regulated. These include:
 Pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, hormones, antidepressants)

 Endocrine disruptors (phthalates, bisphenol A)

 Industrial byproducts (PCBs, volatile organics)

 Microplastics and nanoplastics

 PFAS and related fluorinated compounds (many are still unregulated)

 Newly identified “contaminants of emerging concern” (e.g. flame retardants, illicit drugs, new pesticides)

 Many natural toxins (algal toxins, mycotoxins)

 Resistant pathogens and genetic material (viruses, antimicrobial gene fragments)

 Uncharacterized organic/chemical pollutants from agriculture, fracking, mining

 Municipal vs. Bottled Water: Differences in Contaminant Management
 Municipal Water Industry
 Regulations : Must test for a list of ~100 EPA/Safe Drinking Water Act-regulated pollutants; must meet maximum contaminant levels (MCLs).

 Testing : Routine, but limited to what the law requires . Most emerging pollutants, pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and microplastics are omitted

 Treatment : Multistep (coagulation, filtration, disinfection, sometimes advanced processes), but most don’t have technologies to remove all CECs efficiently .

 Transparency : Utilities publish annual water quality reports.

 Bottled Water Industry
 Regulations : Regulated by the FDA; only required to test for about half as many contaminants as municipal systems.

 Testing : Focused on pathogenic microbes, lead, arsenic, and major contaminants. Frequently less stringent than municipal rules.

 Treatment : Can range from basic filtration/disinfection to advanced reverse osmosis or distillation.

 Sources : Can include municipal tap water, well/spring water, or other; the source may still be vulnerable to untested/unregulated pollutants.

 Transparency : Typically discloses less data ; seldom tests for PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, etc.

 The most common contaminants in tap water and bottled water vary somewhat, but there is significant overlap. Here’s a breakdown of typical contaminants found in both:
 Most Common Contaminants in Tap Water
 Chlorine & Chloramine - added as disinfectants. Can react with organic matter to form disinfection byproducts (e.g., trihalomethanes).

 Lead - from aging pipes, especially in older homes or cities. Highly toxic, particularly to children.

 PFAS (Per - and polyfluoroalkyl Substances) - “Forever chemicals” used in non-stick, waterproof, and stain-resistant products, linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and immune system effects.

 Nitrates/Nitrites - often from agricultural runoff (fertilizers). Dangerous for infants (can cause “blue baby syndrome”).

 Microorganisms (Bacteria, Viruses, Parasites)- rare in treated water but possible with infrastructure failures or floods.

 Heavy Metals (Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium) - naturally occurring or from industrial pollution.

 Fluoride — added for dental-health purposes in some regions. Although often described as “controversial,” in my view it shouldn’t be: it simply doesn’t belong in our drinking water (a point I discuss further in the book).

 Most Common Contaminants in Bottled Water
 Microplastics - found in the majority of bottled water brands. Originates from bottle packaging and caps.

 Disinfection Byproducts - If bottled water is sourced from municipal supplies (as many are), it may contain residual chemicals like chlorine or byproducts.

 BPA and Other Plastic Leachates - from the bottle itself, especially when stored in heat or sunlight. BPA is an endocrine disruptor.

 PFAS - Found in some bottled waters. Can enter through source contamination or bottling process.

 Heavy Metals - depending on source and bottling practices.

 Fluoride - some bottled water brands contain added fluoride; others do not.

 Bacterial Contamination - less common, but has occurred due to poor storage or handling.

 Subscribe now
 The Kory Family “Commercial Bottled Water” Purity Test
 OK, now we are going to give an example of what precipitates out of various commercial bottled water brands, and it is going to unsettle you.
 Again, as above, municipal water is regulated by the EPA and must be tested for levels of over 100 contaminants, while the bottled water industry is regulated by the FDA, which appears to be more “corporate-friendly” (understatement) because it only requires testing for half as many contaminants as the EPA .
 Luckily, most bottled water is just filtered tap water that is put into plastic bottles. Shocker right? Here you were, thinking that your bottled water was “better than tap water.” Right. Sure.
 The Purity Test
 A few weeks ago, Lisa and I were experimenting with mineral supplement dosing. Know that I am a sparkling water/carbonated water addict (have my own carbonator and drink nothing else). Please don’t start with me on the supposed harms of this habit of mine? Please?
 Anyway, we were on a trip, staying at a friend’s guest house in Maui, and had gone to the supermarket to buy a bunch of sparkling water for the week. Lisa loves the “ABC” brand, while I love the “XYZ” brand (or did). I asked her to make me a “supplement drink,” so she filled a glass with ABC and another with XYZ, then added two teaspoons to mine and one to hers.
 She drank hers while I was doing something else, and when I finally came to the kitchen to drink it, I noticed my glass of XYZ water had turned yellow. “Why is it yellow?” I asked. “Does the higher dose of minerals make it yellow? She looked at her glass, then looked at mine, and she said, “I don’t think so because mine is clear. I don’t know why yours is yellow.”
 I took a sip, and it had that usual “lemony” taste you get with higher-dose minerals. But the yellow tint bothered me. Then I realized the difference might be simple: the ABC brand was likely “cleaner” than the XYZ brand—whether in terms of actual contaminants or just benign mineral hardness, clay, or microscopic organic particles that are harmless but not invisible..
 Then, a brilliant idea popped into my head. “Hey Lisa, you know what we should do? Let's buy up all the brands at the supermarket, treat each one with Aurmina , let them sit overnight, and then video them to see how different they are, so we can find out which ones are the “purest.”
 What we found was… not good (solely in terms of a visual assessment, not necessarily chemical). Either way, though, it leaves you with the opposite emotion of “reassuring.”
 In the “bottled sparkling water test” I will share below, note that I ensured no brands could be identified in the screenshots I took from the video (I don’t really need the entire bottled water industry after my ass).
 Out of the ten we tested, only one remained clear, which, oddly, was the exact brand Lisa had always bought at the store (her famous “intuition” rears its head again).

 **Disclaimer - we did not test the precipitates that formed to identify the composition of potential contaminants. Reason: It is expensive and burdensome because you have to test each contaminant individually.
 All I can say is that Lisa now refuses to drink anything but ABC brand sparkling water. When we go to dinner, if they don’t have it, she doesn’t drink any water. Meanwhile, I grin and bear it, order the XYZ, and try to block the images above from entering my brain. Yeesh.
 Now, although we didn’t test the precipitants, it was abundantly clear to me that it doesn’t even matter as long as I treat my water with Aurmina first and then filter it; all the disturbing possibilities of what could have been in there are removed. The phrase “out of sight, out of mind” has never before held such importance.
 The List Of “Disturbing Possibilities” That Aurmina Removes
 What I want “out of sight” is the below list of the 250+ contaminants that Aurmina can neutralize and/or remove from your water ( shown via extensive, 3rd-party testing ):

 Why This Matters
 Our water supply faces serious contamination issues that demand action. Small amounts of toxins may seem tolerable individually, but the cumulative effect over time can be disastrous.
 The reality is that most of us drink from sources contaminated with a wide variety of substances, many of which are only lightly regulated or not removed at all by standard water treatment and bottling processes. Many new or unregulated toxins — microplastics, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors — routinely pass through, and testing lags far behind the reality of what’s in the water. Bottled water often proves even less stringent and transparent than municipal tap water.
 The Problems With Reverse Osmosis and Distilled Water
 Many people have long been aware of the problem of water purity and have thus purchased home R.O. filter systems or countertop distillers. By contrast, I am new to both recognizing (and caring about) the scope of this issue.
 But if you R.O. and distiller types thought you were ahead of the game, sorry, but what you are about to learn will not be reassuring.
 Health Impacts Of Drinking Purified, “Mineral-Free” Water
 There is a disturbingly large body of scientific evidence of the negative health impacts of drinking demineralized water. From this review article by Frantisek Kozisek, M.D., Ph.D. et al, titled “Health Risks From Drinking Demineralized Water”, published by the Centre of Environmental Health, State Health Institute, Prague, Czech Republic, 2004, if you look at the reference list, you will see a large number of frighteningly titled studies reporting a diverse array of negative health impacts from poorly mineralized water.
 Their summary of the evidence base of R.O. water studies:
 From the above, consuming R.O. water for even a few months can lead to side effects such as tiredness, weakness, muscular cramps, and potentially impaired heart rhythm due to low levels of magnesium and calcium. Epidemiological studies link long-term consumption of low-mineral water to cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, osteoporosis, and complications during pregnancy and infancy. Mineral loss is compounded during food preparation, as RO water can pull minerals from foods cooked in it, further decreasing dietary intake.
 Further, the commonly used ways of remineralizing R.O. water (or distilled) don’t appear to solve the problem either, from the same review :
 “Possibly none of the commonly used ways of re-mineralization could be considered optimum ( Ed: hello Aurmina !) , since the water does not contain all of its beneficial components. In the case of borderline deficiency of a given element, even the relatively low intake of the element with drinking water may play a relevant protective role.”
 Remineralization Of Reverse Osmosis, Distilled, and High-Grade Filter Systems
 Remineralization filters are added to reverse-osmosis systems for one primary purpose: to improve the taste and corrosivity of water stripped to near-zero mineral content. These filters work by slowly dissolving simple mineral media—usually calcium carbonate and small amounts of magnesium oxide—into the purified water.
 But the amounts they add are quite small, typically raising the TDS of RO water by only 10 to 40 ppm, which translates to roughly 5 to 20 mg/L of calcium and 1 to 10 mg/L of magnesium, depending on flow rate and contact time.
 Some cartridges use sea-mineral blends or ceramic “mineral balls,” but in practice, these deliver only trace smatterings of other ions and rarely at meaningful biological levels. In short, remineralization cartridges are designed to adjust pH and hardness, not to restore the complex mineral spectrum inherent to natural groundwater or volcanic aquifers.
 Basically, they add a bit of alkalinity, they soften the “flatness” of RO water, and they prevent mildly corrosive effects on plumbing. Drinking two liters per day of typical remineralized RO water might supply a handful of milligrams of calcium and a token amount of magnesium—physiologically trivial amounts, especially given that the forms they provide (carbonates and oxides) are among the least soluble and least bioavailable.
 There are also legitimate concerns with the cartridges themselves. Because this is a largely unregulated corner of the water-filter market, quality varies enormously. Low-cost ceramic “mineral balls,” particularly those imported from overseas, may contain undesirable metals, and some products can create excessively high pH water without providing any nutritional benefit.
 Most importantly, the presence of a remineralization filter often gives consumers a false sense of security —that their RO water is now “mineral-rich” or that it somehow replaces the nutrition lost during purification. This is simply not true. Remineralized RO water is still mineral-deficient by any biological or geological standard . It contains only a narrow handful of ions, delivered inconsistently and in forms that contribute taste and alkalinity rather than meaningful repletion.
 Aurmina Minerals Actions on R.O and Distilled Water
 Like remineralization filters, as I mentioned in my book, Aurmina also doesn’t add enough minerals to “supplement.” Instead, it “activates” the water, giving it a vitality akin to that of untouched natural springs. If the following sounds like marketing, it is (info taken from Aurmina website), but it is also scientifically valid.
 Even at tiny doses, Aurmina’s volcanic, ionic, sulfated mineral complex reintroduces nature’s organizing intelligence into purified water through several synergistic actions:
 Naturally Clarifies and Polishes Water
Aurmina’s ionic minerals form charged hydroxide “flocs” that attract and bind trace impurities, residual metals, and organics that R.O. membranes may miss — allowing them to settle out and leaving the water clearer and fresher.

 Encourages Structured, Coherent Water
Aurmina minerals promote the organization of H₂O molecules into more stable, hexagonally arranged clusters — sometimes referred to as structured or EZ (fourth-phase) water. This ordered state supports greater clarity, stability, and energetic harmony.

 Restores Natural Charge Balance
By influencing the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and electrical conductivity (EC) of water, Aurmina helps restore an electrochemical balance similar to that found in untouched natural springs — water that “feels” more vibrant and balanced.

 Revitalizes “Flat” Purified Water
Through its ionic matrix, Aurmina restores R.O. and distilled water's ability to hold and transfer subtle energy — reconnecting them to the natural vitality of living water systems.

 In short: R.O. water and distilled water are clean, but Aurmina water is alive — electrically balanced, self-cleansing, and dynamically structured. Think of it not as adding minerals for nutrition, but as teaching your water how to behave like nature intended — clear, energized, and harmonized.
 Point of Confusion When Using Aurmina With R.O. Filtered and Distilled Water Sources
 Some people observe a yellowing of the water or staining of their glass when they add Aurmina to their R.O. or distilled water. What is going on? Isn’t such water supposed to be “pure” and thus nothing should precipitate out? Yes and no. There are two possibilities in such a situation:
 The R.O. filter needs to be changed (or more rarely, the post-R.O. filter pipes), or the water is not truly distilled (unlikely).

 It reflects the everyday actions of Aurmina in pure but “dead” water.

 You see, reverse-osmosis (R.O.) water and distilled water, although highly pure, are also chemically “empty.” By removing everything from the water, it strips away not only contaminants but also the natural ionic minerals and charge balance that give spring and mountain waters their structure, taste, and vitality.
 Thus, if you see yellow, it is occurring due to a combination of factors unique to distilled and reverse osmosis (RO) water:
 These waters are mineral-free, so ionic minerals in Aurmina—such as trace iron—can more easily interact with the glass surface or they precipitate out as visible residues in the water.

 Distilled and RO water have very low buffering capacity, causing their pH to fluctuate more easily when Aurmina is added. This pH instability can promote oxidation or precipitation of trace metals, resulting in a yellow or rusty color.

 This can then lead to staining of the glass - The microscopic composition and texture of glass surfaces can influence how minerals bind or stain, especially under these low-mineral, variable pH conditions.

 This staining is harmless and does not affect water safety or quality. It can be removed with a vinegar soak, using either plain vinegar or a 1:1 water-to-vinegar mixture. This staining does not occur when using tap, well, or other fresh water sources that contain minerals.

 To help prevent staining:
 Simplest:
Add the Aurmina. If the water turns yellow, pour it through a filter before drinking.

 More Involved:
 Add about 10% fresh water (tap/well/spring) to your distilled or RO water. Then add Aurmina, let it sit for 24-48 hours, then filter.

 Ultimately, the solution is to integrate a purification, structuring, and mineralization method tailored to your drinking water source. There are a few ways to do this, some easier (and more expensive) than others. To learn more about these methods (and how the Korys do it), please take a look at Chapter 23 for the products to purchase and the protocols to follow.
 Next: Chapter 20: From Volcano to Validation: Independent Science Validates Themarox Purification

 If you value the late nights and deep dives into all the “rabbit holes” I then write about (or the Op-Eds and lectures I try to get out to the public), supporting my work is greatly appreciated.
 Subscribe now
 A Few Announcements
 1) Aurmina
 If you want to learn more about the water purifier we made from Shimanishi’s volcanic-mineral complex, go to Aurmina.com .

 2) Upcoming Book Publications
 Yup — not one, but two books are dropping from yours truly (at the same time? What?)

 If, instead of (or in addition to) this Substack version, you prefer the feel of a real book—or the smell of paper—or like to give holiday gifts, pre-order From Volcanoes to Vitality , my grand mineral saga, shipping before Christmas.

 And if you want to read (or gift) another chronicle of suppression, science, and survival, grab The War on Chlorine Dioxide —the sequel you didn’t see coming—shipping mid-January. On this one, I say: “Buy it before they ban it.” Hah!

 Pierre Kory’s Medical Musings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Summary: From contaminated aquifers to “dead” purified water, this is the chapter where the crisis becomes clear—and the solutions begin. *Note to free subscribers: this chapter is not paywalled.


The Healing Dementia Summit - 12 Days, 21 Experts

I Just Spoke at the 2025 Dementia Summit — And Something Big Is Shifting
 Hey Mineral Minions,
 I just finished recording a lecture for the 2025 Dementia Summit , and I want to invite you to join it with me.
 Dementia and cognitive decline—whether from aging, Long COVID, or post-vaccine injury—are accelerating across the world. Families are desperate. Clinicians are overwhelmed. And almost no one is talking about the root-cause biology driving what we’re seeing.
 This Summit is trying to change that. To join the Summit, go to this link to register .
 I was asked to speak specifically about post-COVID and post-vaccine cognitive issues —what I’m seeing clinically, what patterns are emerging, and the broader landscape of possible interventions. As always, I stayed within what I’m legally allowed to share publicly, focusing on:
 metabolic and redox disruption

 mitochondrial stress

 neuro-inflammation

 mineral physiology

 and the clinical patterns many of us are witnessing

 Remaining Lectures This Week
 Day 9 — Nov 20
 • Austin Perlmutter, MD: The Importance of Air Quality in Cognitive Decline/Home Air Purification
 • Eric Durak, MSc: Exercise for Healing the Brain: What Helps, What Hurts, and How to Unlock Its Full Potential
 • Erica Elliott, MD: Building a Healthy Home & Environmental Medicine Strategies in Mystery Causes of Cognitive Decline
 Day 10 — Nov 21
 • Myriah Hinchey, ND, FMAPS: Could It Be Lyme? When to Suspect Tickborne Disease in Cognitive Decline
 • Pierre Kory, MD: The Lasting Impact of COVID: How Spike Proteins May Be Disrupting Brain Health
 Day 11 — Nov 22
 • Desh Mohan, MD: Advance Care Planning: What It Is, Why It Matters
 • Gail Weatherill, RN: The First 3 Things to Do After a Dementia Diagnosis
 But there’s another reason I’m excited for this Summit.
 Rebuild Medicine: What We’re Building for America’s Cognitive Future
 My non-profit, Rebuild Medicine , has just released a landmark report by one of the brightest neurologists in the country, Dr. Suzanne Gazda . Her analysis, Preserving America’s Cognitive Strength , lays out the clearest synthesis I’ve seen on:
 lifestyle-driven dementia prevention

 post-COVID cognitive vulnerability

 metabolic and inflammatory pathways

 the limits of current pharmaceutical models

 and what a true national prevention strategy would require

 It is required reading for anyone who cares about brain health, aging, or the future of healthcare.
 Here is the report: Dr. Suzanne Gazda — Preserving America’s Cognitive Strength (2025)
 This is exactly the kind of work Rebuild Medicine was created to support. Independent science. Root-cause frameworks. Real-world clinical guidance.
 We are running away from “industry talking points” and (my most hated) “institutional paralysis.”
 Why This Summit Matters
 The Dementia Summit brings together clinicians, researchers, and advocates who are willing to have the conversations that mainstream medicine has avoided for too long.
 You’ll hear from:
 neurologists

 functional & integrative physicians

 researchers studying mitochondrial decline

 clinicians treating Long COVID-related cognitive impairment

 people on the front lines, watching patients slip away and fighting to pull them back

 If you or someone you love is struggling with memory, concentration, brain fog, mood changes, or the slow dimming of “self,” this Summit will be a lifeline.
 Join the Summit
 Go to this link to register .
 Mark your calendar.
This conversation is overdue, and it is profoundly needed.
 Rebuild Medicine will also continue publishing our cognitive-health initiatives and expanding the work Dr. Gazda has so powerfully begun.
 More soon.
 With hope and determination,
 Pierre

 Subscribe now
 If you appreciate the late nights and deep dives into all the “rabbit holes” that appear promising (or the Op-Eds and lectures I try to get out to the public), feel free to support my work; I won’t stop you!
 P.S. Also, if you’re curious about the volcanic-mineral water purification product that I helped develop, you can find it at Aurmina.com . Think of it as a quiet act of restoration — starting with your water. And yes, I know — I’ve become the guy who includes links at the end. But this one just might change your water (and your mind).

 Upcoming Book Publications
 Yup — not one, but two books are dropping from yours truly (at the same time? What?)

 If, instead of (or in addition to) this Substack version, you prefer the feel of a real book—or the smell of paper—or like to give holiday gifts, pre-order From Volcanoes to Vitality , my grand mineral saga, shipping before Christmas.

 And if you want to read (or gift) another chronicle of suppression, science, and survival, grab The War on Chlorine Dioxide —the sequel you didn’t see coming—shipping mid-January. On this one, I say: “Buy it before they ban it.” Hah!

 To buy a grain mill for home so you can have fresh milled-grain bread, I suggest you buy this one below (click on image to purchase at thier site):

Summary: Twenty-one voices (mine is only one). One urgent mission: reclaiming cognitive vitality. Bring. It. On.


Live Interview Tonight at 5 PM CST On Chlorine Dioxide, Censorship, And the Science They Ignored

As many of you know, I published two books this month, the first being “ The War On Chlorine Dioxide, ” available now for pre-order, shipping early January.
 I am immensely pleased that the book is gathering increasing attention and was excited to discuss it with Del Bigtree on yesterday’s Highwire (go to 1:34).
 Pierre Kory’s Medical Musings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

 Then, tonight, at 5 PM CST., I will be joining the weekly live stream with the group called “Chlorine Dioxide Testimonials” on Telegram, some of whom were central characters in the “chlorine dioxide movement.”
 Please click on the thumbnail image below (link is embedded) at 5 PM CST., if you are interested in learning more about chlorine dioxide, and/or participating in the live Q&A. See you then!

 If you can afford to, and appreciate the time, research, care (and RISK) I invest in crafting these posts (and Op-Ed’s), please support my work with a paid subscription.
 Subscribe now
 Upcoming Book Publications
 Yup — not one, but two books are dropping from yours truly. At the same time? What?

 From Volcanoes to Vitality : if, instead of (or in addition to) this Substack version, you prefer the feel of a real book—or the smell of paper—or like to give holiday gifts, pre-order my grand mineral saga , shipping before Christmas.

 The War on Chlorine Dioxide : if you want to read (or gift) another chronicle of suppression, science, and survival, grab the sequel you didn’t see coming—shipping mid-January. On this one, I say: “Buy it before they ban it.” Hah!

 Pierre Kory’s Medical Musings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Summary: Join me at 5 PM CST for a live Q&A with the Chlorine Dioxide Testimonials group as we dig into the story behind my new book, The War on Chlorine Dioxide.


The Mineral Roots of the Microbiome: The Missing Link in Gut Health

Since many of the readers who paid to access my book, “ From Volcanoes to Vitality ” on Substack, will not be buying the final, hardcover version, I figured that if I made any critical “addition” to a previously posted chapter, I would share it with you. This is one of those times, and I think it will be of great interest to all of you (it was to me).
 Recall Chapter 5, “ The Enzyme Enigma: The Missing Mineral Keys to Human Metabolism . ” In that chapter, I highlighted that, of all enzymes thought to be active in the human body, 91% have not been characterized, nor have their critical mineral cofactors been identified. In the conclusion to that chapter, AI agreed with me that:
 “ The likelihood that the current ‘essential’ trace mineral list is incomplete—and that a major, beneficial knowledge gap exists in modern biochemical sciences—is extremely high, particularly regarding rare and ultra-trace minerals and their roles in enzymatic function.”
 I have since added a new section to the chapter, underscoring once again the importance of mineral-enzyme interactions. Check it out—I guarantee it will be of great interest to all of you “health enthusiasts” who have been obsessing over your microbiomes of late.
 Minerals And The Microbiome
 Know that a healthy microbiome begins with minerals. Every microbial community in the gut depends on a mineral-rich environment to sustain metabolism, redox balance, and structural stability. Among all gut organisms, Bifidobacterium stands out as the keystone genus most closely tied to mineral availability. It thrives only when fermentable fibers and ionic minerals coexist—fiber provides its fuel, but minerals activate the enzymes that make fermentation possible.
 Bifidobacteria operate one of the most mineral-dependent metabolic programs in the human gut. Their carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) require zinc, magnesium, and manganese as cofactors to break down inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and other prebiotic fibers.
 Let’s drill down on FOS (no, not “full of shit”) in more depth here. FOS are long or branched chains of fructose molecules that Bifidobacterium can’t absorb directly. They must first be enzymatically cleaved by the bacterium’s enzymes which require mineral cofactors (especially Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Mn²⁺) for stability and function.
 Once FOS are broken down into simpler sugars, Bifidobacterium uses those fragments as fuel through fermentation pathways that produce acetate and lactate .
 The accumulation of these fermentation acids—and the lowered local pH—then favors further bifidobacterial growth while discouraging pathogens. In other words, breaking down FOS not only feeds Bifidobacterium , it also creates the ecological conditions that reinforce its dominance in the gut.
 Thus, without these ionic minerals, fermentation slows, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) output collapses, and the entire downstream microbial network—including butyrate producers—falters.
 Just as crucial, sulfate ions sustain the mucosal environment where Bifidobacterium flourishes: they structure the protective mucin layer, support anaerobic redox cycling, and maintain the oxygen-free niche required for Bifidobacterium growth.
 More recently, I came across this study :

 They used Deep-sea water (DSW), defined as water from depths greater than 200 m, with high mineral content and low temperature. They described is as mineral-rich , apparently “hard water” with high mineral/hardness content compared to the “soft” mineral water used as control. However, the exact mineral composition (e.g., which specific minerals and concentrations) was not fully detailed, but the key is that the beverage is enriched with trace minerals sourced from deep-sea water.
 Without going into the granular details, their 12-week clinical trial found that drinking refined deep-sea water (RDSW) improved gut health more than standard mineral water (so, keep in mind, the “control” group got mineral water!.
 Nearly all participants with constipation improved on RDSW (94% vs. 60% controls), and their levels of beneficial gut metabolites—short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—significantly increased, while harmful microbial by-products like phenol decreased.
 Markers of gut immune stress (sIgA) also dropped, and the ability of gut bacteria to process plant nutrients (isoflavones) tended to rise.
 Overall, the study suggests that mineral-rich deep-sea water can meaningfully shift gut microbial activity toward a healthier profile, supporting digestion, reducing irritation, and enhancing metabolic signaling. However, the trial was short, involved healthy adults, and the authors emphasize that larger, longer studies are needed to understand long-term and therapeutic implications.
 In essence, minerals are the quiet architects of the gut ecosystem. They power microbial enzymes, stabilize mucosal structure, and govern the redox chemistry that determines whether beneficial species like Bifidobacterium can persist. The more diverse and bioavailable the mineral complex, the more resilient the microbiome becomes—proving that gut health begins not with probiotics or fiber alone, but with the minerals that make microbial life itself possible.

 Subscribe now
 P.S. If interested in reading “ From Volcanoes to Vitality ”, you can read it for free as a paid subscriber (an oxymoron, I know). The Table of Contents is here.
 Upcoming Book Publications
 Yup — not one, but two books are dropping from yours truly. At the same time? What?

 From Volcanoes to Vitality : if, instead of (or in addition to) this Substack version, you prefer the feel of a real book—or the smell of paper—or like to give holiday gifts, pre-order my grand mineral saga , shipping before Christmas.

 The War on Chlorine Dioxide : if you want to read (or gift) another chronicle of suppression, science, and survival, grab the sequel you didn’t see coming—shipping mid-January. On this one, I say: “Buy it before they ban it.” Hah!

 © 2025 Pierre Kory. All rights reserved.
 This chapter is original material and protected under international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.

Summary: Before the world fixated on probiotics and prebiotics, minerals quietly built the microbiome itself. Maybe we wouldn’t need so many “gut hacks” if we just restored the minerals first.


Covid Scientific Misconduct Rages On At The World's Top Medical Journals

As my long-time readers know, my post-academic medical career has been driven by an unwavering commitment to exposing medical journal fraud in the world's high-impact journals. This one has me so outraged I cannot contain myself (because they are targeting babies and pregnant women, my God).
 This is a brief post, “inspired,” more accurately, “triggered” by yesterday’s absolute masterclass of a post from my colleague Jack Lyons-Weiler, entitled “ How To Bias A Study On Covid-19 Vaccine Safety in Pregnancy ” (Ed: you HAVE to subscribe to his Substack, one of the most erudite on Substack IMO).
 What happened is that JAMA just published a study that purportedly compared the rates of fetal malformations in mothers who got the COVID jab versus the fortunate ones who did not. In the study, they purposely:
 Only looked at live births, not all pregnancies - misses 32% of them

 Only looked ’til one year old: misses another 10-40%

 Only looked at billing codes: misses another 20-40%

 Doing the above (and propensity weighting the groups, which invites immense additional opportunity for chicanery), they happily arrived at the following conclusion:
 In this cohort study of pregnancies exposed to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in the first trimester, exposure was not associated with an increased risk of any major congenital malformations.
 Problem: Thalidomide (yes, %$#$! thalidomide) and other major teratogens were not discovered to be toxic to babies… until they looked at all births, not just the live ones . Happened over and over, to the point that the WHO and EMA both emphasize the necessity of including prenatal losses in teratogenicity surveillance.
 So, was it a simple oversight in the trial design phase (whoops!), or maybe they were amateurs who were untrained in designing a proper teratogenicity surveillance study?
 Hmm, how can we answer that question? I am sure that it was a bunch of random residents and interns publishing their first paper, right? Wrong:

 I then asked AI: “Would you say these are highly accomplished, esteemed authors?
 Just check out the bolded descriptions in the below:
 A: Yes — by most academic and regulatory standards, the group behind that JAMA Network Open paper would be considered highly accomplished and credible :
 Institutional standing:
They are based at EPI-PHARE , a joint initiative of the French medicines regulator (ANSM) and the national health insurance fund (CNAM). That is the premier pharmacoepidemiology unit in France, with direct responsibility for drug/vaccine safety surveillance at the population level.

 Expertise:
Several authors hold dual qualifications (MD/PhD or PharmD/PhD) and are senior research directors at INSERM (the French equivalent of the NIH’s intramural research arm ). For example, Rosemary Dray-Spira is Deputy Director of EPI-PHARE and Research Director at INSERM, which is a very senior career track.

 Track record:
 These authors routinely publish in high-impact journals (BMJ, JAMA, Lancet regional, Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety ). Their work shapes French and EU public health policy, particularly around medication and vaccine safety.

 Roles in the study:
The guarantor (Clément Bernard) had full access to the national health database (SNDS) — which is only granted to trusted investigators. Others are leading national pharmacovigilance centers (e.g., Laurent Chouchana at Cochin Hospital).

 How can a study with such blatant evidence of being “designed with a pre-determined result” (i.e., not to find problems) get published in JAMA, one of the top medical journals in the world? Of course, we know the answer - the game is so completely rigged, the only thing that boggles the mind is just how brazen it has become.
 Recall one of the definitions of the famous Disinformation Playbook Tactic called “The Fake:”

 Description of “The Fake”
 To evade these standards, some companies choose to manufacture counterfeit science—planting ghostwritten articles in legitimate scientific journals, selectively publishing positive results while underreporting negative results, or commissioning scientific studies with flawed methodologies biased toward predetermined results . These methods undermine the scientific process—and as our case studies show, they can have serious public health and safety consequences .
 Did you get that last part? “These methods can have serious public health and safety consequences.” You don’t say. Like causing deaths to unborn babies and traumatizing women? I am so $%^# ’ing sick of this %$#, I want to scream (and punch a wall).
 My interpretation of this data, knowing how modern “Science” operates, is that “they” know there has been a massive increase in congenital malformations among the vaccinated. Thus, the “esteemed” researchers (whores, sorry) were tasked with publishing a “negative study” to counter the data emerging from around the world, thus making any assertion that Covid vaccines are teratogenic a “controversial” topic with “conflicting data.”
 Welcome to modern science, folks. Any doctor reading this who belongs to the AMA should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.

 Ok, sorry if I lost it today, I am usually better behaved (usually), but if you can afford to and appreciate the time, research, and care I invest in crafting these posts (and Op-Eds), please support my work with a paid subscription.
 Subscribe now

Summary: JAMA just published a study in order to bury a severely disturbing truth - that Covid vaccine policy victimized pregnant women by killing an untold number of their babies. There, I said it. Period.