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Mahes Visvalingam Acid-Base Balance |
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Like the body temperature, the body's pH is one
indicator of health. If you feel
unwell, this is the first thing you should check and correct. The body cannot
assimilate minerals and nutrients when its pH is out of balance. There are
cheap and simple remedies for correcting most transient imbalance, the
persistence of which can cause diseases needing medical intervention. There are good resources on the internet.
These notes cover: 1.
What is pH 2.
urine pH testing. 3. Energy production and
storage 4.
Causes
of pH imbalance 5.
Some symptoms 6.
Explain how the body regulates fluctuations in our
pH 7.
The body’s batteries 8.
Germ vs terrain theory 9.
Some home remedies for acidity 10. Alkalising
diets 11. Some case notes |
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Most
of the appliances in your house run off an electric circuit carrying 240
volts of electricity. This voltage is transformed by adaptors and limited by
fuses to suit various appliances. The copper wires in your electric cables
conduct electrons, which we call electricity.
So,
physics measures the voltage of electricity.
In chemistry and biochemistry pH stands for potential Hydrogen and as Dr Jerry Tennant put it, pH is voltage
in solution or the amount of hydrogen in solution Physician's
Notebooks: 2.13c Acidity and Alkalinity of the Body https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKNK6AdDOOc. pH
is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution which can range from
0 to 14. Battery acid and hydrochloric
acid have a pH of 0 and 1. Bleach has a pH of 13 and drain cleaner a pH of 14
– they are very alkaline https://kmbiology.weebly.com/uploads/6/0/1/1/6011704/8705940.gif?366. Pure
water is neutral and has a pH of 7.
Our blood and extracellular fluid have a pH which can vary from 7.35
(-20 mV) to 7.45 (-25 mV), averaging at 7.4. The body will raid the resources
it has to maintain this pH level to maintain cellular communication, nerve
signalling and muscle contraction.
Just like portable electric appliances have battery packs, the body
has its own battery packs to cope with emergencies. It will draw on its bicarbonate, protein
and other batteries when needed and then recharge them. But, it will express its dis-ease if
deviations in pH persist and the buffers are stretched – i.e. the batteries
are running out. An
acidic solution will have a pH below 7.0 and have a +ve voltage; i.e. it has
more hydrogen ions in solution and will rob electrons. A basic or alkaline solution has less
hydrogen and more hydroxyl ions (more oxygen) with free electrons to give. It
will have a pH above 7.0 and have a negative voltage and is an electron
donor, which has an oxygenating effect. |
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2.
Urine pH –
normal range is 4.5 to 8. Use Your Saliva
and Urine pH to Find Deeper Health Problems;
Urine pH -
Urinalysis - Labs Measurement of blood pH involves
an arterial puncture. So changes in
body pH can be assessed by measuring urine and/or saliva pH. It is not an
accurate reflection of body status but is a reasonable indicator if repeated
under the same conditions. Urine pH is tested is to detect
infections and also to assess the risk
of kidney stones. Urine pH varies during a 24 hour period from about 6.0
to 6.5 on waking to 6.5 to 7.0 in the evening. There is a suggestion that urine pH should
be held at 6.8 in the morning and at 7.0 to 7.2 during the rest of the day
and evening. The morning pH is more acidic because our oxygen intake through
respiration is reduced during sleep.
Eating a meal causes what is known as an alkaline tide. This lasts for
about 2 hours. So, the best time to
test your pH is about one hour before a meal or two hours after a meal. The alkaline tide may cause cramps and even
kidney stones, since calcium phosphate struvite, which are soluble in acid,
can become insoluble during the alkaline tide. The salivary glands
raise the pH to about 7.8 through bicarbonate ions. https://biologyinsights.com/what-is-the-ph-level-of-saliva-and-why-does-it-matter/ Saliva pH is much more
variable and urine pH is a better indicator of the energy status of your
body. Additional
reading https://www.drberg.com/blog/use-your-saliva-and-urine-ph-to-find-deeper-health-problems Understanding
Urine Test Strip Parameters (11-Panel Analysis) https://east-medical.com/en/product/urine-strips 3.
Energy
production and
storage - The pH gradient Each
molecule of water, which makes up some 60% of our body, consists of 2 atoms
of Hydrogen and one of oxygen (H2O). Electrochemical processes split the
molecule into H+ and hydroxyl (OH)- ions. This image in https://kmbiology.weebly.com/uploads/6/0/1/1/6011704/8705940.gif?366 shows a high concentrations of H+ ions in
acids and low concentrations of H+ in bases or alkaline fluids which have
more hydroxyl (OH)- ions. ·
Many of the cell’s functions are
catalysed by enzymes. Most enzymes in the human body function best within a
narrow pH range. Even slight deviations can denature them and reduce their
activity. Both acidosis and alkalosis denature the enzymes, hormones and
proteins which drive energy production and transport. So, both Alkaline Water
and Hydrogen Water should be used in moderation according to the person’s
constitution. ·
The pH of a cell depends upon its
function. The fluid inside a cell is
near neutral (7.2 to 7.4) ·
The cell contains many organs, which
perform different functions at different pH. Some have a high acidic interior
– lysosomes have a pH 4.5 to 5.0 for digestive enzymes to break down waste
material, foreign material etc. ·
Some organs are enclosed by membranes
and are called organelles. The mitochondrion which is the powerhouse of the
cell has two membranes enclosing the cell.
The pH between these two enclosing membranes is lower than that inside
the cell, which means it has more potential hydrogen to power energy production. ·
When there is sufficient oxygen for oxidative respiration, food molecules
and glucose are converted by enzymes in the mitochondria into energy
(Adenosine triphosphate - ATP), which continuously pumps protons (H+ ions)
out of the mitochondrion into its inter-membrane space (IMS). The higher concentration of H+ ions in the
IMS creates a pH gradient - the
cell’s internal fluid becomes more alkaline (fluctuating about pH 8.0) and
the IMS fluid becomes less alkaline in comparison to about pH 7.3. Since the pH scale is logarithmic, this
difference actually represents a large store of potential hydrogen (pH), like
water behind a dam, for driving energy production. ·
The pH gradient makes the H+ ions flow
back into the cell through a chain of hydroxyl ions which rotate like
turbines to generate ATP. Enzymes
convert the ATP to ADP (Adenosine diphosphate) and back to ATP to recycle and
increase energy. They produce about 30 equivalents of ATP from each molecule
of glucose for immediate use, e.g. for muscle contractions, nerve impulse
propagation, hormone secretion, sensation and chemical processes. As we shall see later, cancer cells rely on
fermentation rather than oxidative respiration for their
energy. https://biologyinsights.com/what-is-cell-ph-and-why-is-it-important/: Storage of energy:
Excess energy (glucose and ATP) is converted into: ·
Glycogen and stored in the liver for
short-term use (in days). The liver
can rapidly break down the glycogen into glucose when needed, especially by
the brain. ·
Fat stored in adipose tissue for use
during intense exercise, fasting and famine.
·
Skeletal muscles to support the body’s
structure. The body will only breakdown skeletal muscles as a final resort
while retaining glucose for the brain. |
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4.
Causes of Imbalance in pH There
is a tendency to label symptoms as causes or as diseases. Even the imbalance in pH is often only a
symptom of some other cause, e.g. environmental factors, lifestyle etc. Alkalosis
may be caused by a loss of acid or a build-up of bicarbonates
and other factors. ·
Rapid shallow breathing (hyperventilation) by asthmatics
causes a deficit of carbon dioxide in the blood and alkalosis and it is
claimed that the Buteyko method of breathing can help. ·
Shallow breathing can also cause
reverse alkalosis, since the kidneys will excrete acids and retain bicarbonates
to counter the build-up of acid. ·
Diet,
esp an inappropriate vegan diet ·
Stress ·
Excessive intake of ionized alkaline water. ·
Some medical conditions and medication can
also affect the pH and cause acidosis or alkalosis (read the side effects
and/or Google). ·
Supplements: Alkali
(sodium, potassium, magnesium) citrate - Wikipedia : for inhibiting the formation of kidney stones. This
wiki page reports that “when citrate is metabolized by the liver, it
essentially generates bicarbonate, an important buffer. This reduces uric
acid supersaturation and prevents uric acid stones and cystine stones”.
However, citrates have side-effects and contraindications, esp. with other
medication https://www.urology-textbook.com/alkali-citrates.html. Acidosis
can result from a deficit of bicarbonates or from an excess of
hydrogen. Prolonged stress, diseases (diabetes, pneumonia etc.),
weather and medication which can alter the pH balance of cell tissue (See https://patient.info/doctor/acid-base-balance). There are different types of
acidosis caused by different conditions which lead to a shortage of oxygen in
extracellular fluid. For example: Read this:
2021: Low-grade
metabolic acidosis as a driver of insulin resistance; 2018: Insulin
Sensitivity and Glucose Homeostasis Can Be Influenced by Metabolic Acid Load
- PMC ·
Habits – YOU
have control over these o Fasting helps to detoxify the body. It causes the digestion of
stored fats, causing an acid tide and the pH may drop to 5 after a couple of
days. Like the alkaline tide, the acid
tide can cause kidney, ureter and bladder stones to form from excess uric
acid as fats and muscles are broken down.
Perhaps this is why naturopaths prescribe fruit intake and lemon juice
during fasting. o Dehydration can cause acidosis or alkalosis since the body tries
to conserve water its filtering action is impaired. o Often acidosis results from a faulty diet - the consumption of too many acid-forming foods,
like meat, fat and sugar, or other sources of acid or of food deficient in
base minerals. UPF with additives. o Over-eating
or improper mastication of food
and the incomplete digestion of carbohydrates - see http://www.herballegacy.com/Acidosis.html. o Life style: Chronic stress, poor sleep, smoking, alcohol, EMF
exposure. Too sedentary. o Negative
emotions can affect your pH. Sour
disposition. Vicious cycle. o Acidosis can also be due to a build-up of lactic acid
due to prolonged exercise. This is one reason why sportsmen take alkalising revitalising
drinks to improve their performance. You may or may not be able to
control the following Causes. ·
Diseases, aging & Medication o Respiratory
acidosis can be caused by a deficit of
oxygen caused by suffocation or spontaneous arrest during asthma; suppressed
respiration by pneumonia, emphysema, morphine, or the inhalation of gases
with a lot of carbon dioxide or monoxide. o Diabetics - an inability to burn glucose can lead to an acid
constitution in diabetics. This tends
to favour fungal infections, which can cause a craving for more sugar.
Diabetics with insulin resistance metabolise fats instead of glucose for
energy and this can lead to a build-up of keto acids. o Elderly people can develop a tendency towards low-grade metabolic acidosis as kidney function declines. A faulty diet can make this worse and cause clinical
osteoporosis and loss of muscle bulk thereby compromising the body’s
bicarbonate and protein buffers. Acidosis can cause diminished growth hormone
secretion and a decline in cognitive function. o Diarrhoea
and vomiting can cause acidosis through the
loss of sodium bicarbonate and other base minerals. o Some medication
can also be acidifying Drug-Induced Metabolic Acidosis - PMC (2015). Please read the leaflets which come with
medication. ·
Environment:
air and water pollution, allergens, chemicals, heavy metals; pesticides in the environment and food. Pesticides and herbicides
can penetrate the skin barrier and also have a systemic effect on vegetables
and fruit. Other factors – ionising radiation, microplastics etc. ·
Cancer Cells
continuously regulate themselves by exporting toxins and acids (H+ protons
and lactic acid) Extracellular
Acidification Rate: Insights in Cell Metabolism - Biology Insights.
The resulting acidification of the extracellular fluid has a knock-on effect
since it affects cell signalling. There is still controversy over the cause
of cancer but research now implicates cellular H+ dynamics with cancer. Low extracellular pH is now regarded as a
hallmark of cancer cells. As we noted earlier the pH of blood and
extracellular fluid should be about 7.4.
Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.979154/full Normal cells convert food
molecules into energy through aerobic
respiration. In the 1920s, Nobel
Prize Winner Otto Warburg hypothesised that glucose fermentation (glycolysis) for energy was the main cause of cancer after noting that
the fundamental difference between normal and cancerous cells was the ratio
of glycolysis to respiration Warburg
hypothesis - Wikipedia. This "aerobic glycolysis"
is also known as the Warburg effect. Cancer behaves like yeast and ferments
food molecules even when there is
sufficient oxygen. It is still unclear as to what causes this but it is
certain that hypoxia (lack of oxygen) necessitates glycolysis. The
scientific community rejected Warburg’s hypothesis and believed that genetic
mutations which damaged the mitochondria were the cause of the Warburg effect
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warburg_effect_(oncology). Treatment focused on chemotherapy, surgery and
radiotherapy. More
recent research reviewed in The Prime and Integral Cause of Cancer in the Post-Warburg Era - PMC
(2023) accepts that extracellular
acidity caused by hydrogen (H+ dynamics) and the reversal of the normal pH
gradient could be both a symptom and a possible cause of cancer and of other
neurodegenerative diseases. They reviewed research which seek to unite traditional and orthodox oncology with
non-orthodox and less traumatic approaches, including: ·
Repurposing
of drugs ·
Reduction
of intracellular pH with Melatonin and fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE).
The latter seems to inhibit metastatic
tumor dissemination during and after chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation
in cancer patients. … Indeed, FWGE is becoming a promising agent in modern
anticancer therapeutics, since it has been shown to restore mitochondrial
function, suppress the Warburg effect and inhibit in vivo tumor growth. This
paper also refers to the role of H+ dynamics in: ·
bacterial
and viral infections, e.g. the characteristic
hypoxia (deficiency of oxygen) in COVID 19 infections; this has been suggested for a long time. This could explain why Chlorine Dioxide was
used successfully by COMUSAV as a prophylactic (for preventing the spread)
and cure of COVID- in South America (see my letter dated 25 Mar 2021 to Mr Jeremy Hunt) during the pandemic. Many US physicians also testified that antimalarial drugs like
Ivermectin had similar benefits – it also oxygenates body fluids. In2023,
these authors hypothesised that the shift to anaerobic respiration
(fermentation) causes an inflammatory acid-base disruption that can affect
every organ system and underpins the symptoms of long COVID https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1150105/full In
some cases, COVID 19 was associated with alkalosis. This paper (copy &
paste in browser) reviews The association
between acid–base status and clinical outcome in critically ill COVID-19
patients admitted to intensive care unit with an emphasis on high anion gap
metabolic acidosis ·
Neurodegenerative
diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimers ·
Compromising
the immune function In
conclusion, the authors claimed that selective
intracellular alkalization of cells in all tumors … is the prime and ultimate
cause of cancer. They did not consider other alternative remedies for
correcting the decrease in extracellular pH.
But, there have been other recent
investigations into alkalising the extracellular environment Frontiers | Tumor
acidity: From hallmark of cancer to target of treatment (2022). Included in
the list of possible treatments is buffer neutralisation with oral
bicarbonate therapy, which is
listed in the Section on Home Remedies below. Image source: https://www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/979154/xml-images/fonc-12-979154-g001.webp) |
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5. Some symptoms Equifinality:
Symptoms (outcomes) could be caused by other unrelated causes. So, complementary therapists do a profile
of a person (eg in homeopathy, TCM, Ayurveda etc.) to establish related
symptoms and underlying causes. So,
the following symptoms MAY only indicate a pH imbalance. Even so, the remedies we will look at later
are not harmful and worth trying. Of alkalosis, which is less common but more difficult
to cure:
·
Light
headedness, agitation, dizziness, tingling and twitchy movements. ·
Urinary
tract infections (UTI) can be caused by bacteria thriving in acidic or
alkaline urine. In the latter case, friends have found vitamin C
or juice made with fresh or dried cranberries (acidic substances)
helpful. Ask the pharmacist. ·
However,
UTI can also be caused by catheter use and cross-infection from faecal matter
especially in people wearing pads – you should seek medical help
since Klebsiella and other urea-splitting organisms can increase
the alkalinity of the urine and cause kidney stones. Alkaline Urine: A Sign Of Infection And Its
Mystery | MedShun
·
Kidney
Stones, esp. if on alkalising medication or citrates (see under Causes). Of acidity:
Dr
Robert Young has for long pointed out that many diseases and clinical markers
are just symptoms – they are not the diseases – it is the unbalanced pH which
is in part the trigger. He points the
finger at modern cultural habits Can the Chemistry
(pH) of the Blood and Interstitial Fluids of the Interstitium be Altered? -
Alkaline Diet | United States | Dr. Robert Young The environment and lifestyle are the main
predisposing factors of modern chronic diseases. Dr Satish Pathak (heart
surgeon) said the same when he urged his patients to practise yoga and avoid
cardiac surgery. ·
Diabetes. The hormone insulin is most effective at
transporting glucose into cells at a pH of 7.4, which is the pH of blood and
extracellular fluids. https://gna.it.com/what-ph-is-insulin#what-ph-is-insulin. This 2015
review noted that “the pH of body
(interstitial) fluids is lower in diabetes mellitus than that in non-diabetic
control, and that the lowered pH is one of the causes producing insulin
resistance” Roles of
interstitial fluid pH in diabetes mellitus: Glycolysis and mitochondrial
function - PMC. ·
Premature
aging; immune deficiency; hormone-related problems; joint pain and
osteoporosis (and spontaneous fractures). ·
Obesity;
bladder/kidney problems (including uric acid stones and gout); yeast/fungal
problems. Dissolving Uric
Acid Stones using Sodium Bicarbonate. This recommends a lot more
sodium bicarbonate in a day than needed to maintain normal pH (see below). ·
Acid
reflux, chronic fatigue, disorientation, sleepiness, gasping for breath,
abdominal pain. ·
Tendency
towards some types of inflammatory ‘itis’ diseases, e.g. cystitis,
bronchitis, arthritis, gastritis and IBD, IBS, ulcers etc and UTI caused by
acid-loving bacteria & fungi. ·
Cancer – The scientific community now acknowledge
that Nobel Prize Winner Otto Warburg was almost right that the fermentation
of glucose for its energy was associated with cancer. The Prime and Integral Cause of Cancer in the Post-Warburg
Era - PMC states
that Extracellular acidity caused by hydrogen (H+
dynamics) and the reversal of the normal pH gradient is both a symptom and possible cause of cancer and other
neurodegenerative diseases. ·
Coronary
Vascular Disease – cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease. Insulin resistance can make the cholesterol
particles larger, which makes insulin resistance worse This Heart Surgeon Has Performed
Over 5,000 Heart Surgeries. THIS Is The ONLY Cause of Heart Disease. Insulin resistance was found to be
a predictor of coronary vascular disease more than 20 years ago. 2019: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12933-018-0762-4 NOTE: |
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Even daily activities like
exercise, breathing, and digestion of food can alter the pH balance which is
normalised by the compensating actions of the lungs and kidneys. Weather, medication and stress can also
affect the pH. Deep breathing has an
alkalising effect while shallow rapid breathing causes respiratory acidosis.
The kidneys can excrete acidic and alkaline urine to normalise the pH. According to Dr Khalid, The buffer systems
can act within a fraction of a second to prevent excessive changes in hydrogen
ion concentration. On the other hand, it takes 1 to 12 minutes for the
respiratory system to make acute adjustments and another day or so to make
still additional chronic adjustments. Finally, the kidneys, although
providing the most powerful of all the acid-base regulatory systems, require
many hours to several days to readjust the hydrogen ion concentration. https://www.homeobook.com/regulation-of-acid-base-balance/ a.
The Bicarbonate Buffer is explained here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_S5wZks9v8 b.
Mineral buffers from
bone -
Just as fat stores excess energy for use during a famine or fast, the body
stores vital mineral reserves in the bone. Acidic conditions lead to a
de-mineralisation of the bone and the use of potassium, magnesium and calcium
ions to neutralise the excess hydrogen. The excess unused mineral ions
are then excreted through the urine. Such demineralisation of the bones
for acid pH buffering causes osteoporosis. c.
Protein buffer from
muscles - this is because amino acids in protein make good buffers. Unfortunately, if the body is acidic,
muscle tissue is broken down and converted by the kidneys into ammonia by the
addition of excess hydrogen which is excreted with urine. The skin - my
observation: The body also seems
to get rid of excess acid through the skin, which can become sticky in its
creases, itchy and sweaty. In 2017/18,
corticosteroids used in eye surgery caused rashes in the upper body and
severe oedema in the lower body excreting grit through pimples. Soon after there was a heart arrest needing
a pacemaker followed by diagnosis of osteoporosis and spontaneous fragility
fractures. I reported this to
MHRA. I recently found that this was
reported in 2009 Spontaneous fracture:
multiple causes - PubMed. |
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7. The body’s batteries ·
Muscles – store
and generate electrons and nutrients which can rapidly be oxygenated, e.g.
nitrites to Nitric Oxide. This is why
the elderly need to maintain their muscle mass through nutrition and
exercise. ·
Mitochondria are
cells which produce energy when
stimulated, eg by exercise, sunlight, red light etc. Their functions can be
impaired by EMF pollution, faulty feeding, lack of exercise etc. ·
Cell membranes –
also store electrons ·
DNA is
powered by its own generation of quantum or scalar energy |
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8.
Germ vs terrain theory: our bodies seem to be more prone
to acidity. Research has shown that
most non-communicable chronic inflammatory diseases (those ending with
‘itis’) are associated with a low extracellular pH. These seem to become more prevalent with
age since our kidney function tends to decline.
i. General wellbeing and energy
levels can be improved by correcting an acidic constitution. Many bacterial,
viral and fungal infections thrive in an acidic environment and can increase
the acidity further causing a vicious cycle.
For example, COVID-19 induced non-respiratory hypoxia – a shortage of
oxygen causing clotting of the blood which was unrelated to breathing. During
the 1918 flu pandemic, those who took bicarbonate of soda did not get
infected and those who had been infected were treated with bicarbonate of
soda - See Bsoda.pdf.
ii. There has been a long standing
debate over the cause of disease. Western medicine focuses on pathogens with
its germ theory and on genetic dispositions.
Eastern medicine and natural medicine believe that it is our own constitution
that is more important in what they call the ‘terrain theory’. What is the difference between Germ Theory and
Terrain Theory? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfWb9tRAoRA&t=9s.
The germ theory focuses on killing infecting germs. The terrain theory believes in maintaining
our resistance to infections.
Maintaining the pH balance focuses on making the host inhospitable to
most germs. But, please consult your GP if symptoms persist since both
theories seem to be correct. 9.
Home Remedies for Transient Acidity - you should seek medical attention if you are unsure
or if you are having recurrent or chronic UTI, cystitis or other ‘it is’
conditions. a.
Detoxification
gets rid of extracellular acids and other toxins and thereby corrects the pH
balance. Self-healing starts with detoxification, consuming nutrient-rich
food (see Section 9) and by increasing the body’s pH temporarily to even 8
(-59 mV). The traditional methods for
detoxification included purging with laxatives (including Senna, Epsom Salts,
Castor Oil and other agents), sweating (hot water bottles under blankets,
exercise, and saunas), diuretics, inducing vomiting (emetics), expectorants
to induce coughing, bloodletting etc. Often these are symptoms indicating the
body’s efforts to heal itself. When my
husband was given Levothyroxin, he had adverse reactions - severe diarrhoea,
copious urine, sweating and rashes and was coughing up a lot frothy fluids,
leading to shuddering owing to nutrient imbalance. He quickly returned to normal when the
thyroxin was stopped. His body would have become even more stressed if its
attempts at detoxification had been suppressed with more medication. Heat Therapy – Those
born in the pre-WW2 years that I knew in the UK used heat for sweating and
detoxification with hot water bottles and weekly Epsom Salt Baths. The muscles of the labouring classes were
detoxified, relaxed and nourished by the magnesium sulphate rich hot
water. The more prosperous people
visited Spa towns with natural springs rich in base
minerals for health and healing. b.
Bicarbonate intake (extremely cheap) Tullio
Simoncini was criminalised and jailed after saving terminally ill patients
with bicarbonate of soda, when a couple who were already terminally ill
died. Similar unsuccessful criminal
proceedings were launched against Dr Robert Young. He noted that while the body was slightly
alkaline, most bodily functions cause acidify in the body. Simoncini deemed
some types of cancer to be Candida Albicans because they derive their energy
through a fermentation process, which was known almost 100 years ago. Some researchers are now reporting that intravenous
bicarbonate of soda to the cancer site (proprietary modification of what
Simoncini practised) has benefits and that it merits further research – see https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1748013224003190 (2024). There
have been other studies which have investigated the benefits of oral
alkalisation with bicarbonate and diet to increase extracellular pH Frontiers |
Clinical review of alkalization therapy in cancer treatment (2022). Also, as we noted in Section 6 on Regulation of pH,
the kidneys are the main organs responsible for excreting acids from the
blood. Unfortunately, kidney function
declines with age – The progressive decline in kidney function can be slowed
down through oral sodium bicarbonate intake https://www.qmul.ac.uk/news/latest-news/2009/smd/baking-soda-could-reduce-the-need-for-dialysis.html. See also the
information provided by the American National Kidney Foundation https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/metabolic-acidosis. 1.
Dissolve a
few grains of Epsom Salt
(Magnesium Sulphate) in a little very hot water with half tsp of sugar (optional).
Epsom Salt is a laxative at a higher dose – so just add a few grains. 2.
When
dissolved add some cool water to
about a third to half tumbler of water. 3.
Add third to half tsp of bicarbonate of soda.
Stir until dissolved. Older generations used to take ˝ to 1 tsp of
bicarbonate a day. 4.
Optional:
squeeze in a little lime/lemon juice to
remove the soapy taste. This will make
the drink fizz as the reaction changes the bicarbonate into carbonate and
releases carbon dioxide. It is better
to take the bicarbonate and citrus juice separately to maximise the
bicarbonate. Do not use citric acid
powder! 5.
Drink it
immediately. 6.
Drink plenty of water. Urination not only removes many of the cellular waste
products, it also controls both the amount and the composition of the
extracellular fluid in the body. But, you can also overdose on water and
flush out essential nutrients. My
father (who died aged 93) and several others who passed over in their 90s and
when over 100 years old used to take bicarbonate of soda either on its own or
in alkalising remedies like Epsom Salts, Enos and Andrews Salts. Please see my link to Edna Boone’s
testimony in Bsoda.pdf, which is updated to provide
links to recent scientific research findings on the many medicinal benefits
of bicarbonate of soda. It
is better to correct the diet before it leads to more serious, often
difficult to treat, chronic inflammatory diseases than to rely on antacids.
While sodium bicarbonate has many health and other benefits, you should consult your doctor before taking it
since it is contraindicated for certain medical conditions like high blood
pressure, tendency towards kidney stones, deficiency of calcium or
hydrochloric acid, OR if you are taking medications which cause alkalinity.
Sodium bicarbonate reduces the absorption of a number of other drugs taken
concomitantly (https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/25416). 2023: 7 Unexpected Benefits of Baking Soda; The Dangers and Benefits of Baking Soda 2024:
Review Frontiers |
Clinical review of alkalization therapy in cancer treatment 2024:
Effects of
Alterations in Acid–Base Effects on Insulin Signaling – Section 5 5.
Evidence That Bicarbonate Treatment Improves Insulin Signalling 2025: Recent advances of anti-tumour nano-strategies
via overturning pH gradient: alkalization and acidification https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12951-025-03134-2#Sec15 Please
search online for more recent research. c. Propolis is said to raise extracellular pH and improve insulin
sensitivity 2015 Roles of
interstitial fluid pH in diabetes mellitus: Glycolysis and mitochondrial
function - PMC.
Suggestion that propolis elevates insulin resistance by
increasing the extracellular pH found in diabetics. d.
Walking
encourages deep breathing, besides having many other health benefits. e. Remember that deep
belly breathing is alkalising. It is taught by all healing
traditions, including Tibetan practices to survive in their hostile
environment Tummo Tutorial. The body adapts to the environment and just like astronauts lose bone
mass in space but which they regain when they return to earth, the Tibetans
believe that we have an inner fire (Tummo) which kept us warm during the Ice
Age which we can call on with breathing practices. The Wim Hof Breathing
method (one of the Tibetan Tummo breathing methods) is said to acutely
increase pH up to 7.8, and apparently urine pH also goes up after a session
of WHM breathing. https://www.wimhofmethod.com/breathing-exercises. The comments on this beginners’ video Guided Wim Hof
Method Breathing claim that people have broken their anxiety and panic attacks
and also addiction to substance misuse and even caffeine after following the
Wim Hof methods. Several people state
that it brought them back to life or changed their lives. f.
Qigong/Tai Chi exercises combine, rhythmic breathing and movement to ground and
promote the flow of earth energy into the body through the Bubbling Spring
Kidney 1 acupoint. This is especially
beneficial if practised on grass in sunlight for about 20 minutes. If you
cannot cope with the advanced contorting exercises in yoga, there are gentle yoga exercises, which also
include synchronised breathing. People
are getting together to hire a room and practice these exercises by following
the videos which experts have kindly provided free of charge. Or, make a date with a couple of friends to
practise in one of your houses and have a snack afterwards to strengthen
friendship bonds. g. Humming
like a bee – Bhrahmari Pranayama and even chanting Om
causes oral and nasal vibration producing alkalising nitric oxide. h.
Sound Healing, various, including Rife frequencies https://www.rifetherapies.com/rife-frequencies/ i.
Grounding/earthing also raises the pH. Walking barefoot or sitting on grass and gardening are free. There are earthing devices for sale. There was a special issue on the benefits
of grounding in Biomed J. See editorial: Is
a return to nature a piece of the health puzzle? - PMC Many of the benefits attributed to
grounding are also attributed to other free therapies, like red/infrared
light and nitric oxide from the sun. Swimming and standing in a pool of water
is also grounding. Some people are very sensitive to the effect of
environmental electromagnetic frequencies on the body and grounding mats etc.
can discharge such harmful frequencies of energy. However, my nephew a
retired electrical engineer, warned of electrical shocks since not all houses
may be properly earthed if the external grounding rod is damaged or has
deteriorated. See Practical applications of grounding to support health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10105020/. j.
Alkaline Water
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/alkaline-water-7500901 k.
An alkalising
diet. There are several online
resources on this. One should not rely
on excessive use of antacids, like sodium bicarbonate, to buffer an unhealthy
diet, since there are contraindications for some people. There has been
increased interest in the human microbiome; i.e. the good and bad bacteria,
fungi, viruses and parasites living in various parts of body the composition
of which depends on the local pH ranges. The Vagus Nerve is the main highway
between the gut and brain; the microbiome sends more neurotransmitters to the
brain than vice versa. Qigong refers
to the bowel area as the second brain - the
region where energy is stored and distributed. Hence, there is great emphasis
on belly breathing techniques and on diet.
But, as in Ayurveda and TCM the diet has to be tailored to the
person’s age and constitution, the season and so on. So, the alkalising diet has to be adapted
according to one’s constitutional type, weather and season. l.
Low-level
LED red and infra-red light therapy
is also alkalising and is becoming very popular for a range of medical
problems. It is now recognised that mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to
many eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and retinopathy
Mitochondrial
disorders and the eye - ScienceDirect. I believe that 850 nm near infrared light
therapy cleared my non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in less than 4
weeks. Sitting or working in the sun for 20 mins should help to alkalise and
recharge your batteries - Boost Mitochondria with Sunlight
& Infrared light | Glen Jeffery.
The Chinese and Indians have long known about colour therapy (based on the
chakra theory) and of the invigorating effects of red light - it is now
accepted that infra-red light is anti-inflammatory and healing, even of
pressure sores https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1062030321000613 m. Magnet
therapy – the north negative pole is
alkalising; this will be documented separately. n.
Whole
body vibrational therapy (WBVT) devices also promote the
flow of energy through the body. Many
gyms have WBVT platforms but just bouncing up and down or running on the spot
for a few minutes several times a day can recharge your batteries. The Royal
Osteoporosis Society lists some contraindications, including pacemaker,
thrombosis, pregnancy dizziness and inner ear problems, osteoporosis and
joint replacements. Low intensity
vibrations (LIV) are designed to avoid these contraindications. Their advice is to discuss any exercise
therapy with your doctor Vibration
therapy for osteoporosis: Can it help? | Royal Osteoporosis Society. Diabetics and immobile patients tend to develop
ulcers and pressure sores. This paper
(2025) claims that local vibration therapy can facilitate healing. See https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965206X24001931
Vibration
therapy for patients with hard-to-heal wounds: A systematic review and
meta-analysis of experimental studies. I have no personal
experience of this therapy. o.
Energy Healing
– like Shaktipat, Reiki, Spiritual or Pranic Healing. Here a practitioner or a person can draw
and channel unconditional loving energy of the universe to energise and
heal. Some members of our group (https://rani.svabhinava.org/PROJECTS/SHC/SHC.pdf)practise Spiritual Healing and Reiki. p. Some alkalising home
remedies for treating urinary tract infections can be found on the
internet https://nursestutorial.blogspot.com/2016/07/10-home-remedies-for-uti.html. WARNING: some herbs (e.g. ginger and
turmeric) and bicarbonate of soda should not be used in medicinal dosages if
you have high blood pressure, itchiness etc. Here is a recent review of the
anti-cancer effects of herbs https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12147394/#Sec1 q. Quebra
Pedra means ‘Stone breaker’ this traditional herb is said to support liver
and kidney health and normalise the pH Quebra pedra:
Extensive Health Benefits, Rich Ingridients, Medicinal Properties, and
Wellness Applications - VitaLibrary |
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NOTE1: Unlike
western ideas on nutrician, Chinese and Indian medicine classify people
according to constitutional types – what is good for one type can be harmful
to another. Also, the food has to be
suited to the season – e.g. cold and cooling foods in summer; warming food in
winter. Moreover, foods that are good
for you when well can be difficult to digest and harmful when ill. This may
partly explain the controversies over the harm/benefits of different types of
food as noted in: https://www.akjournals.com/view/journals/066/51/3/article-p326.xml I personally go
on what my body tells me. NOTE 2:
Please be aware that vegetables and fruit are exposed to herbicides, pesticides and
fungicides during their growth and post-harvest preparation for transport. It
is possible to remove some of the pesticide residues at home – their
effectiveness varies with the pesticide. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s43088-022-00324-x/tables/3.
However, modern agriculture uses a cocktail of these agents, many of which
are believed to be nerve agents and carcinogenic. I make marmalade with whole citrus fruit
since TCM and Ayurveda believe that they have numerous health benefits. But, even unwaxed lemons contain
Pyrimethanil. In animal studies, it
has been found to target the gonads,
liver, kidney, thyroid, heart, adrenal, spleen and thymus https://naturalpedia.com/pyrimethanil-toxicity-side-effects-diseases-and-environmental-impacts.html.
This fungicide is used on all sorts of fruit and vegetables – even root
crops. I have normally soaked the fruit for a few hours in a bicarbonate of
soda solution. While this and even
just cold running water can reduce the pesticide adhering to the skin, I did
not realise that bicarbonate of soda, while being more effective than just
water, was not as effective as rice water and rice vinegar which removed over
70% of the residue from lettuce. Even
bicarbonate of soda can remove more than 90% of residue from apples. But, unfortunately we cannot avoid them
altogether (unless you grow your own and preserve them) since the plants take
up the chemicals which also occur inside the fruit. I used to get UTI if I
ate citrus or drank bought juices. I
stopped the latter and have not had problems since I started washing the
fruit. So, UTI like many other
so-called diseases – can just be a symptom of dis-ease caused by chemicals. WARNING:
You need a certain amount of acid for the take up of minerals
and iron. https://drkumardiscovery.com/posts/role-gastric-acid-food-iron-absorption/ This is why many diets add tomatoes and
lemon/lime juice (for Vitamin C) to salads and cooked green vegetables
etc. The English used to eat
horseradish with beef, cranberry with turkey, apple sauce with pork and
pickles and relishes with cold meat and salads. There are many different
alkaline food charts posted online, which give some conflicting
classifications of the acid-base residue of food items. I do not know
whether this page is reliable but it seems to match our experience of some
common fruit and vegetables. https://acidalkalinediet.net/acid-alkaline-food-chart.php. The
advice is that one should consume 70-80% alkaline and only at most 20-30%
acidic food. Dr. Berg's Healthy Keto® Diet Plan
- Intermittent Fasting and Fat Burning Vegetable broths with
onions, carrots, celery, ginger, garlic, chilli and parsley and other
vegetables and herbs are alkalising
and mineralising. You could
include bones and some cider vinegar or citrus (lemon/lime) if you wish to
increase the mineral content. An
English friend who died when she was 103 told me that large families like
theirs had a lot of cheap bone broth with vegetables from their allotment and
the Chinese are fond of sweet and sour pork ribs. So-called potassium broths,
include seaweed, like kombu. Only the
sick need daily doses of these potassium rich broths - too much potassium can
upset the electrolyte balance of the body.
Many of these items are
expensive - but they are cheaper than prescription and over-the-counter
medicines. Our ancestors did not
indulge in super-foods and such expensive items need not be a part of routine
diet. Try to source local produce,
including weeds, flowers and fruit from the countryside. But, you need to be aware of poisonous
plants as well – see for example : Foraging For
Beginners. Episode 1. Garden 'Weeds'. Nettles and
dandelions, for example, are rich in nutrients – just search online for Wild
Food. Our ancestors did not live in centrally heated houses nor have all the
mod-cons we have. They laboured hard
and walked miles to school, work etc.
They needed more protein and fat, and in general more food, than we
do. Unfortunately, indulgent eating
and drinking has become an unhealthy social habit. Enjoy it if your body can cope - but if
starts to struggle, you can probably recover if you promptly modify your
diet. Intermittent fasting formed a
part of many religious practices and has helped many people recover from
constitutional diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. Acid-forming
foods. People who consume a lot of meat, fish and shellfish, dairy,
cereals, white flour products and refined sugar (especially artificial
sweeteners and canned drinks) etc. tend towards acidity. You can have
too much of a good thing. Traditionally, such food were eaten with
digestives, e.g. horseradish sauce with beef; apple sauce with pork; mint
sauce with lamb; cranberry sauce for turkey, sauerkraut, kimchi etc. The easterners used garlic, ginger, turmeric,
and other curry spices for their nutrients and as digestives to counteract
the toxins in acid-forming food. Peppermint and parsley are
often recommended for acidity. Peppermint is antispasmodic and peppermint
sweets and creams are often sucked after meals. But, be aware that peppermint antidotes
homeopathic medicines and sweets can cause dental decay. It is very easy to
grow luscious parsley, especially the flat leaf variety, coriander etc. in
deep pots or even in 4-litre or larger plastic milk bottles with vegetable
scraps mixed into the soil if you do not make compost. There are many youtube videos to motivate
you. You need to monitor how
your own urine pH - i.e. how your body - responds to what you eat.
Also, be aware that people like me, whose immune system has been compromised by
DDT and medication, are intolerant of some food. Some people use the Coca Test
(or Pulse test) to identify potential allergens that can also upset the
body's biochemistry. Also, there are too many additives in food now. My
husband and I found that our bloating and flatulence and general physical and
mental discomfort vanished when we stopped using margarines and switched to
butter and plant oils. Kinesiology
can assess sensitivities through muscle testing. I use a pendulum to
assess whether the item is beneficial or harmful to me through a muscular
response from the body itself. During
a private consultation, an NHS doctor found that I was allergic to beet but
not cane sugar; he suggested that this could be due to differences in their
processing. So, as I stated in the Disclaimer,
each person has to take responsibility for their own decisions. One man’s
food is another man’s poison. It is claimed that a man
whose health rapidly declined after insulin made a complete recovery through
a diet program. From Insulin
& Dialysis to Complete Reversal | Mr. Syed Yaqoob's Incredible Story | |
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Some case notes on
acidity ·
Gastritis -
This was brought on by bitterly cold and windy weather in Nov/Dec 2011 when
we had the Beast from the East. Homeopathic remedies (Nat Phos 30c)
eased the pain - but they did not completely cure my gastritis. The
home treatment for chest and head
congestion led to slow but steady improvement in acid-base
balance. I suspect that it was mainly due to the Alkalising Drink,
although I stopped having it. Other remedies which will be disclosed
elsewhere helped me heal after declining proton pump inhibitors (Omeprazole)
which I was told I had to take for the rest of my life! In 2020, we restarted
taking the Alkalising Drink on alternate days as a potential protection
against COVID-19, which we did not catch. ·
Pleurisy and bronchitis - Initially brought
on by stress and exposure to chemical sprays in recycled air in the confined
space of air cabins during a long-haul flight. This was probably
compounded by cross- infection. I recovered with similar home remedies,
esp the alkalising drink. ·
Unknown
cause of abdominal pain - A very thin lady had severe abdominal pain from Feb 2013 to
November 2013. She had numerous blood and urine tests and various types
of scans - all negative. During this time she had lost a stone in
weight, which suggested loss of bone mass. The colonoscopy in November
2013 also showed a healthy colon. I suggested that the problem might be
due to acidosis outside her tolerance range, which could cause inflammations
and spasms, besides encouraging Candida Albicans. There is a detailed
article on Systemic Candida at : https://janus.net.pl/en/2018/01/22/candida-fungi/.
Similar information was covered in a book by Leon Chaitow, first published in
1987, which led me to try Acidophilus with success in 1988 and which led to
rejecting antibiotics and other unnecessary medication and researching
Complementary Therapies instead. You
can control parasitic Candida, which can destroy mucosa and cause inflammations
- but be aware that Candida die-off can be nasty since it releases toxins
into the blood stream. So, you may have to pace your treatment.
There are many online resources on Candida die-off. Blepharitis The alkalising drink had
another unexpected beneficial effect in her case. She had been seeing
hospital consultants about her dry and inflamed eyes for several years and
had been wearing wrap round glasses to create a more humid environment and
keep dust off her eyes and used eye drops as prescribed. This developed
into blepharitis,
which was managed with castor oil, since my husband cleared his blepharitis in
2001 with this home remedy. When I visited her on the 22 December 2013,
she showed me her eyes - there was no swelling or redness and they were not
bothering her as much. Since blepharitis could be due to systemic
fungal infection, this again suggested that correcting the extracellular pH
had created a hostile environment for the fungus which was naturally dying
off. So, this shows that when the body's pH is outside the normal
range (in her case mainly due to stress), it can cause very unpleasant,
even if not life threatening, symptoms, e.g. even fungal pneumonia. She
now cleans her eyes with the alkalising formula. Please note that the
consultant we saw when my husband had blepharitis
did suggest bicarbonate of soda for an eye wash - but this topical treatment
did not help – but cold pressed castor oil (an antifungal) did this very
rapidly. His blepharitis was due to local injury caused by eye surgery.
So, castor oil was enough – but if the blepharitis keeps coming back, oral
bicarbonate of soda MAY help. ·
Fatigue
and symptoms of fungal infections -
someone I knew had ME for decades and had never felt well since. She
had reflux and fungal infections from time to time. She had a need to
have a nap in the afternoons and generally felt tired. Over the years
she had tried homeopathy, acupuncture and other therapies when prescription
medicines had not helped her recover her energy levels. She did not
test the urine pH but had the alkalising drink as well as some Biochemic
tissue salts and felt that her energy levels were up. Although she
still felt tired, she could go out every day and enjoy herself without a need
for naps. After 6 months, this lady reported that she is going
through a good spell and had increased the number of hours she works for a
charity. Having noticed the change in her, her friend was going to try the
remedy. ·
Diabetic
with no energy - A
diabetic friend had Candida explosion in Nov 2013 after he had antibiotics in
Malta for a viral infection he picked up there. He started taking the
Alkalising Drink in January when he felt that his energy level had become
really low. He was then misdiagnosed and treated for cancer - but felt
that the alkalising drink had helped him regain his normal energy
level. The so-called cancer (which was actually Candida Albicans)
disappeared when he applied Castor Oil topically but kept coming back.
He has systemic Candida due to his diabetes, which is difficult to control.
Candida can cause sugar addiction. ·
Duodenal
ulcer – a lady was diagnosed with this condition had blood in the
stool. Her problem was rapidly
corrected by drinking the alkalising
drink and consuming coconut oil to coat the mucosa. She developed a liking for the latter which
she continues to have on toast instead of butter. This is because Intestinal
pH: a major driver of human gut microbiota composition and metabolism | Nature
Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. o
The pH varies between people due
to diet, microbial and external
factors. o
The pH also changes along the gastrointestinal tract See
digestive track frmbi-02-1192316-g001.jpg
(2365×1304) in Frontiers
| Intestinal and fecal pH in human health. Patients with
ulcerative colitis seem to have substantially lower pH in the right colon. o
The pH
affects: the microbiotic composition, gene expression and metabolism; the microbes in turn act
like back seat drivers, causing food cravings and addiction. · A friend in remission from prostate cancer did not want hormone treatment when his PSA count steadily rose to 10 in 2021. He followed Vernon Johnson’s bicarbonate of soda protocol and his PSA count steadily dropped to 5.1 by June 2023. He has not had to have treatment but is being monitored as of Feb 2026. See See Bsoda.pdf for details and other case studies, including research showing that bicarbonate of soda prevents metastasis of hormone-linked cancers. |
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© Mahes Visvalingam 17 Jun 2006 |
