01/24/2010: Ali from San Francisco, Ca: "Re: Does citric acid leach calcium from bones?

In the recommended 1/4 tsp baking soda (aluminum free) and 1/4 tsp citric acid in 1/2 glass water at least, twice a day to help alkalize the body,does the citric acid leach calcium out of the bones when the body? If I have long-term severe vitamin D deficiency and achy bones is citric acid use still safe on bones?

Can you consider putting a Paypal link to donate to EC or to the main/top individual contributors? If there already is one on the EC website, I didn't see it, maybe somewhere on home page? I am thankful for the help and little donations can add up to help further research? Thanks."

EC: Hi Ali. Thanks for asking - we do have a Donate link at the very top of every page (next to the Give Feedback link).

[QUESTION]  08/01/2009: Sarah from Los Angeles, Ca: "OK- so i really want to start alkalizing with baking soda and also want to include sea salt in my supplements, but never do it because can't stand the taste of either substance dissolved in water so just don't take it. Bought some gelatin capsules, am wondering if i can put baking soda and sea salt dry in the caps then take them with a big cup of water and let it work out in my stomach? Does anyone know if this is effective as drinking or a good substitute? thanks!"

09/17/2010: Annahoot from Atlanta, Georgia, Usa replies: "I mix lemon juice and water with the baking soda and it really changes the taste. Then it tastes like a fizzy drink."

10/02/2011: Lia from Lindsay, Ontario replies: "I found on internet the next text about baking soda capsules:

You can buy them at CVS, walgreens, BJ"s wholesale, hocks. Com, drugstore.com.
The brand I heard is really good is Z_____ OTC Acid Reducer, Capsules ( fancy name for baking soda ). Like I said they are found at the above. You can order them online or you can go instore to purchase. Hope this helps."

[YEA]  08/26/2007: Cindy from Lavonia, GA: "Whole Fruits cured my acidic problems. The Acidic problems of today are because we under Alkalined! If you go search for Alkaline diets, they will give you a list of Acidic foods and Alkaline Foods. You will see immediately why you are having Acidic problems. Once you concentrate on eating Alkaline Foods for a few days, you will see that your acidic problems are gone. Once your system is back in balance, then you eat like you like and just correct when need be. But the most important thing is that Whole Fruits, which are Acidic, are ALKALINE once in the stomach!!! One Cantaloupe or an Apple does it for me."

07/15/2012: Robyn from Melbourne, Australia: "Whilst living in a car due to being so allergic I tried to practice this alkalising with bicarb in apple cider vinegar and bicarb just in water. It made me very nauseas and heightened the already severe pain.

I am confused. Saliva on litmus paper first thing in the morning shows I am the most acidic you can be. My GP thinks the body is getting rid of extra acidity through the saliva..... That this litmus paper test is not accurate. Other GPs have commented on how alkaline I am - high sodium and calcium readings on blood tests. Also the bicarb reading is OK.
And high calcium in my tissues.

I have low stomach acid so if I take bicarb I cant digest anything. I understand I could take it away from food times.

I have a high metal and viral count so I must be acidic.

Many years ago someone suggested bicarb (taken in pure water), I did it for awhile till another GP did a litmus test (middle of the day - not acidic) but I have only got much worse, not better.

The GP must be wrong. I assume I would be acidic. What would you suggest? Taking away from food times and slowly - last week Bill was talking about taking hcl before meals and alkalising some time after. Or maybe alkalinity is too hard to achieve whilst the viral and metals are still there?"

07/17/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa replies: "Robyn, try supplementing the amino acid Taurine, as it helps the body regulate minerals."

07/17/2012: Robyn from Melbourne, Australia replies: "Timh, thanks. I take taurine. I do have addisons disease which could make my sodium levels higher and Im just very very sensitive because ?? Ive tried the alkalising again and just cannot tolerate the extra pain!! , migraines and nausea. I can take acv, bs small amount in 1 litre of water, wheat grass, lemon juice by themselves - all alkalising. I dont know if addisons causing higher sodium levels is because sodium is in my blood ready to leave my body or my blood is alkaline. But I must be acidic if I have metal and viral toxicity. No doc can answer my questions. I dont know how to get well, 20 yrs on & Im still trying to get the metal count down. The viruses & candida?? I take lysine, zinc, olive leaf extract, plenty of antioxidants, immune boosters. Some people with fms, cfs and mcs have been getting better with NLP but apart from it not working on me I just dont get that the brain controls all your organs, the oxygen & nutrition to them."

07/18/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa replies: "Robyn, I feel much like yourself w/ advanced stages of chronic parasitism, heavy metals, and all the pathogens that go w/ it. Have you tried Kidney support regimens? I require daily either D-Mannose or Cranberry for the infection. The kidneys are so important in regulating mineral balance and detoxification that one must support them; Raw Kidney Glandular and Allantoin are good for rebuilding. Have you tried Raw Pituitary Glandular for hormonal boost? It's all complicated and much help is needed so I hope you can get the upper on your condition."

07/18/2012: Latonia from Marshallville, Ga, United States replies: "I recommend trying the Transfer Factor Plus and Riovida Juice to lower your acidic levels. Transfer Factor Plus will empower your immune system and that will help to fight other issues going on in the body. Also try using the Alkaline water and it can be found at most health food stores. Drink that instead of adding the alkaline to your regular water. It will be worth it. You will see!"

07/18/2012: Julie from San Luis Obispo, Ca replies: ""And high calcium in my tissues. " With this statement I would definitely suspect you are low in magnesium. Magnesium will help remove calcium from tissue and move it into bone and teeth where it belongs. Will also help remove heavy metals. Also with its aid in cellular energy production it also aids as an infection fighter."

07/19/2012: Robyn from Melbourne, Australia replies: "Timh thanks, I used to get utis every 2nd day (20 yrs), that pain on top of this other thats unbearable but since olive leaf extract I havent had one. Tried glandular extracts, severe reaction! But I have severe reactions to most things, not surprising, just another horrifying day. Yes, kidneys cant be good. The egrf on the blood tests which is to do with kidneys is way too high so they must be stressed. I try to help my organs. I wish they could talk so I really knew what needs the most help rather than taking all these supplements and home remedies for me to react to, just throwing a lot of mud hoping that some of it will stick."

10/02/2011: P from Middle Of, Fl replies: "Try aloe vera juice! It wipes out most stomach problems, it most surely alleviates the burning! They sell some with flavoring by the food isle, however I buy the gallon which is organic and no flavor near the pharmacy isle in my supermarket. I take a shot glass worth and immediatly you feel the difference.

My son got sick on me last year, he caught a virus, he thought he was gonna die and begged me for a hospital. Of course I knew he needed a little T.L.C. but again he thought he was on his death bed. I took him cause he said his chest hurt and he was throwing up.

Long story short, dr's prescribed him medicine at $10 each pill. KRA-AAAZY! So I bought a gallon of aloe and gave him a shot, he went to sleep and when he woke up, he was fine! Since then, I've given everybody I know, when they feel ill, with GREAT results!

Hope this helps!"

10/02/2011: Debbie from Melbourne, Australia replies: "If you have an inflamed stomach, and don't want to take antibiotics just try the natural antibiotic route. Research that. I would start with lots of raw garlic (chopped up really small) and maybe have it with lemon juice and olive oil and make a nice salad dressing if you don't want to have it by itself. Also onions are good. Organic coconut oil is also anti bacterial/anti fungal so 2 tablespoons of that would be beneficial."

10/03/2011: P from Middle Of, Fl replies: "Grapefruit seed extract is a great antibiotic."

10/03/2011: Jessica from Chicago, Il replies: "Garlic... Kyolic Aged and 3 cloves RAW garlic every day. Aids blood pressure and cholesterol.

Avoid the following oils: hydrogenated anything, Canola, Soy, Vegetable, Sesame.

Replace with Hemp (only cold or warm, never cook w/) and Coconut - but limit your oil intake because Coconut oil also has saturated fat, but shouldn't raise your cholesterol levels into a danger zone. Also could be an underlying problem from adrenal fatigue.

Hemp also has your omegas & protein.

Hope it helps."

10/04/2011: Jessica from Chicago, Il replies: "[There are] digestive enzyme specifically for balancing your gut's pH. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) will also eliminate stomach issues and balances your body's pH. ACV relieves heartburn, indigestion, sour stomach, food poisoning, dehydration (hang over) etc. I drink 1tsp-2tbsp depending on the situation."

02/29/2012: Darcy from Hemet, California replies: "Amen to that, I have found that natural cures have work so well on me and my dog. My dog was diagnosed 3 years ago for bone cancer and I chose to use a natural method and he is still here. If I had choose the onconolgist method it would have cost 8200.00 instead it only cost me around 300.00, to go natural. In all my studies on natural cures; not one was costly. The doctors and pharmacuticals companies worked together and make billions. So sad that when some doctors take an oath the most important thing was their pocketbook."

01/25/2011: Tom from Regina, Sk replies: "Mary:
Any image search site is good. I use www.bing.com If you just hold your mouse cursor over any image, it'll magnify and show details, like the site that product is available on. Some are several hundred dollars, but just look around."

12/29/2011: Linda from San Francisco, Ca, Usa replies: "
No need to spend hundreds of $$ for a pH meter unless you want to. I use the "pH Checker" meter made by Hanna Instruments. It's fast, accurate and easy. You can find it many places on the web including Ebay, it's ~$30.USD

Regards,

Linda"

EC: Lots of information regarding the subject on our pH page!

08/21/2012: Whitecat007 from Murrysville, Pa replies: "Im new just found this site tonight, I am 41 years old.. Have pain all over my body, mostly back, hips, elbows some times my back hurts so bad you cant breath, I have been to the doctor had blood test ran, they tell me nothings wrong with me, when the pain in my body gets so bad, I get really muscle bound and cant move very well, I have tried many things I tried the baking soda and maple surup I found on the internet tonight, took a spoon full, it has gave me an instant headache??? dont know why, I sometimes get muscle spasms all over my body, I did notice I am getting more of them then usual after taking this?? does any one know what could be wrong with me???? or what to do?? I am active, and just want to feel like myself again and have energy and no muscle pain?"

08/22/2012: Lisa from Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa replies: "Hi Whitecat007, It sounds to me like your body is too acidic and toxic. What type of diet do you have? I would suggest to begin there. Clean that up by eliminating processed foods, sugar, white flour products, dairy and gluten. Eat what I call "close to the earth". Make sure you eat mostly fresh vegetables and protein and if you can make fresh green juices. I assure you, the pain will go away through this process. Assist the body also with detoxing which there are plenty of ideas here on EC you can check out.

The baking soda/ maple syrup isn't going to do a thing if you're really toxic. The doctors aren't going to say a thing about this either- they don't know! So many of our problems are due to diets and our toxic world. They only make people more toxic with prescription meds.

Hope this information helps you, Lisa"

08/22/2012: Mmsg from Somewhere, Europe replies: "Whitecat007, read up on Magnesium on this site."

08/22/2012: Heather from Leicester replies: "Hi White cat, you need magnesium it will relax your muscles- easiest way is to buy Epsom Salts and take a long soak(30 mins) - this will really help you, Heather x"

08/22/2012: Mt from Ottawa, On Canada replies: "You should consider lyme disease.

http://www.samento.com.ec/sciencelib/4lyme/curinglymewsam.html

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/354718.Healing_Lyme"

[YEA]  07/21/2010: L from Red Deer, Alberta Canada: "I've been using peroxide since 2006 (one year before I found Earth Clinic). Up until this past January, I would take breaks from using 1 1/2 teaspoons with 1/4 teaspoon of borax in 1 1/3 litres of water. I'm using it to increase energy, and hopefully reduce long term mycoplasma. Since January, I've increased to almost 1 tablespoon of peroxide, and a rounded 1/2 teaspoon of borax. Although if I'm fatigued which is quite often, I don't feel much increased energy, but I've noticed my PH is much more consistent, between 7 and 7. 35. I'm just getting concerned if this dose is safe long term. (By the way, since Canada has restricted access to food grade peroxide March, 2009, the price for one gallon has increased from $8. 00 - bulk buy, to $75. 00! ! And that's if you can find a gallon. It's mostly available after registering with the government and buying a large drum. I am looking for Miracle Mineral Supplement (MMS) which I've recently discovered has been re-labelled as Water Purification Drops (WPD) here in Canada, so hopefully I'll be able to switch to this soon."

05/21/2012: Lorica from New Albany, Indiana replies: "HEARTS OF ROMAINE & PARSLEY GOT ME ALKALINE:

I thought I was eating pretty healthily with lots of fresh fruits & kitchen-grown sprouts, but I was always too acidic with resulting fatigue. I used baking soda effectively but it can cause dizziness & damage the kidneys over time. One day I tried some hearts of romaine - I didn't know they are not bitter like regular romaine, which I don't like, until someone told me.

Amazing! If I just eat a bit of that several times a day, even the whitish part, I'm quite alkaline. Putting ground parsley on food also helps a lot.

I suspect spinach would be very alkalizing but too much of it can be a goitrogen - I. E. a danger to thyroid health."

[YEA]  06/13/2005: David : "Yet again a bit of scientific information has led to so called scare intensity in populations.. I am a nutritionist and a biochemist dealing specifically in conductivity and acid/base balance.. I do agree that certain foods exhibit either a positive or negative balance on the body, esp. with regards to pH..what i have question marks about is the fact that the pH of our stomach and parts of our small intestines are acidic, and therefore need to be acidic in order to break down and absorb nutrients effectively..Also i would not recommend whatsoever self administration of compounds in order to maintain pH levels within a so-called "desirable" range, does any of your readers know of the deleterious effects of these compounds on the cells lining the throat, alimentary cannal, stomach etc..The pH of your stomach is about 2, so any of these compound's pH will be effected from the stomach on..The reason why the stomachs pH is 2 is in order to break down foods, making then suitable for absorption in the small intestine."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Your position is that of the conventional medicine. However, you seem not to be aware that the pH of stomach varies. The stomach pH is not always 2 all the time. It varies between 2 - 6. This has been known for hundreds of years. When drinking water, pH does not get reduced in the stomach. The liquid goes quite quickly through the stomach. The stomach will produce a pH at two when a person is hungry. Most foods such as bread has a component of baking soda. The intestines creates bicarbonates to reduced the acidity. In many cases intestines get irritated whenever the body cannot produce the needed bicarbonates, creating the condition of bicarbonate deficiency, thus causing the irritation. So using baking soda does not create intestinal irritations as claimed by the person below. I was a student of biochemistry and my professor was able to prove that a large majority of the U.S. population has a bicarbonate deficiency which causes the leaky gut sydrome. Apparently, the stomach was unable to neutralize the acid created by the stomach acids because the body's imperfect chemical factory to produce enough bicarbonate to reduce such alimentary irritations.

It was also proven in laboratory conditions that before a virus or a cold conditions, the body's stores of bicarbonates get severely depleted, and there is a mathematical relation between bicarbonate deficiency and susceptibility to colds. The reason, as explained by biochemistry professor so clearly: the body's could not maintain the buffer so adequately making one's body very susceptible to infection."

[YEA]  04/13/2008: Ujwala from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India: "hi, I have been recommended lemon shot ie. juice of 2 lemons+equal amount of water for flushing off excessive acidity from the body and as a good neutraliser as lemon turns alkaline post digestion. After visiting your website I have found that you recommend ACV much more than Lemon. Kindly reply as which one is better option. what are the precautions to be taken when we use both of them. Thank you. regards. Ujwala"

01/10/2012: Sharon from Moorhead, Mn replies: "Could someone please help me! I am covered in welts! Living in a body that itches 24/7 is pure torment! This has been going on for several weeks! Would any of these concoctions work for me?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Sharon"

01/11/2012: Cecile from Cape Town, South Africa replies: "Sharon, I am sorry to see no reply posts for you yet, I have never had your misfortune, but realize that you must be in physical and mental agony with the itching for weeks, here is what I suggest:

Baking soda, Epsom salt and a good sea salt like Himalayan mixed in equal quantities in water, till all is dissolved…put this in an atomizer bottle and spray your body down. If this remedy is causing you more discomfort, shower it off.

Salt is a strong natural antihistamine. The magnesium in the Epsom will calm the skin, it gets absorbed through the skin and can calm the nervous system and sooth your mind and soul??, the sulfur will improve the circulation and is always great on eczema problem, so why not yours, the bicarb of soda will counter the inflammation and the itch and burn…or try soaking(15-20min) in a bath with at least a cup of each of these agents. I have found Lavender and Peppermint essential oil great for itching skin…so add a few drops of these to the bath...

Rub on some coconut oil afterwards..

Search for the system alkalinizing remedies of our two heroes on Earth clinic, Bill and Ted…

I hope you find relief soon! "

11/21/2012: Dee from Melbourne, Australia: "Hi am confused about using lime or lemon with baking soda.. We get both here in Melbourne but which one is more beneficial. Please solve my confusion. Thank you earth clinic for such a wonderful site."