Holistic Health and Alternative Medicine - EARTHCLINIC.COM

Ted's Alkalizing Formulas: Q&A

HEALTH EFFECTS OF ACIDITY AND EXCESS ALKALINITY
03/02/2013: Book Lover from Australia: "Can you clarify please, is Ted saying that if you are too acidic or too alkaline you are prone to cancer and fungal disease?"

03/06/2013: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Basically all organisms including humans survive in a narrow pH, for humans it is usually 7.0 to 7.4. Fungi survive in acidic mediums, and this includes cancer. In certain fungus species that cause asthma, it actually thrives in an alkaline medium, and this is why some people are allergic to sulfites and sulfur dioxide. In an alkaline medium we acidify with an acidic substance such as magnesium chloride to maintain a steady pH. Actually resolving the "allergy" due to sulfites is quite easy,you get another reducing agent that the fungus cannot tolerate such as an alkaline form of vitamin C, or you do the opposite by briefly using an oxidative medium such as hydrogen peroxide, sodium chlorite, or sodium hypochlorite.

What I also describe in my book is the concept of ORP (oxidation reduction potential). It is related to our body's acid-alkaline balance in that the more alkaline the pH the more negative the ORP, as a general observation.

So stopping the cancer tumor or wine making is relatively simple, you can either alkalize or get chemical reducing agents to stop the fermenting process. Both cancer and wine making ferment. The concept is similar. That is the secret to killing the cancer cells and cancer pain, its the same secret to stopping the wine making process. For instance sodium metabisulfite and potassium metabisulfite in a liquid medium are reducing agents that stop the fermenting process used in wine making, as it degrades to small amounts of sulfur dioxide. But you can do with other reducing agents just the same, in varying amounts of course such as sodium sulfide, DMSO, sodium thiosulfate, vitamin C; but these are relatively unstable if you don't maintain alkalinity, as ORP is only negative if the body remains alkaline.

I have direct experience from cancer patients in stopping any cancer from fermenting within days and reducing the size of tumors this way using a carrier chemical such as DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) mixed with 30% of water and a suitable reducing agent. Reducing agents such as vitamin C for instance will only be reducing agents in an alkaline medium, but it is an oxidizing agent in an acidic medium. Since cancer and wine making is an acidic medium you need an alkaline mixture such as potassium carbonate with the vitamin C to do the work, but as I told you any reducing agent would work, and it helps if the solution is alkaline. My experience from cancer patients is that cancers are pleomorphic but that is another story.

Ted"

SODIUM OR POTASSIUM BICARB?
05/01/2012: Cocre8 : "Hi Ted, As regards to your baking soda alkalizer, would that be sodium bicarb, or potassium bicarb?

Thanks in advance, Chris"

ALKALIZING AND SUGAR CONTROL (CANDIDA)
10/27/2011: Anonymous from Anonymous: "Hello Ted, I've been trying to beat this life-long case of candida I've had. I tried drinking baking soda and water twice now. The first time I started spotting almost immediately. I also developed red, itchy rashes on my ears. The second time i tried it with lime juice. No rash as of yet, but still spotting. I haven't seen this discussed on any post on Earth Clinic so i assume this problem is a personal one. Really want to alkalize my body but BS doesn't seem to agree with me. Any idea what's causing this reaction? Is there anything i can do differently to alkalize?"

11/28/2011: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Yes, your blood sugar is probably high, and something is wrong with the electrolyte balance, in particular your chlorides. Blood sugar can be alleviated with chromium (1000 mcg), vanadium (vanadate or vanadium sulfate) 5 mg, and cinnamon extract (500 mg x 2). The blood sugar high makes the body's immune system and repair to be deficient. Also, baking soda, tends to decrease excess blood clotting, in your case that caused more bleeding as a result of other issues that need to be dealt with. Ideally blood sugar has to be 80 to 90 mg/dL fasting blood glucose, after meals one hour should be below 100 mg/dL for me, I think that any value above 110 mg/dL is not good enough (they are still sick at this level).

Once the blood sugar is normal then the repair and immune system goes to normal. Blood sugar is actually more important then alkalizing in this case, but generally speaking for people with normal blood sugar, pH is important, and that means alkalinity. So if their blood sugar is above 200 mg/dL, they have bleeding and I seen this often. Doctors used insulin but it doesn't get sugar to normal with that, until they first resolve the basic deficiencies such as getting fats down (lecithin), more MSM, chromium and vanadium, when those are dealt with and sugar control, so their blood sugar is normal, and they no longer have bleeding, assuming their not hemophiliacs!

Ted"

DEALING WITH CANDIDA EFFECTS
10/13/2011: Anonymous from Anonymous: "Dear Ted, Thank you very much for Earth Clinic. I most kindly request your advice:

1. What can you recommend for repairing a weak LES Sphincter, when one is using your alkalizing formula for Candidiasis for the past 2 weeks?
2. What can I take to increase my weight? I am off most carbs, eating mainly chicken and lots of veggies but had already unintentionally dropped 14kg since last year (I am using ACV and Soda bicarb, plus Virgin Coco Oil and Lugols, and Borax for Candida; Magnesium Citrate, Chanca Piedra, and Desiccated Liver).
3. What should be the optimum Urine and Saliva pH under these circumstances?

NB: I was diagnosed with Candidiasis in December 2010, a fibroid, loose LES and Pyloric Sphincters, Thyroid Nodules, Esophagitis with slow peristalsis at the lower end, Chronic Gastritis, GERD and Hiatal Hernia.

Thank you very much for your help!"

10/19/2011: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "1. What can you recommend for repairing a weak LES Sphincter, when one is using your alkalizing formula for Candidiasis for the past 2 weeks?

Sodium molybdate 1/16 teaspoon for a week or two. Selenium 200 mcg x 2, glutamine 1000 mg x 3, and lysine 1000 mg x 4. Molybdate helps kill fungi, and so does selenium in the form of selenium yeast, the glutamine and lysine helps with the regeneration of the stomach that is damaged, mostly. I can only recommend supplements that you can find, however.

2. What can I take to increase my weight?

Fats will increase weight, such as walnut, macadamia, etc. Other fats such as chicken skin, pork skin, etc. is possible. But if weight is decreased a lot, complex carbohydrate should be included in diet, as it doesn't usually interfere with the diet except for severe diabetic and candida.

3. What should be the optimum Urine and Saliva pH under these circumstances?

It should both be ideally 7, but 6.5 is minimum.

Ted"

10/28/2011: Anonymous replies: "Dear Ted, Thanks so much for replying to my mail. I request your help please. I read somewhere that amino acids e.g. glutamine, lysine grow candida; and that anything with yeast must be avoided. please could you most kindly clarify on this?

Also, some say that fat grows candida; and that so do complex carbohydrates. Please kindly advise on this as well.

What would you recommend for bile reflux, where the pylorus (and the LES) were diagnosed as incompetent/loose through a endoscopy? Would herbs that increase bile flow (e.g. Chanca Piedra, VCO, Lugols, Borax) increase the bile reflux? I am taking those for candidiasis but have been having very bad pain in my esophagus and yet I have to kill the candida. Would rhodiola rosea help with the reflux?

Thanks very much for your urgent reply."

11/08/2011: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Lysine is for your immune system and an essential amino acid. It doesn't cause candida. Candida is due to antibiotic overuse and acidity, which is reduced with avoiding sugar and high fats, and other deficiencies. But tannic acid intake will help most of the candida initially. But most candida is due more to sugar than anything else, molybdenum, borax, chromium is the major ones I will consider.

As to bile reflux, rhodiola rosea would not help. I'd rather do something more basic than that. Such as ginger tea, 3 or 4 times a day without sugar and taking B50 b complex perhaps once a day for a week or two. The ginger tea prevents lipid peroxidation which is an issue in bile issue, and perhaps some granulated lecithin 1/2 teaspoon and reduced fat intake, as fat blocks bile production by clogging. Selenium will prevent some forms of cirrhosis, fatty liver disease also, at 200 mcg x 2.

Ted"

11/08/2011: Anonymous replies: "Ted, Does reduced fat intake also include reducing my intake of VCO? What I meant is, does VCO also cause bile reflux by attracting bile into my stomach?"

11/09/2011: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Actually coconut oil and virgin coconut oil are therapeutically similar. The coconut oils are short chain fatty acids and these are needed for some energy as it is easier to digest than the long chain triglycerides found in most supermarket vegetable oils, besides most supermarket ones can be hydrogenated, trans fatty acid being unfit for health purposes.

No VCO does not cause bile reflux."

QUESTIONS ABOUT ALKALIZING WITH WOOD ASHES
06/23/2011: Samuel : "Mr Ted,

I have an interesting question about ashes that comes from burning wood. I have found that ash reacts with lemon like sodium bicarbonate even better, and it has cleansing properties like we all know that the only soap to clean was made of ashes
and oil.

My question: can we use ashes from wood to alkalize the body? Is it safe, how much is the dose? Have the ashes detoxifying properties
from heavy metals ,fluoride ,chlorine, or some medicinal power on the body? I am very interested to know about this subject,

please Mr Ted if there is some benefits from ashes can you inlighten me with this information."

07/17/2011: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Ashes are basically potassium hydroxide, which are very alkalizing but they don't have the buffering capacity as in potassium carbonate or potassium bicarbonate. But besides that they may have some minerals found in trace amounts. If consumption of ashes is desired, using a pH paper to measure the ashes so it is diluted with water whereby it doesn't exceed pH of 8, and add some sodium bicarbonate to have some buffering capacity.

Ted"

QUESTIONS FOR TED ABOUT ALKALIZING AND WEIGHT LOSS
05/05/2011: L. from UK: "Hi there,

I work as a personal trainer in the UK, and after reading a lot about alkalising and weight loss, I would like to promote the idea to a few of my clients. But before I give any advice, i would like to know the exact guidelines to the dosage, as I have read so many different opinions.

How much bicarbonate of soda do you add to the the lemon?

If you just follow the bicarb with water option, do you follow 0.3gms to 1 Kilo of bodyweight?

Lastly, I am keen to know more about the ACV and bicarb option. Do you take twice a day, or drink throughout the day?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks."

05/22/2011: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "The basic bicarbonate of soda or baking soda is a least 1/4 teaspoon to 2 tablespoon of lime juice. It's taken twice a day at least. Then you add water usually 1/2 to 1 glass. More sensitive individual I usually recommend one glass. It is taken after a meal which is 30 minutes after meal. If you want to take it before meal then it would have to be upon waking up and not feeling hungry.

The calculation of per body weight is calculated as follows: 120 pound = 1/4 teaspoon.

The apple cider vinegar is similar. Two tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda. Some people will get along nicely with just apple cider vinegar or lime juice, but in the long run, the body get depleted of bicarbonate stores in the pancreas and that's not good because pancreas needs it to alkalize for the beta cells to produce insulin. As I say, the bicarbonates in the recommendation is the minimum and people may require more.

Ted"

L. from the UK responds, "Brilliant, thank you. And is this a lifestyle change, as in do you take it everyday forever? Or a few days a week, and for a few months a year? Thanks again."

Ted replies, "I try to take it forever. I started alkalizing with just baking soda and I was only 8 or 9 years old. I try to alkalized myself whenever I am acidic at the very least."

L. from the UK responds, "Great stuff. And last question I promise: Is standard bicarbonate of soda for cooking good enough, or are there special salts I need to buy?"

Ted replies, "If you are talking about baking soda, not baking powder its generally good. But I also prescribe potassium bicarbonate for many patients too."

LEMON BICARBONATE FORMULA OKAY FOR KIDS?
08/26/2008: Angie from Arkendale, UK: "Hi, I just wanted to let you know how delighted I am to find your site! This is a treasure trove of info I don't believe exists elsewhere on the web. Your lemon bicarbonate formula has done wonders for my overall health, and I'd like to try it on my 6-year old who seems to have issues with fungal infections for the last 3 years. I'm guessing that I should be aiming for a dose about a third of the one recommended for adults. What do you suggest?
Many thanks!!!!
Angie."

08/26/2008: Joyce from Joelton, Tn replies: "Hi Angie, If I were you I would probably be looking at more like l/4 of adult dose and after taking a good long look to decide whether he is smaller, average or big for his age, also underweight or overweight and fudge a little above or below that l/4 dose depending on those factors. Better to go a little under than over, in most cases. You might also want to consider Probiotics for him."

EXHAUSTION AND BODY ACHE
03/13/2008: S. : "Hello. I have been seriously ill with ? for the last 3 mos. I was winding down to this status over the last few yrs. I have seen many specialists to no avail. My symptom list could go on forever but by far the most prevalent at this time would be unrelenting, profound debilitation exhaustion, entire body aches, pains and stiffness, ongoing stomach/lower esophageal pain (scope showed erosions and the esophagus was so inflamed doc had to use a dilator w/ force to get through it to see the stomach which had the erosions, redness and inflammation throughout and lots of polyps). I have zero energy and I feel like I will literally expire at any minute. I have been told I have a thyroid disorder, hyperactive/hashimotos, possible chronic lyme, heavy metals (lead, arsenic and mercury), headaches, brain fog, etc, etc, etc. I am greatly depressed now and scared to death. I am a christian and if it wasn't for God and my kiddos I would have purposely checked out before now. What can you advise I do? I tried reg apple cider vinegar....1 tsp in about 4 oz of water today and I felt no relief. I read a bit about the hydrogen peroxide and will add sev oz now to my footbath. It is as if all my cells are not carrying nutrition and/or oxygen to my body. Please advise. I am desperate for some hope. I accept your advise and look forward to your words of help, hope and health. Thanks! "

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Shannon: For this condition ACV and baking soda will provide little relief.

Your conditions appears to be similar to one case in Canada that was debilitated and could not work at all for 20 years and that person too has seen many doctors and to no avail. She contacted me from emergency because of a simple heart failure and kidney failure she had a multiple of conditions but it was finally determined to be one of Morgellon's disease and a possible Epstein Barr virus as a side. The good news is that she is now working almost full time and now leading a generally normal life. Her major improvments came on the first or second week.

Morgellon's disease is generally speaking a man-made, somewhat of a bioweapons and there are chemtrails (from plane dusting) which seems to afflict people who love outdoors, and the method of getting into the system is from an insect bites coming from feet (many walk barefooted), or from drinking contaminated drinking water and getting sick for days and never really recovered. That's usually the case, and it eats up the body's organs. However, I have managed to find a remedy to keep it at bay and there will be a slow and eventual improvement after the first week or so. It often takes at least two weeks to see the effect, but it should be continued taken always or at least 5 days out of a week. Sometimes the body needs a 2 day break.

The most important thing for people with extreme weakness and organ inflammation is to completely avoid aspartame products, diet products, fat free, non-fat products, meats, steaks, cured meats and barbecue products. Those causes severe inflammation and should be avoided. The grain foods can be replaced. Instead of using bread, I would use rice. Foods that helps despite all the negative publicity is the fish, chicken and ducks, in the form of steamed, boiled or sometimes baked.

The method of remedy has two ways to do it, a simpler one or a more effective one, which I think often depends on the people who like it or not. The remedy dose is also often low, but that's usually the best place to begin with.

Alkalizing remedy:

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass taken three times a day.

A more effective alkalizing remedy, a.k.a. Carbicarb Remedy:

1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1/4 teaspoon of sodium carbonate (washing soda) in 1/2 glass of water taken three times a day. This is a more effective solution and energy should return quicker than the first one

My own favorite remedy that I used, although I think the effect of alkalizing lasts longer, it's generally difficult to obtain this, although, for some people with kidney problems this is better since it reduces calcium buildup in kidneys that causes kidney pains and heart problems. Calcium tends to clog the tissues and interfere with metabolism:

1/2 teaspoon of trisodium citrate in 1/2 glass of water taken three times a day.

Vitamin B complex, in the form of B50, or B100, where most vitamin Bs are 100 mg each. And initially can be taken every other day. However, the form of vitamin Bs I prefer is in a B1, it should be thiamine mononitrate, not thiamine hydrochloride. In a B3 niacinamide, not niacin. In a B6, it should be pyridoxine phosphate, not pyridoxine hydrochloride. Most of the B's such as B1, B2, B3, B5, B8 can be either 50 mg or 100 mg each. Initially it can be taken slowly such as three times a week. The strength should return within about 30 minutes or some energy. some people liked it so much they will be taking it everyday. Everybody has a specific biochemical needs for each one.

In addition to this I would at least use 1/4 teaspoon of borax (it's usually found in mule team borax) in one liter of drinking water taken throughout the day for about 5 days out of a week. It is always the borax and the alkalization that will reduce most of the problems and organ inflammation, and for weakness, especially with the heart problem, it's the vitamin B complex that help, but the body needs to be sufficiently alkaline. Some hydrogen peroxide food grade 3% 10-30 drops added in one liter of drinking water helps.

Some occasional spirulina and chlorella supplements helps usually between 250-500 mg taken only once every two days, or one every other day. Often best taken in the morning.

Initially the body will respond well to hydrogen peroxide drops added into drinking water for a couple of months, before not needing it, and a switchover to sodium thiosulfate 1 crystals mixed in a glass of water per day before sleep is used instead, but I think by that time, the health should be near normal.

This is just the basic remedies. Other nutrients and things, are not important until the energy is returned first, however in later stages, amino acid supplements, or whey protein can be used and taken in the morning, on an empty stomach. Some bathing in sodium thiosulfate 10% solution, often sold as dechlorinator may help too, for some people at least.

Again most of the recovery will depend mostly on three things, alkalizing, borax, and hydrogen peroxide. More energy may be posslble with vitamin B complex. If heart weakness exists usually CoQ10 helps, but the amount they sell today is too small and a couple of capsules is needed to work, such ss 4 or 5 times the dose level."

04/28/2011: Healthy248 from Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada replies: "Do I detect from this message that you are not a great Spiruline advocate, as a daily all around supplement. Is there a rational for that, and perhaps you know of a brand or species of Spirulina that is best. I am looking for a HBP, type 2 diebetic, high cholesterol, low libdo, chronic depression cure. It seems it contains many of the things I might be missing in my diet.

Thank you Ted, truly you are a godsend.

Karl"

TOO MANY REMEDIES?
02/27/2008: L : "Dear Ted thank you so much for being part of this site I wish more doctors knew what you know. I am a 47 yr old female and I have read and reread the posts with your answers on many cures and fixes. In a lump summary of overall daily things we should do to get towards alkalinity and stay that way, what would I do on a daily basis to keep good health. I find I am taking so many things and there are times I feel so bloated, so something must not be working for me. I started on the sea salt 1 1/2 tsp in a litre of water is that daily? And does one need any more then that daily? I take 2 TBLS of ACV 3 x a day, I think that is what is making me feel bloaty. I take a TBLS of blackstrap molasses every morning. I tried the baking soda with the acv alternating, I've done the sea salt flush once weekly, 2 tsp of sea salt per liter of water. I just recently started 1 tsp of cayenne pepper per cup of water as a hot tea. My mind is clearer and I have a little more energy but my gut feels full all the time. When I first started the acv 4 weeks ago I really could tell the difference with lots and lots of energy, then after the 3rd week I don't feel that anymore. One thing I noticed last week I craved chocolate, literally I ate a half a bag of chocolate chips am I lacking something? What kind of B complex should be taken daily. I read that vitamins in a pill form hardly gets absorbed into your system. I took a b complex yesterday and I had heartburn all morning tasting that b complex. I juice carrots every morning and started adding the acv to my 2 cups of juice. I feel constipated now that I have started all of this. I do take .5 mg of lexapro, 1mg estradiol, 200 mg prometrium (peanut oil) days 1-12 of every month. I tried the honey with the acv and that to me started me on the sweet stuff. My blood sugar has been elevated in the past. My liver enzymes were elevated the last 3 blood tests that I have taken in the last year and a half. My last blood test also confirmed that my LDL cholesterol was elevated and my HDL was under 40. I don't want to start medications so I'm trying to get things under control naturally. I am trying to loose 25 pounds at the same time. I read the symptoms about candida and I really think I have some of those symptoms and that's why the cravings? I have tested my urine PH and my saliva and it is right around 6.5-7. Should I be testing that morning noon and night? Please shed some light on what I really need to be doing on a daily basis or maybe I'm just not waiting long enough to see the benefits? I just want to feel energized I'm tired of feeling sick and tired all the time. Thank you so much for all that you do, for many people you have saved their lives and getting people back to better health."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Lori: Apple cider vinegar taken alone will work well but only for 1-2 week, usually two weeks. So this can't be done on a daily basis. The body tends to deplete itself of bicarbonates from the acid effect of apple cider vinegar. On a daily basis, mostly, such as 5 days out of a week, a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water is taken. The LDL and HDL problem I have found is always the HIDDEN trans fatty acid found in bread, bakery products and cookies. Manufacturing practices of today isn't what it was 50 years ago. Some of the highest trans fatty acid, which causes LDL actually come from bread, cakes and cookies. It is also comes from vegetable oils when USED IN high cooking temperatures. Not eating the liquid egg yolks can lower the HDL, so eggs are needed, but not the whites, it is an anti-nutrient. The bloaty feeling comes from white bread, white flour, french fries, fried foods, and hence regardless of how marketers label a bread as being "whole" it is not. I once moonlighted as an industrial chemist and have seen their formulations, it is nothing healthy at all. The propionic acid causes bloaty feeling, and that strange high blood pressure without the high blood pressure. It comes from excess spinal fluids that accumulates after taking the bread, possibly it was either the propionic acid they used as food preservative, or the hidden trans-fatty acid, or even the alloxan they used in the white bread. Most of the bloaty besides the white bread is overcooked foods, fried foods. Most Westerners find it difficult to avoid the bread because of tradition, but tradition has changed over the last 40 years with modern manufacturing practices adding things which are killing us. Of course Asians generally seem to be immuned to a lot of western diseases, because they don't eat any bread in general, don't use white flour in general, but their main staple is rice. I have had countless bloaty feeling, high blood pressure, bloaty feeling everytime someone gives me a sandwich, of any kind, whole or unwhole or in-between. There is a new twist to this whole bread I have found when I read the ingredients. Now they are adding back food coloring and some powders of fibers to the WHITE flour to appear like a whole bread. In general, if I want to get back at my health I have to avoid thw bread, white flour and ANY vegetable oils used in cooking (with heat). This would invariably solved most of the LDL problem and bloaty issue, but would not raise the HDL without eating partially boiled eggs, white yolk removed, where the yolk is still liquid. No frying, or else the vegetable oils takes up more heavy metals and becomes oxidized oil, which is actually toxic to fish or cause degenerative diseases in fishes, and possibly many domesticated dogs, at least my dog anyway. As to the sweets, nearly all sweets are not healthy, but they can be reduced by diluting them with sufficient water, where sugar concentration is 2% or below. However, if I have bloaty issues, I will stick to black strap mollasses and other "healthy sweets" to at least once a week or once every two weeks. Still regardless of what I do, baking soda, or baking soda with lemon, or apple cider vinegar with baking soda can be used. However in the long run, I think 2 tablespoon of lemon juice in 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water taken twice a day is generally best. Apple cider vinegar and baking soda, such as 2 tablespoon of ACV and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda, in 1/2 glass of water I might stick to once or twice a week. As to the cayenne peppers, those can generally be used in most of the days out of week and this should present no problem. Vitamin B complex is generally taken once or twice a week. The cause of the heartburn comes from the cheap ingredients manufacturer uses to prop up more profits. They use the vitamin B6 pyridoxine hydrochloride, and another one I tend to frown upon is the vitamin B1 thiamine hydrochloride. These hydrochloride are VERY ACID, which causes the heartburn. Therefore I will at least buy a vitamin B complex where B1 they use a thiamine mononitrate, which is not an acid form, while B6, I am always hopeful for pyridoxal 5 phosphate, instead of the heartburn causing pyridoxine hydrochloride. Therefore I would carefully read the labels. These information you will have trouble finding elsewhere, because as a seller of vitamin B6, the issue has always been cost saving and keeping the buyers in the dark about the effects of heartburn from the use of cheap ingredients. Absorption is very much limted due to adding waxes (magnesium stearate) and calcium. Therefore I will be careful they don't add those. Generally speaking B complex are relatively easy to assimilate because they are water soluble. The problems appears to be the mineral that is found in vitamin in mineral supplements where the tricalcium phosphate and adding waxes prevent their absorption into the body because they can't be dissolve in water. Waxes do not dissolve well and i doubt adding waxes to any food will help bioavailability if I do take them. The mentioned posting it appears that you are doing too many remedies. The things people tend to ignore has always been the bread, vegetable oils and excess sweets, an avoiding egg yolk to normalize the HDL by raising it and avoiding the vegetable oils which raises LDL. It takes more than a month of avoiding these bread, vegetable oils to see improvement. However, taking 1 tablespoon of granulated lecithin once or twice a day for a month usually effectively lowers the LDL. Lecithin helps reduce congested fatty liver, but selenium supplements should also be considered too. Both of these should help bloating. If there's still a problem, hot castor packs placed on stomach can help. Which consists of a towel wet with castor oil and hot water bag place on top. It seems to help some swelling especially the liver.' If grain needs to be consumed, then a switchover to rice is better, at least they can't add the propionic acid, toxic alloxan, live yeast sometimes found in bread and trace bread mold fungus, and benzen that's rarely mentioned as a result of manufacturing practices of overprocessing and poor factory standards."

11/16/2009: Bill from San Fernando, Philippines replies: "Hi Ted...Again some wonderful and enlightening info from all your experience. Much thanks to you, you really deserve it for all your hard effort. I haven't used any form of vegetable oil for years now. The only oil I will cook with is Virgin Coconut Oil, prepared in the old way without chemicals. I also take a tablespoon in my coffee now and then. Coconut oil is, without any doubt in my mind, the best oil to use for cooking. Better even than Olive Oil, I think, because being a monounsaturated oil, olive oil is therefore open and more prone to becoming oxidized than coconut oil which is a saturated fat, therefore more stable.

Pre-1940, within the Philippines, the Malay Archipelago, and surrounding Polynesian Islands of South East Asia, all cooking was done with coconut oil made in the natural way either by simply boiling the milk down gently or made by fermentation(I have done this successfully and easily). They also ate large amounts of fresh fish in their diet. The populations in these areas in pre-1940 suffered no heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer's, obeisity etc as occurs so prevalently in the West now. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, but unlike polyunsaturated or mono-unsaturated vegetable oils, it oxidizes very slowly(saturated == very stable bonds) and you can cook with it at high temperatures without oil oxidation occurring. And Coconut oil is different from all normal fats that we eat -- which are mostly long-chain triglycerides. Coconut oil is a medium chain triglyceride,a much shorter molecule, which never gets stored in the body but is processed directly by the liver into glycogen -- which is why it is so useful for diabetics as a source of energy.

I also have studied how modern vegetable oils are made and mass produced. This modern process involves the use of poisonous ingredients such as hexane, concentrated Sodium hydroxide, colourings, preservatives, deodorizers and trans fats that are carcinogenic in nature which are all only ever used to turn the vegetable oil into a nice-smelling, acceptable colour for the masses. So the next time you see a beautiful and appealing golden corn oil or rape seed oil in your supermarket shelf, best to leave it alone.

I have also read an article by a famous gastro-intestinologist. He wrote that in all of his 40 years as a surgeon opertating on human intestines -- he had never ever seen a healthy intestine. This surgeon described that most of these intestines that he had seen had an appearance as if the intestinal lining was coated with a dark permanent lining that reminded him of varnish. This is the effect of modern unsaturated and oxidized vegetable oils on human intestines today.

Four years ago, suffering from Candida, psoriasis, tinea cruris, athletes foot, bloating, frozen shoulder, constipation, stool irregularity, slightly obese(110 Kg), bad digestion, insomnia and a host of other problems, I started to use many of Ted's alkalizing remedies(and others) on this site. They are all so simple, and yet they all worked!! I gently but rapidly lost weight and many of my ailments were cured simply by alkalizing.

From my own limited experience, and as far as I was concerned, these problems all started in my intestines. My diet was very bad. Therefore, if you just learn to look after and are kind to your intestines you will absorb all your nutrients properly. As I logically see it, the first stage of any healing process must always begin with healing the intestines, otherwise no matter what remedies you take orally, you body will not be able to properly absorb them into the blood. I had all sorts wrong with me, but I first started with intestinal healing through alkalizing, then after success, I moved on to the curing my other problems.

I will also be eternally grateful to both Earth Clinic and Ted for such a wonderful website...They make it all so easy and so cheap...!!"

WHEN TO TAKE ACV, USE BAKING SODA?
10/01/2007: Amy : "I'm confused as to what times to take the acv before meals, or after and when you take the acv between meals and when you use the baking soda and when you are not to use the baking soda for digestion or just to raise your ph. If you take the acv and baking soda before a meal, then you can get indigestion or heart burn. If you take the acv without soda after a meal, you can get indigestion or heart burn. When is the best time to take acv & water and acv, baking soda & water?"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Amy: Usually the best times to take it is 30 minutes or more before meals in the morning. Another time before sleep is it taken after meals 30 minutes or more. Generally the remedy is for baking soda, or baking soda plus apple cider vineger.

However, if ACV is taken alone, it can be taken during meals. ACV taken alone is somewhat contraindicated for people with acid reflux, GERD, and acid indigestion, at the very least. Of course, the ACV can dilute the acidic effects, such as 2 tablespoon per one glass of water.

If a person with a worse case acid reflux, ACV taken alone without baking soda would invariably lead to an acid reflux problems, regardless of whether they take it before, during or after. And hence baking soda is added to prevent the related acid problems, as its pH is very close to the body's own natural pH.

For some reason if the food is sour, usually it is the citric acid, but might possibly apply to just ACV, the digestion process slows down, usually it is for the stomach.

Hence, if the solution is alkalized and diluted with sufficient amount of water, it passes through the stomach and goes through the system faster, without the acid indigestion.

The reason why it is taken at those times is it causes the least problems, namely the laxative effect. If for example baking soda are taken along with food, the laxative effect would be noticeable more so than at other times.

Still, there is some possible exception, if plenty of water was taken during the course of the meals. The acid/base effect and concentration would be so minimized as to minimized the problems.

The problem still exists as to how much water is to be taken. Certain cultures, such as some Italians take baking soda after meal, so to help with digestion. Of course, I have seen people reporting laxative effects at those times, so maybe they were taken after meals, to perhaps reduce the indigestion problems, or bulging of the stomach, at a small risks of laxative effect.

The original remedy actually calls for three times a day, but most people prefer twice a day, so this became a minimum intake. The three times a day were supposed to be once in the morning, once in the later afternoon (about 2-5 p.m.) and another one before sleep. Most people are working at the later afternoon, but this is the times they are also most sleepy or that they are too busy.

The reason why that specific times were done especially 2-5 p.m, was in certain autistics in school, they have real problems during those time period that the body is most toxic. Taking during those time would invariable lead them to be more calm, better concentration, less tantrums, etc. The other reason is workers who exert a lot of physical exertion where the body's acidity increase and oxygen level needs increase just about between 3-6 p.m. Hence, the baking soda would neutralize the acidity from lactic acid, which would reduce some muscle pains, alkalizing will also increase the oxygen to the needed body.

I had one case of a person who took at a between 10-12 p.m. which he reported to have headaches. Upon changing to the original time in the morning, the problem disappeared.

You might ask why before sleep and why in the morning. Most people die in their sleep which occured between 2- 4 a.m. in the morning. It is those times where the body is also the most acid. Hence, if taken before sleep it would give some electrolytes for the body to recover during sleep. As to why in the morning is that before a person begins works the body's demand for oxygen rises and acidity also increase, so the alkalizing is taken as a preemptive move for physical exertion and other problems that goes along with working in office hours, such as 9 a.m. to 5 a.m.

The problem appears to be that if the person is PROPERLY RESTED and does not work, or is a housewife, who do not do too much chores in the morning hour. Taking the alkalizing remedy during the morning hours in this case would not help and taking later in a day just before physical exertion is needed.

I could not possibly cover ever possible scenario, but in general keeping a pH in the region of 7 helps the body recover faster. A short term alertness and awakefulness is possible if the body is acidic, but the engine would be overheated and breakdown. However the opposite occurs in case of ADHD, hyperactivity, where alkalizing is important foundation. While hypoactivity, the opposite is needed. Most people are high stressed and hence alkalizing is important, while some who lacks stress, which is rare these days the opposite is desireable, in the short-term only.

When is the best time to take acv & water and acv, baking soda & water?

Therefore the best times is in the morning 30 minutes or more before eating, and before sleeping 30 miutes or more after eating. It is taken on two times a day. If apple cider vinegar alone is taken the minimum water on two tablespoon is one full glass of water to dilute the effects of acid. But if the apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoon and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, it is taken at least 1/2 glass of water, but 1 glass is more ideal. The reason for the minimum is some people cannot drink too much water and can have problems. Hence the remedy best choice to to pursue the minimum, finding the optimum dose therefore becomes a individual's decision to find it himself because of differences in weight, sex, height, and age.

It should be noted that honey is added to reduce the smell of ACV, which some find it repulsive. Sometimes I take a more purified form such as malic acid, citric acid, baking soda, and perhaps sodium acetate, to avoid the smell of ACV. There is another way around it, which is 2 tablespoon of lime juice (or lemon) plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water, at least. More sensitive people will prefer a 1 glass of water, but taken slowly of course. Whether it is ACV, ACV baking soda, baking soda, or lime (lemon) and baking soda, it is still taken at least two times a day, once in the morning and once before bedtime still.

This rule might have some exceptions as some issues was raised here. One issue of alkalizing that must be considered and this issue is raised many time: the body can further alkalize itself if certain acid diets are avoided, namely cola, sugar, white bread, cheese, for example. The one final that has got people surprised on alkalizing is deep breathing which is very important. Getting enough sleep is can also raise the pH quite well also. However this assumes that all good habits were already exercised."

QUESTIONS ABOUT TED'S FORMULAS
09/06/2007: Russell : "I like the lemon / sodium bicarbonate and have been taking it occasionally recently.

I'm in a discussion with someone who argues the lemon and sodium bicarbonate should NOT be mixed. Here is what they say: With the alkalising, you want to make sure it is alkaline, and not cancelling each other out - it would pretty much defeat the purpose, but the solution would be more acidic, and not preferable to drink.

Dr Bunhead (scientist) says this - In this experiment the citric acid and bicarbonate of soda are being destroyed. As they are destroyed carbon dioxide gas is created. You are making something by destroying something else. The carbon dioxide that is made is an acid so it tastes sour on your tongue.

The combination of the two is also used as a powerful cleaner - it destroys anything in its path like limescale and mould, including the small intestines which are not as robust as your chrome. I liken it to the reaction of putting bicarb down the sink and dousing it with vinegar - it is used to unblock drains. How might I respond to this? Many Thanks"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Russell: A reaction of baking soda and citric acid results in a chemical compound called sodium citrate. Sodium citrate, and I studied biochemistry is that the citrates is a buffering solution used intracellularly as a buffer whenever the cells experiences acidosis, and lactic acidosis. Citrate is also used by the Kreb's cycle to help the the cells, such as mitochrondria, which is why a citrate, a malate found in apple cider vinegar is reported to increase energy. The single most serious problem in a cell biochemistry is that it takes appreciable energy away from the cells whenever calcium is in excess and if this happens, and the cell lack energy which so often happens as you get older shows itself as a cyst or in a more serious case, a polycystic kidney disease, which can damage an entire organism. The more common problem I have encountered is that the blood serum is the excess calcium that causes the blood to precipitate or clot causing a heart attack whenever calcium is in excess. Citrate is used in biochemistry as an alkaline buffers and citrate converts back biochemically speaking to a bicarbonate. In fact the most compact form of bicarbonate I have seen to date is the citrate form where a citrate acquires carbon dioxide to form a bicarbonate. The only known buffers have found that can cause the urine pH to a near optimum pH near the blood of 7.35 is the citrate form, while it the baking soda cannot nearly reached that and the best it can do is a 7.0 pH. The optimum urine pH is 7.35, while baking soda is not close, and most people's pH urine is not even near any of these values that usually averages about less than 7 due to dietary preferances for acid forming food which tends to cause the body to digest itself very very slowly like a stomach digesting a food.

I hope some of this logic helps, if not you can email me for more information."

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALKALIZING BLOOD AND BODY?
08/30/2007: Linda from Gainesville, FL: "Hi Ted, Thanks so much for the work that you do. It is a wealth of information! I was wondering if you could expound on the differences in alkalizing the blood and alkalizing the body tissue. Does ACV/BS and Lemon/Lime/BS alkalize both blood and tissue? I happened across this question in some of my reading and thought perhaps you would be able to get to the bottom of this query. Thanks so much of your past responses to me. I do appreciate your time and interest in others. Regards, Linda"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "The Apple Cider vinegar and Baking soda actually alkalizes both. The malate and acetate content is used inside the cells. Malate is used as part of the Kreb's cycle, which give you more energy. The acetate, interestingly also does this, but the effect is seen in helping inside of the cells get rid of the lactic acid wastes faster. Biochemically, lactic acid and even lactate is quite toxic to the cells and are not used in tissue cultures as cells die if the lactate or lactic acid is used as buffering solutions such as mammalian Ringer's solution. The potassium content of the apple cider vinegar is also used inside the cells and its tissue as well. The major fluids inside the cells are actually the potassium and magnesium, while certain nutrients used by the mitochrondria that is helpful includes the malates, citrates, and others. What is so interesting about malates is it get rids of aluminum by chelation of the malates and this might remotely help Alzheimer. Although tea might be also implicated due to its high aluminum content that needs to be controlled too. What is missing from the apple cider vinegar obviously is the citrates (which helps removes calcium from inside the cells) and are fairly toxic to fluids inside cells but also citrates is also part of the Kreb's Cycle, sometimes known as citric acid cycle, which gives us energy or provides energy for the cells to work. The other thing that is missing is also the magnesium in order to complete the major intracellular fluids or fluids inside the cells. The key to all this alkalizing drinks is to try to cover all grounds and hence for my frequency of recommendation that are used alternatively such as:

Apple cider vinegar plus baking soda Lemon (or lime) plus baking soda and one more thing that is important: magnesium. Which might be helpful if a supplemental form is taken such as magnesium citrate, or magnesium chloride. However natural form, which is a bit more difficult for the body to utilize is the magnesium found in sunflower seeds.

As to the sodium bicarbonate, this is used to help with the body extracellular fluids in maintaining overall pH of the blood more than does its tissue. However in some remedies where the potassium is mentioned, I always make sure the sodium is also used since potassium if given alone can cause a worse imbalance, than the sodium. In livestock when raising pigs, pigs have all kinds of side effect if potassium is given alone and hence it is more ideal to give sodium and potassium together, or just sodium and some potassium found in the apple cider vinegar, or some in lemon or lime.

Biochemically the remedy of ACV plus Baking soda and the Lemon and Baking soda it does a lot of things more so than most people can realized.

The one major remedy that I have found to be so dramatic as to the recovery of a great many kinds of ailments are just found usually in baking soda, lemon, and apple cider vinegar, and sometimes the addition of magnesium and zinc. As a result, it would indicate that if the body is bathe in a solution where the body can attain NORMAL fluids of both extracellularly and intracellular, can a cell survive.

The one major element that is missing from this remedy is the sea salt added to the drinking water, which has the benefit of alkalization and microminerals. The reason why this was not recommended as often is that our diets is already high in salt (sodium chloride), but our body is mostly missing the alkalization portions. And hence I used the sea salt solution as more of an antibiotics or a solution that can help some detoxification, although most of the alkalinity of the bicarbonates is more useful. However, I believe that a more effective alkalizing formula is the citrates, although they are harder to find and hence, I don't often recommend that because people don't know where to get them. Much of my remedy depends on whether supermarkets generally have the supplies or not as well.

I am sure ten year from now, I might further expound the benefits of amino acids, which is a nutrient needed by the cells for normal functions. I won't need sugar, glucose, and fructose for example as the current diet is off the charts on those. However amino acid is the prime nutrients needed by the cells for normal repair and recovery and is needed mostly by the inside of the cells. The reason this is not recommend as often is due to both availability and costs. I still can't even afford to buy the amino acid as it is currently too expensive even to do such experiments. However, a more useful proteins such as soy protein or soy sauce (MSG free and sodium free) appears to be one alternative common remedy I might consider. One example for remedy for people who have kidney problems, heart problems or organ and tissue problems for example is between 2- 4 tablespoons of soy sauce taken 3 times a day to help with the recovery or sickness. Amino acid is the key for cellular repairs and recovery once we get all those pH issues, electrolytes, sugars, ORP (oxidation reduction potentials), and antibiotic minerals (magnesium, zinc, selenium and molybdenum) or even toxic heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, free radical iron, lead) out of our system, besides the usual chemical toxins as well (e.g. pseudoestrogens, dioxins).

As you can see the secret to recovery and healing is simply to achieve normal fluid parameters and nutrition. As you can see I don't expound big dosages, I just give only enough for the cells to be normal."

EDEMA AFTER CARDIAC BYPASS
08/03/2007: W : "In Fall 2005, I had 3x cardiac bypass and seem to be healing ok. I started ACV and then tried baking soda with it.The problem is my legs and feet are now starting to swell up and my acid reflux still bothers me. I have taken the ACV for several weeks and started baking soda just yesterday. My question is, could the ACV cause the edema? Should I stop? I started taking Hawthorne Berries to reduce fluid, but the AR that gives me is horrible. What would you suggest to end this"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Generally any drinks where the pH is between 7 to 7.5 are healing in nature since the parameters of those drinks are close to that of the body's normal blood pH which is about 7.35. People get sick usually from eating excessively acid forming (e.g. sour) foods where pH regularly are about 4 - 5, and those might impair kidney functions as acidic nature of certain food eats up or digest the kidney. Hence alkalinity helps reduce swelling, especially if they are close to the body's own natural pH.

Therefore baking soda and lime (or lemon) should be helpful as its pH is about 7.4 - 7.5."

BURNING SENSATION IN THROAT
07/08/2007: JK : "Dear Ted,I am so so thankful to you for replying so fast. To tell you the truth i wondered if you would at all reply. Since you did i am so thankful please let me tell you what happened to me. In April I felt a tightening in my throat sometimes a burning sensation. I felt my throat had wounds, and also felt my voice was a bit weak. I saw the doctor and was asked to see a specialist the meantime because I am a preacher was told to rest my voice. So I hardly spoke for two weeks. All this time I had the burning sensation and tightening in my throat. I did not know what to do.Finally after three weeks I saw the specialist. When he checked me he said that he could not find anything and that was all. I came home relief but also with so much pain in my throat.I was so desperate. I prayed and asked the LORD TO help me. As I looked into the internet for hours I came upon your site and was so surprised to discover that the condition I had could well be acid reflux. I have to add here I was not drinking much water then. So Ted now that you know a little bit more would you still suggest I take the quarter teaspoon B.C.. mixed with 2tablesppons of A.C.V. with 250 mg. of water? You mentioned that i should take it 5 days straight 3 times a day and stop for two days and then continue. Is this the way to go or should i take the B.C. WITH water ONLY? God bless you so so much and thank you for all the help you render to people like us."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear JK: You can try them both alternatively and see which ones works best for you. Usually people seem to respond best with ACV + baking soda, but if the body is severely acidic, quite often baking soda alone would work better. There is no way to tell the seriousness of the condition. But based on your sore throat to the extent that you cannot talk, it appears to be a staph bacteria, in which case an addition of magnesium supplements, or the use of Milk of magnesia to be used as a mouthwash, the remedy could be one tablespoon of milk of magnesia (without the aluminum please!) in 1/2 glass of water and maybe 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda twice a day, usually in the morning and before bedtime. The magnesium hydroxide should kill whatever strep throat infections there are that is causing the problem. After doing that for a couple of minutes, then rinse the mouth with plain water. I think it is important to supplement with magnesium supplements, usually 250 mg/day for 5 days out of a week, for at least a month or so, before stopping. The raised magnesium level should kill the bacteria that causes certain bacterial sore throat, assuming of course that it is of non-viral, but they still weaken in presence of alkalinity anyway.

In the long run, either ACV with baking soda, or lemon with baking soda are often best. However, in some cases baking soda can be taken alone, if people are sensitive to ACV and lemon. In practice, I will always alternate them between the two.

N Acetyl Cysteine may also help in case their is excessive mucus in the throat. For that remedy, I would try 500 mg/day for only a couple of days."

BURNING AND TIGHTENING SENSATION
07/01/2007: JK : "Dear Ted, I am so so sorry to trouble you but I do need some advise urgently. I am now in my second week with the 2TBS OF ACV +HALF A TEASP. OF BS. the first week went well now that I am on the second week I am having a bit of a diarrhea The reason i am taking this formula is because of the burning and tightening sensation in my throat. Your advice will be most appreciated. Thanks again."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "JK Sometimes digestive enzymes digests the beneficial bacteria resulting in a diarrhea. On the other hand if ACV and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda is taken along with food, that can lead to diarrhea also. The other thing is never to add the salt to the acv and baking soda, that can cause diarrhea as well.%uFFFD

I would usually take it 5 days out of a week and give the body a two day rest. It is best to take it on an empty stomach, once in the morning and bed time. Salt and baking soda cannot be mixed together or taken at the same time, they cause diarrhea, and as a result I used them to relieved of constipation. Whenver baking soda is taken on with food, such as a salty one, or an ACV and baking soda taken within 30 minutes of eating, those can lead to diarrhea since most foods we eat do have salt.

In case the ACV is contaminated or adulterated, try switching to a newer ACV, or I would just switch to one whole lime freshly squeezed (8 teaspoon) plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water taken twice a day, on an empty stomach also."

THROAT IS BURNING AND TIGHTENING
06/29/2007: JK : "Dear Ted, I can only say you are an answered prayer. I have been suffering for three months now burning sensation in my throat. I saw the doctor and have not been getting much help. So with hours spent on the computer I saw Earth Clinic and was so excited to try out the remedy of a quarter teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda with two table spoons apple cider vinegar and 250mg. of water three times a day. I have tried this for two days now and I have found some relief. However as I explore the site further I read how you prescribe to someone with The same condition to take half a teasp. of bicarbonate of soda with half a glass water for three weeks and then to go back the the ACV + B.C. +WATER. I appreciate so so very much if you can give me some advise 1. what should I take ? 2. for how long?"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Ted replies: Dear JK: It depends on the seriousness of the acidity and the sensitivity of the person to the remedy. Also men needs almost twice the dose than a woman. Here is how the dose works - this is never an exact science, but it is just roughly how I estimated them:

1. The absolute minimum dose is 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 2 tablespoon of ACV taken two times a day.

2. The ideal minimum dose is 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 2 tablespoon of ACV taken three times a day.

3. The optimum dose is 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda plus 2 tablespoon of ACV. Most men or people with large build, and those who have little sensitivity to remedy will opt for this remedy.

The actual deciding dose appears to be the electronic pH meter, where the ideal urinary pH is about 7.0 or at least close to it, being above 6.5. Assuming you do have the pocket electronic pH meter, the body's sensitivity of the remedy varies depending on the seriousness of the acid reflux. The more serious it is the gentler the remedy is needed, and this is why I tend to pursue the minimum dose. Some people who are viewed as larger in build, is less sensitive to remedy, somewhat less responsive a larger baking soda dose is needed.

What I do know is for a normal person, not to large of build, generally, not doing too much exercise, that person will likely burn about 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda per day.

However, if the person is working excessively (overworked), an athletes, doing exercise, the dose required is much larger than those mentioned here, and I will leave the pH meter to be the deciding point.

For people who are generally not healthy is very allergic may need only just the minimum dose intially usually 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 2 times a day in 1/2 glass of water.

Now my interpretation is taken to mean that the body needs more alkalization, and you have less negative reaction to the acid reflux remedy. Therefore, two possible remedies might be possible:

1. Two tablespoon of ACV plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.

2. One whole freshly squeezed lime (equals approximately 8 teaspoon of lime juice) plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda taken twice a day, once in the morning and once before bedtime.

2. for how long?

If the remedy is meant not just for acid reflux, but for optimum health, this is meant to be taken for a lifetime (I have been taking it for 30+ years!), but at the very least after being healthy, a maintenance dose is at least 5 days out of a week.

In event it is INCONVENIENT to take the ACV and baking soda, what I do is sometimes just take baking soda mixed in a glass of water. As for my auntie and other members of the family who are a bit lazier, there is always sodamint (which is baking soda with peppermint oil added) and the tablets are 300 mg each and MIGHT be sold at a drug stores near you.

The dose (tablet form) I take is about 5-10 of those tablets, which amounts to between 1500 milligrams to 3000 milligrams of baking soda taken once a day. Now this is not precise art, but if taken at 5 tablets of those, I would imagine taken that twice a day. Whichever it is, it's about 3 grams per day. This is just my rough estimates, precise dose are difficult but it is quite possible if people start using electronic pH meters.

It takes two weeks to three weeks for the body to attain enough bicarbonates (and a good pH) to see clearly subsiding acid reflux problems. So doing for two days, is not long enough, but at least it is a step in the right direction."

ULCERATIVE COLITIS AND THE TREATMENT?
04/02/2007: Phyllis from Carlsbad, California: "Hi, I am 48 years old and I have been strugling with this problem seance 9-11, the day I had surgrey. I did not ever have any signs of this problem but the next day when I woke up I had ulcerative Colitis? well, anyway, I had a ph of under 6.4 so I did the Soda and water, 40 mins later it read 7.1. Just before going to bed and 4 hours after dinner it was 8.0 plus. I will take it again in the a.m. I am so frustrated with all of this bleeding and stomic pain!!!!! Should I continue the soda? Signed I can't deal with this, HELP.."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Surgery might have introduced a new pathogen causing the ulcerative colitis. Now this is a problem since we don't know the nature of the organism, whether this is a bacteria, virus, or a mycobacterium. A staph and a mycobacterium are a possibility. In one case of a known bleeding stomach, which were also an ulcerative colitis, but for me it resembled a leaky gut syndrome, a magnesium chloride 250 mg. taken 3 times a day, mixed in 1/2 glass of water killed the unknown organism. Certain kinds of staph caused ulcerative colitis seemed to be sensitive to that. However if it is a mycobacterium strain, fungus, or candida like strain the best response were 1/8 teaspoon of borax mixed in one liter of water where the dose is divided equally over the course of a day. I would imagine taken 3 or 4 times a day. Some people are sensitive to borax, so taking 2 or 3 times a week should be sufficient. Turmeric taken along for any one of the condition might further the kill, perhaps about 1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon taken 3 times a day may help."

POTASSIUM PROBLEMS AND ALKALIZING?
01/12/2007: Ingrid : "How is it possible to alkalinize when potassium causes me such problems? (Apple cider vinegar can drop my blood pressure and blood sugar in minutes causing me to become drowsy and lightheaded)."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Simple. If your potassium is too high. You have two choices. Ordinary Morton's Iodized sea salt 1/4 teaspoon in a drinking water will make your urine pH more acid and raise the blood pressure. A natural sea salt will just raise your sodium level while maintaining a MORE natural pH. Therefore you can try the following remedies that will best work for you:

1. 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt plus 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. There is NOT that much potassium in an apple cider vinegar TO tip the balance IF the sea salt was added!

or

2. 1/4 teaspoon baking soda PLUS 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Sometimes your body has a lot of chlorides (from the contaminants in tap water, etc) so the baking soda formula, being high in sodium anyway.

It is my understanding that most people take apple cider vinegar, which I RARELY recommend. If you look through ALL MY POSTINGS at earthclinic, I have recommended that baking soda AND apple cider vinegar. It is the sodium that is important and the ratio of sodium: potassium, on basis of bodily fluids is sodium 90% and potassium 10% (Ringer's solution that scientist used to maintain tissue cultures alive in petri dishes)."

CONSTIPATION DEVELOPED AFTER TWO WEEKS?
12/19/2006: Anne from Michigan: "I was taking Bicarbonate powder for acidity. I was doing fine for about 2 weeks and then the use of the bicarbonate powder became constipating. Why and what can I do since the powder is helping tremendously. Thanks."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Anne: Baking soda probably isn't the ingredient causing the constipation -- there might be several other issues at hand. Often colder weather can indeed be constipating. An immediate way to solve the constipation issue is to add potassium citrate to the formula. Or use a baking soda and lemon formula (Alkalizing Formula #3).

If you want to solve constipation, you need to know that most medications for constipation are often alkaline forming. Take for instance: Milk of Magnesia, which is magnesium hydroxide. If you want it to work better, then avoid fried foods, and white flour. These are the two single most constipating food I can find that also increase blood pressure. They are acid forming. Even diuretics and blood lowering pressure medications are also alkaline forming.

The other cause to constipation is WHEN you take it. If I take the baking soda formula immediately after meal, I will get a loose stool. But if you don't want a loose stool I take it on an empty stomach. Timing is everything. Italians are known to sometimes take some baking soda after their meals, which is likely to reduce their acidity from acid forming foods and prevent constipation.

Sometimes adding sea salt and baking soda at 50/50 will solve constipation. But here's the deal: if table salt is used, constipation will get worse. The reason is simple: table salt is acid forming and sea salt is alkaline forming. Why? Halogens such as chlorine, iodine, fluorine, bromine (found in bread), are acid forming. Sea salts don't have that much halogens, and hence are alkaline forming! In fact you can get constipation just drinking tap water. The reason is simple some tap water is high in both fluorine and chlorine. Even the act of taking baths in chlorinated water the body absorbs a lot of chlorine. It becomes acid forming, and STILL you get constipated.

The best way to solve constipation of course is what you eat. Avoiding especially fried food, sweets, white flour is the priority while meat is eaten occassionally while 70% of the diet should be green leafy vegetables with fresh whole fruits. Boiled and bake foods are the safest.

To try to explain all the causes of constipation is quite long and detailed, but the simplest explaination is acid forming. You can argue with me that fiber foods helps prevent constipation. That's true, but vegetables are also alkaline forming too.

If you have a gluten problem that too may cause constipation and there might be a need to avoid gluten products.

If nothing STILL works, follow the instructions of Milk of Magnesia, but it should be 100% magnesium hydroxide. Those are the safest and should not have aluminum compound as aluminum is not safe."

LEMON, BS, WATER
W : "Thank you for your quick response. One more question---should I take the lemon/bs/water 2x daily. Would that help? Also, how soon should the fluid retention be gone? It isn't a lot of fluid, but, as a heart patient, I do worry. I understand that in this heat, close to 100 F lately, limbs do swell. Thank you for all your good work and input."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Most of the problems I encountered is the acidity content of the ACV (when taking long term) may lead to some swelling. Therefore, in event of a real problem, the common remedy is to either take baking soda solo, which is 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda twice a day since the body practically used up available bicarbonates as it is. For the other people, who don't have problems, ACV and baking soda can be used as 2 tablespoon of ACV plus 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water, since the pH is relatively neutral at about 7.0, initially anyway. If I have problems with ACV use, I will likely take the baking soda alone. The baking soda should help > > with the swelling and acid reflux better. If not maybe 1/16 teaspoon of milk of magnesia (to kill of the bugs in 1/2 glass of water), but I think those are generally not necessary except for ulcerative colitis."

CAN I TAKE THIS COMBO EVERYDAY
W : "Can I take this combo long term? Every day?"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "I have been taking this for the past 30 years, but I wished I had taken them more often! Ideally I think the dose is like 5 days out of a week. The body somehow needs a two or three days of doing nothing. I haven't quite figured out why that is so, but it has to do with how the body operates in cycles, or biological clock."