10/02/2012: Jessica from Vancouver, British Columbia: "Last Thursday I ate at a questionable establishment and I came down with what appeared to be flu-like symptoms. Assuming I had come down with a cold or flu, I immediately started taking the regular immune-boosting supplements. When the innoculation period hit today (3-5 days later, typically) I started to realize this wasn't my common flu. Symptoms were pain in my kidney area, diarrhea, vomiting. After vomiting I ran to my vitamin store and immediately I downed 500 mL of colloidal silver. A little while later I replaced my gut with healthy probiotics. I haven't felt better since I came down with this "flu". Well, I have a feeling it was E.coli."

11/16/2012: Sickcat from Portland, Oregon: "Thanks for your advice, I have been on chinese herbs to kill parasites which eliminate most of the symptoms except the E coli sinus infect saw. Went to 3 ND since I cannot take regular medication- I'm allergic to all of it. Anyhow I was give two nose sprays from each one, One was given mix of DMSO with SSKI, mixed with saline to spray into my nose 2 sprays, twice a day, but the other ND gave me garlic mixed with DMSO two spray in each nostrils twice a day that last person have me silver with dmso same two sprays each nostril twice a day.... So I could decide between the three I went with the garlic and silver but I was to first put 1 capsule of Interfase in the Neti pot use it first to get rid of the biofilm of the Ecoli, then to spray the nose with one of the sprays which is very smart. Perhaps this info will help somone else."

11/28/2012: Sickcat from San Fran, Ca: "Ecoli sinus infection I finally found the fastest most effective simple natural cure that stopped dizziness, shortness of breath and headache. The first thing I did was follow Ted's remedy for viruses using lysine, aspirin and vitamin C. Please read http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/dizziness.html Now here is the simple natural cure for an Ecoli sinus infection First get a pan and put water in the pan boil the water for five minutes ( this sterlizes the water) then let cool, once cooled put the water in Neti Pot ( the water MUST be cooled or it will kill the enzymes in apple cider vinegar ) then add some natural apple cider vinegar it is about 75% water and 25% apple cider vinegar. So put the water and apple cider vinger mixuture in the Neti pot and flush out your sinuses 3-4 times a day. This works! I will do it for few mths because I had a severe sinus infection. The apple cider vinegar and water may burn in your nasal passages so please find out what your comfort zone is then simply adjust up or down. Good Luck !"

05/18/2013: Anonymous from Nomansland, Wash: "This is what I've done. This is an all day thing... Consider steaming with ACV and garlic or you may use oregano oil which is supposedly the most effective and one of the strongest E. coli killers, so I would put thyme oil 1 to 2 drops and 1-3 drops oregano oil in pot of water let it boil turn it off and breath in the steam drape a towel over your mouth and nose except keep you eyes out. Do this every 19 minutes throughout the day to kill the lifecycle of E. coli."

11/16/2009: Qwer from Delhi, India: "osteoarthiritis complete cure & where to find pure black strap molasses, organic broccoli, honey etc., can you send me. my email is: myyogaemail@gmail.com"

11/16/2009: Janice from Coloma, Mi: "I'm going to give it a try. My husband has very sore knees. Do you eat it raw? How much?"

[YEA]  02/16/2010: Trish from Dusseldorf, Nrw, Germany: "I tried organic brocolli and it cured my shoulder-arm pain, severe lower back pain and knee pain in 3 days. Every winter I have been suffering from these pains for years. I read the cure posted by G. Michael and since I had some organic brocilli at home I decided to give it a try. I had it raw, one small brocolli head per day and after 3 days the pain is gone!!!! And i have had these pains for years! They come every winter and get better in the summer... I am frankly quite shocked because I was pretty skeptical.

Thanks G. Michael ...may God bless you!"

03/20/2013: Wendy from Bristol, Uk: "Hi, I have read two posts on this site from Trish from Dusseldorf, Germany on 16/02/10 and a previous one from G Michael of Reading, PA that say that eating raw organic broccoli can help osteoarthritis. Trish said she ate one small broccoli head per day. I am a bit confused what a brocolli head is? Is it a single stem (eg 2 inches across) or a bigger stem (that divides into lots of smaller stems eg 8 inches across)? Clearly it's a big difference between the two. It would be easier if someone could please tell me roughly how much would that be in grams? Thanking you in advance."

05/18/2013: Grandma from Utah: "Hi. Did you publish your book yet? Today is May 18, 2013. Thx"

10/20/2010: Crzybeau from Las Vegas, Nevada, United States: "Hello Christine, just want to know the time periods you take the charcoal and chlorophyll. How long before or after meals? Thank You."

05/18/2013: Mark from Las Vegas, Nv: "You don't need to use peroxide after drinking it. Activated Charcoal will NOT permanently stain your teeth. You only need to brush them. In fact I brush me teeth with activated charcoal powder and it gets them whiter than anything else."

05/18/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I use to chew on activated charcoal when I didn't have capsules. it would stick to my gums around my teeth and be black and hard to get off. I brush with coconut oil and it has removed our brownish water stains from my teeth. If it didn't clog the pipes I would wash the tub, shower, toilet with the coconut.... it makes my teeth white and removes the sensitivies."

03/27/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "You need to cleanse your liver. Just my guess."

03/27/2013: Claromce from Templeton, Ca, Usa: "Not sure what magnesium oil is, but magnesium tabs helped me a lot."

03/28/2013: Wellspruce from Juneau, Ak, Usa: "Trudyg, I like you tried them all for sleeping. Finally I stumbled onto Melatonin Ultra, 3 mg melatonin, theanine, GABA, chamomile, valerian, B6 and calcium. You're to take 1, 2 if jet lagged. I've been taking 1. 5 the past year and backed off to just one tab 2 weeks ago as I'm on my way to bed, not earlier than that. I fall asleep fast. My problem is I have "waking insomnia" where I sleep three or four hours then am wide awake. Have had it many years. This product has helped me sleep through most nights. Hope you try it and it works for you also."

03/28/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "How does a liver cleanse help insomnia? Also, the melatonin ultra is just one of the things I have already tried without success. Please, is there nothing else out there? How do you cleanse a liver?"

03/28/2013: Jade from Dallas, Texas: "Yes, how do you cleanse your liver? I will do anything as I have severe insomnia and sleep only couple hours every night so please let me know any suggestions how to get into a sleep clinic would be great. Thanks Jade"

03/28/2013: Ejules from Woodbridge, Va, Us: "Try "Insomnia" by Hyland. I"ve used it for years and it has worked for several people who I've recommended it to (I always offer to buy their bottle if it doesn't work for them). It's a tiny homeopathic tablet that dissolves under your tongue. One or two should solve your sleeplessness and a bottle of 50 costs less than $10 so it's definitely cost effective. Totally counterintuitive as to why it should work but it does. It's more effective than melatonin, ambien, and all the other things I tried. Now, I always have some at home by the bed and definitely when I travel. Especially good for those nights when the tape in your head won't turn off or if you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I've taken one tab to get back to sleep when I had to be up in 2-3 hrs; two or three when first going to bed, if needed. You won't have a 'hangover' like some of those others give you. Hope this helps you get some rest."

03/28/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "Well, it has been a little while so you may want to google some info but you should eat fruits (which are the cleaners) and veggies (which are the builders), Avoid sugars, alcohol, white flour products. Lean meats and healthy grains I think are acceptable. Do some more research. Also get some liver cleanse pills. I was told by a naturopath that if you are having trouble sleeping or wake up thru the night it is because sleep is disturbed because the liver is busy processing so many toxins. So at the end of the day cleanup your diet. Diet is king."

03/29/2013: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "A simple Liver cleanse is to eat lots of Beets."

03/29/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I would willingly do a liver cleanse IF I were sure it would not excacerbate my ibs-d. I'm doing too well controlling it to take a chance. The lemon juice/baking soda thing could start diarhhea and, w/ me, this can go on for a year or more once it starts. Eating beets I can do, I love them and do eat them frequently. Grow them in my garden, so I know they are organic. I eat lots of 'greens', whatever is growing at the moment, so I think my diet is pretty good overall. I eat chia seeds daily, drink homemade kefir, don't eat much meat but usually fish, maybe the grains is where I go wrong. The unprocessed grains usually get my bowels going, so I avoid them. I do appreciate the comments, will try the niacinamide. Thanks."

03/29/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Trudyg; Insomnia has been a problem for me too, and like you, I've tried many supplements and herbs. It is still difficult. What works for many, sometimes will have the opposite effect for me.

I try to keep a record of supplements, herbs, even foods that have a stimulating or relaxing effect.

I take B vitamin supplements, but most are stimulating, so I take them in the morning. ( I take extra B12 sublinguals. BTW, it helps my hot flashes. ) B12 suppresses melatonin in the day, allowing it to increase at night.

I do take Niacinamide, (B3), in the evening, it relaxes me. ( I take 250 mgs.)

I still take 1mg. of Melatonin in the evening. It helps, but it doesn't work alone for me.

This past year, I've had good results from taking 15mgs. of Zinc in the evening. ( It may help people with elevated evening cortisol, or possibly, elevated blood sugar.)

I take extra Potassium as a supplement, it also relaxes me.

There are many supplements that work miraculously for other folks, such as : Vitamin D, Magnesium, etc. , but I seem to have a paradoxical reaction to them - worsened insomnia. (I'm sure many folks could have this same reaction to the supplements that work for me.)

I believe my best success with insomnia is from finding the substances that interfere with sleep.

Good Wishes."

03/31/2013: Tamara from Bellevue (formerly Ft. Collins, Co), Wa: "Hi Connie, have you tried switching around when you take vitamin D? I noticed that you mentioned you take your B vitamins in the morning. There's mounting anecdotal evidence (since no one is doing a study on timing of intake) that vitamin D supplementation in the morning improves sleep in lots of different facets. For me, it made me drowsier at night so it's easier to fall asleep and my mood was better when waking (to me indicating that I was more rested). I believe that it acts like liquid, chemical sunshine and helps set our circadian rhythm. Seth Roberts has collected a sample of people's testimonies of morning vitamin D supplementation here: http://blog.sethroberts.net/category/sleep/vitamin-d3-and-sleep/"

03/31/2013: Andrea C from Cardiff, Wales: "The Liver cleanse, is good, but you can't do anything for days! It works BUT you're gonna feel real nasty! Never mind House work, and stuff like that. The "DETOX" Reaction will get you! I know! I did this loads of times. Do not go to the ER. They will put you on drugs. Then you end up were you started and worse than that. I know. Belive me, I am detoxing and I feel real ill! BUT... I know it's working. Best of luck xx Love andrea c"

04/01/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I am really afraid of doing a liver cleanse, after doing some research. It makes you really move things out. With ibs-d, I'm moving pretty fast as an everyday thing. Getting it to stop is the problem. If you haven't had diarrhea constantly for years, every single day, then you don't know what I mean. Seriously, I wear depends in order to go buy groceries. As I am now in a fairly good place, I'm not tinkering with it. The last flare I had lasted over a year and I needed a new mattress. I'll eat as well as I can, but I'm not asking for more diarrhea."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi, Intractable diarrhea may be from a B12/Folate deficiency."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Tamara; I agree that there can be various ways to have success with the use of a supplement; dosage amount, timing of dosage, etc.

Another possibility is that certain co-factor nutrients may be needed to allow the vitamin to be available to the cells.

For instance, from what I've learned from reading on the Vitamin D Council website: Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin K2, and Boron are needed for vitamin D absorption. Zinc helps to prime vitamin D receptors."

04/01/2013: Megan from St Louis, Missouri: "I would try ear plugs. My husband snores and I am a very light sleeper. They are a life saver!"

04/01/2013: Liz from Torrance, California: "Sorry you are experiencing insomnia. I have it occasionally and have found a few things that help.

Adrenals: I would start by finding out from a naturopath if your adrenals are overtaxed. You might have adrenal exhaustion and could benefit from some adrenal support supplements.

Exercising: Do you exercise? What time of the day do you exercise? This too may play into night time insomnia. Exercising earlier in the day is always better. If you don't get enough exercise, that too might exacerbate insomnia."

04/02/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "Thanks for all the suggestions. I read Ted's comments and am going to try the B3 (niacinamide) and B12. Those are 2 I haven't supplemented because I thought I was getting enough from food. Yes, I do exercise--I run/walk between 1-2 miles/day on the treadmill first thing in the morning, then I do QiGong around 3 in the afternoon. I stand rather than sit, walk every chance I get while at work. Weekends I clear land (very hilly) at our farm, set fenceposts, garden, yardwork, etc. I think the activity level is good. I get migraines from melatonin, so when I take it I keep it to no more than 1 mg. Calms Forte + 1 mg melatonin will work 1 day out of 4, typically. If I didn't have to work I would just nap as needed and not worry about it."

04/02/2013: Tina from Houston, Usa: "Please google Min-tran. It is a natural, food based product that helps with sleep issues. I have in the past taken 4-6 an hour before bed, and it knocks me off. It works with the para-sympathic side of the nervous system and brings the body to balance.

Also 'natural calm' magnesium powder that dissolves in warm water, a few hours before bed is excellent in resolving incomnia issues.

Good luck!"

05/13/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "It's me again, the chronic insomniac. I tried the molasses in sleep time tea--boy, did I get diarrhea! Only did 1 tsp, not a tbs. Mg loosens the bowels, with ibs-d I get it very fast and then it won't stop. If I take calcium in the correct ratio w/ mg it's bad, calcium alone helps slow it down. Big issue is the sleep. A post said taurine + l-glutamate + theanine. For me, did nothing. I added 5-htp to that mix, still nothing. Finally took 1 mg melatonin, would have slept but for the vomiting due to melatonin induced migraine. HELP! In spite of all this, I am healthy--exercise daily, garden, work, eat well. What am I doing wrong? My mind chatters all night long, if I fall asleep I awake with a jolt. Thanks for listening."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "just out of curiosity... What about a baking soda bath or a baking soda with vinegar bath.... Maybe 1/4 cup of each.... then rinse it off, just in case. How do you drink your water? How much, when.. ? I use to drink a lot of water but until I followed the procedure in the watercure site it wasn't helping me. I'm so sorry you are suffering ... Love, Joy"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Niacinamide stops the chatter of the mind but take it with other B's they work together... It also helps sleep. First time I took it my mind went blank, freaked me out."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I went back to the insomnia page and read all your post... I'm sorry you are sufferring.

I went to a few google sites and looked around also.

This is just a stab in the dark.... I care. The fact that your grow your own greens and eat lots of them, means you probably get a whole lotta magnesium from them so when you take the mag you get the IBS. The fact that you get a lot of mag from your plants means you might be out of balance somewhere in your minerals. I read that ZINC aids in 300 enzyme functions and helps IBS D sufferers because of the digestion enzyme functions it helps.

They talked about water use at the bottom of the page....

Your diarrhea which I had myself from C diff for 6 months, is scary and stealing your minerals and possible other nutrients.... the chia seeds are suppose to help the IBS D and one site says they are safe to use for 12 wks.

LAST IDEA ... Get a hair analysis and see if there is a mineral out of balance causing the diarrhea because you eat minerals but too much of one would cause the dumping syndrome. As if you ate a poison

May you find you sleep like a baby, .... You'll be in my prayes... Love, JOY"

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "I put 2 tbs acv+squirt of honey + 'fingertip' of borax in a 16 oz bottle, top off with water and sip it till lunch, then do another for afternoon till suppertime. I pee all the time, so can't do more than that. Usually an herbal tea (peppermint) in the evening around 6:30. Haven't heard of the water cure, so please clue me in. Also, I didn't think baking soda or vinegar would penetrate skin so haven't tried them in a bath, at least not since the last uti or skin issue years ago. Thanks."

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "Take it at bedtime or earlier in the day?"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash : "Try coconut meat for diarrhea. On one site, coconut macaroon cookies stopped a lot of people's diarrhea, calmed down their intestinal tract. My book says coconut heals teeth to rectum, you may sleep better if bowels were calm. Coconut milk can cause the runs in some people but coconut oil is very healthy and so is the meat but the meat makes me gain weight. Coconut is anti bacterial, anti microbial, anti fungal, anti viral, and kills parasites ...

Been thinking about you all day looking at sites that might help .... Love, Joy

Also just for info...1/4 tsp baking soda in water may make you neutral so you can rest not reacting to anything ... Your environment may be upsetting you, put baking soda on rug or in a bowl near the bed to clean the air.

I worked in an allergy clinic and was also a patient there and one lady went asthma and fell to the floor gasping while I put balm on my lip.... I freaked but she was actually reacting to the lady that just came in the door with hairspray on. Your immune system may need help."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash: "Niacinamide can cause flushing(red tinging on face) make sure it's in a low dose B- complex and take half pill --not a whole pill, OR get a liquid and start on a very small dose, you don't need to suffer anymore. If it feels overwhelming take 1/4 tsp. to 1/2 tsp. baking soda in water and put a stop to it. Smallest amount that helps."

05/14/2013: Trudyg : "I've been using coconut oil for years now, so I guess that's good. Had been supplementing vit D but levels went kind of high (don't remember what it was) & dr said to back off. That was the first thing I tried for the insomnia, never noticed it to help. Wouldn't hurt to start it again, maybe not so high a dose. Funny, but I get really bad migraines from the air freshener a coworker loves to spray, so I know allergies are in there somewhere. Thanks."

05/14/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I forgot to mention earlier, I had been taking the baking soda daily, too, but quit because my bp went up. I can do it again, it was high for me and I'm always a bit low. Thanks. Isn't it amazing how our foods affect us? Wow."

05/15/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I am taking a b-complex (only for about a week now), had been taking a b12 in the morning and B3 at night, but then I read that it can prevent sleep so I stopped all but the complex. Should I stop the complex and take only b3, when? in the evening? or some other combo. I did the 12 & 3 b/c of a Ted post. Will start the baking soda today. Thanks."

05/15/2013: Kelly from Cambridge, Ma: "Joy, niacinamide does not cause flushing, niacin does. In fact, niacinamide is what's recommended for those who want the benefits of niacin, without the flush."

05/15/2013: Trudyg : "Just grabbing at straws here, but I have a lot of the symptoms for hypoglycemia, too. Just wondering. My a1c level was great, so I've been tested. I pee all the time, often needing to go within an hour of my last trip to the br. I am always thirsty. I get shaky if I wait too long to eat, then I grab a sweet. Sometimes I slur my speech (thought it was due to stuttering as a child), I get uncoordinated (call me graceful). Thoughts? What should I do that I'm not already doing? ( I know, I should stop whining)."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "The squeeky wheel gets the oil. Try the water cure for two weeks, and if you do the supplemental --B's start very low dose mornings.

If you pee all the time (losing minerals and nutrients) ...... Your body is dropping either sugar or something is amiss with your diet, could be as simple as your mint, or anything you put in your water. I lived by a mint field and my friend lived there and her son got poisoned by the soil that affected their water well. He had to detox. There is one other thing that would cause constant peeing is food dye or bad fats or something your body is dumping like your bowel symptom. So 2 +2 here is you are dumping bladder and bowel.

One last thing might be imbalance in microbes in bowel and bladder maybe enzymes and probiotics and possible parasite.. Or ph is off... just wild guesses here.

Baking soda in bowl on desk at work to counteract coworkers sprayng chemicals.

Don't take D if you are high D and don't take baking soda if your BP is high."

05/15/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, I went through something very similar a few years ago. I was sure I was diabetic as I had had trouble with hypoglycemia since I was 15. (I am 46 now. ) My sleep was poor, I couldn't quench my thirst no matter how much water I drank, and of course, I was in the bathroom all the time from all that water. I was getting sores in my mouth, too. I went to the Dr. to get my blood sugar checked first thing in the morning when I finally put 2 + 2 together. But my sugar was okay! (Guess my math was wrong! ) He said, "Oh, it is probably your thyroid. " Sure enough, blood tests indicated hypothyroidism. I suppose this shouldn't have been too surprising as I have had low basal body temperature (as low as 96.3 upon rising for years. I figured I was subclinical hypothyroid and never did anything about. ) The doctor put me on a low dose of synthroid, 50mcg, which did help the symptoms I had been dealing with, but my hair started falling out and I felt terrible. I sat around feeling terrible most of the time. (Doctor said the synthroid was not causing this, but I didn't believe him. ) I didn't think I had any options but started to research and found that I did have options! I quit taking the synthroid after 3 months. I started to do everything I could find to help my thyroid naturally. I took extra virgin coconut oil 1-2 T. daily. I drank Apple Cider Vinegar daily (at least 2 T. per day in water; I spread mine throughout the day. ) I took 12.5 mcg iodine/iodide daily. Meanwhile, I got pregnant. I had the midwife check my thyroid. It was still not in the right range, but I didn't go back on prescription meds. I felt pretty good with what I was doing. I had a normal pregnancy and a healthy full-term baby. I was afraid to fool with the iodine much while pregnant. After I had the baby, I upped my dose to 25mcg daily. (In the am. ) At some point after the birth, the midwife checked my thyroid again and it was in the normal range! (And I had been promised by the doctors that prescription meds were my ONLY option! ) Iodine was what doctors used to use to treat hypothyroid.

So, you could have your thyroid checked or try taking your early morning temp (before getting out of bed, eating, drinking etc. ) If it is low, you can be pretty sure it is hypothyroidism. Research your alternatives.

Hope you get some relief and answers soon. ~Mama to Many~"

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "Sorry, I should have looked it up, but what is the water cure? I eat only foods I prepare myself, no additives or dyes. The only place I would get those are my supplements, so I'll look at that. The only fats are from coconut, grapeseed oil, or avocado. I had my thyroid checked (runs in the family) and it was okay but I may add iodine at very small doses to see if I feel better. Thanks."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I've had my thyroid checked, it appears ok. I know from family experience that the numbers can be okay but you can not be okay. I have some potassium iodide drops, says 2/day. Should I start those and see how I feel? How long before I notice a difference do you think? My sleep has never been good, but since I quit hrt after my hysterectomy it's been terrible. I've got the hot flashes under control (not gone, but bearable). I thank God for the help you all are giving me. I'm really at my wits end."

05/16/2013: Robyn from Asheville, Nc: "Hi TrudyG, I was wondering the same thing. If you go to the watercure site, it's basically an advertisement to buy the book (Earth Clinic, doesn't this go against your policy about not posting links to commercial sites?). A little digging on the web and I learned that you should drink water a half hour before and after eating. You should also take 1/4 teaspoon of salt (sea salt) per quart of water. Or drink this every few glasses of water."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I seem to be the one percent that have the side effects that most don't... With supplements, medicines and with topicals.... Since childhood when I start a new supplement I take half a pill every other day or can't sleep. Makeup is suppose to make a person look better , well for me... It does strange things that are not good. They give me something to calm me down and revs me up, and gives me panics. I eat sugar and no crash, just moving right along."

05/16/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I did some looking and saw that, too. You divide your weight by 2 and drink that many ounces of water/day, adding sea salt every couple of glasses-worth. I'd be peeing all day if I did that! I must say, though, when I drink water w/ acv, I need to go less often. I drink 1 cup of coffee first thing in the morning, then only water until evening, then a cup of herbal tea. I push the fluids and rarely feel thirsty. I do agree that we could all benefit by increasing our water intake, but by how much is really the question."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I get weird reactions, too. When they give me narcotics (you'll sleep! ) ha--not me, I'm bouncing off the wall. Half an aspirin is plenty for me, so I start out low dose, too. I'm post-menopausal, so get hot flashes and couldn't tell you if it's due to a supplement or not. I take evening primrose oil for that, and have added vit e (200/cap X 2/d, don't know if mg or iu). I think most drs either don't know and don't want to say so or think that women are weak complainers, so they don't take us seriously."

05/16/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, If the iodine drops say 2 per day, you could start with that. Does it say how much iodine you are getting? All drops do not have the same amount. I compared using iodine drops to what I take orally and I would have to take 20 drops a day to get what I am getting in pills. (And I don't like the taste of iodine in my water.) Anyway, start with 2 drops a day for a few days. Then do a skin test--drop a few drops onto your skin (I do inside my forearm. ) If it is gone in a short time, you are still iodine deficient. If you can still see it after 12 hours, you are getting enough. (Some say you should be able to see it after 24 hours. Broda Barnes has a book on Thyroid that explains it all but I haven't read it. ) If I can see the iodine spot on my arm after 6-8 hours, I think I am doing pretty well. (I really can't bear to take more iodine than I take. It just seems like too much to me.) I know my thyroid was low LONG before it showed up on a blood test. If you take your early morning, before rising temperature and it is low (Some would say anything under 98.0 is low... But I am not sure. Under 97.0 is definitely low.) My naturopathic doctor says you should not use a digital and you should keep it in your armpit for a full 10 minutes.

Anyway, you can increase the amount of iodine by a couple of drops if the iodine on your skin disappears quickly and continue to check on your skin and increase by a couple of drops etc. Until the iodine isn't absorbing quickly. Or, if you notice improvement, you could stop when that happens.

I can't recall how long it took for the iodine to provide me with noticeable difference. It was perhaps days or a week or two. But if I run out my symptoms come back pretty fast - mabye in a day or two.

You are dealing with lots of health challenges... So sorry! With the IBS are you possibly losing nutrients you need, causing health challenges? Comfrey is wonderful for this. In her book, Be your Own Doctor, Rachel Weaver says to use comfrey root powder and slippery elm powder to help and heal this. Both are soothing to the digestive tract and very nutritious. She has you mix them together with water to a dough like consistency and then make little pea size balls you can take throughout the day when symptoms flare up. Comfrey leaves can also be mixed with other soothing and nutritive herbs (like Red Raspberry) and made into a tea that will provide extra nutrients. I didn't use to think herbal tea would do much, but I have had some amazing help from them this year and have changed my mind. Activated charcoal is also a great thing for digestive difficulty and helps detox as well (but very gently. ) Just don't take it near time of other supplements as it adsorbs toxins and may also do the same with nutrients. (I take it leaving a 2 hour window. ) You can mix 1 t. In water or take tablets or capsules. Just a couple of more things to consider... Hope it isn't too overwhelming... Praying for relief for you."

05/16/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Earth Clinic has a water cure section with Ted commenting on Dr. Batmanghelidj.. I'm not selling books. All these lovely people here on earth clinic are sharing what helps them and I am doing the same thing, hoping it helps alleviate someone of their sufferring. Love, Joy"

05/18/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "About Dr Batmanghelidj's Water Cure: This man was a humanitarian who was ignored by the present medical system. He has helped innumerable people back to health. If people drink water without supplementing with, for example, celtic salt, they will urinate, dehydrating themselves as well as loosing vitamins and minerals. It was the chemically manufactured salt that wreaked havoc with the world's population and caused an explosion of serious diseases that killed many. Because allopaths have no training in nutrition they misguide patients to their detriment.

I have just begun slowly and do not run to the bathroom because of the water drinking. The protocol is easy and must be followed meticulously. Get off to a slow start. Already I have noted the effect of water doing its work in the entire body. I hope this will, in addition of magnesium, cure my insomnia. It is nature, not drugs that will do it. I am thankfull toward the good doctor and think it would be of benefit to read his by now famous book, even though just doing the program would be alright So many people have been helped including pets. To be rightly informed is self empowerment. Be leery of the common table salt, but natural wet salts are delicious, provide much needed minerals and prevent the continuous problem of over urination. We are made mainly of water, so is the planet with vast resources of salt water. Sometimes I think that the intake of chemical and denatured salt over a life time could be a contributory factor of Alzheimers as our brain, too, is made up largely of water. We are all keen on learning how to get in touch and back to nature and with determination success will be ours. Love, Om"

05/10/2013: John from Sydney, Australia: "Buy shizandra, alpha lipoic acid, selenium and chanca Pedra immediately to reduce your liver enzymes, inflammation and fibrosis. Hep b can be controlled and cured as well. U don't have to die. Take this supplements 2 tablet twice daily at different times (reduce drug interaction) except selenium one tablet twice daily for two weeks. Other tablet for one month.

take virgin coconut oil 2 teaspoon twice daily and order BHT and take as required.

you will be surprised at this amazing treatment after two month."

05/11/2013: Oscar from Syracuse, New York, Usa: "Well, there is the BHT [ butylated hydroxytoluene ] treatment for hepatitis B. It did work for me and others for hepatitis B as discussed in this group`s forum. People living in Nigeria can purchase BHT here:

http://www.nutri.com/index.cfm/product/31_17/butylated-hydroxytoluene-bht.cfm?gclid=CNaYjOb9xLUCFQyg4AodHloAww

The BHT treatment is discussed in this group`s archives here:

01/19/2013: Oscar from Syracuse, New York, Usa replies: "Dear James from Bangkok, I have tried many times to copy and paste what "T" for tablecorn has to say about the use of BHT to treat chronic hepatitis B. I will try again:

Here are my HBV test results:

04/20/2012
HBV IU/mL: 260, 230
HBV Copies/mL: 1, 514, 500

08/20/2012
HBV IU/mL: 204, 890
HBV Copies/mL: 1, 192, 500

11/27/2012
HBV IU/mL: 28, 970
HBV Copies/mL: 168, 600

After the first three months, I had a 25% reduction between my first and second test, and a 86% reduction between my second and third test. 1, 514, 500 to 168, 600 is amazing!

Though, it's hard to say exactly what has contributed to this. In addition to BHT, I started taking Chanca Piedra and Monolaurin these last three months. I also cut out a lot of my workout supplements/super dosing of vitamins.

Chanca Piedra is said help prevent certain viruses from replicating and monolaurin is said to destroy lipid coated viruses, similar to BHT. I'm sure they've both had a big impact on my results.

There are other reports discussed in this group`s archives regarding BHT and also Chanca Piedra. Click here to read the many reports with or without BHT here:

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/hepatitis-b.html"

05/18/2013: Jamaal2013 from Lagos: "Danbuzu: You are not dying and you need to maintain a very positive outlook. It is all the same for us when we first dicscovered our HBV status. But as you read more and get your test result you will be so convinced that you will likely grow old and die of something else. You need to know that HBV is manageable. There are good therapies out there and your gastroenterologist will likely make some recommendations. Also there are many herbs and other alternatives you may explore as mentioned in the forum. I just started trying Chanca piedra (it grows as weed in my compound, so easy so cheap). Just so you know it is called 'geron tsuntsaye' in Hausa. If you are interested in having a conversation we can exchange contacts and discuss more."

01/19/2013: Mahi from India, New Delhi: "I just have question for you. You said you put two tablespoon in 16 ounces of water and sip. so do you drink this liquid three times or each single time two tablespoon with 16 ounces of water you drink.

So for my understanding 6 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 48 ounces of water whole day (three times). Please clarify two tablespoon only one time or per whole day you onlly drink two table spoon of apple cider vinegar. I am trying hard to lose weight please help me."

01/21/2013: Via Vapors Mommy from Seligman, Mo: "Hi Mahi, it's teaspoons not tablespoons. By the end of the day I have consumed 48 ounces of water with 6 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar mixed in. So in the morning I fill up a glass of 16 ounces of water that has 2 teaspoons of ACV in it. I sip on it and it is usually gone by lunch time so I make another glass up and make sure I sip on that until about dinner and make up another glass. I also have a big glass of water next to my ACV water mix and sip that right after I sip the ACV so I get the vinegar off of my teeth. I've introduced kelp capsules now too as I've heard that can reset your thyroid. I dropped 20 lbs in two months by doing the mucusless diet in the past. (a lot more strict and I walked 3 miles a day and gave up alcohol) Maybe research that too so you can get into the mindset of what is good food. I wish you the best of luck! Even if ACV didn't help me lose weight I would still take it based on how good it makes me feel. I'm also going to add cayenne pepper tinctured to my diet as well. As I have heard that raises your metabolism."

01/21/2013: Mahi from New Delhi, India: "Thank you so much for replying me back. I am vegetarian and I lost 10 pounds before with gluten free meals."

05/18/2013: Danielle from San Antonio. Tx: "Hello, I read your post about losing weight in 5 days. Sounds great & I'd like to lose 6-8 pounds I've gained in past 5-6 months. Can you share your daily routine with the ACV? Thanks! Danielle"

09/17/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Aurora, a comprehensive detox program includes the exterior as well as interior environment. Thoroughly clean your home w/ natural cleaning products. Many people already filter their water, but neglect to improve on the air. In addition to at least an electrostatic filter (a better alternative is the HEPA technology filters) in your air unit, it is necessary to add a floor or desk-top air purifier to further destroy toxins which translates in increased oxygen content of your home. Negative Ion technology type purifiers are quite effective. Also, it is possible that you live close to a major electric power lines which causes magnetic radiation poisoning which almost always translates into allergies and sensitivities, sometimes severe especially over a period of many yrs.

As for the internal environment here's two links to get you started:

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/detoxification.html

http://www.jonbarron.org/detox/natural-health-program-full-body-cleanse

Also, supplementing antioxidant nutrition is very important. Vit-A, Vit-E, Carotenoids (mixed C complex is best), Pine Bark or Grapeseed Extracts, Vit-C w/ Bioflavonoids. Coenzymes like Alpha Lipoic Acid, CoQ10 or Ubiguinol, and Co-1 or NADH are great antioxidants as well as energy boosters.

Hope this helps and good luck."

09/17/2012: Aurora from Palo Alto, Ca: "Thanks Tim; As for our air at home; I'm not sure why I should get a filter? we have windows/doors open all year; we like to hang out or have meals on our patio/garden. No carpets. I dust/mop floors about 2-3 days a week. All natural cleaning products, a few drops of chlorine sometimes to desinfect bath.... I love fresh air! We run an electric heater in winter just for an hour or two/day only as needed.

Update; we've decided to try to do the MBP anyway, just peel the veggies and apple, and see how it goes. I was able to eat a peeled apple fine after the juice this morning! No reaction at all! So it looks like the natural instecticides in the peel of fruit/veggies might be what we both are reacting to.... I wish I would have heard about salicylates before...

As for magnetics: There are no powerlines here, at least above ground that I can see, but it's a thought; where do you get an EMF detector? I seem to feel magnetic fields more than most people....

Thanks Again!"

09/18/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Aurora, looks like your OK on the exterior, so now focus on the interior environment. In addition to the antioxidant supplements I suggested, a very important one is NAC / N Acetyl Cysteine, one of the best Glutathione (the body's master antioxidant) precursors. Quercetin/Bromalaine is good for allergies. Acidity can cause hypersensitivity so try Ted's bicarb buffer remedy. Heavy metals can be a culprit so try some Cilantro herb for several wks. Hep C is a possible culprit as it will compromise liver detox. BHT eradicates the Hep.

Just some suggestion from afar, but you can objectively test PH levels, Heavy Metals, and Hep C for conclusive diagnosis. Whole body bath w/ Baking Soda & Epsom Salt will help (2x week) overall (this will provide a buffering so it would eliminate an oral route). To maximize the cleansing a good herbal detox like Dr. Christopher's "Red Clover Combination" 30 min prior to the bath will help clear any chemical or heavy metals from the body.

Let us know of your progress."

09/18/2012: Lisa from Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa: "Hi Aurora, I saw your question regarding an EMF detector. The actual name for them is a trifield meter. I know because my husband uses it at work to check different machines and far infrared saunas. I know you can easily find them online and they start at about $100 and go upward. Hope this helps. Lisa"

10/02/2012: Aurora from Palo Alto, Ca: "Thank you Lisa and Tim so much for the suggestions, I am working on getting things sorted out, and in my usual fashion, I tend to take my time. I like to be thorough rather than rush things....

The cough has slowed me down a bit, but I found a Traditional Chinese Doctor and a chiropractor, so they both said they need to work on my lung and neck misalignments for a few weeks, so I guess that's what I'll be focusing on for a few weeks. I'm still juicing, about 4-5 days a week. The peeling solved it. Loving it! Don't seem to have any issues with strong juice at least :-) Tried eating an apple with peel the other day again, and yes, immidiate reaction.... yes, organic.

More later, and many blessings to you all."

05/17/2013: Jocelyn from San Antonio, Tx: "Hi Aurora, I also have tons of allergies and always doing research and came across this site. May I add try soaking your apples or fruits in 1c water w/ 1Tbsp salt for 15 mins? This helps remove soil, microbes and bacteria found on the skins of fruits and vegetables. Also, try rotating your foods every 4 days - meaning, if you eat an apple on day 1, avoid it for 3 days and ok to eat again on day 4. Maybe this may help, but if you can, it's best to avoid foods that makes you sick at all cost. Best of luck. :)"

05/18/2013: Rosanne from Toronto, Canada: "Aurora, or anyone else who is suffering from this problem (as I do! ) do a websearch for Oral Allergy Syndrome. That is what the intolerance to raw fruits and veggies is called.

I have yet to find a solution to it myself, but it was comforting after so many years of not knowing what it was to be able to put a name to the problem, and to find out that I am not the only one who can't eat raw foods.

Peeling can solve the problem because the molecules that trigger the allergy tend to be located near the surface of the fruits/veggies."

10/20/2010: Crzybeau from Las Vegas, Nevada, United States: "Hello Christine, just want to know the time periods you take the charcoal and chlorophyll. How long before or after meals? Thank You."

05/18/2013: Mark from Las Vegas, Nv: "You don't need to use peroxide after drinking it. Activated Charcoal will NOT permanently stain your teeth. You only need to brush them. In fact I brush me teeth with activated charcoal powder and it gets them whiter than anything else."

05/18/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I use to chew on activated charcoal when I didn't have capsules. it would stick to my gums around my teeth and be black and hard to get off. I brush with coconut oil and it has removed our brownish water stains from my teeth. If it didn't clog the pipes I would wash the tub, shower, toilet with the coconut.... it makes my teeth white and removes the sensitivies."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  05/18/2013: Ja from Philadelphia, Pa: "Puffy eyes for castor oil is why I'm here! Put it on last night and looked in the morning to be very alarmed. I have very thin skin under eye, dark circles, and very deep set eyes. To see my eyes puffed out is shocking. My mom started the castor oil for insomnia (loves it btw) but complains of the same after effect. I have read that the fatty acid chain in the castor oil is very unique and acts as a humectant, attracting water when applied on hair or skin. I am going to try the black tea bags on my eyes as this has always wored wonders for immediately ridding sunburn for me."

EC: Bennie's latest update has been cross posted from her thread in the Q&A section on the Methylene Blue page here: http://earthclinic.com/Remedies/methylene-blue_questions.html#Question_4567.

05/16/2013: Mikal from Monroe, Washington: "I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2012. I would like to try the Budwig Diet because the medical proceedures do not seem very good to me."

05/17/2013: Anon : "Hi, There's a good yahoo site called flaxseedoil2, if you join that group run by Sandra Olsen they will really help you. Sandra has a helpful video on utube aswell."

05/16/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "Maybe you would also like: phkillscancer.com. Budwig method is also good if you can get organic milk to make curds. Just a suggestion. Best wishes. Om"

05/17/2013: Mt from Ottawa, Ontario Canada: "try the tee of small flowered willow: http://www.mariatrebenherbs.com/?pid=55&sid=72:SMALL-FLOWERED-WILLOW-HERB"

03/20/2013: Deancuh from Murrieta, California: "You should never brush your teeth right after taking Apple Cider Vinegar. Brush before you take it, and after you drink some rinse your mouth out well with plain filtered water."

05/18/2013: Andrea C from Cardiff, Wales: "Take cq10, 150 mgs 3 times a day. It will lower your blood pressure better than any drug. Also take Omega 3 oil. Love Andrea c xxx"

[YEA]  05/18/2013: Robert from San Antonio, Tx: "I took your advice and sure enough, it worked for me. Thank you so much for posting your experience. ROBERT"

11/22/2008: Tilmer from Lancaster, Wisconsin: "ok,so i have over 25 stomach ulcer and i dont have insurance , and im deciding to try the apple cider vineger to heal these and i pray for these ulcers to vanish, iv had them for over 2 years now and im 19 .. i need help people.. so pleasae could u write to me on this.. will this veneger take them away? and how should i take this. can i take it straight? thanks alot and god bless.. my email is tilmer_pack@hotmail.com"

08/05/2009: Bill from Oregon City, Oregon: "I have had stomach issues since childhood. Last year I got to where I had acid reflux daily, so bad I could not sleep lying down. Then a few months a go it changed. My food was slow to digest and I felt like I had some sort of virus. I could only eat cereal and yogurt. It got to the point to where I could not eat without getting major cramps. I went to the doctor. After X-rays and blood test (all my test were clean) he prescribed Prilosec and Reglan. I tried them for a week and had some relief, but was not getting better. I was up one night or early morning, searching the net for any information. I found earthclinic and started my ACV and cayenne regiment (I did not have Glutamine at the time). After my first drink I could tell a difference. After 4 days, I was able to eat and sleep better. That weekend I purchased Glutamine and have been doing the ACV and cayenne drink with the glutamine capsule 3 times a day for a week. I feel normal most of the time, eat regular and sleep much better. I intend to stay on the regiment until I have fully recovered and cut back to once a day to stay that way. I have another doctors appointment in a week. From my research I believe I have a bacterial infection or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). I intend on asking for the breath test to know for sure."

08/10/2009: Ingrid from Geneva, Oh: "Will the ACV work for dogs too? I was actually giving her ACV when she got the ulcer and thought that I had caused it by giving her that. I was thinking it was too acidic for her. Now I'm wondering if I should put her back on it."

09/21/2010: Garcia2894 from Norwalk, Ct, Usa: "Can somebody please answer my question.... How do I take the cayenne and the glutamine capsules do I take then all at the same time with the ACV. Thank you"

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  08/15/2011: Rooster from Fernandina, Florida: "This is Rooster from Fla. I have been battling ulcers for 10 months. 5 days ago I started the cayenne pepper and glutamine 500mg of both 3 times a day before meals 5 days and the result is incredible. Still having a few aches and pains after meals and first thing in the morning, but no more blood and vomit and laying in the bed with pain. What a great web site I am so much better thanks to Ya'll gracious, Rooster"

05/09/2013: Roy from Baguio, Philippines: "Hi, I'm just 20 but I have ulcer.

In short, the prefered actual remedy is eating foods with lots of carbohydrates and fats like flour based foods (breads, cakes and cookies)?"

05/09/2013: Melting from Lindside, Wv: "Wow, I had 4 ulcers 3 years ago. One bleeding in the esophagus. Went straight to gastro. Did the upper scope to diagnose me. Sent me home with double the prilosec pill prescription. Looked over the internet, probably found it here. Juice your raw cabbage. I bought a juicer. Juiced about 10 ounces each morning. Drank that in 3 portions, 3 times a day on an empty stomach. Not tasty by any means. I did that for 2 weeks and then off and on a few days at a time for 3 months. Went back to gastro and he said the stomach looked new. He said the meds did work well for you. I said they went in the trash, raw cabbage juice. He grinned and said see ya later. I think people on this website says it healed them in 10 days. God bless you."

05/10/2013: Timh from Louisville, Ky, USA: "Melting: I am no big fan of pharmaceuticals or doctors, but I take as much advantage I can from what they have to offer. Of course they want me taking many prescriptions meds, and not let my health improve by treating only my symptoms. It's really like Paul McCartney described in the song Tug-Of-War.

Rule-of-thumb to maintain friendly relations in the medical community is "try and meet them halfway". Give them the benefit they deserve. In your case I would have done the acid reducers for a few weeks then on to the cabbage cure. In returning to the dr say "the acid reducers pills worked real well and I read about eating cabbage and that was the icing on the cake. "

Remember, dr's have the legal clout. Acid reducing pharmaceuticals heal gastric or esophageal ulcers, cabbage does not (as according to scientific demonstration by studies and trials and approved by the FDA)."

05/16/2013: Dee from Nyc, Ny: "I have a question, I'm afraid to take cayenne pills or ACV if I have both an ulcer and severe acid reflux. I thought spicy foods are really bad for acid reflux and ulcers. Someone please explain. I'm so afraid to make my stomach worse. Thank You."

05/16/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Dear Dee, I used ACV for acid reflux during pregnancy and I agree, it didn't make sense that it would help, but it was amazing how much it helped. (Prveviously, I had been on prescription meds for reflux. I didn't even need Tums the whole pregnancy I took the ACV. ) It also helped my gall bladder problem. You could start with a small amount 1/2 t. or 1 t. in an 8 oz glass of water and sip it and see how you do.

If you take the cayenne, you could take it with something like ginger. Don't get something with tons of Heat Units. (90HU would be too strong.) Again, start out small. Even just a few grains in juice. And it is better for digestion to let you mouth get used to it before it gets to the stomach. (Stomach's don't like surprises! ) Apparently, when cayenne or chili powder etc. Are heated and cooked that is when they cause trouble. Work up to 1/4 t. cayenne in juice. In Lalitha Thomas' book, Ten Essential Herbs, she tells about a man who had bleeding ulcers that were healed with cayenne. You should be able to tolerate more and more.

Slippery Elm is also wonderful for digestive trouble and so very gentle and highly nutritous. You can mix a teaspoon of it with warm water, like porridge, and a little honey if you like. It is kind of slimy, so if textures bother you it might not work well. Hope you get some relief soon!"

05/17/2013: Gina from Ipswich, Queensland, Australia: "Hi, So I'm up trying to get ready for work and My Ulcers are playing up. I have had these for years. But the last 6 months or so, they have been unbareable, so much so I just can't make it too work. My Hubby, was searching through sites to see if he could find anything to help as the meds that I have from My Dr are just not working.

So this morning he was off to buy the ACV, Cayenne Tablets and Glutamine tabs- I had my first dose this morning and another around 30 mins ago. I do wish I had emptied my stomuch of that bloating yucky feeling that we all know well, as this may have helped it kick in faster? ANYWAY, I really hope this works! It has far too much affect on my life, can barely work, I don't want to do anything, I use to be such a get up and go type of energitic person, but now, All I do is stick to my bed, most times curled up in a ball."

10/18/2008: Martha from Baltimore, Maryland: "I was wondering what kind of exerciese you did, how much b12 and fish oil did you take. I have TN and looking for alternative treatment. Docs not put me on meds and after reading about them I really don't want to go there."

03/10/2009: Bridget from Hamilton, NJ: "I have been using acupuncture to successfully treat Trigeminal Neuralgia. Was on medicines but the side effects were too much to handle. The constant pain from TN have been greatly reduced by acupuncture. 25 points, once a week. At first it took three times a week to produce a change, then twice a week, I am now down to once per week. Give it a try."

03/01/2010: Jackie from Cape Coral, Florida: "Dear Veerle (from Belgium)

I read your post regarding the use of Omega3 & B12. My wife suffers from TN. I have passed on the info gleaned from your post. She is taking two capsules of Omega3, twice a day. Plus one B12 capsule in the morning (1500mg).

She isn't one to take medication if at all possible. However, the pain associated with TN forces her to take 75mg (three tabs) at bedtime. If she would follow the doctors advice the dosage would be far greater.

Thanks a million for the info. Please feel free to share any other info that you come by. We will continue seeking info and relief. Spoke to her about acupuncture, but she's not leaning in that direction. We'll see! Thanks again, and good fortune in your search for relief. 'JR'"

[YEA]  04/21/2011: Josh from Houston, Tx: "Just to let you guys know, oxygen therapy works. It will take a cluster headache away in 10 minutes. I suffered for 7 years untill I found this. There are too many dangerous maint. drugs to take. So if you can abort them with oxygen its a win win.

J. Thibodeaux"

05/30/2011: Jordan from Sparwood, Bc, Canada: "Try not to confuse trigeminal neuralgia with cluster headaches. Trigeminal headaches are caused by intracranial pressure on the trigeminal nerve, sending the sensations to the face. Clusters are caused by the brain being tricked into thinking that it isn't getting enough oxygen, so the blood vessels dialate and the brain too much oxygen. Oxygen therapy helps clusters by giving the brain too much oxygen and making the vessels contract again. Talk to a local neurologist that specializes in headaches to get a proper diagnosis."

[YEA]  06/14/2011: Patty from Brockton, Ma: "b12 is important so is Krill but what I found that got rid of TN "face pain" after 40 years was Cervical Chiropractor. thank God I tried the Chiropractor!!"

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  06/22/2011: Nathalie from La-london, Us/england: "This is directed to Luca and others who suffer from Tn as well as cluster headaches. I was diagnosed with both conditions, August 2010. Unfortunately, I suffered in pain without any relief for 9 months prior, as the doctors could not get a handle the fact that I had multiple conditions.

Firstly, Oxygen on level 7 works miracles for my clusters. I am also on Topamax but have reduced the dosage from 275mg to 50 mg over the year. Secondly, the TN did settle a little with Lyrica, but is wasn't until I started vitamin therapy that I started a significant change in my pain level. I still react to certain food enzymes and odours as well as cold air... However, I have gone from a daily pain threshold of 6-7 to a 1-3 from Glutathione and Meyers IV infusions. I recommend them. N"

[YEA]  07/14/2011: Sarah from London, Uk: "Hi,

I've had TN for about 6 years now, for the first 3 it was non stop, and doctors put me on the brain surgery waiting list after all of the drugs didnt work, I was 22 so not to keen on the idea of surgery, and refused to go on anti depressants.

But everything changed when I started having weekly sessions of acupuncture and cranial osteopathy. The accupuncture just treated the stress the condition had put on my mind and body (as I was seriously depressed and had been in therapy for a while) and the cranial osteopathy treated the actual pain. After each osteopathy session I experienced a very bad attack for a couple of days, as my osteopathist had warned me. I continued this treatment for about 2 months, and couldsay for definate that I have been 95% cured since and its been 3 years. When I told my neurologist he actually laughed at me, but with a combination of that and a healthy lifestyle and a relaxing environment (going home to the beach from the city helped a lot) I could carry on life as normal again.

My pain only now flags up if im really stressed or in extreme weather environments.

One more piece of advice is speak to the acupuncturists and osteopathists first and find someone who understands it and is confident they can help.

I hope this helps someone, dont give up there is a light at the end of the tunnel!"

02/16/2013: Chris from Sammamish, Wa: "Can you tell me specifically what kind of facial stimulation you did... E.G., Scenar. Also, can you be more specific on B12?"

05/17/2013: Nan from Jakarta, Indonesia: "oh my god, yea, me too! I'm 18 but I think I have this terrible symptom.. how could teenager get this symptom? First time this disease came is when I have wrong sleeping position. ah :("

09/17/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Aurora, a comprehensive detox program includes the exterior as well as interior environment. Thoroughly clean your home w/ natural cleaning products. Many people already filter their water, but neglect to improve on the air. In addition to at least an electrostatic filter (a better alternative is the HEPA technology filters) in your air unit, it is necessary to add a floor or desk-top air purifier to further destroy toxins which translates in increased oxygen content of your home. Negative Ion technology type purifiers are quite effective. Also, it is possible that you live close to a major electric power lines which causes magnetic radiation poisoning which almost always translates into allergies and sensitivities, sometimes severe especially over a period of many yrs.

As for the internal environment here's two links to get you started:

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/detoxification.html

http://www.jonbarron.org/detox/natural-health-program-full-body-cleanse

Also, supplementing antioxidant nutrition is very important. Vit-A, Vit-E, Carotenoids (mixed C complex is best), Pine Bark or Grapeseed Extracts, Vit-C w/ Bioflavonoids. Coenzymes like Alpha Lipoic Acid, CoQ10 or Ubiguinol, and Co-1 or NADH are great antioxidants as well as energy boosters.

Hope this helps and good luck."

09/17/2012: Aurora from Palo Alto, Ca: "Thanks Tim; As for our air at home; I'm not sure why I should get a filter? we have windows/doors open all year; we like to hang out or have meals on our patio/garden. No carpets. I dust/mop floors about 2-3 days a week. All natural cleaning products, a few drops of chlorine sometimes to desinfect bath.... I love fresh air! We run an electric heater in winter just for an hour or two/day only as needed.

Update; we've decided to try to do the MBP anyway, just peel the veggies and apple, and see how it goes. I was able to eat a peeled apple fine after the juice this morning! No reaction at all! So it looks like the natural instecticides in the peel of fruit/veggies might be what we both are reacting to.... I wish I would have heard about salicylates before...

As for magnetics: There are no powerlines here, at least above ground that I can see, but it's a thought; where do you get an EMF detector? I seem to feel magnetic fields more than most people....

Thanks Again!"

09/18/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Aurora, looks like your OK on the exterior, so now focus on the interior environment. In addition to the antioxidant supplements I suggested, a very important one is NAC / N Acetyl Cysteine, one of the best Glutathione (the body's master antioxidant) precursors. Quercetin/Bromalaine is good for allergies. Acidity can cause hypersensitivity so try Ted's bicarb buffer remedy. Heavy metals can be a culprit so try some Cilantro herb for several wks. Hep C is a possible culprit as it will compromise liver detox. BHT eradicates the Hep.

Just some suggestion from afar, but you can objectively test PH levels, Heavy Metals, and Hep C for conclusive diagnosis. Whole body bath w/ Baking Soda & Epsom Salt will help (2x week) overall (this will provide a buffering so it would eliminate an oral route). To maximize the cleansing a good herbal detox like Dr. Christopher's "Red Clover Combination" 30 min prior to the bath will help clear any chemical or heavy metals from the body.

Let us know of your progress."

09/18/2012: Lisa from Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa: "Hi Aurora, I saw your question regarding an EMF detector. The actual name for them is a trifield meter. I know because my husband uses it at work to check different machines and far infrared saunas. I know you can easily find them online and they start at about $100 and go upward. Hope this helps. Lisa"

10/02/2012: Aurora from Palo Alto, Ca: "Thank you Lisa and Tim so much for the suggestions, I am working on getting things sorted out, and in my usual fashion, I tend to take my time. I like to be thorough rather than rush things....

The cough has slowed me down a bit, but I found a Traditional Chinese Doctor and a chiropractor, so they both said they need to work on my lung and neck misalignments for a few weeks, so I guess that's what I'll be focusing on for a few weeks. I'm still juicing, about 4-5 days a week. The peeling solved it. Loving it! Don't seem to have any issues with strong juice at least :-) Tried eating an apple with peel the other day again, and yes, immidiate reaction.... yes, organic.

More later, and many blessings to you all."

05/17/2013: Jocelyn from San Antonio, Tx: "Hi Aurora, I also have tons of allergies and always doing research and came across this site. May I add try soaking your apples or fruits in 1c water w/ 1Tbsp salt for 15 mins? This helps remove soil, microbes and bacteria found on the skins of fruits and vegetables. Also, try rotating your foods every 4 days - meaning, if you eat an apple on day 1, avoid it for 3 days and ok to eat again on day 4. Maybe this may help, but if you can, it's best to avoid foods that makes you sick at all cost. Best of luck. :)"

05/18/2013: Rosanne from Toronto, Canada: "Aurora, or anyone else who is suffering from this problem (as I do! ) do a websearch for Oral Allergy Syndrome. That is what the intolerance to raw fruits and veggies is called.

I have yet to find a solution to it myself, but it was comforting after so many years of not knowing what it was to be able to put a name to the problem, and to find out that I am not the only one who can't eat raw foods.

Peeling can solve the problem because the molecules that trigger the allergy tend to be located near the surface of the fruits/veggies."

05/17/2013: Pachi from Miami, Fl: "My 3 year old has just been diagnosed with impetigo. Although I've been constantly touching the rash and cleaning it and doesn't seem to be contagious at all. He doesn't have blisters either. He just has like 4-5 red little dots on his cheek/chin and now on his knee. The dr prescribed an antibiotic ointment but doesn't seem to work. I don't want to take him back because they keep saying the same thing. Is there any other skin rash similar to impetigo but with these differences? I'll start trying the natural remedies posted here. Thank you."

[YEA]  01/05/2012: Spikey58 from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada: "I have used baking soda and water and made a paste. It really works I and I could imagine how effective it would be with vinegar added. The biggest thing for me anyways is the relief from the itching especially at night. I found it tolerable at least with no itch. Great advice"

[YEA]  09/02/2012: Sue from Mount Airy, Md: "Baking Soda and White Vinegar.... What a great blog find.

I am not a blogger, this is my first one, so try and bear with me. I got some kind of Poison Something, the doctor was not sure. Anyway I had been in my back woods clearing some brush for a new shed. I got this rash over my arms, stomach, and legs, a small but a bit within 24-48 hours (the doc tells me later it can be up to 10 days before it reacts or appears). I used some Calimine lotion, cortisone creams, oatmeal baths, and some other over colidar oatmeal remedy from over he counter stuff, but within 8 days, I knew I was in trouble. I had not slept much in 4 days. The night before I only got one hour of sleep due to the pain and itching, I wanted to rip the skin off it was so bad, but was being super consious not to scratch. I ended up getting up and putting ice packs over about 10% of my body and that gave about 50% of relief. I am a pretty tough broad, having three children natural child birth, but this was kicking my butt, and I started crying. It was over a long holiday weekend and so I went to urgent care on saturday as I knew due to the holiday I could not get help past today without going to the hospital Sunday or the Holiday and we all know how the waiting goes there. So I went to an urgent care clinic for the first time in my life. The doctor said some parts were infected and put me on antibiotics and prednosone 3 tabs 2 X a day as he said it was really bad, and I was way past any over the counter help. The doc said I was in for a rough ride for the next 24-48 hours while the prednesone started to work, as there was no creams he could give to help and I am allergic to benedryl. I got home still itching so bad I could not take it.

That is where your blog came in... Desperate, I did a search online for natural remedies and yours came up along with one other hot water as hot as I could stand it and (Black tea bath, we will get into later). I quickly procured the baking soda and venegar and got in the shower. I put the water as hot as I could and it burned and itched like crazy on my rash, still I was desperate, but I did it any way. Then I took the baking soda and vinegar and did as described mixed, rubbed on (this burned like crazy too), waited for it to dry, showered off. Then I took the plain vinegar and rubbed it all over the rash. That burned again like crazy. While going through it I thought to myself I hope this was worth it.

Guess what? The itching was almost completely gone, and I mean big gone, I was able to get 6 hours straight sleep, then got up wiped on some more vinegar and went back to bed for two more hours. When I woke in the morning, my itching was bearable for the first time in 9 days.

After getting up, I used a very hot black tea bath which after the initial 10 seconds of burning really helped, followed by the baking soda and vinegar regimine again. I can now at least feel somewhat normal and the rash is drying up and is getting lighter. Also I think the vinegar was partly responsible for the couple of infected parts starting to heal. In a nut shell, number one, don't wait so long to get started on this regimine, it may keep you from the docs office and two, if you can stand the burning, you got the only cure I could find that actually worked.

Thank God for you taking the time to post this blog. It is so appreciated. You saved me from going insane. I hope my first online post will convince someone else to help themselves."

[YEA]  05/17/2013: Patsy from Kentucky: "Thank you for the baking soda and vinegar advice for poison ivy... I was so desperate, buying everything OTC and no relief. Almost instantaneously, the paste worked. Thank you!!!"

08/22/2009: Sullykip from Brooklyn, New York: "P.S. Victorie: The answer is Yes! EMFs have a huge effect on all of us. And like all toxins, they affect some of us far more adversely than others. As I say, my doctors taught me that those of us with high levels of heavy metals in our bodies, and those of us with fungal infections or candida, will suffer far more from EMF's. So in addition to reducing your exposure to EMF's, you may want to look into getting a heavy-metal test, and /or evaluating for fungal infections.

But either way, if you turn off your cell phone and wireless router at night and remove all electronics from within 5 feet of your bed, you'll sleep better. Also try grounding your bed and bedroom with plants."

09/10/2012: S from Sd, California: "Hi, I'm writing on behalf of my Mother, who suffers severe electromagnetic hypersensitivity to cellphones, celltowers, major powerlines, and wifi. She gets burns on her skin from exposure, a cracking sensation in her head and body numbness just being in the same car or auditorium with those who have their cellphones with them. It's very hard recently living in our apartment in San Diego, as many neighbors now have satellite dish & wifi. We are looking for safer housing. We've made many adjustments already in the realm of health, dietary, even trying several shielding mechanisms, none of which have worked. We've even attempted moving but as yet nothing has panned out. Any help you have or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Please, if there are any resources or directions that could possibly help in dealing with this, let us know. Thank you"

09/11/2012: Sunshine Mommy from Muscat, Oman: "Three very similar possible causes, which I read about recently regarding fillings in teeth and electromagnetic activity:

1. If people have different types of metal fillings in their mouth, this can cause electrical sensitivity. Different metals include gold / amalgam / mercury etc.

When I was researching Oil Pulling - one of the subjects who had different fillings in his mouth could actually 'hear' the local radio station in his head due to the reaction between the metals, and somehow he was picking up the radiowaves. I believe this is more common than we realise!

2. Possible allergy to the fillings and the material they are made off which create sensitivity to the individual and their surroundings.

My mum got her Gold filling removed due to allergy and cannot wear gold jewelry.

3. Amalgam fillings react with EMF and this can cause increased mercury leakage in the human body. The mercury leakage could be the cause of illness. Amalgam fillings which contain mercury seems to have several references to EMF on Google.

Points 1 and 3 together could cause more problems? Hope this is of some help."

09/11/2012: Ed2010 from Oakville, Canada: "Hi this is to S from Sd, California: Keep Tulsi plants in your house both indoor and outdoor. Tulsi prevents harmfull radiation and energy to both the house and for the people dwelling in the house.

Tulsi is a herb and a divine plant in Hinduism. You can even eat the couple tulsi leaves raw, which is a good cure for cough and bronchitis. Tulsi rejuvenates cell which are affected by harmful radiation.

Forbid using Microwave, Infrared Stoves, bluee tooth headset. Minimize the use of television, mobile phones, hope this helps."

09/11/2012: Lisa from Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa: "Hi S from SD, I'm not sure if you've seen Robyn from Australia's posts but she is also someone who has extreme reactions to EMFs as well as chemicals. I will give suggestions that may help. I know I work to protect myself from EMFs all the time because although, many of us don't have the same reactions as those who are extremely sensitive, we are still being highly affected in negative ways. I mostly learned of this from a Longevity Now conference I attended awhile back. There was a panel of about 5 drs. All being asked the same questions and one was: In the last 7 years or so, what have you seen dramatically change in your practice or field of expertise? The answer across the board was problems which were being caused from EMFs! We are being bombarded by them everywhere now!

What I do is wear a Q link all the time. I have been wearing one for over 10 years having learned about them that long ago. Google them and you'll find out about them. Since that time there are other companies that make EMF protectors which may or may not be effective. I only mention this one because it's the one I use. I also have an EMF protector pad on my bed so while I'm sleeping I'm protected since there are electricals all through your home. The only electrical I keep in my bedroom is a small clock far from my head. When I am on my computer for work, I have my feet on an earthing pad. You can google that too or go here to learn more:

http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/barefoot.html#EARTHING

The far infrared sauna we use emits no EMF and that is made by Clearlight saunas: http://healwithheat.com/ Thus, I detox from heavy metals in one and am protected from EMFs simultaneously!

Anyway, these are some of the efforts I use regarding this ever increasing issue for everyone. And also, I agree with Ed2010 in his last paragraph! We haven't used a microwave in about 5 years.

Hope this info helps, Lisa"

09/12/2012: Sailchoc from St. Clair Shores, Mi - Usa: "You might want to try Mark Romero's music. It is benefical at blocking the computer, cell phone and other waves. You can read about it at markromeromusic.com. I know one person who listens to it 24/7. I have seen first hand what it can do and have stopped putting my cell phone in my pocket, because of the demos."

05/17/2013: Them8triark from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Usa: "!!! IN REGARDS TO USING PENNIES TO SHIELD EMF'S!!! You want to use ONLY the pennies that are made BEFORE 1983 as they have copper in them. "Pennies made after that year" are "made of 97.5 percent zinc and 2.5 percent copper." (http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-penny-made-of.htm)

I am not scientific at all, but if copper is an ingredient that is useful in protecting from EMF's, then you may not want to use newer pennies."

05/17/2013: Kay from Destin, Fl: "Can you give some details on the preparation and how it's applied? And what are alcohol victims?"

03/28/2013: Greg from Enterprise, Al: "He might be having cluster headaches. I have suffered with them for over 30 days with no relief from meds. I finally found that taking magnesium and potassium has helped. The best thing though has been finding a chiropractor that does Atlas Orthogonal Technique. If they are cluster, I feel for him, they are horribly painful, feel like sinus headaches until you realize what they are."

05/17/2013: Kay from Destin, Fl: "My boyfriend had those same issues, until I bought him all new bed pillows. I told him we needed to throw away his old 'favorite' bed pillows... He protested vehemently until I showed him a video about dust mites! He nearly freaked out. After doing a few rounds of pillow "tests", his pillows proved without a doubt to be his problem. With his new pillows he's breathing great with no more sinus problems!"

01/09/2013: Daniel from Hyde Park, Utah: "Paul, If you've read these posts on stomach ulcers, then you know they aren't that difficult to heal. You mentioned, however, that you have fibromyalgia which indicates that you have severe gut dysbiosis and a failing immune system. You're stomach is over run by harmful bacteria, and so is your small and large intestines. First, recognize that your Doctor doesn't know what he is talking about. Second, you need to focus on healing your gut through diet change as well as taking powerful probiotics and healing foods. I highly recommend reading "Gut and Psychology Syndrom" by Dr. Natasha Campbell-Mcbride. Go to her website where there are many resources for people in your situation.) Remember "all disease begins in the Gut" - Hippocrates"

05/17/2013: Amanda from Ca: "Hi I was wondering does cayenne have the same effect on an ulcer if you have the bacteria h pylori? I had cayenne pepper on a meal I ate a few days ago, after dinner I was in so much pain I was in bed wanting to cry."

05/16/2013: Mikal from Monroe, Washington: "I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2012. I would like to try the Budwig Diet because the medical proceedures do not seem very good to me."

05/17/2013: Anon : "Hi, There's a good yahoo site called flaxseedoil2, if you join that group run by Sandra Olsen they will really help you. Sandra has a helpful video on utube aswell."

05/16/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "Maybe you would also like: phkillscancer.com. Budwig method is also good if you can get organic milk to make curds. Just a suggestion. Best wishes. Om"

05/17/2013: Mt from Ottawa, Ontario Canada: "try the tee of small flowered willow: http://www.mariatrebenherbs.com/?pid=55&sid=72:SMALL-FLOWERED-WILLOW-HERB"

05/17/2013: Trudyg : "First, you need to watch your diet. Keep a journal and record what you eat, when, how you felt, etc. Also note if you are stressed, tired, that sort of thing. You will notice in a short time what foods bother you when eaten often/occasionally/very rarely/in great quantities. For instance, I can drink 1 c of coffee but not 2 in a day. Some foods are definite triggers--chocolate, tomatoes, high fats. We are always told to eat whole grains, but this is very hard on ibsD. Well-cooked without peel is usually safe for fruits & vegs. Then, look at fiber. There ar 2 kinds, soluble and insoluble. The soluble is goopy, as in oatmeal and lima beans. The insoluble is roughage, like celery. Avoid the insoluble and increase the soluble. If you eat things like nuts, chew very well. Make sure you stay hydrated, water is usually good. Peppermint is an antispasmodic and can help with cramping--comes in capsules, too. good Luck. I've been helped by folks on EC so much, I'm glad I can pass it on."

05/16/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I totally agree, when my allergies were just starting to be relieved I started eating bran buttermilk muffins with apples, nuts, wheat grem, flax seed, sesame seeds, whole wheat mixed with 1/2 unbleached flour, the neighbor kids would visit and eat up all my muffins. Sometimes I used half oat bran with my wheat bran. I like to pour them into the muffin papers with a large ice cream scoop, less mess. Buttermilk pancakes are good too with cooked apples and cinnamon on top with a dash of powdered sugar. They also help clean the pipes while they rejuvenate the intestines."

05/17/2013: Trudyg : "The buttermilk has live probiotics, that's why it helps. I would never say I'm cured because it does come back--eat the wrong thing or stress and I've got a flare that can last a year. I've been making and drinking my own kefir which has been a fantastic help, so if you can't get good buttermilk you can try kefir. I haven't taken supplements for my insomnia the last 3 day, took ambien b/c too much going on & had to sleep. Plan tonight to take l-glutamine + 5-htp+ taurine + vit e. Any thoughts? It's morning now & I can change it if you have any ideas. Thanks."

05/17/2013: Rahil from Delhi: "are you sure it is "20mgs" of epsom salt? or you want to say Grams? Please make it clear as 20 miligram=0.02 grams only."

05/16/2013: Anon : "Hi, Sorry to hear of your problem. I believe your situation is an anomaly - black strap molasses is good for us in so many ways pre and post menopause - it contains more calcium than iron and is full of other trace minerals namely potassium which is very good for us. If you only take one supplement then Bsm is the one. As for your high iron level- do you have an natural iron imbalance? Perhaps you should donate some blood to get your iron levels down. It could be that you have a mineral imbalance with copper etc that needs correcting- a hair mineral analysis would be useful."

05/16/2013: Caitlin from Austin, Tx: "Our bodies don't seem to have a mechanism for getting rid of excess iron. Leaches, fleas, ticks and parasites in and on our bodies was probably the way our ancesters got rid of excess iron. Health scientists have postulated that excess iron may be a contributer to heart problems. A health practitioner once told me that iron stays balanced when a young women has periods because iron is lost on a monthly basis; when she gets older and post-menapausal, too much iron is retained. He recommended giving blood monthly as a way to alleviate high iron retention. As a younger woman, I was once told I retained too much iron in my blood, I never delved further into this, so if anyone has, please enlighten us all. The Protein Power book also addresses this problem."

05/17/2013: Anon from Anon: "Hi all, Mostly here on earth clinic we recommend using Bsm to women who have very heavy periods. Some of these women will be iron deficient due to the extreme blood loss but this is only an added extra of black strap molasses the reason we recommend it is because it slows and stops the flow really quickly if you take atleast 3 large tablespoons with a glass of water each time spread over a day- more if you are heavier than normal. The reason it works is because of the vitamin k in it, the vitamin k helps our blood to clot. Bsm is good because whilst helping people with low iron levels it also helps those with higher levels balance out their values because it contains a balance of minerals and vitamins. It has a lot of potassium in it which helps balance our sodium levels. In Cyril Scott's book on the subject he recounts a huge list of illnesses that have been cured by Bsm - most notably cancerous growths. I appreciate this does not necessarily answer your question but hopefully I have shared some important information on Bsm."

05/16/2013: Mikal from Monroe, Washington: "I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2012. I would like to try the Budwig Diet because the medical proceedures do not seem very good to me."

05/17/2013: Anon : "Hi, There's a good yahoo site called flaxseedoil2, if you join that group run by Sandra Olsen they will really help you. Sandra has a helpful video on utube aswell."

05/16/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "Maybe you would also like: phkillscancer.com. Budwig method is also good if you can get organic milk to make curds. Just a suggestion. Best wishes. Om"

05/17/2013: Mt from Ottawa, Ontario Canada: "try the tee of small flowered willow: http://www.mariatrebenherbs.com/?pid=55&sid=72:SMALL-FLOWERED-WILLOW-HERB"

01/19/2008: L. from Berkeley, CA: "I am writing about severe, non-responsive, apparently untreatable genital herpes.

I have had herpes for tweny years. It was never a huge problem till two years ago when I came down with a painful outbreak with swollen genital glands, which have continued to this day. No anti-viral or natural remedy has had any effect. I have had continuous outbreaks while on anti-viral medications. I have also been in a state of constant outbreak for the past two months,so painful that I cannot stand it. At first I though BHT was working, but it didn't. I am on daily: BHT 3,150 mg Lysine 3000 mg Zinc, 50 mg Vit C w/bioflav 2000mg Vit A 24,000 IU Vit E 1600 IU Selenium 200 mg B50 2 per day Vit B1 1000mg Ted's Apple Cider Vinegar recipe Applied topically: ACV Hydrogine Peroxide Black tea

I am in terrible pain; please help me if you can. Many thanks"

[YEA]  06/21/2012: Cured from New York: "Wild Mediterranean Oil of Oregano cured me! I swear to you. Take 5 drops, under the tongue (hold it there for at least 30 seconds) then wash it down with water, twice daily. I have 100% faith in this. It worked for me. I swear by it. It has to be the Wild Meditterranean Oil of Oregano that says P73 on the bottle, it has the strongest healing properties. You can also rub a few drops, vigorously, on your skin at the base of your spine, each day. The results were so very quick for me and my body is eradicated of the virus. The Oil of Oregano disentigrates/destroys the virus, with consistent use for a couple of months. Also, look into a book called "The Cure is in the Cupboard. How to use Oregano for Better Health. " by Dr. Cass Ingram"

06/24/2012: Sylvie from Newport Beach, Ca: "I came across this while looking up for that book and reading reviews.

IOWA BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS
PRESS RELEASE
For release, April 9, 2003
Cassim Igram, D. O. , a 47 year-old physician from Batavia, Illinois, entered into a Settlement Agreement with the Board to resolve pending disciplinary charges. Dr. Igram was charged with being disciplined by the Illinois Medical Board. The Illinois Board accused Dr. Igram of engaging in unprofessional, unethical and dishonorable conduct in his care and treatment of several individuals who sought nutritional consultation. Dr. Igram was fined $4,000 and his Illinois medical license was placed on permanent and irrevocable inactive status. Under the terms of the Iowa Settlement Agreement, Dr. Igram must provide the Board 90 days written notice and fully comply with any and all requirements established by the Iowa Board prior to beginning the practice of medicine under his Iowa medical license."

06/25/2012: "Having oregano flakes on my veggies - will this help a little? Im trying to kill parasites and yeast infections. Also take caprylic acid, coconut oil, garlic."

05/17/2013: Paul from California: "Take 3 to 4 drops in a shot glass of hot water, then immediately chase it with another shot glass of coconut milk. This will pretty much end the bad taste issue."

12/04/2012: Robert Henry from Ten Mile, Tn Usa: "HI U BARBARA, I am diabetic and took blackstrap molasses a few years ago. The iron sent my glucose numbers out the roof. Scared my mule and would urge caution. Iron is a two edged sword. =======ROBERT HENRY==="

12/04/2012: M from Somewhere, Europe: "Robert, was it the iron or the sugar in the molasses that spiked your blood sugar??"

12/05/2012: Willie from Toronto, On: "I'm not diabetic, but I noticed that the sugar in BSM absorbs slowly into the bloodstream. I tested my blood sugar level with a relative's monitor a little bit after taking a couple of teaspoons of BSM and it elevated my sugar level very slightly."

05/17/2013: Mike from Denver, Colorado: "This is the way to get rid of the excess iron and continue to take molasses. Get 30 grams of succanet that is dried sugar that has not had the molasses removed (2 lbs at vitamin cottage for $4.50), put in a pint of water ferment with (water kefir grains $10.00 at amazon) at room temperature away from direct sunlight for 24 hours. Drink up. Make the next batch with the grains left at the bottom do that every day the acids produced from the ferments attach to any excess free form minerals floating in the blood and are removed in the urine in addition the 26 various microbes 3 different kinds make medicines that prevent and cure all illnesses. Make sure you use succanet because the microbes need the nutrients not available in white sugar"

02/07/2013: Bill from San Fernando, La Union, Philippines: "Hi Nobleknight... The problem you have is slow or inefficient digestion which is perhaps caused by either a lack of acid in the stomach or a lack of bicarbonates in your pancreas. These will both cause inefficient digestion and all sorts of problems can arise from this -- including candida.

To rectify this specific problem, follow this protocol:

* Take betaine hydrochloride tablets at mealtimes. To find your correct dose(and correct stomach acid strength) increase your dosage of BH by one tablet every meal until you get an uncomfortable acid feeling. Then cut back by one or two tabs and that is your dose. Further on down the timeline, as your stomach heals and you start producing more stomach acid, you will again get that uncomfortable acid felling. Keep cutting back the dosage like this until your stomach is healed and you no longer have to take the BH. The stomach is now healed because the BH supplies chloride for the stomach to manufacture its own acid.

* Take 1/4-1/2 tspn of sea salt outside mealtimes. This also helps to supply chloride and minerals to increase stomach acid and for the stomach to heal itself.

* Take pancreatin enzymes at mealtimes to help with more efficient digestion.

* Take Ted from Bangkok's Sodium Bicarbonate and water remedy -- 1/4 - 1/2 tspn of SB in half a glass of water. Take this 1/2hr - 1 hr after you finish your meal and your food has moved into the duodenum. This helps main stage duodenal digestion and also aids the stomach to protect itself after you have eaten. It neutralizes the stomach acids in the stomach when it is empty and is incorporated in the mucus of the stomach to protect the parietal cells of the stomach from acid damage after stomach digestion. This protocol also helps to replenish the bicarbonates in the pancreas -- needed for alkaline duodenal digestion.

* Take Kelp extract or lugols drops drops for the iodine. Iodine is also necessary for proper stomach acid formation.

The above protocol should greatly accelerate your digestion time and make digestion more efficient.

When you take lugols iodine initially and get hives -- this may also indicate a high bromide level in your body. See this article:

Bromide Detox

What might be happening is that iodine is forcing bromide out of the cells into your blood and the liver can't cope so the immune system also tries to get rid of the bromide -- through the skin, causing the hives. The solution is just to take sea salt -- this helps to remove the bromide more efficiently and quickly through the urinary pathway which stops the hives problem."

03/30/2013: John from Chicago, Usa: "Greetings Bill. Mabuhay! Thank you so much for all the invaluable information that you have so generously shared for those fighting candida. I wanted to know what would be the best way or route to go. I am planning a 14-day body cleanse before I continue to follow as many canida eliminating methods as I can. (I can go on about how I messed up my body, especially with antibiotics, junk food and abuse, but it will be very long. ) What troubles me most though, and I apologize if this is not really much of a part for asking details on the protocol, but I would really love to know what kind of foods were you able to eat during your cure. Being that you are from the Philippines, and me also being from there, I need help knowing what to eat. I have never really been much of a vegetable guy. I read somewhere on one of your posts that 'rice' was ok. But other sites say no. Please if you can, email me (jomy_1996 [at] yahoo (dot} com) what you did to eat during the cure. I know the basics to stay away from but I can't think of what to eat. I am soo desperate to know the real deals when it comes to food. I crave for pinoy foods. Thank you in advance."

05/03/2013: Ben from Wanganui, , New Zealand: "Hi Bill, just want to say thanks to you and Ted. Great to have other options apart from endless trips to the docs... I have had candida for over a year now and it has driven me mad...

My main symptoms are oral thrush and the dreaded jock itch. I have been doing Ted's akalising remedy and following a prtocol with iodine, h2o2, vit c, liver aids etc. I have just read you don't recommend the lugol's and h2o2 together. I am starting again as I fell of the wagon with the diet a bit and just got a bit disheartened... But this site and the stories have given me hope. So now Bill the million questions: you can email at esgood4u at yahoo dot co dot nz

I love to party but alcohol is not allowed. is there any alcoholic beverage you can have? I heard gin was ok but I don't believe it...

Which in your opinion is more beneficial, h2o2 or lugols iodone?

What did you use to topically treat your jock itch? to stop the itch...

I love to cook and have lots of recipes using alternate flours like coconut, buckwheat, spelt and alternate sweetners like stevia and rice malt syrup... Are these allowed on your protocol?

I would love to add borax but finding it hard to locate in New Zealand... Any suggestions?

I have lots more questions but really just want to finish by saying thankyou again for giving your time. Absolute legend...

I look forward to hearing from you... Thanks Bill"

05/06/2013: Bill from San Fernando, Philippines: "Hi Ben... In answer to all your questions:

The most recent update on my candida protocol is shown at this link (lower down in the post stream) and also includes a strict anti-candida diet.

I love to party but alcohol is not allowed. is there any alcoholic beverage you can have? I heard gin was ok but I don't believe it...

Alcohol is not allowed because alcohols are converted to sugars which feed candida. Alcohol, in excess, also stresses the liver - which, if you already have systemic candida, will be under continual stress from the poisons that candida secretes as waste. So, no alcohol allowed I'm afraid.

Which in your opinion is more beneficial, h2o2 or lugols iodone?

H202 is very useful both topically and internally and I would never dispute this fact. However, in my own opinion, lugols iodine is even more useful because, overall, it is more beneficial to the body. Also, when you take H2O2 internally, it depletes anti-oxidants in the body - so if you take hydrogen peroxide internally then you must also up your anti-oxidant intake to compensate for its pro-oxidant effects. Lugols is easier to take and manage -- it has many beneficial effects on the body and persists in the body much longer than hydrogen peroxide which is cleared in a couple of hours.

What did you use to topically treat your jock itch? to stop the itch...

Just to be clear -- I couldn't clear my own jock itch until after I had cured my systemic candida problem. After my cure, I then used the following mixture which successfully got rid of my own jock itch:

- Two tablespoons Milk of Magnesia
- Two Tablespoons 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
- 1/4 - 1/2 teasoon of Magnesium Chloride
- 1/4 teaspoon of Borax

Apply the above topically to all the affected area before you go to bed and after you have had a shower and leave it on overnight. Wash off the next morning when you shower.

Using 5 drops of lavendar oil in 1 teaspoon of VCO rubbed into the area during the daytime may also help to kill off the jock itch.

I love to cook and have lots of recipes using alternate flours like coconut, buckwheat, spelt and alternate sweetners like stevia and rice malt syrup... Are these allowed on your protocol?

The diet says no carbohydrates and no sugars. So no buckwheat, spelt of rice malt syrup in the diet would be best.

I would love to add borax but finding it hard to locate in New Zealand... Any suggestions?

You can buy borax easily on the internet - for example, just type "ebay.com ultra pure borax" in Google Search. It's pretty darn cheap even with the shipping costs."

05/16/2013: Ben from Wanganui, New Zealand: "Thanks Bill, great advice... things are going better the second time round. A bit more understanding of the protocol has helped me. Just wondering if it is ok to have as a cold drink: lemon into soda water? Just looking for alternatives. Are there any recipes for the candida diet? Thanks again. Ben"

05/16/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I totally agree, when my allergies were just starting to be relieved I started eating bran buttermilk muffins with apples, nuts, wheat grem, flax seed, sesame seeds, whole wheat mixed with 1/2 unbleached flour, the neighbor kids would visit and eat up all my muffins. Sometimes I used half oat bran with my wheat bran. I like to pour them into the muffin papers with a large ice cream scoop, less mess. Buttermilk pancakes are good too with cooked apples and cinnamon on top with a dash of powdered sugar. They also help clean the pipes while they rejuvenate the intestines."

05/17/2013: Trudyg : "The buttermilk has live probiotics, that's why it helps. I would never say I'm cured because it does come back--eat the wrong thing or stress and I've got a flare that can last a year. I've been making and drinking my own kefir which has been a fantastic help, so if you can't get good buttermilk you can try kefir. I haven't taken supplements for my insomnia the last 3 day, took ambien b/c too much going on & had to sleep. Plan tonight to take l-glutamine + 5-htp+ taurine + vit e. Any thoughts? It's morning now & I can change it if you have any ideas. Thanks."

01/19/2013: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Gooseberry: Do you have a strong garlic-like odor coming from your body? This is one of the classic symptoms of Se toxicity.

Avoidance and time should resolve the excess, but it is possible you aren't utilizing Se properly which in turn could cause a Glutathione deficiency. Try this regimen to correct any utilization problems. Take 1 or 2 grms NAC daily and Vit-E (mixed Tocopherols & Tocotreinols) 400 IU 2x daily. Before retiring take 3mg Melatonin. This will force the Selenium to be used as Selenium Peroxidase and Glutathione Peroxidase, coenzymes critical in defense and antioxidant. CoQ10 would also be beneficial, especially energy production. This might provide some healing to your seemingly stressed glandular system."

01/19/2013: Anon from Anon: "Hi, as soon as you stop eating them your selenium stores will decrease as we use this up every day - generally taking nuts like any supplement should not be every day- say 5 days on 2 days off (weekend) to give body a rest. A hair mineral analysis would give you your selenium status but anyway after stopping taking nuts for a while you should notice your symptoms get better."

01/19/2013: Gooseberry from Barnstead, Nh, Usa: "Thank you Timh and Anon for your feedback. Timh, I take all the supplements you mentioned daily except the melatonin. Thank you for your feedback.

This only happend over a few weeks, so hopefully, it will resolve itself, as you said. Some of the symptoms are really painful especially the brain sparks. I was just wondering if there was someway, if the selenium attaches to some of the heavy metals in the brain, to pull the attached molecules out. I tried a nano form of detox yesterday and got really tired and nauseated. I am assuming that began the process of pulling this stuff out. If I go ahead and take support for liver and kidneys for the detox, I assume that will be enough. Would I be correct?

Thank you"

05/12/2013: Bmax from Philadelphia, Pa: "Thank you for posting your article.

I love Brazil nuts and also read that they might help during the luteal phase when trying to conceive... So have been eating 6-10 brazil nuts every other day (to every day) for the last 4-5 weeks. Just now reading about their selenium content. Wish a warning label came with them!

My question is.. I'm now about 4 weeks pregnant (1 week since positive tests started), shall I just stop eating Brazil nust altogther so that selenium flushes from my system? or is there anything else I can do? I'm assuming that selenium has built up in my tissues, but in toxic quantities? I haven't noticed brittle hair or nausea or nail issues or other symptoms related to selenium toxicity so am hopeful. Also hope my uturus and the rapidly dividing cells have not been harmfully affected. I drink over 2 liters of water a day, which I'm hoping helps wash out some of the selenium..(?)

Thanks in advance with your help with these questions."

05/13/2013: Anon from Anon: "Hi, Don't worry, it's really the tablets that are toxic not the nuts. I'm sure you would be sick before they are toxic. I have been eating lots of brazil nuts a day since last autumn when I found out I was deficient in selenium and it's only recently that I have had enough of them. I think our body tells us what we need to eat. Whole foods like nuts are very nutritious."

05/16/2013: Michelle from Davie, Fl: "Hi! I heard cilantro gets rid of all toxins like that."

05/13/2013: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Judy: It seems your body responds neg or pos to whatever it may encounter from the environment. In short, your defenses are very low.

To begin correcting these weaknesses start w/ a women's multivitimin/mineral supplement w/ super-foods and enzymes, really the best women's multi you can afford. Next, take Chromium Picolinate and Cinnamon to get the diabetes under control. Now, for the kidneys, any herbal "kidney formula" will help. D-Mannose and Cranberry Juice will help.

After doing these remedies you should be feeling much better but I would recommend doing some common detox http://earthclinic.com/CURES/detoxification.html.

Also increase antioxidant nutrition. I would recommend beginning w/ Brazil Nuts for Selenium (2 per day for 1mo then one per day) plus Vit-E (full spectrum). Water soluble antioxidants like Pine Bark, and Grape Seed Extracts will help. A "Carotinoid Complex" plus Pumpkin Seeds (good source of Zinc) will also greatly help."

05/14/2013: Judy from Denver, Co: "To Timh in Louisville KY. Thank you for your input. I have been taking Vit E, Astaxathin, Phynologol and black radish & parsley for the kidneys as well as L-Arginine, garlic, hawthorn, chromium and Vit D3. Kidney dr told me not to take vit C or a multiple vit. I do occasionaly anyway. The blood sugar I dont think is too much of a problem. The drs told me to cut glipizide pill in half because BS might go too low if I take 5 mg. As for cleansing I think I will start juicing -primarily carrots. Thats always done wonders for me. Strawberries apparantly didnt help. The pain on outside of my knee has gotten so bad I have to take 2 tylenol now, wait awhile and then I can put weight on left leg. Once I take first step with right the pain is usually gone.

After reading all I can about this I am pretty much convinced it's sciatica. I don't want to go to another specialist. Every time I follow drs advice, against my better judgement, I end up worse. I wouldn't pretend to know more than a dr, but I do question what they learn in college. One dr in the hospital told me taking herbs is akin to blood-letting. I've taken herbs since the 70s and didn't need a dr for 30 years-not til BS started going up 10 yrs ago. Then I got a drug for BP that raises BS (30pts) My diabetes was under control with diet only til I got that drug. Its been a problem since.

I wonder if anyone reading here has heard of Earthing? I got this info off Dr Mercolas site. I sent for a pad. Its guaranteed to show improvement in pain within 30 days (if not within a few hrs or days) when you use one of their pads in the house. I am ready to try anything. The testimonials look promising.

I need to be able to walk to build up strength in legs and cant do that because legs get tired. I gained 10 lbs in the hospital in 3 days. I blame that on cortizone but drs wont admit it. Kidney function is back to where it was months before I went in hospital.

One of the drs told me Vit E causes cancer. I wonder where they got that?"

05/16/2013: Judy from Denver, Co: "I know there are folks here that seem to be very knowledgeable and maybe someone can explain this.

Four years ago I took HCTZ (diaretic). Went two days without because could not get to drugstore. When I did take it again after approx 20 minutes I got up to get my dogs in and almost fell down. It took over half hour to manage to get outside and untie them and get in. Within 2 hrs my blood pressure shot up 20 pts. OK. That's a bad reaction.

Now I am on lasix and have been for over two years. I have been having this horrific pain in my hip joint and left knee for about two weeks. It had gotten to the point that even 2 tylenol tabs did not seem like enough. For the last two days I have skipped the lasix and gone to taking black radish and parsley as directed on the bottle and pain has decreased to the point that I take one tylenol about every 12 hrs. Swelling in right ankle and leg seems a little better and leg does not ache like it did before after being up on feet for more than ten minutes.

I do not know if my system cannot handle the lasix on consistant basis or if black radish and parsley is more natural and doing a better job. I tend to watch salt intake closely. My blood pressure is the same as it is on lasix. Also, I have decreased kidney function and am diabetic. BS under good control.

I think I will skip it one more day and take it again and see if pain comes back."

11/22/2008: Tilmer from Lancaster, Wisconsin: "ok,so i have over 25 stomach ulcer and i dont have insurance , and im deciding to try the apple cider vineger to heal these and i pray for these ulcers to vanish, iv had them for over 2 years now and im 19 .. i need help people.. so pleasae could u write to me on this.. will this veneger take them away? and how should i take this. can i take it straight? thanks alot and god bless.. my email is tilmer_pack@hotmail.com"

08/05/2009: Bill from Oregon City, Oregon: "I have had stomach issues since childhood. Last year I got to where I had acid reflux daily, so bad I could not sleep lying down. Then a few months a go it changed. My food was slow to digest and I felt like I had some sort of virus. I could only eat cereal and yogurt. It got to the point to where I could not eat without getting major cramps. I went to the doctor. After X-rays and blood test (all my test were clean) he prescribed Prilosec and Reglan. I tried them for a week and had some relief, but was not getting better. I was up one night or early morning, searching the net for any information. I found earthclinic and started my ACV and cayenne regiment (I did not have Glutamine at the time). After my first drink I could tell a difference. After 4 days, I was able to eat and sleep better. That weekend I purchased Glutamine and have been doing the ACV and cayenne drink with the glutamine capsule 3 times a day for a week. I feel normal most of the time, eat regular and sleep much better. I intend to stay on the regiment until I have fully recovered and cut back to once a day to stay that way. I have another doctors appointment in a week. From my research I believe I have a bacterial infection or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). I intend on asking for the breath test to know for sure."

08/10/2009: Ingrid from Geneva, Oh: "Will the ACV work for dogs too? I was actually giving her ACV when she got the ulcer and thought that I had caused it by giving her that. I was thinking it was too acidic for her. Now I'm wondering if I should put her back on it."

09/21/2010: Garcia2894 from Norwalk, Ct, Usa: "Can somebody please answer my question.... How do I take the cayenne and the glutamine capsules do I take then all at the same time with the ACV. Thank you"

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  08/15/2011: Rooster from Fernandina, Florida: "This is Rooster from Fla. I have been battling ulcers for 10 months. 5 days ago I started the cayenne pepper and glutamine 500mg of both 3 times a day before meals 5 days and the result is incredible. Still having a few aches and pains after meals and first thing in the morning, but no more blood and vomit and laying in the bed with pain. What a great web site I am so much better thanks to Ya'll gracious, Rooster"

05/09/2013: Roy from Baguio, Philippines: "Hi, I'm just 20 but I have ulcer.

In short, the prefered actual remedy is eating foods with lots of carbohydrates and fats like flour based foods (breads, cakes and cookies)?"

05/09/2013: Melting from Lindside, Wv: "Wow, I had 4 ulcers 3 years ago. One bleeding in the esophagus. Went straight to gastro. Did the upper scope to diagnose me. Sent me home with double the prilosec pill prescription. Looked over the internet, probably found it here. Juice your raw cabbage. I bought a juicer. Juiced about 10 ounces each morning. Drank that in 3 portions, 3 times a day on an empty stomach. Not tasty by any means. I did that for 2 weeks and then off and on a few days at a time for 3 months. Went back to gastro and he said the stomach looked new. He said the meds did work well for you. I said they went in the trash, raw cabbage juice. He grinned and said see ya later. I think people on this website says it healed them in 10 days. God bless you."

05/10/2013: Timh from Louisville, Ky, USA: "Melting: I am no big fan of pharmaceuticals or doctors, but I take as much advantage I can from what they have to offer. Of course they want me taking many prescriptions meds, and not let my health improve by treating only my symptoms. It's really like Paul McCartney described in the song Tug-Of-War.

Rule-of-thumb to maintain friendly relations in the medical community is "try and meet them halfway". Give them the benefit they deserve. In your case I would have done the acid reducers for a few weeks then on to the cabbage cure. In returning to the dr say "the acid reducers pills worked real well and I read about eating cabbage and that was the icing on the cake. "

Remember, dr's have the legal clout. Acid reducing pharmaceuticals heal gastric or esophageal ulcers, cabbage does not (as according to scientific demonstration by studies and trials and approved by the FDA)."

05/16/2013: Dee from Nyc, Ny: "I have a question, I'm afraid to take cayenne pills or ACV if I have both an ulcer and severe acid reflux. I thought spicy foods are really bad for acid reflux and ulcers. Someone please explain. I'm so afraid to make my stomach worse. Thank You."

05/16/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Dear Dee, I used ACV for acid reflux during pregnancy and I agree, it didn't make sense that it would help, but it was amazing how much it helped. (Prveviously, I had been on prescription meds for reflux. I didn't even need Tums the whole pregnancy I took the ACV. ) It also helped my gall bladder problem. You could start with a small amount 1/2 t. or 1 t. in an 8 oz glass of water and sip it and see how you do.

If you take the cayenne, you could take it with something like ginger. Don't get something with tons of Heat Units. (90HU would be too strong.) Again, start out small. Even just a few grains in juice. And it is better for digestion to let you mouth get used to it before it gets to the stomach. (Stomach's don't like surprises! ) Apparently, when cayenne or chili powder etc. Are heated and cooked that is when they cause trouble. Work up to 1/4 t. cayenne in juice. In Lalitha Thomas' book, Ten Essential Herbs, she tells about a man who had bleeding ulcers that were healed with cayenne. You should be able to tolerate more and more.

Slippery Elm is also wonderful for digestive trouble and so very gentle and highly nutritous. You can mix a teaspoon of it with warm water, like porridge, and a little honey if you like. It is kind of slimy, so if textures bother you it might not work well. Hope you get some relief soon!"

05/17/2013: Gina from Ipswich, Queensland, Australia: "Hi, So I'm up trying to get ready for work and My Ulcers are playing up. I have had these for years. But the last 6 months or so, they have been unbareable, so much so I just can't make it too work. My Hubby, was searching through sites to see if he could find anything to help as the meds that I have from My Dr are just not working.

So this morning he was off to buy the ACV, Cayenne Tablets and Glutamine tabs- I had my first dose this morning and another around 30 mins ago. I do wish I had emptied my stomuch of that bloating yucky feeling that we all know well, as this may have helped it kick in faster? ANYWAY, I really hope this works! It has far too much affect on my life, can barely work, I don't want to do anything, I use to be such a get up and go type of energitic person, but now, All I do is stick to my bed, most times curled up in a ball."

05/16/2013: Mikal from Monroe, Washington: "I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2012. I would like to try the Budwig Diet because the medical proceedures do not seem very good to me."

05/17/2013: Anon : "Hi, There's a good yahoo site called flaxseedoil2, if you join that group run by Sandra Olsen they will really help you. Sandra has a helpful video on utube aswell."

05/16/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "Maybe you would also like: phkillscancer.com. Budwig method is also good if you can get organic milk to make curds. Just a suggestion. Best wishes. Om"

05/17/2013: Mt from Ottawa, Ontario Canada: "try the tee of small flowered willow: http://www.mariatrebenherbs.com/?pid=55&sid=72:SMALL-FLOWERED-WILLOW-HERB"

05/16/2013: Kukum from Pasadena, Ca: "How do you apply coconut oil and wheat germ oil just outside the anal area or can you use cotton (Qtips) to apply them inside too?"

03/27/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "You need to cleanse your liver. Just my guess."

03/27/2013: Claromce from Templeton, Ca, Usa: "Not sure what magnesium oil is, but magnesium tabs helped me a lot."

03/28/2013: Wellspruce from Juneau, Ak, Usa: "Trudyg, I like you tried them all for sleeping. Finally I stumbled onto Melatonin Ultra, 3 mg melatonin, theanine, GABA, chamomile, valerian, B6 and calcium. You're to take 1, 2 if jet lagged. I've been taking 1. 5 the past year and backed off to just one tab 2 weeks ago as I'm on my way to bed, not earlier than that. I fall asleep fast. My problem is I have "waking insomnia" where I sleep three or four hours then am wide awake. Have had it many years. This product has helped me sleep through most nights. Hope you try it and it works for you also."

03/28/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "How does a liver cleanse help insomnia? Also, the melatonin ultra is just one of the things I have already tried without success. Please, is there nothing else out there? How do you cleanse a liver?"

03/28/2013: Jade from Dallas, Texas: "Yes, how do you cleanse your liver? I will do anything as I have severe insomnia and sleep only couple hours every night so please let me know any suggestions how to get into a sleep clinic would be great. Thanks Jade"

03/28/2013: Ejules from Woodbridge, Va, Us: "Try "Insomnia" by Hyland. I"ve used it for years and it has worked for several people who I've recommended it to (I always offer to buy their bottle if it doesn't work for them). It's a tiny homeopathic tablet that dissolves under your tongue. One or two should solve your sleeplessness and a bottle of 50 costs less than $10 so it's definitely cost effective. Totally counterintuitive as to why it should work but it does. It's more effective than melatonin, ambien, and all the other things I tried. Now, I always have some at home by the bed and definitely when I travel. Especially good for those nights when the tape in your head won't turn off or if you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I've taken one tab to get back to sleep when I had to be up in 2-3 hrs; two or three when first going to bed, if needed. You won't have a 'hangover' like some of those others give you. Hope this helps you get some rest."

03/28/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "Well, it has been a little while so you may want to google some info but you should eat fruits (which are the cleaners) and veggies (which are the builders), Avoid sugars, alcohol, white flour products. Lean meats and healthy grains I think are acceptable. Do some more research. Also get some liver cleanse pills. I was told by a naturopath that if you are having trouble sleeping or wake up thru the night it is because sleep is disturbed because the liver is busy processing so many toxins. So at the end of the day cleanup your diet. Diet is king."

03/29/2013: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "A simple Liver cleanse is to eat lots of Beets."

03/29/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I would willingly do a liver cleanse IF I were sure it would not excacerbate my ibs-d. I'm doing too well controlling it to take a chance. The lemon juice/baking soda thing could start diarhhea and, w/ me, this can go on for a year or more once it starts. Eating beets I can do, I love them and do eat them frequently. Grow them in my garden, so I know they are organic. I eat lots of 'greens', whatever is growing at the moment, so I think my diet is pretty good overall. I eat chia seeds daily, drink homemade kefir, don't eat much meat but usually fish, maybe the grains is where I go wrong. The unprocessed grains usually get my bowels going, so I avoid them. I do appreciate the comments, will try the niacinamide. Thanks."

03/29/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Trudyg; Insomnia has been a problem for me too, and like you, I've tried many supplements and herbs. It is still difficult. What works for many, sometimes will have the opposite effect for me.

I try to keep a record of supplements, herbs, even foods that have a stimulating or relaxing effect.

I take B vitamin supplements, but most are stimulating, so I take them in the morning. ( I take extra B12 sublinguals. BTW, it helps my hot flashes. ) B12 suppresses melatonin in the day, allowing it to increase at night.

I do take Niacinamide, (B3), in the evening, it relaxes me. ( I take 250 mgs.)

I still take 1mg. of Melatonin in the evening. It helps, but it doesn't work alone for me.

This past year, I've had good results from taking 15mgs. of Zinc in the evening. ( It may help people with elevated evening cortisol, or possibly, elevated blood sugar.)

I take extra Potassium as a supplement, it also relaxes me.

There are many supplements that work miraculously for other folks, such as : Vitamin D, Magnesium, etc. , but I seem to have a paradoxical reaction to them - worsened insomnia. (I'm sure many folks could have this same reaction to the supplements that work for me.)

I believe my best success with insomnia is from finding the substances that interfere with sleep.

Good Wishes."

03/31/2013: Tamara from Bellevue (formerly Ft. Collins, Co), Wa: "Hi Connie, have you tried switching around when you take vitamin D? I noticed that you mentioned you take your B vitamins in the morning. There's mounting anecdotal evidence (since no one is doing a study on timing of intake) that vitamin D supplementation in the morning improves sleep in lots of different facets. For me, it made me drowsier at night so it's easier to fall asleep and my mood was better when waking (to me indicating that I was more rested). I believe that it acts like liquid, chemical sunshine and helps set our circadian rhythm. Seth Roberts has collected a sample of people's testimonies of morning vitamin D supplementation here: http://blog.sethroberts.net/category/sleep/vitamin-d3-and-sleep/"

03/31/2013: Andrea C from Cardiff, Wales: "The Liver cleanse, is good, but you can't do anything for days! It works BUT you're gonna feel real nasty! Never mind House work, and stuff like that. The "DETOX" Reaction will get you! I know! I did this loads of times. Do not go to the ER. They will put you on drugs. Then you end up were you started and worse than that. I know. Belive me, I am detoxing and I feel real ill! BUT... I know it's working. Best of luck xx Love andrea c"

04/01/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I am really afraid of doing a liver cleanse, after doing some research. It makes you really move things out. With ibs-d, I'm moving pretty fast as an everyday thing. Getting it to stop is the problem. If you haven't had diarrhea constantly for years, every single day, then you don't know what I mean. Seriously, I wear depends in order to go buy groceries. As I am now in a fairly good place, I'm not tinkering with it. The last flare I had lasted over a year and I needed a new mattress. I'll eat as well as I can, but I'm not asking for more diarrhea."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi, Intractable diarrhea may be from a B12/Folate deficiency."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Tamara; I agree that there can be various ways to have success with the use of a supplement; dosage amount, timing of dosage, etc.

Another possibility is that certain co-factor nutrients may be needed to allow the vitamin to be available to the cells.

For instance, from what I've learned from reading on the Vitamin D Council website: Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin K2, and Boron are needed for vitamin D absorption. Zinc helps to prime vitamin D receptors."

04/01/2013: Megan from St Louis, Missouri: "I would try ear plugs. My husband snores and I am a very light sleeper. They are a life saver!"

04/01/2013: Liz from Torrance, California: "Sorry you are experiencing insomnia. I have it occasionally and have found a few things that help.

Adrenals: I would start by finding out from a naturopath if your adrenals are overtaxed. You might have adrenal exhaustion and could benefit from some adrenal support supplements.

Exercising: Do you exercise? What time of the day do you exercise? This too may play into night time insomnia. Exercising earlier in the day is always better. If you don't get enough exercise, that too might exacerbate insomnia."

04/02/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "Thanks for all the suggestions. I read Ted's comments and am going to try the B3 (niacinamide) and B12. Those are 2 I haven't supplemented because I thought I was getting enough from food. Yes, I do exercise--I run/walk between 1-2 miles/day on the treadmill first thing in the morning, then I do QiGong around 3 in the afternoon. I stand rather than sit, walk every chance I get while at work. Weekends I clear land (very hilly) at our farm, set fenceposts, garden, yardwork, etc. I think the activity level is good. I get migraines from melatonin, so when I take it I keep it to no more than 1 mg. Calms Forte + 1 mg melatonin will work 1 day out of 4, typically. If I didn't have to work I would just nap as needed and not worry about it."

04/02/2013: Tina from Houston, Usa: "Please google Min-tran. It is a natural, food based product that helps with sleep issues. I have in the past taken 4-6 an hour before bed, and it knocks me off. It works with the para-sympathic side of the nervous system and brings the body to balance.

Also 'natural calm' magnesium powder that dissolves in warm water, a few hours before bed is excellent in resolving incomnia issues.

Good luck!"

05/13/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "It's me again, the chronic insomniac. I tried the molasses in sleep time tea--boy, did I get diarrhea! Only did 1 tsp, not a tbs. Mg loosens the bowels, with ibs-d I get it very fast and then it won't stop. If I take calcium in the correct ratio w/ mg it's bad, calcium alone helps slow it down. Big issue is the sleep. A post said taurine + l-glutamate + theanine. For me, did nothing. I added 5-htp to that mix, still nothing. Finally took 1 mg melatonin, would have slept but for the vomiting due to melatonin induced migraine. HELP! In spite of all this, I am healthy--exercise daily, garden, work, eat well. What am I doing wrong? My mind chatters all night long, if I fall asleep I awake with a jolt. Thanks for listening."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "just out of curiosity... What about a baking soda bath or a baking soda with vinegar bath.... Maybe 1/4 cup of each.... then rinse it off, just in case. How do you drink your water? How much, when.. ? I use to drink a lot of water but until I followed the procedure in the watercure site it wasn't helping me. I'm so sorry you are suffering ... Love, Joy"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Niacinamide stops the chatter of the mind but take it with other B's they work together... It also helps sleep. First time I took it my mind went blank, freaked me out."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I went back to the insomnia page and read all your post... I'm sorry you are sufferring.

I went to a few google sites and looked around also.

This is just a stab in the dark.... I care. The fact that your grow your own greens and eat lots of them, means you probably get a whole lotta magnesium from them so when you take the mag you get the IBS. The fact that you get a lot of mag from your plants means you might be out of balance somewhere in your minerals. I read that ZINC aids in 300 enzyme functions and helps IBS D sufferers because of the digestion enzyme functions it helps.

They talked about water use at the bottom of the page....

Your diarrhea which I had myself from C diff for 6 months, is scary and stealing your minerals and possible other nutrients.... the chia seeds are suppose to help the IBS D and one site says they are safe to use for 12 wks.

LAST IDEA ... Get a hair analysis and see if there is a mineral out of balance causing the diarrhea because you eat minerals but too much of one would cause the dumping syndrome. As if you ate a poison

May you find you sleep like a baby, .... You'll be in my prayes... Love, JOY"

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "I put 2 tbs acv+squirt of honey + 'fingertip' of borax in a 16 oz bottle, top off with water and sip it till lunch, then do another for afternoon till suppertime. I pee all the time, so can't do more than that. Usually an herbal tea (peppermint) in the evening around 6:30. Haven't heard of the water cure, so please clue me in. Also, I didn't think baking soda or vinegar would penetrate skin so haven't tried them in a bath, at least not since the last uti or skin issue years ago. Thanks."

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "Take it at bedtime or earlier in the day?"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash : "Try coconut meat for diarrhea. On one site, coconut macaroon cookies stopped a lot of people's diarrhea, calmed down their intestinal tract. My book says coconut heals teeth to rectum, you may sleep better if bowels were calm. Coconut milk can cause the runs in some people but coconut oil is very healthy and so is the meat but the meat makes me gain weight. Coconut is anti bacterial, anti microbial, anti fungal, anti viral, and kills parasites ...

Been thinking about you all day looking at sites that might help .... Love, Joy

Also just for info...1/4 tsp baking soda in water may make you neutral so you can rest not reacting to anything ... Your environment may be upsetting you, put baking soda on rug or in a bowl near the bed to clean the air.

I worked in an allergy clinic and was also a patient there and one lady went asthma and fell to the floor gasping while I put balm on my lip.... I freaked but she was actually reacting to the lady that just came in the door with hairspray on. Your immune system may need help."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash: "Niacinamide can cause flushing(red tinging on face) make sure it's in a low dose B- complex and take half pill --not a whole pill, OR get a liquid and start on a very small dose, you don't need to suffer anymore. If it feels overwhelming take 1/4 tsp. to 1/2 tsp. baking soda in water and put a stop to it. Smallest amount that helps."

05/14/2013: Trudyg : "I've been using coconut oil for years now, so I guess that's good. Had been supplementing vit D but levels went kind of high (don't remember what it was) & dr said to back off. That was the first thing I tried for the insomnia, never noticed it to help. Wouldn't hurt to start it again, maybe not so high a dose. Funny, but I get really bad migraines from the air freshener a coworker loves to spray, so I know allergies are in there somewhere. Thanks."

05/14/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I forgot to mention earlier, I had been taking the baking soda daily, too, but quit because my bp went up. I can do it again, it was high for me and I'm always a bit low. Thanks. Isn't it amazing how our foods affect us? Wow."

05/15/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I am taking a b-complex (only for about a week now), had been taking a b12 in the morning and B3 at night, but then I read that it can prevent sleep so I stopped all but the complex. Should I stop the complex and take only b3, when? in the evening? or some other combo. I did the 12 & 3 b/c of a Ted post. Will start the baking soda today. Thanks."

05/15/2013: Kelly from Cambridge, Ma: "Joy, niacinamide does not cause flushing, niacin does. In fact, niacinamide is what's recommended for those who want the benefits of niacin, without the flush."

05/15/2013: Trudyg : "Just grabbing at straws here, but I have a lot of the symptoms for hypoglycemia, too. Just wondering. My a1c level was great, so I've been tested. I pee all the time, often needing to go within an hour of my last trip to the br. I am always thirsty. I get shaky if I wait too long to eat, then I grab a sweet. Sometimes I slur my speech (thought it was due to stuttering as a child), I get uncoordinated (call me graceful). Thoughts? What should I do that I'm not already doing? ( I know, I should stop whining)."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "The squeeky wheel gets the oil. Try the water cure for two weeks, and if you do the supplemental --B's start very low dose mornings.

If you pee all the time (losing minerals and nutrients) ...... Your body is dropping either sugar or something is amiss with your diet, could be as simple as your mint, or anything you put in your water. I lived by a mint field and my friend lived there and her son got poisoned by the soil that affected their water well. He had to detox. There is one other thing that would cause constant peeing is food dye or bad fats or something your body is dumping like your bowel symptom. So 2 +2 here is you are dumping bladder and bowel.

One last thing might be imbalance in microbes in bowel and bladder maybe enzymes and probiotics and possible parasite.. Or ph is off... just wild guesses here.

Baking soda in bowl on desk at work to counteract coworkers sprayng chemicals.

Don't take D if you are high D and don't take baking soda if your BP is high."

05/15/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, I went through something very similar a few years ago. I was sure I was diabetic as I had had trouble with hypoglycemia since I was 15. (I am 46 now. ) My sleep was poor, I couldn't quench my thirst no matter how much water I drank, and of course, I was in the bathroom all the time from all that water. I was getting sores in my mouth, too. I went to the Dr. to get my blood sugar checked first thing in the morning when I finally put 2 + 2 together. But my sugar was okay! (Guess my math was wrong! ) He said, "Oh, it is probably your thyroid. " Sure enough, blood tests indicated hypothyroidism. I suppose this shouldn't have been too surprising as I have had low basal body temperature (as low as 96.3 upon rising for years. I figured I was subclinical hypothyroid and never did anything about. ) The doctor put me on a low dose of synthroid, 50mcg, which did help the symptoms I had been dealing with, but my hair started falling out and I felt terrible. I sat around feeling terrible most of the time. (Doctor said the synthroid was not causing this, but I didn't believe him. ) I didn't think I had any options but started to research and found that I did have options! I quit taking the synthroid after 3 months. I started to do everything I could find to help my thyroid naturally. I took extra virgin coconut oil 1-2 T. daily. I drank Apple Cider Vinegar daily (at least 2 T. per day in water; I spread mine throughout the day. ) I took 12.5 mcg iodine/iodide daily. Meanwhile, I got pregnant. I had the midwife check my thyroid. It was still not in the right range, but I didn't go back on prescription meds. I felt pretty good with what I was doing. I had a normal pregnancy and a healthy full-term baby. I was afraid to fool with the iodine much while pregnant. After I had the baby, I upped my dose to 25mcg daily. (In the am. ) At some point after the birth, the midwife checked my thyroid again and it was in the normal range! (And I had been promised by the doctors that prescription meds were my ONLY option! ) Iodine was what doctors used to use to treat hypothyroid.

So, you could have your thyroid checked or try taking your early morning temp (before getting out of bed, eating, drinking etc. ) If it is low, you can be pretty sure it is hypothyroidism. Research your alternatives.

Hope you get some relief and answers soon. ~Mama to Many~"

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "Sorry, I should have looked it up, but what is the water cure? I eat only foods I prepare myself, no additives or dyes. The only place I would get those are my supplements, so I'll look at that. The only fats are from coconut, grapeseed oil, or avocado. I had my thyroid checked (runs in the family) and it was okay but I may add iodine at very small doses to see if I feel better. Thanks."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I've had my thyroid checked, it appears ok. I know from family experience that the numbers can be okay but you can not be okay. I have some potassium iodide drops, says 2/day. Should I start those and see how I feel? How long before I notice a difference do you think? My sleep has never been good, but since I quit hrt after my hysterectomy it's been terrible. I've got the hot flashes under control (not gone, but bearable). I thank God for the help you all are giving me. I'm really at my wits end."

05/16/2013: Robyn from Asheville, Nc: "Hi TrudyG, I was wondering the same thing. If you go to the watercure site, it's basically an advertisement to buy the book (Earth Clinic, doesn't this go against your policy about not posting links to commercial sites?). A little digging on the web and I learned that you should drink water a half hour before and after eating. You should also take 1/4 teaspoon of salt (sea salt) per quart of water. Or drink this every few glasses of water."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I seem to be the one percent that have the side effects that most don't... With supplements, medicines and with topicals.... Since childhood when I start a new supplement I take half a pill every other day or can't sleep. Makeup is suppose to make a person look better , well for me... It does strange things that are not good. They give me something to calm me down and revs me up, and gives me panics. I eat sugar and no crash, just moving right along."

05/16/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I did some looking and saw that, too. You divide your weight by 2 and drink that many ounces of water/day, adding sea salt every couple of glasses-worth. I'd be peeing all day if I did that! I must say, though, when I drink water w/ acv, I need to go less often. I drink 1 cup of coffee first thing in the morning, then only water until evening, then a cup of herbal tea. I push the fluids and rarely feel thirsty. I do agree that we could all benefit by increasing our water intake, but by how much is really the question."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I get weird reactions, too. When they give me narcotics (you'll sleep! ) ha--not me, I'm bouncing off the wall. Half an aspirin is plenty for me, so I start out low dose, too. I'm post-menopausal, so get hot flashes and couldn't tell you if it's due to a supplement or not. I take evening primrose oil for that, and have added vit e (200/cap X 2/d, don't know if mg or iu). I think most drs either don't know and don't want to say so or think that women are weak complainers, so they don't take us seriously."

05/16/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, If the iodine drops say 2 per day, you could start with that. Does it say how much iodine you are getting? All drops do not have the same amount. I compared using iodine drops to what I take orally and I would have to take 20 drops a day to get what I am getting in pills. (And I don't like the taste of iodine in my water.) Anyway, start with 2 drops a day for a few days. Then do a skin test--drop a few drops onto your skin (I do inside my forearm. ) If it is gone in a short time, you are still iodine deficient. If you can still see it after 12 hours, you are getting enough. (Some say you should be able to see it after 24 hours. Broda Barnes has a book on Thyroid that explains it all but I haven't read it. ) If I can see the iodine spot on my arm after 6-8 hours, I think I am doing pretty well. (I really can't bear to take more iodine than I take. It just seems like too much to me.) I know my thyroid was low LONG before it showed up on a blood test. If you take your early morning, before rising temperature and it is low (Some would say anything under 98.0 is low... But I am not sure. Under 97.0 is definitely low.) My naturopathic doctor says you should not use a digital and you should keep it in your armpit for a full 10 minutes.

Anyway, you can increase the amount of iodine by a couple of drops if the iodine on your skin disappears quickly and continue to check on your skin and increase by a couple of drops etc. Until the iodine isn't absorbing quickly. Or, if you notice improvement, you could stop when that happens.

I can't recall how long it took for the iodine to provide me with noticeable difference. It was perhaps days or a week or two. But if I run out my symptoms come back pretty fast - mabye in a day or two.

You are dealing with lots of health challenges... So sorry! With the IBS are you possibly losing nutrients you need, causing health challenges? Comfrey is wonderful for this. In her book, Be your Own Doctor, Rachel Weaver says to use comfrey root powder and slippery elm powder to help and heal this. Both are soothing to the digestive tract and very nutritious. She has you mix them together with water to a dough like consistency and then make little pea size balls you can take throughout the day when symptoms flare up. Comfrey leaves can also be mixed with other soothing and nutritive herbs (like Red Raspberry) and made into a tea that will provide extra nutrients. I didn't use to think herbal tea would do much, but I have had some amazing help from them this year and have changed my mind. Activated charcoal is also a great thing for digestive difficulty and helps detox as well (but very gently. ) Just don't take it near time of other supplements as it adsorbs toxins and may also do the same with nutrients. (I take it leaving a 2 hour window. ) You can mix 1 t. In water or take tablets or capsules. Just a couple of more things to consider... Hope it isn't too overwhelming... Praying for relief for you."

05/16/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Earth Clinic has a water cure section with Ted commenting on Dr. Batmanghelidj.. I'm not selling books. All these lovely people here on earth clinic are sharing what helps them and I am doing the same thing, hoping it helps alleviate someone of their sufferring. Love, Joy"

05/18/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "About Dr Batmanghelidj's Water Cure: This man was a humanitarian who was ignored by the present medical system. He has helped innumerable people back to health. If people drink water without supplementing with, for example, celtic salt, they will urinate, dehydrating themselves as well as loosing vitamins and minerals. It was the chemically manufactured salt that wreaked havoc with the world's population and caused an explosion of serious diseases that killed many. Because allopaths have no training in nutrition they misguide patients to their detriment.

I have just begun slowly and do not run to the bathroom because of the water drinking. The protocol is easy and must be followed meticulously. Get off to a slow start. Already I have noted the effect of water doing its work in the entire body. I hope this will, in addition of magnesium, cure my insomnia. It is nature, not drugs that will do it. I am thankfull toward the good doctor and think it would be of benefit to read his by now famous book, even though just doing the program would be alright So many people have been helped including pets. To be rightly informed is self empowerment. Be leery of the common table salt, but natural wet salts are delicious, provide much needed minerals and prevent the continuous problem of over urination. We are made mainly of water, so is the planet with vast resources of salt water. Sometimes I think that the intake of chemical and denatured salt over a life time could be a contributory factor of Alzheimers as our brain, too, is made up largely of water. We are all keen on learning how to get in touch and back to nature and with determination success will be ours. Love, Om"

03/27/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "You need to cleanse your liver. Just my guess."

03/27/2013: Claromce from Templeton, Ca, Usa: "Not sure what magnesium oil is, but magnesium tabs helped me a lot."

03/28/2013: Wellspruce from Juneau, Ak, Usa: "Trudyg, I like you tried them all for sleeping. Finally I stumbled onto Melatonin Ultra, 3 mg melatonin, theanine, GABA, chamomile, valerian, B6 and calcium. You're to take 1, 2 if jet lagged. I've been taking 1. 5 the past year and backed off to just one tab 2 weeks ago as I'm on my way to bed, not earlier than that. I fall asleep fast. My problem is I have "waking insomnia" where I sleep three or four hours then am wide awake. Have had it many years. This product has helped me sleep through most nights. Hope you try it and it works for you also."

03/28/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "How does a liver cleanse help insomnia? Also, the melatonin ultra is just one of the things I have already tried without success. Please, is there nothing else out there? How do you cleanse a liver?"

03/28/2013: Jade from Dallas, Texas: "Yes, how do you cleanse your liver? I will do anything as I have severe insomnia and sleep only couple hours every night so please let me know any suggestions how to get into a sleep clinic would be great. Thanks Jade"

03/28/2013: Ejules from Woodbridge, Va, Us: "Try "Insomnia" by Hyland. I"ve used it for years and it has worked for several people who I've recommended it to (I always offer to buy their bottle if it doesn't work for them). It's a tiny homeopathic tablet that dissolves under your tongue. One or two should solve your sleeplessness and a bottle of 50 costs less than $10 so it's definitely cost effective. Totally counterintuitive as to why it should work but it does. It's more effective than melatonin, ambien, and all the other things I tried. Now, I always have some at home by the bed and definitely when I travel. Especially good for those nights when the tape in your head won't turn off or if you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I've taken one tab to get back to sleep when I had to be up in 2-3 hrs; two or three when first going to bed, if needed. You won't have a 'hangover' like some of those others give you. Hope this helps you get some rest."

03/28/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "Well, it has been a little while so you may want to google some info but you should eat fruits (which are the cleaners) and veggies (which are the builders), Avoid sugars, alcohol, white flour products. Lean meats and healthy grains I think are acceptable. Do some more research. Also get some liver cleanse pills. I was told by a naturopath that if you are having trouble sleeping or wake up thru the night it is because sleep is disturbed because the liver is busy processing so many toxins. So at the end of the day cleanup your diet. Diet is king."

03/29/2013: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "A simple Liver cleanse is to eat lots of Beets."

03/29/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I would willingly do a liver cleanse IF I were sure it would not excacerbate my ibs-d. I'm doing too well controlling it to take a chance. The lemon juice/baking soda thing could start diarhhea and, w/ me, this can go on for a year or more once it starts. Eating beets I can do, I love them and do eat them frequently. Grow them in my garden, so I know they are organic. I eat lots of 'greens', whatever is growing at the moment, so I think my diet is pretty good overall. I eat chia seeds daily, drink homemade kefir, don't eat much meat but usually fish, maybe the grains is where I go wrong. The unprocessed grains usually get my bowels going, so I avoid them. I do appreciate the comments, will try the niacinamide. Thanks."

03/29/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Trudyg; Insomnia has been a problem for me too, and like you, I've tried many supplements and herbs. It is still difficult. What works for many, sometimes will have the opposite effect for me.

I try to keep a record of supplements, herbs, even foods that have a stimulating or relaxing effect.

I take B vitamin supplements, but most are stimulating, so I take them in the morning. ( I take extra B12 sublinguals. BTW, it helps my hot flashes. ) B12 suppresses melatonin in the day, allowing it to increase at night.

I do take Niacinamide, (B3), in the evening, it relaxes me. ( I take 250 mgs.)

I still take 1mg. of Melatonin in the evening. It helps, but it doesn't work alone for me.

This past year, I've had good results from taking 15mgs. of Zinc in the evening. ( It may help people with elevated evening cortisol, or possibly, elevated blood sugar.)

I take extra Potassium as a supplement, it also relaxes me.

There are many supplements that work miraculously for other folks, such as : Vitamin D, Magnesium, etc. , but I seem to have a paradoxical reaction to them - worsened insomnia. (I'm sure many folks could have this same reaction to the supplements that work for me.)

I believe my best success with insomnia is from finding the substances that interfere with sleep.

Good Wishes."

03/31/2013: Tamara from Bellevue (formerly Ft. Collins, Co), Wa: "Hi Connie, have you tried switching around when you take vitamin D? I noticed that you mentioned you take your B vitamins in the morning. There's mounting anecdotal evidence (since no one is doing a study on timing of intake) that vitamin D supplementation in the morning improves sleep in lots of different facets. For me, it made me drowsier at night so it's easier to fall asleep and my mood was better when waking (to me indicating that I was more rested). I believe that it acts like liquid, chemical sunshine and helps set our circadian rhythm. Seth Roberts has collected a sample of people's testimonies of morning vitamin D supplementation here: http://blog.sethroberts.net/category/sleep/vitamin-d3-and-sleep/"

03/31/2013: Andrea C from Cardiff, Wales: "The Liver cleanse, is good, but you can't do anything for days! It works BUT you're gonna feel real nasty! Never mind House work, and stuff like that. The "DETOX" Reaction will get you! I know! I did this loads of times. Do not go to the ER. They will put you on drugs. Then you end up were you started and worse than that. I know. Belive me, I am detoxing and I feel real ill! BUT... I know it's working. Best of luck xx Love andrea c"

04/01/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I am really afraid of doing a liver cleanse, after doing some research. It makes you really move things out. With ibs-d, I'm moving pretty fast as an everyday thing. Getting it to stop is the problem. If you haven't had diarrhea constantly for years, every single day, then you don't know what I mean. Seriously, I wear depends in order to go buy groceries. As I am now in a fairly good place, I'm not tinkering with it. The last flare I had lasted over a year and I needed a new mattress. I'll eat as well as I can, but I'm not asking for more diarrhea."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi, Intractable diarrhea may be from a B12/Folate deficiency."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Tamara; I agree that there can be various ways to have success with the use of a supplement; dosage amount, timing of dosage, etc.

Another possibility is that certain co-factor nutrients may be needed to allow the vitamin to be available to the cells.

For instance, from what I've learned from reading on the Vitamin D Council website: Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin K2, and Boron are needed for vitamin D absorption. Zinc helps to prime vitamin D receptors."

04/01/2013: Megan from St Louis, Missouri: "I would try ear plugs. My husband snores and I am a very light sleeper. They are a life saver!"

04/01/2013: Liz from Torrance, California: "Sorry you are experiencing insomnia. I have it occasionally and have found a few things that help.

Adrenals: I would start by finding out from a naturopath if your adrenals are overtaxed. You might have adrenal exhaustion and could benefit from some adrenal support supplements.

Exercising: Do you exercise? What time of the day do you exercise? This too may play into night time insomnia. Exercising earlier in the day is always better. If you don't get enough exercise, that too might exacerbate insomnia."

04/02/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "Thanks for all the suggestions. I read Ted's comments and am going to try the B3 (niacinamide) and B12. Those are 2 I haven't supplemented because I thought I was getting enough from food. Yes, I do exercise--I run/walk between 1-2 miles/day on the treadmill first thing in the morning, then I do QiGong around 3 in the afternoon. I stand rather than sit, walk every chance I get while at work. Weekends I clear land (very hilly) at our farm, set fenceposts, garden, yardwork, etc. I think the activity level is good. I get migraines from melatonin, so when I take it I keep it to no more than 1 mg. Calms Forte + 1 mg melatonin will work 1 day out of 4, typically. If I didn't have to work I would just nap as needed and not worry about it."

04/02/2013: Tina from Houston, Usa: "Please google Min-tran. It is a natural, food based product that helps with sleep issues. I have in the past taken 4-6 an hour before bed, and it knocks me off. It works with the para-sympathic side of the nervous system and brings the body to balance.

Also 'natural calm' magnesium powder that dissolves in warm water, a few hours before bed is excellent in resolving incomnia issues.

Good luck!"

05/13/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "It's me again, the chronic insomniac. I tried the molasses in sleep time tea--boy, did I get diarrhea! Only did 1 tsp, not a tbs. Mg loosens the bowels, with ibs-d I get it very fast and then it won't stop. If I take calcium in the correct ratio w/ mg it's bad, calcium alone helps slow it down. Big issue is the sleep. A post said taurine + l-glutamate + theanine. For me, did nothing. I added 5-htp to that mix, still nothing. Finally took 1 mg melatonin, would have slept but for the vomiting due to melatonin induced migraine. HELP! In spite of all this, I am healthy--exercise daily, garden, work, eat well. What am I doing wrong? My mind chatters all night long, if I fall asleep I awake with a jolt. Thanks for listening."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "just out of curiosity... What about a baking soda bath or a baking soda with vinegar bath.... Maybe 1/4 cup of each.... then rinse it off, just in case. How do you drink your water? How much, when.. ? I use to drink a lot of water but until I followed the procedure in the watercure site it wasn't helping me. I'm so sorry you are suffering ... Love, Joy"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Niacinamide stops the chatter of the mind but take it with other B's they work together... It also helps sleep. First time I took it my mind went blank, freaked me out."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I went back to the insomnia page and read all your post... I'm sorry you are sufferring.

I went to a few google sites and looked around also.

This is just a stab in the dark.... I care. The fact that your grow your own greens and eat lots of them, means you probably get a whole lotta magnesium from them so when you take the mag you get the IBS. The fact that you get a lot of mag from your plants means you might be out of balance somewhere in your minerals. I read that ZINC aids in 300 enzyme functions and helps IBS D sufferers because of the digestion enzyme functions it helps.

They talked about water use at the bottom of the page....

Your diarrhea which I had myself from C diff for 6 months, is scary and stealing your minerals and possible other nutrients.... the chia seeds are suppose to help the IBS D and one site says they are safe to use for 12 wks.

LAST IDEA ... Get a hair analysis and see if there is a mineral out of balance causing the diarrhea because you eat minerals but too much of one would cause the dumping syndrome. As if you ate a poison

May you find you sleep like a baby, .... You'll be in my prayes... Love, JOY"

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "I put 2 tbs acv+squirt of honey + 'fingertip' of borax in a 16 oz bottle, top off with water and sip it till lunch, then do another for afternoon till suppertime. I pee all the time, so can't do more than that. Usually an herbal tea (peppermint) in the evening around 6:30. Haven't heard of the water cure, so please clue me in. Also, I didn't think baking soda or vinegar would penetrate skin so haven't tried them in a bath, at least not since the last uti or skin issue years ago. Thanks."

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "Take it at bedtime or earlier in the day?"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash : "Try coconut meat for diarrhea. On one site, coconut macaroon cookies stopped a lot of people's diarrhea, calmed down their intestinal tract. My book says coconut heals teeth to rectum, you may sleep better if bowels were calm. Coconut milk can cause the runs in some people but coconut oil is very healthy and so is the meat but the meat makes me gain weight. Coconut is anti bacterial, anti microbial, anti fungal, anti viral, and kills parasites ...

Been thinking about you all day looking at sites that might help .... Love, Joy

Also just for info...1/4 tsp baking soda in water may make you neutral so you can rest not reacting to anything ... Your environment may be upsetting you, put baking soda on rug or in a bowl near the bed to clean the air.

I worked in an allergy clinic and was also a patient there and one lady went asthma and fell to the floor gasping while I put balm on my lip.... I freaked but she was actually reacting to the lady that just came in the door with hairspray on. Your immune system may need help."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash: "Niacinamide can cause flushing(red tinging on face) make sure it's in a low dose B- complex and take half pill --not a whole pill, OR get a liquid and start on a very small dose, you don't need to suffer anymore. If it feels overwhelming take 1/4 tsp. to 1/2 tsp. baking soda in water and put a stop to it. Smallest amount that helps."

05/14/2013: Trudyg : "I've been using coconut oil for years now, so I guess that's good. Had been supplementing vit D but levels went kind of high (don't remember what it was) & dr said to back off. That was the first thing I tried for the insomnia, never noticed it to help. Wouldn't hurt to start it again, maybe not so high a dose. Funny, but I get really bad migraines from the air freshener a coworker loves to spray, so I know allergies are in there somewhere. Thanks."

05/14/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I forgot to mention earlier, I had been taking the baking soda daily, too, but quit because my bp went up. I can do it again, it was high for me and I'm always a bit low. Thanks. Isn't it amazing how our foods affect us? Wow."

05/15/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I am taking a b-complex (only for about a week now), had been taking a b12 in the morning and B3 at night, but then I read that it can prevent sleep so I stopped all but the complex. Should I stop the complex and take only b3, when? in the evening? or some other combo. I did the 12 & 3 b/c of a Ted post. Will start the baking soda today. Thanks."

05/15/2013: Kelly from Cambridge, Ma: "Joy, niacinamide does not cause flushing, niacin does. In fact, niacinamide is what's recommended for those who want the benefits of niacin, without the flush."

05/15/2013: Trudyg : "Just grabbing at straws here, but I have a lot of the symptoms for hypoglycemia, too. Just wondering. My a1c level was great, so I've been tested. I pee all the time, often needing to go within an hour of my last trip to the br. I am always thirsty. I get shaky if I wait too long to eat, then I grab a sweet. Sometimes I slur my speech (thought it was due to stuttering as a child), I get uncoordinated (call me graceful). Thoughts? What should I do that I'm not already doing? ( I know, I should stop whining)."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "The squeeky wheel gets the oil. Try the water cure for two weeks, and if you do the supplemental --B's start very low dose mornings.

If you pee all the time (losing minerals and nutrients) ...... Your body is dropping either sugar or something is amiss with your diet, could be as simple as your mint, or anything you put in your water. I lived by a mint field and my friend lived there and her son got poisoned by the soil that affected their water well. He had to detox. There is one other thing that would cause constant peeing is food dye or bad fats or something your body is dumping like your bowel symptom. So 2 +2 here is you are dumping bladder and bowel.

One last thing might be imbalance in microbes in bowel and bladder maybe enzymes and probiotics and possible parasite.. Or ph is off... just wild guesses here.

Baking soda in bowl on desk at work to counteract coworkers sprayng chemicals.

Don't take D if you are high D and don't take baking soda if your BP is high."

05/15/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, I went through something very similar a few years ago. I was sure I was diabetic as I had had trouble with hypoglycemia since I was 15. (I am 46 now. ) My sleep was poor, I couldn't quench my thirst no matter how much water I drank, and of course, I was in the bathroom all the time from all that water. I was getting sores in my mouth, too. I went to the Dr. to get my blood sugar checked first thing in the morning when I finally put 2 + 2 together. But my sugar was okay! (Guess my math was wrong! ) He said, "Oh, it is probably your thyroid. " Sure enough, blood tests indicated hypothyroidism. I suppose this shouldn't have been too surprising as I have had low basal body temperature (as low as 96.3 upon rising for years. I figured I was subclinical hypothyroid and never did anything about. ) The doctor put me on a low dose of synthroid, 50mcg, which did help the symptoms I had been dealing with, but my hair started falling out and I felt terrible. I sat around feeling terrible most of the time. (Doctor said the synthroid was not causing this, but I didn't believe him. ) I didn't think I had any options but started to research and found that I did have options! I quit taking the synthroid after 3 months. I started to do everything I could find to help my thyroid naturally. I took extra virgin coconut oil 1-2 T. daily. I drank Apple Cider Vinegar daily (at least 2 T. per day in water; I spread mine throughout the day. ) I took 12.5 mcg iodine/iodide daily. Meanwhile, I got pregnant. I had the midwife check my thyroid. It was still not in the right range, but I didn't go back on prescription meds. I felt pretty good with what I was doing. I had a normal pregnancy and a healthy full-term baby. I was afraid to fool with the iodine much while pregnant. After I had the baby, I upped my dose to 25mcg daily. (In the am. ) At some point after the birth, the midwife checked my thyroid again and it was in the normal range! (And I had been promised by the doctors that prescription meds were my ONLY option! ) Iodine was what doctors used to use to treat hypothyroid.

So, you could have your thyroid checked or try taking your early morning temp (before getting out of bed, eating, drinking etc. ) If it is low, you can be pretty sure it is hypothyroidism. Research your alternatives.

Hope you get some relief and answers soon. ~Mama to Many~"

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "Sorry, I should have looked it up, but what is the water cure? I eat only foods I prepare myself, no additives or dyes. The only place I would get those are my supplements, so I'll look at that. The only fats are from coconut, grapeseed oil, or avocado. I had my thyroid checked (runs in the family) and it was okay but I may add iodine at very small doses to see if I feel better. Thanks."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I've had my thyroid checked, it appears ok. I know from family experience that the numbers can be okay but you can not be okay. I have some potassium iodide drops, says 2/day. Should I start those and see how I feel? How long before I notice a difference do you think? My sleep has never been good, but since I quit hrt after my hysterectomy it's been terrible. I've got the hot flashes under control (not gone, but bearable). I thank God for the help you all are giving me. I'm really at my wits end."

05/16/2013: Robyn from Asheville, Nc: "Hi TrudyG, I was wondering the same thing. If you go to the watercure site, it's basically an advertisement to buy the book (Earth Clinic, doesn't this go against your policy about not posting links to commercial sites?). A little digging on the web and I learned that you should drink water a half hour before and after eating. You should also take 1/4 teaspoon of salt (sea salt) per quart of water. Or drink this every few glasses of water."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I seem to be the one percent that have the side effects that most don't... With supplements, medicines and with topicals.... Since childhood when I start a new supplement I take half a pill every other day or can't sleep. Makeup is suppose to make a person look better , well for me... It does strange things that are not good. They give me something to calm me down and revs me up, and gives me panics. I eat sugar and no crash, just moving right along."

05/16/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I did some looking and saw that, too. You divide your weight by 2 and drink that many ounces of water/day, adding sea salt every couple of glasses-worth. I'd be peeing all day if I did that! I must say, though, when I drink water w/ acv, I need to go less often. I drink 1 cup of coffee first thing in the morning, then only water until evening, then a cup of herbal tea. I push the fluids and rarely feel thirsty. I do agree that we could all benefit by increasing our water intake, but by how much is really the question."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I get weird reactions, too. When they give me narcotics (you'll sleep! ) ha--not me, I'm bouncing off the wall. Half an aspirin is plenty for me, so I start out low dose, too. I'm post-menopausal, so get hot flashes and couldn't tell you if it's due to a supplement or not. I take evening primrose oil for that, and have added vit e (200/cap X 2/d, don't know if mg or iu). I think most drs either don't know and don't want to say so or think that women are weak complainers, so they don't take us seriously."

05/16/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, If the iodine drops say 2 per day, you could start with that. Does it say how much iodine you are getting? All drops do not have the same amount. I compared using iodine drops to what I take orally and I would have to take 20 drops a day to get what I am getting in pills. (And I don't like the taste of iodine in my water.) Anyway, start with 2 drops a day for a few days. Then do a skin test--drop a few drops onto your skin (I do inside my forearm. ) If it is gone in a short time, you are still iodine deficient. If you can still see it after 12 hours, you are getting enough. (Some say you should be able to see it after 24 hours. Broda Barnes has a book on Thyroid that explains it all but I haven't read it. ) If I can see the iodine spot on my arm after 6-8 hours, I think I am doing pretty well. (I really can't bear to take more iodine than I take. It just seems like too much to me.) I know my thyroid was low LONG before it showed up on a blood test. If you take your early morning, before rising temperature and it is low (Some would say anything under 98.0 is low... But I am not sure. Under 97.0 is definitely low.) My naturopathic doctor says you should not use a digital and you should keep it in your armpit for a full 10 minutes.

Anyway, you can increase the amount of iodine by a couple of drops if the iodine on your skin disappears quickly and continue to check on your skin and increase by a couple of drops etc. Until the iodine isn't absorbing quickly. Or, if you notice improvement, you could stop when that happens.

I can't recall how long it took for the iodine to provide me with noticeable difference. It was perhaps days or a week or two. But if I run out my symptoms come back pretty fast - mabye in a day or two.

You are dealing with lots of health challenges... So sorry! With the IBS are you possibly losing nutrients you need, causing health challenges? Comfrey is wonderful for this. In her book, Be your Own Doctor, Rachel Weaver says to use comfrey root powder and slippery elm powder to help and heal this. Both are soothing to the digestive tract and very nutritious. She has you mix them together with water to a dough like consistency and then make little pea size balls you can take throughout the day when symptoms flare up. Comfrey leaves can also be mixed with other soothing and nutritive herbs (like Red Raspberry) and made into a tea that will provide extra nutrients. I didn't use to think herbal tea would do much, but I have had some amazing help from them this year and have changed my mind. Activated charcoal is also a great thing for digestive difficulty and helps detox as well (but very gently. ) Just don't take it near time of other supplements as it adsorbs toxins and may also do the same with nutrients. (I take it leaving a 2 hour window. ) You can mix 1 t. In water or take tablets or capsules. Just a couple of more things to consider... Hope it isn't too overwhelming... Praying for relief for you."

05/16/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Earth Clinic has a water cure section with Ted commenting on Dr. Batmanghelidj.. I'm not selling books. All these lovely people here on earth clinic are sharing what helps them and I am doing the same thing, hoping it helps alleviate someone of their sufferring. Love, Joy"

05/18/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "About Dr Batmanghelidj's Water Cure: This man was a humanitarian who was ignored by the present medical system. He has helped innumerable people back to health. If people drink water without supplementing with, for example, celtic salt, they will urinate, dehydrating themselves as well as loosing vitamins and minerals. It was the chemically manufactured salt that wreaked havoc with the world's population and caused an explosion of serious diseases that killed many. Because allopaths have no training in nutrition they misguide patients to their detriment.

I have just begun slowly and do not run to the bathroom because of the water drinking. The protocol is easy and must be followed meticulously. Get off to a slow start. Already I have noted the effect of water doing its work in the entire body. I hope this will, in addition of magnesium, cure my insomnia. It is nature, not drugs that will do it. I am thankfull toward the good doctor and think it would be of benefit to read his by now famous book, even though just doing the program would be alright So many people have been helped including pets. To be rightly informed is self empowerment. Be leery of the common table salt, but natural wet salts are delicious, provide much needed minerals and prevent the continuous problem of over urination. We are made mainly of water, so is the planet with vast resources of salt water. Sometimes I think that the intake of chemical and denatured salt over a life time could be a contributory factor of Alzheimers as our brain, too, is made up largely of water. We are all keen on learning how to get in touch and back to nature and with determination success will be ours. Love, Om"

03/27/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "You need to cleanse your liver. Just my guess."

03/27/2013: Claromce from Templeton, Ca, Usa: "Not sure what magnesium oil is, but magnesium tabs helped me a lot."

03/28/2013: Wellspruce from Juneau, Ak, Usa: "Trudyg, I like you tried them all for sleeping. Finally I stumbled onto Melatonin Ultra, 3 mg melatonin, theanine, GABA, chamomile, valerian, B6 and calcium. You're to take 1, 2 if jet lagged. I've been taking 1. 5 the past year and backed off to just one tab 2 weeks ago as I'm on my way to bed, not earlier than that. I fall asleep fast. My problem is I have "waking insomnia" where I sleep three or four hours then am wide awake. Have had it many years. This product has helped me sleep through most nights. Hope you try it and it works for you also."

03/28/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "How does a liver cleanse help insomnia? Also, the melatonin ultra is just one of the things I have already tried without success. Please, is there nothing else out there? How do you cleanse a liver?"

03/28/2013: Jade from Dallas, Texas: "Yes, how do you cleanse your liver? I will do anything as I have severe insomnia and sleep only couple hours every night so please let me know any suggestions how to get into a sleep clinic would be great. Thanks Jade"

03/28/2013: Ejules from Woodbridge, Va, Us: "Try "Insomnia" by Hyland. I"ve used it for years and it has worked for several people who I've recommended it to (I always offer to buy their bottle if it doesn't work for them). It's a tiny homeopathic tablet that dissolves under your tongue. One or two should solve your sleeplessness and a bottle of 50 costs less than $10 so it's definitely cost effective. Totally counterintuitive as to why it should work but it does. It's more effective than melatonin, ambien, and all the other things I tried. Now, I always have some at home by the bed and definitely when I travel. Especially good for those nights when the tape in your head won't turn off or if you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I've taken one tab to get back to sleep when I had to be up in 2-3 hrs; two or three when first going to bed, if needed. You won't have a 'hangover' like some of those others give you. Hope this helps you get some rest."

03/28/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "Well, it has been a little while so you may want to google some info but you should eat fruits (which are the cleaners) and veggies (which are the builders), Avoid sugars, alcohol, white flour products. Lean meats and healthy grains I think are acceptable. Do some more research. Also get some liver cleanse pills. I was told by a naturopath that if you are having trouble sleeping or wake up thru the night it is because sleep is disturbed because the liver is busy processing so many toxins. So at the end of the day cleanup your diet. Diet is king."

03/29/2013: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "A simple Liver cleanse is to eat lots of Beets."

03/29/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I would willingly do a liver cleanse IF I were sure it would not excacerbate my ibs-d. I'm doing too well controlling it to take a chance. The lemon juice/baking soda thing could start diarhhea and, w/ me, this can go on for a year or more once it starts. Eating beets I can do, I love them and do eat them frequently. Grow them in my garden, so I know they are organic. I eat lots of 'greens', whatever is growing at the moment, so I think my diet is pretty good overall. I eat chia seeds daily, drink homemade kefir, don't eat much meat but usually fish, maybe the grains is where I go wrong. The unprocessed grains usually get my bowels going, so I avoid them. I do appreciate the comments, will try the niacinamide. Thanks."

03/29/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Trudyg; Insomnia has been a problem for me too, and like you, I've tried many supplements and herbs. It is still difficult. What works for many, sometimes will have the opposite effect for me.

I try to keep a record of supplements, herbs, even foods that have a stimulating or relaxing effect.

I take B vitamin supplements, but most are stimulating, so I take them in the morning. ( I take extra B12 sublinguals. BTW, it helps my hot flashes. ) B12 suppresses melatonin in the day, allowing it to increase at night.

I do take Niacinamide, (B3), in the evening, it relaxes me. ( I take 250 mgs.)

I still take 1mg. of Melatonin in the evening. It helps, but it doesn't work alone for me.

This past year, I've had good results from taking 15mgs. of Zinc in the evening. ( It may help people with elevated evening cortisol, or possibly, elevated blood sugar.)

I take extra Potassium as a supplement, it also relaxes me.

There are many supplements that work miraculously for other folks, such as : Vitamin D, Magnesium, etc. , but I seem to have a paradoxical reaction to them - worsened insomnia. (I'm sure many folks could have this same reaction to the supplements that work for me.)

I believe my best success with insomnia is from finding the substances that interfere with sleep.

Good Wishes."

03/31/2013: Tamara from Bellevue (formerly Ft. Collins, Co), Wa: "Hi Connie, have you tried switching around when you take vitamin D? I noticed that you mentioned you take your B vitamins in the morning. There's mounting anecdotal evidence (since no one is doing a study on timing of intake) that vitamin D supplementation in the morning improves sleep in lots of different facets. For me, it made me drowsier at night so it's easier to fall asleep and my mood was better when waking (to me indicating that I was more rested). I believe that it acts like liquid, chemical sunshine and helps set our circadian rhythm. Seth Roberts has collected a sample of people's testimonies of morning vitamin D supplementation here: http://blog.sethroberts.net/category/sleep/vitamin-d3-and-sleep/"

03/31/2013: Andrea C from Cardiff, Wales: "The Liver cleanse, is good, but you can't do anything for days! It works BUT you're gonna feel real nasty! Never mind House work, and stuff like that. The "DETOX" Reaction will get you! I know! I did this loads of times. Do not go to the ER. They will put you on drugs. Then you end up were you started and worse than that. I know. Belive me, I am detoxing and I feel real ill! BUT... I know it's working. Best of luck xx Love andrea c"

04/01/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I am really afraid of doing a liver cleanse, after doing some research. It makes you really move things out. With ibs-d, I'm moving pretty fast as an everyday thing. Getting it to stop is the problem. If you haven't had diarrhea constantly for years, every single day, then you don't know what I mean. Seriously, I wear depends in order to go buy groceries. As I am now in a fairly good place, I'm not tinkering with it. The last flare I had lasted over a year and I needed a new mattress. I'll eat as well as I can, but I'm not asking for more diarrhea."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi, Intractable diarrhea may be from a B12/Folate deficiency."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Tamara; I agree that there can be various ways to have success with the use of a supplement; dosage amount, timing of dosage, etc.

Another possibility is that certain co-factor nutrients may be needed to allow the vitamin to be available to the cells.

For instance, from what I've learned from reading on the Vitamin D Council website: Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin K2, and Boron are needed for vitamin D absorption. Zinc helps to prime vitamin D receptors."

04/01/2013: Megan from St Louis, Missouri: "I would try ear plugs. My husband snores and I am a very light sleeper. They are a life saver!"

04/01/2013: Liz from Torrance, California: "Sorry you are experiencing insomnia. I have it occasionally and have found a few things that help.

Adrenals: I would start by finding out from a naturopath if your adrenals are overtaxed. You might have adrenal exhaustion and could benefit from some adrenal support supplements.

Exercising: Do you exercise? What time of the day do you exercise? This too may play into night time insomnia. Exercising earlier in the day is always better. If you don't get enough exercise, that too might exacerbate insomnia."

04/02/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "Thanks for all the suggestions. I read Ted's comments and am going to try the B3 (niacinamide) and B12. Those are 2 I haven't supplemented because I thought I was getting enough from food. Yes, I do exercise--I run/walk between 1-2 miles/day on the treadmill first thing in the morning, then I do QiGong around 3 in the afternoon. I stand rather than sit, walk every chance I get while at work. Weekends I clear land (very hilly) at our farm, set fenceposts, garden, yardwork, etc. I think the activity level is good. I get migraines from melatonin, so when I take it I keep it to no more than 1 mg. Calms Forte + 1 mg melatonin will work 1 day out of 4, typically. If I didn't have to work I would just nap as needed and not worry about it."

04/02/2013: Tina from Houston, Usa: "Please google Min-tran. It is a natural, food based product that helps with sleep issues. I have in the past taken 4-6 an hour before bed, and it knocks me off. It works with the para-sympathic side of the nervous system and brings the body to balance.

Also 'natural calm' magnesium powder that dissolves in warm water, a few hours before bed is excellent in resolving incomnia issues.

Good luck!"

05/13/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "It's me again, the chronic insomniac. I tried the molasses in sleep time tea--boy, did I get diarrhea! Only did 1 tsp, not a tbs. Mg loosens the bowels, with ibs-d I get it very fast and then it won't stop. If I take calcium in the correct ratio w/ mg it's bad, calcium alone helps slow it down. Big issue is the sleep. A post said taurine + l-glutamate + theanine. For me, did nothing. I added 5-htp to that mix, still nothing. Finally took 1 mg melatonin, would have slept but for the vomiting due to melatonin induced migraine. HELP! In spite of all this, I am healthy--exercise daily, garden, work, eat well. What am I doing wrong? My mind chatters all night long, if I fall asleep I awake with a jolt. Thanks for listening."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "just out of curiosity... What about a baking soda bath or a baking soda with vinegar bath.... Maybe 1/4 cup of each.... then rinse it off, just in case. How do you drink your water? How much, when.. ? I use to drink a lot of water but until I followed the procedure in the watercure site it wasn't helping me. I'm so sorry you are suffering ... Love, Joy"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Niacinamide stops the chatter of the mind but take it with other B's they work together... It also helps sleep. First time I took it my mind went blank, freaked me out."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I went back to the insomnia page and read all your post... I'm sorry you are sufferring.

I went to a few google sites and looked around also.

This is just a stab in the dark.... I care. The fact that your grow your own greens and eat lots of them, means you probably get a whole lotta magnesium from them so when you take the mag you get the IBS. The fact that you get a lot of mag from your plants means you might be out of balance somewhere in your minerals. I read that ZINC aids in 300 enzyme functions and helps IBS D sufferers because of the digestion enzyme functions it helps.

They talked about water use at the bottom of the page....

Your diarrhea which I had myself from C diff for 6 months, is scary and stealing your minerals and possible other nutrients.... the chia seeds are suppose to help the IBS D and one site says they are safe to use for 12 wks.

LAST IDEA ... Get a hair analysis and see if there is a mineral out of balance causing the diarrhea because you eat minerals but too much of one would cause the dumping syndrome. As if you ate a poison

May you find you sleep like a baby, .... You'll be in my prayes... Love, JOY"

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "I put 2 tbs acv+squirt of honey + 'fingertip' of borax in a 16 oz bottle, top off with water and sip it till lunch, then do another for afternoon till suppertime. I pee all the time, so can't do more than that. Usually an herbal tea (peppermint) in the evening around 6:30. Haven't heard of the water cure, so please clue me in. Also, I didn't think baking soda or vinegar would penetrate skin so haven't tried them in a bath, at least not since the last uti or skin issue years ago. Thanks."

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "Take it at bedtime or earlier in the day?"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash : "Try coconut meat for diarrhea. On one site, coconut macaroon cookies stopped a lot of people's diarrhea, calmed down their intestinal tract. My book says coconut heals teeth to rectum, you may sleep better if bowels were calm. Coconut milk can cause the runs in some people but coconut oil is very healthy and so is the meat but the meat makes me gain weight. Coconut is anti bacterial, anti microbial, anti fungal, anti viral, and kills parasites ...

Been thinking about you all day looking at sites that might help .... Love, Joy

Also just for info...1/4 tsp baking soda in water may make you neutral so you can rest not reacting to anything ... Your environment may be upsetting you, put baking soda on rug or in a bowl near the bed to clean the air.

I worked in an allergy clinic and was also a patient there and one lady went asthma and fell to the floor gasping while I put balm on my lip.... I freaked but she was actually reacting to the lady that just came in the door with hairspray on. Your immune system may need help."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash: "Niacinamide can cause flushing(red tinging on face) make sure it's in a low dose B- complex and take half pill --not a whole pill, OR get a liquid and start on a very small dose, you don't need to suffer anymore. If it feels overwhelming take 1/4 tsp. to 1/2 tsp. baking soda in water and put a stop to it. Smallest amount that helps."

05/14/2013: Trudyg : "I've been using coconut oil for years now, so I guess that's good. Had been supplementing vit D but levels went kind of high (don't remember what it was) & dr said to back off. That was the first thing I tried for the insomnia, never noticed it to help. Wouldn't hurt to start it again, maybe not so high a dose. Funny, but I get really bad migraines from the air freshener a coworker loves to spray, so I know allergies are in there somewhere. Thanks."

05/14/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I forgot to mention earlier, I had been taking the baking soda daily, too, but quit because my bp went up. I can do it again, it was high for me and I'm always a bit low. Thanks. Isn't it amazing how our foods affect us? Wow."

05/15/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I am taking a b-complex (only for about a week now), had been taking a b12 in the morning and B3 at night, but then I read that it can prevent sleep so I stopped all but the complex. Should I stop the complex and take only b3, when? in the evening? or some other combo. I did the 12 & 3 b/c of a Ted post. Will start the baking soda today. Thanks."

05/15/2013: Kelly from Cambridge, Ma: "Joy, niacinamide does not cause flushing, niacin does. In fact, niacinamide is what's recommended for those who want the benefits of niacin, without the flush."

05/15/2013: Trudyg : "Just grabbing at straws here, but I have a lot of the symptoms for hypoglycemia, too. Just wondering. My a1c level was great, so I've been tested. I pee all the time, often needing to go within an hour of my last trip to the br. I am always thirsty. I get shaky if I wait too long to eat, then I grab a sweet. Sometimes I slur my speech (thought it was due to stuttering as a child), I get uncoordinated (call me graceful). Thoughts? What should I do that I'm not already doing? ( I know, I should stop whining)."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "The squeeky wheel gets the oil. Try the water cure for two weeks, and if you do the supplemental --B's start very low dose mornings.

If you pee all the time (losing minerals and nutrients) ...... Your body is dropping either sugar or something is amiss with your diet, could be as simple as your mint, or anything you put in your water. I lived by a mint field and my friend lived there and her son got poisoned by the soil that affected their water well. He had to detox. There is one other thing that would cause constant peeing is food dye or bad fats or something your body is dumping like your bowel symptom. So 2 +2 here is you are dumping bladder and bowel.

One last thing might be imbalance in microbes in bowel and bladder maybe enzymes and probiotics and possible parasite.. Or ph is off... just wild guesses here.

Baking soda in bowl on desk at work to counteract coworkers sprayng chemicals.

Don't take D if you are high D and don't take baking soda if your BP is high."

05/15/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, I went through something very similar a few years ago. I was sure I was diabetic as I had had trouble with hypoglycemia since I was 15. (I am 46 now. ) My sleep was poor, I couldn't quench my thirst no matter how much water I drank, and of course, I was in the bathroom all the time from all that water. I was getting sores in my mouth, too. I went to the Dr. to get my blood sugar checked first thing in the morning when I finally put 2 + 2 together. But my sugar was okay! (Guess my math was wrong! ) He said, "Oh, it is probably your thyroid. " Sure enough, blood tests indicated hypothyroidism. I suppose this shouldn't have been too surprising as I have had low basal body temperature (as low as 96.3 upon rising for years. I figured I was subclinical hypothyroid and never did anything about. ) The doctor put me on a low dose of synthroid, 50mcg, which did help the symptoms I had been dealing with, but my hair started falling out and I felt terrible. I sat around feeling terrible most of the time. (Doctor said the synthroid was not causing this, but I didn't believe him. ) I didn't think I had any options but started to research and found that I did have options! I quit taking the synthroid after 3 months. I started to do everything I could find to help my thyroid naturally. I took extra virgin coconut oil 1-2 T. daily. I drank Apple Cider Vinegar daily (at least 2 T. per day in water; I spread mine throughout the day. ) I took 12.5 mcg iodine/iodide daily. Meanwhile, I got pregnant. I had the midwife check my thyroid. It was still not in the right range, but I didn't go back on prescription meds. I felt pretty good with what I was doing. I had a normal pregnancy and a healthy full-term baby. I was afraid to fool with the iodine much while pregnant. After I had the baby, I upped my dose to 25mcg daily. (In the am. ) At some point after the birth, the midwife checked my thyroid again and it was in the normal range! (And I had been promised by the doctors that prescription meds were my ONLY option! ) Iodine was what doctors used to use to treat hypothyroid.

So, you could have your thyroid checked or try taking your early morning temp (before getting out of bed, eating, drinking etc. ) If it is low, you can be pretty sure it is hypothyroidism. Research your alternatives.

Hope you get some relief and answers soon. ~Mama to Many~"

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "Sorry, I should have looked it up, but what is the water cure? I eat only foods I prepare myself, no additives or dyes. The only place I would get those are my supplements, so I'll look at that. The only fats are from coconut, grapeseed oil, or avocado. I had my thyroid checked (runs in the family) and it was okay but I may add iodine at very small doses to see if I feel better. Thanks."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I've had my thyroid checked, it appears ok. I know from family experience that the numbers can be okay but you can not be okay. I have some potassium iodide drops, says 2/day. Should I start those and see how I feel? How long before I notice a difference do you think? My sleep has never been good, but since I quit hrt after my hysterectomy it's been terrible. I've got the hot flashes under control (not gone, but bearable). I thank God for the help you all are giving me. I'm really at my wits end."

05/16/2013: Robyn from Asheville, Nc: "Hi TrudyG, I was wondering the same thing. If you go to the watercure site, it's basically an advertisement to buy the book (Earth Clinic, doesn't this go against your policy about not posting links to commercial sites?). A little digging on the web and I learned that you should drink water a half hour before and after eating. You should also take 1/4 teaspoon of salt (sea salt) per quart of water. Or drink this every few glasses of water."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I seem to be the one percent that have the side effects that most don't... With supplements, medicines and with topicals.... Since childhood when I start a new supplement I take half a pill every other day or can't sleep. Makeup is suppose to make a person look better , well for me... It does strange things that are not good. They give me something to calm me down and revs me up, and gives me panics. I eat sugar and no crash, just moving right along."

05/16/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I did some looking and saw that, too. You divide your weight by 2 and drink that many ounces of water/day, adding sea salt every couple of glasses-worth. I'd be peeing all day if I did that! I must say, though, when I drink water w/ acv, I need to go less often. I drink 1 cup of coffee first thing in the morning, then only water until evening, then a cup of herbal tea. I push the fluids and rarely feel thirsty. I do agree that we could all benefit by increasing our water intake, but by how much is really the question."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I get weird reactions, too. When they give me narcotics (you'll sleep! ) ha--not me, I'm bouncing off the wall. Half an aspirin is plenty for me, so I start out low dose, too. I'm post-menopausal, so get hot flashes and couldn't tell you if it's due to a supplement or not. I take evening primrose oil for that, and have added vit e (200/cap X 2/d, don't know if mg or iu). I think most drs either don't know and don't want to say so or think that women are weak complainers, so they don't take us seriously."

05/16/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, If the iodine drops say 2 per day, you could start with that. Does it say how much iodine you are getting? All drops do not have the same amount. I compared using iodine drops to what I take orally and I would have to take 20 drops a day to get what I am getting in pills. (And I don't like the taste of iodine in my water.) Anyway, start with 2 drops a day for a few days. Then do a skin test--drop a few drops onto your skin (I do inside my forearm. ) If it is gone in a short time, you are still iodine deficient. If you can still see it after 12 hours, you are getting enough. (Some say you should be able to see it after 24 hours. Broda Barnes has a book on Thyroid that explains it all but I haven't read it. ) If I can see the iodine spot on my arm after 6-8 hours, I think I am doing pretty well. (I really can't bear to take more iodine than I take. It just seems like too much to me.) I know my thyroid was low LONG before it showed up on a blood test. If you take your early morning, before rising temperature and it is low (Some would say anything under 98.0 is low... But I am not sure. Under 97.0 is definitely low.) My naturopathic doctor says you should not use a digital and you should keep it in your armpit for a full 10 minutes.

Anyway, you can increase the amount of iodine by a couple of drops if the iodine on your skin disappears quickly and continue to check on your skin and increase by a couple of drops etc. Until the iodine isn't absorbing quickly. Or, if you notice improvement, you could stop when that happens.

I can't recall how long it took for the iodine to provide me with noticeable difference. It was perhaps days or a week or two. But if I run out my symptoms come back pretty fast - mabye in a day or two.

You are dealing with lots of health challenges... So sorry! With the IBS are you possibly losing nutrients you need, causing health challenges? Comfrey is wonderful for this. In her book, Be your Own Doctor, Rachel Weaver says to use comfrey root powder and slippery elm powder to help and heal this. Both are soothing to the digestive tract and very nutritious. She has you mix them together with water to a dough like consistency and then make little pea size balls you can take throughout the day when symptoms flare up. Comfrey leaves can also be mixed with other soothing and nutritive herbs (like Red Raspberry) and made into a tea that will provide extra nutrients. I didn't use to think herbal tea would do much, but I have had some amazing help from them this year and have changed my mind. Activated charcoal is also a great thing for digestive difficulty and helps detox as well (but very gently. ) Just don't take it near time of other supplements as it adsorbs toxins and may also do the same with nutrients. (I take it leaving a 2 hour window. ) You can mix 1 t. In water or take tablets or capsules. Just a couple of more things to consider... Hope it isn't too overwhelming... Praying for relief for you."

05/16/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Earth Clinic has a water cure section with Ted commenting on Dr. Batmanghelidj.. I'm not selling books. All these lovely people here on earth clinic are sharing what helps them and I am doing the same thing, hoping it helps alleviate someone of their sufferring. Love, Joy"

05/18/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "About Dr Batmanghelidj's Water Cure: This man was a humanitarian who was ignored by the present medical system. He has helped innumerable people back to health. If people drink water without supplementing with, for example, celtic salt, they will urinate, dehydrating themselves as well as loosing vitamins and minerals. It was the chemically manufactured salt that wreaked havoc with the world's population and caused an explosion of serious diseases that killed many. Because allopaths have no training in nutrition they misguide patients to their detriment.

I have just begun slowly and do not run to the bathroom because of the water drinking. The protocol is easy and must be followed meticulously. Get off to a slow start. Already I have noted the effect of water doing its work in the entire body. I hope this will, in addition of magnesium, cure my insomnia. It is nature, not drugs that will do it. I am thankfull toward the good doctor and think it would be of benefit to read his by now famous book, even though just doing the program would be alright So many people have been helped including pets. To be rightly informed is self empowerment. Be leery of the common table salt, but natural wet salts are delicious, provide much needed minerals and prevent the continuous problem of over urination. We are made mainly of water, so is the planet with vast resources of salt water. Sometimes I think that the intake of chemical and denatured salt over a life time could be a contributory factor of Alzheimers as our brain, too, is made up largely of water. We are all keen on learning how to get in touch and back to nature and with determination success will be ours. Love, Om"

03/27/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "You need to cleanse your liver. Just my guess."

03/27/2013: Claromce from Templeton, Ca, Usa: "Not sure what magnesium oil is, but magnesium tabs helped me a lot."

03/28/2013: Wellspruce from Juneau, Ak, Usa: "Trudyg, I like you tried them all for sleeping. Finally I stumbled onto Melatonin Ultra, 3 mg melatonin, theanine, GABA, chamomile, valerian, B6 and calcium. You're to take 1, 2 if jet lagged. I've been taking 1. 5 the past year and backed off to just one tab 2 weeks ago as I'm on my way to bed, not earlier than that. I fall asleep fast. My problem is I have "waking insomnia" where I sleep three or four hours then am wide awake. Have had it many years. This product has helped me sleep through most nights. Hope you try it and it works for you also."

03/28/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "How does a liver cleanse help insomnia? Also, the melatonin ultra is just one of the things I have already tried without success. Please, is there nothing else out there? How do you cleanse a liver?"

03/28/2013: Jade from Dallas, Texas: "Yes, how do you cleanse your liver? I will do anything as I have severe insomnia and sleep only couple hours every night so please let me know any suggestions how to get into a sleep clinic would be great. Thanks Jade"

03/28/2013: Ejules from Woodbridge, Va, Us: "Try "Insomnia" by Hyland. I"ve used it for years and it has worked for several people who I've recommended it to (I always offer to buy their bottle if it doesn't work for them). It's a tiny homeopathic tablet that dissolves under your tongue. One or two should solve your sleeplessness and a bottle of 50 costs less than $10 so it's definitely cost effective. Totally counterintuitive as to why it should work but it does. It's more effective than melatonin, ambien, and all the other things I tried. Now, I always have some at home by the bed and definitely when I travel. Especially good for those nights when the tape in your head won't turn off or if you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I've taken one tab to get back to sleep when I had to be up in 2-3 hrs; two or three when first going to bed, if needed. You won't have a 'hangover' like some of those others give you. Hope this helps you get some rest."

03/28/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "Well, it has been a little while so you may want to google some info but you should eat fruits (which are the cleaners) and veggies (which are the builders), Avoid sugars, alcohol, white flour products. Lean meats and healthy grains I think are acceptable. Do some more research. Also get some liver cleanse pills. I was told by a naturopath that if you are having trouble sleeping or wake up thru the night it is because sleep is disturbed because the liver is busy processing so many toxins. So at the end of the day cleanup your diet. Diet is king."

03/29/2013: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "A simple Liver cleanse is to eat lots of Beets."

03/29/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I would willingly do a liver cleanse IF I were sure it would not excacerbate my ibs-d. I'm doing too well controlling it to take a chance. The lemon juice/baking soda thing could start diarhhea and, w/ me, this can go on for a year or more once it starts. Eating beets I can do, I love them and do eat them frequently. Grow them in my garden, so I know they are organic. I eat lots of 'greens', whatever is growing at the moment, so I think my diet is pretty good overall. I eat chia seeds daily, drink homemade kefir, don't eat much meat but usually fish, maybe the grains is where I go wrong. The unprocessed grains usually get my bowels going, so I avoid them. I do appreciate the comments, will try the niacinamide. Thanks."

03/29/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Trudyg; Insomnia has been a problem for me too, and like you, I've tried many supplements and herbs. It is still difficult. What works for many, sometimes will have the opposite effect for me.

I try to keep a record of supplements, herbs, even foods that have a stimulating or relaxing effect.

I take B vitamin supplements, but most are stimulating, so I take them in the morning. ( I take extra B12 sublinguals. BTW, it helps my hot flashes. ) B12 suppresses melatonin in the day, allowing it to increase at night.

I do take Niacinamide, (B3), in the evening, it relaxes me. ( I take 250 mgs.)

I still take 1mg. of Melatonin in the evening. It helps, but it doesn't work alone for me.

This past year, I've had good results from taking 15mgs. of Zinc in the evening. ( It may help people with elevated evening cortisol, or possibly, elevated blood sugar.)

I take extra Potassium as a supplement, it also relaxes me.

There are many supplements that work miraculously for other folks, such as : Vitamin D, Magnesium, etc. , but I seem to have a paradoxical reaction to them - worsened insomnia. (I'm sure many folks could have this same reaction to the supplements that work for me.)

I believe my best success with insomnia is from finding the substances that interfere with sleep.

Good Wishes."

03/31/2013: Tamara from Bellevue (formerly Ft. Collins, Co), Wa: "Hi Connie, have you tried switching around when you take vitamin D? I noticed that you mentioned you take your B vitamins in the morning. There's mounting anecdotal evidence (since no one is doing a study on timing of intake) that vitamin D supplementation in the morning improves sleep in lots of different facets. For me, it made me drowsier at night so it's easier to fall asleep and my mood was better when waking (to me indicating that I was more rested). I believe that it acts like liquid, chemical sunshine and helps set our circadian rhythm. Seth Roberts has collected a sample of people's testimonies of morning vitamin D supplementation here: http://blog.sethroberts.net/category/sleep/vitamin-d3-and-sleep/"

03/31/2013: Andrea C from Cardiff, Wales: "The Liver cleanse, is good, but you can't do anything for days! It works BUT you're gonna feel real nasty! Never mind House work, and stuff like that. The "DETOX" Reaction will get you! I know! I did this loads of times. Do not go to the ER. They will put you on drugs. Then you end up were you started and worse than that. I know. Belive me, I am detoxing and I feel real ill! BUT... I know it's working. Best of luck xx Love andrea c"

04/01/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I am really afraid of doing a liver cleanse, after doing some research. It makes you really move things out. With ibs-d, I'm moving pretty fast as an everyday thing. Getting it to stop is the problem. If you haven't had diarrhea constantly for years, every single day, then you don't know what I mean. Seriously, I wear depends in order to go buy groceries. As I am now in a fairly good place, I'm not tinkering with it. The last flare I had lasted over a year and I needed a new mattress. I'll eat as well as I can, but I'm not asking for more diarrhea."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi, Intractable diarrhea may be from a B12/Folate deficiency."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Tamara; I agree that there can be various ways to have success with the use of a supplement; dosage amount, timing of dosage, etc.

Another possibility is that certain co-factor nutrients may be needed to allow the vitamin to be available to the cells.

For instance, from what I've learned from reading on the Vitamin D Council website: Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin K2, and Boron are needed for vitamin D absorption. Zinc helps to prime vitamin D receptors."

04/01/2013: Megan from St Louis, Missouri: "I would try ear plugs. My husband snores and I am a very light sleeper. They are a life saver!"

04/01/2013: Liz from Torrance, California: "Sorry you are experiencing insomnia. I have it occasionally and have found a few things that help.

Adrenals: I would start by finding out from a naturopath if your adrenals are overtaxed. You might have adrenal exhaustion and could benefit from some adrenal support supplements.

Exercising: Do you exercise? What time of the day do you exercise? This too may play into night time insomnia. Exercising earlier in the day is always better. If you don't get enough exercise, that too might exacerbate insomnia."

04/02/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "Thanks for all the suggestions. I read Ted's comments and am going to try the B3 (niacinamide) and B12. Those are 2 I haven't supplemented because I thought I was getting enough from food. Yes, I do exercise--I run/walk between 1-2 miles/day on the treadmill first thing in the morning, then I do QiGong around 3 in the afternoon. I stand rather than sit, walk every chance I get while at work. Weekends I clear land (very hilly) at our farm, set fenceposts, garden, yardwork, etc. I think the activity level is good. I get migraines from melatonin, so when I take it I keep it to no more than 1 mg. Calms Forte + 1 mg melatonin will work 1 day out of 4, typically. If I didn't have to work I would just nap as needed and not worry about it."

04/02/2013: Tina from Houston, Usa: "Please google Min-tran. It is a natural, food based product that helps with sleep issues. I have in the past taken 4-6 an hour before bed, and it knocks me off. It works with the para-sympathic side of the nervous system and brings the body to balance.

Also 'natural calm' magnesium powder that dissolves in warm water, a few hours before bed is excellent in resolving incomnia issues.

Good luck!"

05/13/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "It's me again, the chronic insomniac. I tried the molasses in sleep time tea--boy, did I get diarrhea! Only did 1 tsp, not a tbs. Mg loosens the bowels, with ibs-d I get it very fast and then it won't stop. If I take calcium in the correct ratio w/ mg it's bad, calcium alone helps slow it down. Big issue is the sleep. A post said taurine + l-glutamate + theanine. For me, did nothing. I added 5-htp to that mix, still nothing. Finally took 1 mg melatonin, would have slept but for the vomiting due to melatonin induced migraine. HELP! In spite of all this, I am healthy--exercise daily, garden, work, eat well. What am I doing wrong? My mind chatters all night long, if I fall asleep I awake with a jolt. Thanks for listening."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "just out of curiosity... What about a baking soda bath or a baking soda with vinegar bath.... Maybe 1/4 cup of each.... then rinse it off, just in case. How do you drink your water? How much, when.. ? I use to drink a lot of water but until I followed the procedure in the watercure site it wasn't helping me. I'm so sorry you are suffering ... Love, Joy"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Niacinamide stops the chatter of the mind but take it with other B's they work together... It also helps sleep. First time I took it my mind went blank, freaked me out."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I went back to the insomnia page and read all your post... I'm sorry you are sufferring.

I went to a few google sites and looked around also.

This is just a stab in the dark.... I care. The fact that your grow your own greens and eat lots of them, means you probably get a whole lotta magnesium from them so when you take the mag you get the IBS. The fact that you get a lot of mag from your plants means you might be out of balance somewhere in your minerals. I read that ZINC aids in 300 enzyme functions and helps IBS D sufferers because of the digestion enzyme functions it helps.

They talked about water use at the bottom of the page....

Your diarrhea which I had myself from C diff for 6 months, is scary and stealing your minerals and possible other nutrients.... the chia seeds are suppose to help the IBS D and one site says they are safe to use for 12 wks.

LAST IDEA ... Get a hair analysis and see if there is a mineral out of balance causing the diarrhea because you eat minerals but too much of one would cause the dumping syndrome. As if you ate a poison

May you find you sleep like a baby, .... You'll be in my prayes... Love, JOY"

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "I put 2 tbs acv+squirt of honey + 'fingertip' of borax in a 16 oz bottle, top off with water and sip it till lunch, then do another for afternoon till suppertime. I pee all the time, so can't do more than that. Usually an herbal tea (peppermint) in the evening around 6:30. Haven't heard of the water cure, so please clue me in. Also, I didn't think baking soda or vinegar would penetrate skin so haven't tried them in a bath, at least not since the last uti or skin issue years ago. Thanks."

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "Take it at bedtime or earlier in the day?"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash : "Try coconut meat for diarrhea. On one site, coconut macaroon cookies stopped a lot of people's diarrhea, calmed down their intestinal tract. My book says coconut heals teeth to rectum, you may sleep better if bowels were calm. Coconut milk can cause the runs in some people but coconut oil is very healthy and so is the meat but the meat makes me gain weight. Coconut is anti bacterial, anti microbial, anti fungal, anti viral, and kills parasites ...

Been thinking about you all day looking at sites that might help .... Love, Joy

Also just for info...1/4 tsp baking soda in water may make you neutral so you can rest not reacting to anything ... Your environment may be upsetting you, put baking soda on rug or in a bowl near the bed to clean the air.

I worked in an allergy clinic and was also a patient there and one lady went asthma and fell to the floor gasping while I put balm on my lip.... I freaked but she was actually reacting to the lady that just came in the door with hairspray on. Your immune system may need help."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash: "Niacinamide can cause flushing(red tinging on face) make sure it's in a low dose B- complex and take half pill --not a whole pill, OR get a liquid and start on a very small dose, you don't need to suffer anymore. If it feels overwhelming take 1/4 tsp. to 1/2 tsp. baking soda in water and put a stop to it. Smallest amount that helps."

05/14/2013: Trudyg : "I've been using coconut oil for years now, so I guess that's good. Had been supplementing vit D but levels went kind of high (don't remember what it was) & dr said to back off. That was the first thing I tried for the insomnia, never noticed it to help. Wouldn't hurt to start it again, maybe not so high a dose. Funny, but I get really bad migraines from the air freshener a coworker loves to spray, so I know allergies are in there somewhere. Thanks."

05/14/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I forgot to mention earlier, I had been taking the baking soda daily, too, but quit because my bp went up. I can do it again, it was high for me and I'm always a bit low. Thanks. Isn't it amazing how our foods affect us? Wow."

05/15/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I am taking a b-complex (only for about a week now), had been taking a b12 in the morning and B3 at night, but then I read that it can prevent sleep so I stopped all but the complex. Should I stop the complex and take only b3, when? in the evening? or some other combo. I did the 12 & 3 b/c of a Ted post. Will start the baking soda today. Thanks."

05/15/2013: Kelly from Cambridge, Ma: "Joy, niacinamide does not cause flushing, niacin does. In fact, niacinamide is what's recommended for those who want the benefits of niacin, without the flush."

05/15/2013: Trudyg : "Just grabbing at straws here, but I have a lot of the symptoms for hypoglycemia, too. Just wondering. My a1c level was great, so I've been tested. I pee all the time, often needing to go within an hour of my last trip to the br. I am always thirsty. I get shaky if I wait too long to eat, then I grab a sweet. Sometimes I slur my speech (thought it was due to stuttering as a child), I get uncoordinated (call me graceful). Thoughts? What should I do that I'm not already doing? ( I know, I should stop whining)."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "The squeeky wheel gets the oil. Try the water cure for two weeks, and if you do the supplemental --B's start very low dose mornings.

If you pee all the time (losing minerals and nutrients) ...... Your body is dropping either sugar or something is amiss with your diet, could be as simple as your mint, or anything you put in your water. I lived by a mint field and my friend lived there and her son got poisoned by the soil that affected their water well. He had to detox. There is one other thing that would cause constant peeing is food dye or bad fats or something your body is dumping like your bowel symptom. So 2 +2 here is you are dumping bladder and bowel.

One last thing might be imbalance in microbes in bowel and bladder maybe enzymes and probiotics and possible parasite.. Or ph is off... just wild guesses here.

Baking soda in bowl on desk at work to counteract coworkers sprayng chemicals.

Don't take D if you are high D and don't take baking soda if your BP is high."

05/15/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, I went through something very similar a few years ago. I was sure I was diabetic as I had had trouble with hypoglycemia since I was 15. (I am 46 now. ) My sleep was poor, I couldn't quench my thirst no matter how much water I drank, and of course, I was in the bathroom all the time from all that water. I was getting sores in my mouth, too. I went to the Dr. to get my blood sugar checked first thing in the morning when I finally put 2 + 2 together. But my sugar was okay! (Guess my math was wrong! ) He said, "Oh, it is probably your thyroid. " Sure enough, blood tests indicated hypothyroidism. I suppose this shouldn't have been too surprising as I have had low basal body temperature (as low as 96.3 upon rising for years. I figured I was subclinical hypothyroid and never did anything about. ) The doctor put me on a low dose of synthroid, 50mcg, which did help the symptoms I had been dealing with, but my hair started falling out and I felt terrible. I sat around feeling terrible most of the time. (Doctor said the synthroid was not causing this, but I didn't believe him. ) I didn't think I had any options but started to research and found that I did have options! I quit taking the synthroid after 3 months. I started to do everything I could find to help my thyroid naturally. I took extra virgin coconut oil 1-2 T. daily. I drank Apple Cider Vinegar daily (at least 2 T. per day in water; I spread mine throughout the day. ) I took 12.5 mcg iodine/iodide daily. Meanwhile, I got pregnant. I had the midwife check my thyroid. It was still not in the right range, but I didn't go back on prescription meds. I felt pretty good with what I was doing. I had a normal pregnancy and a healthy full-term baby. I was afraid to fool with the iodine much while pregnant. After I had the baby, I upped my dose to 25mcg daily. (In the am. ) At some point after the birth, the midwife checked my thyroid again and it was in the normal range! (And I had been promised by the doctors that prescription meds were my ONLY option! ) Iodine was what doctors used to use to treat hypothyroid.

So, you could have your thyroid checked or try taking your early morning temp (before getting out of bed, eating, drinking etc. ) If it is low, you can be pretty sure it is hypothyroidism. Research your alternatives.

Hope you get some relief and answers soon. ~Mama to Many~"

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "Sorry, I should have looked it up, but what is the water cure? I eat only foods I prepare myself, no additives or dyes. The only place I would get those are my supplements, so I'll look at that. The only fats are from coconut, grapeseed oil, or avocado. I had my thyroid checked (runs in the family) and it was okay but I may add iodine at very small doses to see if I feel better. Thanks."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I've had my thyroid checked, it appears ok. I know from family experience that the numbers can be okay but you can not be okay. I have some potassium iodide drops, says 2/day. Should I start those and see how I feel? How long before I notice a difference do you think? My sleep has never been good, but since I quit hrt after my hysterectomy it's been terrible. I've got the hot flashes under control (not gone, but bearable). I thank God for the help you all are giving me. I'm really at my wits end."

05/16/2013: Robyn from Asheville, Nc: "Hi TrudyG, I was wondering the same thing. If you go to the watercure site, it's basically an advertisement to buy the book (Earth Clinic, doesn't this go against your policy about not posting links to commercial sites?). A little digging on the web and I learned that you should drink water a half hour before and after eating. You should also take 1/4 teaspoon of salt (sea salt) per quart of water. Or drink this every few glasses of water."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I seem to be the one percent that have the side effects that most don't... With supplements, medicines and with topicals.... Since childhood when I start a new supplement I take half a pill every other day or can't sleep. Makeup is suppose to make a person look better , well for me... It does strange things that are not good. They give me something to calm me down and revs me up, and gives me panics. I eat sugar and no crash, just moving right along."

05/16/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I did some looking and saw that, too. You divide your weight by 2 and drink that many ounces of water/day, adding sea salt every couple of glasses-worth. I'd be peeing all day if I did that! I must say, though, when I drink water w/ acv, I need to go less often. I drink 1 cup of coffee first thing in the morning, then only water until evening, then a cup of herbal tea. I push the fluids and rarely feel thirsty. I do agree that we could all benefit by increasing our water intake, but by how much is really the question."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I get weird reactions, too. When they give me narcotics (you'll sleep! ) ha--not me, I'm bouncing off the wall. Half an aspirin is plenty for me, so I start out low dose, too. I'm post-menopausal, so get hot flashes and couldn't tell you if it's due to a supplement or not. I take evening primrose oil for that, and have added vit e (200/cap X 2/d, don't know if mg or iu). I think most drs either don't know and don't want to say so or think that women are weak complainers, so they don't take us seriously."

05/16/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, If the iodine drops say 2 per day, you could start with that. Does it say how much iodine you are getting? All drops do not have the same amount. I compared using iodine drops to what I take orally and I would have to take 20 drops a day to get what I am getting in pills. (And I don't like the taste of iodine in my water.) Anyway, start with 2 drops a day for a few days. Then do a skin test--drop a few drops onto your skin (I do inside my forearm. ) If it is gone in a short time, you are still iodine deficient. If you can still see it after 12 hours, you are getting enough. (Some say you should be able to see it after 24 hours. Broda Barnes has a book on Thyroid that explains it all but I haven't read it. ) If I can see the iodine spot on my arm after 6-8 hours, I think I am doing pretty well. (I really can't bear to take more iodine than I take. It just seems like too much to me.) I know my thyroid was low LONG before it showed up on a blood test. If you take your early morning, before rising temperature and it is low (Some would say anything under 98.0 is low... But I am not sure. Under 97.0 is definitely low.) My naturopathic doctor says you should not use a digital and you should keep it in your armpit for a full 10 minutes.

Anyway, you can increase the amount of iodine by a couple of drops if the iodine on your skin disappears quickly and continue to check on your skin and increase by a couple of drops etc. Until the iodine isn't absorbing quickly. Or, if you notice improvement, you could stop when that happens.

I can't recall how long it took for the iodine to provide me with noticeable difference. It was perhaps days or a week or two. But if I run out my symptoms come back pretty fast - mabye in a day or two.

You are dealing with lots of health challenges... So sorry! With the IBS are you possibly losing nutrients you need, causing health challenges? Comfrey is wonderful for this. In her book, Be your Own Doctor, Rachel Weaver says to use comfrey root powder and slippery elm powder to help and heal this. Both are soothing to the digestive tract and very nutritious. She has you mix them together with water to a dough like consistency and then make little pea size balls you can take throughout the day when symptoms flare up. Comfrey leaves can also be mixed with other soothing and nutritive herbs (like Red Raspberry) and made into a tea that will provide extra nutrients. I didn't use to think herbal tea would do much, but I have had some amazing help from them this year and have changed my mind. Activated charcoal is also a great thing for digestive difficulty and helps detox as well (but very gently. ) Just don't take it near time of other supplements as it adsorbs toxins and may also do the same with nutrients. (I take it leaving a 2 hour window. ) You can mix 1 t. In water or take tablets or capsules. Just a couple of more things to consider... Hope it isn't too overwhelming... Praying for relief for you."

05/16/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Earth Clinic has a water cure section with Ted commenting on Dr. Batmanghelidj.. I'm not selling books. All these lovely people here on earth clinic are sharing what helps them and I am doing the same thing, hoping it helps alleviate someone of their sufferring. Love, Joy"

05/18/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "About Dr Batmanghelidj's Water Cure: This man was a humanitarian who was ignored by the present medical system. He has helped innumerable people back to health. If people drink water without supplementing with, for example, celtic salt, they will urinate, dehydrating themselves as well as loosing vitamins and minerals. It was the chemically manufactured salt that wreaked havoc with the world's population and caused an explosion of serious diseases that killed many. Because allopaths have no training in nutrition they misguide patients to their detriment.

I have just begun slowly and do not run to the bathroom because of the water drinking. The protocol is easy and must be followed meticulously. Get off to a slow start. Already I have noted the effect of water doing its work in the entire body. I hope this will, in addition of magnesium, cure my insomnia. It is nature, not drugs that will do it. I am thankfull toward the good doctor and think it would be of benefit to read his by now famous book, even though just doing the program would be alright So many people have been helped including pets. To be rightly informed is self empowerment. Be leery of the common table salt, but natural wet salts are delicious, provide much needed minerals and prevent the continuous problem of over urination. We are made mainly of water, so is the planet with vast resources of salt water. Sometimes I think that the intake of chemical and denatured salt over a life time could be a contributory factor of Alzheimers as our brain, too, is made up largely of water. We are all keen on learning how to get in touch and back to nature and with determination success will be ours. Love, Om"

05/16/2013: Anon : "Hi, Sorry to hear of your problem. I believe your situation is an anomaly - black strap molasses is good for us in so many ways pre and post menopause - it contains more calcium than iron and is full of other trace minerals namely potassium which is very good for us. If you only take one supplement then Bsm is the one. As for your high iron level- do you have an natural iron imbalance? Perhaps you should donate some blood to get your iron levels down. It could be that you have a mineral imbalance with copper etc that needs correcting- a hair mineral analysis would be useful."

05/16/2013: Caitlin from Austin, Tx: "Our bodies don't seem to have a mechanism for getting rid of excess iron. Leaches, fleas, ticks and parasites in and on our bodies was probably the way our ancesters got rid of excess iron. Health scientists have postulated that excess iron may be a contributer to heart problems. A health practitioner once told me that iron stays balanced when a young women has periods because iron is lost on a monthly basis; when she gets older and post-menapausal, too much iron is retained. He recommended giving blood monthly as a way to alleviate high iron retention. As a younger woman, I was once told I retained too much iron in my blood, I never delved further into this, so if anyone has, please enlighten us all. The Protein Power book also addresses this problem."

05/17/2013: Anon from Anon: "Hi all, Mostly here on earth clinic we recommend using Bsm to women who have very heavy periods. Some of these women will be iron deficient due to the extreme blood loss but this is only an added extra of black strap molasses the reason we recommend it is because it slows and stops the flow really quickly if you take atleast 3 large tablespoons with a glass of water each time spread over a day- more if you are heavier than normal. The reason it works is because of the vitamin k in it, the vitamin k helps our blood to clot. Bsm is good because whilst helping people with low iron levels it also helps those with higher levels balance out their values because it contains a balance of minerals and vitamins. It has a lot of potassium in it which helps balance our sodium levels. In Cyril Scott's book on the subject he recounts a huge list of illnesses that have been cured by Bsm - most notably cancerous growths. I appreciate this does not necessarily answer your question but hopefully I have shared some important information on Bsm."

03/27/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "You need to cleanse your liver. Just my guess."

03/27/2013: Claromce from Templeton, Ca, Usa: "Not sure what magnesium oil is, but magnesium tabs helped me a lot."

03/28/2013: Wellspruce from Juneau, Ak, Usa: "Trudyg, I like you tried them all for sleeping. Finally I stumbled onto Melatonin Ultra, 3 mg melatonin, theanine, GABA, chamomile, valerian, B6 and calcium. You're to take 1, 2 if jet lagged. I've been taking 1. 5 the past year and backed off to just one tab 2 weeks ago as I'm on my way to bed, not earlier than that. I fall asleep fast. My problem is I have "waking insomnia" where I sleep three or four hours then am wide awake. Have had it many years. This product has helped me sleep through most nights. Hope you try it and it works for you also."

03/28/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "How does a liver cleanse help insomnia? Also, the melatonin ultra is just one of the things I have already tried without success. Please, is there nothing else out there? How do you cleanse a liver?"

03/28/2013: Jade from Dallas, Texas: "Yes, how do you cleanse your liver? I will do anything as I have severe insomnia and sleep only couple hours every night so please let me know any suggestions how to get into a sleep clinic would be great. Thanks Jade"

03/28/2013: Ejules from Woodbridge, Va, Us: "Try "Insomnia" by Hyland. I"ve used it for years and it has worked for several people who I've recommended it to (I always offer to buy their bottle if it doesn't work for them). It's a tiny homeopathic tablet that dissolves under your tongue. One or two should solve your sleeplessness and a bottle of 50 costs less than $10 so it's definitely cost effective. Totally counterintuitive as to why it should work but it does. It's more effective than melatonin, ambien, and all the other things I tried. Now, I always have some at home by the bed and definitely when I travel. Especially good for those nights when the tape in your head won't turn off or if you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I've taken one tab to get back to sleep when I had to be up in 2-3 hrs; two or three when first going to bed, if needed. You won't have a 'hangover' like some of those others give you. Hope this helps you get some rest."

03/28/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "Well, it has been a little while so you may want to google some info but you should eat fruits (which are the cleaners) and veggies (which are the builders), Avoid sugars, alcohol, white flour products. Lean meats and healthy grains I think are acceptable. Do some more research. Also get some liver cleanse pills. I was told by a naturopath that if you are having trouble sleeping or wake up thru the night it is because sleep is disturbed because the liver is busy processing so many toxins. So at the end of the day cleanup your diet. Diet is king."

03/29/2013: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "A simple Liver cleanse is to eat lots of Beets."

03/29/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I would willingly do a liver cleanse IF I were sure it would not excacerbate my ibs-d. I'm doing too well controlling it to take a chance. The lemon juice/baking soda thing could start diarhhea and, w/ me, this can go on for a year or more once it starts. Eating beets I can do, I love them and do eat them frequently. Grow them in my garden, so I know they are organic. I eat lots of 'greens', whatever is growing at the moment, so I think my diet is pretty good overall. I eat chia seeds daily, drink homemade kefir, don't eat much meat but usually fish, maybe the grains is where I go wrong. The unprocessed grains usually get my bowels going, so I avoid them. I do appreciate the comments, will try the niacinamide. Thanks."

03/29/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Trudyg; Insomnia has been a problem for me too, and like you, I've tried many supplements and herbs. It is still difficult. What works for many, sometimes will have the opposite effect for me.

I try to keep a record of supplements, herbs, even foods that have a stimulating or relaxing effect.

I take B vitamin supplements, but most are stimulating, so I take them in the morning. ( I take extra B12 sublinguals. BTW, it helps my hot flashes. ) B12 suppresses melatonin in the day, allowing it to increase at night.

I do take Niacinamide, (B3), in the evening, it relaxes me. ( I take 250 mgs.)

I still take 1mg. of Melatonin in the evening. It helps, but it doesn't work alone for me.

This past year, I've had good results from taking 15mgs. of Zinc in the evening. ( It may help people with elevated evening cortisol, or possibly, elevated blood sugar.)

I take extra Potassium as a supplement, it also relaxes me.

There are many supplements that work miraculously for other folks, such as : Vitamin D, Magnesium, etc. , but I seem to have a paradoxical reaction to them - worsened insomnia. (I'm sure many folks could have this same reaction to the supplements that work for me.)

I believe my best success with insomnia is from finding the substances that interfere with sleep.

Good Wishes."

03/31/2013: Tamara from Bellevue (formerly Ft. Collins, Co), Wa: "Hi Connie, have you tried switching around when you take vitamin D? I noticed that you mentioned you take your B vitamins in the morning. There's mounting anecdotal evidence (since no one is doing a study on timing of intake) that vitamin D supplementation in the morning improves sleep in lots of different facets. For me, it made me drowsier at night so it's easier to fall asleep and my mood was better when waking (to me indicating that I was more rested). I believe that it acts like liquid, chemical sunshine and helps set our circadian rhythm. Seth Roberts has collected a sample of people's testimonies of morning vitamin D supplementation here: http://blog.sethroberts.net/category/sleep/vitamin-d3-and-sleep/"

03/31/2013: Andrea C from Cardiff, Wales: "The Liver cleanse, is good, but you can't do anything for days! It works BUT you're gonna feel real nasty! Never mind House work, and stuff like that. The "DETOX" Reaction will get you! I know! I did this loads of times. Do not go to the ER. They will put you on drugs. Then you end up were you started and worse than that. I know. Belive me, I am detoxing and I feel real ill! BUT... I know it's working. Best of luck xx Love andrea c"

04/01/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I am really afraid of doing a liver cleanse, after doing some research. It makes you really move things out. With ibs-d, I'm moving pretty fast as an everyday thing. Getting it to stop is the problem. If you haven't had diarrhea constantly for years, every single day, then you don't know what I mean. Seriously, I wear depends in order to go buy groceries. As I am now in a fairly good place, I'm not tinkering with it. The last flare I had lasted over a year and I needed a new mattress. I'll eat as well as I can, but I'm not asking for more diarrhea."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi, Intractable diarrhea may be from a B12/Folate deficiency."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Tamara; I agree that there can be various ways to have success with the use of a supplement; dosage amount, timing of dosage, etc.

Another possibility is that certain co-factor nutrients may be needed to allow the vitamin to be available to the cells.

For instance, from what I've learned from reading on the Vitamin D Council website: Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin K2, and Boron are needed for vitamin D absorption. Zinc helps to prime vitamin D receptors."

04/01/2013: Megan from St Louis, Missouri: "I would try ear plugs. My husband snores and I am a very light sleeper. They are a life saver!"

04/01/2013: Liz from Torrance, California: "Sorry you are experiencing insomnia. I have it occasionally and have found a few things that help.

Adrenals: I would start by finding out from a naturopath if your adrenals are overtaxed. You might have adrenal exhaustion and could benefit from some adrenal support supplements.

Exercising: Do you exercise? What time of the day do you exercise? This too may play into night time insomnia. Exercising earlier in the day is always better. If you don't get enough exercise, that too might exacerbate insomnia."

04/02/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "Thanks for all the suggestions. I read Ted's comments and am going to try the B3 (niacinamide) and B12. Those are 2 I haven't supplemented because I thought I was getting enough from food. Yes, I do exercise--I run/walk between 1-2 miles/day on the treadmill first thing in the morning, then I do QiGong around 3 in the afternoon. I stand rather than sit, walk every chance I get while at work. Weekends I clear land (very hilly) at our farm, set fenceposts, garden, yardwork, etc. I think the activity level is good. I get migraines from melatonin, so when I take it I keep it to no more than 1 mg. Calms Forte + 1 mg melatonin will work 1 day out of 4, typically. If I didn't have to work I would just nap as needed and not worry about it."

04/02/2013: Tina from Houston, Usa: "Please google Min-tran. It is a natural, food based product that helps with sleep issues. I have in the past taken 4-6 an hour before bed, and it knocks me off. It works with the para-sympathic side of the nervous system and brings the body to balance.

Also 'natural calm' magnesium powder that dissolves in warm water, a few hours before bed is excellent in resolving incomnia issues.

Good luck!"

05/13/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "It's me again, the chronic insomniac. I tried the molasses in sleep time tea--boy, did I get diarrhea! Only did 1 tsp, not a tbs. Mg loosens the bowels, with ibs-d I get it very fast and then it won't stop. If I take calcium in the correct ratio w/ mg it's bad, calcium alone helps slow it down. Big issue is the sleep. A post said taurine + l-glutamate + theanine. For me, did nothing. I added 5-htp to that mix, still nothing. Finally took 1 mg melatonin, would have slept but for the vomiting due to melatonin induced migraine. HELP! In spite of all this, I am healthy--exercise daily, garden, work, eat well. What am I doing wrong? My mind chatters all night long, if I fall asleep I awake with a jolt. Thanks for listening."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "just out of curiosity... What about a baking soda bath or a baking soda with vinegar bath.... Maybe 1/4 cup of each.... then rinse it off, just in case. How do you drink your water? How much, when.. ? I use to drink a lot of water but until I followed the procedure in the watercure site it wasn't helping me. I'm so sorry you are suffering ... Love, Joy"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Niacinamide stops the chatter of the mind but take it with other B's they work together... It also helps sleep. First time I took it my mind went blank, freaked me out."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I went back to the insomnia page and read all your post... I'm sorry you are sufferring.

I went to a few google sites and looked around also.

This is just a stab in the dark.... I care. The fact that your grow your own greens and eat lots of them, means you probably get a whole lotta magnesium from them so when you take the mag you get the IBS. The fact that you get a lot of mag from your plants means you might be out of balance somewhere in your minerals. I read that ZINC aids in 300 enzyme functions and helps IBS D sufferers because of the digestion enzyme functions it helps.

They talked about water use at the bottom of the page....

Your diarrhea which I had myself from C diff for 6 months, is scary and stealing your minerals and possible other nutrients.... the chia seeds are suppose to help the IBS D and one site says they are safe to use for 12 wks.

LAST IDEA ... Get a hair analysis and see if there is a mineral out of balance causing the diarrhea because you eat minerals but too much of one would cause the dumping syndrome. As if you ate a poison

May you find you sleep like a baby, .... You'll be in my prayes... Love, JOY"

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "I put 2 tbs acv+squirt of honey + 'fingertip' of borax in a 16 oz bottle, top off with water and sip it till lunch, then do another for afternoon till suppertime. I pee all the time, so can't do more than that. Usually an herbal tea (peppermint) in the evening around 6:30. Haven't heard of the water cure, so please clue me in. Also, I didn't think baking soda or vinegar would penetrate skin so haven't tried them in a bath, at least not since the last uti or skin issue years ago. Thanks."

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "Take it at bedtime or earlier in the day?"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash : "Try coconut meat for diarrhea. On one site, coconut macaroon cookies stopped a lot of people's diarrhea, calmed down their intestinal tract. My book says coconut heals teeth to rectum, you may sleep better if bowels were calm. Coconut milk can cause the runs in some people but coconut oil is very healthy and so is the meat but the meat makes me gain weight. Coconut is anti bacterial, anti microbial, anti fungal, anti viral, and kills parasites ...

Been thinking about you all day looking at sites that might help .... Love, Joy

Also just for info...1/4 tsp baking soda in water may make you neutral so you can rest not reacting to anything ... Your environment may be upsetting you, put baking soda on rug or in a bowl near the bed to clean the air.

I worked in an allergy clinic and was also a patient there and one lady went asthma and fell to the floor gasping while I put balm on my lip.... I freaked but she was actually reacting to the lady that just came in the door with hairspray on. Your immune system may need help."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash: "Niacinamide can cause flushing(red tinging on face) make sure it's in a low dose B- complex and take half pill --not a whole pill, OR get a liquid and start on a very small dose, you don't need to suffer anymore. If it feels overwhelming take 1/4 tsp. to 1/2 tsp. baking soda in water and put a stop to it. Smallest amount that helps."

05/14/2013: Trudyg : "I've been using coconut oil for years now, so I guess that's good. Had been supplementing vit D but levels went kind of high (don't remember what it was) & dr said to back off. That was the first thing I tried for the insomnia, never noticed it to help. Wouldn't hurt to start it again, maybe not so high a dose. Funny, but I get really bad migraines from the air freshener a coworker loves to spray, so I know allergies are in there somewhere. Thanks."

05/14/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I forgot to mention earlier, I had been taking the baking soda daily, too, but quit because my bp went up. I can do it again, it was high for me and I'm always a bit low. Thanks. Isn't it amazing how our foods affect us? Wow."

05/15/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I am taking a b-complex (only for about a week now), had been taking a b12 in the morning and B3 at night, but then I read that it can prevent sleep so I stopped all but the complex. Should I stop the complex and take only b3, when? in the evening? or some other combo. I did the 12 & 3 b/c of a Ted post. Will start the baking soda today. Thanks."

05/15/2013: Kelly from Cambridge, Ma: "Joy, niacinamide does not cause flushing, niacin does. In fact, niacinamide is what's recommended for those who want the benefits of niacin, without the flush."

05/15/2013: Trudyg : "Just grabbing at straws here, but I have a lot of the symptoms for hypoglycemia, too. Just wondering. My a1c level was great, so I've been tested. I pee all the time, often needing to go within an hour of my last trip to the br. I am always thirsty. I get shaky if I wait too long to eat, then I grab a sweet. Sometimes I slur my speech (thought it was due to stuttering as a child), I get uncoordinated (call me graceful). Thoughts? What should I do that I'm not already doing? ( I know, I should stop whining)."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "The squeeky wheel gets the oil. Try the water cure for two weeks, and if you do the supplemental --B's start very low dose mornings.

If you pee all the time (losing minerals and nutrients) ...... Your body is dropping either sugar or something is amiss with your diet, could be as simple as your mint, or anything you put in your water. I lived by a mint field and my friend lived there and her son got poisoned by the soil that affected their water well. He had to detox. There is one other thing that would cause constant peeing is food dye or bad fats or something your body is dumping like your bowel symptom. So 2 +2 here is you are dumping bladder and bowel.

One last thing might be imbalance in microbes in bowel and bladder maybe enzymes and probiotics and possible parasite.. Or ph is off... just wild guesses here.

Baking soda in bowl on desk at work to counteract coworkers sprayng chemicals.

Don't take D if you are high D and don't take baking soda if your BP is high."

05/15/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, I went through something very similar a few years ago. I was sure I was diabetic as I had had trouble with hypoglycemia since I was 15. (I am 46 now. ) My sleep was poor, I couldn't quench my thirst no matter how much water I drank, and of course, I was in the bathroom all the time from all that water. I was getting sores in my mouth, too. I went to the Dr. to get my blood sugar checked first thing in the morning when I finally put 2 + 2 together. But my sugar was okay! (Guess my math was wrong! ) He said, "Oh, it is probably your thyroid. " Sure enough, blood tests indicated hypothyroidism. I suppose this shouldn't have been too surprising as I have had low basal body temperature (as low as 96.3 upon rising for years. I figured I was subclinical hypothyroid and never did anything about. ) The doctor put me on a low dose of synthroid, 50mcg, which did help the symptoms I had been dealing with, but my hair started falling out and I felt terrible. I sat around feeling terrible most of the time. (Doctor said the synthroid was not causing this, but I didn't believe him. ) I didn't think I had any options but started to research and found that I did have options! I quit taking the synthroid after 3 months. I started to do everything I could find to help my thyroid naturally. I took extra virgin coconut oil 1-2 T. daily. I drank Apple Cider Vinegar daily (at least 2 T. per day in water; I spread mine throughout the day. ) I took 12.5 mcg iodine/iodide daily. Meanwhile, I got pregnant. I had the midwife check my thyroid. It was still not in the right range, but I didn't go back on prescription meds. I felt pretty good with what I was doing. I had a normal pregnancy and a healthy full-term baby. I was afraid to fool with the iodine much while pregnant. After I had the baby, I upped my dose to 25mcg daily. (In the am. ) At some point after the birth, the midwife checked my thyroid again and it was in the normal range! (And I had been promised by the doctors that prescription meds were my ONLY option! ) Iodine was what doctors used to use to treat hypothyroid.

So, you could have your thyroid checked or try taking your early morning temp (before getting out of bed, eating, drinking etc. ) If it is low, you can be pretty sure it is hypothyroidism. Research your alternatives.

Hope you get some relief and answers soon. ~Mama to Many~"

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "Sorry, I should have looked it up, but what is the water cure? I eat only foods I prepare myself, no additives or dyes. The only place I would get those are my supplements, so I'll look at that. The only fats are from coconut, grapeseed oil, or avocado. I had my thyroid checked (runs in the family) and it was okay but I may add iodine at very small doses to see if I feel better. Thanks."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I've had my thyroid checked, it appears ok. I know from family experience that the numbers can be okay but you can not be okay. I have some potassium iodide drops, says 2/day. Should I start those and see how I feel? How long before I notice a difference do you think? My sleep has never been good, but since I quit hrt after my hysterectomy it's been terrible. I've got the hot flashes under control (not gone, but bearable). I thank God for the help you all are giving me. I'm really at my wits end."

05/16/2013: Robyn from Asheville, Nc: "Hi TrudyG, I was wondering the same thing. If you go to the watercure site, it's basically an advertisement to buy the book (Earth Clinic, doesn't this go against your policy about not posting links to commercial sites?). A little digging on the web and I learned that you should drink water a half hour before and after eating. You should also take 1/4 teaspoon of salt (sea salt) per quart of water. Or drink this every few glasses of water."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I seem to be the one percent that have the side effects that most don't... With supplements, medicines and with topicals.... Since childhood when I start a new supplement I take half a pill every other day or can't sleep. Makeup is suppose to make a person look better , well for me... It does strange things that are not good. They give me something to calm me down and revs me up, and gives me panics. I eat sugar and no crash, just moving right along."

05/16/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I did some looking and saw that, too. You divide your weight by 2 and drink that many ounces of water/day, adding sea salt every couple of glasses-worth. I'd be peeing all day if I did that! I must say, though, when I drink water w/ acv, I need to go less often. I drink 1 cup of coffee first thing in the morning, then only water until evening, then a cup of herbal tea. I push the fluids and rarely feel thirsty. I do agree that we could all benefit by increasing our water intake, but by how much is really the question."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I get weird reactions, too. When they give me narcotics (you'll sleep! ) ha--not me, I'm bouncing off the wall. Half an aspirin is plenty for me, so I start out low dose, too. I'm post-menopausal, so get hot flashes and couldn't tell you if it's due to a supplement or not. I take evening primrose oil for that, and have added vit e (200/cap X 2/d, don't know if mg or iu). I think most drs either don't know and don't want to say so or think that women are weak complainers, so they don't take us seriously."

05/16/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, If the iodine drops say 2 per day, you could start with that. Does it say how much iodine you are getting? All drops do not have the same amount. I compared using iodine drops to what I take orally and I would have to take 20 drops a day to get what I am getting in pills. (And I don't like the taste of iodine in my water.) Anyway, start with 2 drops a day for a few days. Then do a skin test--drop a few drops onto your skin (I do inside my forearm. ) If it is gone in a short time, you are still iodine deficient. If you can still see it after 12 hours, you are getting enough. (Some say you should be able to see it after 24 hours. Broda Barnes has a book on Thyroid that explains it all but I haven't read it. ) If I can see the iodine spot on my arm after 6-8 hours, I think I am doing pretty well. (I really can't bear to take more iodine than I take. It just seems like too much to me.) I know my thyroid was low LONG before it showed up on a blood test. If you take your early morning, before rising temperature and it is low (Some would say anything under 98.0 is low... But I am not sure. Under 97.0 is definitely low.) My naturopathic doctor says you should not use a digital and you should keep it in your armpit for a full 10 minutes.

Anyway, you can increase the amount of iodine by a couple of drops if the iodine on your skin disappears quickly and continue to check on your skin and increase by a couple of drops etc. Until the iodine isn't absorbing quickly. Or, if you notice improvement, you could stop when that happens.

I can't recall how long it took for the iodine to provide me with noticeable difference. It was perhaps days or a week or two. But if I run out my symptoms come back pretty fast - mabye in a day or two.

You are dealing with lots of health challenges... So sorry! With the IBS are you possibly losing nutrients you need, causing health challenges? Comfrey is wonderful for this. In her book, Be your Own Doctor, Rachel Weaver says to use comfrey root powder and slippery elm powder to help and heal this. Both are soothing to the digestive tract and very nutritious. She has you mix them together with water to a dough like consistency and then make little pea size balls you can take throughout the day when symptoms flare up. Comfrey leaves can also be mixed with other soothing and nutritive herbs (like Red Raspberry) and made into a tea that will provide extra nutrients. I didn't use to think herbal tea would do much, but I have had some amazing help from them this year and have changed my mind. Activated charcoal is also a great thing for digestive difficulty and helps detox as well (but very gently. ) Just don't take it near time of other supplements as it adsorbs toxins and may also do the same with nutrients. (I take it leaving a 2 hour window. ) You can mix 1 t. In water or take tablets or capsules. Just a couple of more things to consider... Hope it isn't too overwhelming... Praying for relief for you."

05/16/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Earth Clinic has a water cure section with Ted commenting on Dr. Batmanghelidj.. I'm not selling books. All these lovely people here on earth clinic are sharing what helps them and I am doing the same thing, hoping it helps alleviate someone of their sufferring. Love, Joy"

05/18/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "About Dr Batmanghelidj's Water Cure: This man was a humanitarian who was ignored by the present medical system. He has helped innumerable people back to health. If people drink water without supplementing with, for example, celtic salt, they will urinate, dehydrating themselves as well as loosing vitamins and minerals. It was the chemically manufactured salt that wreaked havoc with the world's population and caused an explosion of serious diseases that killed many. Because allopaths have no training in nutrition they misguide patients to their detriment.

I have just begun slowly and do not run to the bathroom because of the water drinking. The protocol is easy and must be followed meticulously. Get off to a slow start. Already I have noted the effect of water doing its work in the entire body. I hope this will, in addition of magnesium, cure my insomnia. It is nature, not drugs that will do it. I am thankfull toward the good doctor and think it would be of benefit to read his by now famous book, even though just doing the program would be alright So many people have been helped including pets. To be rightly informed is self empowerment. Be leery of the common table salt, but natural wet salts are delicious, provide much needed minerals and prevent the continuous problem of over urination. We are made mainly of water, so is the planet with vast resources of salt water. Sometimes I think that the intake of chemical and denatured salt over a life time could be a contributory factor of Alzheimers as our brain, too, is made up largely of water. We are all keen on learning how to get in touch and back to nature and with determination success will be ours. Love, Om"

03/27/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "You need to cleanse your liver. Just my guess."

03/27/2013: Claromce from Templeton, Ca, Usa: "Not sure what magnesium oil is, but magnesium tabs helped me a lot."

03/28/2013: Wellspruce from Juneau, Ak, Usa: "Trudyg, I like you tried them all for sleeping. Finally I stumbled onto Melatonin Ultra, 3 mg melatonin, theanine, GABA, chamomile, valerian, B6 and calcium. You're to take 1, 2 if jet lagged. I've been taking 1. 5 the past year and backed off to just one tab 2 weeks ago as I'm on my way to bed, not earlier than that. I fall asleep fast. My problem is I have "waking insomnia" where I sleep three or four hours then am wide awake. Have had it many years. This product has helped me sleep through most nights. Hope you try it and it works for you also."

03/28/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "How does a liver cleanse help insomnia? Also, the melatonin ultra is just one of the things I have already tried without success. Please, is there nothing else out there? How do you cleanse a liver?"

03/28/2013: Jade from Dallas, Texas: "Yes, how do you cleanse your liver? I will do anything as I have severe insomnia and sleep only couple hours every night so please let me know any suggestions how to get into a sleep clinic would be great. Thanks Jade"

03/28/2013: Ejules from Woodbridge, Va, Us: "Try "Insomnia" by Hyland. I"ve used it for years and it has worked for several people who I've recommended it to (I always offer to buy their bottle if it doesn't work for them). It's a tiny homeopathic tablet that dissolves under your tongue. One or two should solve your sleeplessness and a bottle of 50 costs less than $10 so it's definitely cost effective. Totally counterintuitive as to why it should work but it does. It's more effective than melatonin, ambien, and all the other things I tried. Now, I always have some at home by the bed and definitely when I travel. Especially good for those nights when the tape in your head won't turn off or if you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I've taken one tab to get back to sleep when I had to be up in 2-3 hrs; two or three when first going to bed, if needed. You won't have a 'hangover' like some of those others give you. Hope this helps you get some rest."

03/28/2013: Bradshad from North Prov., Rhode Island: "Well, it has been a little while so you may want to google some info but you should eat fruits (which are the cleaners) and veggies (which are the builders), Avoid sugars, alcohol, white flour products. Lean meats and healthy grains I think are acceptable. Do some more research. Also get some liver cleanse pills. I was told by a naturopath that if you are having trouble sleeping or wake up thru the night it is because sleep is disturbed because the liver is busy processing so many toxins. So at the end of the day cleanup your diet. Diet is king."

03/29/2013: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "A simple Liver cleanse is to eat lots of Beets."

03/29/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I would willingly do a liver cleanse IF I were sure it would not excacerbate my ibs-d. I'm doing too well controlling it to take a chance. The lemon juice/baking soda thing could start diarhhea and, w/ me, this can go on for a year or more once it starts. Eating beets I can do, I love them and do eat them frequently. Grow them in my garden, so I know they are organic. I eat lots of 'greens', whatever is growing at the moment, so I think my diet is pretty good overall. I eat chia seeds daily, drink homemade kefir, don't eat much meat but usually fish, maybe the grains is where I go wrong. The unprocessed grains usually get my bowels going, so I avoid them. I do appreciate the comments, will try the niacinamide. Thanks."

03/29/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Trudyg; Insomnia has been a problem for me too, and like you, I've tried many supplements and herbs. It is still difficult. What works for many, sometimes will have the opposite effect for me.

I try to keep a record of supplements, herbs, even foods that have a stimulating or relaxing effect.

I take B vitamin supplements, but most are stimulating, so I take them in the morning. ( I take extra B12 sublinguals. BTW, it helps my hot flashes. ) B12 suppresses melatonin in the day, allowing it to increase at night.

I do take Niacinamide, (B3), in the evening, it relaxes me. ( I take 250 mgs.)

I still take 1mg. of Melatonin in the evening. It helps, but it doesn't work alone for me.

This past year, I've had good results from taking 15mgs. of Zinc in the evening. ( It may help people with elevated evening cortisol, or possibly, elevated blood sugar.)

I take extra Potassium as a supplement, it also relaxes me.

There are many supplements that work miraculously for other folks, such as : Vitamin D, Magnesium, etc. , but I seem to have a paradoxical reaction to them - worsened insomnia. (I'm sure many folks could have this same reaction to the supplements that work for me.)

I believe my best success with insomnia is from finding the substances that interfere with sleep.

Good Wishes."

03/31/2013: Tamara from Bellevue (formerly Ft. Collins, Co), Wa: "Hi Connie, have you tried switching around when you take vitamin D? I noticed that you mentioned you take your B vitamins in the morning. There's mounting anecdotal evidence (since no one is doing a study on timing of intake) that vitamin D supplementation in the morning improves sleep in lots of different facets. For me, it made me drowsier at night so it's easier to fall asleep and my mood was better when waking (to me indicating that I was more rested). I believe that it acts like liquid, chemical sunshine and helps set our circadian rhythm. Seth Roberts has collected a sample of people's testimonies of morning vitamin D supplementation here: http://blog.sethroberts.net/category/sleep/vitamin-d3-and-sleep/"

03/31/2013: Andrea C from Cardiff, Wales: "The Liver cleanse, is good, but you can't do anything for days! It works BUT you're gonna feel real nasty! Never mind House work, and stuff like that. The "DETOX" Reaction will get you! I know! I did this loads of times. Do not go to the ER. They will put you on drugs. Then you end up were you started and worse than that. I know. Belive me, I am detoxing and I feel real ill! BUT... I know it's working. Best of luck xx Love andrea c"

04/01/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "I am really afraid of doing a liver cleanse, after doing some research. It makes you really move things out. With ibs-d, I'm moving pretty fast as an everyday thing. Getting it to stop is the problem. If you haven't had diarrhea constantly for years, every single day, then you don't know what I mean. Seriously, I wear depends in order to go buy groceries. As I am now in a fairly good place, I'm not tinkering with it. The last flare I had lasted over a year and I needed a new mattress. I'll eat as well as I can, but I'm not asking for more diarrhea."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi, Intractable diarrhea may be from a B12/Folate deficiency."

04/01/2013: Connie from Slc, Utah, Usa: "Hi Tamara; I agree that there can be various ways to have success with the use of a supplement; dosage amount, timing of dosage, etc.

Another possibility is that certain co-factor nutrients may be needed to allow the vitamin to be available to the cells.

For instance, from what I've learned from reading on the Vitamin D Council website: Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin K2, and Boron are needed for vitamin D absorption. Zinc helps to prime vitamin D receptors."

04/01/2013: Megan from St Louis, Missouri: "I would try ear plugs. My husband snores and I am a very light sleeper. They are a life saver!"

04/01/2013: Liz from Torrance, California: "Sorry you are experiencing insomnia. I have it occasionally and have found a few things that help.

Adrenals: I would start by finding out from a naturopath if your adrenals are overtaxed. You might have adrenal exhaustion and could benefit from some adrenal support supplements.

Exercising: Do you exercise? What time of the day do you exercise? This too may play into night time insomnia. Exercising earlier in the day is always better. If you don't get enough exercise, that too might exacerbate insomnia."

04/02/2013: Trudyg from Waynesboro, Va: "Thanks for all the suggestions. I read Ted's comments and am going to try the B3 (niacinamide) and B12. Those are 2 I haven't supplemented because I thought I was getting enough from food. Yes, I do exercise--I run/walk between 1-2 miles/day on the treadmill first thing in the morning, then I do QiGong around 3 in the afternoon. I stand rather than sit, walk every chance I get while at work. Weekends I clear land (very hilly) at our farm, set fenceposts, garden, yardwork, etc. I think the activity level is good. I get migraines from melatonin, so when I take it I keep it to no more than 1 mg. Calms Forte + 1 mg melatonin will work 1 day out of 4, typically. If I didn't have to work I would just nap as needed and not worry about it."

04/02/2013: Tina from Houston, Usa: "Please google Min-tran. It is a natural, food based product that helps with sleep issues. I have in the past taken 4-6 an hour before bed, and it knocks me off. It works with the para-sympathic side of the nervous system and brings the body to balance.

Also 'natural calm' magnesium powder that dissolves in warm water, a few hours before bed is excellent in resolving incomnia issues.

Good luck!"

05/13/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "It's me again, the chronic insomniac. I tried the molasses in sleep time tea--boy, did I get diarrhea! Only did 1 tsp, not a tbs. Mg loosens the bowels, with ibs-d I get it very fast and then it won't stop. If I take calcium in the correct ratio w/ mg it's bad, calcium alone helps slow it down. Big issue is the sleep. A post said taurine + l-glutamate + theanine. For me, did nothing. I added 5-htp to that mix, still nothing. Finally took 1 mg melatonin, would have slept but for the vomiting due to melatonin induced migraine. HELP! In spite of all this, I am healthy--exercise daily, garden, work, eat well. What am I doing wrong? My mind chatters all night long, if I fall asleep I awake with a jolt. Thanks for listening."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "just out of curiosity... What about a baking soda bath or a baking soda with vinegar bath.... Maybe 1/4 cup of each.... then rinse it off, just in case. How do you drink your water? How much, when.. ? I use to drink a lot of water but until I followed the procedure in the watercure site it wasn't helping me. I'm so sorry you are suffering ... Love, Joy"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Niacinamide stops the chatter of the mind but take it with other B's they work together... It also helps sleep. First time I took it my mind went blank, freaked me out."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I went back to the insomnia page and read all your post... I'm sorry you are sufferring.

I went to a few google sites and looked around also.

This is just a stab in the dark.... I care. The fact that your grow your own greens and eat lots of them, means you probably get a whole lotta magnesium from them so when you take the mag you get the IBS. The fact that you get a lot of mag from your plants means you might be out of balance somewhere in your minerals. I read that ZINC aids in 300 enzyme functions and helps IBS D sufferers because of the digestion enzyme functions it helps.

They talked about water use at the bottom of the page....

Your diarrhea which I had myself from C diff for 6 months, is scary and stealing your minerals and possible other nutrients.... the chia seeds are suppose to help the IBS D and one site says they are safe to use for 12 wks.

LAST IDEA ... Get a hair analysis and see if there is a mineral out of balance causing the diarrhea because you eat minerals but too much of one would cause the dumping syndrome. As if you ate a poison

May you find you sleep like a baby, .... You'll be in my prayes... Love, JOY"

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "I put 2 tbs acv+squirt of honey + 'fingertip' of borax in a 16 oz bottle, top off with water and sip it till lunch, then do another for afternoon till suppertime. I pee all the time, so can't do more than that. Usually an herbal tea (peppermint) in the evening around 6:30. Haven't heard of the water cure, so please clue me in. Also, I didn't think baking soda or vinegar would penetrate skin so haven't tried them in a bath, at least not since the last uti or skin issue years ago. Thanks."

05/13/2013: Trudyg : "Take it at bedtime or earlier in the day?"

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash : "Try coconut meat for diarrhea. On one site, coconut macaroon cookies stopped a lot of people's diarrhea, calmed down their intestinal tract. My book says coconut heals teeth to rectum, you may sleep better if bowels were calm. Coconut milk can cause the runs in some people but coconut oil is very healthy and so is the meat but the meat makes me gain weight. Coconut is anti bacterial, anti microbial, anti fungal, anti viral, and kills parasites ...

Been thinking about you all day looking at sites that might help .... Love, Joy

Also just for info...1/4 tsp baking soda in water may make you neutral so you can rest not reacting to anything ... Your environment may be upsetting you, put baking soda on rug or in a bowl near the bed to clean the air.

I worked in an allergy clinic and was also a patient there and one lady went asthma and fell to the floor gasping while I put balm on my lip.... I freaked but she was actually reacting to the lady that just came in the door with hairspray on. Your immune system may need help."

05/13/2013: Joy from Battleground , Wash: "Niacinamide can cause flushing(red tinging on face) make sure it's in a low dose B- complex and take half pill --not a whole pill, OR get a liquid and start on a very small dose, you don't need to suffer anymore. If it feels overwhelming take 1/4 tsp. to 1/2 tsp. baking soda in water and put a stop to it. Smallest amount that helps."

05/14/2013: Trudyg : "I've been using coconut oil for years now, so I guess that's good. Had been supplementing vit D but levels went kind of high (don't remember what it was) & dr said to back off. That was the first thing I tried for the insomnia, never noticed it to help. Wouldn't hurt to start it again, maybe not so high a dose. Funny, but I get really bad migraines from the air freshener a coworker loves to spray, so I know allergies are in there somewhere. Thanks."

05/14/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I forgot to mention earlier, I had been taking the baking soda daily, too, but quit because my bp went up. I can do it again, it was high for me and I'm always a bit low. Thanks. Isn't it amazing how our foods affect us? Wow."

05/15/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I am taking a b-complex (only for about a week now), had been taking a b12 in the morning and B3 at night, but then I read that it can prevent sleep so I stopped all but the complex. Should I stop the complex and take only b3, when? in the evening? or some other combo. I did the 12 & 3 b/c of a Ted post. Will start the baking soda today. Thanks."

05/15/2013: Kelly from Cambridge, Ma: "Joy, niacinamide does not cause flushing, niacin does. In fact, niacinamide is what's recommended for those who want the benefits of niacin, without the flush."

05/15/2013: Trudyg : "Just grabbing at straws here, but I have a lot of the symptoms for hypoglycemia, too. Just wondering. My a1c level was great, so I've been tested. I pee all the time, often needing to go within an hour of my last trip to the br. I am always thirsty. I get shaky if I wait too long to eat, then I grab a sweet. Sometimes I slur my speech (thought it was due to stuttering as a child), I get uncoordinated (call me graceful). Thoughts? What should I do that I'm not already doing? ( I know, I should stop whining)."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "The squeeky wheel gets the oil. Try the water cure for two weeks, and if you do the supplemental --B's start very low dose mornings.

If you pee all the time (losing minerals and nutrients) ...... Your body is dropping either sugar or something is amiss with your diet, could be as simple as your mint, or anything you put in your water. I lived by a mint field and my friend lived there and her son got poisoned by the soil that affected their water well. He had to detox. There is one other thing that would cause constant peeing is food dye or bad fats or something your body is dumping like your bowel symptom. So 2 +2 here is you are dumping bladder and bowel.

One last thing might be imbalance in microbes in bowel and bladder maybe enzymes and probiotics and possible parasite.. Or ph is off... just wild guesses here.

Baking soda in bowl on desk at work to counteract coworkers sprayng chemicals.

Don't take D if you are high D and don't take baking soda if your BP is high."

05/15/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, I went through something very similar a few years ago. I was sure I was diabetic as I had had trouble with hypoglycemia since I was 15. (I am 46 now. ) My sleep was poor, I couldn't quench my thirst no matter how much water I drank, and of course, I was in the bathroom all the time from all that water. I was getting sores in my mouth, too. I went to the Dr. to get my blood sugar checked first thing in the morning when I finally put 2 + 2 together. But my sugar was okay! (Guess my math was wrong! ) He said, "Oh, it is probably your thyroid. " Sure enough, blood tests indicated hypothyroidism. I suppose this shouldn't have been too surprising as I have had low basal body temperature (as low as 96.3 upon rising for years. I figured I was subclinical hypothyroid and never did anything about. ) The doctor put me on a low dose of synthroid, 50mcg, which did help the symptoms I had been dealing with, but my hair started falling out and I felt terrible. I sat around feeling terrible most of the time. (Doctor said the synthroid was not causing this, but I didn't believe him. ) I didn't think I had any options but started to research and found that I did have options! I quit taking the synthroid after 3 months. I started to do everything I could find to help my thyroid naturally. I took extra virgin coconut oil 1-2 T. daily. I drank Apple Cider Vinegar daily (at least 2 T. per day in water; I spread mine throughout the day. ) I took 12.5 mcg iodine/iodide daily. Meanwhile, I got pregnant. I had the midwife check my thyroid. It was still not in the right range, but I didn't go back on prescription meds. I felt pretty good with what I was doing. I had a normal pregnancy and a healthy full-term baby. I was afraid to fool with the iodine much while pregnant. After I had the baby, I upped my dose to 25mcg daily. (In the am. ) At some point after the birth, the midwife checked my thyroid again and it was in the normal range! (And I had been promised by the doctors that prescription meds were my ONLY option! ) Iodine was what doctors used to use to treat hypothyroid.

So, you could have your thyroid checked or try taking your early morning temp (before getting out of bed, eating, drinking etc. ) If it is low, you can be pretty sure it is hypothyroidism. Research your alternatives.

Hope you get some relief and answers soon. ~Mama to Many~"

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "Sorry, I should have looked it up, but what is the water cure? I eat only foods I prepare myself, no additives or dyes. The only place I would get those are my supplements, so I'll look at that. The only fats are from coconut, grapeseed oil, or avocado. I had my thyroid checked (runs in the family) and it was okay but I may add iodine at very small doses to see if I feel better. Thanks."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I've had my thyroid checked, it appears ok. I know from family experience that the numbers can be okay but you can not be okay. I have some potassium iodide drops, says 2/day. Should I start those and see how I feel? How long before I notice a difference do you think? My sleep has never been good, but since I quit hrt after my hysterectomy it's been terrible. I've got the hot flashes under control (not gone, but bearable). I thank God for the help you all are giving me. I'm really at my wits end."

05/16/2013: Robyn from Asheville, Nc: "Hi TrudyG, I was wondering the same thing. If you go to the watercure site, it's basically an advertisement to buy the book (Earth Clinic, doesn't this go against your policy about not posting links to commercial sites?). A little digging on the web and I learned that you should drink water a half hour before and after eating. You should also take 1/4 teaspoon of salt (sea salt) per quart of water. Or drink this every few glasses of water."

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I seem to be the one percent that have the side effects that most don't... With supplements, medicines and with topicals.... Since childhood when I start a new supplement I take half a pill every other day or can't sleep. Makeup is suppose to make a person look better , well for me... It does strange things that are not good. They give me something to calm me down and revs me up, and gives me panics. I eat sugar and no crash, just moving right along."

05/16/2013: Trudyg from Xxx, Yyy: "I did some looking and saw that, too. You divide your weight by 2 and drink that many ounces of water/day, adding sea salt every couple of glasses-worth. I'd be peeing all day if I did that! I must say, though, when I drink water w/ acv, I need to go less often. I drink 1 cup of coffee first thing in the morning, then only water until evening, then a cup of herbal tea. I push the fluids and rarely feel thirsty. I do agree that we could all benefit by increasing our water intake, but by how much is really the question."

05/16/2013: Trudyg : "I get weird reactions, too. When they give me narcotics (you'll sleep! ) ha--not me, I'm bouncing off the wall. Half an aspirin is plenty for me, so I start out low dose, too. I'm post-menopausal, so get hot flashes and couldn't tell you if it's due to a supplement or not. I take evening primrose oil for that, and have added vit e (200/cap X 2/d, don't know if mg or iu). I think most drs either don't know and don't want to say so or think that women are weak complainers, so they don't take us seriously."

05/16/2013: Mama To Many from Middle, Tennessee, Usa: "Trudy, If the iodine drops say 2 per day, you could start with that. Does it say how much iodine you are getting? All drops do not have the same amount. I compared using iodine drops to what I take orally and I would have to take 20 drops a day to get what I am getting in pills. (And I don't like the taste of iodine in my water.) Anyway, start with 2 drops a day for a few days. Then do a skin test--drop a few drops onto your skin (I do inside my forearm. ) If it is gone in a short time, you are still iodine deficient. If you can still see it after 12 hours, you are getting enough. (Some say you should be able to see it after 24 hours. Broda Barnes has a book on Thyroid that explains it all but I haven't read it. ) If I can see the iodine spot on my arm after 6-8 hours, I think I am doing pretty well. (I really can't bear to take more iodine than I take. It just seems like too much to me.) I know my thyroid was low LONG before it showed up on a blood test. If you take your early morning, before rising temperature and it is low (Some would say anything under 98.0 is low... But I am not sure. Under 97.0 is definitely low.) My naturopathic doctor says you should not use a digital and you should keep it in your armpit for a full 10 minutes.

Anyway, you can increase the amount of iodine by a couple of drops if the iodine on your skin disappears quickly and continue to check on your skin and increase by a couple of drops etc. Until the iodine isn't absorbing quickly. Or, if you notice improvement, you could stop when that happens.

I can't recall how long it took for the iodine to provide me with noticeable difference. It was perhaps days or a week or two. But if I run out my symptoms come back pretty fast - mabye in a day or two.

You are dealing with lots of health challenges... So sorry! With the IBS are you possibly losing nutrients you need, causing health challenges? Comfrey is wonderful for this. In her book, Be your Own Doctor, Rachel Weaver says to use comfrey root powder and slippery elm powder to help and heal this. Both are soothing to the digestive tract and very nutritious. She has you mix them together with water to a dough like consistency and then make little pea size balls you can take throughout the day when symptoms flare up. Comfrey leaves can also be mixed with other soothing and nutritive herbs (like Red Raspberry) and made into a tea that will provide extra nutrients. I didn't use to think herbal tea would do much, but I have had some amazing help from them this year and have changed my mind. Activated charcoal is also a great thing for digestive difficulty and helps detox as well (but very gently. ) Just don't take it near time of other supplements as it adsorbs toxins and may also do the same with nutrients. (I take it leaving a 2 hour window. ) You can mix 1 t. In water or take tablets or capsules. Just a couple of more things to consider... Hope it isn't too overwhelming... Praying for relief for you."

05/16/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Earth Clinic has a water cure section with Ted commenting on Dr. Batmanghelidj.. I'm not selling books. All these lovely people here on earth clinic are sharing what helps them and I am doing the same thing, hoping it helps alleviate someone of their sufferring. Love, Joy"

05/18/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "About Dr Batmanghelidj's Water Cure: This man was a humanitarian who was ignored by the present medical system. He has helped innumerable people back to health. If people drink water without supplementing with, for example, celtic salt, they will urinate, dehydrating themselves as well as loosing vitamins and minerals. It was the chemically manufactured salt that wreaked havoc with the world's population and caused an explosion of serious diseases that killed many. Because allopaths have no training in nutrition they misguide patients to their detriment.

I have just begun slowly and do not run to the bathroom because of the water drinking. The protocol is easy and must be followed meticulously. Get off to a slow start. Already I have noted the effect of water doing its work in the entire body. I hope this will, in addition of magnesium, cure my insomnia. It is nature, not drugs that will do it. I am thankfull toward the good doctor and think it would be of benefit to read his by now famous book, even though just doing the program would be alright So many people have been helped including pets. To be rightly informed is self empowerment. Be leery of the common table salt, but natural wet salts are delicious, provide much needed minerals and prevent the continuous problem of over urination. We are made mainly of water, so is the planet with vast resources of salt water. Sometimes I think that the intake of chemical and denatured salt over a life time could be a contributory factor of Alzheimers as our brain, too, is made up largely of water. We are all keen on learning how to get in touch and back to nature and with determination success will be ours. Love, Om"

03/25/2012: Julia from Gardner, Ks: "My dad is doing great! His arms and stomach are looking great. He doesnt dillute it but takes 2 tablespoons faithfully before going to bed. I pray this works for you all like it has helped my dad. Good luck!!"

05/07/2012: Bobby from London: "I tried this for a month and didnt notice much change in my lipomas. I am going to keep going with it. I am going to setup a blog and I think what I want to do is try to find the common link between all the people that have lipomas.

So I want people to put in their age, their location, and their diet, do they eat dairy. etc. There must be a reason these things suddenly appear, I refuse to believe that for no reason at all they appear.

What do people think about this?"

08/30/2012: Giggit from Beaumont, Tx: "I tried just about EVERY THING you can think of to rid my self of an UNSIGHTLY lipoma that is located slightly under my right rib. I had been growing this nasty protuberance for 13 years. Because I am a relatively thin female, and the lipoma is pretty large it was like having a third breast. I hated it.

I recently became extremely interested in herbal remedies, and I decided that I would try a liver detox. This detox consists of Burdock, Dandelion Root, Milk Thistle and other liver cleansing/blood cleansing herbs/roots. I feel indebted to God for the fact that my lipoma has gone from about 4 inches (give or take depending on the direction you looked at me) to something akin to 1 inch and still growing smaller. Mind you, it took me about two months to see such a difference, but it was the only thing that actually has worked for me in any way shape or form. I hope this information helps others out there struggling with this problem. "

11/19/2012: A.k. from Kabul, Afghanistan: "Dear Nitesh, If you want fastest results that work within hours. Here is the miraculous tip.

Get some Turnips, boil and fry them and eat them with spoon in your dinner. Add the taste of your choice, (chilli sugar etc)

Before going to bed, take a couple tea spoons of apple cider vinegar. If by chance you happen to wake up in the night (or rather set and alarm / reminder) eat as much turnip as you can.

I'm sure you shall be praying for me after you see those lipomas shrink fast.

Re-do the task till results are as per your desire.

A.K.Afridi-Kabul Afghanistan

(Source: Personal Experience)"

03/17/2013: Dietz from Waterloo, Ontario Canada: "I have lipomas all over my body also. They have grown to about 2 to 3 inch in size in some areas of my body. I was wondering how long that your father took the Apple Cider Vinegar. Was he doing anything else to his diet? When he stopped the ACV did the lipomas come back? Has he tried anything else to prevent the lipomas?"

05/16/2013: Parm from Vancouver, Bc: "Hi Guys, I brought organic Apple Cider Vinegar from local store and it is easy to take with water. This is just one week now and my lipoma are getting soft. I will post update next week and seems like this is working for me."

05/16/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "Use manava mutra. It has your own "taylor made "antibodies. Wring out a cloth and repeat. You will be amazed. Good luck. Om"

05/15/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "I use to have a note on my till that said "It can't happen here" WELL those days are over. The GMO seed company patented their seed and planted by a friendly farmer and when their pollen landed on his crop they sued him for stealing their patented plants and THEY WON ... HE HAD TO PAY THEM BECAUSE THEY CONTAMINATED HIS CROP. It can happen here. I watched this story on a library dvd.... Lots of info at the library... heads up..."