Replied by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand)

However in the condition of GERD, it would make more sense to use just baking soda alone, or baking soda with apple cider vinegar.

The remedy for baking soda alone, considering the average above weight would likely be more like 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water taken twice a day on an empty stomach.

Or 2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water taken twice a day on an empty stomach, once in the morning and once in the evening.

As to the condition of the cramps, this would indicate the body's inability to cope with excess oils or oily food so it really helps to reduce dietary oily foods especially during dinner, and if oil pulling is suspected to at least do the alkalizing remedy for a couple of weeks.

It is might be suspected somewhat that trace oil pulling toxins is what causing it. However, a more LIKELY scenario appears to be that ONLY apple cider vinegar were used, and whenever the body is already acidosis (most people do acidosis problem due to common western diet), the body's bicarbonate is lacking and bicarbonate is an alkaline substance.

With sufficient alkalinity is what protects dangerous pathogenic bacteria from forming since they tend to grow better in acidic medium, such as between pH of 5 to 6.0, while baking soda is about 8, and the intestinal tract is actually generally alkaline in nature. It has to be that way to neutralize the acid coming from digested food done by the stomach. In event the body cannot neutralize the acid from digested food from the stomach due to insufficient alkalinity, the acid will burn the intestinal tract causing an abdominal cramps. In this case a simple baking soda would have resolve this problem.

However a quick remedy but not necessarily a long term solution is a small dose of milk of magnesia, to neutralize the excess acidity too. However the amount I used always are less than what the bottles recommend such as one teaspoon of milk of magnesia (without the aluminum please!) in one half glass of water and drink that. However, I always will need to take the baking soda nevertheless, for a long term solution and take them (ideally) 5 days out of a week. Some magnesium citrate or magnesium supplements (I don't like epsom salt that much) is the one I think has the least problems and the dose appears to be about 250 mg/day. I prefer to dissolve it with 1/4 teaspoon (approx 250 mg) of magnesium citrate in 1/2 glass of water instead of using the capsules or tablets since it is less destructive to the intestinal tract using a diluted formula instead of a concentrated tablet along the intestinal tract. In some cases these tablet forms don't even dissolve in a glass of water after 15 minutes, which is why I make a habit to chew, grind, or anything so that I get the substance such as dissolving them in a glass of water completely.

Finally most Aloe vera drinks have a problem in itself because of the sugar that was added. The sugar tends to fuel GERD bacterium which makes it worse also. So to get the body more acid, more sugar, oily food, are some of the things which fuels GERD problem therefore doing the opposite would be helpful in relieving such a problem.

Replied by Catlover (San Antonio, TX) on 08/11/2008

Replied by Violet_1 (Austin, Tx) on 02/02/2011

Replied by Violet_1 (Austin, Tx) on 02/02/2011