The following is a brief directory of helpful aids for miscellaneous health queries… emphasis on the word, ‘brief,’ as much of it has been thoroughly covered throughout this entire journal.  It is listed in alphabetical order.

ACID REFLUX (HEARTBURN) (GERD):

“Ugh… I have heartburn,” i hear you say.  Well, you’re not alone, for this happens to be one of the most prevalent issues revolving around digestion… or better said; that of, ‘indigestion.’  It is a condition known as; Acid Reflux, GERD or often referred to as; Heartburn, although it really has nothing to do with the heart at all. Furthermore; contrary to what you may have been told; Acid Reflux is a syndrome more often created by insufficient gastric juices and hydrachloric acid (HCl), rather than too much of the stuff.  This is particularly true, the older we become, although it’s becoming way more prevalent with the young as we go on; nonetheless, let’s dig in and try and figure this thing out, shall we?

I’ve read mega theories as to what causes the burning in the upper portion of the esophagus, and while they are all possible, there are some that just make more sense than others.  The following is the one that seems to hit the nail square on the head to me anyway.  The lower portion of the stomach is meant to accommodate an extremely acidic solution, that of a PH between one and three.  Don’t be alarmed, its walls had been designed to withstand this acidic solution.  There is a very good reason for this intense acid solution to be there.  First of all, it is in place for the purpose of destroying threatening microbes that might be hitching a ride on the food that we just ate… and secondly, it facilitates the breaking down of what we just ate.  Lastly; it is required to utilize vitamins and minerals.  Hmm…. having to supplement with iron, calcium magnesium…B12…  you should be going deeper into the reasons why… the gastro-intestinal department, perhaps.

Aside from the potential of mega dangerous pathogens slipping into our body’s domain, there are apparently other negative implications associated with an insufficient acidic solution; this where acid-reflux gets its legs.  If the lower portion of the stomach is too alkaline, an over growth of stomach yeast is eventually created.  Fermentation from that yeast leads to a build up of carbon dioxide in the stomach cavity.  When you consider the action/reaction of a little bit of yeast; how it can cause a small lump of dough to expand like mega times its original volume in a very short period of time, then you can associate what could be occurring in the stomach cavity.   Consequently; carbon dioxide; howbeit, combined with some HCl, will have significantly increased and will be seeking an escape hatch… and guess where that will be?  That sphincter/valve located at the top entrance to the stomach, the hiatus valve, will eventually lose its sealing ability.  The burning sensation that many experience is from the acid alright, but it’s not from an over abundance of the stuff, rather it is the result of an over abundance of carbon dioxide… what-do-ya-think… does it make some sense?

What happens below the stomach if its PH is not up to par may lend some explanation to the gas and bloating syndrome experienced by many after a large meal.  At some point in time, another valve at the bottom end of the stomach is designed to open and empty the partially digested food along with some stomach acid, which is going to vary in PH.  Bear in mind; the small intestine is not designed to accommodate an extremely acidic solution, but that’s no problem, our Maker had this figured out.   When the finished product of what you just ate gets broken down, it is known as chyme; this mixture enters the small intestine, the liver is alerted and automatically delivers a seriously alkaline substance known as bile that had been stored in the gall bladder to the scene.  The purpose of this bile is to neutralize the intense acid; furthermore, enzymes from the pancreas (Lipase) are dispatched to the acidic scene as well performing yet another service; to digest fats etc… pretty impressive team, huh?

Albeit, if the solution in the lower portion of the stomach was not up to par, still too acidic… then it could present a domino effect of health issues farther on down the line, such as yet more carbon dioxide build up, hence why you might experience gas and bloating after a meal.

***Scroll over to section entitled; ‘Digestion,’ for more detailed information on how how to get it right.

THE FIX:

And so it is that heartburn and bloating are like a couple of baaad acting clowns in a circus that never leaves your town.  The question is; how do we arrest these clowns and get this circus on the road… clean out of your town for good?  Reaching for Tums or baking soda may offer temporary relief in that they neutralize the result of that acidic turmoil in the stomach, but are counterproductive.  The same can be said about Pharmaceutical ant-acid agents, although you never heard me say it… right?   These are designed to turn off the supply of gastric acid.   Hmm… what-do-ya-think… you’re allowed to do that you know… was our Maker doing a good thing when He created this acid to be… or not?

I’m assuming that you do want to fix this problem so let’s get to work on it then, shall we?  First of all; you need to scrutinize what you’re habitually eating.  Enzyme deplete, refined and/or micro-waved substances… which we sadly define as, food are a very big part of the problem.   Furthermore, cooked and micro-waved processed food destroys the enzymes and mega other natural co-factors that are required by your body’s cells to convert food into energy and so it’d be wise to choose real and/or raw food.

Albeit, a diet consisting predominantly of, raw food may be an easy go for those living in the southern hemisphere, it’s not so practical in the northern hemisphere of the globe, where it always seems to be winter… and seldom Christmas.  Nonetheless, there are are still ways to obtain food that is alive and complete with its baggage even in the north.  Dehydrating and/or fermenting foods are a few time tested means of preserving food in its natural state, and seed/bean sprouting is a simple process to produce fresh food daily in your own home.  Natural supplements too can help in the dead food department.  One can purchase concentrate berry, fruit and green products as well as Digestive Enzymes if the finances are available.  Digestive enzymes are one of many agents that your cells require to absorb and utilize nutrients from food.

Secondly, pay attention to your food combinations.  Mixing fruit with heavy meals is a sure recipe for athe production of carbon dioxide, the result of fermentation.  Fruit, especially melon tends to digest extremely rapidly and so if you hork it down with steak and potatoes, which takes much longer to digest, then there’s bound to be a problem.  It’s better to consume the fruit and/or melon an hour-ish before you indulge in that biggg dish.

Thirdly and most importantly, we really should be addressing the PH factor of the stomach.  The reasons why this concentration is not happening has much to do with the gut microbiota, the presence… and arrangement of healthy microbes within the GI Tract.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Probiotics… etc‘ for detailed information on this subject.

Meanwhile, we can assist our body in restoring this function… or at least subsidize it until such time.  First and foremost is the need for salt.  I know; you’ve been advised to cut back on your sodium and all for fear of cardio issues; however, that was the result of some malevolent politics at work.  Sad to inform you but it does go on.  The bottom line is that the body requires sodium in order to produce hydrochloric acid in particular; only be careful to scrutinize the type of salt.  However; that’s an entirely different topic; suffice it to say this; access some real sea salt, Celtic and/or Himalayan salt rather than non iodized salt commonly found inland.  Most all of that is a poison to the body.  Ugh… am i popular yet?  Nonetheless; a halfish tsp of this daily is a real asset to your overall health.

The next area to address is your liver; it has much to do with regulation and production in particular.  There are mega supplements available for this department.  A supplement known as; Swedish Bitters is a popular and effective agent to wake the liver up; you don’t have to be Swedish in order to benefit from it, incidentally.  Nonetheless, the instant these bitter herbs enter your mouth, aside from your face performing amazing contortions, your liver will begin producing and releasing a schwack of enzymes and other digestive goodies to the scene… how’s that for a tight little digestive team?  The herbal combinations of bitters may vary, with or without an alcohol base, but generally speaking, some of the herbs contained in such a formula will be; Gentian Root, Rhubarb, Angelica, Bitter orange, Aloe, Anise, Senna, Licorice and/or Fennel.

Consuming a small glass of celery juice before meals can be a real help here also.  It can apparently restore the hydrochloric acid and gastric components to the stomach.  This is probably due to its high natural, sodium properties, or so i’d say.  There are mega other benefits to celery juice as well, such as; thyroid support, uric acid cleanser (gout) and cardio vascular health as well and so is worth the endeavor.  It can be accessed in the form of a tincture if you do not have a juicer.

Ingesting any fermented concoction just before, during, or immediately after a large meal can also make a big difference.  A glass of wine just before, during, or immediately after a large meal, would serve to stimulate stomach acid, as well… i figured you’d appreciate that one.  But… hey; we’re not talking about a whole bottle of the stuff, that would be counterproductive… only a glass… or, maybe 2, ok?  For those non-alcoholics, you might wanna consider including a small helping of a fermented vegetable of sorts, such as; Sauerkraut, Kimchi or Pickles.  If you’re one of those, who are, taste challenged, you can take several capsules of a supplement known as, Betaine Hydrochloride.  There… now you have no excuse!

On the detrimental scale; an excess of caffeine, nicotine, alcohol or chocolate can be counterproductive to your digestive system in particular and so abstinence or moderation is recommended. Hmm… again… am i popular yet?  Last but not least; eat slow and sociably… chew your food well and take time to digest a meal before running off… a most challenging ‘to do’ in today’s fast pace world; i know.

HELP…911:

Meanwhile; there may be times, especially at the beginning of your wellness journey when… well… the internal weather can be downright nasty within the GI tract, and so we may need some outside intervention.  Here are some ways to soothe an inflamed esophagus.   Slippery Elm Bark will coat/soothe both, an inflamed esophagus as well as an upset stomach or pretty much any type of inflammation, for that matter.  Slippery Elm was the ‘country doctor fix’ for colicky babies many moons ago.  A lozenge form of slippery elm would be preferable for Acid-Reflux as it dissolves lowly, more effectively coating the inflamed esophagus.

Mix a half of teaspoon of slippery elm powder with the same amount of licorice root powder in some warm water, along with a bit of Manuka honey… yum.  This combination appeases a sore throat as well.  It’s also effective against H-Pylori Bacteria infection (stomach ulcers).   It’s best to add just a splash of water to the slippery elm powder to begin with, and then stir it up into a paste before topping up the cup with hot water.  Slippery elm powder, much like cocoa powder, tends to fluff up when adding too much fluid.

***Licorice, can also be accessed in the form of a lozenge; DGL, short for; Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice.  This form of licorice is ideal for those with high blood pressure, as the sodium has been removed… hmm… a neutered licorice, if you will.

I’ve included a recipe to make your own slippery elm lozenges for those do-it-yourself types.

SLIPPERY ELM LOZENGES:

This recipe can be altered according to taste.  Boil several broken pieces of licorice root in ½ cup of water.  The idea is to make a super concentrated licorice tea and so even licorice powder or tea bags can be used.  Add approx. 1 tbspn of honey to the tea while it is still hot to facilitate melting.  Manuka honey is a good choice but not a must.  Let the solution cool.  Slowwwwly add approx. ½ cup of slippery elm bark powder, stirring as you pour.  This must be done slowly; otherwise the powder will clump together rather than readily dissolve into the tea mix.  Slippery elm powder, much like cocoa powder is slow to absorb water and so is best down slow and steady.

This next step is where your creativity comes in; the goal is to mold this muddy textured mix into the shape of pastels.  This can be done individually or by spreading a thin layer of the entire mix onto a food grade mesh of sorts and then cookie cutting them after wards.  You may wanna sprinkle some slippery elm powder onto your working surface when doing this to prevent it from sticking, kinda like sprinkling a little flour down when kneading dough.   Now pop your finished product into the oven to dry over night.  The oven light is the only source of heat required for this.  Once your end product is dry and firm, store in a container… without a lid.  This will prevent them from going moldy, which can happen if they are not thoroughly dry.  I like to drop in a couple of those little absorbing packets that you often find in a pill container.

I find this recipe to be superior to any product on the market.

“What about Baking Soda?” I hear you ask.  Baking Soda may temporarily neutralize the excessive acid storm raging in your tummy but it is counter productive in that it will create a negative domino effect regarding PH balance farther down the GI Tract.  There are more proactive methods to relieve the distress caused by this syndrome.  Ingesting a couple of capsules of Betaine Hydrochloride will often calm things down… hmm… go figure… ingesting acid to thwart an acidic condition; meanwhile, the medical protocol for Acid-Reflux is an acid blocking medication; a pill designed to turn off what acid you do have going on.    Ingesting a small shot of Swedish Bitters works very well and works very fast, as well.  Another agent to consider is Activated Charcoal.  Activated charcoal can readily absorb the excessive gas, created in both heartburn and bloating.

***Caution; ingesting ant-acids with milk can prove to be downright life threatening; it could usher in a severe syndrome of alkalosis, similar to major hyperventilating.

ACNE:

Acne is a teenagers curse, for sure; I mean, they’re already at a vulnerable emotional stage in their life and along comes this big ugly pimple, and then another one, followed by an entire face full of the dang things… ugh!  Needless to say, such a scenario is bound to seriously challenge a kid’s self esteem.  Nonetheless; acne is not exclusive to just teenagers, it can show up in adults as well.  What exactly is the cause of this condition?  Well, the fact that it most often occurs during puberty and during menstrual cycles suggests a hormonal connection to me.  Specific hormones classified as Androgens appear to be a common suspect with Acne.  What are Androgens?  They’re teen age aliens that have been dispatched to earth for the sole purpose of stirring up %#@* and, in this case; messing up pretty faces.  Seriously though; Androgens are a specific classification of hormones commonly, but not exclusively, involved in sexuality and reproduction.  Testosterone and Dehydrotestosterone (DHT) are two of the major Androgens.

Rather than get too involved in the intricacies revolving around hormone balance, suffice it to say this; Estrogen and Testosterone are two hormones common to both male and female, the only difference being the balance of one to the other. Regardless of which hormone may be dominant and characterizing either male or female status, the balancing act between these two clowns is what is responsible for mega circus acts throughout one’s life, acne being only one of them.

Essentially, the initial introduction of Testosterone, common to puberty… and the hormone imbalance that so often occurs during menstruation, causes the hair follicles to expand and produce an excess of oil (sebaceous glands).  When these pores become clogged, we have inflammation, hence the pimples.

THE FIX:

Attempting to deal with Acne topically by applying ointments, is futile in my opinion. Although this protocol may serve to alleviate some of the discomfort and/or negative, visual implications of Acne, such an approach is merely dealing with the tip the iceberg.  There’s a whole lot more going on beneath the surface, for sure.  Howbeit; a simple and effective topical agent to consider is a probiotic agent mixed in water and sprayed lightly onto the skin and leave to dry.  Probiotics are not just common to our GI Tract, they are absolutely everywhere, both; in and outside of our body.  They effectively balance the ecosystem of the skin, which is obviously being challenged.  The same therapy can be effective for psoriasis and eczema.  There are a few liquid probiotics that are already active to consider for this; Vita Biosa and Molkasan (Vogel).  Other than that, a natural non clogging skin cleanser and PH neutralizer to consider is Citric acid.  Just mix up 1/2 tspn of citric acid crystals in a small spray bottle with some water and spray it liberally on the skin.  This agent will serve to emulsify the excess oil being secreted by the Sebacious glands.  Other topical applications to consider are; Bentonite Clay, White Willow Bark, Tea Tree, Aloe Vera and/or Green Tea.

Internal treatment for Acne or any other Endocrine imbalance is best directed toward liver function, for all roads lead there.  The liver is not only the body’s main filter for toxins, but it is also responsible for the production, balance and elimination of hormones.  Furthermore, the liver is extremely responsive to whatever is going on with the Gastro-Intestinal system (GI Tract); therefore, paying attention to one’s diet and elimination would be a proactive approach, for sure.  Simply avoiding sugar and/or fast foods, namely junk food can make a mega difference.  A protocol consisting of; Probiotics, Enzymes and Fiber/drawing agents will for sure contribute to the cause by enhancing both liver and elimination function.

As fore mentioned, Hormone production/balance, namely, the Endocrine system, is quite a complex process, and attempting to positively interfere with such can be frustrating, although not futile.  There are many effective hormonal balancing agents to consider with Acne; however, as fore mentioned, the problem is; which one to apply, how much and how often to apply it.  Howbeit; agents that have yielded favorable results for many are as follows;  Licorice Root and/or Chaste Tree (Vitex) combined with Progesterone cream (topically applied), can often effectively modulate excessive testosterone dominance.  ***Caution on using Vitex with young girls, it can interrupt normal menstrual cycles.  Other herbal agents to consider are; Black Cohosh, Dong Quai, Turmeric, Red Clover and/or Olive Leaf.

ARTHRITIS:

This is a biiiiggg and complicated query, for sure.  Any condition ending with, ‘itis,’ spells one common characteristic; inflammation.  Some examples are; Arthritis, Tendonitis, Bursitis, Colitis, Gastritis, Appendicitis etc.  Inflammation is really the result of your body attempting to repair a wound and to regain balance, a process better known as homeostasis.  and inflammation most often spells pain… ugh!  The problem is that inflammation most often spells pain, which can drag on for too long sometimes.  This can be debilitating and in some cases, life threatening.

There are two main types of arthritis; Rheumatoid and Osteo, and while each share similar symptoms, they are different diseases.  Regardless, arthritis is a syndrome resulting from not just one, but several metabolic malfunctions, and more often than not, it will have been slowly progressing over a period of years.  Therefore, in order to halt and/or to reverse the syndrome, one must be willing to go the entire nine yards and be willing to renovate, not just the body… but also the mind (attitude) and spirit, as well.  I know this personally because I once had a very baddd case of Rheumatoid Arthritis.   It was more like a life sentence at the time.  The good news it that I am no longer under its cruel dominion.    ***Refer tothe  section entitled, ‘Journey of Life,’ for the detailed description of my own battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Also refer to section entitled, ‘Immune Malfunction,’ for detailed information regarding the root cause of many chronic inflammatory diseases.  Are you up for the journey?

THE PAIN FIX:

Let’s deal with the pain first, cause nobody likes pain.  There are many choices of anti-inflammatory agents to address the pain department; finding the right one is going to involve some trial and error simply because we are all made different; what works for one person may not work at all for another.  Some of the more common agents to arrest inflammation to consider are; MSM, Turmeric… or Curcumin, which is one of the most prominent properties of turmeric, Boswellia, Yucca, Devils Claw, Devils Club, although I seriously doubt if the devil had anything to do with their benefits… it’s totally contrary to his nature… White Willow Bark, which is the natural origin of aspirin, Rosemary and Ginger… not your girlfriends, but rather the plants… and then the minerals; Magnesium and Silica.  I have a few suggestions when using the fore mentioned; first of all; more doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better.  In other words, taking several of those agents is not necessarily better than applying just one at a time;  you’ll have to be the judge of that.  Secondly, what may do wonders for one person may do nothing at all for your pain, and in some cases, may even make your condition worst… and thirdly; give it time to work.  Synthetic pharmaceuticals are designed to interfere with normal bodily functions for the most part; natural agents do not, generally speaking, rather they are God given tools to maintain balance and restore health… got it?  It’s the difference between natural (God’s garden) and man made (laboratory).

Glucosamine Sulphate and/or Chondroitin are two popular ‘reach-fors’ when it comes to joint pain and are often found as a combination, but there is a catch; can you absorb and utilize it?  I’d recommend that one consider supplementing with Hydrachloric acid (HCl) if considering this supplement simply because it cannot be broken down and rendered useful by the cells if one’s stomach acid PH is not seriously intensely concentrated as it is supposed to be.  This same principal applies to many ingested substances… especially, minerals; they cannot be efficiently dismantled and absorbed if one’s stomach gastric enzymes and HCI is not up to par.  How it gets up to par is an entirely different health query; however, briefly speaking, the eco-system of one’s GI Tract plays a biggg role in HCI production.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Digestion‘ for detailed information on this.   Animals, on the other hand respond much better to Glucosamine Sulphate and/or Chondroitin; they have a seriously acidic PH going on… lucky dogs!

Serratia Peptidase is an agent that many have reported to be effective.   This agent is a synthetic reproduction of the enzyme produced by the silk worm, purposed to dissolve the fibrin sheath of its cocoon… a vital protocol to escape its tight little sleeping quarters.  Perhaps you can see the connection to its ability in dealing with inflammation.  Speaking of enzymes… any and all enzymes will be beneficial when dealing with inflammation; after all, one of the main functions of enzymes is their ability to dissolve/dismantle.  When taken with food, enzymes will dismantle and unlock what you have eaten; however, when taken between meals, they’ll be employed to perform mega metabolic processes, such as that of dismantling inflammation.   As it is with most natural anti-inflammatories, be sure to give it time… don’t expect one of any thing to change the prognosis over night.

The following is a list of other beneficial agents to consider; Diatomaceous Earth, Bentonite Clay, Zeolite, Leaf Source (humic/fulvic acid) and/or Sierra-Sil, to name but a few of the more common ones.   The fore mentioned serve several purposes; first of all, they are valuable sources of available minerals and trace minerals due to their ionic (energized) characteristics.  Secondly, they serve to draw and eliminate toxins from the body, including Pathogens, which many times are associated with the inflammation, and thirdly; these types of agents assist the body in its endeavor to achieve a balanced PH, to render the body more so alkaline overall.  What is PH?  PH can be a book all onto itself, but suffice it to say that it is the measurement of a specific item as to whether such is acidic or alkaline.  Furthermore, PH is relative to the health condition of our body, especially that of arthritis.  Our body has been programmed to perpetually maintain a balanced PH; we can only assist it or hinder it in doing so.  This is where the digestion process comes into focus; one’s diet and/or life style, among other things can render the body seriously acidic; this can create mega health issues, chronic inflammation such as the ‘itis‘ family of diseases, being one of them.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Osteoporosis‘ for more detailed information on PH.

Some topical agents to consider for pain/inflammation are; MSM, Arnica and/or DMSO, and an assortment of Camphor/Eucalyptus, Mint and/or Cayenne based formulas; there are plenty of these to choose from.  ***Caution if Cayenne is present in the formula, you want to avoid contact with your eyes, for sure… 10,000 pesky bears and purse snatchers can’t be wrong; .

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Gares Hall of Fame‘ for detailed info on DMSO, MSM and Zeolite.

GETTING DOWN TO THE ROOT OF THE INFLAMMATION:

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) affects the synovial cells in the joints in such a manner so as to produce intense pain and swelling in such.  Osteo-Arthritis (OA), is characterized by a serious calcium build up around the joints, and although it is somewhat uncomfortable and debilitating, it does not cause anywhere near the pain that RA does.  Many inflammatory diseases, such as; Arthritis are the result of a malfunctioning Adrenal and Immune system… and a malfunctioning Adrenal and Immune system is the result of; what is… or what is not… going on within the Gastro-Intestinal system (GI Tract).  Our focus should on, digestion/assimilation and dismantling/elimination if we’re going to change the prognosis; but then that is the solution to 95ish% of our health queries, and so really… it’s worth all of the effort, wouldn’t you agree?

First of all; pay attention to what you’re eating.  Your body requires real food in order to function.  Furthermore; your colon was designed to extract nutrients and eliminate, not to harbour pounds of *$%#*# for extended periods of time. Secondly; ensure that you have a strong and healthy, hierarchy of beneficial micro-organisms established throughout the GI Tract. Probiotics along with sufficient Fiber, such as; various Grain Brans, Seeds and/or Fruit Pectins, is a sure way to secure this. Thirdly; Enzymes (plenty) not only unlock the nutrients found in the food we just ate, but are also able to dissolve/dismantle the fibrin/protein layer common to inflammation, as well as that of tumors, environmental carcinogens, and Pathogens… one or some of which may very well be the cause of the Arthritis to begin with.   Enzymes can be purchased individually, such as; Bromelain, Papaya, Turmeric and Ginger… or in combinations such as; Wobenzyme or any Broad Spectrum enzyme combination.

Check the ingredient list; you’re looking for a combination, capable of dismantling; Proteins (Protease), Carbohydrates (Amylase), Fats (Lipase) and Fibers (Cellulose).  EFA Fats and Super Greens/Berries should also be on that menu.  A regime of the fore mentioned will help the body to restore a healthy PH balance, as well.

***Refer to the section entitled, ‘Digestion,’ for detailed information on the ins and outs of how to do this.

ADRENAL AND IMMUNE MALFUNCTION:

Some Immune support agents to consider are; Transfer Factor, Plant Sterols/Sterinols, various Mushrooms, such as; Reishi, Cordyceps, Herbs, such as; Shizandra, Astragalus, Rhodiola and Licorice Root… and Adrenal adaptagens such as; Vitamin-C (Berries) with Royal Jelly.  Osteo-Arthritis, in particular is associated with mineral absorption, and/or a distribution, therefore; I’d be scrutinizing my mineral supplementation… cautious with Calcium supplementation, in particular.  There are proven co-factors, able to distribute and utilize Calcium available; these would be a wise protocol.  Some agents to research and consider are; Magnesium, Boron, Silica, Vitamin D-3 and Vitamin K-2.

Remember that we are made up of body, mind and Spirit, and each one of these departments will play a dynamic role in ushering in… healing or… disease. Seek serenity from the things you cannot change… and make an effort to forgive, not just those who may have willfully harmed you, but also… to forgive yourself. Despair and/or anger, resentment and harboured un-forgiveness can take you down, and you’ll never find a pill to fix that.

***Refer to sections entitled, ‘Vitamins/Minerals’ for more detailed info on this.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Remedy for a Wounded Spirit,’ for direction in the Spiritual department of affairs… I guarantee that it’ll be nothing like you had ever read before… truly a breath of fresh and healing air.

ASTHMA:

Asthma can be one of the most challenging of all queries, right up there along with cardio vascular malfunction. I say that because we’re not like fish; we’re warm blooded and we need air to breathe. Consequently; if our blood was to stop flowing and/or our airways were to become blocked, then we’d be in serious trouble, needless to say. The Asthma circus begins when a serious nervous response is triggered, which compromises the airways to some degree, sometimes so severe that it is life threatening… ugh! Why such a radical nervous reaction is one mystery; figuring out what causes the serious reaction is yet another challenge. Some of the most common causes revolve around air quality such as; strong scents, dust, pet dander and/or chemicals, but it can also be triggered by stress and trauma.

THE FIX:

Dealing with Asthma is going to involve several functions; Adrenal function, Immune function, Nervous function and of course, Respiratory function. Recognizing and avoiding immune triggers is going to be an obvious help, but this is not always possible… or even practical; after all; we really have very little control over the quality of the air that we breathe at any given moment. However; avoiding situations with known triggers; such as pets, mold or cosmetic departments in stores to name but a few, will definitely be an ally. According to my research, Asthma is an inflammatory allergy; therefore, both your immune system and adrenal system, in particular are going to be involved.

Some Immune aids to consider are; Transfer Factor, an isolate from Colostrum, Plant Sterols, such as; Beta Sitosterol, Moducare Sterinol, herbal agents such as; Astragalus, Ashwagandha, Cordyceps and/or Shisandra, Super Greens such as; Spirulina, Blue/Green Algae and/or Chlorella, Mushrooms and related family such as; Reishi, Shitake, Maitake and/or Chaga. 

Some Adrenal aids to consider are; Shisandra, Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Bee products, such as; Royal Jelly, Bee Propolis and/or Bee Pollen, Nettle, Vit-C (preferably as found in nature’s pkg such as; berries).

You may be surprised to hear this, I know that I was; CLA (Tonalin), (Safflower oil extract) is apparently an effective asthma agent that has offered some impressive results. I’m not sure why this particular supplement is effective for controlling Asthma, but one customer reported it to be responsible for keeping his Asthma locked up in the closet for over 10 years.  Another gem to consider is a root extract called; Forskolin.  This agent apparently positively affects both, neurological as well as cardio function and therefore; worth considering for asthma.

*** Caution; each one of the fore mentioned agents may, or may not be compatible with your body and so I’d suggest one be careful when considering supplementing with any of the fore mentioned. The same rule of thumb would apply to Pharmaceutical agents as well; otherwise we could be opening the door to yet one more potential trigger… ugh! After all, we’re talking about a very sensitive immune system, right? How would you know what is compatible and what is not with your body?  Allergy testing is a service offered by most Natural Health Centers… or one can apply, Vega testing (Muscle testing) to ascertain this.  Some people may simply introduce a minute dose of a particular substance into their mouth as a tester, prior to indulging, although in the case of Asthma, you may not want to risk it.

There are plenty of effective agents available to alleviate Bronchial/Lung congestion, but the challenge with Asthma is; to make it happen… like… right now, when you really need it.  The same can be said about the nervous response of shutting down the airways; can we calm everything down… like… right now, when we need it? If an asthma attack is suspected, I’d suggest mixing magnesium powder with water and slowly sip it down. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant and therefore; can be a real life saver. It will serve to relax and dilate the arteries, allowing blood to be readily delivered to the troubled area, as well as serve to relax the tensed muscles in the breathing department.

The most effective reach for if an asthma attack is suspected would be a magnesium powder The best route to go with managing Asthma is to be proactive. Learn and master the technique of breath control and relaxation. Instead of reacting with fear when breathing is threatened, which is obviously only going to make things worse, one would be managing the distress factor. I saw this technique in action once when a friend of mine, who was plagued with Asthma, seriously reacted to a shot of bear spray (Capsicum). The bear spray accidentally released in our moving car. I quickly pulled over to the side of the road at which time, she immediately stepped out of the car and just stood quiet with her eyes shut tight. Her breathing was severely challenged but within a few minutes, she managed to regain control and restore normal breathing again.

A good way to learn such a technique would be to begin playing a musical wind instrument such as; harmonica or flute. These types of instruments require breathing control and therefore would serve to develop and maintain a strong and healthy respiratory system… and bonus… you get to produce your very own music while you exercise.

Some effective Respiratory agents to consider are; Magnesium (muscle relaxant), Fenugreek, Ivy, Mullein, Coltsfoot and/or licorice, to name but a few.

Some effective Nerve calming agents to consider are; Magnesium, Valerian, Lemon Balm, Passion Flower, St John’s Wort and/or Scullcap, to mention but a few.

ASTHMA PREVENTION TEA:

Mix together 1 ounce of Forskholii, ½ ounce of Yerba Mate, ¼ ounce of Lobelia Tincture.

Again, the same rule applies with any supplement you may choose… be cautious!

BAD BREATH (HALITOSIS):

Two of the most common causes for bad breath, better known as Halitosis are; dental issues, namely, tooth decay and/or digestive imbalance.  The fix for tooth decay will vary according to the degree of infection, but most often it suggests a visit to the dentist.  I’d suggest a month or so of, ‘oil pulling.’ What is oil pulling?  This is an age ol therapy of swishing a tablespoon of any type of oil, except motor oil, of course, around in your mouth for approximately 20ish minutes and then spitting it out.  The idea is that the oil, being a fat will act as a vacuum of sorts, drawing out mega micro organisms that are hiding out in every nook and cranny between the teeth and the gums.  The digestive related remedy to consider for bad breath is; Probiotics, Digestive Enzymes and HCl (Hydrochloric Acid).  The HCl, when taken at meal times will ensure that there is sufficient Hydrochloric Acid present in order to facilitate proper digestion.  The digestive enzymes serve to dismantle and unlock the nutritive elements from the food you just ate, and the Probiotics are beneficial micro organisms, destined to set up house and culture the entire Gastro-intestinal (GI) Tract.  Other natural agents purported to balance the GI Tract are; Apple Cider Vinegar, Peppermint, Chlorophyl, Anise, Fennel, Caraway and Licorice, to name but a few.  I strongly recommend a liquid, probiotic blend called, Vita Biosa.  This particular Probiotic, unlike most every other one on the market, is alive and active upon entry.  Needless to say, this could be a real bonus in that it has the potential to positively affect teeth and gum health as well as culture the entire GI Tract.  Furthermore; it not only contains live probiotics but also several valuable herbs that are reputable for digestive/liver distress.  A tablespoon of this Probiotic blend can be swished around in the mouth for a few moments and then swallowed.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Gare’s Hall of Fame‘ for more info on Vita Biosa.

BLADDER INFECTIONS:

Bladder infection… no problem… i’ll just throw back some cranberry juice and it’ll be all better… for a while, anyway.  The question is; does it work, and if so… how does it work?  Now, you may not be at all interested in knowing why something works, but there are mega advantages to finding this out.  Information is helpful, knowledge empowers… but wisdom will prevent you from becoming a victim over and over again, regardless of the challenge.

Howbeit; why do you suppose that something as simple as cranberry juice can clear up something as complex as a bladder infection?  It’s claim to fame is that it contains a simple sugar that is chemically related to glucose known as; D-Mannose.   When bacteria (E. Coli) invade the bladder, they attach themselves to the ‘mannose’ lining of the urinary tract where they colonize, eventually developing into an all out infection.  Due to the chemical structure of D-Mannose, it tends to stick to the E. coli, wrapping it with a coating, which makes the bacteria unable to attach itself to the bladder wall, and of course if these bacteria are unable to attach to the bladder wall… well… too bad… and bye bye bacteria… they are then flushed out of the body as urine.

The question should be; how and why do these bacteria make a home in your bladder in the first place?  Pretend that your body is a ship; you’ll have a crew, and there will be literally, millions of passengers that will board throughout the years; some good, some bad… and some, downright mean and ugly.  We really have little control over the passengers… who boards our ship; however, we do have control over the crew.  What happens when these passengers actually board our ship is where the wind will meet the sails, so to speak.  If our ship’s crew is plentiful, loyal and alert, then there will be little cause for concern, for bad acting and/or stowaways will be dealt with effectively, and our vessel will be destined for clear sailing.  However; if we have a scant, careless and/or confused crew, then we’ll not only be prone to stowaways aboard our ship, the invasion of pirates, but also the potential of mutiny among the crew, as is the case with so called; auto-immune syndromes, where one’s own immune system begins attacking the body that it has been designed to protect.  Interstitial Cystitis is a such a condition.  This is a painful and debilitating condition whereby one’s own immune system seriously reacts with the bladder wall… more on that later.

THE FIX:

First and foremost, you’re going to be reaching for Probiotics for your eco system of the GI tract is obviously compromised.  A normally healthy Gastro-Intestinal system (GI Tract) will be home to millions of friendly micro-organisms; however, poor diet and life style, pharmaceutical drugs, excessive stimulants and over use of antibiotics, to mention but a few antagonists, will seriously disrupt the balance of these so needed organisms.  The result of this imbalance will be an over growth of aggressive bacteria, most often; E-Coli.  Most will opt for an antibiotic program.  Antibiotics are really just a super aggressive micro-organism that are programmed to destroy bacteria; they enter the GI tract and beat the hell out of all of its occupants; the good the bad and the ugly.  They do not discern between malevolent and benevolent; consequently, they’ll kill whatever they come in contact with.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Probiotics,’ for more info on Probiotics.

The question often comes up; should i wait until i have completed my regime of antibiotics before supplementing with Probiotics?  I cannot/will not advise you on what to do or what not to do in this regard; i can only share with you my own personal convictions according to my research; do with it what you will.  An unbalanced GI tract renders one vulnerable to all sorts of threatening microbes; therefore; i’d prioritize strengthening it with benevolent microbial activity.  I personally cannot see a problem supplementing with probiotics while taking antibiotics; however… again; you be the ultimate judge in the end; it’s your body… learn how it works and look after it.

Secondly; either, Cranberry juice or D-Mannose powder is certainly going to help your cause and so can remain on the menu, but i’d suggest some terrain conditioning agents alongside that regime.  Your goal is to cull the heard a tad; in this case; E-Coli.

Some agents to consider for bladder infections are; Golden Seal, Oregano Oil, Thyme and/or Olive Leaf.  MSM, Birch Juice (by Salus) and/or a combination of herbs (by Vogel) called, Cystoforce.   Drinking sufficient energized water is also going to be of great benefit to effectively flush and hydrate.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘The Mystery of Water‘ for more info on ‘Energized Water.‘

Bladder issues/ Interstitial Cystitis;

If one’s bladder infection is chronic and/or severe, you may need to go even further beyond the aforementioned protocol in order to win the battle.  Many of the aids already suggested apply here as well; however; i’d enhance the protocol by applying a herbal agent such as; Slippery Elm or Marshmallow Root.  Either of these have the unique ability to line, sooth and protect inflamed tissue.

In the case of, Interstitial Cystitis, a condition whereby one’s immune system attacks the bladder membrane; i’d also be employing an adrenal and immune modulator in order to restore balance in the immune department.  Some agents to consider are; Transfer Factor, Astragalus, Shisandra, Ashwagandha, Spiralina, Blue Green Algae, Chlorella, Reishi, Cordyceps and/or Chaga, to name but a few. ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Immune Malfunction,’ for more information in this department.  Furthermore; i’d encourage you to research an agent called; DMSO… an incredibly effective gem indeed.

While you’re in researching mode; i’d also encourage you to snoop out a therapy known as; ‘Urine Therapy.‘  I know, it sounds strange, but it is credible.  Refer to section entitled, ‘Alternative Health Practices‘ for detailed information on this subject.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Gare’s Hall of Fame‘ for more info on MSM, DMSO and Transfer Factor (Immune Modulator).

BRAIN AND BEHAVIOUR:

ADD/ADHD (Attention deficit disorder), Autism, Schizophrenia, Dementia, Alzheimer.  

Malfunction of the brain and/or behavioral issues is not always due to physical injury or emotional trauma, it can be the result of many issues, such as; an imbalance within one or more parts of the body, especially within the digestive tract (GI Tract), it can be the result of deficiency and/or environmental toxicity; such as; carcinogenic, chemical compounds, heavy metals,   Electrical/Magnetic/Frequency (EMF) to name but a few biggies.  We’ll be covering the EMF factor in just a bit.

Bear in mind the difference between Pharmaceutical Medicine and Natural Medicine when attempting to treat brain/behavioural imbalances.  Pharmaceutical Medicine revolves around treating the symptoms of disease.  It focuses on altering a specific part of the body that might be revealing a problem.  Furthermore, it utilizes synthetic agents, those made in a laboratory to accomplish this.  Natural (Holistic) medicine treats disease as an imbalance occurring within the body, mind and/or spirit.  Furthermore; it applies natural agents and protocols for the most part, to assist the entire inter-relative organism to regain balance, something known as ‘homeostasis.’

Howbeit; the ‘Pharmaceutical standard of care’ for treating brain/behaviour issues appears to be ineffective… the old school approach, in my opinion, anyway.  I’m not alone; more and more medical professionals are in agreement with that as time goes on.  After all; Doctors do care and therefore should be the first to recognize the fact that their tools are just not getting the job done… of making people well.  It wasn’t too long ago when serious psychological issues were dealt with by; incarceration, lobotomies and/or shock treatment.  Now it is being dealt with by dispensing schwacks of pharmaceutical agents, many of which present side effects far worst than the original health concern.  It’s not fair to suggest that there is no place for such agents but rather that a broader menu for treating mental and emotional illnesses should really be researched and made available.

Orthomolecular-Eologic, Psychiatry (OEP) is an example of such an option.  First of all; what is OEP?  OEP is the recognition of the causes of brain/emotion malfunction and addresses it at the root of the problem rather than treating the symptoms of such, as seems to be the trend.  A healthy functioning brain requires the presence… and/or the absence of specific nutrients/elements.  Some of the more common elements that it requires are; water, oxygen, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fats and protein.   Some of what the brain does not need, aside from serious impact, is antagonists, such as; excessive alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceutical and recreational drugs, GMO foods, food additives, refined carbs, excessive sugar and most artificial sweeteners, environmental carcinogens and neuro-toxins… many of which are contained in vaccines, by the way.  But wait… there are yet other other factors to consider with brain and emotional malfunction, aside from the aforementioned.  Electrical/magnetic/frequency (EMF) toxicity, radical changes in the weather, full moon cycles… and now… apparently; solar flares, can also push buttons, resulting in neurotic… and even, psychotic activity in some people.  I have personally witnessed this phenomenon, having worked in the retail industry for so many years.  ‘Inflammation’ appears to be the common denominator in many of the aforementioned suspects.  When we have inflammation we’re more often than dealing with allergies; immune reactions to varying degrees.

Ugh… I know… that’s a pretty long and ugly lineup of potential suspects for ill behaviour; nonetheless, we’re gonna have to be willing to flip over as many rocks as possible if we are going to figure this thing out.  The good news is that; in many cases, simply altering one’s diet and/or exposure to specific antagonists is all it takes to make a significant difference; to calm a raging storm in the emotional circuitry of the brain.  OEP recognizes this fact and treats people accordingly.

Some of the aforementioned factors we have control over, while others, we don’t; therefore, we have to get to work on those what we can change if we’re going to win this battle.  The good news is that this long overdue, new face of Psychiatry appears to be extremely effective; certainly a whole lot more effective than the ol ways of dealing with brain and behaviour for sure, although, there’s still too much of that goin on.  “How effective?” you might ask.  OEP appears to be making a significant difference with even severe, dysfunctional schizophrenic behaviour, so much so that in many cases, a positive difference has been noted in just a few days.  The perimeters of this new revelation revolve around two basic principals that our body operates on, the first being; that there’s electrical and chemical activity occurring throughout the body, like, 24/7… and secondly being; that the body is committed to, and involved in a perpetual balancing act, a process better known as; maintaining Homeostasis.  What it all boils down to is this; whenever anyone of our senses… including our intuition, detects a substance or element, both within… as well as outside of the body, some sort of electrical and/or chemical activity will be inspired, which will ultimately affect our state of Homeostasis.  The effects of such may be subtle or it may be obvious… positive or negative.  This is why i so discourage mass artificial immunization programs.  We are each different and therefore; what may cause but a small ripple effect for one may result in a serious and even, life threatening tidal wave reaction for another.

Let’s look at digestion, for i personally believe this to be one of the main causes of brain malfunctions and/or behavioural issues, although not the only one. There is now well documented information revealing a connection between the brain and gut.  In essence, symptoms of brain, behavioral and/or neurological malfunction are often related to some sort of immune response due to; something going on… or perhaps, something… not going on within the Gastro-Intestinal Tract (GI).  Allergy spells inflammation and inflammation results in debilitation if the cause of such is not addressed.  As mentioned, such could be the result of a substance/food ingested or it can be that of an external environmental carcinogen that our sensory radar may have detected.  Any of these scenarios can potentially create havoc in the brain, specifically, in the behavioural department.

Our overall health is reflective on both; the presence and the arrangement (hierarchy) of the microbial activity throughout the GI Tract, a system better know as the Microbiome or Microbiota.  This microbiome is essentially responsible for converting much of what you ate into identifiable nutrients that are useful to your cells… but its purpose and effects don’t stop there.  Microbiome is much like a signature in that it will authorize/govern, not only how the body functions but also how one feels and thinks.  The types and arrangement of this microbiota are even responsible for who you are… or better said; ‘who we think we are.’  Experiments were conducted with mice… i know; poor mice, they always seem to get the short end of the stick; nonetheless, when thin mice received a fecal transplant from obese mice, guess what?  The skinny guys became obese and vice versa.  The moral of that story is; that the microbiome… the particular microbes… and the arrangement of such, determined the mouse’s metabolism.

The following may gross you out some but it is an education regardless; experiments were conducted in a mental asylum many years back, this time with people and not mice, where seriously mentally disturbed patients received fecal transplants from so called; normal people… hmm… so called, normal people.  Howbeit, the results were that the mentally and emotionally challenged people’s personality changed dramatically for the better… go figure.  Similarly, fecal transplants changed the prognosis with patients plagued with chronic debilitating bowel issues.  It’s a tad macabre subject, but certainly not for those who benefited from the protocol.

I’d like to bring your attention to a syndrome known as; ‘leaky gut syndrome.‘  There is just a very thin membrane separating the outside world from the world within your body, namely your your GI Tract.  Consequently; if this membrane, the gut wall, should become compromised to the degree that substances begin seeping through the wall, then your immune system will literally go nachos in an attempt to protect the body from what it perceives to be a threat.  In other words, all sorts of electrical activity and chemicals, better known as; neurotransmitters, can be agitated/generated as a result of such a condition, hence why lil Johnny might be acting out of sorts.

THE FIX:

Well, trading your kid in for a different one is not an option; therefore, we may as well get down to fixin the brat.  First of all; pay attention to what your kid is craving and/or consuming throughout the day and his behaviour before and after wards.  I say this because some people have a genetic glitch, rendering specific foods toxic, consequently pushing some serious immune buttons and creating a whole host of behavioural issues.  Such is the case with kids born without the MAOA gene, where specific foods such as cheese, chocolate and wine can set off a chain reaction of aggressive behaviour.  Suffice to say this; no level of discipline is going to solve the problem, but rather awareness of the fact and a proactive and practical approach to address the challenge is where we want to go with this if we’re going to help a child maintain functionality in his/her future.

The idea is to journal how your child is acting.  Let’s say that Johnny acts out at specific times of the day… or perhaps just after consuming a certain food; you make a note of it and look for patterns.  The next step would be to isolate a potential trigger and then to remove such for a period of time.   You’ll want to pay attention and watch for symptoms of withdrawal, for oftentimes, an addiction will be involved.  Symptoms of such could range from; aggravation and/or confusion to outright, anger and aggressive behaviour, where some serious parenting skills and/or professional assistance will be a real asset.  Nonetheless, it shouldn’t drag on for too long and so patience, gentleness and perseverance should win the battle.  Some of the more common substances involving addiction to watch for are; sugar, dairy and grains, especially; wheat, although in many cases, even something seemingly as healthy fruit, can be the culprit.  A residue of pesticides is often the trigger behind this scenario, although not always.  Remember; what may push a serious button and raise a flag for one person may hardly cause a ripple of imbalance with another.  This is evident with people plagued with Asthma.

Secondly; it’s going to seriously help our cause to tighten up our digestive system, especially if ‘leaky gut syndrome’ is the root cause.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Digestion,’ for mega detailed information on food preparation.  There are four very valuable agents that i’d recommend to assist in cleaning up the Gastro-intestinal Tract (GI Tract), in particular, although this regime really applies to each and every health query, in my opinion.  Probiotics, Digestive Enzymes, Fiber/Drawing agent, such as; various grain fibers, Bentonite Clay and/or Diatomaceous Earth.  EFA Oils would be fourth on my list, for they too are directly relevant to brain function, hormones and behaviour.  Our brain is predominantly fat in constitution, as is our cells and nerves; therefore, we’re in need of this raw material as well.  EFA Oils/Fats are not to be confused with many of the toxic fats that have conveniently taken over the marketplace over the past 60ish years; i’ll let you o your own homework on that one, but suffice it to say this; Cardio-Vascular disease and Diabetes, in particular have become epidemics in this nation partly due to this very factor.  The type of fats that are beneficial to our cause are known as, ‘EFA oils.’  These types of fats contain agents such as; EPA, DHA and GLA, short form, initials for some pretty bigggg words of which i can’t be bothered to spell out for you.  Okay, for those who are educated; EPA is short for; Eicosapentaenoic Acid, DHA is short for; Docosahexaenoic Acid and GLA is short for; Gamma linolenic Acid.  I tried to warn you; nonetheless; these agents have a history for benefiting our health in many ways.  ***If you should want more info on this so complicated subject, then you can scroll to the section entitled, ‘EFA oils,’ and/or look them up online for yourself.  To simplify a complicated subject; we often get enough of EPA and GLA type fats in our diet but not so much of the one’s rich in, DHA.  DHA, in particular has an indisputable track record for positively affecting behaviour, hormone and brain function; therefore, one might want to supplement with such. DHA is particularly rich in fish oil. These can even be found in a chewable format… convenient for fussy kids!

My reason for choosing those four agents is because they are either scantly, or no longer available in our food choices today, and so we’ll have to either radically alter our food choices or supplement with them in order to get back our health.  I often suggest smoothies, especially when kids or uncooperative seniors are involved in the program, for either can be fussy according to my experience.  This way plenty of those agents mentioned, some of which can be taste challenging, can be conveniently mixed in and successfully delivered to even the fussiest, in such a format.

UGH… PARASITES:

Often times, the reason for compromised behaviour revolves around parasite infestation.  Yup… we all have some of this going on to varying degrees.  The same rule applies with parasite protocol as does for Candida fungal over growth… go about it slowww and steady.  Furthermore; the goal should not be to just rid of them… to wipe them out; rather, parasites are there for a reason.  They are providing a service to the body; cleaning up the garbage.  There must be compromised terrain to some degree going on.  Nature demonstrates this; when an animal is sickly and/or dead then all sorts of opportunists, shall i call them show up at the party.  The idea is to help the body to get back into balance… back up to the top of the food chain.

Having said that; too much parasitical activity can certainly be disruptive; it’s like a rowdy party that got out of hand; sometimes you do have to kick them the hell out and then clean up the mess.  There are many herbal agents available to address this but bear in mind the advice; go slow and steady.  Too rapid of a die off is counterproductive; it can add to the toxic load in the body.  To add to the challenge is the fact that most children are not able to and/or are not particularly fond of… ingesting pills or substances that taste yucky; therefore, we have to… again; be creative with our protocol, hence why smoothies with kids are a good way to go; you can so easily disguise taste challenging substances.  Colonic irrigation and/or colonic bathing is a very safe and effective treatment for this also; however, it’s not at all practical when dealing with young children for psychological reasons.

Some effective cleansing agents to consider are; Wormwood, Quassia, Pau-d-Arco, Black Walnut, Cloves, Garlic, Olive Leaf, Oregano, Aloe Vera, Cayenne, Caprylic Acid and/or Turmeric.  I prefer chlorine dioxide a it is more proactive to repair the compromised terrain that invited the rowdy party crowd to begin with… more on that in just a bit.  One last bit of advice; ‘work smarter and not harder;’ consider alternating the application of some of the aforementioned agents rather than applying the same one over and over again.  This approach would tend to weaken parasites and their reproduction program; like all living things, they too have their evasive/survival tactics.

While we’re waging war and cleaning out the bad and ugly from the body, we should consider assisting our body in dismantling and removing other potential immune button pushers.  Some agents to consider for this task are; Chlorella, Zeolite and/or Bentonite Clay.  These are touted as potential aids effective in dismantling and/or removing heavy metals and environmental carcinogens from the body such as; mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde and cyanide etc.  I’m sure you are aware of the fact that many, if not all vaccines contain these types of elements, reputable neuro-toxins and carcinogens, any of which have the potential of causing an immune reaction at some level, particularly within the brain, neuro-function and emotional (Endocrine) departments of one’s body… and Johnny’s acting how?  Therefore; these agents should be considered especially when artificial immunization has been on your child’s menu.   In my opinion, it’s far better to abstain from indulging in these deadly chemicals to begin with; however, that is an entirely different subject, one of which i’d best leave hangin out there like a dirty white smock on the clothesline… for you to inquire about yourself.

CHLORINE DIOXIDE:

Speaking of controversy, you might stumble across a substance called; ‘Chlorine Dioxide’ (CD).  Another name for CD is, ‘MMS.’  MMS was introduced by an elderly fella who seriously experimented in depth with the stuff, claiming it to be a very effective agent for conditioning the GI Track in a goood way.   I will forewarn you; you’ll be challenged with some biased and contrary opinions regarding this stuff.  Bear in mind that the opposition is coming from compromised government, ‘health watch dogs,’ namely; the FDA and/or Health Canada.  The facts are that CD has been around for a very long time.  It was… and still is a safe a practical agent in preserving packaged processed meats, sterilizing surgical instruments and in water purification to mention but a few.  I’ve personally used this stuff and know many others who have, rendering excellent results and have yet to see anybody harmed from its use.  I will however suggest some rules if you should decide to try it.  Start with a low dosage… to the tune of just a few drops, twice a day; you can always increase it as your body adjusts.  It has been my experience that small dosages of 2-5 drops twice or thrice per day is more beneficial than large doses.  Bear bin mind that your body seldom requires a lot of anything; rather; a little bit of everything.

***Refer to section entitled; ‘Gare’s Hall of Fame‘ for more detailed info on Chlorine Dioxide.

The next department to consider addressing is the Immune Function… or so i shall call it.  One of several immune agents to consider are; Transfer Factor, Plant Sterols and/or sterinols, such as; Moducare Sterinol or Beta Sitosterol; herbs/plants such as; Shisandra, Astragalus, Rhodiola and/or Ashwagandha, are especially effective in this department.  Mushrooms and related family, also yield favourable results; however, not everybody is compatible with these, and so you’d best resolve that prior to indulging.  Some agents to consider in this department are; Reishi, Chaga, Shitake and/or Cordyceps.

A unique propitiatory blend of vitamins, minerals and amino acids contained in a product called, EMP has revealed some exceptionally impressive results in calming the rough waters of emotion and behaviour.  I’ve witnessed countless positive testimonies regarding its effectiveness, ranging from; memory issues, interrupted sleep syndromes, anxiety, depression… all the way to; ADD, Autism, and even, ‘out of control,’ Bipolar and Schizophrenia disorders. How’s that for a broad spectrum of effectiveness? A few other effective supplements touted to balance and support Endocrine function are; GABA, SAME and DMG… each of these initials represent a lonnnggg name, which most of us cannot… or care not to… pronounce anyway; nevertheless, these particular supplements are isolated components of a complete entity; therefore, they are best not used over extended periods of time, unless one’s condition is being monitored, otherwise it could result in creating an imbalance in some other area of our wonderful, perpetually ‘balance-maintaining’ body.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Immune System,’ if you require more in depth information regarding artificial immunization and vaccines.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Gares Hall of Fame.’ for more info on Bentonite Clay and Zeolite.

ELECTRICAL/MAGNETIC/FREQUENCY (EMF):

Wake up; there’s a new, bad kid in town known as; EMF (electrical/magnetic/frequency).  Because the poison of this monster works so slow… and is relatively undetectable, it averts blame for ill health… in this case; behaviour issues.

Do you recall the ‘canary in a coal mine’ scenario?  A canary-in-cage accompanied underground miners.  Its purpose was to provide an early warning if the air should become toxic.  Birds, much like bees and frogs, in particular are seriously environmentally sensitive critters; therefore, if the frogs stop croakin, the bees stop buzzin and/or… the canary stops singin… get the hell out of Dodge!

We’ll begin our investigation in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s with an inventor by the name of Marconi.  Marconi set up a wireless telegraph station on the Isle of Wight in 1896.  While his invention opened up a new era of wireless communication, it wasn’t without significant collateral damage.  Consequently; all of the bees in close proximity to his antenna web were grounded; they lost their ability to fly… and eventually, they died… poor lil buggers.  Marconi himself was plagued with headaches and cardio issues his entire life; hmm… that should make one wonder.

The question is; what actually happened to the bees when Marconi pulled that switch?  We are similar to birds, frogs and bees, although, more complex; however, the fundamental principals still apply.  We’re more than just bones, flesh and blood; we’re chemical/electrical creatures.  I’d like you to picture something; you may have to use your imagination; you do have one of these, i hope.  Picture a radio or TV set in one corner of your room; you turn it on… and voila; a sound and/or picture presents.  How’d that happen?  You’d probably answer with; “A radio or TV station emitted a signal, the TV/radio received that signal at which time a sound and/or picture manifested on the device.”  Right you are; however, what many of us fail to note is that the signal didn’t just come and then disappear when we turned the on/off dial of our radio/TV; it was always there… like… 24/7.  Furthermore; you were present in the same room as those signals; again… 24/7.   My point is this; those signals didn’t just bend around you; rather, they arbitrarily passed right on through you to activate that device.  What happened in your body at that moment in time is what’s on trial here.

The earth is a permanent ground, hence why we call it; the ground… dah… and the cells all throughout our bodies… well… they happen to be conductors… conductors of electricity.  Our endocrine (glandular) system in particular is an intricate communication network, constantly broadcasting and reacting on impulses; what-do-ya-think; any chance of outside electrical/magnetic/frequency interference?  I’d say so, as do many independent and seriously knowledgeable researchers; however, they have been… and continue to be seriously silenced/censored, a sad but true fact.  That’s an entirely different story; suffice it to say this; the main causes of cell death are; starvation, toxicity and/or poison.  Consequently, our body reacts to EMF exposure much like it would to a poison.  Hmm… and all this time you thought you caught a Cold or Flu bug.

Bear in mind; the term ‘Influenza’ emanated from the word; ‘influence;’ the question is; influenced by what?  Let’s look at the history of influence… er… i mean… influenza, shall we?  I found it interesting that some variation of EMF technology coincided with each and every so called, influenza epidemic.  Let’s begin with the Spanish Flu.  In 1914 ish World War 1 was in full swing; this ushered in radio wave technology, along with a heavy vaccine program, i might add; however, we’d best leave that sleeping elephant lie for now… pun intended.  Meanwhile; radio transmission facilities were popping up everywhere.  Consequently; aside from war casualties, people were dropping dead like flies from a Flu epidemic… or so it was assumed at the time.  Even those of non Spanish ethnic roots fell prey to the mysterious and deadly microbe.  On a serious note; the symptoms were a tad puzzling; there was your typical lung congestion; however, many were bleeding from the eyes, ears and nose; a rather unusual range of symptoms, or so i’d think, anyway.

The next significant outbreak was the Asian Flu in the 1940/50’s.  What was going on at that time?  Well, WW 2 had come and gone; however, the world was seriously paranoid and on the defensive, which ushered in the age of; Radar… more EMF technology, along with; you guessed it; another mass vaccination program.  Dang those two are inseparable like Mutt and Jeff, it seems.  I fell victim to both of them as a kid; we lived within 10 miles of a radar station and i was vaccinated to the bloody hilt as a kid… ugh… poor lil brat, huh?

Moving right along in history; the next outbreak was the Hong Kong Flu in 1968.  And what suspects were in town at the time?  A new wave of EMF; Satellite technology was presented, along with… you guessed it; Mutt and Jeff again; big time vaccine programs.  After this, came the AIDS epidemic.  This was a biggy; it was blamed on a virus (HIV).  Meanwhile; the microwave technology that coincided with the outbreak wasn’t even considered, for some unknown reason. Soon after microwave technology came cell phone technology, which morphed into the computer era that has been continuously evolving right up to now… in 2022.  The frequencies revolving around this industry vary in intensity and characteristics.  You’ll hear it referred to as 2G… 3G and we’re now at 5G, the 5^th generation band width frequencies some 30ish years later.

The frogs have since disappeared, the bees are confused and/or dying off and the birds don’t know north from south and/or have abandoned their nesting cycles… poor Tweetie.  Our governing agencies don’t seem to give a shit about the frogs; i mean; who cares about frogs, right… other than a toddler in gumboots, perhaps.  They blame the bee decline on microbes (mites), much as they do with human disease… a convenient/lucrative resolve, sad to say.  And as for the birds… well… the sky’s the limit for excuses on that one… pun intended.

What about us; how are people faring with all of this EM… F toxicity?  Consequently; chronic illnesses/syndromes have indisputably significantly increased throughout this era, such as; Diabetes, Cardio related issues, Neuro/muscular syndromes, such as Muscular Sclerosis (MS), Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Parkinsons, Endocrine impairments such as; ADHD, Autism, Insomnia and Depression, to name but a few of the biggies.  It is common knowledge that today’s Pharmaceutical Health Care system has failed miserably to adequately address these health conditions.  Furthermore; they continue to blame our health woes on one thing… and one thing only; contagious microbes (viruses) and their resolve; artificial immunity (vaccines)… how convenient; how lucrative.  Any opposition to that narrative is seriously frowned upon, to put it mildly.

I noticed a floor sticker in our local hospital stating; ‘you won’t know you have HIV unless you’re tested… inquire here.’  Hmm… really now; in other words, you won’t know you are sick and possibly dying unless… we tell ya so?  I won’t go to get tested to see if i am sick anymore than i’ll go to a graveyard to see if i am dead.

Today we’re dealing with Sars Cov-2, apparently a life threatening microbe, along with the aforementioned; 5^th generation frequency; 5G, which is springing up around the world faster than rabbits in Australia.  This new technology carries some extra clout than its predecessors.  A book can be written on the subject alone, one of which i don’t feel qualified to write; however, suffice it to say this; 5G technology involves more than just another frequency; this one is dangerous.  This particular technology was initially created as a direct energy military weapon and is capable of seriously rearranging one’s metabolic furniture, meaning; that it can alter normal body functions… including human behavior… and then some… and the plot thickens.

My point is this; we cannot afford to keep turning a blind eye to this unseen toxic force, regardless of what they call it.  Any form of EMF; regardless of its intensity, negatively affects us; it has been proven to poison/traumatize cells, a condition that can induce quite a variety of diseases; symptoms ranging from bronchial/lung congestion, joint/muscle inflammation, gastric upset, neurological issues  and even death.  Hmm… and all this time you thought you might have just caught a bug… a VIRUS.

CANDIDA YEAST OVERGROWTH:
This is a biggggy and really requires a book all on its own; nevertheless, we’ll introduce the basics of how to tackle this voracious entity.  Candida over growth can be the underlying cause of a multitude of compromised health conditions.  Candida is a bacteria and therefore, like any… or all bacteria, it’ll be present in our bodies to some degree.  Our body will host many types of such bacteria, most of which pose no… or little harm; however… if… our body is out of balance and our immune system compromised, then these bacteria can evolve into a threat… sometimes, life threatening.   The goal is to establish… and maintain a hardy Eco system within the GI Tract.  This boils down to a hierarchy of specific micro organisms… better known as, Probiotics, living in a symbiotic relationship with each other… and with our own body.  The difference between Probiotics and Candida is this; while they each share the same menu, being… undigested foods, sugar and &%^$#, Probiotics help maintain a healthy PH balance in their wake ( lactic acid), whereas Candida thrives in an alkaline environment.

The bottom line is; what determines whether or not Candida bacteria is going to be an ally or an enemy to the body, will depend on its ratio to the beneficial micro-organisms present.  Consequently, Candida will take over the entire circus if conditions encourage it to do so… bad clown… where is super nanny when you need one?  Candida is not such a mean clown in its bacteria costume, but if it should evolves a fungus, we have a problem. Its tentacles can reach just about anywhere within the body… anywhere!

THE FIX:

The best approach to capturing and taming an enemy is to learn how it survives, thrives and dies. Candida survives on dead food and tissue, it thrives on sugar, and an alkaline environment and… well… we don’t necessarily want to kill it, as in… make it all dead, but we do want to ensure that it remains at the bottom of the food chain… and our healthy bodily functions at the top of the food chain.  Furthermore; if Candida should happen to be running the show, then… yes… we do need to clean house, so to speak… but we don’t want to do so too quickly.  The same goes for parasite cleansing and liver cleansing; there are mega toxins generated by the death of these micro-organisms and therefore; rapid destruction of such, can easily overwhelm both, the elimination and restoration processes that are necessary to maintain balance (homeostasis) within the body.  Candida, in particular, is an entity that lives off of garbage and dead tissue; consequently, a rapid and massive die-off of Candida pathogens may just serve to provide even more food for this hungry organism… and so we’d be defeating the purpose. Slow and steady is the goal.

Our most effective strategy is going to be; slowly cutting off a pathogen’s food supply… slowly! The best way to do this is to scrutinize the pathogen’s diet and then of course, your own diet.  All pathogens crave sugar and undigested food; therefore our most obvious protocol is going to be; cut out, or at least, cut back on the sugar, biiiiig time… and begin feeding your body real food… food that your body can actually utilize rather than dead, enzyme deplete substances, which are food for Pathogens… only.

Raw and/or natural sources of food is our goal.  Hmm… God knew what he was doing when He created fruits and vegetables; these foods come in a package, complete with enzymes, vitamins, minerals, fiber and many other elements of which science hasn’t even discovered yet. Fiber, in particular will prevent the sugar contained in these foods, from grabbing a fast train directly into our bloodstream, which of course is going to raise flags within the entire digestive factory… and of course, Candida will be looking for the lion’s share of the stuff. The same goes for cancer cells; these two in particular are so hungry for an instant sugar fix that they can actually stimulate a craving for the stuff.  How’s that for taking control of the entire ship?

Along with good food and digestion is; effective elimination function, for what you don’t digest and eliminate, Candida will consume.  Fiber or a drawing agent of sorts is going to be a very important ally in our battle against Candida; after all; we’re in a battle, which means that there will be casualties, and so we’re going to need a vessel to carry out the dead and debris from such activity.  Some agents to consider are; Activated Charcoal, Bentonite Clay and/or Psyllium Husks.

Don’t forget to consume plenty of energized water, as it’s also going to help the flushing program.

Supplementing with Probiotics would certainly qualify in this war, for sure.  I say this for two reasons; First of all; Probiotics are the friendly bacteria, which like to eat much of the same garbage as Candida; however, they don’t leave such a mess in their wake.  Rather, Probiotic activity will create an environment of lactic acid throughout the GI Tract. Why is this important? Candida, unlike many bacteria flourishes in an alkaline environment; hopefully, you can see the advantages here.  In light of the fore mentioned facts, antibiotics are going to be counterproductive to our cause and so should really be used sparingly, or at least consider ingesting Probiotics while indulging in such.

Our next dynamic ally will be Digestive Enzymes. Raw food contains enzymes, but heat and Micro-wave ovens destroy this important agents. When Enzymes are ingested with food, they serve to dismantle the food and unlock its nutrients; however, when these same enzymes are consumed between meals, they will go to work and dismantle many unwanted organisms including, viruses, tumors, cancer cells as well as help the body effectively deal with inflammation, not that any of us have that going on!

Some effective Pathogen and Candida dis-mantlers to consider are; Pau-d-Arco, Chaparral, Caprylic Acid, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Oregano Oil, Olive Leaf, Golden Seal and Garlic… to name but a few of the bigger hitters.  Hey… if you’re on a real budget, Cream of Tartar will even get the job done… go figure!

MEMORY… DEMENTIA… ALZHEIMER’S;

Much of the fore mentioned info is applicable to these three health queries in particular, which seem to be surfacing in epidemic proportions today.  According to my research and experience, there are several actual direct causes to scrutinize with each of these issues in order to assist the body in correcting the imbalance.  For example; a friend of mine asked me to help with his wife, an elderly woman, who was revealing signs of severe memory loss as well as aggressive behaviour, which was contrary to her character.  It seemed like a clear and cut case of Alzheimers until she arbitrarily spelt out a few of the words that her husband was saying to me.  Hmm… this just didn’t jive with neural malfunction within the brain; otherwise, she would never have been able to connect the dots and spell out some of those big words as she had so effortlessly done… and so… what was going on with her?  With these types of health issues, we could be dealing with a blood circulation issue, specifically oxygen delivery to the brain, inability for the brain to access glucose, a much needed element for brain function… or it could be allergy or even deficiency to name but a few suspects.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Digestion‘ for more info on ‘Probiotics’ ‘Enzymes’ and Fiber.’  Also read up on; ‘Liver Detox.‘

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME:

This condition is indeed challenging, but not impossible to address.  The challenge with this condition, as is the case with its many ‘itis‘ relatives such as; Bursitis, Tendinitis, Arthritis etc, is to assist the body in not just dealing with the manifestation of such, but in stopping, and eventually reversing the entire syndrome.  ‘Itis’ really spells  ‘inflammation’… chronic inflammation, which means that it is the result of something that quite often has been going on for a long period of time.  Carpal Tunnel revolves around excessive and/or constant wear and tear on the wrists and hands.  Your body was most likely signaling you… and eventually screaming at you… to back off so that it could begin restoring balance to the area (Homeostasis).  When you ignored its effort, then your wonderful immune system went to work to attempt to over ride the intense assault by wrapping layer upon layer of tissue around the inflamed tendons in an effort to protect them from total destruction.  One can liken the process to an internal splint of sorts.   “Ah… thanks body… but no thanks… it hurts so bad!” you’ll probably be thinking, right?

THE FIX:

Nonetheless; we need to work with and not against the body.  First of all; back off from further interrogating the area as much as possible; in other words, rest… immobilize the area… brace and/or splint the inflamed area if you must.  Secondly; ensure that your body is getting the necessary materials it requires for adequate repair.  Your body utilizes many agents to do this, such as; enzymes, collagen and nitric oxide.  The problem is; the fore mentioned agents tends to diminish as we age… ugh!  The good news is that; there are ways to supplement with such. Our Fab 5 heath program consisting of; Probiotics, Enzymes, Fiber, Fats and Green/Berry Concentrates, definitely applies in this query as it does with any other.  As for the collagen… it’s not so much that it diminishes but more so that the tools to unlock/utilize it diminish, hence why we wrinkle and ache as we age.  If you were to find a so called, super collagen source out there, then your body would just read it as a protein… unless the co factors were available to unlock and distribute it to where it really should be… in this case; the tendons.  There are several agents able to accomplish this, many of which are contained in specific foods and/or herbs;  Vit-C (Ascorbic Acid), Flavanoids (components of fruit and berries esp), Choline (B Vitamin), Orthosilicic Acid (Silica), L-Arginine, L-Citrulline (Amino Acids) to name but a few.  I recommend a few potent supplements that have a proven track record in the repair department; Biosil, Flavin Gold, Medi-C, DMSO, Cayenne and MSM.  DMSO in particular is an indispensable and impressive agent, able to offer direct application (topically applied) to any inflamed tissue, in this case the tendons.

*** Refer to section entitled, ‘Gare’s Hall of Fame‘ for detailed information on DMSO as well as MSM, Cayenne, Transfer Factor and Neo-40.

COLD/FLU:

I caught that nasty cold… or flu… that’s been going around…what do you have for that?

It appears to happen most every autumn through to spring where not just a few people, but a fairly significant number of people all experience similar symptoms; so why would this be?  If you are going to ask that question, you should really consider asking this question; why doesn’t everybody get sick then… as in… everybody?

Many believe it has everything to do with the first few weeks of school… when all the snotty nose little brats gather under one large building.  And because they happened to be interacting so close to one another… an exchange of malevolent microbes occurs.  Again; if you are going to ask that question, you should really consider asking; why didn’t everybody fall prey to the same disease then?  Perhaps, some kids were out of bounds… out of ‘microbial launch range‘… I dunno… the sky’s the limit when it comes to speculation.   Moving on; enter suspect 2; every autumn, a bad to the bone, rabble rousing, cowboy (microbe) rides into your town and begins shooting up the place… or perhaps that same cowboy was already hanging out in town, as… in your body… minding his own business all along… until one day… one cooler and darker day, something inside of him stirred and he started causing trouble… shooting up the place.  I dunno; perhaps he got caught up in the local saloon or got into some bad whiskey or something.  Nonetheless; those two scenarios fit the; contagion (germ theory).

The following scenario lines up with the ‘terrain theory;‘ the condition of one’s body and the environment.  Autumn is indeed when school starts up; however, autumn also marks the end of a warm and relaxing sunny, summer season, ushering in a change of (cooler) climate with the reminder of darker and more dismal days ahead… ugh… just the thought of it, makes me feel… under the weather.  I mean; the fact that trees drop their leaves and begin to retreat into hibernation mode at this time of year suggests an obvious program change… and so why limit it to the plant world?  The facts are that our body has its programs as well.  Subsequently; cleansing/detoxification cycles coincide with nature’s cycles (seasons) and so it could very well substantiate why many of us may feel… again… under the weather.  And then why wouldn’t everybody go down and get ugly with this cycle?  This again, reinforces, ‘terrain theory;’ some people’s body is in dire need of serious cleaning and other’s not so much so.

THE FIX:

Regardless of the cause of why you are feeling like the bottom of a bird cage, how can we make Tweetie Bird’s life more bearable?  Well, nobody likes pain/discomfort and so the first thing we’re going to do is seek relief, right?  Some reach for a Pharmaceutical agent for this while other’s… the natural type folk will seek a natural agent, such as an; anti-bacterial potion and/or an immune booster.  Some will do a little bit of both types of medicine.  And then of course, there will be those who’ll do absolutely nothing at all; they’ll opt to ride the elevator all the way down to the basement floor.  Ugh… hopefully it didn’t end up being their last ride.  Nonetheless; I’ve witnessed success and failures in all of the above scenarios; howbeit, I’m curious to know which one of those profiles fits you?

Gare’s opinion; your choice of action of course is going to coincide with your belief; what theory you adhere to regarding your woe; ‘germs’ cause disease or ‘compromised terrain’ causes disease.  Suffice it say this; Pharmaceutical agents, may offer you some relief and sometimes that is a wise and necessary call as we’ve discussed many times in this blog; however it will only be temporary.  Such intervention may perhaps instantly dry up your runny nose and/or knock you out, but it will be counterproductive… sometimes even life threatening.  You will have just added one more straw to the aching camel’s back.  Bear in mind that all pharmaceutical agents are of synthetic origin, meaning that they have been formulated in a laboratory.  This makes them a foreign entity and therefore; contrary/toxic to your body.  Hey… I didn’t just make that up, nor do I make the rules; this just happens to be a rule governing our body from day 1 when we were born.  Furthermore; if your body is indeed merely housecleaning, as would be the case supported by; ‘terrain theory,’ then what you will be inadvertently diverting and/or averting your body’s efforts; that of a rebalancing; a process better known as; maintaining homeostasis.  It’s better to work with your body rather than against it.  However; if your body’s rebalancing efforts should become overwhelming… and that it can, then I’d be reaching for agents; howbeit, natural agents… to quell the severities of the process.  For example; there are very many natural agents available to assist in breaking up serious inflammation and/or discharging debris.  You’ll hopefully be learning and accessing some of these after reading this blog.

What about Antibiotics?  Drastic measures sometimes call for drastic actions.  Again; there might be times when such may be a wise ‘reach-for;’ I will never advice against that.  I myself have stepped over that line and am still alive to talk about it.  However; there is always a hidden price tag attached to such measures.  I’m not talking about $$ per-se, but rather a price you may be paying; health wise.  Bear in mind that antibiotic therapy is not specific… as in… selective against a particular microbe; rather there is serious collateral damage in its wake depending on the type and duration of such therapy.  In many cases it’s like carpet bombing an entire terrain in an attempt to annihilate a suspect; the terrain being your GI Tract.  This area of the body is host to an delicately balanced eco system, consisting of an incredible number and variety of microbial entities; needless to say there are going to be consequences to antibiotic therapy.  Furthermore; many diseases are blamed on viruses; we already covered this subject in detail as well; however, it is common knowledge that antibiotics are ineffective with viruses… if indeed viral-induced-illness is even a viable prospect to begin with.  And so, in light of this; one should really be inquiring about the purpose of the antibiotic therapy.

For example; my son once had an infection in a disc of his spine as was revealed by a bone scan.  The fix opted for was intravenous antibiotics for one month period of time.  I asked some questions; it went like this; “What type of an infection are we dealing with here Doc; is it bacterial, parasitical or viral?”  His answer is what stirred me to seriously research and inadvertently write this blog; “We don’t know,” was his answer.  “Well then why are you calling for this intensive antibiotic protocol; furthermore; how are we going to know if we killed the little bugger… whatever it might be?”  I’m referring to the mysterious microbe… not my son.  “He’ll either get better… or he’ll get worse.” was his answer.  Needless to say; I was not impressed with the Pharmaceutical approach to that query.  There’s more to that story; refer to section entitled; Journey For Life‘… ‘my personal 911‘ if you want the nitty gritty of it all.

It all boils down to; maintaining homeostasis, specifically that of understanding and respecting the symbiotic relationship between our immune system and the microbial activity within our bodies; it is a valuable asset.  Suffice it to say this; antibiotic protocol may be a necessary call but it should be cautiously considered, rather than carelessly prescribed as is too often the case today.  Are we good to go then?  Did I piss any doctors off?

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Probiotics‘ for more detailed information on the subject.

As mentioned; our Immune system consists of some pretty, elaborate strategies; surveillance being one of them.  Where would you set up your cops and cameras if it was your precious property?  Common sense suggests to me that much of it would be strategically located at the orifices where the outside world entered the world within our body… areas like; the nose, mouth, throat and vagina in particular.  I mean; this is where an initial altercation is more likely to present, hence why you might be coughing, sneezing, oozing, belly aching… and/or… welded to a toilet… ugh!

SORE THROAT:

A cold often… although not always, begins with a sore throat and so we may as well start there; the fix; you may be surprised to hear this as it is so simple; gargle with cayenne and warm water.  Believe it or not, this is the most effective resolution for a sore throat.  It is especially effective upon first detection of the sore throat.  ***Note; I suggest that you apply a protective agent of sorts to your lips, prior to doing this to avert ‘burning lip syndrome’… a symptom cayenne garglers can experience.  Contrary to what you might expect when ingesting a hot agent such as cayenne, it’s really not that bad; two gargles often does the job.  Afterwards, rinse your mouth then go to bed; by morning your sore throat will be gone… mission accomplished.  I believe its success to revolve around cayenne’s ability to open up rapid blood circulation to the congested area and encourage lymphatic drainage from the same… amazing stuff, for sure… it’s my first reach for.

Slippery Elm Bark is another extremely effective remedy.  This natural powder effectively coats inflamed tissue regardless of where it might be presented.  It can be purchased in capsule, powder in a lozenge format.  I prefer lozenges, although they are not an easy find on the market anymore; still you can make your own; I’ve attached a recipe in this blog to do so.  It’s not challenging taste wise… a bonus for children.  You can even empty a capsule into your mouth and allow it to slowly dissolve.   It can also be taken as a tea, although it tends to thicken fairly quickly and so you’ll end up slurping a gruel of sorts… a yuckers for some but still not a horrid taste.  This agent is equally effective in soothing an inflamed esophagus, the result of chronic Acid/Reflux (Heartburn), as well.

Another remedy to consider for both conditions; sore throats and/or Acid/Reflux is;  Licorice Root.  This can be accessed as capsule, powder or tincture format, which can be added to the fore mentioned; slippery elm tea/gruel… bonus.  It also comes as lozenges (DGL… Deglycerrhizinated Licorice)… a type of neutered licorice, so to speak, where the sodium has been removed… a bonus for those with high blood pressure (HBP); licorice has a bad rap with HBP, although not warranted, in my opinion.  You can even add 1/2 tspn or so of Manuka honey to your cup of tea for yet more benefits… and for taste, as well.   Lastly; consider adding some freshly squeezed, organic lemon and/or a bit of cayenne for yet better results.

***I’ll be sharing my ‘budget cold formula‘ a bit later.

The following is a list of yet more natural effective agents to consider when feeling under the weather, so to speak; Thyme, Oregano, Garlic, Golden Seal, Grapefruit Seed and/or Olive Leaf.  Colloidal Silver, Bee Propolis and/or Tea Tree.  Some of these are available in throat spray format… bonus.

SINUS CONGESTION:

Trillions of diverse microbes, good, bad and ugly will their way in through our sinus cavity at one time or other… especially when your nose is in other people’s business.  Seriously though, the problem is not so much that these microbes drop in for a spell but rather that they hang their hat and make themselves a comfy little home in there.  More of the problem is the fact that they are seriously messy campers; remember, microbes are living entities; they eat, they crap and they reproduce.  How’s that for a macabre thought?  You can picture a messy dining table with dirty dishes, a messy bathroom and an orgy all in the same room… ugh!  Consequently our body is stuck with the janitorial services for these irresponsible campers.  The name for the mess they create is biofilm.  Over time this biofilm can pile up at which time it presents as ‘inflammation.‘  By now, your sinuses may be running, you’re blowing a congested nose and/or excessively sneezing.  That is an indication that your ever maintaining immune system has become overwhelmed and could use some help.

I know, you’d so wish that the immune system maintenance program would be more considerate/convenient; implement its overload house cleaning services only when you were sleeping perhaps; much like a computer upgrade, where a program alerts you and offers you a choice of when to do it… but it doesn’t work like that.  Rest assured, it is how we remain alive… on the right side of the grass, so to speak.

X-LEAR, THE MAGIC OF XYLITOL: 

We’ve already discovered bacteria, parasites and such are living entities… and how it is with all living things an inherent instinct to reproduce especially when there’s plenty of food and all; the challenge is; how can we interfere with their program so as to get some reprieve.  With all do respect to the body’s natural health maintenance/detoxification programs; sometimes, it’s a good call to get involved.  We may need  to cull the herd a tad… or what ever it is that they call a group of microbes.  Bear in mind that as it is with all living entities, microbes have a will to survive; this means that they have their evasive, survival tactics.  And so we’re going to have to work smarter and not harder if we’re going to shut down their program.  Have you ever tried to catch a rabbit in say; a rock quarry?  It’ll never happen; first of all, they can scurry much faster than you could ever think of running… and secondly; they’ll probably out number you before you ever catch one… rabbits tend to do that sort of thing… they breed like… hmm… rabbits!  Nonetheless; microbes are much the same; they too have their evasive strategies… and they can replicate incredibly fast, as well, especially when there is plenty of food around, as mentioned.  That’s where we can make a difference in the long run… by maintaining a healthy lifestyle so as to not encourage the lil buggers to outbreed/outlive you.

What does all of that have to do with plugged sinuses?  Bear with me; I’m getting to it.  Here’s the connection; rabbits love carrots… and so if we’re going to succeed in capturing one then we would use a carrot for bait.  Many microbes, especially bacteria and parasites love sugar and so if we want to attract/trap them then we should consider using sugar for bait.   However, we won’t be using just any ordinary sugar, rather we’ll be using a special kind of sugar… Xylitol.   Why Xylitol?  Xylitol is an incomplete sugar, in that it is structured one molecule short of being a complete sugar… kinda like teenagers, most of whom are one or more molecules shy of having common sense… well it was that way when I was one of them, anyway.  Howbeit; two major sources of this special sugar are birch trees and corn… birch being the better choice.    Nonetheless, the magic happens when these lil guys ingest the Xylitol; they lack the enzymes to digest it and so consequently… for the little buggers anyway… their program becomes seriously disrupted… their world (bio-film) significantly disintegrates.  I can only wish the fix for an out-control teen-ager was as easy as that; howbeit, the Xylitol nose spray fix works extremely well indeed for microbes.

The product you’re looking for is called, X-Lear, although any sinus spray containing Xylitol would probably do just fine.  Spray a little into each nostril twice a day… preferably when retiring and upon awakening; you’ll be in horizontal mode at those times unless you’re a vampire in which case you’d be hangin upside down, which is even better, rendering the solution able to seep deep back into the sinus cavity then.  This protocol should yield a significant improvement within a relatively short period of time… depending on the degree of congestion, of course.   I recommend it even if you weren’t experiencing congestion; it renders you less vulnerable to colds, ear infections, allergies etc.  It may even put an end to your snoring, as well… better known as, purring, if it happens to be your spouse… bonus.

***Finland applied the same principle using Xylitol-sweetened chewing gum to fight tooth decay several decades ago.  It successfully lured the lil buggers out of the impenetrable gums and ultimately cleared the plaque (bio-film) from the teeth and gums.  Hand out the Xylitol chewing gum ma and watch your oral health improve as well.

NATURAL IMMUNE HELP:

One or several microbe management and/or immune enhancing agents would be of serious benefit as well… ‘all is fare in love and war.’  Probiotics would be number one on my list, as they will reinforce your body’s natural defenses.  Golden Seal would be my choice of anti-microbial agents, for want of a better term simply because it is so user friendly; does not irritate sensitive tissue such as; the sinus cavity and eyes.  I’ve snorted golden seal into my sinuses and applied it directly to my eyes as a tea on many occasions without incident.  Hmm… perhaps you aren’t familiar with the ‘snorting’ protocol; well let me guide you through it.  First of all; lay out a small mound of the herb on a sheet of paper, then, you’ll need a straw… heck, a tightly rolled up, five or ten dollar bill will even do the job; gently stick one end into your nostril… not too far… unless you borrowed it from your friend; in that case shove it real far up your nose; they’ll not ask for it back then.  Nonetheless; the idea is to abruptly sniff (snort) a small mound of the powder up through the straw into the sinuses, one nostril at a time… got it?  And did you get to keep the $$ bill too… bonus?

Essential oils (plant extracts), have also proven to be effective in dilating/clearing the airways; both; sinuses and lungs.  Extracts such as; Eucalyptus, Camphor, Peppermint or Spearmint can be dispensed into the air using an Essential Oil Diffuser.   Any type of nebulizer, steamer or vaporizer would do the job.   If you don’t have a dispenser, then you can just sprinkle a few drops of any of the aforementioned oils onto a handkerchief and place such in proximity to the sinuses and/or mouth.  ***Caution when using diffusers/vaporizers and herbs around pets; they can be negatively affected by some agents.   Herbs such as; Lavender, Oregano, Thyme and/or Tea Tree can also be added to the fore mentioned, dispenser protocol.  This will assist in the body’s effort to disarm an over reactive microbe up-to-no-good, and especially applicable when breathing is compromised.

A protocol consisting of Probiotics would also be on that menu; an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure.  The following agents can also be ingested orally; Golden Seal, Olive Leaf, Oregano and/or Thyme, to mention but a few.  These are anti microbial agents, meaning that they can help manage an out of control feeding frenzy that can get out of hand sometimes.  As mentioned; Golden Seal is quite unique and user friendly in that, unlike many herbs, it does not irritate open wounds; therefore, it can be directly snorted or infused into an infected area (in tea format) without issues.

LUNG CONGESTION:

Essential oil extracts containing camphor oil, such as; Tea Tree and Eucalyptus can be very helpful due to their ability to stimulate circulation and dilate the airways; these can be inhaled via nebulizers, diffusers and/or applied as poultices to the chest… more on that later.  Mullein and Fenugreek Seed are expectorants, which means that they induce a productive cough… produce phlegm; that’s that yucky, mucous stuff that accumulates in your lungs when you are detoxifying.  This helps assists your body in its efforts to flush toxins.  Some other effective lung maintenance agents to consider are; Oregano, Thyme, Horehound, Ivy, Comfrey Leaf, Ivy, Licorice Root, Garlic and Rosemary to mention but a few.  Hmm… if the Rosemary that you reached for should up-n slap your face; you probably reached for the wrong Rosemary; I meant the herb… not the girl!   Another fave is a cup of tea, made with grated ginger, thyme and… again, Rosemary, with a tad of honey and squeezed lemon… yum.

Some effective cough syrups to consider are; Santasapina (product by Vogel), Bronchosan (herbal combination tincture by Vogel) and Nin Jiom (Pei Pa Koa), a Chinese cough syrup herbal formula… although I’m sure that you don’t have to be Chinese in order for it to be effective.

POULTICE:

What’s a poultice?  A poultice is the topical application of an agent… as in; directly over an inflamed area… in this case, on the chest to treat congested lungs.  The benefits are several fold; it can effectively draw out toxins, stimulate blood circulation, encourage lymphatic drainage, as well as infuse useful agents into an inflamed area.  How’s that for a multi-tasking protocol?  The application of mustard and/or onion, garlic poultices as well as Terpentine (distilled pine needles), were common homestead remedies back when Doc-Do-Little’s were few and far between.  Onion rings weren’t invented back then and so are probably not a good agent to be reaching for… in this application, anyway.  Some agents to consider for a poultice are; Comfrey Root/Leaf (tea format), Ginger, Onion, Garlic, Terpentine, Eucalyptus or Camphor Oils and/or Castor oil.  Any one of these agents… or a combination of several, would be best applied on the warmer side rather than cold.  For example; Garlic, Comfrey or Onions, should be brought to a boil and then let stand for a spell prior to applying.

I once made up a very effective poultice compound by mixing and then heating up a combination of; Menthol crystals, Peppermint Oil, Turpentine and Coconut Oil.  Once the concoction cools, it can be stored in small glass jars for future use.  Is it effective?  You wanna believe it is.  A friend of mine used it to treat a bad case of Pneumonia and commented that it cleared her lungs out… like… right now!  I do recommend placing a warm towel down between the poultice agent(s) and skin surface in order to protect the skin from irritation.  We don’t don’t want to add yet one more ailment to an already ailing body, now do we?

COLD SORES:

Cold sores really are not cool at all.  Contrary to what you may have thought, micro-organisms/pathogens (viruses, bacteria, parasites), are inescapable, meaning that they are going to enter your body one way or another… whether you like it or not.  What happens when they do… is where the rubber meets the road.  The focus is not so much to avoid their entry and even to annihilate them as it is to maintain a healthy body.  This will thwart their destructible program.  And so it is that our body will host many micro-organisms… some you may never be bothered by and yet others will show up seasonally.  Our attention to their presence is usually brought about only by a manifestation of sorts… in this case cold sores.

THE FIX:

There are several effective approaches to deal with cold sores.  Again, Probiotics along with any anti-parasite agent such as; Garlic, Golden Seal, Pau-darco, Oregano or thyme to name but a few biggies, would be recommended.  Topical applications can get cold sores out of your face so to speak… but overall, attention to the root of the problem is a much better approach.  L-Lysine, which can be taken orally or applied topically, has been a time tested method to rid the body of cold sores for many.  One you might not hear about is DMSO combined with Licorice Root powder.  Mix the two in a paste.  DMSO is a transdermal Genie.  If you place a drop of it on your foot, you’ll be tasting it in your mouth within seconds; therefore, it can be a real ally when attempting to go deeper than the surface of the skin.  ***More info on DMSO can be found in section entitled, ‘Gares Hall of Fame.’

COLON… CONSTIPATION, DIARHEA, CROHNS, IBS ETC:

Questions in this department come up fairly often in a Natural Health store, although the customer is often a tad embarrassed to ask.  I dunno… we tend to avoid attention when it comes to the ‘elimination department of affairs’ for some strange reason.  Nevertheless; we’ve discussed the top end of the long and winding tube, the GI tract (Gastro-intestinal Tract), but what about the bottom end of the road?  I mean… if that end should decide to go on strike and close its doors for business, then we may as well lock up the digestive factory and all go home… for obvious reasons.  So you’re constipated, huh?  How constipated are you… and is this just a one time event or is this an ongoing issue?

I’ll pause to share a story from my growing up days regarding laxatives; we inquisitive, snotty-nosed, little brats were just hangin around the house after school one day when a knock came at our door.  It was Mazzuca’s Grocery Store’s deliveryman, and he was about to deposit a schwack of groceries at our front door step.  And so there sat six large paper bags heaping with groceries and three bored and perpetually hungry kids… with no mom and dad around to supervise… bad combo. We bagan through the bags like a band of pirates, devouring anything and everything, starting with the sweet stuff of course.  One of the treasures that we quickly zoned in on was a small box of chocolates… wow… what a score.  We inhaled the entire package like… real fast.  It was a trend with our family to grab whatever one could before your brother or sister did; you should have seen our Christmas morning rise, shine and devour… ugh!  Howbeit, we no sooner gulped all of that down the hatch and then we moved on to some of the other goodies in the paper bags; hmm… a bunch of bananas,  a box of dates… and then… wait a minute, something was wrong here.  Mom never bought chocolates, except on special occasions like Christmas, Easter or Halloween.  We soon found out that those chocolates we consumed were not just ordinary chocolates; rather, we had just devoured a month’s supply of Ex-lax laxatives… and there was only one bathroom in our house at the time.

There are many natural laxatives available on the market… and yes, they are safer to use than pharmaceutical drugs, but they are still stimulating a function of the body that really should be naturally occurring; therefore, restoring that function should be the end all goal, wouldn’t you think?  Nonetheless, we need to clear the crap out; otherwise, we’ll be working against our body even more so.  Besides, a natural laxative here and there is not going to harm you in the long run for sure.

The causes of constipation are manifold.  It could be the result of; dehydration of the Bowel due to inadequate water, diet, especially, lack of Fiber, Pharmaceutical agents, life style; lack of exercise and/or sitting for long periods of time, to mention some of the more common causes.  Regardless of the cause; the goal is to create a healthy habit of having daily Bowel movements; otherwise, what you ate yesterday… and in some cases, the day(s) before, will eventually bulk up and dry out, creating a dam in the downward stream… and well… this would be just fine if you were a beaver in earth’s waterways… but not such a good scenario for people.  There is a saying in the Natural Health circle; ‘death begins in the Colon.’

The first step to be doing is consuming adequate water.  Many people consume little, to no straight water on a daily basis; however, they will consume liquid beverages.  There is a difference when it comes down to over all hydration; therefore, pay attention to your daily water intake.  The second step is scrutinizing your diet and life style; this is a lesson worth learning for not just constipation, but for overall better health.  There are certain fluids and foods, that are reputable for constipating.  Some examples of this are; grains that are low in fiber such as; white bread, donuts and pasta… dairy; especially, cheese… excessive meat and eggs… and excessive intake of fluids such as; coffee and alcohol.  These will dehydrate you.  Bowel movements revolve around a process of ‘contraction and expansion,’ spasms of the colon muscles, called, peristalsis… and as it is with any and all muscles, motion is a must, in order to keep them toned.  You don’t necessarily have to beat yourself up on a treadmill or run mega miles each day in order to keep the innards happy, just regular motion… even, stretching, will often do the job.  Oftentimes, it’s Pharmaceutical drugs that are the cause of constipation; that is when we will be in need of laxatives, in particular… hopefully, they’ll be natural laxatives.

THE FIX:

A stroll thru grizzly infested woods will often do the job, but that’s not always possible.  Some mild laxatives to consider are; Figs, Prunes, Licorice Root, Aloe Vera… or ‘excessive’ Magnesium  Citrate, Vit-C and/or  Sorbitol.  The Magnesium  Citrate, Vit-C and/or  Sorbitol, tend to draw fluid to the bowel if taken in excess, which needless to say will encourage an easier bowel movement.  If all of the above should fail, then you might have to reach for some of the bigger guns.  Cascara Sagrada, Senna or… Castrol oil, the age-ol, farm remedy for constipation are some good choices to consider.  Regardless of what agent you should choose, I’d suggest one add some sort of fiber to the regime.  This alone can often stimulate a bowel movement.  Fiber is classified as; soluble and insoluble.   Nature often supplies both in one package.  For example, the apple peel is insoluble and the flesh of the apple is soluble.  The insoluble fiber tends to draw more fluid to the bowel than the insoluble, but both have their benefits.  Psyllium Husks and grain brans are insoluble fibers whereas vegetables fruits, beans, whole grains and seeds contain a bit of both.  Some examples are; Flax Seeds, Hemp Seeds and Chia Seeds (caution; too much chia can be counterproductive).

***The following technique is a very effective toilet posture to apply when constipated; while sitting on the toilet, slowly bend your torso forward as tight to your bent knees then slowly sit up straight again.  Repeat this motion several times.  This massages the bowel in such a manner so as to encourage it to give up its dead, for want of a better expression.  I was quite impressed with the effectiveness of such a simple technique.

CROHNS… DIVERTICULITIS… IBS:

We may as well deal with the entire bunch of issues since they each share common denominators, being that they are, diseases occurring in the Gastro-intestinal tract (GI Tract).  Regardless of what name is assigned to the challenge, they each share one common denominator; inflammation, and wherever there’s inflammation, pain; its kissin cousin will be hanging around as well.  The problem is that the white coats, who have access to the labs don’t seem to be onto the connection of diet and inflammatory bowel disease and so will often just diagnose you as having Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Colitis or Crohns, to name but a few, and the connection to the toxic food chain is often not even addressed.  It may be suggested to simply abstain from foods that bother you.  I’d suspect Glyphosate; a hidden factor especially in grains to be a big time contender in these conditions.

LEAKY GUT SYNDROME:

I’d like to bring your attention to the small intestine, as i perceive many of our health issues have their root here.  This particular section of the tube remains somewhat evasive when it comes to diagnosing health issues.  I mean; the guys in the white smocks can drop scopes down into the stomach and up from the rectum into the large intestine… but the small intestine… well… it appears to be somewhat off limits when it comes to diagnosing a problem, and so a lot of guess work appears to be going on here.  ‘Gut dysbiosis’ is one of many terms used to describe an unbalanced eco-system within the GI Tract.  Gut dysbiosis can be likened to mutiny on a ship, only it involves microbes battling it out for supremacy in the GI Tract rather than sailors on a ship.  Why they’re fighting should be the focus of our investigation.  It has quite a bit to do with what we’re feeding the crew; microbial entities have their preferences, you know.  It boils down to diet, territory and competition; if your diet consists of mega sugar and junk then the population of one specific microbial entity will grow prolifically and another will decline accordingly.

I’m guessing you will have heard of a condition called; Leaky Gut Syndrome.  This term alludes to a breach in the wall/membrane of the small intestine.  It’s not a visible tear in the intestinal wall, as in a large perforation that you would need a surgeon to repair; rather it’s a condition whereby the intestinal wall becomes compromised to the degree that substances can seep through it and enter the bloodstream unannounced, so to speak.  Bear in mind that the wall of the small intestine consists of a very thin membrane, a mere one cell thick, and is equipped with some pretty sophisticated equipment, designed to facilitate the absorption of nutrients from the food you just ate.  Consequently; when guests in your GI Tract bypass normal protocol and jump ship directly into the sea… your bloodstream… then the immune system alarms are gonna sound… and that is when you are kept awake at night or holding your painful tummy.

One such entity that seeps through is Ammonia gas.  Ammonia gas is a by product of the putrefaction process… that of undigested proteins, in particular.  This is a poison to the body and therefore will be heavily taxing the elimination department of affairs.  It’s not only ammonia gas that can seep through a compromised gut wall, cellular debris and actual proteins (lectins) can also seep through this membrane.   I perceive many bowel issues such as; IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Ulcerative Colitis etc. to be manifestations of this very thing.  If not addressed, it can cause even deeper negative health issues.  The proteins (lectins) that may have jumped ship and are now active in our bloodstream are molecular mimickers, meaning that they are nigh identical to our own body members; this is where the so called; auto immune diseases come into the picture.  These renegade entities enter the cells and hijack the services of such and in due process result in mega negative immune response, hence the term; auto-immune disorder.  Crohns, Type 1 Diabetes, MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis etc. are some examples of this.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Immune System‘ for detailed information on immune disorders.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Probiotics, Enzymes…etc;’ for more detailed information on the microbiome and natural health aids.

HELP 911:

The strategy for restoration revolves around three issues; to soothe the inflamed tissue, to cleanse and to restore the microbial balance throughout the GI tract.  Most importantly; one must go about it gently… you don’t want to stir an already aggravated, so called; immune function.

Slippery Elm bark and/or Marshmallow root are excellent bowel soothers and Bentonite Clay, Activated Charcoal and/or Psyllium Husks are good cleanser/detoxifier agents… howbeit; in small dosages.  A daily regime of Zeolite and Chlorine Dioxide are excellent allies; effective for cleansing/lifting toxins and restoring law and order down under.

Let’s deal with the pain first, shall we?  The following protocol is applicable to all bowel inflammation; Gastro Flu, IBS and/or Diverticulitis in particular.  Mix together the following ingredients; 1 tspn of Slippery Elm powder, 1/2 tspn of Licorice Root powder, 1/2 tspn of Bentonite Clay and/or Activated charcoal in a tiny bit of hot water.  The idea is to mix everything up into a paste first; otherwise the slippery elm will just fluff up kinda like what my wife does when i irritate her… nah, just kidding, more like what happens when you try to mix up powdered cocoa.  Once you have a paste, then you can add 1/2 cup or so of hot water… stir it up and sip it down.  It won’t taste bitter or yucky but you can add a bit of honey, Manuka Honey is best, if you want.  The idea is that the Slippery Elm will line the intestine and sooth, the Licorice has anti-inflammatory properties and the Bentonite Clay will draw and cleanse, purging the scene of any nasty micro-organisms that might be at play.  Furthermore; you might want to add 1/4 tspn of Valerian Root or Passion Flower powder… or about 30 ish drops of the same in tincture form, as either of these are effective nerve calming agents.

***Slippery Elm, Licorice and Valerian or Passion Flower are available in capsule form as well.  One can ingest a couple of each of these along with a couple caps of Activated Charcoal to achieve some relief, although the fore mentioned drink would be better.

A hot compress of Castor Oil also does wonders.  Soak a piece of flannel in Castor Oil (not dripping wet) and then place over the area of concern.  Place a plastic bag over top the oil soaked flannel and apply a hot water bottle on top of that.  Now, relax for about 1/2 an hour.  This relieves pain and inflammation, stimulates blood flow to the area and lymphatic drainage from the inflamed area.

We talked about the wall of the small intestine being extremely thin… a single layer thick and how due to an unhealthy diet and lifestyle, the composition of that thin wall can break down, rendering it compromised to the degree of permitting all sorts of undesirables to seep through and enter the bloodstream; is there some help for this?   Enter a wonder agent called; Chlorine Dioxide (CD); now we have a cop on the beat, so to speak to maintain law and order down under.  CD inadvertently creates an oxygen rich environment; most beneficial microbes flourish in such an environment while many of the bad actors perish.  At the end of the day, you end up with a happy digestive tract; that is what really matters.  I believe this very factor to explain how and why it positively affects behaviour challenged people; much of that has to do with Leaky Gut Syndrome.

DIVERTICULITIS:

Diverticulitis is a condition whereby the colon wall becomes weakened and compromised, eventually ballooning into isolated pouches, similar to stagnant ponds that will form when the banks of a river become weak and overflow.  Fecal matter can then become trapped in these ponds/sacks and begins to decompose (putrefy), hence why intense pain, accompanied by infection, is often presented.  How and why is the colon wall compromised?   There can be mega reasons for this; chronic constipation and loss of colon wall elasticity would be the most likely accessories to the problem, I’d say.  ***Refer to the previous section entitled; ‘Constipation’ for help if the bowel is being chronically backed up.  Contrary to medical opinion, I do believe that the body can heal from this condition, as it can from most any disease.  Relevant evidence of this is; when you pierce the skin, the body will instantly rush into repair mode, dispatching clotting agents to the scene.  A dried scab will eventually form over the wound, followed by a scar of some degree, depending on the severity of the wound and/or available collagen in one’s body.  You are then good to go for another 100 miles or 100 years, depending on what else happens down the road.

THE FIX:

First of all; prioritizing regular and full bowel movements on a daily basis will be of obvious benefit.  Secondly; paying attention to your diet and digestion is going to make a big difference.  You might want to abstain from grains, specifically from wheat for a period of time in order to isolate a potential suspect.  Many have reported noticeable benefits when doing so.   I’d strongly suggest one consider supplementing with Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes, along with a compatible Fiber.  Enzymes effectively dismantle and digest foods and so are of immense benefit when taken with meals; however, when taken on an empty stomach, they can clean up a lot of back log through out the GI Tract; dismantle/digest all types of debris.  This includes heavy metals, cancer cells and tumors and environmental carcinogens.  They are relatively safe to consume in large numbers; however, due to the varying types and degrees of congestion, I’d suggest a slow and steady approach to enzyme therapy at the beginning.

How safe are enzymes? I personally know an elderly man, a retired surgeon and now a Naturopath physician, who at 90+ years of age, consumed 1000 enzymes per day for seven days in a row and is still very much alive and well to talk about it; furthermore, when they performed a feces analysis, there was absolutely enzyme zero residue present.  How’s that for a safety track record?  Now don’t go and read that as a green light to toss down 1000 enzymes right off the bat cause your body may not go along for the ride, but rather will take you for a ride to the toilet bowl, instead.  It’s all about ‘slow and steady,’ if you haven’t already gotten the idea.  The presence of fiber within the GI Tract is a no-brainer.  Bear in mind; not all fibers are created equal; some have more ability to hydrate and draw than others; this would be more ideal for an issue such as diverticulitis as we’re dealing with harboured crap to put it bluntly.

At the same time, one must remember to consume sufficient water so as to not create a counterproductive situation.  An ideal fiber dosage and combination is 1/4 to 1/2 tspn of psyllium husks mixed with the same of flax seed powder twice a day.

You might wanna consider a gravity fed colonic enema.  I’d suggest a gravity fed enema s opposed to pressure type enemas due to the compromised condition of the colon walls; we want to work with the body and gently bathe the Bowel not interrogate it.  Diverticulitis more often than not occurs in the descending leg of the colon, the area closest to the rectum.  I designed a make-shift apparatus to facilitate a pretty practical and effective enema… while remaining seated on the toilet.  How’s that for convenience?  The next thing you’ll be wanting is a set up that will accommodate you while you’re driving to work in your car.  Seriously though; this apparatus is very simple and practical; furthermore, it can be packed in a suitcase and taken along when travelling.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Alternative Therapies’ for ‘step by step’ procedure on how to perform various gravity fed enemas.   Various agents agents/herbs/supplements can be added to your warm water solution and infused into the troubled area.  It’s much like soaking an infected wound; the goal is to draw out putrefied matter and ultimately cleanse and soothe the depth of the wound.  When combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, there’s no reason why the colon wall cannot be restored; we were truly wonderfully made.

The strategy for restoration revolves around three issues; to soothe the inflamed tissue, to cleanse and to restore the microbial balance throughout the GI tract.  Most importantly is to go about it gently… you want to stir an already aggravated, so called; immune function.  Slippery Elm bark and/or Marshmallow root are excellent bowel soothers and Bentonite Clay, Activated Charcoal and/or Psyllium Husks are good cleanser/detoxifier agents… howbeit; in small dosages.  I’d add to that a daily regime of Zeolite and Chlorine Dioxide.

I like to add Digestive Enzymes to any one of the fore mentioned drawing agents, due their ability to dismantle/dissolve mega crap.  Some effective anti-bacterial agents to consider are; Golden Seal, Aloe Vera, Comfrey Leaf and Olive Leaf.  Some nerve calming agents to consider are; Valerian Root, Lemon Balm or Passion Flower.   And last but not least; some soothing agents to consider are; Slippery Elm Bark or Marshmallow Root… mucilage type agents that are capable of coating the inflamed area, to allow rejuvenation of the tissue.  

IBS and Crohns, share much the same symptoms of pain and discomfort due to the inflammation aspect of the intestinal wall, but do not involve the potential of infection as is common with Diverticulitis.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Probiotics’ for help with IBS and Crohns.  Much of the previously mentioned protocol for Diverticulitis will apply to these two conditions as well… including the gravity-fed enema.  Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes, along with some sort of fiber/drawing agent, are going to be effective agents for most any digestive related issue in particular.  Fiber is really a prebiotic; it is food for Probiotics, those microbial agents rooting around throughout your GI Tract.  Bear in mind that some fiber and/or too much fiber can create excess gas and cause bloating, some more than others; therefore, I’d be scrutinizing which fiber/drawing agent to apply with sensitive and reactive type syndromes such as IBS and Crohns; we don’t want to aggravate an already inflamed part of the body, now do we?

As mentioned, not all fibers/drawing agents are created equal.  The following is not critical information; however, it may help you to choose a compatible agent.  Fiber is classified as soluble and insoluble.  Soluble fiber dissolves in water, whereas insoluble fiber does not.  Psyllium Husks and Chia Seeds to mention just a few are soluble fibers that people tend to over do.  This may not create a problem for some; however, it may be counterproductive for others.  Much of it depends on how much… and on what type of water you consume.  I always suggest smaller portions (1/4 to 1/2 tspn) twice a day rather than one large dose.  Try adding a little water to a fiber and let it sit for a bit; this will simulate what happens when you ingest it.

Some soluble fibers to consider are; oatmeal, oat cereal, lentils, apples, oranges, pears, oat bran, strawberries, nuts, flaxseeds, beans, dried peas, blueberries, psyllium, cucumbers, celery, and carrots. 

Some insoluble fibers to consider  are: whole wheat, whole grains, wheat bran, corn bran, seeds, nuts, barley, couscous, brown rice, bulgur, zucchini, celery, broccoli, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, green beans, dark leafy vegetables, raisins, grapes, fruit, and root vegetable skins. 

***Note; Bentonite Clay and Activated Charcoal are not fibers per se; however, they are gentle and effective cleansing agents for IBS and/or Crohns. 

Helpful Supplements:

Besides a protocol of; Probiotics, Enzymes and Fiber/Drawing agent, some helpful agents to consider are; Slippery Elm Bark or Marshmallow Root, due to their ability to line and therefore, protect inflamed tissue, common to these types of syndromes.  These agents can be applied at either end, by ingesting in your mouth, or via rectal, colonic infusion.  Due to the intense pain often associated with these conditions, some nerve/muscle calming agents to consider are; Valerian, Lemon Balm, Scullcap or Passion Flower.  Due to the reactive immune response with these conditions, some immune modulators to consider are; Transfer Factor, Plant Sterols, Mushrooms and related substances, such as; Reishi, Shitake and Chaga… (mushrooms may create more immune issues for some people and so prior testing is suggested).  The same can be said about the following agents; Manuka Honey, Spirulina, Blue-Green Algae and/or Chlorella.  Although each one of these has the potential of Immune support, such may act as a further antagonist to your syndrome… Reactive Immune disorders tend to do that.  Other helpful agents to consider are; MSM, Licorice Root, Aloe Vera, Chlorella, Alfalfa, Shisandra, Rhodiola, Astragalus, Ginseng and Chlorine Dioxide.  Again… caution is advisable with these as well.

*** Refer to section entitled; ‘Gare’s Hall of Fame‘ for detailed info on Chlorine Dioxide.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Immune Mal-function’ for more information on these and other reactive-immune conditions.

DETOXIFICATION:

It is one thing to demolish a building and to build a new one while living elsewhere, and yet another to do so while still inhabiting the premises. Suffice it to say that you cannot temporarily check out of your body while detoxifying and rebuilding, rather you must remain in your body and be relatively functional during the entire process… and so, let’s get to work and do this right then, shall we?

First of all; RADIOACTIVITY; it’s no secret that our environment is incredibly toxic like never before in all of history, and it’s not just isolated areas of the world but rather universal.  For example; the recent Fukushima nuclear plant that collapsed when the earth shook Japan continues to dump an incredible amount of radiation into our air and ocean.  I know… you thought that they contained it, right?  Well, you’re wrong… and could be dead wrong if you’re not taking some precautions.  The truth is that there is so much radiation present on site that a robot will even burn out after just a few hours of operation within the immediate vicinity of the hole left by this burn down.  It’s literally a hole to hell, as we speak.  Therefore, I think it be wise for one to be including several agents to counter act the repercussions of this mess.  The first on my list is iodine.  If the iodine receptors located throughout the body are not getting clean iodine, they’ll be a target for radioactive iodine.  Furthermore, one should be including agents such as; Bentonite clay and/or Zeolite  into their daily regime as well.   These types of agents facilitate the removal of unwanted toxins.  While you’re at it you might want to include; magnesium, calcium and sulphur, as well.  These minerals in particular would encourage healthy bone maintenance and divert the excess of strontium, commonly found with nuclear fallout.  Strontium has an affinity for bones and if there’s an imbalance of minerals going on, you can expect this baaaddd boy to show up and ruin your party… ugh!

Detoxification not only requires proper tools and raw materials, it also requires reliable and hard workers. Our focus is to ensure the rebuilding remain relatively in sync with the demolition; in other words, the incoming raw materials, tools and workers should be in place so as to facilitate the rebuilding… while… the unwanted debris is being removed from your body… ‘slow and steady,’ should be your theme.

Here’s what an effective detoxification program should look like.  You’re going to require several agents; agent(s) able to dismantle and lift toxins; agent(s) able to carry and deliver the lifted toxins out of the body, and agent(s) to rebuild and support the body, specifically to re-establish the disturbed Gastro-Intestinal Tract microbiota.

Your body utilizes several channels of filtration, the most prominent being; Liver, Kidneys, Lymphatic system, Skin and Lungs… and several channels of elimination, the most prominent being; Bowel, Skin and Bladder. Furthermore; it uses many agents to dismantle toxins, the most common being; Enzymes and a variety of Bacteria such as; Probiotics and Candida. Yup… you read that right; Candida plays a beneficial role in our health, its purpose being to clean up the garbage within the body. The idea is to minimize its food supply, the garbage, so as to not over feed this somewhat selfish worker and encourage it to take over the entire building project; otherwise, it’ll fire every last one of your other workers and continue to rebuild a rather unsound and distasteful edifice, to say the least. Other effective dismantlers/dissolvers, employed by your body are; Anti- oxidant agents such as, Glutathione and mega Immune agents such as, Macrophages.

The bowel is obviously the most prominent elimination channel and therefore; should be one priority. Effective Colon cleansing should involve agents able to dismantle/dissolve, lift/absorb and deliver debris clear out of the body.  Some effective agents to consider are; Digestive Enzymes, Probiotics, herbs and natural agents such as; Burdock, Pau-d-Arco, Chaparral; Anti-Parasitic agents such as; Wormwood, Cloves, Black Walnut and/or Quassia.  Chlorella, Spirulina and/or Blue/Green Algae are especially effective agents in drawing (chelating) and dismantling heavy metals and environmental carcinogens, while agents such as; Diatomaceous Earth, Activated Charcoal, Bentonite Clay and/or Zeolite, can really add to the team due to their amazing ability of lifting and removing heavy metals such as; mercury, aluminum, cyanide and arsenic, in particular.

***Refer to section entitled; ‘Gare’s Hall of Fame‘ for detailed info on charcoal, clay, and zeolite.

Fibers such as; Psyllium Husks, various Grain Brans, such as; Rice or Oat Bran, Fruit and Vegetable Pectin are other effective team players to consider in your elimination goal. Of course, don’t forget to consume plenty of quality water to flush the system clean.

Some Colon and Liver rejuvenators to consider are; Probiotics and Enzymes.  These are the workers, that your body employs to get the job done. Some other agents to consider are; Super Greens such as; Spirulina, Wheatgrass, Barley Green… and all Berries; the high Chlorophyll and anti-oxidant content of greens and berries, in particular, render these agents very effective in reinforcing compromised tissue. Some effective liver re-enforcers to consider are; Milk Thistle, Artichoke, Turmeric, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Shisandra and Ashwagandha, to name but a few.

In some cases, a laxative may be required; after all, the goal is to get that crap the heck out of you, right?  Some gentler laxatives to consider are; Aloe Vera, Licorice Root, Dandelion, Butternut, Buckthorn, Ginger, Prune Juice, Swedish Bitters… but you don’t have to be Swedish in order for them to work. If you’re still bunged up then you may have to bring in some bigger guns such as; Turkish Rhubarb, Cascara, Gentian, Wormwood or Senna.

Colonic Enemas are an option available to effectively cleanse a plugged up Bowel. These can be accessed either via professional, Colon Cleansing or one can implement a Gravity Fed in-home apparatus.

***Refer to section entitled; ‘Alternative Health Therapies‘ for more info on Colonic Enemas.

DIABETES:

Diabetes is on the rise and is becoming one of most destructive common health challenges facing society today.  There are two types of Diabetes; Type 1 and Type-2.  Although the cause of each is different, they share the same negative impact on the body… it’s truly a sugar/insulin nightmare.  Here’s how it’s supposed to work; the body needs sugar for energy; the pancreas supplies an enzyme called, insulin, which acts as a doorman to deliver the sugar into the appropriate cells for such a purpose.

Type-2 diabetes revolves around one’s insulin receptors being shut down and no longer opened for business, although can include the production of insulin as well.  Type-1 diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus or Juvenile Diabetes) revolves around the insulin production department.  The insulin producing cells in the pancreas are continuously being attacked and knocked out of commission by one’s own immune system… crazy but true.  Why the immine system does this is a tad complicated and involves mega theories; however, the one common denominator is that one’s immune system has gone out of control.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘The Journey,’ for detailed information on this.  It is my own story; what I discovered when my son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

HELP FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES:

Both types of Diabetes can be effectively managed by addressing the ‘digestive system.’  However, Type 1 Diabetes will require extra attention to one’s adrenal and immune function, as well.

‘All roads lead to the liver.’   The liver is one big and busy organ, ultimately responsible for very many metabolic processes, including the juggling act of glucose and insulin.  However; much of what happens within this multi-tasking organ depends on what is going on… or on what is not going on… within the Gastro-Intestinal Tract (GI Tract); therefore, we need to scrutinize our diet and life style, first and foremost. A diet consisting of predominantly, cooked and/or micro-waved food might fill your belly, but it falls short of sustenance, nutrients that are vital for body maintenance.

Getting ‘back to the basics’ in food source and preparationis a real good start and can yield incredible results.  What are the basics?   In essence, it means seeking food in its complete format the way nature provided it.  You don’t have to get super radical and live like Tarzan and Jane of the jungle or move to a Caribbean Island to accomplish this, but rather, start by scrutinizing what you are eating on a regular basis.  You might have to fire your entire factory of taste buds in order to accomplish this goal; especially if you’ve been used to mega sugar and salt enhanced foods… but you’ll soon find a fresh new batch of taste buds ready, eager and appreciative of hardy and wholesome foods, soon enough. Your first target should be refined foods, grains (carbs) in particular.  There is a BIG difference between refined carbs and nature’s format of carbs.

Nature’s format of all food comes in a neat little package, a matrix of components, co-factors such as fiber, enzymes mega minerals and vitamins, some of which have not yet even been discovered.  This is why i cannot promote Pharmaceutical (synthetic) vitamins; the body cannot readily utilize them because the signature on such is a forgery and i perceive that the body knows the difference.   Howbeit, there is controversy regarding grains, regardless of how they’re presented.  Aside from the GMO factor (Genetically altered foods), i personally believe that grains in their natural package are conducive to sound health.  The problem comes when it is separated, no thanks to today’s trends of food marketing.  Some examples of this are boxed cereals and salty/crispy, carb snacks.  Nature’s grain package has been designed to avert a spike in one’s blood sugar.  The role of fiber is indeed underrated; trash the fiber and watch your blood sugar rise.  Carbs without its fiber package will result in an immediate insulin response… it’s just how the body has been designed to work… ‘for every action there will be an equal and opposite reaction.‘  This balancing act, a merry-go-round of… sugar… then insulin… sugar… then insulin… can easily result in Diabetes, not to mention many other health issues, such as; obesity, cancers and cardio-vascular diseases.

Ok, so you’re not Tarzan, living in the jungle… or marooned on some Caribbean Island, and so raw food is not a viable option; how about we subsidize our menu with; a regime of Probiotics, Digestive Enzymes, Fiber, EFA Fats and Super Green and Berry extracts?  Probiotics build and maintain a healthy Eco system (Microbiome) within the GI Tract, and enzymes will dismantle food and unlock the nutrients contained in such.  The enzyme, Amylase, which is designed to unlock carbs/starches in particular is a real health aid for Diabetes.   I’d encourage the use of enzymes both with meals as well as in between meals so that they can go to work clearing up other road blocks of congestion within the body.  Fiber provides manifold benefits such as; slowing down those sugar spikes and ushering not only excess sugar out of the body, but also excess cholesterol, hormones and other debris which your body is trying to be rid of.   Furthermore, EFA Fats are required for cell growth and repair… as well as are necessary for hormone production, to name but a few of its benefits.  Super Green and Berry concentrates serve to provide mega nutrients such as; vitamins, minerals and bioflavonoids, much needed for cell growth and repair.

NOT SO SWEET… SUGAR:

Due to the fact that we’re dealing with a ‘sugar conversion’ conundrum, scrutinizing the type and amount of sweetener is an obvious concern. Some sweeteners will seriously challenge your blood glucose/insulin cycle, while others not so much; and so choosing an appropriate sweetener will be more or less a choice of, ‘the lesser of evils.’  Don’t be too quick to reach for an artificial sweetener, without researching the fine print, for many of these pose more danger to your health than actual straight ol fashioned sugar will. Artificial and ‘chemically altered/structured’ sweeteners to stay away from are; Aspartame, Fructose, Sucralose (Splenda), Acesulfame (Neotame), Saacaharin (Twin, Sweet-N-Low).  These type sweeteners may taste sweet but have each been shown to cause harm to the body, regardless of what the health authorities will advertise. We should all know that white sugar is a bad choice, but there are better choices of natural and less refined sugars to consider, which although may challenge your blood sugar/insulin balance, will do so to a lesser degree… and are much safer to use than many of the fore mentioned, artificial sweeteners. Some natural sourced sugars to consider are; Unpasteurized Honey or sugars extracted from, Dates, Coconuts, Agave, Maple… and less refined Cane sugars such as; Blackstrap Molasses, Sucanat and Rapadura. Stevia and Xylitol (ensure that the source of Xylitol is from Birch trees and not from corn), are much better choices than artificial, chemically altered and/or actual sugar. These types of sweeteners will not raise blood sugar levels.   A root extract called, Chicolin, has been touted to be very diabetic friendly but can be difficult to acquire.  Most people are aware of the downside of soda drinks… both those sweetened with sugar as well as those with artificial sweeteners… but many are unaware of the detriment of fruit juices as compared to ingesting the entire fruit with the fiber still intact.  The fiber contained in fruits is nature’s way of avoiding an instant intro/release of sugar, which will inevitably usher in an instant insulin response to counter act the sugar. Regarding Carbs; there’s a world of difference between ‘complete’ carbs… meaning unrefined, ‘raw’ carbs and the fragmented, refined carbs such as what is in boxed cereals and carb snacks etc.  Nature provides foods in complete packages for a very good reason.  Instead of cooking your oatmeal or other grains, try soaking them over night and then consuming them raw. This will ensure that the enzymes are still intact as well as the very delicate ‘germ’ along with all of the natural fiber as well.

SUGAR COPS:

Agents that regulate excessive sugar already present in the body to consider are; Green Coffee Bean Extract, Berberine, Holy Basil, Cinnamon, Mulberry, Blueberry and Acai Berry.  An herb called Gymnema Sylvestre will effectively block sugar absorption. There… you have no excuse now!

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Digestion‘ for detailed info on Diabetes control.

DIARRHEA:

And when yer goin toooo much… ya gotta stop!  Excessive diarrhea, similar to excessive vomiting, can result in an electrolyte imbalance, whereby vital minerals, necessary for balanced bodily function, are eliminated; therefore is important that one be attentive to either of these syndromes.  Causes of Diarrhea are manifold… but it often boils down to the body attempting to eliminate something.  That something is often a Pathogen such as; Virus, Bacteria or Parasite.  Other times, it’s the result of some form of inflammation/irritation within the bowels that is pushing buttons.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Auto-Immune Malfunction,’ as well as section entitled, ‘Diverticulitis, IBS, Crohns‘ for more information on this cause.

THE FIX:

Probiotics are a must for this condition, regardless of the cause.  Many of these are available in powder, liquid, tablet or capsule form.  Bear in mind that many of these forms of Probiotics contain inactive, dormant bacteria, which are supposed to wake up and go to work upon entrance to one’s Gastro-Intestinal Tract… emphasis on… supposed to!  The question is; does this always happen?  Well, we’re dealing with Diarrhea, right… this means that most everything that we are ingesting is being rather quickly flushed out of us, and so I’d hardly consider a sleepy Probiotic to be an exception; therefore, my choice would be a live and active Probiotic culture.  Some choices to consider are; Vita Biosa or Bio-K.  The very fact that these cultures are already awake, and ready to go, upon entry to one’s mouth is going to offer us  a fighting chance, especially if the cause of our Diarrhea is an invading Pathogen to begin with.  Such will require some immediate attention, if we’re going to reinstate law and order around the place, wouldn’t you agree?   Bio-K, is available in flavours and so kids will at least consider it.  Vita Biosa, on the other hand, is a tad sour tasting, and therefore; I would suggest adding it to a fruit juice… kids can be fussy!  

Activated Charcoal and/or Bentonite Clay can quite often clear up a bad case of Diarrhea… when in doubt… eat dirt!  This is due to their alkaline nature and amazing bulking and drawing potential.  Having said that; you will have to measure out the volume of such an agent according to the person’s size and/or fluid intake so as to not create the opposite problem… dehydration and/or blockage within the colon.

DIVERTICULITIS:

We’ve covered much of this under the section entitled; ‘Constiption;’ however, I’ll repeat it for those who may have missed it.  Diverticulitis is a condition whereby a section of the colon wall becomes weakened and compromised, eventually ballooning into isolated pouches, similar to stagnant ponds that will form when the banks of a river become weak and overflow.  Fecal matter can then become trapped in these ponds/sacks and begins to decompose (putrefy), hence why intense pain, accompanied by infection, is often presented.

How and why is the colon wall compromised?   There can be mega reasons for this; chronic constipation and loss of colon wall elasticity are more often than not related.  ***Refer to the fore mentioned section entitled, ‘Constipation’ for help if the bowel is being chronically backed up.  Contrary to medical opinion, I do believe that the body can heal from this condition, as it can from most any disease.  Relevant evidence of this is; when you pierce the skin, the body will instantly rush into repair mode, dispatching clotting agents to the scene.  A dried scab will eventually form over the wound, followed by a scar of some degree, depending on the severity of the wound and/or available collagen in one’s body.

THE FIX:

First of all; prioritizing regular and full bowel movements on a daily basis will be of obvious benefit.  Secondly; paying attention to your diet and digestion is going to make a big difference.  You might want to abstain from grains, specifically from wheat for a period of time in order to isolate a potential suspect.  Many have reported noticeable benefits when doing so.   I’d strongly suggest one consider supplementing with Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes, along with a compatible Fiber.  The main probiotic to be reaching for is Bifidus, as the population of this bacteria is normally quite prolific in the large intestine.  There are other probiotics to consider that have a track record for helping with intestinal pain as well.  Some probiotic strains to consider and research are; Lactobacillus Reuteri, Lactobacillus Plantarum and Bifidus Infantis.

Enzymes effectively dismantle and digest foods and so are of immense benefit when taken with meals; however, when taken on an empty stomach, they can clean up a lot of back log through out the GI Tract; dismantle/digest all types of debris.  This includes heavy metals, cancer cells and tumors and environmental carcinogens.  They are relatively safe to consume in large numbers; however, due to the varying types and degrees of congestion, i’d suggest a slow and steady approach to enzyme therapy at the beginning.

How safe are they? I personally know of an elderly man, a retired surgeon and now a Naturopath physician, who at 90+ years of age, consumed 1000 enzymes per day for seven days in a row and is still very much alive and well to talk about it; furthermore, when they performed a feces analysis, there was absolutely enzyme zero residue present.  How’s that for a safety track record?  Now don’t go and read that as a green light to toss down 1000 enzymes right off the bat cause your body may not go along for the ride, but rather will take you for a ride to the toilet bowl, instead.  It’s all about ‘slow and steady,’ if you haven’t already gotten the idea.  The presence of fiber within the GI Tract is a no-brainer.  Bear in mind; not all fibers are created equal; some have more ability to hydrate and draw than others; this would be more ideal for an issue such as diverticulitis as we’re dealing with harboured crap to put it bluntly.  At the same time, one must remember to consume sufficient water so as to not create a counterproductive situation.  An ideal fiber dosage and combination is 1/4 to 1/2 tspn of psyllium husks mixed with the same of flax seed powder twice a day.

While the aforementioned fix is applicable to avoid this inflamed/infected status; what to do if it happens requires more specific attention.  In this case, I’d suggest an enema.  The goal is a gentle and non pressure type of enema… gravity fed colonic enema.   I’d suggest a gravity fed enema s opposed to pressure type enemas due to the compromised condition of the colon walls; we want to work with the body and gently bathe the Bowel not interrogate it.

If…  your case of diverticulitis happens to be located in the descending leg of the colon, the area closest to the rectum, as it often is, then a make-shift apparatus can be whipped up to accommodate a pretty practical and effective enema… while remaining seated on the toilet.  How’s that for convenience?  The next thing you’ll be wanting is a set up that will accommodate you while you’re driving to work in your car.  Nevertheless; such an apparatus can be packed in a suitcase and taken along with you in the car in order to keep everything is clean and healthy.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Alternative Therapies’ for ‘step by step’ procedure on how to perform various gravity fed enemas.

Various agents agents/herbs/supplements can be added to your warm water solution and infused into the troubled area.  It’s much like soaking an infected wound; the goal is to draw out putrefied matter and ultimately cleanse and soothe the depth of the wound.  When combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, there’s no reason why the colon wall cannot be restored; we were truly wonderfully made.

Some effective drawing agents to consider for enemas are; Bentonite Clay, Activated Charcoal and/or Psyllium Husks.  I like to add Digestive Enzymes to any one of the fore mentioned drawing agents, due their ability to dismantle/dissolve mega crap.  Some effective anti-bacterial agents to consider are; Golden Seal, Aloe Vera, Comfrey Leaf and Olive Leaf.  Some nerve calming agents to consider are; Valerian Root, Lemon Balm or Passion Flower.   And last but not least; some soothing agents to consider are; Slippery Elm Bark or Marshmallow Root… mucilage type agents that are capable of coating the inflamed area, to allow rejuvenation of the tissue.  

EAR ACHES AND CARE:

Ears throbbing are similar to a tooth ache.  We’re going to want to calm the nervous system down as well as address the potential cause of such.  Some effective nerve calming agents to consider are; Valerian Root, Passion Flower, St Johns Wort, White Willow Bark or Lemon Balm.  The fore mentioned are available in both powder (capsules) or tincture form.  The tinctures are quite safe to apply directly or can be slightly watered down with warm water.  The powder can be made into a strong tea and applied by ear dropper.  Apply several drops of the solution into one ear at a time, while laying on each side for a period of approximately 5 minutes.  The residue can then be either gently wiped out or flushed using an ear syringe (bulb).  DMSO can be added to any of these agents for more effective treatment.

***Refer to section entitled ‘Gares Hall of Fame‘ for more detailed information on DMSO.

Furthermore; because we’re often dealing with an infection of sorts you might want to consider any of the following agents; Golden Seal, Oregano Oil, Garlic Oil and/or Tea Tree Oil.  ***Caution; some of the fore mentioned agents are pretty concentrated and therefore should be rendered down to a weaker solution before applying into the ear; otherwise it’ll hurt like heck.  Golden Seal is an exception; it does not irritate an open wound.  There are many oils to consider mixing with any of the other concentrated agents; Olive, Safflower, Sunflower or Coconut oil, to mention but a few.

GARE’S FAVE:

The most effective remedy according to my experience, is applying a combination of Golden Seal, Colloidal Silver and DMSO.  Add 1/4 cup of boiling water to 1/4 tspn of Golden Seal powder and let it sit for approximately 10 ish minutes.  The powder will eventually settle to the bottom of the cup.  Now draw out the liquid, minus the granules with an eye dropper and put it into a small clean glass bottle.  I wouldn’t be super fussy about the granules unless of course, you’re applying it directly to the eyes; the granules can irritate the eyes a tad.  In such an application, you can simply filter the solution through a paper towel or cheese cloth.

One can add 1/4 ish tspn of colloidal silver along with several drops of DMSO to your little glass bottle as an extra anti-viral agent.  You can add one or more of the fore mentioned pain relievers to this solution ass well if you should desire.  Apply several drops of the  solution into the infected ear with your dropper.  Remain laying on your side for 10 ish minutes at a time.  The residue can then either be gently wiped out with a kleenex tissue or flushed with an ear  syringe (bulb).  There, you’re done; you can repeat the therapy 2 or 3 times a day if needed.  This solution will keep for 3 ish days, after which time i’d make up a new batch.  This same protocol can also be applied to pets to clear up ear mites and other infections.

***Avoid using DMSO full strength as it can cause discomfort if left on tender skin areas for too long, hence why I suggest wiping out the residue with warm water after about 5 ish mins.  Applying a dab of Aloe Vera afterwards is also an effective means of diverting discomfort.

What about Ear candles… do they work?

First of all; i wanna go on record stating this; I’m not one of those guys who shoot down an agent, protocol or concept just because such may not have worked for me… or because i just couldn’t wrap my tiny brain around the ‘why and/or how’ that something is supposed to work.  It’ll only serve to dissuade others from pursuing their own experience with such an agent or protocol.  Consequently; many wonderful inventions never do get off the ground for this very reason… ugh!  Of course, if such an agent or protocol should have the potential to harm somebody, then that is an entirely different story, for it is everyone’s duty to expose it, or at least to attach a caution to such in order to protect others.

Although I’ve had many customers report significant benefits from ear candling, I myself am not convinced that they do anything at all, and so you are just going to have to play with them for yourself in order to qualify their effectiveness… just don’t push them tooo far into your dang ear… or don’t forget to take them out before the flame catches your hair on fire.  I will however share with you my experience with these things and you can perhaps factor that into your own experience and research and arrive at your own conclusions.

First of, for those of you who may not be at all familiar with ear candles… what the heck are they?  Ear candles are heavily waxed, paper tubes, approximately 1 foot in length.  The idea is to light one end of this long waxed tube on fire and stick the other tapered end into your ear.  What-d-ya think… wanna try it?  As fore mentioned; I am not going to challenge as to whether or not this protocol can actually make a significant difference with either ear aches or ear wax accumulation, but what I will challenge is this; the wax residue that you see in the candle after it has burned down for approximately 10 minutes, did not come from out of your ear.  I say this because I’ve burned down enough of these things to note this; that an equivalent residue of wax will be evident in a candle regardless of whether it was placed in your ear or simply allowed to burn down while placed in an empty bottle… go figure!

I suppose its claim to fame has much to do with the concept that fire requires oxygen, and the flame burning on top of that candle will hopefully be sucking oxygen big time, along with whatever might have been accumulating in your ear, up into the candle.  The problem is; when you stop to think about it… ugh… you do do that don’t you?  It is indeed true that fire requires oxygen, but wouldn’t you think that it would readily be getting all that it needs at the top end where the flame is actually burning?  And so why would it bother sucking air from the bottom end that’s tightly tucked into your ear, where there’s really not a whole lot of air available at all… well in most heads, anyway?  I dunno… perhaps ear candling does manage to rearrange some furniture around in the ear canal and/or the brain of some people… enough to warrant a change; however, it did not suck up a schwack of wax from your ear… that I caan tell you.

ECZEMA/PSORIASIS:

These are different conditions; however, relatively similar and some ways and so we’ll discuss them together.  The causes of Eczema and Psoriasis, as it is with many skin afflictions are manifold.  The medical protocol for these types of conditions revolves around applying synthetic steroids, namely; Corticosteroids.  This will divert the immune response that is responsible for the inflammatory skin condition.  I’d encourage you to do some serious homework on this plan of action beforehand as there are side effects to this protocol that can usher in some negative health issues.  If this therapy should carry on for too long then the adrenal glands will turn off their natural cortisone production and can take some time to turn it back on again… not a good thing as the body requires cortisone for mega functions.  The same goes for taking cortisone orally or by injection… do your homework first.  There are natural options available, such as; Turmeric, Ginger, Boswellia, MSM, White Willow Bark,and Devils Claw for internal anti-inflammatory agents… and  Arnica, DMSO and/or Marijuana ointments for external, to mention but a few.

According to my research and experience, manifestations on the skin, aside from an actual contact wound, suggest such to be the result of an immune response.  The skin is really a mirror image of the liver, that mighty filter organ of the body; therefore, we should consider looking much deeper than just what we see on the surface of the skin.  Generally speaking; Eczema and Psoriasis are similar in that they each suggest inflammation to some degree; Eczema being an indication of an acute and milder inflammatory response and Psoriasis being an indication of a more severe and chronic inflammatory response.

What can cause this inflammatory condition?  Bear in my mind that the liver is continuously on the lookout for, and is filtering any, and all potentially threatening agents, and the skin is one of many elimination channels, hence why you’ll often notice rashes, bumps or fissures, skin itch or discolor presenting there.  Furthermore; exposure to environmental carcinogens, including Pharmaceutical agents, specifically antibiotics and heavy metals such as; mercury can trigger serious immune function as can the introduction of specific microbial entities.  However; rather than exhaustively witch-hunt for such a culprit, it’d serve you well to build, balance and maintain the digestive tract (GI Tract); this is where our wonderful liver and immune function get their marching orders from.

The obvious place to start is to scrutinize what we are allowing in our mouths on a daily basis.  If one’s diet consists predominantly of; sugar, incomplete, chemical ridden and enzyme deplete food, then your liver is going to be overwhelmed and will eventually put out a ‘911-SOS’ screaming for immune assistance in an attempt to clean up the mess and attempt to regain control and balance.  Evidence of this is, ‘inflammation.‘

THE FIX:

Probiotics would be my first ‘reach for.’  I’ve witnessed extreme Psoriasis clear up by supplementing with this alone.  What are Probiotics?  You’re probably familiar with antibiotics, well… Probiotics are Pro-life, while antibiotics are anti-life, as their prefix suggest.  Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that are absolutely essential for a balanced Eco system within the GI Tract… so essential, that if they are not prolific then your over all health is going to be seriously compromised in some way.  Probiotics are not just common to our GI Tract, they are present on our skin as well.  Howbeit; a simple and effective topical agent to consider is a probiotic agent mixed in water and sprayed lightly onto the affected skin and leave to dry.  There are a few liquid probiotics that are already active to consider for this; Vita Biosa and Molkasan (Vogel).

Secondly; assisting the body to eliminate, should be an equal priority.  The bowels are the main avenue of elimination, therefore; ensuring regular and full bowel movements on a daily basis is going to be a big benefit.  Bowel function can often be impaired.  Insufficient fiber and water are two of the major causes, but diet can also be counter productive in this department as well.   Your body requires real food to function… food that is alive with enzymes, and not the chemicals that we call food today.  Over- indulgence of simple (refined) carbs and excessive dairy, especially cheese, can literally turn to a paste in the intestines and… well… needless to say; you’ll be chronically constipated.  Howbeit; natural laxatives may sometimes be necessary in order to restore regularity.    Thirdly; Digestive Enzymes (plenty of them) not only facilitate the unlocking of the nutritive elements in food but they also dismantle mega garbage that will inevitably find its way into our GI Tract as well.  Furthermore, if there are enough enzymes around, they’ll also address inflammation, hence why I suggest, ‘plenty’ of these gems.  How many is, ‘plenty?’ As many as one can afford; enzymes are one supplement that; ‘more is better.’  Most people are bankrupt of enzymes, no thanks to our food producers.

I once assisted a teen age boy who was covered with eczema from head to toe.  Not only was this poor young fella riddled with rashes but he was also seriously over weight, which, needless to say, rendered his self esteem well below par.  His Mom had informed me that she dead ended with medical system protocol, after trying countless Pharmaceutical agents… ugh!  His protocol was centered around diet and elimination, and of course, the fore mentioned Fab 3; Probiotics, Enzymes and Fiber, were on the menu.  Did it work?  You bet it did; within approximately one month’s time, the boy’s eczema had significantly cleared up and he lost mega weight in the process.  Needless to say, he was a happy camper, indeed.

Fourth; in some cases, it may be necessary to address a specific immune trigger.  Parasites can often generate enough negative activity within the GI Tract to create Eczema or Psoriasis.  Some effective anti-parisitic agents to consider are; Black Walnut, Cloves, Garlic, Wormwood and Quasia to name a few.  Diatomaceous Earth also serves to seriously discourage parasite activity and so I’d consider a regime of that as well.  If heavy metal and/or an environmental carcinogen is suspected; some agents to consider are; Chlorella, Spiralina or any of the Super Greens, such as; Wheat Grass, Alfalfa and/or Barley Green.  Zeolite, Bentonite Clay and/or Activated Charcoal are excellent vessels to draw and lift carcinogens and can be applied along with the fore mentioned Super Greens.  An immune modulator should also be considered.  What is an Immune Modulator?  An effective Immune modulator is an agent that can balance either an under-active or over-active immune system.  Some immune agents to consider are; Transfer Factor (extract from Colostrum), Plant Sterols, such as; Moducare Sterinol, Beta Sitosterol… agents such as; Pycnogenol, Phyto Plankton… one million whales can’t be wrong… plant extracts, such as: Bio-Strath, Echinacea, Astragalus, Rhodiola, Ashwaghanda… Vit C (ascorbic acid), Spiralina or Blue-green Algae, MSM… Bee Pollen, Propolis and/or Royal Jelly… one trillion bees can’t be wrong…  Mushrooms/fungi family, such as; Reishi, Maitake, Shitake, Cordyceps and Chaga… hmm… I suppose 1 trillion ants and slugs can’t be wrong either.

***Caution… some people negatively react to bee products and mushrooms… so do consider testing or trying a tiny bit initially prior to indulging.

***See section entitled, ‘Gares Hall of Fame‘ for more info on ‘Zeolite‘ and a wonderful immune modulator called, ‘Transfer Factor.’

EYES:

Eye infections are not common but do happen; contact dermatitis or conjunctivitis (Pink eye) and other miscellaneous challenges can present.  It’s usually not a difficult fix.

Here’s an old country fix for most all eye issues; Boric Acid… go figure.  Apparently, Borax, the old fashioned box of laundry soap is not the same thing as Boric Acid… apparently; I cannot personally attest to this; however, I have used the old fashioned stuff on many occasions without incident.  Just avoid concentrated solution; water it down to be safe.   Colloidal silver and/or golden seal are reputable safe agents to use; I can attest to these also.  Add a quarter cup of hot water to 1/4 tspn of golden seal and let it set for approximately 10ish mins.  Most all of the granules will have settled to the bottom of the cup by then.  Using a spoon or eye dropper, draw up as much of the liquid as possible and filter it through a piece of cheese cloth or a sheet of paper towel into a clean glass dropper or spray bottle.  You’re just avoiding the golden seal granules so as to not irritate and already irritated tissue… not a big deal if you should miss some.  You can add 1/4 tspn of colloidal silver to your golden seal tea for an extra punch if desired.  Apply the solution to the infected eye in whatever way is practical.  You can saturate a gauze or folded paper towel and lie on your back for 20 ish minutes at a time or tape the saturated gauze directly over one infected eye at a time… hey… put a stuffed parrot on your shoulder and pretend to be a pirate.  I personally spray a watered down solution of DMSO into my eyes daily… more info on that in a bit.

Here’s a controversial one; apply your own urine to the infected eye.  You heard that right; contrary to what you may think, your urine is sterile… free of bacteria.  Furthermore, it contains properties that can positively counter affect infections.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Alternative Therapies‘ for more detailed information on Urine Therapy.  I’m sure you’ve heard of urine being used to neutralize the sting of a jelly fish; well… that is just a hint of the applications of this precious gem that we’re all packing around with us on a daily basis.  Soaking an infected toe in your own urine is also supposedly an effective remedy for toe nail fungus.  Hmm… I’d apply the same principal to stubborn warts as well.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Gares Hall of Fame‘ for information on DMSO and its amazing abilities, specifically for conditions such as; dry eyes, contact dermatitis and cataracts.

VISION:

Eye infection is one thing, challenged vision, yet another.  Compromised vision can be he result of many factors.  It can be the result of head/eye trauma, neural break down or malfunction, macro degeneration and/or cataracts to mention but a few causes.  Let’s look at cataracts and macro degeneration.  Rather than attempt to play doctor, I’d like to offer my simple common sensible view point on the issue.  We’re dealing a compromised condition of the lens of the eyes.  It could be protein build up on the lens, it could be mineral plaque compromising efficient circulation and/or it could be the result of oxidation of the cells of the eyes.  Oxidation is simply the breaking down and dying off of cells; it’s the process that eventually takes us all out in the end.   The oxidizing process can be likened to the rusting of untreated metal.  I’m sure you’ve noticed the brownish colour that forms on the fresh bite of an apple; this is the process of oxidation… the dying of cells.  It doesn’t mean the the apple is rotten; it does however mean that the apple is… rotting.  The goal is to eat the dang thing before it loses too much nutrition.  I’m not suggesting that if you have cataracts or compromised eye sight that you’re close to checking out of this world, rather that this area of the body requires some hel, and so… let’s get to work.

THE FIX:

The Pharmaceutical standard of care protocol for cataracts is surgery.  There are some effective home remedies that you might wanna consider.  First of all, we’re dealing with oxidation and so we should really be reaching for natural help… agents called; antioxidants.  Any and all berries are reputable antioxidants… 1,000,000 bears can’t be wrong.   Bilberries and Blueberries are especially effective for eye issues.  Many plants also offer antioxidant ability, some more than others.  Some of the more potential antioxidants are; Spiralina, Blue Green Algae, Chlorella, Phyto-plankton, Spinach and Kale, to mention but a few.  Iodine, Selenium, Vitamin A (Beta Carotene), Vit-C, D and E are also among the heavier hitters for their ability to slowwww down that process of oxidation.    Some popular time tested eye agents are as follows; Eyebright, Occhi Belli, Ginkgo Biloba, Astaxanthin… and I would add Cayenne Pepper to that list.   Both Ginkgo and Cayenne are renowned for their ability to condition the veins and arteries and increase the blood flow to the peripheral arteries, one of them being the eyes.  Don’t even think of applying cayenne directly to the eyes… 1,000 purse snatchers and/or pesky bears can’t be wrong.  It won’t be life threatening but it will be seriously uncomfortable.  A combination of Vit-C and Lysine contained in a product called, Medi-C has been proven to clear arterial plaque from the blood supplying arteries in the retina of the eyes.  It wouldn’t be my personal ‘first-grab-for’… but I’ve had customers testify to its effectiveness, ranging from; bleeding hemorrhoids to cardio-vascular improvement.  The following two agents are probably the most popular antioxidants for eyes; Lutein and Zeastaxanthin… I dare you to say that word three times real fast.

CATARACTS:

If you are plagued with cataracts then the following is a must read.

Many people opt for surgery to remove cataracts; there is a natural protocol that may be worth researching.  I’d like to introduce you to a wonderful agent, able to do so much.  DMSO is nothing short of an amazing therapy for so many health issues… including eye health.  ***Refer to section entitled, “Gares Hall of Fame‘ for detailed information on this gem.  The therapy goes like this; mix approximately 20% DMSO to 80% water into a small spray bottle.   I prefer distilled or RO water.  Shake it up and spray it on slightly closed eyes.  Open your eyes a tad to allow the solution to enter.  Let it sit for about 3ish mins or until it begins to feel a tad irritable… kinda like your neigbour next door… the one who turns his rock music up too high late at night.  Had enough ^$%#… now splash a handful of water into both of your eyes and you’ll be good to go.  Again, I’d suggest using filtered water with all these applications; you don’t want a schwack of chlorine and/or fluoride in your body.

I cannot personally verify its effectiveness for cataracts simply because I don’t have cataracts.  However, I can see how it would be effective.  Again… do your own homework on this and if you do decide to do it then you’ll be doing so on your… own free will… while you still have it, that is.  According to my experiences DMSO is safe; I’ve worked with it often and witnessed amazing results.

Intravenous application of DMSO is the medical protocol for treating Interstitial cystitis, an auto-immune issue with wall of the bladder.  It is also the reach-for to treat serious burn conditions.  You’ll probably read a warning on the label to the tune of; ‘may cause skin irritation.’  The irony of this warning is that DMSO is the medical protocol to treat 3rd degree burns… go figure.  The truth of the matter is that it can very well do so… IF…it’s used full strength and/or left on for an extended period of time.  Eventually, it will rejuvenate your skin, hence why it is used with 3rd degree burn cases.  The irritation issue can be totally averted if you simply water it down and/or wash it off after a few minutes time as it will have already penetrated deep into the body and performed its magic.  Again, use filtered water… The DMSO tends to carry whatever it comes in contact with and so you’d best pay attention to what that is.

Its claim to fame is that it has an affinity for water, which just so happens to make up approximately 65 ish % of our body.  If you put a drop of it on your toe, you’ll be detecting it in your mouth in just a few seconds time.  This is because it travels from cell to cell.  One of the properties of DMSO is that it is a sulfur based natural solvent and therefore may be why it  is apparently so effective in dealing with cataracts; a build up of undissolved protein and/or mineral deposits.

Here’s one for you gadget-lovers; there are special eyeglasses available that have demonstrated some pretty impressive results, according to many customer testimonials.  They look and function much like normal eye glasses only they are black lenses with mega tiny perforations strategically arranged on the lenses.  The idea is that if you were to wear these glasses for approximately 1 hour per day throughout various activities, such as; reading, computer and/or TV, they would improve your vision.  How could this be, you might ask??  Heck… I get asked this question like… 3 or 4 times every day at the store, so I may as well share my opinion… once and for all!?  It appears to revolve around an aerobic exercise for your eyes, so to speak.  Your eyes are forced to focus through these tiny holes, and as it is with exercising any muscle, your eye muscles get whipped back into shape.  I wouldn’t recommend wearing these therapeutic glasses while driving for obvious reasons… or perhaps to go for a job interview… or especially… on a date… unless of course your date happens to be blind… as in a… ‘blind date… get it?

GALL STONES:

Stones belong on the ground and not in the body.  Gall stones can be either be composed of cholesterol or bilirubin (pigment…calcified); there is a difference.  While cholesterol stones can be a nuisance, pigment stones can be downright life threatening, especially if they were to block a bile duct.  Gall stones can be as small as a grain of sand and as large as a golf ball… go figure!  The liver produces bile (an alkaline substance) on a continuous basis and stores it in a small sack attached to the liver, known as the gall bladder.  The role of the gall bladder is to store and distribute bile into the upper Gastro-intestinal Tract (GI Tract).  Bile consists of cholesterol, lecithin and bilirubin for the most part.  Bile has two major functions; one, it neutralizes the intense hydrochloric acid (HCI) solution that routinely exits from the stomach and enters the more alkaline domain of the small intestine… and two, it dissolves fat, making it easier to assimilate and utilize.

I think it’d be a good idea, a proactive health approach if the medical system was to analyze the contents of the bile when they remove the gall bladder; this would reveal so much about the overall condition of one’s health.  The liver has several avenues of elimination in its purification function; it uses the large intestine, kidneys, lymphatic system and if it really gets overloaded, it’ll be tossing a schwack of toxins into the bile; this is apparently where the gall bladder malfunction circus gets its wheels… or at least some of its wheels… more on that later.

I don’t want to pretend to have my tiny brain wrapped around gall bladder malfunction because it is quite complicated; howbeit, the x-factors involved in the formation of stones appears to revolve around temperature, PH and the contents of the bile.  I’m sure you’ve witnessed stalactites, those mineral laden icicles that hang out in caves; well, they are formed as a result of minerals precipitating from a saturated fluid.  Have you noticed how a mineral deposit will form around the hot water supply lines of household plumbing fixtures but little to none around the cold water supply lines?  For these deposits to occur we must have water with a higher than normal mineral content (the PH factor) and a temperature differential.

The liver is apparently a fairly warm environment whereas the gall bladder much cooler and so if our bile composition happens to be high in specific minerals then the same process as what happens in these caves can occur in the bladder ducts.  I perceive the same to be true with kidney stones as well.

Albeit, this theory poses several questions, the first being, why would the contents of this bile be extra laden with minerals?  Well, bile is alkaline and so I’d be guessing that it contains some alkaline minerals, namely calcium and magnesium, to name a few.  The degree of alkaline minerals extracted to produce this bile is where one’s diet and digestive function comes into play.  A diet consisting of excess sugar, protein and/or fats can apparently usher in a more alkaline than normal bile concentration.  I know, that’s a bit controversial for those of you on a ketone diet, where heavy protein and fats are prominent foods; nonetheless, we need to be willing to explore all avenues if we’re going to face off with a solution to gall stones.

I hate to toss yet another clown into the gall bladder circus ring but there may be another reason why the bile solution may be super saturated; it may be stagnant, not freely flowing as it should.  Why would this bile not be freely flowing?  The jury is still out on that one but one theory that seems logical to me is as follows; the lower portion of our stomach is supposed to contain an intensely acidic solution known as, hydrochloric acid (HCI)… emphasis on… ‘supposed to’.  Much of this topic is covered in detail in the section entitled, ‘Miscellaneous Health Issues… Acid-Reflux.’   Briefly speaking, this lower portion of the stomach has been designed to accommodate an intense acid solution, registering a PH of approximately three-ish.  The idea is that this acid, will eventually be dumped down into the small intestine, where it will be neutralized to that of a much safer alkaline PH, one that the intestine is designed to handle.  This is where the bile comes into focus; this solution is seriously alkaline and its main purpose is to neutralize this acid and to join forces with Lipase, an enzyme dispatched by the pancreas for the purpose of dissolving fats.

But what if the HCl leaving the stomach was rather weak in solution to begin with as I perceive to be the case with many today?  If this should be the case, the button to dispatch bile from the gall bladder may not get pushed, which could create a back log of bile not to mention several other digestive sequences not being accessed.  In lieu of our previous chat regarding mineral content, PH and temperature differentials, we could be heading into what is called the perfect storm.

THE FIX:

***Caution; one must be careful when attempting to deal with gall bladder issues.  For example, if you had significantly sized calcified stones roiling around in your bladder ducts then it wouldn’t be wise to wake up and hasten the bladder to become overly active; the stones could end up blocking a bile duct, and then you’d be in serious trouble.  I’d be leaning more to assisting the body in dissolving this mineral accumulation.

The liver is a busy organ, a serious multi-tasker to put it mildly; it not only filters and stores, but it also detects threatening agents and imbalances, at which time it will produce and distribute all sorts of agents necessary to maintain a reasonable balance throughout the body.   The best way to assist the liver is to create and maintain a relatively clean and balanced GI Tract… that long and windy hollow tube that begins at your mouth and ends at your rectum.

Needless to say, an adjustment in your diet and lifestyle are going to be on the menu.  Consider what you are habitually eating?  This is a must for all health issues.  If you insist on eating refined, over processed substances, that they erroneously call food; excess sodium, sugar and trans fats (processed vegetable fats), then your liver is going to be in trouble.  You need to begin scrutinizing the labels on food containers and avoid additives whenever possible.  If sugar is at the top of the list of ingredients then that is what you’re getting the most of.  Especially avoid fructose, the cheap sweetener that is derived from corn syrup; this more often than not is extracted from GMO (Genetically altered) corn.  Your body cannot utilize this stuff and so will harbour it in the liver until such time it can safely dispose of it… hmm… dump it into the bile destined for the gall bladder, perhaps?  MSG is another additive to avoid, however, it’s name is continuously being changed to divert the consumer’s attention to it.  There are plenty of online resources to expose this neuro-toxin.

Once you establish the difference between real food and the &%#^ that they call food then you’ll be off to a great start.  Next, I’d highly recommend supplementing with digestive enzymes.   Why do you need enzymes?  Food of today has zero of these little gems, no thanks to the Big Food producers program to refine the hell out of it.  Furthermore, you more than likely cook and/or micro wave your food; consequently, these lil gems are destroyed with heat and the incredible vibration that occurs in micro wave ovens.  Digestive enzymes unlock the nutrients from the food that you just consumed and usher the goods into the cells to be converted into energy etc.  Furthermore, they serve to dismantle &%#&, carcinogens, viruses, heavy metals and other such garbage that we will have inadvertently consumed on a daily basis.

Secondly; as aforementioned, the PH of the stomach is the beginning of efficient digestion.  Most people are deficient in hydrochloric acid (HCI), a much needed agent for this process.  The reason why we are deficient in HCI is the result of a chase-your- tail syndrome.  HCI is produced in the gastro-intestinal tract (GI Tract), and all too often the eco system in this department is seriously out of balance, and so you can hopefully see the conundrum.  Supplementing with probiotics and prebiotics (fiber) will seriously help establish and maintain this balance.  Meanwhile, there are substances that can assist in kick starting this intense HCI concentration into gear at meal time when it is most needed.  Some HCI stimulants to consider are;  wine… I figured you’d appreciate that one… but not a whole bottle of the stuff; that would be counterproductive… only a glass or maybe two at the most.  For those non-alcoholics, consider adding some sort of fermented food to your dish, such as Sauerkraut or Kimchi.  If you’re one of those, taste challenged people, you can opt to ingest one or two capsules of a supplement known as, Betaine HCL.  There… now you have no excuse!  One can ingest several of these capsules just before, during, or immediately after a meal.  Betaine HCL is also an effective remedy for intestinal bloating and/or acid-reflux… go figure… more acid to remedy an acid related problem.  Nonetheless, it does work… it’s certainly more pro active than pharmaceutical, acid blockers, for sure.

Another very beneficial digestive agent to consider is, Swedish Bitters.  You don’t have to be Swedish to benefit from this supplement.  Bitters are just that; they’re bitter herbs.  These concoctions have been historically used to stimulate the liver, which of course is going to push a button in the gall bladder also… get the connection?   The instant these bitter tasting herbs enter your mouth, aside from your face performing an amazing array of contortions, your liver will begin ushering a schwack of enzymes and other digestive goodies to the scene… how’s that for a tight little digestive team?  The herbal combinations of bitters may vary, with or without an alcohol base, but generally speaking, some of the herbs contained in such a formula will be; Gentian Root, Rhubarb, Angelica, Bitter orange, Aloe, Anise, Senna, Licorice and/or Fennel.  An agent called Tudca can be a real asset here; originally sourced from bear gall bladders, it has since been synthesized.  It apparently thins the gall bile; a real necessity for those with toxic livers… hmm… like all of us.

***Caution with bitters if you are presently challenged with gall stones.

Other agents to consider are as follows; fats… go figure, the very thing a gall bladder is supposed to be breaking down.  We’re talking about the good fats here and not the lobotomized, hydrogenated, vegetable fats that conveniently replaced the good ol fashioned healthy natural plant oils such as; hemp, olive oil etc.  Ingesting a small amount of a healthy fat with each meal will prod the liver to dispatch and release bile.  This of course will discourage an accumulation of saturated bile and freshen the batch with new bile.  Another agent that I find applicable to our cause is, Lecithin (either soy or sunflower).  This balances cholesterol, which as fore mentioned, is one component of bile.  Furthermore, lecithin emulsifies fats as well, a real bonus.  Last, but not least is fiber.  The function of fiber is so under valued.   First of all, I need to clarify the term fiber.  Vegetables, fruit, nuts and seed all contain fiber.  Fiber is better known as a prebiotic in that it is what feeds the probiotics that will hopefully be flourishing within your GI Tract… got it?  It also serves to draw and effectively eliminate excess sugar hormones and cholesterol, which your liver is trying so hard to facilitate the removal of.  Aside from fiber are agents exceptionally able to draw and absorb.  These can be a real asset when it comes to gall bladder issues especially.  I would particularly be considering, Psyllium Husks and/or Activated Charcoal in the case of gall bladder issues.

Remedy for calcified stones; calcified stones are best dealt with by assisting the body to dissolve them.  The aforementioned dietary suggestions are an absolute for this to happen; the PH factor and the bile contents, dispatched by a troubled liver should balance, along with mega other chronic diseases.  I don’t mean to alarm you but if gall stones are present, I’d venture to suspect other accumulations of minerals to be possibly occurring throughout the body as well, such as; atherosclerosis (artery plaque) and urinary tract stones, to mention but a few… and so you’d best get to work.

ALKALINE WATER:

We may as well investigate the benefits of consuming alkaline water in our gall stone prognosis… if there indeed be any benefits.  This too is not without controversy… let’s investigate.

We’re first going to have to peak behind the curtains at PH in order to figure this one out.  We had mentioned that PH might be involved in the formation of calcified gall stones and so… just what is PH?  You sure do ask some tough questions.  This subject requires an entire book all on its own; however let’s investigate a simplified version.  PH is the measurement of whether a substance is acidic or alkaline in characteristic.  Numbers from a numeric scale, ranging from between 0 to 14 are applied to determine this.  Solutions with a reading of less than 7 are considered to be acidic, and those with a reading of over 7, alkaline.   There; how simple was that?  The body is an amazing balance mechanism, always at work to keep things on an even keel; in this case, our body will strive to maintain a constant PH within the blood of approximately, 7.4.  This is an absolute and automatic balancing act, meaning that your body will do whatever it needs to in order to accomplish this… we can either assist… or resist our body’s efforts in maintaining this balance.  Assisting the body in its PH balancing act is our goal.

As fore mentioned, one must be willing to scrutinize their diet to include raw and enzyme rich food and exclude excessive sugar, sodium and trans fats (fast foods).  That’s the no-brainer part of the program; a more challenging issue is whether or not there might be an advantage to consuming alkaline water.

First of all, I feel that there is far too much emphasis placed on the PH of the water that we are consuming rather than on the characteristics of such.  Allow me to explain.

Freshly fallen rain water is void of minerals and therefore it renders more of an acidic PH than most municipal water supplies… and yet rain water is a far superior water to be ingesting.  What’s the difference?

The activity that occurs while water evaporates from the earth and falls back down to the earth is where the difference lies.  Just think about it… you’re allowed to do that, ya know; evaporating water, much like a water distiller, leaves its baggage, minerals included on the ground when it heads upwards into the blue sky.  The magic lies in the energy that each droplet of rain water possesses as a result of its journey… this is what makes it different than distilled water and reverse osmosis water.  This super energized rainwater now begins its journey down a mountain per se and while en-route is empowered to collect all sorts of minerals because of the fact.  Many of these minerals are what defines the water’s PH.

This same rain water, along with its baggage, will eventually lose its energy, depending on how long it sits… and where it sits, among other factors; nonetheless, this is the water that comes out of your faucet.  My point is this; regardless of how many more minerals you add to or subtract from this water, it matters little… get it?  If not then you need to fast forward to the section entitled, ‘Mystery of Water,‘ for detailed information of water in action… where I share my personal experience of what happened to the water lines in my house when I installed a device that was able to energize (ionize) my water.

Ok… back to ingesting alkaline water; what happens when it enters the body’s domain… will it offer a benefit or is it all myth?  I repeat the fact that nobody knows the intricacies of what occurs inside the body when a substance enters… only the result of such can be recognized… and even that can be misleading.

The pro crowd will claim that they feel much better when consuming this type of water.  Some will attribute the consumption of such water to be directly responsible for reversing some pretty serious chronic diseases.  These same pro researchers will justify their claim saying that disease is caused by an over-acidic cellular environment in the body, that an over-acidic cellular environment causes cancer, as well… etc; therefore, ingesting a seriously alkaline substance, in this case; water, will assist the body in becoming more alkaline and able to maintain good health.

The con crowd on the other hand can be divided into two categories; those who claim alkaline water from these devices is toxic and/or counterproductive to one’s health and those who claim there to be no difference whatsoever and that it’s just a gimmick… a crock of expensive and useless gadgetry.

They can’t all be right, and nobody wants to admit they’re wrong and so we may as well dig in and make up our own mind.  l personally own a PH conditioning appliance, although mine has a rather unique added feature, a feature able to enhance the vibration/energy of the water.   I’m not a chemist and therefore cannot prove whether there be any benefits or deficits to alkaline water on a blackboard, however, I can share with you brief glimpses of what both the pro and con researchers claim… and of course, share with you my own personal experiences with alkaline water.

When scrutinizing PH balance, we really should be factoring in one indisputable principal governing our body; to maintain balance, a process known as;  (homeostasis).  Our amazing body has been designed to maintain a balance; for every action, there will be an opposite and equal reaction.  You can liken this concept to loading one side of a canoe with rocks.  Many of us have experienced the woes of a rocking boat at one time or other; well… the same principal applies to the body.  If it senses too much of something, regardless of whether or not such is considered to be healthy, you can expect a reaction… got it?

Let’s look at what enters our mouth for that is where the circus really begins.  Actually, it begins even before putting something in your mouth; I’m sure we’ve all experienced a bout of excessive saliva at the very thought of consuming a mouth watering morsel.   Nonetheless, this digestive process is designed to alter whatever enters the mouth.  A lot goes on in the stomach; nothing remains intact here; everything comes apart, is balanced, neutralized, dismantled and then reconstructed to accommodate our body’s requirements.  Hang on to this fact, it’s gonna make some sense a bit later on.

Take lemons for example; they’re pretty acidic, right?  I mean just watch your face pucker up even at the thought of sucking on the dang thing… ugh!  Howbeit, upon ingesting this acidic agent, the body will perform all sorts of antics, the relevant function to our topic being that it will attempt to balance… to neutralize its severe acidity.  How it does this is where the mystery lies.

Incidentally, this is where PH test strips can be misleading.  These tools are not an accurate indicator of your over all PH condition, but rather an indicator of what your wonderful body might be doing at the very moment you apply the test strip.

What resources does the body have to buffer acidity?   Breathing is its first and most effective PH balancer.  The heavy breathing induced by strenuous activity is an indication of this magic act in action, where an exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide occurs, resulting in a PH balance from acidic to alkaline.  Conversely, breathing excessively into a paper bag, a process better known as; hyperventilation, will create an alkaline response in the body… ugh… a serious alkaline response.  You don’t wanna do this too often, otherwise, you won’t have enough brain cells left to get through the rest of this book.  The next tool the body uses for balancing PH is the liver (bile), the kidneys and the pancreas… and on goes the show.

You might be surprised to hear this but the body has far more resources to deal with acidity than it does for alkalinity.  It makes sense when you recognize the fact that the digestive process renders the constituents of so many foods down to acids.  For example; protein is broken down to amino acids, fats are broken down to essential fatty acids etc.  When you get right down to it, there are far more acids than alkaline going on throughout the body overall.

Howbeit, our million dollar question is; what happens when we ingest seriously alkaline water?  Well, the body is going to perform the same  antics as it would with the lemon, only opposite; it would attempt to balance/neutralize its PH the best it can to ensure that such enters the GI tract without causing too much of a problem.  A little of either acidic or alkaline substances would probably be negligible; however, substances with an extreme PH variable or if ingested over an extended period of time may be counterproductive or worst… emphasis on ‘may‘ as I cannot verify for absolute sure one way or the other; I can only offer my personal experiences and common sense opinion on the matter.   In the case of ingesting extremely alkaline water and/or doing such on a continuous basis, I’d suspect that the body would be prodded to access some more serious tactics in order to counter balance the extreme alkaline intro.

Well, we know that it doesn’t send it north back out of the mouth, as in inducing you to vomit, at least not according to my experience, and so I’d suspect that it would dump what it could not neutralize south down into the duodenum, the upper portion of the small intestine.  The good news is that this portion of the gastro-intestinal tract (GI Tract) is designed to handle alkalinity more so than the lower portion of the stomach.  Howbeit, what effect might this PH shuffle have on the blood and cellular PH; would the results render a benefit or a deficit to your health?  The changes that occur at the cellular level is where the X-factor of ingesting alkaline water experience might lie.

Experience trumps science in my opinion.  Most all scientific theories are born in a laboratory environment incorporating test tubes and fancy instruments.  Consequently, the complexities of the goings-on within our wonderful body are often missed and therefore, surmised to be the result of placebo or are dismissed as pure myth.  Placebo effect by the way is where beneficial results are experienced simply because one desires and or expects such.

Regardless, I would discourage the ingestion of alkaline water around meal time.  I say this because the presence of Hydrochloric acid (HCI), an extremely acidic PH of approximately three-ish in the stomach is essential for optimum digestion; therefore, it would be counterproductive to mess with this PH balance.

Aside from consuming energized water, the following is a list of agents that can assist your body in dealing with PH imbalance and mineral deposits.   Vit-D3 and K2 have revealed some impressive abilities in distributing mineral deposits, calcium in particular.  Magnesium is a natural relaxant as well as a helpful balancing agent for excessive calcium.  Freshly squeezed lemon in water, especially when ingested the first thing in the morning will trigger an alkaline response, which I perceive may be productive in dissolving miner deposits throughout the body.  Turmeric (Curcumin) is a natural anti-inflammatory agent and digestive/liver aid as is garlic and/or ginger.

According to my research, one other cause for an out-of-balance bile solution in the gall bladder is apparently an excess of estrogen; this too is a verrry deeeep subject, one that can be accessed by scrolling to the section entitled, ‘Endocrine System‘.  Suffice it to say this; estrogen and estrogen mimickers are in abundance in our environment today like at no time in all of history.

What do I do if my gall bladder has been removed?

When the gall bladder is present, the normal digestive process will go something like this; varying amounts and concentrations of bile will be injected into the small intestine at specific periods of time, depending on the type of food consumed.   However if this bile-reserve sack has been removed, bile will be seeping into the small intestine on a regular basis regardless of what has been consumed… and so, do the math.  Too much and/or too concentrated bile may present as caustic to the intestinal lining, which needless to say, can create a host of other problems down deeper in the GI Tract due to the inflammatory process.  This could manifest as chronic diarrhea and can escalate to colon cancer if not paid attention to.  But hey… don’t worry your face off… my father-in-law had his gall bladder removed like 30 years prior to his death at the ripe ol age of 90, which was not even associated with the gall bladder function.

Here’s a couple of suggestions if you no longer have this little bile reserve sack.  Aside from a regime of; probiotics, enzymes and fiber/drawing agents (especially activated charcoal), would be; Slippery elm bark and/or Marshmallow root.  These agents will serve to line and soothe  inflamed tissue.  One enzyme in particular that would be relevant to your cause would be; Lipase.  This enzyme is especially effective in dismantling/dissolving fats… get the picture?  Again, Lecithin, would also be of benefit in that it could emulsify (break down) many of the fats in our foods.  Some anti-inflammatory agents to consider are; Licorice Root, Yucca Root, Turmeric.  Consider supplementing with Ox bile just after a meal.

GASTRITIS:

Gastritis is basically; inflammation of the stomach lining. One of the main causes for stomach ulcers is a bacteria infection known as; H-Pylori.  This particular micro-organism is present in most all of us but doesn’t often get the opportunity to raise its ugly little head and do the damage that it does to many.  Its home is the stomach lining and it will remain dormant there as long as the PH environment in the stomach is within a reasonable range.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Acid-Reflux’ for mega info already thoroughly explained in this department. The fix is twofold; we need to assist the body in healing the stomach lining as well as to restore an appropriate PH in the lower stomach cavity.  As fore mentioned with Acid-Reflux (GERD) the cause if this conditions boils down to the lack of Hydrachloric acid in the stomach.  The stomach is built to tolerate extremely acidic conditions and it is that way for a several reasons.  First and foremost; intense acid is required to digest the food that you just ate and secondly; it acts as a first line of defense against any harmful bacteria that will inevitably finds their way into our mouths.  Most animals, especially in the wild, have intense hydrochloric acid, hence why they can eat rotten meat without harm.

Here’s what happens; if this acid is constantly weak in concentration as is the case with prescribed ant-acid medication or as is the case with the elderly and/or poor food choices then the PH domain in the stomach switches to that of alkaline.  Consequently, dormant and/or normally, harmless bacteria that thrive in an alkaline environment will then rise up and set up house.  H-Pylori, the lil guy responsible for stomach ulcers, and Candida are just a few examples of this.  These guys are normally quite low on the food chain in a healthy functioning GI Tract.  However, if the eco-system within this tract should get out of balance, both H-Pylori and candida will grow in leaps and bounds, out of control, and before you know it; ‘ouch, your tummy hurts!’  Have I got your attention now?

The fix: Probiotics are an absolute must in this condition in particular as it is a proactive approach rather than antibiotics which is counterproductive in the long run.  Furthermore; I prefer probiotics in a liquid or powder form and dissolved in the mouth before swallowing.  Simply open the capsules and swish the powder in your mouth for several minutes before swallowing.  Enteric coated probiotics are really not a good choice in this case for obvious reasons… well… obvious to me, anyway.  They will be passing right on through the inflamed stomach where you need their help the most.

A tea consisting of; Slippery Elm Bark, Licorice Root along with a dab of Manuka Honey will offer noticeable relief from the immediate inflammation.  Slippery Elm lines inflamed tissue, licorice serves to rebuild tissue and the manuka honey is a natural antibiotic to discourage our irritable guest’s reproduction program.  The following is a list of soothing agents, any of which can also be added to your cup of tea as well; Ginger, Fennel, Anise, Peppermint.

Other natural antibiotics to consider are; Golden Seal, Olive Leaf, Activated Charcoal, Grapefruit Seed, Turmeric.  These agents are rather yucky tasting and so will not mix very well in your cup of soothing tea.  These can be ingested in tincture or capsule format.

Here’s one for you budgetarians out there; raw potato.  That’s right; potato, only raw, not cooked is an age ol fix for stomach and intestinal issues.  Grate a raw potato… organic preferably… and squeeze the juice from it, complete with peeling.  Avoid potatoes with the green spots and sprouts, those are aliens.  Seriously though; they’re not going to kill you or anything, it is just an indication that they contain a higher concentration of a chemical that if consumed too much can be counter-productive.  Potatoes are rich in natural occurring vitamins, minerals, (Potassium), Vit-C (natural Vit-c) and are rich in enzymes and a mucilage that soothes internal inflamed tissue.  Raw potato and/or the juice from such can also be effective topically to treat external infections and inflamed tissue, as well.  This includes gout and rheumatoid arthritic inflamed areas.  In this application, raw potato would be applied as a poultice to draw out excessive uric acid, common to these two conditions.

Comfrey tea is another age ol aid for stomach and intestinal inflammation.  The same rules apply with comfrey as with potatoes, for the root contains similar alkaloids, which in high doses can be counter productive if not harmful, emphasis on high doses.  Comfrey leaf and/or root makes for a great poultice for infected tissue.

Mastic Gum is another agent touted to seriously help with stomach ulcers, although it’s not a budget item like our fore mentioned garden wonders.

While we’re helping the body to restore the damaged stomach wall, we need to also address the PH issue that caused the problem in the first place.  Supplements to consider for this are; Betaine Hydrochloride.   I’d be introducing this sparingly at the beginning and increase every other day to ascertain a comfortable dosage.  If you are already on Pharmaceutical, ant-acids as many are then you’re going to have to decide which way you want to go; one agent shuts off the acid supply to the stomach and the other creates acid.  Do your own homework on this choice.  I did and it worked for me.   The other aids to be looking at are; Probiotics along with Digestive Enzymes, although I would be using mild enzymes at the beginning until you gain some ground on the acute inflammation taking place.  We don’t want to add gasoline to an already raging fire.  You might wanna lay low on strong protein (Protease) enzyme formulations for a spell, such as those with; Trypsin and Chymotripsan.   This is a trial and error effort for what bothers some will not another.  I wish I could give you a simple ABC protocol when it comes to PH balancing but it so much depends on where one is at to begin with.  One thing is for sure; natural agent will give you miles of warning before any harm is done, unlike Pharmaceutical agents.

GOUT

Gout is a condition revolving around an accumulation of uric acid in the blood. What’s uric acid… and why would it be accumulating? Uric Acid is formed by the ‘break down’ of protein, dead cells etc, and so it’s going to be present to some degree within the body; however, if there is more of this stuff floating around than the body can quietly eliminate, than an imbalance will occur.  The body, being a wonderful balance mechanism, will attempt to dispose of this excess acid in the best way that it can. Consequently; the excess acid will first be deposited in the farthest joint from the heart, the big toe on the right foot… ouch!  The problem is that this uric acid deposit won’t stop there but will eventually end up in several joints like a bad boy looking for a wild party. Gout and Rheumatoid Arthritis are related. Although there are natural agents able to neutralize this painful condition, it’ll only end up to be a temporary fix and so if you really want to divert this syndrome then you’ll have to go to work on your diet and lifestyle.

Good digestion begins with the food you’re eating, of course, but aside from that, an intense solution of Hydrochloric Acid (HCI) in the stomach is a vital component in solving our query. The stomach requires this acid in order to initially break down the food that you just ate, especially, enzyme deplete and refined foods. Many people have a weak HCI Acid level, which spells not only gout but manifold related digestive disorders such as; acid-reflux, intestinal gas/bloating and gall bladder to name but a few.

The fix… ingesting a cultured (fermented) product such as; one tspn of Apple Cider Vinegar, Red Wine (not an entire bottle of the stuff… just a glass will do) just before a meal will often up the ante in the acid department when you need it. If you’re ‘taste challenged,’ then try ingesting 1 to 4 capsules of Betaine HCI before a meal. Secondly; Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes are also going to shine real bright here. The consistent presence of probiotics establishes an environment of a much needed lactic acid environment within the GI Tract (Gastro-intestinal tract)… not to be confused with the Hydrochloric Acid environment within the stomach.  The Digestive Enzymes, when taken just after a meal serve to dismantle and unlock the nutrition of the food you just ate; however, when taken between meals, enzymes act as Pac-Men, seeking out and dismantling much of that uric acid generating debris that we’re talking about. Swedish Digestive Bitters are also an excellent digestive aid in that they push buttons within the liver to release enzymes and co-agents much needed for efficient digestion.

INSTANT GOUT RELIEF:

Meanwhile; there are agents available which can temporarily alleviate the excruciating symptoms of this syndrome. Some supplements to consider are; Celery Seed, Black Cherry Juice (especially, Tart cherry juice), available in both concentrated juice and tablet form, Yucca, Birch Juice, Alfalfa and/or just about any concentrated Super Green such as; Barley, Wheatgrass, Chlorella, Spirulina, to name but a few.  A poultice of grated raw potato and/or Comfrey leaf or root is a worthwhile protocol to consider.  Simply wrap the inflamed area, which most often is the big toe with either.  These assist your body in eliminating excessive uric acid.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Digestion’ for related information in this area.