Importance of PH level as a maintaining cause during homoeopathic case taking/ treatment

Review Article

Importance of PH level as a maintaining cause during homoeopathic case taking/ treatment : Update

A.K.Singh* A Sulemani** N.Singh***

Abstract  : Homoeopathy gives great importance to causation. Causation is one of the elements of symptoms, which when strong and genuine, is of much benefit in the remedial diagnosis. The premise of this article is that an acidic pH level in the body can cause or continue to feed disease; but learning how to create a harmonious, balanced pH level in the body can do just the opposite. Imagine if physicians and other health-care professionals routinely ignored a fundamental aspect of health. That is just what happens when it comes to recognizing imbalances in the body’s pH (acid-alkaline ratio).Conventional medicine ignores pH balance -- while holistic doctors recognize that our bodies are continually striving for this balance, and that chronic imbalance leaves us susceptible to disease. Most important: Acid-alkaline balance is easy to regulate. One can make very simple changes to diet -- and improve body’s pH balance within hours. The original research was published almost a century ago, and there has not been much scientific study done since then. It is hoped that in near future non invasive diagnosis and individualised therapy  as well as holistic approach will be a boon to the suffering mankind

 

Expression of cause in homoeopathy is causation, which are the factors responsible for a symptom produced in an individual patient. The causations and modalities mentioned in the materia medica and also in the repertories are the exciting causes that can result in the production of symptoms in a sensitive or susceptible individual. Our body is sensitive to the external world and reacts to any stimuli on the basis of individual sensitivity and susceptibility developed as a result of the miasmatic background. Some external influences can activate the latent psora and the signs and symptoms are manifested externally.

Dr Hahnemann offered several insights into the subject of causation. Later, after several years' practice he found out the concept of miasms as the real cause of diseases. As per Hahnemann, maisms are diseases having "one and the same cause". He was the first to postulate a complete theory of susceptibility, infection and how they affect our immunity. He understood the fact that miasmic infectious diseases are the basis of all diseases. He also identified the non-miasmatic diseases that can cause prolonged sickness as a result of several internal as well as external factors. If these maintaining causes are removed, the recovery is possible.

One of the Causations mentioned in Boericke repertory is :

Complaints due to food and drinks: Indigestion, defective nutrition &assimilation, overeating, fasting, hasty eating and drinking, bottle feeding, artificial food, breakfast, beer, tea, bread, butter, cabbage, cheese, cold/hot drinks, egg, fish, meat, fruits, melons, mushroom, onion, oyster, pastry, pork, potato, salt, sausage, soup, coffee, lemonade, spices, milk, fat, acids, decayed food, sour food, sweets, starchy food, strawberries, farinaceous food, seasoned food, vegetables, vinegar, vine, veal, impure water, flatulent food, cucumber, unripe fruits, indigestible items. Which in general is very much responsible to maintain the body PH.^1a

Most people are familiar with acid rain and the damage it does to our environment. Acid has a similar effect on the internal human environment. Therefore we need to become internal environmentalists and safeguard our internal health.

PH stands for “potential of hydrogen” and is the measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is – pH levels range from 0 – 14, with 7 being neutral.
The normal pH of the body:
     Gastric acid = 1.0-2.0
    Normal urine = 6.0 to 6.5 in the morning
                            6.5 to 7.0 in the evening
    Saliva = 6.5 to 7.5
   Blood = 7.4

When pH level decreases, it signifies that body is more acidic, and when it rises, body is more alkaline. Litmus paper is a simple tool to measure and monitor pH levels and is available to test saliva pH and urine pH. Urine testing may be more reliable as saliva values are more difficult to interpret since they are impacted by digestive impairment and are influenced greatly by our blood. Several variables have to be taken into consideration when doing these kinds of tests – all ingested food and all situations (physical, emotional or mental) can play a role in acidity or alkalinity levels.

Acidity

            In general, people are more likely to have an acidity imbalance rather than an alkaline imbalance. The Western diet can be very acidic with a lot of meat, sugar and processed foods¹. Tobacco, alcohol, coffee and low physical activity are also contributors to an acidic environment – and while we could counter this to some degree by eating more alkaline-producing foods like vegetables, these things are often times not as abundant as they should  be on our grocery list.
Acid-forming reaction refers to any changes in the body that produce a decreased ability to energize the system and leave an acid residue in the urine². Acid-forming minerals found in food are: phosphorus, sulphur, chlorine, iodine, bromine, fluorine, copper and silicon.³
When you have a highly acidic diet, it puts pressure on your body’s regulating systems to work at achieving a neutral pH – this depletes your blood of the alkaline forming minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium to act as buffers, and can lead to chronic and degenerative illnesses.⁴ In addition, disease – including cancer – thrives in acidic environments, which makes it easier for you to get sick – and stay sick.

 In contrast, when our body is more alkaline, bacteria and viruses are less able to survive and disease doesn’t have as great of an opportunity to occur.⁵
Finally, we also recognize that the impact of stress on body is as powerful as the foods we eat. Any major stress will leave its acid residue. Because of the body’s reaction to go into fight mode when stressed, excessive hormones are secreted and even foods that are alkaline will turn acidic.

Signs of an acid imbalance in body:

Weight gain, obesity and diabetes
Lack of energy and constant fatigue
Hormonal problems
Osteoporosis and joint pain
Slow digestion and elimination
Headaches
Tendency to get infections

                Gastric  acid(HCL) is an acid, but is vital for digestion. It allows the stomach to break food down and to maintain proper alkaline/acid balance. It becomes alkaline after its job is done. HCL is also first line of defence against microbes that might enter our body with our food. Adequate HCL levels greatly decrease tissue acid waste build up.

Alkalinity
Alkaline imbalance is quite uncommon compared to acid imbalance. According to some authors, over-alkalinity is very rare and occurs in the blood, not in the tissues.⁶
Alkaline-forming reaction refers to any changes in the body which produce an increased ability to energize the system and leaves an alkaline residue in the urine. Alkaline-forming minerals found in food are: calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron and manganese. When we ingest alkaline-forming minerals at one sitting, the remainder will be stored in the body tissues for future use^.7

PH of Common Foods

A diet consisting of at least a 60 percent of alkaline-forming foods and 40 percent acid-forming foods. And when we need to restore our health, the ratio should be more like 80 percent / 20 percent. Supplementing our diet by drinking blended green leafy vegetable drinks is a quick and easy way to create a more alkaline environment in our body⁸

A list of high acid-forming and high alkaline-forming foods is given:

   

  High Acidity

                Blueberries, cranberries, prunes and sweetened fruit juices
            Wheat, white bread, pastries, biscuits and pasta
            Beef, Pork and shellfish
            Cheese, homogenized milk, ice cream, custard
            Peanuts and walnuts
            Beer, liquor and soft drinks Artificial Sweeteners and chocolate

  High Alkalinity

                Asparagus, onions, vegetable juices, parsley, raw spinach, broccoli,

garlic, barley grass
            Lemon, watermelon, limes, grapefruit, mangoes, papayas
            Olive oil
            Herb Teas, lemon water
            Stevia

coconut water, dates, raisins, spinach⁹

DOING A pH SELF-TEST

It’s easy to test your pH balance on your own. Its a suggestion that people test their first morning urine for seven days to determine their average pH. Even better: Test before dinner as well.You can get pH test strips at  pharmacies. They are inexpensive. When exposed  to urine, the strip will turn a color, which you then compare to the chart accompanying the strips on which colors are assigned a number. If the average of your seven-day urinary pH levels is between 6.6 and 7, that’s good. Keep in mind that stress can make one acidic, as can some medications, toxins (such as mercury and lead) and intestinal infections (such as yeast or parasites). If you find your readings are too acidic, increase your intake of fruits and vegetables until your average pH value is between 6.6 and 7. If you change your diet and do not see improvement, consult with a holistic doctor who can determine and treat internal imbalances contributing to your acidity.⁹

References

1)     smh.com.au/.../melissa-etheridge-acidic-diet-gave-me-cancer-2011

1a) Homeopathic Journal :: Volume: 3, Issue: 7, May, 2010

2)     canaryclub.org/.../227-article-alkaline-balanced-bodies-are-healthy.

3)     growyouthful.com/remedy/diet-alkaline.php

4)     drnathalie.ca/.../are-your-ph-levels-in-check/?utm...your-ph..

5)     thehealthypreneur.com/wotg/WellnessOnTheGo-Workbook.pdf

6)     chuckrowtaichi.com/AcidAlkaline.html‎

7)     thehealthypreneur.com/wotg/WellnessOnTheGo-Workbook.pdf

8)     chapter #18 – “Benefits Of Greens”.

9)      Bottom Line Natural Healing newsletter, author of The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies

10)  energiseforlife.com/acid-alkaline-food-chart-1.1.pdf

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To,                                                                                                                   Date: 05-12-2013

The Editor

Dear Sir

Please find enclosed manuscript entitled “ Importance of PH level as a maintaining cause during homoeopathic case taking/ treatment : Update ” for publication  under the section of “Review Article”. There is no financial conflict of interest. The manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere for publication.

Thanking you

Yours Sincerely

Dr. Aijaz A. Sulemani

I-D 95 jnv colony

Bikaner - 334003

Rajasthan, India

Ph: 0091 9829049721

Email: draaijaz@yahoo.com

“ Importance of PH level as a maintaining cause during homoeopathic case taking/ treatment ”.: Update

Author

 A.K.Singh* Professor Deptt of Organon of Medicine

 A Sulemani** Associate Professor, Deptt of Repertory

N.Singh*** Asst. Prof, Deptt of Obs&  Gyn

M.N. HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL COLLEGE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, BIKANER

CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS

DR AIJAZ A. SULEMANI

ID 95 JNV COLONY

BIKANER

EMAIL-draaijaz@yahoo.com, mnhmcbikaner@yahoo.com

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