BURNING TONGUE

COUGH

[YEA]  05/16/2007: Jim from Old Chatham, NY writes: "Thanks Ted and others for all the great information. I have been taking ACV off and on for a few months. At first I thought it was implicated, after taking it for two days with baking soda, with an attack of vertigo. I since found out it was "ear rocks", little crystals that got into my inner ear and raised havoc. I did an exercise I found at the Mayo Clinic online to move the rocks back where they should be, and no vertigo since. And ACV is off the hook.

Meanwhile, I've had a persistent cough since January that finally bloomed into pneumonia-like symptoms (heavy congestion, racking, unstoppable cough 24/7, fever, night sweats, delirium.)

Out of desperation (I had a photo shoot in Florida I had to go on) I took ACV twice in bed, about 2 hours apart.

Whereas I hadn't been able to hardly even stand up, I was so weak and delirious, within two hours, I was sitting up, eating (I'd not eaten much for a couple days), and that night at 7 I was on a jet for Florida. Pretty amazing.

Working for 10 days in Florida, shooting out the window or door of airplanes at other airplanes, I wasn't able to fight it off. I took ACV with me but only took it once or twice, not being fully convinced that was the cure for me at the time.

Plus I was forced to eat less than healthy veggie food while there, as Florida, at least where I was, does not believe in food that does not have sugar, salt and other toxins in copious supply.

I finally finished my work, but pushed hard the last couple days and ended up coming home sick again, especially the coughing, and went back to bed for 3 or 4 days, ending with a trip to the doctor, a prescription for zithromax or whatever it's called (antibiotic), then finally getting better.

However...the cough never quite went away. I began to despair I would ever get better, and as there are many things I want and need to do this coming summer, I decided to pore over earthclinic.com again and started taking 2 TBS ACV with 1/2 tsp baking soda on Monday of this week.

It's now Thursday. I woke up this morning with the distinct body instinct that something was different. I took a deep breath, which lately has led to a little catching cough, and a feeling of tenderness in the bronchia (center of the chest) as if I'd breathed too much smog like when I was a kid.

This morning though, I felt the breath "bottom out", i.e. it still had a bit of the tenderness but it didn't catch, and it felt as if I could take a deep breath that felt solid instead of leading to a little cough or too.

Also, as I went to bed last night, I'd had a bit of a coughing spell, maybe five minutes, clearing out some congestion, and I despaired that I was getting worse, not better.

In fact, I think it was a bit of the well-documented healing crisis that goes with detoxifying, as I felt better this morning.

My question is this: I had a strong, watery diarrhea this morning right after breakfast (cooked buckwheat, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, celery and olive oil/tahini/aminos/lemon juice/sesame oil dressing, like we have every morning), and I had another bowel-emptying episode about 90 minutes later.

Unlike with previous diarrhea, this felt more like a colon cleanse. I don't feel weak or nauseous, just cleaned out.

I have been taking the ACV with baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon each time, three times a day, fourth day now. I will take it one more day, then stop.

The baking soda keeps it from giving me mild heartburn, and it tastes really good, like diluted apple juice.

Since I have been fighting candidiasis for a couple decades, and alkaline diet and colon cleansing help a lot (I'd been not eating as well this last year, which is why I think I got sick, that and lots of plane travel), I'm familiar with healing crises, but I'd like to know if you think the diarrhea is caused by the baking soda, and would reducing it just a bit help, or should I not worry about it unless it continues?

I feel myself losing weight too.

Also, I'd recommend people don't use honey, as honey is perhaps a healthier version of sugar, but the body sees it as sugar nonetheless. I use Stevia extract to sweeten things. Stevia would be in everything instead of sugar if the sugar lobby hadn't successfully blocked its taking over the sweetener market.

It's a totally non-calorie, natural south american root sweetener. No harmful effect on the body at all, and 150 to 300 times sweeter than sugar, so you don't need much. There are several brands on the market, some have a bit of a bitter aftertaste but there are several that don't.

[YEA]  04/18/2007: Susan from Susan_254@msn.com writes: "I have suffered with sinus infections and allergies for 30 years Today I tried the acv baking soda and honey for my bronchitis I developed. I did it twice and then saw that someone wrote about using olive oil instead so I used 1/4t of baking soda 2T of olive oil 2T of ACV and decaf tea and haven't been coughing Thank God. I also have been using the Salt/baking soda/water to cleanse my nose out. I also rubbed vicks on my chest to help with the pain from coughing earlier. Thank you for putting this information out there. I appreciate any help other than expensive antibiotics that make me sick to my stomach. Thank you so much."

[YEA]  01/19/2007: Citrine from Austin, TX writes: "Dear Earthclinic, I just mixed 2 Tablespoon of ACV with 1/4 Teaspoon baking soda in 8 oz of water as mentioned by Ted. However, the pH strip tested a 5.0 acidity on this mix. I then added another 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and remixed it and tested it again -- this time the solution became neutralized to 7.0. So perhaps the correct mix should be 2 TBS of ACV to 1/2 TSP of baking soda? Just wanted to confirm with you all. By the way, I drank this today and my cold seems to be melting away! My coughing has stopped (after several days of cough attacks) and I am so relieved!!! Thanks so much for such a wonderful site!!! I am learning something new everyday! Regards, Citrine"

DETOXING

FATIGUE

[YEA]  02/13/2007: Sassfire from Milwaukie, OR writes: "Thank you for this site. I have a very high insurance deductible and going to the doctor cuts into my food bill! I have been sick for three weeks and the quality of my life has suffered. I went to the doctor who told me take sudafed. I did and it helped very little. Today I woke up from a nap and just started crying. I just couldn't stand the pain and how tired I feel constantly. I tried the ACV and it worked at first then stopped. I then tried it by adding baking soda and it was amazing. I hope it continues to work. For now at least I can get some sleep. I love this site."

[YEA]  02/12/2007: Anthony from Cary, NC writes: "Hey guys. First off, I've been following this site for some time now. It's great -- I recommend it to everyone. My grandmother used to take ACV years ago and I'd try it and it was horrible to the taste. So since i have been really getting in to natural medicine. I started taking acv in a pill form. and it gave me a yeast infection. YES, I'm a man with a yeast infection. It's horrible and my pH is always acidic. I'm also a vegan. no meat whatsoever.. I have been like this for 10 yrs, so I read about Ted's baking soda trick. I tried and threw up. I'm a wimp. so what i did was open up the acv pill, empty half of the powder out, and put baking soda in its place. I take two a day every other day.. OMG I tell I woke up this morning and shot outta bed and ran around the house. my wife thought I was nuts.. I told her I have so much energy. I always wake up tired. and aches. TED I LOVE U!!!!!! Wish there were more people in the world like you. Thanks for helping us. Anthony "

GENERAL FEEDBACK

12/15/2009: Pilarcita from Apple Valley, Ca writes: "hello and thanks for the great information on this website. I'm trying to deal with my sleeping problems and want to try the ACV and baking soda... can it be mixed with orange juice? I have already been taking the ACV with orange juice, it tastes better. Is it ok to mix with baking soda though? Thanks so much.... Pilarcita"

12/07/2009: Tanya from Vancouver, Bc writes: "I'm curious if ACV and baking soda can be mixed ahead of time, instead of measuring and mixing the two together 3 times a day? Thanks!"

[QUESTION]  11/08/2009: Lee from Meredith, Nh, Usa writes: "Sure hope you can settle this for me. I'm sure I am way to acid to be healthy after having read all the things acidity causes. I was all set to go get apple cidar vinegar and baking soda but than I read a post by someone back in 2007 which scared me, Should I be taking this with the 3 medications I'm on to control the blood pressure? I'm 61 and would love to have more energy, lose 20 pounds and relieve the joints. Thanks in advance for your response."

11/05/2009: Carol from Missouri City, Tx writes: "i cannot stand the taste of apple cider vinegar baking soda. I have tried adding honey and cranberry apple juice. Any ideas ?"

[QUESTION]  10/20/2009: Vincent from Minneapolis, Mn/usa writes: "I am confused. I have been drinking ACV daily, and now I am reading that you should mix baking soda with it too. Can you please explain the difference? Thanks."

[YEA]  07/29/2008: Geraldine from Fort Lauderdale, Florida writes: "Last year I was usng the apple cider vinegar - 1/4 tsp baking soda, and then began raw vegetable juices. I think that those who say that acv with baking soda gives them a stomach ache is because they do not wait a half hour-1 hour before having any food. This would cause the bubbling in the stomach which normally happens when the acv is added to the baking soda.

Dr. Jarvis states that sometimes a person also needs iodine from kelp, and recommends 2 tsp acv be taken with Lugol's solution in a glass of water (Or half-glass water.) One can also take kelp tablets or sprinkle dulse flakes on salads.

I'm still hoping for a cure of my almost three-year duration of shingles-PHN-Scoliosis which developed during hurricane Katrina. This problem also developed because of the electromagnetic fields within hurricanes, and electrical wiring within one's immediate household. EarthCalm has a wonderful website and products which protect electro-sensitive people from the harmful effects of such radiation and EMFs. Bless Ted, Earth/Clinic and EarthCalm!"

[YEA]  01/13/2008: Tony from Aurora, Colorado writes: "re: ACV and baking soda -- It did help a lot. I feel that I should not take it more than once in the mornning before eating and once at night before going to bed and with almost empty stomach. I felt that taking too much did not help me."

A little research on this subject would quickly settle this issue for you. His main problem is dosage. Some people think 'more is better' but in this case it is not true. His dose is two tablespoons, no wonder he's losing enamel. The correct dose is one teaspoon per cup! So forget the baking soda, its proper use is to make baked goods lighter."

[YEA]  04/23/2007: Sue from Montreal, Canada writes: "I have been on your site for the last 3 hours and wish to congratulate Ted and the people participating in the interesting web site. I have learned a great deal reading the questions and answers. I remember my grand-father taking one cup of hot water with a little soda every night before going to bed. My mother told me it was for to help his digestion. Did not know about mixing with ACV. Again thank you for this web site. Sue, Montreal"

GERD

[WORKED TEMPORARILY]  01/26/2009: Michael from Toronto, Ontario writes: "I've been on 30mg Prevacid for almost ten years and suffer from severe GERD. If I forget a dose of Prevacid, I know it by 10am.

I started on the ACV regimen two days ago and have noticed immediate results. I and my wife are both thrilled about it. I am using Ted's version of the recipe (2T of ACV and 1/4t of baking soda).

I note that the effects of the ACV wear off in about 3-4 hours and I need to redose, but since I'm supposed to be taking the concoction three times a day, I'm not surprised.

However, I'm wondering if you have any advice for dosage with someone whose GERD is as severe as mine is. Will the effects last longer if I take 3T of ACV? Or is the regular alkalization of the body throughout the day the goal? And finally, can I make a preparation of ACV and BS first thing in the morning (6T ACV and 3/4t of BS) and drink it throughout the day, or will the BS degrade or fizz away and lose potency?

Thanks."

[YEA]  10/22/2007: Honorio from San Rafael, Bulacan, Philippines writes: "I'm Boy Fekiciano jr. from San Rafael, Bulacan. I was diagnosed of having GERD by my gastro, n was treated with that purple pill . At first , it was working but because of using it everytime i have reflux, my condition WAS' getting worse. i can't eat the food i like anymore especially if it was fried or oily food because these food should be avoided by peole with GERD, and so i have on the table with me a cup of hot water to wash my food to lessen the oil so i can eat it. despite doing this i still experience reflux. taking too much of that purple pill over the long term had a very serious side effect. it returns with a vengeance, somewhat a rebound effect. I was almost desperate what to do because everytime i complained of gerd to my doctor, the medication was always proton pump inhibitor or that purple pill. with so much desperation , i search the web about acid reflux and gerd n accidentally i saw this write up with testimonials about taking 2tbsp of acv and 1/4 tsp of baking soda mix in a half of glass of water from ted's . actually i just took a gamble by trying it, and when i tried it my energy was and in fact is strong and my acid reflux was gone. thank you so much you wonderful people, i appreciate your contributions to humanity. and of course all the GLORY TO GOD ALMIGHTY!"

[YEA]  06/25/2007: Linda from Squaw Valley, California writes: "I have a lung disease (sarcoid) which makes it easy for me to get every bug going around. I had bronchitis and pnemonia for three months. I took various antibiotics for those three months. I got better but I had a raging case of GERD from then on. The purple pill and others did not work. I tried ACV and soda, it works for me. I know that antibiotics are going to be a part of my life, but at least I don't have GERD any longer."

[YEA]  04/26/2007: Kristin from Detroit, Michigan writes: "There were a lot of postings so I wasn't able to read through all of them. I may be retouching on something that someone else has already said, so I'm sorry for that. But this remedy is great. I'm only 26 years old and I started getting GERD at 17. After finally stopping drinking and smoking the doctor finally put me on a PPI. They really have worked great. I rarely have any flare ups, but I was having constant stomach gas and bloating. It was almost embarrassing no to mention uncomfortable. I found this site and wanted to try something more natural. So I stupidly quit the pills right away and tried this remedy. I ended up with far worse acid pain than I had ever had before. It almost made me sick one night to the point that I was laying on the floor ready to cry. Then I read about adding the baking soda. Thank God for that. It instantly calmed everything down. I think it took a total of a week for the PPI withdrawl to go away. Now, I kind of carry around a water bottle of the mix and use less and less of it every day. So for those using PPI's looking for something else, this does work. THe PPI withdrawl is intense, but I think it is worth it."

NOW: My question to Ted is that is taking baking soda safe on a daily basis? My niece is an Acupuncturist and I have sent her some of your emails and she is disagreeing with you on this point. She believe it will increase my blood pressure by taking BS. Can you please respond to this? I really feel much better and don't want to hurt my Esophagus more by not neutralizing the acid in the ACV. THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Kathi"

GOUT