Natural Remedies for Hyponatremia

Mon99, what I did was take a tiny lick of Celtic Sea Salt (from Geraunde, France) with each glass of water during the day. And I mean just a few grains of salt to a 20cc cup of water.

This reply is to 11/27/13 Mon99 from London:

My dear mother suffered for many years with hyponatremia, but hers had to do with brain vessel disease and her neurologist (who was not only knowledgeable but open to alternative treatments) suggested coconut water (we used Zico) and my mom's primary physician also indicated homemade electrolyte drinks. You could do a Google search. Although it helped mom tremendously, she had many other medical problems and recently went home to be with the LORD. I wrote because this might be of help for your mom; if not seeing one you may want to take her to a good neurologist, though there may be well qualified posters here at earth clinic. Be sure not to give your mom too much water; I don't remember why now, but the doctors limited her fluid intake. The electrolytes and soups did bring up her sodium to 134 - 135 which is the low end of normal range; but it was a constant frustrating battle because of the brain vessel disease. I believe as with everything we need a balance in electrolytes especially as we get older, so I now use sea salt in my diet (and the electrolytes) as well as periodically monitor blood pressure readings. Another "Band-Aid" fix from my mom's primary doctor was using the bouillon cubes that are loaded with salt when making soups. I can never repay for all the help I received with my own medical issues from all of the earth clinic posters and I truly hope this helps you. I will be praying for your mom. Dee

Hi Mono99...If we assume that your mother's problem is lack of nutrients through diet then she shoud take:

Sea Salt (NOT refined salt) -- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon with water twice a day outside mealtimes. Peanuts and crisps are not allowed because they contain refined salt. Natural sea salt contains salt as well as 80 trace minerals that will be more beneficial to your mother. Refined salt is more acidic and contains just sodium chloride with other additives from processing like ferrocyanide and aluminium -- not good in the diet.

Magnesium -- As Magnesium chloride or magnesium citrate -- 250 mgs twice a day. Magnesium is easily regulated by the kidneys. This will also help her calcium levels -- because magnesium regulates calcium in the body and the likelihood is that she is deficient in magnesium. Magnesium is a key electrolyte for the body, most people are deficient in magnesium and most people eat far too much dairy foods and foods that are over-fortified with calcium. By reducing dairy foods, you reduce calcium intake.

Kelp -- To raise iodine levels in the body to correct levels. Too much calcium in the blood inhibits iodine uptake by the thyroid gland which causes low thyroid. This results in lowered, inefficient metabolism. These days, virtually everyone is deficient iodine in their diet. Kelp cpntains iodine which will help to bring up your mother's iodine levels to improve thyroid activity. Iodine via kelp also aids digestion.

If the above protocols don't have much effect on re-adjusting her mineral levels then your mother should get a full spectrum check on her Liver, Kidneys and Thyroid from the doctor as her problems might also be caused because of the mis-regulation of minerals in her body involving the liver, kidney and thyroid. If you get the thyroid check then your doctor will recommend the TSH check. However, you should insist on the Free T3 - Free T4 check for her thyroid because this is far more accurate than the TSH check.

Mon99, I also struggle with low sodium levels from a condition called SIADH. The cause of this is from cancer treatments I received for brain cancer. My doctors encourage me to eat my sodium in order to keep my levels up, which is hard to do at times. I've found drinking broth made from bouillon and take sodium tablets as needed helps the most for me. I hope this will be of help to you.

We know that athletes and small babies are subject to potential illness and even death because of too much water in a short period of time. But I have this theory that when I increased my water intake it predisposed me to Bronchitis.

I am not a "respitory person" meaning, that is not an area I have ever had a problem with. My issues are more circulatory, and digestive. So when I got Bronchitis, not once, but twice, in 2 months I was surprised. Yes, it was going around and is contagious. But neither my husband nor my daughter caught it. I think my body was more hospitable to it for some reaseon.

Let me explain: I have edema. I am overweight, and that is a contributing factor, but I noticed it gets worse when I don't drink and become dehydrated. For some odd reason, I just don't like to drink. I never drink sodas or other soft drinks, mostly tea, and water, small amount of orgnic milk. I just resist drinking especially cold drinks (unless it is really hot). Part of this may be due to the fact that I have a cold body (chronic hyperglycemia). My average temp is around 97 degrees, when up. Morning, basal temp can be as low as 96.5. I am aware of thyroid indicators and will talk about that on the thyroid thread.

At any rate, I know when I am getting dehydrated, skin stars to dry up (I am only 34) so that prompts me to drink. So I read this book, forgot the name, about the value of water and how many illnesses it can cure and I decided to up my water intake. Knowing I am overweight and might need more than the average person, I forced myself to drink 5 times the amount I normally drink. I wasn't measuring but it was probably at least 12 glasses. When normally I may drink 3-5 glasses of total liquid.

That's when I came down hard with bronchitis. Lowered my drinking during illness, recovered and went back to my routine. I started drinking large quantities (and these were large amounts in one sitting, not slowly sipping, I was gulping, I hate it and had to force myself). I got hit with Bronchitis again!

I have since healed and since gone back to my typioal liquid intake, increasing slightly due to warming weather, and mostly drinking herbal tea to avoid dehydration. I have been fine.

Another note, I saw a connection to salt and the bronchial tubes. I eat VERY little salt No chips, no fast food burgers, pickles, pretzles, rarely fries. I might add half a tsp to a whole baked chicken.

I found this on the net, (not endorsing their products AT ALL) just thought it makes an interesting connection to edema, dehydration, water intake and respritory issues.

This is the reason why in severe dehydration we develop an edema and retain water. The design of our bodies is such that the extent of the ocean of water outside the cells is expanded to have the extra water available for filtration and emergency injection into vital cells. The brain commands an increase in salt and water retention by the kidneys. This is how we get an edema when we don't drink enough water.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/salt.htm

"Initially, the process of water filtration and its delivery into the cells is more efficient at night when the body is horizontal. The collected water, that mostly pools in the legs, does not have to fight the force of gravity to get onto the blood circulation. If reliance of this process of emergency hydration of some cells continues for long, the lungs begin to get waterlogged at night, and breathing becomes difficult. The person needs more pillows to sit upright to sleep. This condition is the consequence of dehydration. However, you might overload the system by drinking too much water at the beginning. Increases in water intake must be slow and spread out until urine production begins to increase at the same rate that you drink water."

I wonder if it would be beneficial for me to increase my salt a little and I guess it would have to be the right KIND of salt. I will look through Ted's suggestions on this.

I have a question about water: Whenever I drink a glass or two of water, always on an empty stomach, I get chilled all over even though the water is not very cold. Even if it's warm water the same thing happens. The chill sets in not right away but after 5 or 10 minutes. I have used water drinking through the years to balance my hormones (clears my face in a day, etc.), but only in the last few months I get very cold from drinking water. Anyone have any idea what this might be? Thank you.

The_pheonix, thank you for the response. Quite possibly it is an endocrine issue, since I have weak adrenal function, drop of body temperature even after a brisk walk. Who knows...