Updated; Original publication May 23, 2012.
What is pH and why should it concern us?
Sadly, mainstream medicine does not recognize the importance of monitoring pH. I wish I had known about it when I was raising children, as it would have provided an effective tool for observation. One which would have revealed when the kids were vulnerable to opportunistic infection. Though I was careful to manage their sugar intake and provided well balanced meals with no processed foods, I would have welcomed the information which to this day lies largely unacknowledged, or skewed by promoters of high-priced alkalizing products.
This by no means represents a full discussion of the subject, but should serve to enlighten those who know little to nothing, and may serve as impetus for further research.
Simply put, pH is a measurement of potential hydrogen. Often known as the acid-alkaline balance of a substance, including one’s urine, saliva, and/or blood plasma. Usually measured on a scale of 5.0 to 9.0 (The scale actually goes to 14.), the higher numbers represent a more alkaline reading, the lower numbers more acidic.
Many folks get in the habit of checking urine pH, but the more relevant (and more practical) measure is the saliva pH. Consider that the urine test shows the pH of the fluids leaving the body, whereas the saliva test reveals the pH of the fluids actually washing your cells, known as the interstitial pH. (Perhaps the most accurate test of all is the blood plasma pH, but this is available only through costly testing. For our purposes, interstitial pH provides sufficient information.)
What should I look for?
Remember, the low numbers represent acidity, the higher numbers are alkaline. The classic rhetoric is that we should average around 7.0 to 7.2 which corresponds to the neutral zone. That said, many would have you believe that you should always be in that zone. Not so.
When you sample your pH, whether urine or saliva, it provides a snapshot of that given moment. The only way to get a real moving picture of what is occurring is to take multiple samples throughout a given day. This will allow you to calculate the average pH for that day, and it will also reveal the degree of change occurring during that period. Both factors are important.
Though it is desirable to average around 7.0 to 7.2 on the pH scale, it is equally important that you move from acid to alkaline and back, moving through the neutral zone at least once a day.
When your pH crosses that threshold of 7.0 the immune system is able to recognize when it needs to go to work. If you are locked in to a high pH you may be feeling great, but it’s possible that you have undetected issues which the immune system is failing to address. In other words, the static alkaline condition may be masking symptoms and/or conditions.
On the other hand, if you are chronically low on the pH scale, you may experience the symptoms of your condition more intensely. Pain and fatigue, for instance, are exacerbated by a chronically low pH. For this reason, it is demonstrable that raising pH from a chronic acidic condition to a reasonably alkaline state relieves symptoms. This phenomenon has helped to sell many water machines; but in our view, it has led people astray in that they come to rely on the machines and their alkaline water to maintain their alkalinity artificially.
Aren't alkaline water machines a reasonable answer?
It’s far more desirable to have the body maintain a healthy flow and a good balance on its own. For this reason, we recommend that these units (and other products which claim to alkalize) be used only in the short term.
Note that you could be highly toxic and still show a pH of 7.2. This measure of pH does not show us, for instance, if part of an organ is acidic. If we continue to add alkaline salts, one or more organs could become toxic. That is, the interstitial fluid may become so hard that it can’t flush toxins out any more.
Alkalized water contains alkaline salts, and your body’s water becomes too hard with the constant addition of salts, whether alkaline or acidic. (Your data from your pH measurements will also be more accurate if you stop adding alkaline salts.)
It’s important that we recognize that both alkaline and acidic salts can be toxic. If you were to put a mouse in a bucket of water, for instance, he will swim for his life. Add ¼ cup laundry soap which is highly alkaline, and the mouse will soon drown.
How can I manage pH naturally?
When you have the kind of information you need, you can prompt the body to alkalize naturally.
Pure water is your first important ally. We recommend water that has been filtered through a reverse osmosis unit. You will notice that when testing this water with litmus paper it will appear as though the fluid is acidic. It’s not really acidic. It is simply not reacting
Left to its own devices, the body will pretty much take care of maintaining proper pH balance; but we have outside interference from inflammation, infection, medications, and other stress-inducing injuries. It’s generally fine to utilize the above-mentioned tools as crisis intervention. The key is to not become reliant on them.
In addition to being watchful of our diet, we prefer simple home remedies such as the juice of a fresh lemon or other citrus in drinking water. This will often give the body a boost. A more dramatic impact will be noticed with bicarbonate of soda, taken with water and/or in a soaking bath. We suggest this measure if the citrus does not make the difference.
If your pH is chronically low, you are severely toxic. This is a condition referred to as acidosis. Generally, this is accompanied by feelings of low energy, even chronic disease. It is important to take action if, after numerous saliva samples, you observe your numbers not fluctuating.
The traditional method to allow the body to alkalize in a natural way is to employ a starvation diet. While we don’t recommend this, as most people we talk to are already dealing with significant health issues, the inherent wisdom of this approach can be understood if we look a little more deeply.
As mentioned, toxicity can occur with an over abundance of salts, whether alkaline or acidic. Therefore, adding more salts (of any kind) is not the answer. Rather, the objective should be to cleanse the body rather than add salts. This is especially important for those fighting chronic disease.
Fasting, in whatever fashion works for you, can produce a positive impact on our health. Whether ill or the picture of health. Whether dealing with a chronic disease or or just wanting to do a routine cleanse for maintenance. Obviously, the nature of the fast and the duration must be adjusted to suit the situation; we simply suggest that you consider this possibility, with an eye for maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte status.
Some prefer to supplement with minerals and we generally recommend this, as we are largely mineral deficient due to the poor quality of the soil in which are food is grown. In fact, mineral supplementation may increase the effectiveness of your Rife sessions, as it makes your tissues more conductive. This is somewhat of a study in itself. You can learn to restore health and diminish symptoms by learning what minerals deficiencies leave us vulnerable to certain conditions.
That said, we emphasize the importance of not becoming too reliant on supplementing with anything that increases the levels of alkaline salts in your body.
Most people don’t realize that interstitial pH (as measured via saliva) does not reveal whether a part of an organ is acidic. If we continue to add alkaline salts, one or more organs could become toxic.
That is, the fluid could become so hard that it can’t flush toxins out any more. This is why we must change the water periodically in a fish tank. We can add alkalizing salts up to a point; but beyond that level, the environment is too saturated and will not support life. The only way to protect against this is to change out the water.
Thus the recommendation for occasional fasting for us humans. With plenty of pure water. For those who are intimidated by the notion of fasting, keep in mind that abstinence from food need not be an extended period of time. In fact, we do this naturally by being off food during the night and breaking our fast in the morning. It’s a natural cycle. All the more helpful that we flush out toxins in the morning with high quality water and/or herbal tea.
For some, one to three days is optimum for an occasional fast. Others prefer ten day fasts or longer. Many like to time this cleansing with the seasonal changes. The point is to find the rhythm that works for you. Be cautioned to not go to extremes. This holds true for many of the therapies you might be pursuing. More is not always better.
If I am generally alkaline, does that mean I am not toxic?
Not necessarily. This is common misunderstanding, and it has led many people astray. You could be highly toxic and still show 7.2 pH on your sample. Your pH test only shows the balance of salts; that is, are there more salts in the system that are acid or alkaline. It does not show the total salts.
As noted in the fish tank scenario, the alkaline salts became so dense that the water became deadly to the fish. True, the salts were alkaline; and we have learned that this is desirable. Yet this is a classic case of too much of a good thing.
Points to Remember
It is NOT desirable to be always acidic. If you are chronically acidic, your immune system thinks you are always sick all of the time. In fact, you might be. We think this could be a factor in what are known as auto-immune disorders and numerous other conditions.
When your pH goes across the neutral point (7.0), the immune system gets a cue from the more acidic parts of the body. This is important. It means that it is NOT desirable to be always alkaline. Likewise, a chronically high pH could be masking issues that would otherwise be more apparent.
When your pH goes across the neutral point (7.0), the immune system gets a cue from the more acidic parts of the body. This is important. It means that it is NOT desirable to be always alkaline. Likewise, a chronically high pH could be masking issues that would otherwise be more apparent.
You will only know your true average pH if you take samples numerous times in the course of the day. Preferably two or three days. This will reveal a certain pattern: your highs and your lows. The flux is desirable!
Note that diet is not the only influence on pH. Stress can also be a factor. I have noticed that if I don’t get a good night’s sleep, my morning pH is lower than usual.
When dealing with elevated stress, remember to take measures to boost your pH. You are likely to get through the episode more handily.
Many people find that their symptoms, including pain, are ameliorated when they get their pH up. This phenomenon has helped to sell lots of water machines.
It’s desirable to have a breadth of pH in a given day. Do not strive to be alkaline all the time. It’s the fluctuation and the average that are important.
Don’t judge “good pH” or “bad pH”. It’s information. Take it in, and keep learning about the subject so you can make viable assessments about what the data might be revealing to you.
There is much more we can discuss in further segments. Consider this a thoughtful introduction to the discourse of alkalinity vs acidity. We strive to give you some distinctions which will help you to be better observers of this phenomenon; and we hope this discussion will give you a sense of confidence going forward.
If you have found the information confusing, or you have a different view, please comment in the reply box below.
oh I have to many comments …..first one should read the book Alkalize or die by Baroody..availa]ble at amazon.com foe about $8
water machines are a joke…you are better to drink lemonade ..fresh squeezed, the acid makes your stomach react and the end result is alkaline salts are digested
Your Blood Plasma is held at 7.34 by the action of the Pancreas a variation of + or – 0.2 will almost certainly result in death if not corrected ..so to make a comment about plasma being acidic means you are a dead person..the body simply will not permit it..this is very similar to the body temperature range whose mean is 98.6F or 37 C any deviation means there is a problem and you are very ill or sick.
The body requires a continuous supply of water to clean us internally remember our whole body is cells in a bath of water plus two circulatory systems Blood and Lymph that are primarily water and require fresh water as the Liver and kidneys clean the waste materials from them..so even with the most strict diet water is very essential..in fact water diet over three or four days is highly beneficial.
Basically ph is determined by what we eat…meats and fish require the production of uric acids in our stomach and in general when absorbed into our cellular system tend to change the cell ph to acid, Also we eat to much meat for our bodies to digest completely so the result is a decaying , rotting food in our colon that also creates acid and gas whereas vegetables and fruits tend to only require hydrochloric acid in the stomach and stand a better chance of being completely digested plus they tend to pass into our cells making them alkaline. The real culprit in all our eating habits is excessive are told to super size and this is incorrect.our meals should be smaller and more frequent and one day per week we should provide or system with a fluids day primarily water.
Cherry that will do for tonight sorry to be so critical will look at it tomorrow and add more..
Thank you, Roy. Always appreciate your input. Could not agree with you more regarding your comments about water, diet, and smaller meals. Hope to expand on the pH discourse in the months to come….
Thank you John and Cherry for yet again bursting my bubble regarding my high priced Kangen water machine!! I AM rather dependent on the water, but not as much as I used to be. I noticed, when I took a trip over Easter, and I drank only filtered water, not the high pH water that I am used to, I did just fine. I did lower the setting on the machine from 9.5 to 9.0…..and it makes “clean” water also, so I will try alternating the types of water. One thing for sure, with my newly remodled kitchen, the thing breaks up the beauty of my new sink and window sill, so I store it under the sink, lol! But that’s a little off the subject~~
The acidosis thing is such a hard condition to break. As you know, I have been acidic for a long time. Tired alot, arthritis in my joints, foggy head, all conditions of an overly acidic body. Luckily my brain still works enough to figure out how to get out of this rut! My modle A rife machine, using the candida disk, is helpful for sure. Unfortunately it doesn’t work too well when I don’t hook it up! I will have to yet again make it a routine habit, and to do a three day check of my pH throughout the day using the test paper that comes along with the machine. But my pH is improving, and it’s not only because of the high pH water. I have been changing my diet, and taking in minerals. Also I have been following the “body ecology” diet for about a week. (It was impossible to go without junk food when my kitchen was disshevled.) The diet calls for 80% vegetables and 20% protien and grains. So I start the day with millet soup! I havent touched bread or cheese in a few weeks, and I do feel better!
Your rife machine is so easy to use, just pop in the disk for your condition, or even the general alignment disk, hook it up to the little black box, along with the electrodes and stickies that you place on your hands and feet. Turn the ampitude down when you start, and gradually move it up till you get a mild tingle. Presto, a half an hour later, you’ve tuned up the ol bod! I will do it tonight in my Wheel of Fortune/Jepordy hour.
Thank you for all your kind and intelligent support! You guys are the ones who alerted me in the first place, to my chronically low (but now improving)pH!! And I don’t think there is any other rife machine out there that comes with personalized advise, just a phone call away!
Sincerely, Suzanne
Thank you, Suzanne. Your comments certainly make it real for people! It’s important to note that fungi (candida and others) are very pernicious. I believe we have talked about this, but it is worth mentioning again. Fungus is often an underlying condition that exacerbates symptoms which are attributable to other problems. It is important to be consistent, even rigorous, when dealing with this issue. In extreme cases, fungus can manifest as brain fog, depression, low energy, and many chronic conditions.
please keep me informed on rife and ph balances
Will do! I have added you to our subscriber list for the newsletter so you will be alerted when we have more discussion on the subject. Note that we instruct our users to test saliva pH before and after their Model A sessions.
This gives us an indication of how much detox and/or microbial die-off is occurring. It is important not to move too aggressively. That is, we must allow the body time to process the changes taking place from the administration of frequencies.
That said, we do not recommend increasing time or changing frequency range until the pH drop has diminished to little or no change. (This does not mean that the pH will always move in a downward direction. but we must anticipate that because of die-off and detoxification. Sometimes the pH will go up.)
Hi am being very critical of the comment : ((It’s important that we recognize that both alkaline and acidic salts can be toxic. If you were to put a mouse in a bucket of water, for instance, he will swim for his life. Add ¼ cup laundry soap which is highly alkaline, and the mouse will soon drown.))
Though this statement is true that fact that soap being alkaline is not the reason the mouse drowns..the mouse drowns because the oils in his kin are changed by the soap and the stickiness [meniscus] of the water itself is dramatically reduced both contributing to the ability of a mouse to swim for its life. My point is that many other substances other than an alkaline could be added with the same end effect ..also unless the mouse has a way of actually climbing from the bucket it will drown once it can no longer swim…..
Thanks for your article.
For my health, I subscribe to the idea of a desirable balance most of all.
I suspect though cannot prove that too many alkaline-forming foods, even good-quality organic fruits and vegetables, reduce the absorption of the minerals into my tissues and bones, compared with eating some acid-forming foods, such as walnuts, mushrooms, meat, and chocolate. The acid may result in minerals being absorbed that would otherwise be excreted, at least for me. This may not work for everybody, but it also gives me a pretext to eat chocolate…
If I had a chronic condition, I would definitely try your device or look for a local practitioner (in Belgium). For now, I am happy to be healthy, so I am not sure about using a Rife machine for prevention, though I’d like to live to 100 and may re-think this.