The acid-alkaline balance achieved within the body is a product of the consciousness of the body’s cells themselves in their various locations and in their various conditions of health or diseases or disease. It is difficult to visualize how the body responds to the foods which are assimilated and the forces of life within the body itself to maintain a balanced acidity within the bloodstream and all the body tissues. Some organs or tissues normally have an acid pH while others are found in the state of health to be alkaline. (Medically it is known the body maintains a pH of 7.4 in the bloodstream, this being slightly above the neutral reaction, thus alkaline.)

The normal diet will have 80% alkaline-forming foods and 20% acid-forming foods, which, in the normally balanced stomach and intestines will be absorbed and produce the proper balance of acidity-alkalinity within the body itself. It can be seen in case [1959] that nervous indigestion caused a lack of balance between the acid and alkaline forces in the stomach proper or the hydrochloric and the lactic forces. The lactic forces would be those which are absorbed through the lymphatics of the intestinal tract, mainly the Peyer’s patches found in the upper portion of the small intestine. With the inflammation in the pyloric and the lower portion of the duodenum, as in this individual, the lymph is not properly absorbed and the acid in the stomach is excessive. Thus, if the lymphatics produce the alkaline reaction or substances within the body – or if their activity is equivalent to the degree of alkalinity maintained within the body then, in this case, a general tendency toward acidity or an imbalance would occur within the blood and the tissues proper.

On the other hand, in case [5009] there was constipation with a decreased flow of the gastric juices resulting in poor assimilation and certain deficiencies which were then described as producing a rather complex reaction and resulting in excess alkalinity within the system. Whereas the excess acidity in the system caused in [1959] a tiredness and languidness and a heaviness in his limbs, in addition to other disturbances, the alkalosis found in [5009] produced a type of irritation – “reaction existing between the circulation in liver and kidneys is gradually, through this alkalinity, causing irritation to the bladder and the tubes through which the urine passes.”

It must always be kept in mind that the body strives very carefully as a unit to maintain a specific acid-base balance within its structure. Thus symptoms and some conditions of dis-ease might well be considered the response of the body as a whole trying to counteract an imbalance which may be found in the organs of assimilation – the stomach and upper intestines proper. These may swing either way, toward the acid or toward the alkaline, and thus the lymph as it becomes part of the blood – even to the nature of the lymphocytes themselves – in various ways then influences the body itself.

The balance of the body as a whole might better be understood if we see the various ways in which a woman’s system was out of balance in addition to the acid-alkaline disturbance which was present. In [1254] the following additional incoordinations were mentioned as being part of the entire disease process:

1. Glandular (adrenal, thyroid, liver, thymus, pineal) incoordination.
2. Deep and superficial circulation incoordination.
3. Metabolism (anabolic-catabolic) incoordination.
4. Autonomic-cerebrospinal nervous system incoordination.
5. The ileum plexus reflexes to the lower portion of the cerebro-spinal are not coordinated with those above the diaphragm area.
6. Assimilation-elimination incoordination.
7. Even the upper and lower part of the digestive tract (stomach and small intestines) are incoordinated.

From the above it can be readily seen that the acid-alkaline balance is only one of a portion of many coordinate activities which are carried out within the body. A rather fascinating concept was suggested in this particular reading (1254-1) that had to do with hormones and activities. Because of the glandular incoordination, there was a lack of hormones which coagulate the energy produced by the bloodstream into form and tissue throughout the physical body. In various readings coagulation is mentioned without an explanation-this perhaps referring to the activities of hormones within the bodies.

More explicit treatment for these conditions can be found where more specific diagnosis is made. All types of disturbances play a part in producing this one incoordination within the body and thus specific therapy must be aimed at these various types of malfunction as they exist within the body. For this reason, further and more specific diagnosis is indicated.

Diet cannot be emphasized too strongly. The reader is encouraged to study material related to this topic.

In approaching therapy, we should remember that the body has a capability of normal function:

Thus, we would administer those activities which would bring a normal reaction through these portions, stimulating them to an activity from the body itself, rather than the body becoming dependent upon supplies that are robbing portions of the system to produce activity in other portions, or the system receiving elements or chemical reactions being supplied without arousing the activity of the system itself for a more normal condition. (1968-3)

Note: The preceding overview was written by William A. McGarey, M.D. and is excerpted from the Physician’s Reference Notebook, Copyright © 1968 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation, Virginia Beach, VA.