Volume 1 Issue 6 November/December 1995
Great apologies everyone for not getting back to you sooner! As most of you know, I had been planning my wedding, honeymoon, and reception, which ate up much of my time the past couple of months. Now I am married, happy, re-focused and ready to get back to business. (Thank you everyone for your support.)
My number anywhere or anytime in the United States is: 1-800-609-6191.
The 800 number is a pager and voice mail that you can leave a message on or you can punch in your phone number (please include your area code). I will be paged either way, even if I’m in an airplane. You can use this number to let me know how much you love your herbal program, to tell me how much you love my treatments, or any other compliments you wish to lavish on me!! Most importantly, call anytime you have questions, need assistance or even if you are suspecting you are getting sick! I love to help, and I’m only a phone call away.
Upcoming events!!!!
Nature’s Sunshine Distributor School! This is a great opportunity to spend a day learning about health, the body, herbs and nutrition. They give away door prizes, serve a great lunch and offer specials on herbs. It’s really a rewarding, fun and informative experience. Please check your mailbox for any Nature Sunshine newsletters for the next school near you. If you are not a distributor, don’t be surprised if I or someone beckon you to sign up and do some learning with us. The date that I know of so far is: January 6, 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia
Other Updates
Frankie Avalon joins forces with Brighton Chiropractic Offices! I am available for appointments at the 12 Corners Brighton Chiropractic Offices of Dr. Colm Murphy located at 2599 Elmwood Avenue in Rochester, New York. If you need chiropractic care, Dr. Murphy is the one to see. He has done my neck and shoulders a world of good. Dr. Murphy’s number is (716) 244-6532.
I am also available at the In Touch Massage Center located at 55 Canterbury Road in Rochester, New York for Iridology appointments. They have a variety of massage and health practitioners at this growing healing center. I particularly recommend Sonia Maltais at this location. The number for In Touch Massage Center is (716) 244-5933.
Speaking of massages, for those of you in Colorado, I need to recommend one of the best massage therapists I know--Charli Gruenwald of Pine, Colorado. She has just become a new mom too! Congratulations Charli! Her telephone number is (303) 838-8701.
I am of course available at home, with the massage table set up so that the client can enjoy the tranquillity of the Lake Ontario view along with diffused essential oils and relaxing music. My fee of $35.00 is the same for all three locations.
I am available across the country for Iridology appointments. Let me know you have a handful of people and I will make arrangements to make a visit. I can also arrange to do Reflexology, Jin Shin Jyutsu and Aromatherapy.
With the holiday meals coming up, or should I say going down, this newsletter is going to focus on a common problem that is "hard to swallow."
I CAN’T BELIEVE I ATE THE WHOLE THING OOH THAT ACID STOMACH!
Actually we may think that our stomachs are "over acid" because of heartburn, sour stomach, or overall stomach distress. I frequently tell people of over acid conditions in their systems and they associate this with a stomach that is creating too much acid. The true problem is that the stomach is not working properly, and is actually underacid. When the stomach is not able to carry out its duties for complete digestion, we may experience the "over acid" symptoms.
The technical term for low stomach acidity is Hypochlorhydria. A stomach that is not producing any acid is Achlorhydria.
Some common symptoms of low stomach acidity include:
BLOATING & BELCHING
BURNING STOMACH AFTER EATING
FULL FEELING
ELIMINATION PROBLEMS (DIARRHEA, CONSTIPATION)
FOOD ALLERGIES OR FOOD SENSITIVITIES
One, several, or all of these symptoms may occur in a person with low stomach acidity. However, people with no stomach acid at all many times report no digestive symptoms! Then we must look to the physical signs.
Physical signs most frequently found with persons with low stomach acidity:
WEAK, EASILY BROKEN, PEELING FINGERNAILS
HAIR LOSS IN WOMEN
GASSINESS IN UPPER ABDOMEN
DILATION OF CAPILLARIES IN THE CHEEKS AND NOSE (BROKEN BLOOD VESSELS ON FACE)
Diseases associated with low stomach acidity:
DIABETES MELLITUS
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
OVER/UNDERACTIVE THYROID
CHRONIC HIVES
CHILDHOOD ASTHMA
LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
ECZEMA
WEAK ADRENALS
GALLBLADDER DISEASE
CHRONIC HEPATITIS
OSTEOPOROSIS
ROSACEA /DILATED CAPILLARIES ON FACE
Our stomachs are supposed to be acid!
Our stomachs produce high concentrations of hydrochloric acid (HCl) which is used for digestion. When food enters the stomach, the acid attacks the particles of food causing them to "burst" into tiny molecules. These smaller molecules move on for further digestion and assimilation in the intestinal track.
Our stomachs also use this acid to protect us from foreign invaders such as bacteria or parasites. These both naturally occur in our food at times. Normal stomach acid will take care of these intruders before they can cause us any grief. An improperly functioning stomach leaves us more vulnerable to infections. Studies have also shown a much higher frequency of yeast infections in individuals with low stomach acidity.
As you can see, we need our stomachs in balance for more reasons than just being able to stuff ourselves at Thanksgiving. We need it to help keep the rest of our body in tune. Even if we are eating a good diet and taking supplements, without the stomach in order, we are probably not digesting and getting little benefit from the good we think we are doing. If we take care of our stomachs, we can get the best benefits out of our other nutritional efforts.
To find out if you have under or over acid stomach, take this simple test:
STOMACH ACID SELF TEST
When you’re having digestive upsets, such as heartburn try the following: Take one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. If this makes your heartburn go away, then you need more stomach acid. If it makes your symptoms worse, you have too much acid. Therefore do not take the enzymes which contain hydrochloric acid.
Any of the following suggestions will help to restore the stomach to its balanced state. All of these supplements are safe to use with an over or under acid stomach, except the vinegar or lemon sipping. This should only be done with an UNDER acid stomach.
Supplements from Nature’s Sunshine to aid digestion:
1) All enzyme products including: Food enzymes*, PDA, Lactase Plus, Hi Lipase, Proactazyme or Leguzyme. (* Food Enzymes contain HCl)
2) Papaya Mint- many people use this in place of antacids such as Tums. It helps to restore balance to the stomach.
3) AG-X or AG-C: One is the Chinese combination to aid digestion. AG-X does the same with American herbs, it contains papaya fruit, peppermint leaves, ginger and a variety of other ingredients to support our stomachs.
4) Marshmallow & Pepsin: Pepsin is an acid also made in the stomach. When stomach acid is low, pepsin is usually low also. Marshmallow has a soothing effect.
Personal Success
Enzymes with my meals and Papaya Mint after meals has eliminated all of my digestive distresses. The Peppermint leaves in the Papaya Mint formula, contain aromatic compounds capable of triggering the production of digestive fluids. Suffering with heartburn and gas is no longer part of my life. I hope the information provided will help you as well.
Other tricks of the trade
Jonathan V. Wright, MD suggests that small, gradually increased quantities of lemon juice or vinegar will do the same job as taking pure hydrochloric acid supplements. (Pure Hydrochloric supplementation can be dangerous and needs to be carefully supervised.)
Happy Holidays to all of you and may you digest the coming year with ease!
