Interpreting Your pH Readings

This is page 2 of a four-part article.

Urine Test Strips.jpgNow that you've taken your pH values (see instructions at bottom of page one), you'll want to know what they mean.  If your average pH values fall in the range of 6.0—7.0 for both urine and saliva, congratulations—you're doing pretty well in the pH category—especially if you're close to 6.5.  If you aren't, then you probably need to do some things to bring better balance to your biological terrain.

Saliva pH Readings

Let's start with the saliva pH, because it is the most critical reading.  Saliva is formed out of the lymphatic fluid that bathes every cell in the body.  Hence, the pH of your saliva gives an idea of the pH of your internal “lymphatic ocean.”  If the pH of your saliva is consistently over acid, then you are either creating too many acids in your body or not eliminating acids properly.  Digestive and eliminative functions (particularly the kidneys and lymphatics) may need support.  Take digestive enzymes and use Kidney Drainage and Lymphatic Drainage.  Mix one teaspoon of each of these formulas into a quart of water and sip throughout the day to enhance elimination of waste acids.

Over alkaline pH in the saliva can indicate that you may also have a problem with acid reflux from the stomach.  If you have acid indigestion and are taking antacids, stop.  You are driving the pH of your tissues toward further acidity by neutralizing digestive secretions.  To control acid indigestion take bitter herbs before meals (Swedish Bitters or Digestive Bitters, for example), eat smaller meals and take digestive enzymes with meals.

If your saliva pH is acid and your urinary pH is more alkaline than your saliva, you have problems with your kidneys.  You need kidney tonics to help flush acid waste through your kidneys.  Herbs that help with this include nettles, cleavers, goldenrod and morinda (noni) root.  The Chinese formula KB-C is really helpful in these cases.

Very high alkaline saliva may indicate that your digestive functions (including enzyme production, pancreas secretions, and eliminative functions—especially the liver and lymphatics) require help.  It may also indicate a high concentration of waste acid in the tissues, because the body is retaining alkaline buffers in the lymph to counteract this acid.

In this case, you will probably need to take Cellular Energy to increase the activity of your cells.  You may also need to use the Kidney Drainage and Lymphatic Drainage formulas as indicated above.

Urinary pH Readings

Now, let's look at the kidney readings.  Remember that it isn't a bad thing for your urine to have wide fluctuations in pH.  The job of the kidneys is to eliminate from the blood any waste products or excess materials.  Hence, when there is too much acid waste, the kidneys will dump acid; too much alkaline and they will dump alkaline wastes.  What is important here is the average reading over a period of time.

If you are consistently dumping too much acid in your urine, then your body is having to deal with too many waste acids.  This is even more critical if your urine and saliva readings are both consistently acidic.  You can take steps to reduce the amount of waste acids in your body by improving digestive function, reducing stress, increasing oxygenation to the tissues, and consuming foods and supplements that contain alkalizing minerals.

If your readings are consistently alkaline, averaging 7.0—7.5 or higher, there are a couple of things that could be wrong.  First, you may have a urinary tract infection.  If this is the case, then work on the infection.  If not, then the kidneys are no longer able to filter acid waste from the blood.  The body may be producing ammonia to buffer the acids. This often occurs in the early stages of degenerative disease.  When this is the case, the kidneys need major nutritional support.  KB-C and the herbs indicated above to help flush waste acids from the system are very helpful.

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