Quick Remedies
– Dry Mouth; Heartburn; Viruses –    

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

April 18, 2021 [printfriendly]

 

Complex issues contribute to dry mouth, heartburn, and coming down with a cold or flu virus. I’m not going to discuss the abundance of diagnostic tools and medical treatments to deal with these conditions. A proper diagnosis should be obtained from your medical doctor or healthcare professional, and then you should follow the appropriate course of action to resolve these issues.

However, I have personal anecdotal experiences with some remedies for these problems. And I have had some success.

Let me emphasize that I am not recommending these as treatment for you. They may work, or they may not. They even may be contraindicated for you because of underlying medical conditions, which first must be evaluated by your healthcare practitioner.

That being said, I want to share my experiences with you.

 

Dry Mouth from Mouth Breathing

I wrote about Mouth Breathing in a Blog I posted in November 2017.

Many factors could cause mouth breathing. Some of them include:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Alcohol and sedative medications
  • Smoking
  • Underdeveloped jaw
  • Inadequate space for the tongue
  • Deviated septum or soft tissue interferences along the nasal passage
  • Chronic nasal congestion
  • Sleep position
  • Being overweight
  • Anatomical changes with aging
  • Hypothyroidism

If you’ve been breathing through your mouth during your sleep, you could wake up with fatigue, a dry mouth, and a sore throat. The following remedy has worked for me for a dry mouth.

My Anecdotal Remedy …

 

Occasionally, I have had to deal with a very dry mouth in the middle of the night. Obviously, I was mouth breathing. To help keep my lips closed and encourage me to breathe through my nose, I taped my mouth shut. Not permanently – just with a little paper tape that is easily removed.

The way I did this was to use a piece of Micropore Tape. I placed the tape across my closed lips from one corner of my mouth to the other. I folded over a small piece of the tape on both ends to make a “tab”. This makes it easier to quickly remove.

If you wanted to try mouth-taping when you go to sleep, I suggest that you experiment first for about a half-hour a couple of times during the day. This will help you get used to the feel of the tape. Then, when you are ready, start taping your mouth shut when you go to bed.

Mouth-taping not only forces you to breathe through your nose during sleep, it also could be a diagnostic tool. If you had to take the tape off during the night because you could not breathe through your nose, then you would know you didn’t breathe properly that night. If that were the case, you might need to schedule an appointment with a medical specialist to determine if you have sleep apnea or an obstruction in your nasal passages.

 

Heartburn (Acid Reflux)

Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux. Heartburn happens because stomach acid backs up in the esophagus and enters your mouth (acid reflux). There are various medical conditions which could cause acid reflux resulting in heartburn.

  1. A flaw in the valve known as the lower esophageal sphincter, which connects the esophagus and the stomach
  2. Certain acidic or high-fat foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, onions, chocolate, coffee, cheese, and peppermint
  3. Medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen, some sedatives, and blood pressure medications
  4. Smoking
  5. Being overweight or pregnant
  6. Too little stomach acid allowing undigested food to push up stomach acid into the esophagus and into the mouth

Various causes of low stomach acid include:

      • Increasing age (over 65)
      • Chronic stress
      • Deficiency in zinc or the B vitamins
      • Acid reducing medications (antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors)
      • H. Pylori infection
      • Gastric bypass surgery

If heartburn is a result of low stomach acid, the following remedy may be a simple and effective cure.

My Anecdotal Remedy …

 

The stomach requires adequate amounts of chloride to produce hydrochloric acid. The best source of chloride is sea salt.

When I have had heartburn in the past, I put a few grains of Himalayan Coarse Granulated Salt in my mouth and let them dissolve. Then I drank a glass of spring water. The sodium chloride in the Himalayan Salt assisted my stomach in manufacturing and balancing hydrochloric acid. The heartburn went away.

 

Viruses

We all are aware of upper respiratory infections from various viruses – from the simple cold to the flu and now to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most of us recover after a virus has taken its course through the body. But if you could get to the virus before it had a chance to settle in and cause its systemic damage, you might be able to stop it early in its track. I had a personal experience, which I wrote about in March 2021.

In that previous article, I cited medical reports which suggested that nebulized hydrogen peroxide in a proper dilution may assist in killing microbes and inactivating viruses in their early stage of invasion.

The hydrogen peroxide solution for a nebulizer is made by adding 1 teaspoon of Himalayan Salt along with ¾ teaspoon of 12% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide into 16 ounces of distilled water. This makes a saline solution containing 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. I store it in a sealed 16-ounce Mason jar in the refrigerator.

My Anecdotal Remedy …

 

If I have early signs and symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, I add ½ teaspoon of the solution into the medication cup of the WAVE Nebulizer. My preference is to use the adult mask included with the WAVE Nebulizer to inhale the mist.

On 2/23/21, I woke up with a sore throat that was persistent from the previous day. I wanted to be proactive. So, I used the nebulizer hourly starting in the morning for 6 consecutive treatments.

Each treatment lasted about 10 minutes, at which time the solution in the medication cup was used up. By the next afternoon I felt normal – no sore throat, no runny nose. Fantastic!

 

Summary of My Quick Remedies

I am not suggesting my quick remedies will work for you. My independent research of published medical papers suggested they could work for me. And they did. If you are interested, first consult with your medical doctor or healthcare professional to get his or her opinion.

But the bottom line for me was that they were effective!

 

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My Personal Protocols
– Upper Respiratory Infections –  

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

March 7, 2021 [printfriendly]

 

 

Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are the results of microbes and viruses getting into our body. They are the most common infectious illnesses in the general population.[1] It is important to note that the early invasion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can result in similar symptoms of less severe URIs. However, an efficient immune system attempts to fight all these enemies.

My goal for myself is to create a robust immune system. I’ve posted many Blogs about this powerful internal force inherent in our body. It heals and vigilantly helps keep us well.

My Unconventional Cancer Protocols specify the detailed steps I take to bring my immune system into the healthiest state I can. To help me monitor the robustness of my immune system, I assembled and use these 5 Important Tools. I recommend them to everyone who wants to be proactive with their health.

However, there are two reactive steps I specifically take to deal with upper respiratory infections if my body shows symptoms of their presence. They should not be used as preventive treatment. They only should be attempted when you feel a respiratory infection coming on.

 

My Caveat

I do NOT claim these reactive steps are a cure for any upper respiratory infection. Although I have had success personally, no one should assume this will work for him or her. My goal is to continue to be transparent throughout my Cancer Journey.

 

Reactive Steps

1. Propolis Throat Spray

The science is impressive.

Propolis is a natural mixture produced by honeybees from plant resins. Bees use propolis in the construction and repair of their hives. Current research shows that propolis has antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory applications for upper respiratory tract infections, wound healing, and the treatment of burns, acne, herpes, and neurodermatitis. It also may interfere with the invasion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (HERE; HERE). It is interesting to note that propolis has shown additional promise as an aid in the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.[2],[3]

Propolis is available in a spray that can be used at the first sign of soreness or scratchiness in the throat. I have used and recommend Beekeepers Propolis Throat Spray.

 

2. Nebulized Hydrogen Peroxide

Recently, there have been anecdotal descriptions and published medical articles about the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide to kill pathogenic microbes and to inactivate viruses. The body’s own macrophages and neutrophils produce a variety of toxic products including hydrogen peroxide to kill the microorganisms and inactivate the viruses which they engulf.[4]

It has been suggested that a properly diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide in normal saline can be vaporized in a nebulizer and inhaled through the nose to reach various mucous membrane tissues in the respiratory system. This may assist in killing microbes and inactivating viruses in their early stage of invasion. Also, this nebulized solution will activate T cells and neutrophils in the immune system to help destroy any cells that already have been infected. As a “topical antimicrobial and antiviral”, this mist appears to assist the immune system in winning the battle.[5],[6],[7],[8]

The Hydrogen Peroxide Solution for the nebulizer is made by adding 1 teaspoon of Himalayan Salt along with ¾ teaspoon of 12% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide into 16 ounces of distilled water. This makes a saline solution containing 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. I store it in a sealed 16-ounce Mason jar in the refrigerator. When I am ready to use the nebulizer, I add ½ teaspoon of the Solution into the medication cup of the WAVE Nebulizer. My preference is to use the adult mask included in the WAVE Nebulizer to inhale the mist.

 

My Recent Bout

When I woke up on Saturday morning, February 20, 2021, I knew something was wrong with me. My throat felt slightly “sore and scratchy”.

Usually, whenever that would happen, I would spray my throat with propolis several times that day and would continue until the “sore or scratchy” feeling went away. By the next day or two, my throat usually would feel fine. All would be well.

But this time was different. In addition, I experienced a high resting pulse rate of 70. My normal resting pulse is in the high 50s. A higher resting heart rate may be a sign that the body’s immune system is ramping up for a fight.[9]

Also, my blood glucose was elevated. Even though I was eating “ketogenic”, my ketone levels indicated I was not in ketosis. I did not have any loss of taste or smell, and my temperature was normal.

By that Monday night, 2/22/21, I began to have a runny nose. When I woke up on Tuesday, 2/23, the runny nose was combined with increased soreness in my throat and a slight cough. The propolis was not working as it had previously. Bummer!

I am very concerned about a viral or microbial infection since my cancer is a malignancy of plasma cells. These bone marrow cells are responsible for producing antibodies. They are not my only immune defense, but they are important for my overall immune function. So, I pay close attention to what my body tells me.

To be proactive, I already purchased a nebulizer and 12% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide. I just did not make the nebulizer solution that I described earlier.

So, at 6 AM on 2/23, I mixed together the nebulizer solution which consisted of distilled water, Himalayan salt, and hydrogen peroxide. I used ½ teaspoon of the solution in the nebulizer every hour beginning at 6 AM until 3PM – 10 treatments. Each treatment lasted about 10 minutes at which time the solution in the medication cup was used up. After the last treatment, the runny nose almost stopped, and the throat soreness and slight cough were gone.

Just before going to bed at 9PM that night, I used the nebulizer again.

The next morning, Wednesday 2/24, I woke with a slightly runny nose. I had no sore throat and no cough. That day, I began the hourly nebulizer routine starting at 6:30 AM for two treatments. The rest of the day I felt normal. Fantastic!

When I took my ketone level on Wednesday afternoon, it was 2.5 mmol/L, showing I was in ketosis as I wanted. My resting pulse rate had returned to the high 50s, which was my normal. I did not test my blood glucose again. Following my 2 doses of the nebulized peroxide solution that morning, I was done. By that evening, I had no upper respiratory issues!

What can I make of this?

 

My Thoughts

I think I had contracted a virus. I have no idea what type of virus it was. Most likely it was a simple cold virus. But it could have been the COVID virus. Fortunately, symptoms were relieved rapidly. I owe my quick recovery to my reactive intervention with the Nebulized Hydrogen Peroxide Solution. No doubt it killed whatever microbes or inactivated whatever viruses were causing my distress.

Again, I am not suggesting this is a treatment for anyone. My success, in my opinion, is related to my reactive attempts as I just described combined with my …

  • Upkeep of my Oral Health
  • Attention to my Animal-Based Diet,
  • Generation of a High Alpha Diversity in my gut microbiome,
  • Dedication to being Metabolically Flexible,
  • Maintenance of a 25 Hydroxy Vitamin D blood level above 60 ng/mL, and
  • Creation of a Robust Immune System

 

[1] https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/302460-overview#a5

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3872021/

[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332220308155

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27105/

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7308628/

[6] https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3074/rr

[7] https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=SCIENCE-FOR-THE-PEOPLE;e8249d75.2004

[8] https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2021/02/10/nanoparticles-in-moderna-vaccine.aspx

[9] https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=227582

 

 

 

 

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