-------------------- Ill since 1998 DX 2005 Posts: 93 | From tampa, fl, usa | Registered: Apr 2007
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
I was told to soak my feet in it. Then told to use as directed.
I am not much into using it that way- only because I saw a child nearly choke to death (when I was a little kid) by swallowing tablets whole. Very traumatic- ER by ambulance.
I didn't notice any difference soaking my feet in it, but many LLMDs do recommend it for treating herxes.
TX Lyme Mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3162
posted
It's been such a long time since I first learned about Alka Seltzer Gold that my memory is vague and I'm only 95% sure that I remember how/why it works, which I learned about when I used to attend AAEM medical conferences.
Allergic reactions create an acidic condition in the body, and this product counters it by alkalinizing the body which helps to buffer and calm down the over-acidity which reduces the allergic symptoms.
There's another similar product that AAEM doctors liked to use called Tri-Salts, which can be obtained on-line or compounded by any compounding pharmacist. It's cheaper than Alka Seltzer Gold because you don't have to use as much of it so it lasts a lot longer. My bottle of it must be decades old, and it's still nearly full. We kept it on hand for our daughter who grew up and left home a long time ago, but I still keep it on the shelf "just in case".
Likewise, a small amount (1/8-1/4 teaspoon) of simple bicarbonate of soda (old-fashioned Arm & Hammer baking soda) can be taken, mixed into a small glass of water, will work in pinch, but if you get into the habit of using it too frequently, then the sodium in it can elevate your blood pressure. That's why it's better to be prepared by having a safer alternative on hand.
Here's what the label on my bottle of Tri-Salts says: USP Grade Bicarbonates, Calcium carbonate 45%, Magnesium Carbonate 63%, Potassium bicarbonate 3%. Mine is Ecological Formulas brand, which is available from I-Herb and from other on-line drug stores.
However, Tri-Salts doesn't fizz like the Alka Seltzer Gold formula does. Supposedly, the fizzing helps it to work faster, but fizzing always made our daughter gag, so we preferred the simpler, cheaper formulas.
Another hint or tip from the AAEM docs which I still remember is that it works better to have it on-board already -- for example, when a child is going to a birthday party where s/he will be tempted to partake of allergenic goodies. Taking it in advance of an anticipated allergic exposure means that the body is already primed with buffers which can abort the allergic reaction before it ever gets started.
Remember: It is always much easier to prevent an allergic reaction than it is to stop a runaway reaction which has already been set into motion.
PS -- I'm editing to add that you can repeat the dose of Tri-Salts after about 15-20 minutes if there isn't any improvement and then keep repeating it until there is relief.
The only caution about too much Tri-Salts is that it can cause diarrhea, but inducing diarrhea helps to clear the body of the ingested allergenic foods faster, if food was the culprit which triggered the allergenic reaction in the first place.
Posts: 4563 | From TX | Registered: Sep 2002
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