"Hydrochloric acid is the main ingredient in antihistamines and that is what causes drowsiness."
http://www.ionizers.org/alkalife3.html ``Antihistamines are low acid.'' (from chart below)
http://www.keytohealthclinic.com/alkalinediet.html
The addition of acids may help to counter the inflammation aspect of TNF ALPHA (alpha is positive in Greek, beta is negative)...perhaps.
Caution when using nutritional charts...one says one thing and another the opposite! Even the nutritionists do NOT make it easy for us to try to rebalance our pH!!!
For example: many charts put blueberries in the acid category (since they grow in acidic soil, this makes the most sense). However, on this website (below) the doctor classifies blueberries as lowest (not most) alkaline.
http://www.betterbones.com/alkaline/articles/chart%20p12.pdf
If interested in the above chart and you go there ... pay close attention to the fact that Artemesia Annua is ``lowest alkaline'' and baking soda is ``most alkaline''.
In my updated nutshell post, I mentioned how vets in Germany used IV sodium bicarb (baking soda) to cure dogs of neuro babesia...and many here have tried artemesia for babesia.
Hummmm. See the connections?
Mg is also an "antihistamine", but it has a positive charge (alkaline). No need for TNF Alpha to be formed to begin with??? But once it is formed, acids can counter it to a degree?
When calcium tries to go into the cells (influx) it triggers histamine.
Documentation:
These data support the characterization of the NPE histamine receptor as an H1 receptor linked to elevation of inositol phosphates and intracellular Ca2+.
PMID: 1680603
Why is calcium going into the cells...'cause Mg is low!
"CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate a relationship between angiotensin II and intracellular magnesium and calcium. In hypertension, angiotensin II-stimulated calcium responses may be related to simultaneously decreased intracellular magnesium concentrations."
PMID: 8390527
Yes, we can use other minerals to help (sodium, chromium, selenium, potassium (careful!!!), BUT...until we restore the low levels (very) of Mg, the SYMPTOMS of lyme disease will continue even WHEN the disease has been eliminated. This low level of Mg is very dangerous. We need this electrolyte for soooooooo many functions!!!
[This message has been edited by Marnie (edited 23 January 2005).]