Seeking and Finding Wholeness

I just wanted to write a quick post and say “Baking Soda, What a Precious Salt!”  Baking soda can be used for so many things, from cooking to deodorizing,  it makes a good tooth paste, has anti fungal effects and can be used to wash hair and quickly eliminate dandruff. What a useful precious salt!

Do you use baking soda for things other than cooking?

Below you will see what wikipedia says about backing soda. Retrieved 10/27/2009 10PM CST.

Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compound with the formula NaHCO₃. Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slight alkaline taste resembling that of washing soda (sodium carbonate). It is a component of the mineral natron and is found dissolved in many mineral springs. The natural mineral form is known as nahcolite. It is also produced artificially.

Since it has long been known and is widely used, the salt has many related names such as baking soda, bread soda, cooking soda, bicarbonate of soda. Colloquially, its name is shortened to sodium bicarb, bicarb soda, or simply bicarb. The word saleratus, from Latin sal æratus meaning “aerated salt“, was widely used in the 19th century for both sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate. The term has now fallen out of common usage.

Cooking

Sodium bicarbonate is primarily used in cooking (baking) where it reacts with other components to release carbon dioxide, that helps dough “rise”. The acidic compounds that induce this reaction include phosphates, cream of tartar, lemon juice, yogurt, buttermilk, cocoa, vinegar, etc. Sodium bicarbonate can be substituted for baking powder provided sufficient acid reagent is also added to the recipe.^[3] Many forms of baking powder contain sodium bicarbonate combined with one or more acidic phosphates (especially good) or cream of tartar. Can also be used for softening peas (⅛ tsp. per pint of water and bring to boil for one hour)

Thermal decomposition causes sodium bicarbonate alone to act as a raising agent by releasing carbon dioxide at baking temperatures. The mixture for cakes using this method can be allowed to stand before baking without any premature release of carbon dioxide.

Neutralization of acids and bases

Many laboratories keep a bottle of sodium bicarbonate powder within easy reach, because sodium bicarbonate is amphoteric, reacting with acids and bases. Furthermore, as it is relatively innocuous in most situations, there is no harm in using excess sodium bicarbonate. Lastly, sodium bicarbonate powder may be used to smother a small fire. ^[4]

A wide variety of applications follows from its neutralization properties, including ameliorating the effects of white phosphorus in incendiary bullets from spreading inside an afflicted soldier’s wounds.^[5] Sodium bicarbonate can be added as a simple solution for raising the pH balance of water (increasing total alkalinity) where high levels of chlorine (2-5 ppm) are present as in swimming pools and aquariums.^[6] Read more…

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On 09/09/09 I wrote an article titled Diet and Fish Oil to Prevent Tooth Decay? where I referenced a discussion in the community forum titled ‘Fish Oil to Prevent Tooth Decay?‘.

I’ve just finished researching this book, Cure Tooth Decay: Heal and Prevent Cavities with Nutrition (First Edition). I actually was impressed by the comments that I ordered a copy of this book from Amazon a few hours ago. The user reviews were very encouraging that I decided  the book was worth reading and perhaps trying out some of its tips. I am of the belief that every idea is worth examining, and that usually, the most effective and correct solutions are the simplest ones, this applies to math, physics, engineering as well as it applies to the human body and health, common sense, isn’t it?

I’ve had my share of dental issues as a kid, I remember having many teeth extracted, as an adult these dental issues kept haunting me. It didn’t make sense because I followed the rules, I brushed and ate well and used mouth wash. I look forward to reading this book.

Here’s a link to the book:

Here’s some info about the book, based on the Amazon comments I read. The book follows on a trail-blazing dentist, Weston Price. The book outlines mistakes of the western society when it comes to food, it discusses how primitive cultures in the 1930’s (now largely decimated by modernization) had remained immune to tooth decay.

Besides research done by Dr. Weston Price, Nagel draws on personal experience and his child’s. The book has a substantial section devoted solely to children’s diets and the connection to their healthy teeth.

It makes sense that health at large effects the health of teeth, if you are in poor health your teeth will undoubtedly suffer. The book discusses how dental health may actually be an indicator of overall wellness.

This sounds like simple common sense to me.

Here’s a quote:

“Years ago, when people were afflicted with various types of ailments and diseases, it was common practice to blame evil spirits. People of the world still do this today, except that these evil spirits now have a new name. Sci entists, doctors, dentists, and government officials have decided that these new ‘evil spirits’ are called micro-organisms (viruses, bacteria, etc.)… The current theory of tooth decay is more like a superstition than a scientifically verified truth… The theory that bacteria thrive on sucrose, and then produce acids that eat away our tooth enamel, seems to be convincing. But it defies both science and logic… A daily mouthwash of some anti-bacterial agent would cure all cavities, if the bacterial theory were true. The answer is clear: what you have been told about tooth decay is a pure, sweet, child-like fantasy.”
~ Ramiel Nagel, “Cure Tooth Decay”

Read more…

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A couple days ago a new discussion was started in the community forum titled ‘Fish Oil to Prevent Tooth Decay?‘.

The topic of holistic dentistry, root canals and the health of teeth was talked about on Seeking Wholeness in the past, a couple articles come to mind, the Holistic Dentistry article and the Dentistry without Mercury article.

This recent discussion in the community forum is an exciting one because it discusses an area that is often overlooked, namely what impact does nutrition (or life style in general) have on the health of your teeth.

I quote from the discussion forum

If brushing, flossing, massive fluoridation campaigns, and dental surgery were effective in preventing tooth decay, it would not get worse over time. It would stay the same, or get better. This is what I refer to as unscientifically sound practices. If we are to examine the effects of our dental care as a society, the statistics clearly show it is a failure, as tooth decay becomes worse and worse over time. Either Nature is fundamentally flawed and has doomed us to a life that includes decaying teeth, or humans are flawed in understanding and utilizing Nature.

Until we change the way we live, and return to more natural and life-building foods, the trend of tooth decay worsening with age, will continue.
What Really Causes Tooth Decay

Here’s the natural diet that was suggested in this discussion that can allegedly make teeth healthy:

1. Raw grass-fed dairy including, milk, cheese, cream and butter.
2. Organs of sea animals including fish organs, fish heads, fish eggs, oysters, clams, mussels, and crab and lobster with the innards.
3. Organs of land animals, including liver, bone marrow, tongue, heart, kidneys, pancreas, adrenal glands, gonads and for the more adventurous, brain, eyes and stomach lining.

Read/Join the discussion here.

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Most holistic dentists prefer to extract a tooth than to do a root canal mainly because they believe root canals are never a 100% sterile and bacteria left behind could flourish if your immune system is compromised. My (non-holistic) dentist said that 95% o root canals are successful, this leaves 5% of root canals to fail. If they fail, an infection can occur at the bone structure that may not be easily detectable.

I found that not all holistic dentists have this position, almost none of the traditional dentists prefer extraction over a root canal. Over 95% of root canals are successful. So many people have had root canals, multiple of them. These root canal procedures are done routinely and safely. However, just because every body else is doing something doesn’t mean that it’s the best choice. For instance, take drinking pop, or using cell phones, eating fast food, eating lots of meat, smoking, getting drunk, need I continue?.. Many people take actions that negatively impact their well being for whatever reasons, be it lack of information, disinformation, ignorance, lack of interest, etc…

Here, in trying to decide if root canals are good or bad, IMHO (In my humble opinion), we are faced with a lack of information, making deciding what’s best a little tricky. I shared what I know here and ask you to contribute what you know so we can all benefit.

Read more…

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Dental health has a great impact on a person’s overall wellness. Many negative health effects have been linked to bad oral health. For instance, gum disease (an inflammation of the gums) could spread infection to the bone supporting the teeth and from there to the blood stream. Further, gum disease has been linked to cardiovascular disease and arthritis.

Plaque (a sticky colorless film of bacteria that constantly builds up then thickens and hardens on the teeth) hardens into tartar and contributes to infections in the gums. Constant brushing, flossing and oral hygiene practices are needed to fight plaque.

There’s a lot to say about oral hygiene and oral health. But this article is about one particular concern of mine, primarily root canals. I recently had to have a root canal procedure done; it was not as bad as I expected it to be, but while going through having a root canal I came across some pieces of information that I would like to share with you here, perhaps I could provide some answers to a few of your concerns. Perhaps I could put your mind at ease, or maybe scare you more. I will discuss the fracture of rotary nickel-titanium endodontic instruments inside of your teeth canals.

Read more…

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I visited my holistic dentist last week in order to get some x-rays taken and ask about removing an older amalgam; while I was there I was given a book titled “Dentistry Without Mercury” by Sam Ziff and Michael Ziff.

Amalgam Filling X-ray

I have not read this small book yet but intend to in the future. I also have a lot of research done on the effects of mercury and why mercury amalgam are bad for you and should be taken out ASAP. It is unbelievable how many of us have toxic amalgams in our mouths.

The Dentist will remove my amalgam and use something else. They also found another area that needs work, a pretty large (in my opinion) decay in one tooth. It is funny how I had jaw pains but did not attribute that to my teeth needing work; I just ignored and never was ‘aware’ of my mouth and teeth even when there was pain. I plan on being more aware of my body including my teeth. Stay tuned, there’s more to come on this.

Here’s this book on amazon:

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