I was uncomfortable several nights ago tossing and turning. I just didn’t feel right. By early morning, before the sun came up, the chest pains that I have been having on and off for the last several days had intensified and started to radiate up my neck on the left side to my eye until the left side of my face felt numb.
I went to the hospital because it was obvious that my body hasn’t been doing so well lately. After triage they put me in a room, did an EKG, started an IV and took an Xray of my chest. Propped up the pain lessened.
After four hours, the diagnosis was pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac of fluid around the heart caused by trauma to the heart, cancer, or most likely an immunological response to a viral infection. I haven’t been ill for several weeks. It doesn’t make sense. The treatment is steroids and/or ibuprofen. I walked out of the emergency room and 1/2 mile home at least feeling better that I wasn’t experiencing a heart attack. For now I am to take 600 mg ibuprofen ever six hours for four days then taper off. I am also supposed to “take it easy.” I currently feel sick to my stomach (probably because of the ibuprofen) and have a terrible headache despite the ibuprofen.
I asked my good friend who is a doctor (pathologist) what her opinion of the diagnosis was. She was skeptical that it was pericarditis. She even called the conclusion of the emergency room staff as a “garbage diagnosis.” In her opinion there were probably two things going on at the same time. One, she thought that I had suffered a terrible migraine triggered by my abrupt cessation from caffeine. Point taken. Recently I was having pain under my right rib where I have had an ulcer before. I completely stopped the coffee (3 strong cups/day minimum), chocolate and chilies much to my chagrin; after all, aren’t these three of the four food groups? She didn’t think that the arrhythmia was necessarily related to the headache. She said I would have to see a cardiologist for extensive testing before such a diagnosis. She was very concerned about the arrythmia since it could be very dangerous. Her suspicion was that it was related to one of the medications I am currently taking.
Indeed, I did start occasionally experiencing what seemed like a sudden surge in blood pressure only after I was taking Lamictal. It turns out that one of the symptoms of overdose is a delayed heartbeat. The only problem I have ever had with my blood pressure was fainting. My blood pressure is typically 90/50, very low. To me it seems that I am having “electrical problems.” (Think of shock therapy, for example.) I think I will make a visit to an acupuncturist. Once my husband saw a cardiologist for arrythmia. The specialists conclussion was that my husband’s electrolyteswere diluted because he was drinking so much water. I never drink enough water. Infact, I almost never get my eight glasses per day. I tend to drink more diuretics such as coffee and tea than water, which exacerbates the problem.
I started to look in to minerals and their relationship to mental health and the following is some of the information I came across. If nothing else it is interesting:
Minerals & Trace Elements
Full spectrum salts provide a complex mixture of many salts, minerals and trace elements found in seawater – these harmonise with the bodies cells and internal fluids to support health. Propaganda leads us to believe salt is better to avoid, but not all salts are the same. Modern, refined salt has no nutritional benefits and is difficult for the body to utilise. On the other hand, full spectrum salts make an important contribution to health and well being.
The availability of quality salt has been linked to the mental and physical health of whole populations, as discussed in the excellent book: Sea Salt’s Hidden Powers by Jacques de Langre Ph.D.
Help to Normalise Blood Pressure
Jacques de Langre Phd. studied the effect of Celtic Salts on his patients over a 35-year period, finding it to be the best treatment for high blood pressure. (There are other factors involved in blood pressure abnormalities – lack of a range of nutrients, including anti-oxidants/bioflavenoids and vitamin C leading to fragility of the arterial walls. Deposition of hardened fats is partly a defence to stop the arteries tearing or rupturing. Cholesterol levels in the diet and in the blood is not a cause of hardening of the arteries, low fat diets do not work, are unnatural and will cause further health problems).
Energy, Mood and Mentality
Many people report that daily use of seawater helps with energy balance. Persons who are hyperactive or stressed tend to be normalised. Persons low in energy, especially if depressed, tend to normalise. In many, the use of ionic liquid minerals and trace elements has been curative of depression.
Manic states can also be normalised. This is partly explained by the calming elements of magnesium, lithium and bromine found in sea water. All natural elements found in sea water are non-toxic. Elements help to process or conduct electrical energy or chi within the body. Any improvement in metabolism or vitality induced by nutritional or energy therapy draws on and uses up full spectrum salts. Ironically, this can lead to imbalances in health and a blockage in the therapeutic process. We believe this a common reason for people failing reach optimum health.
Hydration
Full spectrum salts are essential for hydration. Without full spectrum salts the cells cannot pull in sufficient water, leaving them dehydrated and interfering with all biochemical processes. Also, the electrical potential between the inside and outside of the cell becomes unbalanced. Lack of full spectrum salts can cause fluid retention outside the cells. Any fluid imbalance and / or electrical potential imbalance can lead to a whole host of health problems, beginning with disorders of sleep, mood, mentality and energy, and in the long term, to failure of glands and organs.
The “Internal Sea”
Every cell in our body is bathed in a clear fluid called or extracellular fluid. It is similar to sweat and is salty. The amniotic fluid that surrounds the foetus in the womb is of similar composition. The closest fluid found in nature is sea water. This takes on further meaning when we consider that the life forms we evolved from were single celled, sea creatures. Evolution tried to fulfil the need to constantly replenish the internal sea by synthesising the internal sea / extracellular fluid from food and water consumed. Strong evidence indicates that animals and humans have not evolved sufficiently to convert from food, sufficient quality or quantity of salts for optimal health. For example, grazing animals, with a diet of rich sources of vegetation and grasses, need to supplement their diet with salt deposits.
