WHOLISTIC HEALTH PLANNING - HOME TESTS
BICARBONATE OF SODA TEST (Stomach Acid status)
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This simple chemical test can indicate if you have sufficient levels of stomach (Hydrochloric) acid (HCl) in your stomach.
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This is assessed by the reaction of adding an alkali (Bicarbonate of Soda) to the acid in your stomach, and detecting how much carbon dioxide is produced.
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The way it works is that levels of stomach acid react with the Bicarbonate of Soda.
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The amount of CO2 is determined by counting the number of burps in a given period.
METHOD:
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Put a half a teaspoon of Bicarbonate of Soda into approximately 60 ml (half a glass) of water
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Drink it FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, ON AN EMPTY STOMACH
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Note your burping over the next 10 - 15 minutes.
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Record your results below
INTERPRETATION and YOUR RESULTS:
Please underline the result that applies to you, or type your result below.
If you burp:
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WITHIN ONE MINUTE:
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If you produce a hearty burp, your stomach acid is probably TOO HIGH.
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AFTER TWO to THREE MINUTES:
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You probably have NORMAL stomach acid levels.
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AFTER FIVE or SIX MINUTES OR LONGER:
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You probably have lower than normal stomach acid levels.
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NO BURPING indicates very low levels of stomach acid.
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ANY RESULT THAT IS NOT OUTLINED ABOVE
If your results indicate low stomach acid levels, it is essential that we rectify this, as low stomach acid can lead to inefficient vitamin, mineral & protein digestion, which in turn, can promote food allergies.
Food allergies can in turn manifest in a host of various symptoms (physical AND emotional) that may appear unrelated to the gut.
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BEETROOT TEST
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This 3-day test checks if you have low stomach acid & weak digestion. Observe the colour of your urine daily, especially after consuming the beetroot & note your results below. If your pee is clear, it means that your stomach acid level is sufficient
Press 120ml of plain beet juice & drink daily for 3 days in a row. As beet juice is sweet when concentrated, dilute it with water. If you don’t have a cold press, buy Beet-It juice. eat a large beet, cooked or raw, to obtain the betalain (red pigment)
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INTERPRETATION and YOUR RESULTS:
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LOW stomach acid: My daily urine colour is red or pink- indicating that betalain isn't breaking down
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Sufficient stomach acid: My urine is clear - Gastric acid has broken down the betalaine (colour)
CANDIDA ‘SPIT’ TEST
METHOD:
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Place a transparent glass filled with tap water beside your bed before you go to sleep.
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In the morning, before you eat or drink anything, or brush your teeth, spit into the glass of water.
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Leave it to stand for 20 minutes ONLY.
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Return to the glass and observe the results.
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Record your results below
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INTERPRETATION (after 20 minutes):
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If it has sunk to the bottom of the glass, you are probably free of Candida overgrowth in the gut.
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If the spittle is still floating with no strings or ‘bits’ in suspension, then you likely have a low probiotic status (‘good’ gut bacteria)
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If the spittle is still floating, and/or has grown fine hair-like or thick stringy tendrils, the likelihood is that a yeast overgrowth exists.
YOUR RESULTS:
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Please indicate all the results that apply to you.
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The spittle has sunk to the bottom of the glass with no growth.
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The spittle is still floating with no growth of tendrils or ‘stringy bits’
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The spittle has grown fine hair-like tendrils that extend sideways towards the rim of the glass or just slightly under the floating spittle.
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The spittle has grown hair-like tendrils that extend toward the bottom of the glass like ‘mucousy’ thick strings’
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The spittle has ‘bits’ in suspension
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ANY RESULT THAT IS NOT OUTLINED ABOVE
THE BREATH TEST
When would you run this test?
This test is an actual measurement of how long you can hold a deep breath, which is a method to check if you have an acid or alkaline imbalance.
Directions
While sitting, “take a deep breath and hold it as long as you can.” Use a stopwatch or timer to time the breath-holding. When you can no longer hold your breath, record the seconds the breath was held on the results form below, or message Mary-Lou the results.
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Results Form and interpretation
YOUR RESULTS: _________seconds Normal 40-65 seconds
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Interpretation
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INCREASED BREATH-HOLD TIME: Longer than 65 seconds
DECREASED BREATH-HOLD TIME: Less than 40 seconds
Factors that Interfere with the results: (pls note if this applies to you)
Cardiopulmonary disease
Respiratory tract infections
ORAL ZINC TASTE TEST
Zincatest 100ml
(i) As a food supplement: Take one 5ml spoonful of Zincatest daily with a meal. This may be diluted in water or orange juice.
(ii) As a taste test to indicate zinc status: Take the test at least one hour after food or drink. Simply add 5ml of Zincatest solution to 60ml of water and immediately swirl one 5ml spoonful of the diluted mixture around in the mouth for 10 seconds (this mixture can then be swallowed or spat out). The taste sensation that results from this test provides an indication of zinc status:
1. Tasteless like water: Low.
2. Slightly dry, furry, mineral-like or even sweet taste develops after a few seconds: Marginally Low.
3. Definite taste, which intensifies with time: Marginally Positive.
4. Strong, unpleasant taste noticed immediately: Positive.
If response corresponds to 1 or 2 above, use a zinc supplement or Zincatest until response improves to 3 or 4. A 3 to 6-month course may be necessary.
A fresh solution should be made up each time. Do not exceed recommended daily dose
RAGLAND'S BLOOD PRESSURE TEST FOR ADRENAL FUNCTION/STRESS MANAGEMENT
If you have access to an arm cuff blood pressure monitor please also do this home test. If not, you are welcome to buy an arm cuff blood pressure monitor on Amazon in the UK, or look for a similar one elsewhere.
NOTE...We are NOT testing your blood pressure...we are testing adrenal and kidney function, which is what causes the increase/decrease or static readings when you do this test.
Instructions for taking the FOUR blood pressure readings:
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Sit in a comfortable position. Take your blood pressure with a Blood Pressure Monitor (see machine’s instructions). Write it down, below
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Lie down flat on the floor. Take your blood pressure. Write it down, below.
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RELAX on the floor in this position for 2 minutes. Leave the Monitor ready to use immediately for the next step.
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Stand up and IMMEDIATELY take your blood pressure again. Write it down, below.
Expanded instructions:
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Record the SYSTOLIC (TOP) READING for all the below positions please:
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Pls be in a SITTING position on a chair (pls take the blood pressure reading while SITTING as a baseline reading)
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Now from the SITTING POSITION pls LIE DOWN (pls take the blood pressure reading while lying down)
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Now from the LYING DOWN position pls go straight to STANDING UP (pls take the blood pressure reading when you are standing)
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Now go from STANDING to LYING DOWN again (face up) (pls take the blood pressure reading while lying down again)
Interpretation:
SYSTOLIC READING: SITTING to LYING DOWN SHOULD DROP between 6 and 10 points
SYSTOLIC READING: LYING DOWN to STANDING SHOULD INCREASE between 6 and 10 points
STANDING to LYING DOWN (face up) SHOULD NOT INCREASE (If it does, check kidney function - may need support)
If this DOES NOT happen, please inform me, in order that we may discuss an appropriate Adrenal Restoration/Stress Management Programme.
BARNES TEMPERATURE TEST
If requested to, please do the Barnes Temperature Test, and give Mary-Lou the daily readings week by week or at your follow up consultation. She does not need all the readings at the first consultation, as it takes a month of daily readings to provide a broader assessment of your endocrine function.
INSTRUCTIONS
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Please save and view the Barnes Temperature Monitoring Chart and follow the instructions provided on the chart.
In order to record your daily temperature readings for the month, you will need to purchase a mercury-style thermometer. The old mercury thermometers are no longer allowed by the World Health Organisation due to the dangers of mercury. Therefore we have sourced a non-mercury alternative for you which is appropriate to use when doing this test. It is more accurate than the digital thermometer. Click Here to help you identify a similar product in your country, to the one linked on Amazon in the UK