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For over five years researchers at Meridian Institute have been
looking into the connection between pH (acid/alkaline) balance and
viral infection - a link noted by Edgar Cayce in several of his
psychic readings. With the recent epidemic of severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) and continued concerns about common conditions such as
colds and flu, our interest in this field has expanded to explore
basic science and clinical projects to test the Cayce hypothesis.
Here is an overview of what we have found so far and where we are
headed. Some simple preventive measures will also be discussed.

Understanding Viruses

Viruses are tiny parasitic life forms, the smallest
living things on Earth. In essence, a virus is a minuscule pocket of
protein that contains genetic material.

Although viruses can remain dormant outside a living body, they
only become active when in contact with live tissue. Once a virus
infects a cell by penetrating the cell membrane, it can either lay
dormant (lysogenic infection) or begin reproducing itself (lytic
infection - the more common pattern). When a cell becomes full of
virus, it bursts releasing the virus to infect other host cells.


Viral pH Dependency

Laboratory experiments (in vitro) have confirmed that many viruses
require a mildly acidic environment to attack host cells.

To appreciate the relevance of pH for viral infection, let's first
review some facts about acid/alkaline balance. The acid/alkaline
continuum ranges from 0-14 with 7 as neutral. The lower end of the
scale (below 7) is acid and above 7 is alkaline.

Acid/alkaline balance is extremely important to normal physiology.
For example, the blood will maintain a slightly alkaline range of 7.35
to 7.45. Extended pH imbalances of any kind are not well tolerated by
the body. The management of the pH factor is so important that the
body's primary regulatory systems (especially breathing, circulation,
and eliminations) closely regulate acid-alkaline balance in every cell
and system.

Certain viruses (including the rhinoviruses and coronaviruses that
are most often responsible for the common cold and influenza viruses
that produce flu) infect host cells by fusion with cellular membranes
at low pH. Thus they are classified as "pH-dependent viruses."

Drugs that increase intracellular pH (alkalinity within the cell)
have been shown to decrease infectivity of pH-dependent viruses.



Edgar Cayce's Recommendations

Edgar Cayce affirmed the importance of pH balance with regard to
common viruses that cause colds and flu. Cayce repeatedly insisted
that such infectious agents do not thrive in an alkaline environment.
When asked how to prevent colds, Cayce replied, "by keeping the body
alkaline. Only in acids do colds attack the body." (3248-1)

Cayce recommended using litmus paper to test the pH of urine and
saliva as an indication of the pH balance of the body. We now have
more precise means for monitoring pH in the form of pH paper and
digital pH meters.

As a practical preventive measure, Cayce's suggestions for
alkalizing the body emphasized eating an abundance of fresh fruits and
vegetables, especially salads: "... if an alkalinity is maintained
in the system - especially with lettuce, carrots and celery, these in
the blood supply will maintain such a condition as to immunize a
person." (480-19) Consuming citrus fruit and juices was also a
common alkalizing suggestion in the readings that addressed concerns
about cold and flu infections.

Meridian Institute Research

We reported a preliminary study on dietary effects of urine pH in
January 1999 (Vol 3 No 1). The study was done to test Edgar Cayce's
recommendations for testing urine as a marker for systemic pH balance.
Our conclusion was that following Cayce dietary recommendations of
eating primarily alkaline-producing foods (such as fruits and
vegetables) does indeed tend to alkalize the urine.


Rhinovirus infection studies are done at several leading
universities, usually to test the effectiveness of drugs that may help
to prevent or relieve the symptoms of colds. Small amounts of
solution containing rhinovirus are dropped into the noses of subjects
to intentionally infect them under controlled conditions.
Interestingly, about five to fifteen percent of subjects do not get
colds even when the virus is carefully placed onto the nasal mucosa.
Could it be that the pH of the resistant subject's nasal mucosa is
alkaline (or neutral), preventing the rhinovirus from infecting the
cells inside of the nose?

There have been several published studies on .

continue to characteristics of acidity