WARNING

NOT EVERYTHING THAT

CALLS ITSELF ORTHODOX IS

TRULY ORTHODOX


The above warning was given to me when I first met Orthodoxy in 1986. Today [2009] it is even more perilous, even more difficult to find the Royal Path. For one thing there is a far greater abundance of misinformation. And many materials are missing, and other materials are being rapidly rewritten. For another thing there are fewer than ever guides remaining on the Royal Path, especially who speak English. Hopefully this website will be a place where Newcomers to the Faith can keep at least one foot on solid ground, while they are "exploring."


blog owner: Joanna Higginbotham

joannahigginbotham@runbox.com

jurisdiction: ROCA under Vladyka Agafangel

who did not submit to the RocorMP union in 2007

DISCLAIMER



Listerine KILLS more than germs

Don't use antiseptic mouthwash

AI Overview
Frequent use of antibacterial mouthwash can unintentionally raise your blood pressure and increase hypertension risk. These rinses kill the beneficial bacteria in your mouth that your body needs to produce nitric oxide, a natural compound required to relax and dilate blood vessels.

AI Overview
Frequent use of strong antiseptic mouthwash can raise blood pressure. Antibacterial ingredients like chlorhexidine kill beneficial oral bacteria needed to convert dietary nitrates into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide relaxes blood vessels, and losing it can increase hypertension risk.

My recent personal experience:
     All my life I've had normal blood pressure readings, even during pregnancy.  Except for a period of a few months in 2018 when I had a bad tooth.  Once the bad tooth was extracted, my readings went back to normal.  Then, in fall of 2025 I got the notion to increase my oral hygiene and started using mouthwash.  After a few weeks my blood pressure readings were suddenly alarming 200/100.  These alarming eadings were consistent over several days.  I finally went to the local emergency clinic in Smithville, Tennessee.
     At the clinic 2 different assistants took several readings over the next half hour using 3 different machines, — the last machine looked like it came out of storage, it was wheeled in and had the old-fashioned hand pump.   Finally they called the doctor, who prescribed 10mg lisinopril.  I asked what was the cause, since no way did I have that hypertension that comes in stages (atherosclerosis)...  I was told that my hypertention is "idio-pathic" which means there is no cause.  And that I need to get a primary care physician.  And I was assured that the PC will certainly not seek after a cause; and if I don't go on medication, then I will go blind and then have a stroke.
     The emergency doctor was right about the PC physician not caring to seek after a cause.  My PC physician told me that many people live the rest of their lives on lisinopril — that I should be happy because I'm on a low dose.
     I pressed my PC physician to seek after a cause.   So, I was given some tests: liver, kidney, "blood work" which includes sugar.  All results came back not just normal, but nearly ideal.  I was given a year's prescription for the lisinopril, and that was supposed to be the end of it.
     But.  I am not insured.  I pay my doctor bills myself.  So I am able to have some say.  I pressed again to find a cause.  The Google internet says that hormones can cause hypertension, so I asked my doctor for some hormone tests.  The results of the hormone tests were normal, and again, not just normal, but nearly ideal.

     ok.  I rule out hormones... where do I look next?  Again I found something on the internet — ORAL MICROBIOM.  Certain bacteria in a healthy mouth produce nitric oxide which regulates arteries.  And antiseptic mouthwashes kill those beneficial bacteria.
 

     I immediately stopped using mouthwash.  Tom's® toothpaste went into the trash, along with the Orbit® gum (xylitol).  I understood that it would take 2–4 weeks for my oral biome to be restored, so I tapered off the lisinopril accordingly.

I leave here 2 links:


1.) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31709856/
     I highlight the word "reluctant" in this article because I ask, how come neither my emergency doctor nor my PC considered this cause?  I had told both of them about my recent increased oral hygiene.

2.) https://revitin.com
     Dr. Gerry Curatola
I am totally hooked on this toothpaste.   
...if you listen to all of what he says, his You Tube interviews with various interviewers, you see that he is developing for himself in his mind an evolutionary philosophy involving bacteria...   thus, he is being led away from Christ...   how sad....  But still he is right about the oral microbiome.  I thank him for the facts, but I'm sad he is led astray by the theory of evolution.    This seems to be the greatest hazard of a PhD or any University education....  (My dear Fr. Gregory Williams was also led astray in this manner when he was in Harvard... )  Today I fear what Etna Seminary is doing to the students, since Etna also teaches a form of "Christian Evolution."  
     Pray to St. Seraphim of Platina since he was able to crucify his very great academic mind and offer his mind to Christ.  God gave him a great mind, and he truly did great works with the talent God gave him.
     Please, everyone, read Fr. Seraphim's book,
Genesis, Creation & Early Man, (ignore the editorial footnotes), so you can see how the Holy Fathers viewed creation before there ever even existed a "theory" of evolution.  The 2000 edition pdf is in Joanna's Shared Library, in the folder: "Fr. Seraphim Rose."