What is a hormone?

Hormones are special chemicals which coordinate many processes in your body. Hormones
are made in glands which then release them into your bloodstream. They are carried around
the body in your blood to their targetorgans. Hormones regulate the functions of many of your
organs and cells, including the amount of water which is reabsorbed by your kidneys. You can
read more about hormones here.
ADH and the water balance of the body
The amount of water in the blood must be kept more or less the same all the time to avoid cell
damage as a result of osmosis. There has to be a balance between the amount of water
gained (from your diet though drinks and food and the water produced by cellular respiration)
and the amount of water lost by the body (in sweating, evaporation, faeces and urine).
This is achieved by the action of the hormone ADH (anti-diuretic hormone). How does it work?
Perhaps you have not drunk anything for a while or you have been sweating a lot. Part of the
brain, the hypothalamus, detects that there is not enough water in the blood. The
hypothalamus sends a message to the pituitary gland which releases ADH. This travels in the
blood to your kidneys and affects the tubules so more water is reabsorbed into your blood. As
a result you make a smaller volume of more concentrated urine. The level of water in your
blood increases until it is back to normal.
Sometimes the level of water in your blood goes up because, for example, it is cold and you
have not been losing any water through sweating or because you have had a lot to drink. The
hypothalamus detects the change and sends a message to the pituitary. The release of ADH
into the blood is slowed down or even stopped. Without ADH the kidneys will not save as much
water and you produce large volumes of dilute urine. The level of water in the blood falls back
to the normal level.
This is an example of negative feedback. As the level of water in the blood falls, negative
feedback ensures that the amount of ADH rises. As the level of water in the blood rises
negative feedback ensures that the amount of ADH falls.

Things Affecting ADH

Alcohol can decrease the amount of ADH being produced resulting in a greater volume of
more dilute urine being produced. This can lead to dehydration.
Ecstasy has the opposite effect. It increases the amount of ADH which reduces the amount of
urine produced.
Both alcohol and ecstasy interfere with the normal regulation of water in the body and may
have harmful long-term effects on the body.

The hypothalamus is a section of the brain responsible for hormone production. The hormones
produced by this area of the brain govern body temperature, thirst, hunger, sleep, circadian rhythm,
moods, sex drive, and the release of other hormones in the body. This area of the brain controls the
pituitary gland and other glands in the body. This area of the brain is small, but involved in many
necessary processes of the body including behavioral, autonomic, and endocrine functions. The
hypothalamus' primary function is homeostasis, which is to maintain the body's status quo systemwide. Hypothalamic hormones include thyrotropin-releasing, gonadotropin-releasing, growth hormonereleasing, corticotrophin-releasing, somatostatin, and dopamine hormones. These hormones release
into the blood through the capillaries, traveling to the pituitary gland where their effects are exerted.
Oxytocin and vasopressin are also hypothalamic hormones. The hypothalamus uses a set-point to
regulate the body's systems including electrolyte and fluid balance, body temperature, blood pressure,
and body weight. It receives inputs from the body, then initiates compensatory changes if anything
differentiates from this set-point. The set-point can migrate, but remains remarkably fixed from day-today.
Osmosis
Osmosis, the spontaneous flow of a liquid or gaseous substance through a semipermeable membrane.
A semipermeable membrane is a material through which only certains kinds of molecules can readily
pass. Parchment, which allows water molecules to pass through it but effectively blocks the passage of
sugar molecules contained in the water, is an example of a semipermeable membrane.
In the situation most often encountered, the semipermeable membrane separates one liquid solution
from another. The direction of flow is determined by the composition of the two solutions. In most
cases, flow occurs in both directions, the greater flow being from the less concentrated solution to the
more concentrated solution. The amount of flow that occurs is determined by the nature of the
membrane.
Osmosis is extremely important in all processes in which water moves into and out of cells, because all
living cell membranes are semipermeable. Osmosis keeps the amount of water in all the cells of an
animal or a plant approximately equal and helps to prevent certain cells from drying out. Water is drawn
from the soil into the roots of a plant by osmosis. When there is an adequate water supply, osmosis
helps to prevent the wilting of plants that is caused by loss of water.
The effect of osmosis in a root is shown in the accompanying illustration. A hole, one inch (2.5 cm)
deep, is cut into the top of the carrot and nearly filled with a concentrated solution of sugar and water.
The carrot is then placed in a glass of water with its top one-half inch (1.3 cm) above the surface.
Within a few hours, water from the glass will be drawn into the hole by osmosis. The level of the
solution in the hole will rise until the solution overflows.
Osmotic Apparatus
The movement of the substances involved in osmosis is shown in the illustration Principle of Osmosis.
Between the two halves of the U-shaped tube is a semipermeable membrane, such as a piece of
animal bladder, parchment, or cellophane. Arm A contains a solution of sugar and water and arm B
contains pure water. The water molecules on both sides of the membrane hit the membrane and pass
through. (The membrane is permeable to water.) The sugar molecules also hit the membrane, but,
because of the composition of the membrane, only a few (the ones traveling at very high speeds) pass
through. (The membrane is impermeable to sugar.)
More water molecules touch the membrane on the side in contact with the pure water (side B) than on
the side in contact with both sugar and water (side A). More water moves from side B, the pure-water
side, to side A than from side A to side B. This net movement of water through the semipermeable
membrane into the sugar-and-water solution constitutes osmosis.
As water moves into the solution, the volume of the solution (illustration 2, side A) increases. The
increased volume eventually builds up so much pressure that the force of the pressure causes as much
water to leave the solution (side A) as enters. This pressure, called osmotic pressure, causes the flow
of water to be equal in both directions.

Figure 39 Feedback control of the secretion of antidiuretic hormone, ADH. Secretion of the hormone
from the posterior pituitary is controlled by the hypothalamus responding to signals received from
its receptors, which detect the osmotic pressure of the blood
It is worthwhile working through the series of events in Figure 39. Stage 1 represents a situation
where water lost via urine is not replaced by drinking water. The osmolarity of the blood increases,
which raises the osmotic pressure of the blood. At stage 2, osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus
detect the increased osmotic pressure of the blood. Hypothalamic neurosecretory neurons (stage 3)
respond by transferring ADH along axons into the blood circulation of the posterior pituitary (stage
4). ADH secreted into the bloodstream (stage 5) reaches target cells, epithelial cells in the
collecting ducts of kidney. The response to ADH is an increased permeability of the basal
membranes of epithelial cells in the collecting ducts, which promotes resorption of water. The
kidney thereby produces more concentrated urine and water is retained (stage 6). Say the
individual now has a drink of water. Absorption of the water into the bloodstream decreases the
osmolarity of the blood so the osmotic pressure decreases (stage 7). In stage 8, the hypothalamic
receptors respond to the decline in osmotic pressure by inhibiting the release of ADH.Figure 39
Feedback control of the secretion of antidiuretic hormone, ADH. Secretion of the hormone from the
posterior pituitary is controlled by the hypothalamus responding to signals received from its
receptors, which detect the osmotic pressure of the blood It is worthwhile working through the
series of events in Figure 39. Stage 1 represents a situation where water lost via urine is not
replaced by drinking water. The osmolarity of the blood increases, which raises the osmotic
pressure of the blood. At stage 2, osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus detect the increased osmotic
pressure of the blood. Hypothalamic neurosecretory neurons (stage 3) respond by transferring ADH
along axons into the blood circulation of the posterior pituitary (stage 4). ADH secreted into the
bloodstream (stage 5) reaches target cells, epithelial cells in the collecting ducts of kidney. The
response to ADH is an increased permeability of the basal membranes of epithelial cells in the
collecting ducts, which promotes resorption of water. The kidney thereby produces more
concentrated urine and water is retained (stage 6). Say the individual now has a drink of water.
Absorption of the water into the bloodstream decreases the osmolarity of the blood so the osmotic
pressure decreases (stage 7). In stage 8, the hypothalamic receptors respond to the decline in
osmotic pressure by inhibiting the release of ADH.

PH Balance
Blood and body pH are in fact two different measurements. Normal processes of the body
continually produce acids (compounds that release hydrogens in a watery solution; acids have a
low pH) and their opposite, bases (compounds that accept hydrogens from a watery solution;
bases have a high pH) which must be carried by the blood to the organs of excretion. The blood
must do this without allowing its own acid-base balance to be affected. To accomplish this, some
proteins act as buffers to maintain the bloods normal pH. They pick up hydrogen ions when there
are too many in the blood (the more hydrogen, the more concentrated the acid) Likewise, protein
buffers release hydrogens again when there are too few in the blood. The secret is that the
negatively charged side chains of the amino acids can accommodate additional hydrogens (which
are positively charged) when necessary.
In order to survive, the body must maintain the proper acid/alkaline (pH) balance. The optimum
pH of the blood is somewhat alkaline, 7.3-7.4, and various tissues and organ systems vary from
these numbers. Since all metabolic reactions are dependent on the pH, which is to say they only
operate ideally within a certain range of pH, the organism must stabilize the blood-pH within a
narrow range of between 7.36 and 7.44 (many researchers feel the range is actually much
smaller). Only in this range is the blood ideally supplied with oxygen. If the blood pH goes over
7.44, there is a risk to develop degenerative conditions. The pH balance can be affected by many
factors including the food we eat, stress, pollution and the quality of our thoughts and emotions. If
this balance cannot be maintained, the body will begin to break down and die. The body is
constantly striving to maintain this balance, and there are many processes by which this is
accomplished.
The potential of Hydrogen & Oxygen (pH Alkaline) is a key factor in attaining alkaline balance. The
Hydrogen/Oxygen matrix (Alkaline pH) is the bringer and protector of life, it carries the life-giving
form. The body is 75% water or H2O. Which means that there are two atoms of hydrogen and one
of oxygen. Thus, there are twice as many hydrogen atoms as oxygen contained within a water
molecule.
The scale that is used for measuring the pH, or hydrogen ion concentration is from 0 to 14, with
7 being the neutral point. The scale for the concentration of hydrogen ions is called the pH value.
This stands for potential Hydrogen or strength of the hydrogen. The pH value indicates whether a
solution reacts alkaline, neutral, or acid. In a neutral solution, such as pure water, the pH is exactly
7. The pH of an acid solution is less than 7, the pH of an alkaline solution is higher than 7. Thus,
an Alkaline Body pH means that the pH of the blood is above 7 with the ideal pH being 7.35.
Outside of this range - the body activity is no longer optimal and the metabolism is out of balance.
There are several buffer systems established in the body to neutralize acids. One example is the fat
buffer system. LDL (low-density lipoprotein) fat serves to bind acids from the body fluids (blood,
lymph and extracellular fluids) so the acids can be excreted from the body in the urine. However, a
compromised body, overloaded with acids, may be unable to eliminate them. In order to protect
the vital organs, the fat-bound acids may be dumped into storage areas such as the hips, thighs,
stomach, etc., creating obesity.
Alkaline salts are also used to buffer acids. The main ones are sodium, potassium, calcium and
magnesium, and they are held in reserve in the tissues. When there is excess acid, these salts are
called upon to bind with the acids to neutralize them. The acids can then be eliminated from the
body through the colon, kidneys, lungs and skin. If there are inadequate reserves in the tissues,
the body will pull these salts from the bones (calcium) and muscles (magnesium). For example, the
overburdened acidic body will be forced to take calcium from the bones in an attempt to restore
alkaline balance. This can result in the disease called osteoporosis. Post-menopausal women who
eat an acidic diet rich in animal foods and low in vegetables are especially at risk for this condition.
The lymphatic system is another buffer system, the function of which is to clean house and
remove acid deposits and other toxins from the tissues. The lymphatic fluid is literally pumped by
the movement of our muscles. If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle, the lymphatic system cannot
do its job and acid deposits continue to build up in the tissues. Even if the lymphatic system can do
its job, the residue it cleans up is sent back to the blood and the cycle continues. The blood must

use more salts to neutralize the acids, and so on.

Over time, the body can become increasingly unbalanced as acid continues to build up in the
tissues. Initial signs can be rashes, allergies, inflammation, colds, flu, etc. On the cellular level, the
cells are beginning to suffer from lack of oxygen, are being poisoned and begin to die. If the
process continues, eventually chronic degenerative disease, and then death, will occur.

In addition, yeast, molds, fungus and parasites thrive in an acidic body. They feed on our bodys
proteins and fats, and their wastes poison us. They thrive in the anaerobic (lack of oxygen)
environment of the acidic body. Each person will have their own weak link, an organ system
which is more susceptible to breakdown than the others. This weak link may be the first area to
show signs of disease.