Aldosterone is produced by the Zona Glomerulosa, the topmost of the three chemically active layers of skin on the adrenal glands.

All living things other than viruses have a bilipid layer. This is a film of fat covered by a second film of fat. Protein bridges link the inside layer (the inside of the cell) with the outside layer (the outside of the cell).

Transfer of chemicals through these bridges is powered by electrically-charged SODIUM - symbol Na+. This is the famous SODIUM ION-PUMP.

Such fluids as saliva, urine and sweat have to be carried out by means of Na+. Even SALT (NaCl) - which is not sodium - is carried by sodium. The result would be a short-lived process that terminated when the Na+ is used up.

Fortunately, nature creates Mineralo-steroids, which cause the Na+ to return to where it came from. Plants have some quite elaborate steroids, but in mammals it is usually aldosterone from the glomerulosa.

You can see what happens when the glomerulosa is totally destroyed. There will be NO aldosterone, and NO metabolism. That is why Addison`s disease kills.

In naturally-occurring Addison`s disease, the ability to make aldosterone FADES. There is always sufficient aldosterone to support the metabolism, right up to the bitter end. But as the metabolism becomes choked off, the quality of life deteriorates due to various chemical imbalances.

Follow this process of logic:

If the osmotic pressure due to sodium is twice that of all the other solutes, such as potassium and sugar, the loss of half the sodium will reduce the osmosis to 2/3 of the original. If the osmosis is reduced to 2/3, one third of the water will be lost. If water is lost, the solutes become more concentrated. The sodium will therefore be one half divided by two thirds. This is three quarters. The potassium will be divided by two thirds also, giving one and a half times the true reading, with neither loss nor gain of potassium from the body.

Small wonder that people often become confused by readings when taken separately.

Sodium readings of three-quarters might actually mean one half. Potassium readings of one-and-a-half times normal may actually be normal.

This is because when a sample of blood, say 10cc, is taken, it is acually 10cc from an unknown total volume.

I believe it was Aristotle - the favourite pupil of Socrates who said that "Perception is a RATIO". This is the origin of the word RATIONAL. All that is rational pertains to a ratio. If it does not, it is not rational.

Rational analysis consists of two types - comparing like with like chemicals, and comparing a sick patient with a healthy one.

The standard for Na / K is MOLAR units. That is, MILLIMOLS PER LITRE. Here we are dealing with the number of ATOMS in a given volume of solution. The atomic weight of sodium is 22.99, and that of potassium is 39.10. So if we were dealing with grammes per litre or pounds per ocean, or whatever, the ratio would become 22.99/39.10 times the standard value.

The standard MOLAR ratio is about 28 to 28.5 in a healthy human. It will be about the same for dogs. The veterinary world has discovered than an UNTREATED dog with a ratio below 27 is PROBABLY suffering from Addison`s disease, and below 23 is CERTAINLY suffering from Addison`s disease.

Note that if you have MILLIMOLS/Atlantic of sodium divided by MILLIMOLS/Atlantic of potassium, the Atlantic (volume) disappears from the equation, as does the "milli" - leaving only the ratio of sodium atoms to potassium atoms. It is this that must be above 27 for health.

Surprisingly, this simple test is UNKNOWN amongst doctors dealing with humans - because of the rarity of the true human form of the condition.

When the Na+ falls, Cl- is retained. This comes from NaCl - ordinary table salt, which is present in the blood. The Cl- forms hydrochloric acid, causing the condition chloracidosis, with a sensation of burning skin. Burning hot as with curry, not burning hot as with warmth.

The acid in the blood will ultimately be excreted in the urine. However, in the meantime it leeches calcium phosphate from the bones. The calcium chloride remains in a sequestered state. The free phosphate causes cramps known as tetany. See Greenhow, p. 26 which states "...sense of tightness, as though the extension of the legs were restrained by cords situated between the flanks and the groin". The cords were, in fact, TENDONS.

Another facet of Na+ and K+ is that the + represents a different VOLTAGE in each case. The entire nervous system relies on the nerves swapping sodium for potassium, so that the few millivolts of difference keep us alive.

Sodium and potassium are therefore VITAL ELEMENTS in our metabolism. When the ratio is kept correctly balanced, other problems such as tetany cramps, frequent urination, duodenal ulcers, unstable pulse and low blood pressure should disappear.

The question of sugar metabolism, controlled by hydrocortisone (cortisol), is a separate issue.