This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his office, 322 Grafton Avenue, Dayton, Ohio, this 29th day of January, 1925, in accordance with request made by self & Morton H. Blumenthal. (Suggestion was not given, but the reading was volunteered following 4905-14, which followed 4844-3.)

Present: Edgar Cayce; Mrs. Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis; Steno.

TEXT

1. EC: Now, we have those conditions as regarding the proposition of exploiting properties as would be given as a specific for physical conditions that are detrimental to the health of the human family. These specifics given through the psychic forces, as manifested in the body Edgar Cayce, the proposition of exploiting same considered by Morton Blumenthal and David Blumenthal, these conditions we find:
2. Were these handled in the proper channels, there is the good to be obtained for the human family, and the expending of monies, expending of self, expending of all endeavors to be of assistance to others, when there is not excess of any nature, when there is only the good being attempted to be given, the returns in the monetary way are only the just desserts to such explorations.
3. As to how these properties are to be made, namely, that under consideration: Well that these be manufactured under the supervision of someone directly interested in the manifestations of such phenomena [Edgar Cayce?].
4. As to how this pyorrhea, or Gum-ese, would be prepared: [It was later [from 1925 on] referred to as Ipsab¹.]
5. To six ounces toothache bark, or Prickly Ash Bark, add 16 ounces rain, or snow, water.
6. Reduce by simmering (not boiling too severely) to one-half the quantity. Then add iodized, or salt treated with iodine, to the amount of 8 ounces; this stirred well in while the solution is very warm, adding at the same time to these properties 2 minims of Oil of Peppermint.
7. Use or place in container wherein the solution may be used by rubbing on gum with the finger, and the mouth rinsed with plain water after rubbing for two to three minutes. This solution should be used where pyorrhea has begun at least twice each week, until the gums and soreness is relieved. Then once each month. Should solution become hard from exposure, and from evaporation, add small quantity of water and the solution will be ready for use. Best that these properties, then, be put in small containers.
8. We are through.

BACKGROUND

1. Subject of 1800-1, "Pyorrhea Remedy [IPSAB]."
2. 1/17/25 See 254-19 in re beginning of ANI.
3. 1/23/25 Letter from Morton Bluementhal to EC, following EC's visit with family and GD to MHB in N.Y.C. for a week:
   [Letterhead:] William E. Lauer & Co. Members New York Stock Exchange 74 Broadway New York
   Mr. Edgar Cayce, 322 - Grafton Avenue, Dayton, Ohio
   Dear Edgar,
   Yours of the 21st to hand, and am happy you all arrived home safely. We are looking forward with a great deal of anticipation to the development of our newly started work, and are confident of its wonderful outcome. Somehow, I do not believe the delay regarding Wyrick is detrimental to us. I cannot explain just why, but that is the impression I get. Somehow, I believe this work has been developing from an infant stage and a beginning has not just now been made, but that the start began a long time ago. Since the work, in our opinion at least is a work of truth, it no doubt (if we are right) will be continued for the benefit of humanity by someone else and other investigators long after we are gone. Everything worth while, it seems, develops from small to larger proportions, and that may be one explanation of why we are not intended to jump suddenly to a large and wealthy institution. We will grow, we will develop and we will succeed! That is the only lasting manner of procedure if we are to establish on a firm and lasting foundation a successful organization. Of this, I am absolutely positive.
   The letters should be sent you shortly, the printing and multigraph work combined, are causing the delay. The literature is in the making and I am sure, with God's help, I will be able to turn out that worth while reading and in not so long a future time either. I am working very hard at that end.
   It makes little difference where you send the mail for the time being, probably the office, but be sure and address it to me personally. Regarding checks, I will advise you of the deposit I will make in the near future and I will have a check book made out with our name "ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL INVESTIGATORS" on each check, and will retain temporarily until more definite arrangements are made, the right to sign these checks. Of course, this is only temporary and may and will be changed very shortly. But since the arrangements are now in formative state, believe it best that I handle this end, until the organization be put on more definite basis or incorporated.
   After the deposit is made I will advise you and then checks may be made payable to the "Association of National Investigators" and should any checks be made payable to you, you can reindorse them over to the Association.
   Eddie has given us a good name for our new corporation to put out your Pyorrhea Cure, viz, that of "RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION", and has suggested a better name "GUMESE" for the commodity [1/29/25 See 1800-1 volunteered in re pyorrhea]. I find that one of my customers is a manufacturing chemist and will make the stuff up in whatever quantities we need, thus solving that problem. As he is dependable and our formula will be patented anyway, this will probably be our best plan of procedure.
   We will probably have to put the goods up in tubes instead of those jars, however send me a sample as soon as possible and I will start the wheels turning.
   Awaiting to hear from you at your earliest convenience and with kindest personal regards to yourself and family, I am
   Sincerely yours, [signed] Morton [MHB:D]
4. 1/24/25 EC's reply:
   I am quite sure you are anxiously awaiting the sample of pyorrhea cure. I found that I did not have sufficient of the medicine, or bark, to make the combination. Then I find also that I haven't sufficient data as yet, save as given for an individual, to go to work to make up two or three boxes of same. I believe the small size container, or the medium one, or perhaps the two sizes, will be the ones to use. I am going to get the reading on this just as soon as it is possible. Somehow, I have to kind of wait for the spirit to move me, as it were, on things of this nature, for I do not know just how to ask the question, for I know it must be specific to suit many different mouths. It also must be in a way that the product would keep without deterioration, and I'm not chemist enough to know how to ask the questions until I've had time to think of it a day or two, but these things will be attended to now very shortly. Then, we'll get to work on that part of the thing. I received the containers alright, and the pound of bark. Also received the forms C and D yesterday. This is pretty nice looking work. Be glad when we get them all together, for it seems we are coming again in touch with those who have at various times desired to promote the work, and for them to realize how thoroughly we have gone into it at this time, and that we have an organization, the best thing that I can show them is our forms of keeping the data as will be gotten, for so many, as we know, look for the dollars and cents and not as to whether science, or scientific people, could take hold of the data gained and make heads and tails out of it, for I feel sure the work will give that necessary to make financial gain, if handled in the proper shape.
   Now regarding the Pyorrhea Cure, I have sent you three dozen jars,
   1 dozen jars (small - one ounce) costing .50 per doz. 1 dozen tall two ounce jars " .55 " " 1 dozen large flat jars " .60 " "
   The questions is whether you want the one ounce or two ounce jars depending of course, on how much of the medicine must be used to complete the cure. Of course, it can be put up in both sizes but I think the one ounce tall and the two ounce tall jars costing 50 cents and 55 cents per dozen are the best for the purpose. All that is needed to complete the container is to paste the directions on the jar, and I am sure you can have these made up cheaply in Dayton. I have also sent you one pound of Prickly Ash Bark which cost 45 cents. Now we have so far -
   1 lb Ash Bark.............. .45 1 doz. containers.......... .55 Paper stickers (directions)...? Other ingredients.............? Cost of shipping..............? TOTAL.................?
   If you will fill in where I have put question-marks and add up the amount you will have the cost of your product. Of course, one pound of Ash Bark will make many more than a dozen jars and this must be allowed for. But if you can get the cost of one dozen jars you can easily get the cost of one jar. I can figure this for you, if you will send me the cost of your other ingredients. The cost of shipping must include the cost of your boxes and packages in which you ship the articles. First however, the trade name must be registered; and whether we patent the article or not, the formula must be kept a very strict secret or the minute we are found making a profit, others will make up our formula with a different name, changing the ingredients as little as possible, and they may get away with it. Be sure that none of your family in any way breathe a word of the formula. This I understand is the method used by all patent medicine concerns, their success depending upon the formula being kept a secret. Any employee or anybody who helps make up the medicine should merely be given the ingredients to mix out of unlabeled boxes. After we get a little along the line, I will come to Dayton and try and help start and work it out for you. I am sure that after our patent is applied for and our trade name registered, we can get a little office and I think if Mr. Linden Schroyer is honest and reliable we can put him in charge of the manufacturing.
   What do you think of the name "GUMCURE" or "GUMSTRIKE" or "GUMSTRIC" for the medicine and then in corporating our firm under the name, "NATIONAL DRUG CORPORATION" when this is done, you can use your large mailing list to send circulars and letters to regarding GUMCURE or GUMSTRIK or GUMSTRIC as the case may be.
   Furthermore, Mr. Schroyer ought to be able to put it in all the Drug Stores in Dayton, and also the territories around Dayton, and I may be able to find a salesman to do the same here in New York.
   The first thing however is to send me a jar of the medicine together with the formula carefully registered and I will attend to the registration of a name, & incorporation of the business. After that, we may proceed with the manufacturing and distribution. We will then add to our commodities the dentifrice for the removal of tartar from the teeth, the formula of which you no doubt have by this time. Please keep it very secret and send it to me registered together with the commodity made up and I will start the necessary wheels turning at this end, and then come to Dayton and start the business moving. It may be better to manufacture here in New York, keeping the thing entirely separate from the Institute. A reading may help us here, but first we must get commodity and organization [1/29/25 See 1800-1 volunteered by EC giving first general formula for IPSAB, other than in specific individuals' readings for their own personal use].

REPORTS

1. 11/72 Article in THE A.R.E. JOURNAL
   Copyright (C) 1972 by Association for Research and Enlightenment, Inc. The Edgar Cayce readings used with permission of Edgar Cayce Foundation.
   THE A.R.E. JOURNAL
   Vol. VII November, 1972 No. 6 pg 257
   IPSAB - An Herbal Remedy for Gum Problems
   by Tom Johnson and Carol A. Baraff
   Numerous readings recommend a solution called Ipsab as a treatment for the gums and teeth. It is not known where the name originated [See GD's footnote in 1800-1 Reading and in 1800-3 Background] - possibly it was coined by Edgar Cayce's source of information. In Cayce's day at least, Ipsab was not a commercial product [See GD's note, Par. R2, below].
   Many readings prescribing it also gave directions for making it, but these formulas varied somewhat. In a few instances it is stated that the finished product should be a paste, but the majority of cases suggest a liquid. If desired, a paste may be easily made by adding salt in sufficient amounts to the liquid.
   The Ipsab formula requires prickly ash bark, salt, calcium chloride, peppermint and iodine. Salt acts as an astringent, shrinking the gum membranes between the teeth so that the other ingredients can reach these areas. The primary active ingredient is prickly ash bark. This was known to the American Indians as "toothache bark," and Cayce referred to it by the same terms.
   In many cases Ipsab was suggested simply for general upkeep of the teeth and gums:
   "Using, then for the teeth and gums, to strengthen same, those properties as found in that combination [Ipsab] as has been given for such conditions through these forces." 257-11
   "Some local attention [to the teeth] is needed. The natural tendency of a disturbance in the circulatory forces to the sensory organs, as indicated, is to make for a lack of the proper circulation through the gums and to the portions of the teeth themselves.
   "If the solution known as Ipsab is used to massage the gums occasionally, it will make for a STRENGTHENING of the areas and a preserving of their usefulness. Once or twice a week this would be thoroughly massaged into the gums, and will make a great deal of change in the gums and the teeth. Do that." 987-1
   "Do use Ipsab as a massage for the gums and it will make a great deal of difference with the teeth, the breath and the general activity." 3598-1
   "We would use same [Ipsab] not upon cotton, for this body, but upon the finger use it and massage; not only the gums where the teeth are but where they are not! And we will find that the stimulation to the activities of the throat itself, to the salivary glands, to even the tonsil area, will be materially aided by the activity of the combination of the calcium with the iodine in same, as well as the antiseptics that arise from the vegetable forces in same as combined with sodium chloride." 569-23
   Ipsab, in diluted form, was recommended for the developing teeth of babies. The following readings were given for a one-year-old and a nine-months-old child, respectively:
   "Also during this period of the formation of the teeth, keep sufficient quantities of iodine in the food values for the body, as well as calcium and so forth. It will be found that a massage of the gums occasionally with those properties known as Ipsab will be helpful...as these processes are carried on through the activity of the thyroid operations in the body." 314-2
   "Q-2. Are teeth forming normally? A-2. These are very good. We would find that a weakened solution of Ipsab for the gums would tend to relieve the pressure and make for normalcy in the salivary glands, as well as strengthening the tissue in the mouth. This should be reduced at least half, and the gums massaged with a tuft of cotton with same. This also adds to the amount of saline, calcium and iodine, for the activity of the glands in mouth and throat." 299-2
   Ipsab seems to be especially effective in treatment of bleeding or receding gums and for treatment and prevention of pyorrhea. In one reading Cayce stated that some element in the prickly ash bark destroyed the germs that cause pyorrhea. Ipsab was also prescribed for trench mouth and other types of gum problems:
   "Q-1. What can I do about pyorrhea condition in my teeth? A-1. Use Ipsab regularly each day and rinse mouth out when it is finished with Glyco-Thymoline." 5121-1
   "The receding gums and those tendencies towards pyorrhea would be allayed by the consistent use of Ipsab as a massage for the teeth and gums. Also these should be treated, some locally, with the dentist's paraphernalia [and also] - the small wads of cotton saturated with the Ipsab and applied in the areas where the conditions are indicated at the base or edge of the gums." 3696-1
   "This will PURIFY and make for such a condition as to assist in correcting the trouble where there has been the softening of the teeth themselves - or the enamel on same." 1026-1
2. GD's note re Par. R1: "Wrong. It WAS a commercial product in 1935-36 under Health Home Remedies Co., licensed by A.R.E. and Edgar Cayce jointly. See A.R.E. minutes 7/02/32, 4/22/36. Prior to that it had been made under Edgar Cayce's own supervision for availability to those who had it suggested in their readings. It was never advertised or sold or offered to entire membership except during those two years of the affiliated Health Home Products Corp. After that the availability reverted to the Cayce family, Edgar Cayce either making up a batch or showing someone else how to do it. See entire 1800-1 through 1800-34 for background and history of the products which were made available during Edgar Cayce's lifetime and afterward. The Edgar Cayce Foundation SUCCEEDED Edgar Cayce in ownership, custody and making available the Edgar Cayce readings." [signed] Gladys Davis Turner
3. 8/01/93 Mr. William Field's letter:
   HCR-04, Bx. 195-C Brightwood, Va. 22715
   Gentlemen:
   Please excuse the delay in sending this check, as I have been ill. I thank you so much for the Ipsab. My dentist said I would have to have surgery on my gums, but in less than two weeks he was amazed at the "marked" improvement in my gums! He could not believe anything short of surgery and antibiotics would work, and was dumbfounded that there could be such a dramatic improvement in such a short period of time.
   Ipsab worked for me before (several years ago) and it worked for my little dachound [dachshund] dog... So much for the "placebo effect"! Her gums were really bad, and her teeth were loose, but the Ipsab completely cured the problem!
   I have recommended Ipsab to many people over the years, but very few ever ordered it because they apparently could not believe that something so simple would work.
   [signed] William Field
   P.S. You have my full permission to reprint any portion (or all) of this letter.

Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation