Borax Side Effects & Safety Guide

Definitely cut down dosage. Even a few grains a day can benefit.

Thank you! Should I also be taking activated charcoal? or whatever that is...I've read some posts below about that being beneficial with borax treatment.

If you are still having stomach pain charcoal would probably help.

If you are taking borax to detox, charcoal may be good to use too, except charcoal is kind of a pain to use because you have to take it away from other supplements and meds.

It's possible the pain in the neck and hump on your lower neck / upper back are due to a hormonal imbalance. Specifically too much cortisone (a stress hormone, which makes sense, as daily life is stressful, and pregnancy understandably adds to this).

Should you be noticing this hump coming back, if you can at all possibly afford to, see a doc (and I'm not a fan of having to see doctors, but sometimes...) and have your cortisone levels checked. Though we need some cortisone to live, it being too high (called Cushing's Syndrome) causes a mess of problems (including bone loss) that can get worse if not put in check.

That hump is a classic sign of Candida overgrowth! Borax will work for this, but you may need to add some additional supports for deep healing and detox.

chanca piedra for any stone issues causing pain, milk thistle, or a liver detox supplement, Kefir 1 TBSP or some gut enzymes from a good yogurt. molybdenum, magnesium, selenium

At night use some activated charcoal 3 caps or tabs and 16 ounces of water and put some castor oil on your gut and a shirt you don't care about and go to bed.

some other things that might help is 1/4 to 1/2 tsp baking soda dissolved in water 12 oz, make sure it's mixed well before drinking it. 1 tsp. Apple cider vinegar with some honey in water ...

read more on earth clinic boron borax section

That's what I do.

I usually take a couple capsules of activated charcoal when I think I am having side effects from something (especially digestive side effects), with plenty of water.

Also, 1 cup epsom salt in a warm bath for 20 minutes, especially to calm the heart racing down.

Hope you feel better soon!

I've just started taking a very small dose in a litre of water. It's my second day now and my heart is racing. Anyone else experience this and did it last long/slow down?

It's die off from parasites or candida I'm sure. Take activated charcoal and keep using the following day. That's what I would do.

You can always start with a lower dose and increase as tolerance allows! You can also start off limiting how many days a week you take it. Maybe once a week, then twice a week with many day in between then three days a week building up to something like every other day etc.... If you just woke up one day and decided to go run 10 miles or drink 4 gallons of water while exercise and water are both considered good moderation and building up is key. Just because something is good for you does not mean your body will like it right away or even handle it well! As I understand it an apple should have 20mg of Boron in it but today only has 1mg of boron in it. I have seen the apple bit listed as micro-grams and milligrams so do not know which one is accurate. So almost everyone is deficient in it. Since your body has been working with out it adding it in suddenly out of the blue could surely throw a monkey wrench into the works. When it comes to nutrition and supplements even prescription medicine it is not an all or nothing situation often you start low and have to work the dose up! So do not worry so much about the dose not being high enough or freq. enough. Even if your dose is not optimal it is better than not taking any at all. Compliance is always best if you have no negative side effects! Think long term!

I never knew Borax killed parasites. Does anyone have more information about this?

Borax is a 'surfactant', meaning that it works on the surface--think of a water drop on a freshly waxed car beading up. The wax prevents the water from spreading out and so the water's surface tension keeps it stuck together in a large drop. Soap reduces the surface tension and the water sheets over the car. In my opinion, if a parasite has a surface that repels attempts to penetrate it, then the borax acts to reduce that and, voila, the bug's defense is breached. Just my theory.

I am still doing foot soaks 3 x a week but my pinch has increased of borax soap and every time, my body starts screaming out in pain where I have issues in my health, lousy sleep and then I get stronger after that subsides and feel healthier and more youthful. I guess NO Pain....NO gain....also read that msm lowers boron levels so if you overdid it you might use some msm with vits c and molybdenum because msm lowers them too. wonder what else I don't know that is causing me pains.

Same thing here. I took (very low dose) of Borax for a few days and got kidney pain. So I've stopped with Borax, but the kidney pain doesn't go away :-(
Any idea on that?

Like any detox it's most likely die off, when all those toxins start getting stirred up they resist leaving the happy little home they've made. The symptoms shouldn't last more than the flu would.

To Jason.

Very interesting post. I have a serious systemic candida infection from antibiotics 12 years ago. I have started less then the 1/8 borax in liter of water and do fell like candida symptoms increased.

I am pretty sore when I wake each morning. Not sure if its the kidneys. My kidney lab (BUN) is one number under high.

I like Iodine but noticed increase hair loss everytime I use even at 12mg daily.

Any suggestion from anyone is greatly appreciated!

Becky

Do you take the complement vitamins, minerals, baking soda, and salt loading? I had hair loss, too, initially. I have a head full, now. I have been using iodine for 6 months. I use Borax, but not always orally. I add it to my bath water, too.

When u say u add 1t in ur coffee, do U mean straight borax or 1 t of borax solution diluted in water? Thx

HI U GOOD FOLKS DOIN,,,,,,,,,,,

After a few weeks of no borax, I have now concluded that my edema has no correlation with that. I just wish it was because I now think my problem is far worse than I originally thought. It is probably my liver. Of course, at age 80, you have lots of problems. Some of you have followed me over the years as I have grown. My edema tells me that I have a bad problem. We will again start our EDTA Chelation tomorrow. Cleaning out your blood vessels can not hurt. The next day I go down to Ringo, Ga to a new doctor that does ozone. I want him to address my right knee and we will then discuss my lower back.

Have had a pissin contest over the years about getting a homeopathic solution for poison ivy . I am going to develop a solution that will make you immune to poison ivy. I plan to produce a weak solution of poison ivy so any one can be immune to poison ivy. Yep, I will be the guinea pig. We shall see. If I do this, then I want all on EC to take on a challenge that they choose and make it work. Can you imagine what thousands of folks can do it they just set their mind to it? I can...... can you?

I'm a dreamer....... are you? ======ORH=====

Dear ORH,

With all due respect, we have butt heads but I cannot resist sharing what I learned. Over forty years ago I learned too many carbohydrates caused me fluid retention. Still holds true today.

Now, with unavoidable GMO's infiltrating our entire food supply we need to eat differently than we have grown accustom to. I have learned what used to have "no carb content" can no longer be claimed. Who has the money for testing to prove one way or the other? My body retaining fluid, arthritis fare-ups or indigestion is my barometer.

Considering your age, edema, arthritis and diabetes, I would caution you trying to find something to make us immune to poison ivy. Long term studies would be required to test validity.

I care.

Love, KT

KT, love you like a sister, but I have to have a process problem to solve least I end up in the top of a tall, tall pine tree. Went to EDTA chelation today and with all my problems I have not had a treatment in 3 years. You are supposed to have a treatment every month to maintain what you have already accomplished. We then went by our little farm to see what damage the flood had wrought. Well it took out a new raised bed, the fence on the South end and the water is still too high to tell the damage on the north end. Our green house plants are ready to be set in the ground, but the garden is standing in water. They will soon be root bound in their small cells.

I am in my glory as I have one heck of a problem and will have to think and work my way through it. I could cuss and throw my hat but that won't help a thing. My industry career was straightening out mills that were in the ditch. Once I got them running smoothly, life was boring and I then looked for another challenge. Right not with my health problems and our farm, life is about as interesting as I can stand. Oh yeah, slept with my legs elevated last night and my edema was slightly improved.

Thank you for your concern. ===ORH===

PS, here is a graph the Sewee Creek level at our farm. The Corp of Engineers tower is located on our property.

http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?gage=seet1&wfo=mrx

Dear ORH,

Vitamins B-6 and C are reported to reduced fluid retention. You might want to look for the B-Complex 100 as you get all the B's because I read where taking only one can cause deficiencies in the others. They are water soluble so you can't OD on them.

Love,

KT

There is an antidote to poison ivy. Jewelweed is the antidote and there is a company that sells a spray, salve, and a soap, I think.

Try reading the Boron Conspiracy article ( http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm ). It references the magnesium/calcium relationship as it relates to boron. I wonder if your boron regiment is causing calcium redistribution.

I've been using borax for about 3 weeks, at first I experienced some headaches and depression, but now an old broken toe (broke it 15 years ago) suddenly started to hurt, not the like the occasional ache associated with the weather. Now it hurts like I just broke it! I really think it re-broke all by itself, there's been no event to explain it. Calcium redistribution? Anyone else experience anything similar?

Yes, kinda. As I have been dealing with Bone disease for several yrs, my experience with Borax has been rather effective in killing a chronic mycoplasma infection but not much improvement for Bones as far as I could tell. So a few months ago I assumed I was not getting enough boron from the Borax and started supplementing 4mg with very good results.

Recently in my up & down cycles of bone disease, I too get an acute or temporary episode of bone pain which is later sensed as marked improvement in the condition. This happened last night as well as July 3rd and both times I was noticeably better the fallowing day, which leaves me to conclude there is a point of pain into as well as out of disease, like a gateway; kinda like the emotional hurts-so-good phenomina.

Take Turmeric to reduce inflammation. Other minerals needed for bones are Calcium/Magnesium, Manganese, and Strontium. Vit D & K are need also.

Yikes! I'm no doctor, but I would definitely suggest that you immediately stop taking ALL supplements and stop drinking so much coffee until you find out what's going on!! I'm not quite sure why you feel you need to use the iodine? Most of us get plenty of iodine just from table salt and deficiency is rare here in the U.S. unless you have some type of diagnosed thyroid issues going on. But seriously, give your body a break and let it do its own thing for a bit, and go get your kidneys checked out to be on the safe side. You can't buy replacements at Walmart!

Dear Ag, My guess is that your kidneys have been overworked from the vast amounts of... WATER you are drinking every day!!! Two gallons (7,5 liters) a day is way too much for your kidneys to handle. Half a gallon (i.e. 2 liters) of water daily should be enough to flush your system. Take care!

I respectfully disagree about most of us in the U.S. getting adequate iodine through our diets. I believe, from extensive reading I have done, that the opposite is true.

It could be that you have kidney stones and the borax may be causing the stones to move. I started taking Borax two days ago and then yesterday I began having kidney pain. I've passed kidney stones in the past (and I still have a few stones lodged in my kidneys) and the kidney pain I began experiencing from the Borax was the exact same kind of pain that I experienced in the early stages of passing a stone. When the early pain begins, I take lemon juice and olive oil. It will usually stop the pain. Yesterday I drank the juice of three lemons with about 1/2 part olive oil in a three hour period. The kidney pain is gone. I'm going to cut back on the amount of Borax I was taking. You may want to find out if you have kidney stones so you won't be suddenly and rudely surprised if and when you pass one. When that stone drops down into the ureter, it is hell on earth! It is one of the worse pains known to mankind.

Please go to the iodine forums on curezone.com and/or read Dr. Brownstien's book "Iodine, Why You Need it, Why You Can't Live Without It.". Read up on iodine supplementation and detox symptoms. The kidney pain is known as a detox symptom of iodine supplementation and is handled beautifully with the recommended protocol of taking iodine co-factors and supplements such as boron or borax, atp cofactors, magnesium, etc, and most importantly, the sea-salt flushes which remove the chelated halogens like fluoride, bromide and chlorine from your kidneys. If you only pull out the halogens from your tissues with substances like iodine and boron but you don't flush safely them from the kidneys you will overtax your organs and get some pretty unpleasant side-effects. You need the entire approved iodine protocol in order to speed healing safely. No need to experiment on yourselves, others have already researched and fine-tuned this wonderful protocol. Take care.

Good feedback. I'm passing through the hell on earth you say. Taking the second o third day with 1/8 teaspoon of B. But the kidney pain is frightening! Could u remember how many days it passed until the pain is gone? How many olive oil u took? and water? I dont know what to do but I dont want to stop B. thank you all :)

You can also take borax up through skin on your feet . Pinch of borax in 2 gal water, soak for an hour. Chanca piedra for kidney stone breaking. Take it easy on your detox, you will still get to your destination but with much less discomfort. I did one foot soak a week for a month and now I do two a week.

Guys and gals, I wrote this almost a full year ago. I've had intermittent kidney pains, with or without using Borax, as I miss regularly.

But.....I still had kidney pains. It frightened me. I use tap water due mainly to the daily amount I need on my job outdoors--for convenience.

I learned something recently, and really wanted to share it. In short, I'd be using less salt in my drinking water, even using iodized table salt when I'd bypass buying good sea salt. And as my salt decreased, my kidney pain increased.

Why?

I realized I'd had long spells where I felt good years back working outside all day, with very minimal physical discomforts. So, I decided to buy some RealSalt again, which I'd used for a couple of years. While shopping on Amazon, I saw a book called "The Salt Fix" by an MD who really advocated for using salt, as he did a ton of research.

How is this related to kidney pain? When we lose out on natural salt needs, we'll often turn to another white crystal--sugar. I have, numerous times. The author pointed out that sugar consumption is a quiet and rapid destroyer of our kidneys, which was news to me.

He advised upping our salt, and proportionately our desires/cravings for sugar would drop too. I've been using good salt for almost 2 weeks, and my kidney pain is almost completely gone! No more waking up, stiff on my backside, aching as I roll out of bed. I'm not eyeing every sweet morsel in my vicinity anymore either.

Who would've known? I didn't. But experience says this works! Taking enough salt has almost obliterated the back/kidney pain!

Thanks for hearing me out.

Try adding ACV - at 1-3 Tblsp daily to soften the calcifications in your kidneys. And look into overall mineral balance and dietary changes.

Also, adding good sea salt - like Redmonds brand to the diet for adrenal support.

In reply to Marie (Co) and others interested in trying borax.

If you read through the EC archives and the web on borax, you will learn that borax works extraordinarily well for some people, is very helpful for others, not at all helpful for some and is not tolerated by some. Pretty much the same as many other remedies and medications that people use all the time, there will be some people who get benefit and others who don't. Judging by anecdotes here on EC as well as the web, borax seems to help more people than it hinders, but this does not mean you should ignore a negative reaction just because others have found benefit with borax.

Itching and swelling are among other things, typical symptoms of an allergic reaction. I have a friend who tried borax for her RA, but even at just a small pinch of borax in a quart of water, she would get uncontrolled itching all over her body that she said was driving her crazy. In an effort to try and get the antiarthritic benefit that many people report from using borax or boron, she tried switching to a boron based supplement. This turned out to work quite well against her severe RA and she did not have the itching issue which borax gave her, however, after two to three weeks of daily use she realized that she was getting depressed and she had never had that problem before. She discontinued the boron and the depression went away within two days. She started on boron again once the depression went away, but shortly after restarting boron, the depression returned. She stopped taking boron and once again the depression went away. This clearly demonstrates that some people can not tolerate borax and or boron even though others not only tolerate, but get great benefit from these two.

Recognizing that your body is reacting negatively to any supplement or medication is very important and such a reaction should never be ignored, as allergic reactions can be life threatening. If you choose to experiment with borax or any supplement and you have a negative reaction to it, it is your responsibility and in your best interest to stop taking it and talk with your doctor to see what your options are.

It is good to be proactive about your health, but it is also good to be health smart and pay attention to what your body is telling you. On this forum, people report what works for them, but that is not a gurantee that it will work exactly the same for others and in reading through the various threads on EC, you will see that this is often the case with many of the listed remedies.

Art

Thank you so much for your quick response. I stopped taking the borax prior to reading your reply and felt better. Some swelling and stiffness is still present in my foot and ankle. It will continue to improve. I just want to mention I did a lot of research prior to taking the borax. I read The Borax conspiracy theory and a lot of information on Earth Clinic plus youtube. I would never start taking anything without first researching. Marie

Marie,

It could be that you are Magnesium deficient and need to take Magnesium continuously for few weeks before taking Borax. You will have to take the type of Mg with maximum absorption, like Mg Cl oil (massage on skin) or Magnesium Glycinate tablets.

Magnesium deficiency causes borax to produce all sorts of side effects. Same goes with Vitamin D. They all work together.

If you have already been taking Mg and Vitamin D from before, then this could be borax allergy.

Borax is a salt of boric acid. Salt is the key word here. Salt draws or retains water in the body, so, likely, borax is doing just that.

One issue concerning oedema, or excess fluid build up in tissues, if oncotic pressure. from Wikipedia....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oncotic_pressure

"Oncotic pressure, or colloid osmotic pressure, is a form of osmotic pressure exerted by proteins, notably albumin, in a blood vessel's plasma (blood/liquid) that usually tends to pull water into the circulatory system. It is the opposing force to hydrostatic pressure. It has a major effect on the glomerular filter pressure.Throughout the body, dissolved compounds have an osmotic pressure. Because large plasma proteins cannot easily cross through the capillary walls, their effect on the osmotic pressure of the capillary interiors will, to some extent, balance out the tendency for fluid to leak out of the capillaries. In other words, the oncotic pressure tends to pull fluid into the capillaries. In conditions where plasma proteins are reduced, e.g. from being lost in the urine (proteinuria) or from malnutrition, there will be a reduction in oncotic pressure and an increase in filtration across the capillary, resulting in excess fluid buildup in the tissues (edema).

The large majority of oncotic pressure in capillaries is generated by the presence of high quantities of albumin, a protein that constitutes approximately 80% of the total oncotic pressure exerted by blood plasma on interstitial fluid. The total oncotic pressure of an average capillary is about 28 mmHg with albumin contributing approximately 22 mmHg of this oncotic pressure. Because blood proteins cannot escape through capillary endothelium, oncotic pressure of capillary beds tends to draw water into the vessels. It is necessary to understand the oncotic pressure as a balance; because the blood proteins reduce interior permeability, less plasma fluid can exit the vessel. [1]

------------------------------

My experience with borax is like yours, it leads to fluid retention and generalized oedema. Being extremely salt sensitive is one facet of the problem for me, but low protein intake is also involved. Becoming vegan, I'm not eating enough protein which leads to low oncotic pressure and the following exit of fluid from capillaries into tissue.

I notice the difference when larger amounts of protein are ingested. Large amounts of vegetalbes, greens fresh and cooked help with diuresis, especially consuming dandelion greens which are know for their diuretic effect.

However, even when my diet is perfectly maintained, using borax [ as a candida remedy, which actually works ] within the hour I can feel and see my legs swell, and end with generalized oedema.

So, you may not have a borax allergy, but too much salt intake, or oversensitive to salt, as in sodium borate, or you need to have adequate protein intake. Take caution not to overdo the protein consumption which is not healthy either.

I'm considering trying borax remedy again but must use a diuretic along with it to, hopefully, counteract the swelling.

Wishing you the best of health, with thanks to Earthclinic for its invaluable help,

Sincerely,

Rosemary

Going thru something similar right now. 20 yr old injuries on a detox coming back. It's called retracing/healing crises and it's miserable. 6 weeks of hip and knee pain. Can't sleep.

Donna and Julie, why don't you try with MUCH less for a start?

You are taking far too much! No wonder you feel sick!!!!! Make up 1 litre of filtered water with 1 teaspoon borax - then take 1 teaspoon of THAT diluted solution and dilute AGAIN in a cup of water and take twice a day with food. Start possibly with one teaspoon a day and build up to 3. This is why alternative medicines get a bad rap and taken off the market because people overdo it. Also, for the first few days there is the possibility of the Herxheimer effect, where you might feel ill, it supposedly means the treatment is working. If you feel ill, stop for a couple of days and start again, building up slowly as you get used to it.

I guess everyone is different!

I started off by taking 1/2 teaspoon of borax twice each day. I went through a couple of days of flew like symptoms, a few days after I started taking it. I cut back to 1/4 teaspoon twice each day.

Now after 2 months, I have no side effects and feel great, mind you I also exercise regularly and eat mostly fat and protein except on exercise days where I eat more carbs.

People should be more concerned about eating that processed stuff and not so concerned about natural stuff that comes out of the ground.

How many people know if they're getting too much or too little calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, E, C, D, B, etc... Not many I think. I'm 56 and in better shape than when I was in my 20s!

If your not eating fish, leafy greens, nuts, etc..., then your fighting a battle with only twinkies in your hands.

Are you taking Magnesium? You should be taking extra magnesium and for sure with any heart condition. Borax does wonders for me but I also take magnesium and trace minerals in general. Also, one must get rid of sugar/high carb processed foods in diet.

What type of magnesium do you take?

For LPR or "silent gerd" try pharmaceutical-grade D-Limonene from Integrative Therapeutics at bedtime only and as directed at:

https://www.integrativepro.com/products/d-limonene

Take together with a measured teaspoon (5 mL) of organic apple cider vinegar in eight ounces of filtered or distilled water. Sleep with upper body at an angle. I use three pillows to accomplish this. A European square pillow and two standard pillows. One in back of the European square and against the headboard and the other in front of the European square and behind my head.

Do not consume borax.