BORAX WARNINGS!!
Earth Clinic writes: WARNING!!!

DO NOT CONFUSE BORAX WITH BORIC ACID!
DO NOT TAKE BORIC ACID IN PLACE OF BORAX!

BORAX BACKGROUND
Curious to know why borax is one of the most important remedies to kill fungus and nano-bacteria? Us too! We asked our independent contributor from Bangkok for clarification on why borax is an important home remedy to consider in certain cases like dog mange, lupus and rosacea.

Ted's response: "There are a lot of evidence why borax is effective against nearly all forms of fungus, whether they be mycoplasma found in lupus, rosacea, dog mange, interstitial cystitis plasmodium parasites, Morgellons disease, or even pneumonia. I think borax medicine is one of the medicines most ignored, misinformed or even suppressed in our present society. The authorities have done it so well that very few know that the toxicity of borax is about equal to that of simple table salt.

I have seen almost daily, people dying of pneumonia (James Brown died a couple of days ago), a Thai actor got his brains eaten by a plasmodium, for example. The possible cure is relatively simple: borax. Every time I see people dying, borax always come to mind, and you probably see why. Even health experts such as Dr. Batmanhelidj (Your Body Cries for Water) got pneumonia, as so did Bob Hope and Buddy Ebsen (Beverly HillBilly). I think pneumonia kills just as many people, it's just that cancer and heart disease take greater billboard area. Because of the way the medical system is structured, heart disease and cancer is more profitable, and a simple magnesium and pH may have helped both problems in prevention and possibly cure (I have seen this on many occasions) for a lot less cost.

Below is one of the many interesting articles concerning borax, which mentions the use of borax against fungus, a well known fact amongst microbiologists but totally unknown to the public.

The second article mentions about the use of borax against the dreaded an incurable plasmodium related organism, a common parasites in human. Never mind about its own effectiveness when combined with hydrogen peroxide in the use of dog mange! Ted"

PIONEER MAGAZINE
Borax Versus Killer Fungus
January 1994

Conifer forests are threatened all over the northern hemisphere by the tiny, ubiquitous spores of a naturally occurring fungus called Heterobasidion annosum. This disease, better known as Fomes, has reached epidemic proportions in Scandinavia, and is a growing menace in the managed forests of Canada, United States, Britain, and Russia. Fomes rots the roots and heartwood of growing trees. It could be called the acid rain of the fungus world.

Supporting the UK's Forestry Commission, Borax Group scientists Kieran Quill and Jeff Lloyd are fighting back against Fomes, and discovering how to do so with maximum effectiveness and economy. Their principal weapons are Tim-bor (disodium octaborate tetrahydrate) and the analytical capacity of the Borax Research laboratories.

Fomes cannot live freely in soil nor can it infect live trees except through root contact or wounds. Its spores however can colonize freshly cut stumps - both the "thinnings" which are essential as forests mature and the stumps left when the crop is finally felled.

The spores are produced by hoof-shaped fruiting bodies near ground level at a daily rate of about six million per square centimeter. Because these spores can be dispersed over distances of at least 300 miles, Fomes can be considered ubiquitous in most managed forests. Once established the fungus can remain viable in a stump for decades, posing a continuous threat to any conifer growing or planted near it. Fomes can survive both extreme cold and extreme heat.

But how are healthy trees infected? Fomes spores germinate on the stump surface, whence the fungus gradually colonizes the root system of the felled tree. From there it enters the root systems of living trees that are in contact with the stump's roots, causing both roots and heartwood to decay, eventually killing the tree.

The fungus is almost impossible to eradicate, except by the removal of all stumps soon after felling - an expensive and rarely practicable option. However, germination of spores on the surface of stumps can be stopped by chemical and biological agents. In the past, this has been carried out manually by the tree feller, but now with increasing mechanization, the requirements have changed. Today a material is needed that can be sprayed automatically onto the stump while the harvesting machine is actually severing the tree. The material must give value for money, be easy to obtain, have low mammalian toxicity, be non-corrosive and environmentally benign.

Among several fungicides tested, borates have consistently given good control. Tim-bor (known as Tim-Bor® in North America) and borax are the only chemicals to have EPA approval for the control of Fomes in the U.S. However materials that are effective over large areas of North America may behave differently in northern Europe where rainfall, climatic conditions and forest management techniques could result in a completely different set of disease and control characteristics. In the light of this, the UK Forestry Commission and the Borax Group have carried out trials in Scotland with the object of determining borate efficacy. What is the threshold at which Tim-bor becomes toxic to the fungus? How little will do the trick?

Undiseased Sitka spruce near Peebles, Scotland were felled and their stumps were treated with Tim-bor at four percent, two percent, one percent, 0.5 percent, or with water. Twenty-four hours later Fomes was applied dropwise by hypodermic syringe.

The stumps were left to mature for a year, during which time samples of wood were regularly extracted with a core borer for borate analysis. At the end of a year, the amount of stump colonized by Fomes was measured on a one inch thick disc cut from a standard depth. Each disc was incubated at 10ºC to 15ºC for ten days.

During incubation, fruiting structures of the fungus emerge from infected wood. These can be seen quite easily under a dissecting microscope, and allow any diseased zones of the stump to be mapped. A comparison of the measured diseased areas on the sample discs provides a means of judging the success of a particular treatment.

All analytical work for the project was carried out at the Borax Research laboratories in Chessington (UK).

The results from this experiment indicate that at a borate concentration of around four percent, the mean area of infected heartwood was reduced from 22 percent to less than 0.5 percent. This represented less than one square centimeter, an insignificant inoculum. However, at concentrations of two percent and below, no significant control occurred. In an earlier experiment it was found that a concentration of five percent totally prevented infection. So a working concentration of four to five percent of Tim-bor is indicated for full disease control.

As a result of this research, Tim-bor is being assessed for full commercial application by the UK Forestry Commission, and has aroused widespread interest across Europe."

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PIONEER MAGAZINE

Of Cabbages And Things
February 1999

Plasmodiophora brassicae are nasty little beasts of uncertain origins. They may relate to the protozoa, single celled organisms which are neither plants nor animals, and are only a few thousandths of a millimeter wide and long. Most of their relatives in this microscopic world are harmless, but some distant cousins are Plasmodium species, which cause malaria in humans and Amoeba species which cause dysentery. Plasmodiophora brassicae's parasitic way of life is to attack vegetables of the brassica family, causing the debilitating clubroot disease. Now, evidence is emerging that boron might play an important part in keeping its effects in check.

Crops of the brassica family are of enormous worldwide importance. Arguably they are second only to cereals in their contribution to human diet and welfare. They range from the cabbages, cauliflowers, calabrese and brussels sprouts familiar in the western world, to a wide array of leafy and root vegetables widespread in India, China and Japan. The Chinese cabbage, for example, is one of the most important foodstuffs of the Orient. Much of the world supply of vegetable oil comes from rape and mustard seed, while swedes (rutabagas) and turnips are important animal fodder crops in Europe and North America.

There wouldn't be much of a problem hosting a parasite like Plasmodiophora if it didn't have such rampant and dire side effects. In clubroot disease, the plant roots are distorted by massive galls, which inhibit water and nutrient uptake. The grossly deformed roots sap carbohydrates from the leaves and deprive developing flowers. The foliage turns bluish-green, then yellow and then wilts: the plant is past the point of no return and nothing can restore it to health.

Not surprisingly, this is responsible for drastic crop losses and poor quality. It is also virtually impossible, certainly in intensively-farmed regimes, to eradicate the parasite from the soil in which it spends much of its lifecycle.

When Plasmodiophora spores germinate in the soil, the tiny organisms swim around and as soon as they meet a root hair they attach and inject their own cell contents into the root. The genetic material multiplies inside the plant, and it is believed that this presence upsets the host hormone metabolism and leads to uncontrolled cell growth - almost a plant cancer. Once established and now mature, the parasites release billions of new spores back into the soil. It is a very robust lifecycle which is almost impossible to break.

There are clues too that Plasmodiophora may incorporate DNA from the host - perhaps a reason why biological control methods or genetically- induced protection methods have not yet been found. The traditional ways of controlling Plasmodiophora, either heavy liming (that is, adding quantities of calcium), alternative crop rotations or better soil drainage, similarly have only limited effect.

This is where boron comes in. The element is an essential plant nutrient, and it is well known that boron-healthy plants are better able to resist disease-causing organisms. In the case of brassicas, the important thing is to give the plant a head start, and certainly enough boron to begin with can help it resist clubroot.

But this doesn't fully explain why crops which enjoy good boron availability seem to be able to resist clubroot significantly better. Researchers, led by Professor Geoffrey Dixon of the Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, UK have been looking into this puzzle.

They started out with three possible ideas. Does boron somehow reduce the potency of the clubroot invader directly in the soil? Might it encourage the growth and activity of soil microbes which then prey on the Plasmodiophora before they attack? Or does it actually fight the invasion or its effects within the plant itself?

The team now suspects it is actually the latter. For boron, which contributes so much for so little to plant metabolism, seems not to do the same for the parasitic protozoan. Indeed it works in the opposite way and actually slows down the lifecycle.

What boron and, less strongly, calcium (from heavy liming) seem to do is to reduce the rate at which the invaders mature inside the root and turn into secondary sporangiophores - the ones that cause the damage - whose mission is to release new generations into the outside subterranean world. Boron apparently doesn't stop the initial invasion, but puts the harmful metamorphosis into slow motion.

Whether boron is altering the biochemical environment inside the root to make it Plasmodiophora-unfriendly, or is encouraging the plant to retaliate is not yet clear. But the effect is the same. Brassicas are given more, and often enough time to mature and establish effective roots before clubroot tumors wreak their damage.

A 15-year long series of experiments conducted by the Strathclyde team has convincingly demonstrated that a specific application of boron to the seedlings at transplanting does indeed reduce the onset of clubroot symptoms and hence protects crop yields to a significant degree.

Species by species, brassicas vary in their susceptibility to boron deficiency, but generally they are rated as vulnerable to low boron levels for general growth and health: boron supplementation is, then, important anyway.

But the new message for growers is that, in the right amount and at the right time, it keeps clubroot in check.

TED'S BORAX FEEDBACK

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand writes: "Most borax I buy is a B.P. grade and a U.S.P. grade borax from a chemical supplier. Those are grade are often used that are pharmaceutical grade. However, those that are gotten from natural sources (e.g. borax) and go relatively unprocessed, that is unadded of additives or anything are often labeled 100% Sodium tetraborate or Borax. Without anything else.

My experience is that free heavy metals found in these product found in supermarket, are not as high as those found in more processed foods (baked goods are off the charts with me) and tap water we usually drink (my toxic heavy metals come from the drinking water and rice cooker), or even in more Organic foods and fertilizers which is very high in heavy metals.

Most contaminants from the products I used are heavy metals and they often come from frying pans, aluminum tea pots, aluminum rice cookers, iron pots & pans, or foods that has gone through a lot of processing such as fast food and chocolates, for example. Even Diet Coke is actually very toxic to me, if I have all the appropriate diagnostic devices to find out people will know the real source of toxicity which is from the benzene (sodium benzoate), bisphenol A (plastic degenerates into a pseudoestrogen Bisphenol A) and aspartame (degrades in the body to formaldehyde) and causes me to be diabetic and other sickness- long term ingestion may be more permanent).

I have actually been offline for almost a week being quite sick of neural disorder, from accidentally ingesting this product hidden in some foods they actually have added in the food at a restaurant (aspartame, sometimes they hide in coffee, but they do not REQUIRE LABELING - secret formula and GRAS status of aspartame), but never have I experienced any sickness from the use of supermarket borax or sodium carbonate labeled at 100%.

I actually have a dithizone tests and other tests of heavy metal to check for presence of mercury, lead, cadmium, iron etc. and most of the problems I have encountered came more from fertilizers, tap water, insecticides, water filter, certain pots and pans (cadmium, iron, aluminum).

The reason for all the fear of chemicals and legal disclaimer is that the seller is not given permission by the government for internal consumption even IF THE products are ACTUALLY SAFE if we actuall DO THE CHEMICAL PURITIES TEST.

If people have the money to bother to do the impurity tests a lot of people will be surprise to find that quite often the opposite is true, most processed foods and processed water, drinks, etc. are actually more contaminated. I have seen pools of aluminum found in baking goods (they create a sort of electrolysis and the aluminum ends up in the bakery products, baked goods, whenever an aluminum foil is used. People are sick simply just preparing coffee and tea in aluminum tea pots. I have actually found a simple way to check by using a small laser pointer pointing in these liquids and see tyndall effect (which are like rays of light you can see when you drive headlights in a fog). The clearer the rays, the more contaminated is the boiled water. So I tend actually to worry more about processed food than I do getting borax, or sodium carbonate from the source.

The other reason why I don't worry a lot from their uses is I always take EDTA, or no sugar no milk Green Tea to remove whatever heavy metals I consumed, which is quite often from the office water tank, rice cooker, and other processed foods, rather than sources from natural borax. This is a very slow learning process for most people to unlearn what they have geen taught and I think it is going to take many decades not years for general consumer to realize this fact. I am not entirely optimistic that people will realize this unless they bother to do their own chemical analysis and get the facts straight. The SYSTEM as we know it is a monopoly on medicine and they don't want people to stray off this area, even if THE SYSTEM doesn't work.

In general, if I cannot get USP grade, Food Grade, or Analytical Grade borax, I usually end up having to purchase those found in supermarket. I have little choice. I never tell anyone what to buy, it must be noted that I only tell myself what I can or cannot buy. What you do buy, you just have to decide for yourself. There's a good reason for that, different countries has different standards. However, my own take on the problem is they are relatively pure for most purposes since the quantitities used is actually quite small, such as 1/4 teaspoon per liter of water, so whatever contaminant in the parts per million is reduced fractionally of that amount to multibplied by .001 (about 0.1% percent) of whichever value of contaminant.

It must be noted that a lot of remedies I used is almost like 16th Century medicine and obviously 21st century products isn't selling anymore or hard to find. Therefore much of the decision, ulimately depends on you. If you want an authoritive figure to decide instead of you (if you trust him but I don't), then it is likely they will not recommend any natural remedies I post. Unfortunately for them, their treatment is actually killing me several times over, and I ended up saving my own life without much help from anyone else. That's at least my experience, perhaps, I am unlucky to rely on them.

Ted"

EC: The above was copied from the Reader Q&A section on the Rosacea remedies page.

03/11/2010: Adriana from Sofia, Bulgaria replies: "I go further and make my own soap bars with natural fats and lye. I use it to make my own liquid laundry detergent. The soap making process is explained on line. There are also soap calculators on line for proportions of fat, lye and water. Instead of grating my soap, I cut it into smaller pieces and put them in a 10 liter water bottle, add baking soda (about 200 g) and about 100g borax. Fill with water and leave it to melt on its own. Shake it well before each use. I clean at home with baking soda, vinegar, steam-cleaner. I use my own soap as a shampoo and tooth-soap as well. I do not use any chemicals in the house. To remove stains from clothes I use dry clay powder."

05/24/2010: Scott from Tweed Heads South, Nsw Australia writes: "I'm looking at a cure for arthritis. I googled the problem ans your site came up. What a wonderful place. Thank you very much for your no BS approach and of course the same goes for the active participants. I purchased a packet of Borax from the hardware and saw that it was a 'Non-toxic alternative'. This product has an Active Constituent: Minimum 980g/kg Borax. The container does not advertise any additional product or ingredients. I mixed ¼ teaspoon in 1 litre of water and shook it until dissolved. On tasting the mixture it had a very chlorine or caustic taste and smell. I decided not to take the mix until I did more research in addition to contacting 'Earth Clinic'. The research led me to 'Pharmaceutical Quality Borax' which cannot be supplied. Can anyone give me any information on normal Borax, Pharmaceutical Borax or and alternative to the treatment of Arthritis?"

06/07/2010: Skoddy from Tweed Heads South, Nsw, Australia replies: "Can someone advise?"

06/07/2010: Lily from Brisbane, Australia replies: "Hi Skoddy, I got mine from IGA the independant store, it was in a round plastic tub in the laundry aisle32 and is 99% borax, I have used it and it hasn't killed me. I'm wondering if the other 1% is just fillers, dust, and whatever comes with the borax when they abstract it. Hope this helps. Lily."

11/23/2007: Edith from West Palm Beach, FL writes: "Hi Thanks for this wonderful website! I was reading Ted's answers regarding arthritis and bone treatments. He suggests using Borax 1/8 teaspoonful to 1 liter of drinking water as part of the cure. Originally I am from Hungary and not very familier with the Borax. First I went to the health food store searching for it and it was told me I can get it in the drug store. After this I went to the supermarket and asked the pharmacist for the Borax. She told me I can find it on the laundry detergent's shelf. I have bought a big box of Borax multi purpose household cleaner. My question is this that Borax that I suppose to put in my drinking water?? It looks like people are using it for many different kind of purposes. I am using the ACV w. baking soda with a good result for two weeks. More energy less soreness in my knee. Thanks&Regards,"

06/18/2008: Stew from Berlin, Germany replies: "to the efficacy of Borax-brand boron salt, and concern about purity regarding being sold with mainstream laudry detergent. I point out Baking Soda, in comparison, which typically has no other ingredient /than/ baking soda, also commonly available in mainstream supermarkets. These products simply do not need anything added, and are sold widely. The application is more diverse while the product in unadulterated."

05/15/2010: Soozannah from Burbank, California replies: "Uh, no. Sorry but all of the baking soda you find in your local supermarket also contains aluminum. You have to get aluminum-free baking soda at the health food store, at least to my knowledge. The aluminum-free seems to be of a better quality and really fizzes up when I add ACV to it. Like a witches brew but it does wonders and without further polluting your system with yet another heavy metal."

EC: From: http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php?topic=14397.0

"In striving for clarity, baking SODA is (by definition) sodium bicarbonate, a chemical that is extracted from the ground. It does not contain aluminum nor is aluminum added to it in processing either by intention or through aluminum equipment.

Baking POWDER is manufactured with baking soda as an ingredient and typically includes a compound containing aluminum. Marketing baking soda as aluminum-free is simply a marketing strategy to play to consumers' confusion while charging more for it. As has been noted, no baking soda has aluminum in it."

More info here: http://earthclinic.com/Remedies/baking_soda.html#ALUMINUM

ATHLETE'S FOOT

1 YEA

[YEA]  02/04/2010: Dianna from Austin, Tx writes: "borax for athletes foot

after trying everything else you could buy at the store for his pretty much life long athletes foot problem - and not having results my boyfriend finally decided to try the remedy i kept telling him to try... borax - which he thought was poison him instantly but he 'trusted' the OTC stuff at the store!!! LOL

he wet his feet and then took a handful and rubbed it all over his feet.

he said they stopped itching immediately! he was stunned.

a few weeks later i asked him how his athletes foot was and he said: oh wow! it hasn't come back! that stuff totally cured it!!!

now he tells all his friends about borax ;)"

BORAX DOSAGES

1 WARNING!

07/25/2010: Tenderfoot from Las Cruces, Nm, Usa writes: "Deirdre - I've been using the 1 liter water and 1/8 tsp borax remedy for candida and it's helping, but not a lot. As I am a very tall female and not a light weight I surmised that my dosage should be the same as a man's, 1/4 tsp borax, since I am large. Could you please get Ted to specify the correct dosages by weight instead of gender and post it? Also, how long should we stay on this regimen? Thanks."

EC: Hi Tenderfoot,

Great questions, thanks. Sent to Ted for response.

01/30/2010: Nicholas from Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire writes: "Hi I have nothing against borax but just so you know what levels are harmful or have adverse effects I wanted to post this abstract from a study in the area. I would be keen to hear feedback, I unfortunatly can't access the study myself without paying to see it. So the limited information I have attained from this study is that you are safe to use borax as long as you can keep the levels at 175 ppm as (boron equivalent).

What sort of dose that is I do not know and would not like to go over it.

Now I have heard it is a great chemical for chelation of metals. Does it also chelate fluorides? This is really my main interest as fluorides are recommended to be kept below a certain level and evidence suggests I would be surpassing this. Not that I would no how to test this to be true.

One last comment the zeolite clinoptilite sounds brilliant for taking the heavy metals, I have done little research into it, all thoughts and responses welcome. Thank you

Here's the abstract:

Abstract

In Sprague-Dawley rats the acute po LD50 values for borax were 4.5 g/kg and 4.98 g/kg in males and females. respectively; boric acid, 3.45 g/kg in males and 4.08 g/kg in females. In Long-Evans male rats the LD50 values for borax and boric acid were 6.08 g/kg and 3.16 g/kg, respectively. In 90 day feeding studies, rats tolerated both borax and boric acid at 525 ppm boron equivalent. Dogs displayed no adverse effect at 175 ppm of borax (as boron equivalent) and 525 ppm of boric acid (as boron equivalent). In rats, high boron levels at 1750 and 5250 ppm of both compounds caused growth suppression, decreased food utilization efficiency, degeneration of gonads and skin desquamation on the paws and tails. At the 1750 ppm level, both boron compounds produced testicular atrophy in all male dogs. Two year dietary feeding studies indicated that both borax and boric acid could be tolerated by rats and dogs at 350 ppm boron equivalent. Rats fed dietary boron compounds at 1170 ppm levels showed toxic signs which were found to be similar to those observed in subchronic studies. Testicular degeneration was also observed in rats and dogs fed 1170 ppm levels. Reproduction studies revealed that rats fed both borax and boric acid at 1170 ppm boron equivalent were sterile. Both compounds at 350 ppm boron equivalent had no adverse effect on fertility, lactation, litter size, weight and appearance."

EC: The above-referenced abstract is from ScienceDirect here.

Here is ppm conversion chart: http://www.peteducation.com/category.cfm?c=0+1305

01/30/2010: Bill from San Fernando, Philippines replies: "If you compare the borax LD50 (median lethal dose) values to that of ordinary table salt, you will get some clarity as to the comparable toxicity of Borax. Here is the LD50 values for the oral toxicity of table salt in a rat study:

LD50 is 3000 mg/kg in rats.

Link to MSDS sheet for salt:
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/SO/sodium_chloride.html

So when compared to the LD50 figures for borax (from the last post) this means that borax appears to be of a similar toxicity to rats as ordinary table salt. Anything above LD50 2000 mg/kgm is generally regarded as Low Toxicity."

02/01/2010: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Borax was used to remove fluoride poisoning in a Rabbit study given toxic doses of fluoride. Boron is also a required mineral. The doses of boric acid (which is more toxic then borax) in the study quoted is estimated at doses of roughly 4.5 g to 4.90 grams/kg, would be equivalent of taking boric acid (which equivalent) in a typical 70 kg adult of 4.5x70 grams to 4.98 x 70 grams. The idea of fluoride removal using borax was based on a toxicity research on giving fluoride at toxic dose, rabbits fed on borax were protected from the fluoride poisoning. If there is difficulty in using fluoride or obtaining them, it's possible to eat tamarind which is also an good chelation agent of fluoride too, however, borax has a unique property in being less toxic then boric acid, and it's alkaline, but it's also a required mineral and normalizes hormone level. Different studies used higher LD50 on borax toxicity, but I used a much lower figures about 2 grams/kg, where the toxicity is equivalent to salt, which has a value roughly 2 grams/kg weight also. A chelation agent of mineral I can use humic acid, zeolite, or a mixture of humic acid and zeolite together also. However, humic acid interestingly enough lowers excitotoxicity (aspartate and glutamate) that's found high in ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and aspartame poisoning, found in many sugar free products, one interesting side effect is the desire to pee every 30 minutes or so throughout the day. It takes about 1-4 weeks to remove this extreme urinary urgency. Fluoride on the other hand has a suppressive effect, but both together cause (with aspartame) caused extreme sleeplessness and apathy at even low doses, found in fluoridation and fluoridated toothpaste. As to whether borax removes or chelate fluoride, the idea of chelation requires more chemical analysis at a molecular level, and i can't find a research study on that one. However, there is increase in fluoride excretion when borax for example, implying the removal of fluoride, and possibly chelation of fluoride. In which case the level of toxic reaction to fluoride is removed whenever fluoride is taken at toxic doses, and using the borax, for example, as the antidote. The idea of using borax is based on subacute doses of luoride poisoning, which is a common one given the excessive fluoride consumption, is based on this study:

Fluoride 1981; 14(1):21-29

Boron as antidote to fluoride: effect on bones and claws in subacute intoxication of rabbits

Elsair J, Merad R, Denine R, Azzouz M, Khelfat K, Hamrour M, Alamir B, Benali S, Reggabi M

Laboratories of Physiology, Toxicology and Galenic Pharmacy, Medical Institute, Algiers, Algeria

Summary: Rabbits were "subacutely" intoxicated by administration of 30 mg/kg/day of fluoride for 3 months followed by 15 mg/kg/day for a subsequent 3 months (F). Boron was given alone (B) as preventive and simultaneously with fluoride prophylactically (F + Bp), as well as therapeutically namely midway during the experimental period (F + Bpc) while fluoride was being administered and after it was discontinued (Bc compared with fluoirde interuption F*), at a constant F/B ratio. All groups were compared to normal controls.

Boron administered during fluoride intoxication or after its interruption, reduces fluoremia and increases urinary fluoride excretion. Skeletal fluoride levels are directly relatd to those of claws. They bear no relationship to fluoride in hair. The high fluoride content in bone in lot F decreases with addition of boron. It is still high in lot F* but returns to normal in loc Bc. Calcium content of bones remains normal in all lots. Posterior pad radiography shows a cortical thickness in lot F which is less pronounced in lots F + Bpc and F*, and returns to normal in lot Bc.
-----------------------------

If a person were to take very high amounts of fluoride, then you need a combination of other remedies including tamarind, and grinded seeds of tamarind, which is also used to detox fluoride in the environment, especially the tamarind seed powder, or possibly tamarind seed extract. Unfortunately tamarind is a food and is not a required mineral as in boron, so it's considered a fruit, but can also be used to remove fluoride. Tamarind is a common candy in Thailand and is easily available here and is used in preparing various food delicacy here in Thailand also. It's not possible to prove the chelation of fluoride per se, but researchers assume they do, and from a practical point of view, as a consumer, it reduces fluoride toxicity and subacute doses, and that I find it just fine for most applications."

02/02/2010: Robert from Martinez, Ca, Usa replies: "Question to Ted re borax dosage which stated: 2gms/kg.

For example, a 180# person would take approx. 6ozs of borax per liter of water per day for how long? Is there a maint dose? Also tamarind is avail at most asian markets as a paste which is sour or I prefer the raw whole tamarind in their pods which is sweet. Thank you Ted"

[WARNING!]  02/02/2010: Kathleen from San Antonio, Texas replies: "2 gms/kg is the TOXIC level, NOT the therapeutic level. If you check out the borax page, Ted recommends 1/8 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon of borax in one liter of water/day."

BORAX INSTRUCTIONS

1 QUESTION

[QUESTION]  02/08/2010: Val from Wichita, Ks writes: "Do you need to use a special water for the borax remedy? distilled? spring? filtered? bottled? or can you use tap water? i am trying to detox from fluoride but i find it a very big inconvenience to have to buy water, also we are on a strict budget and i am unsure if we can afford it as the family drinks alot of water ...

i understand tap water contains fluoride and that kind of defeats the purpose of using borax but that is why i am asking what kind of water i need to use then . thank you so much"

BORAX SIDE EFFECTS

5 SIDE EFFECTS

[SIDE EFFECTS]  06/20/2010: Lara from Sarasota, Florida writes: "I am on day 4 of the borax protocol (1/8th teaspoon in 1 liter of water, sipped slowly throughout the day). I didn't experience any side effects until this morning when I felt slight brain fog. At about noon I looked in the mirror and discovered that a blood vessel had burst in my left eye. I have had these before, but usually only after flying. I am guessing that this is related to the borax. I have also been regularly taking lugol's iodine (3 drops a day in water) for months but have never noticed this side effect. Anyone else experience this? I found some information on Dr. Weil's site about how certain supplements can cause a burst blood vessel in the eye, but nothing mentioned about borax or iodine.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400019/burst-blood-vessels-in-the-eye.html

I stopped the borax solution right away and am going to wait 3 days to pass before trying again. Will send update."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  03/25/2010: Siri from Chicago, Il writes: "Hi, I have been following Ted 's remedy for borax. I had done it last yr and suddenly got pregnant. It resulted in miscarriage. Now i am trying to get pregnant and want to alkalizs my body. I have a question regarding the side effect. I am taking 1/4 tsp of borax in 1 ltr of water . As soon as i drink 1 glass of this water my head starts spinning i feel a feeling of rush in my head. I want to keep on doing the drink , but would really apprecitate if ted or someone can throw some light on it. Thanks."

03/26/2010: Rob from Manhattan, New York replies: "1/4 tsp per litre and a whole glass is most likely too much. Try 1/8 and little sips throughout the day. When experimenting with this I found strong effects at this amount (1/8tsp per liter) and would only consume about half the bottle in a day. Also, why are you taking it? If to get pregnant there are most likely other safer and time proven ways."

03/26/2010: Siri from Chicago, Il replies: "Hi Rob. Thanks for the reply. I will try to do it slowly. I am taking borax primarily to detox as i had done 2 yrs back and found that it created an alkalizing environment and prepped the hormones conducive for pregnancy. Ted had replied to the same effect but unfortunately that had ended in an ectopic pregnancy. After waiting for an yr, I have been trying again for almost 8 months without any result so I am trying my luck with borax as well as lot of other supplements like manganese zinc wheat germ oil etc .

Thanks
Siri"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/03/2010: Tessa from Naperville, Il, Usa writes: "I would be so grateful if Ted could address this question. I'm at the end of my second day of taking 1/8 tsp borax in 1 liter of water for treating rosacea and like some others experienced, beginning this morning I could feel slight kidney discomfort. I wouldn't say the kidneys hurt exactly, but they're making their presence known. In all other respects I feel fine. I tend to believe this is a sign my body is detoxing, but I don't want to be too little worried :) Could this be a sign of detox or is it a sign that I should stop immediately?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/15/2010: Nj from Chicago, Ill writes: "today was my first try of the borax remedy. I was fine right until the end of the liter but around the end i developed what seems to me like pain in the kidney area. A couple other posters had reported this also. I will wait a day or so to see if it goes away and will try it again. Anyone know if this is transient, benign pain or is this dangerous?"

EC: Hi NJ, how much borax did you add to 1 litre of water? Thanks...

[SIDE EFFECTS]  04/15/2009: Paula from Coloma, Michigan, USA writes: "Hi, I've been using 1/8th teaspoon of borax with 1/8th teaspoon of sea salt in 1 liter of water and drinking it 5 days a week for the last couple of weeks. I'm now experiencing what I would call a hive like breakout on my face, neck, chest and arms that lasts for about an hour and then fades away. It started randomly about a week after I started taking borax, but now it's almost a daily occurence. I don't know if I should quit taking it all together or if something else could be causing this. I use to have it happen after drinking certain wines years ago, or after a workout...but now it's happening while I'm at my desk at work and it has my co-workers freaked out. I haven't told them what I'm doing because they aren't into alternative medicine as I am and they already make fun of how many supplements I take a day. Please help. Thank you."

04/15/2009: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "The problems I have encountered with facial breakouts, as this came from the fact that one of the person who reported this similar occurrence was taken estogen (Diane) and anti-androgen (androcur). Both the product apparently had a double dose of cyproterone. That caused a shutdown in the adrenals. To make the matter worse, the person also took a lot of whey protein to build muscles, that lead to protein coagulation in the body causing an acne.

In any event, one doesn't take borax without a reason. If a known fluoride poisoning exist, tor that a person has autoimmunity, or a person had rosacea, morgellons, will experience different effect.

If a person happens to have a Morgellon's having demodex mites, the borax DOES cause a breakout as the demodex mites to come out of the skin, killing most of the demdodex mites. Which is the mode of how borax kills the demodex mites. It flushes them out of the body. Same thing with certain types Rosacea, it flushes them out too.

Since I don't know the reason for why borax was taken, the two possibility that I have encountered are the ones I mentioned here. However, people can take it for different reasons and different reactions are encountered.

Ted"

04/16/2009: Paula from Coloma, Michigan, USA replies: "I am on Premarin due to having a complete hysterectomy 8 years ago. I'm only 37 but have lost the majority of my sex drive since the surgery. I was hoping the borax would help with the sex drive and to lose weight. I'm also doing the oil pulling and taking Apple Cider Vinegar supplements. Should I quit taking the borax all together?"

06/30/2009: Harmonious1 from Littleville, Southwest USA replies: "If, as stated, borax will move flouride out, then I suggest people who use it with flouridated water may be setting themselves up for these side effects. Flouride detox can be very painful, as I found out when I started taking iodine. When the flouride was stirred up and recirculated through my body, I had a lot of bad symptoms. And it takes a while for your body to get rid of it then.

I suggest using purified water, not city water, as it may be flouridated."

BORIC ACID VS BORAX

2 WARNINGS!

[WARNING!]  01/23/2010: Rani from Port Townsend, Washington, Usa writes: "Hi Ted, I recently became aware of Earth Clinic and was very excited about the remedy for fluoride "borax" and so I decided to give it a try...here's when things went awry. I went to my local pharmacy and asked for a food grade borax, if in fact any was available, the pharmacist told me he didn't have food grade borax, but that they carried "Boric acid" which he said was the"Same Thing" as borax. He went on to asked me what I was going to use it for, I told him I was going to ingest it as a remedy for fluoride removal from the body. He had never heard of such a thing but went on to look at the label(one side only) and it read "If ingestion of a quantity of 1 teaspoon were to happen, it went on to say, to make sure to drink lots of water. I always read the labels myself, but I did not have my glasses with me and I asked if he was the pharmacist and he said yes. so trusted that he knows his stuff, seeing how he went to school for 100 years to become a freaking pharmacist...come to find out after about an 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of this stuff (as recommended on this site by other users of borax...not boric acid), my son asked what I am taking and I told him and why...he was skeptical, but suggested that I should inquire of our naturopath. So before doing that, because I wanted to know immediatley, I went on line and found to my horror that it is a insecticide for killing roachs and a eye wash and salve for diaper rash and wounds, but that regular exposure from topical to breathing in the powder was toxic to humans...especially if ingested. Geez... I freaked out! I kept drinking lots of water and went to the ER, they checked me out and looked at me like a real nut and because I was not vomiting, having diarrhea, headache etc. they called poison control and finally sent me home with a "you'll Probably be ok and Probably no real threat to my life or kidneys, liver, heart, respiration, and nervous system damage. I am so upset and scared that damage has been done to my liver and kidneys that I will probably not know about for years( I am 61). "Is Boric Acid the same as Borax"? I looked on line and found that Borax goes by many names...boric acid and boron being only a few. I still want to rid myself of the fluoride because of thyroid issues and insomnia, but I need to be assured that the 20 Mule team in the supermarket isn't going to harm me. Thanks, Rani"

EC: We have a warning at the very top of the borax page NOT to confuse borax with boric acid!!

01/24/2010: Rani from Port Townsend, Washington replies: "Thank you for posting my e-mail. I can't believe I overlooked such an important bit of information. I am still feeling a bit queezy to my stomach and of course if I let my mind roll on this I could freak out and have a panic attack. But I got info from poison control, I also went on line and did more research, it could have been a really sad situation if I would have ingested more, I could have permanent kidney, liver damage or heart problems...and of course Death. I am more upset with myself because I am usually over cautious when it comes to medications, foods, beauty products etc. But on this day I was off my game and I almost paid dearly for it. I still feel a bit worried, but my recourse is only to wait this out...there is no antidote for boric acid poisoning, if your lucky with a large dose you may live...and many do, but for those others who did not survive it was a painful lesson for all. It has been a lesson that I need to stay awake and aware of what I chose to nourish this Temple. If you loose your house that's not such a big deal at least to me, but if I loose my health...well life's not gonna be much fun and I love having fun. I am going to attempt the borax in a month or so, just want to make sure I am not going to insult my body when it's already had a hit. I feel a little stupid right about now, but thanks for being here it helps to express this. Peace to All, Rani"

[WARNING!]  06/01/2009: Rosie writes: "I hope this message finds you very well. May I suggest you to change the heading underneath the BORAX remedy in your website: Boric Acid is not a synonym of Borax! It took me 2 days to find out my mistake: I have been drinking a solution of Boric Acid instead of Borax and I even made my husband to drink it... There is Sulfuric Acid added to Borax, then it is not a synonym for Borax.

We feel all right but please change your heading. I was a bit stupid and despaired and I didn't verify that information. The trouble is stupidity and despair is sadly common nowadays.

Kind Regards, Rosie"

EC: Thank you, warning has been added!

06/01/2009: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "A borax has a pH of 8.6 and is alkaline, but boric acid has a very acid pH! I hardly make any mention of boric acid except as a warning not to take it!

Ted"

BORON VS BORAX

4 QUESTIONS

[QUESTION]  04/15/2010: Chris from Boulder, Co writes: "Is it ok to take ionic boron, the liquid version

http://www.vitamincottage.com/ionic_boron_liquid_48_day_supply_by_trace_minerals_research_2_oz_s_153401_gm_-p-5349.html

to chelate fluoride out of the system and to add to water to defluoridate it?

i saw an answer to my last question i just sent, that boron supplements in pill form are not recommended by Ted. so what about this liquid form? it will definitely be absorbed in the body, and by water, so what dose should we use to cleanse our body completely? and then to fix the water?

thanks!
chris"

04/11/2010: Shaun from York, Uk writes: "Toughness of Boron

I wonder if the following is also why boron (and its salt borax) is (as otherwise), so helpful to one's bones?

"Ordinary T-shirts could become body armor"

http://www.physorg.com/news189884043.html"

10/03/2009: Crista from Pekin, Illinois writes: "I have been researching the boron/borax issue because I want to use it, but have been quite afraid because of all the talk of it being toxic or poisonous. So I found a sientific article online that states this:

"Borax is necessary in small amounts for plant growth, one of the 16 essential nutrients. In larger amounts it is poisonous to plants, and the range can be small. For peaches, 1 ppm is required, but more than 5 ppm is toxic. If the signs of boron deficiency are noted in plants, a boron supplement can be applied. Borates can be used as non-toxic and non-specific herbicides. Borates are non-toxic to animals. The LD50 (dose at which there is 50% mortality) for humans is about 6 g per kg of body weight. Anything above 2 g is considered non-toxic, and borates are only 2 to 3 times as toxic as aspirin. Therefore, you are pretty safe unless you eat a pound and a half of borax for a snack. Borates are more toxic to insects than to mammals. The boranes and similar gaseous compounds are quite poisonous. As usual, it is not an element that is intrinsically poisonous, but toxicity depends on structure."

J.B. Calvert, (24 November 2002). Boron. Retrieved 03 October 2009, from http://mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/phys/boron.htm

Sorry I am all about the references, plus this article has several quality references in it.

My husband was worried about me ingesting this so that is why I have done so much reasearch. I really feel it is safe, but even with this I am still a bit slow to try it. I will get up the courage soon. I just wanted to put this fact out there for all the people that argue about it. I think mainly I am afraid of the detox reaction I might have because my face has been pink for quite some time and if I put lotion on it or anything else it become very red till it is dry. I have washed my face twice with it so far though and it has at least dried up my acne. I also just used a bathroom cup to add water to some borax and then poored it on my hair. After rinsing then I shampooed. It did make it soft, although I tried to combine it with my body wash and it created a perm smell so I am going to do it by itself next time. Good luck everyone who tries Borax, but it is safe in small quantities."

[QUESTION]  10/03/2009: Crista from Pekin, Illinois writes: "I know I posted the quote earlier, but as I have been continuing to research, why not just take the Boron suppliments versus drinking the Borax? Is there a big difference in taking one or the other? If Ted or someone else could answer this that would be great."

[QUESTION]  06/26/2009: Kathy from Raleigh, NC writes: "How many milligrams of elemental boron are in each teaspoon of 20 Mule Team Borax Powder? I have been taking 1/8 teaspoon in a liter of water, but I have no idea of how much boron I am getting. I would like to get 3-6 mg. of boron per day.

Thanks, Kathy"

    

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