72 User Reviews

Better But With Side Effects
Hi, I started taking an 1/8 tsp in a capsule about six weeks ago. After 8 straight days, my palms started itching. So I stopped taking it for about a week, then started back taking it every other day for 2 weeks. At the end of the 2 weeks I started taking it again every day hoping my body would have gotten used to it. After a week and a half of taking it every day, I woke up (I take it at night before bed) and began to feel stomach cramps followed closely by terrible diarrhea, feeling nauseous, itching palms and feet, feeling faint, and I broke out in a sweat and got hives and whelps all over my body and face! Even my eyes were red and bloodshot! I was alone at home, so it was scary. I really don't want to stop taking it because for the first time in years I have had no arthritis pain! But now I am afraid to continue taking it. Should I stop all together? Take less than the 1/8 tsp per day? Take it every other day? Please help!
Pam,
Some people do not tolerate borax and you appear to be in that group and should stop borax altogether.
An alternative to consider is boron. Sometimes when people don't tolerate borax, they are able to take boron which is available in capsules from online supplement suppliers. Here is a typical product :
The originator of using borax for arthritis, Dr. Rex Newnham, found that using boron also worked well for arthritis and osteoporosis. You will have to find the dose that works for you. The following article suggests that 10 mg per day could be sufficient for arthritis and that might be a good place to start :
https://assureasmile.com/nutrition-2/preventing-arthritis-pain-with-boron/
By comparison, the 1/8th teaspoon of borax you were taking contained approximately 55 mg of boron.
Art
(Red Rock, Arizona)
08/23/2023

I would lessen the amount to half... Start low then work up slowly. I'm a believer in borax. I used it in my hair when it began to fall out dramatically after I got covid. In one week's use, it reversed my hair problem.... Yet I did get some hives and was uncomfortable.
(Calgary)
08/28/2023
Hi! How did you use it on your hair?
(Earth Clinic)
08/28/2023
If the original poster does not reply, please see the post under the table of contents titled "Bald Spots" on the borax page. The below link will work with desktop computers but not mobile (sorry). https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/borax2.html#bald
(AZ)
08/29/2023
Hi Pam. I read that taking Borax in a capsule is hard on your kidneys and should be taken dissolved in water.
(California)
08/30/2023
Maybe topical would be better? I saw the recipe where borax is mixed with water, kept in a bottle. You apply it where sore. Dry it a little, then apply DMSO over it.
(California)
09/07/2023
You are obviously taking too much. I am no expert but if I was you, I would try half the dose and see how that goes. You have already probably figured that out. Good luck.
(Minnesota)
09/18/2023
In your 1st paragraph you say '...in a capsule'. Why not try like Ted prescribes 1/8 tsp dissolve in 1 liter water which is an ounce more than a quart I believe. Anyway, drink thru out the day & after that just drink regular water. It doesn't taste great but better than drugs they prescribe for Arthur, Haha
(NC)
09/20/2023
Do not take borax at bedtime on an empty stomach! Take right after breakfast with food, preferably with some carbs. If 1/4 teaspoon in a liter of water a day bothers you start with a smaller amount 1/16 teaspoon or less and work the dosage up to 1/4. Still some people may not be able to tolerate any borax.
(Michigan)
09/22/2023
If you cannot tolerate Borax go to your local health food store & purchase Boron, 3mg capsules, works very well for my arthritis pain.
(Orange County, CA)
09/26/2023
Arthritis

I have been on borax, a quarter of a teaspoon and a teaspoon of MSM for two months. Absolutely no arthritic pain anywhere. I thought I was heading for a wheelchair but now I'm out and about and loving life. The freedom from pain is unbelievable if you've heard about it and you're teetering on the edge whether to try it, I will tell you jump right in its marvellous all the best 🌸
Arthritis

The sister of a friend of mine was visiting from Texas and her arthritis was really bothering her. I discussed borax water with her and after a little back and forth with her, she decided to give it a try. At two weeks in she said she could already feel an improvement and even more at three weeks in. She flew home at that point and said she would update me in a few months to let me know how well she does using borax. She is using the 1/8th teaspoon dose in water each day of the week with weekends off.
At the same time, her sister who is my friend and has osteoporosis decided to start on a regimen I had suggested for her which included borax water also, because borax is also good for osteoporosis. Her doctor wanted her to take a drug that required her to inject herself and she refused to do it so she asked me about alternatives. I won't know her results for some time because it takes quite awhile to help osteoporosis that is as bad as hers, but I will report them when she has them.
Art
Arthritis

Borax cured my arthritis like a miracle in 6 wks, more energy!!!
I have never left a health review before, but this seems like a miracle!!! I saw an article about borax on Facebook about 6 weeks ago and said "l have nothing to lose". I'm 64 and have been increasingly hurting from arthritis primarily muscle aches and inflammation for the past 10 years.
About a year and a half ago I developed sciatic nerve pain in both legs from (stupidly) replacing a bathroom floor, took me 2 weeks on my hands and knees - what a mistake!!! After many Chiropractic treatments I got some relief but not completely, last treatment was November 2022. After seeing the FB article, I did more research and found this website. I read the reviews on here about 6 weeks ago and decided to try the "20 Mule Team Borax" from Walmart using the quarter teaspoon daily dosage. I did this for about a week but then started to feel feverish so I stopped. After about a week I resumed taking borax but cut back to about 1/64th teaspoon, the amount from just licking my finger tip and touching the borax powder. I've been doing this every other day now for about 2 weeks. I noticed I was feeling better and better, but today I feel amazing!!!! I haven't felt rhis good in YEARS!!! I walked 2 miles today (I haven't walked that far in many years!!! ), then played basketball with my 11yo grandson, all with NO PAIN!!! I am not lying!!! Typically I would be aching like crazy and have to take lots of NSAIDS but I feel great!!! This is a miracle and this is why I'm leaving this review!!! Thank You Jesus!!! I will continue this small every other day dosage. If something changes I will repost the updated review.
(Dewey, AZ)
04/01/2023
Green drinks are good for you but not every day. A couple of times a week tops. It's very chelating. It's probably pulling out her nutrients.
(Scotland)
08/13/2023

I too experienced flue, fever symptoms but after speaking with some people I now believe that these symptoms are some of the ways that your body gets toxins out. Boron helps to get rid of toxins / bad bacteria that cause inflammation which can result in arthritic and other diseases. I have no pain after taking borax. I dilute 1 rounded tsp in a litre of filtered water which I store in the fridge in a glass jar. I then take two tsps of this in a small glass of water 2x a day, usually 4 days on and 4 days off. It also helped me with candida.
(Wilmington, NC)
08/27/2023

Follow-up from my 1st post 3/19/23. Today is 8/27/23, and I wanted to give a follow-up report.
I'm still taking the borax, I'm now taking 1/8 teaspoon a day, Mon-Fri, and none on weekends. I'm still pain free, no arthritis, no sciatic nerve pain in back and legs, and no carpet tunnel. I initially felt a surge of energy and well-being, but that reduced after about a month of taking borax. Although I was basically pain free, I started to have less energy like I had before taking borax. But I tried changing my diet, and so far I've felt better and have more energy. I've gone basically (added)sugar-free, wheat-free and corn -free, and I definitely feel better with more energy!!! I still eat some potatoes, some rice, fruit, but I try to eat half the portions I used to, and this has helped my energy a lot!!! I've cut out sweets, candy, cakes, cookies, pies, ice cream, cereals, milk, (everything I love! ). I've gone from 193lbs to 177. If you have low energy, you will know in 2 weeks if this diet change works! Do not try to go carb-free!!! It will ruin your metabolism like it did mine years ago!
(Kitchener On)
08/30/2023
Hi Mark
Just reading your post. Do you know that men take 1/4 teaspoon and Women take 1/8 teaspoon. I have been taking Borax for 3 plus years, stopping weekends and starting over on Mondays like you are. I am 72 years old and no joint pain.
All the best
Gary
(Australia)
08/28/2023
Hi ... can I assume the same result would be achieved by using a Boron supplement?
Can I also assume the driver to use Borax is the primary costs?
Borax is Boron (12% ) + sodium + oxygen, how do you compensate for the sodium? I'm thinking it would make my lower legs hold fluid ...
Thank you and sorry in advance for stupid questions ..
Arthritis

I wanted to provide an update on my trigger finger, various arthritic joints, and Ted's famous borax protocol. I started the protocol in early June and have kept up with it very consistently since then. Here are my notes:
1. It took 3 weeks to get improvement in my trigger thumb, but my finger joint stiffness improved within the first week or so. Things continue to improve slowly.
2. Even though the women's dose is 1/8th teaspoon borax in 1 liter of water, the men's dosage, 1/4 teaspoon, seems to be what I need.
3. For the first 3 months, I could NOT do 5 days on and 2 days off because my thumb would start to get sore and stiff again after 1 day off the protocol. However, I am now able, in my 4th month, to take a day off here and there.
4. I use distilled water and add trace minerals to it in addition to the 1/4 teaspoon of borax.
Hope this helps. If borax isn't helping you, consider upping the dosage.
And stick with it for a while. Don't give up on it too soon.
I think the over 50 crowd (myself included) probably needs high-dose boron, quite frankly.
(Little Elm, tx)
08/18/2023
(VA)
08/18/2023
Hi Tricia,
I slacked off on adding the trace mineral drops after a while, but here is the one I used: https://www.amazon.com/Trace-Minerals-Research-Concentrace-Mineral/dp/B005BP5UCM/
Thankfully, borax has continued to work incredibly well. I can still bend my thumbs without any issues. Two days ago, my previously bad thumb (the one that I couldn't bend over a year ago) was hit very hard during karate training and hurt like heck, but I went home and took a pinch of borax right away. Two days later, I can't tell it was hit. The soreness is completely gone. Amazing mineral!
(london)
08/20/2023
Hi Deirdre,
Obviously the borax you use works. Would you be kind enough to post the link from where you bought the borax?
I believe that the source of borax matter and the people who report that it does not work for them have a low quality borax source.
Thank you
EC: Hi Antoine,
I use 20 Mule Team borax found in the laundry section of a local grocery store. Not available in the UK unless you import it from eBay.
Arthritis

I put about 2-3 oz boraxo in my daily bathwater. The skin is an organ too so it gets absorbed that way. No ill effects...once I ran out and went without Boraxo for about a week and the pain started to come back. As soon as I started using it again the pain and stiffness went away.
(Greece)
02/13/2023
Arthritis

I had previously reported about a friend who was able to effectively mitigate her osteoarthritis by taking borax to the point of being pain free for many years. About 3 years ago, she developed anemia and her doctor was unable to determine the cause of the anemia at that time, so he told her to stop using borax in case that was the cause.
About 6 months after stopping borax, her osteoarthritis returned and quickly became much worse than ever before. She told me that if she could do it all over again, she would have never stopped taking borax, even if it were the cause of her anemia because she said she is so miserable now, she would rather have tried to deal with the anemia through natural means. It turned out that borax was not the cause of her anemia so she decided to resume using it to try and alleviate her severe osteoarthritis again. Unfortunately, borax is no longer working for that purpose for her.
She is mad at her doctor for having told her to stop taking borax, but that anger is pointless now. In the meantime I continue to have her try other remedies for her OA, but because of her advanced age (80's) and using mostly green drinks for her meals, she is unable to tolerate other remedies as they all seem to cause her severe indigestion, nausea diarrhea and vomiting, even the remedies that she had previously taken with no problems.
My take away from my friend's predicament is that if borax is working well to keep your arthritis in remission, think long and hard before you decide to stop it for any reason. This also adds further confirmation to the idea that borax does not work for everybody all of the time, as I have previously seen in other friends.
Art
(US)
09/08/2022
Chamomile is believed to benefit osteoporosis even after menopause.
It may be that she is being exposed to greater fluoride levels than before, and it will simply take time for the borax to clear out the new fluoride. Perhaps her dr gave her fluoride believing it would benefit her bones.
Psych meds may contain fluoride.
(CA)
10/10/2022
Hi Art,
I hate to say this, but I recently took a Rapid Gut Reset online course and those green juice drinks could be exacerbating the issue. I know we've been told how great they are, but if you do a bit of research they are loaded with lectins and oxalates, the oxalates are the really bad ones as they settle in the joints and can cause loads of pain. They make them to keep the bugs from eating them (smart yea?) and for the bugs it's like shards of glass, but for us our mouths and teeth are so big that we just gulp them down and the body deposits them in joints and muscles.
Edy,
Thank you for the interesting insight on green drinks! I will pass the information along to my friend, but she is a true believer in her green drinks so I know it is going to be an uphill battle to get her to listen to anything not in agreement with her green drinks.
Art
(Dewey AZ)
12/14/2022
Is Borax and DE safe to take if I have a joint replacement? Thank you.
(FL)
01/11/2023
Tell her to look up oxalates and anemia. It's the oxalates in the green drinks that hinder absorption of iron.
(Bc Canada)
02/11/2023
Lugols iodine
(San Diego)
04/01/2023
According to The Copper Revolution most people who are "anemic" are really deficient in copper and the copper/iron balance is upset. Copper supplements are easy to find. It is not toxic. My husband and I each take 4-6 mg per day.
(Miami)
04/04/2023
Your body could be intentionally lowering your iron. Don't mess with it without knowing more. Find the Anemia of chronic disease article.
(Port Richey, Fl)
06/29/2023
My knee and hip arthritis went away by taking all processed foods out of my diet.
Arthritis

Better But With Side Effects
I have had congestion in one ear and sinus cavity off and on for a long while. Nothing has helped remove it. It has never been extreme or painful, more an annoyance.
I began taking Borax over a week ago primarily because of the bone and joint support it provides, but immediately noticed my lungs feeling clearer and in general, my body felt great and very responsive.
Then on day five, I noticed the congestion in my ear getting worse than it has ever been and woke the next day with it so bad, my teeth and gums on that side are extremely painful and I have a low grade fever. This has now gone one for about five days. My feeling is that it my be symptoms of the issue detoxing from my system and getting worse before better, but wanted to ask for any insight.
I've mixed two teaspoons of Borax into a liter of water and take two teaspoons of that distillation daily in water.
Thanks
(NC)
08/31/2022
Hi Elaine, borax may be what is causing it, BUT right now, trees and flowers are releasing a lot of pollen, and that could aggravate any existing sinus/ear/eye condition. If this is the case, an air filter inside will help. You can check the pollen count in your area at weather.com.
I would go with pollen first before borax as the cause... In my neighborhood, my car is covered in tree pollen every few hours!
(IL)
10/11/2022
I have had good luck with this homeopathic product for my problem left ear and sinus issues, "Clear Sinus & Ear, Homeopathic" Https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Sinus-Capsules-Homeopathic-Formula/dp/B07QQVLB73 I only use them until it clears up, not all the time. I also bought ear plugs, "Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs" and use one in the left ear on windy days. Getting wind, especially cold, in that ear causes it to get stuffy again. If it's bad enough I can have some dizziness but not pain. When that happens lying on my left side for a couple of hours seems to drain the ear and stop the dizziness. Doctor didn't have any remedy for it, so I'm self medicating.
(New Brighton, MN)
12/16/2022
My husband takes Clear Sinus and Ear and has good results when using it.
(IL)
12/16/2022
That's great. Thanks for sharing.
Arthritis

I was diagnosed with arthritis in my back by a chiropractor. he said there was nothing that I could do about it. I investigated and found articles on Borax.... I started taking it every morning. it was scary at first, taking a cleaner.
on the fifth day, I got out of bed and wow! no pain! I've been taking it for 10 years, every day. no issues. Doctors and nurses are amazed when I tell them I take it daily. it works!
(Holland, MI)
11/28/2022
To Scott V (Grand Rapids, MI),
Can you tell me how much you're taking and HOW you're consuming it?
(pasadena California)
06/19/2023
(ME)
07/18/2023
Arthritis

I took a large capsule size of borax for arthritis and experienced brain fogginess and slight dizziness. I believe I have some level of fluorosis and am trying borax for the accompanying joint pain.
07/13/2022
Hi Basia,
As you may know, large amounts of borax powder (aka 20 Mule Team) taken all at once are contraindicated. Are you referring to a boron supplement? The body needs only small amounts of borax in water sipped throughout the day, not a large amount all at once which may be toxic.
Read the recipes and feedback on EC's borax page. We now have almost 20 years of feedback from readers on borax, starting with Ted's borax dosage from 2004 of 1/4 teaspoon for men and 1/8 teaspoon for women in 1 liter of water sipped throughout the day, 5 days on, 2 days off.
(North Carolina, USA)
07/14/2022
You may have taken too much too quickly.
(Lexington)
09/04/2022
Be careful, detoxing re-releases toxins into the blood to be filtered out and passed through kidneys, liver, bladder, etc. if you don't go slow and steady it can cause poisoning side effects especially since fluoride is a neurotoxin. You don't want all of it in your bloodstream at once.
(Jacksonville Florida)
02/19/2023
Maybe you aren't supposed to take it undiluted.
Arthritis

A good friend of mine has been having arthritic pain in her hands and fingers for years and asked me if I had any suggestions. I explained to her about borax and different forms of arthritis and suggested she start by using homemade borax lotion since she was adverse to taking borax orally.
That helped reduce her pain level, but still the pain persisted after months of daily use. Next I suggested Deirdre's DMSO / Borax topical blend. This was more effective than the borax lotion, but she still had pain in both hands and her fingers would still lock in place such as when she was holding her steering wheel while driving and she would have to pry them open which she said was very painful and they would often make a loud popping noise when she would pry them open, which she said was very painful to do.
After explaining that the borax was helping and that she simply wasn't getting enough to the affected joints, she finally agreed to give oral borax a test. She agreed to use Ted's dose for women of 1/8th teaspoon for 4 or 5 days of the week while taking weekends off.
After about three weeks of use, she related that her hands had further reduced pain, but her fingers were still locking when she would drive. After a month of use she told me that there were areas of her hands, the padded areas, that were no longer painful and her fingers also had less pain, but here fingers were still locking.
After 5 weeks of use, she said that the pain level continues to very slowly diminish, but more importantly, she told me that she was now having days where her fingers aren't locking and popping! She is starting her 6th week of oral borax each of 4 to 5 days per week and she said the pain is at a new all time low and her fingers no longer seem to be locking up on her. She also said that her knees which would occasionally cause her some pain had not given her any pain lately. She is also knitting again which had gotten to painful to do as she liked to do. She said she can push and pull with her hands again without pain, making her hands much more functional again!
She no longer has a fear of oral borax at Ted's suggested dose of 1/8th teaspoon in a quart of water each day for 4 or 5 days per week. I reminded her that the original founder of borax for arthritis, Dr. Rex Newnham said that in more severe cases of arthritis it can take up to 3 to 4 months to reach the point where borax has done all it can to relieve your arthritis. I also reminded her that borax is helpful for staving off osteopenia and osteoporosis. She said she plans to continue taking it for the rest of her life!
Art
This is a question for Art.
Background: I've been diagnosed with osteopenia, & some age-related osteoarthritis, and am mostly non-symptomatic especially when I'm consistent in completely avoiding sugar, dairy, and "bad" carbs! I'm 67 and a post-kidney transplant patient. This was a pre-emptive transplant back in 2016 meaning I never had to go on dialysis. My sister donated one of her kidneys. I'm in generally very good health, and per my last yearly follow-up appt with my transplant coordinator, my blood work (kidney function, etc.) has been excellent over these past 6 years. She also stated that since I'm a perfect match with my sister (based on certain markers), I virtually would never run the risk of rejecting the new kidney, and thus slightly decreased my immunosuppressant doses.
My question: In your opinion, would it be "safe" for me to follow this Borax protocol for women? This would be the 1/8 tspn of Borax per liter of water sipped throughout the day for the recommended amount of days.
Of course I would check with my transplant coordinator first, as I've always done when wanting to take a new supplement.
Thanks for all your input to EC!
Wendy,
This is a complicated subject.
Judging by the available studies, which are very limited, there could be a risk for kidney issues at high enough dosing. That would tend to make me look at borax and boron as last ditch supplements for you, but you can talk to your transplant coordinator or doctor about possibly using boron at their highest allowable dose. Boron has shown anti-arthritic activity and anti-osteoporosis activity in people also. That seems like it would be a safer option than borax, but your doctor's approval would definitely be needed.
If your medical team says no to borax and boron, another consideration would be a supplement that has shown kidney protective qualities as well as a potent anti-inflammatory, anti osteoarthritis and anti-osteoporosis activities. You could consider a higher bioavailable liposome form of curcumin such as Meriva. While it is not as antiarthritic as borax, it does have anti-osteoporosis effects, it also has multiple protective effects throughout the body and your medical team may be more open to its use because of these multiple health protective activities that it has displayed in hundreds of studies. Curcumin doesn't stop osteoarthritis the way borax can, but it can significantly reduce the damaging inflammation and oxidative stress that it causes and consequently, significantly reduce joint damage, potentially making it possible for you to live with osteoarthritis indefinitely. Curcumin has shown benefits in transplant cases. Curcumin and Meriva have a very good safety profile. The downside to curcumin is it has shown reactivity with Tacrolimus, a common transplant drug.
Another option is to use higher dose lysine, vitamin C and glycine as a means to replace damaged joint material at a rate faster than the rate of joint destruction from osteoarthritis, but this is a little controversial and your medical team may not be open to this idea, but a definite consideration if they are.
Another consideration is melatonin which has a very good safety profile, may be beneficial in transplantation cases, has shown protective effects against the articular damage caused by osteoarthritis, is a potent ani inflammatory, has anti osteoporosis activity and is also protective of the kidneys while having very potent antioxidative stress qualities which seems like significant positives in your situation.
Those are the ideas that come to mind off the top of my head for your situation, Wendy. Being a transplant recipient, is a special circumstance that can make taking supplements a much more complicated proposition. In any case, you can run these ideas by your transplant team and doctor to see if they are open to any of these options.
Highly potent prescription biologics are sometimes used for osteoarthritis, but in transplant patients who are already taking drugs to lower their immune system, the biologics add to this immune lowering effect in order to reduce the osteoarthritis inflammation and damage. Consequently, the chance for infections increases, so it would be nice to avoid biologics and their associated complications. On the positive side, biologics may reduce the potential for osteoporosis.
Art
(New Brighton, MN)
12/16/2022
Wendy,
Check out this information, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34677681/ This article, in my opinion, states that boron, which is what borax is, is very beneficial for kidney transplant patients. If you are allowed to take anti rejection drugs and antibiotics, boron, as a natural supplement, should be as safe or safer than those toxic Pharma drugs.
(Dublin, OH)
07/16/2022
Thank you so much Art, for your very helpful and comprehensive reply!
(Boston)
07/07/2022
I have lost faith in doctors after having them prescribe medications that cause worse symptoms than the actual ailment. I have found tremendous amounts of help on Earth Clinic and I have been telling almost everyone I know. I wish I knew about this website years ago. Thank you Earth Clinic and all that participate. Give back, tell your story.

Ted's 1/8 teaspoon of borax in 1 liter of water dosage for women is working incredibly well for my stiff hands. It has slightly helped the stiffness of my trigger thumb which is almost now locked into a straight position after a 2nd cortisone shot wore off in April.
I drink about 1/2 liter per day of the borax solution and that seems to be enough at alleviating stiff joints. I did have a severe detox reaction the first few days of drinking it - mostly stomach pain, which I cured by taking activated charcoal.
Highly recommend activated charcoal for anyone going through a detox or for stomach pain. 2-3 charcoal capsules and plenty of water. Take them at least 1 hour before or after other supplements and/or food.
(Orange County, ca)
11/26/2022
What is the strength of the charcoal and do u recommend a brand?
(Asheville)
11/27/2022
Hi Kathleen,
I used Nature's Way - 560 mg per serving. I also really like the Charcoal House brand. They have been selling Activated Charcoal for a long time. You can find both on Amazon.
I use charcoal made from organic bamboo from https://healthfoodthailand.com/en/charcoal-powder-bamboo-100-gram.html
Arthritis

I have been taking Borax now for several years after reading an Australian doctor's trial result. It has certainly reduced my arthritis symptoms in my hands and if I miss a dose for a few days, the pain quickly returns.
I was unable to knit for many years, now it is easy again. I would recommend it.
(Victoria)
06/14/2023
I really want to try Borax. I have a container of Bare Essentials from the local supermarket. I've looked up the MSDS online for both Bare Essentials brand and borax in general and all the responses are the same. Do not invest, harmful to inhale and the foetal abnormalities warning too. Just wondering where to see the results you're referring to please.

I was concerned about using a full 1/8th of Borax so used a pinch in my coffee once a day for about 3 days now. I had some reduction in finger and elbow swelling but the bottom of my feet are still swollen. I was thinking of upping the dose until I noticed the solution I prepared in a glass bottle with Borax and water to apply topically has now crystalized! I had it practically dissolved and woke up this morning to find crystalized Borax in the bottom of the bottle. Is it crystalizing in our bodies when we take it internally???!!!!
(Tucson, AZ)
05/26/2022
Osteoarthritis has taken over my mature body (am over 29 😂) & nothing seems to work to help me. I'd like to try Borax but am afraid since it's a household cleaner & it says we must use gloves to handle it. So, how can I trust it inside of my body by drinking it in my coffee?? Sounds scary to me! I've tried everything I knew & learned, but am at the end.
Maria,
I understand you feeling fearful about taking borax. I felt the same before I started. I bought the box and it sat on my shelf for 3 months before I finally decided to try it at the dose recommended by Ted. The arthritic pain won out and I took it. I don't know how it will be for other people with arthritis, but it was life changing for me, as in I was able to function normally with no pain again. If read about it on EC and around the internet, you will see that many people with arthritis have greatly benefited from borax.
Art
(PNW)
05/30/2022
"For Women: 1/8 teaspoon of borax dissolved in 1 Liter of water, sipped throughout the day. This is taken 5 days on and 2 days off."... "To maximize the benefit of borax for your arthritis, do drink plenty of water with it."... "To avoid the risk of side effects, start with less at first to make sure the remedy suits you."
Maria, This is a relatively conservative dose. One liter is over 4 cups of water. This is a dilution of 3X more than of a single cup/glass, which is significant. And coffee is not the same as water, especially to the body. Therefore, I don't suggest starting with a pinch in a cup of coffee as it's much more concentrated. Simply remember, the above recommendation by Ted is to take lots of water while taking this. Slow & steady wins the race :)
(New Brighton, MN)
12/16/2022
Maria,
I would only use the 20 Mule Team borax. It is basically boron, which is a supplement you can easily purchase. So many have had success with it and that's good enough for me!
(York, PA)
01/16/2023
Check the toxicity level chart of elements and compounds. You will see that the toxicity level of borax is identical to table salt.
Arthritis

Thought I would share my new borax method with the EC community as it's working so phenomenally well, and fast, I am quite stunned actually. I have been applying to my lower spine where I was having severe tailbone and sciatica the past few months as well as on my hand and knees. No more pain, no stiffness. I actually forgot I had a bad back yesterday! I am only on day 4 of this and started seeing results after the 2nd day. This works much faster than the internal borax method, in my opinion. Plus absolutely no side effects.
Materials:
- Bottle (I use a 4 oz amber bottle)
- Borax
- DMSO (buy on Amazon - 99.99% purity)
Recipe:
- Fill the bottle with 4 oz hot distilled water.
- Add 1 teaspoon of borax (20 Mule Team is what I use)
- Shake vigorously until the borax is dissolved. Make sure to shake vigorously every day before use.
Application Method
- Shake, and then pour some of your borax solution into the palm of your hand and then apply to any problem areas you want to treat. Make sure to apply to clean skin before you do this because DMSO is a solvent. Right after a shower is a good time.
- Massage into the skin until most of it has been absorbed.
- Add a few drops of DMSO to the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, and then apply the DMSO on top of the borax. Massage into the area and then allow the area to dry before you put on any clothes.
Results:
No pain in the hands.. increased flexibility in the joints.. no clicking when I open and close my fingers. (Note: my hands are achy from years of karate as an adult and intense gymnastics as a child.)
Back pain - gone.
Conclusion:
- One need apply the borax and DMSO solution only once a day to see results. Perhaps twice is better but one time works for me.
- The targeted application seems to work much faster than drinking an entire liter of borax 5 days a week.
- I tried Art's borax arthritis topical cream method last year but had a hard time dissolving the borax, so this distilled water method works perfectly for me. Thanks for the original suggestion, Art!
Try this, please. Would love to hear results from other people.
(Spring Hill, Florida)
04/10/2022

Have you tried adding the 2 drops DMSO to your 4 oz. of dist. water and 1 t. of borax solution? This would eliminate the extra streps and handling pure DMSO. I think I would try this myself.
(Vancouver)
11/10/2022
I just want you to know that this is a miracle worker! I followed your recipe for my sore spots and I'm not sure if that or internal Borax worked but it's helping. But besides that, I used the mixture on a giant hive and also a bee sting and it worked immediately. Miraculous!
Renee,
The oral borax is a very simple, very easy and very inexpensive way. It is an easy therapy to maintain and follow and it comes with other health benefits instead of potential negative side effects.
Not everyone can tolerate borax, so the idea that you are tolerating it and getting benefit is very fortunate for you! Enjoy it and enjoy keeping it simple!
Art
I took 3 days off from internal Borax like you said and by day 4, today, I had a little more inflammation even though I took Borax today, hoping tomorrow is better.
Renee,
A friend of mine who had good effects using borax for arthritis used it everyday for the first two weeks and had good benefit. After the first two weeks he went down to 4 days a week and the benefit remained steady and improving. At completion of two weeks, he had noticeable improvement. I assume his intent was to use the first two weeks as a loading dose before going down to 4 days on + 3 days off.
The fact that you noticed a loss of improvement upon stopping borax, lets you know that "it" is helping you. I think it wouldn't hurt to make note of every single arthritic symptom you have experienced since getting arthritis and then review that list at one months use of borax as a basis for comparison.
Renee, it is worth noting when going back through Ted's posts on using borax for arthritis, I see that he changed his dosing schedule over time. In his posts he suggested using the dose 2 to 4 times per week. In one post on borax and arthritis, his recommended dose was 5 days a week on and 2 days a week off. Here is a copy of three posts by Ted discussing dosing of borax for arthritis that illustrate this dosing change :
Replied by Ted
Bangkok, Thailand
383 posts
Dear Lori: It has been known for ages that arthritis is a rare occurence whenever boron is found present in drinking water. Israel for example has below 1% having arthritis due to high boron in drinking water. Most drinking water with high boron, are the form of sodium tetraborate, which is borax. For more detailed discussion about boron and arthritis:
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2003/06/08/boron_and_arthritis.htm
What is so strange is boron and fluoride are a somewhat opposing force. For example, if you take boron fluoride is removed from the body. Actually fluoride stunts growth in plants, animals the same way as does aluminum. If I were a farmer the biggest enemies are to livestock and plants are fluoride and aluminum. I tend to believe the cause of most arthritis to be one of microorganisms found along the joints. Those bacteria are of mycoplasma (from frequent vaccinations, since they are high in it), mycobacterium, and staphylococcus. Each of these tend to form colonies around the cartilage, before they ever get worse. The factor that helps their growth are high free metal iron, lack of boron, high sugar, high calcium which protects the colonies. Staphylococcus is a unique bacteria that digests your cartilage, something they call proteoglycan and once the cartilage or out the other bacteria does the other work in digesting the along the joints rich in calcium, iron, and lack of circulation, being to their advantage as they are anaerobic creatures. The only way to reverse the condition depends on the inital condition of the arthritis, if it is just joint pain in the beginning like mine, it will take me a couple of days. For you it could take a lot longer for the healing. The method of treatment is to kill off these microorganism and it won't be easy since it is to an advanced stage due to traumatic arthritis. However, an average dose I think are appropriate are 25 mg of borax in drinking water, or I can just do it another way around with 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon of borax in one liter of drinking water that is drank in divided dose throughout the day. I would drink it either twice a week or once a week. What borax does is it kills the mycobacterium, mycoplasma and some of the staph. The frequency of dose, mentioned here is conservative and it taken at least once or twice a week. In event there's no side effect if I take it to be observed, I would try to take it more often maybe up to 3 or 4 times a week maximum. Staphyloccocus weaknesses is of magnesium citate or magnesium gluconate 250/mg day. If the body has plentiful supplies of magnesium staph growth along the joint is limited. Taking this at 5 days out of a week should be sufficient and some vitamin C sodium ascorbate 250 mg at least about 5 days out of a week should also help.
I have always had problems getting rid of the free metal iron that exists along the joints feeding the microbial growth, in which case, chlorella capsules taken once a day maybe helpful. Green tea, unsugared or any tea that are not of black color would be high in tannins. Tannins have an affinity of pulling out some iron out of the body. Once the iron is lowered, the microbial growth is limited. In case if you want to look at other minerals, gettin some hair mineral analysis, and have a look especially on the Molybdenum, Cobalt, Iron, Silver, Iodine, Magnesium, boron and some others. Those are the suspect minerals that seem to encourage or discourage microbial growth. For example, silver or colloidal silver, taken everyday, one tablespoon twice a day for several months will encourage stem cells in the body, but the best thing of all is it seems to destroy the "slime" or biofilms along the joints. If those are destroyed, the microbes have no way of surviving and eating up your joints. Another example is molybdenum supplements should be taken, if you can find them! They discourage bacterium growth on the bones and it actually used to prevent cavities if added in toothpaste. Molybdenum is far safer than fluoride as it is an essential mineral as well, helping the remineralization of the bones and teeth, being one of them. The usual dose I think is between 5-10 mg per day, if you can find them!
It is important also to at least take 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid, in 1/2 glass of water, or 8 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lime plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda twice a day to keep the body in an alkaline mode. The reason is bacteria and their biofilms tend to exists in the medium of pH below 6. So if the body's urinary pH is raised to (by increasing baking soda dose) to about 7, then the growth will be limited, and this encourages healing of your joint. Certain proteins taken befor sleep may encourage some growth hormone by taking secretagogues, such as 1/2 tablespoon of glycine and 1/2 tablespoon of glutamine, before bedtime. This might help some regeneration. Once the microbes are destroyed, and you still need to take supplements to disourage their growth, still, taking certain supplements to encourage regeneration is possible with aloe vera oil, or aloe vera supplements. Comfrey poultice applied along the joints may help as allantoin content is known to encourage bone repair in people with broken bones, so joint healing may also be possible. I however prefer to take allantoin as a supplements maybe 10-50 mg/day might help too, with some aloe vera. As for me, my arthritis issue is never a serious one, just taking some borax 1/4 teaspoon for 1-2 days and on the third day and the rest of the week, its gone. That's because I know what is causing my problems. But with severe forms, it may take several months, to almost a year to actually heal what has happened. I don't believe so much in using metal joint replacement. It has been my observation that friends of my relatives who did joint replacement further cause the ones to be broken. Apparently the found that once the plug the joints, the mycobacterium ate away at the screws of the joints which attaches to the bone. When this happens, the joints no longer hold and it osteoporosis eats the entire bone where there is no furhter place in which the metal can support the bones, since there is no more bones to support it. It is a sort of Catch-22. The real issue, I believe is not the wear an tear. Its been known for ages that microbes eat away on your bones, but is ignored by mainstream medicine, at least, that's my opinion only. If the body still have regenerative capacity, your body can heal, and colloidal silver according to Dr. Robert Becker, has the ability to cause cells to be dedifferentiation - which is another word for stem cells. ' <<<
And then this post :
Replied by Ted
Bangkok, Thailand
383 posts
Hand arthritis is the condition of the mycoplasma and the mycobacterium and they exists because it eats the bones causing lumps of the bones around the end. The mycobacterium protects themselves against the effect of antibiotics and other things by creating a calcium shells to survive. The second kind of bacterium that caused the fusing of joints such that the fingers can no longer move, is due to a staphylococcus like bacteria that eats up the cartilage between the joints. Mycobacterium have their weakness of a tiny amount of borax and staphyloccocus have their weakness of magnesium. Borax I took maybe 2-3 times a week at 1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon in a liter of drinking water. The staphyloccus like bacteria (cartilage eating kind) have a weakness for magnesium. So 250 mg, is diluted in a glass of water and drink that usually 5 days out of a week. The removal of iron, which disodium EDTA can be taken in fairly diluted solution (mixed with plenty of water), as this is how the body actually absorbed it. Green tea contains tannins and tannic acid, which chelates directly the free metal iron directly responsible for feeding both mycobacterium and the staphyloccocus like bacteria around the joint and should remove the food source. The most important remedy, whether you use the apple cider vinegar with baking soda, or the lemon with baking soda, is actually the baking soda. But when mixed with the others, allows for the body to attain better alkalization. This is the major parts of the arthritis remedy that was tested to work the best. Other supporting remedies include vitamin D3, and vitamin K2, and soy milk (manganese). They all help and you can feel the difference the next day. There are others, and I am looking into them I write. This remedy works better than anything I have seen, after lots of trial and error of course. It must be remembered that urine pH achieves 7.0 otherwise the bacteria will persist in the body. Preferably an electronic pH meters is best, otherwise, most pH papers are way off even the best quality ones and it is a real waste of time - it wasted me one whole year (actually more, like 1.5) of misdirected effort. ' <<<
And also this post :
>>> '
Replied by Ted
Bangkok, Thailand
383 posts
Rick: The reason why ibuprofen (or ibuprophen) works is that it is antifungal. Much of the arthritis and foot pain from bones is the mycobacterium, and other fungus like bacterium. Therefore I would take a 1/4 teaspoon (men's dose) borax for about 5 days out of a week, with some 10 drops of 3% H2O2 in one liter of drinking water. I would also take plenty of magnesium supplements such as magnesium citrate 250-500 mg/day for 5 days out of a week. I may also consider taking vitamin B complex, at least a B50 kind (50 mg of most B's) for two days out of a week. Alkalization is important also necessary to kill these fungus causing arthritis and a good remedy may be 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water twice a day, or perhaps a 2 tablespoon lime juice plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water (at least) taken twice a day. Other supplements I may consider is 20, 000 I.u. of vitamin D3 and 100 mcg of vitamin K2 or K3. Soy milk is quite helpful for arthritis, perhaps from the vitamin K and the manganese, in which it is high in. A soy milk should be UNSUGARED and taken about 250 cc, twice a day, which is more like a glass of it twice a day. ' <<<
Continued success to you!
Art
This is hard for me since my mother had SEVERE osteoporosis and I was diagnosed with osteopenia several years ago: "The factor that helps their growth are high free metal iron, lack of boron, high sugar, high calcium which protects the colonies." I NEED to take calcium. Do you have any advice?
UPDATE
I decided to go with the 2 straight weeks approach. So far I only had to take 5mg prednisone 2 times in 2 weeks, once for the chronic hives I get and one time for inflammation in my arthritis. Other than that I feel relatively great considering I take no medication or NSAIDS. I still have a little inflammation in my elbow, my wrist and a few fingers but it's not painful, just visibly noticeable. Today and tomorrow I will take 2 days off and try the 5 days on approach since I seem to tolerate the borax so well. I don't have any ill side effects from it at all. I have a bottle of hydroxychloroquine sitting on my desk waiting for me to begin taking it. As long as the borax continues to help me I will not take that medication but I'm glad I have it as a backup in case I stop having success with home remedies. That and my few prednisone are sort of my emergency stash that just gives me comfort knowing I have it. I still haven't made an eye appointment that is required to take the HC because I have faith that I will not need it. Some people I tell what I am doing think I'm out of my mind but others keep their mouths shut because they know I research practically everything and that I hate big Pharma and most doctors. I constantly make fun of every commercial pushing drugs that cause worse conditions than what you have. The only reason I accepted the HC is because I felt that would be the safest of all of the RA drugs if I had no other choice. Another Update on DMSO: I have been putting it on specific areas every night for about 2 weeks. I don't know if it's helping or not but will continue to use it until it's gone, then I will re-evaluate. Another update on taking a bath with Borax, Epsom salts and Baking Soda: My skin got extremely DRY. I tend to overdo things and I took this bath 3 nights in a row. My skin got real flakey! On the upside, the jets in my tub got real clean, lol. I stopped this bath because I don't think it helped any more than just a bath with Epsom salts. My skin is much happier.
Renee,
I'm glad your arthritis is continuing to improve with your regular use of borax! Clearly your pain levels have declined significantly! It is the simplest, least expensive and easy to take remedy for different types of arthritis. I am also glad that you are one of the lucky ones who can tolerate borax!
Your results seem similar to mine where I just got steady improvement until all symptoms were just gone.
How long have you been on the 1/8th teaspoon dose?
Three to four months is supposedly when you have reached the maximum improvement that borax seems to offer.
Art
I started with just a pinch a day on May 10th but got nervous and bought Boron supplements. Started 6mg Born supplements on May 15th. When that didn't help I went to 1/8th Borax on May 18th, 4 days on 3 days off. After reading about your friend who took it 2 straight weeks I started that on May 25th to yesterday, June 8th. So even though I started May 10th it wasn't a consistent amount. Today I'm feeling a lot of inflammation in my hand for some reason. The only thing I did different was eat some ice cream the other night. I wonder if that contributed. The other thing is I find it easier to measure 1/8th and put half in my coffee in the AM and the other half later in the day. Is there a reason it's supposed to be sipped thruout the day? Is it more effective that way or less side effects for some?
Renee,
We don't know the reason for sipping it through the day because I don't think Ted ever explained it, but I think one reason is because it is essentially a slow controlled release so you maintain a more steady level in your system throughout the day. Another possible reason is because some people who might not be able to tolerate the full daily dose all at once, may be able to tolerate a full dose dispersed throughout the day. So spreading the dose may make it more tolerable for more people and potentially decrease the potential for a negative reaction..
Although I started that way, once I got to pain free, I would drink it faster and now I just drop my 1/4 teaspoon full in my mouth and wash it down with orange juice and it is still working.
As you can see from Ted's posts, he kept increasing the dose until he got to 5 days on and 2 days off.
I tried different doses of boron based supplements and 6 mg had zero effect for me, but boron is a potential option for those who do not tolerate borax.
I just keep it simple at a 1/4 teaspoon of borax and that is easiest for me to do.
Art
(Kitchener On)
06/09/2022
Hi Renee,
I found that the best salt is Celtic Sea Salt.
It is cleaned and has 3 different Magnesiums, where the Pink Salt is dug by hand and never cleaned.
good job, love this site
Gary
(Philippines)
06/09/2022
Hi Renee...The reason the borax solution is always sipped throughout the day is because the human body is also constantly excreting the borax at the same time. So, by constantly sipping the one liter borax solution every day, you will maintain a constant and necessary amount of borax spread evenly in your body throughout the day, which therefore helps to maintain the proper concentration of borax in the blood that will act continuously to kill the active nano bacteria(ie mycobacteria and mycoplasma) that are causing your osteoarthritis problem.
And the reason you must take the borax solution every day on a 4-day-on and 3-day-off basis is because supplementing borax always causes increased gland secretions in the human body. In particular, it will stimulate and increase the sex hormones in the body, which is not a bad thing in itself but might, in the end, have the effect of straining those glands due to increased or excessive hormone production. And that's why you should always take the borax solution on a 4-day-on/3-day-off basis.
Just to also let you know that there is no reason to fear taking borax. The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet, which is the Bible for chemical safety and toxicity) for borax shows that borax actually has the same or similar toxicity profile as common table salt.
I'm also a 72 y. o. guy and I've been taking borax on a daily basis for about 15 years. I now just take a couple or three pinches of borax a day in my drinking water or coffee or whatever. I completely trust my usage of borax and I've never ever had a problem with my borax usage. I've been using borax as a successful preventative against arthritis but I also use it to prevent fungal infections as well -- borax is the ultimate anti-fungal! Borax is also useful to help detox and remove fluorine from my body.
(USA)
06/22/2022
Yes, the idea is to get a constant amount in the bloodstream to get it into the cells consistently instead of ups & downs. If you know the half life of borax in the body, you can adjust it more precisely.
(chicago)
06/10/2022

I took a pinch of borax in my drinking water before bed last night and had a stretch of 4 and a 1/2 hoursof deep sleep before waking, which is about double of my normal. Question - you say to keep boron in your system throughout the day, but you also say you just put a pinch or 2 or 3 in your coffee and drink just once a day. Could you clarify whether you do the pinch once per day or more often throughout the day. Thanks much!
I am measuring out 1/8 and adding small amounts from the measuring spoon to my coffee throughout the day. I drink a lot of coffee, lol. It works for me and I'm still drug free. I had to use 5mg of prednisone a few times until the Borax kicked in. I'm still not at the max timeframe for results yet. I still have 2 swollen fingers but I can use them, they're not painful and swelling is somewhat reduced, my elbow is not completely straight yet but that does not hurt either and is much straighter than before. My sciatica seems to have almost completely disappeared. I'm extremely grateful to find out about this miracle. Thank you everyone.
Renee,
I'm very glad that the borax is working well for you to reverse your arthritis!
The arthritis damages joints and once the borax stops the damage process, the body can then start to repair some of the joint damage which can take time, whereas before the joint damage was occurring faster than the body could repair the damage. Continued success to you! You are now using a very simple, very inexpensive method to keep your arthritis in remission indefinitely. The cost of using borax for arthritis is less than a dollar per year and it doesn't get any simpler than an 1/8th teaspoon of borax for 4 or 5 days of the week!
Art
(Barrie, Canada)
06/23/2022
What form of borax do you use? No one is explaining it. The one used in laundry?
Thanks
EC: Yes. People are almost always referring to Twenty Mule Team Borax.
I'm using the one recommended on this site by others.
20 mule team borax
I bought boron supplements just in case, 3mg on Amazon, but I'm sticking with the laundry soap because it works.
(Ohio)
06/28/2022
Is it ok to continue heating the mixture each day to dissolve the borax? The jar I use cools off over night.
I don't heat mine to dissolve it because I'm putting mine in coffee. I only put it in cold water one time and I believe it dissolved ok. It was such a tiny amount and I had lemon in it so it was hard to see in a colored plastic pool cup. I heated it to dissolve it in large amounts to use topical but have since stopped using it topically because I didn't see any added benefits after 2 or 3 weeks of use. I may try it again at some point. I also did a bath with it and baking soda, my skin dried to a crisp. I may have overdone it though, 3 nights in a row! It cleaned my bathtub jets though!
(Massachusetts)
07/02/2022
So interesting! I might try it. How can you be sure it's the Borax doing the trick, not the DMSO? (I have used DMSO occasionally).
I also wonder if Borax would help for muscle tension (my back pain is a combination of muscle tension and chronic soreness from a burst fracture of L-1 12 years ago). Not sure if I technically have arthritis.
Thanks.
I quit using the DMSO because I didn't think it was doing anything. I only used it externally. I might go back to it and try again because on my 'off' days of borax my inflammation comes back! I only know it works for arthritis, not sure about other ailments.
(Boston)
07/06/2022
Thanks for your reply Renee!
Renee,
Thank you for the update!
If your symptoms go away during your on days, you might try adding a day of borax to your regimen. At least until you get better control of the arthritis. I can tell by what you have been writing in your posts that you are steadily increasing your control of the arthritis and your remaining symptoms are lessening as time goes by. Once you get good control you should not need DMSO at all and may be able to subtract the extra day of borax. Remember, Dr. Newnham said up to 3 to 4 months of borax before you will be seeing the maximum benefit that borax has to offer you. Keep it simple to make it easier to follow Ted's remedy.
Art
(NC)
10/23/2022
Hey which DMSO did you buy? Can you specify? There are so many, very anxious to use this remedy for me and my husband. Also do you do the lotion recipe that was referenced?
(NC)
10/25/2022
Hi Kathy,
Heiltropfen is the brand I have bought a bunch of times.
Low odor DMSO - Dimethyl sulfoxide liquid (3.4 Oz - 100ml), Pharmaceutical grade, High purity, Heiltropfen
(New Zealand)
04/01/2023
We are banned from buying DMSO here in so-called democratic, free New Zealand.
Vets can use it and you can buy that quality for your farm animals or race horses.
BUT people NO.
Not even if it is just an ingredient in the product as on Amazon.
(Fort Smith)
02/24/2023
Thanks for sharing. How long is the solution in the bottle good for?
Pam,
It appears that you can purchase Borax on eBay Australia, NZ & South Pacific :
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2499334.m570.l1312&_nkw=borax&_sacat=165857
Art
Pam,
ebay New Zealand looks like they have DMSO also :
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2499334.m570.l1313&_nkw=DMSO&_sacat=165857
Art
(Alberta)
04/04/2023
I mix up a 1teaspoon of borax into a 1 lite of distilled water, This is my concentrate and from this bottle, I take I teaspoon of the mixture into a smoothie every second day for the past year. I don't know if it helped because I had no arthritis and thought at 77 would help for maintenance. When I saw the recipe for applying it externally, with DMSO, I printed and stuck on my fridge and quit taking it internally, Then I had a fall in the gym end of January to my right side and lower backside that had me pretty immobile for 2 weeks to get dressed and help to get ex-rays. No fractures, but healing slowly, It's now been 10 weeks and still have pain in the side and backside. This past week, I got DMSO and read all about and followed the receipe to the letter and applied to my side and lower back., used 2 drops. Half an hour later, the pain was more intense and never let up until bed, Next day, tried again with 3 drops and still in pain and now today I am in worse pain in my side, So I am ready to give up and wondering what I am doing wrong or what does a few drops mean for DMSO. I have a soft tissue pain in my side, Walking with cane. Any suggestions, maybe try castor oil with DMSO? Thank you,
Liz,
You might try a topical over the counter pain reliever that I have found to be fairly effective for pain relief. It is called Stopain and comes in a roll on bottle. Here is a link to it :
It is also available at Walmart if you have one near you.
Art
(Alberta)
04/05/2023
Art,
Thank you for your quick response. Unfortunately, StopPain is out of stock at Amazon US and went online to Amazon in Canada, out of stock and have no indication when product will arrive. They don't carry it in Walmart.ca. I will keep looking for it online.
I have read all your posts on this site and feel that you are quite knowledgeable. I'm wondering why I reacted to the borax externally when I have been drinking it and quite often bathing with it with Epsom
salts for the past year without any effects.
I'm not taking any drugs to dull the pain. Today used Aloe vera plant gel and rubbed into pain spots. Helped for 1/2 hour. Going to see Dr. tomorrow for what other tests to see what's going on with my right side. And buy caster oil and use that combination with DSMO and see if it helps. Thanks for all your help.
Liz,
Since Stopain is unavailable in Canada, and since you are treating a fairly limited area, another consideration as a topical pain reliever is Voltaren Gel. It is at least as strong as Stopain, but I rarely recommend it because if applied to larger areas, it can potentially have negative side effects. It is odorless and works quickly. It previously was only available by prescription.
It is hard on my end to know what will be readily available in other countries. Stopain is readily available here, but apparently not in Canada. Here is a link to a typical product :
It is worth mentioning that house brand versions of Voltaren are less expensive and just as effective. For instance Walgreens has their own version and it is less expensive and Walmart also has their version which is less expensive. The main thing is that they all have the same active ingredient, Diclofenac Sodium Gel 1%, and that is what offers effective pain relief. That one you should also be able to get at your local pharmacies.
As far as your topical reaction to Borax, it may be the concentration level. Topically in a bath is very highly diluted and would be less likely to be reactive with the skin, but your concentrated solution is just that, highly concentrated and in that case could be reactive with the skin. Also, Borax has a fairly high pH around 9.5, compared to the skin pH in the 5's and that could be another reason for your reaction.
Art