The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Tania (CT) on 07/06/2023

Paradoxical reactions to Borax
My husband and I have started taking borax in the 1tsp to 1 liter solution. He has systemic candida and broke out in mouth sores within 3 days of taking it.
I have arthritic pains in my hands that come and go and within a week of taking the solution, my hands are much worse.
We both also experienced crushing depression as well. Is this just a normal herx reaction? I'm going to stick it out but I have been unable to find anything that mentions these specific symptoms.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Tim (Pennsylvania ) on 06/30/2023
Are you taking magnesium supplements with it?
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Tom 70 (Auckland, New Zealand.) on 05/11/2023
1/4 tsp of borax is over 1,100mg, which is over 120 mg of boron.......wonder if this is too high a daily dose.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Art (California) on 05/10/2023
Mel,
Boron is an active component of Borax and it can direct more magnesium and calcium toward the bones, possibly leaving insufficient magnesium available for the soft tissues. This potential insufficiency of magnesium could cause muscle cramps. If supplementing an absorbable form of magnesium such as magnesium glycinate resolves the muscle cramping, then you have your answer.
Another common cause of muscle cramping is insufficient potassium intake.
Art
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Mel (Saskatchewan (SK)) on 05/10/2023

Hello I have been using borax for arthritis type pain in joints the past few months (1/4 tsp in 1 litre of water 5 days a week). I'm getting muscle cramps lately. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem?
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 04/28/2023
Dear Shannon,
Look into Nettle Root as a supplement for your husband.
Blood pressure medication and being overweight can also contribute to what he is dealing with.
~Mama to Many~
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Shannon (USA Missouri) on 04/26/2023
Wondering if you found an answer to your issue? I would also like to know if you found out what the cause was and were you able to recover? I am just getting started with Borax and my husband was going to try it as well. We have seven boys so we do not need reproduction but he at this point is not able to have an erection. I was hoping this would offer some assistance for him. Could you elaborate on why you stopped since things were going so well. I know they recommend skipping like two days a week. Also wondering if you did that? Thanks if your able to respond.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Shannon (USA Missouri) on 04/26/2023
Wondering if you found an answer to your issue? I would also like to know if you found out what the cause was and were you able to recover? I am just getting started with Borax and my husband was going to try it as well. We have seven boys so we do not need reproduction but he at this point is not able to have an erection. I was hoping this would offer some assistance for him. Could you elaborate on why you stopped since things were going so well. I know they recommend skipping like two days a week. Also wondering if you did that? Thanks if your able to respond.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Hollyhock (America ) on 04/26/2023
This could explain why I have such dry skin for well over a year! I recently decided to stop the borax because it no longer helps my arthritis, not sure why it quit working. But the dry flaky skin is so embarrassing, maybe I finally know what causes it!
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Art (California) on 04/26/2023 2472 posts
Chris,
I have seen a dry skin condition develop in a friend who was using 1/8 teaspoon of borax every week day. She stopped and the dry skin went away. She restarted and the dry skin slowly came back, so she stopped completely. I asked her to try 1/16th of a teaspoon, but she said no. Some people don't tolerate Borax, but the majority of people do.
An alternative is to try higher dose boron based supplements, which has also shown the ability to put arthritis into remission.
Art
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Chris (Ottawa, Canada) on 04/25/2023

I started using the Borax protocol about 10 days ago. My skin seems dry and my gums started hurting today. Has anyone else had any side effects? Maybe I just need to drink more water for the dry skin but unsure about the gums. Perhaps not even related. Just curious if anyone else had side effects.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Julie (Deerbrook Wi) on 04/04/2023
Sounds like ( from what I am reading) your concentration is too strong, try 1/16 to 1/8 tsp in 1/2 liter of water once a day.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by phxmtbnomad (Phoenix) on 04/03/2023

Concerning Borax dosing. Curious how quickly the initial few swallows can take to actually "feel" any effects. I'm male. I only have 1/2 liter container at the moment, mixed up 1/8 teaspoon in water and had a few swallows. Almost immediately I could feel something different. Almost heady, sort of dizzy while lying in bed and throughout the night. Not unpleasant. How long would it normally take before the body begins releasing toxins? I'm a little sore this morning all over and have evacuated several times already in healthy amounts which is not typical. Not hungry but again, nothing unpleasant. Mind you I have not drank the full 1/2 liter yet, probably have another half to go. Would it have affected me that quickly or am I imagining things?
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Nicole Little (Philadelphia, PA) on 02/07/2023
This is what happens to me when I was doing detox baths with borax. My urine became darker yellow with slightly green color. I believe that this is part of the detox.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Magnolia (US) on 02/02/2023

For some reason ingesting borax causes my arthritis pain to get worse. Tried it several times and it happens each time. I have just showers in my house, no bathtub, so I can't soak in it though I have done foot soaks which were not that helpful. I wish it worked for me!
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Linda (MI) on 12/30/2022
My research said it is due to detoxing the body so the darker the urine the more waste is pulled out.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Hakara (Vancouver, BC) on 12/29/2022

I started the borax cure 3 days ago for arthritis in my wrists, knees, fingers and especially feet. Feet have become quite deformed from the flare ups. I'm also taking magnesium, D3, K2, ACV and vitamin C with it. They are not new, I take them all the time. Just the borax is new. Drinking lots of water. My urine really stinks. It's more yellow. Can anyone speak to this and explain why my urine is stinky?
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 11/23/2022
Bleach bath is very benefical for folliculitis of the body. You will have to take a bath daily for good results. Use a wet wash rag to lay over your face when take this bleach bath. Pour 4 oz (¼ to ½ cup) of unsented chlorine bleach into your bath water. Soak the entire body for 10 - 25 minutes. Do not rinse your skin after the bath and quickly dry with a towel to avoid chills. Repeat bleach bath every day for one month. Diluted bleach baths are safe and effective.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Art (California) on 11/23/2022 2472 posts
Frank,
I just weighed a USA 1/8th teaspoon level full of borax on a digital milligram scale and it weighs 445 mg. Using your boron figure for borax of 11.36%, that comes out to 50.552 mg of boron or less than half of what you said. Borax can vary slightly in weight due to moisture content, but not anywhere near that much, 445 mg vs the 1062 mg you mentioned. I say USA 1/8th teaspoon because the size can vary by country.
Based on the above, a US 1/4 teaspoon at level full should offer approximately just over 100 mg of boron.
Art
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Frank (USA) on 11/22/2022
That is an incorrect calculation there. Use Aqua-calc and see the weight of the 1/8 teaspoon of borax: 1062mg. 11.36% of that is 120mg.
So 1/8 tsp of Borax = 120mg boron
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Frank (USA) on 11/22/2022
Did this issue resolve? I also noticed reflux but wasn't sure if it was just a beginning side effect or a long-term one
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Frank (USA) on 11/22/2022
Did this issue resolve? Also did the arthritis and yeast improve?
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Thomas (London) on 09/15/2022
It sounds like a detox reaction, like an Herxheimer reaction. Take Vitamin C to counter. If you take ‘normal Vit C' (calcium ascorbate) by tablet it may give you diarrhoea, so try magnesium ascorbate which is slower to work but helps body repair. Tablet Vit C only gets about 10% absorbed. Better still, try and get Liposomal Vit C. I use Altrient C but it is not cheap. It dissolves in the gut but has an 80-90% absorption.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Mackenzie (Australia Gold Coast) on 04/26/2022
★★★☆☆
I recently shared I was experiencing new bumps over my cheeks when started the RDI of borax in the water however now my face my forehead in particular is covered in folliculitis type lumps - I did start taking this for arthritis and a yeast overgrowth causing folliculitis that I have over my body but never had it on my face, now since the borax my my face just has lumps and bumps all over? And now my face I find is very oily? Anyone else experience this? I have read to use apple cider vinegar potentially? I still am unsure wether to stop or to just keep going in the hopes my body regulates itself. This is just making me feel quite insecure with the process.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Art (California) on 04/24/2022 2472 posts
Isolda,
The quarter teaspoon of borax is the dose that Ted recommended for men and half that dose for women. So if you were trying to follow Ted's directions you are correct.
Something that I don't remember Ted covering in his remedy was that some people can not tolerate borax, but that is something I have seen in some friends who have tried borax for arthritis. On the other hand, the dose that the originator of using borax/boron for arthritis, Dr. Rex Newnham, recommended a significantly lower dose of borax/boron and claimed to get very good effects back in the 1970's and 1980's. Here is a link to info on him and the doses he used, which were significantly less than Ted's dosing schedule.
https://freedomforcenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/1904borax.pdf?ref=tfrecipes
Art
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Isolda (Beaufort) on 04/24/2022

Hello,
I did the 1/4 tsp in a litre of water first day loading but by the time I reached 3/4 of the bottle about 5-6 hours later I started to feel antsy and nervous. I was a little anxious. Later in the evening I felt anxious again. Like it had a second cycle in my body. Probably going through my liver.
I have read that the dosage of the 1/4 tsp = 114mg is incorrect. Can you please confirm that it is correct?
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Preston (South carolina) on 04/22/2022

Looking to take borax for an autoimmune condition. I have a small hiatal hernia and get acid reflux easily. Just started taking and it gives me reflux. Can you mix this with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in the water, like you can baking soda?
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Art (California) on 04/14/2022 2472 posts
Hi Mark,
I can only tell you what I am using that is very effective for me, but my arthritis was severe. I do not consider it a cure because I think the arthritis will eventually come back if I stop taking it. In the past when I stopped taking it, symptoms started to return after a couple of months and I started taking it again. In theory the remedy is just replacing boron in our system that may be lacking.
Dr. Rex Newnham found efficacy at a dose way lower than what I take, but the dose he suggested was ineffective for me, so I switched to the dose that Ted recommended for men and I have been in remission since then. I did try the half dose that Ted recommended for women and it did help, but did not completely put me into remission as his men's dose does, so I remain at Ted's dose for men and of course I am trying to afford myself other health benefits that Borax is thought to provide.
Your choice, if you are going to use borax, seems simple. Start at the lower doses that you are reading about and if they work, you are all set! It may be because my arthritis was severe, I needed Ted's dose for men, I don't know, but I do know it is the dose that works for me and so I continue at well over a decade now. Your way may be the best way because some people do not tolerate Borax, so a lower dose may be a safer dose in case you do not tolerate Borax. That is your choice to make.
Art
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Mark (Lubeck) on 04/14/2022
Hi Art. Great that your arthritis is healed. As a man, I would also like to start with 1/4 of a teaspoon per day. However, being a bit of a hypochondriac, I googled max. safe daily dose and the answer everywhere was 20 mg of boron. This is less than 1/5th of your dose. Please guide me - thanks.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Art (California) on 04/10/2022 2472 posts
Red bumps could be the beginning of a rash and you may be allergic to Borax. Stop and see if they go away. If they do, you probably don't want to use borax as a shower soap either as you were considering. Some people are not able to tolerate borax.
As an alternative, you might look into Boron supplementing. Dr. Rex Newnham used Boron also effectively for arthritis.
Art
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Mackenzie (Australia) on 04/09/2022

I am day two into taking borax, taking the recommended mg for women in a litre of water, I'm noticing a heavy chest? Does anyone else experience this and tiny little red bumps coming up all over my cheeks? I'm hoping this is just a detox reaction as I really hope borax is a life changer for me. Any one else experience this?
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Nikki (St. Louis, MO) on 04/08/2022
My guess is, Borax will help move stones (kidney and fall bladder). Many of the protocols I've read have suggested taking a stone breaker (Chanca Piedra) to help break up the stones into smaller pieces before starting boron/borax.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Peg (Virginia USA) on 04/03/2022
Your post is the first to mention pain from fluoride detoxing. I believe that is happening to me. Thank you for answering the question I have had about why I'm in such pain despite doing all these healthy things!
Can you recommend additional reading sources on this issue? Thank you.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by donal (ireland) on 03/16/2022
1 teaspoon in 700 ml water mix. Then take only 20 to 30 ml daily.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Frank (NY) on 03/11/2022
God bless you for your powerful words.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by mmsg (somewhere, europe) on 03/09/2022
Ivan, I take less than a pinch! Maybe you took much too much for your body.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Charity (faithville, Us) on 03/08/2022
take a 1/4 tsp baking soda dissolved in a cup of water and that should make you calm. If it is not enough take another dose after half an hour .....probably just got in fight with some problems already going on and now you will need to use a much smaller dose to fight it later on after a few days . Also, try molybdenum for candida die off symptoms and chanca piedra if this borax releases calcium out of soft tissue.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Ivan (Slovenija) on 03/08/2022

Hello, I prepaired a solution with borax as you recomended, 1 smal teaspoon in 1 liter of water and take it today first time after a lunch, it was just a half of teaspoon a solution. Very soon after take it I feel in my stomack burning like acid and it doesnt gone for some hours even I drinked a lot of water, I ate some almonds on it also. I bought 500 g of borax from company REVIVO in Slovenija, city Kamnik and on the package is writen that it is a restavration material and it makes a big itching eyes or skin. In this comapny told me that in package is just a pre borax without additives. Is this burning in stomack normal for borax, even a smaller dose as you recomended? Thank you very much, Ivan
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Javier (Ciudad Real) on 02/12/2022
Deberias de leer bien el comentario antes de contestar con tanto enfado.
NO TOMÓ UNA CUCHARADITA DE BORAX, tomó una cucharadita, de la solución resultante de diluir UNA CUCHARADITA en litro de agua. O sea que en total tomó 5 c.c. del litro. En total 30 mg. de borax, o sea 3 mg. de boro.Por otra parte en este foro, la cantidad que se aconseja, es 1/4 o 1/8 de cucharadita en un litro, tomado repartida en el dia, o sea 1 gramo o 500 mg. de borax/dia, que resulta en total 100 mg. ó 50 mg. de boro. O sea, un minimo de 25 veces mas.
Translation
You should read the comment well before answering with such anger.
HE DID NOT TAKE A TEASPOON OF BORAX, he took a teaspoon of the solution resulting from diluting ONE TEASPOON in a liter of water. So in total it took 5 c.c. of the litre. Total 30 mg. of borax, that is 3 mg. of boron. On the other hand, in this forum, the recommended amount is 1/4 or 1/8 teaspoon in a liter, taken spread over the day, that is, 1 gram or 500 mg. of borax/day, resulting in a total of 100 mg. or 50 mg. of boron. That is, a minimum of 25 times more.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by mmsg (somewhere, europe) on 12/11/2021
Sarah, if it's helping you, try taking a lot less each time.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Sarah (Kalamazoo, MI ) on 12/10/2021

I am getting back on drinking borax throughout the day. I had forgotten that it keeps me awake at night so I try to get it all drank by noon but it still keeps me awake. Why is that and can anything be done? Thank you. Sarah
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Joseph (Stockton, CA) on 06/30/2021 73 posts
I just read your comment, not familiar with it but just thought I would add my 2cents. Don't know your age but I am 79 and back pain has recently kicked my butt, painful, Dr stated it was Arthritis, can yours be Arthritis also?
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Robin (Pinkney, MI) on 06/27/2021 2 posts

I'm finishing my fourth day on drinking borax in distilled water protocol, but I'm having low back soreness on the right side. It's not muscular as it cannot be rubbed out. I have no nausea...just this back pain that was here a few days back and left and now is back again. It feels very sore. Should I back off the protocol? Or could this be a healing aspect?
Borax Side Effects
Posted by KM M (Colorado) on 05/25/2021

Hi. I started talking Borax 5 days ago. I am tasting mold/ mildew when I drink water. Has anyone else experienced this?
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Pamina (Morocco) on 05/22/2021
Did they include a link to the study? People who are sure of their facts will include sources in their comments.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Pamina (New Zealand) on 05/20/2021
I had the same reaction. I think it was from an an underlying candida or UT imbalance that didn't give me severe symptoms. This was confirmed when I used borax as a vaginal suppository. After two nights, the mild UTI symptoms I had (like urinary urgency) lessened.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by GertJr (Madison) on 05/14/2021
Debbie in UK--if you think that borax is causing your problem, stop it for a while and see if the problem goes away. I don't think borax is causing it, but test it out. Go a week without, if the problem persists, then it's not the borax. If it goes away, then that's a possibility. Your body may not want/need this amount. Leave off for a month, then run a test using it for a week or so and see if the problem comes back. Each body is different and you need to find what works for you.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Debbie (United Kingdom ) on 05/12/2021

I've been using 1/4 teaspoon in a litre of water 5 days per week.
I was wondering if borax side effects can be with the urethra as I'm having pain after I've finished peeing and wondered if it was build up??? No fever or any other symptoms other than frequency of urination.
I do have candida and take other supplements
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Charity (faithville, Us) on 05/10/2021
Ted is a good place to start reading if you want to slowly get away from prescriptions. I have overcome a lot and learned a lot and now I am learning more to overcome old issues. The mind is the most powerful drug there is. Placebos work. I am taking my thoughts captive and speaking what I want to create. I also use the skills I learned in the last obstacle course. I take borax and chanca piedra daily but I use a lot of other things with them. Calcium needs many things to get it out of soft tissue and into bones and teeth. I read death by calcium at the library. May you find yourself WELL as you gain in wisdom and application on this journey of life. Blessings, Charity
Ted's Remedies, Medication Side Effects (earthclinic.com)
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Tanya (True NorCal, US) on 05/10/2021
Charity,
Thank you for this great information! I am currently on way too many medications. I have developed allergies to the environment and to so many foods. I'm looking forward to starting borax (boran) but slowly, to get rid of most or all of the medications. Most of them have been prescribed over the past 15-20 years, I had one medication from age 15 - 40 and 2nd one that was prn. Now I have approximately 13 meds. I can't keep count. When I say I want to stop meds, the doctor sends me away with more. My latest doc finally heard me say, "No more." He is helping me get off of some long term stomach meds that I never should have had for more than a 6-week treatment. I am truly hoping that my new doc will help me, as he is all about natural remedies, whenever possible. And so my Borax journey with the help of Dr. Batmanghelidj.
Thank you again for the additional information! Many people are not aware of how critical water is for humans. It should also be impressed upon people that many of the elderly who are diagnosed with dementia and treated with long term dementia, are suffering from dehydration. It is far more common than people realize and it is very sad, because so many doctors are not trained in recognizing this simple complication and jump to elderly related dementia or Alzheimer's. It takes about 2 - 3 weeks of rehydration and proper nutrition for an elderly person to regain their cognitive functioning. The dehydration will look like a stroke or may even cause a stroke. Sorry, for going off onto another direction, but this is such a passionate subject for me as I watch it happen over and over to elderly and middle aged people - being misdiagnosed, when they just need more water (and electrolytes)!
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Mic (New Jersey) on 04/27/2021
For LPR or "silent gerd" try pharmaceutical-grade D-Limonene from Integrative Therapeutics at bedtime only and as directed at:
https://www.integrativepro.com/products/d-limonene
Take together with a measured teaspoon (5 mL) of organic apple cider vinegar in eight ounces of filtered or distilled water. Sleep with upper body at an angle. I use three pillows to accomplish this. A European square pillow and two standard pillows. One in back of the European square and against the headboard and the other in front of the European square and behind my head.
Do not consume borax.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Madelyn (Idaho) on 04/20/2021
It's not at all serious in the sense that borax is toxic or you've taken in too much boron. In fact, borax has a higher toxicity threshold than common table salt. However, what is serious or can feel serious is the herx, aka die off effect and release of toxins, heavy metals and fluoride. My husband overdid it one day and took half teaspoon each of borax and baking soda in a cup of water on an empty stomach. He felt sick (nauseous and headache) for the rest of the day. He later passed a large dead white worm thing in his stool. You'll be fine. Just rest and keep hydrated to flush out the toxins.
Borax Side Effects
Posted by Curtis (US) on 04/20/2021
I did something similar. I misread instructions on taking a teaspoon of diluted solution and instead added a teaspoon of sodium borate to a drink. I have had flu symptoms and a headache. How serious is this? Trying to dilute and flush with fluids.