Baking Soda
Health Benefits

Baking Soda - Editor's Choice

| Modified on May 02, 2024
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Baking Soda Health Benefits

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is more than just a key ingredient in baking recipes. This versatile natural compound has been a staple in households for over a hundred years, offering a range of health benefits.

Renowned for its effectiveness against indigestion, skin burns, insect bites, and even gout, baking soda is a multifaceted home remedy. Additionally, its role as an eco-friendly and cost-effective cleaning solution cannot be overstated. Comprising vital elements like sodium, hydrogen, and carbon, baking soda is an indispensable item in every home and vehicle for its myriad uses.

Health Benefits

Despite its simplicity and affordability, baking soda is often the most effective solution, even in clinical environments. Hospitals utilize sodium bicarbonate to manage certain drug overdose cases. Its application extends to respiratory treatments in hospital settings, where it's used in nebulizers for asthma relief and to counteract chlorine gas exposure.1, 2

Natural Heartburn Relief

Baking soda's most celebrated health benefit is as a natural antacid.3 A small dose of 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon mixed with water offers quick relief. Unlike many commercial heartburn and acid reflux remedies that contain artificial sweeteners and additives, baking soda is a pure, additive-free, and economical alternative.

Kidney Health

Research indicates that baking soda can slow the progression of chronic kidney disease.4 However, it's crucial to consult with healthcare professionals before relying solely on baking soda for serious health conditions.

Gout and Kidney Stones Treatment

Sodium bicarbonate assists in dissolving uric acid crystals, the culprits behind gout and certain kidney stones. It can be consumed orally or used in a foot bath to relieve gout symptoms directly.

Body Alkalization

Many health issues stem from or are exacerbated by excessive body acidity. Factors like modern diets, processed foods, excessive coffee consumption, and insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables contribute to this. Regularly ingesting a mixture of ¼ teaspoon of baking soda in 6 ounces of water on an empty stomach can help in balancing the body's pH, potentially alleviating various health problems.

Benefits of Baking Soda Baths

Adding a cup of baking soda to a warm bath enhances the bath's therapeutic qualities. Ideal for addressing a variety of itchy skin conditions, baking soda baths provide relief from chicken pox, shingles, insect bites, poison ivy, and dermatitis. Additionally, these baths offer comfort to those suffering from colds or the flu, as baking soda absorbed through the skin assists in body alkalization.

Baking Soda Paste

Creating a paste from baking soda and water is an effective natural remedy for various issues. Mix equal parts of baking soda and water, adjusting the quantities to achieve the desired consistency.

Treating Burns

Applying a baking soda paste to a burn can be soothing, but only after the burn has been cooled under running water for 10-15 minutes. It's important to note that baking soda should not be used on severe burns.

Removing Splinters

Applying baking soda paste over a splinter and covering it with a bandage can help remove it. The paste's properties aid in drawing out the splinter. Replace the bandage every eight hours for best results.

Bee Stings

Applying baking soda paste is effective for immediate pain relief from bee stings or insect bites. It not only eases pain but also helps in reducing swelling.

Cradle Cap

For infants and toddlers with cradle cap, gently massaging a baking soda paste onto the scalp during bath time can be beneficial. Rinse after 10 minutes and shampoo gently. This treatment can be repeated 2-3 times a week. However, caution is advised to prevent alkalosis in babies, so don't leave the paste on for more than 10 minutes and limit the frequency of use.5

Baking Soda for Beauty Routines

Baking soda, when transformed into a paste, is a natural exfoliant for the skin. Gently massaging this onto the face can remove dead skin cells. However, limit this practice to once or twice a month to prevent skin dryness and imbalance, as the skin's natural pH is slightly acidic.

As a shampoo alternative, baking soda can occasionally be used for its oil-absorbing and odor-neutralizing properties. While effective as a "dry shampoo," its alkaline nature means it should be used sparingly to maintain the natural acidity of hair and scalp.

Baking soda also finds its place in oral hygiene as a traditional toothpaste. Unlike hair and skin, an alkaline environment in the mouth is preferred to prevent tooth decay and bad breath. Brushing with baking soda before bed helps maintain oral alkalinity and whiten teeth.

Baking Soda for Cleaning

Baking Soda for Eco-Friendly Cleaning
Baking soda offers an affordable, space-saving, and environmentally friendly alternative to various cleaning chemicals. Keeping a jar in the kitchen and bathroom is convenient for numerous cleaning tasks.

DIY Scented Baking Soda Scrub

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 4 drops essential oil (orange, lemon, pine, or lavender)

Instructions:

  • Blend baking soda and essential oil in a blender, or mix manually.
  • Store in a shaker bottle for easy use.

This homemade scrub is excellent for cleaning sinks, countertops, toilets, tile floors, and bathtubs. It also serves as a deodorizer for carpets, bathrooms, laundry, and refrigerators.

Baking Soda as a Fire Extinguishing Agent

In certain situations, such as grease or electrical fires, baking soda is a safer alternative to water, which can exacerbate these fires. (Note: Neither water nor baking soda is appropriate for deep fryer fires.)

Potential Side Effects of Baking Soda

While generally safe, baking soda can lead to alkalosis if used excessively, causing electrolyte imbalance. It's also been rarely linked to stomach rupture when used to alleviate severe overeating. Though concerns exist about sodium bicarbonate raising blood pressure, studies have not conclusively shown this effect. However, those with hypertension or on medication should consider potential dietary impacts. Regular baking soda use can mask symptoms of underlying health issues, so it's not a long-term solution for significant health problems.6,7,8

We'd love to hear how you use baking soda! Please share your experiences and continue reading to discover how our readers have benefited from this versatile remedy.


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.

Allergies

Posted by Rhonda (Ny) on 04/25/2016
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I started suffering from allergies as an adult.

This season, allergies hit me about six weeks ago. Every year I go to the doctor. Every year she says the same thing: "This year is going to be the worst year when it comes to allergies." I get prescribed the same medicine, which doesn't relieve me of the the symptoms.

This year, I suffered the normal symptoms. Stuffing noise, tearing eyes, excessive coughing and a lot of phlegm.

Last week I started drinking about 4 ounces of luke warm water with a tablespoon of baking soda (sodium bicarb). All of the above systems have stopped. I haven't felt this good in weeks.


Best Time to Take

Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 10/01/2012
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Hi Diana... When I had candida in the past and I first started to alkalize, I always took both Ted's bicarb and water and lemon/ lime bicarb and water remedies about 2 hours after eating -- outside mealtimes in other words. This greatly helped against my candida, constipation and bloating issues. In those days, I usually started to alkalize in late morning.

Later, I understood that taking sodium bicarb and water outside mealtimes was good for alkalizing both the intestines and the body. However now, I take sodium bicarb and water about 1/2 hr to 1 hour after meals -- because taking it this way helps to alkalize the intestines, alkalize the blood AND helps digestion issues because it supports main stage digestion in the upper intestines which should always occur in an alkaline to neutral medium(not acid).

Normally, during sleep at night, the body's homeostsis mechanism comes into play to re-adjust the body's pH(and electrochemistry) back to a healthy levels again. Since 90% of the food we eat now is acidic -- taking sodium bicarb in this way, an hour or so before sleep, actually helps the homeostasis mechanism to re-adjust the body's pH to healthy levels again.

What I have also noticed is that taking sodium bicarb at night also helps people with slow digestion ussues caused by GERD and other problems. Similarly, slow or poor digestion can also be caused by too little bicarbonates from the pancreatic juices -- so taking sodium bicarbonate an hour before you sleep actually helps to make digestion more efficient and helps to avoid acid intestines, reflux etc at night.

To keep it simple -- the only times when I would never take the sodium bicarb and water remedy would be directly before a meal, during a meal and directly after a meal ie while stomach acid digestion is still working and doing its job -- because taking thos remedy incorrectly like this during meals would adversely affect and interfere with both stomach acid digestion and main stage digestion in the duodenum.

Therefore Sodium bicarb is OK to take for constipation. But I've also found that if you add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt(once a day) to the sodium bicarb and water and take it that way as Ted advises -- then this tend to work much better to help loosen up the constipation than just sodium bicarb and water alone.


Tri-Salts

Posted by Lisa (Dallas, Tx) on 06/18/2012
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

There seems to be a lot of posts regarding ACV with Baking Soda.

My concern is worth mentioning that too much of the BS mixture can tend to mess up your electrolyte balance, if not careful. That can be bad.

I find that Tri-Salts is a much better, safer and healthier alternative to baking soda.

I've had great success using the Tri-Salts (No sodium - only Calcium carbonate/450mg, Magnesium carbonate/250mg, & Potassium bicarbonate/99 mg), and works EXTREMELY well before bedtime, especially if you suffer from acid reflux disease. I also use the unfiltered, organic ACV from the health food store. I order Tri-Salts online. My uric acid levels being "smack dab in the middle range" is actually high enough to always cause me grief. This method works well for me to get it back down. I prefer the protocol mentioned, as opposed to possibly overdoing the baking soda solution.


Bacterial and Viral Infections

Posted by Linda (Denver, Colorado) on 04/27/2007
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

For me and my family and friends, baking soda has cured all kinds of microbial infections, probably due to the regulation of pH balance.

For at least 12 years now I've relied on drinking baking soda in water whenever I would come down with some sort of viral or bacterial infection, whether it is a cold, flu, stomach bug, or respiratory illness. I am convinced this method can kill any kind of infection.

When the West Nile virus was prevalent here in Colorado a few years ago, I became infected with it. I was skeptical that my baking soda cure would work, but gave it a try anyway since I was so utterly miserable. But, sure enough, later that evening the symptoms started to subside and I was nearly recovered by the next day.

Every time I have used the baking soda method it has worked. And everyone I have suggested it to and tried it has had it work for them, too.

The remedy is 1/2 teaspoon in a cup of water 2 to 3 times each day, sipping throughout the day. Take it for approximately 2 to 3 days. If symptoms do not resolve by the end of the third day then perhaps it will not be helped by baking soda; I have not found this to ever be the case though. It works no matter what stage a person is in their infection. For stomach bugs I will also add 10-15 drops of grapefruit seed extract.

Being female, however, I have noticed that I will get a vaginal yeast infection shortly after a course of baking soda. Because I believe it affects the pH, I treat myself with an apple cider vinegar/garlic rinse (1/4 cup of ACV and one clove of garlic, quartered, in 1 cup of water). I've wondered if the baking soda also kills the good bacteria in the body so afterward I supplement myself with probiotics (specifically Lactobacillus GG, the only known beneficial bacteria to survive stomach acid).

I know people who take Airborne to fight off colds. I looked at the label one day when my friend showed me the bottle, and sodium bicarbonate is one of the main ingredients. Perhaps this is the reason it works.

I believe that if there is ever a severe viral outbreak, such as SARS or H5N1, then this remedy would be worth a try. It seems I've always relied on home remedies to successfully treat myself and your site just adds to my collection of simple therapies!