Borax: Unlocking the Health Benefits of a Natural Compound

I have a question about Borax. Is there a specific reason we are using Borax rather than buying Boron supplements? Since everyone is having questions about dosing and how to mix it, wouldn't it be easier to take pre measured supplements? Is it for cost purposes or is there another reason?

To Jerry who wrote: "Can I just take Boron Capsules?"

Things are dose dependent. All of the Boron supplements I find are rather low like less than or equal to about 10mg. 1/4 teaspoon per day though dissolved in water is between 115mg-158mg depending on the measuring spoon and how level or round your scoop is. That is a huge delta in dose. I have heard of 50mg-60mg tablets but have never actually seen them for sale.

In the late 1980's and early 1990's as a high school athlete the ones sold to athletes where 3mg-6mg - again far lower than what you get in a rather common dose of 1/4 teaspoon of borax in 1 liter of water sipped through the day!

I took 1/4 teaspoon per day the first 3 weeks then started to get diarrhea. I reduced it to 1/8 of a teaspoon a day for 2 weeks and all of the diarrhea went away completely. Some days I take 1/8 teaspoon some days I take a 1/4 and I am fine.

In theory anything is better than not taking borax so if someone was really sensitive or had IBS you could start at 1/16th of a teaspoon and slowly over weeks and months build up to 1/4 teaspoon. Evidence is showing that observational with individuals that you can get a lot of health benefits at varying does but the higher the dose the more consistent the results seem to be.

In post menopausal women a lot of individuals have found that reversing osteoporosis takes around 150mg of borax, vit and 400mg-600mg of magnesium per day to reverse it and that is a far higher dose than someone without osteoporosis needs. In those without severe fluorosis or osteoporosis that have healthy bone mass, 50mg per day seems to be the sweet spot but again you need magnesium and vitamin D3 in the diet. It is thought that enzymes and mineral metabolism is how boron works it's many benefits. Some people probably get enough minerals in their diet but for most Americans minerals and Vitamin D3 and iodine are almost always low. Iodine helps to keep your body from depositing fluoride in your bones.

I am a retired chemist and have used boric acid and borax extensively, in the lab and as supplement, both oral and topical. Though extensively used as an effective ant poison when mixed with sugar, boric acid is quite safe and non irritating, indeed having been used for decades as an eye wash. Similarly borax is basically boric acid with a lot of sodium. Both contain boron about 22% for boric acid versus 11% for borax. And oral borax is instantly converted to boric acid in stomach acid. Contrary to medical hype attempting to block its use as an effective arthritis remedy in Australia and Europe where sales are banned, it is about as toxic as common salt and widely used baking soda in antacids.

The major problem is high sodium in borax for persons on low salt diets. Luckily it can still be bought also as fairly pure 20 Mule borax for use as an excellent detergent enhancer and an arthritis remedy at about 1/4 teaspoon borax or hard to find pure boric acid, best USP or NF grade, in quart of water taken in small portions over about 16 hrs. Google The Borax Conspiracy to get the facts and disregard medical hype seeking to outlaw this arthritis remedy, another miracle drug like aspirin.

Also chelated boron sold as 3 mg capsules may not be as effective.