General Feedback
I've read many things on the internet stating that borax is toxic and should not be taken. How are you sure there are no long term effects that can be caused from taking it internally for a month? I'm not familiar with it at all, but most websites say it's just like bleach, and I would imagine something like bleach could cause stomach cancer or things like that if taken internally, not to mention just mess up your organs. I'm willing to give it a try if its completely safe, but why do so many sites say it's not? Are we thinking of the same "borax" or there is different types?
General Feedback
I was wondering if Boric Acid is safe for internal use. I'm well aware of the mass disinformation when it comes to alternative medicine, but when I see the word "POISON" surrounded by two skulls and crossbones, I get a bit intimidated. I've done enough research to say that it probably IS safe, but I'd just like to ask others for a bit more comfort. I have 20 Mule Team Borax coming in the mail soon, so it doesn't really matter...but is powdered Boric Acid safe to at least bathe with?
EC: Ted has already answered this question: https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/borax_questions.html#Question_113
Also, https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/borax_questions.html#Question_118
General Feedback
20 Mule Team Borax ingredients
Ingredients: 100% Borax, a naturally occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen and water. That's it!
What Is Borax? Borax, or sodium borate, is a naturally occurring alkaline mineral first discovered over 4000 years ago. It is found in large quantities in the Western United States as well as in the Tibet area of China.
Note: I googled the above information.
(Rancho Cucamonga, Ca)
08/29/2009
I used Borax to releive the itching and irritation from a yeast infection. This was the advice of my gynocologist. I have done this several times and had immediate results without having to use messy creams and sepositories. Take one teaspoon of 50 mule borax and combine with about 2 & 1/2 cups of warm water. Mix together until the borax is dissolved and put in a douche bottle or bag. I found that the bag works best because you can do this in the shower without a lot of effort or cleanup. Douche away at the first signs of the yeast infection. I would only have to do this once a day for about 2 or 3 days. It's natural, safe and effective. Borax is also found in lipsticks and lip gloss. I think it's been given a bad rap for years because it's cheap to produce and when used properly, won't cause any other diseases. If no one had any diseases, how would the pharmaceutical companies make their money?
General Feedback
I want to talk to people who have tried this remedy. I am interested but uncomfortable ingesting borax.
Thanks, Mary
General Feedback
I notice that many people on this site are advocating internally ingesting borax as a cure for various problems. This is not a good thing to promote, as borax is harmful when ingested. I use borax mixed with sugar as a natural ant killer - it kills off an ant problem in 2-3 days. This indicates a level of toxicity that shouldn't be treated lightly. When I cook up the mixture, I wear gloves and a facemask to prevent breathing in the fumes. The following excerpt about borax toxicity is from Wikipedia:
Start of excerpt:
"Borax, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, is not acutely toxic. Its LD50 (median lethal dose) score is tested at 2.66 g/kg in rats. This does not mean that it is safe, merely that a significant dose of the chemical is needed to cause severe symptoms or death. Simple exposure can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal distress including nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Effects on the vascular system and brain include headaches and lethargy, but are less frequent. "In severe poisonings, a beefy red skin rash affecting palms, soles, buttocks and scrotum has been described. With severe poisoning, erythematous and exfoliative rash, unconsciousness, respiratory depression, and renal failure."
...Boric acid solutions used as an eye wash or on abraded skin are known to be especially toxic to infants, especially after repeated use because of its slow elimination rate."
End of excerpt.
Note the use of the words "acutely toxic". Just because Borax isn't acutely toxic does not mean that it isn't toxic, just that it doesn't kill immediately. Please don't fool around with internally ingesting this stuff - it may seem like a harmless white powder that seems to do some good, but there are good reasons why it's banned as an additive to foodstuffs in many countries.
Borax or sodium tetraborate hexahydrate, or related name is a boron mineral that is an essential minerals for mammals but are toxic for insects, parasites and hence is used to get rid of parasites and has a unique anti-fungal.
Most reported toxicity is boric acid, which is the acid component of boron, but the sodium borate is an alkaline component so it's toxicity is low. Israel has the world's lowest arthritis and rheumatism because the borax content high in their drinking water is high. Boron deficiency leads to osteoporosis and many problems associated with candida, lichen planus, and the like. I was once chemical industrialist and we used boron compounds added into infant formula and multivitamins to prevent boron deficiency. One of the most unique features of borons is it's toxicity of 2000 mg/kg of LD50 is equivalent toxicity equal to that of sodium chloride, which is salt. The single most unique element is boron I used is to fight against metastatic cancer rather successfully when taken along with two other critical components, lecithin taken before and after every meals, and alkalization also. Boron raises the body's immune system by normalizing the body's hormone system and raises libido and sexual impotence and has some unique viagra like properties in both men and woman. Boron is an essential minerals in stabilizing calcium and magnesium components in the blood. Its anti cancer properties of boron or borax owes it to the fact it can kill fungus, reduce mycotoxins and which is really the cause behind cancer, arthritis, candida, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. It reduces excessive calcification of the pineal gland which is the control center of the biological clock and is used to detoxify or reduce the toxicity of fluoridated water. In fact this is the antidote I used to prevent myself from death of accidental fluoride poisoning during my laboratory work with hydrofluoric acid. I wouldn't be hear typing this post if it hadn't been for borax saving my life on a couple of ocassions. One common poisoning that parents worry is when children eat up the almost most of the toothpaste tube and borax has saved their life. The toxicity of fluoride we used in toothpaste is actually more than 10 times more toxic than borax. Borax toxicity of LD50 is equal to that of Salt, which is safer than some of the pharmaceuticals that is FDA approved. Because of its effectiveness in most remedies, the fact that its an essential mineral and that it has saved my life, boron isn't going to go away that easily. Think of it this way: what happens if your child has accidental fluoride poisoning from toothpaste and doctors say there's nothing you can do about it?
Ted
(Louisville, Kentucky)
04/06/2010
I just had to say, AMEN to that! Just think of the money that they are making on hormones, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and VIAGARA! Folks it is NOT A BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY FOR NOTHING! I've spent less on pharmaceuticals since finding EARTHCLINIC, and I'm trying borax tomorrow!
My daughter has flouride poisoning, mottled teeth, she's 14 and it is a shame! I've been ill for the same amount of time when the spots started occuring on her teeth. I wish borax could fix her teeth! Could there possibly be a connection between my illness and her teeth????
(Wichita, Ks)
06/06/2010
Though Wikipedia is often helpful as a place to start researching something, it bothers me that people are so ready to accept what is there just because it is there. Wikipedia's content is placed there by people like you and I. Some is wonderful and some is total garbage.
(Taipei, Noidea, Taiwan)
06/06/2010
(Alexandria, Minnesota)
08/05/2013
Hello! I ingested 1/8 teaspoon of borax daily in tap water for 3 months and my health has improved by at least 300%! No more body aches, my cognition is much clearer and I haven't been sick at all with the exception of a cold that lasted only 2 days! Sorry to have to disagree with you but kinda think you must work for the FDA.
(Ca)
09/30/2018
+Sharon from Vancouver - Actually, the article you mention is available in pdf on the web and also can be found at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1791931/
Otherwise, much truth to what you are writing. Good info!
General Feedback
Hello to all you who love this site as much as I do -Just answered my own question for Ted. Just printed out MSDS on 20 Mule Team Borax which gives its chemical formula as Na2B4O710H2O (sorry,apologize for not being able to get this computer to properly type chemical formulas) but it proceeds to give chemical names/synonyms: sodium tetraborate decahydrate, disodium tetraborate decahydrate, borax decahydrate, Borax 10 Mol
Goes on to say "this product contains greater than 99% sodium tetraborate decahydrate" and repeats the chemical formula again. I take this to mean that Borax and 20 Mule Team Borax found in the laundry section of the grocery store in 3 lb. carton for about $4 to be one and the same. If any chemist out there knows different, please speak up.
General Feedback
Hi...I was just reading the Borax page to a friend of mine and saw something a little startling in the testimony by Julie from New York dated 10/12/07. She writes that she used 1/8 of a tablespoon. The dosages I've read have said 1/8 to 1/4 of a teaspoon. I don't know if it's enough of a difference to matter but I thought I should bring it to your attention so you could figure it out. Thanks!
EC: EC: Thank you, Kristy! You are right -- the correct dosage is 1/8th teaspoon, not tablespoon!
General Feedback
I found this website http://www.borax.com/pdfs/dist/MSDS_Borax_Decahydrate.pdf. And it states that if borax is swollowed in small amount (1teaspoon)that it is not harmful in healthy adults.
(Gr, Mi)
01/08/2015
http://www.borax.com/docs/pdfs/rtm_backgrounder_boratesh-s.pdf?sfvrsn=1
I realized this was an old post only after I tried to check your link. here is the new one on the safe daily dose of borax.
General Feedback
Hello. I am writing in response to the posts about borax use. Many people have asked if they should just use 20-mule-team borax. I just found this site so I haven't used the remedies yet, but I wanted to write and give your readers a lead on a cosmetic grade borax. Actually, if they just type that into a search engine, they could find it themselves. But I found it at a place where I buy bulk organic herbs and flowers for making my own personal care products. This is the description from their site: "A natural source cosmetic grade Sodium Borate that does not contain surfactants and detergents which are commonly found in commercial Borax products. Borax acts as an emulsifier, natural preservative and buffering agent for moisturizers, scrubs and bath salts." Now, I would imagine that this means the borax in the store is NOT the one you would want to ingest, even in small amounts, since it more than likely DOES contain other ingredients that you don't want. So, if I were to try this remedy, I would look for 'cosmetic grade sodium borate'. The place I found the above description was mountain rose herbs, listed under miscellaneous products. I do not work for them and have no vested interest in telling you their name. I am, however, very impressed with them in general. I've purchased many things from them and everything has been good quality. You can delete the company's name if you'd like, it matters not to me. As long as your readers type in the correct words, they would find the site I'm talking about, or at least a place that sells the grade of borax that I'm referring to. Well, good luck! I'm off to email Ted to see if the borax will kill spirochetes...
(Olympia, Washington (USA))
02/14/2009
If you need a large supply of borax (we used large quantities to rid a rental of cockroaches), keep in mind that farmers use it in their fields and it is available in forty pound bags and other quantities from fertilizer supply houses. Inasmuch as it is not purposed to compete with Tide or Cheer, it may not have surfactants and such in it.
(Calgary, Alberta)
10/08/2017
Just so you know, the Borax you find in the laundry aisle is 99% pure with the other "1% possibly consisting of: sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, bicarbonate, carbonate, sulphate, phosphate but not toxic, and no heavy metals. Pharmaceutical grade is not noticeably better or purer" (per The Boron Conspiracy). The laundry aisle stuff is perfect.
(ON)
05/24/2022
Linda,
I see it on Amazon Canada, but it is 5 times the price of here in the US :
The other brand in a 10 lb size is closer, but still more expensive than 20 Mule Team Borax here :
Art
(Toronto, Ontario)
05/24/2022
Where in Canada do you live? There is Borax in every grocery store in Ontario ( Loblaw's, Zehrs, Food basic) in laundry department.
Hair and Scalp
Something I've discovered when using borax on your hair is that a handheld shower makes it a whole lot easier. Particularly if you work in your 1/4 tsp of citric acid in a pint of water and leave it in until you're done washing, then getting the handheld shower right up close to the scalp to rinse it all out. AWESOME!
Hair and Scalp
Until today, I have never read about mixing borax with water for washing hair.
I have long hair, and sometimes only wash my hair once or twice a week. When my diet is less than ideal, my hair gets a bit greasy, and at times I get somewhat of an itchy flaky scalp.
After learning about borax for dish washing (the clearest glass you will ever see! , and it kills the mold in your dish sponge), I decided to try washing my hair with it.
For many months now, I just dump a handful of borax into my palm, and rub it all over, mostly the area subject to be oily where my hair meets my forehead. Borax does not normally foam when you clean with it, but it foams when I rub it into my wet hair. I try rub the powder all over.
The first several times, I would just wash it out with water, but then I started using a diluted alkalizing and natural green soap. At first, the wet hair will have a dry feeling to it, but once it has thoroughly dried, it will be the softest hair. It just looks and feels great after this.
Any dandruff or flaky scalp will be gone for a couple of days after this. If your scalp is really bad, I would recommend following the protocol outlined above where the borax is diluted in water first.
Also, my hair is thinning, and I think, but am not sure, that the thinning has slowed down severely since I started using the borax wash.
Hair and Scalp
Can you please tell me how to make a simple emulsion of borax, coconut oil and water? I can't and haven't used commercial shampoos or soaps for years because they make my skin very dry and uncomfortable and I like to use more natural things. Recently I started using borax because my other options weren't really getting my hair clean enough and it works great but dryness is becoming an issue for me again now because of it. However I want to continue using the borax because it's natural and it gets my hair clean. I was thinking if I mix it with oil that could combat the drying factor but I don't want to be left oily either so I need to know how to make it mix and emulsify like mayonnaise so it will rinse away without leaving me oily. I would like to make it rather thin so it's easy to put through my hair. Can you tell just a basic instruction of how much of each thing of coconut oil, borax and water and how to do them so that they emulsify together properly?
(Fl., US)
02/11/2015
Hello. Read your post and couldn't help to think of lecithin granuals. Crush the granuals and blend all items. Lecithin is an emulsifier, meaning it binds the oils together with water into creamy consistency. This lecithin also when taken orally will pull oil out your body (Oil pulling ). Also a lil FYI : Walgreens sells a name brand called shea moisture, their products all organic, no parabans or sulfates. Find it at the ethnic isle. Not as cheap as regular shampoos but not too expensive either. And if you go from now until February 28th it's buy one get 2nd at 50% off. I love the coconut hibiscus line. You might want to check out their Jamaican black castor line, they have clarifying shampoo with apple cider vinegar and their leave in Conditioner has great ingredients. The good part is Walgreens has a good return policy, if you don't like, you return it!
(Los Angeles)
07/21/2016
(New Zealand)
07/21/2016
Hi Steph from Los Angeles,
I suggest either spraying your 50/50 mixture on your scalp 15 minutes before showering (& maybe shampooing?) and then rinsing off with a mug or two of "nice" water with a teaspoon of lemon juice in it. OR spraying the same 50/50 mixture on 5 minutes after having shampooed and then rinsing off as above.
Someone on this site also suggested massaging the scalp for many minutes to stimulate it and get the blood flowing etc.
I hope this helps.
Hair and Scalp
How should I make Hair Wash Solution with Borax. I have lots of Fungus and Dandruff. My hair are now very thin and have lost hair. Also, In India, what grade specification of Borax should I buy.
Thanks.
(Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)
08/17/2011
Hair and Scalp
Hi. I am addicted to this site, and I've found many helpful posts. So, I wanted to quickly respond to the amount of Borax to use for hair and scalp. Obviously, I'm only speaking from my experience. I use a palmful of borax (2 or 3 TBS.), which I rub into my scalp. I rinse it out and then clean my hair, as normal. At the end, I use a final rinse of 1/8 C Borax mixed in 1 Liter of water (I keep the solution in a rinsed plastic soda bottle). I do not rinse out this mixture. I, then, dry and style my hair as usual. Since the first application, I have no longer suffered with an itchy, flaking scalp. It's been wonderful!
Hair and Scalp
i've been using borax for a hair wash too. i've used it a couple of different ways - 1 teaspoon in a pint of warm water stired and poured on wet hair, then rinse with water - followed by a 1 teaspoon of ACV in a pint of warm water; rinse again with cold water - and i've used it saturated - which means i put about 1/2 inch in a bottle and filled it with warm water, shook it, and let it sit until no more borax would dissolve (they will be some white crystals which is ok) (then used the same as above) - and i really couldn't tell the difference!!!
both methods leave my hair very full, shiny, smooth, soft - better than anything else i have used!!! before this i was using soap bars which started leaving white residue in my hair when our water quality changed. this is not a problem with borax!
it does seem that the saturated solution may be more prone to 'build up' which means that my hair wasn't quite as shiny (still shiny though) as with the less saturated solution - but this could be because i'm only using ACV to rinse - 1/4 teaspoon citric acid in a pint of water is supposed to be a better rinse - but i have yet to find any and love my ACV rinse. also i like the idea of using less borax since i use it for my laundry and other things.
the other wonderful thing borax has done for me is i have a rat named eric who has always had itchy skin!!! i have tried everything - VCO rubs (to kill mites - he hates VCO) - olive oil, ACV, neem soap, etc. and while some of these work the itchies always come back when it is cold and dry.
the last time this happened he was chewing his skin off and i was desperate and decided to try the borax.
i put about a tablespoon or so into the sink and filled it with warm water and soaked him and massaged his itchy spots. then i rinsed him with plain water.
immediately he stopped itching! he was able to sleep all night that night and has been better since. i have only had to do it once more and it has been a few weeks!!! this time i made sure to get it on his head and this has worked even better.
and rats often suffer from a respitory illness called myco - which seems to me to be similar to pnuemonia - and suprise of suprises! eric's breathing is much better after his borax baths!!! he is an older rattie and has allergies - and while i don't think he has active myco - most ratties do carry myco and they can come down with it if their immune system is compromised.
hope this helps someone! my rattie boy now has much energy and is acting like a young rattie again in spite of being almost 2 years old!!! :)
also my bf has had athletes foot for ever. i finally gave him some borax and he wet his feet in warm water and just scrubbed them with the borax granules. he says his feet haven't itched since he did this!!! and if they do he now knows what to do!!! this is funny to me because he was initially very afraid to use borax LOL
borax rocks!!! YAY!
(Austin, Texas, Usa)
01/10/2010
UPDATE: i have been using borax for several weeks once a week to wash my hair with an ACV rinse and i started getting build up on my hair and scalp.
so i went and got the citric acid of which 1/4 tsp. in a pint of water is recommended to rinse borax away since supposedly vinegar and lime or lemon juice is not strong enough to remove the borax.
after i washed again and used the recommended 1/4 tsp. citric acid in a pint of water and then rinsed again my hair was VERY slimy feeling. and then it took over 5 hours to dry.
the next day it felt limp and coated.
finally i washed again and did a stronger citric acid rinse and had the same problem - slimy, coated hair that refused to dry :(
eventually i clarified my hair using clay and i am now afraid to use the borax because it obviously was building up on my hair.
so if you use this method keep an eye out for the borax building up on your hair. in my hair this was evident by it becoming limper and limper and less shiny and feeling very soft and smoother than usual (at first a good thing LOL) and feeling like i had coated it in fabric softener.
then i had little white hard things coming out of my scalp as well as a weird waxy coating on my brush bristles when i would brush.
(Austin, Tx)
02/11/2010
another update!!!
ok so i started using the borax again since everything else i have tried, eggs, my soap bars, all leave residue on my hair.
what i've found is that if i put 1 tsp. of borax in a pint of warm water and stir it up good and then use it to wash it works great - with no build up!
and i can still use my ACV rinse - 1 tsp. ACV in a pint of warm water!
i think the key is to rinse very well after the borax and then leave the acid rinse on for a few minutes.
citric acid did not work at all for me :(
also the saturated solution built up on my hair very fast - but at this dilution (perhaps because it is not totally saturated) does not appear to be building up on my hair or my scalp.
and i occasionally use this same measurement on my rattie boy if he gets itchy!!!
(Australia)
05/10/2017
It is possible borax is helping rattie if he has demodex mites in his hair follicles. Dogs and humans have demodex mites. In dogs it causes mange. Borax kills the mites. They come out of hair follicles to breed at night. They itch like crazy and can even cause rosacea in humans it is said. People are allergic to the mites droppings in the hair follicles or even the mite itself as it dies in the follicle.
