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 for its myriad uses.

Please be aware that you use a food grade baking soda!

Health Benefits

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

Natural Heartburn Relief

Baking soda’s most celebrated health benefit is as a natural antacid. A small dose of 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon mixed with water (and some fresh lemon juice) 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. 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 Alkalisation

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 with 1/2 a fresh lemon 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 alkalisation.

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-neutralising 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 your teeth with baking soda
It helps maintain the oral alkalinity and removes the stain and whiten the teeth.
Take 1 teaspoon of baking soda (food grade), mix it with 10 drops of Hydrogen Peroxide (3%), dip it into the mixture and gently brush your teeth in a circular motion for about 30 seconds.

Source: Earth Clinic