Image by Azzaryiatul Amar from Pixabay

• Share

PRINT

Everyone has some baking soda in the house, and if not, you should get some. Aside from baking with it, I use it in my garbage disposal and to brighten my laundry.

Sodium bicarbonate is known more commonly as “baking soda” since it helps make dough rise by producing carbon dioxide. Today, I’ll share the most common medicinal uses for baking soda, as well as a few household uses that make it the cheapest, most effective remedy in town!

Consuming excessive baking soda is toxic because it’s so high in sodium. So, if you’re taking it internally for heartburn, do not use it chronically, and do not take too much. See a doctor for proper treatment.

Now, here are the best medicinal uses I can think of for baking soda:

Improve bad breath

Adding some baking soda to your mouthwash can instantly freshen breath and improve oral hygiene. I think this is a great addition to anyone’s nightly routine. Studies show that it can help your body fight bacteria better by temporarily increasing pH in your saliva.

You can also make your own mouthwash using baking soda, water and essential oils. I have a recipe for this posted at my website if you’d like to try it. Rinse with plain water after you do the baking soda rinse.

Soothe itching

Get relief for itching and minor bug bites or bee stings using baking soda paste that you make at home.

Make a paste that is thick enough to apply to your skin. The amount of baking soda you use doesn’t matter; just pour it into a little dish, and add enough water slowly until it is thick like paste. Then apply it to your itchy spots. You can kick it up a notch medicinally by adding several drops of lavender, frankincense and/or tea tree essential oil.

If your itchy skin is widespread, as you might experience with a drug allergy reaction, then take a lukewarm bath and add about 2 cups of baking soda to a large bathtub of water, and soak for 15 minutes.

Freshen your feet

You can make a little foot bath using 1 cup of baking soda to a small foot bath of water. I would add a cup of witch hazel to the mix as well as 10 drops of tea tree oil.  Soak your feet for five minutes, then rinse and dry off. This might help with toenail fungus too.

Treat heartburn or reflux

Acid reflux is a very common problem that stems from various different root causes, so before I tell you how to use baking soda, I want to make sure that you understand you should not be ignoring this symptom.

It may be due to overeating or from using drugs that are irritating to the esophagus like NSAIDs. But it’s also associated with a hiatal hernia, parathyroid adenomas, esophageal cancer and more.

So, get a doctor’s work-up before using this remedy, and do not use it if you are on a sodium-restricted diet.

This baking soda trick works well for simple acute types of acid reflux, such as the type triggered by eating salsa, onions or coffee.

Dissolve ½ to 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a cold glass of water. Sip it slowly until the heartburn subsides. Do not use this chronically because it may lead to metabolic alkalosis and electrolyte disturbances that impact your heart and muscles.

Make laundry cleaner

Baking soda is an inexpensive method that many people know about to whiten and clean your laundry. It’s simple to do. Just add ¼- to ½-cup of baking soda to the regular amount of laundry detergent that you use.

The baking soda will dissolve completely in the water and help remove stains and dirt from your clothes. You’ll notice it softens the water too.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. Visit her website at suzycohen.com.