[box]Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has been used for centuries to help treat various ailments. Ancient Egyptians used to lick rocks in order to quell digestive pains, it sounds crazy, but the natural sodium bicarbonate found on the rocks worked like a charm![/box]
[box type=”note”]The body naturally produces a small amount of sodium bicarbonate each day in order to neutralize stomach acids post digestion. This very same principle is the reason it is a common denominator among commercially available antacids.[/box]
Health & Beauty Benefits of Baking Soda
Ok, so there are only 16 health benefits of baking soda on the list, but consider this an opportunity to share your favorite uses for baking soda.
There are countless uses for sodium bicarbonate, from cleaning to deodorizing, it is truly one of the most versatile and underused natural products.
Beauty Benefits of Sodium Bicarbonate
Dry Shampoo
Instead of spending money on expensive dry shampoo’s, try this cheaper, natural alternative. Just sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on the scalp and gently massage in. It works just like commercially available dry shampoo’s at a fraction of the cost! Another cheap alternative is baby powder.
Volumizing Shampoo
Add a quarter teaspoon of baking soda to your shampoo each day for added volume and cleansing. This will help keep your hair and scalp clean and debris free. It also helps to balance the pH of your scalp, relieving itching, flaking and dryness.
Whiten Teeth
Baking soda is an age old tooth whitener and mouth cleanser. Add a pinch to your toothbrush along with your favorite toothpaste to brighten your teeth and neutralize mouth odors throughout the day.
You can also add a teaspoon of baking soda to water and use it as a mouthwash to freshen your mouth after a meal.
Treat Acne
Using baking soda in facial cleaners can help to relieve acne, reducing redness and pain while preventing further outbreaks. Simply mix together a paste of baking soda and honey, use as a facial mask and rinse off after 15-20 minutes.
Facial Scrub
Mixing a paste of baking soda and water and using it as a facial scrub does wonders for the skin. Helping to exfoliate the dead skin and leave your face feeling touchably soft and clean. Add lemon juice and lavender oil for your own special concoction.
Nail Cleanser
Yellowing nails are a problem many of us face and they can be quite stubborn to get rid of. Leaving nail polish on too long can discolor the nail and harsh chemicals are not always the best bet. Instead mix together 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and scrub the nail gently, this will help reduce discoloration and improve nail health.
Pedicure
Quit turning down foot massages because you are embarrassed of your rough feet. Soak your feet in warm water with a touch of white vinegar, then make a paste with baking soda and water to gently exfoliate your feet. This will help soften and cleanse your feet, so you won’t need to turn down a foot massage again!
Natural Deodorant
There are many recipes for natural deodorant alternatives using baking soda. From a simple paste with water and baking soda to complex recipes incorporating coconut oil, tea tree and lavender. Baking soda deodorizes and cleanses, leaving your underarm feeling great and smelling clean.
Bath Bomb for Itching and Sunburn Relief
Throw a half cup of baking soda in your next bath. It will help relieve itching and pain if you have psoriasis, sunburn or dry skin, but you don’t need to have skin troubles to benefit from this fantastic natural bath bomb.
Health Benefits of Sodium Bicarbonate
Heartburn & Indigestion
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, one common denominator among most over the counter antacids, they contain sodium bicarbonate. It is really quite astonishing how well and how quickly baking soda can relieve heartburn and indigestion.
Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda into water until completely dissolved. Drink it down (no it doesn’t taste very good) and you will have near instant relief. The baking soda neutralizes the painful acid causing the discomfort.
Kidney Function
When our kidneys are not functioning properly, they have trouble reducing acidity levels in the body. Highly acidic body’s are prone to ailments and manifest disease rapidly.
One study looked at the benefits of ingesting sodium bicarbonate daily to help treat metabolic acidosis in patients with hypertensive kidney disease. The results were quite promising, showing a notable reduction in kidney injury and improvement in metabolic acidosis. [1]
Cancer
While more scientific studies are needed to assess the true benefits of sodium bicarbonate for the treatment of cancerous tumors, initial tests seem quite promising.
Dietary measures to improve sodium bicarbonate levels have been shown to increase the pH levels of acidic tumors without impacting the pH levels of the blood and healthy tissue. Animal studies have shown that taking sodium bicarbonate orally helps make tumors more alkaline, inhibiting metastasis. [2]
Delay Muscle Fatigue
Further studies need to be done to fully determine the efficacy of sodium bicarbonate for delaying muscle fatigue, many experts agree it can help during bouts of physical activity. By orally ingesting sodium bicarbonate prior to working out, it is thought that you can help counteract the effects of lactic acid buildup in the muscles. This helps to delay muscle fatigue and allow for increased physical performance.
Treat Bug Bites
Baking soda has a profound soothing effect on the skin. By mixing a thick paste of baking soda and water you can help reduce the pain, redness and itching associated with a myriad of bug and insect bites.
Cold & Flu Treatment
Some experts believe that you can dramatically reduce the lifespan of the common cold and influenza virus by ingesting sodium bicarbonate regularly. How exactly this works is still relatively unknown, but it is believed to be able to eliminate symptoms in as little as 36 hours.
Ulcer Pain Relief
Ulcer pain is exacerbated by stomach acid. Taking sodium bicarbonate orally will neutralize the harsh acids and provide immediate pain relief. This doesn’t only relieve pain, it helps prevent further damage to the stomach lining caused by excess acidity.
Your Sodium Bicarbonate Experience
Time for you to chime in. Have you tried any of these popular uses for baking soda? If so, how did it go?
Or is there a benefit that we missed that you think should be added to the list?
[box]
More Great Articles from GlutathionePRO
How To Treat Dandruff This Winter
+1 baking soda for heart burn. It’s my go-to and works like a charm every time.