Baking soda is a powerful ally in natural health. At the Marc Bony Chiropractic Center in Mataró, we’ll show you how this compound can improve your daily well-being.
Amazing Baking Soda
What exactly is baking soda?
The most common use we're all familiar with is as a leavening agent in baked goods. When mixed with an acid, baking soda reacts, creating bubbles and releasing carbon dioxide gas, which causes the dough to rise.
Anecdotal accounts throughout history suggest that many civilizations used various forms of baking soda to make bread and other foods that needed to be fluffy.
In its natural form, sodium bicarbonate is known as nahcolite, which is part of a natural mineral called natron. Natron, which contains large amounts of sodium bicarbonate, has been used since ancient times. And no, you don’t have to look for aluminum-free sodium bicarbonate (don’t confuse it with baking powder), since sodium bicarbonate is aluminum-free… For example, the Egyptians used natron as a soap for cleaning purposes.
However, it wasn't until 1846 that Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight began manufacturing and selling the compound we now know as sodium bicarbonate. By the 1860s, sodium bicarbonate was appearing in cookbooks, but at that time it was known primarily as a cooking additive. However, by the 1920s, its versatility had expanded, and by the 1930s it was being advertised as a “proven medicinal agent.”
11 Ways to Use Baking Soda for Your Health
You can buy a box of baking soda for less than $1 dollar, making it one of the most affordable home remedies to keep on hand. In addition to using it for minor accidents and injuries, baking soda can become part of your regular hygiene routine.
- Natural Deodorant
If you want to avoid the parabens and aluminum, which are found in many deodorants and antiperspirants, you might want to try mixing water with a pinch of baking soda. This paste can be an effective, natural deodorant. You can also take a little baking soda and rub it under your arms.
- Insect Bites and Poison Ivy Rash
Apply a paste made of baking soda and water to insect bites to relieve the itching. You can also try rubbing dry baking soda onto your skin. This is also an effective remedy for skin rashes and poison ivy rash. Baking soda helps relieve mild irritation and itching by neutralizing toxins and irritants on the surface of your skin.
- Heartburn, Indigestion
Most over-the-counter antacids contain some form of bicarbonate. We recommend the «Phour Salt» for indigestion or heartburn, which is free of heavy metals:
- It promotes the body's remineralization, helping to keep your muscles, bones, and joints youthful
- Helps increase energy levels, tone, and vitality
- Helps improve digestion
- It helps improve athletic performance.
If baking soda is used only occasionally, the usual dose is ½ teaspoon completely dissolved in half a glass of water; otherwise, it is better to use Phour Salt. Baking soda should be used as an occasional (not chronic) treatment, and care should be taken not to consume excessive amounts, as this can cause serious electrolyte and acid imbalances.
- Foot Soak and Exfoliator
Add three tablespoons of baking soda to a tub of hot water for an invigorating foot soak. You can rub your feet with a baking soda paste for extra exfoliation. A paste made from three parts baking soda mixed with one part water can also be used as a scrub for your face and body. It’s natural, inexpensive, and safe enough to use every day.
- Relaxing Bath
Baking soda and apple cider vinegar are a wonderful combination for a spa-like bath. They also clean the bathtub and drain—an added bonus.
- Hand Cleanser
Mix three parts baking soda with one part water to make a natural hand cleanser that will remove all dirt and neutralize odors.
- Remove Splinters
Add a tablespoon of baking soda to a small glass of water, then soak the affected area twice a day. Many splinters will come out on their own after a couple of days of using this treatment.
- Remedy for Sunburn
Add ½ cup of baking soda to a bathtub filled with warm water, then soak for natural relief. When you get out, let your skin air-dry instead of using a towel, which will remove the excess baking soda, for extra relief. You can also add a mixture of baking soda and water to cold compresses and apply them directly to the sunburn.
- Improved Athletic Performance
Runners have long engaged in a practice known as “sodium doping”—or taking baking soda in capsule form—before races to improve performance, a method believed to work in the same way as carb loading. It has also been shown to increase speed in swimmers. Although I don’t recommend trying this at home, this is another example of the benefits of sodium bicarbonate. The researchers noted: [pullquote align=center]Essentially, sodium bicarbonate is an alkaline substance that raises the pH of the blood. This appears to reduce and counteract the acidity produced in the muscles during intense anaerobic exercise that rapidly produces lactic acid, such as running fast or swimming.” [/pullquote]
- Toothpaste and Gums
Baking soda has a mild abrasive effect that helps remove plaque and polish, clean, and deodorize your teeth. A review of data from five controlled clinical studies found that toothpaste containing sodium bicarbonate “improves plaque removal from the teeth to a much greater extent” than toothpaste that does not contain sodium bicarbonate. Baking soda also has antibacterial activity and has been found to kill Streptococcus mutans—one of the main causes of tooth decay. To make an incredibly effective toothpaste, use a mixture of six parts baking soda, one part sea salt, and coconut oil—which has antibacterial properties—as a base. Put it in a blender and blend for 30 seconds, then transfer it to a container that’s most convenient for you to use. Moisten the tip of your index finger and apply a small amount of the mixture to your gums. Start with the outer upper gums, then the inner ones; repeat by moving to the outer upper gums and then the inner ones; rub the mixture onto your teeth and gums. Spit out the excess. After 15 minutes, rinse your mouth.
This mixture is incredibly effective at killing bacteria. You need to take certain precautions in this area because, although many people believe that baking soda can be too abrasive for tooth enamel, and the Dr. Curatola believes that destroying the oral microbiome could be highly counterproductive.
- Teeth Whitening
For a natural way to whiten your teeth, mash a ripe strawberry and mix it with ½ teaspoon of baking soda. Spread the mixture on your teeth and let it sit for about five minutes. Then brush your teeth and rinse. This method should not be used more than once a week, as overuse could damage your tooth enamel.
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