Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has a variety of functions that can be very useful in our daily lives. It is a cheap alternative for many expensive products out there, be it for health or household cleaning. One such use of baking soda is in treating crush syndrome, especially for victims of an earthquake who need immediate medical attention.
What Is Crush Syndrome?
Crush syndrome (also known as traumatic rhabdomyolysis or Bywaters’ syndrome) is a condition where excessive myoglobin rushes into the bloodstream. Your body needs myoglobin to supply oxygen to the muscles and keep them functioning.
In a traumatic injury like earthquakes, the muscles are crushed and excessive myoglobin goes into the bloodstream. Since there aren’t enough proteins for the myoglobin to bind with in the stream, it clogs the kidneys. A lack of access to water makes things worse here. Crush syndrome can thus cause renal failure and other kidney-related complications.1
How Does Baking Soda Treat Crush Syndrome?
Baking soda helps to reduce the myoglobin levels and thus help victims recover from the injury much faster. Immediately after an injury, victims may be given a solution mixed with baking soda. This, along with a saline solution, will help the victims recover from dehydration and also any kidney issues that could occur in the immediate future. The fact that baking soda is quite handy and can be found in most houses makes it an easy treatment until the victims can be taken to the hospital.
However, note that baking soda is more of a traditionally used home remedy. More research is required to prove the effectiveness of the substance as a cure. In emergency trauma cases, your first priority should be to provide the victims immediate medical attention at a nearby hospital.
Other Uses Of Baking Soda
Apart from treating injury victims, baking soda has many other benefits for your health:2
- It treats insect bites as well as poison ivy issues. Apply a paste made from baking soda and water on the infected place for relief from itching. The dry powder can be applied on the affected area to treat other irritations as well.
- It helps to remove splinters under the skin. You can add 1 tbsp of baking soda to water and apply it to the location. The splinter will come off within a day or two.
- It is great for sunburns. Just add 1/2 cup of baking soda to lukewarm water and apply on the affected skin. This will give instant relief and have a cooling effect later.
- It can also form a natural deodorant. Just apply the powder directly to your arm pits or make a paste of it with water and use it on your body to prevent odors.
- It can be used as a foot soak. Add 3 tbsp of baking soda to a tub of warm water and soak your feet in it. It removes dead skin cells and provides relief.
- It acts as a natural antacid and relieves heartburn, ulcer pains, and indigestion by neutralizing the stomach acids.
Word Of Caution
Baking soda is natural, inexpensive, and gentle enough to use. However, it can be toxic if used in excess. Do not take baking soda in large doses. The recommended dosage is 1 1/2 tsp of baking soda fully dissolved in a glass of water. This can be taken every 2 hours. If you are over 60 years of age, even this should be avoided. Do not use baking soda as an occasional treatment as excess consumption can lead to acid/base imbalances.3
Use baking soda responsibly in the right quantities and for the right reasons in order to reap the utmost benefits healthily.
References
