Baking soda’s fame has taken over almost all areas of our daily life including cooking, cleaning, washing, exfoliating, and others. Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is now also known to solve everyday health problems like allergies, stomach ailments, acne, dry scalp, and many others. What makes it an appropriate ingredient for home remedies is that it is all natural.
Every health problem has a unique way of using baking soda to help reduce the existing symptoms and provide relief. Let’s examine 13 common health issues and how we can use baking soda to treat them.
13 Everyday Health Problems Baking Soda Can Solve
1. Inhalant Allergies
Every day you breathe in air pollutants from vehicles, industries, and other sources. These may cause you to have mild inhalant allergies. The common symptoms of these allergies include runny, itchy nose, sneezing, and swollen eyes. These allergies are not life-threatening unless it develops into asthma or you already have an existing respiratory condition. Baking soda can reduce these allergy symptoms.
How To Use
Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt and a pinch of baking soda in a cup of warm water. Transfer this solution to a spray bottle or a medicine dropper. Squirt the solution into one nostril while closing the other and breathe deeply. Repeat the same for the other nostril. You can do this three to four times a day.1
2. Stomach Ailments
Baking soda can relieve you of the common stomach issues like gas, heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, and an upset stomach.2
How To Use
- Stomach gas: You can relieve yourself from gas trouble by sipping on a glass of water to which a pinch of baking soda has been added. You can use the same remedy if you experience pain from an acid stomach as well as indigestion. If you suffer from stomach gas pains, you can sip on water mixed with two tablespoons of lemon juice and a quarter teaspoon of baking soda.
- Heartburn: To relieve this burning sensation in the throat, you can dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and sip on it.
- Acid reflux: Having a mixture of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in a glass of water can reduce acid reflux symptoms.
- Upset stomach: If you feel nauseous from an upset stomach, slowly sip on a glass of lemon-lime soda mixed with half a teaspoon of baking soda.
3. Mouth Ailments
Baking soda can help your mouth-related issues including bad breath and cuts and sores on the inner cheek of your mouth.3
How To Use
- Bad breath: Get rid of your bad breath by rinsing your mouth with a glass of water mixed with a teaspoon of baking soda. This neutralizes bad odor.
- Cuts and sores: You can relieve yourself from cuts and sores present on the inner cheek of your mouth by using baking soda. Mix a few teaspoons of baking soda in a glass of warm water and use it as a mouth rinse as often as required.
You can also make your own healthy toothpaste with baking soda. Just mix a few drops of peppermint oil with baking soda in a small dish. You can dip a wet toothbrush into the mixture and begin brushing like you normally would.
4. Yeast Infections
Mild yeast infections that cause itching and burning can be treated using baking soda.4
How To Use
- You can mix a tablespoon of baking soda to a glass of water and drink the solution. If required, you can also add lemon juice to flavor the drink. Drink this several times a day until the infection is gone.
- A warm baking soda soak can also provide relief from the discomfort caused by yeast infections. Pour half a cup of baking soda into the warm bath water and soak yourself for about 20 minutes. You can soak yourself in this soda mixture two to three times a day until the symptoms are relieved.
5. Itchy Skin And Insect Bites
Baking soda can treat itchy skin and also neutralize the acidity of insect bites on the skin.5
How To Use
- For itchy skin, you can add a cup of baking soda to your bath water. You can also make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it onto the affected area. Old skin will give way for new healthy skin cells.
- For insect bites, you can spread a paste of baking soda and water onto the affected area like an ointment.
6. Tough Calluses
Callus is a thickened and hardened part of the skin or soft tissue, especially that part of the body that has been subjected to friction. This most often happens to the feet. Baking soda can help soften these tough calluses.6
How To Use
- Stir two tablespoons of baking soda into a basin of warm water and add a few drops of lavender oil.
- Soak the legs in this solution for 15 minutes.
- Scrub the calluses away with 3 parts baking soda, 1 part water, and 1 part brown sugar.
- Apply moisturizer and wrap your feet in a warm towel and leave it for 5 minutes.
7. Razor/Shaving Burns
If you have a burn or a sting from using razors, baking soda can help.
How To Use
- For men with sensitive skin, a solution of one tablespoon baking soda in one cup of water makes a good preshave treatment or a soothing aftershave rinse.
- In order to get rid of razor burns or stings easily, dissolve some baking soda in a dish of cold water. Dip a towel or a few cotton balls in this solution and apply it onto the irritated area of the skin.
8. Dandruff
Dandruff can cause itchy scalp and if left unchecked, it can also cause pimples. Baking soda can help reduce dandruff.
How To Use
Instead of the usual shampoo, wet your hair and rub baking soda into your scalp. Rinse it thoroughly and dry and style as usual. You will notice positive results with several regular washes.
9. Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease can be slowed down by the ingestion of baking soda. Research shows that many kidney disease patients show a low level of bicarbonate in their system. This condition is known as metabolic acidosis.7
Baking soda helps regulate these bicarbonate levels and slow down the progression of the kidney disease. Patients given sodium bicarbonate tablets daily showed positive results.
Make sure that you consult your doctor before using home remedies to treat diseases of high severity.
10. Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus can be treated using a baking soda paste. This remedy can also be used to treat fungus on fingernails.
How To Use
- Toenail fungus can be cured by gently rubbing the infected nails with a baking soda paste. Leave it on a for a few minutes, wash with warm water, and dry thoroughly. Do this every day until the fungus disappears.
- To keep your fingernails healthy, massage the cuticle and nail bed with the baking soda paste. You can do this once a week for healthy fingernails. This also prevents the nails from discoloration.
11. Cancer Sores
Usually, cancer patients are subjected to harmful radiation or chemotherapy as part of their treatment. These may cause side effects like the appearance of sores in the mouth. These may be painful; however, baking soda can help ease these mouth sores.
How To Use
- Sores inside the mouth can be eased by rinsing with a solution of baking soda, salt, and water. Mix a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of baking soda and a pinch of salt. Rinse your mouth, around the sores, and spit it out.
- Any sore outside the mouth can be treated by making a paste of a tablespoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of water and applying it onto the affected area.
12. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Conjunctivitis or pink eye is a highly contagious condition of the eye caused by either bacterial or viral infections. The eye is a very sensitive area of the body and great care must be taken if you plan to treat it using a home remedy. Since it is contagious, all items coming in contact with the infected eye should be sterilized.
How To Use
To treat conjunctivitis, mix a quarter teaspoon of baking soda with half a cup of sterilized water. Stir until all the baking soda is dissolved. With a dropper, use the solution as an eye wash. Gently pat the eye and dry your face with a soft cloth after rinsing. Wash all the items immediately that were in contact with the infected eye.
13. Dehydration
Dehydration is the loss of water and essential minerals from the body caused due to various reasons like diarrhea, vomiting, and others. Baking soda can help relieve dehydration.8
How To Use
If you are dehydrated, mix one teaspoon of salt, one-third teaspoon of baking soda, 1 scant quarter cup of sugar, and a quart of water. Shake these ingredients in a bottle. You can also add lemon for some flavor. Drink this solution and your body will be able to regain energy as well as stay hydrated.
So, now that you know how baking soda can solve your everyday health issues, try to use these inexpensive baking soda remedies. However, if you are on a strict salt-restricted diet or have been advised to avoid sodium, do not take baking soda as these could lead to more serious problems. If you observe any allergic reaction or experience discomfort, stop the treatment immediately and visit the doctor to avoid any further complications.
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