Baking soda is not only for baking; it has several health applications. Most commonly with water it relieves heartburn and acid indigestion. For first aid applications, baking soda can be used to treat scalds while medical attention is pending.
It may also be used topically as a paste to relieve itching or rash inflammation.
It is important to note that baking soda should never be used for any medical application without consulting with a licensed physician first beforehand. Baking soda should not be used for children under the age of 6 without consulting a pediatrician. The usage of baking soda might be dangerous for those with allergies or health conditions that make them sensitive to sodium intake.
Baking soda works to treat heartburn by neutralizing excess stomach acids. It can also be used to treat acid indigestion, nausea, and sour stomach. It is safe to use in small amounts. Most packages of baking soda have directions for treating heartburn or indigestion, but for a general rule, one teaspoon of baking soda should be stirred in a glass of warm water. If the product is more concentrated, then less baking soda should be used.
Like other antacids, baking soda should be used only in moderation to treat heartburn. Also foods that trigger heartburn should be avoided like tomato based foods, fatty foods, chocolate and other foods as well as drinks like coffee.
Many toothpastes have baking soda in them, because the compound is shown to be beneficial for cleaning teeth and mouth hygiene. It also neutralizes acidity in the mouth that results from bacterial waste products, and thus it freshens breath. It also works as a mild antiseptic to prevent infections in the mouth. It can be used to relieve the pain from canker sores as a mouthwash.
Baking soda can be used as a mouthwash diluted in water. Some use a paste of baking soda, a small amount of water, and 3% hydrogen peroxide as an alternative to commercial toothpastes.
Baking soda can be added to bathwater to relieve skin irritation, rashes, or bug bites. It can also be rubbed on the skin on a damp rag for this same purpose.
Baking soda has mild exfoliate properties due to the round shape of the particles, and when mixed with water and scrubbed gently into the skin with a sponge it can remove dead skin cells. The inflammation from sunburns can be partially relieved with a solution of baking soda and water.
In the case of urinary tract infections, there is anecdotal evidence that baking soda may have beneficial effects by raising the pH of urine and reducing bacterial multiplication, but there is no scientific evidence of this.
With a wide range of uses, and several health and medical benefits, hygienic, and cleaning uses, baking soda is an inexpensive and useful compound to have in the house. However, like any other compound that can have health implications, the usage of baking soda for health benefits or medical treatments should be discussed with a physician beforehand. It is safe to use it for the previously mentioned hygienic purposes as long as it is not ingested in large quantities.
More scientific studies on the effectiveness of baking soda in helping to treat kidney illnesses and other kidney related problems would need to be performed, but it seems that this is a promising avenue for the another medical application of baking soda.
There is no doubt, however, that baking soda is effective for treating heartburn and indigestion. In the case of topical skin related treatments, it may be better to use baking soda as a complement to prescription or over the counter products for treatment, as long as there are no interactions. Baking soda is useful and safe for mouth hygiene, and it can be used as a mouthwash or as a paste for cleaning teeth.
