The Many Medicinal Uses of Bicarbonate of Soda, or Baking Soda as You May Know It

Has anybody ever heard of bicarbonate of soda? Most likely not, you probably know it by its more common name, baking soda. Baking soda is a white powder that is traditionally used as a raising agent for baking. Many people actually forget that baking soda was originally intended for just that, baking! It has so many other uses today that baking is probably not even one of the top three anymore. You see it in toothpastes, laundry detergents, air fresheners. It has almost unlimited uses and should be found any every home. But baking soda is also used in many natural remedies. Baking soda can even be used on its own for its soothing and neutralizing properties.

As far as its healing or medicinal properties, baking soda is considered to be an anti-inflammatory, which is particularly useful for skin conditions. As mentioned above it is also a natural bleach for teeth and is used in many toothpastes today. Baking soda is alkaline so it neutralizes acids, which lends it's to many other uses.

If you want to use baking soda ad a natural healing remedy you have many options. When salt and baking soda are combined in the bath, the combination may reduce the negative effects of minor exposure to the radiation from X-rays. A paste of baking soda and water can be applied to a diaper rash or other minor irritations to reduce skin inflammation and irritation. If you are experiencing excess stomach acid you may choose to drink a solution of baking soda and hot water (one tea­spoon to one half pint,) to reduce flatulence and ease indigestion.

We have all been sting be a bee as a kid and had our mothers use baking soda. For bee stings, extract the sting and apply a paste of baking soda and water to neutralize it. The juice of half a lemon mixed with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and warm water will help to ease a minor headache. Drink the mixture every 15 minutes until the pain begins to recede. If you do not already have baking soda in your tooth paste, you can brush your teeth with baking soda, a natural whitener which also reduces agents causing bad breath.

A few words of caution about baking soda should be taken into consideration before using it in any of the above mentioned remedies. Baking soda should be used only externally when used on children and babies. Always consult a physician before using baking soda if you have high blood pressure or a bad heart.

Sources:

Balch, James, and Mark Stengler Prescription for Natural Cures 2004

Maccaro, Janet C. Natural Health Remedies 2006

Pizzoino, Joseph Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine 1997