Health Utilities of Baking Soda
Baking soda has several health uses. Check out some possible uses
You already know what baking soda is and what its main uses are. Now, see some recipes with baking soda that can help you with some simple health problems. Oh, it's always good to remember that if problems persist, see a doctor.
Other Uses of Sodium Bicarbonate
- In cleaning: Clean with baking soda
- For beauty: Learn about the use of baking soda for beauty
Antacid to relieve stomach heartburn or acid indigestion
Baking soda has alkaline properties and is therefore a great home remedy for heartburn.
You will need:
- One teaspoon of baking soda (2.5 g);
- One cup of lukewarm filtered water (500 ml).
Mix the two and take. It will help with poor digestion, heartburn and upset stomach. Find out more: Does baking soda for heartburn work?
Alleviate insect bites and itchy skin
The ingredients are:
- A tablespoon of baking soda;
- 50 ml of water.
Mix the two ingredients together until it forms a thick paste. Gently apply over the affected area. Use your (clean) fingers or cotton swab to apply. Leave on for about half an hour, then wash off with warm water.
Nasal decongestant
Having a stuffy nose is a real discomfort and some nasal decongestants can be a little expensive. Another health utility of baking soda is its potential to act as a homemade nasal decongestant. Check out the recipe, super easy to make and use:
You will need:
- One teaspoon of sea salt;
- One teaspoon of baking soda;
- A liter of boiled water.
Put in an eyedropper and drop three drops into each nostril three times a day. The solution should last 24 hours, then just redo it until your nose gets better.
To remove splinters and glass from the skin
Do not press the barb, just clean and dry the area with soap and water and apply the following solution:
- 5 ml of water;
- 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.
Make a thick paste with the mixture, apply to the affected area and place a dressing on top. Leave on for about 24 hours. When removing, the splinter will be visible, as the paste will make your skin swell, pushing the splinter out. If the splinter is not visible, redo the process.
Remember: these homemade recipes do not detect the problem and are no guarantee of efficiency. It is always recommended to consult a doctor.
Other Health Uses of Bicarbonate
- In medicine, it is widely used to relieve heartburn or acid indigestion, so it is part of the composition of fruit salt. It is known as an antacid, which makes it suitable for the treatment of some intestinal diseases, such as ulcers and reflux, but it should only be used under prescriptions and medical guidelines for this purpose;
- It is also used to treat more alkaline blood and urine due to its neutralizing properties. Generally, bicarbonate available in pharmacies is sold in three forms: powder, capsules or in aqueous solution, that is, diluted in water, under different concentrations, for oral ingestion;
- Helps in the prevention and treatment of sore throat. See how to make your home remedy in the article "18 Remedies for Sore Throat";
- Relieves light sun burns; a small amount can be applied to damp skin during a cold shower. See more recipes to relieve in "What to spend on sunburn?".
Curiosity: researchers have done the first scientific work that registers the benefit of using sodium bicarbonate to curb tumor metastases, such as cancer. In the study, experiments were carried out on animals. Mice were inoculated with tumors and taken oral bicarbonate. Due to its neutralizing potential, it raises the pH of the tumor region, making its proliferation difficult. See the full study.
Know other uses of sodium bicarbonate for health? Tell us.
But remember to purchase baking soda from a reliable manufacturer, as only then will you have the assurance that the product is natural and that it has not harmed the environment in its manufacturing process.