Alternative names: Sodium Bicarbonate
Baking soda is a very common household product, used for baking, cleaning, and odor-removal. It also has many medicinal uses.
Here are some of the many medical uses of baking soda:
Although generally very safe, when used in excess baking soda can upset the body's acid-base balance, and cause nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, thirst.
Soak the feet in a solution of baking soda and water for about 30 minutes daily. This will change the pH of the skin. Also sprinkle baking soda on the feet and in your shoes and socks. It will soak up some of the perspiration and help neutralize the skin at the same time.
Reported in Natural News, August 26, 2009: Researchers in the United Kingdom have made a breakthrough in the treatment of advanced CKD – using a daily dose of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Baking soda has been shown to slow the decline of kidney function in CKD, according to a study set for publication in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). "This cheap and simple strategy also improves patients' nutritional status, and has the potential of translating into significant economic, quality of life, and clinical outcome benefits," said researcher Magdi Yaqoob, MD, of the Royal London Hospital.
Dr. Yaqoob studied 134 patients with advanced CKD and low bicarbonate levels, a condition known as metabolic acidosis. One group of these patients was treated with a small daily dose of sodium bicarbonate in tablet form, in addition to their usual care. The results? The rate of decline in kidney function was dramatically reduced in these patients. Overall, the decline was about two-thirds slower than in patients not given sodium bicarbonate. "In fact, in patients taking sodium bicarbonate, the rate of decline in kidney function was similar to the normal age-related decline," Dr. Yaqoob stated.
The patients taking sodium bicarbonate were also less likely to develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD) which causes people with CKD to require regular dialysis.