We’re guessing you have at least one box of baking soda tucked away somewhere in your kitchen cabinets. But did you know that this simple cooking product is a total secret weapon when it comes to a host of health and beauty needs? It’s true!
From relieving burns to banishing acne (and just about everything in between!), baking soda may just be your new BFF after you read about these incredible ways to use it. And at such a ridiculously low price, we can’t think of a better product to add to our beauty arsenal.
So why is baking soda such a miracle product? Well, it’s made up solely of sodium bicarbonate, so it’s free of nasty, harmful chemicals. That’s a plus when it comes to putting it on (or in!) your body. Mild enough for use on skin either alone or combined with water, baking soda can be a healthy alternative to many chemical substances.
Still not convinced? Read on to learn about more ways you can use baking soda for your health. And if you want to use it to clean your house? Take a look here.
Before trying any of the health hacks below, make sure to talk to your doctor.
1. Relieve the Sting of Insect Bites
Baking soda is an amazing remedy for bites, stings, and rashes. A simple paste of baking soda and water can calm those itchy mosquito bites and take the stinging pain right out of a bee or jellyfish sting. The results are almost instantaneous, too! And if you accidentally brush up against some poison ivy? Baking soda will come in handy for that itchy red rash you’ll soon be dealing with.
2. Splinter Removal
Chuck those tweezers, or at least keep them just for your eyebrows, because a paste of baking soda mixed with water is the new go-to way to remove splinters. Apply the paste and let it sit for a while. The baking soda will cause mild localized swelling of the skin around the splinter, forcing it to the surface so you can easily remove it. Tough-to-reach splinters might require you to try this twice.
3. Treat Autoimmune Diseases
We know, this one sounds like a bit of a stretch — baking soda to help treat serious diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis? But studies conducted on rats have shown that drinking a small amount of baking soda daily can help with the inflammation associated with these diseases, and it could potentially be “therapeutic” in treating them.
4. Clear Up Acne
Is there anything more frustrating and annoying than repeated bouts of acne? Sometimes it seems like it hardly clears up before it’s on its way back again. And if you’re dealing with cystic acne, you probably feel like your skin will never clear up! But there is good news: It turns out that baking soda can be a great remedy for acne. Why? Baking soda is unique in that it’s not too harsh, but not too mild to do the job, either. In addition, it’s a great exfoliator, which helps deep-clean your skin to reduce future breakouts.
5. Remedy for Gout
Admittedly, gout isn’t exactly one of the more common illnesses to strike people in their 20s and 30s, but it isn’t impossible! Gout is simply an inflammatory form of arthritis that occurs when you have a buildup of uric acid in your bloodstream. Like most forms of arthritis, it can flare up at certain times, while other times you’ll have no symptoms at all. If you do happen to suffer from gout, or know someone who does, baking soda can help by breaking down the uric acid so it’s more soluble, which can help relieve this painful condition.
6. Treating a Burn
The next time you lose track of time and take in too many of the sun’s rays, try treating the resulting sunburn with a paste of baking soda and water. Similar to how it relieves insect stings and bites, the baking soda will take the sting out of a sunburn or other minor burns.
7. Treat Canker Sores
Canker sores can be caused by stress, hormone changes, illness/reduced immune system, or a food sensitivity. But no matter how they start, they’re super annoying because they have a tendency to split open every time you open your mouth too wide. No thanks! Banish them for good with baking soda. Thanks to its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, baking soda is a great home remedy for a stubborn canker sore that just won’t go away.
8. Cure a Diaper Rash
We bet you’d love to have an alternative to those pricey over-the-counter diaper rash creams. Well, look no further than — you guessed it! — baking soda when baby’s bottom is red and irritated. Baking soda works to balance the pH of baby’s skin, which helps to clear up the infection just as effectively as those thick barrier creams.
9. Treat a Yeast Infection
Is there anything worse than a yeast infection? We didn’t think so! Stay fresh and clean while also reducing the acid level of your lady bits by taking a warm bath with a cup of baking soda mixed in. Combine this with oral probiotics for a completely natural yeast infection remedy. Expectant ladies take note: This medication-free yeast infection remedy is a great way to treat a yeast infection during pregnancy.
10. Skin Exfoliator
Looking for a cheap exfoliator? Turn to baking soda! Simply use it to scrub your skin in the shower for super-glowy, baby-soft skin. As with any exfoliator, this is a great solution for occasional use but can cause skin irritation if done regularly. We recommend choosing one day each week to try this treatment.
If these at-home baking soda remedies sound awesome, run them by your doctor, then try them out!
