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Baking soda is one such ingredient that you can always find in your kitchen cabinet as it is a staple in practically every household.
Want to know in detail about baking soda bath benefits1? Then you are at the right place!
Baking soda, otherwise known as sodium bicarbonate2, is a white powdery substance used mandatorily as an ingredient in baking. Other than its wide use in baking, it is used to fulfill various other needs as well.
What is Baking Soda?
Baking soda is a white powder processed from trona rocks, a natural mineral. This ingredient started becoming famous 4 million years ago, when salt lakes around the world evaporated and formed trona deposits.
Overview
Baking soda has natural exfoliating3, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties4 that make it an effective remedy for numerous health concerns. It is one of the best ways to alkalize the body.
It helps in issues like hemorrhoids, yeast infections, and urinary tract infections and balances the body’s pH.
To know more about the benefits of baking soda, check out 7 Staggering Reasons to Say Yes to Brushing With Baking Soda.
Baking soda baths are inexpensive and safe. They are an effective way to care for the skin and treat health issues. A hot bath with the addition of baking soda is a more safe and reliable way to lose weight.
Baking soda mixed and hot water can enhance lymphatic drainage. A baking soda bath benefits the skin’s softening and dreams the excess fluid from the body resulting in weight loss.
Baking soda baths and epsom salt baths should not be regarded as the same or interchangeable. It is different from Epsom salt baths and is used to treat different conditions.
Baking soda baths are mainly used for skin concerns, while Epsom salt baths treat blood pressure, nerve function, or circulatory health.
Baking soda bath benefits in relieving tension and pain, promoting perspiration, boosting circulation, and encouraging the body’s healing process. Adding baking soda to your bath has plenty of health benefits from tip to toe.
Benefits of Baking Soda Bath
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most prominent benefits.
1. Baking Soda Bath Benefits in Relieving Itching Associated With Eczema
Being alkaline in nature, baking soda can decrease itching and can help soothe the skin.
But make sure that your water is of a moderate temperature and limit your soaking to 10 minutes or so.
The alkaline level of baking soda helps to neutralize toxins, which can relieve itching. Immersion in a long, hot bath can worsen your skin conditions.
2. Baking Soda Bath Benefits in Yeast Infection
Yeast infection is a condition due to the uncontrolled growth of a yeast called candida in the vaginal area that leads to infection. This infection causes itching, burning, irritation, and swelling.
Baking soda can kill Candida cells that lead to yeast infections. Baking soda bath benefits in soothing itching, burning, and swelling conditions in a yeast infection5. It also has a positive effect on vaginal pH.
3. Baking Soda Bath Benefits in Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that may cause itching, burning, pain, subsequent irritation, and red patches on the skin. In this disease, a person has a fast life cycle of skin cells that causes an extra skin layer to grow on the surface.
Psoriasis is not completely curable and can be controlled by taking some medicines and extra care.
The symptoms of Psoriasis are according to the type of skin. Taking a medicated baking soda bath is one of the most inexpensive and simple methods of controlling this disease’s symptoms.
Taking baking soda bath benefits by giving relief from pain, burning sensation, and itching, it also reduces inflammation.
4. Baking Soda Bath Benefits in Constipation
Constipation is a widespread issue caused by a bad diet and poor lifestyle. Baking soda is traditionally a popular antacid for heartburn and indigestion as it can neutralize stomach acid.
A baking soda bath can give you relief from the pain in the rectal area during constipation. It will remove some discomfort of the person experiencing constipation and stimulate the anal sphincter. It also helps in having a free bowel movement6.
5. Baking Soda Bath Benefits in Urinary Tract Infections
Our urinary system is composed of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, and an infection in any of these parts can be termed a urinary tract infection. Excess acidity in the urinary tract is the main cause of this infection.
UTI can cause severe pain and a burning sensation while urinating. Baking soda baths can help in providing relief for UTIs. As it has an alkaline nature, soaking your body in a baking soda bath may help neutralize the acid and remove germs—this aids in the healing process.
6. Baking Soda Bath Benefits as Detox
Taking baking soda bath benefits detoxifies the body and relieves it from any itching or irritation. Even if you do not have an underlying condition to treat, taking a baking soda bath is a beneficial way to promote detoxification.
It cleanses and removes bacteria and odour from the body, and also helps a person relax after a stressful day. A warm or hot baking soda bath can also promote sweating, which may help release toxins from the body’s pores, it is also helpful in exfoliating dead skin cells.
7. Baking Soda Bath Benefits in Reducing Body Odour
Baking soda can mask odour and absorb it. Many natural deodorants depend on baking soda to keep the odour away without using harmful chemicals. The odour-fighting properties present in baking soda make it popular to keep laundry fresh and smelling and minimizing any nasty smell in the refrigerator.
A baking soda bath can also help you in smelling fresh and takes away the bad odour.
8. Baking Soda Bath Benefits in Soothing Diaper Rash
A child has susceptible skin, and diaper rash can be caused due to the friction of a diaper.
Baking soda has antibacterial and antifungal properties that help relieve symptoms like redness, itching, and the general discomfort associated with a diaper rash.
Make sure you do not use it directly on the skin. It can cause skin irritation. Instead, mix one or two tablespoons of baking soda in a lukewarm bath and shower the affected area where the diaper rash has developed. Try doing this for at least 10 minutes up to three times daily until the rash subsides.
9. Baking Soda Bath Benefits in Curing Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a viral infection that causes small fluid-filled blisters and rashes on the skin. A person suffering from chickenpox will observe symptoms like fever, headache, vomiting, and tiredness.
Taking a baking soda bath can be very effective. It can reduce the pain and constant itching caused by chickenpox in the body. Adding ingredients like oatmeal or chamomile tea may also reduce the symptoms.
10. Baking Soda Bath Benefits in Healing a Poison Ivy Rash
Contact with hazardous plants can lead to an allergic reaction. For most households, the most common natural remedy to poison ivy rash is baking soda.
It is a natural antiseptic and an antacid, and can be used to slow down poison the reaction of poison ivy rashes and help relieve itching, rashes, and swelling. Using a baking soda bath can soothe the itchiness and detoxify.
Things to Remember
- It would be best if you drink plenty of water before taking a baking soda bath.
- Try to create a soothing atmosphere by lighting up candles, using soft lights darkling soothing music to help you relax while you bathe.
- It is mostly recommended that you rinse your body with fresh water after a baking soda bath. This will help you to get rid of toxins are residue.
- The water should be mildly warm and not too hot. This will prevent burning or fainting. Lukewarm water will help your skin absorb moisture.
- After your bath, make sure to towel dry your body and moisturize it. Drink plenty of water.
Safety
There are some do’s and don’ts that one must follow while using a baking soda bath, like:
• You must always do a skin patch test before using baking soda on your skin to check if it does not give negative reactions to your body.
• Do not take a baking soda bath if you are prone to fainting.
• If you are planning to make a detox bath and add essential oils to it, make sure you do a patch skin test for this.
• Do not take a baking soda bath if you have open wounds or serious infections.
• Do not take baking soda baths if you have high blood pressure or are suffering from diabetes.
Risks and Side Effects
Some people may react poorly to baking soda baths, and therefore it is always recommended to do a small patch test on the skin before using it.
People suffering from the problem of high blood pressure or diabetes should avoid taking a baking soda bath. People with serious infections or open wounds, pregnant or nursing, are also advised to avoid baking soda baths.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can baking soda remove tan?
Applying a paste of baking soda and water is an extremely efficient way to remove unwanted tan accumulation or spots on the skin.
2. Can baking soda remove dark inner thighs?
Baking soda is a wonderful natural lightening ingredient that can successfully brighten your darkened underarms and pigmented inner thighs.
3. Is baking soda good for underarms?
Baking soda has antibacterial properties, which could imply that it can combat odour-causing microorganisms under your arms.
Bottomline
First things first, check with your doctor if you have any concerns about taking a baking soda bath or taking a patch test. Pay attention to your body, and note how your body reacts to the baths.
Try these out and let us know your experience in the comments!
- Lansky, Vicki. Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous, Fun, and Frugal Uses You’ve Probably Never Thought of. Book Peddlers, 2009. ↩︎
- Forsythe, Sean M., and Gregory A. Schmidt. “Sodium bicarbonate for the treatment of lactic acidosis.” Chest 117.1 (2000): 260-267. ↩︎
- Zhao, Hongran, et al. “Natural amino acids: high-efficiency intercalants for graphene exfoliation.” ACS sustainable chemistry & engineering 7.23 (2019): 18819-18825. ↩︎
- Memariani, Hamed, and Mojtaba Memariani. “Anti-fungal properties and mechanisms of melittin.” Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 104.15 (2020): 6513-6526. ↩︎
- Miceli, Marisa H., José A. Díaz, and Samuel A. Lee. “Emerging opportunistic yeast infections.” The Lancet infectious diseases 11.2 (2011): 142-151. ↩︎
- Al-Kharabsheh, Mohammad, et al. “The Effect of Chewing Sugar-Free Gum to Improve Bowel Movement After Colorectal Surgeries in Patients With Colorectal Cancer.” SAGE Open Nursing 9 (2023): 23779608231170725. ↩︎
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