Baking Soda

[Franky]

Sodium bicarbonate is the chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. Because it has long been known and is widely used, the salt has many other names including sodium hydrogen carbonate and "sodium bicarb," as well as baking soda, bread soda, or bicarbonate of soda. It is poorly soluble in water. This white solid is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slight alkaline taste resembling that of sodium carbonate. It is a component of the mineral natron and is found dissolved in many mineral springs. It is also produced artificially.

Applications

Cooking

Main article: leavening agent

Sodium bicarbonate is primarily used in cooking where it reacts with other components to release carbon dioxide, that helps dough "rise". The acidic compounds that induce this reaction include cream of tartar, lemon juice, yogurt, etc.) as a in baking: some forms of baking powder contain sodium bicarbonate combined with cream of tartar. Some nutritionists, such as Erica White, caution against combining with cream of tartar or tartaric acid, as they are toxic substances.

* A small amount (1tsp) can be added to a beef stew to make tough meat tenderize faster. (However, this is no substitute for just stewing the meat for more time.)
* Sodium bicarbonate is used to give the pretzels (or correctly, bretzeln) their dark brown color.
* Formerly, it was used as a source of carbon dioxide for soda water.
* Can be used when preparing tomato sauce to neutralize the tomato's acidity.
* It's added to beans in water to prevent the gasses produced when eating them.
* It's effective in extinguishing grease fires which occur when deep frying.

For neutralization of acids

The reaction of acids with sodium bicarbonate is a common method for neutralizing acid spills. The advantage to this method is that one can use excess sodium carbonate, which is relatively innocuous. The neutralization process is signaled by the release of gaseous CO2. A wide variety of applications follow from its neutralization properties including ameliorating the effects of white phosphorus in incendiary bullets, from spreading inside a soldier's afflicted wounds. Military Application

* It is commonly used to increase the pH and total alkalinity of the water for pools and spas. Sodium bicarbonate can be added as a simple solution for restoring the pH balance of water that has a high level of chlorine.
* One cup of baking soda maintains a healthy septic tank. It controls pH and keeps a good environment for the bacteria.[citation needed]
* It neutralizes battery acid.

[edit] Miscellaneous and domestic uses

Baking soda has many uses.

As a deodorizer

* An absorbent for moisture and odors; an open box can be left in a refrigerator for this purpose. However, according to one source, baking soda does not actually absorb odors well when used in a refrigerator.
* Can be used to clean vacuum flasks, especially after they've developed an odor from not being used for a long time whilst being stored with the cap on.
* Baking soda helps remove body odors as it absorbs chemicals, apply using a powder puff.[citation needed]
* As a substitute for talcum powder to prevent smelly feet.
* To clean a microwave oven from "surprise odors".
* Rubbed into ones hands to remove odors from fish and eggs.
* Rubbed into vegetables to clean them without leaving any smells.

As pest control

* It kills fleas and drives away ants. If it is applied to a pet's fur, it must be washed/rinsed off to prevent skin problems.
* Can be used to kill crab grass. Must be used repeatedly to control but is effective. Dampen area then sprinkle lightly, too much may harm desired grass temporarily.
* The bottom part of a door frame can be lined with sodium bicarbonate to keep out ants.

Medical uses

* If made into a paste salve with vinegar, it relieves burning from bug stings (particularly bee stings), poison ivy (to pull the posion out and dry up the ivy), nettles, and sunburn.
* It is used as an antacid to treat acid indigestion and heartburn.
* A tub bath with sodium bicarbonate can eliminate vaginal infections caused by yeasts.
* Gurgling with sodium bicarbonate prevents the flu and colds and throat infections.

* When mixed with mint tea it can relieve stomachaches.

Paramedicine

* In American paramedicine, sodium bicarbonate 8.4% is used cases of acidosis and overdoses of acidic toxic substances, such as tricyclic antidepressants and aspirin.
* Contraindications are states including alkalosis.
* Adverse reactions to emergency administration of sodium bicarb include congestive heart failure, with edema secondary to sodium overload, and the metabolic complication of hyperosmolarity, metabolic acidosis, and hypernatremia.
* The route of administration for sodium bicarb is intravenous bolus and intravenous infusion.
* Sodium bicarbonate adminstration should be considered only for treatment of documented severe acidosis associated with prolonged cardiac arrest or unstable hemodynamic state, hyperkalemia, or overdoses.
* SEVERE tissue necrosis will occur with extravasation.

Cosmetic uses

* In toothpaste, baking soda helps to gently remove stains, whiten teeth, freshen breath, and dissolve plaque.[citation needed]
* Putting a little in shampoo removes left overs from other products and makes the hair more lustrious.
* Washing ones faces with sodium bicarbonate cleans pores and prevents acne.
* Add to hair if it's dirty and there's no time to wash it. Dry with warm air.

As a cleaning agent

* A paste from baking soda can be very effective when used in cleaning and scrubbing.
* A solution in warm water will remove the tarnish from silver when the silver is in contact with a piece of aluminum foil.
* With water, it cleans the impurities on contact lenses. Rinse completely before wearing contacts to avoid stinging of the salt in baking soda.
* Cleans brushes and combs to prevent residues.
* Mix into a paste to clean the surface of an iron.
* Use to clean kool aid, wine, and coffee stains
* Washing a car with it can remove dead bug bodies without damaging the paint.
* Used after teeth brushing for whitening effects.
* Pour 1 cup of baking soda down a drain and follow with 1/2 gallon of White Vinegar will degrease the drain.

Other uses

* Baking soda and boiling water unclogs drains.
* It is used as a fabric softener in laundry.
* It is used to test garden soil for acidity. If it bubbles, the soil is too acidic.
* Sodium bicarbonate has been used as a short term sprint (> 1minute) enhancer. It Bufferes the build up of lactate by inducing alkalosis.
* If mixed with super glue, it makes a suitable filling for cracks in walls.
* Sprinkle on wet pages of books and then put them out to dry under the sun.

Safety

Sodium bicarbonate is considered to be relatively safe, however consumption of large amounts should be avoided.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Franky]

Some people are using the baking soda to clean out the morgellons lesions with reported good results. I will see if i can get more info on this.

[skittter]

Originally Posted by Franky

Some people are using the baking soda to clean out the morgellons lesions with reported good results. I will see if i can get more info on this.

Hi Franky - I think I am going to give this a try on my face. If it doesn't do the job, at least it has a million other uses. I never realized you could get so much for 59 cents..What a bargin..
I will post the results...
Thanks for the useful information..
skit

[Franky]

skittter, ok good luck. Let us know how it works. Some people are saying it works very well.

[chester]

I have been using baking soda daily to remove over 30 lessions. My method is to apply miracle foot aloe cream (walmart$10, and walgreens) on the lessions for about 10 minutes to soften them. The cream sits on them while i do some chores, then i sit down to a table where i have set up a lamp and a cosmetic 10x magnifying mirror(walmart ,walgreens, groceries $6).The mirror is small so i attach it to a larger one i had that moves forward and backwards on a stand and i can get the right angle to view the effects of the soda on the lessions on my face. After removing the cream, with tissue, or with angled tweezers, i use the back end of the tweezers to pat some dry soda on the lession. Immediately the soda will go after the contents of the lession like a hungry dog after a juicy bone. The idea is to lift the softened contents up and out, and re-apply the soda. Keep doing this until the lession starts to dry out. I then wash the soda out of the lessions with distilled water, and put some silver(sovereign silver, whole foods or vitimin shoppe $10) into each lession, and cover with a curad spot bandage(walmart $2) and wear that for the night . I like the silver because it works as an antibiotic, and promotes healing. I take the bandages off for the day, putting drops of silver in each lession occasionally. After 24 hours, i start another "soda session". If the lession has been there a long time, it takes weeks to get it to open, drain, bleed out, and have the bowl of the ulcer dissolve, and all white fibers parked under it in individual holes to come out by dissolving. As progress is made, the ulcer is less deep, the rim of it lifts off in circles, any convoluted or folded over areas of the bowl unkink....and the whole ulcer begins to raise up to the surface of the skin, flatening out and opening up, and drying out. My worst lession, above my lip like a non healing embedded pimple for nine years....is the first one i worked on with soda. It has been removed since last september, and looks like an indentation but not discollored. I am pleased to have it gone after so long. I started on the other ulcers in sept, by using organic aloe and the new 10x mirror. That showed me white fibers emerging from the pores. I then put baking soda on my face and the many other hidden ulcers began to be revealed. Yes, this is tedious, but non toxic, non invasive as the soda does the work, and successful.