Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The Beauty of Baking Soda…

Yes, yes - baking soda leavens the muffins and raises the cookie dough.  It freshens the refrigerator, cleans stains off the stove and brightens the laundry.  But, best of all, humble sodium bicarbonate can be used as a health and beauty aid.

Here are my favorite uses:

1.  As a stomach alkalizer - Drink ¼ tsp. of soda mixed in a tall glass of water to relieve indigestion immediately.  It counters any acid condition within the digestive system.  Makes a great overall-health tonic.

2.  As a mouth and throat gargle - Dissolve 1 tsp. of soda into a glass of warm water and "swish" to help heal soreness or inflammation of the gums and throat.

3.  As a thick plaster, baking soda helps to remove painlessly splinters of any kind.  Apply a thick paste of soda to the affected area and keep replacing it every few hours (as needed) over the course of 2-3 days.  The salts will eventually draw the splinter up to the surface of the skin so it can be removed easily with tweezers.  No need to dig around.

4.  As a water softener in your bath - Dissolve a cup or so of soda into running bath water.  It provides soothing relief to aching muscles as well as to any minor skin irritations (including the itch of chickenpox).

5.  And last but not least, as a regular hair cleanser instead of shampoo - Wet hair and massage about 4 Tbsp. (for shoulder-length hair) of soda into scalp and through your hair.  Give it a good scrub. It will not produce a lather, but after rinsing 3 times in cool water, your hair will be shiny clean, free of oils, and easily combed without tangles.  And no fragrances, harmful dyes, or unnecessary additives to think of.

4 comments:

  1. I've been using it in place of shampoo for about three weeks now and less of my hair is falling out and my scalp feels better. Baking soda also makes a great face scrub once or twice a week, especially on the oily T-zone. Love the stuff!

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  2. "Minimalist Beauty Tips" Abound! How did they ever convince us to buy shampoo in the first place? :)

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  3. Baking soda with vinegar also works well to loosen mold from shower curtains. Fill tub with water about halfway. Add one cup baking soda and then two cups vinegar. Soak the shower curtain in the tub, moving around in the water to loosen. Wipe stubborn areas with a soft sponge and rinse.

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  4. Thanks for your comment Lisa. Great idea! And the list goes on… :D

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