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Sodium bicarbonate is commonly referred to as baking soda. It is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. It has a weak alkaline reaction. It shows foaming and raising properties, because at temperatures above 60 ° C, baking soda decomposes with the release of carbon dioxide.
Sodium bicarbonate – application
Sodium bicarbonate is used as a food additive (for pH adjustment), an ingredient in baking powder, sparkling powdered drinks and effervescent tablets. If it is present as a food additive, it can be labeled as E500b in the composition, which classifies it as an auxiliary agent. It is used medicinally in the treatment of acidity. It is used in alkaline foam extinguishers as well as a moisture and odor absorbing agent and a water softener.
Sodium bicarbonate – a drug used in medicine
Sodium bicarbonate is found in preparations that can be purchased in pharmacies. These include “AlcaNeff (in tablets), Alkala T (in tablets), Natrium Bicarbonicum Polpharma (in the form of an injectable solution) and Hasco Sodium Bicarbonate (powder). These drugs are usually given to compensate for the deficit in the patient’s body.
The indications for the use of sodium bicarbonate are:
- severe metabolic acidosis (as a result of e.g. methyl alcohol poisoning),
- hyperkalemia,
- poisoning caused by tricyclic antidepressants.
Sodium bicarbonate should not be used in patients allergic to this substance, suffering from respiratory or metabolic alkalosis (alkalosis), hyperventilation (when the respiratory function of the lungs is impaired, resulting in an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood). Other contraindications include: hypernatremia (elevated serum sodium levels) and other conditions in which the supply of sodium to the body is contraindicated (such as edema, congestive heart failure, eclampsia, hypertension or renal failure); hypocalcaemia (i.e. too low serum calcium concentration, at which alkalosis can cause tetany), excessive chloride loss (can be caused, among others, by vomiting) and the risk of alkalosis (alkalosis) caused by taking diuretics.
Sodium bicarbonate in cosmetics
Baking soda is a common ingredient in natural home cosmetics and successfully replaces many expensive products. You can compose from it:
1. A cleansing shampoo that allows your hair to rest from overburdening cosmetics. A small amount of baking soda should be added to the shampoo and then wash your head with it. Hair cleansed in this way absorbs the nutrients that are provided to them by conditioning cosmetics (oils and conditioners) better.
2. Make a tooth whitening paste by mixing one teaspoon of baking soda with five drops of hydrogen peroxide (you can add a little water to obtain the desired consistency). The mixture is applied to the teeth with a brush and left for five minutes. After adding a regular toothpaste, gently brush your teeth and rinse them thoroughly with water. To achieve the desired result, this operation can be repeated once a week or leave the paste on not for five, but for ten minutes. However, you should be careful because when whitening teeth too often with this method, their enamel can be damaged.
3. Preparation for removing cuticles
To remove the crusts effectively, put baking soda mixed with warm water on them. Such softened skins should be easy to remove.
4. Preparation against blackheads is made by mixing one teaspoon of baking soda with a cup of distilled water. The resulting mixture can be used as a face wash gel or mask. The baking soda makes removing the blackheads much easier afterwards.
5. Homemade soda scrub can replace exfoliating products available in stores, which often irritate and dry the skin. A little soda mixed with water should be lightly rubbed into the face. This makes it easier to get rid of dead skin cells in a gentle way.
6. To prepare a detoxifying bath, just pour some baking soda into the bathtub and add a similar amount of sea salt. You can also use bath oil (lavender and jasmine oils, which have relaxing properties, are especially recommended).
7. As a natural, ecological antiperspirant, baking soda will prevent sweat stains and reduce its unpleasant odor. Soda mixed with a little water is enough to massage into the skin of the armpits.
8. To achieve the effect of a dry shampoo, grease hair can be sprinkled with baking soda, rubbed into the head and then combed out.
Sodium bicarbonate – price
Baking soda not only has many uses in medicine, cosmetics and the food industry, but it is also cheap. You can buy a kilogram of baking soda for around 5 zlotys. The cost of AlcaNeff and Alkala T medical preparations is below PLN 20. The purchase of an injection solution with sodium bicarbonate, which costs from PLN 51,99 to 66,99, is associated with a significant expense.