Sodium bicarbonate is a truly versatile and virtuous substance. Commonly known as bicarb soda, baking soda or just bicarb, its various uses are seemingly infinite. From raising dough and cleaning benchtops to alleviating acne or curing indigestion, everyone should be singing the praises of bicarb.

Bicarb (chemical formula NaHCO3) is a naturally occurring salt that can also be produced artificially. Its use can be traced as far back as the ancient Egyptians, who mined the naturally occurring mineral natron, which contains primarily sodium bicarbonate, and used it as a kind of soap.

Throughout history, bicarb has been well utilised as a cleansing and alkalising agent as well as a raising agent in baking. Although some bicarb is still mined, most of the bicarb we find on the supermarket shelves today is produced in factories where literally tens of thousands of tonnes per year are prepared for household use.

Medical uses for bicarb

Bicarb is an alkalising agent, so is often used to combat conditions caused by high levels of acid. Conditions that can be treated with bicarb range from minor ailments such as indigestion and acne to very serious conditions such as severe metabolic acidosis, which can be treated with an intravenous infusion of bicarb.

Bicarb is also a cleansing agent for the body because of its mildly abrasive action. It can be used to cleanse skin and hair and as an alternative to regular toothpaste. It is also commonly used to relieve pain and itching associated with insect bites, sunburn and minor burns.

A teaspoon of bicarb dissolved in water is an effective antacid that can be taken without worry of side-effects. In fact, many commercially available antacids are simply bicarb with added sugar and flavour. The same mixture can be drunk to replace salts in the body following stomach upsets or dehydration caused by exercise.

For skin irritations such as insect bites, make a paste by mixing bicarb with a little water and apply it to the site. Similarly, a paste made by mixing bi-carb and water in a 3:1 ratio makes a good facial cleanser. For rashes, sunburn or even chicken pox or shingles, a few cups of bicarb in a warm bath will soothe the skin and reduce irritation.

Bicarb can be mixed with food-grade hydrogen peroxide for a very effective whitening toothpaste. Alternatively, it can be used on its own mixed with a little water. Due to its anti-bacterial qualities, bicarb is also useful as a mouthwash for mouth ulcers: add a teaspoon to half a cup of water and rinse your mouth. Use the same solution as a gargle to treat sore throats.

Bicarb can also be used as a replacement for underarm deodorants, which contain aluminium and can be harmful to your health. Just rub a handful of bicarb under each armpit and reapply as necessary.

An interesting but controversial use of bicarb that has emerged in the past decade is as an alternative cancer treatment. Italian oncologist, Dr Tullio Simoncini, who has been discredited by the medical establishment, claims to effectively treat cancer with bicarb soda by applying it directly to tumours. His work is extremely controversial, but he has built a significant and vocal following. The treatment is based on his belief that cancer is caused by the common fungal infection Candida albicans, combined with research that has shown that cancer cells do not survive well in alkaline environments.