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Sodium Bicarbonate: Nature's Unique First Aid Remedy

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What if there were a natural health-promoting substance that was inexpensive, available at any grocery store in the country, and probably sitting in your cupboard right now? There is. It is called sodium bicarbonate, although you may know it as baking soda. For years, sodium bicarbonate has been used on a daily basis as part of a number of hospital treatments, but most people remain unaware of its full therapeutic potential. In his new book, Dr. Mark Sircus shows how this common compound―along with magnesium, potassium, and calcium bicarbonates―may be used in the alleviation, or possibly even prevention, of many forms of illness.

Sodium Bicarbonate begins with a basic overview of the everyday item known as baking soda, chronicling its long history of use as an effective home remedy. It then explains the role sodium bicarbonate plays in achieving optimal pH balance, which is revealed as an important factor in maintaining good health. The book goes on to detail how sodium bicarbonate and its effect on pH may benefit sufferers of a number of conditions, including kidney disease, fungal infection, colds and flu, periodontal disease, hypertension, and even cancer. Finally, the author explains the various ways in which sodium bicarbonate may be taken, suggesting the easiest and most effective method for your situation.

By providing a modern approach to this time-honored remedy, Sodium Bicarbonate illustrates the need to see baking soda in a whole new light. Safe, simple, and effective, sodium bicarbonate contains powerful properties that may help you balance your system, regain your well-being, and avoid future health problems.

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2013

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Mark Sircus

47 books33 followers

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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Jason Fella.
45 reviews40 followers
January 12, 2018
Wow, where to even begin about how harmful and lacking in scientific credibility this book is. Sadly, I bought it back when I still believed in all this pH nonsense, so now I feel compelled to write a review, based on my 25 years or so of research studying this subject. I'm also a cancer survivor, myself, so I take this subject quite seriously.

Well, I think the easiest way to handle this is to go right for the throat: the whole pH and health connection is 100% false. Allow me to explain: This whole premise that I've heard ad nauseam online is something like "Disease cannot live in an alkaline environment." This is based on the work of Dr. Otto Warburg back in the 50's, who has been credited with getting a nobel prize for discovering the true cause of cancer. The problem is... this WHOLE theory was based on misquoted, misrepresented parts of Warburg's research. What did he actually say? He actually said that no matter the oxygen level present, cancer will STILL grow. And this is relatively easy to prove, when you think about it. Poorly vascularized tissues such as cartilage, ligaments, etc. don't get cancer any more than other tissues.

He ACTUALLY said that, because of cancer metabolism, acids were created in the body. He did NOT say that acids in the body caused cancer. Modern research, in fact shows that tumors are sometimes quite alkaline on the inside. Again, it is easy to prove that acidic states don't equal illness: I bring to your attention fermented foods. Why does the fermentation process work? Because the organic acids created by the fermentation process PREVENT the growth of bacteria and molds. And the argument that there is a correlation between oxygen and pH? Nope. Calcium oxide is so alkaline it is caustic, and only contains one oxygen atom. Whereas sulphuric acid contains 4 times more oxygen atoms as calcium oxide, and is very acidic. If acids equaled cancer, or any other disease, then athletes (who's bodies produce tons of lactic acid) would be the sickest people of all.

The statement that the body needs to be more alkaline, again, is a generalized, silly statement. Parts of the body, the adrenals and the digestive tract, for example, NEED to be acidic to function correctly. If your digestive tract is not acidic enough, your food doesn't get digested properly, which means malnutrition will result. It also means that opportunistic organisms are free to grow, which will further compromise health. But let's say you did take a small amount of sodium bicarbonate to "alkalize" your body. The only thing it will alkalize is your stomach, because upon contact with the stomach acid, they will simply neutralize each other. Now, if you took a lot more bicarbonate, repeatedly, then yes, that will start to cause problems.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. This book needs to be thrown in the trash, and you need to get as far away from the information as you can. If I was allowed to post links in a review, I would keep going, but I'm not sure if it's allowed? Anyway, that's my review. I hope you find it informative
Author 5 books
June 19, 2020
Who would have thought that the little box of baking soda in my refrigerator that absorbs odors would be “Nature’s Unique First Aid Remedy”? This is the subtitle to Dr. Mark Sircus’ book, SODIUM BICARBONATE, otherwise known as baking soda.

Baking Soda as Medicine

In the Introduction, the author notes that sodium bicarbonate/baking soda is “a world class emergency room and intensive care medicine used every day to save lives.”

Throughout the book, he returns to this unique use of baking soda, especially in the area of diagnosing cancer with bicarbonate physiology and its use in natural chemotherapy, claiming and demonstrating its use in killing cancerous tumors.

The Importance of pH Balance

Early in the book he discusses The Four Bicarbonate Sisters: sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium, all of which form bicarbonates, which the body uses to alkalize itself.  From this basic information, Dr. Sircus explains the importance of pH and the need to lower the acidic foods in our systems and introduce more alkalizing foods  to keeping the healthy body in balance. On pages 26 and 27 is a list of Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Symptoms that develop as a result of over-acidity in the body. Beginning Symptoms (28) include food allergies and hyperactivity; Intermediate Symptoms (28) include asthma and fungal infections, and Advanced Symptoms (13) include cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. The list is long!

“An alkaline-rich diet is the perfect diet program because an alkaline body can help reduce toxins and strengthen the immune system.” Unfortunately, our Western diet of meat, dairy, and processed foods keeps our bodies acidic, so we need to introduce more alkalizing fruits and vegetables to offset the imbalance.

Common & Uncommon Uses of Baking Soda

Before delving into the more serious uses of baking soda, the author has another interesting list of all the common usages of this ubiquitous natural remedy: 1) for your food (ex. baking), 2) for cleaning and laundry (ex. laundry booster);3)  for kids (ex. bath fizzes), 4) for health and beauty (no-shampoo for hair), and 5) around the house (ex. natural pesticide).

This list is priceless, especially during this time of not leaving the house because of COVID-19. It clearly demonstrates that a concentrate of this natural substance can be applied safely in many everyday uses, which I plan to do.

On a more serious level, we learn that sodium bicarbonate can help: in cardiac arrest by being administered intravenously, in severe diabetic ketoacidosis, and in treating poisons from overdosing chemicals and drugs. He devotes many pages to the serious health conditions that can be helped with sodium bicarbonate.

The book goes into great detail about the many ailments and conditions that can be helped with sodium bicarbonate. However, near the end of the book, the good doctor does give the reader  warnings and contraindications about using baking soda, so reading to the end is important. In Resources, Dr. Sircus provides information on the different protocols discussed in the book with the name, address, website, email, etc.  of each resource, a helpful inclusion.

Summary

The book is written for the lay person, although some chapters do become a little more technical because the author discusses chemical components and formulas. But the basic information is readily understood and his enthusiasm for “plain old baking soda” is contagious and his research is compelling!

SODIUM BICARBONATE has 179 pages of good information for anyone wishing to investigate natural alternatives to many major and minor health conditions. After reading this book, I am convinced that we need to keep baking soda not only in the refrigerator, but also in our medicine cabinets. This soft-cover book is published by Square One publishers and costs $16.95.
Profile Image for Ann L..
671 reviews25 followers
March 20, 2018
This is a really interesting book about how medicinal Sodium Bicarbonate (aka baking soda) can be for us humans. I can't even write a good enough review on this book. It's kind of a complicated book though in that there's a lot of chemistry information in it (so for that, and the fact I am not a chemistry type person, it's kind of a hard book to understand). But, in reading this book, you can tell the author really did his research and what I do understand of it just blows me away.

One of the things it said was that people undergoing chemotherapy has to take a solution made up of baking soda as part of their process (these people probably don't even know they are taking it), so that they will not kill themselves, because chemotherapy will kill you. But sodium bicarbonate helps with chemotherapy in that it helps the body in eating up the radiation and other matter from overtaking the body. So, it's a necessity for many medicinal things. Even procedures in hospitals use this. We just don't know about it.

Anyways, it was a challenge to read this book, and it's a book where you'd have to do further research by looking up terminology and things of that matter to understand everything fully written in this book.

I personally use baking soda for cleaning and as an antacid for my stomach. There are so many uses for it, it just blows me away to read about it.
1 review
June 25, 2021
Excellent information, well pitched

An interesting and informative read. I'd already noticed some health benefits from drinking bicarb and water daily and wanted to understand more about it.
295 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2025
An excellent read. Having just finished "Cancer" by Mark Sloan which devoted a chapter to the use of Sodium Bicarbonate as a treatment for those afflicted with cancer. I spotted This book "Sodium Bicarbonate" at a second hand bookstore a day later and picked it up. I read it very quickly. It is clear and concise and deals with a complicated scientific topic explaining basic chemistry very clearly. It was easy to understand and very readable ...in fact the book is more interesting and addictive to read than some novels I have read in the previous year or two. The author proposes that cancer is a disease (as does Sloan) that responds to an environment deficient in Oxygen. He clearly explains why Carbon dioxide in the human body works in lock step with the oxygen we breathe to keep our cells and body healthy and when Co2 is deficient in our body oxygen does not get delivered. He explains how growing opportunistic cancer cells take over creating an Acid environment (PH < 6) Our body should be operating in a more alkaline state (PH 7.4) His overall premise is that Sodium Bicarbonate which is more commonly known as Baking Soda when combined with Maple Syrup / Molasses provides us with a vehicle to stealthily deliver Oxygen to the cancer cells which the latter hate. The process of raising Co2 levels in the body raises the alkaline state of the body and improves oxygen efficiency and technically makes it harder to gain hold. There is so much more in this book including a litttle dig at Climate Change being caused by toxic Anthropogenic CO2 that I cannot cover here. Just read it!!!! It will be more than worth your time!!!!!. Strongly Recommended!!!!!!!
Profile Image for Grazyna Nawrocka.
512 reviews4 followers
April 1, 2023
Somehow, in all things I have read so far the concepts of acidity or alkalinity were not explored. It was all new to me. It is a small book, but just mining of information. The fact that bicarbonate might prevent degenerative diseases, acid reflux, kidney stones, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, cancer and gout is shocking, especially because baking soda is so easy to access. Sodium bicarbonate baths are good treatment for psoriasis.

And there are the "Eureka!" moments.
1. Theory that the cancerous cells do not need to be killed, but they might be reverted to their normal, healthy state, given that they'll find themselves in healthy environment, is perhaps not proven, but should definitely be explored.
2. Analogies between cancer cells and fungi, both of which do not need oxygen, but require sugar in order to survive, and will die deprived of sugar. Tumor cells evolve through a few stages, one of them is fungus-like phase (would be a good time to attack cancer with fungus remedies).

Overdosing on baking soda will cause harm to kidney and bladder.

The book is not only full of practical information, but also relatively easy to read. I think everybody should read it.
Profile Image for Joseph Sullivan.
110 reviews29 followers
August 1, 2025
This is a great book for detailing how baking soda creates alkalinity and through such an environment...health. I learned a lot from this book. It's an interesting and informative read. For those who are pursuing cancer alternatives, they should read this book. Alkalinity and acidity play a role in health, aging, and longevity...

I originally heard about baking soda as a cure from an old man who was with me helping a church friend move to an apartment. He used baking soda and molasses to cure his prostate cancer.

This guy told me about Vernon Johnson who had stage 3 cancer throughout his whole body and cured himself in 2 months, using this treatment.

To learn more about what Vernon did....On your search engine, type "baking soda and molasses for cancer Vernom Johnson"
383 reviews6 followers
August 19, 2019
Did not finish... I think this is a blend of some good information (body's absorption of sodium bicarbonate varies depending on factors like full/empty stomach) and some junk science. It gets a little repetitive. Take it with a grain of salt, but worth a look if you have concerns about acid reflux or ph levels (would be curious to know if there are cheap over the counter test for body/blood ph).
54 reviews
July 8, 2021
An amazing book that shares documented studies and the significance of controlling Ph levels in our bodies. How Ph levels impact our immune systems to fend off viruses, bacteria, fungi and cancers. Sodium Bicarbonate is widely used in emergency and critical care units at hospitals, to buffer chemo/radiation treatments and to restore general health and energy. Magnesium Bicarbonate is also covered well and used in conjunction.
Profile Image for Anna Mosca.
Author 4 books8 followers
December 17, 2023
This book is full of surprises and discoveries, it really leads to a healthier and less ignorant lifestyle! I loved it!! I strongly recommend it. It really fills you in with enthusiasm but I suggest to read it all before starting to experiment. Or, do follow your enthusiasm but refer to one of the last chapters as well, where it talks about counter effects.
I now have both the audio as the paper version.
557 reviews3 followers
March 8, 2024
Great insight to the benefits of sodium bicarbonate and how easy it is to add daily
4 reviews
September 15, 2024
The Real Deal

This book is informed balanced and a most vital part of your kit on the road to excellent health through simple natural methods. recommend it highly.
Profile Image for David.
573 reviews9 followers
August 15, 2023
ANOTHER GREAT BOOK TO HAVE!!!!


目錄
前言|高CP值的療癒聖品

Part1 別再小看小蘇打
Chapter 1 先認識重碳酸鹽
神奇的重碳酸根離子
人體酸鹼值的緩衝劑
效果奇佳的防腐、消毒劑
保護神經不受傷
更多的醫療妙用
Chapter 2最好用的重碳酸鹽──小蘇打
補充小蘇打會不會攝取太多鈉?
重碳酸鹽缺乏讓體質酸化生病
鹼性飲食法+小蘇打,平衡身體酸鹼值
Chapter 3重碳酸鹽其實是二氧化碳藥物
比氧更重要的二氧化碳
急診室裡的二氧化碳
好用的CO2浴
缺乏二氧化碳的相關疾病
調節發炎反應
癌細胞代謝──不只缺氧,也缺二氧化碳
Chapter 4 被誤解的二氧化碳
小心二氧化碳不足
碳酸與二氧化碳
利用氣泡水培養喝水習慣
Chapter 5 控制細胞運作的酸鹼值
酸性的危險
讓體質由酸入鹼

Part2 驚人的小蘇打療法
Chapter 6從居家妙用到急診室的救命丹
家裡常備小蘇打的好處
加護病房與急診室必備
更多不容忽視的救命用法
Chapter 7讓藥廠頭痛不已的「小蘇打藥」
天然無毒的感冒處方
改善胃酸過多
消除輻射、化學與重金屬毒害
讓疾病不從「口」入
Chapter 8小蘇打+鎂,逆轉糖尿病
體質偏酸會讓胰臟細胞受損
不只胰島素,胰臟也分泌重碳酸鹽
糖尿病醫療前線──小蘇打
Chapter 9救腎大作戰
當腎臟和胰臟都被迫減少分泌重碳酸鹽
強酸物質會拖累腎臟
用小蘇打的抗酸和解毒
口服更有效
Chapter 10癌症的「天然對抗療法」
不是所有癌細胞都會威脅生命
化療讓癌細胞進化了?
和死神打交道的放療
治療癌症的根本病因
用小蘇打讓癌細胞休兵
立即產生作用
還能提早發現癌症
Chapter 11最好的抗真菌劑
真菌、癌症與小蘇打
可怕的黴菌毒素
地表最強殺手──真菌

Part3 小蘇打療法的施用訣竅
Chapter 12讓身體最省力的噴霧療法
絕佳的藥物輸送方式
噴霧療法七步驟
霧化的小蘇打
Chapter 13口服小蘇打最易上手
優先使用口服和經皮輸藥
每天測量尿液和唾液酸鹼值
口服劑量和其他配方
Chapter 14楓糖漿小蘇打抗癌療法
用糖打開癌細胞?
口服小蘇打少一點副作用
酸鹼值測量的重要事項
Chapter 15用小蘇打泡澡
小蘇打有助於提升運動表現
泡澡比口服更適合運動員
小蘇打泡澡好處多
Chapter 16 提醒與禁忌
定時監測酸鹼值的變化
安全的使用方式
大吃大喝後不要飲用小蘇打水
這些人不能使用小蘇打療法
小心代謝性鹼中毒
藥物和小蘇打交互影響

Part4 其他重碳酸鹽與實用資訊
Chapter 17 讓細胞更有活力的碳酸氫鎂
鎂讓身體有更多能量
鎂的重要搭檔──重碳酸鹽
讓粒線體正常「發電」
酸性體質讓鎂流失
飲用青春之泉──碳酸氫鎂水
Chapter18 碳酸氫鈉與碳酸氫鎂相關產品
碳酸氫鈉
碳酸氫鎂
氯化鎂

結語|重拾健康之路的第一步
附錄|相關資源
Profile Image for Steve Zimcosky.
Author 64 books107 followers
November 1, 2020
This book has loads of information in it but some of the writing was too technical and hard to understand.
Profile Image for Steph M.
10 reviews
August 16, 2025
I will return to this book for future remedy support. Great book
292 reviews1 follower
November 20, 2025
So much invaluable information I have never heard before. This is a must rea if you value your health!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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