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Borax Side Effects & Safety Guide

| Modified on Nov 11, 2024
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Borax Side Effects

Borax, known for its natural healing properties, is increasingly recognized as a remedy for various health issues. Rich in boron, a vital element for the body, borax aids in strengthening bones and enhances the absorption of other nutrients. It often addresses conditions like arthritis, athlete's foot, and certain autoimmune diseases. Yet, it's important to acknowledge that borax may cause adverse reactions in some individuals.

Common Side Effects of Borax

  • Diarrhea
  • Skin irritation and burning sensation
  • Nerve discomfort
  • Itchy skin
  • Increased heart rate
  • Excessive sweating
  • Nausea
  • Muscle cramps
  • Kidney discomfort
  • Headaches
  • Anxiety and mood swings
  • Depression
  • PMS symptom aggravation

Understanding Borax-Related Side Effects

When using borax, the body may undergo a detoxification process, leading to flu-like symptoms and headaches. Borax's impact on hormones, including elevations in estradiol and testosterone, can trigger mood alterations and anxiety and worsen PMS symptoms. Additionally, as borax assists in expelling parasites, it can release toxins, causing discomfort.

To minimize these side effects, start with smaller doses of borax and gradually increase. Ensure adequate water intake to dilute borax effectively and assist in flushing out toxins. Individuals with low magnesium levels may experience more pronounced side effects, so consider magnesium supplementation.

Alleviating Borax Side Effects

  • Utilize activated charcoal for digestive issues or flu-like symptoms, as it can absorb toxins.
  • Drink ample water or herbal teas to facilitate toxin elimination.
  • Soaking in an Epsom salt bath can provide magnesium and relax the body.
  • Apply Castor oil or an apple cider vinegar bath for topical borax reactions to soothe the skin.

Despite these side effects, many have found borax beneficial for various conditions, from arthritis to skin issues. It's the primary component in Ted's Mange Cure, which has reportedly cured mange in animals. Borax, or tetrasodium borate, is easily found in pharmacies and grocery stores. However, it's crucial to ensure it's pure borax and to reassess your treatment if side effects occur.

Alternatives to Borax

If borax is unsuitable, boron supplements or calcium fructoborate can be effective substitutes, as they supply the necessary boron nutrients.

FAQ Section: Understanding Borax Side Effects

What are the common side effects of borax?

Typical side effects include skin irritation, nerve discomfort, diarrhea, itchy skin, rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, nausea, muscle cramps, kidney pain, headaches, anxiety, depression, and worsened PMS symptoms.

Can borax cause hormonal changes?

Yes, borax can affect hormonal balance, potentially increasing levels of estradiol and testosterone, leading to mood swings, anxiety, and aggravation of PMS symptoms.

How does borax detoxify the body and what are the symptoms?

Borax may initiate a detoxification process in the body, which can manifest as flu-like symptoms, including headaches and general malaise.

Is it safe to use borax for health concerns?

While borax has been reported to be beneficial for various health issues, its safety depends on individual tolerance and correct usage. It's crucial to start with small doses and monitor for any adverse reactions.

How can I reduce the risk of side effects when using borax?

To minimize side effects, start with a lower dose of borax, increase gradually, and ensure adequate hydration. Taking magnesium supplements may also help reduce side effects, especially for those with low magnesium levels.

What remedies are effective for relieving the side effects of borax?

Activated charcoal can help with digestive issues, while drinking plenty of water or herbal tea aids in toxin elimination. Epsom salt baths provide magnesium and relaxation, and topical treatments like Castor oil or apple cider vinegar baths can soothe skin reactions.

Are there any alternatives to borax for supplementing boron?

Yes, if borax is not suitable, alternatives like boron supplements or calcium fructoborate can be used to provide the necessary boron nutrient. However, it's important to note that these alternatives might require higher doses compared to borax to achieve comparable effects

What should I do if I experience severe side effects from borax?

If severe side effects occur, discontinue the use of borax immediately and consult a healthcare professional.

Can borax affect kidney health?

Yes, one of the side effects of borax is kidney pain, indicating potential stress on kidney function. Caution is advised, especially for individuals with pre-existing kidney conditions.

Is borax less toxic than table salt, as some sources suggest?

Although borax and table salt have similar lethal dose (LD50) levels, implying comparable levels of toxicity, it is essential to approach the use of borax with caution. Appropriate dosing is crucial to avoid potential side effects or toxicity. Just like with any substance, understanding and adhering to recommended dosages is key for safe use.

For more insights, Earth Clinic's video on borax side effects is a valuable resource. Sharing your experience with borax side effects can also contribute to our understanding and help others.

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Posted by midline17 (Colorado Springs, Colorado) on 10/26/2024

Hi all,

33 year old female

I have had ongoing health concerns for a few years. Fungal Issues and suspected Lichen Sclerosis. I read many reviews regarding using the Borax remedy for both issues. So, about a year ago, I started taking borax internally. My issues at first flared, but then my skin was visibly healing within just 2 weeks time. However, I stopped using the borax internally because my hair started to fall out 2 weeks into using it.

A year later, I really wanted to use the borax solution again and confirm that it indeed caused my hair fall. Again, I did the borax for two weeks. Again, there was improvement in skin issues but severe hair fall.

Has anyone else experienced this? I have read a few studies on toxicity induced alopecia- but I don't think borax would cause this.

I am wondering if potentially the borax stirred up a fungus in my hair follicles that caused the sever hair fall? And I am wondering if I should stick with it longer- lose more hair but potentially come out the other side with a healed scalp?

I do have visible dandruff. And the hair fall didn't stop upon stopping the borax. Which makes me think it could be fungal.

Any suggestions would be so helpful and appreciated!!

Replied by Art
(California)
10/27/2024
2326 posts

midline17,

If your scalp is itchy and you have dandruff, there is a good chance that fungus is at play on your scalp. Making a saturated borax solution and shampooing your hair with it for a week may help. A saturated solution will show a small undissolved amount of borax in the bottom of the container that does not dissolve no matter how much you stir or mix it.

You can add a very small amount of regular shampoo to the borax water to give the sudsy feel of shampoo.

The oral borax may have driven internal fungus outward, exacerbating your scalp condition.

Art

Borax Side Effects
Posted by Jlove (Springfield Usa) on 07/26/2024

I was doing the borax protocol, and recently, my face got a burning rash around my mouth and nose by the 4th day. It's happened twice. I do have rosacea on my cheeks and scalp psoriasis. Does anyone have this experience? I took a week off after the 1st time, then tried again, and the same thing happened. I will start it again next week and see if it happens again.

Borax Side Effects
Posted by Karen (Alberta Canada) on 06/02/2024

I started taking 1/8 tsp of borax 7 months ago, and I stopped about a month in. After I stopped I started breaking out in an itch rash on my arms and legs. It came out in a line pattern. I still have the marks but it's hardly itch any more. Was it detox and I stopped too soon or could it be an allergic reaction?

Borax Side Effects
Posted by AZJJ (AZ) on 01/01/2024

I took a VERY small dose of Borax and had a really bad reaction... yes, it was very old... but I have no idea why... perhaps an interaction? I used to take a lot of different supps...???

Borax Side Effects
Posted by Mike (MO) on 12/15/2023

Borax and tiredness

Hello.

My mom in her 70's has been taking borax for nearly a month. The last digit of her thumbs, index fingers and middle finger tingle, are somewhat numb and at times uncomfortable. She was a typist most of her life. She's experiencing bone loss noticeable in her teeth. Her energy is not great.

She lifts weights and walks and has a very health diet (a lot of raw fruit and lightly cooked veggies, all organic) though she does have a cheat night every week (pizza) and does eat organic wheat soft taco shells 1-2 times a week. She had a hysterectomy, part of her thyroid removed and suffered from IBS for a long time. Now and for over a decade, her digestion is very good, no IBS and she takes zero meds. We're trying too reverse her bone loss, increase her energy and hopefully help her finger tip issue.

It appears that the borax makes her more tired than normal and saps her energy.

She started at 1/16 tspn and is now taking 1/4 + 1/8 tspn daily which I believe is the recommended amount for woman post-menopause with osteoporosis. She also takes 10,000iu d3/k2, vit B complex, molybdenom, vit C (camu camu), magnesium chloride, and recently added 2 tblsn ACV pre-mixed with 1/2 tspn BS. The vit c, acv/bs mix and molybdenom are added to her borax drink which she sips throughout the day.

Anybody have any advice or experience? Herx reactions and/or detox slowing her down via kidneys or liver is what I'm thinking.

Replied by Art
(California)
12/16/2023
2326 posts

Hi Mike,

The dose that many women have found benefit from is 1/8th teaspoon of Borax. Your mom is taking three times that dose. She might try bringing her dose down to the 1/8th teaspoon dose for women that Ted originally recommended and see if that helps.

Btw, can you link to where you or your mom found a recommendation for 3/8ths teaspoon of Borax for women?

For her finger issue, she might try topical melatonin lotion which I wrote about here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/topical-melatonin-pain-relief-success-stories.html

I haven't tried it for hand issues, but it may be worth a try. She should try applying it to her neck and the affected hand sparingly twice per day.

Regarding osteoporosis, I wrote this which may interest her:

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/osteoporosis-supplements-art-solbrig.html

Art

Mike
(MO)
12/25/2023

Hello Art.

The dose that many women have found benefit from is 1/8th teaspoon of Borax. Your mom is taking three times that dose. She might try bringing her dose down to the 1/8th teaspoon dose for women that Ted originally recommended and see if that helps.

Btw, can you link to where you or your mom found a recommendation for 3/8ths teaspoon of Borax for women?

It is a dose that's for women who are post-menopause with osteoporosis. 150mg which comes out to be 3/4 tspn of borax.

Reading what's written below, it appears that the writer meant to write 150mg of boron, not borax. Knowing that borax is less toxic than table salt, I'm not concerned. I'm taking 1/2 tspn daily myself and did experience a little tiredness, but that came with the herx reactions which have stopped. Someday I'll go into my experience which has been a healing experience for sure.

I didn't save the link. This is from my notes with the bottom paragraph explaining the math.

"In post menopausal women a lot of individuals have found that reversing osteoporosis takes around 150mg of borax, vit D3 and 400mg-600mg of magnesium per day to reverse it and that is a far higher dose than someone without osteoporosis needs. In those without severe florosis or osteoporosis that have healthy bone mass, 50mg per day seems to be the sweet spot but again you need magnesium and vitamin D3 in the diet. It is thought that enzymes and mineral metabolism is how boron works it's many benefits. Some people probably get enough minerals in their diet but for most Americans minerals and Vitamin D3 and iodine are almost always low. Iodine helps to keep your body from depositing fluoride in your bones."

"Ted on the other hand recommended 1/4 teaspoon of borax for men and 1/8th teaspoon for women per day. Assuming an 1/8th teaspoon of borax is 500 mg, you would multiply this number by .113 to see how much boron is in an 1/8th teaspoon. 500*.113 = 56.5 mg of boron per dose. For myself, through trial and error, have determined that Ted's dose for men is my minimum effective dose at 1,000 m of borax or about 110 mg of boron per day."

For her finger issue, she might try topical melatonin lotion which I wrote about here:

https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/topical-melatonin-pain-relief-success-stories.html

I haven't tried it for hand issues, but it may be worth a try. She should try applying it to her neck and the affected hand sparingly twice per day.

I will look into this. Thank you.

Regarding osteoporosis, I wrote this which may interest her:

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/osteoporosis-supplements-art-solbrig.html

I will look into that as well.

Replied by Sherri
(Seattle)
12/22/2023

Hello Mike,

More information would be helpful. Example, did she start taking borax at the same time she started taking the other supplements? How long has she been fatigued? When did the numbness in the fingers start? Is she losing bone in other areas? This is important because she could have a particular type of infection in the mouth that causes bone loss from only this area in the body.

However, based on the description, if she was my mother I would stop all the supplements and add them back to her regimen one at a time. After a week or two add a second supplement, and so on. This will help you to identify a specific supplement(s) as the possible cause.

Also, many supplements are adulterated with various "toxins". This often causes reactions, examples: magnesium stearate, alcohols, soy additives, toxic residues from what they clean their machines with, mold contamination, etc....

Many people react to magnesium stearate, I had to eliminate all supplements that contained this additive because it caused several adverse reactions including fatigue.

Many baking soda brands are not actually mined (made in the lab) and include toxins. There are several good brands that are mined and do not include toxins (e.g., drclarkstore.com and others).

Many brands of ACV are contaminated with mold (patulin and others). These could definitely cause reactions in some people, especially if they already have a fungal/yeast/mold illness. Muscle testing the products could help if you can find an experienced practitioner or a syncrometer.

However, as you concluded, it is probably a detox reaction in which case it is important to scale back on everything and slowly build it back up (months). And, ensure she is adequately hydrated and supporting her detox organs (kidneys, liver, colon/intestines, etc...) with various herbs or tinctures.

Your mom is fortunate to have you looking out for her, hope this issue resolves itself soon.

Mike
(MO)
12/22/2023

More information would be helpful. Example, did she start taking borax at the same time she started taking the other supplements?

Roughly the same time. Vit C (camu camu), magnesium (chloride form), molybdenom (most recent and no noticeable change), ACV diluted with baking soda, D3 & K2, B complex and recently up to 3/4 tspn borax 8 days on 2-3 days off.

How long has she been fatigued?

This has been an issue for at least a decade. Day 1 of borax @ 1/16th tspn, magnesium chloride 500 mg and vit c she was really tired. Sleepy. Day 2, she had better energy than she's had in quite a long time. Day 3, even more tired and she's been stuck in the even more tired category ever since. She started the concoction a month ago.

When did the numbness in the fingers start?

3 years ago approx. She was a very productive secretary. Either slamming the keys on the manual typewriter or carpel tunnel I believe. Both thumbs, index fingers and middle fingers which are those used to type and those that tend to be involved with CT.

Is she losing bone in other areas?

Not that I'm aware of. Her gums are receded and she's lost maybe a 1/2 dozen teeth. She's done and still does a lot per "Cure Tooth Decay" and Dr Nara's book which I cannot remember what's it's title is at the moment. My caries have healed and my gums are no longer receding but her's have continued, albeit at a much slower rate. DMSO and colloidal silver stop abscessed teeth. Post menopausal and osteoporosis I believe is the difference between us.

This is important because she could have a particular type of infection in the mouth that causes bone loss from only this area in the body.

That's possible.

However, based on the description, if she was my mother I would stop all the supplements and add them back to her regimen one at a time. After a week or two add a second supplement, and so on. This will help you to identify a specific supplement(s) as the possible cause.

After the sups, she's just become more tired than normal. It's a roller coaster. She used to be very emotionally sensitive on the weekends.

Also, many supplements are adulterated with various "toxins". This often causes reactions, examples: magnesium stearate, alcohols, soy additives, toxic residues from what they clean their machines with, mold contamination, etc....

I don't think she's exposed to anything via these sups and she doesn't take any others than what I've written about above nor does she take any drugs at all.

Many people react to magnesium stearate, I had to eliminate all supplements that contained this additive because it caused several adverse reactions including fatigue.

She has no exposure to that. All high quality sups, unless these companies are lying.

Many baking soda brands are not actually mined (made in the lab) and include toxins. There are several good brands that are mined and do not include toxins (e.g., drclarkstore.com and others).

Bob's Red Mill is what she uses.

Many brands of ACV are contaminated with mold (patulin and others). These could definitely cause reactions in some people, especially if they already have a fungal/yeast/mold illness. Muscle testing the products could help if you can find an experienced practitioner or a syncrometer.

Braggs. Changing brands as Katie P & husband own this company now & get their apples from Gates, or so I've heard.

However, as you concluded, it is probably a detox reaction in which case it is important to scale back on everything and slowly build it back up (months). And, ensure she is adequately hydrated and supporting her detox organs (kidneys, liver, colon/intestines, etc...) with various herbs or tinctures.

Ultimately, I think it might be the magnesium. Her motility tends to be very good but lately it's been spotty. She was used to IBS for most her life and once we changed her diet and went after parasites and bad microbes, that went away. There's been times where motility has been an issue and it's typically when something's changed. This could be it or a part of it.

Your mom is fortunate to have you looking out for her, hope this issue resolves itself soon.

Thank you. Our LORD looks out for both of us.

Art
(California)
12/26/2023
2326 posts

Hi Mike,

Thank you for the reply to my question. That was a while back and I had almost forgotten I asked it.

On a digital mg scale, my 1/4 teaspoon weighs in around 485 mg, but 1/4 teaspoons vary by manufacturer and from country to country so 500 mg seems close enough. If borax is approximately 11.4% boron, then I should be getting about 55 mg of boron each weekday or about 275 mg of boron per week, a very significant amount. I've been taking it about 15 years now and it has kept my severe PA in remission during that period. For me it has been life altering!

Art

Mike
(MO)
12/26/2023

I've clicked on the email notification option, but I never actually get email notifications, so I check my posts to see if I've gotten any replies. I suppose I don't check them often enough.

I take it you're not familiar with this higher dose for post-menopause women with osteoporosis? I wasn't either but it makes some sense and borax is not toxic, so why not just give it a shot.

My mom got back this concoction 3 days ago (2-3 days off, 8 days on) and her energy has improved. She's now taking 240-ish mg of mag. chloride which is 1/2 what she was taking before, so it might be;

too much magnesium

the herx reaction is getting easier

her detox pathways are dealing better as she pauses for a couple-three days while her motility has improved (prune juice).

EC: We'll ask the programmer about that. Some email services don't deliver these emails for some reason. Did you check your spam box?

Mike
(MO)
12/27/2023

I haven't seen anything in spam. I did get a notification for the first time just now. Thank you.

Nicole
(Wisconsin)
07/28/2024

Hi, Art! Have you been taking a 1/4th tsp non stop for 15 years? Barring the weekend off thing? I am in the beginning stages if PsA and have had my second flare in 5 years. I did take borax for a few months when I got my flare a few years ago and did systematic organ cleanses. I stopped because I felt great and kids took over life. I began taking the Walter Last concentrate (1 tsp in a liter of water, 3 of those tsps a day) a 2 weeks ago and then started on 1/16 a tsp. All my pain is gone. So far no herx reaction but I haven't drank fluoridated water in 5 years and use only distilled. I do breastfeed a 1 year old. I was breastfeeding when I took 5 years ago so I believe it is ok. Can I give to my 6 and 4 year old? I was thinking 1/8th a teaspoon of Walter Last concentrate. Thanks!

Replied by Rita
(Denton TX)
01/16/2024

From this info, my guess would be that it's disrupting her gut flora. She may look at getting a good, refrigerated, multi-culture probiotic to take regularly Just a thought..

Mike
(MO)
01/16/2024

I agree.

She started taking a 100 billion in the morning (empty stomach as she doesn't eat until late morning) & a 60 billion + fermented sauerkraut with lunch (both refrigerated).

Her motility is about where it should be now. Everythings improved. She was getting a little wobbly, slight issues with balance and that's not a good thing, especially as she gets older, but that has improved as well.

Replied by Art
(California)
01/16/2024
2326 posts

Hi Mike,

Just a thought related to your post about your mom. You said, ' molybdenum (most recent and no noticeable change) '

So you are saying that Molybdenum was her most recent addition. You don't say how much she is taking, but molybdenum is noted for depleting copper. Copper deficiency can cause extreme tiredness as discussed here :

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Copper-Consumer/#:~:text=Copper deficiency can cause extreme, affecting the ligaments and skin.

Here is a relevant quote from the article :

What happens if I don't get enough copper?

Copper deficiency is rare in the United States. Copper deficiency can cause extreme tiredness, lightened patches of skin, high levels of cholesterol in the blood, and connective tissue disorders affecting the ligaments and skin. Other effects of copper deficiency are weak and brittle bones, loss of balance and coordination, and increased risk of infection.

So, if your mom had a marginal copper level to begin with and then added molybdenum to her supplement regimen, that could potentially further lower her copper level, resulting in extreme tiredness.

Perhaps you can have her copper level tested or stop the molybdenum for a couple of months to see if her tiredness improves.

Here is what AI has to say about molybdenum and copper, and it does not seem that you added any copper to her diet plan to try and offset the copper-depleting effects of molybdenum.

Molybdenum is a trace element that can reduce copper levels in humans by forming insoluble complexes with copper in the gastrointestinal tract and increasing its excretion in urine12. Molybdenum may be used as a supportive treatment for copper toxicity, which can cause nervous system disorders, liver damage, and hormonal imbalances23. However, molybdenum intake should be balanced with copper intake, as both are essential nutrients and too much or too little of either can have adverse effects4. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for molybdenum is 45 micrograms per day for adults3. Some sources of molybdenum include legumes, grains, nuts, and organ meats3.

Art

Mike
(MO)
01/16/2024

Thanks for that Art.

She had been taking it for a couple weeks and I don't believe she was getting a dose that would make much meaningful change. It's probably expected that she didn't notice anything because it was a low dose and its purpose was to help with bone loss and by bone loss, I mean her teeth.

She's been low energy for many years, so it's nothing new but after starting the borax & everything else, it got worse. I believe now that it's her cellular energy production, her mitochondria. Her bodies oxygen content is low. She breathes way too much and way too frequently, which is not good and is something that Walter Last didn't know about as I've read him write about breathing deeply.

She used to practice the Buteyko breathing method but she didn't stick with it. Older women have great difficulty retraining their breathing, breathing from the diaphragm and sticking with it, supposedly.

Mercola wrote something regarding this a couple days ago and there might be some very promising information regarding breathing retraining that takes much less time and effort. I'll find out soon.

Art
(California)
01/17/2024
2326 posts

Hi Mike,

You still didn't say what dose of molybdenum she is taking, but the RDA is 45 mcg and molybdenum supplements are often 100 mcg or 500 mcg, both well above the RDA.

For the osteoporosis, she may be interested in this :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/osteoporosis-supplements-art-solbrig.html

Art

Replied by Mike
(MO)
02/18/2024

I don't get emails from this site and have a lot going on. Sorry for the extremely late response.

The molybdenum was insignificant. I shouldn't have mentioned it.

Now that she's on 4 days on and 3 days off of the drink and other supplements, she's doing better than she was before. She's now taking Last's energy drink + a few things; ascorbic acid and msm along with the borax, magnesium, apple cider vinegar neutralized with baking soda, high quality probiotic capsul, fermented sauerkraut, b-complex, niacin (flush) and finally vit d3/k2 (10,000/200) and is doing much better than she was before. She's also doing a good job with her breathing retraining, faster walks and weight lifting. These were the results I was looking for. She never was a big supplement taker but this concoction is working.

Now if I can only figure out how to help her get her hair to start growing again.

Replied by Ann
(Eastern, wa)
03/02/2024

Hi, she may have a sensitivity to ACV. I know when I take ACV, I dont feel well. IF the tiredness symptoms started upon ingesting boron..then remember to use5 days on 2 off. And she can back off her dose to original stsrting dosage. If for bone loss, remember vit d3 with k2 is essential, as they work synergestically and k2 keeps calcium out of soft tissues and helps transport d3 calcium to bones. Boron and Stronium can also be taken in a supplement gorm as they Both are needed to build bone. Then there is the issue of detoxing the calcified pineal gland, with boron. Also detoxing flouride from body. But remember anything that pulls a heavy metal or a toxin must needs be BOUND by somerhing and eliminated OR you create a worse problem. Cilantro for instance has a strong heavy metal pulling capacity, but needs a Binder to encapsulate it. Cholerella binds it to eliminate it from body along with propwr elimination via teas, lots of pure water.

Mike
(MO)
03/03/2024

Thanks for the advice.

No ACV issues for her.

She'll be fine, take the drink I've mentioned previously for 3-4 days and then starts to get tired, on day 3 or 4. Really tired. Sleepy. Low energy, but no actual physical complaints. After a few days off the drink, she's feeling better. Recently, her right hip was bothering her, just out of the blue. Never had an injury. It went away just as it came. She took the drink for 4 days last week and she's been tired ever since, but slowly improving.

I believe she's constantly experiencing healing reactions and there's no doubt that she needs to cycle this drink, typically 3 days off or more.

Art
(California)
07/29/2024
2326 posts

Hi Nicole,

Thank you very much for your post and feedback regarding your successful use of Borax for psoriatic arthritis (PsA)! As far as I can remember you are the first person other than myself to report that Borax put your PsA into remission for very lengthy periods of time.

My PsA was at a very advanced pain and was considered severe. In the beginning, I thought I was cured, but after a few months of not taking borax, I realized I was not cured, but just in remission because the symptoms started slowly coming back, so I went back to regular use of borax and have continued for a decade and a half plus. I still get the ridges on my nails every now and again to remind me that this is only remission, not cured. Considering the number of involved joints as well as my daily pain levels, for me, this has been a game changing miracle to be able to remain PsA pain free all of this time! As severe as my PsA was, surprisingly, I never had a herx reaction with borax.

For the children, a boron supplement may be an easier option for them to take as well as easier to control the dose more precisely, but you should seek your doctor's advice and approval for the children. Boron works for arthritis and osteopenia/osteoporosis also.

Art

Borax Side Effects
Posted by Claire (QLD) on 11/03/2023

A week ago, I took a pinch of borax in a glass of water 2 days in a row & it has made my arthritic symptoms much worse. Today, 5 days later, I'm experiencing a further worsening with pain in my lower spine & in multiple joints. Does borax actually harm some people & work against effective calcium metabolism? That's how it feels to me at this point. Given the negative symptoms I've experienced from borax, I don't have any confidence in it reducing the arthritic calcifications.

Replied by Sandra
(Brisbane Qld)
03/23/2024

My understanding is to start very small and that sometimes symptoms get worse before they get better. Maybe half a pinch...put a pinch in a saucer and devide it in half with a knife? All the best

Borax Side Effects
Posted by Beatrice (1135 Denens) on 10/25/2023

I am suffering from osteoporosis and joint pains and have been taking Borax for nearly 5 years now. Then I came upon the article "The Borax Conspiracy" from Walter Last and learned that the dose I was taking was far too low. I slowly increased my dose and am taking now 1g/1l of water/day combined with magnesium and himalayan salt. Now, my tongue is black and I also suffer from slight headaches and pain in my neck. Is the dose too high or is this Herxheimer reaction?

My weight: 55kg, my hight 170cm. I wanted to take this high dose for about three months and then lower it to a minimum for the rest of my life. Next year I wanted to check on my osteoporosis to see if there is any improvement. So far, nothing helped and I refused the bisphosponat treatment.

Replied by Art
(California)
10/25/2023
2326 posts

Beatrice,

The dose of borax you are taking is just a little higher than the dose that Ted suggested for men. He suggested half of that dose for women as discussed here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/borax.html

The black tongue is typically caused by too much bacteria or yeast growth in the mouth as discussed here :

https://www.verywellhealth.com/black-tongue-5190133#:~:text=Black tongue (or black hairy, typically a cause for concern.

Here is a relevant article quote :

' Black tongue (or black hairy tongue) is usually caused by too much bacteria or yeast growth in the mouth. It is a harmless (benign) condition. Even though the name sounds scary, the situation is not typically a cause for concern. '

Regarding osteoporosis, this may be of interest to you :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/osteoporosis-supplements-art-solbrig.html

Art

Replied by Lisa
(Jax, FL)
10/25/2023

Beatrice,

I have osteoporosis also, but did have a good bit of detox from Borax so mainly now use in a bath. I did have a black tongue once also and it is bacteria, so your symptoms are most likely detox.

What else do you do for your osteo? I recently found a product called Osteo K that had so many good reviews that I ordered it. The reviews noted that they had completely reversed the osteo or had gone back to osteopenia and were headed toward healing. MK4 was the main ingredient that was different from other osteo products. I have been taking it 4 months and noticed my nails look like they did in my 20s.

I have not had a dexascan yet and may not b/c of the radiation. But it is a critical point for me as I am recovering from a broken hand and then was told I might have a stress fracture in my foot (I didn't). The healing has been slow.

If you are able to do any weight bearing exercise, it is a huge help. My doc told me that strontium skews the dexascan, so I had stopped that years ago.

Lisa

Borax Side Effects
Posted by PG (Puerto Maldonado, Peru) on 10/05/2023

Heat intolerance while taking Borax

Hello everyone. I starting taking Borax internally about 4 yrs ago to combat an internal yeast overgrowth. It took care of the candida over a long period of time. Really appreciate having learned about the anti fungal properties of Borax.

I live in a hot tropical region and so fungus issues are prevalent and reoccurring here and so like to keep the Borax on hand so when an issue arises I can take care of it quickly by ingesting some Borax for a short period. My question for you guys is has anyone noticed becoming heat intolerant while taking Borax. I mean I am so overheated once temps go over 30c and almost am dead when it nears 40c. I never was like this before I took Borax. Lately a friend of mine who also lives in the tropics has just started taking Borax and she too is complaining about sudden heat intolerance. We are both experiencing extreme excessive sweating. I put two and two together and it seems it is Borax that is effecting us in this most uncomfortable way. Have any of you experienced such a thing while consuming Borax?

Thank you and I love Earth Clinic!

Replied by Bill
(Philippines)
10/07/2023

Hi PG,

I also live in a tropical and hot climate and I weigh slightly less than 90kgs, I am about 6 foot tall and I'm 73 y.o with no ongoing ailments or diseases. And I never have trouble with the tropical heat in the Philippines. I think this is probably because I always supplement 5% lugol's iodine every day at between 5 and 8 drops per day. This definitely keeps my thyroid healthy, my immune system working right and supplementing 5% lugol's iodine also ensures that the thyroid hormones are able to properly control my body temperature in order to cool my body properly whenever the outside temperature is high. I've been taking 5% lugol's iodine in a glass of water like this every day for about the last 16 years or so and my health is all the better for it.

If the temperature outside gets unbearably hot then I just use Ted from Bangkok's famous body cooling remedy, which consists of adding and mixing Vitamin C(as ascorbate) + a glass of water + 10 drops of Magnesium Oil (50% magnesium chloride flakes + 50% water). If you drink that mixture, you will cool down very quickly because of the beneficial cooling effect of the magnesium and vitamin c relaxing your your arteries to help cool your body more efficiently. This remedy works for me every time.

To make this cooling remedy cheaply, you will need to purchase Ascorbic Acid powder, Sodium Bicarbonate(Arm & Hammer pure Baking Soda brand will do fine) and Magnesium Chloride flakes. And depending on where you live in the world, you should be able to buy all these aforementioned items from well known online retailers like Amazon, eBay, purebulk.com, Ali Express, Lazada or Shopee.

Here's how to make Ted's cooling remedy:

1. First make Sodium Ascorbate by dissolving a 1/4 teaspoon Ascorbic Acid in a glass of water. Then carefully sprinkle in the Sodium Bicarbonate until the fizzing stops.

2. From a dropper bottle containing the Magnesium Oil add 10 drops to the glass containing the water + Sodium Ascorbate.

3. Now drink it all and your done. The cooling effect of this drink should be almost immediate.

And if you decide to supplement 5% Lugol's Iodine an a daily basis like me, make sure that you take the Borax at least two hours before or two hours after taking the lugol's iodine dose. If you take the Borax at the same time as the iodine then they will each cancel out the other's beneficial effects. So just make sure that you supplement Borax well away from when you supplement the 5% Lugol's Iodine.

How to Properly Supplement 5% Lugol's Iodine

How to Make Magnesium Oil from Magnesium Flakes

Replied by Conniffer
(Wi)
10/12/2023

Please explain how Borax and Lugol's "cancel" each other:

"...If you take the Borax at the same time as the iodine then they will each cancel out the other's beneficial effects."

Borax Side Effects
Posted by AlleyCat (NSW, Australia) on 09/16/2023

Hi - I started the borax protocol in early July - I had either Covid or RSV over the month of August and in the last week of August I started with diarrhea which I thought came from undercooked chicken, however it was not the normal 'explosive' kind that accompanies food poisoning.

I have ongoing issues with candida and constipation related to EDS and I'm gluten-free and mostly avoid dairy.

The first 5 days of the 'bug' were 2 times a day mass evacuation of sludge (I assume to be the impacted content). Then I got to 4 days of water type and one explosive day with green (I'm assuming that was the actual bug coming through) - then it slowly returned to twice a day sludge alternating with more traditional type watery diarrhea.

there have been what I'll describe as colon spasms (rather than 'stomach cramps') that will occur randomly over the day.

Is there any chance that the borax has caused an issue - in the first few weeks I was seeing improvement with candida so I was thrilled that this might be helping - but now I'm wondering if I should stop?

any thoughts would be much appreciated as I can't find a page with 'real side effects' as all the searches will go straight to mainstream, it's 'poison' type information.

Replied by Madelyn
(Idaho)
09/18/2023

AlleyCat, try taking borax a couple of times per week instead of daily for a while. Give your body a chance to recover and recalibrate after being sick. This Covid or RSV virus is giving lots of people trouble for weeks on end. You can pick the borax back up to 5 days a week if you feel necessary once you're feeling better.

Borax Side Effects
Posted by Vernard (AZ) on 09/06/2023

Tried borax for first time, 1/8th teaspoon in 24 oz of water. my esophogus was burning all night. anyone have any idea possibly why?

Replied by Art
(California)
09/06/2023
2326 posts

Vernard,

If you have an irritation in your esophagus, the borax can worsen it because the normal pH of the esophagus is around seven, but the pH of borax is considerably higher at around 9.24 and that can potentially further irritate an already irritated esophagus.

Ted's recommendation was to mix the 1/8th teaspoon of borax in a quart/liter of water, whereas you only used 24 ounces of water. Another consideration is some people have found benefit at 1/16th teaspoon. Diluting as Ted said to and using a lesser dose may make borax more tolerable, but if it continues to irritate your esophagus even with the changes, you will be better off looking at ECs over 100 other remedies for arthritis here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/arthritis.html

Art

Kathy Willis
(Indianapolis IN)
09/17/2024

Hi, I'm replying to find out if you know if anyone has reported any results from borax use with RA. I've only read, so far, of people with osteoarthritis. My daughter suffers from an extremely bad case of rheumatoid arthritis, and any relief would be wonderful.

Kathy

Art
(California)
09/17/2024
2326 posts

Hi Kathy,

Yes, it has shown benefit for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also as discussed in the following human study :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5289089/

Here is a relevant study quote :

' After 60 days, both types of boron significantly improve the clinical scores, in association with significant decrease in the serum levels of ESR, hsCRP, IL-1α, IL-6, and TNF-α with remarkable superiority for calcium fructoborate (CFB) over sodium tetraborate (NTB), compared to baseline and placebo-treated group.'

Calcium Fructoborate is a type of boron derived from plants while sodium tetraborate is Borax. In this study the calcium fructoborate outperformed the borax most likely because the amount given contained more boron than the borax did. Calcium fructoborate though, is a good option to have for people who are opposed to taking a laundry booster for their arthritis. It isn't as inexpensive as borax which costs less than 5 dollars per year.

In the above study they used either the calcium fructoborate or borax in addition to the biologic, Etanercept. They didn't use an arm without Etanercept because they said it was "ethically unaccepted", but there is other research and anecdotal reports where borax or boron has been used as a sole treatment for arthritis as discussed here :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1566627/

Here is a relevant quote :

' Since 1963, evidence has accumulated that suggests boron is a safe and effective treatment for some forms of arthritis. The initial evidence was that boron supplementation alleviated arthritic pain and discomfort of the author. This was followed by findings from numerous other observations epidemiologic and controlled animal and human experiments. These findings included a) analytical evidence of lower boron concentrations in femur heads, bones, and synovial fluid from people with arthritis than from those without this disorder; b) observation evidence that bones of patients using boron supplements are much harder to cut than those of patients not using supplements; c) epidemiologic evidence that in areas of the world where boron intakes usually are 1.0 mg or less/day the estimated incidence of arthritis ranges from 20 to 70%, whereas in areas of the world where boron intakes are usually 3 to 10 mg, the estimated incidence of arthritis ranges from 0 to 10%; d) experimental evidence that rats with induced arthritis benefit from orally or intraperitoneally administered boron; e) experimental evidence from a double-blind placebo-boron supplementation trial with 20 subjects with osteoarthritis. A significant favorable response to a 6 mg boron/day supplement was obtained; 50% of subjects receiving the supplement improved compared to only 10% receiving the placebo. '

A link to the full study is available inside of the above link.

Ted's dosing recommendations for borax are described here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/borax.html

My personal experience is that borax has kept my severe psoriatic arthritis (PA) in remission for 16 years now. PA is just one of many forms of arthritis.

Good luck to your daughter and keep us posted on her progress if she and her doctor decide for her to test borax!

Art

Borax Side Effects
Posted by Selena (Arkansas ) on 07/19/2023

Hi. I started taking a pinch of Borax every day about 4 months ago. After about 6 weeks I started getting a rash around my chin. Doc gave me a steroid cream. Used it for two week and had to take a week off before using it again. It looked like it was gone. I didn't think I'd need to use it again but the rash was back worse than before in two days. Then doc gave me a fungal cream with a small amount of steroid for two weeks. It was gone but again came back worse. Went back on the steroid cream while waiting to go to the dermatologist this time. He said it looked like I was allergic to fluoride. So do you think this is from the borax or the fluoride. I don't know what to do. I'm scared this won't go away or that I've poisoned myself. Or maybe the fluoride was coming out though my skin detoxing???

Replied by Art
(California)
07/20/2023
2326 posts

Selena,

You can stop borax and if the rash resolves on its own in a month or so, the borax is the likely problem.

Art

Replied by Madelyn
(Idaho)
07/20/2023

Is there fluoride in your toothpaste? It's a common reaction.

Replied by Flower Girl
(Hone Sweet Home)
07/22/2023

99% pure flowers of sulfur improved the acne-like rash above my mouth, I ran out before the rash was completely gone.

It started when I took lysine tablets. I had the rash for over a year before I tried the sulfur. I drank a teaspoon of the sulfur in a cup of water once a day for a few days. Made me feel really good, too.

Otherwise look up boron co-nutrients and try those maybe.

Borax Side Effects
Posted by JJ (AZ) on 07/11/2023

I mixed a 1/4 tsp (20 mule team) in a liter of clean water... drank only 10% of it and got very bad side effects... racing heart, brain fog, lightheadedness, gut pain... I felt as though I was poisoned... it came on quickly.

The Borax I used WAS several years old... but still...

And I doubt this was a detox reaction... I have been taking some cilantro and lugol's occasionally, eating pretty healthy...

Borax Side Effects
Posted by Tania (CT) on 07/06/2023

Paradoxical reactions to Borax

My husband and I have started taking borax in the 1tsp to 1 liter solution. He has systemic candida and broke out in mouth sores within 3 days of taking it.
I have arthritic pains in my hands that come and go and within a week of taking the solution, my hands are much worse.

We both also experienced crushing depression as well. Is this just a normal herx reaction? I'm going to stick it out but I have been unable to find anything that mentions these specific symptoms.

Replied by Gary
(Kitchener On)
07/07/2023

Hi Tania

Too much Borax. Men 1/4 spoon daily and Women 1/8 spoon daily.

I have been Borax happy for 4 years and no-side effects but feel great.

God Bless

Gary

Borax Side Effects
Posted by Mel (Saskatchewan (SK)) on 05/10/2023

Hello I have been using borax for arthritis type pain in joints the past few months (1/4 tsp in 1 litre of water 5 days a week). I'm getting muscle cramps lately. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem?

Replied by Art
(California)
05/10/2023

Mel,

Boron is an active component of Borax and it can direct more magnesium and calcium toward the bones, possibly leaving insufficient magnesium available for the soft tissues. This potential insufficiency of magnesium could cause muscle cramps. If supplementing an absorbable form of magnesium such as magnesium glycinate resolves the muscle cramping, then you have your answer.

Another common cause of muscle cramping is insufficient potassium intake.

Art

Replied by Tom 70
(Auckland, New Zealand.)
05/11/2023

1/4 tsp of borax is over 1,100mg, which is over 120 mg of boron.......wonder if this is too high a daily dose.

Replied by Tim
(Pennsylvania)
06/30/2023

Are you taking magnesium supplements with it?

Borax Side Effects
Posted by Chris (Ottawa, Canada) on 04/25/2023

I started using the Borax protocol about 10 days ago. My skin seems dry and my gums started hurting today. Has anyone else had any side effects? Maybe I just need to drink more water for the dry skin but unsure about the gums. Perhaps not even related. Just curious if anyone else had side effects.

Replied by Art
(California)
04/26/2023
2326 posts

Chris,

I have seen a dry skin condition develop in a friend who was using 1/8 teaspoon of borax every week day. She stopped and the dry skin went away. She restarted and the dry skin slowly came back, so she stopped completely. I asked her to try 1/16th of a teaspoon, but she said no. Some people don't tolerate Borax, but the majority of people do.

An alternative is to try higher dose boron based supplements, which has also shown the ability to put arthritis into remission.

Art

Hollyhock
(America)
04/26/2023

This could explain why I have such dry skin for well over a year! I recently decided to stop the borax because it no longer helps my arthritis, not sure why it quit working. But the dry flaky skin is so embarrassing, maybe I finally know what causes it!


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