Borax is gaining popularity as an effective natural remedy for many health concerns. Borax contains boron, which is an element the body requires. Boron helps bones to be strong. It helps the body properly utilize other nutrients. Restoring boron to the body through borax can be part of the solution for health problems like arthritis, joint problems, athlete’s foot and some autoimmune diseases. However, borax is not without side effects for some people.
Side Effects of Borax Detergent
Side effects can include the following:
- Burning skin
- Nerve pain
- Diarrhea
- Itching skin
- Rapid heart rate
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Cramping
- Kidney pain
- Headache
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Worsening of PMS Symptoms
Why Does Borax Cause Side Effects?
Borax can cause a detox reaction in the body. This is likely to cause headaches and flu like symptoms.
Borax affects hormones. It can increase estradiol (an estrogen) and testosterone. Any time that hormones are fluctuating mood changes, anxiety, depression, and exacerbation of PMS symptoms can result.
Borax may help the body remove parasites, which will, in turn cause some symptoms of toxin release.
Borax may cause side effects if too much is taken at once, or not enough water is used.
How Can I Avoid Borax Side Effects?
Always start with less and increase the amount slowly to make sure that the body is adjusting well to a new routine.
Use plenty of water with the borax protocol. This will properly dilute the borax and will also give the body the needed fluids to flush itself out.
Take a magnesium supplement. Borax side effects are more pronounced in those who have low magnesium levels.
What Can I Do to Relieve Borax Side Effects?
Take activated charcoal to relieve digestive distress or flu-like symptoms that result from borax side effects. Charcoal will adsorb toxins and settle the digestive system.
Consume plenty of water or herbal tea to keep toxins flushing out of the system.
Take an Epsom salt bath. This will provide the body with needed magnesium and relax the body.
If you have used borax topically and had a skin reaction, Castor oil or apple cider vinegar can be used to relieve the reaction. Castor oil is massaged into the skin. Or 1 cup apple cider vinegar can be added to a tub of warm water and used for a bath. The apple cider vinegar bath will help to restore proper pH to the skin.
If Borax Causes Side Effects, Why Bother?
While some experience side effects from the use of borax, hundreds of Earth Clinic readers over the years have reported cures using borax. Borax is used for a wide range of symptoms, including arthritis, candida, athlete’s foot, brain fog, chicken pox, colds, mites, lice, lupus, sinus problems and skin problems. And an impressive number of dogs and other animals have been cured of mange with Ted’s Mange Cure. Borax is the key ingredient in Ted’s Mange Cure.
The chemical name of borax is tetrasodium borate. It is indeed the very same borax that is found in pharmacies and in grocery stores in the laundry aisle. Please be sure to make sure that borax is the only ingredient. While some worry about the toxicity of borax, it is believed that borax is less toxic than table salt. However, if you experience side effects, it is always wise to discontinue use and re-evaluate your treatment plan.
Is there an Alternative to Borax?
Borax contains boron, which is a necessary nutrient to the body. Borax is one way to supplement this nutrient to the body to improve health, but it is not the only way. Boron supplements can be used. Calcium fructoborate is another option.
Borax Side Effects Video
Watch Earth Clinic’s video to learn more and add your experience.
If you experience side effects from borax, please be sure to let us know! Continue reading below for extensive and interesting feedback from Earth Clinic readers who have experienced side effects after taking borax.
Side effect reported
I have reactive arthritis since 5 years. I'm on day 5 of using borax (two pinch), Baking soda 1/2 teaspoon in half glass of water, ACV, Coconut Oil two times a day 1, I have left wheat, sugar and also doing juice fasting(vegetables mostly). I'm feeling energized but with side effects – low back pain shoulder pain pinched nerves in elbow and lot of acne (milia) comes up on face. I also have dry eyes due to ReA. Hoping I will recover fast. Do anybody have this kind of side effect and when they will subside?
Cindy, I am just reading Kaufman diet website, and I have also purchased 2 books by Doug Kaufman. Now any time I hear itching my mind says "Unless it is an insect bite it is likely fungus related".
Right now I am clearing out some fungal overgrowth, using various tools, and ready to add borax, so now here researching. Thanks to all posters, it is amazing to what a community can achieve.
It sounds to me that your body started to 'get rid of something' right away. That something inside that is likely causing fibro pain. If you ask yourself "I WONDER what it could be that is coming out?" and let it sit unanswered, you may get an insight in some time. Like a memory how you were stung by jellyfish, or got some paint on your body, or lived in a place with some mold infestation. I highly recommend to look up the Kauffman diet in search and read a bit. I found lot of answers to my questions there, and also some great recipes to help get the extra fungus/candida etc out of the body.
Detox happens with the change of foods as well, bit of nausea, so I have some water with a couple of slices of ginger ready, and also activated charcoal and finely ground up psyllium husk to absorb toxins when they are coming out. I would put some clay poultice on the bumps to absorb whatever is coming out of them, and when clay dries, wash it gently off. I used to it daily for various conditions. Then smear a very thin layer of coconut oil, which has antifungal properties.
I get for years from time to time an urge to take a "healing nap" at those hours. Usually just about 1/2 hour, but recently a deep healing nap was the result of my laying down with fresh reading material.
If you research a bit, Oriental medicine has that times Small intestine active time. If we have various issues to be repaired in that area, it is best done in my experience when the body simply "knock me out of the way". We are such a go-go! Society these days. Small intestine is also an area that processes various unexpected ("put on the spot") events. Just going down mid-town New York would stress my small intestine energy when I lived there. That is when my body started to take occasional, and sometimes daily, naps to compensate for it, and create 'order' while I napped.
Get a gallon of distilled water from store and use that. It's as pure as you can get.
I don't understand the confusion in how much borax to take? I use an old glass ACV bottle = 32oz to this add a 'heaping' teaspoon of '20 mule-team' borax then fill with 'distilled' water, this formula is the borax CONCENTRATE! This should be 30mg of borax / 3.3mg of boron.
Shake the bottle to dissolve and then let rest in refrigerator overnight. Next morning take 1 teaspoon of the CONCENTRATE and add to whatever amount of water/liquid you want.
I have been taking, up to 3 doses a day, this for about 4 years, with occasional 'breaks' of 1 to 5 days a month, without side-effects or gastric distress.
When starting out used 1 teaspoon on 8oz 'well-water' once per day, followed this for 6 months prior to increasing to 2 then 3 dose per day. Now I just add 1 teaspoon of CONCENTRATE to about 2 ounces of 'well-water'.
If you don't have a good source of 'well-water', then I would use 'distilled' water, to make the CONCENTRATE.
The following website is what I based my CONCENTRATE on;
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
I hope this helps the confusion. Blessing and peace to all.
What is well water? We have a water well but have never drank the water. It’s good water used for our dogs, chickens, horses, cattle and goats.
Side effect reported
Borax heavily raises my bloodsugars. For 3-4 hours after using it, I have trouble getting my bloodsugars into normal range again. I suspect it's because borax is a mix of boron and natrium (salt/natron), and salt drives down potassium levels. Potassium allows insulin to enter the cells of the body.
Of course, there's plenty of chances that the blood sugar reactions are because borax stresses parasites. Still praying for a breakthrough in all this!
Type 1 diabetes, have had a bone tumor, teeth issues. I got amalgam fillings when I was 14 and diabetes and all the rest of the issues came after that (heavy metal troubles! ). I do wish my family had known about parasite cleansing before all the other crap happened to me!
Castor oil is the palm of Christ and I love the stuff, it works on many things in the body
https://draxe.com/castor-oil/
Comfrey is the comforter herb and it heals bones and teeth and skin
https://www.earthclinic.com/herbs/comfrey.html
Coconut oil is amazing stuff from teeth to rectum and brain health
I take in my boron in a footsoak 1/2 tsp with epson salt 1/4 cup for an hour 3 x a week. Molybdenum the next day to cut die off pain
Eric Berg is a naturepath who ruined his health in college and now teaches step by step on you tube how to overcome many health issues.
Hope you find your solutions. Keep the Faith, Blessings, Charity
Side effect reported
I have been using borax on and off for about 9 months. I have been having kidney pain and just wondering if borax has been known to cause kidney damage?
Side effect reported
1/8tsp borax in water is causing heart palpitations…any idea why and how to control it?
Tisha, lower your dosage or stop. I only take half a pinch. (if that is a measurement! )
https://www.earthclinic.com/borax-side-effects.html
I belive msm and c and molybdenum and magnesium and chanca piedra can help
borax releases calcium out of soft tissue into kidneys, very painful use chanca piedra in vitamin isle walmart
I am still using it as a footsoak because my stomach is not ready for it after over year of footsoaks 3 x a week. Some others in this site can foot soak in huge amounts, I have to use 1/4 tsp. still work using it to get life back into balance….
You might be dehydrated. I've gotten palpitations when I haven't been drinking adequate amounts of water.
Side effect reported
I been taking 1/8 teaspoon of borax in 1 liter of water, but I have side effects tingle sensation in my left arm, pain in the left side of my neck, anxiety and a lot of gasse, every time I time I touch my neck. Thanks God, I don't have the anxiety anymore. Someone who experienced the same side effects, or anyone who can tell me what can I do to get rid of the symptoms. Thank you very much for your help.
Try using just a pinch for a while, your symptoms should go away, you will still be getting the benefit, and you may be able to increase later. It could be killing pathogens, as it is antifungal, giving you die-off symptoms, and repairing bone/joint problems. But overall listen to your body. Best to you
I made a mistake on a previous message, the anxiety and high blood pressure was caused by the Apple Cider Vinegar. Thank you for all your help.
Side effect reported
I am 47 yrs old women. Experiencing bone and joint aches. Last week after I ate shiitake mushrooms I started to experience left big toe joint pain. I thought it might be gout. I search and started taking cal-mag, C, cheries.. Along with 1/8 tsp borax in 1lt water daily.
My 10 yr old son told me that I am over the top angry, and snappy (I was PMS ing). I never skip a period up till this time and I am 3 days late this time. Today PMS symptoms are gone. Using cal-mag helps me to have my period easy. So it's not that. I am thinking it might be the borax caused to skipping?? Anybody who has/had the same experience and/or might have an opinion on this? I am pretty curious that it might be a huge coincidence that is starting borax solution and losing a period at the same time, maybe its just I am getting premenopausal..
Perhaps your late period was caused by perimenopause. You are at an age where irregularity can be a sign that you’re moving towards menopause. It happened to me. I miss months now and it began with irregulaity. I’m 4 yrs older than you.
Side effect reported
Candida – Use of Turpentine and Borax resulting in becoming very tired throughout the day and in muscles of the body.
Just finished my 4th day of turpentine in the morning yesterday and on my third day of using the Borax. Now I was just on the Turpentine last week, but since starting the Borax I have been exhausted… Any reason why this might be, please?!
Best,
L
Side effect reported
I have been taking borax (20 mule) for close to a month 1/8tsp per day. I started having bone pain, no other side effects just feeling bone pain. Is this normal. I do take vitamin D, K, Magnesium, silica and B complex. Is bone pain normal?
That does not appear to be a frequent side effect. It is likely the borax is removing something that is causing inflammation in your bones. Fluoride would be a possible culprit. Reducing the dosage temporarily would probably relieve the symptom. An anti-inflammatory such as turmeric could make you more comfortable. You could also take raw garlic and cayenne to improve your circulation. Look into "phase 1 and 2 detox", too. What condition are you trying to improve?
Thank you for your response. Mostly I am trying to improve my teeth and gums. I have been taking Vitamin D + K2 (mk4 &7) +Mg + Vit A (liver once a week) for a while and noticed improvement in my teeth. Then later on I have learned that calcium is being regulated in the body not just by Vitamin D by also by parathyroid which needs boron. Anyway so I started supplementing with borax. Any thoughts?
I dissolved 1 teaspoon of Borax in a liter of distilled water. From that solution, I take 1 teaspoon and add it to 6 ounces of distilled water and drink it once a day. I noticed that I get pimples on my scalp. Is this an allergy reaction to Borax?
It happens to me, too. It is probably killing candida or some other pest in your scalp. I just wash my hair daily and make sure to drink kefir for the probiotics, protein, sulfur, etc. If you drink milk, switch to kefir or yogurt. Milk and ice cream tend to encourage eczema in some people. If you wear hats or ponytails it may be part of the cause trapping heat and moisture in your hair and allowing a fungal infection to persist. Look into tDemodexmodex mite cure, maybe, too. Good luck!
Side effect reported
I have been using Borax 5 days on 2 days off using a dosage between 1/4th and 1/8th of a teaspoon. The reason that I have been using it is that I suspect Candida and yeast related issues.
I have noticed many days (not all) that I have had serious diarrhea due to the effect of the borax. Could this be due to candida die off or could this be a side effect due to the alkalinity of Borax? Can anyone elaborate on this?
Side effect reported
Hi guys,
I just started taking borax yesterday (1/8 tsp in 1 liter water) and experienced some nausea and rapid heart beat almost right away. I took it again today and my pulse slowed down, but I've been throwing up all day. I'm trying to heal RA, hypothyroidism, heal my gut, become alkaline, kill off Candida, and heal this over exfoliated burning skin damage. Yeah a lot to deal with.
I want to continue it for healing purposes but I just cannot consume it that way…the taste is not pleasant and tastes like a chemical to me. Honestly just the thought of it makes me nauseated again. So I'm looking to buy boron supplements but was wondering if anyone could recommend somewhere or a brand. Also how much would I take? Thanks
I take borax in through my feet. I started last august with a ~tiny~pinch in 1-2 gal water, an hour soak one day a week for first month. Drastic changes and I needed to use chanca piedra to break up kidney stones it brought about the first time I did it.Ginger gets nausea under control. 2nd month I did it twice a week and now three days a week. Amazing changes. Every time I do it the next day I have more pain and then I get stronger and slowly increased my pinch to about 1/4 tsp. Wishing you well. Love, Charity
Thanks Charity, I will try this method and tell you how it goes. Thanks so much for the support and help you've given me. Love, Lonnie