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
Greetings. I have been watching several of your youtube videos regarding the health benefits of boron supplementation. I am a 62 year old male recently diagnosed with low testosterone. My doctor prescribed testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at a relatively low dose. As pointed out, Boron can apparently be useful in increasing testosterone and balancing hormones, so I decided to give it a try. Borax of course is a very cheap option for obtaining Boron. I purchased a box of mule 20 team borax at a local grocery store. The only ingredient listed is Sodium Tetraborate. Knowing that Borax contains approximately 11 milligrams of Boron per 100 milligrams, I carefully weighed out 60 milligrams of Borax (providing about 6-7 mg of boron) on a sensitive scale. This I put in a small bottle and added very hot water. To that, I emptied a 150mg capsule of magnesium citrate and shook it very well. Then I poured that into a 15 ounce bottle and filled it with cold filtered water, shook it again, and drank it. That night, I woke at 4 in the morning soaked in sweat. Could this be some form of detoxification? Perhaps I should lower the dose? The next day I did the same thing, although this time I drank the bottle over the course of the day. While I did not wake up in a sweat, I did wake up feeling quite nauseated, which passed later in the day. Again, is this part of a detoxification that could/should pass in time? Any advice, especially from those who’ve experienced similar symptoms would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much.
For your first dose it sounds like you overdosed. You need to start with low doses to see how your body reacts. You then build up to a full dose. Detox is no fun and you control it by slowly detoxing.
Good Luck.
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.
There are places that will test your water for free. Farm Implement, or just call the water dept.
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
This should greatly help you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm-Ia6vI4PA.
Ignore the title, it is somewhat misleading.
Side effect reported
Can too much borax cause edema in the legs? I haven’t changed anything differently with my routine, except adding in borax in the last week. I’ve been having major fluid build of from my knee and creeping up my thigh.
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….
Have it tested. The health department will do it for you.
You might be dehydrated. I've gotten palpitations when I haven't been drinking adequate amounts of water.
Me too at first—I was taking 1g of Borax daily, and experienced mild palpitations, although this has been a common symptom for me since my health problems began. I actually had a minor heart attack. The palpitations gradually lessened and I have not felt them in weeks. Still at 1g daily with lots of magnesium and buffered C.
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?
Side effect reported
Same here, my leg bones ached. I stopped Borax and it took a few days to get better, but I think I took too much borax and with too little water. Still plan to experiment as I want fluoride out of my body. Can you update your situation? Thanks!
Are you taking enough quality magnesium? You need to apply it topically and lots of it.
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
Hi Charity, How’s it going now days?
Borax is amazing stuff and foot soaks work well. It affects minerals and hormones so I balance those too. Currently I am trying some serrazimes low dose and some ox bile on top of the mountain of other things . Getting my digestion back on track after watching some Eric Berg videos,. Words have power and I use statements to declare over my health ,. Make sure you use chanca piedra with the borax . Hope you are well and finding new keys to youthfulness. Blessings, 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
Side effect reported
Hi. I’m using Borax (1/8 tsp/liter/day for 5 days) to treat Lichen sclerosus. I’m on my second week of 5 days on/2days off. Since I’ve started I have started having hot flashes mostly at night (never had them before). I had read that this treatment helped people with hot flashes. I’m 53 yo and I just missed my first period in April so I guess it possible that this is just part of the early stages of menopause but seems odd it started when I started the borax treatments. Do you think it’s related?
I have been taking the 1/8th teaspoon borax in a litre of distilled water for quite some time following Ted's advice for a condition I have. Shortly after acquiring this condition, I also developed Lichen Sclerosus as well as granuloma annulare. I signed up for the Patient UK Forum on LS and find it most helpful; it is recommended there to use a sitz bath with borax along with other recommendations.
Side effect reported
My daughter was taking borax for her acne condition but she started to get dark-circles under her eyes. She was taking a very small dosage of 1/32 tsp in 1 liter of water. After stopping the borax due to the dark-circles, her acne flared up. She was thinking of trying it again but she's concerned about the dark-circles. Does anybody know what they indicate? Thanks.
Ar100, dark circles under eye are essentially a result of toxins. Consider a liver cleanse or some daily liver herbs such as milk thistle, dandelion, or granulated (very important) non GMO lecithin, to help some detox. After a couple of weeks of liver heal she may try the borax again. Can also apply some unrefined or organic coconut oil topically (and internally, for that matter). If me personally, I would probably also apply rosehip oil and castor oil with the coconut. One because I always add castor oil to salves and balms, and two because having just started using the rosehip, found it is great for the skin.
Best to you
Thank you Teena, I will let her know. Her acne condition is due to hormonal effects. The borax was helping but she got so discouraged with the dark circles. She has tried acne antibiotics and other hormonal medicine but nothing seems to get rid of her acne…
Ar100, the acne unfortunately are also signs of congested liver, more reason to do a cleanse, I still suffer breakouts occasionally and my diet has been relatively clean for several months. Of course it will take more than a few good months to clear the body of years of bad habits. With a recent breakout, however, to stop myself picking, this time I reached for some homemade liquid soap, just so that I feel the wetness and am 'reminded' not to pick. Terrible habit. Anyway the next morning, the pimple had receded and not grown, whereas another one I hadn't treated had formed a large white head. My homemade soap consists of bentonite clay, baking soda, borax, water and essential oils. I'm thinking the benefit was likely the clay, and I'll definitely use it in future.
Side effect reported
I began again taking, in the morning, 1/8 tsp borax in 1 liter of water daily (sipped throughout day) for 5 days then 2 days off. In the first week alone it makes me very sleep around 1-3 pm that I have to take a 2 hour nap. After that I'm fine again. This is the 3rd time over 1 year I started this dose and each time it makes me sleepy so I stop taking it. Why is it making me sleepy? I'm healthy and should have few toxins in me. Thank you.
Although we believe ourselves to be relatively healthy in our diet and lifestyle, the bare truth is that we all carry a heavy toxic load of accumulated heavy metals – from vaccines, foods and environment, toxic iron – from 'fortified' foods = iron shavings, exposure to EMF, multiple vitamin & mineral deficiencies, unhealthy microbiomes, pathogenic microbes, parasites, and have impaired detox pathways. The reactions you are experiencing are detox issues and also point to adrenal fatigue and an overall deficiency of minerals. Maybe look toward adding a minimum of 500 mg magnesium (500 mg/100# body weight), a 72 mineral trace suppl, B vitamins, 4.5 grams/4500 mg potassium, increase your intake of salt, Iodine (Lugols or Edgar Cayce's sol.), food-sourced C (NOT as ascorbic acid), Vita D3, omega fatty acids (cod liver oil has all 5 of them), ACV or other bicarbonate (baking soda is not the best source nor necessarily advised), a diet of many-colored fresh and steamed fruits & vegies, clean proteins, non-processed oils (think raw, unfiltered coconut oil), pre- and pro-biotics, biofilm busting herbals (Lumbrokinase; even Mucinex is a known buster), drink some cleansing herbal teas, take activated charcoal or tumeric w, black pepper, 1-3 caps with water at bedtime – as a binder for the toxins, (not with suppls as this will bind them too), drink plenty of filtered water. And stay with your Borax regimen. Your body needs to heal and this can be slow and problematic for 2-3 wks or longer. Sleep is our default healing state and your body, in its innate wisdom, is telling you that down time is needed. You may need to also change the timing of your Borax/Boron intake to change the timing of your exhaustion although the afternoon exhaustion really points to adrenals. The adrenal 'cocktail' I take is the juice of two oranges, 1/2 tsp Redmond or Celtic salt, 1/2 tsp cream of tartar (yes, from the spices aisle for potassium), and 1000 mg berry-sourced Vita C; you can sub coconut or Fiji water. We need to detox when we start any healing regimen and be prepared for the inconvenience and actual pain that we may go through. Deep tissue massage is very helpful. Natural medicine has long understood the role of the skin – largest body organ – in detox and the standard medical community is now realizing the role of the integument (the tissues that connects all of our cells) in health, the treatment of cancers, etc. Alternative therapies like deep or visceral tissue massage, micro-current, acupuncture, and a host of others, are aimed at moving the lymph system that mops up the toxins once mobilized from the organs, bone, gut, and integument; in turn, the toxins are secreted by the liver and kidney IF properly bound for excretion. Lyme researchers proved that the integument under our skin is vastly populated by pathogenic biofilms, a feature of treatment-resistant Lyme complex. This is opined as the cause of skin eruptions in any healing protocol. I believe that our bodies communicate clearly and we just need to listen and give ourselves what is needed for deep healing and true health. Best to you on your journey.
I've been using two pinches of borax as a supplement everyday for nearly a year. Now I'm worried it has built up in my system and is causing skin rashes, irritated throat, slight fever etc.
I regularly drink alcohol which could have inhibited my kidney function, preventing my kidneys from flushing boron out of my system.
The amount I used daily would have been roughly 20 or 25 mg per day.
Should I have been taking two days off?
Yes, I think you should have been taking 2 days off. And if your kidney function is compromised, perhaps using much less.
That said, if kidney function is not great, the symptoms you are experiencing could be from any number of things.
Do check out kidney remedies here at EC and see what might resonate with your situation.
~Mama to Many~
Borax is a mineral that we need to consume on a regular schedule. There are also other minerals it is in balance with. If they get out of balance or you get low on water in your system, the body will produce histamine as a warning shot with symptoms (rash, sore throat, ect) so you can think about what is out of balance causing symptoms. Alcohol dehydrates and depletes of minerals, like magnesium for instance. I don't drink but encourage you if you do to read more on how to re balance your systems. Blessings. Charity
Side effect reported
I started the borax protocol over a week ago, using â…› teaspoon to one liter of bottled water. I am 59 years of age, and have been suffering from fibromyalgia since 1997. I am trying to ease my fibro pain. On my third day I started seeing red bumps on my arms and legs and now my face. I did one more day of borax and my reaction worsened. I have stopped using borax. I have not used borax in 4 days. I was wondering if I am allergic or is this a reaction to detoxing. I have never detoxed before. I would like to use the borax again, but I am afraid of worsening my condition. I no longer have red bumps, but now wounds. My arms and legs constantly itch like crazy. Any suggestions? Help!
Thank you, Cindy
I had the same problem in May 2017.
After investigating, it was a healing reaction from the borax. My rash which was located on the left leg calf area seemed to be coming from within my body whereas a poison ivy rash would sit on top of the skin. I stopped borax until my skin felt calm and then resumed it. I've had no problems since.
Thank you Ian. I also feel my rash looks a bit like poison ivy, but I have never been allergic, so far in my life. I am waiting for the rash to heal, before starting back on the borax. I do believe that I am detoxing. I didn't realize my body was so trashed. I am now intent on cleaning up my body. I want to feel and look like thirty again. It's worth a try!! 😀
Side effect reported
I started taking boron at 1/8 teaspoon in liter of water. After about 1 week I developed a small red rash over many parts of body. I stopped and rash slightly lessened. Any suggestions?
Sounds like herxhiemer reaction, a detox reaction. Probably you are not poisoning yourself, so don't worry. Bromide is said to cause rashes when it is detoxed. Or parasites are trying to escape the borax. Taking soothing baths or reducing the amount of borax would be the thing to do if the rash is bothersome. Or take activated charcoal or chlorella; digestive complaints (such as an overloaded elimination system from the borax clearing things out) have been known to cause skin rashes. Rashes are a fairly common detox reaction in general from what I have read. Good luck!
Side effect reported
I tried the borax a small amount in a gallon of water…My question is does it lower blood pressure? I already have low blood pressure but noticed when I was working in my yard every time I would stand, after bending I felt light headed?
Side effect reported
I started supplementing 3 mg of boron multiple times a day with food together with iodine. Initially I was seeing many Improvements but after almost a week I started feeling worse and worse. I initially dropped the iodine because I thought the lugols was the reason for the symptoms. I developed a smashing headache on the right side of my brain. Increased anxiety, fatigue and general malaise. Pain in my neck and shoulders etc. This is when I realized the boron could be the culprint. I have a history of candida symptoms and I expected a die off. After stopping the boron the symptoms went away within 24 hours. Just saying go low and slow.
I will introduce the boron again soon and will keep the dosage low for a while. Molybdenum can help to get rid of acetydehyde from the candida die off.
I've been reading a lot on this topic this year and boron also lowers copper. People can be toxic copper and low copper at the same time. Toxic copper is improper storage and unusable but causes symptoms of overload while the body is starved of copper for utilizing in collagen and elastin and brain health, and zinc balancing. Boron lowers msm and c. Vitamin C lowers copper also.
In actuality, whole food Vitamin C or the fruits it is made from are the sole source for the protein-bound, bioavailable form of Copper – Ceroplasmin. NOT from ascorbic acid-sourced Vita C (from GMO corn, usually). Food sourced Vita C contains a molecule of Ceroplasmin and this, along with adequate intake of Magnesium (about 500 mg per 100# body weight; transdermal is needed relative to bowel tolerance), Boron (up to 30-80 mg daily or lower dose with 3-9 prunes daily), trace minerals (liquid suppl and or nutritional yeast), food source B vitamins (esp B12; bee pollen is a good source for the Bs), Vita D (cod liver oil), Potassium (about 4.5 grams daily for an adult), Silica (diatomaceous earth or Fiji water), Iodine (Edgar Cayce's formula or Rugol's Solution, Taurine (500-1000 mg daily), will begin to provide the body with the minerals needed to begin the road to healing.
Additionally, one must eliminate all citrates, Calcium and Iron supplements, and eating a Paleo-type diet with adequate zinc and all of the other trace minerals we need, will balance our bodies and result in a much more healthy and dis-ease resistant state. When we begin to balance, our bodies detox and we start ridding our body of stores of toxic iron. Go low and slow. Borax is an integral part of this regimen and much of it is inexpensive and diy.
For Herx, take the juice of 1 lemon in a cup of water and Alka Seltzer Gold with 8 oz water; this works in 1-3 hours AND back down on your dosing until your body is stronger. Blessings.
Side effect reported
I have been taking Borax now for a little over a month. I am getting bit concerned because my bladder is really beginning to bother me, in that I feel like I have to constantly urinate (not a bladder infection I checked) and I am worried that it may be too hard on my kidneys. I have had IC in the past but it was a long time ago. Also, I have Scleroderma and my extremities are colder than usual. I'm wondering if I should just force through this because it might be a herx or whether the Borax may just be too much for my system. I would think by now this would have passed. Any advice would be appreciated.
Mix one rounded tsp of Borax in 1 quart of water – shake til dissolved. This is your Borax concentrate. I started out putting one tsp of the concentrate in my 22 oz. glass water bottle to drink throughout the day. After about a week (b/c I had no side effects), I increased it to 2 tsps. a day. My plan is to increase to no more than 3 tsp. per day. I was told this is the same as 3 mg of boron a day, which is the recommended dose.
Your bladder symptoms are similar to the symptoms of oxalate kidney stones. The alkalinity of borax may be loosening the crystals. Drinking raw apple cidar vinegar in water or drinking lemon juice is often helpful for kidney stones. You may find your solution in that direction.
Look into other nutrients, vitamins you may need. Iodine deficiency is common and one symptom of that is cold hands and feet.
Have you looked into DMSO for your scleroderma? In the book, "DMSO The Persecuted Drug" there is some good info on using it for that disease.
Actually, when mixing ionic Boron at 1 tsp Borax to 1 liter of water, the resulting water contains approx 3 mg of Boron per tsp. The greatest health benefits will be experienced when also balancing all the other needed primary and trace minerals, Magnesium is key among them. It's fantastic that you are tolerating high doses of ionic Boron as doses for adults are recommended at 30-80 mg daily.
MSM might be good against borax die-off reactions
Taking a serious risk, I took 1/4 teaspoon of borax with a glass of water. The next day, I got strong Herx reactions primarily including stomach and gut pain, nausea, and slight pains or pressures in various regions of my head.
I noticed that a teaspoon of MSM powder (which I've been using for a week now) with a glass of water and orange juice alleviated the reactions.
Side effect reported
I've been taking the Borax now for 4 weeks…1/8 tsp in 1 liter of water like Ted described… I built it up slowly from 1 day to 4, and at the end of last week I felt very depressed and nauseous…Took it again yesterday and the same nausea came back. I'm wondering if this is a herx or if I am allergic to the Borax or if I may have to reduce the dose…
I have scleroderma and also have Spincter of Oddi issues after having my gallbladder removed 6 years ago…Not sure what to do… I was on antibiotics for many years (I know bad) but I was hoping this would work out and help me feel better.. I am a low weight 95lbs and maybe need to reduce this to 1/16th of a teaspoon? I would be very grateful for any help…
Yes Sschulz, reduce dosage. I only take a tiny pinch.
Regarding the possible side-effects of taking Borax: I guess it can affect some folks differently but in my case it dries me out and I am not talking about "rehab" here!
I must talk to the ants and cockroaches about this, as castor sugar and borax dries them out also!! "Go figure", as you would say in the States!
My sinuses, ears and my (few remaining) lymph nodes get stuffed up and are sometimes quite painful. I promptly bring out the steam inhaler bowl, the kettle, the towel and the one drop of tea tree oil and have two, back-to-back sessions of this. Then, I do the ice pack at the back of the head trick for ten minutes or so and go to bed with a hot water bottle under my neck. This latter is a favourite of mine. Soo good.
Of course I stop the borax for a couple of days, reduce the dosage and hope that I won't suffer again (until the next time).
The definition of madness is to keep doing the same thing over and over again whilst expecting a different result!!
But I feel "in my bones" that the dreaded Arthritis is no worse than it was and some remote parts of my complicated anatomy may actually be feeling less sore as a consequence.
Long live the Borax Protocol. Just stay tuned to your body and listen to the subtle messages it is trying to convey to you !
P.S. I follow the E.C. guidelines on this one and do not overdose.
Cheers and Happy Christmas,
Michael
Being a sort of curious person, this drying out, is it possible that borax being one of our minerals is off balancing another mineral. I know salt thins mucus secretions and too much potassium depletes salt and the list of these causes and effect is long but I think I read one on walter lasts website…. keep me updated as to the source of this mystery. I do pinch of borax in 2 gal hourlong footsoaks three days a week this month along with about thirty supplemental things to keep upright and moving forward. Blessings, Charity
Charity, just read your post from 2017. I was curious why you soak your feet? Thanks
I try things in my feet first. I used Dhea as a foot cream and now I take it internal as a capsule.5 mg every other day. I had horrible foot pain for years from the ankle down and used activated charcoal with a couple drops of castor oil on large bandaids and in one night the pain stopped and never returned. I was trying the borax because I got a sliver in my foot while cutting blackberry vines back. It was a crazy experience . Eye opening and painful as my gut started to hurt, and my forehead swelled up, for three days from just a pinch of borax. My stomach has been a life issue of drama, and many panic attacks, so I have a fear of trying things I was allergic to everything for many years but not anymore. Watercure by Dr. Batmanghelidj gave me lots of insights.
So on monday I foot soak and tuesday I wake up with sticky blobs in my mouth, like it's killing my candida, then I use activated charcoal during the morning in my mouth to clean it up. I never had that until the foot soaking. On wednesday I footsoak and on thursday I wake up with sticky blobs in my mouth. Kill those candida, hope to find myself well this year.
I was born sick and battled stuff my entire life in my gut, skin, and many other issues, so I try stuff from my feet first to keep stomach from going nuts. My stomach can set off some horrific panic attacks. Don't underestimate the power of the skin. I know a lot of people on here talk about being sick after a massage and I think it might be the oils they use during the massage might be too much. A bandage with activated charcoal on a couple drops of castor oil on my feet for one night healed my feet of years of pain I had …. Gone.
If my hip hurts I put the bandage on the hip overnight and my hip is pain free.
You may have leaky gut (protein spilling into the blood rather than being absorbed) and need to address your GI terrain issues while trying a lower dose and looking into your entire diet and lifestyle choices; pre- and pro-biotics are key. Healing can be a long and sometimes painful journey, but well worth the invested time and self-care.
Side effect reported
Hi, I am taking the female 1/8 tsp dose of borax after a main meal, however I have been experiencing stomach pains which are pretty uncomfortable. Should I discontinue or lower my dosage? Thanks!
Definitely cut down dosage. Even a few grains a day can benefit.
Thank you! Should I also be taking activated charcoal? or whatever that is…I've read some posts below about that being beneficial with borax treatment.
If you are still having stomach pain charcoal would probably help.
If you are taking borax to detox, charcoal may be good to use too, except charcoal is kind of a pain to use because you have to take it away from other supplements and meds.
Side effect reported
I've started taking 1/8 tsp in 1 liter of water and sinuses are more clear. I did get a racing heart but stopped it right away with essential oil application. I feel a bit of bone loss is happening in my neck. I know this feeling from when I overly nursed my 1st son to comfort him when he was suffering with undiagnosed thrush which turned systemically into full body eczema. I subsequently got a "hump" in my lower neck/upper back area. Oddly years ago I dealt the same bone loss from taking diatomaceous earth for about a week. I love the borax but can only continue if the ache of loss in this area goes away.
It's possible the pain in the neck and hump on your lower neck / upper back are due to a hormonal imbalance. Specifically too much cortisone (a stress hormone, which makes sense, as daily life is stressful, and pregnancy understandably adds to this).
Should you be noticing this hump coming back, if you can at all possibly afford to, see a doc (and I'm not a fan of having to see doctors, but sometimes…) and have your cortisone levels checked. Though we need some cortisone to live, it being too high (called Cushing's Syndrome) causes a mess of problems (including bone loss) that can get worse if not put in check.
That hump is a classic sign of Candida overgrowth! Borax will work for this, but you may need to add some additional supports for deep healing and detox.
Side effect reported
Hi, I have taken less than 1/8 teaspoon of borax in to a 2dcl glass and drunk a bit. Less than half. Now I have third day terrible stomach pain, I have a rapid heartbeat and body crack. Any idea to get rid of the excess boron? probably I took to much of boron.
chanca piedra for any stone issues causing pain, milk thistle, or a liver detox supplement, Kefir 1 TBSP or some gut enzymes from a good yogurt. molybdenum, magnesium, selenium
At night use some activated charcoal 3 caps or tabs and 16 ounces of water and put some castor oil on your gut and a shirt you don't care about and go to bed.
some other things that might help is 1/4 to 1/2 tsp baking soda dissolved in water 12 oz, make sure it's mixed well before drinking it. 1 tsp. Apple cider vinegar with some honey in water …
read more on earth clinic boron borax section
That's what I do.
I usually take a couple capsules of activated charcoal when I think I am having side effects from something (especially digestive side effects), with plenty of water.
Also, 1 cup epsom salt in a warm bath for 20 minutes, especially to calm the heart racing down.
Hope you feel better soon!
Side effect reported
I've just started taking a very small dose in a litre of water. It's my second day now and my heart is racing. Anyone else experience this and did it last long/slow down?
It's die off from parasites or candida I'm sure. Take activated charcoal and keep using the following day. That's what I would do.
You can always start with a lower dose and increase as tolerance allows! You can also start off limiting how many days a week you take it. Maybe once a week, then twice a week with many day in between then three days a week building up to something like every other day etc…. If you just woke up one day and decided to go run 10 miles or drink 4 gallons of water while exercise and water are both considered good moderation and building up is key. Just because something is good for you does not mean your body will like it right away or even handle it well! As I understand it an apple should have 20mg of Boron in it but today only has 1mg of boron in it. I have seen the apple bit listed as micro-grams and milligrams so do not know which one is accurate. So almost everyone is deficient in it. Since your body has been working with out it adding it in suddenly out of the blue could surely throw a monkey wrench into the works. When it comes to nutrition and supplements even prescription medicine it is not an all or nothing situation often you start low and have to work the dose up! So do not worry so much about the dose not being high enough or freq. enough. Even if your dose is not optimal it is better than not taking any at all. Compliance is always best if you have no negative side effects! Think long term!
I never knew Borax killed parasites. Does anyone have more information about this?
Borax is a 'surfactant', meaning that it works on the surface–think of a water drop on a freshly waxed car beading up. The wax prevents the water from spreading out and so the water's surface tension keeps it stuck together in a large drop. Soap reduces the surface tension and the water sheets over the car. In my opinion, if a parasite has a surface that repels attempts to penetrate it, then the borax acts to reduce that and, voila, the bug's defense is breached. Just my theory.
I am still doing foot soaks 3 x a week but my pinch has increased of borax soap and every time, my body starts screaming out in pain where I have issues in my health, lousy sleep and then I get stronger after that subsides and feel healthier and more youthful. I guess NO Pain….NO gain….also read that msm lowers boron levels so if you overdid it you might use some msm with vits c and molybdenum because msm lowers them too. wonder what else I don't know that is causing me pains.
Side effect reported
Hi, I´m in the second day of 1/8 teaspoon in liter of water. An hour after I felt clear of mind but a great kidney pain! Also I experienced pain in a knee where I have a kind of bone balls that appeared suddenly. I have the feeling that those balls are badly distributed calcium. Can anyone tell me about kidney pain? What can I do to help them? Anyway I feel fine!
Side effect reported
Same thing here. I took (very low dose) of Borax for a few days and got kidney pain. So I've stopped with Borax, but the kidney pain doesn't go away 🙁
Any idea on that?
Side effect reported
I have been using the 1/8 teaspoon of borax in purified water for 5 days. I began experiencing flu like symptoms along with congestion and strong sadness. Please let me know if this is die off. From what I have read lesson the amount? Thank you.
Like any detox it's most likely die off, when all those toxins start getting stirred up they resist leaving the happy little home they've made. The symptoms shouldn't last more than the flu would.
Side effect reported
Congestion and Depression from Boron Detox from Candida and Fluoride detoxing; no side effects now.
I discovered boron/borax just over a year ago, January, 2016. I got sick the first week, it was my typical congestion sickness, and it cleared up in a week; I assumed it was a candida die off. I took 3-5 x 3 mg boron pills. Boron gave me increased mental clarity right away, the same day. But my suicidal thoughts increased, and they went away the day I took iodine. I started the 50 mg iodine/day high iodine/selenium protocol the following month, on Feb 7th 2016. Iodine did not give me any candida symptoms, which I attributed to starting boron a month earlier. I could also tell boron was helping my joints. After a few months, I wondered if boron was giving me a bit of depression. I stopped taking it, and the depression lifted.
By the fall of 2016, I increased my iodine to 150mg/day. Being convinced that boron was helpful, I tried it again, thinking the increased iodine would help prevent any depression. This week, I have taken 1 whole teaspoon of borax per day in my morning coffee, having increased it from about 1/4 teaspoon a few weeks ago. I do not notice any depression. No rashes. No kidney pain. No hair falling out. No side effects this time. I suspect that it is the candida die off, and/or the fluoride detox, which may take longer, that cause people's bad symptoms from taking boron.
I advocate iodine and boron; both have helped my health. I lift weights, I stretch, I eat green smoothies, protein, eggs, and lots of fruit. I'm healthy for the most part, but I'm seeking optimal health outside of the medical system, and I aim to keep myself super healthy so as to be able to avoid any harm the medical establishment offers. I also take Vitamins B complex, C, D, E, B12, magnesium, zinc, copper, and selenium, and other assorted herbs from time to time.
To Jason.
Very interesting post. I have a serious systemic candida infection from antibiotics 12 years ago. I have started less then the 1/8 borax in liter of water and do fell like candida symptoms increased.
I am pretty sore when I wake each morning. Not sure if its the kidneys. My kidney lab (BUN) is one number under high.
I like Iodine but noticed increase hair loss everytime I use even at 12mg daily.
Any suggestion from anyone is greatly appreciated!
Becky
Do you take the complement vitamins, minerals, baking soda, and salt loading? I had hair loss, too, initially. I have a head full, now. I have been using iodine for 6 months. I use Borax, but not always orally. I add it to my bath water, too.
When u say u add 1t in ur coffee, do U mean straight borax or 1 t of borax solution diluted in water? Thx
HI U GOOD FOLKS DOIN,,,,,,, most have followed my drama after my fall 3 years ago which crushed my T 12. Know I's wearing you out with that true yarn, but now I think there is a tie with borax and my leg edema. All along I have thought it was totally due to my fall. I confess that I am not a disciplinarian and am a hit and miss kind of a guy. My edema has swung 180 and back several times over a period of time. A while back several good EC folks questioned the side effects of borax..i e. that it caused their edema. That is one of my hits and misses. Now I am totally off borax and will see what happens to my legs. There has not been a drastic change, but I think I can see my swelling going down. A pharmacist friend cured her sciatica problem by eating candied Ginger for three days. I am now eating candied Ginger.
My goal is to be smart by age 85 and if you birds think I's a smart ass now …….. just u wait for 5 more years. I will be voted out of EC by acclamation.
ATS =======ORH=========
HI U GOOD FOLKS DOIN,,,,,,,,,,,
After a few weeks of no borax, I have now concluded that my edema has no correlation with that. I just wish it was because I now think my problem is far worse than I originally thought. It is probably my liver. Of course, at age 80, you have lots of problems. Some of you have followed me over the years as I have grown. My edema tells me that I have a bad problem. We will again start our EDTA Chelation tomorrow. Cleaning out your blood vessels can not hurt. The next day I go down to Ringo, Ga to a new doctor that does ozone. I want him to address my right knee and we will then discuss my lower back.
Have had a pissin contest over the years about getting a homeopathic solution for poison ivy . I am going to develop a solution that will make you immune to poison ivy. I plan to produce a weak solution of poison ivy so any one can be immune to poison ivy. Yep, I will be the guinea pig. We shall see. If I do this, then I want all on EC to take on a challenge that they choose and make it work. Can you imagine what thousands of folks can do it they just set their mind to it? I can…… can you?
I'm a dreamer……. are you? ======ORH=====
Dear ORH,
With all due respect, we have butt heads but I cannot resist sharing what I learned. Over forty years ago I learned too many carbohydrates caused me fluid retention. Still holds true today.
Now, with unavoidable GMO's infiltrating our entire food supply we need to eat differently than we have grown accustom to. I have learned what used to have "no carb content" can no longer be claimed. Who has the money for testing to prove one way or the other? My body retaining fluid, arthritis fare-ups or indigestion is my barometer.
Considering your age, edema, arthritis and diabetes, I would caution you trying to find something to make us immune to poison ivy. Long term studies would be required to test validity.
I care.
Love, KT
KT, love you like a sister, but I have to have a process problem to solve least I end up in the top of a tall, tall pine tree. Went to EDTA chelation today and with all my problems I have not had a treatment in 3 years. You are supposed to have a treatment every month to maintain what you have already accomplished. We then went by our little farm to see what damage the flood had wrought. Well it took out a new raised bed, the fence on the South end and the water is still too high to tell the damage on the north end. Our green house plants are ready to be set in the ground, but the garden is standing in water. They will soon be root bound in their small cells.
I am in my glory as I have one heck of a problem and will have to think and work my way through it. I could cuss and throw my hat but that won't help a thing. My industry career was straightening out mills that were in the ditch. Once I got them running smoothly, life was boring and I then looked for another challenge. Right not with my health problems and our farm, life is about as interesting as I can stand. Oh yeah, slept with my legs elevated last night and my edema was slightly improved.
Thank you for your concern. ===ORH===
PS, here is a graph the Sewee Creek level at our farm. The Corp of Engineers tower is located on our property.
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?gage=seet1&wfo=mrx
Dear ORH,
Vitamins B-6 and C are reported to reduced fluid retention. You might want to look for the B-Complex 100 as you get all the B's because I read where taking only one can cause deficiencies in the others. They are water soluble so you can't OD on them.
Love,
KT
There is an antidote to poison ivy. Jewelweed is the antidote and there is a company that sells a spray, salve, and a soap, I think.
Side effect reported
I started taking 1/8 tsp of Borax in water throughout the day with a couple days off per week. After about 2-3 weeks I noticed old injuries hurting again. My old surgical site of my right ankle which had been reconstructed with pins, plates, etc.. had healed and all but forgotten over the last 25 years but this last week I have trouble walking on it.. same with some back pain. I am hoping this is a healing process but certainly don't want to continue if I am causing issues that will worsen. If anyone has insight into this, please advise. Would love to hear from Ted.
Try reading the Boron Conspiracy article ( http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm ). It references the magnesium/calcium relationship as it relates to boron. I wonder if your boron regiment is causing calcium redistribution.
I've been using borax for about 3 weeks, at first I experienced some headaches and depression, but now an old broken toe (broke it 15 years ago) suddenly started to hurt, not the like the occasional ache associated with the weather. Now it hurts like I just broke it! I really think it re-broke all by itself, there's been no event to explain it. Calcium redistribution? Anyone else experience anything similar?
Yes, kinda. As I have been dealing with Bone disease for several yrs, my experience with Borax has been rather effective in killing a chronic mycoplasma infection but not much improvement for Bones as far as I could tell. So a few months ago I assumed I was not getting enough boron from the Borax and started supplementing 4mg with very good results.
Recently in my up & down cycles of bone disease, I too get an acute or temporary episode of bone pain which is later sensed as marked improvement in the condition. This happened last night as well as July 3rd and both times I was noticeably better the fallowing day, which leaves me to conclude there is a point of pain into as well as out of disease, like a gateway; kinda like the emotional hurts-so-good phenomina.
Take Turmeric to reduce inflammation. Other minerals needed for bones are Calcium/Magnesium, Manganese, and Strontium. Vit D & K are need also.
Side effect reported
I'm seeking a cure or cause for my kidney pain related to heavy Borax use.
About 3 months ago, a friend mentioned the benefits of using Borax for health reasons. About 10 years ago, I began using iodine, had been reading both forum posts and research articles, and occasionally I'd see mention of borax, but I never followed up with it.
But considering I am working full-time outside and had done a physical showing alkaline urine (too much calcium loss), I decided to check it out. I began with 1/4 tsp., I felt lightheaded and woozy my first few days (I expected it due to cleaning out candida), and began using it daily with good results (mentally sharp, teeth pain gone, raised mood).
Well, what I did was up my dose about a month in. I carry 2 one gallon jugs of water to work, and I began using up to a teaspoon or more, sometimes in both jugs. (I put C powder, sea salt, and liquid iodine in my water too) Weeks went by with no reaction.
Then my kidneys began getting tender. I'd wake up from sleep, know my lower back hurt some (actually my kidneys), but I blew it off for weeks thinking I'd overdone myself at work picking up heavy items.
But the kidney pain continued, and I began wondering why. I don't regularly pick up heavy items. Why?
So, I googled kidney pain and borax, and saw some posts about it. Specifically, I found posts about using too much. So I stopped for a week. My kidney pain lessened, yet it still remained. I waited another week, me starting back at 1/4tsp. The slight discomfort remained, and I assumed/hoped I just needed to flush it out.
Then……I remembered about fluoride being excreted by borax, and I googled fluoride and kidneys, finding that fluoride can decimate kidneys (I may be exaggerating), but found out iodine actually chelates fluoride. I bought more iodine, using it heavily, like a dropperful in a gallon. (results: too much lowers blood pressure; felt lightheaded and dizzy during the day). So I'm doing sane amounts of iodine again. I didn't want fluoride taking out my kidneys! Additionally, I went to those filtered water machines in supermarkets filling up my water jugs for a week since I'm on city water, all fluoridated. My kidney pain did decrease some.
I'm actually still feeling some kidney discomfort, so I'm writing seeking feedback on healing myself and not worrying about doing something wrong or excessively again.
Note: I drink about 4-6 cups of coffee/day, and I know it can strain kidneys too.
I'm grateful I could share this here. Thank you 🙂
Yikes! I'm no doctor, but I would definitely suggest that you immediately stop taking ALL supplements and stop drinking so much coffee until you find out what's going on!! I'm not quite sure why you feel you need to use the iodine? Most of us get plenty of iodine just from table salt and deficiency is rare here in the U.S. unless you have some type of diagnosed thyroid issues going on. But seriously, give your body a break and let it do its own thing for a bit, and go get your kidneys checked out to be on the safe side. You can't buy replacements at Walmart!
Dear Ag, My guess is that your kidneys have been overworked from the vast amounts of… WATER you are drinking every day!!! Two gallons (7,5 liters) a day is way too much for your kidneys to handle. Half a gallon (i.e. 2 liters) of water daily should be enough to flush your system. Take care!
I respectfully disagree about most of us in the U.S. getting adequate iodine through our diets. I believe, from extensive reading I have done, that the opposite is true.
It could be that you have kidney stones and the borax may be causing the stones to move. I started taking Borax two days ago and then yesterday I began having kidney pain. I've passed kidney stones in the past (and I still have a few stones lodged in my kidneys) and the kidney pain I began experiencing from the Borax was the exact same kind of pain that I experienced in the early stages of passing a stone. When the early pain begins, I take lemon juice and olive oil. It will usually stop the pain. Yesterday I drank the juice of three lemons with about 1/2 part olive oil in a three hour period. The kidney pain is gone. I'm going to cut back on the amount of Borax I was taking. You may want to find out if you have kidney stones so you won't be suddenly and rudely surprised if and when you pass one. When that stone drops down into the ureter, it is hell on earth! It is one of the worse pains known to mankind.
Please go to the iodine forums on curezone.com and/or read Dr. Brownstien's book "Iodine, Why You Need it, Why You Can't Live Without It.". Read up on iodine supplementation and detox symptoms. The kidney pain is known as a detox symptom of iodine supplementation and is handled beautifully with the recommended protocol of taking iodine co-factors and supplements such as boron or borax, atp cofactors, magnesium, etc, and most importantly, the sea-salt flushes which remove the chelated halogens like fluoride, bromide and chlorine from your kidneys. If you only pull out the halogens from your tissues with substances like iodine and boron but you don't flush safely them from the kidneys you will overtax your organs and get some pretty unpleasant side-effects. You need the entire approved iodine protocol in order to speed healing safely. No need to experiment on yourselves, others have already researched and fine-tuned this wonderful protocol. Take care.
Good feedback. I'm passing through the hell on earth you say. Taking the second o third day with 1/8 teaspoon of B. But the kidney pain is frightening! Could u remember how many days it passed until the pain is gone? How many olive oil u took? and water? I dont know what to do but I dont want to stop B. thank you all 🙂
You can also take borax up through skin on your feet . Pinch of borax in 2 gal water, soak for an hour. Chanca piedra for kidney stone breaking. Take it easy on your detox, you will still get to your destination but with much less discomfort. I did one foot soak a week for a month and now I do two a week.
Guys and gals, I wrote this almost a full year ago. I've had intermittent kidney pains, with or without using Borax, as I miss regularly.
But…..I still had kidney pains. It frightened me. I use tap water due mainly to the daily amount I need on my job outdoors–for convenience.
I learned something recently, and really wanted to share it. In short, I'd be using less salt in my drinking water, even using iodized table salt when I'd bypass buying good sea salt. And as my salt decreased, my kidney pain increased.
Why?
I realized I'd had long spells where I felt good years back working outside all day, with very minimal physical discomforts. So, I decided to buy some RealSalt again, which I'd used for a couple of years. While shopping on Amazon, I saw a book called "The Salt Fix" by an MD who really advocated for using salt, as he did a ton of research.
How is this related to kidney pain? When we lose out on natural salt needs, we'll often turn to another white crystal–sugar. I have, numerous times. The author pointed out that sugar consumption is a quiet and rapid destroyer of our kidneys, which was news to me.
He advised upping our salt, and proportionately our desires/cravings for sugar would drop too. I've been using good salt for almost 2 weeks, and my kidney pain is almost completely gone! No more waking up, stiff on my backside, aching as I roll out of bed. I'm not eyeing every sweet morsel in my vicinity anymore either.
Who would've known? I didn't. But experience says this works! Taking enough salt has almost obliterated the back/kidney pain!
Thanks for hearing me out.
Try adding ACV – at 1-3 Tblsp daily to soften the calcifications in your kidneys. And look into overall mineral balance and dietary changes.
Also, adding good sea salt – like Redmonds brand to the diet for adrenal support.
Side effect reported
I have a question I would like to have answered by Ted or a knowledgeable person. I've been drinking 2 to 2/12 liters of water daily. I switched from table salt to Himalaya pink salt for the past several days and my research on mineralized salt led me to Borax. I added one level teaspoon of Borax to 1 liter of distilled water. Then I added 1 teaspoon of this concentrated liquid to another 1 liter of distilled water because I felt Ted's dose would be too high from all the research I did. I drank the Borax water in the evening towards bed time and took 400 mg of Magnesium just before bed.
As soon as I started drinking the Borax water I had mild itching on the surface of arms, face and legs that gradually went away. When I was getting into bed I removed my socks and realized my right foot and ankle was extremely swollen with edema. I had a pulmonary embolism a couple years ago which is a blood clot, had surgery to remove all blood clots and from the same leg that swelled and I'm on blood thinners and on oxygen full time. I ended up with a foot drop, the one that was swollen. It sometimes swells but not like it did on the borax. The next morning most of the swelling was gone. The reason I was interested in Borax is overall health and to see if it would help with the electric shock feelings I sometimes get in my foot. After having this extreme swelling I'm afraid to take it again.
Does anyone have any suggestions and do you think it is worth it for me to try to take Borax again?
In reply to Marie (Co) and others interested in trying borax.
If you read through the EC archives and the web on borax, you will learn that borax works extraordinarily well for some people, is very helpful for others, not at all helpful for some and is not tolerated by some. Pretty much the same as many other remedies and medications that people use all the time, there will be some people who get benefit and others who don't. Judging by anecdotes here on EC as well as the web, borax seems to help more people than it hinders, but this does not mean you should ignore a negative reaction just because others have found benefit with borax.
Itching and swelling are among other things, typical symptoms of an allergic reaction. I have a friend who tried borax for her RA, but even at just a small pinch of borax in a quart of water, she would get uncontrolled itching all over her body that she said was driving her crazy. In an effort to try and get the antiarthritic benefit that many people report from using borax or boron, she tried switching to a boron based supplement. This turned out to work quite well against her severe RA and she did not have the itching issue which borax gave her, however, after two to three weeks of daily use she realized that she was getting depressed and she had never had that problem before. She discontinued the boron and the depression went away within two days. She started on boron again once the depression went away, but shortly after restarting boron, the depression returned. She stopped taking boron and once again the depression went away. This clearly demonstrates that some people can not tolerate borax and or boron even though others not only tolerate, but get great benefit from these two.
Recognizing that your body is reacting negatively to any supplement or medication is very important and such a reaction should never be ignored, as allergic reactions can be life threatening. If you choose to experiment with borax or any supplement and you have a negative reaction to it, it is your responsibility and in your best interest to stop taking it and talk with your doctor to see what your options are.
It is good to be proactive about your health, but it is also good to be health smart and pay attention to what your body is telling you. On this forum, people report what works for them, but that is not a gurantee that it will work exactly the same for others and in reading through the various threads on EC, you will see that this is often the case with many of the listed remedies.
Art
Thank you so much for your quick response. I stopped taking the borax prior to reading your reply and felt better. Some swelling and stiffness is still present in my foot and ankle. It will continue to improve. I just want to mention I did a lot of research prior to taking the borax. I read The Borax conspiracy theory and a lot of information on Earth Clinic plus youtube. I would never start taking anything without first researching. Marie
Marie,
It could be that you are Magnesium deficient and need to take Magnesium continuously for few weeks before taking Borax. You will have to take the type of Mg with maximum absorption, like Mg Cl oil (massage on skin) or Magnesium Glycinate tablets.
Magnesium deficiency causes borax to produce all sorts of side effects. Same goes with Vitamin D. They all work together.
If you have already been taking Mg and Vitamin D from before, then this could be borax allergy.
Borax is a salt of boric acid. Salt is the key word here. Salt draws or retains water in the body, so, likely, borax is doing just that.
One issue concerning oedema, or excess fluid build up in tissues, if oncotic pressure. from Wikipedia….
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oncotic_pressure
"Oncotic pressure, or colloid osmotic pressure, is a form of osmotic pressure exerted by proteins, notably albumin, in a blood vessel's plasma (blood/liquid) that usually tends to pull water into the circulatory system. It is the opposing force to hydrostatic pressure. It has a major effect on the glomerular filter pressure.Throughout the body, dissolved compounds have an osmotic pressure. Because large plasma proteins cannot easily cross through the capillary walls, their effect on the osmotic pressure of the capillary interiors will, to some extent, balance out the tendency for fluid to leak out of the capillaries. In other words, the oncotic pressure tends to pull fluid into the capillaries. In conditions where plasma proteins are reduced, e.g. from being lost in the urine (proteinuria) or from malnutrition, there will be a reduction in oncotic pressure and an increase in filtration across the capillary, resulting in excess fluid buildup in the tissues (edema).
The large majority of oncotic pressure in capillaries is generated by the presence of high quantities of albumin, a protein that constitutes approximately 80% of the total oncotic pressure exerted by blood plasma on interstitial fluid. The total oncotic pressure of an average capillary is about 28 mmHg with albumin contributing approximately 22 mmHg of this oncotic pressure. Because blood proteins cannot escape through capillary endothelium, oncotic pressure of capillary beds tends to draw water into the vessels. It is necessary to understand the oncotic pressure as a balance; because the blood proteins reduce interior permeability, less plasma fluid can exit the vessel. [1]
——————————
My experience with borax is like yours, it leads to fluid retention and generalized oedema. Being extremely salt sensitive is one facet of the problem for me, but low protein intake is also involved. Becoming vegan, I'm not eating enough protein which leads to low oncotic pressure and the following exit of fluid from capillaries into tissue.
I notice the difference when larger amounts of protein are ingested. Large amounts of vegetalbes, greens fresh and cooked help with diuresis, especially consuming dandelion greens which are know for their diuretic effect.
However, even when my diet is perfectly maintained, using borax [ as a candida remedy, which actually works ] within the hour I can feel and see my legs swell, and end with generalized oedema.
So, you may not have a borax allergy, but too much salt intake, or oversensitive to salt, as in sodium borate, or you need to have adequate protein intake. Take caution not to overdo the protein consumption which is not healthy either.
I'm considering trying borax remedy again but must use a diuretic along with it to, hopefully, counteract the swelling.
Wishing you the best of health, with thanks to Earthclinic for its invaluable help,
Sincerely,
Rosemary
Side effect reported
I have been taking diatomaceous earth, using magnesium oil, and started the borax treatment. And my question is since I started the borax prototol suggested on here and all of sudden these pains randomly in my body flared up the pass few weeks which were pains and old injuries I had through a 20 + year period. Such as neck pain, sciatic nerves on both right and left side, both knee, old stress fraction, and more. They come and go it's so weird. So is it because they are getting a treatment they open back up to truly heal. A month ago I had no pain in most of these parts of my body but now I'm feeling achy and harder to move around even though I exercise everyday it's just a little tougher. So should it eventually heal and go away or what should I do? I just found a bump on my small toe. And it hurts.
Going thru something similar right now. 20 yr old injuries on a detox coming back. It's called retracing/healing crises and it's miserable. 6 weeks of hip and knee pain. Can't sleep.
I put 1 teaspoon of borax in a liter of filtered water and have taken 1 teaspoon of this solution per day for a week now and at first I had bloated stomach for 3 days and now everything seems fine and I am going to continue and hope for good things to happen!
Side effect reported
I just started taking Borax solution yesterday (20 Mule Team) – 1 tsp in 1 liter water and taking 2 tsp of that solution per day and I don't feel so good. I feel somewhat continually nauseous. I so want to experience the benefits I've read about!! I don't know whether to take any tomorrow, even at the low dose, although it's likely I will. Really not feeling so hot…
Side effect reported
I am so dissappointed as I was hoping this could be my cure and detox from fluoride poisioning which I received from antibiotics and anesthesia from three surgeries and 30 years of drinking fluoridated water. All of this poison has caused me to have atrial fibulation and high blood pressure. I was so excited to try this but now I have these issues.
I put 1/8 tsp of borax in a half gallon of water and only drank a bit more than half yesterday. I got some severe stomach upset and it started some of my Gerd issues up which in turn raised my blood pressure up to 192/108. I did have some food which I should not have had but now it is hard to tell what if or both could be causing it. I got a stinging sensation in my right big toe after I went to bed last night and it is still there upon awakening. I have a little bit of trouble breathing and kept waking up through the night. I am recovering from esophageal or silent reflux less than three weeks ago and it has been good up until niw.
I have been taking A gi repair supplement that has been working wonderfully, also sleeping on a bed wedge. I wanted desperately for the borax to work and am hoping maybe there is something I can take with it to counteract the stomach upset? My first step is to get the fluoride out, then the mercury and three root canals. Im afraid my heart conditions wont hold out before I can get detoxed and it is so so depressing. I have never been depressed like this in my whole life, I am 52. I hope someone reads this and can help. Thanks.
Donna and Julie, why don't you try with MUCH less for a start?
You are taking far too much! No wonder you feel sick!!!!! Make up 1 litre of filtered water with 1 teaspoon borax – then take 1 teaspoon of THAT diluted solution and dilute AGAIN in a cup of water and take twice a day with food. Start possibly with one teaspoon a day and build up to 3. This is why alternative medicines get a bad rap and taken off the market because people overdo it. Also, for the first few days there is the possibility of the Herxheimer effect, where you might feel ill, it supposedly means the treatment is working. If you feel ill, stop for a couple of days and start again, building up slowly as you get used to it.
I guess everyone is different!
I started off by taking 1/2 teaspoon of borax twice each day. I went through a couple of days of flew like symptoms, a few days after I started taking it. I cut back to 1/4 teaspoon twice each day.
Now after 2 months, I have no side effects and feel great, mind you I also exercise regularly and eat mostly fat and protein except on exercise days where I eat more carbs.
People should be more concerned about eating that processed stuff and not so concerned about natural stuff that comes out of the ground.
How many people know if they're getting too much or too little calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, E, C, D, B, etc… Not many I think. I'm 56 and in better shape than when I was in my 20s!
If your not eating fish, leafy greens, nuts, etc…, then your fighting a battle with only twinkies in your hands.
Are you taking Magnesium? You should be taking extra magnesium and for sure with any heart condition. Borax does wonders for me but I also take magnesium and trace minerals in general. Also, one must get rid of sugar/high carb processed foods in diet.
What type of magnesium do you take?
I started taking boron. Doing the 1/8th teaspoon in a liter of water. I think I might of used a little more than 1/8 as I don't have a 1/8 measuring spoon. My face did get flushed and my heart sped up a bit.
But night time was the worse! I had terrible gas pains and discomfort! And kept getting up to go to the bathroom for some relief. I'm thinking from reading the blog that I was detoxing.
This is the second day and I'm still not feeling like my old self. I only took it once and not planning to do it again and want to warn anyone to start with a very small amount. I'm planning to get some ginger root and making some tea to help me feel better.
Can anyone tell me when I'll be over this??! Normally I'm very healthy and feel good everyday. Thanks for your help!
Side effect reported
I have tried to take boron on several occasions. The first few times I was fine. The last 2 times I definitely had adverse effects. I immediately felt faint and my body tingled. Then my heart began to race and I felt like I may die. This was from drinking only a few gulps from a 1 1/2 liter pitcher of water I had added less than 1/8 teaspoon of boron. I had to drink a lot of milk and have a meal for the effects to subside. It took a while. Had that moment when I thought I had killed myself and it would be too late to call poison control(never did). The diarrhea that came within 30 minutes did not feel related to drinking the milk. Needless to say I am done with the Borax/boron. Hope this helps someone. God bless.
Side effect reported
I take Synthroid 100. When I take Borax I get a headache and I can feel it in my thyroid right away. I get too hyper. My cheek bones hurt me. Now I will stop with coffee and only drink chamomile tea to calm myself.
Side effect reported
I started using 1/8 of a teaspoon of Borax in a litter of water. I drank 1/3 of the mixture last night, 1/3 this morning and will drink the rest tonight. I am having this intense full feeling. Like I have eaten 3 plates of Thanksgiving dinner lol. Is this normal when it starts working on the gut? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for help.
I started taking 1/8 teaspoon of Borax mixed with a liter of water and divided it in 3 equal parts yesterday. During the day I had a full feeling in my stomach. Last night after the third dose I got really jittery, my body aches like I had the flu and I was shaking like I had a fever. ( Temp within normal range ) My throat hurts and I am really stiff today. This is the first time I have done anything natural. Should I slow down and if so to how much a day? Should I stop?
I have been reading through people's boron use reviews and I can't understand why people want not just do as they're told with this natural treatment! The recommendation is to take 1/4 for males and 1/8 for females TEASPOON of Borax and put it in a LITER of water and SIP it THROUGHOUT the DAY. Why people are disregarding that advice and adding more borax than recommended or just dividing the solution into three parts and gulping it down and then experiencing adverse reactions is beyond my understanding. Just FOLLOW the RECOMMENDATIONS!!!
Natural does not mean harmless; you still have to follow protocol or you can harm your body.
I wanted to try the Borax, because of yeast infection and living where there is a lot of fluoride in the water. I measured a little more than 1/8 tsp in 2pints of distilled water. Just started so no kind of reaction yet or "if", but does anyone else have a kind of a bitter taste in your mouth after you drink some? Seems to last.
Side effect reported
I have a question regarding to borax intake and reactions, I try three months ago , I use the 20 mule team brand , I Starting on a higher dose Lower dose for low to normal weight – 1/8 teaspoon of borax powder in 1 liter clean water); drink spaced out during the day 5days and 2 resting days I did for 2weeks , after that I start to feeling some reactions on my left shoulder like muscle spams and tingling on my left arm and numbness on my index finger this still bothers me, I stop to use the borax after I feeling those symptoms , them they stop and I start the
Standard dose:
This is for people without mineral deficiency symptoms.
1 tsp (5 ml) of concentrate added to a glass of water. This contains 25 – 30 mg of borax , symptoms came back now I felling my back is bother me as well , I stop the borax intake at all , all the symptoms still bother me just in the left area shoulder and arm , my index finger is a little normal chest muscle are contracting like tetany ,
I try to increase my magnesium intake I been doing that for three weeks sometimes I feel better but the symptoms still there , please this has been too long could you please tell me what to do. Thank you
You could be experiencing a herxheimer reaction. When there is a marked die-off of the ineffective critters there is also a release of their toxic make-up; and the result is aches and pains.
Side effect reported
Can anyone tell me why my kidneys hurt when I take the borax?
Borax is an effective antimicrobial against a number of fungal or mycoplasma species so if one has these infections and the B kills a bunch of them you can experience the "herx" or "die-off" reaction of the waste products going through the system, especially the urinary.
Also Borax can displace certain heavy metals like fluoride which again sends those toxic substances back into the blood, lymph, or urinary systems to be detoxified or eliminated.
Natural Caffeinated beverages like Coffee or Green & Black Tea helps diuresis. Since too much caffeine is not a good thing for the nervious system, herbs to further help elimination to be taken with the drink is Chaparral and Parsley. ACV is also good for metabolism and elimination. Occasional Cranberry helps eliminate pathogens in the U.T.
Irma, you might possibly be taking much more than your body can handle.
Side effect reported
Anyone know why I get heartburn from drinking borax water? I am female and used the 1/8 tsp in a liter of water this morning. After the first drink, I started to get reflux which only got worse as the day went on and I continued to drink it. Is this to be expected when first starting borax water (like a die off type reaction) or should I quit drinking it?
Dear Lynn,
I would try way less. My husband uses less than 1/16th of a teaspoon in his water throughout the day. The normal dose of 1/4 teaspoon a day (for a man) caused him digestive distress. Even that small an amount is helpful.
~Mama to Many~
Thanks Mama! I will lower my dose and try again.
I would think it is low stomach acid. The solution neutralizes the acid in your stomach because it is alkaline (think baking soda mixed with vinegar=water). The low level of acid makes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) get sloppy and what acid you do have left splashes up into the esophagus.
This is the reason I can't take the borax water or the potassium ascorbate water or the magnesium water, or the etc etc…
I don't know if taking a betaine HCl with your borax water would help or not.
Side effect reported
I used 1/8 tsp in litre of water for Borax treatment. I had herximer reaction and my heart raced for hours. I only took 1 tsp internally. The next day I just dipped my finger in it and did not take it internally and my heart still raced for hours. I drank a lot of water and it finally subsided for a while and started again. Do you know why this is happening???
Emergency Please:
I need advise: I ingested borax solution, made of 1 teaspoon for 250 ml, taking 100 ml a day, 3 to 5 days I believe. I bathed in borax dissolved in water (10 soupspoons with full bathtub). I bathed in cayenne pepper as well I am taking 3 neem capsules 3 times a day plus herbal sirop twice a day, apple cider vinega in water in the morning I don t know f it has to do with the treatment only or with food as well…but started to feel heavy in the stomach, not able to intake any of those tastes and medication I stopped everything for 1 day
Then I tried to ingest apple cider vinegar in the morning but immediately vomited it and as I have an undetected pulmonary (cough since 2007) problem, I started also coughing while vomiting and some blood came out in the mucus.
What shall I do? I am drinking massive garlic cinnamon turmeric herbal teas since more than two months, with essential oils which I stopped recently as I felt it could be too much and didn t know the interaction of borax and essential oils internally.
Thank you indeed. Sabe
Hello Sabe;
Re the problems you are having with stomach…
First, you are taking too much Borax orally. You are taking a teaspoon of Borax every two and a half days!!! ??? Where did you get that formula? And what are your symptoms that you are on such a formula.
Second, you say you are taking an herbal syrup…what is it made of?
If me…well, if me I'd never have taken so much Borax orally. And certainly not for so long. You don't want to cause problems. So again what is the condition that you are trying to resolve?
But I'm afraid…whatever you're working on that some other damage might have occurred. If me, and this doesn't resolve FAST, I'd be at my Gastroenterologist … like pronto.
Please fill us in on what condition and symptoms you are having. Have you been diagnosed?
But I'd stop all the items you listed…. everything. Until my situation settled down. I think … reading all the things you are throwing at your system that the combination also might be overwhelming.
Garlic is a known blood thinner so be careful.
'Massive doses' of garlic would cause a haemorrhage if you had surgery or a severe wound.
As with everything, research every supplement before you take it and moderation in everything.
Best wishes for good health, Rosemary
I am a 42 y/o female, and I take 1/8 teaspoon borax with 1 liter purified water 3 days a week. I started taking the borax in October, and only take it 3 days a week, 2x a month to start. I noticed that my right breast gets very sore, enlarged with a hard spot and redness on that spot every time I take the borax. The very first time I used the borax, even my right armpit was enlarged and painful, like a 7 out of 10 pain, I'm serious. I have fibercystic breasts and keep the pain under control with the flax oil/rosemary lignans/ evening primrose oil compound that I take every day, but ever since I started taking the borax, this breast pain is unbearable.
I read lots of posts here and saw someone mention that borax increases estriol levels – is that true? Can anyone provide an explanation as to what is going on with my breast? From its appearance, the redness, enlargement, and warm to the touch, I would guess that its an infection. Thanks so much in advance for your help.
The reason I am taking the borax is because I have fibromyalgia and Dr Ted recommended I discontinue the tap water, and start drinking purified water, start alkalizing, and start with the borax to detox from all the fluoride/chlorine I've been drinking my whole life. Ever since I started this protocol, in addition to all the essential vitamins, I have been fibromyalgia free (yaaay!!! ). But this breast pain is preventing me from increasing my borax intake levels for fear of the breast pain getting worse.
Jasmine, read up on painting iodine for your condition.
I am replying to this because I seen your taking evening primrose and thought I would comment because I'm going thru menopause and started taking evening primrose and my hot flashes got so much more worse. Then I read where it makes you estrogen dominant so I stopped EPR and started black cohosh. Wonder if the EPR is making your breast worse, cause I read that borax helps normalize hormones. Just a thought.
Thank you mmsg and Sharon; I appreciate your replies. Sharon, I had no idea EPR may cause estrogen dominance – I've been taking it for about 5 years but just 4 months ago starting this problem with the breast pain – I will research this further thank you.
I was going to post a follow up tonight anyway to let you all know for information purposes that the day after I posted that breast pain incident, I got my period. That certainly takes this in a different direction. I will continue to watch for a pattern. Thanks so much everyone for this awesome website:)
I don't know about borax side effects, but I have been reading about iodine for fibrocystic breasts – you might want to look into this.
My fibromyalgia symptoms are back with a vengeance and doubled. Alkalyzing not helping. I have tried to tell my doctors that these symptoms all started, in stages, after taking levaquin. They do not agree. If the cause of my pain is found, won't it help find a cure? And why isn't Alkalyzing helping me anymore? It has stopped working for over a month now, even with same lifestyle walking, vitamins, fluoride free water. Pain now so severe, wakes me in sleep. Thank so much in advance.
Hi I was dx with breast cancer! I used green drinks and it worked great to change my ph to alkaline. I have no idea about borax or the side effects. I would use a safer method like a green drink powder from Health food store. Hope this helps, Marlene ps cancer free 7 years
Hi Marlene, I am so glad to hear that you are cancer free!!! That is awesome. I just started doing the green drinks again over weekend I started. Thank you so much
Please check out mega-dose thiamine. I'm trying it right now and it is helping me a lot. Hope it helps you too, if you do try it.
If you took levaquin, you are probably suffering from Fluoroquinolone Toxicity. There are many sirs that can email what is going on with you, as Dr.'s will not admit to it.
Jasmine, it is the Levaquin. If your doctors, even with all the new lawsuits, research, ect on the danger of ALL Fluoroquinolones antibiotics like Levaquin, Cipro, Avelox, ect, do not agree, you need to leave them and find a Dr that can at least agree to the dangers and begin to help you. Levaquin and Cipro are what has made me so sick and trying to find a cure for neuropathy, atrial fibulation and high blood pressure from it. Good luck!
Can you elaborate on the use of Cipro (antibiotics) and neuropathy? I was hospitalized 3 times and they used antibiotics and I have neuropathy now! No diabetes and get my blood sugar tested annually too.
In reply to Karen (Mi),
Here are some links that should help elaborate on the link from Cipro to neuropathy:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4528905/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/09/25/fluoroquinolone-antibiotics.aspx
http://www.naturalhealth365.com/side-effects-of-cipro-fluoroquinolones-1440.html
Art
Side effect reported
What could I do to avoid the raise of my BP to 180/75 and headaches after taking borax following Ted's protocol? I am a 67 years old lady with a weak inmune system and multiple food allergies that produce mild pain in my joins. I'll wait anxiously for your answer, I really want to get rid of those problems.
God bless you guys for helping the human community. Mireya
Dear Mireya,
I am assuming you are taking the 1/4 teaspoon in 1 liter of water? I would try cutting way back on the amount you take and try to build up to that. Try 1/16th teaspoon a day or even every other day. If you can do 1/16th teasoon daily for a week with no side effects, move up to 1/8th teaspoon a day… etc.
Do you normally have blood pressure trouble? If so, you might look into some of the cures here for that…apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper to name a couple.
Take care and let us know how it goes.
~Mama to Many~
Mireya: since Borax is a sodium salt (sodium tetraborate), that would explain the rise in BP. Since this isn't a common occurrence it proly means you are deficient in Potassium. I would take 2 90mg Potassium daily in this case.
Borax also needs enough magnesium in the body to work, according to Ted.
Hi: I need your advice again:
After a failed attempt in 2013 to treat an autoimmune disease, candida, leaky gut, food intolerance an some mild arthritic discomfort with borax, following the marvelous advice of your experts, I had decided to reiniciate Ted's protocol, starting on May 5. I took borax Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with Friday, Saturday and Sunday off. The first week went very well. No reaction at all; but on Tuesday of the second one (yesterday) about 11:00pm, I went to the bathroom and I found blood in my urine, repeating the episode 30 minutes later, with some pain in my lower back area and my lower abdomen. This morning I went to the emergency room of the Greenwich Hospital, and they performed the following tests on me:
ABC WITH DIFFERENTIAL (GH)
CT ABDOMEN PELVIS WO IV CONTRAST (NO ORAL) (RENAL STONE)
COMPREHENSIVE METABOLIC PANEL
UA WITH CULTURE REFLEX (GH)
URINALYSIS WITH MICROSCOPE (GH L Q)
And their diagnosis was RENAL COLIC WITH STONE PASSING. Because I've never had problems with my kidneys before I have to assume this was somehow caused by the consumption of the borax. So guys, I need your wise advise again; I want to know why the reaction, and what should I do to avoid this in future weeks. I really want to continue with that wonderful natural remedy to get better. Thank you all, and God bless you. Warm regards, Mireya
Just a quick reply.
If you have read thoroughly about Teds Protocol he would have mentioned Borox will cause mineral retention in the kidney. Eventually causing lower back pain which is because of kidney.
I advice you to stop and try to read all the posts regarding Borax. You can start small or even give gap while taking Borax may be on alternate days.
Good health
I take it easy with the borax and I am doing great. No side effects. Maybe some tingling earlier but that it. In answer to the question how to keep the blood pressure normal while taking borax, I followed somebodies advice in EC to use Pomegranate juice. What a blessing! The first two days I took about 1/4 of a glass after each meal. After about a week I was able to skip a day. The juice is quite sweet so I did eventurally get the capsules. I have NOT had high blood pressure since I started taking or drinking Pomegranate.
Tim,
You may have just helped solve my problem as I had the same problem as Mireya the other day and I posted about having a higher blood pressure after taking Borax. I will try the Potassium. Should I get the blood levels for it checked first though? I am on Diltiazem and Losartan for the blood pressure so Im not sure if I could take potassium.
Yes on checking Sodium/Potassium levels as the meds keep sodium low and Potassium high. If this balance is too delicate it suggest deficiency in other major and/or trace minerals. Start with a good healthfood store brand Multivitamin/Mineral supplement and then a Trace Mineral supplement. Oh, let me back up and suggest, first switch from regular table salt to Iodized Sea Salt which contains trace minerals. Blackstrap Molasses (BSM) is a good superfood high in minerals.
Side effect reported
I took the borax as recommended and I got so sick that I was not able to eat for two days. I mixed the borax in distilled water in a liter jug and sipped it throughout the day. By the second day I was so nauseated and my head hurt so bad that I could not even get out of bed. I did not take it again because I do not want to feel that sick again. Can someone tell me why I got so sick taking the borax?? Also can someone give me the signs of candida, fungal infection because that is why I took the borax because I suspect I might have candida and it may be causing my bo. My body odor is coming from under my armpits and I shower everyday but less than two hours later I smell as though I have not taken a shower in days. I am getting desperate! Also how long do you need to take the borax solution before you are healed?? what are some of the foods to avoid when you are taking the borax for candida?? I still have the problem with the bo and I have tried the MoM, bs, Zinc, and now the borax which made me feel as though I was going to die. Because this problem is so embarrasing I am willing to try anything but think I might be pushing the limit with the borax. Please help!
You overdosed on the borax and had a herxheimer reaction, nauseous, headache etc. Go very slow with it and you should have better results. Maybe one or 2tsp/day.
To Mary:for armpit odor: I have found something that works for me-take a small sprinkle of borax and or baking soda and gently rub it in your armpit. Hope this helps.
What you experienced is a herxheimer reaction. It is a symptom of the rapid die off of organisms in the body. Most likely it was caused by yeast. When they die off they produce toxins which cause the nasty symptoms. Drinking plenty of water along with a good probiotic should help. As with any product that eliminates fungal parasites it is wise to go slowly and let your body adjust.
Hi, have you gotten checked for sulfation defects in your genes? If I take in a lot of sulfur foods or supps, I will stink too. It is because I can't break down sulfur and process it normally, so it has to come out in my sweat as a toxin. You should get that checked. It is as simple as spitting into a tube and mailing it off. It will tell you a lot of other valuable info about yourself. It gives you pieces of the puzzle so that you don't have to experiment on yourself.
Side effect reported
I am writing to give my feedback on the borax remedy. I followed the recipe exactly as it was submitted by Precisely from Mineral Hill, New Mexico, Usa on 5/19/13:
I took a teaspoon at night just before going to bed for exactly a week and experienced extreme hormonal and/or brain chemistry side effects that came close to pushing me over the edge into the looney bin! I think this is a very potent remedy that affects hormones and brain chemistry much more than is known. I went from calm and peaceful to crazy high amounts of anxiety and paranoia by the end of the week. I lay awake every night worrying that the sky was falling in every part of my life!! I ceased taking the remedy on a Sunday and it was Wednesday morning before everything returned to normal. I urge GREAT CAUTION to those taking this remedy. I only wish I could have monitored the changes in my hormones and brain chemistry before, during and after my borax week with blood panels.
Another side effect is that I lost 5 pounds in a week! It has stayed off, which I am happy about.
Carin: Your bad side effects are classic detox reactions known as “Herx” or “die off”. It’s kinda like The Eagles song “you got to go thru hell before you get to heaven”. The best option for you is to slow down and reduce the dose so your body can handle the effects. Weeks or months later when “the storm is over” you should be doing very well.
You took way too much. One teaspoon is NOT the dose. Ted's comments have been 1/8 tsp per day. Please read this entire section before wildly experimenting like this.
The instructions on the borax protocol are very clear on most websites, including this one. The people who do this protocol state a dosage of 1/4 teaspoon for men and 1/8 teaspoon for women in a liter of water. Why would you choose a post with an abnormally high dosage to try? This is very odd indeed.
Is the 1/8th tsp a day mixed with 1 litre of water a concentrate to be taken over the course of a week or is it the amount to be consumed in full over the course of a day?
The OP did not take a teaspoon a day! The teaspoon is in a litre and that makes a solution from which only 1-3 teaspoons are consumed per day. This is a MUCH smaller dose than even 1/16 t per day and is less likely to cause any herx. I started borax at 1/16 t per day and it was too much. Then I decided to use that solution by only sipping it twice a day. I got all the benefit and no side effects. Much better.
Hi, This question is for Ted / Bill or any body who has experienced it. If by mistake some one takes half a teaspoon of Borax in half a glass of water, what will be the symptoms, effect on the body and what should be given as an antidote to neutralise the effect of such a high dose of Borax. Or there is no need to worry body will take care of it, I am curious to know because it is higly alkaline and in small doses ( As advised by Ted ) it works wonders.
Baldev
Hi Baldev, I don’t know how dangerous borax at that level is. But if I had accidentally consumed a teaspoon in a glass of water, I would drink a lot of distilled water for the next week or so and take a dose or two of activated charcoal in a lot of water. Let us know how it turns out.
Hi Baldev… All you have to do is search EC to see how many people have mistakenly taken tablespoons instead of the proper dose of 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon of borax in a liter of water. These people haven’t suffered that much — although the high alkalinity caused by the excess borax dosages can cause typical hyper-alkaline symtoms in the body like diarrhea. Excessive borax intake can also stress and damage the liver over long term. Borax has about the same toxicity as comon table salt. However, if you have liver or kidney issues then excessive borax can cause considerable problems.
Therefore, to counteract the excessive alkalinity caused by high borax dosages, you could simply drink something acid — like raw ACV(through a straw) — to neutralize the excess alkalinity in the body.
Side effect reported
For Ted or Bill, Please Help!
Hi: I have been looking at everything I have done to determine why I am so itchy. I thought it was mites from my dog. But when this all started was when I was taking borax internally and I also started Willard water. I have breast cysts and am watching carefully. So the fungal link and protocol seemed a fit. But when I reflect, first my breasts started to itch uncontrollably as I progressed on the borax. I have been itching and scratching my back face, chin, ears, torso, and especially breasts, to the point that I have a wound on one of my breasts that has not healed, became infected and it has been there for 5 weeks. My back is covered with bumps from scratching. My chin is not looking very good. I have also been alkalysing with BS but was gaining weight at an alarming rate!! Up to 7 lbs. so I stopped but my am ph is 5.5 and that is even with months of trying to alkalyze. I just took 1 tsp of tumeric with water and pepper. I need to stop this! 🙁
Really need some suggestions. Would appreciate any feedback. if I go see my naturopath he will just tell me I am trying too many things but getting desperate.
Mary
Hi Mary an important part of any cure is diet and mental peace, without either just taking a cure probably won, t work. A candida free diet with lots of veges is just as important as the borax and baking soda. KEEP it up you wii get better. I would go fast on the diet and slow on the cure. I want to thank Ted and all who have contributed here. My partner and I are almost cured from the Incurable morgellons disease. But we have completely changed our diet and life style.
Peace and Health to all
Hi this is a question for Ted –
I have started taking Borax. I am overweight (180lbs) and so am taking 1/4 tsp in 1L of water per day – the thing is I have been drinking this by the glassful and using the whole litre. Other info suggests that this is the base and only 1-3 tsp of this needs to be taken per day. I am really confused. I have noticed some cystitis over the last couple of days. I had been doing the fingertip dipping and putting in water and was fine, but wondered if it was enough so started adding the powder to water as above.
I am taking it to improve osteoarthritis and to strengthen teeth and bones, I am aged 65.
I am also trying to alkalise my body doing the 1/4 tsp baking soda, 2 tbsp lemon juice in 1/2 water. (Is the bottled pure lemon juice ok to use?)
Thank you for your help,
M
Side effect reported
I am a 52-year old caucasian woman living in Colorado. I am 5'2" about 120 lbs. I took a lot of anti-biotics for acne over a long-term period 20 years ago and suspect systemic candida. I have joint pain, esp. in hips, with shoulder and neck injuries that frequently go into painful flairs with repetitive motion. I take magneisum which helps with the pain.
I have tried 1/8 Tea in about a liter of water for general alkalizing. I have read to do this in drinking water with 4 days on and then 3 days off. My goal is to raise by body's Ph level and to remove candida. Within a few days, my skin begins to itch here and there and then everywhere and becomes intolerable. My stools also become loose and watery. I discontinued the borax and began 1/4 Tea Baking Soda in water 30 minutes after 2 meals daily. The same thing happens with the itching and loose watery stools. I have also tried Candida Control Program, which is 2 tablespoons before breakfast, starting with their High Potency formula with the plan to do the Phase I and Phase II over a 3-month period. Again I get the itching and loose watery stools. I have tested my Ph urine levels and the readings are coming up in the 6.0 to 6.2 in the morning. I am doing my best to avoid sugar, but not easy.
Does anyone know why this happens and what I can do to correct?
Hello there… It feels to me you are experiencing the cleansing aspect of the parasites dying off. Loose watery stools, flatulence, low energy, flu like systems are a symptom of moving the dead toxic parasites through your system. Your body is healing itself… And this is know as a "healing crisis". Do your best to push on through… When I cleared myself of parasites… It took at least 6 weeks of flu-like symptoms. The cure can feel worse that the cause. Consider switching to mainly raw foods and having as much green juices as possible. Power on through… You can do it!
Borax is definitely causing a healing crisis, with flu-like symptoms, burning up (fever), etc.
As I have Graves Disease/Hyperthyroidism/Thyrotoxicosis, I was expecting a reaction, but am determined to push through because I read somewhere that continued use can and will heal Graves Disease, etc., and restore balance.
Side effect reported
Hi there, well I’m on my 5th day of taking borax (one wet fingertip’s worth in warm ACV and honey) as I’m desperately trying to get rid of the rheumatoid arthritis in my feet (I’m 43). Yesterday I noticed one eye was bloodshot, and today the other one is red and my face feels hot, like it’s got sunburn. Any ideas? I’ll give it one more day and if it gets any worse I’ll stop taking it. It’s made no difference to the arthritis or anything else btw.
An update: all has calmed down now and I am taking a 3 day hiatus from the Borax. Will continue it in a 4 days on/3 days off routine and see if it makes any difference to the RA.
Update 2 – I thought I should add this because it seems it may not be the Borax producing these side effects after all but my ______ ACV. After having loss of appetite, nausea, burping, fatigue and diarrhoea a few days ago (an 80ml dose of colloidal silver in water fixed it), I went off the Borax and ACV drink for a day and all was well. BUT last night I had an ACV/honey hot toddy before bed (without the Borax). And this morning woke up with the same symptoms! Another dose of CS cured it. So I think the ACV may be too acidic for me. Yes, yes, I know despite it being made from acetic acid and having a ph of only 3. 075 ACV it is meant to have an alkalising effect. But as somebody who has a very acidic body, I think I’ll stick with drinking my alkalising colloidal silver for now. ACV has never worked for me when drinking for asthma, hayfever, bronchitis, colds or rheumatoid arthritis – perhaps this is why? Mind you, it worked great topically for skin tags and herpes! 🙂
Anyway, thought I should update this is it doesn’t look like the Borax is the culprit after all. If I have the courage to return to the Borax I’ll update…!
Hi Jennywren, Just a thought if your ACV is not organic and doesn’t have the mother then maybe sometime later try one that is and start with only a teaspoon. The other thing to try is to add the bi-carb soda as recommended by Ted. We tried the ACV that is double strength, because my father-in-law thinks its the bees knees, (plus it’s readily available so we didn’t have to drive through 2 towns to get to the one that has the organic ACV) but I found it was no good for me.
Hi Maria, thanks for your reply! Yes, I use _____s, so fully organic with Mother. I was just reading about the bicarb so might try that in a week or so after all has settled down. PS say hi to me Mum for me. She lives in Fish Creek! 😉
Hi Jennywren, Drove through Fishy in late January on the way to the beach could have then. My email is pharlapyes-ec [at] yahoo.com. Au
Hi,
I have a weird side effect of trying Borax for my arthritis. First, I seem to have kidney pain when taking doses of 1/8 tsp and higher. This is nothing new, certain things do give my kidneys problems since I had a E-coli infection in my blood 12 years ago. So I’ve been taking a little spoon, and just dipping the wet tip of it in and swishing it in my water. Kidney problem solved. Here is the weird side effect… I get this strange headache that is located at the tip of my head… Not really a headache, just a strange pressure or ache at the very center tip of my head. I’ve had this pain before, years ago, when I was really stressed and it used to be pretty bad that it would affect my thinking. But that went away years ago, and now it seems the borax brings it on again ever so slightly. Anybody have any ideas what this means?
Hi Aim75, all of these symptoms happened to me also and a few other Earth clinic folks. It goes away. Cheers Lily.
I’ve been using the borax face solution and the 1/8 teaspoon and have noticed some positive results! However tonight I though I would get into a bath of borax (about 1 1/2 cups) tea tree oil / small amount of hydrogen peroxide all was good when I got out however a hours or two later sitting at my computer got a few rashes on my body, went to bed and it was all over my chest and back! Not sure if its the mites saying goodbye or a rash from the borax itself?
Note: My original problem was itchy bumps on my face (possibly acne rosacea) which has died down quite a bit, during the rash episode my face was completely clear? (i did dunk my face into bath water).
Any help appreciated.
Side effect reported
Same side effects. A rash. I have had it for 4 months now. Anyone know if it will eventually go away?
I have been taking the borax from the grocery store for three day. I have been feeling more energize but I also am experiencing kidney pain. Is it detox symptom? And should I take something else with it to ease the pain?
Side effect reported
Ted,
I would like your opinion on my reaction to borax I have taken borax as written about on your posts and have had a strong reaction on it. I was taking it for 4 days and felt a headache that moves from place to place with a bad taste in my mouth. Leading up to this dose I was sprinkling borax over coffee grounds of my coffee maker. I stopped taking it and started now for 2 days taking Idoral Potassium Iodine and the first day took two and had a stronger reaction and even felt vains of pressure on my face around my head (like a poison) sleeping all day and drinking plenty of water throughout this.
I feel much better now without stopping the Idoral suppliment. I only feel a pressure in my kidneys. Also I had strong feelings run through my body when I heard different sounds and is still there but minor now. I have had this reaction to sound for a number of months and is one of the reasons I am looking into causes. I suspect a fluoride/bromine build up but no tests have be taken and would like to figure this out on my own as much as possible. I have always thought I was much smarter than I am throughout my life. My memory isnt that great and have sensed a fog with me in some degree through childhood onward. I had odd stage fright as a child and onward but am a very confident person. I suspect that myself and family have been exposed to toxin in some form. My mother died of breast cancer when I was young, my sister has dystonia, and my dad has very bad brain fog and generally lost. I’m glad that I’m feeling better and plan on taking Iodine for some time for a long term detox if that is indeed what is happening. Also through my adult life I have had body parts fall asleep very easily during sleep and a certain sensation on the top of my legs. I can tune it out but I have had it for a very long time. Any thoughts you might have would be helpful. I see the world alot like you do.
dave /36
All right, I’ve been doing research for about two weeks now and it seems to me that ingesting Sodium Tetraborate is potentially dangerous due to the fact that you are not VERY SPECIFICALLY measuring the amount of Boron you are receiving. The upper alowable limit for boron is around 17-20 mg per day for HEALTHY ADULTS. Now when you take borax, in amounts such as 1/4 teaspoon per day, this is very unregulated. The boron atom in sodium TETRAborate is multiplied by four so anyone taking this amount is putting themself at risk. Just do it right by taking a boron supplement.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read this info on Boron. It’s very simple and straight forward. It explains ALL your negative side effects. I will be using this as a guys to my anti-flouridation efforts upon myself.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/894.html
Hi Garret… Although it is appreciated that you have great concern over people’s use of Borax and the dangers therein, personally I would not trust any information put out by Medline, Pubmed or the FDA — their only driver is to support the Pharmaceuticals profit. After all, would you really trust your doctor’s recommendation if he advised that you must take anti-depressants for a problem? ALL anti-depressants contain fluoride (far more poisonous than Borax) which — amongst its many other dangerous physical effects — causes suicidal and aggressive tendencies. But you will take this anti-depressant because you trust your doctor.
The fact remains that Borax is about as poisonous as table salt.
Here is the MSDS(Material Safety Data Sheet) — which is the Bible standard for all chemists and biochemists regarding toxicity — for ordinary table salt:
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/SO/sodium_chloride.html
And here is the MSDS for Borax:
http://www.omnia.co.za/pebble.asp?relid=1496
Notice that the Oral Rat LDL50(Median Lethal Dose) for salt is 3000 mgs/kgm whereas the Oral Rat LDL50 for borax is 2600mgs/kgm.
From these datasheets notice that the LDLo (Lower Lethal Dose) for man for salt is 1000 mgs/kgm and the LDLo for Borax is 709 mgs/kgm.
This means that to kill a 100 kgm person with salt(sodium chloride) would take 100 GRAMS (3.52 ounces) of salt and to kill a 100 kgm person with borax would require that he would have to ingest 70. 9 GRAMS (2.50 ounces) of borax.
Ted advises daily doses(4 days a week) of between 500 mgs(1/8 tspn) and 1000 mgs (1/4tspn) of borax in a liter of water per day(1 tspn = 4000 mgms approx). These amounts equate to 0.01 ounces and 0.03 ounces respectively.
I’ve also been using and ingesting Ted’s Borax remedy in solution for four years for various problems — I know borax well — and I’ve had no problems or side-effects whatsoever from its use. It is a very powerful anti-fungal and fluoride remover. Cheap too.
Garrett, I went to the link you posted and at the bottom of the page they had about five references, four of which had links to click on and the one that didn’t I googled, they make for interesting reading and have yet again reminded me how important this mineral is to us and also animals. Very interesting one of the references tells of the study where bones from the unsupplemented (no boron) were easy to saw through and yet the bones from the supplemented with boron were harder to saw.
For some more research (you may have already seen it) I have included a link about boron from: Mineral tolerance of animals, By National Research Council (U. S. ). Committee on Minerals and Toxic Substances in Diets and Water for Animals, National Research. Scroll to the start of Boron which is page 60.
books.google.com.au
It looks like some of the older studies were done using boric acid, which should not be taken orally. In the studies that used boric acid they call it boron, so I wonder if this is how boron got its undeserved reputation. After all we know that a small amount of salt is good for us but large amounts are bad. It is the same principle for boron (not boric acid) although the amounts are smaller as explained by Bill. I am very thankful for Ted’s advice on Borax and everyone who have posted their experiences here on EC. Bill thanks for such a good clarification on boron safety.
I just wanted to comment on my treatment so far. I have been taking between 9 and 12mg of boron a day, in capsule form which also includes magnesium and calcium, so I am getting over 100 to 200% RDV of those last two but I dont think that is a problem.
The only side effect I have noticed besides increase in clarity of mind and more vivid dreams is a slight diarrhea. Like half-diarrhea. Is this common as a sign of your body removing toxins? Sorry to be unpleasant 😉 It hardly counts as such as I am still going on normal schedule once a day, but juts noted that difference. Wanted to make sure that is not a sign of anything negative.
I am taking the boron with distilled water and stopped drinking tap water as I feel I get all the minerals I need in food and supplements. I am detoxing from fluoride for metaphysical reasons.
Thanks in advance.
P.S. Once you feel you are cleansed of fluoride what would a smaller dose of of boron daily be to merely neutralise your intake (as it is in everything nowadays, food etc) as opposed to cleansing old buildup?
Hi Chris, sometimes taking too much magnesium can cause diarrhea. Try cutting back on the amount you are taking and see if that helps. Everybody has different tolerance levels so you just have to play around with how much you take to find out what is right for you.
Thanks! I have been taking like 300 to 400% of the fillers because the boron is such a small amnt in each pill. So I might have to go back to 6 to 9mg a day or less instead of 12 on account that they have such a high amount of extras. It seems to be working well at any rate – I have much more success with everything pineal related 🙂
Hey Chris from Boulder, Co… I know this may be coming late, but can you explain a bit more about what you are doing for your pineal gland with the borax? And also what pill form are you taking? Thanks!
My question is for Ted:
I began trying Ted’s recipe of 1/8 tsp of Borax in 1L water and soon after, my period started early with heavy bleeding and cramping. I read on a bottle of Boron capsules at the health food store that Boron affects the estradiol levels, so I wonder if there is a connection. Did this cause me to become estrogen dominant? On the 15th day of my cycle each month, I take Bioidentical Progesterone and was late this month. I experienced heavy bleeding a few years back similar to this. This is when I started Hormone supplementation. But before that, I went to 5 different doctors. All wanted to do surgeries that included: ablation, hysterectomy, a procedure that involved clamping the arteries, etc. One gave me a shot that temporarily stopped the bleeding.
This went on for 6 months until I went to a chinese herbal doctor. I made a tea from the herbs and the bleeding lessened and then stopped in 8 days! I have heard the warnings of lead in chinese herbs, but this is an emergency, so I am going back for more herbs today. I oil pull and use Detoxamin on the weekends, when I have time. Hopefully, that will take care of any lead. I would like to know if Ted has any recommendations. Thanks, Ted. I respect your opinion.
Sweating is a good way to get rid of metals. I have heard that it is the only way, but I don't know if that's altogether true. It feels lovely too. When I'm having a bad day a good sweat can reset me nicely.
Side effect reported
I started using 20 mule team borax for killing mycoplasma and rebuilding my bone structure and hormone regulation. It has been close to a month and I used it approximately 11 times 18 tsp to 1 ltr of water. I don’t know if this is the cause or not, but I have developed 100`s of cherry angiomas all over my body and now have muscle spasms visual disturbances and an overall not right feeling(shakes, lungs hurt, and involuntary muscle movements). Also I have been using it to wash my hair and body. I started looking into the reason for the angiomas and found that it is possible for cleaning companies to add certain components without labeling it! They are not required to add it to the label when they add ingredients according to San Francisco chronicle. “It’s difficult for consumers to know whether their favorite cleaner contains the chemical because manufacturers aren’t required to list it on the label. “
So I urge you EC to please ask one of your multitalented partners to find out if this product may possibly contain 2-butoxyethanol so that we may find a different source of the very useful borax. Plus, if it this harmful substance is found to be in the 20 mule team borax, how can I get rid of the toxic side effects I am experiencing, and are they reversible? Thanks a mil… CLC
To clcball: Surely you don’t really mean 18 tsp in one litre of water? Please correct this amount to read 1/8 tsp in one litre (approx 32 oz) of water, or I just might hyperventilate at the thought of you drinking that much borax!!!
I just saw my post… Correction it is 1/8th of a teaspoon of borax, plus I added a lot of other “stuff” like sea salt, baking soda, acv, kelp, took l-cysteine a few times as well as acetyl-l-carnitine, 1 drop of clove oil from time to time, olive leaf extract and cayenne and h2o2 3 drops in 8 oz. Of water , sodium ascorbate of course ALWAYS paying attention to the amounts as to not get too much or a bad mix, I did not take ALL at the same time or anything, just trying to make sure and follow All instructions to rid myself of any bacterium and rebuild my system. I am grateful for this site. None the less weary of being here in the States were they do not have to list all ingredients. I will still self heal, just gotta make sure and get a good source for the products!
Hi Everyone,
Peter from Chicago emailed me yesterday to ask if I would contact the manufacturer of 20 Mule Team Borax to find out if there are additional ingredients in the Borax. (Thanks, Peter!) Below is the customer service response I just received.
Deirdre
P.S. Here’s their product page for more info: http://www.20muleteamlaundry.com/about – click on the FAQ tab at the top.
October 7, 2010
Dear Ms. Layne:
Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding Twenty Mule Team Borax.
Borax consists of the elements: Sodium, Oxygen, Boron & Water
Boron = 11.56%
Sodium = 12.06%
Trace Minerals (0.5%) found at the mining site
Thank you again for contacting us.
Consumer Affairs
I don’t like the sound of those trace minerals found from the mining site. My concern is that these ‘minerals’ might be metals or other harmful substances. I sent an email to the company asking to be more specific about the minerals. I will repost if/when I hear back.
Randy, did you ever get a reply from the company? Also, I am wondering: if the ingredients are
Boron = 11.56%
Sodium = 12.06%
Trace Minerals (0. 5%) found at the mining site
for Borax, is it possible that the remaining 75.88% is only oxygen and water?
I think referring to the elements as ‘ingredients’ is misleading. It is not like a salad where the ingredients are mixed and consumed.
If I had a jar containing hydrogen gas, and I added oxygen, I wouldn’t get water. There needs to be a chemical reaction to bond the elemental atoms to create water.
In the case of Borax Decahydrate, the ELEMENTS (sodium, boron, hydrogen and oxygen) are chemically bonded to form a specific chemical compound Borax Decahydrate, which may have properties completely different to those of the individual elements.
In the Borax Decahydratethe chemical COMPOUND there are fixed ratios of the contributing elements, Yes, the remaining 78% is hydrogen atoms and (mostly) oxygen atoms.
I was told to boil water in a sauce pan and boil it. than to slowly add the borax powder until it stopped dissolving. I used a large sauce pan and added almost half the box to it and it still was dissolving, so I stopped adding it. I was then told to add 1-2 tbsp. to a glass of water (8 oz.) for intake. Is this too much and how should I dilute it or measure it for intake?
That is too much Borax , you don't need to boil the water, just warm the water, and make sure the water is spring or distilled. Put 1/4 tsp. in 8 oz. of water and mix . Don't take more then that because it will give you kidney trouble.
Side effect reported
I had an itchy scalp and problems with acne and was using borax to cleanse mites and parasites – borax water 1/8 tsp in a litre of water and borax baths. I also used borax to clean home and in laundry. I was doing the borax regime for a couple of weeks and I started to experience hair loss and that may indicate kidney problems. I have now stopped drinking borax water. I do use Ted’s mange cure for a facial wash and it is great. Any signal from your body should be heeded. Borax may help, but too much may not be good either.
Borax is fine in moderation, but skin problems usually means you have an acidic body and deficiency in omega 3 oils, as well as vitamins A, D, C, and E. You must take mineral and enzyme supplements at each meal, and drink ionized water as much as possible. Once a day take a tablespoon of cod liver oil and a non-synthetic multi-vitamin. In addition take 4000I. U. Of vitamin D3 everyday (must be D3 only). Avoid acidic processed foods and eat mostly organic fruits and veggies (raw – use blender) with the usual meat, fish, eggs, butter, and virgin olive, coconut, and palm oils. Avoid table salt as much as possible, but use plenty of sea salt and crystal salt instead (trace minerals). Don’t forget that a good probiotic is always necessary.
If you think it’s causing kidney problem stopping them is just fine. Boron increases both magnesium and calcium retention for the bones. Too much might cause kidney pain. However, I haven’t had a single case of problem at that dose here in Bangkok. For most women the average dose is about 1/8 teaspoon taken for only a month. Most kidney pain I have encountered with had do to with taking excessive calcium, which can really cause kidney pain and muscle pain. So obviously foods high in calcium with borax supplements may worsen the condition of kidney pain that way. Calcium deposits occur if too much diets are high in that, usually found eating coral calcium, potatoes (high in calcium) and nearly all calcium supplements. Obviously the antidote for excessive calcium retention is to take lemon juice for an entire day for about 2 to 4 days. This will significantly reduced calcium retention from either taking too much calcium, or diets too much with boron and calcium.
Ted
Ted, … In doing a study on Borax uses today I was just wondering why you said this about a year ago, …. “Calcium deposits occur if too much diets are high in that, usually found eating coral calcium “…….. Based on what evidence Ted? as I know pure coral powder (simply powdered coral) helps eliminate calcium deposits as it is an alkaliser and “system cleaner”, .. Also what the body does not use it will naturally eliminate, .. Having been the Australia agent for pure coral calcium on behalf of the worlds largest supplier, for about 10 years now… This I can say I do know from the papers, studies, our own clinical studies in Qld Australia and from my own personal testimony, Pure coral actually has a different matrix that makes it ideal to help clean other types of calcium, toxins, wastes, heavy metals, etc, deposits from the body, .. Such as in particular synthetic calciums, etc…… Of the thousands of customers in Australia we have never heard of this as a problem, …. It is practically impossible, if you look at above sea coral (powdered and pure) under a microscope you will see why, ….. Now put pure coral powder and kelp together, .. WOW! Good Super Fuel! Thats why they live together in the ocean, ….. Regards, John
Was just reading Ted’s comments of 9/16/2010 stating that “For most women the average dose is about 1/8 teaspoon taken for only a month.”
I know he has recommented elsewhere to mix it with 1 litre of water and sip it throughout the day for 4 days on with 3 days off.
This is the first time I have seen that it is to only be done for a month. I thought this was suppossed to be an ongoing supplementation and was suprised to see the 1 month suggestion.
I wanted to start this to aid my osteoporosis & arthritis issues. Do I really only need a month’s worth of treatment and that’s all for the rest of my life? Please, I need someone who knows about the length of treatment to please advise me before I start this treatment.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Yes, I would be interested to hear the answer to this too. I have just started taking 1/8 tspn in 1 litre of water today, and am not sure how long it is meant to be continued for and when I need to take a break from it. Cheers!
Side effect reported
I am on day 3 of the borax remedy, taking 1/4 teaspoon in 1 liter water and sipping throughout the day. I am getting a very bitter soapy taste on my tongue when I eat. Just wondering if this is normal. I don’t get this taste from drinking the borax solution. The taste will go away 1/’2 hour after eating and then return as soon as I eat again.
Side effect reported
I experienced the same side effect on the fourth day. I used 1/4 tsp on days 1-3. On the fourth day, I started using that same amount in the morning, but then I read more info on Earthclinic and the side effects some people had, I realized I already felt much better, so I decided to stop drinking the borax solution for a few days.
That fourth afternoon/night, I started feeling very hungry but no other side effects besides some flatulence. Then late that night I went out for drinks and noticed that bitter soapy taste you’re talking about after drinking beer. Today is day 5, I haven’t noticed any side effects today. I plan to stay off the borax for another couple of days. I will post if anything changes.
Side effect reported
I am on day 4 of the borax protocol (1/8th teaspoon in 1 liter of water, sipped slowly throughout the day). I didn’t experience any side effects until this morning when I felt slight brain fog. At about noon I looked in the mirror and discovered that a blood vessel had burst in my left eye. I have had these before, but usually only after flying. I am guessing that this is related to the borax. I have also been regularly taking lugol’s iodine (3 drops a day in water) for months but have never noticed this side effect. Anyone else experience this? I found some information on Dr. Weil’s site about how certain supplements can cause a burst blood vessel in the eye, but nothing mentioned about borax or iodine.
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400019/burst-blood-vessels-in-the-eye.html
I stopped the borax solution right away and am going to wait 3 days to pass before trying again. Will send update.
I had the same side effect. I took 1/4 of a teaspoon for 3 days, then skipped 3 days, then started again. I got a burst blood vessel in my right eye the first day back on. This same blood vessel has burst several times before so I’m not worried about it.
Otherwise, the borax has made me feel great.
Hi, I just read the article you linked and noticed that they mentioned garlic and cayenne pepper as two foods that may trigger these burst blood vessels in the eye. I’ve recently upped my intake of both of those spices, so that may be the cause of the hemorrhage, rather than the borax.
Want to take borax to protect from radiation coming over from Japan. Read Ted’s advice on dosage and went to the store and bought a box of 20 mule team borax. It is now scented! Is it still safe to ingest?
Don't mix borax with high amounts of iodine – they seem to have a negative interaction (I took 60mg KI and around 1 gram boraxat the same time). And of course both tend to increase T3 so you are likely becoming very hyperthyroid. I have my theories about what the problematic interaction is…but needless to say best not to mix them.
Side effect reported
on my secound day of borax, i have just got a hot itchy prickly rash all over, really worried, is this normal?
Side effect reported
Hi, I have been following Ted ‘s remedy for borax. I had done it last yr and suddenly got pregnant. It resulted in miscarriage. Now i am trying to get pregnant and want to alkalizs my body. I have a question regarding the side effect. I am taking 1/4 tsp of borax in 1 ltr of water . As soon as i drink 1 glass of this water my head starts spinning i feel a feeling of rush in my head. I want to keep on doing the drink , but would really apprecitate if ted or someone can throw some light on it. Thanks.
1/4 tsp per litre and a whole glass is most likely too much. Try 1/8 and little sips throughout the day. When experimenting with this I found strong effects at this amount (1/8tsp per liter) and would only consume about half the bottle in a day. Also, why are you taking it? If to get pregnant there are most likely other safer and time proven ways.
Hi Rob. Thanks for the reply. I will try to do it slowly. I am taking borax primarily to detox as i had done 2 yrs back and found that it created an alkalizing environment and prepped the hormones conducive for pregnancy. Ted had replied to the same effect but unfortunately that had ended in an ectopic pregnancy. After waiting for an yr, I have been trying again for almost 8 months without any result so I am trying my luck with borax as well as lot of other supplements like manganese zinc wheat germ oil etc .
Thanks
Siri
Borax can cause a micariage. Borax is a poison and will harm the fetus.
Can you please explain with facts to back up your statement that "borax is a poison" I've used it for a long time and feel better all the time. Are you saying the toxicology measurements are false about it being less toxic then salt? Exactly what are you saying?? Or are you basing your comment on where many people find a box of borax in their local store?? I notice many uninformed people launch claims with no detail, hit and run when they have no knowledge of what they are talking about, then make broad statements quoting some so-called expert and try to infer on this basis that others are stupid. Are you one of these people?
Side effect reported
I would be so grateful if Ted could address this question. I’m at the end of my second day of taking 1/8 tsp borax in 1 liter of water for treating rosacea and like some others experienced, beginning this morning I could feel slight kidney discomfort. I wouldn’t say the kidneys hurt exactly, but they’re making their presence known. In all other respects I feel fine. I tend to believe this is a sign my body is detoxing, but I don’t want to be too little worried 🙂 Could this be a sign of detox or is it a sign that I should stop immediately?
Side effect reported
Last year I tried 1/8 teaspoon borax and sea salt in 1 liter of water to test if flouride was causing my health issues. After a couple of days I too experienced kidney pains. Since I had never felt internal pains like that before, even after trying many natural remedies and supplements over the years, I was quite scared. I stopped taking borax immediately. It didn’t make sense to me that kidney pains would be a sign of detox. In conclusion, I no longer believe borax should be taken internally.
Side effect reported
I also am having kidney pain today after having 1/8 tsp. in over a liter of water yesterday. Also curious to know if Ted has a possible scientific explanation for this as I really don’t want to mess with kidney damage but I could really use the benefits borax is supposed to provide.
Upon further reflection and 3 total days in pain, I realize it was most likely intestinal pain (front) rather than kidney pain (usually manifests in the back). I fasted for a day and then upon eating the pain was significantly reduced.
Kidney pain is just the excess calcium being removed from the tissues and fluoride excretion passing thru the kidneys. Stop or slow down treatment for awhile.
J- ever been to a dialysis clinic? Kidney pain is never something to ignore!
Folks with kidney pain, again, and again is just detox effects getting through the kidneys. Everytime you have them just decrease the amount of Borax to a 1/16 or get off for a couple of days and let the body do what it does best, take care of you. Borax helps detoxify, which doesn't happen without a detoxifying agent, and people who are experiencing a little detoxing discomfort, well how many years have you been obusing the body by not ready labels on your food and studying what toxifies the body. This junk we're eating builds up and the chemicals even more, so yes your going to have a little discomfort in the detoxiying. Has anyone died from Borax which not even as strong as salt. Come on, fear is our greatest enemy, especially when people try to scare you on these replies. Just do the protocol and if the detox effects are bothering you, then back off. If you think these side effects are bad, go to Hippocrates Clinic, like my Dad who had cancer and at 6'2" was down to 125 lbs. I watched him go through detoxing side effects from taking wheat grass juice, the greatest detoxifier on the plant and yes it hurts, but the crap has to come out, hell we put it in, unless it was something we were exposed to. My dad did coffee colonics, as the caffiene cleans the colon walls, and that's a heck of a lot harder than a burst eye vesel with is just too much yeast coming out too fast. Borax is a great fungicide and works wonders for yeast, along with all the rest of it's wonders. Quit worrying. If you quit, the side effects are going to disappear and your going to think, wow, I saved myself, but all you did is do a little detoxing and allowed yourself to keep doing whatever caused you to overyeast, or over calcium, or over heavy metals. You have to change your diet completely when you get smart and detox, so you won't have to go back and do it again.
Hello,
I see some of you are worried about kidney pain and one person made a remark about a dialysis center. Well I have been on dialysis before, and I received a transplanted kidney from my sister in January 2006.
I suffer from fibromyalgia, arthritis in my spine, and mycoplasma. I began Ted's recommended baking soda and citric acid 4 weeks ago and immediately began to cough up gobs of green, and then yellow with brown, and now feel so much better.I still have a ways to go, but it's working.
Then to address the fibromyalgia and arthritis I began the Borax RX 2 weeks ago.
I take 1/8 tsp borax in 1 liter Evian water which has a ph of 7.2 and contains magnesium 26, Silica 15, and bicarbonates 360. I did not add sea salt. I began to have kidney pain 2 days later. My labs were due to be done the next day for my regular appointment with my nephrologist. Conclusion…Dr. was happy, my creatinine and BUN were normal. I'm in my second week, the pain stopped, and all is well on that front.
I'm having a little Herxheimer effect I think though. My knees, feet, right hip and right shoulder are hurting, and my spine pain is off the chart, but NO PAIN….NO GAIN!
Good luck everyone!
Side effect reported
today was my first try of the borax remedy. I was fine right until the end of the liter but around the end i developed what seems to me like pain in the kidney area. A couple other posters had reported this also. I will wait a day or so to see if it goes away and will try it again. Anyone know if this is transient, benign pain or is this dangerous?
Side effect reported
Hi, I’ve been using 1/8th teaspoon of borax with 1/8th teaspoon of sea salt in 1 liter of water and drinking it 5 days a week for the last couple of weeks. I’m now experiencing what I would call a hive like breakout on my face, neck, chest and arms that lasts for about an hour and then fades away. It started randomly about a week after I started taking borax, but now it’s almost a daily occurence. I don’t know if I should quit taking it all together or if something else could be causing this. I use to have it happen after drinking certain wines years ago, or after a workout…but now it’s happening while I’m at my desk at work and it has my co-workers freaked out. I haven’t told them what I’m doing because they aren’t into alternative medicine as I am and they already make fun of how many supplements I take a day. Please help. Thank you.
The problems I have encountered with facial breakouts, as this came from the fact that one of the person who reported this similar occurrence was taken estogen (Diane) and anti-androgen (androcur). Both the product apparently had a double dose of cyproterone. That caused a shutdown in the adrenals. To make the matter worse, the person also took a lot of whey protein to build muscles, that lead to protein coagulation in the body causing an acne.
In any event, one doesn’t take borax without a reason. If a known fluoride poisoning exist, tor that a person has autoimmunity, or a person had rosacea, morgellons, will experience different effect.
If a person happens to have a Morgellon’s having demodex mites, the borax DOES cause a breakout as the demodex mites to come out of the skin, killing most of the demdodex mites. Which is the mode of how borax kills the demodex mites. It flushes them out of the body. Same thing with certain types Rosacea, it flushes them out too.
Since I don’t know the reason for why borax was taken, the two possibility that I have encountered are the ones I mentioned here. However, people can take it for different reasons and different reactions are encountered.
Ted
I am on Premarin due to having a complete hysterectomy 8 years ago. I’m only 37 but have lost the majority of my sex drive since the surgery. I was hoping the borax would help with the sex drive and to lose weight. I’m also doing the oil pulling and taking Apple Cider Vinegar supplements. Should I quit taking the borax all together?
If, as stated, borax will move flouride out, then I suggest people who use it with flouridated water may be setting themselves up for these side effects. Flouride detox can be very painful, as I found out when I started taking iodine. When the flouride was stirred up and recirculated through my body, I had a lot of bad symptoms. And it takes a while for your body to get rid of it then.
I suggest using purified water, not city water, as it may be flouridated.
I tried drinking at the suggested rate. I found that my hair started falling out much more than normal. A friend told me that that hair falling out is a sign of kidney problems. I stopped drinking and my hair stopped falling out at such a drastic rate.
I will bath in it. I bath my kids in it too. I think your body absorbs things from baths-magnesium, boron. I haven’t found any harm in bathing with it. I put about a 1/4 to a 1/3 cup in the water.
In laundry, if you wash colours in hot with laundry soap and about 1/4-1/3 cup of borax the colours come out remarkably bright. The water has to be hot, not warm.
Side effect reported
I also experienced hives after taking taking the borax water. I get the breakout on my face, neck, hands, legs, and especially my lower back and buttocks (it fades everywhere but my back/buttocks). I initially thought it was from spending too much time with the family cat (I’m allergic), but when the rash didn’t go away after taking an antihistamine, I knew something was up. Borax is the only new remedy I have been trying, so I googled “borax rash” and found similar stories. According to a Wikipedia article on borax, borax poisoning can cause the following symptoms: “a beefy red skin rash affecting palms, soles, buttocks and scrotum has been described. With severe poisoning, erythematous and exfoliative rash, unconsciousness, respiratory depression, and renal failure.”
I have also been experiencing hair loss since starting this remedy that I didn’t connect to borax until I read of others experiencing this symptom. I have been urinating white specks for the past 2 weeks or so which could be borax buildup. My naturally soft skin has become dry all over my body; my lips are cracked. If I drink too much of the borax/water mixture at once, I will experience headaches and dizziness almost imediately. To me, these side effects indicate that this is not a very safe remedy, and I will discontinue my oral intake of borax at once. I will continue to bathe in borax water about once or twice a week (to treat my recurrent yeast infection) and hope the side effects disappear after I cease oral intake.
To be clear, my dosage is the recommended 1/8 tsp in 1 liter of water sipped throughout the day, 5 days on & 2 days off. I finish about 1/2 to 2/3 of the mixture in one day; I usually stop when I get a slight headache (it worsens if I continue taking it). I am a 115 lb woman. I eat an almost vegan diet (completely vegan for the past 2-3 weeks) and drink plenty of water. I’m not taking any hormones or anything as Ted speculated may be the cause. I also do not have symptoms of Morgellons disease or any other parasitic disorders aside from a recurrent yeast infection I’ve had for about a month. I started taking the borax because I believed it would help fight off the yeast infection (which I think may also reside in my gut causing constipation).
I had previously been trying whatever remedy was recommended on this website, forgetting that any nonprofessional individual can submit a testimonial. I rarely bothered to do research or even read the side effects posts on this site. I now realize that even “natural remedies” can be dangerous, and I encourage everyone to do their research so that they are aware of any adverse effects before they experience them.
Hi Misty, you admit you have so much yeast that it is obvious, most people have yeast problems that don't even know it, so this proves to me, along with your constipation that you have a big problem with yeast and other related things, microbes, fungus, parasites etc. then you admit that you drink 2/3 of a liter of the solution, that is WAY to much when you are loaded with things living in your body. I wonder what your salt intake is???
Do you understand what the relation to stomach acid, salt and yeast is ? Sse tiny amounts of this natural cleanser borax and allow it a chance to plus your body of the dead yeast etc. and get your stomach acid right, by giving yourself the raw materials to make HCL chloride!!! Himalayan salt is good. then you will not allow things to grow inside anymore. That is what yeast is.
Shawn
That doesn’t sound like hives, it is candida die-off. Candida die-off or sometimes called “candida rash” is a by product of almost every successful detox. I got it about a month after I began eating organic produce and using the Borax remedy and ACV. Mine was all up and down the inside of my arms, but cleared up quicker than yours. The candida is just more concentrated in those areas you speak of.
Borax is used for chelating metals and eliminating flouride. You may want to try chlorella for a while to see if you like that better. If you’re wanting to address pH balance, try Ted or Bill’s alkalinizing remedies. That will also encurage candida elimination. ACV/baking soda at bedtime will also counteract overnight acidity.
Boron/Borax have been known to work at normalizing the thyroid. This might be what is happening. You did say you are a vegetarian. Vegetarians are known for having unstable thyroid levels due to the lack of animal protein in their diets. If you are uncomfortable with the Borax, try Boron supplements from the health food store. They are made for human cosumption.
Side effect reported
I slowly went from 1/32 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon dose borax to remove fluoride from the body. I quit after about 2 days on the 1/4 teaspoon dose. I mixed it properly in pure water according to the directions that I found here. I had to go off of the borax due to aches and pains in the testicles, kidneys, and head. I was very frightened, especially about that kidney pains. Unfortunately, the pains indicated damage. I now, months afterwards, have pain in the kidneys every day, and I have actually LOST almost all of my sex drive. The pains indicated damage that seems permanent. Being prediabetic, perhaps I shouldn't have risked kidney damage!!!! But I miss my sex drive more. It's gone, and borax is not only as toxic as salt to me. Not by far.
This is not the correct way to do it. The proper method is to dissolve the borax 1/32 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon in ONE LITER of drinking water and drink throughout the day. It was not designed to take in pure powder form, usually to rid of autoimmunity disease or a known fluoride poisoning. In rabbit test the dose is roughly lower than this concentration to protect against fluoride poisoning when they added lethal dose of fluoride.
Ted
A woman’s dose is 1/8, a man’s dose is 1/4 dissolved in one liter of drinking water. I can’t say much about this poster since sufficient details are not mentioned, except for the fact that he’s prediabetic, which borax has a tendency to normalize blood sugar. So I find this posting fishy on many points. A lot of people through private emails actually take a much larger dose that this.
Loss of sex drive has never been reported except for fluoride. Most report an increase in sex drive. Most of the problems reported are associated with boric acid, not borax because boric is acid. Acid eats up kidney, whether it’s boric acid or acid forming foods in general.
So I have many regrets on this email. A genuine poster would also email directly to me before posting them and give sufficient details. An intentionally fake poster will report unusual side effects, lacking in sufficient details, on Earth Clinic without telling me. So you can see why I find this a suspicious post.
Ted
This is a response to “David from Surrey, BC”. And it is important for anyone trying Borax as a remedy.
No male should ever expose themselves to Borax or Boric Acid. David’s symptoms (testicle and kidney atrophy) are classic case of Boric Acid poisoning — just a few weeks of daily exposure to Borax is known to cause testicle atrophy and sterility in dogs and is suspected in sterility of humans that work with the chemical. It also damages kidneys and to lesser extent the liver. Please, people do not even let Borax touch your skin if you’re a male. Look it up on Google and you’ll find articles like http://www.peopleforcleanbeds.org/boric_acid_risks.htm
While there is a threshold below which Borax is fairly safe, if you go over that threshold it is quite dangerous. The threshold is very dependent on body weight — definitely don’t let Borax anywhere near an infant or a pregnant woman. So there certainly may be people who use it without noticeable adverse affect, it is not worth it to have some people seriously injured by it — it is dangerous advice.
I understand your suspicion of flouride, but then you should be suspicious of all environmental chemical exposure — why are you exposing yourself to a chemical with more proven risk than flouride?
Response to “Jgrau from Coquitlam, Bc”
Clearly, you have NOT read anything on this Web site regarding the differences between “boric acid” and “borax”. They ARE NOT the same!! One is acid aka boric “acid”, and one is alkaline – borax. Even the Web site you noted states “boric acid”. COME ON, PEOPLE. TAKE THE TIME to “READ”. This is a forum for sharing experiences, not one in which to exhibit your shortcomings… Furthermore, boric acid IS used medicinally, often for women who do not respond to conventional therapy for yeast infections. It is put into a capsule, placed into the vaginal canal, and actually works very well.
Side effect reported
According to Wikipedia “Borax is also easily converted to boric acid and other borates, which have many applications. Its reaction with hydrochloric acid to form boric acid is: Na2B4O7·10H2O + 2 HCl –> 4 B(OH)3 [or H3BO3] + 2 NaCl + 5 H2O”
There is enough HCl in our stomach so I expect borax is being converted into boric acid inside. Borax is not as rich in boron as boric acid is. Therefore I undestand receiving borax is equivalent to receiving lower doses of boric acid. I’m on day 5 of 1/4 teaspoon of borax solution daily (against mites) and my testicles started to hurt. Sometimes also feeling presence of my kidneys now. I’m terminating the remedy and hoping there was no irreversible damage made.
If the concern of borax or borates is converted to boric acid, then just add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in case the hydrochloric acid of the stomach should convert to boric acid. Also stomach acidity varies greatly throughout the day. It is very high before meals, but is very low acidity after meals. Therefore this can be taken after meals, or before sleep. If kidney problem does occur, simply discontinue them until it does get better. To neutralize any borax negative effect, I usually take magnesium chloride drops and just skip a week or at least three days, allowing the body to get rid of excess borax from the body. Most lower back pain I have found turns out also taking excess calcium and not enough magnesium also.
Yes, I do receive emails of testical pain from taking borax from a few men. I got one person from Vietnam who is an earthclinic reeader and came to Bangkok on a tour packaged, and managed to find time to see me about his hair loss condition. He mentioned that taking borax did cause his testicular pain, but that went away because he masturbated. Apparently what I found was borax caused the pain from higher sperm volume and sperm count and as resulted the masturbation reduced that and made him feel more like a man. In other words more sexually responsive (getting it up) when having sex. It’s the viagra effect for people who have low male hormone levels. Apparently, this particular person thought not masturbating was a normal thing because he had no desire, and got used to that line of thought. The borax remedy made him change some behavior to masturbate at least weekly, as he reports of much larger sperm volume he never he had it before. It should be noted that if person does not wish to masturbate at least weekly or need to abstain from sex, then borax is clearly not good.
The other problem concerning borax used is it’s tendency to make women get pregnant too easily. If people do not wish to conceive, and have unprotected sex, you get pregnant much more easily. I have over four cases here in Bangkok of women becoming pregnant from taking this, but luckily most of them are married, or wish to have a child, so they were happy. One has been struggling to have a child for 10 years and got pregnant in just 1 month after taking the supplements. It seems it increases women’s fertility and men’s fertility also, through increasing sperm count and sperm volume. Therefore borax is not something a person will use if that person does not wish to have a child or requires sexual abstinence. The opposite is also true.
Ted, your experiences are interesting and welcome, however I was looking for more informations about boron which I’d like to share. There are many science papers about boron & rats. It was stated sterilization occurred on rats/dogs exposed to boron. 300 mg boron/kg BW/day is usually fatal to rats and around 600 mg/kg BW in single dose is fatal to rats. Based on accidental intake of boron by humans, lethal dose is guessed at 15,000 to 20,000 mg of boric acid, which equals to 3 000 mg of boron, which (70 kg person) is roughly 40 mg boron/kg BW. Looks like rat is more tolerant to boron by the ratio of 10 . Regarding to studies made, it was found that around 20 mg boron/kg BW/day is a level which does not affect testicles/health of rats. Higher boron intake leads to testicles atrophy either temporary or permanent, depends also on dosage. If 20 mg/kg BW/day is a threshold for rat, considering 10 ratio, it could be less than 2 mg/kg/day for human.
For 70 kg person, it is less than 140 mg of boron or 1400 mg of borax (safe for daily human intake). Now 1/4 teaspoon of borax is 5 ml/4 = 1,25 ml of borax or 2,000 mg of borax. Since measuring 1/4 tsp is not accurate in all cases and some people tend to take more the stuff to improve results of remedy, one can expect dosage can reach 4,000 mg/day or 2,500 mg boric acid/day. It is more than 10 % of dosage which is being lethal. It is 3 times more than safe level I guessed above. Therefore I’ve concerns this remedy/dosage is quite dangerous with strong damaging potential. It is also a fact people experienced side effects. Anyone can search Internet for document boron. Pdf, title ‘Boron in Drinking-water’, which is a comprehensive review of known facts about boron and laboratory tests on animals.
Interesting information Miroslav.. Thanks.. In my experience I found just a few sips (about 4oz) from a 1/4tsp, per liter solution before bedtime, had relatively strong effects, with increased night sweating and vivid dreams along with a calmness.. My intuition told me this was enough… So I would used up the bottle over a 4 or 5 days. Though I really did like the effect it seemed to wane on the following nights. I also need to hear more positive long term results do this for any legth of time..
There are a couple of wrong information here. The LD50 of boric is 2.66 grams per kilogram, but not borax, but for convenience purpose in calculation I used just 2. gram per kilogram, just to be safe. The borax LD50 is LD50 for borax was 5400 mg/kg in male rats and 5000 in female rats, see Borax Pesticide fact sheet. Toxicity Category IV, Table I, Oral. The correct name for borax is sodium tetraborate decahydrate. It’s molecular weight is 381.37 while it has a boron molecular weight is 10. 81. In a typical borax, there is 11.33% boron content. That means there is 4 boron molecules in a sodium tetraborate hexahydrate. The dog and rat studies on testicular atrophy is based on boron content rather then borax content or boric acid content.
So if they were to calculate that the limit of boron is 20 mg per kilogram content per dose, this would mean if I were consuming borax, to get the same amount on a per kilogram basis, I would need to consume 20/.1133 = 176 mg per kilogram per dose. This means, I weigh 70 kilograms, I would need to consume 176 mg x 70 kilogram = 12,320 mg of borax, or 12.32 grams. Assuming that one teaspoons has 4 grams per teaspoon, this would mean consuming 4 teaspoons per dose to get a testicular atrophy. In a typical dose of 1/4 teaspoon this would be only 0.25/4 x100 = 6% of the unsafe dose. Animal studies of LD50 is based on per dose, rather then per day. This means the scientist has to literally stuff the chemicals down the throat. In a typical borax diluted in one liter of water, few people actually drink this in one sitting. The likelihood from suffering from death by water intoxication of taking all 4 teaspoon would require taking 16 liters of water in one sitting.
Sorry, but I can’t go into further details, regarding individual studies, I have limited time at the moment.
Ted
Ted, I’m writing the same. Except one important detail: You assume doses for rat (per body weight) can be applied to human. But I’m confident we are not rats. Possible fatal intake for adult human was found at 15 to 20,000 of boric acid (or 40 mg boron/kg BW). And as I noted before, this value was established for a reason. Rat is more tolerant to boron intake likely by a factor of 10. So this is why I’m having concerns about dosage and this is probably the reason why people are reporting adverse effects. It is also worth to warn 1 tsp of borax is not 4 g, but rather about 100 % more.
Miroslav, Have you have got your math wrong by chance? Are you mixing up mg (milligram’s) with mcg, µg or ug (microgram’s) by chance? Too many folk get their ’00’s/’000’s all mixed up (such a mix-up cause’s many, many deaths in hospitals). It seems to me that Ted’s arguments (and math) are very, very sound indeed. I personally must report that I have been taking Borax (a [sea salt-like dash / quantity in my porridge daily) for about 3 years, and have nothing but positives to say about it. My partner is a little bit bashful about such matters, but she would otherwise confirm this! I’m nearly 60 by the way, and go about life like a 30 year old. I would hate that folk here on Earth Clinic forego the undoubted all round benefits of borax – as I’m sure some perspicuous posters like ‘Bill’ and ‘Alain’ would also heartily attest. Tra-la! It’s borax forever for me!
Sorry, don’t have time to answer all the details, but briefly please refer to “UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION International Programme on Chemical Safety, Environment Health Criteria 204, Boron”
http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc204.htm
1.1.3 Kinetics and biological monitoring
The pharmacokinetics of boron appear to be quite similar across species in the following respects:
a) Absorption of borates is essentially complete (approximately 95% in humans and rats), and boron appears rapidly in the blood and body tissues of several mammalian species following ingestion.
b) Distribution of boron in mammals appears to occur by passive diffusion throughout the body fluids. In contrast to soft tissues and blood, bone shows selective uptake of boron (>4 times higher than serum) and significantly longer retention times.
c) Metabolism of boric acid is thermodynamically unfavourable in biological systems. Thus, the ionic species in systemic circulation are expected to be equivalent across mammals. This eliminates a major source of potential uncertainty for risk extrapolation, as interspecies differences in enzymatic pathways and/or metabolic rates do not need to be taken into consideration.
d) Elimination kinetics (especially route of elimination and terminal half-life) also appear to be similar for humans and rats. The similarities in pharmacokinetic parameters between humans and rats, the species defining the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for laboratory studies, reduce the uncertainty for risk extrapolation between these two species.
This is in response to Dave from Surrey, BC. My Genetics doctor decided last year, I’m in remission. I said, “Huh, that’s funny, I’ve done the opposite of what you tell me. ” With my kidney, liver, and heart condition, I’m told not to take potassium and magnesium. Well, I not only take those, I also take baking soda with the magnesium and potassium, once, twice, or three times a day. Additionally, I did take borax and H202, for four years. All these supplements, I started with small doses, as mentioned on earthclinic. Over time, I increased the dosages of all of these. So, I think there might be something else not quite right, going on with you:)
It seems like boron is the culprit for long-term effects, not necessarily whether it is in acid or salt form.
Borax is about 11% boron, boric acid is about 17% boron
MINIMUM lethal dose of boric acid in human adults 15g – 20g boric acid = 2. 6 g -3. 5 g boron (This is not the LD50. LD50 is defined as the dose that kills 50% of the population, so the LD50 may be somewhat greater than this, but it certainly won’t be less than this amount. )
Take a 60 kg individual and that gives 43 mg B/Kg – 58 mg B/Kg minimum lethal dose.
I’m assuming the individual who died at 15 g was 60 Kg, as well as the individual who died at 20g. FYI my fellow Americans, 60 Kg = 132 lbs.
The density of borax is 1.73 g/mL
A teaspoon is 5 mL
So 1/4 of a teaspoon gives (1.73 g/mL)*(1/4)*(5mL) = 2. 16 g = 2160 mg borax = 245 mg For a 60 kg person 245 mg B-> 4 mg B/Kg
So taking 1/4 of a teaspoon of borax gives 10% of the MINIMUM lethal dose.
Now on to the report from the European Center for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC). Report No. 63. This is available free online.
The report is quite long, so I will concentrate on two sets of findings.
First, they review the fertility effects of acute exposure to borax and boric acid, in rats. That is, a one time exposure followed by monitoring. The lowest ‘No observable adverse effect level’ (NOAEL) is 88 mg B/Kg. They find testicular atrophy and decreased sperm volume above that level, but reversible up to 700 mg B/Kg. Beyond that concentration, the damage was not reversible.
Second, they review the fertility effects of repeated exposure to borax and boric acid. The lowest NOAEL is 17.5 mg/Kg /day for 2 years.
Based on that second review, they calculate a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for humans. Assuming a 60 Kg person:
TDI = NOAEL * 60Kg / [(UF intraspecies)* (UF interspecies)]
They use an interspecies factor of 3, accounting for the fact that humans may not tolerate boron as well as rats, but they state that interspecies differences are expected to be small. 3 is just a large safety margin.
“The toxicokinetics of borates in man and animals is similar irrespective of the route of administration. Borates are not metabolised and so there is no potential source of variation among species, with respect to metabolic competence. The same critical effects are found in all animal species examined. “
They use an intraspecies factor of 10, to account for the fact that some humans may be far more sensitive to boron than others.
They finally arrive at a TDI = 17.5 mg/Kg/day * 60Kg / [3*10] = 35 mg B/day for fertility effects. 1/28 of a teaspoon of borax
This is based on 2 years of daily consumption, so a human could theoretically consume this amount every day for 2 years and experience no adverse fertility effects.
If we apply this same standard to the acute exposure numbers, we get:
88 mg B/Kg * 60 Kg / [3*10] = 176 mg B for fertility effects
This is over the course of a single day. 176 mg B corresponds to 1600 mg of borax or about 1/5 of a teaspoon
Some individuals may be sensitive at this level, and that may explain why some people have reported adverse effects. However, these numbers are based on very large safety margins, so the vast majority of individuals will not have any adverse effects at these levels. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, there is no test for boron sensitivity.
The LOAEL for acute exposure was between 88 and 175 mg B/Kg. Translating that to humans and using the same factors means that adverse effects from a single exposure may start somewhere between 176 mg and 350 mg B in a single day.
I’ve been using boron on and off at the 1/4 teaspoon per day level for 2 weeks now, and have noticed very good effects. I will post a more detailed report on my own experience later.
I’m not a chemist, but in the calculations set forth on June 29, 2011 it seems the 2160 mg of borax which equals 1/4 tsp should be divided by 60 kg to get 36 mg/kg as the highest dose recommended by Ted. Which would seem to be only 1.38 % of the MINIMUM lethal dose of boron of 2.6-3.5 g which he stated. Really need to understand because I am dealing with so many health issues but really want to try to the borax regimen.
David (Dave) from Surrey, BC Canada that posted on 02/19/2009 saying he took it for 2 weeks then got kidney, testicle, and headaches, only to try it again on 04/15/2009 for 2 days and quitting due to the pain in the same areas.
I’m really glad some of these misinformation artists are dumb. Thank you for exposing yourself Dave!
People that are researching natural remedies, just know that there are many people like this, some paid some not, trying to scare you away from trying things like this.
Yes, indeed, there are many shills for western medicine and disinformation artists out there. In addition, too many people breast fed on western medicine do not want to take responsibility for their own health. If you do not know your body well enough, and do not listen to the signals that your body gives you then how do you expect a 3rd party (aka: the doctor) to do any better than you at healing you? alternative medicine is ALL about taking responsibility for yourself. All I know is that my body doesn’t respond well to any other person’s idea about cookie-cutter medicine designed to mean “one size fits all”
In response to Joe from Atlanta, who wrote: “The density of borax is 1.73 g/mL”…
mL is a liquid measure and Borax is a powder so I don’t see where you get this from. I weighed a level 1/4 teaspoon of Borax on a gram scale and it was less than 800 mg so it only has 88 mg of boron at the most, not 245 mg. Maybe some borax is more dense than mine, so if anyone is concerned they should weigh it in mg and multiply by 0.11 to find the boron content.
I read the link you provided and I notice it is mostly about Boric Acid which I heard shouldn't be confused with Borax. I used Boric Acid to kill very very aggressive cockroaches and can understand how it may be very toxic to the human body. Nonetheless, I am giving Borax a go to see if it is beneficial.
No need to fear either boric acid or borax. Both are very safe for use both internal and external.
Upon ingesting borax it is chemically transformed into boric acid in the stomach.
Boric acid has been used in the food industry as a preservative for many many years up until it was discovered to be healthy then it was quickly eliminated in favor of carcinogenic food preservatives.
Here is an excellent article that will set your mind to ease about borax. It is written by Walter Last a certified toxicologist.
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
Side effect reported
I tried Borax remedy for my persistent fungus problem in my mouth. I tried Borax internally because Nystation didn’t get rid of it ( only partly it did). I used store brand Borax, 1/8 tsp in one liter of distilled water. The first day I experienced a nasty headache all day long and at the second day, my kidney started hurting. So I had to stop taking Borax and I’ll never try it again. The pain persisted 5 day after I stopped taking it. It was really scary! I read Ted’s comment stating that he uses the store brand Borax when he can’t find pure grade Borax. I have read most of user comment and Ted’s email before I decided to try Borax remedy. I would like to post my experience about using store brand Borax so that people can least expects what can happen.
Side effect reported
Thank you Ted and Earthclinic for such wonderful information! I have a question for Ted: I started the Borax cure 8 days ago to treat fluoride poisoning and candida. I’ve been taking 1/8 tsp. Borax in 1 liter of purified water every other day. On day 4 I started manifesting flulike symptoms–extreme chest congestion (very, very thick mucous) and cough, extreme fatigue, all over body aches, mild fever. Today I’m still sick but I am slowly getting better. Would you classify this as a normal detox reaction or did I probably get a virus on top of detoxing?