Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, has been used for generations as a home remedy to treat acid indigestion, commonly known as a "sour stomach." After a heavy, spicy or fatty meal, you may find that drinking one-half tsp. of baking soda dissolved in water can ease bloating or belching. However, frequent abdominal pain, nausea, an uncomfortable feeling of fullness or bloating after meals may be signs of a more serious gastrointestinal disorder. If you are using baking soda regularly at home without medical supervision to correct these symptoms, consult your healthcare provider for an evaluation.
Significance
A common product in many kitchens, baking soda is a systemic alkalizer, which is a compound that neutralizes stomach acids, and may thus relieve gastrointestinal discomfort. If your symptoms are caused by acid reflux, a condition in which stomach acids rise from your stomach into your esophagus after eating, baking soda in water may treat indigestion as effectively as an over-the-counter antacid tablet or effervescent powder. In functional dyspepsia, a common gastric disorder, these symptoms occur regularly with no known cause. Persistent gastric pain, a feeling of heaviness after eating, gas or bloating could be signs of gastroesophageal reflux disease, a bacterial infection, a stomach ulcer, a pancreatic abnormality, cancer or another condition. Acute abdominal pain combined with bloating and nausea could be symptoms of appendicitis. Talk with your health-care provider about your symptoms. Severe abdominal pain requires immediate medical attention.
Treatment
In addition to the baking soda that you use for cooking, you can either purchase sodium bicarbonate without a prescription in tablet form or as a dissolvable powder. Antacids are often the first line of treatment for indigestion that has no obvious cause. Your health-care provider may prescribe medications that alter the acid content in your stomach or control muscle spasms in your gastrointestinal tract. Lifestyle changes, such as increasing your activity level and pursuing relaxation techniques, may also reduce indigestion. Your doctor may recommend that you stop using over-the-counter medications, including anti-inflammatory pain relievers, that can irritate the stomach lining.
Sodium Content
Sodium bicarbonate contains a large amount of sodium -- 500mg per one-half tsp. The American Heart Association recommends that people consume no more than 1,500mg of sodium daily to control blood pressure and protect cardiovascular health. One-half tsp. of baking soda -- the amount suggested by Drugs.com for relieving indigestion -- would constitute one-third of the daily recommended limit for sodium. If you are on a salt-restricted diet, have a history of heart disease or high blood pressure, taking baking soda for indigestion may put you over the healthy limit for sodium. Talk with your medical provider about healthier alternatives for soothing a sour stomach.
Side Effects
Taking baking soda for acid indigestion may have serious side effects, especially if you exceed the recommended dose or if you take sodium bicarbonate regularly over an extended period of time. You should not take baking soda medicinally if you have kidney disease or acute abdominal pain. Headache, loss of appetite, mental status changes, nervousness, muscle pain or weakness may indicate that you're having a reaction to sodium bicarbonate. To ensure that you're taking the correct dose for your symptoms and health condition, follow your health-care provider's instructions about using baking soda for indigestion.
