Baking soda can relieve certain types of stomach aches, specifically those caused by excess stomach acid like heartburn, sour stomach, and acid indigestion. It works as a fast-acting antacid, but it’s not a fix for every kind of stomach pain and carries real risks if used incorrectly.
How Baking Soda Relieves Stomach Pain
When you dissolve baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in water and drink it, it reacts directly with the hydrochloric acid in your stomach. The bicarbonate ions absorb excess hydrogen ions, converting them into water and carbon dioxide gas. That chemical reaction raises the pH in your stomach, reducing the burning and discomfort that comes from too much acid.
This is the same basic mechanism behind commercial antacid tablets. The difference is that baking soda works very quickly, often within minutes, because it dissolves immediately in liquid rather than needing to break down from a tablet. The trade-off is that its effects are short-lived compared to other antacids, and the carbon dioxide produced can cause bloating and gas.
Which Stomach Aches It Helps (and Doesn’t)
Baking soda is effective for acid-related stomach discomfort: the burning feeling of heartburn, the sour taste of acid reflux, and the general queasiness of acid indigestion. It can also ease symptoms related to stomach or duodenal ulcers by temporarily reducing acid irritation.
It will not help with stomach aches caused by something other than excess acid. Cramps from food poisoning, gas pain, bloating from food intolerances, constipation, or stomach viruses involve different mechanisms entirely. If your stomach ache feels more like cramping, pressure, or general nausea rather than a burning or sour sensation, baking soda is unlikely to do much. In fact, the extra gas it produces could make bloating worse.
How to Use It Safely
The standard approach is to dissolve about half a teaspoon of baking soda in a full glass of water (roughly 4 ounces or more) and drink it slowly. This should be treated as an occasional remedy, not a daily habit. A full teaspoon of baking soda contains about 4.8 grams of powder, which delivers approximately 1,260 milligrams of sodium. That’s more than half the daily recommended sodium limit in a single teaspoon. Even a half-teaspoon dose adds roughly 630 milligrams of sodium, a significant amount.
Don’t take it on a very full stomach, as the rapid gas production can cause discomfort or, in rare cases, more serious problems. Wait at least two hours after a large meal. And don’t exceed the dose. More baking soda doesn’t mean faster relief; it means more side effects.
Risks of Overuse
The biggest concern with baking soda is its sodium content. If you’re on a sodium-restricted diet or have high blood pressure, even a single dose is worth thinking twice about. Repeated or excessive use has been linked to serious complications. A case study published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology documented cases of high blood pressure, muscle breakdown, and kidney failure requiring dialysis in a patient who used baking soda long-term.
There’s also the issue of acid rebound. When you neutralize stomach acid rapidly, your stomach can respond by producing even more acid once the baking soda wears off. This creates a cycle where you feel temporary relief followed by a return of symptoms, sometimes worse than before. Commercial antacids designed for repeated use are generally better formulated to avoid this problem.
Baking soda can also interfere with how your body absorbs certain medications. Many drugs rely on specific acid levels in the stomach to dissolve and enter your bloodstream properly. If you take any prescription medications regularly, the timing of a baking soda dose matters.
Why It’s Not Safe for Children
Baking soda should not be given to young children as a stomach remedy. A case report in the medical literature describes a six-week-old infant who developed life-threatening complications after the mother used baking soda as a home remedy to help the baby burp. Infants and small children cannot regulate the resulting changes in blood chemistry the way adults can, and even small amounts can cause sodium bicarbonate intoxication, leading to seizures and altered consciousness. This risk extends to older children as well; pediatric doses are difficult to calibrate safely at home.
Better Options for Recurring Pain
If you reach for baking soda more than once or twice a week, that pattern itself is worth paying attention to. Frequent acid-related stomach pain often signals an underlying issue like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a bacterial infection in the stomach lining, or a developing ulcer. Over-the-counter antacids designed for regular use, or acid-reducing medications that work for longer periods, are safer choices for ongoing symptoms.
For a one-time stomach ache that clearly feels like heartburn or acid indigestion, half a teaspoon of baking soda in water is a reasonable, fast-acting home remedy. Just keep it occasional, keep the dose small, and recognize that not every stomach ache is an acid problem.