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Medical · Formula · Book recipe 9.1

Baking soda for heartburn and stomach acidity

Baking soda is one of the fastest-acting antacids available because it neutralizes hydrochloric acid in your stomach almost instantly.

Handle with careWorks without power

How it works

Measure¼ tsp baking soda
8 oz waterstir to dissolve
Sip slowlydo not gulp
Acid neutralizedfast antacid relief
Short-term relief onlya few doses, not a daily habit
Never on a full stomachand not a substitute for medical care

Quick facts

Antacid
¼ tsp / 8 oz
Pre-exercise
¼-½ tsp / 8-12 oz
Max dose
½ tsp
Max / day
3 doses
Use
short-term

Hazard

High in sodium. Never exceed ½ tsp per dose or 3 doses per day, and never on a full stomach. Avoid with high blood pressure, kidney disease, or a sodium-restricted diet.

Beyond heartburn relief, higher doses have been shown in sports-science research to buffer the acid that builds up during hard effort and produce small but measurable performance gains in high-intensity exercise, though the doses used in those studies (roughly 3 to 4 teaspoons for a 150-pound adult) are large enough to cause significant nausea and diarrhea in many people. The conservative doses below stay well below that threshold and avoid the gastrointestinal distress of loading-dose protocols, and in a survival situation where commercial antacids and pain relievers are unavailable, this is one of the first things to reach for.

What you'll need

  • Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
  • Clean drinking water
  • Optional: a little honey for taste (skip acidic mixers like lemon juice, which react with and weaken the baking soda)

Steps

  1. For indigestion or heartburn, dissolve 1/4 teaspoon baking soda fully in a full 8 ounces of water and sip it slowly when symptoms hit. Take it between meals or for lingering heartburn, not as a strong dose on top of a very full stomach, since that can build up dangerous gas pressure (see Caution). Relief usually comes within minutes.
  2. Before hard physical labor, you can mix 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon in 8 to 12 ounces of water 60 to 90 minutes ahead, with a light snack to settle the stomach. Be realistic about it: the dose shown to buffer effort in studies is far larger (around 3 to 4 teaspoons) and reliably causes nausea and diarrhea, so this gentle amount mostly just settles the gut and does little for performance.
  3. For short-term relief during a stretch of digestive upset or after a run of acidic meals, mix 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon in 8 ounces of water once daily on an empty stomach.

Warnings

This is short-term relief only and is not a replacement for medical care. Never exceed 1/2 teaspoon per dose or 3 doses per day, and never take baking soda on a full stomach right after a large meal because rapid carbon dioxide release has been linked to stomach rupture in rare case reports. Avoid entirely if you are on a sodium-restricted diet, are pregnant, or have high blood pressure, kidney disease, or heart problems.

Storage and shelf life

Store in sealed, moisture-free containers. Shelf life is indefinite with proper storage. Best container: sealed HDPE bucket or glass jar, keep moisture-free. Avoid metal in humid conditions (promotes corrosion). See the Containers section.

Questions this answers

Tap a question for the short answer.

How much baking soda do I take for heartburn?

Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda fully in 8 ounces of water and sip it slowly when symptoms hit. Take it between meals, not on a very full stomach. Relief usually comes within minutes.

Can I use baking soda as an antacid?

Yes. It neutralizes stomach hydrochloric acid almost instantly, which makes it one of the fastest-acting antacids. Use 1/4 teaspoon in 8 ounces of water, short-term only, and never right after a large meal.

How much baking soda is safe to drink in a day?

Never more than 1/2 teaspoon per dose or 3 doses per day, and only short-term. Do not take it on a full stomach after a large meal, since rapid carbon dioxide release has been linked to stomach rupture in rare case reports.

What can I use for indigestion when there are no antacids?

Baking soda in water. Stir 1/4 teaspoon into a full 8 ounces of water and sip slowly, and relief usually comes within minutes. A little honey helps the taste, but skip lemon juice, which reacts with and weakens the baking soda.

Who should not take baking soda internally?

Avoid it entirely if you are on a sodium-restricted diet, are pregnant, or have high blood pressure, kidney disease, or heart problems. Nobody should take it on a full stomach right after a large meal.

Keep going

Read nextBaking soda for body care (pH, muscles, teeth, odor)Baking soda doses and methods for stomach acidity, muscle recovery, oral care and underarm odor, plus why it is not a joint pain remedy.Medical · Guide

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Medical · FormulaSource: Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide, Recipe 9.1, p. 41 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

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