Can soaking feet in baking soda lower blood pressure?

Baking soda foot baths cannot lower blood pressure.

There is no clear scientific evidence supporting the effect of baking soda foot baths on lowering blood pressure. Baking soda, whose main component is sodium bicarbonate, is weakly alkaline and primarily used for neutralizing stomach acid and treating metabolic acidosis. When applied to the skin, it may help regulate skin pH and alleviate skin issues. However, using baking soda for foot baths has limited impact on blood pressure.

Blood pressure is influenced by multiple factors, including cardiac output, vascular resistance, and blood volume. These factors are primarily regulated by physiological mechanisms within the cardiovascular system and the neuroendocrine system. Whether using baking soda or other substances for foot baths, their main effects are on the surface of the body and it is difficult for them to directly influence the body's internal mechanisms that regulate blood pressure.

Although baking soda foot baths cannot directly lower blood pressure, due to their weak alkalinity and antiseptic properties, they can benefit foot skin health, such as inhibiting foot fungus and relieving athlete's foot. For individuals with hypertension, it is recommended to control blood pressure through dietary adjustments, appropriate exercise, regular sleep patterns, and taking antihypertensive medications when necessary, while strictly following medical advice and taking medications as prescribed.