Does Baking Soda Under Your Tongue Help With ED? No, and It Has Risks
Baking soda under the tongue is a popular online ED hack. There is no evidence it works, and larger amounts add sodium. Here is what to try instead.
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Key Takeaways
No. There is no evidence that baking soda under the tongue helps ED. A single pinch is unlikely to harm you, but larger amounts add sodium that can raise blood pressure. Proven treatments like sildenafil and tadalafil are available from a GP, pharmacist or online prescriber.
No. Baking soda under your tongue does not help erectile dysfunction (ED). There are no good human trials showing it works, and neither NICE nor the BNF recommends it. A single pinch is unlikely to harm you, but it will not treat ED either.
Why people think it might work#
The online claim goes like this. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) changes your body's pH, boosts nitric oxide and so improves blood flow to the penis. It spreads through social media videos and forums as a "sublingual hack". Nobody has tested it in men with ED.
The idea probably borrows from sports research. Athletes take sodium bicarbonate before hard exercise to buffer acid build-up in their muscles. Studies often use around 0.2 to 0.3g per kg of body weight, which is 16 to 24g for an 80kg man. That is several teaspoons, and it upsets many people's stomachs. It is also research about running and cycling, not erections.
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Why the science does not fit#
Your lungs and kidneys keep your blood pH in a very narrow range. A pinch of baking soda gets absorbed into that system and dealt with. It does not change the pH of penile tissue.
An erection starts when nerve signals release nitric oxide in the penis. This relaxes the blood vessels so they fill with blood. Baking soda is not a source of nitric oxide. Holding it under your tongue adds little, because most of it ends up swallowed with your saliva.
Treatments that work target a specific step. Sildenafil and tadalafil block an enzyme called PDE5, which breaks down the chemical that keeps blood vessels relaxed. Baking soda has no known action on that step.
Risks of trying it#
A single pinch (roughly 0.3g) contains only around 0.1g of sodium. Baking soda is about 27% sodium, so that is a trivial amount next to the adult daily limit of 6g of salt, which is 2.4g of sodium. A pinch is unlikely to cause harm.
The sodium becomes a concern if you take more than a pinch. One level teaspoon (about 5g) contains roughly 1.3g of sodium, which uses up more than half of the daily limit.
Regularly taking larger amounts adds sodium that can raise blood pressure and make your body hold on to fluid. It matters more if you have high blood pressure, heart failure or kidney disease. Many of these conditions also cause ED, so the men most tempted to try it may be the ones most at risk.
Larger amounts can also cause wind, bloating and nausea. Rarely, they cause metabolic alkalosis, which means the blood becomes too alkaline. Signs include muscle twitching, confusion and an irregular heartbeat. Baking soda also reduces stomach acid, which can change how some medicines are absorbed. Ask a pharmacist before using it if you take regular medicines, and avoid it in pregnancy.
The bigger risk is delay. ED can be an early sign of heart disease or type 2 diabetes. Spending months on a home remedy puts off a check that could matter for more than your sex life.
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What does help#
A GP or pharmacist will usually check your blood pressure and may arrange blood tests such as HbA1c (for diabetes), cholesterol and sometimes testosterone. They will also ask about stress, sleep, alcohol, smoking and medicines that can affect erections. If you are 40 to 74, an NHS Health Check covers much of this.
PDE5 inhibitors are the first-line treatment in the UK. Sildenafil starts working in 30 to 60 minutes and lasts up to 4 hours. Tadalafil lasts up to 36 hours. Both need sexual arousal to work.
PDE5 inhibitors are not suitable for everyone. You cannot take them if you use nitrates (such as GTN spray), nicorandil or riociguat. They also need extra caution, and may not be suitable, if you have had a recent heart attack or stroke, have unstable angina or have severe low blood pressure. Tell the prescriber about all your medicines and any heart or circulation problems.
Seek urgent medical help if you get chest pain during sex (stop and call 999), or if an erection lasts longer than 4 hours, which needs emergency treatment.
If you would rather arrange treatment online, Totiva's ED service is free to assess, and you pay only if a clinician approves treatment. Sildenafil starts from £1.37 a tablet, and suitability is always checked individually.
If you are curious about natural options, there is a little research on L-citrulline for erectile dysfunction. The evidence is limited, but it is a safer thing to read about than sodium bicarbonate.
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Medical Information: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.
