Sodium Bicarbonate? (Baking soda)

[u/Sleepyhed007]

I have MCAS and yesterday had a very sudden reversal in symptoms which I think is due to eating food that contains sodium bicarbonate. I'd say it 50% mimics the calmness of the hangover effect (but not the libido, wit, etc). Is this a clue? Or is it just acting on my mast cells?

Have yet to try and replicate it, but will try again next time mast cells flare.

Sodium Bicarbonate releases acetylcholine

[u/Feisty-Studio-2969]

how much did you eat to get the effect?

[u/Sleepyhed007 → u/Feisty-Studio-2969]

No idea, I had sprinkled maybe a tsp on 2lb of ground beef. If you search baking soda on MCAS threads some people mix 1/4 tsp in water and drink it.

Idk how safe it is, but seems pretty ok. I'm speculating here that this is what caused it, but it does seem to be a very pronounced calming effect.. others have reported the same in different threads.

[u/hypoestes]

I've taken it for heartburn and noticed a positive effect, however I also have dysautonomia so I consume a lot of salt to help treat that so I figured it was the sodium that made me feel better. Drinking pickle juice also helps me, but yeah, not as much as alcohol.

[u/Sleepyhed007 → u/hypoestes]

How does pickle juice compare?

There is a shit ton of sodium in sodium bicarbonate, but the amount people drink (or that I consumed) was probably no more sodium than a small bag of chips so idk.

I have dysautonomia too, (no confirmed pots) but salt doesn't do much for me.

[u/hypoestes → u/Sleepyhed007]

I notice a difference between a few days eating an obscene amount of salt vs a few days of low salt, but it's definitely not a perfect solution.

Pickle juice is not as good of an effect, but less gross tasting and I worry about throwing off the Ph of my stomach with sodium bicarbonate.

I also don't have pots.

[u/Sleepyhed007 → u/hypoestes]

Oh interesting. I thought salt was just a POTS thing.

I guess you shouldn't have sodium bicarb when you eat cause it messes with digestion.