Sodium bicarbonate treatment will drive pH levels up quickly throughout most of the tissues making it an effective treatment in many health problems demonstrating a bicarbonate deficiency -All physiological processes in the body, including the immune system, are pH sensitive and work most efficiently within an ideal ph range.E.g. cancer patients, whose blood is generally more acidic than is ideal, do better when their blood is within certain slightly alkaline limits. Also many tumors (but not all) are acidic and can be neutralized by raising their pH utilizing baking soda treatment
However, pre-clinical studies have shown that too much sodium bicarbonate, and/or continuing sodium bicarbonate treatment for too long, is harmful to normal tissues - especially kidney and bladder tissues.
The level that is "too much" and the time that is "too long" are unknown, and likely differ for each person - E.g. Older patients with limited kidney function are likely to be more sensitive to baking soda treatment
It is necessary to test body's pH levels daily as a guide to determine dosages -addressed in his book Sodium Bicarbonate - Rich Man's Poor Man's Cancer Treatment, Dr. Mark Sircus, Ac., OMD, DM (P) Director International Medical Veritas Association emphasizes that the key to safe use of sodium bicarbonate is the monitoring and testing of both urinary and saliva pH with pH test paper or an electronic tester. He recommends people do this every morning and chart their results, and whenever taking strong baking soda baths, do the same thing soon after getting out of the tub.
Dr. Sircus suggests that urinary pH not go over 8.0 - and Arm & Hammer also states on their box to stop therapy and allow the pH to drop back down after a week of high use.