An Experiment with Borax

I just read your response to someone else. If anyone else has anything to report on the longer term use of Borax, I would love to hear how everyone is going.   Just so happy to imagine a life without the steroids !!

Hi Maree, I've been using Borax for about a year now. At first I used it twice a day, and now I use it several nights a week.  I don't know if it's possible to be completely cured, but as long as my fusing has come undone, and my itching and white areas have gone, it's close to a cure.  I don't use steroids because I had a bad reaction to them.  However, the Borax has been problem-free for me and I'm thrilled with the results.

Wow. That is just such an amazing story Anna 🌈 I jay can't believe that doctors/gynaecologists etc... aren't spreading the word. This is quite literally groundbreaking

Oops I pressed "reply" by mistake. 😳 Anna, thanks for responding. I really appreciate it. 🌺

Hi Maree, I have been using the Borax as a solution and in the bath for about six months now. I had been on Clobetasol for about six weeks with no relief. Within days of starting this protocol all of my symptoms stopped. They included itching, burning, biting, stinging and tightness.

Since I really don't like this, one person suggested I try Sitz baths and that has been wonderful for me. I was taking a Sitz nightly, but have now been able to go to twice weekly and am still symptom free. I am still using the saturated solution twice daily because I still am working on releasing some fusion

I keep the Clobetasol on hand but have not had to use it. When I saw my Gyno last, she said I looked great and to keep on doing what I was. She is very familiar with the Borax protocol and has no reservations at all.

You might look up "medical uses for Borax" on the web, it is very encouraging.

God bless you

Hi Maree, I agree - it's sad, but most doctors are focused on pharmaceuticals for healing, and don't put a lot of stock in natural methods.  But to be fair, patients go to a doctor and expect to come away with a prescription. It's a special doc who pays attention to alternative healing solutions.  Meanwhile we have been blessed by this site and the wonderful women who have shared their tips.

Hi, I've been a bit frightened to use the borax yet, i sent off for

Some but, the packaging didn't look right ,

Please can i ask what make and type of borax do you use, ?

I'm so pleased to read your message,

Xxxxx excellent new x

I was nervous about it to but when I started to tell my mom about it she told me that my grandmother used borax when they were young. You can just Google borax and different brands come up. I am not sure if we can use specific names on here.

Oh, ok i understand ,

Thank you, x

Hi me again,

Sorry to bother you, but, I've been on Google,

So many different types,( it doesn't take a lot to confuse me, )

Would this be right,

Borax sodium tetraboroate decahydrate 99.9%

I haven't

put the brand,

but ,do worried i may choose the wrong one,

Thank you x

When I googled mine it says Sodium tetraborate, a natural mineral. 

Mule....

Ooow ,I'll try again.

I'm from England, , perhaps I'll try outside the UK ,

Xx

Maybe someone from the UK can help out here.  I am in the US and we have this available in our laundry section of stores. 

I'm in England too and bought my borax online, as couldn't find it anywhere in this country 🙁

Thank you, xx such a shame they don't sell it in our supermarket,'s

Xx

Thank you, xx

I think it's banned over here. I have been using it for about a month and a half, . I haven't had a flare up, even tho' I am emotionall going through a break up. I think I have had some slight releasing of the fusion of the labia, but can have sugar in my diet and alchol should I choose to, with out causing problems but other people on the forum have not been able to tolerate either. Whereabouts in the UK are you, I'm in Wiltshire. Aa the best to you. xx

Sorry to hear about your break up, wish i lived closer to you,

I live in Cheshire,

I honestly don't know anyone around here who suffers, with

Lichen sclerosis,

No one as ever heard about it,

If it wasn't for this forum, i would feel alone,

Sending you a massive hug xxxx

Yes, that's what i use....

Melissa, that is correct: Borax , also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. Powdered borax is white, consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.Do NOT purchase boric acid!!

God bless

Hi Lorraine, Joanna is right, it goes by several names: sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate.  The brand I use here in the US is 20 Mule Team Borax - just pure sodium tetraborate.  I don't know if there are other companies that sell it, but don't get anything with additional ingredients like fragrances, etc.  It's just a natural mineral.  I've been using it for about a year now with no side affects. 

If you are nervous, you can start by swabbing on the solution once a day and see how you feel.  I know, it seems odd, but it's been a godsend.  Some people on here also drink a weak solution of it.  I'm not so sure about that, but since I'm doing so well with the external application, I really don't feel the need to take it internally.

Thank you ,

to everyone all you messages are very greatfully

Received,

Big hugs xx

Big hugs to you as well Lorraine.

Do you have fusing, because the Borax has helped a lot of ladies on here with unfusing. Good luck using it and it would be nice if you could let me know how you get on. Xx

Hi, i definitely will,

I haven't any fusing,but,

at the moment i am vary sore,

Every day there seems to be something different .

Thanks for your help xxx

Hi All,

If anyone of you have read my posts on this thread from about a week ago, I wanted to update you with Borax Trial.  To recap, I was diagnosed a year ago and have been using clobetasol to control/contain my LS every 2nd day.  I started the saturated borax sprayed twice/three times daily about 6 days ago..  The first couple of days were looking hopeful however, my clitoris (the most affected part of my vulva) started to be painful and inflamed. It was otherwise looking normal having had the disease under control with the steroid.  I kept going with the borax for a couple more days but it became increasingly swollen and painful. I've gone back to the clobetasol and it has reduced the swelling. I tried the borax again yesterday to see what would happen however it became swollen, inflamed and raw within a couple of hours so the Borax is definitely creating irritation.  It doesn't seem to irritate any surrounding skin however, just where the LS is.  So, I guess the skin is uber sensitive having had a year of steroid use and the borax perhaps too strong a concentration.  Perhaps I'll give the sitz bath a go with a diluted solution.  Any recommendations from any of you wise women out there?  I'm so grateful to have found this website   XX

Maree, I have always used the more diluted solution.  Or use baking soda, which is more gentle but needs a longer period of time to unfuse.  So I switch from borax diluted treatment to baking soda for a gentler touch. 

Thanks Hanny. Do you use a sitz bath or spray bottle?  I don't have any fusing (i don' t think) so maybe i was too aggressive with the concentrated solution.  What dilution to you use in both the baking sofa and borax?  Thanks for posting. I really appreciate it  

I use a spray bottle after every bathroom visit.  When on route I bring a sitz bath along, when at home I take baths. 

?If you don't have any fusing then it may be sufficient to use a more diluted solution.   For the spray bottle I use three pinches, for the sitzbath just a few spoonfuls, for the bath one sixth of a cup of Borax.  With the baking soda I can be a bit more generous - three or more pinches in the spray bottle, four spoons in the sitz bath, one third of a cup in the bath. (just to give you some idea to the amounts)  You have to test it a bit yourself.  Whatever you feel comfortable with and whatever doesn't aggrevate. 

Hi hanny, I still have got fusing. Just bought sitz bath ,do I make same solution up as I do for rinsing,or just put 2-3 tblspoons in water & stir. Thanks.

Help!  I am a 64 yr old female diagnosed with LS via biopsy in January after 2 yrs and 7 Dr's.  I have been using clobetasal cream twice per day 

and estrogen cream twice per week.  Still having flare ups so tried saturated borax on a cotton ball for 4 days and then saturated solution on a washcloth applied for 20 minutes last night.  I had a very bad reaction.  Inflammation, pain and swelling. 

I would like to use the diluted borax, but I want to be careful. I assume one pinch to be 1 tsp, but what size bottle?  Also 1/3 c in the bath.  Did you fill the tub?  

Thank you in advance.   

Again, start with care.  I couldn't handle too strong a solution.  So I think that in the sitzbath two tblspoons would do for now.  Especially when you're sensitive.  If it isn't enough, no harm done. 

As I wrote to Pat, yes, I would start with care.  I use a Perin bottle and put three small pinches in then mix with pleasantly warm water and shake to dissolve.  I do that after every bathroom visit.  One sixth cup in a full bath is what I do.  I have other skin problems as well and it keeps all at bay. 

​One pinch is less than one tsp.  Just what you can hold between thumb and middle finger.   

Forgot to mention - perhaps start using Clob less.  Once a day should be enough.  Then gradually reduce when things get better to twice a week.  To perhaps once a week.  And when borax works for you you may not use clob at all anymore.  I'm using clob on rare occasion and then a tiny amount. 

Borax is banned here in the UK, I had to order mine from a site with many independant sellers. DO NOT use Borax subsititute, which you can buy here, it is not the same thing at all!

A pharmacist told me that apparently epople used to use it as an eyewash and damage themselves if they got it wrong. I don't know if that's true.

Maree, I wasn't able to tolerate bicarbonate or Borax in a spray bottle, I kept getting discomfort in my uretha and felt like I needed to wee all the time. If I put in on a bit of cotton wool and wipe it on it's fine and still works.

Thank you so much for the information. I have almost healed from my reaction to the borax saturated solution. I will start using the diluted borax in a couple of days. I am still very hopeful that borax will help.

I am so sorry to hear that a couple of you are having reactions to the borax saturated solution. As Bridge noted, make sure you are using borax...do not use boric acid. It is absolutely essential that you are using the proper ingredient. When I started we dipped a cotton swab in the solution and gently applied it to the affected area. Again,I  just want to make sure that the solution you are using is liquid, it is not a paste, it should look clear like water. That all being said, the sad reality is that every case of LS is slightly different, so while this may work for many of us, it may not work for all. Continued contributions of successes and failures is what's going to help all of us conquer LS in our own way.

Hi Alistar and thanks for your comments. I am definitely using Borax and not the acid but you make a good point!😳 I just noticed today that it's actually burned my clitoris as a layer of skin came away today (it wasn't Lichen Sclerosus plaque as that cleared almost immediately with clobetasol a week after I was diagnosed) My feeling is that without thickening or fusing, a diluted solution would be best as part of an ongoing maintenance program. Finding the correct dilution will be the key! I'll wait for this to heal and start with a 1/4 strength solution from the saturated solution and go from there.Il also try the bicarb soda. It's great we're all sharing this information as we go. 😜🌺

Please make sure that you are not using Boric Acid or Borax substitute, they are two different things and neither of them is the Borax we are using here for LS.

Borax substitute is Sodium sesqui carbonate (at least the brand I looked at).

Boric acid is known as hydrogen borate, boracic acid, orthoboric acid and acidum boricum.

Borax that we are using here is known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate.

Clear as mud?

Anyway please check, and only use the bottom one.

Thanks hanny,so very much appreciated. What would we do without this site to turn too. Xx

Goodness,

Thank you, yes i did wonder about what borax substitute was ,

So many different types to choose from , xxx

Thanks for that. I quadruple checked and yes, I was using the correct stuff.  My skin was in good condition (ie.it looks normal albeit I feel a lot of activity under the skin) without thickening and whitening so the saturated strength was too strong. The skin was obviously sensitive because of a years worth of clobetasol so I suspect that's why i had such a severe reaction -it actually ended up swelling right up with the surface layer of skin peeling away .  It has healed relatively quickly so today I have restarted with 1/3 strength of the saturated solution. I'll report back and let you know how it goes...  thanks so much for all of your input.  It is so incredibly helpful on all levels to have the support and help of fellow sufferers.  X