- The plant needs boron in very small quantities so excess quantities cause toxicity to many plants so be careful when using it.
- Cabbage and cauliflower need relatively high amounts of boron.
- The toxicity of boron in the dry areas is increased by yellowing the top of the leaves of the cucumbers and burning the edges of the leaves of the tomatoes.
- The small percentage acceptable for recording in compost is 0.02%.
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Boron is a mineral found in foods, such as nuts, and in the environment. People take boron supplements as medicine.
Boron is used to treat boron deficiency and for menstrual pain.
Women sometimes use capsules that contain boric acid, the most common form of boron, inside the vagina to treat yeast infections.
People also apply boric acid on the skin as an astringent or to prevent an infection. It is also used as an eye wash.
Between 1870 and 1920 and during the First and Second World War, boron was used to preserve food.
How effective is it?
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database classifies efficacy, based on scientific evidence, according to the following scale: Effective, Probably Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Probably Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence for Make a determination.
The effectiveness classification for this product is as follows:
Probably effective for:
- Boron lack. Boron intake prevents the lack of boron.
Possibly effective for:
- Painful menstrual periods. Some research shows that daily intake of 10 mg of boron near the date of the menstrual period decreases pain in young women with painful periods.
- Vaginal infections. Some research shows that boric acid, used inside the vagina, can successfully treat fungal infections (candidiasis), including infections that do not seem to resolve with other treatments. However, there are doubts about the quality of these investigations.
Possibly ineffective for:
- Athletic performance. Boron intake does not seem to improve body mass, muscle mass or testosterone levels in bodybuilders.
Insufficient evidence to make a determination to:
- Improvement of thinking and coordination in the elderly. There is some evidence that boron intake could improve mental processes, such as learning, memory and the ability to coordinate small muscle movements (fine motor skills) in the elderly.
- Arthritis Developmental research suggests that boron may be useful to decrease the symptoms of osteoarthritis pain.
- Osteoporosis. Preliminary research suggests that daily intake of boron does not improve bone mass in postmenopausal women.
- Radiation rash. Preliminary research shows that the application of a boron-based gel 4 times a day in the area irradiated by breast cancer treatment could prevent rash by radiotherapy.
- Increase in testosterone.
- Other conditions.
More tests are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of boron for these uses.
How does it work?
Boron seems to affect the way the body handles other minerals such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It also seems to increase estrogen levels in older (postmenopausal) women and in healthy men. Estrogen is thought to be useful for maintaining healthy bones and healthy mental function. Boric acid, a common form of boron, can kill yeasts that cause vaginal infections. Boron could have antioxidant effects.
- Cabbage and cauliflower need relatively high amounts of boron.
- The toxicity of boron in the dry areas is increased by yellowing the top of the leaves of the cucumbers and burning the edges of the leaves of the tomatoes.
- The small percentage acceptable for recording in compost is 0.02%.
------------------------------
Boron is a mineral found in foods, such as nuts, and in the environment. People take boron supplements as medicine.
Boron is used to treat boron deficiency and for menstrual pain.
Women sometimes use capsules that contain boric acid, the most common form of boron, inside the vagina to treat yeast infections.
People also apply boric acid on the skin as an astringent or to prevent an infection. It is also used as an eye wash.
Between 1870 and 1920 and during the First and Second World War, boron was used to preserve food.
How effective is it?
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database classifies efficacy, based on scientific evidence, according to the following scale: Effective, Probably Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Probably Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence for Make a determination.
The effectiveness classification for this product is as follows:
Probably effective for:
- Boron lack. Boron intake prevents the lack of boron.
Possibly effective for:
- Painful menstrual periods. Some research shows that daily intake of 10 mg of boron near the date of the menstrual period decreases pain in young women with painful periods.
- Vaginal infections. Some research shows that boric acid, used inside the vagina, can successfully treat fungal infections (candidiasis), including infections that do not seem to resolve with other treatments. However, there are doubts about the quality of these investigations.
Possibly ineffective for:
- Athletic performance. Boron intake does not seem to improve body mass, muscle mass or testosterone levels in bodybuilders.
Insufficient evidence to make a determination to:
- Improvement of thinking and coordination in the elderly. There is some evidence that boron intake could improve mental processes, such as learning, memory and the ability to coordinate small muscle movements (fine motor skills) in the elderly.
- Arthritis Developmental research suggests that boron may be useful to decrease the symptoms of osteoarthritis pain.
- Osteoporosis. Preliminary research suggests that daily intake of boron does not improve bone mass in postmenopausal women.
- Radiation rash. Preliminary research shows that the application of a boron-based gel 4 times a day in the area irradiated by breast cancer treatment could prevent rash by radiotherapy.
- Increase in testosterone.
- Other conditions.
More tests are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of boron for these uses.
How does it work?
Boron seems to affect the way the body handles other minerals such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It also seems to increase estrogen levels in older (postmenopausal) women and in healthy men. Estrogen is thought to be useful for maintaining healthy bones and healthy mental function. Boric acid, a common form of boron, can kill yeasts that cause vaginal infections. Boron could have antioxidant effects.
Is there concern for the safety of its use?
Boron IS PROBABLY SAFE for children and adults when used in doses below the Maximum Tolerable Intake Level (UL) (see dosage section below). There is some concern that doses greater than 20 mg per day, UL for adults, could damage a man's ability to father a child.
Boric acid, a common form of boron, IS PROBABLY SAFE when used vaginally for up to six months.
Boron is POSSIBLY SAFE in both adults and children when ingested in high doses. Intake of large amounts of boron could cause poisoning. Signs of intoxication include skin inflammation and peeling, irritability, tremors, seizures, weakness, headache, depression, diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms.
In addition, boric acid powder, a common form of boron, is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied in large quantities to prevent diaper rash.
Special warnings and precautions:
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding:
Boron IS POSSIBLY SAFE for pregnant and breastfeeding women 19-50 years of age when used in doses less than 20 mg per day. Pregnant and breastfeeding women ages 14 to 18 should not take more than 17 mg per day. . The intake of boron in high doses is NOT POSSIBLY SAFE during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Higher amounts can be harmful and should not be used by pregnant women as it has been linked to birth defects. Intravaginal use of boric acid, during the first 4 months of pregnancy, has been associated with 2.7 to 2.8 times the risk of producing birth defects.
- Conditions sensitive to hormones, such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis or uterine fibroids:
Boron can act like estrogen. If you have any condition that could be made worse by exposure to estrogen, avoid using boron supplements or eating high amounts of boron in food.
Kidney disease or kidney function problems: Do not take boron supplements if you have kidney problems. The kidneys have to work harder to eliminate boron.
