Aaaand, I'm in the hospital...

[hazard]

Looking into it, I suspect they're using it as an internal antacid to decrease the acidity of your urine. Baking soda would do two things; it reacts in your mouth and stomach, and it's mixed with an acid already, so it'll 1) do fuck all to your pH balance and 2) react in a place where you will not benefit from it.

Well, I suppose it'll do another thing.

It'll increase your sodium consumption, so...