The Healing Power of Common Salt

Is human life without salt imaginable? Probably not! Salt is an essential part of the diet of both humans and animals. It is a part of most body fluids, such as blood, sweat, and tears. It is widely used as a seasoning for foods, in curing meats, preserving fish and other foods. Since ages, salt has also been used as a remedy and a preventive measure against diseases. 

In this post, let’s learn about traditional uses of salt and discover the empirical knowledge of its healing benefits in curing common ailments -

Toothache:  Take a glass of warm water and add 2 tbsp of vinegar and a tbsp. of salt to it. Rinse your mouth with the same for temporary relief. Do visit your dentist for proper treatment.

Chest Congestion: Gargling with saline water helps in removing mucus from respiratory tube. Dissolve a tsp of salt and a pinch of turmeric to 1/2 cup of warm water. Take a swig of warm water and gargle for 1-2 minutes. Repeat the process,4-5 times daily to clear chest congestion.

Blocked nose:  Dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. Draw mixture into a nose dropper, and inhale liquid through your nostrils. Repeat this for each nostril, using 2 - 3 drops of the solution each time. When you are through, blow your nose until no discharge remains.

For stronger gums: Mix some salt with mustard oil (Brassica campestris) and gently massage the mixture over the gums with a finger. Rinse off with water. Repeat the treatment twice a week for stronger gums.

Sore throat: Boil a glass of water and add a tsp of salt. When the solution becomes lukewarm, do gargles with the same. Repeat 2-3 times daily for relief. See a physician if the sore throat persists longer than 3 days or is accompanied by a high fever.

To soothe muscles: Salt bath not only gets your feet clean and soft, but also relieves stressed muscles. Soaking feet in warm salt water for 10-15 minutes will help you relax and feel good.

Injuries: Dip the injured part of body in salt solution to subside pain and reduce swelling. Biting the cheek or tongue can cause pain and discomfort. To help ease the pain, rinse mouth with 1 teaspoon salt in 1 cup warm water.

Burns: Sometimes consuming very hot food or having a sip of hot coffee causes a severe burn in the mouth. Rinsing mouth with ½ tsp of salt in water every hour or so provides relief.

Bee stings/ Mosquito bites: Make a paste of salt in water and apply onto the sting or bite area and let sit until dry. This would relieve the itch and pain.

Stomache: Consuming a warm cup of water with a teaspoon of salt gives relief from stomach pain. Frequent consumption of this mixture can provide more effective results.

Skin exfoliation: Salt works well as a natural skin exfoliant! For a glowing skin, rub some salt gently in circular motion on face and body when you’re still damp after a bath. Rinse if off with water.