It’s inconceivable to think of a meal without salt. For human beings, it’s an essential component of our DNA, without which we cannot taste the food that we are eating.
You may not be aware that salt or (NACL), sodium chloride makes up roughly 0.4 per cent of the body’s weight.
A 50kg person would contain around 40 teaspoons of salt.
Going beyond its culinary uses, which is in almost everything we consume, salt throws its weight around non- food uses as well.
As an aromatherapist, I find that it hugely aids the natural and holistic cleansing, healing process. Infact, the panacea to most skin rashes is regular dips or swims in salt water (the sea).
Turns out, this mineral is truly worth its weight in gold. Here’s how:
To cleanse with jal neti
You can use a jal neti pot with a solution of iodide and preservative free salt mixed with baking soda to rinse out your nasal passages.
You may also find over-the-counter saline sprays at your local pharmacy that help clear a stuffy or runny nose.
To deep cleanse skin and eliminate toxins
Salt scrubs if well formulated ( with pure essential oils), double promote detoxification of the skin cells and lymphatic system. The bonus is you’re left with baby soft skin.
Soothe psoriasis and eczema
Soaking in mineral rich saltwater helps moisturise your skin and ease redness, and can relieve scaly patches and inflammation caused by psoriasis and eczema.
Dead Sea salts or Epsom salts in your bath work best. Soak for about 15 minutes.
To remove negative energy
A growing number of people advocate a warm soak / bucket bath with natural aromatherapeutic salts at the end of the day. The belief is that it cleanses any negative energies that we may have picked up during our day and interactions with people. If you make this more ritualistic with a healing prayer and thought process, it renews the mind and body.
Ease heartburn
Baking soda is a natural antacid. A teaspoon in a glass of cold water after a meal can soothe heartburn. If heartburn persists, though, you should see a doctor. And those on a low-salt diet may wish to try a different type of antacid instead.
Heal mouth sores and gums
Stir a teaspoon of salt into a half-cup or so of warm water, then sip, swish and spit. Do this several times a day and your mouth ulcers and canker sores and gums will get huge relief.
Sort out a sore throat
Gargling 1/2 a teaspoon of salt dissolved in a cup of warm water can ease swelling and soothe a sore, scratchy throat.
Freshen up bad breath
Bad breath can mostly be blamed on a dry mouth and/or plaque build-up.
Here’s another way baking soda comes to the rescue, by fighting microbes in your mouth and neutralising bad breath. A mouthwash made with half a teaspoon of baking soda and a cup of warm water swished for a minute 3-4 times per day can stave off bad breath for up to three hours.
Eliminate teeth stains
Have you noticed how companies are advertising salt as an integral part of its toothpaste component?
Some studies show that toothpaste with baking soda may whiten your teeth better than normal toothpaste, as the soda scrubs surface stains without scratching the enamel.
Take care of ingrown toenails
How can something seemingly so insignificant cause so much pain and discomfort. For mine, an ingrown toenail ranks up there with blind pimple inside your nose, sand in the eye, a toothache or an earache.
To ease swelling and tenderness caused by ingrown toenails, simply soak your foot in warm salt water several times a day. But if it gets worse see your doctor.
Rejuvenate tired feet
Dissolve a cup of Epsom salt in a litre of warm water and soak your achy feet. Salt neutralises negative energies that you may have absorbed and heals while deep cleaning your body.
Soothe bug bites or stings
Make a paste with baking soda and a little bit of water to help with itching, stinging, or minor swelling caused by bug bites and stings. It may also relieve rashes from hives, angioedema, or from contact with plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac.
Stop heat cramps
In extreme heat, the major cause of cramping – sharp pains, especially in your arms, belly, and calves – during or after exercise or physical work is loss of fluid and salt.
Most people will reach for a sports drink, but you can easily top up your salt and fluids by eating salty food and drinking some water.
You can even make your own sports drink by mixing a teaspoon of salt in a litre of water.
Also Read –
