Health benefits of Salt | Natural remedies

The medicinal uses of the most essential kitchen item, salt. Salt-based remedies for common ailments.

Salt is the most essential cooking ingredient, without which our food would be tasteless and insipid. We know that excess salt intake can lead to a variety of health problems including hypertension that is high blood pressure. Yet, in Ayurveda, Siddha and nature therapy, salt has been used to treat many ailments. In this article, we will look at some simple, yet little known remedies using salt.

How to make saline water
Swollen eye remedy
Salt for oral health
Pain relief remedies
Cold remedy
Salt for stomach problems
Correct tridosha imbalance with salt
Bloody vomit (mild) remedy
Tips & precautions
Video version of this article

MAKING SALINE WATER

Some of the following remedies mention the use of saline solution (salt water). It is a natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory solution. To prepare a saline solution, mix about 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. Salt water increases flatulence (gas), reduces food intake, increases bile (pitta), astringent taste and watery mouth, but eliminates intestinal obstruction (i.e, eases bowel movement). Let's now move on to the remedies.

FOR SWOLLEN EYES

Regularly rinse the eyes with saline solution. This reduces the swelling of the eyes, relieves eye irritation and clears the vision.

FOR ORAL HEALTH

To cure gingivitis, mix excess salt in water and gargle your mouth with it. This kills the bacteria in the mouth and throat, as well as prevents further bacterial growth. This also strengthens the gums and removes bad breath.

ACHES & PAINS

Roast some salt and wrap it in a cloth. Apply this fomentation (the salt pack) on the sore or aching spot. This is useful for toothache, earache, and especially for body aches.
To get relief from sprain and swelling, pour salt water generously over the affected area.

COLD & SORE THROAT

Dissolve a little salt in hot water. Pull it through both nostrils to cure cold and running nose. This will also help prevent influenza.
Gargling with warm salt water several times a day will soothe a sore throat. It also clears hoarse voice associated with sore throat, cold and fever.

STOMACH PROBLEMS

Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon salt in cold water and drink it 1/2 an hour before breakfast to get rid of indigestion and bloating.
Drink a glass of cold water mixed with 1 teaspoon of salt to get instant relief from stomach ache.
Drinking a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a teaspoon of salt relieves constipation and body aches.
Put a little salt in your mouth. A lot of saliva will be produced in your mouth. Swallow this saliva to relieve the heartburn associated with acidity.

TRIDOSHA & DIGESTION

Eat some sour curd mixed with salt at the end of the meal. This removes the tridoshas i.e, the three humors from the food in your stomach, which in turn improves digestion.

VOMITING BLOOD ?

Drink saline water to stop vomiting blood. If the vomiting doesn't stop after doing this, please consult a doctor immediately. Bloody vomits and stools can become fatal, if they are not treated as soon as possible

TIPS & PRECAUTIONS

Did you know, that if you add salt to the cow's feed, the milk production will increase.
Avoid excess salt consumption, particularly if you have hypertension i.e, high blood pressure, or if you are pregnant. Excess salt intake leads to water retention and other unnecessary health problems.
In general, avoid using excess or too little salt in your food, as both can harm your health. Use unadulterated salt for best results. Coarse sea salt is considered best.

There is a proverb in Tamil "உப்பில்லாப் பண்டம் குப்பையிலே" (uppilla pandam kupaiyile), which means, "Food without salt is fit to be thrown in the dustbin". Excess salt or no salt in food, makes the food insipid and tasteless.

That's all for today. Share this article with your loved ones and let me know in the comments what you'd like to read next. Stay healthy. Stay happy. See you again with another helpful article.