Salt for Preventive Health and Natural Remedies

Salt can be a wonderful natural preventive remedy, especially because it is so cheap and has so many uses.

The human requirement for dietary salt and the relative difficulty of producing it built and destroyed empires, determined trade routes and the location of cities, occasioned wars and inspired revolutions. 

Salt is a mineral that was in great demand particularly with the beginning of an agricultural mode of life. Hunters and food-gatherers probably obtained a large amount of their salt intake from the animals they hunted and from fresh plant food. Salt only becomes an essential additive where fresh foods are unobtainable in vey dry areas, where body perspiration is also normally excessive. It becomes extremely desirable, however, amongst societies with relatively restricted diets.

In addition, salt was always in great demand in order to better preserve dried meat and to give added taste to food.

They would dig in the ground and thick slabs are found in it, lying on each other as if they had been cut and stacked under the ground. 

Salt Slabs

(World History.org/the salt trade of ancient west Africa)

Once they had the salt, camels would carry two salt slabs. The salt slabs could weigh up to 200 pounds. They would then trade the salt for goods, like gold, leather, and ivory. 

Trans-Saharan Camel Caravan

(World History.org/the salt trade of ancient west Africa)

While we're always told to avoid too much salt (and fat, carbs, etc.) the fact is that sodium is also essential for life. It helps regulate our blood volume. It shuttles nutrients into our bodies and brains. It allows our muscles to contract and our nerves to pulse with electricity. 

Natural Health Remedies Using Salt:

1.    Flushing Sinuses
    Although this use of salt is ancient, modern medical research has shown that flushing the sinus passages with a saline solution can help prevent/relieve sinus infections and/or relieve postnasal drip. (One caveat: Boil your tap water for 3 to 5 minutes and then cool until lukewarm before using. Always sterilize water for any solution that you plan to use in your sinuses, throat, or eyes.)

2     As an Eyewash
    Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a cup pf warm water and use it as a wash for tired, irritated eyes. Be sure to boil tap water for 3 to 5 minutes and then cool before using.

3.    Reducing Under-Eye Puffiness

    Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a cup of hot water; soak a washcloth or cotton balls in solution and apply to the puffy areas.

4.    Cleaning Teeth

    Try a mixture of salt and baking soda for your "toothpaste". Pulverize sea salt in a blender or crush it with a rolling pin, mix with an equal amount of baking soda, shake and store in a small glass jar. Mix with a bit of water and brush as usual. Bolt salt and baking soda have antimicrobial properties that kill many of the pathogenic bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. 

5.    As a Gargle, Mouthwash, or Breath Sweetener

    Mix a teaspoon of the tooth-cleaning mixture in a cup of warm water. (Boil your tap water for 3 to 5 minutes and then cool before using.)

6.    Reducing Fatigue

    Soak your tired feet or entire body in warm, salt-infused bath for a restorative effect.

7.     As an Exfoliant

    Mix equal parts of sea salt and olive oil and rub gently over the body for an exfoliating, moisturizing scrub. rinse with warm water. For the face, mix equal parts of salt and honey.

8.    Relieving the Pain of Insect Stings

    Mix salt with a bit of water and apply to the sting immediately. 

9.    For Poison Ivy

    Soak the affected areas in hot water salt water to help relieve the itch and dry up blisters.