Salt. NaCl. For most of us, salt is considered the most essential condiment in our pantry. We automatically put it in most everything we cook and wouldn’t think of eating many foods without a generous coating on top. Essential for animal life (necessary for regulating the fluid balance of the body), it is toxic to most plants–and deadly even to humans when consumed in too large of dosages. But before humankind was aware of its biological essentiality, it was used primarily as a preservative, carrying a higher trade value than diamonds, silver, or even gold in many ancient societies.
And in countless religious systems around the world (including Judaism and Christianity), salt is a mainstay of many rituals, holds special spiritual significance, and is believed to carry potent purification and protective properties. (Salt is, of course, a prominent feature of many Old Testament stories.) And well into the latter half of the 20th century, colonies of the British Empire were forbidden to even make salt due to the economic, spiritual, and practical independence it symbolized–the precise reason Mahatma Gandhi led some 100,000 of his people to the sea to assert their right to utilize their own natural resources. Even today, traditional Egyptian funerary practices include an offering of salt for the departing, a practical and spiritual connection to the ancient mummification process. And despite the fact that most Americans never sit down at the dinner table without a salt shaker within reach, most sociologists agree that our addiction to this harsh mineral (the average American consumes 4X as much as the body needs) is actually the side-effect of its long-standing use as a preservative.
But does that mean we should value salt less? Not at all. But our taste obsession has side-tracked us from its many practical uses. For instance: when it comes to oral hygiene, nothing can surpass the effectiveness of salt. A solution of salt dissolved in warm water can relieve the most severe sore throat and sinus infections (gargle every 2 hours); can relieve the mouth and gums of ulcers, sores, cuts, and abscesses (rinse every 2 hours); and can cure minor tooth ailments–those not requiring immediate attention from a dentist (rinse every 2 hours). Also, a cup of salt dissolved in bath water can ease the tightest of muscles–it was an essential element of bath salts for centuries (you may need to rinse off afterwards), a half-cup in a hot footbath can rejuvenate tired and sore feet (and works miracles on blisters and even athlete‘s foot), and does the same for over-worked and blistered hands–especially when followed by a thin coating of petroleum jelly. And as was common practice for centuries, salt added to the laundry can get out stains and ground-in dirt detergents alone can’t. And if that weren’t enough, a mixture of salt, buttermilk, and vinegar is an excellent cure for poison ivy and other rashes (apply every 2–3 hours); makes colors richer when added to Easter egg dyes (and is essential to tie-dying T-shirts); and makes a quick modeling clay for kids with nothing to do on a rainy day when mixed 1:2 parts with flour and a little water.
So while we Americans do consume far too much salt, that doesn’t necessarily mean we should buy less. We just need to shift our attention to the many practical uses that doesn’t negatively impact our health.
(Note: Should you have any adverse effects from any of these remedies or salt applications, discontinue use immediately. As with any curative, some individuals will have a negative reaction.)
