Salt of the sea, salt of the earth
70% of a human body depends on a saline solution for its existence.
Salt imbalances can make us very ill. Throwing away the salt shaker is not the answer. A good balance of minerals and trace elements has to be maintained to carry out vital bodily functions. Today we need to embrace the “salt of the earth” in order to replace these vital minerals. Salt receptors on our taste buds tell us when we need more electrolytes if we become dehydrated. Drinking excessive water flushes out even more minerals as does sweating or urinating. People who drink distilled water become acidic and get cramps easily because the water is devoid of minerals, especially the electrolytes contained in salt. We need to replace the salt we lose. Why then, has salt gained such a bad reputation?
Normal refined (denatured) table salt is pure sodium chloride. This has an acidic effect on the body. However, it is good for sterilization purposes, washing fruit and vegetables and as a snail deterrent. The homeopathic remedy NAT MUR (natrum muricatum) as well as the tissue salt NAT MUR is a triturated or finely diluted version of sodium chloride. It is used to correct sodium imbalances. In homeopathy the remedy is a finer dilution called a potency of the basic substance that causes the diseased state: refined salt ! Examples are: constipation, dry skin, black rings under the eyes, hay fever, hardened joints and blood vessels, a dry mouth, dehydration, dandruff and heat fatigue.
For many victims of mental conditions such as moodiness and depression, sugar and alcohol cravings and obviously an addiction to salty foods the remedy of choice is: NAT MUR! These remedies are freely available at health shops. (ref 1) Most of the pills have a lactose or sugar base, unfortunately. A homeopath will prescribe the exact potency needed if symptoms indicate a more chronic constitutional condition.
Self help: For a first aid NAT MUR treatment free of lactose or sugar, add a pinch of common salt to a litre of water in a bottle. Shake it vigorously. Pour out half the water and replace it with fresh water and shake again. Do this 3x. Sip the treated water throughout the day. When the bottle is halfway down, add more water and shake it up again and this will increase the therapeutic effect. Continue for the next day or two, until your water balance has been restored. Replace table salt with a natural form of salt.
Do not consume denatured table salt: Sodium chloride consumed in excess (most popular foods) causes acidity, stiff joints, and it hardens blood vessels, leading to raised blood pressure. It amplifies sugar and alcohol cravings. It causes excessive sodium in relation to potassium, resulting in water retention. Sodium chloride upsets the balance in favour of sodium. Excess sodium builds up in the tissues. Doctors who tell you to cut out this salt are absolutely correct! Stay out of trouble by changing over to Himalayan salt to control the minerals that control your heart.
Himalayan Salt. This beautiful pink salt from the mountains in Asia has an alkalizing effect on the body. Taking it as a remedy or using it in foods and beverages actually lowers blood pressure! Some people notice a drop in blood pressure after a while. This may be good news for some, but for those who have adrenal problems and low blood pressure you can compensate with blackstrap molasses, a little liquorice or ginseng.
Himalayan salt is very rich in most of the trace elements. It makes a lovely detoxifying mineral bath to soak in or rinse sensitive regions. A therapist told her patient with severe acne who had been taking various medications for years to mix Himalayan salt with a pH-balanced liquid soap to wash the lesions. After 2 weeks, his skin cleared up showing that drugs do not address trace element deficiencies like tin or zinc.
How to make “sole” a health drink:
Soak 3-4 tablespoons of Himalayan salt in a glass of water for 24 hours. Take a teaspoon in a glass of water every morning. Benefits: as a mineral and trace element supplement well matched to the body it can restore electrolytes that control our energy fields, it balances pH, blood pressure and reduces cramps. It has a more satisfying taste and reduces junk food cravings. We can enjoy this salt with a clear conscience as a good medicine. (ref 3) If the finely ground salt forms big lumps then add a teaspoon of powdered calcium and magnesium to the salt shaker to keep it free flowing.
Potassium Chloride. This sodium-free salt is preferred by some people but we find it strips the skin off the roof of your mouth! It is available in supermarkets or from the health shop, known as: salt substitute. Potassium chloride helps to increase the hydrochloric acid intensity of the stomach especially when we get older. This in turn improves digestion and the control of microbes like Helicobacter – pylori, giardia and shigella.
Potassium chloride is the base material for making the tissue salt: KALI MUR. It is the chief remedy for glandular swellings such as mumps. It is a decongestant and is good for liver function, digestion, and the lymphatic system. It controls inflammation as helps maintain blood circulation and nerves. In emergencies, you can make the remedy as for NAT MUR (See above.) I sipped the water treated with potassium chloride for two days and watched a large, granular lump under my armpit melt away! This water is of great benefit to a sluggish metabolism.
Salt to save the heart: A study on cause of death by stroke and heart disease undertaken in Finland during 1996 revealed a 60% improvement when a new type of salt was introduced nationwide, even at the palaces of burgers, chips and other junk foods. People still ate a lot of fat, were obese, drank and smoked as much as before but they changed the salt! In a follow-up study in 2006 improvement has risen to 75-80% with an increase in life expectancy of 6-7 years. The base for the salt they used was potassium chloride. To this, they added magnesium and l-lysine. (ref: 2) Perhaps there is some truth in the concept that disease is caused by a deficiency of key nutrients.
Salt from the sea or salt pans is also a good alternative to what is known as white poison, or sodium chloride. Sea salt and salt from the Kalahari desert has an alkalizing effect and is rich in trace elements. Celebrity chefs can discern the subtle difference in taste they bring out in the food and so can you. There are many exciting brands of salt from the earth to taste and explore. Black salt is unique in its mineral make up. Being so high in sulphur, it smells like rotten eggs. However, when added to food that is then cooked, all you get is a flavour so delicious you cannot describe it. I bought some at a spice shop to test out. Only use it in strong curries or Mexican food. Black salt may help to alleviate a sulphur or extreme trace element deficiency, providing you don’t mind sipping stinky water or adding the salt to an ointment or liquid soap.
The Great Salt Lake in Utah provides a mineral solution so rich in magnesium chloride that it is hard to swallow, but this foul tasting solution is very rich in something we all need more of: lithium and boron. It also has traces of just about every other element on the periodic table. Take it in some water – quickly! (ref 4)
DISCLAIMER: This information is not a substitute for medical consultation and should not be used to diagnose or treat conditions. Natural remedies often duplicate the action of prescribed drugs so please consult a knowledgeable practitioner. The author and publisher accept no responsibility for the application of this article.
References for salt:
1 Tissue Salts for healthy living by Margaret Roberts. Spearhead 2002 ISBN: 0 86486 490 6
2 Finland studies: nutrition & Healing Vol 9, issue 1 January 2010 page 1. Fleet Street Publications.
3 www.universalvision.co.za Himalayan crystal salt
4 www.concentrace.co.za Concentrace Minerals and Trace elements