So far, many people have used salt water as a mouthwash to treat bad breath and treat canker sores. In fact, the benefits of salt water for health are not only that. Many other benefits are a shame if you miss them.
Salt, or what is also called sodium chloride (NaCl), contains important minerals that the body needs. In addition to minerals, several types of salt are also equipped with iodine, potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc.
Salt is not only used as a seasoning but also to treat various health complaints. The way to get the benefits of salt which is quite popular is to dissolve it in water, then make it a "medicine".
Various Benefits of Salt Water for Health
There are various benefits of salt water for health. Here are some of them:
1. Overcoming nasal congestion
To treat a stuffy or runny nose caused by sinusitis, rhinitis, allergies, or the flu, you can rinse your nose using salt water. This is because salt water can help clean the sinuses and nasal cavities from various germs, viruses, mucus, and dirt.
In addition, salt water can also make the mucus in the nose thinner and reduce swelling in the nose, thus making breathing easier and the nose no longer clogged.
2. Maintain oral health and hygiene
One of the most popular benefits of salt water is that it helps maintain oral health and hygiene. Gargling with salt water can help clean tartar and help inhibit the growth of bacteria that trigger bad breath. Gargling using salt water can also be an alternative to dealing with cavities without medication.
Not only that but gargling with salt water can also help speed up the wound-healing process after tooth extraction or piercings in the mouth area. In fact, complaints of canker sores and toothache can also be relieved.
How to make salt water as a mouthwash is quite easy. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of warm water, and stir until dissolved. Then, gargle with the salt water solution after eating.
3. Overcome sore throat
Sore throats can be caused by viruses or bacteria, and usually, cause the throat to itch and hurt when swallowing. To reduce this discomfort, you can make a saltwater solution as a natural sore throat remedy.
The trick is to dissolve 1 teaspoon of table salt in 1 cup of warm water, then use this solution to gargle. You can do this natural treatment while undergoing treatment from a doctor to help the healing process.
4. Overcoming water fleas
An athlete's foot is a contagious fungal infection of the skin of the feet and can spread to the toenails and sometimes the hands. Athletes' fleas can be treated with antifungal ointments that are sold in pharmacies or based on a doctor's prescription.
However, apart from medication, you also need to keep your feet clean to help recovery and prevent athlete's foot from reappearing.
One way that can be done to help overcome athlete's foot is to soak your feet in salt water for about 20 minutes, then dry them. This is because salt has a natural antifungal and antibacterial effect.
5. Relieves constipation
Since salt water can be used as a natural laxative or laxative, drinking it can help relieve constipation. However, these benefits will only be obtained, if you use certain salt water solutions, such as Himalayan salt or Epsom salt.
To make a saltwater solution for constipation, you only need to mix 2 teaspoons of Epsom salt in 4 cups or 1 liter of warm water and drink it on an empty stomach. If it's too salty, try adding a squeeze of lemon juice to it.
6. Reduces symptoms of eczema
Eczema can cause the skin to feel itchy, red, cracked, and dry. There are various ways to deal with eczema, one of which is by soaking in salt water. Saltwater, especially Epsom salt contains high levels of minerals, so it is useful in reducing redness and also inflammation of the skin. This also applies to dealing with acne on your head.
There are many benefits of salt water for health, but salt water can only be used as a home remedy and not as the main medicine to treat the disease you are suffering from.
If you experience certain symptoms after using salt water or a complaint that you want to treat doesn't improve, you should consult a doctor to get the right treatment.