Salt, increasingly demonised by health professionals and the media alike, presents us with a paradox. Constantly, we are told to cut down on salt before it cuts short our lives; yet still our bodies crave it. Such cravings, however, are for natural salt. Incredibly, new research hails salt, in its original, untreated form as a panacea for the perils of modern living.
Two of the fundamental ingredients for life are water and salt. Human blood contains a salty solution, as do our tears, even the amniotic fluid that surrounded us in the womb.
Without salt, we simply could not survive; it both aids in the creation of life and sustains it. But recent, and ongoing negative publicity concerning health problems associated with excessive salt consumption has tarnished the image of this remarkable compound, portraying it as something at best unnecessary and at worst, lethal. Sadly, this once historically-valued 'white gold', is now (in the latest government health campaign) symbolised by the image of a slug. However, it is important to understand that this is because the substance we now refer to as salt is far from the white gold of old. Modern table salt has little in common with original, untreated natural crystal salt, such as that found in Himalayan salt mines. Indeed, crystal salt actually has a remarkable record for its healing properties. Nor is crystal salt refined, or adulterated like table salt that can be the cause of so many health problems.
So what is table salt?
The chemical industry refines salt for industrial purposes. Over time, salt has undergone a transformation into a quite different substance. The so-called 'cleaning' process leaves salt almost unrecognisable – stripped of minerals and reduced to simple sodium chloride. Trace elements which support harmonious mental and bodily functions are removed. What remains is lifeless and devoid of energy – in consuming it, we force our bodies to accommodate a dead substance. Insult is added to injury with bleaching and the inclusion of additives such as aluminium hydroxide, iodine and fluoride – which, when added artificially, cannot be adequately metabolised.
The effects on the body
The human body tries desperately to get rid of it this concoction, putting immense pressure on the organs of elimination. The delicate mineral balance of the body is disrupted and, as a result, blood pressure increases.
In his best-selling book, Water & Salt, Peter Ferreira explains
"The result of consuming common table salt is the formation of overly acidic edema, or excess fluid in the body tissue, which is also the cause of cellulite. That's why doctors tell us to avoid it. For every .035 ounces of sodium chloride that cannot be eliminated, the body uses 23 times the amount of its own cell water to neutralise the salt." 1
Uric acid is also produced to get rid of the excess salt. In the long run, the body is poisoned because toxic substances cannot be disposed of. "Most of us suffer from a lack of salt, even though we are oversaturated with sodium chloride" 2
So how can we glean the benefits but avoid the perils of salt?
Himalayan Crystal Salt
So, we are becoming increasingly aware that table salt is a poison. Yet few of us realise that natural salts are still available. The most extensively-researched of these is Himalayan Crystal Salt. Biochemically non-aggressive, this salt is a completely natural mineral compound, containing not only sodium chloride, but all elements of which the body is composed. It has the same 84 minerals and trace elements in the same proportions as those found in blood plasma, as well as the frequency patterns of all these elements, enabling it to balance energy deficits in the body. Himalayan Crystal Salt has none of the devastating effects on the body as table salt, and actually encourages the release of toxins and waste products, which are then transported and excreted from the system.
Healing with Himalayan Crystal Salt
The healing properties of salt are well documented in mainstream medicine. New scientific research, however, suggests that the rediscovery of natural salt could well be one of the most important breakthroughs in health this century. In Water & Salt, Peter Ferreira lays out research which repeatedly demonstrates the benign but powerful nature of Himalayan Crystal Salt, and its significance in the treatment of numerous disorders; particularly respiratory ailments and skin diseases.
The Applications of Himalayan Crystal Salt
Himalayan Crystal Salt can be used in a variety of ways. It can be added to food, used in cooking or taken as 'sole' (pronounced solay) – a 1% salt/water solution. This solution can be ingested as an energiser and detoxifier. Contrary to table salt, it is not off-limits for those with high blood pressure; sole in fact lowers blood pressure within 15 minutes. This does not, however, mean that sole is simply a remedy for high blood pressure – indeed, it has been demonstrated that those with low blood pressure can also drink sole, and blood pressure will rise.
"The sole's fundamental attribute is its ability to restore balance," says Peter Ferreira. Sole can be used as a balm for skin conditions such as neurodermatitis and psoriasis, to flush the sinuses, or to bathe sore, irritated eyes. The crystals can be dissolved and used for a detoxifying bath, or to complement flotation tank sessions. Topically, the salt can be applied as a wrap for soft tissue injuries and to heal anything from warts to insect bites. Sole inhalation – an old household remedy – is invaluable in the treatment of allergies and respiratory disorders. Salt rocks can even be used as a deodorant, as they prevent formation of the germs and bacteria that cause unpleasant body odour. The salt can also be used cosmetically, in masks that tighten the skin and thus help to defy the ageing process. Says Ferreira: "there is hardly a more efficient and natural remedy than crystal salt… to stimulate our body's innate regulatory abilities and restore our energy balance." 3
All quotes are from the book 'Water and Salt' by Sole UK, used by permission.
Water & Salt, Peter Ferreira, pp. 110
Water & Salt, Peter Ferreira, pp. 109
Water & Salt, Peter Ferreira, pp. 155
