Sea salt has long been used as an active ingredient in many traditional medicine recipes. It is believed that it has the ability to accelerate the healing of minor injuries, increase skin elasticity, and effectively cleanse mucous membranes in case of purulent inflammation. This natural product is widely used for cosmetic and medical procedures, in particular for rinsing the throat. It can be easily purchased at pharmacies, and the preparation of the solution is not particularly difficult. Therefore, gargling with sea salt is deservedly considered one of the best methods of local therapy for infectious and inflammatory diseases of the oropharynx.
How to choose salt
The answer to the question of whether it is possible to gargle with sea salt is definitely positive. This remedy helps with viral and bacterial tonsillitis, helps to subside inflammation, reduce the concentration of pathogenic microorganisms on the surface of the mucous membranes. But in order for it to work properly, you need to choose the right main ingredient. What criteria should be followed in this case?
- Naturalness of the product.
You only need natural salt, synthetic analogs for rinsing are not suitable.
- Lack of additives.
Dyes, fragrances, as well as components that improve the effect on the body are permissible only when using this product for cosmetic procedures. When it comes to treatment, medium-sized sea salt for gargling a sore throat should not include any additional ingredients.
- The size of the grains.
Large particles are mainly suitable for bathing. It is better to prepare a saline solution using a fine powder, which dissolves more easily and faster in warm water. However, in the absence of such, you can take large crystals, making sure that they completely dissolve.
Better to give preference to salt obtained by drying in the sun.
Before buying, you should carefully read the composition. Sometimes you can come across the opinion that the best product is sold in cardboard packaging, but this is not entirely true. The most important is not the type of packaging, but the composition (no additives) and the method of production.
Recipes
Washing the mucous membrane with sea salt helps relieve pain, has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. There are several recipes for making gargles with this ingredient.
No additional ingredients
This is a one-component solution, the main component of which is fine or coarse natural salt. Crystals of the product in the amount of 2 tablespoons are stirred in two glasses of warm boiled water (400 ml). The solution made is used immediately.
With iodine
To prepare the product, salt and water are taken in the same amount as in the previous recipe. However, a few drops of iodine are additionally added. Best of all - no more than 3. The amount of iodine should be strictly controlled, it should not be used by children, pregnant and lactating women.
With iodine and salt
200 ml of warm boiled water will require a teaspoon of small crystals, a teaspoon of baking soda and 3 drops of iodine. If large crystals are used, you must first dissolve them in water and then add the rest of the ingredients. The solution is thoroughly mixed.
The iodine content in sea salt does not prevent its additional addition to medicinal solutions. Although it is believed that sea salt contains much more iodine than table salt, this is not the case. The named component is present only in the types of the product enriched with iodine. In other commercially available salt options, there is very little iodine.
Mode of application
How to gargle with sea salt? First you need to perform a few simple manipulations:
- prepare clean glassware;
- boil water, wait for cooling to the desired temperature;
- make a medicine by dissolving salt crystals in water.
The temperature of the rinse solution may correspond to the body temperature; the saline solution should not be hot or cold. It is best to use warm water, the heating comfort of which is checked in advance by pouring a little product into a separate container.
Rinsing is performed:
- Standing (preferred) or sitting.
- At a sink or container where you can sprinkle the solution.
- After eating.
- Children - under the supervision of adults.
The patient puts in his mouth an amount of the product that he can hold for 30 seconds - usually it is equal to a large throat. Throws back his head and draws out the sound "y". It is not necessary to achieve too active vibration of the walls of the pharynx, so as not to accidentally swallow the medicine. The solution is spit out, a new portion is collected until the patient rinsing the mouth has consumed the entire volume.
The solution is prepared immediately before the rinsing procedure.
Do not store the product for a long time. You need to collect crystals with a dry, clean spoon, use as much as needed for one rinse. Fresh solution works best. The procedure can be repeated up to 8 times a day. From the moment of the procedure, you need to refrain from eating and drinking for about half an hour.
If the patient decides to gargle a sore throat with natural sea salt, he should remember: the solution should not be swallowed. At the same time, do not be alarmed if a small amount of the drug gets into the stomach. The main thing is to avoid swallowing a large volume, especially if the medicine contains iodine.
