Home Remedy Uses for Salt

The most familiar use of salt in the home is as a condiment for improving the taste of food. However, there are many other uses for salt -- from cooking and health to cleaning. Salt comes in many forms such as refined salt or table salt, iodized salt and kosher salt and unrefined salt which includes sea salt. Salt can also be used for home remedies.

Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT)

Salt is one of the major ingredients used in oral rehydration therapy. Oral rehydration therapy is a homemade liquid solution which is made by mixing salt, sugar and water together to be administered to children who have severe diarrhea. Diarrhea can harm children through dyhydration caused by the extensive loss of fluid. Oral rehydration therapy replaces the essential liquids and salts lost from the body.

Oral Care

Salt can be used as a mouth rinse to freshen breath. Make a mild saltwater solution by mixing equal parts of salt and baking soda and use as a mouth wash. Salt can also be used for cleaning teeth. Use a rolling pin or blender to blend the salt into a fine powder then mix one part salt to two parts baking soda. It may whiten teeth and is healthy for the gums and helps in the removal of plaque.

Sore Throat

Salt can help relieve a sore throat. A sore throat can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Salt is an antibacterial agent and kills bacteria by attracting water and attacking bacterial cell walls. It causes the bacteria to dehydrate and die. Stir half a teaspoon of salt into an 8-ounce glass of warm water and use as a gargle. Depending on the severity of the sore throat, this can be repeated every 30 minutes.

Eyes and Feet

Salt can be used to reduce puffiness around the eyes. Soak some sterile pads in a solution made from one pint of hot water and one teaspoon of salt. Apply over the puffy area for a few minutes. Salt can also be used to relieve tired feet. Soak feet in warm water to which a handful of salt has been added and rinse in cool water.

Skin

Salt can alleviate the pain from insect bites and stings. When stung by a bee, wet the area and cover with salt to relieve the pain. Soak mosquito and chigger bites in warm saltwater to help help ease the itch, then make an ointment out of lard and salt. Salt can also be used used when the skin comes into contact with poison ivy. Soak the affected area in warm salt water or if the area is big, you can fill a bath with warm saltwater, have a soak and then rinse off with clean water.