Saltwater Gargling

 Hello and welcome to my blog! Today I'm going to share with you a simple and effective home remedy for throat pain: gargling with salt in hot water. You might have heard of this before, but do you know why it works? In this post, I'll explain the science behind this natural treatment and how it can help you feel better in no time.

Saltwater Gargling

Why do we feel relief when we gargle with salt in hot water when suffering from throat pain?

Soreness in the throat can cause throat pain. Soreness of throat is generally due to the infection of the bacterium called Streptococcus. So, it is called strep throat. A strep throat is usually inflamed due to bacteria making widespread damage on our soft tissues or mucosa.

Streptococcus

These inflammations (known as Edemas) are usually filled with water. When we gargle with warm salt water that is saltier than our body fluids (hypertonic solution), through osmosis the salt draws out the Edema fluid. 

The principle behind it is that if a porous partition separates dilute and concentrated solutions then the dilute solution permeates through the porous partition into the concentrated solution.

Osmosis in action

This process does not stop till the concentration of both the solutions is equal. Salt water is more concentrated than the water in bacteria. The membrane of the cell of inflammatory tissue acts as a porous partition. So, the salt draws water from the swollen cells that are causing pain and the inability to swallow foods.

Not only that, but it will also draw water from the bacteria. When the bacteria gradually lose their body fluid, they cannot remain active after dehydration. So, they wither and die. This phenomenon is called plasmolysis.

Plasmolysis

The other benefits are; when the salt water enters the throat, the solution helps to neutralize acids in the throat, restoring the natural pH balance that had been disrupted by the sore throat.

By doing this, the burning sensations are relieved, and the mucous membranes become less irritated, which can speed healing.

In addition to neutralizing acid, the saltwater gargle helps to wash away unwanted mucus and increase the blood flow to the throat. The capillaries then become dilated, which allows for faster circulation of infection-fighting cells.

Instead of table salt dissolved in water it is better to gargle with hypertonic saline solution. What is hypertonic saline water? It's just water that has more salt than normal. You can make it at home by dissolving two teaspoons of table salt and one teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, not baking powder) in 200 ml of purified water. The baking soda helps to improve the mucous solvent properties of the irrigating solution.

How to gargle with salt in hot water?

It's very easy to prepare and use this remedy. All you need is some salt and some hot water. Here are the steps:

1. Dissolve two teaspoons of salt and one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water. Make sure the water is not too hot or too cold, as it can irritate your throat more.
2. Take a sip of the salt water and tilt your head back slightly.
3. Gargle for about 30 seconds, making sure to swish the water around your mouth and throat.
4. Spit out the water and repeat until you finish the glass.
5. Do this several times a day, especially before bed and after meals.

Some tips and precautions:

1. Don't swallow the salt water, as it can cause dehydration and nausea.
2. Don't use too much salt, as it can dry out your mouth and throat.
3. Don't use iodized salt, as it can cause allergic reactions in some people.
4. If you have high blood pressure or kidney problems, consult your doctor before using this remedy.
5. If your throat pain persists for more than a week or is accompanied by fever, difficulty breathing, or swollen glands, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Health Benefits:

• Kill many types of bacteria and viruses by drawing out water from them.
• Reduce inflammation and pain in your throat by creating a salt barrier.
• Prevent infection from getting worse or spreading to other parts of your respiratory system.
• Promote healing after dental procedures by stimulating wound repair activity.
• Lower harmful bacteria counts in your saliva and prevent dental problems.
• Protect against the common cold and flu by reducing upper respiratory infections.

I hope you found this post helpful and informative. Gargling with salt in hot water is a safe and natural way to soothe your sore throat and fight off infections. Try it out and let me know how it works for you in the comments below. Thanks for reading and stay healthy!