Evidence supporting the use of: Sea salt
For the health condition: Infection (bacterial)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Sea salt has been used traditionally for centuries as a remedy to support wound healing and treat minor skin infections, largely due to its perceived ability to "cleanse" and act as an antiseptic. Historical records from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome document the use of saltwater baths and saline solutions for cleansing wounds and preventing infection. The mechanism is primarily based on salt’s ability to draw water out of bacterial cells via osmosis, potentially dehydrating and slowing bacterial proliferation on surfaces or in shallow wounds.
However, while tradition is strong, scientific evidence directly supporting sea salt’s efficacy in treating or curing bacterial infections is limited. Modern medicine uses sterile saline (purified saltwater) for wound irrigation, which is more about mechanically flushing debris and bacteria rather than relying on salt’s antimicrobial properties. Sea salt, unlike sterile saline, is not purified and may contain contaminants, so it is not recommended in clinical settings. Some in vitro studies show that high concentrations of salt can inhibit certain bacteria, but these are not directly translatable to safe or effective infection treatments in humans.
In summary, the traditional use of sea salt for supporting infection management is well documented, but robust clinical evidence is lacking. For serious or deep infections, medical treatment is required rather than relying on traditional remedies like sea salt.
Other ingredients used for Infection (bacterial)
2'-FucosyllactoseAjoene
Allspice
alpha-pinene
annatto
bacillus clausii
bacillus subtilis
barberry
bayberry
bearberry
myrobalan
berberine
Beta-Glucan
betel
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
bisabolol
black cumin
black pepper
black walnut
burdock
caprylic acid
cassia bark
cat's claw
Coptis chinensis
turmeric
curcumin
cuspidatum root
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
ginger
goldenseal
heartwood
immunoglobin G
iodine
L12-myoviridae
lactobacillus brevis
lactobacillus crispatus
lactobacillus gasseri
lactobacillus lactis
lactobacillus paracasei
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactobacillus salivarius
lactoferrin
lactoperoxidase
lauric acid
licorice root
mangosteen
methenamine
monolaurin
moringa
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
purified silver
saccharomyces boulardii
schizonepeta
shiitake mushroom
streptococcus thermophilus
T4D-myoviridae
vitamin C
vitamin D
Wasabi
xylitol
zinc
bentonite
sarsaparilla
yellow root
pistacia integerrima gall
blackboard tree
caesalpinia crista
rubia cordifolia
swertia
pau d'arco
myrrh
oriental arborvitae
eucalyptus
white oak
Abies spectabilis
geranium
red root
sea salt
15,16-Dihydrotanshinone I
3-Phenyllactic Acid
Alcohol
Avens
Agarikon Mushroom
Apple Cider Vinegar
Agastache
Alpha-terpineol
Acacia
Agave
Allicin
Achyranthes
Anamu
Abrus
Alchornea
Asarum heterotropoides
Aucubin
Andrographolide
Asam gelugor
Andrographis
Alsonia scholaris
Allyl Sulfide
Acemannan
Allyl isothiocyanate
Alliin
Abuta
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Alantolactone
Bee Propolis
Bifidobacterium
Babchi
Baphicacanthus cusia
Blepharis
Baccharis dracunculifolia
Berberis (unspecified)
Brazilian peppertree
Basidiomycota
Brevibacillus brevis
Bauhinia
Bacillus licheniformis
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Backhousia citriodora
Bifidobacterium animalis
Black Nightshade
Bacteria
Bacillus
benzyl isothiocyanate
Bassia scoparia
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Clerodendrum trichotomum
coconut oil
Coriolus mushroom
Combretum quadrangulare
Carvacrol
Cinquefoil
Cymbidium goeringii
Cajuput
Celandine
Centipeda
Cistus
Campsiandra angustifolia
Chirata
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Calamus
Coin-leaf desmodium
Ceanothus integerrimus
Cosmos
Cynodon dactylon
Chiococca alba
Cocklebur
Copaiba Oil
Celosia
Dehydroabietic acid
DIVI-DIVI
Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
Elephant's Head
Euphorbia
Elemi
Embelia
Eugenol
Fucoidan
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fomes fomentarius
Fang-Feng
Ficus religiosa
Geraniol
Glyceryl monolaurate
Glyceryl caprylate caprate
Globulins
Graviola
Galangin
Gallesia
Golden Shower Tree
Guazuma ulmifolia
Hygrophila
Houttuynia
Hydrocolloid
Humic acid
Horsemint
Immunoglobulin G
Isoalantolactone
Indian Coraltree
Isothiocyanates
Kigelia africana
Kachnar
Kochia
Knotgrass
Kefiran
Lime
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lichen
Lophira lanceolata
Lapachol
Lactic Acid
Lactococcus casei
Lysozyme
Leptadenia
Lantana camara
Leptospermum scoparium
Lactobacillus
Liverwort
L. lactis
Lysimachia
Labdanum
Lauric arginate
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Mountain horopito
Marsh Tea
Malva sylvestris
Matapalo Tree
Mangostin
Mahonia
Microtea debilis
Milkweed
Mondo Grass
Mangostanol
Mannose
Manzanita
Macaranga indica
Naphthoquinones
Nisin
Nasturtium
Osha
Orris
Oldenlandia diffusa
Phellodendron
Purple Tephrosia
Premna
Phragmites
Pluchea
Paenibacillus polymyxa
Pepper Bark Tree
Phlorotannins
Probiotics
Pediococcus acidilactici
Piper retrofractum
Pentatropis capensis
Pareira
Plumbago zeylanica
Peroxidase
Plectranthus amboinicus
Quebracho
Quisqualis
Rubia yunnanensis
Rosa laevigata
Spilanthes
Spanish Needle
Streptomyces
Streptomyces cellulosae
Shikonin
Self-Heal
Stemona
Siphoviridae
Sanguisorba
Streptomyces fradiae
Sesquiterpenic Acid
Streptococcus salivarius
Sarcandra glabra
Savory
Streptomyces griseoflavus
Simaruba
Sulfated polysaccharide
Storax
Smoketree
Sword Bean
Tannins
Terpinen-4-ol
Thuja
Thymol
Trametes
Thiosulfinate
Teri Pod
Umckaloabo
Umckalin
Vinegar
Verbascoside
Waltheria ovata
Xanthorrhizol
Zingerone
Other health conditions supported by sea salt
AbrasionsAcid Indigestion
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Bleeding (external)
Burns and Scalds
Congestion (sinus)
Constipation (adults)
Cuts
Dehydration
Digestion (poor)
Fatigue
Hemorrhoids
Indigestion
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Nausea and Vomiting
Pain (general remedies for)
Rashes and Hives
Sinus Infection
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin Care (general)
Sunburn
Wounds and Sores