Evidence supporting the use of: Orsa salt
For the health condition: Sore Throat
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Orsa salt, also known as Himalayan pink salt or rock salt, has been traditionally used in various cultures as a home remedy for sore throat. The most common method involves dissolving the salt in warm water to create a saline gargle, which is believed to soothe throat irritation and reduce discomfort. The use of salt water gargles for sore throat is a longstanding folk remedy, and the rationale is that salt may help draw out fluids from inflamed tissues by osmosis, potentially reducing swelling and creating an environment less hospitable to pathogens.
However, while there is some scientific support for saline gargles in general, specific evidence for Orsa salt itself—distinct from regular table salt or sea salt—is lacking. No clinical trials have directly examined the efficacy of Orsa salt for sore throat relief. The tradition likely persists because salt in any form can have a mild soothing effect when used as a gargle, but the distinctive mineral content of Orsa salt has not been shown to confer additional benefits. Therefore, the use of Orsa salt for sore throat is justified primarily by tradition, with only indirect, low-level evidence supporting its effectiveness.
Other ingredients used for Sore Throat
allspicealoe vera
alpha-pinene
betel
bisabolol
black pepper
chamomile
dog rose
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
glehnia root
honeysuckle
Japanese sophora
licorice root
marshmallow
mint
spruce
platycodon root
sage
slippery elm bark
vitamin C
zhejiang fritillary
zinc
yellow root
boneset
mullein
hyssop
cardamom
atractylodes
hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
chaff flower
yarrow
fritillaria
yerba santa
elecampane
coltsfoot
flowering quince
sweetgums
camphor oil
wood betony
horehound
Sichuan pepper
Agastache
Alpha-terpineol
acacia
Agrimony
Alchornea
Amomum
Asarum heterotropoides
Alchemilla
Asafoetida
Andrographis
Alsonia scholaris
allyl isothiocyanate
Adenophora
Arisaema
Asarum sieboldii
Bee Propolis
Bryonia
Baphicacanthus cusia
Bougainvillea
Buddha's Hand
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Carvone
Cistus
Cubeb
Carlina
Calamus
Culvers Root
Dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z/Etetraenoic Acid Isobutylamide
English Horsemint
Elder
Goldthread
Orsa salt
Spikenard