The role of water in the body is endless. The human body is filled with fluids, representing a water-salt solution. Water and salt treatment is not so much a treatment in itself, but a proper attitude towards these two components, which are consumed by humans daily.
Water
Countless works, books, and research have been done on water by humanity. Without water, a person perishes, and rather quickly. How much water should one consume per day? To maintain water balance, it is recommended to consume 1.5-2.5 liters of fluid. This includes the liquid part of food, such as soups, broths, porridges, etc.
With sufficient water intake, the body properly handles tasks such as cleansing, maintaining blood pressure, and moisturizing (the skin, inhaled air). However, excessive consumption of plain water disrupts the water-salt balance.
Water-Salt Balance
Chemically, salt tends to move from a solution with a higher concentration to one with a lower concentration. For example, when hands are submerged in water for a long time, the skin on the fingers wrinkles after a while. This happens because skin cells release salt into the surrounding water, reducing the osmotic pressure. The same occurs in the gastrointestinal tract.
When a person moves from an area with soft water (low salt ion content) to an area with hard water, they may experience diarrhea initially, as the water in the body tends to move into the intestinal lumen and stomach. For this reason, the attitude towards water and salt in the body’s liquid environments remains constant – a 0.9% sodium chloride solution (table salt) is maintained. These figures are constantly maintained by the body.
Water and Salt Treatment in Medicine
Water and salt treatment in medicine is literally applied in two directions. The first application of water and salt is through various compresses. If nothing suitable for treating abscesses or boils is available, a hypertonic salt solution (with a concentration greater than 0.9%) can be used.
Applying such a solution to the affected area reduces swelling and alleviates pain. The downside to this method is the discomfort that arises when applied to open wounds. However, for abscesses and boils, this method is quite suitable.
The second direction of water and salt treatment is its effect on mucous membranes. Hypertonic solutions are used for enemas, which have a greater effect compared to regular enemas.
Moreover, in cases of dehydration, a water-salt solution is administered orally at a concentration normal for the body, with the addition of sugar and soda. Soda is added to correct the acid-base balance, and sugar serves as nutrition. These solutions are commercially available and are used in cases of fluid loss due to vomiting or diarrhea.
Rinsing the nasal and throat mucosa also involves water and salt treatment. For tonsillitis, a weak hypertonic solution is used to better remove deposits. Ready-made preparations for making rinsing solutions are available in pharmacies for sinusitis and sinusitis.
