Is sea salt safe for wounds?

Answer 1

Because of its availability, serious wouds and operating fields are often flushed with Normal Saline, which is 0.9% w/v of NaCl, about 300 mOsm/L (cit. WikiPedia: Saline). This is close to the blood's normal salinity. Note that this is used clinically to clean and disinfect wounds. The body does the healing.

Answer 2

ANSWER:

Yes. If you cut yourself at a beach go straight to the water it stops bacteria from going to your wound aswell it stings a little but it perfect for healing cuts faster it is the best thing you can do.

Answer

Salt does NOT have antibacterial qualities. The reason the salty water at the beach is good for cuts and grazes is that the salt AFTER YOU GET OUT OF THE WATER helps dry the wound.

The reason dentists sometimes suggest we rinse our mouths with salty water (after extractions or when we have ulcers etc.) is that the salt-water is "isotonic" and less irritating to the mucous membranes in the mouth. It is NOT as an antibacterial agent. (This was proven in a study released in the BDJ (British Dental Journal) around 2004).

Answer

Sodium Chloride, or salt is a antibacterial agent. Salty water will cause liquids to move out of cells [be that human cells or bacterial] when it comes into contact with them. This process is called osmosis. This movement of water can dehydrate cells, and cause them to die. This process on bacteria kills them and gives salt it's antibacterial properties and is the same reason why salt was used to preserve meat.

However

The salt applied meat in order to preserve it was applied in vast amounts (DRY salt on the not-very-moist surface of the meat) and this caused the osmosis-led preservation you mentioned. But salt in SOLUTION does not have the same efficaciousness since it's in SOLUTION - and is vastly overwhelmed by the water. Again, this was all put to rest in an extensive study published in the British Dental Journal and other peer-review publications. 'Salt water gargles' are isotonic only.

Answer 3

In general,yes. It is very similar to sterile normal saline, widely used on wounds. The fact that it is not quite normal strength, or that it contains other salts than sodium chloride, are of little consequence. The two big drawbacks are that it is not sterile and often contains, besides bacteria, all kinds of animal/vegetable impurities.

Answer 4

yes it helps a lot. The best way is to warm up the salt and water solution as it helps the salt to dissolve. It might sting a little but not badly. It should ease irritation and help any swelling.

Answer 5

Yes, but it has to be sterile and isotonic (matching salt concentration of blood) or it will either permeate into (less concentrated than blood) or draw water out of (more concentrated than blood) the wound.Read about Saline on wikipedia and carefully measure the salt to get the right concentration.

And don't forget it has to be STERILE!

Answer 6

Salt, in and of itself, does not speed up healing. Salt will dry out the wound and help keep it clean by absorbing fluids. Once the wound is dry, the body can work more efficiently. If you have a condition that inhibits cellular function ( ie: Diabetes ), nothing will speed up the healing process ;)

Answer 7

Yes very safe and effective method for cleaning wounds, may sting a tad but gives it a good natural clean!