Croton Blog: Salty Dogs

Dear Mrs. Helpful:

Are sea salts really good for you?

Dear Friend,

Mrs. Helpful is a firm believer in the healing powers of saltwater soaks – especially Dead Sea salts, if you can get your hands on them. In addition to the more common usages like a foot soak for healing minor abrasions and gargling with (table) salt water for a sore throat, many people use salt baths to diminish the torture of poison ivy and vanquish the pain of early breastfeeding. Cracked and sensitive nipples heal overnight! No kidding!

Don’t get all squeamish on me; we’re in a new millennium just overrun with body parts – all of them exposed. According to the lactation specialists at Beth Israel Hospital in NYC (so, where else would you expect?) a judiciously administered salt soak cures and heals better than creams do. Having said that, it is not the easiest thing in the world to comfortably get your breasts into a small bowl of lukewarm saltwater when you are three days postpartum. But it is well worth it. (Rinse with fresh water before re-commencing to feed the baby).

Dead Sea salts: Good for wise King Solomon -- good for you!

Helpfully yours,

Mrs. H

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This article was published on January 25, 2005. The Permalink for this article is http://www.crotonblog.com/archives/2005/01/25/ask_mrs_helpful/salty_dogs/.

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