Rock salt a cure all?

[Austin Mini]

Have just returned after two weeks on Gozo, Malta. We were talking to an Irish journalist who told us of the magical properties of Gozo rock salt. She bought some in a little jar for 2 euros then found it in a supermarket for 60 cents for a kilo! We went next day and bought a kilo on her recommendation. By 'eck this stuff works wonders on my wifes psoriasis on her elbows. I have had bad skin on my toes and have been putting cream prescribed by my Doc since January. Two soakings in Gozo rock salt and they are better, almost instantly! Apparently Gozitians drink the stuff mixed with water and the effects are astonishing. What I need to know is Rock salt same as Sea salt? This Gozo rock salt works wonders!

 

[Northerner]

It's a new one on me Austin! Perhaps it contains particular concentrations of minerals? If you drink it, is it like Bath water (the spring water from the Roman Baths in Bath! 🙂) - tastes a bit revolting because of the sulphur?

 

[Caroline]

I don't think rock salt is the same as sea salt. It has all kinds of healing properties when used in baths, but was told to avoid adding it to food or drinking it in solution as it acts like sea salt. I'm sure someone else with better information will be along soon.

 

[Austin Mini]

Nope, they drink it and they look pretty healthy to me and some are a good old age too. Remember the saying 'worth his salt'? thats from the Romans who conquered us Brits many years ago. Apparently they were paid in salt.

 

[Mark T]

...Apparently they were paid in salt.

That's correct. In those days salt was a very valuable commodity because it was the only way of keeping meat good - seeing as they didn't really have refrigerators.

That must be a new one 🙂. I went to Gozo 15 years ago and I don't remember people selling special salts.

 

[Austin Mini]

Mark T. The touristy spots sell the salt (if you look for it) in pretty jars. If you wander into the supermarkets and ask a lady she shows you the product packed in a plastic bag for 60 cents 1kg (30p). I would never have known if it wasnt mentioned by the Irish journalist.

 

[Ellie Jones]

It's a new one on me as Well, and Gozo is where my sister-in-law comes from!

Shall have to ask when I see her..

 

[Kwaka1]

Isn't Rock Salt what they put on the roads (mixed with grit/molasses), and which is found in abundence under Cheshire?

 

[trophywench]

Yes it is LOL

However it prolly depends a helluva lot on which rock they make it from.

Are they volcanic? that eensy liddle one is like a caldera from memory, isn't it (I was last there in approx 1978, whenever it was they'd just checked the PLO out ....)

 

[Copepod]

Nope, they drink it and they look pretty healthy to me and some are a good old age too. Remember the saying 'worth his salt'? thats from the Romans who conquered us Brits many years ago. Apparently they were paid in salt.

Origin of word "salary".

My mum tells a story of having her smallpox vaccine in late winter in late 1950s, which left a large sore patch, which didn't heal, as her nursing dress short sleeve cuff rubbed on it. Eventually, during her summer holiday, she swam in the sea, and it healed within a couple of days. I've also seen seawater have very good effects on tropical ulcers, which developed on several members of an expedition to island of Seram in Indonesia.

However, it's difficult to rule out part played by change of clothes, sunlight, rest, relaxation etc. UVB light especially is known to have a positive effect on many cases of psoriasis.

 

[Northerner]

Apparently...

Gozo Sea Salt is formed from the natural evaporation of sea water by the Mediterranean sun, in man-made pools dating back to the Roman era at Xwejni bay, Gozo Natural Salt is an essential element in the diet of not only humans but of animals, and even of many plants. Use of natural salt is as old as human history. Natural Salt is one of the most effective and most widely used of all food seasonings and natural preservatives. Natural salt is a source of 21 essential and 30 accessory minerals that are essential to our health.

Doesn't specify the "21 essential and 30 accessory minerals that are essential to our health" unfortunately

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

We had a family holiday near Salzburg and (alongside the Sound of Music) they made a great deal of the whole rocksalt thing. I must say I took them all with a pinch of, erm, well... something or other 🙂

 

[Caroline]

Origin of word "salary".

My mum tells a story of having her smallpox vaccine in late winter in late 1950s, which left a large sore patch, which didn't heal, as her nursing dress short sleeve cuff rubbed on it. Eventually, during her summer holiday, she swam in the sea, and it healed within a couple of days. I've also seen seawater have very good effects on tropical ulcers, which developed on several members of an expedition to island of Seram in Indonesia.

However, it's difficult to rule out part played by change of clothes, sunlight, rest, relaxation etc. UVB light especially is known to have a positive effect on many cases of psoriasis.

Apparently during the war when aircraft crew had to bail from their burning planes, the wounds of those who ended up in the sea healed better than those who landed any place else.

 

[Copepod]

Apparently during the war when aircraft crew had to bail from their burning planes, the wounds of those who ended up in the sea healed better than those who landed any place else.

That's probably more to do with landing in water instead of on land, as water is the best first aid for burns.

 

[DeusXM]

I think also, salt is generally recognised as having a beneficial effect on some skin conditions. I suspect simple sodium chloride is doing its magic - there may be other minerals in there but I seem to recall reading somewhere that even supposedly magic Himalayan Pink Salt (which isn't actually from the Himalayas) is something like 99% sodium chloride, meaning any actual other minerals are in extremely small quantities.

I'd be inclined to go with what else has been mentioned here - a bit of sunlight plus swimming in the sea probably means both your skin conditions were on the remission point. The Gozo sea salt timing is probably just fortunate. Still, given that salt seems to work anyway on this stuff, you've still got something useful.