Amongst the fives types of salt (rock, sea, black, earth, alchemised), rock salt (Saindhava) is “the best” according to Ayurveda due to it’s healing properties.
Rock Salt:
- Promotes agni (digestion)
- is aphrodisiac
- conducive for eye sight
- good for the heart
- alleviates all three doshas (bio-energies).(1)
Rock Salt is Uniquely NOT Heating
All varieties of salt are heating (usna virya), but rock salt is unique as it’s not heating and doesn’t cause burning sensation. Additionally, this type of salt carries a slightly sweet taste.
This is why rock salt does not aggravate pitta or the eyes.
More Benefits of Salt:
Like all salts, rock salt has several healing properties:
- produces more moisture inside the body,
- improves taste,
- helps digestion,
- can enter through minute pores (suksma), penetrates deep
- promotes elimination of wastes.
- Salt is helpful for vata.(1)
The Unsustainable Truth About Rock Salt
HOWEVER, if you live outside of Asia, I recommend you only use rock salt in small amounts.
Sure this trendy condiment looks good in pink on your kitchen table, but…
Eating Himalayan Rock Salt far from the Himalayas just doesn’t make environmental sense, especially when there’s locally produced mineral salts you can consume in its place.
Himalayan rock salt is a finite resource that is mined. This means once salt reserves are depleted, they will be gone. For good. Himalayan Rock Salt also has huge! food miles.
Eat Local Salts
In Australia, we have a wonderful range of mineral salts like the Murray River (you can get your flakes in pink to) and lake salt from Western Australia.
From Europe and USA you have lovely local sea salt available (although sea salt should be had in little quantities).
Diversify Your Salt Intake
Overall, consuming all gives types of salt (pancha lavana) is the best to ensure optimum mineral levels and maintain good health.
It is also wise to implement other salt vegetables like seaweed/kelp and saltbush.
Related Reading: Pass the Saltbush – Salt Grown on Land & In Gardens (Australian Bush Tucker)
What is your favourite type of salt? Comment below👇
References:
- Astanga Samgraha of Vaghbata, Sutra Sthana
