P AN C H A L A VAN A

SAINDHAVA LAVANA: Rock salt or sendha namak, as it is popularly

known, is a favourite of those fasting during the auspicious days of
Navratri. This is the only type of 'salt' consumed during these nine days.
Rock salt is the purest form of salt - unprocessed and raw, devoid of
environmental pollutants and chemical components. "It contains 84 out
of the 92 trace elements required by the body including potassium,
iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, copper and so on. It's a superior salt,
according to Ayurveda,

Contrary to popular belief, rock salt is not kala namak. “It is actually
known as sendha namak in Hindi, and is a highly crystalline salt. It is
made by evaporating sea water and does not contain high amounts of
sodium chloride (unlike table salt)”

It is used during Navratri across North India as a fasting ritual. It

facilitates the cellular absorption of minerals, and plays an important role
in replenishing the body’s electrolytes and maintaining the pH balance.

rock salt is cooling rather than heating and is far more balancing for
pitta, in comparison to other forms of salt. Its mildness and diverse
mineral content helps minimise the potential hazards of excess salt.

15 benefits of rock salt you need to know about:

1. Improves Digestion: rock salt improves digestion and is a natural
way to relieve stomach pain. You can add a few crystals of rock salt and
fresh mint leaves to a glass of lassi and reap the benefits. Rock salt can
also be used to cure stomach infections, and aids in deworming as well.

2. Boosts Metabolism

Metabolism refers to certain chemical reactions in our body that help in

maintaining the health of cells and organisms. "Rock salt can be used to
stimulate your body’s metabolism, and ultimately improve the functioning
of your body,”
3. Stabilises Blood Pressure

Dr. Anju Sood says, “Rock salt helps stabilise blood pressure by
maintaining a balance of high and low blood pressures. For people with
hypertension, It is a better alternative to table salt as it is high on
potassium."

4. Boosts Immunity

Sendha namak could prove to do wonders for your immunity too. “Rock
salt provides all the essential trace minerals and greatly improves the
body’s immune system, It fights harmful bacteria and helps kick illnesses
to the curb

5. Treats Sinus

“Rock salt is beneficial for people suffering from respiratory problems

and sinus,” adds Dr. Ahuja. Gargling with rock salt provides relief against
sore throat, dry cough and tonsils, or dissolve rock salt in water and
inhale steam.

6. Promotes Weight Loss

Looking to lose weight. Ditch table salt and switch to rock salt. Rock salt
reduces sugar cravings by reactivating insulin, and hence results in
weight loss”. You can sprinkle some rock salt over your fruits instead of
table salt.

7. Promotes Sleep

According to experts, sleeping less than 8 hours a day could take a

severe toll on your bodily functions. Our body needs a minimum of 8
hours to rest and recover from the day's work. “Rock salt regulates the
level of melatonin and thus, regulates our sleep cycle,”

8. Reduces Stress

To treat and manage stress and anxiety, mix a tablespoon of rock salt in
water and take a relaxing bath.
 9. Purifies Air

“Rock salt crystal products tend to reduce airborne irritants, pathogens

and allergens by pulling water vapour out of the air. Himalayan pink salt
is a natural ionic air purifier that pulls toxins from the environment and
neutralises them,"

Just adding a salt lamp in your room or near your desk at the office does
the trick.

10. Promotes Healthy Skin

“Rock salt is great for cleansing the skin and getting rid of clogged
pores,”

When used externally, it draws toxins out of the body. Mix a tablespoon
of rock salt with your usual cleanser and use as a face wash

11. Reduces Edema

Edema is basically swelling caused by fluid retention i.e. when excess

fluid is trapped in the body's tissues. “Soak your feet in a bucket of water
with rock salt to get rid of swelling and inflammation.”

12. Exfoliates Skin

Accumulation of dead skin cells results in dull, rough and ageing skin.
“Use rock salt to exfoliate your skin and get rid of dead skin,”
 Food & Drinks
 15 Incredible Rock Salt (Sendha Namak) Benefits For Skin, Hair And Overall Health

15 Incredible Rock Salt

(Sendha Namak) Benefits for
Skin, Hair and Overall Health
NDTV Food | Updated: June 21, 2018 17:38 IST
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 Highlights

 Rock salt is a superior salt, according to Ayurveda

 It improves digestion and is a natural way to relieve stomach pain
 It is also great for purifying the air around you
Rock salt or sendha namak, as it is popularly known, is a favourite of those
fasting during the auspicious days of Navratri. This is the only type of
'salt' consumed during these nine days. Rock salt is the purest form of
salt - unprocessed and raw, devoid of environmental pollutants and
chemical components. "It contains 84 out of the 92 trace elements
required by the body including potassium, iron, calcium, zinc,
magnesium, copper and so on. It's a superior salt, according to
Ayurveda,” says Dr. Ashutosh Gautam, Clinical Operations and
Coordination Manager at Baidyanath. Contrary to popular belief, rock
salt is not kala namak. “It is actually known as sendha namak in Hindi, and
is a highly crystalline salt. It is made by evaporating sea water and does
not contain high amounts of sodium chloride (unlike table salt)”, says Dr.
Anju Sood, Bangalore-based Nutritionist. It is used during Navratri
across North India as a fasting ritual. It facilitates the cellular absorption
of minerals, and plays an important role in replenishing the body’s
electrolytes and maintaining the pH balance.

According to Ayurvedic physician and American author, Vasant Lad,

rock salt is cooling rather than heating and is far more balancing for
pitta, in comparison to other forms of salt. Its mildness and diverse
mineral content helps minimise the potential hazards of excess salt.

15 benefits of rock salt you need to know about:

1. Improves Digestion

According to Dr. Vasant Lad, rock salt improves digestion and is a

natural way to relieve stomach pain. You can add a few crystals of rock
salt and fresh mint leaves to a glass of lassi and reap the benefits. Dr.
Anju Sood says, “Rock salt can also be used to cure stomach infections,
and aids in deworming as well”.

(Also Read: Fasting Foods Which Healthy And Unhealthy For You)
2. Boosts Metabolism

Metabolism refers to certain chemical reactions in our body that help in

maintaining the health of cells and organisms. "Rock salt can be used to
stimulate your body’s metabolism, and ultimately improve the functioning
of your body,” says Dr. Manoj Ahuja, Fortis Hospital.

(Also Read: 5 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism and Burn More Calories)
Rock salt can be used to stimulate your body’s metabolism

3. Stabilises Blood Pressure

Dr. Anju Sood says, “Rock salt helps stabilise blood pressure by
maintaining a balance of high and low blood pressures. For people with
hypertension, It is a better alternative to table salt as it is high on
potassium."

(Also Read: Blood Pressure: 6 Summer Foods For Managing Blood

Pressure)
For people with hypertension, It is a better alternative to table salt

4. Boosts Immunity

Sendha namak could prove to do wonders for your immunity too.

According to Dr. Anju Sood,
“Rock salt provides all the essential trace minerals and greatly improves
the body’s immune system," It fights harmful bacteria and helps kick
illnesses to the curb.

(Also Read: 5 Immunity Boosting Foods To Keep You From Getting

Sick)
Sendha namak could prove to do wonders for your immunity

5. Treats Sinus

“Rock salt is beneficial for people suffering from respiratory problems

and sinus,” adds Dr. Ahuja. Gargling with rock salt provides relief against
sore throat, dry cough and tonsils, or dissolve rock salt in water and
inhale steam.
6. Promotes Weight Loss

Looking to lose weight. Ditch table salt and switch to rock salt. Dr. Anju
Sood says, “Rock salt reduces sugar cravings by reactivating insulin,
and hence results in weight loss”. You can sprinkle some rock salt over
your fruits instead of table salt.
Rock salt promotes weight loss

7. Promotes Sleep

According to experts, sleeping less than 8 hours a day could take a

severe toll on your bodily functions. Our body needs a minimum of 8
hours to rest and recover from the day's work. “Rock salt regulates the
level of melatonin and thus, regulates our sleep cycle,” says Dr. Ahuja.
Rock salt regulates the level of melatonin

8. Reduces Stress

Been having sleepless nights? “Rock salt helps to relax the body and
mind,” says Dr. Ashutosh Gautam. To treat and manage stress and
anxiety, mix a tablespoon of rock salt in water and take a relaxing bath.

9. Purifies Air

“Rock salt crystal products tend to reduce airborne irritants, pathogens

and allergens by pulling water vapour out of the air. Himalayan pink salt
is a natural ionic air purifier that pulls toxins from the environment and
neutralises them," says Dr. Ahuja, Fortis Hospital. Just adding a salt
lamp in your room or near your desk at the office does the trick.

10. Promotes Healthy Skin

“Rock salt is great for cleansing the skin and getting rid of clogged
pores,” says Dr. Ashutosh Gautam. When used externally, it draws
toxins out of the body. Mix a tablespoon of rock salt with your usual
cleanser and use as a face wash . Really, it’s that simple!

Rock salt is great for cleansing the skin and getting rid of clogged pores

11. Reduces Edema

Edema is basically swelling caused by fluid retention i.e. when excess

fluid is trapped in the body's tissues. Dr. Ashutosh Gautam suggests,
“Soak your feet in a bucket of water with rock salt to get rid of swelling
and inflammation.”

12. Exfoliates Skin

Accumulation of dead skin cells results in dull, rough and ageing skin.
“Use rock salt to exfoliate your skin and get rid of dead skin

13. Used as a Bath Salt or Body Scrub

“Rock salt can be used as a bath or body salt

It is a perfect substitute of spa standard products as it relaxes your
muscles and improves your sleep. Mix a tablespoon of rock salt in water
and take a relaxing bath. "You can make a body scrub by mixing rock
salt with honey or with lemon” and massage your skin with it, to get the
glow you’ve always wanted.