Rock salt/Sendha Namak - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents, side effects and many more

 Rock salt/Sendha Namak


Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. The mineral is typically colorless or white, but may also be light blue, dark blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow or gray depending on inclusion of other materials, impurities, and structural or isotopic abnormalities in the crystals. Traditionally considered the healthiest form of salt in ayurveda, rock salt pacifies all the three doshas. Rock salt is categorized by some ayurvedic healers as a Sattvic food. It contributes the salty taste and is a cooling spice. In ayurvedic medicine, rock salt is used as a laxative and a digestive. Salt is a soul ingredient of various dishes that infuses a specific flavor to food. . 

It has different names in different languages such as English name(Himalayan salt, Himalayan rock s.......................read more


Two types of sendha salt:

1. Shweta Saindhava – (white in colour)

2. Rakta Saindhava   –  (Red in colour) – Himalayan salt

Daily recommended dose sen.......................read more


Why rock salt is better than table salt?

Less sodium content is one reason. Another is, presence of other micro-nutrients and useful minerals. like Magnesium, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Zinc etc.



Chemical constituents

The rock salt contains the minerals found in that particular body of water; mostly sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sulfate. These are the major elements found in rock salt. 

It consists of 95-98% sodium chloride, 2-4% polyhalite (potassium, calc.......................read more




Properties and Benefits

  • Taste – Salt, slightly sweet taste,
  • Potency – Cold
  • Qualities – Light, Unctuous,
  • Effect on Tridosha – Balances all three Doshas(Vatta-Pitta-Kapha)
  •                Click here for more information about Tridosha (vata-Kapha-Pitta)
  • As we know salt usually increases Pitta, but Saindhava salt/Lavana, being cold in potency helps to balance Pitta and Because of its Salt taste, it balances Vata and It also helps to relieve chest congestion due to sputum accumulation, as it also relieves Kapha.Therefore,  It is one of the rare Ayurvedic substance that balances all the three Doshas.
  • Rochana – improves taste
  • Dipana – improves digestion strength
  • Vrushya – acts as aphrodisiac
  • Chakshushya – good for eyes, helps to relieve infection
  • Avidahi – (unlike regular salts), Saindhava Lavana does not cause bu.......................read more
  • .




Uses, Remedies, Benefits and Application

1) Rock salt has a less salty taste and it is not chemically processed.


2) Basti is a Panchakarma – In Basti/Enema therapy,  While formulating the basti liquid, rock salt is added to prepare an emulsion. It helps to dissolve and expel Doshas from intestines.   Here, honey, rock salt and fat material (herbal ghee or oil) is made into a combination along with decoction and paste. It is administered. Here, rock salt helps to make a colloid or emulsion by efficiently mixing all the liquid and solid materials together. This way, when this is administered via enema, it stays in the intestines and does its function better.

                 Click here for more information about Honey

                 Click here for more information about Ghee


3) Being a natural preservative, sendha namak is widely used is seasoning and preserving foods.


4) You can add a pinch of rock salt to digestive lassi along with some crushed mint leaves, some shredded ginger and powdered dry-roasted cumin for a refreshing lunchtime beverage. You can also add it instead of common salt to foods such as kitchari and vegetables.

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                 Click here for more information about Cumin seeds

                  Click here for more information about Mint leaves


5) Gargling with rock salt water helps to relieve sore throat, soothing the throat in dry cough, reducing phlegm in productive cough, reducing inflammation and swelling of the throat.As supportive therapy, it can also be good for patients with asthma, bronchitis and frequent upper respiratory tract infections.


6) Consumption of rock salt along with lemon juice can help in eliminating stomach worms and controlling vomiting.

             Click here for more information about Lemon Juice 🍋


7) Rock salt is used as a home remedy for curing many disorders and ailments such as relief from rheumatic pain and herpes, inflammation and irritation from insect bites.


8) In ayurveda, Sendha Namak is used with black pepper, ginger, long pepper and cinnamon for improving appetite.

              Click here for more information about Black pepper

               Click here for more information Cinnamon


9) In ayurveda, Sendha Namak is used with Saunf (fennel seeds), coriander powder and cumin seeds for reducing acidity in the stomach and improving digestion.

               Click here for more information about Fennel seeds (saunf)


10) Rock Salt has anti-flatulent property, which helps to reduce intestinal gas, flatulence, and abdominal distension.


11) Acharya Vagbhata tells 'Immediately after the birth of the child, the Ulva (secretions or cheesy white coating enveloping the body and face of the new born child) over the body and face should be cleansed by wiping and rubbing it with the mixture of Saindhava Lavana (Rock salt) and Sarpi (ghee).


12) According to ayurveda, rock salt is a fat burner. It improves metabolism in the body inhibits cravings for foods. The fat burner effect of rock salt is due to trace minerals present in it. Howe.......................read more




Does rock salt contain iodine?

Rock salt is significantly low in iodine, so it may not replace your iodized salt if you have an iodine deficiency. Due to abundant of health benefits that rock salt has, you can use it mixing with iodized salt in equal proportion in your food if you are suffering from Iodine deficiency. If you don’t suffer from iodine deficiency, you might not need iodized salt. And you can freely use Sendha Namak.

But still you can comple.......................read more



Side effects :

  • It is not indicated in people with high blood pressure (hypertension), edema and water retention.
  • In very high doses of more than 4 grams per day, it may increase blood pressure, may cause early greying of hairs, increase of body warmth, burning sensation etc, means simply increasing pitt.......................read more




Reference :

  1. Charaka Samhita
  2. Foods. 2020 Oct; 9(10): 1490.  PMCID: PMC7603209
  3. J Struct Geol. 2011 May; 33(5): 970–984.   PMCID: PMC4599597
  4. Aayushi International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (AIIRJ); VOL- VII ISSUE- VII JULY 2020
  5. Bhavaprakasha Nighantu
  6. Ancient Science of Life, Vol No. VI No. 4 April 1987, Pages 217 - 237
  7. Indian Journal of Ancient Medicine and Yoga; Volume 5 Number 2, April - June 2012
  8. Ashtanga Hridaya
  9. Dhanvantari Nighantu
  10. Sharangadhara Samhita
  11. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research ;  Vol 5, Issue 12, 2016.
  12. NCBI
  13. PUBMED


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