salt your way to health

THE NATURAL WAY

Breath of Salt

A chapter from the book by Dr. Jürgen Weihofen

The
Essence of the Primeval Sea

Himalayan Crystal Salt

Origin, active principles and treatments

Statements are being circulated which list 84 elements apparently present in crystal salt. These statements are, however, not based on chemical analysis but are theoretically derived from the Periodic Table of Elements. The authors of such statements argue that in theory all elements existing on earth – except for the six types of inert gas – must be existent in crystal salt. Whatever scientific chemical-analytical methods for the detection of substances were applied, the majority of elements did not reach the detection limit. Existence of the following elements in crystal salt has been proven: calcium, potassium, magnesium, sulphur oxide, iron, manganese, fluorine, iodine, zinc, chromium, copper, cobalt, and gold. The content of heavy metals is too low to cause any serious concerns from a medical point of view.

​Apart from sodium chloride crystalline primeval salt provides essential minerals and trace elements. A few of the most important ones are listed below, along with their most important functions and their deficiency symptoms:

Potassium: pressure inside body cells, activation of enzymes, electrophysiological cell regulation; when deficient: fatigue, nervousness, cardiac rhythm disorders, skin problems, headaches.

Calcium: bone structure, teeth, activation of nerves, muscular contraction, blood coagulation; when deficient: muscle cramps, prickling sensation, numbness, sleep disorders, degeneration of teeth, bleeding.

Magnesium: bone structure, activates more than 300 enzymes, energy metabolism, nerve conduction, hormone production, muscular function, heart; when deficient: muscular weakness, cardiac disorders, bone disorders, nervousness, anxiety, depressions.

Sulphur : present in proteins, activates production of energy, component for bone, cartilage, connective tissue; when deficient: sallow skin colour, dull hair, loose connective tissue, afflicted joints, anxieties.

Silicon: connective tissue, cartilage, bones, teeth, blood vessels, hair, skin; when deficient: skin diseases, accelerated ageing of arteries, loss of hair, brittle nails.

Iron: red blood pigment haemoglobin, oxygen transport, enzymes; when deficient: fatigue, listlessness, anorexia, anaemia, bad skin and hair, lack of concentration.

Zinc: activates many enzymes, part of insulin, protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, immune system, growth, detoxification; when deficient: delay of growth, susceptibility to infections, skin alterations, poor wound healing, fatigue, virility dysfunctions, menstruation problems, listlessness, sores at the corners of the mouth, depression.

Manganese: blood coagulation, central nervous system, insulin, thyroid hormones; when deficient: ringing in the ears, hardness of hearing, fatigue, disorders in muscular coordination, afflicted joints, restlessness, pessimism, lack of libido

Chromium: insulin receptors on body cells, affects level of blood sugar; when deficient: fatigue, irritability, sleep disorders, dizziness, headaches, craving for sweets and alcohol

Copper: haemoglobin synthesis, immune system, bones, pigments in hair and skin; when deficient: faintness, asthenia, decolouration of skin and hair, dermatitis, anaemia.

Cobalt: vitamin B12 component, haemoglobin synthesis, protein structure; when deficient: anaemia with after-effects.

Iodine: thyroid hormones, vitality, coping with stress, energy production, growth; when deficient: struma (goiter), fatigue, excess weight, palpitations, nervousness, inactivity.

Selenium: enzyme component, free radical protection, cell respiration; when deficient: susceptibility to infections, early symptoms of ageing, cardiac diseases.

The relevance of minerals and trace elements is often underestimated although they are of equal importance as vitamins for a healthy function of our entire organism. Sadly, today’s nutrition no longer provides a sufficient level of these nutrients and “sparks” to metabolism, because the majority of our food is industrially processed and consists of refined ingredients. Alternative health practitioners therefore increasingly recommend compensating this loss with wholesome crystal salt from the Himalayas. The sole cure has often been a remedy for deficiencies and has achieved amazing subjective and objective improvements of the health status.