Grandma Says
Salt (Uppu)
The one seasoning no kitchen runs without — and, in tradition, far more than a flavor.
- everyday wisdom
- skin
- teeth
- minor aches
Grandma Says saltless food is tasteless food — and too-salty food is poisonous food. We've all heard that too much of anything is bad, and salt is the perfect example. Beyond seasoning and marinating, salt has long been valued for preserving: a teaspoon of salt added while making ghee from unsalted butter helps it keep longer, and a little salt in your rice storage container is a traditional way to keep insects out of the grain.
Good for
- Teeth
- a little salt added to toothpaste is a long-standing tradition for cleaning the teeth
- Thorn soreness
- for the ache of a thorn prick, salt and pepper in equal parts are traditionally fried in sesame oil, tied in a thin cloth, and pressed gently over the spot
- Nail soreness
- salt, onion, and freshly cooked rice in equal parts, ground together and tied around a sore nail, is a traditional poultice
- Minor insect bites
- for an ordinary itchy bite, a thick paste of salt and a little water dabbed on the spot is a traditional way to ease it
- Hair
- finely ground salt massaged into thinning areas is a folk tradition some still swear by for the scalp