Sunday, February 15, 2009

The Worth of Salt and Idioms


id·i·om (n) - a phrase whose meaning cannot be determined by the literal definition of the phrase itself, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only through common use.

My mother was the queen of idioms. Often they were peppered throughout the occasional reprimands I received from her. Okay, many reprimands. Being ever curious and a glutton for punishment, I would manage to sputter out, “what does that mean?” Which, resulted in more reprimanding and more idioms.

My mom has long since passed. I enjoy researching where some of her, and other idioms got their start. What were once nonsensical anecdotes from her, are now appreciated wise words to live by. One such idiom I recall her saying, “Anyone worth their salt will give 110% work each day.”

Phrases.org.uk states, “being worth one’s salt, means to be effective and efficient; deserving of one's pay. According to the website, our word salary derives from the Latin salarium, (sal is the Latin word for salt). There is some debate over the origin of the word salarium, but most scholars accept that it was the money allowed to Roman soldiers for the purchase of salt. Roman soldiers weren't actually paid in salt, as some suggest. They were obliged to buy their own food, weapons etc. and had the cost of these deducted from their wages in advance.”

Now the Ancient Romans clearly understood the benefits of salt, specifically sea salt. Actually, so did the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks. For thousands of years, salts have been used for their healing affects in medicine and therapy. They were used for treating anything from wounds to intestinal problems. Modern day studies have shown salt soaks to have beneficial results in fighting and easing the effects of ailments such as rheumatism, psoriasis, arthritis, and eczema. People were using salt bath therapy years before scientific studies could explain what these diseases even were. The recreational use of bath salts is mainly to provide relief from muscle aches, joint soreness, and stress in combination with aromatherapy.

Magnesium sulphate, commonly known as Epsom salts, are traditionally used to alleviate pains and muscle soreness. Sea salts consist mostly of sodium chloride along with a few other trace elements.

We at Honey Grove Botanicals respect and appreciate the healthful benefits of sea salts and Epsom salts. We have several products that contain them. Our featured product is Therapy Botanica Bath Salts. Our Therapy Botanica Bath Salts are made with coarse sea salt, Epsom Salt, botanicals, pure essential oils and fragrances. Each container comes with an unbleached muslin bag with drawstrings. Simply pour the Therapy Botanica Bath Salts into the muslin bag, cinch the drawstrings and toss it into a warm running bath. The bag keeps the botanicals and salts in, while releasing the benefits of the contents. Therapy Botanica Bath Salts are available in Lavender, Rose & Chamomile, Mood Elevator, Sensual Blend, and Oats Milk & Honey. Our Therapy Botanica Bath salts are truly worth their salt!

Note: Bath salts are intended to replenish our skin’s minerals. A word of caution: Overuse or using a high concentration of bath salts can dry out the skin and can be potentially harmful for those with high blood pressure. We recommend about 1/4 cup in a full bath, once per week. Please check with your physician if you currently have high blood pressure or are at risk of developing it before using any type of bath salts.

Until next time,

Sláinte chugat (Good health to you!)

-Barbara

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