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Biology/Effects of salt on canker sores (mouth cares)

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Expert: Florence M Rollwagen - 5/17/2009


Question
Hi,

Hope this is not too basic a question. It has been my experience that one of the fastest way to get rid of these ulcers is to apply table salt on them. Painful but effective.

Can I know from a scientific perspective as to why salt closes ulcers quickly? (i.e. what goes on biochemically when we put salt on open ulcers)

thanks

Answer
Hi Shearer:  Thanks for your question.

I'm taking a guess here, since studies on this particular phenomenon have not been done.

Viruses need intact cells to replicate, since they don't have any mechanisms of their own.  They take over the host cell's metabolism to make more virus particles.

Salt is removes the water from biological tissues (that's why we can use salt to cure meats and fish).  If you put salt on your mouth ulcers, you may be killing the infected cells.  Once the cells are dead, they can no longer support viral growth.

Hope this helps, please write back if you have more questions.

FM Rollwagen, PhD

Biology

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Florence M Rollwagen

Expertise

I can answer questions in biology, microbiology and immunology on the undergraduate or graduate level. I can also address medical and health concerns regarding alternative medicine, autoimmune diseases (lupus, MS) liver disease and intestinal problems.

Experience

I have over 20 years experience in research and teaching at the medical/graduate level, and 5 years teaching college biology and microbiology. My expertise is in microbiology and immunology, specifically the biology of cytokines and soluble immune response modifiers. I also carried out original research in blood substitutes and shock/trauma.

Organizations
American Association of Immunologists (AAI) American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Publications
Journal of Experimental Medicine, Journal of Immunology, Cytokine, Shock, Experimental Hematology

Education/Credentials
BS biology 1966 MS biology 1968 PhD immunology 1979

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