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Origin/Meaning of "Pour salt on my wound"

Posted by Harold Wannamaker on June 30, 2000

In Reply to: Origin/Meaning of "Pour salt on my wound" posted by Loren Stacy on June 30, 2000

: Salt on an open wound stings, so pouring salt on someone's wound speaks of making someone's hurt hurt worse. But, was salt ever used as a medicine?

Rubbing salt in the wound may have stung a bit but it did help to control infection. A more effective infection preventative for an open wound is to fill it with honey or sugar and bind it up: all supposing that you are physically isolated and can't get proper medical attention. There is a downside, you need to carry sugar with you or be on good terms with the local bees.

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