What A Salt Water Flush Is + How It Can Benefit Your Health

A salt water flush is a tool designed to help your body flush out old waste. I like using it as an at-home remedy for constipation and have recommended it to many of my patients dealing with the same issue.

The idea behind it is simple: You drink a mixture of warm water and salt, a combo that has a laxative effect. Research is mixed regarding its effects beyond constipation relief, but you can’t deny its almost immediate effects on the bowels.

Read on to learn more about what you should believe concerning salt water cleanse benefits, my salt water flush recipe for constipation, and things you should look out for before you flush.

Benefits Of A Salt Water Cleanse

There is a lot of information out there on the seemingly powerful detoxifying effects of salt water flushes on your gut health, but some of that is overstated.

Sea salt can help detoxify the skin, so indulging in a sea salt bath or salt cave therapy can be a great way to relax and boost your skin health. There just isn’t enough evidence out there to support salt water flushes as a cure-all for your digestive issues.

There also isn’t enough evidence to show that they reduce parasitic activity along the digestive tract. Herbal anti-parasitics are my go-to when dealing with intestinal parasites, but the right course of action can depend on the damage they’ve done.

Here’s what the scientific evidence does say on the possible health benefits of sea salt flushes:

Salt water flushes aren’t meant for daily or long-term use, so it’s important to support your body’s digestion and detoxification systems on a regular basis. That includes your digestive tract, liver, gallbladder, and kidneys.

For healthier bowel movements long-term, follow these tips:

• Drink plenty of water. (Warm water alone can have a positive impact on your bowels.) (5)
• Eat probiotic-rich foods like kefir or sauerkraut.
• Take a probiotic supplement if diet changes aren’t enough.
• Boost your fiber intake. (6)
• Incorporate daily movement into your routine.

For a healthier detoxification system, follow these tips:

• Stay hydrated with clean water.
• Limit alcohol.
• Switch to non-toxic personal care and cleaning products.
• Limit your consumption of prepackaged, processed foods.
• Exercise.

Salt water flushes can be a great tool to help get things moving, but they’re not a long-term solution. If you’re having a difficult time getting a handle on your gut health, you shouldn’t rely on salt water flushes as your primary response. It’s important to get to the root of your issues.

Constipation can be a signal of a magnesium deficiency or intestinal parasites. Maybe you’re not getting enough fiber or dealing with chronic stress. That can all mess with your overall digestive health and the balance of good bacteria in your gut.

If you want to learn more about natural detox options or are interested in an individualized plan for a healthier gut, schedule a consultation. As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people worldwide. 

Read Next: 14 Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Cold Sores Fast + Keep Them Gone

FAQs

Why didn’t my salt flush work?

If your salt water flush didn’t work, it may be because you got the ratio of salt to water wrong or were dehydrated before your cleanse. Underlying health conditions can also affect healthy bowel function in a way that acts as a barrier to a successful salt cleanse.

Do I have to use sea salt?

You want to stick to sea salt instead of heavily processed table salt for your flush. Sea salt is mainly composed of sodium chloride with trace minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium, while table salt doesn’t have that level of mineral content.

Pink Himalayan salt or Celtic sea salt work, too.

Are there any side effects I should watch for?

Salt water flushes can lead to multiple bowel movements, which means you can lose a large amount of electrolytes that aren’t replaced by the sodium you consume. That can lead to side effects from an electrolyte deficiency like:

• Muscle cramps
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Irregular heartbeat

Drinking too much salt water can also lead to nausea and vomiting. It’s vital to stick to salt water flush recipes exactly as written and talk to a healthcare professional before trying it for the first time.

Sources

• Balaban, D.H. (2009). Editorial: A light breakfast, a jug of salt water, and bowel. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 104(9), 2285-2287. 
• Pogoda, J.M., Gross, N.B., Arakaki, X., et al. (2016). Severe headache or migraine history is inversely correlated with dietary sodium intake: NHANES 1999-2004. Headache, 56(4), 688-698. 
• Takeuchi, H., Higuchi, K., Yoshikane, Y., et al. (2020). Drinking refined deep-sea water improves the gut ecosystem with beneficial effects on intestinal health in humans: A randomized double-blind controlled trial. Nutrients, 12(9), 2646. 
• Rust, P & Ekmekcioglu, C. (2017). Impact of salt intake on the pathogenesis and treatment of hypertension. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 956, 61-84. 
• Çalişkan, N., Bulut, H., & Konan, A. (2016). The effect of warm water intake on bowel movements in the early postoperative stage of patients having undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomized controlled trial. Gastroenterology Nursing, 39(5), 340-347. 
• van der Schoot, A., Drysdale, C., Whelan, K., et al. (2022). The effect of fiber supplementation on chronic constipation in adults: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 116(4), 953-969.