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Page 29
small amounts of salt. In fact, he wrote that in arthritis, salt shortage is often a contributing factor.
According to Batmanghefidj, pain and local swelling of joint surfaces often disappear after sufficient water and salt are consumed and, more important, the joint structure begins to repair itself.
For a complete description of Dr. Batmanghelidj's therapies, see his books How to Deal with Back Pain and Rheumatoid Joint Pain and Your Body's Many Cries for Water.
Salt Baths
Along with hot baths, cold showers, ice packs and heat treatments, salt scrubs are a standard spa therapy for arthritis. Salt stimulates the skin, increases circulation, removes dead cells and increases nerve activity. Add just enough water to make a thick paste, then dampen your body with a sponge, scoop up a handful and rub as briskly as you can without irritating the skin, massaging feet, ankles, knees, hands, arms, back, chest and abdomen. Fill the tub with warm water and relax, rinsing the salt off. For an invigorating skin-softening treatment, mix salt with massage oil instead of water and proceed as above. The oil will be slippery, so place a towel under your feet before standing.
For a luxurious salt bath, use enough unrefined sea salt to make the water ocean-salty and stay in the tub as long as possible. Ocean water's healing prop-

 
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