By Peter Farquharson D.TCM, Acupuncturist, Clinical Herbalist

Imagine starting your day with a glass of water so energizing it hydrates you at a cellular level, nourishes your body with over 80 essential minerals, and supports your brain, muscles, and heart—all with just a tiny crystal of salt. It may sound like a wellness trend, but it’s rooted in biology and mineral science. This simple yet powerful ritual is championed by holistic health educator Barbara O’Neill, who advocates for the use of Celtic Sea Salt as a natural tool to support whole-body hydration and vitality.

What Makes Celtic Sea Salt So Special?

Unlike refined table salt—which is processed to remove all but sodium chloride—Celtic Sea Salt is hand-harvested and left in its natural state. This allows it to retain 82 naturally occurring minerals, including magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, iodine, manganese, zinc and numerous trace elements essential for health. These minerals are nearly identical to those found in the human body, and they play a key role in:

• Supporting cellular energy production
• Maintaining electrolyte balance
• Enhancing nerve and brain function
• Promoting muscle and heart health

Barbara O’Neill emphasizes that refined salt can disrupt the body’s delicate mineral balance, contributing to dehydration and imbalances in electrolyte function. In contrast, Celtic Sea Salt delivers these minerals in a form the body can easily recognize and utilize.

Barbara O’Neill’s Morning Sea Salt Ritual

To harness these benefits, O’Neill recommends a simple daily routine:
1. Place a small crystal of Celtic Sea Salt (about the size of a sesame seed) on your tongue.
2. Allow it to dissolve slowly—this enables the mucous membranes in your mouth to absorb magnesium and other minerals directly into the bloodstream.
3. Follow with a glass of filtered water, which is pulled into your cells more efficiently (this is due to the minerals you just dissolved through your mucous membranes), resulting in deep and lasting hydration.
This ritual can be done once or twice a day, ideally in the morning or after physical activity when the body is most in need of replenishment.

Why Add Sea Salt to Your Water?

While many people drink purified or filtered water, that water often lacks the minerals the body needs to stay truly hydrated. Without electrolytes, water can pass through your system without fully penetrating cells. By adding a small amount of sea salt to your water, you can:

• Enhance hydration by improving water retention in your cells
• Replenish lost electrolytes after sweating or exercise
• Prevent muscle cramps
• Support digestion and nutrient absorption
• Boost mood and mental clarity

⚠️ Note: Use sea salt sparingly if you have kidneys health issues.

⚠️ The Problem with Iodized Table Salt

Peter Farquharson Doctor of Chinese Medicine and Integrative Health Practitioner points out that while conventional table salt is fortified with iodine to prevent deficiency, the synthetic form—potassium iodide—may not be as safe as once believed. Overexposure to this artificial iodine can disrupt normal thyroid function, especially in sensitive individuals. It can lead to hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or even trigger autoimmune thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s disease (see https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/iodine-hashimotos/ )

Today, iodine is present in many everyday items—from fortified foods and supplements to processed snacks—making it easy to accidentally exceed safe levels. Unlike naturally occurring iodine in seaweed or fish, the iodide added to table salt lacks the mineral cofactors needed to help the body process it effectively. This can contribute to thyroid inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and long-term metabolic disruption.

Switching to natural sea salt not only eliminates these synthetic additives but also provides trace amounts of naturally occurring iodine—balanced with other minerals in their whole, unprocessed form.

A Simple Way to Boost Health—Naturally

Barbara O’Neill’s approach to hydration is cost-effective, natural, and easy to integrate into daily life. By using a single crystal of Celtic Sea Salt and a glass of filtered water, you can:
• Recharge your cells
• Restore your body’s mineral balance
• Improve hydration, mood, and energy naturally
Try this simple practice tomorrow morning—one crystal, one glass, one small step toward better health

 References & Resources:

• Barbara O’Neill’s Health Presentations
• Healthline – Sea Salt vs. Table Salt
• Selina Naturally – Celtic Sea Salt Info
• National Institutes of Health – Electrolyte and Mineral Balance
• https://abundanceflow.org/
• https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/iodine-hashimotos/