Health Benefits of:

What is Alum

According to Collinsdictionary.com, alum is a double sulfate of a monovalent metal or radical (as sodium, potassium, or ammonium) with a trivalent metal (as aluminum, iron, or chromium): it is used as an astringent, as an emetic, and in the manufacture of baking powders, dyes, and paper: the commonest form is potash alum (potassium aluminum sulfate), KAl(SO4)2·12H2O

Types of Alum

-Sodium alum can be loosened in water. It is used to make baking powder.

-Ammonium alum is used to purify water, in veggie glues, in ceramic types of cement, in deodorants, in tanning, dyeing.

-Aluminum potassium sulfate (potash alum), is used as an astringent and as antisepsis in pickling and in fermentation.

-Soda alum is hard to purify.

-Chrome alum or chromium alum is used in tanning and to grow lavender.

-Selenate alums happen when selenium replaces sulfur so that instead of a sulfate you receive a selenate. Selenate alums are used for antiseptics.

-Aluminium sulfate is known as papermaker’s alum.

History of Alum

Alum has been around for thousands of years. It is fairly certain that the record of alum usage was in Ancient China and Egypt for its odor diminish effect. There have been alum factories from 1248 A.D. in Naples to the Island of Ischia in the 15th Century to the Vatican in 1458. Alum has been used in tanning leather to the production of paper to therapeutic reasons for being used in healthcare. Doctor's are using this safe and ancient product in their practices today. It's amazing that there are doctors willing to consider using remedies from ancient times to incorporate in today's medicine even though there are major breakthroughs going on every day.

7 Health Benefits of Alum

Alum is good for the following:

- Canker Sores

- Eye Abscess

- Mouth Wash

- Relieves Muscle Cramps

- Bleeding

- Athlete's Foot

- Deodorant

Growing up, my mom always kept a bottle of alum in her spice cupboard. She would give it to me and my two sisters whenever we had canker sores. We would put it on our sore and we would let it dissolve. It always helped and the canker sore went away. I even use it today.

In my humble opinion, there are many times in my life that I have used home remedies instead of prescribed medication in which the home remedies worked better. That is not to say that I wouldn't take prescribed medication because I have and will if I need to.

Make sure you place your alum (crystal form or powder form) in a container that is airtight. The container needs to be in a place that is cool, dry, and dark.

Facts about Alum

Did you know that if you add alum to your pickling, it keeps its crispness?

Alum is an ingredient that you find in baking powder.

You can use Alum on your blemishes by making a paste and leaving it on overnight.

It can eliminate the odor of dirty feet.

In some cultures, alum is used to keep evil spirits away.

Alum is sometimes used to purify water.

In ancient times, women used alum for removing any unwanted hair.

You can use it to get rid of dandruff and blackheads.

Recipe for Bleeding Gums

This is a home remedy that I found on the internet when researching for this article on alum. I haven't personally tried but others have. Try a little bit and if you have an allergic reaction than go see your doctor. Before trying this recipe, you should mention it to your doctor to make sure it won't interfere with any medications or health issues that you might have.

Ingredients:

50 gms dry powdered guava powder

10 gms alum powder

10 gms black pepper powder

10 gms black salt

Instructions:

In a bowl, combine and mix together all the ingredients. When not in use, store it. When it is needed, apply it to your bleeding gums two times a day. You should be pain-free in about a week.

References

1). https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-alum