I never tried it out, but I guess it works… Why else would people say that.
So what causes the pain?
In: 9
[deleted]
Nerves work by the interior of the cells becoming negatively charged through chemical processes, building up an “action potential” which is triggered by the sudden opening of channels that allow sodium ions to flow into the cell. This spike in charge is reversed as the slower potassium ion channels open, allowing potassium ions to flow out of the cell.
Since the normal operation of nerves depends on sodium ions sitting around just waiting to rush into the nerve cells, dumping a massive pile of sodium ions onto tissue would tend to increase the activity of the nerves which are sending pain signals.
Nerves work because sodium and potassium ions (atoms with either extra or missing electrons) will trade electrons with each other. The nerve’s long tendrils (called axons) hold potassium ions. The nucleus has sodium ions. Nerves hold onto the sodium ions until stimulated. When stimulated, the nerve releases some sodium to the base of the axon which gives an electron to the potassium ion, which passes it to the next one and so on, triggering a chain reaction that carries the impulse along the axon to the next neuron.
Putting salt next to pain receptor nerves triggers them to fire, which you perceive as pain.
Latest Answers