Salt Classic Formulas … Natural Herb Library

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Induces vomiting of retained food, phlegm, or certain ingested toxins when used as concentrated salt water ... this is the classic internal Shi Yan lane and is not a casual household remedy.
Clears heat and relieves fire-toxic irritation externally ... salt rinses, washes, and powders are recorded for sore throat, mouth ulcers, gum swelling, and some superficial inflammatory complaints.
Moistens dryness and softens hardness ... small measured use appears in heat-type constipation and in formulas where a salty downward-directing substance is wanted.

Concentrated salt-water emetic methods ... older emergency practice for retained food, phlegm, or swallowed toxins before modern poison-control standards existed.
Salt-rinse and salt-powder external methods ... long-standing local-use traditions for throat, mouth, gum, and dental complaints.
Salt-processing of Kidney-directed medicinals ... a classic preparation strategy rather than a stand-alone formula, but central to Shi Yan's clinical identity.

Classical materia medica places Shi Yan among the emetic and fire-clearing substances, emphasizing vomiting induction, softening, and local cleansing rather than tonic use.
Later materia medica traditions preserve numerous external applications for teeth, throat, eyes, and sores, reinforcing that medicinal salt was often used topically or in carefully measured doses.
Processing theory repeatedly states that salt helps direct medicinals toward the Kidney channel, which is one reason Shi Yan remains important beyond its own stand-alone indications.