Kathy, it depends on the strength.

<I thought one used saline because it killed bacteria by pulling water
out of
them.  Like putting salt on a slug to kill it, only at the microscopic
level.>

If a saline solution is strong enough to kill bacteria this way (as in
brine for pickles, sauerkraut etc.) it also has the potential to damage
tissue, especially open wounds.

That's why the strength of the solution is so important, to come very
close to what is called "normal" or "physiologic" saline, the
concentration in the blood, tears etc. Not too strong, not too weak-just
right.

That way it can moisten, loosen and wash away dead cells without damaging
live ones by causing too much fluid to be drawn out through the cell
membrane.  Surrounded with the physiologic hydration conditions, the
lived cells can go on and "do their thing" in the normal healing process.

Jean
***********************************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA


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