Is it actually true that la saliva es curativa?

You've probably heard your grandma or some old relative mutter that la saliva es curativa whenever you scraped your knee as a kid, but it's one of those things most of us just dismiss as an old wives' tale. We usually think of spit as kind of gross—something that helps us chew or maybe something we accidentally spray when we're talking too fast. But if you stop and think about it, there's a reason why the "lick your wounds" instinct exists across almost the entire animal kingdom. From dogs and cats to even tiny rodents, animals naturally clean their injuries with their tongues. It turns out, humans aren't all that different, and there's some pretty fascinating science behind why our mouths are such effective healing machines. ...

February 22, 2026 · 7 min · Merlot Gwynne