In Korean folk medicine, trace elements in the yellow clay and bamboo are thought to make this form of salt more healthy.  Historically,  has been used as a digestive aid, styptic, disinfectant or dentifrice.
Oriental medicinalist Insan Kim Il-hoon (1909–1992), was (according to his institution) the first to claim that  could be used to treat cancer. His other claims are that  can be used to treat intestinal inflammation, peptic ulcer disease, dyspepsia, esophageal tumours and more.