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Bathing is a cleanliness ritual that is diligently followed, by folks. Bathing benefits1 are not confined to personal hygiene only. But it adds to other health benefits also.
If you are also tired of dealing with stiff muscles 2or can’t stop scratching yourself, you can find easy relief through Epsom salt. How to use it or garner its benefits is exactly what we have covered in our article.
Epsom salt bath benefits genuinely make a long list. It is an inexpensive remedy for many infirmities. But what makes Epsom salt bath benefits myriad3? To decode it, let’s dive into the constituents of Epsom salt.
1. What Is Epsom Salt?
Magnesium sulfate or Epsom salt is commonly found in crystalline form that is easily soluble in water. Magnesium is an essential nutrient that keeps your body agile and at bay from some stiff muscles.
Epsom salt got its name from a saline spring found in Epsom, Surrey England.
They are called salts because of their chemical structure. They are not the same as dead Sea salt.
Epsom salt has a bitter taste, unlike common salt which is sodium-rich.
2. Epsom Salt Bath Benefits
Epsom salt is highly recommended by many to accelerate your digestion, keep your skin youthful, and treat some genuinely stiff muscles. Below are some of the Epsom salt bath benefits of which you might be unaware:
2.1. Accelerates Digestion and Gives Relief from Constipation
Magnesium is what you need if you often feel constipated. It can be used as a laxative to give you temporary relief from constipation.
Epsom salt increases water in your intestine and makes your stool soft. It gives abundant relief to your gut. Its detoxifying properties can genuinely help you to increase your bowel movements.
A doctor’s prescription will tell you how many doses will be fit for you.
2.2. Release the Stress
If managing multiple roles leaves you stressed out, then try a stress-releasing Epsom salt bath. When you have a magnesium deficiency, your mood gets affected. Lack of magnesium is related to stress and, whenever stress increases it tends to reduce magnesium levels in your body.
This kind of relationship between your mood and magnesium leaves many facing physiological stress.
Now you might be wondering how magnesium can regulate stress and soothe you. Magnesium is an essential nutrient that controls the release of cortisol 4which is a stress hormone and helps in lifting your mood.
Many try to figure out the cause of their always being under stress. Magnesium could be the simple answer for that.
2.3. Release Stiffness with Epsom Salt Bath
Many of us have either experienced or are currently experiencing stiffness and tightness in our muscles. Magnesium is an inexpensive cure for muscle tension.
How can magnesium cure it? Magnesium deficiency leads to stiffness in muscles, and the occurrence of cramps way too often.
Try to add magnesium-rich food to your diet to overcome cramps and staying hydrated is also key for strong muscles. To keep your muscles strong, maintain a good level of calcium and magnesium in your body.5
2.4. Magnesium Deficiency and Aging An Unexpected Relation
A recent study shows that cells can replicate a certain number of times and then these cells lose their ability to divide. This is called replicative senescence and is responsible for the aging process at the organism level.
In research, it is found that people with low magnesium levels succumb more to age-related issues and aging itself.
It is preferred to intake a healthier diet for keeping age effects at bay and this could be easily achieved by adding a high magnesium diet to your meals.
2.5. Magnesium Is an Anti-Inflammatory Substance
A study shows that low levels of magnesium can induce inflammation in the body. It happens as magnesium deficiency is a big contributor to low-grade inflammation. This creates a risky condition for your heart as well. It also contributes to diabetes and hypertension. Therefore should be avoided by people with hypertension and circulatory issues.
2.6. Epsom Salt Has Anti-Fungal Properties
Epsom salt is known to reduce inflammation and increase blood flow. You should soak your feet to get rid of that pain and also treat many fungal infections. Apart from fungal infections, it also treats athletes’ feet.
Soaking your foot in Epsom salt-induced water also helps in removing bacteria and cleans your foot. Most of the bacteria find it difficult to survive in a salty environment which is why adding soaking foot in Epsom salt water also provides a natural cleaning effect.6
2.7. Use Epsom Salt as an Exfoliator
Epsom salt helps in removing dead cell build-up. You can use Epsom salt as a scrub for your face and your whole body.
Some of the benefits of using Epsom salt as an exfoliator it soothes your skin and won’t make your skin dry. Apart from this it removes dead skin buildup and gives you shiny skin.
2.8. Epsom Salt Aids Heart Health
Epsom salt is good for your heart. It makes your heart arteries strong and also keeps clotting at bay. It treats certain cardiac arrhythmias. It means it helps in maintaining an ideal heartbeat.
2.9. Epsom Salt Helps in Maintaining Insulin Levels in Your Body
Epsom salt bath benefits you by producing more insulin and keeping your diabetes in check. It especially works well in type II diabetes where the body becomes deficient in magnesium. Epsom salt works as a supplement for type II diabetes.
In short Epsom salt helps in lowering blood sugar levels in your body. If you still doubt whether you can use Epsom salt or not check this out to get more insights on it.
2.10. Epsom Salt Helps You Get Better Sleep
You would be surprised to know that low magnesium levels in your body can affect your sleep quality. Epsom salt bath makes your skin absorb magnesium and can help you get sound sleep by relieving stress.
2.11. Bathing in Epsom salt improves your skin hydration
In a study, it was found that bathing in Epsom salt improves skin barrier functioning, and the skin feels more moisturized. Some skin allergies, like skin redness and roughness, are reduced with an Epsom salt bath. It means you can improve your skin and hydration levels by soaking in an Epsom salt bath. Just ensure the bath water is not so hot.
2.12. Epsom salt is perfect for a post-workout session
If you are looking for some muscle relaxation and want to treat muscle soreness, Epsom salt is perfect for adding to your post-workout session bath. Its anti-inflammatory properties will ease the muscle soreness built during your workout sessions.
2.13. Epsom salt bath to detoxify your body
Want to detoxify your body and flush out harmful toxins from your blood? Try Epsom salt bath.
One of the Epsom salt bath benefits is that it helps your skin to detoxify by flushing out toxins from your skin simply by soaking yourself in a bathtub with Epsom salt.
The sulfates present in Epsom salt get absorbed by your skin and improve skin texture, eventually easing out joint pains that will give you quick relief, and you will feel more relaxed.
3. Does Epsom Salt Bath Works?
When Epsom salt bath benefits are talked about in the town, does it really work? Yes, Magnesium is the fourth essential mineral requirement of your body.
One of the Epsom salt benefits is that it is great for your feet. It can even ease the pain of an athlete’s foot, nail fungus, and even bruises if it is used regularly.
Epsom salt helps in better circulation of blood by going deep into your foot skin. It reduces cramps by improving circulation.
If you have been dealing with pain for a very long time, try adding an Epsom salt bath to your daily regime. Try to remain soaked in an Epsom salt bath for at least 35-40 minutes. It will help you to get free from toxins, and your body can absorb nutrients, too.
For an Epsom salt bath, you need just 1-2 cups of Epsom salt and let it dissolve completely in water.
4. What Do You Need for Epsom Salt Bath?
Once you are aware of the Epsom salt bath benefits, you must be willing to dive into it. But before diving, you must know how to prepare for it. The following are the requirements:
- Prepare your bathtub with water that must be easy to touch it should not be hot.
- Add Epsom salt to it and let it dissolve.
- Now stay in this for the next 12-15 minutes minimum to relax and get rid of the pain.
- You should consult your doctor or physician before you are ready to take up this Epsom salt bath.
NOTE: Read the instructions given on the Epsom salt pack and discuss it with your physician before you begin to use it.
4.1. How to Use Epsom Salt for Foot Pain
As now you are aware of Epsom salt bath benefits but sometimes you might not wish to have a bath you can simply enjoy this inexpensive and easy-to-arrange foot spa at home.
Epsom salt relaxes foot muscles and eases out pain. It also benefits you in ingrown nail pain. To have a relaxing foot session at home you need:
- Fill the bathtub with warm water to the level where your foot soaks in completely.
- If you have pain in your legs, you can add more water so that your legs can also get soaked in water easily.
- Add 1/2 cup of Epsom salt to the water.
- Now, you can soak your feet for approximately 40-60 minutes.
- You can decrease time as per your convenience and your condition. But don’t exceed time instead, you can use this twice a week.
4.2. How to Use Epsom Salt for Stiff Muscles
To relax sore muscles you just need to follow a few steps,
- Take 1 cup of Epsom salt and add it to the water.
- Let Epsom salt mix well and then you can soak your body to relax your muscles and have a great sleep.
- You can also add a few drops of essential oils like 1-2 drops of lavender oil and 5-6 drops of peppermint oil.
- Peppermint oil will help in relaxing muscles.
- Using essential oils adds aroma to your bathtub and, these oils have many benefits to add to your skin and tighten muscles.
4.3. How to Use Epsom Salt as an Exfoliator
Epsom salt could be a great exfoliator that won’t leave your skin dry. For this you need:
- Take Epsom salt for almost half a cup.
- Use some oils to nourish your skin. You can take half a cup of coconut oil or almond oil.
- Mix ingredients well and gently massage this mixture on your arms and legs.
- Don’t be harsh while exfoliating, use soft movements to exfoliate.
This is a great option if you are looking for something that won’t leave your skin dehydrated.
4.4. How to Prepare a Detox Epsom Salt Bath
To make a detox Epsom salt bath recipe you just need:
- Fill your bathtub with warm water.
- Add 1/4 cup of Epsom salt, 1/4 cup of sea salt, and 1/4 cup of baking soda.
- Add 10-12 drops of lavender oil or add peppermint oil.
5. Is Epsom Salt Bath Safe For Everyone?
Well, this bitter-in-taste salt which is entirely another compound than your common salt has numerous benefits. But as you all know before binging on this you must also be aware of its side effects that can surface if safety is not considered while use.
- If you are planning to use Epsom salt as a laxative, consult your physician for dosage as an overdose can cause diarrhea.
- Magnesium overdose can also cause nausea and headache.
- If high blood pressure bothers you, an Epsom salt bath is good but be cautious as you are already on medicines, and your blood pressure could go dangerously low.
- Consult your doctor if you already have low blood pressure and if you are on medicines.
6. Epsom salt bath benefits -Takeaways
Epsom salt bath benefits don’t confine to cleanliness but, it gives you more than that. It helps to retain moisture and, hence your skin won’t feel dried out.
The combination of Magnesium and sulfate in Epsom salt is also known to maintain a balanced level of electrolytes in your body. This keeps your muscles and nerves well functioning.
Before adding a magnesium supplement to your diet it is better to consult a physician to avoid any side effects.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
7.1. How often can we take Epsom salt baths?
You can take an Epsom salt bath once a week or every 2-3 days, to get the best benefits out of it. However, do read the instructions provided by the packaging.
7.2. How long should you sit in a bath with Epsom salt?
You should soak your body in the mild hot salt water bath for at least 15 minutes which can continue for up to an hour. However, the duration depends upon how much Epsom salt you’re taking.
7.3. Who should avoid Epsom salt baths?
People who have sensitive skin, or are sensitive to Epsom salt or magnesium should avoid Epsom salt baths as it can be harmful to them. Additionally, people who are pregnant, people who are on medications, with low blood pressure, and children should avoid using Epsom salt or take professional advice before using it.
7.4. Is Epsom salt safe for private areas?
7.5. What happens if I put too much Epsom salt in a bath?
If you like this piece and want to read more click here to read on more interesting topics. Also, check out “What Essential Oils Kill Toenail Fungus.”
Nwachukwu Favor ( licensed nurse)
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